December 2, 2021 3:52 am
IRVING, Texas (AP) – Major League Baseball plunged into its first work stoppage in a quarter-century when the sport’s collective bargaining agreement expired and owners immediately locked out players in a move that threatens spring training and opening day. The strategy, management’s equivalent of a strike under federal labor law, ended the sport’s labor peace after 9,740 days over 26 1/2 years. Teams decided to force the long-anticipated confrontation during an offseason rather than risk players walking out during the summer, as they did in 1994. Players and owners had successfully reached four consecutive agreements without a stoppage.
December 2, 2021 3:49 am
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) – Connor McDavid had a goal and three assists, Zach Hyman scored twice and the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2. Kailer Yamamoto and Evan Bouchard also scored for the Oilers, who won their third game in a row and improved to 9-1-0 on home ice despite getting outshot 34-22. Jake Guentzel and Teddy Blueger each had a goal for the Penguins, who have lost three straight. Pittsburgh was 15-0-4 in its previous 19 games against the Oilers.
December 2, 2021 3:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers are receiving a heavy dose of criticism from former players during a three-game winless streak. Four-time Super Bowl champion Rocky Bleier says the current group has no self-esteem. Former safety turned NFL analyst Ryan Clark says teams are no longer afraid to play the Steelers. Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger says he understands the criticism but added times are changing. Roethlisberger says he is doing what he can to impart a sense of history and tradition he learned from Steelers icon Dan Rooney to his younger teammates. Pittsburgh hosts AFC North-leading Baltimore on Sunday.
December 1, 2021 3:50 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t waste time finding a replacement for Gold Glove catcher Jacob Stallings. A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press the Pirates have agreed to a 1-year deal worth $5 million with former Cleveland catcher Roberto Pérez. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The 32-year-old Pérez won Gold Gloves in 2019 and 2020 with Cleveland but struggled at the plate with just .149 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs in 44 games in 2021. The Guardians declined his $7 million option for 2022.
December 1, 2021 3:48 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says it’s time for his team to put up and shut up. The Steelers are coming off a blowout loss to Cincinnati in which they were outplayed in every facet of the game. Tomlin says he could say all the right things to explain what happened, but the only thing that matters is how his team performs. Pittsburgh welcomes AFC North-leading Baltimore to Heinz Field on Sunday.
December 1, 2021 3:51 am
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) – Quarterback Kenny Pickett and receiver Jordan Addison were among 12 players from No. 17 Pittsburgh to headline the Atlantic Coast Conference’s all-league team. Pickett and Addison were first-team picks for the offense in Tuesday’s release. Tackle Calijah Kancey was a first-team pick on defense. The Panthers will play in Saturday’s league championship game against No. 18 Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons had first-team receiver A.T. Perry and first-team offensive tackle Zach Tom among its eight selections. Clemson finished with 10 all-ACC picks despite seeing its six-year reign atop the league end. The Associated Press will release its all-ACC honors Monday.
December 1, 2021 3:52 am
UNDATED (AP) – You can expect Oklahoma State and Notre Dame to be rooting hard against Alabama, Michigan and Cincinnati this weekend. The latest CFP rankings have Georgia still on top, followed by Michigan, Alabama and Cincinnati. The Crimson Tide will take on the Bulldogs in the SEC championship game, Michigan goes against Iowa for the Big Ten crown and Cincinnati will host Houston in the AAC title game. The Wolverines moved up with Saturday’s 42-27 win over Ohio State, dropping the Buckeyes from the top 4. The Cowboys will be fifth going into their Big 12 championship game against Baylor. The Fighting Irish are sixth, followed by Ohio State, Mississippi, Baylor and Oregon. Georgia and Cincinnati are the only unbeaten teams in the rankings. Michigan, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Notre Dame have lost once. The final CFP rankings will be released on Sunday.
November 30, 2021 3:55 am
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) – Mikael Backlund scored the deciding goal in the seventh round of a shootout and the Calgary Flames beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 after blowing a late lead. Backlund broke in off the right side and ripped a shot into the top corner against Tristan Jarry. Jacob Markstrom sealed the victory by stopping Brock McGinn on Pittsburgh’s final attempt. The Flames’ Johnny Gaudreau and the Penguins’ Kris Letang scored in the third round of the tiebreaker. Milan Lucic scored in regulation for Calgary, which is 6-1-2 in its last nine games. Markstrom finished with 21 saves. Jake Guentzel scored for Pittsburgh, and Jarry had 31 stops.
November 30, 2021 2:16 am
MIAMI (AP) – Gold Glove catcher Jacob Stallings is heading to the Miami Marlins. The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded Stallings to the Miami Marlins in exchange for pitcher Zach Thompson and prospects Kyle Nicolas and Connor Scott. Stallings, 31, is coming off the best season of his career. He earned his first Gold Glove for his handling of an inexperienced pitching staff that ranked among the worst in the major leagues. Meanwhile, the Pirates have signed veteran pitcher Jose Quintana to a one-year contract. The team also avoided arbitration with outfielder Ben Gamel by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal. The 32-year-old Quintana gives a needed veteran presence to a starting pitching staff that was among the worst in the majors in 2021. Quintana is 83-80 with a 3.84 ERA in 10 seasons with the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco.
November 30, 2021 3:04 am
PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have placed star outside linebacker T.J. Watt on the COVID-19 list. The team made the announcement a day after the Steelers were embarrassed 41-10 on the road in Cincinnati. Watt is the third high-profile member of the Steelers to go on the COVID-19 list in recent weeks. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick went into the COVID-19 protocol earlier this month. Watt was limited to just two tackles against the Bengals while playing with hip and knee injuries.
