Steel City Jim

I know it's been a while. But what is there to say about a struggling hometown baseball team? I will say that on the bright side, the Pirates have three decent starters in Maholm, Duke and Olendorf. The others are a joke, kind of like they used to say in boxing, the bum of the month club. They try Morton and Burress, and by the time they look up, they are behind by 5 or 6 runs. The other three tend to keep the score down and give themselves a chance to win. This is particularly true since, by some twist of fate, they have come up with a decent relief staff. So, there's an amazing stat that in almost all games when they are ahead in the 7th inning, they come out winners. Dotel is the cream of the relievers. If history serves as a guide, he will be traded in July. (You know, we will get all these young phenoms in exchange and we aren't going anywhere this year anyway.) The problem is that they aren't ahead in enough leads in the 7th innings to make a difference.

Also, there are three position players who have real potential. McCutcheon, Jones and the new kid, Walker. The latter is a local product they just brought up. We'll see how he does after he's made his first circuit around the league. The most entertaining player, at least defensively, this year as been Lastings Milledge. It seems that every fly ball in his direction becomes an adventure. Sometimes he makes seemingly sensational catches. But they are only a result of his not positioning himself properly in the first place to catch the ball. So, his lunging and diving for balls look great. But he should never have had to lunge or dive to make the catch.

Finally, the Pirates drafted another pitcher in yesterday's draft. They have a history of drafting pitchers, most of whom cannot throw faster that 85 mph. But this kid from Texas -- Jameson Taillon -- throws a 99 mph fastball. Signing him will be a challenge. He comes from a Rice-educated family and may well want to follow in the tradition. So, we'll see.

NFL
The real intrigue these parts this morning has to do with the Steelers. And it has nothing to do with Ben or Santonio or all the other distractions that will bedraggle this team in 2010. This one concerns the head coach, or all people. Now, I have been thinking all along that Mike Tomlin is the ideal head coach. After all, he sent Ken Whisenhunt packing to Arizona when most of us thought Whiz had the job sewn up. In the meantime, Whiz has done rather well for himself with the Cardinals. He hasn't won the big one yet and he'll have to find a quarterback who can get that done for him. But he's built a solid team.

Mike Tomlin has won a Super Bowl. But whereas the Steelers have had a policy of re-signing head coaches (Noll and Cowher) to extensions in the second year of their contracts, this has not been done with Tomlin, at least as of this writing. What seems to be the hangup? Is Tomlin demanding too much? Or, are the Steeler brass not completely sold on Tomlin? One could say that he won the Super Bowl with the previous coach's personnel.

One could also say that his philosophy of an air attack conflicts with management. It has been reported that management (Rooney) insists on a greater emphasis on the running game starting in 2010. Has Tomlin resisted this? Are there other differences in outlook between Tomlin and Rooney? Some people think that either Tomlin will ink a new contract by the start of training camp or 2010 could be his last year in Pittsburgh.

In the meantime, contract or no contract, coaching the Steelers in 2010 will be no picnic. Tomlin has to decide who will be his starting quarterback for at least the first four games. He also has to find someone to replace Holmes, who, on the field, was a pretty fair football player. If he is to satisfy the Rooneys even a little, he has to find a way to get the running game going. And, he has to deal with all the locker room problems that have surfaced over Ben and his personality, or lack thereof, and his off-field exploits.

Then, there is the problem of a tremendous Ravenzzz club that is salivating at the opportunity not only to take the AFC North, but go all the way. And you can't rule out Cincinnati, which won every division game in 2009. Finally, the Browns, with new management, will be vastly improved, and they still have Cribbs, a one-man wrecking crew as far as the Steelers are concerned. So, the outlook isn't brilliant for the Mudville Eleven for 2010, and we don't even have a Casey who represents a glimmer of hope.

Years ago I heard Dan Rooney, then President of the Steelers, say that the purpose of the regular NFL season is to get into the playoffs. From then on, there are no sure things.

Now, who among you would have predicted the emergence of the Jets as a team that would vie for the AFC Championship? I certainly wasn't one of those. I figured that the Jets had danced their way into the playoffs in the first place. Their regular season record was identical to the Steelers'. With a rookie head coach and a rookie quarterback there was no way of winning any playoff games. But here they are, and as Rex Ryan said yesterday, "Here we come."

All afternoon I watched Revis making play after play yesterday. I see how great he is. But I didn't know much about him when he was at Pitt. He must have been something because the Jets made him their No. 1 draft pick. Revis hails from Allequippa, PA, a former steel town along the Ohio river about 10 miles west of downtown Pittsburgh. Do you know any other NFL stars from Allequippa? How about Tony Dorsett and Mike Ditka?

Norv Turner will go down in as one of the best regular-season coaches and worst playoff coaches in history. San Diego had been averaging 30 points/game. Yesterday they got 14. The goat of the game is the place kicker, Kaeding. I couldn't believe he missed those three field goals. It reminded me of the Steelers-Colts playoff game in which the Steelers upset the Colts. It was remarkable because of the saving tackle Ben made and because Vinatieri missed a crucial field goal. That's playoff football, fans.

Favre looked great yesterday. But more amazing was the Minnesota defense. They pounded Romo who had no answers.

So, here's the Watch But Don't Bet department: Bet your house on the Colts. The Jets' mystique will vanish in the Wabash River next Sunday. Also, look for Brees and the Saints to finish the Vikings. Brees has too many weapons. But if the Vikings' defense plays next Sunday like it did yesterday ...

-- Unlike last year when the Steelers were up to their ears in the playoffs, today's front sports page in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was filled with Pitt basketball. On Saturday the Panthers defeated Louisville in a miraculous comeback. With 37 seconds left they were behind by five points. But they got a three-pointer to pull within two, held Louisville on its next trip up the court and got two foul shots to tie with no time left on the clock. They won by five points in overtime. Pitino said it was his worst loss since the Laettner shot to beat them in the NCAA some years ago.

-- I enjoy this time of the year when the Steelers make plans for 2010. There are three coaching changes, and now they will plan for free agency and the draft. Art Rooney II, who is really taking over the club as his father, Dan Rooney, who spends most of his time in Ireland as US Ambassador, said that he wants two changes for next year.

One, he wants to bring younger players along more quickly. The other is that he wants a greater emphasis on the running game. I heard Jerome Bettis last week bemoaning the lack of a running game. He said that the Steelers failed to hold leads this year in part because they couldn't move the ball on the ground and eat clock. Bruce Arians, the offensive coordinator, who has emphasized passing over running, was rumored to be fired. But, reading between the lines, he apparently agreed to bring back the run, thereby saving his job. Look for some important fullback work next year. The fullback will lead the runner into the line, thereby creating more space for the runner to squeeze into. I watched yesterday as the Jets iced the game, when, with a fourth and one and but some 50 seconds on the cock, they ran the ball off right tackle and made three yards.

-- The Pirates signed a couple of relievers whom no one else wanted. They are putting out the word that they are looking for better play from Milledge, McCutcheon, Jones, et al, which will catapult them out of the cellar. Well, if all that happens, maybe they will. It's almost spring. Hope springs eternal ... then reality sets in. Baseball sucks.

Many years ago, the sports editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Al Abrams (an Arab, not a Jew, and a great guy) used to head some of his columns, "Things I think I think." Giving full credit to Mr. Abrams, here is my new offering of things I think I think.

1. The MLB trading deadline has finally passed. The Pirates unloaded shortstop Jack Wilson to Seattle, second baseman Freddie Sanchez to San Francisco, and in other deals got rid of relief pitchers Grabow and Gorzelanny to the Cubs. It was a frenzy of deals and it is obvious that Pirates' management didn't want those guys hanging around anymore. Wilson and Sanchez are both 31. Wilson is a tremendous defensive shortstop, but his hitting has dropped off of late. Sanchez is a fine singles and doubles hitter, and he was touted as an All-Star player. The All-Star tab was put on him not because he was voted in by the fans, a questionable procedure anyway, but because he was the best of the worst. Every team must have All-Star representation, so Sanchez was picked by default. But both players should contribute immediately to their respective teams.

So, what did the Pirates get in return? Well, for one they got two major leaguers. Ronny Cedeno came from the Mariners and he's an adequate shortstop. The Pirates even think they can improve his hitting. That remains to be seen, but he has gotten some hits since he's been here. The other Major Leaguer is a pitcher Kevin Hart who came from the Cubs. Now he looks pretty goo, with a 3.21 ERA. Why the Cubs gave him up is a mystery, but he will start for the Pirates on Thursday against the Diamondbacks. So, we'll see what he can do in a Pirate uniform. The rest are the usual-suspect prospects who look good on paper but who are a year or so away from the majors, if ever.

Eight of the nine Pirate starters from just one year ago are now gone. Only Doumit remains. So, the new management is following its plan of trying to fill the system with bona fide prospects. One is already in a Pirate uniform and is performing magnificently, Andrew McCutchen. He hit three homers on Friday night. OK, it was against the Nationals. But three homers are three homers. They brought up Lastings Milledge who, everybody knows, can hit the ball. Now, if they can only keep his head screwed on. There are also a couple of pitchers who are decent. So, they need a few more of those prospects to blossom, and who knows?

2. I think the Phillies, in getting Lee, the White Sox, in getting Peavy, and the Giants, who are very good already, in getting Sanchez, really proved themselves for the pennant fight and ensuing playoffs. With good hitting around him, Sanchez will see his stock rise.

3. Football is in the air, man. The Steelers have started practicing. Tomlin has made it a huge point that last year's Super Bowl is history and the focus is strictly on 2009. They claim that Rashard Mendenhall has shown improvement already. I am going out on a limb: I predict that Limas Sweed will have a breakout season in 2009. He will separate and hold onto the ball this year. I am hoping for big things from Frank the Tank. But it was reported that little William Gay put a lick on him in practice that made him cough up the ball. Welcome to the big time, Tank. Hopefully he will learn from this and become the short-yardage runner the Steelers have needed since the Bus retired.

4. Teams in the AFC North have definitely improved. Cincinnati seems to have its act together. Cleveland has a new focus with a new coach, Mangini, who will bring discipline to a team that was poorly led by Crenell. And, of course, Ravenzzz can't help but be better. Flacco, an unknown quantity a year ago, has established himself as one of the best QBs in the league. They will take the shackles off him this year as he is much more comfortable with his surroundings, and he will shine. Also, the coveted Derrick Mason, having gotten over the death of his friend, Steve McNair, is back in camp, and he'll provide a great target for Flacco. The Steelers beat the Ravenzzz three times last year ... literally, by centimeters. But Ravenzzz will be smoking this year and the Steelers will have their hands full (too full?).

After stating that we Pittsburghers must endure some more patience while Pirate management exercises its plan to restock the farm system (which hopefully translate to major league success soon), I can tell you that the summer swoon, with which we have suffered these past 17 years, has befallen us once again.

With management assessing all the flotsam and jetsam accumulated these past months, the lineup -- depleted with Morgan and McClouth now ex-Pirates, and Sanchez and Doumit injured -- is a shadow of even its former under-.500 self. With the exceptions of McCutcheon, Wilson and Andy LaRoche (Adam LaRoche is a prime candidate for a trade), we have been treated to a variety of prospects. Most have been so-so, to say the least, and, having breathed the rarefied air of the majors, have been safely returned to their minor league teams for further seasoning.

It's pretty obvious than the trades for players like Bay, Nady, McClouth and Morgan, have not brought us the cream of our trading partners' minor leaguers, at least so far. Ohlendorff has shown flashes. But he was hit hard the other night. Morton pitched well against the Marlins, but fared poorly with the Astros. None of the position players has done anything to write home about. So, we are left with essentially a group of minor leaguers who are testing their mettle against major league pitching. So far, the results are not very encouraging.

One of the "prospects" the Pirates received in the Morgan trade with the Nationals is Lastings Milledge. Now, here is a guy who, physically, has all the tools to be an outstanding outfielder. (He is currently rehabilitating a broken thumb in Bradenton.) But at age 24 he now finds himself with his third major league franchise. He wore out his welcome with the Mets and Nationals, both of which were convinced that he's an incorrigible head case.

Neil Huntington, the Pirates' GM, stated that he knows he is taking a chance with Milledge. But he thinks the Pirate organization can get him headed on the right path. I am skeptical. Thumbs heal. Head cases tend to remain head cases. Manny Ramirez is one. Terrell Owens is another. These guys can play. But they tend to be so disruptive in the clubhouse as to negate their value. The Steelers steer clear of these types as much as possible. And when they have them, i.e., Plaxico Burress, they dispatch them as quickly as they can. But Huntington is doubling down to turn this franchise around, and taking Milledge proves it.

By the way, Orioles' fans, don't gloat. I note that both the Orioles and Pirates are sporting 38-47 records so far this season. But, take heart ... it's only three weeks until football training camp begins.