DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Welcome to Tuesday Twenty Qs, a better, fairer format, I think, for the weekly chat. We’ll do it every week at this time, and this time was chosen so that, in football season, it can immediately follow Mike Tomlin’s weekly press conference.
The format is simple: Use the comments below to submit an entry, no more than one per person. Submit them anytime you want. I’ll pick from those to get the thing rolling. I’ll then keep monitoring new entries, even as the session is ongoing, to cover follow-ups or updates.
Again, all I ask is that it’s one entry per person. Most of the complaints I heard in the old format were about the same people getting chosen too often.
As always, all topics are on the table. Really, anything at all.
UPDATE 12:56 p.m.: OK, I guess we’re about to get going … except that I said 20 questions, not the 72 I’m seeing down there right now! Come on!
Milo Hamilton: What have these past three weeks or so been like for you ?
DK: Kind of like this new format, Milo: Bitten off more than I can chew!
No, seriously, it’s been exhilarating, liberating, nervewracking, thrilling, frightning and pretty much every other -ing out there. But after how this opening week has gone in terms of response from the readership, that’s really calmed everything. I’m now more confident than ever this will not only succeed but thrive.
SeanAy: Based on the talent around him on the defensive line, what does Stephon Tuitt have to do to crack the starting lineup this year? To me, the biggest thing the secondary needs is another Aaron Smith to eat up blockers, allowing Worilds/Jones/Shazier to cut loose.
DK: Eh, we can disagree on that last point, Sean. The biggest thing Jarvis Jones needs to do is elevate his own game. No one was complaining about a lack of support when Jason Worilds went nuts last season. He just did his job and got to the QB. It”s important, yes, but not primary. The training wheels are off for 95.
As for Tuitt, he’s off to a rough start. John Mitchell, the eternal D-line coach, lit into the young man — vocally, demonstrably — during a drill Tuitt mangled two days ago. Might have just been for show, but I don’t think so. As Mitchell challenged Tuitt, he needs to be better than anyone else in the country in his situation, meaning a second-rounder vying for starting duty.
dsglass74: With the Bucs contending but flawed, what move would you make? The go-for-broke trade for a David Price/Jon Lester caliber player? Or a bullpen arm/smaller deal? Do you think prospects are becoming OVER-valued lately?
DK: Prospects can safely be labeled overvalued when teams stop overpaying for them. We clearly aren’t at that stage yet, so the market dictates the terms.
I’m sticking by my stance that the Pirates need to pursue bullpen help immediately, put all else on held. That includes starting pitching and, yes, it includes Pedro Alvarez. Lest anyone forget, the real trade deadline is Aug. 31, which is when the Pirates got Marlon Byrd and Justin Morneau after they cleared waivers. Such players will be available again. I’d like to give the rotation a chance as is, and I’d like to give Ike Davis a chance to do his usual second-half thing.
But relief help is a must right now.
akenna431: DK, lunatic here, absolutely love the new setup. Having heard some details about Mike Johnston’s system, as different as it sounds from Dan Bylsma’s, it doesn’t sound to me like it’s any better of a fit for Scuds. If he is in a Pens uni next season, does he fit in any better?
DK: The only way Rob Scuderi will play better next season — and he will be part of the team — is to play better. That’s it. I’m tired of hearing excuse after excuse for him. I was no fan of Bylsma’s system, and I thought even less of the aspect in which the left D was exposed in the neutral zone. But there’s an element of that in what Johnston will do, too, in that he loves the four-man cycle. Be sure he won’t love Scuderi being that fourth man.
Scuderi was slow, passive and clumsy all season. Only he can change that. Or not. Maybe he can’t change it. We’ll see.
ManDarino: Has your relationship now changed with us, your loyal readers, now that we’ve been transformed into customers? Do you feel more constrained in calling us boneheaded maroons? Especially in the comments section.
DK: That’s a question only a boneheaded maroon would ask.
No, seriously, the readers have always been customers, to a degree. I’m not changing. I’ve got strong opinions, and I’m not exactly shy about sharing them. That will lose people. I get that. But that’s part of how this goes and how it’s always gone.
Oshie: Paul Chryst starts his third year at Pitt. Is this the year that serious critical review of his recruiting and coaching is warranted ? Pretty much his team now. Also, does he have any influence at getting WVU and PSU on the annual schedule?
DK: Funny that you ask. Earlier today, I interviewed Chryst at length on a ton of topics, and it will be the main feature on this site tomorrow in lieu of a column. I’m just going to type out the transcript for you to see what I thought was a strikingly candid conversation.
To your second question, that’s largely Steve Pederson’s domain when it comes to football. And I sense absolutely zero interest in anything West Virginia-related. Same goes for Jamie Dixon.
Andrew Sanders: Dejan, would you care to share your thoughts on the Ray Rice situation?
DK: Sure, Andrew: It’s beyond opinion. Really, to state that the NFL and Roger Goodell acted reprehensibly and irresponsibly in this ruling is beyond opinion. It’s cold, hard, ugly fact. And I hope like hell that Goodell’s legacy is remembered a lot more for garbage like this than whether or not he can someday stick a franchise in London, I really do.
Which isn’t to excuse Rice. It takes a special kind of scum to strike a woman.
That’s also not an opinion.
Steve: Do you think Ryan Shazier will be effective in coverage against the Gronk, Graham, Pitta types in the league and do the Steelers plan on using him that way?
DK: They plan on using all their linebackers that way, Steve. No doubt in my mind, especially after watching the full-contact stuff yesterday. Shazier dropped into coverage, Lawrence Timmons always has done it, Worilds made the play of the day with a sensational pick after somehow running step for step with Dri Archer, and Jones handled one coverage so well that Joey Porter sprang onto the field do something of a dance with him.
One of the many benefits of Shazier’s presence is that Timmons now won’t have to be that guy all the time. His many skills can be put to other use.
JC Steel: The Pirates seem “in” on just about every player, but the asking prices are steep. When do you think Neal Huntington and his team will be willing to part with big-time prospects for a top-of-the-line player? And when do YOU think the team should make that kind of move?
DK: You present a chance here, JC, for me to tackle the latest gnawing narrative about the Pirates that seems to be taking on undeserved life: They never trade their prospects for veterans.
It simply isn’t true. Most of the prospects moved have been of the lesser variety — hardly cause of complaint — but the Wandy Rodriguez trade sent out Rudy Owens and Robbie Grossman at a time when Grossman, in particular, was a fairly hot commodity. This was, in fact, a template of how these types of moves usually look.
That’s not to say Huntington couldn’t or shouldn’t do more. Just to stress that it actually does have a precedent.
I’m on record that I feel the Pirates absolutely should entertain such a deal, if that’s what works best. There’s no point in building up a super-deep farm system unless such moves are being made, barring getting glowing reviews from Baseball America.
But I also, as always, hate the notion that things need to be done for symbolic purposes. If a veteran pitcher or two or three can be had for pure cash, you’d always rather see the cash go out. And I’ll repeat: The cash is there. By my estimation, the Pirates are about $9 million below where they could or should be in terms of payroll.
Barry J. Brooks: Hi Dejan – Do you think that an agreement will be struck with Brandon Sutter to stay at the Pens or can you see him going?
DK: Sutter is a restricted free agent asking for a reasonable salary at $4 million. He’ll be retained. I find no suspense in this whatsoever. The team needs him, and he’s there to be had for a good price. And multiple years.
Ronald Johnson: DK – congrats on a smashing first week! What is it about Pittsburgh sports and particularly the Pittsburgh sports fan that allows a site such as this to exist and thrive?
DK: Funny, but that’s one of the biggest variables in this whole equation. I’ve seen some healthy discussions about this venture, including by eminently knowledgeable media analysts, and they all seem to omit the Pittsburgh factor.
Let’s be real here: Pittsburgh is freakish when it comes to sports. There’s data all over the place to support that. Yeah, people leave games early to beat the traffic and complain too much and can be spoiled, but the hard numbers are impossible to dispute, especially now that the Pirates have been resurrected.
Believe you me, it was a very, very big part of my decision. I’m born and raised here. I know what’s important here.
Abdulmalik: Nice column on Shazier, Dejan. Regarding the defense, at this age and era is it still true that defense wins championships? If it is yes, is the defensive side of the ball to any degree less important now than, say, 10-15 years ago?
DK: I’ve read advanced studies that suggest it’s smarter to put more money into offense, particularly the skill positions, than it was in the past. But as far as being less important to the actual game, that’s a hard case to make. It’s still half the game. It’s still just as value to prevent a score as to generate one. That’s fundamental math.
And I don’t know about you, but I didn’t look at that Seattle team as one founded on offense, with all due respect to Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks were all about their swarming, aggressive, intimidating defense.
Tom P.: I recognize that the Pirates could have traded for starting pitching 3-4 weeks ago, but over the last 33 games, they are 21-12. At the beginning of that stretch they were 2 games below .500. The performance since then does not seem to mandate an immediate move.
DK: Not at all. And Vance Worley placed a very pretty bow on that thought last night in San Francisco.
MASH: It seems there’s little debating Kasperi Kapanen’s skill level. But is he physically ready for the NHL this year? That’s the big difference I see between him and Olli Maatta.
DK: And that’s dead-on. Maatta didn’t exactly arrive into camp as a behemoth, but he was probably closer to filled out, not to mention a year older. Kapanen acknowledged in the Monday column that he needs to add ‘strength,’ but what he really means is bulk. That’s not easy in a short period, especially when doing so can affect skating.
This will end up being the No. 1 argument against keeping Kapanen around, for sure. At the same time, it’s also worth stressing that he’ll never be in the lineup because of his size or strength. It will always be because of his quickness and hands. Which is why nothing can — or should, in my view — be ruled out at this point.
Trey: Looking at it from the other perspective, what type of haul for Lester or Price (recognizing that their control situations are different) should a GM expect? There’s kind of a formula for trading draft picks in the NFL, is there a similar guideline in MLB?
DK: Of course. And that formula is based on precedent, to the largest extent. If Tampa Bay could get players X and Y for Matt Garza, then surely they’ll want X, Y and Z for Price. (Not that Price is going anywhere at this point, with the way the Rays are soaring.) Some teams might not like that. The Pirates openly profess to set their own market, their own internal values. But at the end of the day, when you drive into the gas station, you’ve got to pay the number at the pump. It’s possible Huntington will do that, but I’ll stress again it isn’t paramount.
What matters most is doing what’s right for that particular transaction.
Michael: DK, did the Bucs go overboard in dealing from the depth of their bullpen over the last year or so (Vic Black, Bryan Morris, Jason Grilli), leaving themselves in a situation where they’re going to have to give up a prospect or two to fill the holes for the rest of the season?
DK: I don’t think they’ll have to give up significant prospects for a reliever or two. Huston Street was the extreme in the market. That’s done. If Huntington has demonstrated any one thing consistently through his tenure, it’s that relief is a fungible commodity seldom worth an overpay.
G-man: Have you gotten a feel of how autocratically Jim Rutherford will lead the Pens? Is he going to involve his next level guys in a serious way with personnel decisions this year to give them the experience to take over his job? I have to admit I’m nervous about him in this job.
DK: Being completely candid here, I haven’t been as impressed with Rutherford in this specific capacity as I thought I might be. My support of his hire was based very much on the promise that he’d be guiding Jason Botterill, Tom Fitzgerald and Bill Guerin through the process of becoming GMs or GM candidates themselves. I’ve neither seen nor heard much of that to date.
Hope it changes.
jackpat54: My question concerns Derek Moye. Why isn’t he in the discussion about being more of an option for this corp of wide receivers? He has the height and the speed. What is he lacking?
DK: Moye doesn’t catch the ball much, Jack. If that sounds mean, so be it. Place your wages instead on Justin Brown. What an offseason and early camp he’s having so far. Everyone loves him. Big kid, can run, soft hands … ball makes almost no sounds when he catches it. Kind of like Lance Moore.
Probably going to write about Brown soon, as a matter of fact.
Bill: Do the Hounds have a chance of surviving?
DK: If you mean climbing back into the USL Pro playoff picture, Bill, I’ll still say no, even though they’ve won five of seven and are only four points out. It’s just asking too much of a team that took far too long to get it together. And if Jose Angulo’s injury lingers at all, forget about it times 10.
But hey, ask me again Saturday night after the L.A. match.
Now, if you mean surviving in Pittsburgh, my answer will remain an emphatic yes. I believe in Tuffy Shallenberger’s ownership, and I’ve heard some highly encouraging things about plans for the coming offseason that will put things back on track. On the field and off.
Drew: Pedro Alvarez makes $4.25m this year, club option again next year; any idea what amount we could reasonably expect to be able to keep him with? Do we re-sign him long-term, look to trade him, or another 1 year deal? If he stays, 3rd or 1st for future? If he goes, J-Hay long term at 3rd?
DK: Ah, the perfect way to end a question-and-answer session: A question that has no answer.
Honestly, I pretty much punt on everything Pedro that comes my way. I’m mystified. I’m confused. I’m concerned about his state of mind. I’m working to keep context between his future needs and the immediate needs of the team. And none of that’s easy.
Can you begin to imagine what the Pirates are thinking about this?
Wow.
All I know is that player who keeps making those wild throws needs help of some kind, and I’m no longer feeling that such help is available through simply sending him back out there again and again and again.
Thanks to all who participated in this first edition! Good stuff!
July 29, 2014
Tuesday 12 Qs: Pedro, Jarvis, Scuds, more
by Dejan Kovacevic • Live Qs at 5 • Penguins, Pirates, Pitt, Riverhounds, Steelers
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Welcome to Tuesday Twenty Qs, a better, fairer format, I think, for the weekly chat. We’ll do it every week at this time, and this time was chosen so that, in football season, it can immediately follow Mike Tomlin’s weekly press conference.
The format is simple: Use the comments below to submit an entry, no more than one per person. Submit them anytime you want. I’ll pick from those to get the thing rolling. I’ll then keep monitoring new entries, even as the session is ongoing, to cover follow-ups or updates.
Again, all I ask is that it’s one entry per person. Most of the complaints I heard in the old format were about the same people getting chosen too often.
As always, all topics are on the table. Really, anything at all.
UPDATE 12:56 p.m.: OK, I guess we’re about to get going … except that I said 20 questions, not the 72 I’m seeing down there right now! Come on!
Milo Hamilton: What have these past three weeks or so been like for you ?
DK: Kind of like this new format, Milo: Bitten off more than I can chew!
No, seriously, it’s been exhilarating, liberating, nervewracking, thrilling, frightning and pretty much every other -ing out there. But after how this opening week has gone in terms of response from the readership, that’s really calmed everything. I’m now more confident than ever this will not only succeed but thrive.
SeanAy: Based on the talent around him on the defensive line, what does Stephon Tuitt have to do to crack the starting lineup this year? To me, the biggest thing the secondary needs is another Aaron Smith to eat up blockers, allowing Worilds/Jones/Shazier to cut loose.
DK: Eh, we can disagree on that last point, Sean. The biggest thing Jarvis Jones needs to do is elevate his own game. No one was complaining about a lack of support when Jason Worilds went nuts last season. He just did his job and got to the QB. It”s important, yes, but not primary. The training wheels are off for 95.
As for Tuitt, he’s off to a rough start. John Mitchell, the eternal D-line coach, lit into the young man — vocally, demonstrably — during a drill Tuitt mangled two days ago. Might have just been for show, but I don’t think so. As Mitchell challenged Tuitt, he needs to be better than anyone else in the country in his situation, meaning a second-rounder vying for starting duty.
dsglass74: With the Bucs contending but flawed, what move would you make? The go-for-broke trade for a David Price/Jon Lester caliber player? Or a bullpen arm/smaller deal? Do you think prospects are becoming OVER-valued lately?
DK: Prospects can safely be labeled overvalued when teams stop overpaying for them. We clearly aren’t at that stage yet, so the market dictates the terms.
I’m sticking by my stance that the Pirates need to pursue bullpen help immediately, put all else on held. That includes starting pitching and, yes, it includes Pedro Alvarez. Lest anyone forget, the real trade deadline is Aug. 31, which is when the Pirates got Marlon Byrd and Justin Morneau after they cleared waivers. Such players will be available again. I’d like to give the rotation a chance as is, and I’d like to give Ike Davis a chance to do his usual second-half thing.
But relief help is a must right now.
akenna431: DK, lunatic here, absolutely love the new setup. Having heard some details about Mike Johnston’s system, as different as it sounds from Dan Bylsma’s, it doesn’t sound to me like it’s any better of a fit for Scuds. If he is in a Pens uni next season, does he fit in any better?
DK: The only way Rob Scuderi will play better next season — and he will be part of the team — is to play better. That’s it. I’m tired of hearing excuse after excuse for him. I was no fan of Bylsma’s system, and I thought even less of the aspect in which the left D was exposed in the neutral zone. But there’s an element of that in what Johnston will do, too, in that he loves the four-man cycle. Be sure he won’t love Scuderi being that fourth man.
Scuderi was slow, passive and clumsy all season. Only he can change that. Or not. Maybe he can’t change it. We’ll see.
ManDarino: Has your relationship now changed with us, your loyal readers, now that we’ve been transformed into customers? Do you feel more constrained in calling us boneheaded maroons? Especially in the comments section.
DK: That’s a question only a boneheaded maroon would ask.
No, seriously, the readers have always been customers, to a degree. I’m not changing. I’ve got strong opinions, and I’m not exactly shy about sharing them. That will lose people. I get that. But that’s part of how this goes and how it’s always gone.
Oshie: Paul Chryst starts his third year at Pitt. Is this the year that serious critical review of his recruiting and coaching is warranted ? Pretty much his team now. Also, does he have any influence at getting WVU and PSU on the annual schedule?
DK: Funny that you ask. Earlier today, I interviewed Chryst at length on a ton of topics, and it will be the main feature on this site tomorrow in lieu of a column. I’m just going to type out the transcript for you to see what I thought was a strikingly candid conversation.
To your second question, that’s largely Steve Pederson’s domain when it comes to football. And I sense absolutely zero interest in anything West Virginia-related. Same goes for Jamie Dixon.
Andrew Sanders: Dejan, would you care to share your thoughts on the Ray Rice situation?
DK: Sure, Andrew: It’s beyond opinion. Really, to state that the NFL and Roger Goodell acted reprehensibly and irresponsibly in this ruling is beyond opinion. It’s cold, hard, ugly fact. And I hope like hell that Goodell’s legacy is remembered a lot more for garbage like this than whether or not he can someday stick a franchise in London, I really do.
Which isn’t to excuse Rice. It takes a special kind of scum to strike a woman.
That’s also not an opinion.
Steve: Do you think Ryan Shazier will be effective in coverage against the Gronk, Graham, Pitta types in the league and do the Steelers plan on using him that way?
DK: They plan on using all their linebackers that way, Steve. No doubt in my mind, especially after watching the full-contact stuff yesterday. Shazier dropped into coverage, Lawrence Timmons always has done it, Worilds made the play of the day with a sensational pick after somehow running step for step with Dri Archer, and Jones handled one coverage so well that Joey Porter sprang onto the field do something of a dance with him.
One of the many benefits of Shazier’s presence is that Timmons now won’t have to be that guy all the time. His many skills can be put to other use.
JC Steel: The Pirates seem “in” on just about every player, but the asking prices are steep. When do you think Neal Huntington and his team will be willing to part with big-time prospects for a top-of-the-line player? And when do YOU think the team should make that kind of move?
DK: You present a chance here, JC, for me to tackle the latest gnawing narrative about the Pirates that seems to be taking on undeserved life: They never trade their prospects for veterans.
It simply isn’t true. Most of the prospects moved have been of the lesser variety — hardly cause of complaint — but the Wandy Rodriguez trade sent out Rudy Owens and Robbie Grossman at a time when Grossman, in particular, was a fairly hot commodity. This was, in fact, a template of how these types of moves usually look.
That’s not to say Huntington couldn’t or shouldn’t do more. Just to stress that it actually does have a precedent.
I’m on record that I feel the Pirates absolutely should entertain such a deal, if that’s what works best. There’s no point in building up a super-deep farm system unless such moves are being made, barring getting glowing reviews from Baseball America.
But I also, as always, hate the notion that things need to be done for symbolic purposes. If a veteran pitcher or two or three can be had for pure cash, you’d always rather see the cash go out. And I’ll repeat: The cash is there. By my estimation, the Pirates are about $9 million below where they could or should be in terms of payroll.
Barry J. Brooks: Hi Dejan – Do you think that an agreement will be struck with Brandon Sutter to stay at the Pens or can you see him going?
DK: Sutter is a restricted free agent asking for a reasonable salary at $4 million. He’ll be retained. I find no suspense in this whatsoever. The team needs him, and he’s there to be had for a good price. And multiple years.
Ronald Johnson: DK – congrats on a smashing first week! What is it about Pittsburgh sports and particularly the Pittsburgh sports fan that allows a site such as this to exist and thrive?
DK: Funny, but that’s one of the biggest variables in this whole equation. I’ve seen some healthy discussions about this venture, including by eminently knowledgeable media analysts, and they all seem to omit the Pittsburgh factor.
Let’s be real here: Pittsburgh is freakish when it comes to sports. There’s data all over the place to support that. Yeah, people leave games early to beat the traffic and complain too much and can be spoiled, but the hard numbers are impossible to dispute, especially now that the Pirates have been resurrected.
Believe you me, it was a very, very big part of my decision. I’m born and raised here. I know what’s important here.
Abdulmalik: Nice column on Shazier, Dejan. Regarding the defense, at this age and era is it still true that defense wins championships? If it is yes, is the defensive side of the ball to any degree less important now than, say, 10-15 years ago?
DK: I’ve read advanced studies that suggest it’s smarter to put more money into offense, particularly the skill positions, than it was in the past. But as far as being less important to the actual game, that’s a hard case to make. It’s still half the game. It’s still just as value to prevent a score as to generate one. That’s fundamental math.
And I don’t know about you, but I didn’t look at that Seattle team as one founded on offense, with all due respect to Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks were all about their swarming, aggressive, intimidating defense.
Tom P.: I recognize that the Pirates could have traded for starting pitching 3-4 weeks ago, but over the last 33 games, they are 21-12. At the beginning of that stretch they were 2 games below .500. The performance since then does not seem to mandate an immediate move.
DK: Not at all. And Vance Worley placed a very pretty bow on that thought last night in San Francisco.
MASH: It seems there’s little debating Kasperi Kapanen’s skill level. But is he physically ready for the NHL this year? That’s the big difference I see between him and Olli Maatta.
DK: And that’s dead-on. Maatta didn’t exactly arrive into camp as a behemoth, but he was probably closer to filled out, not to mention a year older. Kapanen acknowledged in the Monday column that he needs to add ‘strength,’ but what he really means is bulk. That’s not easy in a short period, especially when doing so can affect skating.
This will end up being the No. 1 argument against keeping Kapanen around, for sure. At the same time, it’s also worth stressing that he’ll never be in the lineup because of his size or strength. It will always be because of his quickness and hands. Which is why nothing can — or should, in my view — be ruled out at this point.
Trey: Looking at it from the other perspective, what type of haul for Lester or Price (recognizing that their control situations are different) should a GM expect? There’s kind of a formula for trading draft picks in the NFL, is there a similar guideline in MLB?
DK: Of course. And that formula is based on precedent, to the largest extent. If Tampa Bay could get players X and Y for Matt Garza, then surely they’ll want X, Y and Z for Price. (Not that Price is going anywhere at this point, with the way the Rays are soaring.) Some teams might not like that. The Pirates openly profess to set their own market, their own internal values. But at the end of the day, when you drive into the gas station, you’ve got to pay the number at the pump. It’s possible Huntington will do that, but I’ll stress again it isn’t paramount.
What matters most is doing what’s right for that particular transaction.
Michael: DK, did the Bucs go overboard in dealing from the depth of their bullpen over the last year or so (Vic Black, Bryan Morris, Jason Grilli), leaving themselves in a situation where they’re going to have to give up a prospect or two to fill the holes for the rest of the season?
DK: I don’t think they’ll have to give up significant prospects for a reliever or two. Huston Street was the extreme in the market. That’s done. If Huntington has demonstrated any one thing consistently through his tenure, it’s that relief is a fungible commodity seldom worth an overpay.
G-man: Have you gotten a feel of how autocratically Jim Rutherford will lead the Pens? Is he going to involve his next level guys in a serious way with personnel decisions this year to give them the experience to take over his job? I have to admit I’m nervous about him in this job.
DK: Being completely candid here, I haven’t been as impressed with Rutherford in this specific capacity as I thought I might be. My support of his hire was based very much on the promise that he’d be guiding Jason Botterill, Tom Fitzgerald and Bill Guerin through the process of becoming GMs or GM candidates themselves. I’ve neither seen nor heard much of that to date.
Hope it changes.
jackpat54: My question concerns Derek Moye. Why isn’t he in the discussion about being more of an option for this corp of wide receivers? He has the height and the speed. What is he lacking?
DK: Moye doesn’t catch the ball much, Jack. If that sounds mean, so be it. Place your wages instead on Justin Brown. What an offseason and early camp he’s having so far. Everyone loves him. Big kid, can run, soft hands … ball makes almost no sounds when he catches it. Kind of like Lance Moore.
Probably going to write about Brown soon, as a matter of fact.
Bill: Do the Hounds have a chance of surviving?
DK: If you mean climbing back into the USL Pro playoff picture, Bill, I’ll still say no, even though they’ve won five of seven and are only four points out. It’s just asking too much of a team that took far too long to get it together. And if Jose Angulo’s injury lingers at all, forget about it times 10.
But hey, ask me again Saturday night after the L.A. match.
Now, if you mean surviving in Pittsburgh, my answer will remain an emphatic yes. I believe in Tuffy Shallenberger’s ownership, and I’ve heard some highly encouraging things about plans for the coming offseason that will put things back on track. On the field and off.
Drew: Pedro Alvarez makes $4.25m this year, club option again next year; any idea what amount we could reasonably expect to be able to keep him with? Do we re-sign him long-term, look to trade him, or another 1 year deal? If he stays, 3rd or 1st for future? If he goes, J-Hay long term at 3rd?
DK: Ah, the perfect way to end a question-and-answer session: A question that has no answer.
Honestly, I pretty much punt on everything Pedro that comes my way. I’m mystified. I’m confused. I’m concerned about his state of mind. I’m working to keep context between his future needs and the immediate needs of the team. And none of that’s easy.
Can you begin to imagine what the Pirates are thinking about this?
Wow.
All I know is that player who keeps making those wild throws needs help of some kind, and I’m no longer feeling that such help is available through simply sending him back out there again and again and again.
Thanks to all who participated in this first edition! Good stuff!