Can't Contain Khan
If NFL roster construction were architecture, Omar Khan would be Frank Lloyd Wright and the job he's done in the past calendar year, from somehow turning Chase Claypool in to Joey Porter Jr., to hitting on every single one of his seven draft picks (six made the 53-man roster, with Corey Trice on IR), it's been, as Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus called it yesterday, "flawless."
Adding Desmond King to the mix is the latest in a series of cherries Khan has added to the Steelers' sundae (yes, I'm mixing metaphors now and Falling Water has become ice cream).
Sure, he's got help from Andy Weidl, et al, but no one -and I mean no one, me included- expected him to be the wizard he's been at swinging deals.
Andre the Giant
Pirates pitcher Andre Jackson gets better with every start, and last night was easily his best appearance in a Bucco uni yet.
Jackson ended up fanning seven of the first 10 batters he faced and giving up just a lone run in 5 2/3 innings.
He's given up just 5 earned runs in his last 17 2/3 innings.
Homers from Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski (his first since July 24 and just his 3rd of the second half) helped the Bucs to their first sweep since late June over the Padres, their first on the road since mid-April in Colorado, and a 20-19 record since July 18.
The H in HBK Hangs 'Em Up
11 years, 713 games, and two Stanley Cup rings -both won with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carl Hagelin retired yesterday.
His empty-netter in Nashville was the icing on the cake in Game Six of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final.
He was also the 'H' in the 'HBK' line that was instrumental in securing the 2016 Stanley Cup.
Deeper Defense?
The Penguins added three players on tryout contracts yesterday, and one of them, 30-year old right handed defenseman Mark Pysyk, may actually have a legit shot at a roster spot.
Don't forget to subscribe to "Fifth Avenue Faceoff" ahead of Penguins training camp so you can stay up on everything happening when things get going in a few weeks.
