It is Pitt-Penn State week.  That statement hasn’t been heard for 16-years.  The Interstate rivalry resumes Saturday at Heinz Field. Both teams are 1-0. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi wants his team to devote as much time toward preparation for the game. He told the media that players are off limits to them till after the game.  Narduzzi will explain his rationale  on the Pat Narduzzi Show Wednesday evening at 6-pm  on WBVP-WMBA.

If the Pirates are to make the playoffs, they must win the next two games against the Cardinals.  After losing Monday 12-6, the Pirates are now four and a half games behind  Cardinals for the second wild card spot in the National League.   Game two of the series is tonight at PNC Park. The Pirates will pitch Ryan Voglesong. The Cardinals will counter with Luke Weaver. Airtime on WBVP-WMBA is 6:40.

He will not play tonight. On Wednesday Antonio Brown signed a restructured 2016 contract. The deal will shift money owed in 2017 to this year.  The agreement gives Brown a four million dollar raise.  The Steelers say they will negotiate a long term deal after the season.  The Steelers conclude the preseason tonight as they visit the Carolina Panthers.  WBVP-WMBA airtime is 5:30.  Kickoff is 7-pm.  It may be the last game for some 22 players.  The Steelers will trim their roster from 75 to 53 by Saturday at 4pm.

The Steelers lost and gained  a quarterback on Wednesday.  First they place Bruce Grandkowski on injured reserve. Grandkowski tore a hamstring in the teams first preseason game. It is the second season in row that the 31 year old Grandkowski has been on injured reserve. Later in the day they claimed quarterback Zack Metlenberger. He will serve as the teams number three quarterback.  Melenberger was cut by the San Diego Chargers earlier in the week.  He has played against the Steelers two seasons ago when he played for the Titans.

The Penguins will open defense of the Stanley Cup on October 13th against the Washington Capitals. Before that they will be going  to Washington to meet the president.  The White House says President Obama will honor the Stanley Champions on October 6th.  This will probably be one of the last team he will honor in his presidency.

It will a generic team that faces the Carolina Panthers tomorrow night. Coach Mike Tomlin says that Ben Roethlisberger,  Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton  L’veon Bell, and DeAngelo Williams will sit for the final preseason game. On defense Cam Heyward will sit because of his high ankle sprain.  Also sitting will be Stephon Tuit, Ryan Shazier, William Gay, and Mike Mitchell.   The Steelers have 75-players on the roster.  22 players must go to get down to the 53-players season roster.  The cuts must be made by Saturday at 4pm.

The Pirates  sent outfielder Tito Polo and left hand pitcher Stephan Tarpley to the New  York Yankees to complete the Ivan Nova trade. Polo was playing a low A West Virginia. Tarpley was obtained in the 2015 Travis Snyder trade with Baltimore.

The Pirates will try to avoid a sweep as they conclude their road trip tonight in Chicago.  Pirates will pitch Ryan Vogelsong (3-3).  The Cubs will throw Jason Hammel    (13-7). The Pirates made some  roster moves on Tuesday.   They recalled infielder Alen Hanson and lefthander  Kevin Marte from Indianapolis.  To make room for them on the roster, the Pirates optioned pitchers Jameson Taillon and Steven Brault to AA Bristol.  That is the only minor league team still playing. Pitcher Kyle Lobstein has been designated for assignment.  The Major League Rosters expand to 40-players tommorrow.   WBVP-WMBA’s coverage of tonight’s Pirates-Cubs game begins right after Coaches Corner.

We are about three weeks from the start of training camp for The Stanley Cup Champions Pittsburgh Penguins. The first matter is the World Cup in September.  The Penguins have a half a dozen players participated.  Next is the condition  of the injured players. the most noted is defenseman Trevor Daley. He broke his ankle during the playoffs.  He is expected to be ready for training camp.  Winger Phil Kessel had surgery on his hand in July.  The team is taking a wait and see attitude on him being ready for the season opener against Washington on October 13th.

As we begin action tonight, the National League Wild Card race has changed again. San Francisco has the top spot. They lead the Cardinals, who beat the Brewers 6-5, by two and a half games. With the Pirates lost the Mets win over the Marlins,  the battle for the second spot looks like this. The Pirates trail the Cardinals by a game and half. The Mets  and the Marlins trail by two and a half games.