OPINION —
AS MUCH AS I’D like to comment on the Steelers-Bengals game Sunday, I can’t do so because of early deadlines centering around Christmas.
So I’m going to improvise here.
Initially, I thought I’d clean up some of the little tidbits floating around in my noggin, but then the Pirates shipped Joel Hanrahan to Boston for a handful of prospects.
As much as I like ‘The Hammer,’ I think the Bucs did the right thing selling high with him.
I just don’t know if he’d be thought of any more highly than what he is right now after two straight All-Star campaigns.
Plus, he was due to make around $7 million this year, there’s no way in H-E-double hockey sticks I’m paying a closer that much money.
A closer pitches what 1 inning a day for no more than three straight days?
Spending several hundred thousand dollars per appearance just isn’t financially sound.
But with the trade, we have to hope a couple things go right for the Pirates.
We’ve got to hope the Buccos turn that money into some major league players either through free agency or trades, who’ll contribute at the big league level and not go right into Bob Nutting’s pocket.
I don’t know about you, but I’d hope the money is turned into a player, who can help offensively.
We also need to hope Jerry Sands and Stolmy Pimental (and whoever else they end up getting in the deal) turn out to bonafide major league players.
From what I hear, Sands could be the real deal bat we’ve been looking for to compliment ‘Cutch’ in the line-up. A couple guys I know that are big Dodgers fans were ticked off when he was dealt to Boston in the mega-trade last summer.
If he works out, this trade is a win for the Pirates, but as with all prospects, that’s a big IF.
I’ve got to backtrack a little bit here and retouch something I touched on briefly earlier.
And that’s the Pirates being financially smart.
After two months of free agency, I’m not sure they are being smart with their money.
Throwing the money they’ve thrown at catcher Russell Martin and pitcher Francisco Liriano, to me, isn’t smart.
Yes, Martin was widely regarded as one of the best catchers on the market, but the dude batted .211 with the Yankees and all the protection that line-up provides.
What’s he gonna do with Clint Barmes or whoever bats seventh and eighth swinging the stick behind him?
And all those homers?
I think that was a product of the new Yankee Stadium and all the home runs that place produces. It’s like Coors Field East with all the balls flying out of there.
Those people that liked the signing are saying he’ll throw out more runners than Rod Barajas or Michael McHenry did last year.
To that, I say “So what?”.
Throwing out base runners is an overrated statistic to me, because how often do they actually take off nowadays?
Don’t get me started on the Liriano signing.
He hasn’t been right since undergoing Tommy John surgery as a rookie.
If he can find his old form – which he’s had several seasons to do so – then it’s a steal, but he’s been struggling to find his command of the strike zone and I doubt he’ll discover it at PNC Park.
I guess these moves must be the Pirates’ way of rewarding us this Christmas season for being good little fans and flocking to PNC Park all summer.
In case you aren’t getting what I’m talking about, we’re getting lumps of coal instead of the pennants and winning seasons that are dancing around in our heads.
Agree, Disagree or just want to comment contact Corey at gcsportsguy@yahoo.com.
Sports
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Trading Hanrahan was good move for Buccos
- Sports
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HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track set today at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium today, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Competitive cheerleading tough for even manly men
WHEN I THINK OF MYSELF, I think I’m one of the more manly men you’ll find.
I definitely don’t mind eating all kinds of meat and potatoes. I love watching sports — and participating in them when I can.
I do many other things that ‘real’ men do that aren’t fit for print and proper readers.
What I don’t do is wear skinny jeans or other tight-fitting clothes. I don’t wear jewelry nor do I wear colors that lean more to the femine side than the masculine side. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: Mercer 9 drops thriller to KC
It was a game both teams were trying to win — it just seemed as though neither wanted to — as Kennedy Catholic High baseball team met Mercer Friday afternoon in an inter-region District 10 affair.
The teams traded late leads before, ultimately, Scott Moore’s fielder’s choice RBI-grounder scored pinch-runner Ethan Feldmiller with the game-winner, as KC captured an 11-10 conquest. -
NCAA Football: Rock 6-1 after 17-3 win over Cal U
Slippery Rock University rode a length-of-the-field scoring drive by its offense and a goal-line stand by its No. 1-ranked defense late in the first half of action Saturday to a 17-3 win over 14th-ranked visiting California (Pa.).
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NFL: Steelers top Jags as Mendenhall makes return
Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to say the Pittsburgh Steelers are back. Not after watching his team sleepwalk through the second half against Jacksonville on Sunday.
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IndyCar Racing: Crash takes Wheldon’s life
Every race car driver heads onto the track understanding this race could be the last and hoping it won’t be. On Sunday, IndyCar drivers got a harsh reminder when the worst happened to one of their own.
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NHL: Sabres beat Penguins 3-2
The Buffalo Sabres have had trouble with the Pittsburgh Penguins whether Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin play or not.
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NHL Quick glance: Montreal at Pittsburgh
A breakdown of the National Hockey League game Thursday night between the Pittsburgh Penguins and visiting Montreal Canadiens.
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High School Highlights: Oct. 19, 2011
A look at the last few days in local high school fall sports action.
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Leading Off: Oct. 19, 2011
News and notes from the local, regional and national sports scene.
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