Some quick takes on the Pirates:
--General manager Neal Huntington is usually ultra-guarded in his public comments, but he had no problem expressing his buyers remorse on Jon Niese.
Huntington basically said if he had the Neil Walker trade to do over, he'd take a couple of marginal prospects from the Mets and save the $9 million dent Niese is making in this year's payroll.
The Pirates hold options for two more seasons in Niese. He should not expect those to be picked up.
--It could just be a coincidence, but Jung Ho Kang has done practically nothing since the alleged incident in Chicago which is being investigated.
Put him on the restricted list. He isn't helping. Offensively and defensively, Kang lately hasn't been close to the player he was last year.
--Clint Hurdle has clearly lost confidence in Jared Hughes. Not that he doesn't ample reason to feel that way.
--Josh Bell will be back in September, if not sooner. If the organization is willing to say his defensive work at first base still needs work, it's safe to guess that the prospect of Bell playing regularly at first is pretty much scaring them right now.
--Pitching, pitching, pitching. Those should be the top three items on Huntington's shopping list as the trade deadline approaches.
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--CITY OF CHAMPIONS?
The national spotlight will be on Cleveland this week because of the Republican national convention.
The city got a huge publicity boost last month when the Cavaliers won the NBA championship, bringing Cleveland its first major sports title since the Browns won in 1964.
The Indians currently lead the American League Central by a comfortable margin. They had a 14-game winning streak before the All-Star break.
Wouldn't it be a hoot if after that 52-year drought, Cleveland won a World Series and an NBA title in the same year?
There's little danger of a trifecta. The Browns will consider it progress if they can start and finish the season with the same quarterback and head coach.
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--NEW DEAL
Defenseman Justin Schultz signed with the Penguins last week after sampling the free agent market.
Schultz signed for $1.4 million. He made $3.8 million last season.
Either he's the ultimate team player, or he didn't have any other offers.
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--TWO GOOD MEN
Former Pirates executive Bill Guilfoile died recently at 84.
He was the PR director from 1970-78, and was in charge when I started covering the Pirates in 1974. Bill was a gentleman who treated everyone with kindness and respect. He never wavered from those basic values even though he worked in the rough and tumble world of baseball, where it often seems profanity is the universal language.
Among other duties, Bill handled the transition from Forbes Field to Three Rivers Stadium, the 1971 World Series, and the sad task of confirming Roberto Clemente's death on New Years Eve, 1972.
After leaving Pittsburgh, Bill worked for the Baseball Hall of Fame until his retirement. Recent years had been a battle because Alzheimer's is so cruel.
Jack Riley, the Penguins' first general manager, died last week at 97.
He was a regular at home games as long as his health allowed. He was always generous in sharing his knowledge and memories. During Sidney Crosby's rookie season, I was sitting next to Jack. He tapped me on the arm and said with admiration, "Look at the way he wins every battle along the boards."
Anyone could see Crosby's speed and skill. It took a hockey lifer to appreciate that aspect of his game.
It was an honor to know Bill Guilfoile and Jack Riley.
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