theWellHungarian: Great article by Colin Dunlap about Washington Heights & Pedro Alvarez. Having backpacked & travelled throughout the island nation, I understand Dominican's passion for family & beisbol. I hope we can get this kid signed. Also, one mistake in the article, Manny Ramirez was born in Santo Domingo, D.R. not New York, he moved to New York from Santo Domingo.

Jerry Micco: Thanks for the complement and the correction. We'll look into that one and correct it. I think it's important on a number of levels for the Pirates to sign Alvarez. You can't grow a team, unless you have very deep pockets, getting high-priced free agents. You need to rebuild the minors and have guys ready to go when your veterans out-price you and leave. The Pirates don't have that now.

theWellHungarian: Saw the article on ESPN Radio's "snafu" ... Did anyone REALLY notice? Who listens to the All-Star Game on the radio? It was televised in HD

Jerry Micco: Baseball on the radio, for many people, is very enjoyable. The news peg is the area's ESPN affiliate went off the air at a critical time in the game. Also, folks do work at night here and sometimes, the radio is all they have.

James_Taipei: There is so much talk about developing for the future but if this is the case how can the Pirates truly afford to allow Yoslan Herrera to pitch at the major league level? I thought he was a prospect. Throwing him into the major league fire early does not seem to make sense. Shouldn't the Pirates look for some former major leaguer that is not in the majors as a stop gap instead?

Jerry Micco: They have to add him to the 40-man roster then and drop someone, which makes them eligible for waivers. And Herrera is a one-and-done type of starter. An emergency guy. He'll continue to develop this year, and probably next, in the minors. But when you have no pitching, you take the guy who maybe can get you one solid start.

James_Taipei: Do you think that Janne Pesonen could make an impact this season? Furthermore do you think the Penguins can a free agent to play on Crosby's line this year?

Jerry Micco: I know little about Pesonen except that he's a scorer in the Finnish League. How that translates to the NFL, I have no idea. I think Miro Satan will be the guy to skate with Crosby and probably Dupuis. Unless there's a trade in the offing come training camp time in September.

James_Taipei: Any chance of the Penguins picking up Mats Sundin?

Jerry Micco: I think that chance is pretty remote. Capwise, it'd be a tough fit.

yzguy431: it's early, but....your prediction for the stillers regular season record, and do they win the division

Jerry Micco: Way too early for that. It's a brutal schedule. 9-7 would probably be a good record with that schedule. I don't know if they can win the division with that mark. I think they are better than Cincinnati and Baltimore, but the Browns are much improved. The difference is the Browns defense is not as good as the Steelers. And that could tip things in the Steelers favor.

YeOldeBuccoFan: What was the bigger All-Star Game throw: Dave Parker's in '79, or Nate McLouth's last night?

Jerry Micco: McLouth's was pretty impressive because he doesn't have Parker's arm. I think because it was extra innings and the AL has been so dominant, maybe McLouth's was better. Good debate question, though.

Riley_Martin: Did you make it to the end of the game last night? A competitive, hard played All Star game for once, and Nate McLouth did a nice job too.

Jerry Micco: I kind of was in and out of sleep from the 13th on. I woke up at the end, saw the replay and said, "The NL just can't beat these guys."

Tony_Pena: After reading yesterday's story, I am convinced Alvarez will sign. I thought it was a tremendous story. Do you think he will sign?

Jerry Micco: I do think he'll sign, but it'll be for bigger money than the Pirates want to pay. But it'll say to fans that there's a commitment to having a quality player in the organization. Like anything else, however, you have to actually see how the guy does in the high minors and then in the big leagues. A lot of guys looked great on draft day and then are mediocre. That's probably not the case with Alvarez, but you can't say he's a can't-miss prospect. No one is.

jimmy_g: Jerry, here is a true story that distains Yogi Berra's admonition: I was at the Pirate game on Saturday with a small group. We left after the 8th inning. While waiting at a traffic light on 6th St. we heard fireworks, turned on the radio and heard about Nate McLouth's 3 run homer. While I was dropping others off, I heard most of the rest of the game. I arrived home with Chavez on base in the 10 inning and by the time I turned on a TV, Michaels had homered to win the game. Moral of the story: It ain't over 'till it's over.

Jerry Micco: Absolutely right. And that's why you don't leave early. Come on, buy the ticket, stay for the whole game. Unless you got kids who just can't do it anymore. I went on Sunday, baked in the sun and saw the bullpen blow another lead. Oh well.

theWellHungarian: How embarrassed must the State Gaming Board be? The guy couldn't even pay the contractors! I, like everyone else, in this city felt I.O.C. had the best plan. Mario must be shaking his head. Is the arena plan still in tact?

Jerry Micco: The arena plan is still intact and fine. The state will pay for the arena and whoever operates the casino is still on the hook for the $7.5 million a year in arena costs. That money goes to the state but is earmarked for the arena. I think part of this, too, is that the gaming industry is in a terrible slump. Barden's business may have been in OK shape at the time of his vetting, but now has obviously hit the skids. There were a lot of reasons for his choice, the Gaming Board outlined them. But they'd got some egg on their face, too. Large companies tend to have deeper pockets, so maybe Harrah's or IOC would have been better. But we'll never know.

jimmy_g: Jerry, I totally agree with Bob Smizik's column today about keeping Xavier Nady. The Pirates are now a very nice hitting team and unless they can get a good starting pitcher for Nady, why bother?

Jerry Micco: And you do have Nady for one more year before he leaves. At that point, maybe McCutcheon is the guy to replace him, who knows? I think the Pirates can lean on their offense and point to it as a strength. And I thought Bob's point about there not being a lot of pitching out there is a good one. You are giving up a quality player and clubhouse guy in Nady. Will you get that great a return at midseason? Is a team willing to part with a top-notch pitcher for him? It's not like the Pirates have a Johann Santana to trade. That will get you major-league ready prospects.

theWellHungarian: Was Brett Favre also named in the Mitchell Report? Seriously, I haven't seen a guy fall this fast from grace since Roger Clemens . Am I alone here in thinking this?

Jerry Micco: Opinions seem to be mixed on Favre's exploits with the Packers. As I said last week, I'm kind of tired of him and the soap opera.

jimmy_g: Hey, it looks like Jamie Dixon has finally landed a top recruit. What are your thoughts?

Jerry Micco: If he's all he's cracked up to be, great player for the Panthers. It'll only make a very good team even better. I've heard folks talking of Pitt being a preseason top 5 team and adding Taylor can only make them better.

James_Taipei: Are you already forgetting the Bungals? Doesn't a team need to have more than one good year before we name them a serious division contender?

Jerry Micco: I'm not thinking they are a contender. I said the Steelers are better than the Bengals and Ravens. I'd be much more concerned with the Browns.

chooch79: What do you think the chances are that Flaherty would be able to recoup any tax dollars from the Steelers?

Jerry Micco: Little to none.

theWellHungarian: How about Coach Dixon landing his first Top 25 recruit in Dante Taylor? I'm pumped to see him in the frontcourt with Dejuan Blair (hoping he stays)

Jerry Micco: They should make a formidable pairing.

Riley_Martin: Does anyone really think that Drunkenmiller would allow Dan and Art to run the team if he was majority owner?

Jerry Micco: He probably would for a short while, like a year maybe. But at some point, he's going to want to put his own people in there and he will. You don't invest millions of dollars and just turn the team over to the minority owners. I'm sure he'll try to be graceful about it, but I have to think that if he owns the majority of the team, he's going to do what he wants to do. As well he should.

jimmy_g: Follow up on Saturday's Pirate game: How much worse (22 hits) could the Pirates have pitched if a batting practice pitcher was pitching?

Jerry Micco: Not much. And Sunday was almost as bad. It's a terrible staff, except for a handful of guys. And it highlights the depth problems they have in that area. Actually, they have it everywhere in the system, but pitching is where it's most acute.

pittisit: How big for the program is Pitt's landing of Dante Taylor?

Jerry Micco: I think it's big, but it really depends on how deep an NCAA run they make with him. If he's a guy playing so well they get to the Elite 8 or Final 4, then it's huge for the program. But if he's here 2 years and they make Sweet 16 and no better, then it says to other top recruits, unless you're the best player in the country, that team can't go any further than Sweet 16. If you go deeper, however, then other top recruits know they can come here and make a difference. It makes Pitt even more attractive to them.

yzguy431: what is your take on the brett favre ordeal

Jerry Micco: Too much waffling on his part, too much acquiescence on the team's part. I think the Packers are now in a tight spot because Favre is still a good QB, but at some point, you have to use a guy you drafted in the first round to see if he can play. If not, then you have to trade one of them so the other can do the job. I think the error was drafting Rogers. That tells me the Packers thought Favre wanted to retire years earlier or that they were growing tired of him. I get the sense he may not be as beloved by the Green Bay brass as he is by fans.

James_Taipei: What do you think Terry Francona would have did with Kazmir if the game had lasted longer?

Jerry Micco: I have no idea, but might have awakened to see what the decision was. He may have put him out there one more inning, but my understanding from the Fox folks was that Kazmir was on a pitch count.

jimmy_g: Follow up on Nate McLough/Dave Parker: Parker's arm may have been better than Clemente's but that's a big maybe.

Jerry Micco: Maybe stronger, maybe. But not nearly as accurate.

Riley_Martin: While watching the HR Derby, I was reminded about 600 times by the announcers that Josh Hamilton was a drug addict and now a "hero." What is so heroic about his life? He was blessed with all the talent in the world and blew it before he finally got straightened out. It's almost like the message being sent was that it is ok to do drugs when you are a kid as long as you clean yourself up before you are 30. There is nothing heroic about him, it is not like he rehab'd from an auto accident or cancer.

Jerry Micco: I think anyone who battles addiction and recovers is someone to look up to. A hero? Probably not, but someone who you pull for because he got his life back together and is using his talents for good things. When you're an addict you know what you do is wrong, but you do it anyway. You can't help yourself. Hamilton seems to know what he is and he's trying to do the right things now.

James_Taipei: Jerry, my point was that everyone had the Bungals picked to supplant the Steelers at the top of the division after 2005 put that did not happen. So I don't think writers should get too carried away about Derek Anderson and the Browns until he and the team actually has two good seasons in a row.

Jerry Micco: Maybe you're right, James, but they certainly looked good last season and seemed to strengthen themselves in the offseason. True, everything's on paper these days, but that's where we are right now. If the Steelers want to win this division, though, they are going to have to go 5-1 or even 6-0 in it to do it, I think. The outside schedule is very tough.

Riley_Martin: Any British Open predictions? And don't say Mickelson because his record there is poor!

Jerry Micco: I always pull for Lefty, but you're right, he's terrible in this major. You have to think a guy like Poulter or Ogilvy would play well here. Maybe Sergio can put last year out of his mind and make a run. And does Els have one more major left in him? Lee Westwood is a guy to watch, too. Without Tiger, it's a wide open field.

James_Taipei: In regards to keeping Nady, I don't really see the point of keeping him unless management is going to add to average or above average starters this offseason? If not the Pirates should get something for Nady and give McCutcheon a chance to develop at the major league level. He will probably have to go through some learning pains at the major league level whether it is in 2009 or 2010.

Jerry Micco: Yes, at some point he'll have to do that. But why bring him up right away if you don't have to do it? He's only 22. I heard minor league batting coach Hensley Meulens the other night on McCutcheon and he wasn't speaking in a lot of superlatives. Really concerned about his defense and it's not like he's tearing up AAA ball. No crime in leaving him there for a bit. And if you can get Nady long-term, then maybe you aim him somewhere else. I just don't think Nady's going to get you above-average starters. Those are tough to find as it is.

chooch79: Any predictions on what will be the big news out of Steeler training camp this year? While most of the off-season news has focused on the OL, I'm really looking forward to an upgraded running game.

Jerry Micco: With the drafting of Mendenhall and the signing of Mewelde Moore, the running game could be much better. Of course, if the offensive line doesn't block anyone it doesn't matter who's toting the pig. I want to keep an eye on the defense this season. I want to see how Timmons looks and if Woodley is the real deal as a starter. And can the defensive line hold up. Another guy I'm going to watch is Polamalu. I thought his play slipped a bit last year. And cornerback is a concern, too. To me, the defense, while maybe the best in this division, may not be what it was a couple years ago.

yzguy431: do you think they pay those old timers to appear at the all star game, or do they go because it's an honor

Jerry Micco: I have no idea. I'm sure the league picks up expenses, but probably doesn't offer an appearance fee. I'd like to think they go because it's an honor. So I'll think that.

Chunkles: I would let Favre go and sign with another team. He will probably get hurt and be a bust for whoever signs him. Someone once said, if your thinking about retiring, its time to retire. To bad Favre wasnt a couple years younger, I think him and Whiz would work well in Arizona.

Jerry Micco: The Packers' fear, and it's a legit one, is he'll sign with the Vikings or Bears. He's got enough left in the tank to still be a very good QB. Look at last season, he was impressive. I'd not release him, but if someone wanted to make a trade -- like say the Jets -- then I'd trade him.

jimmy_g: The article the other day recommending that Paul Maholm not become the ace of the staff got me thinking. Pirate pitching seems to be a black hole. Throw a promising pitcher in and he disappears. The last time we had two consistently good starting pitchers may have been Bob Friend and Vernon Law. How can this be?

Jerry Micco: Well, Doug Drabek and John Smiley weren't bad during the early 90s. And while they seemed to makeshift staffs throughout the 70s, they always seemed to win. I don't know if you need a staff of aces, you need one and then you need a bunch of competent starters. Someone has to emerge, might as well be Maholm. As for why the lack of pitching, it's all around baseball. Few staffs are populated with great pitching. So when you get a couple, hang on to them. As for the Pirates, through the years they've had their top pitchers, but they are in an absolute slump now. And that's scouting and drafting.

YeOldeBuccoFan: Why don't they just add 5 more pitchers to each All-Star team, so that running out of pitchers is never an issue?

Jerry Micco: They could. Might dilute the teams, but adding pitchers is not a bad thought.

YeOldeBuccoFan: If Green Bay gives Favre a "courtesy" release, what's to stop other players in the future from faking their retirement, just to get out of their contract with their current team?

Jerry Micco: Great point. No, they are going to either hold on to him and have a rollercoaster ride all season or trade him.

jimb056: Jerry, wouldn't the Pirates hold onto Doug Mientkiewitz rather than trade? He can't bring a great return, but his personality in the dugout & on the field seem to be helpful and they can probably re-sign him for a million or less.

Jerry Micco: That's the talk that he might stay. Of course, he's used to being on winners and he may want to parley this into a free agent contract with a team like the Tigers or Cubs, or a team like that. He's been a huge benefit to the Pirates, I agree.

Riley_Martin: Is this the toughest time of year for you, considering how slow the sports world is between the NHL Finals and training camp?

Jerry Micco: Is it me or are the Steelers in the midst of ownership crisis? It seems there's never a slow time anymore.

YeOldeBuccoFan: Several pundits continue to rate Carson Palmer higher as a QB than Ben Roethlisberger. Would you trade Ben for Carson Palmer?

Jerry Micco: No, not now. A year or two ago I would have done that. Ben's getting better and showing some skills that he didn't a couple years ago. He took a bit longer to develop than Palmer, no one disputed he would, but now he's one of the top 5 or so NFL QBs in my book.

jimmy_g: It's very interesting predicting golf tournament winners when one BIG factor is removed from the equation.

Jerry Micco: Just makes things more interesting. When Tigers in the hunt, it's hard to keep him at bay. Not impossible, but for some reason he just is better than the other guys when the heat's on.

YeOldeBuccoFan: Do you think Ichiro is a Hall-of-Famer?

Jerry Micco: If it's the American Baseball Hall of Fame, then no. If you credit him for his years in Japan as well as in the majors, then he deserves strong consideration.

James_Taipei: While Hamilton may not be a hero, I doubt most readers could identify with being a 18/19 year old kid away from home for the first time with $3.96 million dollars! Who knows what crazy things we might do with that money!

Jerry Micco: Let's put it this way: I'm glad no one dropped $3.9 mil on me when I was 18 or 19. And leave it at that.

theWellHungarian: Next Thursday: MLS All-Stars vs West Ham United of the English Premier League ... Just want to give everyone a heads up

Jerry Micco: Consider it done, Hungarian.

yzguy431: do you think someone picks up barry bonds, or do you think baseball is over him

Jerry Micco: I think Bonds is finished. I think he's getting that message from everyone. He broke the HR mark, and now no one wants to pay him or have the baggage he's going to bring.

yzguy431: i agree with your assessment of Polamalu, do you think he is too small, and has had one concussion too many

Jerry Micco: I'm wondering, yes, if he's physically beat up. But I want to see if he's healthy this season if he can get back some of that physical presence that has made him so good. If he can, he'll be a tremendous help for the Steelers. When he's on his game, he's a Pro Bowl player, no question.

James_Taipei: I just don't see Nady signing with the Pirates unless he fires Scott Boras as his agent. My point was unless the Pirates sign a free agent starter to get them close to being a wild card team what is the point of having Nady unless the return for him is very low?

Jerry Micco: Because Nady gives you a guy who is a very good right fielder who can hit 25 homers and knock in 100 runs. And signing a good free agent starter is a lot tougher than trying to extend Nady's contract, even with Scott Boras as his agent.

Riley_Martin: Wouldn't it be ironic if Jerome Bettis took over Mark Madden's old time slot on 1250?

Jerry Micco: I've been around media for 28 years and nothing, absolutely nothing, surprises me anymore.

Riley_Martin: I don't consider this an ownership crisis. With the TV revenue and salary cap, any idiot can successfully run a team, especially in a town with as loyal a fan base as Pittsburgh.

Jerry Micco: Not so fast. Remember, you have big new stadiums going up in New York and Dallas and one day, an expansion team in Los Angeles. Those cities and teams will have much more discretionary spending than the Steelers will have in this market. Yes, you can sell out all your games and TV gets you a nice chunk of change, but when your stadium deal pays you $2.9 mil per year and Houston's pays them $10 mil a year, there's a disparity. It's not easy competing in this market with some very deep-pocketed owners in larger markets.

Jerry Micco: Folks I need to run. I'll be gone next week on a vacation, but we'll likely get Bob Smizik to handle this Wednesday noon hour. I had a great time this week and look forward to seeing all of you in a couple weeks.