DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
The Pirates plan to approach catcher Russell Martin with an extension offer that will be “beyond rational,” owner Bob Nutting just told DKonPittsburghSports.com at field level at PNC Park.
No offer has been made to this point, Nutting said, because “we want Russ focused on this.” He motioned toward the batting cage as he spoke. The Pirates and Giants are playing in the National League wild card game tonight.
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Steelers’ 37-19 victory produced a 38.5 rating in the Pittsburgh market Sunday night, a figure that, when added to the Penguins’ huge ratings for years and the Pirates’ growing ratings of late, underscores the remarkable grip sports have on our region.
On the same day the Steelers produced a 38.5, the Pirates’ victory against the Brewers had a 9.6 on Root Sports, roughly one-quarter the size but well above average for the ball club and all the more impressive considering NFL games were on two other networks. On Saturday night, the Pirates had a season-high 13.0 rating, including surprisingly good showings in the younger demographics.
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Tekulve
Kent Tekulve, the closer for the Pirates’ World Series champions in 1979 and popular analyst on their current games for Root Sports, had a heart transplant Sept. 5 and is “feeling surprisingly great right now,” he told me Monday night.
Details of the transplant are expected to be made public at a Tuesday press conference by the Pirates, Root and Allegheny General Hospital.
Tekulve, 67, had a heart episode on Christmas Eve 2013 that he described as “the heart basically quitting on me.” A pump was installed shortly thereafter, and in April, he was placed on the heart transplant list. Earlier this summer, he and Root agreed he would take a break from his duties as postgame studio commentator and, at the time, he asked for privacy and did not divulge his condition.
“The pump was never designed to be a lifelong thing,” Tekulve said. “It was a bridge to a heart replacement.”
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Neal Huntington sees it. He does.
And I’d have to believe he feels it, too, when his Pirates have a day like Sunday at PNC Park. Where they’re one run, one bloop, one bleeder, one better pitch away, as they were in a 3-2 loss to the Reds. Where that loss snaps a four-game winning streak but also sets the stage for a 10-game road trip that figures to make or break the season.
Just one pitch can make the difference, like the flat sinker Jared Hughes served up for Chris Heisey’s decisive home run in the ninth inning …
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
The Pirates have sent out a letter today to their season-ticket holders with 20-game plans that, if they don’t upgrade to full or half-season plans for 2015, they won’t be guaranteed playoff tickets this fall. And they’ve been given 10 days to do this.
As one might imagine, I’m being hit with a lot of complaints from angry fans. If you’re one of them, by all means, please feel free to use the commenting platform below to share your view.
I’ve also reached out to the Pirates for their explanation.
I’ve got my own thoughts, but it’s always fairest to hear from all parties before mouthing off.
UPDATE 3:37 p.m.: Here’s a screengrab of the message sent to those customers:
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
Andrew McCutchen’s injury is NOT an oblique, a source tells DKonPittsburghSports.com, contrary to multiple published reports. He is hurt, but no timetable has been set for his recovery.
I’ll be awaiting the Pirates’ official word on this, which could come today. But I thought that important distinction was very much worth reporting.
Here is McCutchen’s official page on MLB.com for reference.
DEJAN KOVACEVIC, DK ON PITTSBURGH SPORTS
So the Pirates and everyone besides the A’s lost out on Jon Lester. That gets the day off to a rollicking start, at least for Billy Beane, who for a day wins the hearts and minds not only of the statheads but also the headline-writers. He’ll still have zero wins in the category that counts.
Just saying. Not judging the trade itself.
I’ll follow the activity all day leading up to the actual 4 p.m. deadline. Feel free to join the fun in the comments below.
The fountain of information on a day like this is MLB Trade Rumors, but I’ll be looking to update links under the names of those prominent players dealt to the hometown sources. Oakland, for example, is covered wonderfully by San Francisco Chronicle beat writer (and fellow Crowded House fan!) Susan Slusser, so that’s the link up there under Lester.