It looks like the Penguins are going down to the wire, which is not what management had in mind.
They're in a fight for a playoff spot, but they can take an important stride this week with back-to-back games against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The Penguins seem to have the Blue Jackets' number, much in the way they did against the Washington Capitals until last year's playoff elimination.
The Penguins should be favored to make the playoffs because of their talent level even though it's been too inconsistent this season. If Matt Murray irons out his ups and downs and Phil Kessel and Patric Hornquist cure their prolonged slumps, they're in.
That also assumes Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Murray avoid any kind of disabling injury, of course. Especially Crosby. As rocky as the road has been this season, he's carried the team at both ends of the rink.
---
Interesting how issues are looked at inside this area as opposed to the way outsiders view them.
For example, Ben Roethlisberger is taking a pounding nationally for alienating Antonio Brown, leading to the mess that's been dragging on for more than two months now.
Yet the perception locally is that Brown is either crazy or trying to force a new contract -- or both. There's been very little blame aimed at the quarterback.
Crosby is being talked about as a Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player) candidate in Pittsburgh, but there's little support for his candidacy outside the area.
Tampa Bays Nikita Kucherov led the NHL with 106 points heading into Tuesday's game and is considered the favorite for the Hart.
---
Matt Cullen played his 1,500th game for the Penguins Tuesday night, the latest milestone in a career that started in 1997.
Crosby was 10 when Cullen suited up for the Anaheim Ducks for the first time.
It takes dedcation and discipline to last that long, as another Penguins veteran pointed out years ago.
"You're at a cookout in the summer and you smell the steaks on the grill," Joe Mullen said. "And you're sitting there having a salad."
Mullen played his last game at age 40. Cullen is currently 42.
---
Spring training games don't mean anything.
The Pirates were reminded of that a few years ago when they put Juan Nicasio in the starting rotation based on some lights-out work in Florida.
That said, it's a bit concerning that No. 1 pitching prospect Mitch Keller has been roughed up in his first two exhibition outings.
On the other hand, it's been encouraging to see Jung Ho Kang show some much-needed power in the early games.
Then again, let's remember that Mark Johnson was the Babe Ruth of Florida one spring, and that didn't translate to the reality of the regular season.
So let's stick with the original observation -- spring training games don't mean anything.
---
With the recent deaths of pitchers Bob Friend and Joe Gibbon, only 10 players remain from the Pirates' 1960 World Series roster.
Makes you wonder if the team should bother to stage any more reunions for the surviving members of that team.
Sometimes those small gatherings are more melancholy than celebratory because so many players are gone.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Altoona Mirror, March 3, 2019
Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert tries to avoid public comment and now we know why.
He isn't very good at it.
His assessment of the team as Ben Roethlisberger and "52 kids" didn't go over well with anyone, especially the players who aren't Roethlisberger and also aren't kids.
It was just another misstep in the ongoing Antonio Brown mess. It was refreshing, though, to have someone other than good old A.B. say something dumb.
Meanwhile, NFL guru John Clayton, formerly of ESPN, said there are five teams known to be interested in Brown. According to Clayton, none of them is offering more than a third-round draft pick at this point.
That seems like an inadequate return for one of the top receivers in the league, but consider all the damage Brown has done to his market value. The most recent development was making it known he expected a new contract and more money, even though three years remain on the deal he signed with the Steelers.
Then there's the fact he quit on his team, the alleged furniture tossing, the speed limit-shattering run down McKnight Road, the Facebook Live incident, and the practical matter of turning 31 before the season starts.
The new NFL year begins shortly and the self-proclaimed Mr. Big Chest will be in the Steelers' rear view mirror.
Never will they be so happy to see such a talented player headed out of town.
---
Here's the most troubling part of Penguins goalie Matt Murray's struggles:
He's capable of making one tough save after another, then inexplicably letting in one that's Kleenex soft.
That deflates a team in a hurry.
---
A lot of traditional hockey people are getting apoplectic about the Carolina Hurricanes' post-game celebration of home victories.
The Hurricanes perform a variety of well-rehearsed routines, to the delight of the fans who stick around to the end.
It might be needed to help sell hockey in a non-traditional market. Management probably likes it, too. Instead of leaving early to beat the traffic when the game is lopsided, people remain in the building and presumably remain customers for overpriced food and drinks.
It's just that a 20-man choreographed celebration seems like such a non-hockey thing to do.
If looks like the kind of thing the devious general manager would have cooked up in "Slap Shot."
---
So the Philadelphia Phillies got Bryce Harper, Harper got $330 million and commando agent Scott Boras got more of the notoriety he craves.
Everybody's happy, right? Maybe not. Now that Harper has raised the salary scale, his compensation will be used as a comparative for arbitration cases. That potentially affects every team.
His new deal also raises the scale for star players as Mike Trout, who's better than Harper, prepares to hit the free agent market.
No contract exists in a vacuum.
---
Let's be honest about this: The alumni guest instructors at spring training are more guests than instructors.
It's a nice PR move to have old heroes wearing team colors again, but they really don't do much.
It's actually kind of a fantasy camp for the old timers, some of whom are decades removed from their own playing careers.
---
Those who maintain that bobbleheads are the backbone of Pirates' attendance? The Pirates will give away five of them this season.
The Boston Red Sox will hand out six. The Los Angeles Dodgers offer 12 bobblehead giveaways.
It's how baseball is marketed in 2019.
---
The story of this Penguins' season is the evaluation so many teachers offered our parents during school visitation days:
"He's capable of better work, but he just doesn't apply himself."
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
He isn't very good at it.
His assessment of the team as Ben Roethlisberger and "52 kids" didn't go over well with anyone, especially the players who aren't Roethlisberger and also aren't kids.
It was just another misstep in the ongoing Antonio Brown mess. It was refreshing, though, to have someone other than good old A.B. say something dumb.
Meanwhile, NFL guru John Clayton, formerly of ESPN, said there are five teams known to be interested in Brown. According to Clayton, none of them is offering more than a third-round draft pick at this point.
That seems like an inadequate return for one of the top receivers in the league, but consider all the damage Brown has done to his market value. The most recent development was making it known he expected a new contract and more money, even though three years remain on the deal he signed with the Steelers.
Then there's the fact he quit on his team, the alleged furniture tossing, the speed limit-shattering run down McKnight Road, the Facebook Live incident, and the practical matter of turning 31 before the season starts.
The new NFL year begins shortly and the self-proclaimed Mr. Big Chest will be in the Steelers' rear view mirror.
Never will they be so happy to see such a talented player headed out of town.
---
Here's the most troubling part of Penguins goalie Matt Murray's struggles:
He's capable of making one tough save after another, then inexplicably letting in one that's Kleenex soft.
That deflates a team in a hurry.
---
A lot of traditional hockey people are getting apoplectic about the Carolina Hurricanes' post-game celebration of home victories.
The Hurricanes perform a variety of well-rehearsed routines, to the delight of the fans who stick around to the end.
It might be needed to help sell hockey in a non-traditional market. Management probably likes it, too. Instead of leaving early to beat the traffic when the game is lopsided, people remain in the building and presumably remain customers for overpriced food and drinks.
It's just that a 20-man choreographed celebration seems like such a non-hockey thing to do.
If looks like the kind of thing the devious general manager would have cooked up in "Slap Shot."
---
So the Philadelphia Phillies got Bryce Harper, Harper got $330 million and commando agent Scott Boras got more of the notoriety he craves.
Everybody's happy, right? Maybe not. Now that Harper has raised the salary scale, his compensation will be used as a comparative for arbitration cases. That potentially affects every team.
His new deal also raises the scale for star players as Mike Trout, who's better than Harper, prepares to hit the free agent market.
No contract exists in a vacuum.
---
Let's be honest about this: The alumni guest instructors at spring training are more guests than instructors.
It's a nice PR move to have old heroes wearing team colors again, but they really don't do much.
It's actually kind of a fantasy camp for the old timers, some of whom are decades removed from their own playing careers.
---
Those who maintain that bobbleheads are the backbone of Pirates' attendance? The Pirates will give away five of them this season.
The Boston Red Sox will hand out six. The Los Angeles Dodgers offer 12 bobblehead giveaways.
It's how baseball is marketed in 2019.
---
The story of this Penguins' season is the evaluation so many teachers offered our parents during school visitation days:
"He's capable of better work, but he just doesn't apply himself."
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 27, 2019
The NHL locked the doors Monday afternoon, freezing rosters with the trade deadline.
The Penguins did some minor tinkering, which speaks to their big picture. They don't need an overhaul.
They mostly need previously reliable veterans to play to the level they've achieved in the past, and that starts with goalie Matt Murray.
General manager Jim Rutherford added two players at the deadline, and one of them is strictly for organizational depth.
The need for defensive help arose during the disastrous outdoor game in Philadelphia, when the Penguins lost Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin on the same sequence. They join the injured Olli Maatta, who may or may not be ready for the playoffs because of a shoulder injury.
So Rutherford acquired Erik Gudbranson, who is big, somewhat slow and handy with his fists, which has become an issue. All they had to give up was Tanner Pearson, who ends one of the most inconsequential Penguins careers in franchise history.
The fact the price was so low says ominous things about Gudbranson, but what were the Penguins going to do? They don't have much salary cap room, and they didn't have a lot to offer in deals.
Vancouver fans were cheering Gudbranson's departure on social media. It is worth noting the Penguins have had success picking up another team's castoff before -- Justin Schultz was similarly undervalued with Edmonton.
The other trade was even more minor, as Chris Wideman was acquired from Florida for forward Jean-Sebastian Dey. Wideman was assigned to the minor leagues.
The real issue here isn't these deals. It's the inconsistency of Murray in goal (three of the goals he allowed outdoors were atrocious) and the prolonged slumps of Phil Kessel and Patric Hornquist.
This is about Penguins who have had success and been vital contributors in the past, not new additions who figure to make a minimal impact.
---
Add Josh Harrison's name to the list of major league players clobbered by the slow free agent market in baseball.
Harrison recently signed with the Detroit Tigers for $2 million. The Tigers made that offer some time ago. Harrison kept hoping for something better, but nothing materialized.
He was hurt by the triple whammy of being 31, coming off a lousy year and having a significant injury history.
So he'll play for $2 million. That's big money in the real world, but a far cry from the $10.5 million he would have made had the Pirates picked up his 2019 option. They wisely passed and will play Adam Frazier at second base.
Harrison can make an extra $1 million from the Tigers if he reaches certain levels for plate appearances.
---
A fond farewell to Roy McHugh, the superb Pittsburgh Press journalist who passed away at 103. (That's right, 103).
He was a craftsman, a graceful writer who had a knack for capturing the essence of his topic without ever being intrusive. There should be an anthology of his columns as a teaching tool. The shame is he never wrote his memoirs, although he assisted Art Rooney Jr. and Myron Cope with their excellent autobiographies.
Roy was still working when I was breaking into the business. I learned a lot just by observing the quiet, unassuming man who wrote better than everyone else.
He set the standard.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
The Penguins did some minor tinkering, which speaks to their big picture. They don't need an overhaul.
They mostly need previously reliable veterans to play to the level they've achieved in the past, and that starts with goalie Matt Murray.
General manager Jim Rutherford added two players at the deadline, and one of them is strictly for organizational depth.
The need for defensive help arose during the disastrous outdoor game in Philadelphia, when the Penguins lost Kris Letang and Brian Dumoulin on the same sequence. They join the injured Olli Maatta, who may or may not be ready for the playoffs because of a shoulder injury.
So Rutherford acquired Erik Gudbranson, who is big, somewhat slow and handy with his fists, which has become an issue. All they had to give up was Tanner Pearson, who ends one of the most inconsequential Penguins careers in franchise history.
The fact the price was so low says ominous things about Gudbranson, but what were the Penguins going to do? They don't have much salary cap room, and they didn't have a lot to offer in deals.
Vancouver fans were cheering Gudbranson's departure on social media. It is worth noting the Penguins have had success picking up another team's castoff before -- Justin Schultz was similarly undervalued with Edmonton.
The other trade was even more minor, as Chris Wideman was acquired from Florida for forward Jean-Sebastian Dey. Wideman was assigned to the minor leagues.
The real issue here isn't these deals. It's the inconsistency of Murray in goal (three of the goals he allowed outdoors were atrocious) and the prolonged slumps of Phil Kessel and Patric Hornquist.
This is about Penguins who have had success and been vital contributors in the past, not new additions who figure to make a minimal impact.
---
Add Josh Harrison's name to the list of major league players clobbered by the slow free agent market in baseball.
Harrison recently signed with the Detroit Tigers for $2 million. The Tigers made that offer some time ago. Harrison kept hoping for something better, but nothing materialized.
He was hurt by the triple whammy of being 31, coming off a lousy year and having a significant injury history.
So he'll play for $2 million. That's big money in the real world, but a far cry from the $10.5 million he would have made had the Pirates picked up his 2019 option. They wisely passed and will play Adam Frazier at second base.
Harrison can make an extra $1 million from the Tigers if he reaches certain levels for plate appearances.
---
A fond farewell to Roy McHugh, the superb Pittsburgh Press journalist who passed away at 103. (That's right, 103).
He was a craftsman, a graceful writer who had a knack for capturing the essence of his topic without ever being intrusive. There should be an anthology of his columns as a teaching tool. The shame is he never wrote his memoirs, although he assisted Art Rooney Jr. and Myron Cope with their excellent autobiographies.
Roy was still working when I was breaking into the business. I learned a lot just by observing the quiet, unassuming man who wrote better than everyone else.
He set the standard.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Saturday, February 23, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 24, 2019
The NHL trade deadline arrives tomorrow afternoon.
General manager Jim Rutherford has a troubled and inconsistent team, and no clear idea of what to do with it.
The salary cap makes it difficult to deal, and Rutherford has to wonder if there's the kind of trade that can shake his team out of its win-a-few, lose-a-few tendencies. Although the Penguins are still likely to make the playoffs, they're not guaranteed a spot.
The good thing about the Penguins' goaltending is Matt Murray has two Stanley Cups on his resume. The bad thing is Murray has been inconsistent this season, he gets hurt a lot, and his backup is the inexperienced and quite average Casey DeSmith.
But would any of the available veterans be a clear upgrade and fit under the cap?
The Penguins always seem to be in the market for another winger who could score and/or be a physical presence. They'd like to have Carolina's Michael Ferland, but so would a lot of other teams. Besides, the Hurricanes are still alive in the playoff race.
It appeared Rutherford successfully addressed that issue last season by acquiring Derick Brissard. Instead, Brissard was a complete flop in that role.
An extra defenseman seems like a good idea. Ben Lovejoy would have fit, but New Jersey traded him to Dallas.
There were even rumors the Penguins were considering re-acquiring forward Carl Hagelin. He went to Washington instead.
It isn't so much whether Rutherford would like to make a deal as it is whether he can find one that makes sense.
---
The propeller heads are winning in baseball.
That was the unflattering nickname former Pirates general manager Ted Simmons gave to the new wave of statistical analysts who were infiltrating the front offices.
Eager and young and often non-athletic, Simmons perceived them as ambitious kids wearing beanies. They had never taken a foul tip off the mask; their biggest workplace injury risk was a paper cut.
They're no longer an oddity. They've become the industry standard, to the point that MLB teams are cutting their scouting staffs and relying more on statistical analysis to evaluate players.
Traditionally teams have sent evaluation scouts on the road to file reports on every major league player they see. Now those scouts are being eliminated and the information is being gleaned from the spreadsheets compiled by the analysts.
No more plane tickets to purchase, no more bills at the Marriott, no more phony receipts for restaurant meals that were never served.
Once when Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was reviewing budgets, she complained about the amount allotted for scouts. "All they do is watch games," she said. Now they don't, at least not in some places.
Simmons was actually on board with the data collection. Cold hard facts trumped an old scout in a Cuban shirt spitting into his cup and offering his general manager the guarantee, "That (expletive) can flat-out hit."
Neither method is foolproof. The Pirates had some solid statistical trends to suggest pitcher Jon Niese would be successful at PNC Park. He was awful.
Six other organizations took a chance on the athletically-gifted Chad Hermansen after the Pirates gave up on him. His career average was .195.
Now there's a new way to do things, and teams are buying into it.
---
It's not that the Steelers wish any ill will on anyone.
It's just that they'll gladly surrender the daily spotlight their soap opera has drawn to Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots
---
New drinking game: Every time Penguins TV analyst Bob Errey uses the word "netminder," take a shot.
You'll be on the floor by the first intermission.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
General manager Jim Rutherford has a troubled and inconsistent team, and no clear idea of what to do with it.
The salary cap makes it difficult to deal, and Rutherford has to wonder if there's the kind of trade that can shake his team out of its win-a-few, lose-a-few tendencies. Although the Penguins are still likely to make the playoffs, they're not guaranteed a spot.
The good thing about the Penguins' goaltending is Matt Murray has two Stanley Cups on his resume. The bad thing is Murray has been inconsistent this season, he gets hurt a lot, and his backup is the inexperienced and quite average Casey DeSmith.
But would any of the available veterans be a clear upgrade and fit under the cap?
The Penguins always seem to be in the market for another winger who could score and/or be a physical presence. They'd like to have Carolina's Michael Ferland, but so would a lot of other teams. Besides, the Hurricanes are still alive in the playoff race.
It appeared Rutherford successfully addressed that issue last season by acquiring Derick Brissard. Instead, Brissard was a complete flop in that role.
An extra defenseman seems like a good idea. Ben Lovejoy would have fit, but New Jersey traded him to Dallas.
There were even rumors the Penguins were considering re-acquiring forward Carl Hagelin. He went to Washington instead.
It isn't so much whether Rutherford would like to make a deal as it is whether he can find one that makes sense.
---
The propeller heads are winning in baseball.
That was the unflattering nickname former Pirates general manager Ted Simmons gave to the new wave of statistical analysts who were infiltrating the front offices.
Eager and young and often non-athletic, Simmons perceived them as ambitious kids wearing beanies. They had never taken a foul tip off the mask; their biggest workplace injury risk was a paper cut.
They're no longer an oddity. They've become the industry standard, to the point that MLB teams are cutting their scouting staffs and relying more on statistical analysis to evaluate players.
Traditionally teams have sent evaluation scouts on the road to file reports on every major league player they see. Now those scouts are being eliminated and the information is being gleaned from the spreadsheets compiled by the analysts.
No more plane tickets to purchase, no more bills at the Marriott, no more phony receipts for restaurant meals that were never served.
Once when Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott was reviewing budgets, she complained about the amount allotted for scouts. "All they do is watch games," she said. Now they don't, at least not in some places.
Simmons was actually on board with the data collection. Cold hard facts trumped an old scout in a Cuban shirt spitting into his cup and offering his general manager the guarantee, "That (expletive) can flat-out hit."
Neither method is foolproof. The Pirates had some solid statistical trends to suggest pitcher Jon Niese would be successful at PNC Park. He was awful.
Six other organizations took a chance on the athletically-gifted Chad Hermansen after the Pirates gave up on him. His career average was .195.
Now there's a new way to do things, and teams are buying into it.
---
It's not that the Steelers wish any ill will on anyone.
It's just that they'll gladly surrender the daily spotlight their soap opera has drawn to Robert Kraft and the New England Patriots
---
New drinking game: Every time Penguins TV analyst Bob Errey uses the word "netminder," take a shot.
You'll be on the floor by the first intermission.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 20, 2019
The Steelers and Antonio Brown reached an important agreement on Tuesday.
They apparently agreed that Brown shouldn't play for the Steelers any more.
At least that was the version Brown released via social media after he and his representatives met with Steelers chairman Art Rooney II and general manager Kevin Colbert in Florida.
So the Steelers will look to trade their best receiver, hoping they can acquire a fair return in the deal and then find a successor in the offseason.
Those tasks won't be easy, but a trade is the most palatable resolution to Brown's problems with the team.
At least it came to a face-to-face meeting after nearly two months of Brown's lack of direct communication. As far as anyone knows, Steelers management didn't hear from Brown other than through those sometimes bizarre social media posts.
Releasing Brown was not a viable option. The Steelers would still have a substantial salary cap hit and they would get no return. Brown made it clear he was done with Pittsburgh, so expecting him to fulfill the final three years of his existing contract was also unrealistic.
So that leaves a trade as the solution. The NFL Scouting Combine starts next week, which will give Colbert proximity to all of his peers. That will facilitate trade discussions.
One important detail: The Steelers will handle the negotiations rather that granting permission to Brown and his agent to seek a deal.
Brown apparently thinks a new team will give him a new contract, too. That remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely.
No deal can be finalized until March 13, although agreements can be made before then. The Steelers will want this done sooner rather than later so they can start shaping the 2019 roster in advance of the draft and other off-season activities.
Before the parties parted on Tuesday, Brown and Rooney posed for a photo.
If you've seen it, you probably noticed that Rooney doesn't look especially comfortable in the shot.
That's the way this whole issue has gone, and it's not over yet.
---
One of baseball's high profile free agent campaigns ended Tuesday when San Diego signed Manny Machado for 10 years and $300 million.
There was a time when $300 million could build a new stadium. Now it buys an infielder who publicly admits he doesn't always give his best effort.
The Padres have accumulated young talent, and they're hoping those prospects will be ready to pop in the next few years with Machado anchoring the lineup. Question Machado's dedication, but not his talent. He is solid offensively and defensively, whether he plays shortstop or third base.
The Padres have an odd payroll structure. Last year they paid Eric Hosmer $20 million. They had three other players between $8.25 million and $3.25 million. The rest of their players were under $2 million.
Will it pay off in a division dominated by the filthy-rich Dodgers? Maybe not, but it's safe to guess the phones were hopping in the Padres' ticket offices on Tuesday.
---
The upstart Alliance of American Football almost went belly-up before the second week of its inaugural season.
Reports say the league wasn't going to meet its payroll until an emergency investment of $250,000 came along.
How does that happen? They started a league and got a TV contract, yet nearly ran out of money after one week of operation?
Doesn't bode well for the AAF, which was praised as a good idea in this space.
Even if AAF doesn't make it, spring football has a future. Vince McMahon plans to revive the XFL next year, and McMahon has plenty of money in the bank.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
They apparently agreed that Brown shouldn't play for the Steelers any more.
At least that was the version Brown released via social media after he and his representatives met with Steelers chairman Art Rooney II and general manager Kevin Colbert in Florida.
So the Steelers will look to trade their best receiver, hoping they can acquire a fair return in the deal and then find a successor in the offseason.
Those tasks won't be easy, but a trade is the most palatable resolution to Brown's problems with the team.
At least it came to a face-to-face meeting after nearly two months of Brown's lack of direct communication. As far as anyone knows, Steelers management didn't hear from Brown other than through those sometimes bizarre social media posts.
Releasing Brown was not a viable option. The Steelers would still have a substantial salary cap hit and they would get no return. Brown made it clear he was done with Pittsburgh, so expecting him to fulfill the final three years of his existing contract was also unrealistic.
So that leaves a trade as the solution. The NFL Scouting Combine starts next week, which will give Colbert proximity to all of his peers. That will facilitate trade discussions.
One important detail: The Steelers will handle the negotiations rather that granting permission to Brown and his agent to seek a deal.
Brown apparently thinks a new team will give him a new contract, too. That remains to be seen, but it doesn't seem likely.
No deal can be finalized until March 13, although agreements can be made before then. The Steelers will want this done sooner rather than later so they can start shaping the 2019 roster in advance of the draft and other off-season activities.
Before the parties parted on Tuesday, Brown and Rooney posed for a photo.
If you've seen it, you probably noticed that Rooney doesn't look especially comfortable in the shot.
That's the way this whole issue has gone, and it's not over yet.
---
One of baseball's high profile free agent campaigns ended Tuesday when San Diego signed Manny Machado for 10 years and $300 million.
There was a time when $300 million could build a new stadium. Now it buys an infielder who publicly admits he doesn't always give his best effort.
The Padres have accumulated young talent, and they're hoping those prospects will be ready to pop in the next few years with Machado anchoring the lineup. Question Machado's dedication, but not his talent. He is solid offensively and defensively, whether he plays shortstop or third base.
The Padres have an odd payroll structure. Last year they paid Eric Hosmer $20 million. They had three other players between $8.25 million and $3.25 million. The rest of their players were under $2 million.
Will it pay off in a division dominated by the filthy-rich Dodgers? Maybe not, but it's safe to guess the phones were hopping in the Padres' ticket offices on Tuesday.
---
The upstart Alliance of American Football almost went belly-up before the second week of its inaugural season.
Reports say the league wasn't going to meet its payroll until an emergency investment of $250,000 came along.
How does that happen? They started a league and got a TV contract, yet nearly ran out of money after one week of operation?
Doesn't bode well for the AAF, which was praised as a good idea in this space.
Even if AAF doesn't make it, spring football has a future. Vince McMahon plans to revive the XFL next year, and McMahon has plenty of money in the bank.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 17, 2019
At last, a Tweet from Antonio Brown that makes sense.
Asked for the root of his conflict with Ben Roethlisberger, Brown responded via Twitter:
"No conflict just a matter of respect! Mutual respect! He has a owner mentality like he can call out anybody including coaches. Players know but they can’t say anything about it otherwise they {sic} meal ticket gone. It’s a dirty game within a game."
You can argue punctuation and syntax, but what he said is fundamentally true.
Star players who are hard to replace have considerable sway within any sports organization. That's why LeBron James gets to choose teammates and coaches. It's why Mario Lemieux was able to lead behind-the-scenes rebellions against coaches.
The Steelers had a record-setting offense in 2017, but that wasn't enough to save the job of offensive coordinator Todd Haley. He was gone as soon as the season ended because Roethlisberger didn't like working with him.
That's the way things go in some circumstances.
It may or not may be a "dirty game," but it's definitely a game within a game.
It happens at different levels of sports organizations. Bill Cowher won a power struggle against Tom Donahoe, even though Donahoe, as general manager, was technically Cowher's boss.
The same thing happened with the Pirates when they opted for Jim Leyland over GM Ted Simmons.
It all depends on who's holding the best cards at the moment and who is viewed as the most difficult to replace.
---
Presumably the Steelers and Roethlisberger's representatives are working on a new contract extension for the quarterback.
It will pay a lot of money. That's a given.
The issue is how much of the money is guaranteed. The Minnesota Vikings changed the rules last year when they made quarterback Kirk Cousins' $84 million fully guaranteed.
NFL teams have handed out lucrative contracts, but the small print reveals only a certain percentage is guaranteed. Cousins' deal shattered that policy.
Roethlisberger is soon to turn 37, and this is likely the last contract he'll sign to play football.
He has millions of reasons to want to see the entire amount of his contract guaranteed.
===
When you write a guy a check for a $19 million guaranteed signing bonus, you kind of assume he'll take your calls if anything comes up.
That was Art Rooney's fundamental mistake with Antonio Brown.
---
Pitt's basketball season started with hope and promise when first-year coach Jeff Caple got some unexpected positive results.
But now the Panthers have lost nine in a row, and it's a reminder of what a big job Caple has in trying to resuscitate the program. He inherited a disaster from Kevin Stallings' unfortunate stay in Oakland.
---
Here's a scary stat: The Pirates' most-used first and third baseman last season combined for 23 home runs. Third baseman Colin Moran hit 11, and Josh Bell had the other 12.
The 23 home runs would barely be acceptable for one corner infielder, much less the combined total of two in 1,048 plate appearances last season.
In fact, Bell hit 26 home runs in 620 plate appearances in 2017.
The Pirates have brought back Jung Ho Kang to try and boost the production from third base. It's mostly all on Bell at first, and the team's new batting coaches will be trying to rediscover his power stroke.
Every team needs a thumper somewhere in the middle of the order, and Bell is the Pirates' best hope in that department.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Asked for the root of his conflict with Ben Roethlisberger, Brown responded via Twitter:
"No conflict just a matter of respect! Mutual respect! He has a owner mentality like he can call out anybody including coaches. Players know but they can’t say anything about it otherwise they {sic} meal ticket gone. It’s a dirty game within a game."
You can argue punctuation and syntax, but what he said is fundamentally true.
Star players who are hard to replace have considerable sway within any sports organization. That's why LeBron James gets to choose teammates and coaches. It's why Mario Lemieux was able to lead behind-the-scenes rebellions against coaches.
The Steelers had a record-setting offense in 2017, but that wasn't enough to save the job of offensive coordinator Todd Haley. He was gone as soon as the season ended because Roethlisberger didn't like working with him.
That's the way things go in some circumstances.
It may or not may be a "dirty game," but it's definitely a game within a game.
It happens at different levels of sports organizations. Bill Cowher won a power struggle against Tom Donahoe, even though Donahoe, as general manager, was technically Cowher's boss.
The same thing happened with the Pirates when they opted for Jim Leyland over GM Ted Simmons.
It all depends on who's holding the best cards at the moment and who is viewed as the most difficult to replace.
---
Presumably the Steelers and Roethlisberger's representatives are working on a new contract extension for the quarterback.
It will pay a lot of money. That's a given.
The issue is how much of the money is guaranteed. The Minnesota Vikings changed the rules last year when they made quarterback Kirk Cousins' $84 million fully guaranteed.
NFL teams have handed out lucrative contracts, but the small print reveals only a certain percentage is guaranteed. Cousins' deal shattered that policy.
Roethlisberger is soon to turn 37, and this is likely the last contract he'll sign to play football.
He has millions of reasons to want to see the entire amount of his contract guaranteed.
===
When you write a guy a check for a $19 million guaranteed signing bonus, you kind of assume he'll take your calls if anything comes up.
That was Art Rooney's fundamental mistake with Antonio Brown.
---
Pitt's basketball season started with hope and promise when first-year coach Jeff Caple got some unexpected positive results.
But now the Panthers have lost nine in a row, and it's a reminder of what a big job Caple has in trying to resuscitate the program. He inherited a disaster from Kevin Stallings' unfortunate stay in Oakland.
---
Here's a scary stat: The Pirates' most-used first and third baseman last season combined for 23 home runs. Third baseman Colin Moran hit 11, and Josh Bell had the other 12.
The 23 home runs would barely be acceptable for one corner infielder, much less the combined total of two in 1,048 plate appearances last season.
In fact, Bell hit 26 home runs in 620 plate appearances in 2017.
The Pirates have brought back Jung Ho Kang to try and boost the production from third base. It's mostly all on Bell at first, and the team's new batting coaches will be trying to rediscover his power stroke.
Every team needs a thumper somewhere in the middle of the order, and Bell is the Pirates' best hope in that department.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Altoona Mirror, February 13, 2019
There are a lot of bridges in Pittsburgh, and Antonio Brown seems to be intent on burning all of them.
On Tuesday, he failed to show for a hearing on the charge of excessive speeding. Wherever he was, he Tweeted a farewell to Steelers Nation.
The funny thing about that is he still owes the Steelers three more seasons on his current contract.
There's little doubt, though, that he will be traded next month, bringing an end to a career that was mostly spectacular before it took an irretrievable turn for the weird in the last 12 months.
The question is no longer whether the Steelers will trade Brown, but rather what they can get for him.
The answer to that is not trending well. ESPN reported that Brown will probably net the Steelers a second-day draft choice. That's it for a receiver who many considered the NFL's best?
In all likelihood, yes. Some teams don't want to deal with Brown's baggage. Others aren't looking for a receiver.
On the positive side, his salaries are manageable for a player of his stature. But price may not matter to some general managers, who don't want a player who just quit on his team.
The new NFL season opens a month from today. It shouldn't take long for the Steelers to make a deal and put this lingering headache in the past.
Until then, there are still bridges for Brown to torch.
---
Evgeni Malkin will sit out tonight's game against Edmonton, and he should.
The NHL suspended Malkin for one game after he swung his stick at the head of the Flyers' Michael Raffl. Malkin missed, but the intent was there.
Malkin was angered because Raffl punched him in the back of the head. Malkin had every right to be upset at Raffl's cheap shot, but that doesn't give a player the right to respond with his own gratuitous violence.
The NHL has tried to get stick swinging out of the game, so there wasn't much tolerance for what Malkin did.
Just back from an undisclosed upper body injury, he'll have an evening to think about his infraction.
Malkin is a gifted player, but he's prone to losing his temper on the ice. Opponents have had success in goading him into penalties.
He heads to the penalty box, and the Penguins are without one of their best players.
After all these years, he should know better. He should make a special effort to tighten things up as the playoffs draw closer.
---
As of this moment, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still unsigned.
Baseball's two premier free agents have yet to find a spot on a 2019 roster.
Some reports suggest that a hissing contest between agents is a factor. Harper is represented by Scott Boras and Dan Lozano negotiates on behalf of Machado.
The two agents are said to be rivals and each wants to come away with the distinction of having landed the biggest contract in MLB history. That means the other guy's player has to sign first.
In the meantime, neither player knows where he's going to play this season.
Remember when debates were about which player was the best rather than which agent negotiated the best deal?
The slow free agent market could help the Pirates with other players. Having this many players unsigned at this late date works in favor of clubs that don't have the biggest budget.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
On Tuesday, he failed to show for a hearing on the charge of excessive speeding. Wherever he was, he Tweeted a farewell to Steelers Nation.
The funny thing about that is he still owes the Steelers three more seasons on his current contract.
There's little doubt, though, that he will be traded next month, bringing an end to a career that was mostly spectacular before it took an irretrievable turn for the weird in the last 12 months.
The question is no longer whether the Steelers will trade Brown, but rather what they can get for him.
The answer to that is not trending well. ESPN reported that Brown will probably net the Steelers a second-day draft choice. That's it for a receiver who many considered the NFL's best?
In all likelihood, yes. Some teams don't want to deal with Brown's baggage. Others aren't looking for a receiver.
On the positive side, his salaries are manageable for a player of his stature. But price may not matter to some general managers, who don't want a player who just quit on his team.
The new NFL season opens a month from today. It shouldn't take long for the Steelers to make a deal and put this lingering headache in the past.
Until then, there are still bridges for Brown to torch.
---
Evgeni Malkin will sit out tonight's game against Edmonton, and he should.
The NHL suspended Malkin for one game after he swung his stick at the head of the Flyers' Michael Raffl. Malkin missed, but the intent was there.
Malkin was angered because Raffl punched him in the back of the head. Malkin had every right to be upset at Raffl's cheap shot, but that doesn't give a player the right to respond with his own gratuitous violence.
The NHL has tried to get stick swinging out of the game, so there wasn't much tolerance for what Malkin did.
Just back from an undisclosed upper body injury, he'll have an evening to think about his infraction.
Malkin is a gifted player, but he's prone to losing his temper on the ice. Opponents have had success in goading him into penalties.
He heads to the penalty box, and the Penguins are without one of their best players.
After all these years, he should know better. He should make a special effort to tighten things up as the playoffs draw closer.
---
As of this moment, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still unsigned.
Baseball's two premier free agents have yet to find a spot on a 2019 roster.
Some reports suggest that a hissing contest between agents is a factor. Harper is represented by Scott Boras and Dan Lozano negotiates on behalf of Machado.
The two agents are said to be rivals and each wants to come away with the distinction of having landed the biggest contract in MLB history. That means the other guy's player has to sign first.
In the meantime, neither player knows where he's going to play this season.
Remember when debates were about which player was the best rather than which agent negotiated the best deal?
The slow free agent market could help the Pirates with other players. Having this many players unsigned at this late date works in favor of clubs that don't have the biggest budget.
(John Mehno can be reached at: johnmehnocolumn@gmail.com)
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