First Call: Steelers already underdogs in opener; ex-Penguin in mix for Rangers coaching job?
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Thursday’s “First Call” shows little faith in the Pittsburgh Steelers to start 2021 on the right foot.
A former Pitt Panther basketball player is getting his coaching start in the Bronx. Meanwhile, a former Penguin is hoping to continue his coaching career in Manhattan.
And the Pirates need to get back on the winning track against the National League’s best.
Get your money in early
Even before the 2021 NFL schedule was officially announced, the Steelers found out they were underdogs in the opener.
Word leaked out that Mike Tomlin’s team would open the season on the road in Buffalo. The Steelers lost there 26-15 a season ago. The Bills finished 13-3 and went to the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers went 12-4 and lost in the first round of the playoffs at home to the Cleveland Browns.
Already, oddsmakers like the Bills in that game. Shortly after 10 a.m. — 10 hours before the rest of the league schedule was officially released — MGM installed the Bills as 6.5-point favorites.
About an hour later, BetOnline.ag released their line at Buffalo minus-6.
Unless I find out Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs will be injured between now and then, give me the Bills and I’ll give the points.
As far as the rest of the Steelers schedule? Wow! Did you check out the last four games? Home for the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 19. At the Kansas City Chiefs the day after Christmas. Hosting the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. At the Baltimore Ravens for the season finale.
So, the Steelers conclude the regular season playing four 2020 AFC playoff teams in a row. For a franchise that has faded badly down the stretch in each of the last three seasons, that’s horrible news.
Ramon’s return
The Pitt basketball team has lost a lot of talent to the transfer portal and to the NBA lately. Now they are losing a member of Jeff Capel’s support staff.
According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, former Panther Ronald Ramon is leaving Oakland to head home to the Bronx. Ramon had been Pitt’s assistant director of basketball operations.
Sources: Fordham's Kyle Neptune will hire former Pitt star Ronald Ramon as an assistant coach. Ramon is a Bronx native and played at All Hallows.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 12, 2021
Ramon, who played at Pitt from 2004-08, is taking an assistant coaching job with Fordham in the Atlantic 10. He’ll be on the new staff with Kyle Neptune, who replaced Jeff Neubauer.
The Rams hired Neptune off of Jay Wright’s staff at Villanova.
Giant task
The Pirates have now lost five of seven. So maybe it’s not the best time to see the San Francisco Giants.
But here they come. The National League West division leaders will visit PNC Park for four games Thursday night through Sunday afternoon.
Manager Gabe Kapler’s team has the best winning percentage in the National League at .611. And they are doing it with the long ball.
The Giants (.226) and Pirates (.225) have almost identical team batting averages. Both are in the lower third of Major League Baseball rankings. But San Francisco has 47 home runs, tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for third in the N.L. The Atlanta Braves lead the list with 52.
San Francisco’s pitching has been pretty good, with a team ERA of 3.34. That’s sixth best in MLB. The staff has six shutouts — only the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox have as many.
The starting staff has an ERA of 2.89, behind only the New York Mets (2.83) in all of MLB. Closer Jake McGee has 10 saves, tied for second most in the majors.
In terms of ERA, Thursday’s starter Anthony DeSclafani is 11th in the National League (2.40). Friday’s hurler, Kevin Gausman, is fourth at 1.97. The Pirates will counter with Wil Crowe (4.02) and Tyler Anderson (3.05), respectively.
Then, Pittsburgh’s old friend Johnny Cueto throws on Saturday.
5 years ago today, the Steel City had Johnny Cueto shook. https://t.co/REVvXIYK6C pic.twitter.com/YODbhUIR1R
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 1, 2018
Cueto is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA and will be opposed by Mitch Keller. The Pirates’ J.T. Brubaker (3-2/2.58) is scheduled to square off against Alex Wood (4-0/1.80) in the finale.
Rick to the Rangers?
The Arizona Coyotes decided last week they didn’t want to retain Rick Tocchet as head coach. Now the former Penguins player and assistant coach could be a candidate to replace David Quinn on the New York Rangers bench.
The Athletic threw Tocchet’s name into a hat with a number of other coaches to take the gig at Madison Square Garden.
Others on the list include John Tortorella, Mike Babcock, Bruce Boudreau, Patrick Roy and Gerard Gallant.
Tocchet is 178-200-60 as a head coach over six years between stints with the Coyotes and the Tampa Bay Lightning.