March 9, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Getting ready for first pitch …
Game: Pirates vs. Minnesota Twins, exhibition, 1:05 p.m., McKechnie Field, Bradenton, Fla.
Pitchers: RHP Gerrit Cole vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco
Radio: 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Official game notes
March 9, 2015
Pedro Alvarez drives a three-run home run six days ago vs. the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. — GETTY
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
News: Pedro Alvarez has a mildly hyperextended right elbow, the Pirates just announced, the result of a swing taken a few days ago. He’s expected to miss a few more Grapefruit League games but will participate in other work if it can occur without pain.
Views: This is the first real uh-oh moment of spring training. And if the team is fortunate, it will be nothing more than that.
Elbow injuries are uncommon in hitting. It’s the wrist or torso that’s usually at risk. So it’s hard to project where this might lead. If it ends up being anything more than what the Pirates currently hope, it could open up first base far more than expected, given that Corey Hart — Alvarez’s projected platoon mate — also is currently out with a foot injury. Look for Andrew Lambo to start getting a little more time at first right away.
March 9, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
A look at the week ahead on the site …
• Monday: The NFL’s free agency opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday and, as such, it’s tough to set a hard plan because of the unpredictability of the process. All I can say is that I’ll have News/views as stuff happens all week, a full column if it’s significant to the Steelers. Also today, I’ll cover Pitt’s media availability before the team boards the bus for the ACC tournament.
• Tuesday: Tuesday 12 Qs occurs at 9 a.m., though you can submit entries beginning at 12:01 a.m. And again, the site will stay on top of NFL free agency all day.
• Wednesday: The Morning Java video will go up first thing in the morning. At 5:30 p.m., I’ll make my weekly visit to the 105.9 the X studio to spar with Mark Madden.
March 8, 2015
Micah Mason launches a first-half 3-pointer over the Davidson defense Saturday. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Dominique McKoy deserved better.
He’s Duquesne’s only basketball senior and a coach’s dream beyond the standard experience and leadership a senior should bring. He can’t run or jump or shoot with the biggest or the best, but he’s all heart and soul, a 6-foot-8 forward with bouncing dreadlocks and an exposed, chomped mouthguard who huffs and puffs his way to an extra half-inch each night.
Saturday night, the Dukes’ finale at the Palumbo Center, was no exception: He pushed and pounded his way to 15 points, eight in a frenzied opening five minutes, as well as eight rebounds. If anyone would be intimidated by facing Davidson, the Atlantic 10’s finest, it wouldn’t be No. 3.
“Domo,” his coach, Jim Ferry would say later, “was outstanding.”
Two hours later, the LED high overhead read as follows: Davidson 107, Duquesne 78
Immediately below, McKoy, emotion on the sleeve as always, was disconsolate as he’d begun to walk off, then halted at the 15-foot blue and red logo at center court. His head was buried in his right hand. The dreads, however slightly, trembled. And it wasn’t until a teammate offered a gentle nudge a few seconds later that he finally headed off.
This isn’t McKoy’s fault. Or any player’s fault.
The climb goes way, way up to sniff out this rot.
March 8, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Getting ready for first pitch …
Game: Pirates vs. Toronto Blue Jays, exhibition, 1:05 p.m., Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, Dunedin, Fla.
Pitchers: RHP Casey Sadler vs. RHP Aaron Sanchez
Radio: 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Official game notes
March 7, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Getting ready for faceoff …
Game: Penguins (37-18-9) vs. Los Angeles Kings (31-21-12), 10:08 p.m., Staples Center, Los Angeles
Goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury (29-14-6, 2.21) vs. Jonathan Quick (27-17-10, 2.40)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 105.9 the X
Online: GameCenter / Multimedia / Official game notes
March 7, 2015
A train passes while the Riverhounds and Western Illinois scrimmage at Highmark Stadium. — DEJAN KOVACEVIC
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
News: After two months of training indoors and two weather-canceled scrimmages, the Riverhounds finally plowed through the snow and ice covering Highmark Stadium to get in a 2-0 victory vs. Western Illinois University today, the goals coming from Lebo Moloto and Rob Vincent.
Views: That was fun. Watching Moloto, I mean.
Signed in the past week, this South African midfielder is listed as being 24 years old, but he looks more like 12 and he performs with the maturity of someone a decade his elder. Time and again, the ball would find his foot in traffic, and each time he’d make the smartest possible play. The highlight was a ridiculous goal, the first of the match, when he danced around two defenders, then brought the keeper to his knees before softly tucking a left-footer into the vacated net.
March 7, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Getting ready for tipoff …
Game: Duquesne (11-17, 6-11 Atlantic 10) vs. Davidson (22-6, 13-4), 7:05 p.m., Palumbo Center
Video, radio: American Sports Network, WJAS 1320 AM, iHeartRadio 3WS HD2
Online: GameTracker / Multimedia / Official game notes
March 7, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Getting ready for first pitch …
Game: Pirates vs. Tampa Bay Rays, exhibition, 1:05 p.m., McKechnie Field, Bradenton, Fla.
Pitchers: RHP A.J. Burnett vs. RHP Alex Cobb
Radio: 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Official game notes
March 7, 2015
BY DEJAN KOVACEVIC
Getting ready for tipoff …
Game: Pitt (19-12, 8-9 ACC) vs. Florida State (15-15, 7-10), 12:05 p.m., Donald Tucker Center, Tallahassee, Fla.
TV, radio: ESPN2 (national), ESPN3 (online), 93.7 The Fan
Online: GameTracker / Multimedia / Official game notes
