Chris Adamski stories, Page 109
A healthy scratch for a playoff game, Jared McCann looking invaluable now for Penguins
Jared McCann ended last season without a goal in 25 games and without a spot in the lineup for one of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ playoff games. From a healthy scratch who seemingly lost his scoring touch to … one of the Penguins’ more consistent scorers and relied-upon players? In March,...
With Tristan Jarry’s status in limbo, Penguins recall G Maxime Lagace to taxi squad
In a move that otherwise might be swept aside among the torrent of procedural transactions the Pittsburgh Penguins execute on a seemingly daily basis in navigating the salary cap during this coronavirus-affected season, the recall of Maxime Lagace to the taxi squad Tuesday is notable because of the unknown status...
Pirates’ outfield had potential, but can starters fulfill their promise?
There was a time the Pittsburgh Pirates could boast a trio of starting outfielders almost any team in the majors would covet. But with the start of the 2021 season days away, Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte are on the rosters of National League East clubs. The Pirates only wish...
Pirates outfield breakdown: Last chances for Gregory Polanco, Anthony Alford
Breakout candidate Anthony Alford A former SEC football player and once a top prospect of the Blue Jays, Alford is still only 26 and for the first time figures to get an extensive look as an everyday player. The talent and many of the tools are there for Alford to...
Steelers reportedly sign former Bears OL Rashaad Coward
Versatile offensive lineman Rashaad Coward is expected to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to a report from NFL Network. The move would add depth and options to an offensive line that has lost one starter (Maurkice Pouncey) to retirement and another to free agency (Matt Feiler) while left tackle...
Steelers re-sign punter Jordan Berry
Jordan Berry is back for what will be a seventh offseason and training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team on Monday announced the re-signing of the Australian who has served as their punter for 98 of their 103 games (including postseason) since he won the job 2015. Berry signed...
Steelers ILB Robert Spillane says his strength is pass coverage, even vs. WRs
NFL Network once referred to Robert Spillane matching up against a slot wide receiver as “a sportscar versus a pickup truck.” Spillane made it known Monday he strongly disagrees with that assessment. Furthermore, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ presumed starter at right inside linebacker said coach Mike Tomlin told him that pass...
In final spring appearance, Pirates’ Mitch Keller finally has scoreless outing
In his final appearance of spring training, Mitch Keller finally produced a scoreless outing — even if an old bugaboo reared its head to haunt him. Keller walked four of the 14 batters he faced but did not allow an extra-base hit and no Baltimore Orioles scored over the first...
Jeremy Bleich is Pirates’ analytics guru and part-time Olympian
A typical day for Pittsburgh Pirates staffer Jeremy Bleich often includes situations that could seem as if they are from a “This is SportsCenter” ad or an office-supply store commercial. “(Players) will walk in, and I’m, like, trying to get documents ready for the 7 o’clock game — and I’m...
Penguins’ Casey DeSmith emerging as one of NHL’s top backup goalies
Casey DeSmith’s jersey number (No. 1) is as reminiscent of hockey from a past generation as his height (6-foot) and weight (181) are. DeSmith’s path to the NHL, to borrow a cliche, also came the old-fashioned way: He earned it. Undrafted, DeSmith toiled in the American Hockey League before finally...
Steelers WR Chase Claypool reportedly caught on video in bar fight
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie of the year Chase Claypool reportedly was caught on video taking part in a bar fight, according to a story posted early Wednesday by TMZ. The video was taken March 13 in Costa Mesa, Calif., according to TMZ, and nobody was arrested or charged with a crime....
Penguins dive back into busy game schedule on heels of rare idle day
Mike Matheson and Sam Lafferty were born 53 weeks apart in the mid-1990s, so their divide is not a generational one. They are in different life stages, though, as Matheson is married with a pregnant wife. That meant the Pittsburgh Penguins teammates had different approaches to a much-needed idle day...
Penguins’ injury updates: Brandon Tanev misses practice, Jason Zucker ‘making progress’
The injury states of Evgeni Malkin and Brandon Tanev remained status quo, but coach Mike Sullivan had better news about one of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ other top nine forwards. Jason Zucker again skated Tuesday morning, taking the ice with skating/skills development coach Ty Hennes before Tuesday’s team practice in Cranberry...
Another ugly stat line for Mitch Keller, but this time Pirates see progress
The line in the box score for Mitch Keller’s fourth start of spring training wasn’t significantly better than it was for any of the previous three. Monday, eight of the 17 batters he faced reached base. But the precocious Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander and his manager insist that the 71-pitch outing...
Jared Oliva, Edgar Santana among those removed from Pirates’ spring roster
After entering spring training viewed as sleepers for roles for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ regular-season roster, Jared Oliva and Edgar Santana were among those officially dropped from consideration Monday. Outfielder Oliva and right-hander Santana were optioned to the minor leagues and infielder Kevin Kramer and right-hander Shea Spitzbarth were reassigned to...
Recent trade pickup Duane Underwood Jr. confident he can help Pirates’ pitching staff
Duane Underwood Jr. spent his first 8½ years as a professional with one organization. Joining the Pittsburgh Pirates was a whole lot of new — but not without some familiar faces. “I actually knew a few of the guys just from working out in offseason and just being around the...
Adam Frazier stays hot, Pirates hit 3 home runs in spring loss to Yankees
Adam Frazier is eager to put a rare “off” season behind him. So far this spring, he appears well on his way. A three-hit outing during a 7-5 loss at the New York Yankees on Saturday bumped Frazier’s average up to .667 through four games after a delayed start to...
Chase De Jong successful in start, Cole Tucker returns to lineup in Pirates’ spring win
Right-hander Chase De Jong continued to make his case as a darkhorse candidate for the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching three shutout innings of a 2-1 win against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday in Bradenton, Fla. A 27-year-old former second-round pick of the Blue Jays signed as a minor league free...
Pirates place pitcher Blake Cederlind on 60-day IL with elbow injury
Buried in the final paragraph of a team release to officially announce the previously reported signing of veteran pitcher Trevor Cahill was some ominous-sounding news regarding the future of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen. Blake Cederlind was placed on the 60-day injured list because of a potentially serious injury to his...
Ke’Bryan Hayes, Mitch Keller among 30 pre-arbitration players Pirates sign for 2021
Ke’Bryan Hayes, Mitch Keller and others who figure to be long-term pieces of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ rebuild agreed to terms on contracts for the 2021 season, the organization announced Friday. Third baseman Hayes and starting pitcher Keller are among 30 pre-arbitration players who agreed to salaries at or near the...
After slow start to season, Tristan Jarry proving his ‘No. 1 goalie’ worth to Penguins
The resurgence of Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry coincides with former NHL All-Star goalie Ron Hextall taking over as the team’s general manager. In the seven games Jarry played before the Feb. 6 announcement of Hextall’s hiring, Jarry had the NHL’s second-worst save percentage (.857) and fourth-worst goals-against average (3.95)....
Penguins notes: Finally, a new opponent in Sabres
Over the past six weeks, the Pittsburgh Penguins have faced four different opponents. Thursday, for the first time since Jan. 28, a Penguins faceoff won’t come up against the New York Islanders (six meetings in that time), Washington Capitals (four meetings), New York Rangers (four) or Philadelphia Flyers (three). Thursday’s...
Penguins’ Mark Friedman back at practice; John Marino absent
The Pittsburgh Penguins gained one defenseman but lost another Wednesday, at least by way of practice participation. John Marino was absent from Wednesday’s session at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township. But Mark Friedman was back on the ice with teammates, appearing to be in a full participatory...
Penguins place D Mark Friedman on injured reserve, others assigned to AHLVideo
Mark Friedman’s absence from the lineup will linger. The Pittsburgh Penguins placed the newly acquired defenseman on their injured reserve list Monday. Friedman has missed the past two games because of an upper-body injury suffered during last Thursday’s game against his former team, the Philadelphia Flyers. That was Friedman’s second...
Kasperi Kapanen quietly leading Penguins in even-strength offensive categories
The Pittsburgh Penguins’ leader in even-strength points isn’t Sidney Crosby or Jake Guentzel. The Penguins player who has been on the ice for the most 5-on-5 goals by his team this season isn’t Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang. Instead, it’s a player who through less than a half of a...
