The Definition of Solid

A sad note has been struck on an otherwise joyous sports week, as the Steelers have announced the impending parting of ways with standout inside linebacker, Larry Foote. Foote, a favorite of mine, and of many of my readers, has expedited the severance process by asking for an unconditional release. Bottom line here is that Foote wants to play every down, or at least more than he played in 2008, when he split duty with the emerging Lawrence Timmons. The Steelers' top brass offered no protestations to Foote's request, as the financial writing was on the wall that he needed either a pay cut or a bus ticket. Such is life in the world of player personnel management in Steeltown.

Steeler Nation not only loses a great runner stopper, but an all out gamer. Not many played with more dedication and intensity than #50. As MP stated, "the definition of solid". Here are some quick hitters to summarize just what type of asset will be exiting the North Shore complex:

• 80 starts in 80 games since 2004, serving as co-anchor to the NFL's #1 rush defense over that period.


• Hasn't missed a game since rookie year of 2002.


• 406 tackles and 14.5 sacks since becoming starter.


• Logged key interception of Jake Plummer in 2005 AFC Championship Game.


• Funded the funeral of a Detroit youth that he had never even met.


• 2 Superbowl rings.

Black (and Gold) Monday

Wow! What a sports weekend for the Western PA guys! Starting with the Penguins' fashionable and memorable rally to sink the NHL's version of the Titanic (the Flyers), then a deep and potentially excellent draft by the Steelers, and last, and least,...will someone please break up the Buccos?!? More in depth analysis on all three pistons of this highly tuned Steel City engine to follow. For now, just enjoy your coffee with some of my award winning quick hitters:

• What is up with Adam LaRoche? The sloth who warms to spring in glacial slowness, is already clocking a .621 slugging with 5 dingers and 14 RBIs. Oh yeah, it's a contract year.
• The Bucs' starting rotation continues to be the spring story in PNC Park. With 12 quality starts in 18 games, this rotation is quietly sitting as MLB's best.
• The Third Round of yesterday's draft will be the tell-tale litmus as to how the 2009 draft will be remembered. Watch this guard Urbik challenge to start in his rookie season.
• A.Q. Shipley in the 7th round??!! Hell, yeah! Again, you heard it here first, watch Shipley not only make this team, but eventually earn a starting job. (maybe by 2011)
• So, although I totally missed the Pens game (laugh it up, Ad Rock) I need to jot something here. Readers, please fill up the comments section with clear recounts of just how good it felt to end the Flyers season (again) in such a triumphant fashion.

Ode to the Candyman

On a bright and sunny morning, when every sports writer in Pennsylvania is praising (or lamenting - based on his or her zip code) the remarkable efforts of netmider Marc-Andre Fleury, I will take another route and focus on one of the unsung heroes in the series.

Today's post is dedicated to the staunch presence of the Black and Gold clad blue line bully, Mr. Brooks Orpik. In the wise and often timely words of Penguins orator, Mike Lange, Mr. Orpik is just sending out checks like it's the first of the month. It's not often that the physical Flyers get outhit in a series, and it's even less frequent when their fan base and media guys admit to it, but the buzz on Broad Street these days is that the Pens are both the more talented and more physical team. For those that have watched any of this series, it all starts with #44, as his signature squashings have given the Penguins the moxy that they need to back their swagger.

Danny Briere enjoying a little candy.

The Topsy Turvey Spring

Although I should be focusing my energies on the growing intensity in the Pens/Flyers series, or perhaps on some in depth analysis in the Steelers upcoming draft, I still find myself oddly drawn to the intriguing early spring of our #3 team, the Battlin' Buccos.

With last night's shutout of the red hot Florida Marlins, the Bucs now own an astonishing four white washings in just 13 games. This figure actually exceeds the entire 2008 total for shutouts. With more analysis from the help of the world's greatest baseball bean counters, Baseball-Reference.com, you'll notice that the Bucs own the league's best era with an incredible nine quality starts in 13 outings. They've held their opponents to two runs or fewer seven times already, yet have yielded six or more runs in half of the other games.

This roller coaster ride is surely to extend well into the season, but my protruding gut tells me that this year's season totals will be light years better than the dreadful returns of 2008.

Ok, enough on the Bucs. More Pens and draft coverage coming soon. I promise.

Duking it Out

Contrary to the constant and profane protestations of A Dawg, MP, (and virtually my entire reader base), the Buccos are alive and well, as they extend their winning record deeper into the season with a creaming of the Astros, 7-0 yesterday. Zach Duke continues to resemble a cross between Sandy Koufax and Jesus, with his 0.59 era through two starts.

All indicators suggest that pitching coach Joe Kerrigan is rubbing off on this young staff, which is already enjoying an impressive April. More to certainly follow on this epic story. Let the angry comments begin...

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the left arm of God???

Flyers Lay Egg on Easter

The Easter Bunny donned some orange and black yesterday and dropped a shiny gift that we call home ice into the Penguins' baskets. The Flyers blew a late lead in an eventual loss yesterday; a loss that handed the Pens the fourth seed in the East, and thus, home ice in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Pens roll into the playoffs as the second best favorite to win it all, at 15:2 per Las Vegas. I would know these things because I just returned home from Sin City yesterday (those stories are available in a different blog!)

The second season opens on Wednesday in Mellon Arena. LET'S GO PENS!!!!!!!!!!!

Seventeen Can Wait

For all of you nay-sayers who have already penciled our 2009 Buccos into 6th place with a modest projection of 68 wins,...not so fast. The Cosco brand, economy priced squad just started through the opening four game series with the St Louis Red Birds, taking two outa three, while demonstrating some fine batsmenship.

All kidding aside, this version of the Bucs looks eerily similar to most of the past sixteen versions, and my overly optimistic gut tells me to expect low to mid 70's in the win totals. Here are some other projections/opinions:

• Fred Sanchez is finally healthy and should return to his rightful home north of .300.
• The starting rotation will range from average to above average most of the year.
• OF Brandon Moss could be the wild card to this year's success.
• Andy LaRoche will actually be remembered as being worse than his big bro.
• Expect to see Neil Walker and Drew McCutheon in the lineup by late May/early June.

Just Send Tanks

Just weeks after Cincy Bungles ringleader Marvin Lewis commented on using the Steelers as his pattern for franchise success, particularly in the areas of player acquisition and roster management, the Queen City Pussy Cats followed their seemingly horrific judgement, once again, by signing formerly troubled defensive lineman, Tank Johnson yesterday. One would think that a franchise that has had a whopping 10 players arrested in a span of a year would steer clear of a negative media magnet, such as Johnson, regardless of how "well behaved" he has been recently. Of course, I'm just a writer, and certainly no judge of character. We wish Mr. Johnson, and the Bungles, all the success in the world during their newly formed honeymoon. Should Tank regress to his, shall we say, less than civil ways, the Bungles' legal and public relations teams should be appropriately prepared (and experienced) for the aftermath.

Stay tuned for this drama