Monday Morning Chrysler New Yorker

Hooray! Here's a special Sunday evening edition of Monday Morning Chrysler New Yorker. Technically, it works, seeing as how the game was yesterday. Also, your hard-working part-time Pittsburgh blogger might not make it around tomorrow. I have my reasons.

We lost. Simple as that. All the positives from last week went down the tubes, so its time to call it even, and start from scratch.

Like an escape tunnel in prison, I started from scratch...

If you know what that is, you rule. It seemed to fit.

I, personally, had an awesome time at the game. Win or lose, Steelers atmosphere is the best. I went with my buddy Bob and his pal Kev. Me and Bob had a great time. Kev would've had a great time as well, but the (hick-ish) family sitting next to him talked at great lengths about everything under the sun. To Kevin. Who they never met before. Many a knowing/hilarious glare was passed through section 521.

I even saw an old college friend who moved to another school. I hadn't seen him in a couple years, but their he was, climbing the ramps of the closed end of the stadium with right with us. For sheer fun, long-lost Craig gets 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets!

The Steelers scored the first 9 points in the game. Sweet. The Pack scored the final 13. Not so sweet. In my usual (still tentative) fashion, I'll pick several of the bright spots, while also acknowledging the warts.

Ben Roethlisberger. He finished 2 for 2. A 100 percent completion rate is nothing to gripe about. However, Ben looked out of rhythm. One of the completions was low, and the much-lauded no-huddle looked shabby. I want Ben to play more, and I know this will happen as the preseason wears on. However, the preseason doesn't last forever, and Ben needs to get more reps. 3 of 5 motorcycle helmets for Ben.

Walter Young. Touchdown, baby. WY's been my guy (here, too.) I've been wanting him to make the team for the past few camps. The dude is 6'4, 220. He shows flashes of brilliance at odd times, then disappears. He averaged 17 yards a catch last season (although I will concede that he only had one catch last season). WY finished with 2 catches for 50 yards and a score. That score covered 41 yards, where WY bounced off a would-be tackler and made his way to the house. 5 of 5 motorcycle helmets for the PSaMP fave.

Gary Russell. 6.2 yards per carry average. That's a hardcore number. Unfortunately for fellow PSaMP fave Carey Davis, there was only 60 minutes in the game. Davis did, however make the tackle on the opening kickoff. Here's to versatility, baby. Russell led the team with 9 carries, and seemed to hit the holes he was given. His 9 touches included a 19 yard scamper. Next week, Tomlin could surprise everyone by reversing the Davis/Russell roles. Russell played smart, and didn't waste his opportunity. Since Davis made it into Russell's mention, he gets at least 2 of 5 motorcycle helmets, while Russell pulls in 4 of 5 of his own.

Deee-Fense. The first team looks sick. The offense struggled last night. Everyone knows that. The defense made the game winnable. The sacks aren't where I'd like them to be, but Brett Favrve was under some serious pressure (see above photo. I'd lay mean skidmarks in my gutchies if I saw a Samoan blur like that). Two games in the books, and the first team hasn't allowed a touchdown. First string opposing QBs Brees (6 yards) and Favre (7 yards) have combined for 13 total passing yards. The run defense was not as flattering, but I'll sacrifice the run defense for the current pass defense. For now. 4 of 5 motorcycle helmets for the first team, 3 of 5 overall.

Mason Crosby. Threw ya for a loop. I had to mention Crosby, PSaMP's draft pick in Awful Announcing's Sportsbloggers Mock Draft. The guy kicked a 52 yard field goal into the open end of the Big Ketchup Bottle. Deserving of a quick mention and 4 of 5 motorcycle helmets. He missed out on the fifth helmet by kicking the FG against the Steelers.

Have a good Monday if I don't see you.

Thursday Reads

Its Thursday, you've voted for PSaMP countless times (probably not, but its good to dream) in the Hot Blogger Bracket, and now you want to know what's going on, sports-wise, in the 'Burgh. PSaMP, as always, is here to deliver.

- Keep voting for PSaMP! What, this shouldn't be first? PSaMP can't get its message to a wider audience if you don't vote. Plus, my 65%/35% advantage has slipped to 58%/42%. I'm holding down 500 votes right now, so PSaMP has gotten a lot more support than I ever could have dreamed. Thanks for every vote! I'll try to make you all proud!

- Lawrence Timmons and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus (great...), have not opened contract negotiations with the Stillers yet. I'm going to throw out a few numbers, and you guess what they signify:

9
13

Sacks? Forced fumbles? Passes defended? What do 9 and 13 mean?

Ok, I'll tell you. Timmons has missed 9 consecutive voluntary organized team activity sessions and 13 consecutive team practices since he hurt his groin on May 11th. Timmons has been facing some major questions/criticisms since Pittsburgh selected him earlier than most teams had him on their draft boards. If he wants to quiet the naysayers, Timmons better find a way to get on the field and get signed. PSaMP is already a huge fan of 2nd rounder LaMarr Woodley, so Timmons is playing catch-up from the get-go.

- Not Pittsburgh-related, but PSaMP wants to send a congratulations to Trevor Hoffman, who recorded his 500th save last night! That is a ridiculous feat. He doesn't have a Mariano Rivera-cutter. He doesn't have a (2004 or 2005) Eric Gagne fastball. He does it with a changeup. That is something that young pitchers need to emulate.

With the steroids era, the Hall of Fame Number of 500 usually meant home runs. With the steroids cloud, the 500 homer club became awfully diluted, and now Gary Sheffield and Jim Thome (both PSaMP favorites) are knocking on that proverbial door. Trevor Hoffman is now the first and only member of the 500 save club. And he saved Greg Maddux's 338th win. Both of those numbers are incredible! Trevor Hoffman, you have the full support of PSaMP, and I hope you are a first-ballot HOFer.

- Salomon Torres did it again. The Buccos lost 6-5, after ADD Laroche hit a game-tying 3-run shot. The Buccos were down 5-1, and even lost Xavier Nady to a minor hammy injury. Torres loaded the bases in the bottom of the 9th, with 2 outs, and gave up the winning run on a wild pitch. Torres was even shown giving Ronny Paulino the pitch signal he wanted while the batter looked in his own dugout. So not only did he throw the wild pitch, but he called for it as well.

Torres is past his prime. Unlike the Stillers, who get rid of players too early rather than too late, the Pirates stick with bad players for God-knows-what-reason. My sister had this card of Salomon.

That was Topps '94. This is 2007. 13 years is a long time to be in the majors, and players rarely peak this late in their careers (unless your name starts with Barry B and ends in -onds). PSaMP has been a fan of Torres throughout his career in Black and Gold, but he needs to be demoted, traded, or something. PSaMP called for Tony Armas' head, and it worked. Now, PSaMP is doing the same for Torres.

- The Pirates are thinking about spending some of the 2008 preseason in China. That's the only place people will watch them.

- Stillers WR Nate Washington is trying to minimize dropped passes. Washington provided some timely catches during the Super Bowl run through the playoffs, and has the ability to be a big-time performer. All this after being undrafted out of D-II Tiffin.

PSaMP likes WR Walter Young, who can't seem to ever make it out of the preseason. Washington is also a fave, so minimizing "mishaps," as Washington calls dropped passes, would be a huge boost to his career. Young would need an enormous preseason to make the roster, especially after the team drafted Dallas Baker in the final round. No matter who is on the team, dropped passes need to be eliminated.

- Joe Starkey of the Trib wants the Buccos to take Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters with the #4 pick in todays draft. Wieters is viewed as the best player available in the draft, but the Buccos have Ronny Paulino. Wieters is a franchise catcher, who could be in the majors in a very short amount of time.

The Post-Gazette thinks the Buccos have limited options. I agree with the PG. Take 3rd baseman Josh Vitters. I know that Jose Bautista is young as well, but Vitters would spend more time in the minors than Wieters. Yeah, our farm-team catcher situation is less than desirable, but drafting Wieters doesn't help that if he's going to be in the bigs within a year or so.

Despite my mumblings, the decision is not in PSaMP's hands. Us fans will have to live with whoever the Bucs choose. I just hope its not another pitcher.

That's enough for now. I feel like Bill Simmons or something, what with the 3,000-word essay and all. I apologize for the longass post, but it'll keep you occupied until I find a cool miniature horse. Or until something else substantial happens to our sports community.

Marshall Trying to Make Hometown Team

Does this guy look familiar? Pitt fans probably know him. WVU fans definitely know him. Rasheed Marshall is hoping that all Steelers fans will get to know him in the upcoming season.

Scott Brown of the Tribune-Review reminds readers of the former Big East Player of the Year, as he tries to make a Steelers team that presumably can't use another wideout.

Pittsburgh has proven vets in Hines Ward and Cedrick Wilson, and used their first round selection last year on speedy Santonio Holmes. Dallas Baker the Touchdown Maker was drafted in the final round of this year's draft out of national champion Florida. Plus, Willie Reid is hoping to make an impact after a season-ending foot injury in his rookie campaign. PSaMP is also hoping that this is the year Walter Young, a talented wideout with great size, comes into his own. He has a T.O. build, and displayed some good hands during last year's preseason.

Where does Marshall fit in? He spent his rookie season in San Fransisco, where he racked up 575 yards primarily as a return specialist. Reid seems destined for that role this season, but Marshall could be an insurance plan if Reid's foot decides to fail him again. I sure as hell don't want to see Holmes waiting for kicks anymore. Sure, the guy started to show some progress at WR towards the end of the season, and even had that longass touchdown to beat the Bungles in overtime, but as a kick returner, Holmes might make me pull out all of my hair. He excelled at tOSU at the position, but doesn't have the quickness or the moves to run back kicks in the NFL. And I'm not even going to mention the fumbles.

Unfortunately for Marshall, he spent 12 games as a 49er, which is too many to be considered for any professional practice squad. He needs to display his skills quickly, or fear getting axed into free agency.

Will Marshall make the club? Only time will tell. Reid has yet to fully prove himself, so maybe Marshall can create a niche for himself in the Steelers' '07-'08 roster.