NFL divisional playoffs

This is a good weekend for football fans. The snow is a bonus too.

Football + snow = bliss

NFL Defensive Player of the Year

All hail James Harrison, who joins some elite company.

Ed Bouchette's report notes:

Harrison's demeanor was so menacing that even one of his former position coaches, Mike Archer, was quoted as saying he could not wait for him to be cut. Harrison matured and focused his menacing nature on opponents rather than his own coaches and teammates.

NFL wild card weekend

So far, a good weekend for the home team.

Really don't care who wins any of these games. I want to be entertained. And I am rooting for Pyrrhic victories.

Modern concussion management

The New York Times delivers this article on Pittsburgh's place as "the virtual hub of modern concussion management."

Sickels' Top 20 Prospects

John Sickels has posted his Pirates Top 20 Prospects for 2009. The system is "quite thin, but showing signs of improvement." Bryan Morris comes in at #4 on both Sickels' list and BP's Top 11 list.

Bolts, Colts, or Fins

The Steelers will host one of those teams in the late game on January 11.

NFL week 17

Can't sleep with all the excitement about Kansas City at Cincinnati. Holy barnburner. What a slate of games

Rocco

Dejan Kovacevic reports the Pirates are looking at Rocco Baldelli. Gimpy guys can be a great bargain.

NFL week 16

Clutchy Big Ben vs. Kerry Freaking Collins.

R.I.P. Dock Ellis

Pour some out for Dock Ellis - gone, but never forgotten.

Wake me up when the winning starts

Dejan Kovacevic reports the Pirates have hired a new radio voice, Tim Neverett.

This is big news for those of us who listen to a lot of games.

A little research shows that Neverett is well qualified for the job. He wrote this, for example, about the Rockies in May 2008:

The Rockies might just add to the suffering with their terrible start and shambles of a pitching staff. The injury to Troy Tulowitzki doesn’t matter, honestly, because he was not even hitting the weight of a high school sophomore when he went on the disabled list. Jeff Francis went zero for April in wins and started the month of May the same way. Brad Hawpe is primed to hit only six home runs this season with his one long ball a month pace and the additions of De La Rosa, Quintinilla and Hererra are starting to bring back memories of three and four seasons ago when the Rockies ran out “Todd and the Triple A Team”.

The same editorial concludes:

Settle in, relax, take your time. This summer is going to be a long one for Colorado Sports Fans. Wake me up when the winning starts, OK?

I doubt he'll catch as many zzz's as he'd like this coming summer, but it does look like he's ready to step in and explain the Pirates to us. Congratulations, Tim -- we will listen.

Free agents vs. prospects

The Bucco blogosphere has suddenly been festooned with much excellent interesting commentary on a Q+A question about free agents vs. prospects in the current market, and whether the Bay trade was wise. For the record, Rowdy and I both liked the Bay trade at the time.

Andy LaRoche has 164 ABs as a Pirate. Sure, those haven't been pretty, but give him a chance at least.

Bootcheck

Reliever Chris Bootcheck has agreed to terms, Dejan reports. Bootcheck missed most of the 2006 season after injuring his hammy while running from the bullpen to the mound during an Angels brawl. This reminds me of Bucdaddy's question of why, during a bench-clearing brawl, do the bullpens both sprint in from the OF to join the donnybrook, instead of just sprinting towards each other (and saving their hammys)?

UPDATE: No deal yet.

Power pitchers

Dejan wonders how many projects Kerrigan can take on, and what the evidence for turning wild power arms into success stories is. Perhaps in Neal's defense, strikeout rate is a better predictor of future strikeout rate than walk rate to future walk rate, according to this THT piece. As far as specific examples, Ollie comes to mind. His strikeout rate has remained consistent, but walk rate varied wildly.

In other news, Rinku checks his closets for Najeh, and finds nothing.

Reinventing the Wiggy wheel

The Bucs have expressed interest in Wiggy, the P-G reports. Wiggy's breakout 2008 will probably guarantee greener pastures. But if not, management might wish to consider the reverse Wiggy wheel.

NFL week 15

Steelers at Ravens with a lot of marbles in the pot.

I've been watching the Ravens with a lot of respect this season. They have been better than most have noticed. I felt nervous about this game early in the week, but today I don't think that's the case. I'm expecting a good game from the Steelers.

I'm also looking forward to seeing what percentage of tickets were consumed by the Steeler Nation. I get a kick out of that every week.

One man, one mound, one ball

Hot Stove update from Dejan brings news that Kerrigan will pick up some of Ronny's slack, calling games from the dugout and catching when needed. In other news, JR says Nate will lead off, Gorzo is in shape, and Kuwata still wears his Bucs jersey.

All hail Bob Smizik

We raise our glass to Bob Smizik, who after a long, illustrious, cantankerous career, is retiring. The loss of Ronny Ballgame has led many to drastic measures, and we completely understand.

Rule 5

Starting today, Donald Veal and Andres Santos will attempt to fill the void left by Ronny Franchise. The P-G reports Ramon Vazquez will be signed soon. Vazquez's fourth most comparable batter is Ed Ott. Veal will be entertaining. Neal should hire Kerrigan some Special Assistants.

Farewell Ronny Ballgame

Ronny traded to the Phils for Jason Jamarillo, the P-G reports.

I've seen them; kids, men, women, worshippers all, hoping to get his name on a torn, dirty piece of paper, or hoping for a grunt of recognition when they said, 'Hi-ya, Ronny.' He never let them down; not once. He was the greatest crowd pleaser of them all.