Breakfast With Benz category, Page 40
Tim Benz: Pirates’ comeback in Paul Skenes’ latest outing should slap Ben Cherington right in the face
Through his first 11 starts as a Pittsburgh Pirate, a lot went right for rookie right-hander Paul Skenes. He was 6-0 with a 1.90 ERA and was named as the National League starter for the All-Star Game. For a while on Monday night, though, Skenes looked like he was about...
Impressions after 1 week of Steelers training camp: New DBs impress early; Justin Fields, WRs as advertisedVideo
A week of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in the books. When the team reports back to the practice fields Tuesday at Saint Vincent College, the pads are supposed to go on and intensity will ramp up. Here are some observations from the first week of practice as the team...
Madden Monday: George Pickens ‘knows he is all the Steelers have at WR … and it ain’t good that he knows that’
At Pittsburgh Steelers training camp over the weekend, wide receiver George Pickens tried to downplay his verbal dust-up with new position coach Zach Azzanni on Wednesday. During the first full practice, Pickens missed a block that blew up a run play, and Azzanni got on him about it. “I welcome...
First Call: Respect between T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett; Kenny Pickett’s praise from Philly; eventful day for Chase Claypool
Monday’s “First Call” features some mutual respect between Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt. Kenny Pickett appears to be working out well in Philadelphia so far. Chase Claypool had an eventful day in Buffalo Bills camp. We will also preview Paul Skenes’ latest start in Houston. Props from Cleveland Fans of...
First Call: A Steelers WR trade prospect adjusts his contract; AFC North news; odd injury for Bethel Park’s Mason Miller
Friday’s “First Call” removes one name from the Steelers wide receiver rumor mill. There’s lots of information from the team’s rivals in the AFC North and one headline from a Penguins rival within the Metropolitan Division. And we’ve got odd injury news for Bethel Park’s Mason Miller in Oakland. Bad...
Tim Benz: Omar Khan better be right about the Steelers’ WR group, or he better improve it soon
On Thursday at Steelers training camp, general manager Omar Khan was asked if the team was in the midst of pursuing a pass catcher for the thin wide receiver room. “There’s nothing going on right now,” Khan said. That’s probably accurate only insofar as at the literal moment Khan was...
U mad, bro?: Pirates fans are still inflamed about the lineup ruining Paul Skenes’ start on Tuesday
How good is Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes? He’s so good that, on the eve of the Steelers reporting to training camp, he had all of Pittsburgh buzzing about baseball for a change. How bad is the Pirates lineup, though? It’s so bad that it couldn’t muster more than...
Tim Benz: Something about what Najee Harris said Wednesday doesn’t compute
Something just doesn’t add up with Najee Harris’ explanation as to why he didn’t get a fifth-year option from the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m not suggesting that Harris is the one blurring the lines. If I’m him, I’d be confused too. The 2021 first-round draft choice spoke with media members Wednesday...
First Call: Just 1 Steeler on ESPN list of Top 25 NFL players since 2000; WR news on Brandon Aiyuk, Courtland Sutton
Thursday’s “First Call” struggles to find any Steelers on that ESPN.com list of top NFL players of this century. We have lots of wide receiver news for Steelers fans to track. Lamar Jackson had an abbreviated debut at Ravens training camp. And a former Pirate is well aware that his...
The stories that matter (and many that don’t) as the Steelers open training camp 2024
Steelers training camp 2024 is upon us at Saint Vincent College. The team reports on Wednesday. You know what that means. Innumerable stories of who brought the biggest TV into the dorm rooms. Which player is rooming with which teammate? Who showed up in the flashiest car (or helicopter/fire truck)?...
Tim Benz: Get Paul Skenes some offensive help … or just let him hit for himself
We’ve found something Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes can’t do. Be his own offense. Actually, based on some of his hitting numbers as a college batter, theoretically, he could do exactly that. Certainly more effectively than many of the guys who were in the lineup to “support him” Tuesday night. Skenes...
First Call: Steelers work out ex-Pitt, Pine-Richland QB Ben DiNucci, multiple WRs; 18-game NFL season talks building
Wednesday’s “First Call” has news about the Steelers working out a quarterback with local ties. The team is checking out a few wide receivers as well. The Cleveland Browns have reworked the contract of their top pass-catcher. And the NFL is barreling toward an 18-game regular season. Steelers bringing in...
Tim Benz: Jim Leyland lamented broken hearts of Pirates fans. I’d welcome one again just to know mine was still beating
During his Hall of Fame induction speech Sunday, Jim Leyland perfectly encapsulated the memories left by the Pittsburgh Pirates teams he managed in the early 1990s. “I never felt like ‘manager and fans’ in Pittsburgh,” Leyland said. “It felt more like ‘manager and friends.’ I know we made you happy,...
Nick Gonzales not the only Pirate to show ‘clutch gene’ in win over St. Louis
After his team’s 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Monday night, Pirates manager Derek Shelton was asked if he believed the “clutch gene” existed in baseball. “If you talk to anybody who is an analyst, they will tell you, ‘No.’ If you talk to anyone who has ever put...
First Call: Steelers checking out FB, DL depth; ex-Steelers DB gets a look from NFC South club
In advance of training camp, the Steelers appear to be checking out depth along the defensive line and at fullback. An ex-Steeler is getting a look from the Carolina Panthers. A former Pitt Panther is putting himself in a tough spot with his new team. And we examine Tuesday’s Pirates-Cardinals...
First Call: Overlooked Steelers angle before training camp; love for Paul Skenes, not much for NHL
After a week off at “Breakfast With Benz,” there is plenty of catching up to do. We have a lot to preview as NFL training camps begin and the Pittsburgh Pirates get back into divisional play this week. For our initial “First Call” back from break, let’s get recalibrated by...
Madden Monday: Is Paul Skenes’ debut already more impressive than Sid’s? Big Ben’s? Mario’s?
Despite all the hype surrounding his All-Star Game start, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie pitcher Paul Skenes delivered by getting through the first inning without allowing a hit. Paul Skenes retires Aaron Judge and it's a scoreless first inning ???? pic.twitter.com/X4o89E5f6f— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 17, 2024 “I thought he handled...
Tim Benz: For Pirates GM Ben Cherington, it’s not about new math — it’s about ditching old philosophies
On Sunday, Ben Cherington wanted to take us all to math class. During Cherington’s weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan, play-by-play man Joe Block asked the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager if the team’s recent hot stretch of eight wins in nine tries altered the front office’s approach in advance...
NL manager Torey Lovullo gives candid response about Paul Skenes’ chances of starting the All-Star Game
When it comes to all the buzz surrounding the prospect of Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes starting the All-Star game, National League manager Torey Lovullo isn’t playing dumb. He’s heard it all. And the Arizona Diamondbacks bench boss may not be feeling the pressure just about starting Skenes. It...
Tim Benz: If pulling Paul Skenes was as easy as Derek Shelton says, it’s even easier to critique his decision
After the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 1-0 win in Milwaukee on Thursday, manager Derek Shelton said it wasn’t a hard decision to pull rookie pitcher Paul Skenes with a no-hitter going after 11 strikeouts over seven innings. That better not be true. That decision should’ve at least given Shelton significant pause. Forget...
First Call: Kevin Colbert’s new job; Bill Belichick’s new TV gig with an ex-Steeler
Friday’s “First Call” passes along news about a new job for former Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert. Fox is shaking up its NFL play-by-play tandems now that Tom Brady is on board. Bill Belichick is working with a former Steeler in a new sports media role. The Pirates look...
First Call: LaVar Arrington calls Steelers ‘mid-tier’; 49ers Pro Bowler discusses Brandon Aiyuk situation
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us LaVar Arrington’s view of the Steelers in 2024. We get a teammate’s opinion of the ongoing Brandon Aiyuk saga in San Francisco. Former Penguin Carl Hagelin updates his health. And the Pirates get a second crack at a pitcher that recently gave them problems. No...
Frankie’s Fairy Tale: 80 years later, the story of Pittsburgh’s forgotten All-Star game and the Pirates’ anonymous All-Star player
On Tuesday, July 16 the 94th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. On July 11, 1944, the 12th MLB All-Star Game was played at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field — a little more than a month after the Allied Forces invaded Europe on...
U mad, bro?: Pittsburgh fans fire barbs at Steelers’ mediocrity, Penguins’ stagnation, Pirates’ frugality
Next week, we are on vacation here at “Breakfast With Benz.” Not just a long holiday weekend, or a couple of half days in a row to run errands, spruce up the backyard and drink beer on the porch. No, my friends. I’m talking about full-on, all-out, actually leaving the...
First Call: Mitch Keller passed over as Tyler Glasnow’s All-Star replacement; ex-Carolina star praises Diontae Johnson trade
At least one former Carolina Panthers star is pumped about his old team landing ex-Steeler Diontae Johnson in a trade. One of the three sons of former Steelers who committed to Notre Dame is already heading elsewhere. Tyler Glasnow is out of the All-Star game. Does that mean Pittsburgh’s Mitch...
