Chapter 1: What is the current state of the Pirates in MLB?
Quite an interesting week in Pittsburgh sports, but let's end it where we began today. Sean, don't call me Seth Meyers. And that is... Man, these last, I don't know, how many years have been flooded with stories on the state of sports in Pittsburgh? Dark times, the dark ages. Nobody wins playoff games or series anymore. When was the last time it was this bad?
Well, it occurred to me when I woke up today, man, like I just talked to Kevin Gorman about, the Pirates are the biggest story in baseball right now. Rampant optimism. Maybe some of it's misguided, but Connor Griffin's the biggest story in the game at this particular moment.
Chapter 2: How is Connor Griffin making waves in baseball?
I have a crazy few little tidbits on him. Yeah. Courtesy of Sarah Langs. She does a great job with all things MLB. Yeah. If he starts opening day, which certainly there's at least a chance of that. 50-50, Gorman said. First teenage position player in an MLB game since Juan Soto in 2018.
The youngest to play on opening day since 1989 and the first teenager to make an opening day roster and making their debut also since 1989. Both of those distinctions went to Ken Griffey Jr.
Chapter 3: What recent changes have positively impacted the Penguins?
Wow. So Juan Soto and Ken Griffey Jr. are the two names that he would match if he starts opening day.
I can't tell you the last time I wanted to intensely track the results of a spring training game, but Gorman said Griffin's in like a major league lineup today, like it's a real lineup, and I can't wait to find out what he's doing. You know what I mean? So we have that, him and Skeens and the Pirates in a different place.
We have the Penguins in a wildly different place than anybody could have imagined. And the game last night was fabulous. They turn it up 10 notches in the third period and get two points that they need. And every point right now is precious.
Chapter 4: What challenges does the Penguins face without Sid?
They're flat out fun. They're flat out good. They're a good team. We're nearly 60 games in here. That ain't changing. It's still going to be a struggle perhaps without Sid, although even good news came there when we learned that the four-week, minimum of four-week projection was retroactive to when the injury actually occurred. So he could be back sooner than we think.
Point being, even with the Steelers, and I'm not exactly optimistic going into next year, but at least something's changed from the staleness of of Mike Tomlin being there every single year and knowing exactly what was going to happen. I don't love that they went to what I think is Tomlin 2.0 here in a similar resume, Mike McCarthy, but at least it's different.
Chapter 5: How are the Steelers' coaching changes affecting the team?
A lot of talk about Ty Simpson today. That could be good. That could be bad, but at least it's something different and new and maybe give it a try. Overall point being suddenly there's hope around here. The most precious commodity in all of sports. And I don't want to go too far. I'm not living beyond this day.
But it feels way different than I think at any time in the last several years around here. And staleness was the theme. My God, the Penguins year after year after year.
Chapter 6: What is the significance of Ty Simpson in the NFL draft?
Please call somebody. Call the fight, please. Let Mike Sullivan go somewhere else. Try anything else. And finally it happened. The Steelers would still be doing that because Art wasn't going to do it, but Mike Tomlin fired himself. Thank you. Finally something different.
And then the Pirates, well, that situation is pretty much taking care of itself because they've been so horrible that they've gotten high picks and they've made the most of them. Connor Griffin as the ninth pick, I think, is why Ben Charrington still has a job.
Chapter 7: What upcoming WPIAL basketball games should fans watch?
And finally, this offseason, for whatever reason, I don't even care. Maybe a nudge from Major League Baseball. It's not like they went crazy, but at least they're behaving like a team that's actually trying to win. There's hope. Hope abounds with our pro sports teams suddenly. What if I would have told you all these developments a short six months ago? Sean, don't call me Seth Meyers.
A, the Pirates would be the biggest story in baseball. Connor Griffin would be breaking through here. They would sign two all-stars from last season, plus Marcelo Zuna.
Chapter 8: What are the highlights of the local high school basketball scene?
B, the Penguins would be in playoff position. And C, Mike Tomlin would no longer be here.
You would have said I'm nuts. I would have said you're insane. I would have been more inclined to believe the Pirates part than the other two, to be honest.
But here we are, and I'm not saying it's time to plan victory parades. It's not Mardi Gras around here, but it's not another story coming out comparing the state of Pittsburgh sports to the worst stretches of all time either.
Connor Griffin grounded out to shortstop, by the way. That said, season's over. Yeah, he's not making the roster. No.
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You want to retire in Florida like Ron did? Let Secure Money Advisors help plan your retirement. All right, let's take a look ahead to the weekend, shall we, Sean? We have the Penguins, and they have an interesting little situation happening because Shelov's played goal yesterday. Why shouldn't he come back and play again? Do you have a good reason? I sure don't.
At the Rangers Saturday is when I'd play him and get those two points. Get those two points and then worry about Vegas Sunday. Maybe try to get one would be a good idea. So you got back-to-back games. The Rangers stink. They're broken. Get your two there, and then come back maybe with Skinner Sunday and get one. Then you got a giant week ahead, two games against the Bruins.
In between that, against Buffalo Thursday, Philly Saturday. Every game's a giant game, and they got to average a point a game. It's as simple as that, and that should do it to get them into the playoffs. And then maybe when they get back from that ā what is it, a five-game road trip, Carolina, Vegas, Utah, Colorado, Carolina, maybe shoot for that weekend for a Sid return.
Maybe wait till Tuesday when McKinnon comes to town. That's fine with me. And I think that they're more than capable of holding on at a point to game until then.
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