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  • The Weirdest Game I’ve Ever Been To

    Hands down, no debate. That was the wackiest, craziest, longest, WEIRDEST Pittsburgh Pirates game I have ever been to. It was a notable and memorable night for many reasons, but I tried to narrow it down to five: Pregame and the opening innings was the most electric I have ever seen a PNC Park crowd…

  • Connor Joe Needs To Be The Everyday First Baseman

    I’ve always been a big fan of Connor Joe since he arrived in Pittsburgh. One of my last ever articles back when I was with The Foreword was a career profile on him. I’ve been higher on him than many others in town during his Pirates run, even when he was in his slumps, but…

  • Pirates Promoting Paul Skenes

    By now you’re already heard, but let me tell you anyways. The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up starting pitcher Paul Skenes from the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The first overall pick from 2023 will make his Pirates debut Saturday at PNC Park, in what is the most anticipated debut since Gerrit Cole’s Pirates debut back in…

  • Is A Ticket To Triple-A In Jared Triolo’s Near Future?

    It’s the same topic we’ve been talking about for a while now. The Pittsburgh Pirates cannot hit the ball, and even in the rare times they can, it’s not enough to overcome their opponent. Wednesday afternoon was a case study in that sad reality, with the Pirates losing 5-4 to the Los Angeles Angels (of…

  • Former First Round Pick Promoted By Pirates

    A flurry of roster moves and transfers took place within the Pittsburgh Pirates organization today, and while none of them were the move that fans have been desperately wanting, there were some interesting decisions made and promotions given. Right handed pitcher Isaac Mattson, catcher Dylan Shockley, outfielder Matt Frazier, and utility man Mike Jarvis all…

  • Did Edward Olivares Just Save His Job?

    Edward Olivares was in quite the slump with the Pirates. His first half of the season was excellent, slashing .308/.357/.564 over his first 11 games, in addition to 3 home runs and 7 RBI. He was one of the better bats in the lineup for the Pirates, but as the team fell, so did he.…

  • Pirate Bats Explode In Sixth Inning, Win Series Vs Colorado

    Ladies and gentlemen, your Pittsburgh Pirates did it. They scored runs AND won the game. Much different from the 1-0 slogfest they pulled out yesterday vs Colorado, the Pirates strung together some legitimate offense for the first time in way, way too long en route to a 5-3 win over the Rockies. Bailey Falter was…

  • Opinion: Steelers Made Bad Call Declining Fifth Year Option On Najee Harris

    The Steelers had some decisions to take today regarding fifth year options for players still on rookie deals. As expected, they declined the fifth year option on quarterback Justin Fields, who was acquired by trade this offseason for a sixth round pick in 2025. Fields was the former 11th overall pick by the Bears in…

  • The Pirates Need Radical Change On The Field

    Well, it’s official. The Pirates were swept in Oakland by the A’s being dunked on by an organization that is currently so backwards they have replies off on all of their posts. To the A’s players credit, they played some good ball, but Pittsburgh did everything in their power to hand Oakland that series. The…

  • Firing Andy Haines Doesn’t Fix Everything, But It Shows The Pirates Are Trying

    Pirates hitting coach Andy Haines has been pubic enemy number one in recent weeks here in Pittsburgh. As the Buccos have seemingly lost all ability to hit the baseball (which, as you may have guessed, is a crucial aspect in winning baseball games), the team has found itself in a spiral. Now 14-16, the Pirates…

  • A Bad Night At The Colosseum

    There has been a lot of discourse around the offense, or lack thereof, of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early goings of this season. The topic has only raged on as the Pirates have continued to crumble, falling now to 14-16 on the season with their series opener loss to the A’s in Oakland. The…

  • Next Year Is The Make Or Break Year For Sam Poulin

    It’s official, Sam Poulin is back. The Penguins announced today that the club has re-signed him to a two year deal worth $775K at the NHL level. There was little doubt about Poulin’s return to Pittsburgh, given that he was a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights. But it is nice to see this…

  • Have The Steelers Done Enough At The WR Position?

    Now that the NFL Draft is over, fanbases across the league have a better idea of what their team is going to look like when the 2024 season opens. For the Steelers, they massively bulked up their offensive line with the picks of Troy Fautanu (1st round, 20th overall), Zach Frazier (2nd round, 51st overall),…

  • Omar Khan, Steelers Doing Everything They Can To Rebuild Offensive Line

    Steelers general manager Omar Khan came into the 2024 NFL Draft with one goal in mind. And he executed it to perfection. The groundwork for replenishing a depleted offensive line actually began last year. With Khan’s first ever draft pick at the helm for Pittsburgh, he drafted tackle Broderick Jones out of Georgia. He also…

  • Ok, Let’s Talk About Rowdy Tellez Again

    It has not been an easy season so far for our new friend Rowdy. The Pirates were hoping for a big time rebound from the power bat who smashed 35 home runs two years ago, but they’ve gotten anything but. Not only have the Pirates seen middling (at best) results from Tellez, they’ve seen one…

  • Aroldis Chapman Is Becoming A Loose Cannon

    Once hailed as the dominant eighth inning guy, and the leading contender to take the closer’s job when David Bednar was struggling early on, Aroldis Chapman has harshly fallen from grace.  He is quickly becoming one of the more unreliable pitchers on the Pirates’ staff. In the beginning of the season, it seemed like a…

  • The 2024 All Ex-Penguin Stanley Cup Playoff Team

    First off, let me apologize for this not getting out before the Stanley Cup Playoffs officially began. Life gets busy, you know how it is.  In any case, I’ve spent some time digging through the rosters of the 16 teams who qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, and I’ve assembled an (almost) full…

  • The Bailey Falter Agenda

    How the turntables… I am now here, officially, to spread the Bailey Falter agenda all over Pittsburgh. I am fully rooting for this guy, and he really is better than his reputation lends to him. Ten days ago, I published a piece entitled “Is Bailey Falter Secretly Good At Baseball?” At the time, I acknowledged…

  • AHL Penguins Getting Wave Of Prospect Reinforcements Ahead Of Playoffs

    While the Pittsburgh Penguins are out on the golf course, there is still plenty of meaningful hockey being played within the organization. Down in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, home of the club’s American Hockey League affiliate, the WBS Penguins are gearing up for a playoff run. The team will play a three game opening series against the Lehigh…

  • Rowdy Tellez’s “Don’t Boo” Comments Aging Worse By The Day

  • It’s Time For Nick Gonzales

    The Pirates are absolutely reeling right now. They’ve just lost their sixth straight game, and suffered back to back sweeps at the hands of the New York Mets and now, Boston Red Sox.  Their most recent defeat, I would argue, is their worst one yet. Boston was clearly phoning it in on a Sunday afternoon…

  • Pirates Pitching Continues To Struggle Amidst Quinn Priester’s Season Debut

    As the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to spiral, their struggles on the mound have become a real concern.  The Pirates lost their fourth straight game on Friday night against the Red Sox at home. Three of their four losses have seen the Bucs give up 6+ runs, with another shellacking at the hands of Boston.  Though…

  • Evaluating Who Among The Young Guns Has A Real NHL Chance Next Year

    During his end of season press conference today, Penguins President of Hockey Operations (and de facto general manager) Kyle Dubas sat at the podium and fielded questions for roughly a half an hour.  Though there were lots of things he said that warrant further conversation and evaluation, today I want to examine when he was…

  • Assessing The Penguins’ Pending Free Agent Class

    Well, with the season officially, officially over with, it’s time to turn our attention to what promises to be a very interesting offseason. There are so many questions facing this team, who finds itself in the same exact position they were in last year, mathematically eliminated with one game to go. As a result of…

  • Arizona’s Transfer To Utah Creates A Mess For Records, Personnel, And “Dormancy”

    With the official announcement by the NHL and its Board of Governors, the Arizona Coyotes will be relocating to Utah, and begin play in Salt Lake City for the 2024-25 season. Kind of. The NHL can’t do things normally, and the Coyotes especially cannot. So when you put these two together, chaos ensues.  The league…

  • With Arizona Still Looming, How Many Teams Is Too Many Teams For The NHL?

    The Arizona Coyotes have dominated the hockey news cycle as their move to Salt Lake City is all but certain. It’s a move that feels like it’s been happening in slow motion for years, but also something that none of us even had on our radar at this time last week. With the Coyotes’ relocation,…

  • Judgement Day, Part Two

    After doing all they could to hold on in the playoff race for one more day, the Pittsburgh Penguins have been eliminated from postseason contention. Both games that Pittsburgh fans were watching today went against the team, but in the end, only one mattered. Washington was able to take advantage of an ultra-desperate Philadelphia Flyers…

  • Judgement Day, Part One

    There was an awkward aura in the air during Fan Appreciation Night’s postgame ceremonies. While selected fans gathered on the ice for the annual jersey giveaway from each player on the roster, a feeling of uncertainty clouded the arena. At least it was better than last year. Do we all remember the second hand embarrassment…

  • Another Emil Bemström Six Goal Watch™ Update

    My friends, we once again have an update on our official Fifth Avenue Sports Emil Bemström Six Goal Watch™. I started this after the Penguins had sent a sixth round pick and forward Alex Nylander to Columbus to acquire him. That sixth round pick, however, had a strange condition to it: if Bemström scored six…

  • Baseball’s 300 Home Runs Club Welcomes Its Newest Member

    The wait is over! Andrew McCutchen’s first home run of the season marks the 300th of his Major League Baseball career, a milestone both he and Pirates fans have been waiting for. McCutchen’s 300th blast came in the form of a two-run shot in Philadelphia in the top of the ninth inning to extend Pittsburgh’s…

  • Penguins Dealt Near Death Blow By Bruins

    It was an awful day for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Putrid. Disgusting. Depressing. Everything that could have gone wrong for the Penguins did, as they watched control over their own fate slip from their grasp in a 6-4 loss to the Bruins. But it wasn’t just a loss to the Bruins that helped destroy their playoff…

  • Is Bailey Falter Secretly Good At Baseball?

    Alright, I’ll admit it. It’s a premature question. However, I would like to point out how awesome it is that this is a question that can be asked, given what we saw take place in the opening week for Bailey Falter. Falter has not had it easy over his tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates so…

  • The Erik Karlsson Experience™

    Alright, everyone have time to catch their breath? After a stunning, back and forth, scream until your voice runs out kind of night, the Pittsburgh Penguins snatched an overtime victory from the Detroit Red Wings, and will wake up tomorrow morning with a playoff spot in hand. Overtime victory. A big reason for both of…

  • Are The Arizona Coyotes Moving To Utah? Here’s What We Know

    There has been a LOT of chatter around the Arizona Coyotes today, as reports continue to swirl around their uncertain fate. The Coyotes, who have been couch surfing on the campus of Arizona State University in Mullett Arena for two years already, are more likely than ever to be relocating out of Arizona. The Coyotes’…

  • Is It Time To Worry About David Bednar?

    The Pittsburgh Pirates held an 3-1 lead over the Detroit Tigers heading into the ninth inning this afternoon. Starter Marin Pérez had given the Pirates a stellar outing. He went 8.0 innings, striking out 7 batters and issuing no walks as he allowed just a solo run in the first inning. The Pirates, off the…

  • Michael Bunting Has Been Exactly What This Penguins Team Needs

    Back when the trade was first announced, the one that sent Jake Guentzel to Carolina, a lot of people were not happy with the return. They were underwhelmed by the prospects coming back in the deal (who were ranked 6th, 7th, and 9th in the organization), and they were unhappy with the roster player coming…

  • Who Wore It Last? Steelers Jersey Number Edition

    Yesterday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced a host of new numbers for their incoming additions. Eleven new players and their new threads were unveiled, including a few surprising selections by players. Jersey numbers have always fascinated me. To some players it’s just a complete random pick. To others, it’s a symbol of a personal story or…

  • In The Biggest Game Of The Season, Penguins Step Up

    In the latest chapter of the Penguins-Capitals rivalry, a non-playoff game had a complete playoff feel as Pittsburgh charged forward to a 4-1 win. Heading into the game three points back of Washington for the second wild card spot, you could not understate how crucial this game was for the Penguins (or the Capitals for…

  • Penguins Need To Ride Hot Hand, Keep Ned In Net

    Last night was bonkers. After seven straight losses against the New Jersey Devils, the Pittsburgh Penguins first looked destined to make it eight. Heading into the third period, the Penguins found themselves down 3-1 in the Garden State, and the Devils were surging after scoring twice in the second frame. Low and behold, however, a…

  • Penguins Pose Excellent Opportunity For NCAA Free Agent Collin Graf, Should He Decide To Take It

    There is quite the buzz about undrafted college free agent Collin Graf. With his NCAA season with Quinnipiac University ending this weekend, the 21-year-old is now free to sign with any team he wants. And almost every team wants him. Michael Russo has reported that nearly 25 teams – over 3/4 of the NHL, have…

  • An Update On Emil Bemström Six Goal Watch

    At long last, Fifth Avenue Sports can finally provide you with an update on our official Emil Bemström Six Goal Watch™. Back on February 22nd, the Penguins traded forward Alex Nylander (who was in the AHL in the Pens’ organization at the time) and a 2026 sixth round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in…

  • Joel Blomqvist, Goaltenders, And The Road Ahead

    For those of you who don’t keep an eye on the prospect pipeline of the Pittsburgh Penguins, allow me to introduce you to Joel Blomqvist. Aside from maybe Brayden Yager, he is the prospect I am highest on in the Penguins’ low prospect pool. Blomqvist is a 6′ 2 goaltender from Finland who las lit…

  • These Buccos Battle

    For the first time in over 100 years, the Pirates have opened the season with a sweep on the road. The Pirates won all four games in Miami against the Marlins, the final game including a comeback from 5-0 down to win it 9-7 in extra innings. Pittsburgh opened the year with a 12-inning game…

  • Jose Hernandez The Unlikely Hero In Pirates’ Opening Day Win

    Pirates reliever Jose Hernandez could have never expected what transpired for him on Opening Day. Mostly because he wouldn’t be on the team. The Pirates’ bullpen, thought to be the best strength of this baseball team, lost several arms before the regular season even began. Dauri Moreta is out for the year, and Colin Holderman…

  • All Of The Penguins-Hurricanes Connections

    As I was spending this morning remarking at Jesse Puljujärvi’s performance for the Penguins last night as they hosted the Hurricanes, I mentioned that Puljujärvi, an ex-Hurricane, had stolen the show away from ex-Penguin Jake Guentzel in his first game back in Pittsburgh since the trade. But besides Puljujärvi and Guentzel, there are far more…

  • Jesse Puljujärvi Flips The Script In Jake Guentzel’s Homecoming

    Tuesday night’s game featuring the Carolina Hurricanes and Pittsburgh Penguins offered a lot in the entertainment department. It was Jake Guentzel’s first game back in Pittsburgh since the trade that sent him to Carolina. Guentzel, a fan favorite and Stanley Cup winner in 2017 with the team, traveled to PPG Paints Arena as a visitor…

  • Steelers Already Prepared As NFL Changes Kickoff Rules

    Shortly after the NFL announced that they would be changing the way that kickoffs are done, the Pittsburgh Steelers went out and signed one of the league’s most dangerous return men in Cordarrelle Patterson. The Steelers and Patterson agreed to terms on a two year deal worth a reported $6 million. Of course, there’s the…

  • Steelers Address Draft Need With Free Agency Instead

    With the Pittsburgh Steelers signing free agent Russell Wilson, and trading for Justin Fields from the Chicago Bears, the team has already addressed the major gaps in the quarterback position. However, the third string quarterback spot was still open, leaving many to believe the Steelers would use a Day 3 draft pick in April to…

  • Pirates Under Fire For Failing Due Diligence On Domingo German

    A rather damning story about new Pirates pitcher Domingo German was recently published in NJ.com has the organization under fire for an apparent lack of due diligence on the signing. The Pirates signed German to a minor league contract a few weeks ago, taking a flyer on a guy who they believed was willing to…

  • Capitals Recall Former Penguin Matthew Phillips

    It’s been a crazy year for Matthew Phillips. After lighting up the American Hockey League for the last few seasons, Philips finally earned a shot at the National Hockey League level. To start the 2023-24 season, the Washington Capitals signed him to a one-way contract and plopped him on their NHL roster. Phillips had spent…

  • Jack St. Ivany Will Make NHL Debut Tonight With Pens

    After being shuffled up and down between the AHL and NHL the last week, defenseman Jack St. Ivany will make his NHL debut tonight as the Penguins visit the Stars in Dallas. The Penguins recalled St. Ivany yesterday, marking his third recall in the last week. That move corresponded with Jonathan Gruden being re-assigned to…

  • Pirates’ Dauri Moreta Had UCL Surgery, Will Miss 14-16 Months

    Per reporting by Alex Stumpf, who covers the Pittsburgh Pirates for MLB.com, reliever Dauri Moreta has underwent UCL surgery, and will be out for all of 2024. His official recovery time is 14-16 months. If he takes all 16 months to recover, he would not be available to the Pirates until mid-July of 2025. The…

  • Billy McKinney Has To Make The Opening Day Roster

    There have been several players who have impressed in spring training for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but no one has showed out quite like outfielder Billy McKinney. McKinney isn’t your typical spring training standout. He isn’t some too young kid who makes you want to believe he’s ready for the majors, even when he isn’t. He…

  • Penguins’ Collapse In New Jersey Means It’s Over…No, For Real This Time

    This happens at least once a week nowadays. A bad loss sets the Pittsburgh Penguins back, and we all say “well, it’s over,” and then in the next game they show up and win, and we all become the famous meme. But this time is different. There is no masculine urge to say “we’re back”…

  • Opinion: Let Kenny Pickett Be, He’s Only Hurting Himself

    Even after he is gone and no longer a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kenny Pickett is still the talk of the town. In his recent introductory press conference with his new team, the Philadelphia Eagles, the newest quarterback on the roster said he was confident in the way he handled things in Pittsburgh, and…

  • Is There A Resurgence In Reilly Smith’s Game?

    Last night, after the Pittsburgh Penguins clipped the Detroit Red Wings 6-3 at home, I tweeted out my thoughts on Reilly Smith’s game as of late. As has been told before, Smith had an incredibly hot start to the season for the Penguins, but cooled off in a hurry and never recovered. The winger was…

  • Why Not Both?

    They said it couldn’t be done. They said it wouldn’t be done. But the Steelers went ahead and did it anyway. In the latest in one of the most uncharacteristic offseasons in franchise history, the Steelers have completely flipped their quarterback room. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields were two of the biggest names connected to…

  • The Sun Sets On A Weird Era In Pittsburgh Football

    In an absolute stunner, the Pittsburgh Steelers have traded quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles in a pick swap type of deal. The official deal goes as follows: Eagles reiceve: QB Kenny Pickett, pick No. 120 Steelers receive: pick No. 98, two seventh round picks in 2025 The embattled first round pick from two…

  • The Black And Yellow Blip That Was Antti Niemi

    In terms of worst runs in Pittsburgh sports history, Antti Niemi might take the cake in recent history. Challengers in the last few years have included Steelers players Gunner Olszewski and Mitch Trubisky, but Niemi provides a unique level of struggle to his time in Pittsburgh that is unlike anything else. What made it all the more surprising…

  • So, You’re Saying There’s A Chance

    It was an absolutely crazy day for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Fans woke up this morning to a statement by the team that the shipment of Jaromir Jagr bobbleheads, which the team was set to give away at tonight’s game, had been stolen en route to Pittsburgh. This led to some of the greatest hockey humor…