[ad_1]
5. Pirates Continue Play, Steelers Continue Practice
STORY: There were postponements, protests and boycotts across the sports landscape this week. It started Wednesday when the Milwaukee Bucks refused to play their playoff game against the Orlando Magic. A postponement of the rest of the NBA games that day followed, as well as three games postponed in MLB. Some NFL team cancelled practices and the NHL postponed its playoff games on Thursday and Friday as well. That being said, the Pirates continued with a doubleheader Thursday against the Cardinals and the Steelers practiced at Heinz Field as well.
SPIN: That’s not to say they didn’t care as much, that it’s not part of their daily conversations as a team or that they aren’t committed to seeing change like those other teams that halted their operations. In fact, Mike Tomlin took a significant amount of time to talk about how the team is addressing these issues. In part he said, “We desire to have an impact and more so than statements. We want to be proactive in our behavior, in our thoughts. So we had continued conversations, not necessarily in reaction to the most recent events that have transpired. I continue to appreciate the hearts and spirits of our players in terms of wanting to participate and engage in a positive way and express themselves. That is their right.”
4. Part 1 Of Big Ben Documentary Released
STORY: On Ben’s official Twitter account, Part One of a multi-part documentary on past two offseasons called “Bigger Than Ben” was released for the masses. In it, Ben, his wife Ashley, Mike Tomlin and team doctor James Bradley all provide commentary.
SPIN: Ben has upped his camera time and social media game this offseason. First it was a hype video of his comeback when he first started throwing a football (that Gov. Wolf took issue with because it showed him getting a haircut) and now this. There is an incredible revelation in this that Ben says he injured that throwing elbow, in his words, “13, 14, 15 years ago” and had deal with some pain from time to time as a result. So you’re telling me he has essentially played his entire career with a partial tear in that thing? He says that the dull pain there is gone post-surgery. We’ll see how much that actually matters in the end but maybe we do see a rejuvenated Ben in 2020?
3. No Fans in September At Heinz Field
STORY: It was announced Thursday that Heinz Field will be empty of fans through the entire month of September. This means the first two Steelers games (Sept. 20 vs. Denver and Sept. 27 vs. Houston) and three Pitt games (Sept. 12, 19 and 26 against Austin Peay, Syracuse and Louisville) will be played in the empty stadium.
SPIN: Both Pitt and the Steelers are keeping the door open for fans at some point this season. I think this is just a precautionary tale. When they say they are going to re-evaluate later, I believe them. Why? There’s money to be made there. Having the first month without them, to me, is kind of a fail-safe move. If the begin of the season goes off without a hitch or an outbreak (the NFL as of Friday had just one player on the COVID-19 list) then they have more ammo to push for fan attendance. Who knows if it will happen but I don’t think it’s crazy to think there will be fans in those bright yellow seats at some point.
2. Pirates Have Roller Coaster Week
STORY: It was a tale of two sweeps for the Bucs this week. On Tuesday, they were dominated by the White Sox’s Lucas Giolito en route to a one walk, 13-strikeout no-hitter. They followed that up with a 10-3 loss on Wednesday.
But, Thursday featured a day/night doubleheader against St. Louis that went much better. Chad Kuhl gave them six quality innings and the Pirates scored 3 runs in the top of an extra 8th inning to win 4-3. In Game 2, Cody Ponce went 5.2 scoreless innings as the Bucs completely blanked the Cardinals 2-0.
SPIN: Add to the on-field performance that outfielder Jarrod Dyson has reportedly been traded to the White Sox Friday morning for international pool money. Good for the Pirates. But for the White Sox…why? Just as a baserunner?
Anyway, Thursday was significant for me because Chad Kuhl boosted his trade value with another quality start. A 2.52 ERA through 4 starts this year is definitely something you can float out there for a decent return. Will Craig made his MLB debut as well, flashed his athleticism at first base and almost played hero in Game 1 of the doubleheader by hitting a ball to the warning track in the 7th inning. Also, Cole Tucker’s defense is getting better and better in CF. So, that’s something I guess.
I’m really intrigued by how many more pieces Ben Cherington is able to move by the deadline on Monday. I didn’t think Dyson would be one of them so maybe that’s a good sign that there will be a ton movement. Stratton, Rodriguez, Frazier, maybe even Erik Gonzalez would all be names I would be floating out there. Heck, no player on that entire roster should be safe from being involved in the right deal.
1. Penguins Re-Acquire Kasperi Kapanen, Ship Out Another 1st Round Pick
STORY: Jim Rutherford made his first big move of the offseason as far as player personnel when he traded Evan Rodrigues, defenseman David Warsofsky, forward Filip Hallander and the 15th overall pick in 2020 for former Penguins first round pick Kasperi Kapanen, forward Pontus Aberg and defenseman Jesper Lindgren.
SPIN: This has gotten mixed reviews. This clearly shows that the time to win a championship still exists in Pittsburgh. It’s still win now. It’s still putting all the potential chips in place to go after another Stanley Cup before the Crosby-Malkin era truly comes to a close. And I like it. As a fan, I always appreciate a GM that realizes his time to win and is aggressive in maximizing it.
Kapanen should slot in as a top 6 forward, most likely as the right wing on Sidney Crosby’s top line alongside Jake Guentzel. You pair that with a Zucker-Malkin-Rust second line and that top 6 is one of the best in the league.
I think it’s reasonable to expect 25 goals from Kapanen on that line. He scored 20 a couple years ago and was relatively on line for that production again in Toronto this season. He’s got the speed to keep up and had even added some grit to his game as he has matured and is still only 24 years old.
Rutherford is declaring with this deal that the “window” is still open…he still has a lot of work to do this offseason, but it seems the Pens are set at the top.
"),e.close(),createDict=e.F;r--;)delete createDict[PROTOTYPE][enumBugKeys[r]];return createDict()};module.exports=Object.create||function(e,t){var r;return null!==e?(Empty[PROTOTYPE]=anObject(e),r=new Empty,Empty[PROTOTYPE]=null,r[IE_PROTO]=e):r=createDict(),void 0===t?r:dPs(r,t)};
}, {"175":175,"187":187,"189":189,"202":202,"210":210,"211":211}];
window.modules["210"] = [function(require,module,exports){var dP=require(200),anObject=require(175),getKeys=require(191);module.exports=require(185)?Object.defineProperties:function(e,r){anObject(e);for(var t,o=getKeys(r),c=o.length,i=0;c>i;)dP.f(e,t=o[i++],r[t]);return e};
}, {"175":175,"185":185,"191":191,"200":200}];
window.modules["211"] = [function(require,module,exports){var shared=require(198)("keys"),uid=require(208);module.exports=function(e){return shared[e]||(shared[e]=uid(e))};
}, {"198":198,"208":208}];
window.modules["212"] = [function(require,module,exports){var isObject=require(176);module.exports=function(t,e){if(!isObject(t))return t;var r,i;if(e&&"function"==typeof(r=t.toString)&&!isObject(i=r.call(t)))return i;if("function"==typeof(r=t.valueOf)&&!isObject(i=r.call(t)))return i;if(!e&&"function"==typeof(r=t.toString)&&!isObject(i=r.call(t)))return i;throw TypeError("Can't convert object to primitive value")};
}, {"176":176}];
window.modules["213"] = [function(require,module,exports){var pIE=require(193),createDesc=require(201),toIObject=require(178),toPrimitive=require(212),has=require(199),IE8_DOM_DEFINE=require(203),gOPD=Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor;exports.f=require(185)?gOPD:function(e,r){if(e=toIObject(e),r=toPrimitive(r,!0),IE8_DOM_DEFINE)try{return gOPD(e,r)}catch(e){}if(has(e,r))return createDesc(!pIE.f.call(e,r),e[r])};
}, {"178":178,"185":185,"193":193,"199":199,"201":201,"203":203,"212":212}];
window.modules["214"] = [function(require,module,exports){var toIObject=require(178),gOPN=require(215).f,toString={}.toString,windowNames="object"==typeof window&&window&&Object.getOwnPropertyNames?Object.getOwnPropertyNames(window):[],getWindowNames=function(e){try{return gOPN(e)}catch(e){return windowNames.slice()}};module.exports.f=function(e){return windowNames&&"[object Window]"==toString.call(e)?getWindowNames(e):gOPN(toIObject(e))};
}, {"178":178,"215":215}];
window.modules["215"] = [function(require,module,exports){var $keys=require(216),hiddenKeys=require(189).concat("length","prototype");exports.f=Object.getOwnPropertyNames||function(e){return $keys(e,hiddenKeys)};
}, {"189":189,"216":216}];
window.modules["216"] = [function(require,module,exports){var has=require(199),toIObject=require(178),arrayIndexOf=require(177)(!1),IE_PROTO=require(211)("IE_PROTO");module.exports=function(r,e){var a,t=toIObject(r),u=0,O=[];for(a in t)a!=IE_PROTO&&has(t,a)&&O.push(a);for(;e.length>u;)has(t,a=e[u++])&&(~arrayIndexOf(O,a)||O.push(a));return O};
}, {"177":177,"178":178,"199":199,"211":211}];
window.modules["217"] = [function(require,module,exports){var def=require(200).f,has=require(199),TAG=require(218)("toStringTag");module.exports=function(e,r,o){e&&!has(e=o?e:e.prototype,TAG)&&def(e,TAG,{configurable:!0,value:r})};
}, {"199":199,"200":200,"218":218}];
window.modules["218"] = [function(require,module,exports){var store=require(198)("wks"),uid=require(208),Symbol=require(188).Symbol,USE_SYMBOL="function"==typeof Symbol,$exports=module.exports=function(o){return store[o]||(store[o]=USE_SYMBOL&&Symbol[o]||(USE_SYMBOL?Symbol:uid)("Symbol."+o))};$exports.store=store;
}, {"188":188,"198":198,"208":208}];
window.modules["219"] = [function(require,module,exports){var ceil=Math.ceil,floor=Math.floor;module.exports=function(o){return isNaN(o=+o)?0:(o>0?floor:ceil)(o)};
}, {}];
window.modules["220"] = [function(require,module,exports){var defined=require(184);module.exports=function(e){return Object(defined(e))};
}, {"184":184}];
window.modules["221"] = [function(require,module,exports){var global=require(188),core=require(182),LIBRARY=require(206),wksExt=require(222),defineProperty=require(200).f;module.exports=function(e){var r=core.Symbol||(core.Symbol=LIBRARY?{}:global.Symbol||{});"_"==e.charAt(0)||e in r||defineProperty(r,e,{value:wksExt.f(e)})};
}, {"182":182,"188":188,"200":200,"206":206,"222":222}];
window.modules["222"] = [function(require,module,exports){exports.f=require(218);
}, {"218":218}];
window.modules["223"] = [function(require,module,exports){!function(){var r="ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZabcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789+/",t={rotl:function(r,t){return r< -1}module.exports=arrayIncludes;
}, {"509":509}];
window.modules["509"] = [function(require,module,exports){var baseFindIndex=require(560),baseIsNaN=require(576),strictIndexOf=require(577);function baseIndexOf(e,s,n){return s==s?strictIndexOf(e,s,n):baseFindIndex(e,baseIsNaN,n)}module.exports=baseIndexOf;
}, {"560":560,"576":576,"577":577}];
window.modules["511"] = [function(require,module,exports){var baseTimes=require(517),isArguments=require(512),isArray=require(513),isBuffer=require(514),isIndex=require(515),isTypedArray=require(516),objectProto=Object.prototype,hasOwnProperty=objectProto.hasOwnProperty;function arrayLikeKeys(e,r){var s=isArray(e),i=!s&&isArguments(e),t=!s&&!i&&isBuffer(e),a=!s&&!i&&!t&&isTypedArray(e),n=s||i||t||a,y=n?baseTimes(e.length,String):[],u=y.length;for(var o in e)!r&&!hasOwnProperty.call(e,o)||n&&("length"==o||t&&("offset"==o||"parent"==o)||a&&("buffer"==o||"byteLength"==o||"byteOffset"==o)||isIndex(o,u))||y.push(o);return y}module.exports=arrayLikeKeys;
}, {"512":512,"513":513,"514":514,"515":515,"516":516,"517":517}];
window.modules["512"] = [function(require,module,exports){var baseIsArguments=require(579),isObjectLike=require(580),objectProto=Object.prototype,hasOwnProperty=objectProto.hasOwnProperty,propertyIsEnumerable=objectProto.propertyIsEnumerable,isArguments=baseIsArguments(function(){return arguments}())?baseIsArguments:function(e){return isObjectLike(e)&&hasOwnProperty.call(e,"callee")&&!propertyIsEnumerable.call(e,"callee")};module.exports=isArguments;
}, {"579":579,"580":580}];
window.modules["513"] = [function(require,module,exports){var isArray=Array.isArray;module.exports=isArray;
}, {}];
window.modules["514"] = [function(require,module,exports){var root=require(465),stubFalse=require(730),freeExports="object"==typeof exports&&exports&&!exports.nodeType&&exports,freeModule=freeExports&&"object"==typeof module&&module&&!module.nodeType&&module,moduleExports=freeModule&&freeModule.exports===freeExports,Buffer=moduleExports?root.Buffer:void 0,nativeIsBuffer=Buffer?Buffer.isBuffer:void 0,isBuffer=nativeIsBuffer||stubFalse;module.exports=isBuffer;
}, {"465":465,"730":730}];
window.modules["515"] = [function(require,module,exports){var MAX_SAFE_INTEGER=9007199254740991,reIsUint=/^(?:0|[1-9]d*)$/;function isIndex(e,n){var r=typeof e;return!!(n=null==n?MAX_SAFE_INTEGER:n)&&("number"==r||"symbol"!=r&&reIsUint.test(e))&&e>-1&&e%1==0&&e0?Math.floor(i):Math.ceil(i)}module.exports=differenceInHours;
}, {"255":255}];
window.modules["255"] = [function(require,module,exports){var parse=require(99);function differenceInMilliseconds(e,r){var i=parse(e),n=parse(r);return i.getTime()-n.getTime()}module.exports=differenceInMilliseconds;
}, {"99":99}];
window.modules["256"] = [function(require,module,exports){var parse=require(99),differenceInCalendarISOYears=require(246),compareAsc=require(240),subISOYears=require(257);function differenceInISOYears(e,r){var a=parse(e),s=parse(r),n=compareAsc(a,s),i=Math.abs(differenceInCalendarISOYears(a,s));return a=subISOYears(a,n*i),n*(i-(compareAsc(a,s)===-n))}module.exports=differenceInISOYears;
}, {"99":99,"240":240,"246":246,"257":257}];
window.modules["257"] = [function(require,module,exports){var addISOYears=require(228);function subISOYears(r,e){var a=Number(e);return addISOYears(r,-a)}module.exports=subISOYears;
}, {"228":228}];
window.modules["258"] = [function(require,module,exports){var differenceInMilliseconds=require(255),MILLISECONDS_IN_MINUTE=6e4;function differenceInMinutes(e,n){var i=differenceInMilliseconds(e,n)/MILLISECONDS_IN_MINUTE;return i>0?Math.floor(i):Math.ceil(i)}module.exports=differenceInMinutes;
}, {"255":255}];
window.modules["259"] = [function(require,module,exports){var parse=require(99),differenceInCalendarMonths=require(247),compareAsc=require(240);function differenceInMonths(e,r){var n=parse(e),a=parse(r),s=compareAsc(n,a),c=Math.abs(differenceInCalendarMonths(n,a));return n.setMonth(n.getMonth()-s*c),s*(c-(compareAsc(n,a)===-s))}module.exports=differenceInMonths;
}, {"99":99,"240":240,"247":247}];
window.modules["260"] = [function(require,module,exports){var differenceInMonths=require(259);function differenceInQuarters(e,n){var r=differenceInMonths(e,n)/3;return r>0?Math.floor(r):Math.ceil(r)}module.exports=differenceInQuarters;
}, {"259":259}];
window.modules["261"] = [function(require,module,exports){var differenceInMilliseconds=require(255);function differenceInSeconds(e,n){var i=differenceInMilliseconds(e,n)/1e3;return i>0?Math.floor(i):Math.ceil(i)}module.exports=differenceInSeconds;
}, {"255":255}];
window.modules["262"] = [function(require,module,exports){var differenceInDays=require(253);function differenceInWeeks(e,n){var r=differenceInDays(e,n)/7;return r>0?Math.floor(r):Math.ceil(r)}module.exports=differenceInWeeks;
}, {"253":253}];
window.modules["263"] = [function(require,module,exports){var parse=require(99),differenceInCalendarYears=require(252),compareAsc=require(240);function differenceInYears(e,r){var a=parse(e),n=parse(r),s=compareAsc(a,n),c=Math.abs(differenceInCalendarYears(a,n));return a.setFullYear(a.getFullYear()-s*c),s*(c-(compareAsc(a,n)===-s))}module.exports=differenceInYears;
}, {"99":99,"240":240,"252":252}];
window.modules["264"] = [function(require,module,exports){var compareDesc=require(241),parse=require(99),differenceInSeconds=require(261),differenceInMonths=require(259),enLocale=require(265),MINUTES_IN_DAY=1440,MINUTES_IN_ALMOST_TWO_DAYS=2520,MINUTES_IN_MONTH=43200,MINUTES_IN_TWO_MONTHS=86400;function distanceInWords(e,n,r){var s=r||{},a=compareDesc(e,n),o=s.locale,i=enLocale.distanceInWords.localize;o&&o.distanceInWords&&o.distanceInWords.localize&&(i=o.distanceInWords.localize);var t,d,u={addSuffix:Boolean(s.addSuffix),comparison:a};a>0?(t=parse(e),d=parse(n)):(t=parse(n),d=parse(e));var c,M=differenceInSeconds(d,t),_=d.getTimezoneOffset()-t.getTimezoneOffset(),I=Math.round(M/60)-_;if(I<2)return s.includeSeconds?M<5?i("lessThanXSeconds",5,u):M<10?i("lessThanXSeconds",10,u):M<20?i("lessThanXSeconds",20,u):M<40?i("halfAMinute",null,u):i(M<60?"lessThanXMinutes":"xMinutes",1,u):0===I?i("lessThanXMinutes",1,u):i("xMinutes",I,u);if(I<45)return i("xMinutes",I,u);if(I<90)return i("aboutXHours",1,u);if(I=0)return[t,i]}}};
}, {"406":406,"413":413,"414":414}];
window.modules["409"] = [function(require,module,exports){"use strict";function _interopRequireWildcard(e){if(e&&e.__esModule)return e;var r={};if(null!=e)for(var t in e)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(e,t)&&(r[t]=e[t]);return r.default=e,r}function _interopRequireDefault(e){return e&&e.__esModule?e:{default:e}}exports.__esModule=!0,exports.parse=parse;var _parser=require(420),_parser2=_interopRequireDefault(_parser),_whitespaceControl=require(422),_whitespaceControl2=_interopRequireDefault(_whitespaceControl),_helpers=require(421),Helpers=_interopRequireWildcard(_helpers),_utils=require(414);exports.parser=_parser2.default;var yy={};function parse(e,r){return"Program"===e.type?e:(_parser2.default.yy=yy,yy.locInfo=function(e){return new yy.SourceLocation(r&&r.srcName,e)},new _whitespaceControl2.default(r).accept(_parser2.default.parse(e)))}_utils.extend(yy,Helpers);
}, {"414":414,"420":420,"421":421,"422":422}];
window.modules["410"] = [function(require,module,exports){"use strict";function _interopRequireDefault(e){return e&&e.__esModule?e:{default:e}}function _interopRequireWildcard(e){if(e&&e.__esModule)return e;var r={};if(null!=e)for(var a in e)Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(e,a)&&(r[a]=e[a]);return r.default=e,r}exports.__esModule=!0;var _handlebarsBase=require(416),base=_interopRequireWildcard(_handlebarsBase),_handlebarsSafeString=require(412),_handlebarsSafeString2=_interopRequireDefault(_handlebarsSafeString),_handlebarsException=require(413),_handlebarsException2=_interopRequireDefault(_handlebarsException),_handlebarsUtils=require(414),Utils=_interopRequireWildcard(_handlebarsUtils),_handlebarsRuntime=require(415),runtime=_interopRequireWildcard(_handlebarsRuntime),_handlebarsNoConflict=require(405),_handlebarsNoConflict2=_interopRequireDefault(_handlebarsNoConflict);function create(){var e=new base.HandlebarsEnvironment;return Utils.extend(e,base),e.SafeString=_handlebarsSafeString2.default,e.Exception=_handlebarsException2.default,e.Utils=Utils,e.escapeExpression=Utils.escapeExpression,e.VM=runtime,e.template=function(r){return runtime.template(r,e)},e}var inst=create();inst.create=create,_handlebarsNoConflict2.default(inst),inst.default=inst,exports.default=inst,module.exports=exports.default;
}, {"405":405,"412":412,"413":413,"414":414,"415":415,"416":416}];
window.modules["411"] = [function(require,module,exports){"use strict";function _interopRequireDefault(t){return t&&t.__esModule?t:{default:t}}exports.__esModule=!0;var _base=require(416),_exception=require(413),_exception2=_interopRequireDefault(_exception),_utils=require(414),_codeGen=require(423),_codeGen2=_interopRequireDefault(_codeGen);function Literal(t){this.value=t}function JavaScriptCompiler(){}function strictLookup(t,s,e,i){var a=s.popStack(),r=0,n=e.length;for(t&&n--;r>>9<<4)]=s;var h=i._ff,_=i._gg,v=i._hh,b=i._ii;for(y=0;y1;){var r=e.pop(),t=r.obj[r.prop];if(isArray(t)){for(var o=[],n=0;n
[ad_2]
Source link