Just like Aaron Rodgers, refreshing sports notes will eventually show up. But on a haphazard timetable, and who knows if they’re going to be any good? Also like Rodgers.
• The Pirates’ biggest problem is outfielder Bryan Reynolds: He makes $14.25 million, has one home run in 35 games, has pedestrian stats and is a butcher in the field. Reynolds bats in the middle of the order and is counted on for a lot more.
• Paul Skenes is so good that every time he has even a bad inning, it seems like the sky is falling. His current ERA of 2.62 ranks 17th in MLB, yet seems bloated. Which it is, by Skenes’ standard. What’s legit scary is that the Pirates are just 6-4 in games started by Skenes. That will get them nowhere.
• Manager Donnie Kelly got excoriated for lifting starter Mitch Keller with two out and a man on first in the sixth inning of Tuesday’s 9-6 loss at St. Louis. Reliever Evan Sisk allowed a two-run homer to Nolan Gorman and the Pirates went from leading 4-3 to trailing 5-4. But Kelly went lefty-lefty. Sisk hadn’t allowed an extra-base hit to a left-handed batter in 58 previous such matchups. That’s over Sisk’s entire career. It was the right move. It just didn’t work. It’s not like Kelly pulled Roger Clemens.
• In the aftermath, some accused Kelly of hiding behind analytics. But the analytics in that case were obvious. Sure, there’s an element of arrogance behind analytics. “Moneyball” made sure of that. But data doesn’t lie. No manager trusts his gut anymore.
• Not sure if JJ Wetherholt harbors a grudge against the Pirates for not drafting him, or for trading fellow Mars product David Bednar. But it sure seems like it: After Tuesday’s game, the Cardinals rookie was 8-for-20 against the Pirates with three home runs, three doubles, eight runs scored and five RBI.
• If Rodgers performs well this season and the Steelers post a winning record, the Steelers will again wait as long as it takes next off-season to see if Rodgers wants to keep playing. There’s no good reason for Rodgers’ hesitance. He just likes showing who’s boss.
• With Mike Tomlin not around to say no, Rodgers will likely resume his weekly appearances on Pat McAfee’s show. New coach Mike McCarthy likes McAfee and is more laissez-faire in that regard. I hope it happens. It provides content. But from the Steelers’ point of view, it can result in no good. Rodgers can’t help but trigger mayhem.
• National radio host Adam Schein says that this season will see Rodgers outperform his predecessor in Green Bay, Jordan Love. Amazing how the Steelers get fictionalized as contenders every year.
• Those arguing for the glory of Will Howard have no logical case, so they delve into the irrelevant: “He won a natty!” You know what other quarterbacks won collegiate national championships? Stetson Bennett, Jake Coker, Ken Dorsey, Josh Heupel, Cardale Jones, Craig Krenzel, Tee Martin, Matt Mauck, A.J. McCarron and Greg McElroy. To name just a few from the “where are they now?” file.
• Bennett is the Los Angeles Rams’ third-string quarterback. He’s behind Matthew Stafford and first-round pick Ty Simpson. Are talk-show callers in Los Angeles campaigning for Bennett to get a shot? Probably not. They don’t care about football in L.A.
• I got no problem with the Steelers moving Troy Fautanu from right tackle to left tackle, or Mason McCormick from right guard to left guard. The former move suits first-round pick Max Iheanachor, who fits best and quickest at right tackle. But if those switches are to be made, make them now and do so decisively. Forget Broderick Jones. He’s in the last year of his contract and too broke to fix.
• Don’t worry about quarterback. Grandpa Game Manager got that covered ‘til he turns to dust. Worry about the defense: Old, brittle, overpaid and perennially overrated.
• The depth chart at tight end is interesting. McCarthy generally uses just one. Pat Freiermuth seems more his type, not Darnell Washington. Freiermuth is more offensively gifted. But Rodgers might prefer a big blocker and big target. That decision seems a litmus test for how much input Rodgers has on personnel under McCarthy.
• Game 7 of the Atlantic Division final between Buffalo and Montreal was a classic Stanley Cup playoff game, with Montreal winning in overtime. It also showed how far behind the Penguins are. The Penguins can’t keep up with that speed, and have barely started building to doing so. But that’s OK. Nostalgia sells. Until it doesn’t.
• Sidney Crosby had four assists in Canada’s 5-1 win over Denmark at the World Championships, including an absurd one-handed feed from behind the net. Most available NHL stars skipped the World Championships, but Crosby is an addict. When he’s 50, he’ll be dominating a beer league somewhere. Or the NHL.
• Bill Zonnon, 19, has scored in each of his first three pro games since joining the Penguins’ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton farm team for their American Hockey League playoff run. Zonnon, taken 22nd overall in last year’s NHL draft, projects as a solid middle-six forward. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, he provides some of what the Penguins need.
• Montreal keeps Canada’s hopes alive for a first Stanley Cup since 1993. Except everybody west of Ottawa hates the Canadiens.
• A tap-out in 17 seconds, everybody smiles after. Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano wasn’t the “Finger Poke of Doom,” but it smelled fishy. At best, it was two washed-up fighters collecting their pension.
• Michael Wilbon is a frequent guest lately on ESPN’s morning show, “Get Up.” Wilbon is knowledgeable, reasoned and credible. So he’s totally out of place. “Pardon the Interruption” remains ESPN’s best.