The Best Dual Threat QB In The Country Is…Navy’s Keenan Reynolds?

Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds has never been anything other than a quarterback. He entered Goodpasture High School in Tennessee as a freshman and started for four years. When colleges came around, a few – Vanderbilt and Memphis – wanted him but as a wide receiver. Navy thought otherwise and wanted Reynolds to run their spread option offense. Now, the 5-11, 195-pound senior-to-be just might be the best dual-threat quarterback in the nation.  Read the rest of the article here.

An Open Letter to the Commissioner of Baseball

Dear Mr. Manfred

My name is Matthew Hall.  I am a huge Pirates fan and only 11 years old.  I check the Pirates web site every morning and try to watch all the games that I can.  I have seen that you want young people to enjoy the game of baseball.  I have also seen that you are doing something with shifts and also with the pitch clock.  I don’t think that will work much.  I think what you can do is move the World Series games back to 7 p.m.  The games are on around 9 p.m. and that is usually my bed time.  

I do go to school and I am in 5th grade so I have a lot of homework.  Starting the games at 7 p.m. would benefit me because I would have enough time to do my homework.  I do understand that parents and adults have jobs too, but they usually don’t work until 7 p.m.  As I have said, I love the Pirates, but if they make it to the World Series and the game is on at 9 p.m. I won’t get to watch much of the game.  That would make me very upset. 

In conclusion, I think for kids to get into the game of baseball you would have to move games to an earlier time.  I would very much appreciate it if you would write back telling me your thoughts on this idea.  Thanks again and I will be looking forward to getting your letter!

Matthew Hall

Pirates Making Off-season Moves

By Matt Hall, Student Reporter

On Monday, the Pirates reportedly agreed with Jung-ho Kang (Korean baseball player) to a 4 year deal with an option of a fifth year for about 16 million dollars.  The deal will be confirmed if Kang passes the physical which is planned for Thursday.  His Korean team will stop in Arizona for spring training while Kang goes the whole way to Pittsburgh.  Speaking of spring training, there are only 35 days until the Pirates' pitchers and catchers report to Florida.  Alright, back to Kang.  He hit 40 home runs last year with a batting average of about .360.   That’s all I know about Kang so see you later!

Baseball Hall of Fame Selections Today

By Matt Hall, Student Reporter

This afternoon at 2:00 the Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2015 will be announced. Included in this ballot are Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Gary Sheffield, Nomar Garciaparra, and Craig Biggio. 

Just so you know, players need at least 75% of the votes to get voted in.  On July 26, whoever gets voted in will be at the induction ceremony in Cooperstown, New York.

My picks that will be in the Hall of Fame are Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez.  I chose these two people because they both were amazingly good pitchers.

You've now had my prediction, but we’ll find out later today. See you later with a couple of new players in the Baseball Hall of Fame!

This Week in Pittsburgh Pirates History - January 4-10

This week in Pittsburgh Pirates history -

January 7

2009      Selling the last of his remaining shares in the Pirates, Kevin McClatchy ends his 13-year relationship with the team. After local ownership failed to materialize in 1996, the former managing general partner made sure the struggling club would stay in Pittsburgh by finding shareholders and securing the cash needed to buy the franchise.

January 10

1957      Commissioner Ford Frick allows Bing Crosby, part of an 11-man syndicate that made a successful bid to buy the Tigers, to keep his token stock in the Detroit club although he is part owner of the Pirates. The famous crooner, who became one of the Buc's owners in 1946, presently has a 16% share of the club.