On Wednesday, “First Call” sparked the Pittsburgh Pirates’ response to Fernando Tatis Jr.’s controversy. Steelers tight end Vance McDonald makes a Pittsburgh folklore faux pas. A former Penguins prospect has a new home. And a tip of the hat to Roberto Clemente on his birthday.
Taillon on Tatis
The big controversy in Major League Baseball this week has been San Diego Padres slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. Who hit a grand slam at a 3-0 pitch during what – at the moment – was a 10-3 blowout for his team over the Texas Rangers.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
El Niño.
The face of baseball. pic.twitter.com/Y5VF5EIBKt
– San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 18, 2020
The ‘unwritten rule’ in baseball is that you do not swim on a count in a situation like that. It’s the basic version of ‘baseball fan’ not running the score.
Rangers manager Chris Woodward says he was not happy with what Tatis Jr. did. The Rangers threw behind the next batter in retaliation. Pitcher Ian Gibaut was suspended for three games for doing so. Woodward was docked one game.
Padres manager Jayce Tingle did not seem enthusiastic about it, suggesting that the ‘take sign’ was on for Tatis Jr. The 21-year-old shortstop then apologized to her and said he ‘missed’ the sign.
Whatever. It’s baseball. You can knock down a football possession or dribble an NBA shot clock. No bat will ever feel the need to make an essential goal – or feel pressured to not get hit if the opportunity exists to do so.
Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon agrees.
Also swinging 3-3 with the bases is probably not a great move for a lot of guys, just strategic. But for one of the best and hottest hiters in the game? Yes … let it eat.
– Jameson Taillon (@ JTaillon19) August 18, 2020
Pirates manager Derek Shelton was upset when he spoke about the ‘incident’ on Tuesday.
“I think we make too many (over) unwritten rules in the game and how the game is played,” Shelton said. “People want to blow a lot of things out of proportion. I have no problem with that. He knocked down the home team, he put his head down and ran around the base. ”
And hey, if anyone knows what the unwritten rules are when it comes to blowing up, it’s the Pirates.
So if they are not crazy, how can we be crazy?
A great day to remember ‘The Great One’
Tuesday marked what would be Roberto Clemente’s 86th birthday.
The Great would have turned 86 today. Happy birthday to this weekend @piratasbeisbol @Pirates https://t.co/cCGPNfbaL8 pic.twitter.com/shMaNuunBI
– National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (@baseballhall) August 18, 2020
Unfortunately, Clemente did not live until the age of 38. He died in a plane crash on New Year’s Day 1972.
But his legacy remains in Pittsburgh. As it should be after two World Series rings, 15 All-Star appearances, 12 gold gloves, four batting titles, and MVP awards for the 1966 season and the 1971 World Series.
That in honor of Clemente, some of his biggest hits.
Pavlychev goes to pack
The Penguins have officially lost Pennita striker Nikita Pavlychev. He signed with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League. Syracuse is affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
We have signed Nikita Pavlychev forward to a one year AHL contract.https: //t.co/BHHoAu5V8H
– Syracuse Crunch (@SyracuseCrunch) August 18, 2020
The Penguins’ seventh-round pick of 2015 scored seven goals and had seven assists in 27 games during his senior season at Penn State.
Pavlychev is 6-foot-8 and 225 pounds. He became an unrestricted free agent on Saturday. He is the seventh Nittany Lion player to sign a professional contract since the NCAA hockey season ended in March.
‘Vance, there’s a Mr. Scuderi on line 1 for you ‘
Steelers tight end Vance McDonald spoke to the media via Zoom on Tuesday. And he spent much of his time praising new close end partner Eric Ebron.
“I told Eric yesterday, ‘You were the missing switch,'” McDonald said. “Eric comes here and puts an end to all these great plays. It will elevate not only myself but everyone on the field.
‘Eric is the missing piece. Expect to be thin with everyone this year, now that we have Eric on our team. ”
Wait, “The missing piece”? Hey, I’m looking forward to playing Ebron too, Vance. But there can only be one “Piece” in the sports district of Pittsburgh, right?
That’s Penguins defender Rob Scuderi when he accidentally called himself “the piece” in a postgame interview after making two major saves during Game 2009 of the 2009 Stanley Cup Final.
We may have a Steelers versus Penguins copyright infringement on our hands here.
Clearly, this will have to be decided the only fair way possible – T-shirt sales.
Tim Benz is a Staff Writer Tribune Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be re-posted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.
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Penguins / NHL | Piraten / MLB | Sport | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz
