The corner opposite the Predators’ arena, Broadway businesses and AT&T skyscraper. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Welcome to the Music City edition of Tuesday 12 Qs, our chat that takes place each week at 2 p.m. and offers you a chance to dictate the discussion.
The format is simple: Use the comments section below to submit an entry. No more than one per person, please. Submit early if you prefer, and I’ll pick from that batch to get rolling, then monitor new entries once we go live. All topics welcome, as always.
UPDATE 2 p.m.: Away we go …
zidanesdagger: DK, assuming the Steelers do the right thing and kick LeGarrette Blount to the curb after his shameful quit-job last night, are they REALLY going to go with only Dri Archer and Le’Veon Bell for the rest of the season? Any potential targets they could sign?
DK: The fact that it’s now early afternoon and nothing has happened leads me to believe nothing will. These things tend to go pretty quickly. If Mike Tomlin was going to cut him over this, it shouldn’t have involved much deliberation.
Maybe, as you seem to suggest, they’ll first make sure they’ve got the back they need before doing the cut. You’ve probably heard that the Browns today put Ben Tate on waivers. He’s not what he was, and he had his own issues about playing time in Cleveland, but he’s got the experience. I’d have no problem with that. If they can’t find someone … ick, I mean, you’re right that Archer isn’t anyone’s backup running back, to put it kindly. And you do have to think about the team as a whole, especially the event that Bell would go down.
If anything, I’d just like to see the Steelers move every mountain to get rid of this guy. See this morning’s column for why. Didn’t exactly mince words.
king of rock: I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m exceedingly frustrated with Markus Wheaton. Yeah, he’s fast. Yeah, good hands. But MAN, even I could fight through coverage with more ummph, and I’m an old fat guy! What is up with that?
DK: He’s frustrating, and so is Martavis Bryant, both in the same regard, both for reasons outlined in the Friday Insider last week. Plain and simple, they aren’t as dedicated as they need to be to their routes.
This is weird, actually, and here’s why: There’s no one who will tell you that either Wheaton or Bryant aren’t dedicated to their preparation. They’re out there late every practice, almost always because it’s Antonio Brown leading the way.
And whoa! Wait! Here’s word right now that Blount is cut.
So take that above answer in the proper context, please.
To finish this answer: These aren’t bad-attitude guys. They just don’t completely sell their routes. They don’t turn every turn. They don’t do everything exactly right the way Brown did on his wonderful touchdown in the fourth quarter last night. (Seriously, watch that on film. It’s a work of art.) Great receivers don’t get that open by accident. They work for it. They work at selling the secondary on their moves even when they know they won’t get the ball on that play.
Much, much more of this is needed from both. And in fairness to Wheaton, he did do everything right on that key first-down slant on the final drive.
Day Late, Dollar Short: I will give them credit: The Steelers have already released Blount. So, who is RB2? It cannot be Archer.
DK: No, it can’t. And it won’t be. See, this will be the beauty not only of the timing of Tate’s waiving but also the bye week in general. There’s plenty of time for the Steelers to prep a backup/goal-line guy.
Here, by the way, is the full Mike Tomlin statement on the release that just popped into my inbox: “We believe the decision to release LeGarrette is in the best interest of the organization and wish him the best of luck.”
Obviously.
Damon: The Pens have a log-jam at D right now – even tonight I am curious to who will sit out, Simon Despres or Robert Bortuzzo? I’ve also heard Mike Johnston is super-high on Derrick Pouliot and that he may be up sooner than later. At some point, a trade has to happen. Have you heard any rumblings?
DK: I don’t do rumblings here and never will, even now that I don’t have an editor. When I know something, you’ll know it. When I’m not sure, I’ll keep it to myself.
Starting with Pouliot, Johnston coached him in Portland, of course, but the WHL is a long, long way away for both men. Pouliot’s putting up big points in Wilkes-Barre right now, but points never were going to be an issue for him. He’s a power-play natural. Rather, the issue is how his offensive skills work with his 200-foot game, including positionally and physically in the defensive zone. I’ve seen Pouliot live only a handful of times, and each time I questioned his commitment in his own end.
I won’t start getting excited about Pouliot until Bill Guerin and/or Tom Fitzgerald tell me they’re as happy with his overall game as with his offense.
In the interim … well, hang on. Olli Maatta is returning tonight in Montreal, and that shouldn’t just get glossed over. This is excellent news on its own front. Congratulations to this young man. And the fact it’s happening in Montreal … don’t be surprised if the citizens there don’t acknowledge it there in some way, given the Habs’ experience with Saku Koivu a few years back.
As for the rest, I’m in favor of keeping Rob Scuderi fresh. He’s played better, but he’s older. And there will be some matchups over the winter that don’t play to his favor. The Canadiens’ ridiculous speed up front would be one of those. Same goes for the Islanders in back-to-backs this weekend, for that matter. Scuderi and Michael Grabner sharing the same ice should be considered R-rated.
fjrisch: Hi, DK. My first time posting to your site. I hope I’m not run off with my first question. I’m a big Pittsburgh sports fan, Bucs, Pens, Steelers and Hounds. I’m also an Indy Racing fan. With one of the most successful Indy Racing owners, Chip Ganassi, being from Pittsburgh, have you considered an article on Chip and perhaps the Indy 500 in May 2015?
DK: First, welcome! No one would be run off, certainly not in an open chat, for any Q on any topic, let alone one as wholly legit as Ganassi and his entire Target team. I’ve interviewed the man before — not that long ago, actually — and would embrace the chance to do so again.
One thing your Q affords me the chance to do, though, is to stress that the teams you see listed here as being part of regular coverage don’t limit the content of columns. They’re just the teams to which I’ll commit regular coverage because, one, they’re the most popular and/or, two, I’m one guy bound by some logistical realities. What we’ve done here is basically ring a fence around the city proper. By doing the three big teams plus Pitt football and basketball, Duquesne basketball and the Riverhounds, I’m covering every pro or major college team in the city.
I’ll stress city in that sentence. Moon isn’t the city. Neither are Morgantown or State College, obviously.
I don’t believe in covering beats by conference call, and I don’t believe in posing as some kind of expert by popping up somewhere once or twice a year. That’s of no value to you, actually. Why in the world would you care what I have to say on a topic I don’t know as well as, say, 20-25 other people?
With these seven entities, I at least have a fighting chance.
billybearcat: Does the Pirates’ signing of Brad Lincoln mean anything for the possibility of signing Francisco Liriano? Does it make it less likely? I felt like failing to keep Russell Martin greatly increased the chances of signing Liriano.
DK: They brought back Lincoln? Really?
Oh, yeah, that just happened, too, as I see from checking the big Google machine. Had no idea.
For crying out loud, Bill, no, that will have no impact on something the scope of Liriano. Please tell me, my friend, that never seriously crossed your mind. One is a 29-year-old reclamation project on a minor-league deal with no spot on the 40-man. The other is Liriano. There’s no connection in any way, shape or form.
I also don’t see a connection between Martin and Liriano. Really. The Pirates and Liriano were going to have their own talks no matter what became of Martin, from what I know. Now, Liriano and Volquez, that’s different. I do think a decision there could come to choosing one or the other, but even then I’m not sure it would be financial as much as ensuring that the rotation doesn’t actually have too many bodies once Charlie Morton, Jameson Taillon and other prospects arrive.
Scott in Orlando: DK, I remain quite vocal at my discontent over Archer remaining on the Steelers’ squad and am curious to learn is he really “worthy” of a roster spot? I did see his one route last evening left him open but it appeared to be a defensive error more than his skill. Why is he here?
DK: Archer has done very little to prove himself worthy of having been drafted at all, much less the third round. No question he had the speed at the combine, and I won’t doubt those who called him the fastest player in the draft. But as Tomlin has acknowledged since then, rather bluntly, Archer needs to do a lot more than be fast.
At the very least, Archer needed to be a reliable return man, maybe even good enough on punts specifically to spell Brown, who’s far too valuable for something that dangerous. But he hasn’t come close to getting it done even on kickoffs.
It’s obviously fair to be patient with any rookie, especially one with an unteachable tool. We afford that courtesy to Jarvis Jones and, yes, Le’Veon Bell. That’s not comparing Archer to those two but, rather, just his situation.
What I question most about Archer’s usage, Scott, is Archer’s actual usage. The pass he caught last night was well off to the right side, where his skill set can’t be put to much use. If you’ll recall from the preseason, those couple of big plays he hit were right over the middle in open ground. And man, I’ll be damned if I can recall the Steelers trying something like that with him even once in the regular season.
jmiller: You get to cut one player from the Steelers and one player from the Penguins, with no salary cap hit, just wiped off the books. Who gets the ax?
DK: The Steelers are easy for me, and that’s Cortez Allen by a country mile, with all due apologies to Mike Mitchell. This player looks just destroyed. Did you see that one-arm attempt at a tackle last night? That’s not lack of effort as much as it is just crushed confidence.
The Penguins are a lot harder, as even Scuderi’s contract doesn’t look as onerous as it did even a few months ago. So I’ll just cheat here and use my Penguins cut to whack Mitchell.
Ha!
ajbeam7: Dejan, it seems like in the many postgame interviews that viewers see, there are the athletes that do the interview, and then there are the ones who enjoy the interview. That is to say, some seem more genuine than others. Of the big three professional Pittsburgh teams, who sticks out as the most genuine athletes you have had the pleasure of interviewing from each team in your years of coverage?
DK: Wow, way to put me on the spot here.
I’m a total sucker for Ramon Foster, and I think that shows. So smart, so available. And really, he’s got something in common with a lot of athletes who are big on interviews, and that’s that Ramon is genuinely interested in being part of the media someday. No lie: He’s asked me more questions about this site than I have about the offensive line. And I’ve asked a lot about the line, including the lede to today’s column.
Bearing in mind, your category here is players who ‘enjoy the interview.’ So we should distinguish that from someone like Troy Polamalu, who would be the most insightful. Or Cam Heyward, who would be most blunt. Or Bell, who just loves the camera. Or some other category.
Since I’ve stuck with current Steelers up there, I’ll do the same for the other two.
Sidney Crosby is the most accessible of the Penguins, Scuderi is the most forthcoming, Marc-Andre Fleury is the friendliest … but I’ll go off the rail here a bit and point to Kris Letang. The next time I think he’s being anything less than 100 percent honest will be the first. And thoughtful. And yeah, he doesn’t show it as much as, say, Pascal Dupuis, but I think he enjoys it, too. Maybe even more.
On the Pirates, no one enjoys an interview more than Andrew McCutchen, but that’s with an asterisk that it’s a national outlet. He’s still professional with the locals, but man, he lights up when it’s an ESPN or MLB Network. That started a couple years ago. Removing the asterisk, the answer is one that should be obvious to all: Neil Walker. Just a natural in front of the camera. So easygoing, so Pittsburgh. Can’t go wrong.
LGP6687: I understand the Bucs having a budget and spending to it. But when you’re a small-market team with an MVP player, don’t you need to overspend at some point to win? Spend below budget for a few years to build reserves and then spend beyond. When should they go all in?
DK: A few problems with this, and I hope you take them in the intended spirit.
I loathe the term ‘small-market’ not just because it’s needlessly demeaning to a city that’s never been healthier and that is, in fact, growing in every sense. This is baseball garbage, pure and simple. It’s the baseball world labeling the have-nots because of its own gross inequities, as if it’s somehow some birth stigma that your baseball team can only have so much money because your city is inferior.
Yuck.
The Pirates’ issue isn’t Pittsburgh. It’s that they lack revenues, one, because they haven’t always spent up to their capabilities and put a lousy team on the field that didn’t maximize monies and, two, their TV deal with Root Sports is an industry-wide joke. They know it. Root knows it. All of baseball knows it. The Pirates’ TV ratings are very, very good — there were times in 2014 when they came close to those of the Penguins — and they should be getting a ton more money for that than they are. That isn’t the market’s fault. That’s the front office’s fault.
Pittsburgh and San Diego are the same-size markets. Pittsburgh and St. Louis are the same-size markets. The differences aren’t population. The Padres recently put together a blockbuster local TV deal that’s going to allow them to spend … not quite with the big boys, but they’ll be a ton more competitive. And funny, but all the baseball tailwaggers suddenly will stop referring to them as the ‘small-market Padres’ no matter that there won’t have been any change in population.
Ugh. What did you ask again?
Oh, yeah, all-in and all that. By the very definition of all-in, if you’re putting all of your profit back into baseball, you’re all-in. And I mean that literally. Even people who are minority owners of the Pirates who can’t stand Bob Nutting will tell you, grudgingly, that he’s doing exactly that. A lot of insane numbers get tossed around in our city about this stuff. The truth is, to the best of my ability to ascertain, all monies are going back into baseball.
That is all-in.
One more this week, and I’m going to the Johnny Cash Museum for the first time …
fram: Dejan, at what point does somebody start talking about Steve Pederson getting fired? The Pitt football program is a complete dumpster fire and he is the AD who put this mess together.
DK: I brought it up after the Mike Haywood fiasco, then turned up the volume after Todd Graham. To me, Paul Chryst is the last head coach Pederson can hire. I see their fates as inexorably linked.
Because I see Chryst as being back next season — and fairly so, given the circumstances of the recruiting classes that preceded him — I don’t see any change in AD, either.
But 2015 could be very different.
That’s it for this week. Thanks to all for participating. Some good, creative stuff this week! (Yours, not mine.)
November 18, 2014
Tuesday 12 Qs: Live from Music City
by Dejan Kovacevic • Live Qs at 5 • Penguins, Pirates, Pitt, Steelers
The corner opposite the Predators’ arena, Broadway businesses and AT&T skyscraper. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Welcome to the Music City edition of Tuesday 12 Qs, our chat that takes place each week at 2 p.m. and offers you a chance to dictate the discussion.
UPDATE 2 p.m.: Away we go …
zidanesdagger: DK, assuming the Steelers do the right thing and kick LeGarrette Blount to the curb after his shameful quit-job last night, are they REALLY going to go with only Dri Archer and Le’Veon Bell for the rest of the season? Any potential targets they could sign?
DK: The fact that it’s now early afternoon and nothing has happened leads me to believe nothing will. These things tend to go pretty quickly. If Mike Tomlin was going to cut him over this, it shouldn’t have involved much deliberation.
Maybe, as you seem to suggest, they’ll first make sure they’ve got the back they need before doing the cut. You’ve probably heard that the Browns today put Ben Tate on waivers. He’s not what he was, and he had his own issues about playing time in Cleveland, but he’s got the experience. I’d have no problem with that. If they can’t find someone … ick, I mean, you’re right that Archer isn’t anyone’s backup running back, to put it kindly. And you do have to think about the team as a whole, especially the event that Bell would go down.
If anything, I’d just like to see the Steelers move every mountain to get rid of this guy. See this morning’s column for why. Didn’t exactly mince words.
king of rock: I don’t know if it’s just me, but I’m exceedingly frustrated with Markus Wheaton. Yeah, he’s fast. Yeah, good hands. But MAN, even I could fight through coverage with more ummph, and I’m an old fat guy! What is up with that?
DK: He’s frustrating, and so is Martavis Bryant, both in the same regard, both for reasons outlined in the Friday Insider last week. Plain and simple, they aren’t as dedicated as they need to be to their routes.
This is weird, actually, and here’s why: There’s no one who will tell you that either Wheaton or Bryant aren’t dedicated to their preparation. They’re out there late every practice, almost always because it’s Antonio Brown leading the way.
And whoa! Wait! Here’s word right now that Blount is cut.
So take that above answer in the proper context, please.
To finish this answer: These aren’t bad-attitude guys. They just don’t completely sell their routes. They don’t turn every turn. They don’t do everything exactly right the way Brown did on his wonderful touchdown in the fourth quarter last night. (Seriously, watch that on film. It’s a work of art.) Great receivers don’t get that open by accident. They work for it. They work at selling the secondary on their moves even when they know they won’t get the ball on that play.
Much, much more of this is needed from both. And in fairness to Wheaton, he did do everything right on that key first-down slant on the final drive.
Day Late, Dollar Short: I will give them credit: The Steelers have already released Blount. So, who is RB2? It cannot be Archer.
DK: No, it can’t. And it won’t be. See, this will be the beauty not only of the timing of Tate’s waiving but also the bye week in general. There’s plenty of time for the Steelers to prep a backup/goal-line guy.
Here, by the way, is the full Mike Tomlin statement on the release that just popped into my inbox: “We believe the decision to release LeGarrette is in the best interest of the organization and wish him the best of luck.”
Obviously.
Damon: The Pens have a log-jam at D right now – even tonight I am curious to who will sit out, Simon Despres or Robert Bortuzzo? I’ve also heard Mike Johnston is super-high on Derrick Pouliot and that he may be up sooner than later. At some point, a trade has to happen. Have you heard any rumblings?
DK: I don’t do rumblings here and never will, even now that I don’t have an editor. When I know something, you’ll know it. When I’m not sure, I’ll keep it to myself.
Starting with Pouliot, Johnston coached him in Portland, of course, but the WHL is a long, long way away for both men. Pouliot’s putting up big points in Wilkes-Barre right now, but points never were going to be an issue for him. He’s a power-play natural. Rather, the issue is how his offensive skills work with his 200-foot game, including positionally and physically in the defensive zone. I’ve seen Pouliot live only a handful of times, and each time I questioned his commitment in his own end.
I won’t start getting excited about Pouliot until Bill Guerin and/or Tom Fitzgerald tell me they’re as happy with his overall game as with his offense.
In the interim … well, hang on. Olli Maatta is returning tonight in Montreal, and that shouldn’t just get glossed over. This is excellent news on its own front. Congratulations to this young man. And the fact it’s happening in Montreal … don’t be surprised if the citizens there don’t acknowledge it there in some way, given the Habs’ experience with Saku Koivu a few years back.
As for the rest, I’m in favor of keeping Rob Scuderi fresh. He’s played better, but he’s older. And there will be some matchups over the winter that don’t play to his favor. The Canadiens’ ridiculous speed up front would be one of those. Same goes for the Islanders in back-to-backs this weekend, for that matter. Scuderi and Michael Grabner sharing the same ice should be considered R-rated.
fjrisch: Hi, DK. My first time posting to your site. I hope I’m not run off with my first question. I’m a big Pittsburgh sports fan, Bucs, Pens, Steelers and Hounds. I’m also an Indy Racing fan. With one of the most successful Indy Racing owners, Chip Ganassi, being from Pittsburgh, have you considered an article on Chip and perhaps the Indy 500 in May 2015?
DK: First, welcome! No one would be run off, certainly not in an open chat, for any Q on any topic, let alone one as wholly legit as Ganassi and his entire Target team. I’ve interviewed the man before — not that long ago, actually — and would embrace the chance to do so again.
One thing your Q affords me the chance to do, though, is to stress that the teams you see listed here as being part of regular coverage don’t limit the content of columns. They’re just the teams to which I’ll commit regular coverage because, one, they’re the most popular and/or, two, I’m one guy bound by some logistical realities. What we’ve done here is basically ring a fence around the city proper. By doing the three big teams plus Pitt football and basketball, Duquesne basketball and the Riverhounds, I’m covering every pro or major college team in the city.
I’ll stress city in that sentence. Moon isn’t the city. Neither are Morgantown or State College, obviously.
I don’t believe in covering beats by conference call, and I don’t believe in posing as some kind of expert by popping up somewhere once or twice a year. That’s of no value to you, actually. Why in the world would you care what I have to say on a topic I don’t know as well as, say, 20-25 other people?
With these seven entities, I at least have a fighting chance.
billybearcat: Does the Pirates’ signing of Brad Lincoln mean anything for the possibility of signing Francisco Liriano? Does it make it less likely? I felt like failing to keep Russell Martin greatly increased the chances of signing Liriano.
DK: They brought back Lincoln? Really?
Oh, yeah, that just happened, too, as I see from checking the big Google machine. Had no idea.
For crying out loud, Bill, no, that will have no impact on something the scope of Liriano. Please tell me, my friend, that never seriously crossed your mind. One is a 29-year-old reclamation project on a minor-league deal with no spot on the 40-man. The other is Liriano. There’s no connection in any way, shape or form.
I also don’t see a connection between Martin and Liriano. Really. The Pirates and Liriano were going to have their own talks no matter what became of Martin, from what I know. Now, Liriano and Volquez, that’s different. I do think a decision there could come to choosing one or the other, but even then I’m not sure it would be financial as much as ensuring that the rotation doesn’t actually have too many bodies once Charlie Morton, Jameson Taillon and other prospects arrive.
Scott in Orlando: DK, I remain quite vocal at my discontent over Archer remaining on the Steelers’ squad and am curious to learn is he really “worthy” of a roster spot? I did see his one route last evening left him open but it appeared to be a defensive error more than his skill. Why is he here?
DK: Archer has done very little to prove himself worthy of having been drafted at all, much less the third round. No question he had the speed at the combine, and I won’t doubt those who called him the fastest player in the draft. But as Tomlin has acknowledged since then, rather bluntly, Archer needs to do a lot more than be fast.
At the very least, Archer needed to be a reliable return man, maybe even good enough on punts specifically to spell Brown, who’s far too valuable for something that dangerous. But he hasn’t come close to getting it done even on kickoffs.
It’s obviously fair to be patient with any rookie, especially one with an unteachable tool. We afford that courtesy to Jarvis Jones and, yes, Le’Veon Bell. That’s not comparing Archer to those two but, rather, just his situation.
What I question most about Archer’s usage, Scott, is Archer’s actual usage. The pass he caught last night was well off to the right side, where his skill set can’t be put to much use. If you’ll recall from the preseason, those couple of big plays he hit were right over the middle in open ground. And man, I’ll be damned if I can recall the Steelers trying something like that with him even once in the regular season.
jmiller: You get to cut one player from the Steelers and one player from the Penguins, with no salary cap hit, just wiped off the books. Who gets the ax?
DK: The Steelers are easy for me, and that’s Cortez Allen by a country mile, with all due apologies to Mike Mitchell. This player looks just destroyed. Did you see that one-arm attempt at a tackle last night? That’s not lack of effort as much as it is just crushed confidence.
The Penguins are a lot harder, as even Scuderi’s contract doesn’t look as onerous as it did even a few months ago. So I’ll just cheat here and use my Penguins cut to whack Mitchell.
Ha!
ajbeam7: Dejan, it seems like in the many postgame interviews that viewers see, there are the athletes that do the interview, and then there are the ones who enjoy the interview. That is to say, some seem more genuine than others. Of the big three professional Pittsburgh teams, who sticks out as the most genuine athletes you have had the pleasure of interviewing from each team in your years of coverage?
DK: Wow, way to put me on the spot here.
I’m a total sucker for Ramon Foster, and I think that shows. So smart, so available. And really, he’s got something in common with a lot of athletes who are big on interviews, and that’s that Ramon is genuinely interested in being part of the media someday. No lie: He’s asked me more questions about this site than I have about the offensive line. And I’ve asked a lot about the line, including the lede to today’s column.
Bearing in mind, your category here is players who ‘enjoy the interview.’ So we should distinguish that from someone like Troy Polamalu, who would be the most insightful. Or Cam Heyward, who would be most blunt. Or Bell, who just loves the camera. Or some other category.
Since I’ve stuck with current Steelers up there, I’ll do the same for the other two.
Sidney Crosby is the most accessible of the Penguins, Scuderi is the most forthcoming, Marc-Andre Fleury is the friendliest … but I’ll go off the rail here a bit and point to Kris Letang. The next time I think he’s being anything less than 100 percent honest will be the first. And thoughtful. And yeah, he doesn’t show it as much as, say, Pascal Dupuis, but I think he enjoys it, too. Maybe even more.
On the Pirates, no one enjoys an interview more than Andrew McCutchen, but that’s with an asterisk that it’s a national outlet. He’s still professional with the locals, but man, he lights up when it’s an ESPN or MLB Network. That started a couple years ago. Removing the asterisk, the answer is one that should be obvious to all: Neil Walker. Just a natural in front of the camera. So easygoing, so Pittsburgh. Can’t go wrong.
LGP6687: I understand the Bucs having a budget and spending to it. But when you’re a small-market team with an MVP player, don’t you need to overspend at some point to win? Spend below budget for a few years to build reserves and then spend beyond. When should they go all in?
DK: A few problems with this, and I hope you take them in the intended spirit.
I loathe the term ‘small-market’ not just because it’s needlessly demeaning to a city that’s never been healthier and that is, in fact, growing in every sense. This is baseball garbage, pure and simple. It’s the baseball world labeling the have-nots because of its own gross inequities, as if it’s somehow some birth stigma that your baseball team can only have so much money because your city is inferior.
Yuck.
The Pirates’ issue isn’t Pittsburgh. It’s that they lack revenues, one, because they haven’t always spent up to their capabilities and put a lousy team on the field that didn’t maximize monies and, two, their TV deal with Root Sports is an industry-wide joke. They know it. Root knows it. All of baseball knows it. The Pirates’ TV ratings are very, very good — there were times in 2014 when they came close to those of the Penguins — and they should be getting a ton more money for that than they are. That isn’t the market’s fault. That’s the front office’s fault.
Pittsburgh and San Diego are the same-size markets. Pittsburgh and St. Louis are the same-size markets. The differences aren’t population. The Padres recently put together a blockbuster local TV deal that’s going to allow them to spend … not quite with the big boys, but they’ll be a ton more competitive. And funny, but all the baseball tailwaggers suddenly will stop referring to them as the ‘small-market Padres’ no matter that there won’t have been any change in population.
Ugh. What did you ask again?
Oh, yeah, all-in and all that. By the very definition of all-in, if you’re putting all of your profit back into baseball, you’re all-in. And I mean that literally. Even people who are minority owners of the Pirates who can’t stand Bob Nutting will tell you, grudgingly, that he’s doing exactly that. A lot of insane numbers get tossed around in our city about this stuff. The truth is, to the best of my ability to ascertain, all monies are going back into baseball.
That is all-in.
One more this week, and I’m going to the Johnny Cash Museum for the first time …
fram: Dejan, at what point does somebody start talking about Steve Pederson getting fired? The Pitt football program is a complete dumpster fire and he is the AD who put this mess together.
DK: I brought it up after the Mike Haywood fiasco, then turned up the volume after Todd Graham. To me, Paul Chryst is the last head coach Pederson can hire. I see their fates as inexorably linked.
Because I see Chryst as being back next season — and fairly so, given the circumstances of the recruiting classes that preceded him — I don’t see any change in AD, either.
But 2015 could be very different.
That’s it for this week. Thanks to all for participating. Some good, creative stuff this week! (Yours, not mine.)