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Tuesday Twenty Qs: Full transcript 77
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS Welcome to Tuesday Twenty Qs, our chat that takes place each week at 1 p.m. 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. As always, all topics are on the table. Really, anything at all. UPDATE 1 p.m.: OK, here we go … jtusk64: Many believe Pedro Alvarez
With the recent (insane) contracts given to Dalton and Flacco, the clear priority given in the game to star QBs, and the amount of TVmoney pouring in…what possible rationale could the Rooneys have for waiting to extend Ben? It seems clear that waiting = paying more.
Next year’s salary cap is going way up in the NFL. More $$ to work with then.
Bingo!
.
And there will be less money carried over from Ben’s previous restructurings.
Are the Riverhounds crazy enough to actually pull off a top eight finish?
DK, you said ask anything, so here goes. Which of the following is LEAST likely to occur in your lifetime? Redskins change their name, man lands on Mars or the USA wins the World Cup championship. Keep in mind NASA is targeting a Mars landing in the 2030′s & WC is every 4 yrs.
Were you formally known as 21sthebest?
Dom,
No, first time subscriber.. Lifelong PGH sports fan from DC/NoVa… Old enough to remember Connie Hawkins w the Pittsburgh Pipers so that’s why I root for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA.. They’re the only one of my favorite teams not to win a title.
Cutch’s WAR if he’s out for a month means the Pirates should lose an extra 2 or 3 games during the month. Is this a reasonable expectation if he’s out for a month? For example, I don’t believe they finish as good as 14-14 instead of say 16-12 for the remainder of August.
Cutch to miss 25 of last 50 games. Walker hurt. Overachieving & untested rotation led by an uncertain Liriano. Anemic 1B production. 3B head case who can’t hit *or* throw. Overtaxed, ulcer-producing bullpen. Loaded STL.
So…even if Marte & Cole come back strong, why not panic?
STL loaded? Very slow team. Weak defensive OF. One of the lowest scoring teams in MLB. Questions in starting rotation. Best player injured. They sound a lot like the Bucs. All 3 teams atop this division are flawed. If Cutch comes back quickly, we’re more than right in this.
Hey, Jim!
Hey, Bay!!
Richie,
Time to move on – the Pedro dead horse is just that – dead.
Harrison is the Bucs 3rd baseman – Pedro a LH bat off of the bench…
An oft-injured Bennett, a 35 year old coming off ACL surgery, and another soon to be 35 year old currently make up 3/4 of Pens projected top 6. With no top 6 depth in WBS, are the Penguins going to go all in with Kapanen in the NHL if he’s ready or not?
How much more will Steelers rely on possession football this year (Bell/Blount running + short Bell receptions)? BB might not like it, but I think they know they need to keep that defense off the field as much as possible.
Keeping in mind a lot can happen over the course of training camp and an 82 game season, who is the most likely defenseman to be moved before the Pens hopefully enter the playoffs.
Other than players coming and going from offseason, what is the biggest difference you notice about this yr’s Steelers in camp as opposed to last yr. This year appears much more no nonsense, and some of the old arrogance gone
If the Pirates make only one waiver deadline trade acquisition, for which player/position should it be? And if they could make a second, what then?
Do you think Tomlin, Lebeau & Co. have finally succumbed to the reality that they can no longer afford to redshirt draft picks on defense for 2-3 years? Even if it means “dumbing” down the advanced algorithm that the scheme has been portrayed as?
Many believe Pedro is not a part of the long-term future since he’s a Boras client. What’s the definition, then, of “giving up” on him…pinch-hitting, trying a new position, or waiving/trading? Or do they hope for the best & try to resign at low value?
If I can attend only one Penguins home game this season, which one should it be?
After the Dalton signing, how much/length do you see Ben asking?
DK, a common opinion is that Sid and Geno need to play to their full potential as MVP candidates for the Pens to succeed this year. Obviously, the team goes as they go. That said, what players need to bounce back or build on last season’s performance for the Pens to excel?
How much improvement is it reasonable to expect the from Steelers O-line due to Mike Munchak? A big problem for the line recently has been injuries, can a new coach do much about that?
DK do u think Holgersen could be in trouble if WVU does not make a bowl game this year? He has recruited well recently but the step up in conference should give him a little more time right?
Do you think the Riverhounds can attract enough fans to support a MLS franchise in ten years?
The Pirates gotta go get an outfielder now, right?
With Cutch out, what would your outfield and 3B look like against RHP and LHP? Can Polanco play LF? Snatching Bonifacio at the trade deadline would play nicely now…
Would it be wise for the Pirates to try and make a trade early in the month of August, or is it better to wait till the end when more teams will be out of it that could possibly claim the player they are after? Right now Atlanta, Cincy and maybe Miami would block an NL move.
Was there any backlash or hard feelings when you left the trib? Love the new site!
IF, and with pitchers always a big if, Cole’s start tonight goes well he will probably will make his next start with the Pirates. Who leaves the rotation? Volquez to the pen, Locke to Indy, or something else.
Just got my Lunatic subscription!
Do you think the Penguins would be wise to deal Derrick Pouliot for a blue chip wing prospect?
I have been wondering if there will be any significant loss of press privileges, now that you are “merely” a blogger? (I am thinking more along the lines of more difficult access to athletes, not loss of buffet privileges). You are the future, but wonder if the present resist.
You never know what to expect from Pitt Football, but what is your sense regarding this years team? Can they surprise some teams in the ACC and finish above .500?
is the lack of money put into the football program at Pitt the real reason behind the .500 season’s. i.e. more money equals higher coaching salary for assistants which means better recruiting.
PEDRO, PEDRO, PEDRO. DK, what do you think most likely in 2015?
1) Pedro plays 1B in platoon in Pgh
2) Pedro plays 3B in Pgh
3) Pedro rides the bench in Pgh
4) Pedro is DH on an AL team
5) Other
I’ll duck for cover now and await your answer.
Who is this Chris Matusic guy, and don’t you know cmat had dibs on that avatar?
DK, in your response to a question in last week’s chat regarding Pitts future scheduling was largely Steve Pederson’s domain when it comes to football. And you sense absolutely zero interest in anything West Virginia-related; same goes for Jamie Dixon in basketball. Could you expand on why this won’t happen or the feeling you have towards this? Is it more so one of the Universities that feel this way or both? Thanks.
On which side of the ball will Penn State be strongest this year and how does PSU stack up against Big Ten competition this year?
Any word on how HCMJ’s meeting with Geno went in Moscow, or is he still over there?
Assuming everyone stays healthy, do you think the Steelers have a shot of having a top 10 offence this year?
Is losing Cutch for two weeks or more the end of the world – should I put my affairs in order?
How concerned should Pens fans be that we haven’t seen Sutter signed yet? I’m thinking even if he puts the pens sweater on, it will likely only be for a year.
What waiver deadline trades are realistic for the Buccos? Can Marte fill the role for Cutch until he gets back?
Who is your camp sleeper from Steeler camp based on the practices you have seen? Anybody flying under the radar that caught your eye?
If Cole is due back soon, is it Locke or Volquez on the outs? Vance Worley has pitched himself into a spot in this rotation. One more bad start, I’m convinced Locke is flaming out again
A knock on Kapanen playing in the NHL this year is the phsyical toll of a 82 game NHL season(+playoffs). Matta did it but obviously hit a wall late in the season. Is it different for a forward compared to a defenseman regarding the toll of the season?
What’s going on with Jeff Locke? He hasn’t gone 7 in a month, the baserunners are creeping up, and so are the homers. Is he about to fall apart and take the season with him, or be a big part of this team staying resilient over the next few weeks?
Love that question, Dan. I hope DK gets to it.
Beau Bennett injury prone or just unlucky?
Have you found any of the teams you cover treat you any different since you are not affiliated with a paper now?
“Gay or straight, we don’t care, as long as he helps us win football games.”
If Michael Sam gets cut, aren’t these people tacitly implying it’s ok to dislike him for being gay? Or any gay person who can’t play professional football? Shouldn’t the message just be “We don’t care.”
Hiya Dejan!
Any word on how the meetings went between Malkin and Johnston? Also, do we have the flexibility/interest to add someone like Bissonnette who would command about $750,000 per year? His skating has vastly improved and his possession numbers aren’t bad.
I know that Tabata hasn’t performed well at Indy, but he still has the 3rd best BA at the ML level on the team. He also was pretty solid last year down the stretch. If Cutch is out, isn’t he the obvious call-up? Why is Travis Snider the consensus fill-in? At least platoon them…
Why won’t Paul Chyst make it official an announce Chad Voytik as his starting QB?
With Sutter still unsigned and the Pens operating under limited cap wiggle room, should Pens fans expect a move to free things up?
Not much talk about calling up Lambo in Cutch’s absensce. He is a LF (Marte moves to CF), 1 year removed from a 32 HR season (albeit split between AAA & AA), hitting .323/.394/.534/.929 this year with 1 error. Was able to hit .303 in call up last year. What reason not to call up?
DK: If the Bucs miss the playoffs, I blame the FO for making minimal moves in the off-season and doing nothing at the trade deadline. Do you agree? Also, does Bob Nutting feel the same when he obviously approved NH to spend at the deadline? Question was pre-Cutch on the DL.
Do you see the day when at least one preseason game goes away, and teams scimmage each other instead like the 49ers/Ravens and Philly/NE are doing and like Oakland/Dallas and Cleveland/Buffalo traditionally do?
You stated in the radio the other day that paul martin is likely to be traded midseason. Who do you see as the pens top 6 D on new years day?
DK, been hearing a ton of grumbling about the Pens’ top 6. In the cup run, top line forwards not named Crosby scored 8 goals in 24 playoff games and Geno skated with Max Talbot and Ruslan Fedotenko. Too much worry about on-paper statistics with regards to the Pens’ top 6?
Any chance of getting a real chat client for this session? Or am I the only one having to manually refresh?
Doing it this way by choice, Matt. Full accountability. This way, readers can see ALL of the questions asked, as well as those chosen.
How much have the Riverhounds set themselves back their MLS quest this year?
I’ll take a stab- it’s a big setback. Going bankrupt is a big deal. Failure yet again to field a decent team is a big deal. After the huge success last year of new stadium with 233% increase in attendance, momentum is being lost- attendance already down nearly 20% this season.
More annoying – Flo from Progressive or Red-haired pretzel bun lady from Wendy’s?
Priceless!!!!!
Lebeau has said he is preparing for Manziel to be the starter week 1. Do you necessarily believe that? I don’t see Manziel starting week 1 against Pittsburgh, or even being a situational player. Just thought it was an odd comment
Question about DK on Pittsburgh Sports (doesn’t that look great)! Besides the few minor technical challenges (none of which affected me) what has been the most: (a) surprising; (b) rewarding; and (c) unexpected event?
Why am I having issues all of a sudden? I paid for 3 years and now it keeps saying that I have to log in and subscribe. Trying to read all of today’s transcript and won’t let me. HELP!!!!!
I login from four devices (laptop, desktop, iPad and iPhone). Each time I had to login by sending the email request. By doing that, you will receive an immediate email reply with a link. Click the link and you are in the site and there should be no further problems. Good luck!
It still won’t let me read anything that I have to click “more” to read the entire article (like the chat transcript)
I think you also should clear the browser’s cache (sp?) and history.
Pedro to the bereavement list, Marte up
I’m almost surprised Martin is still on the Pens since he has said he will not sign long term and will definitely test the free agent market. With the team being so close to the cap, why not trade Martin and his $5 million hit for a depth player(s) and cap space?
The word “Oklahoma” means “red people” in choctaw(the native american language of the area). I believe the state of Oklahoma and everything associated should be forced to change their name.
Good Q&A for the day. one of my favorites, as it covers a broad spectrum of topics in a nice condensed form. Mars landing, they just need a little more money from the administration…. not likely to happen.