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Monday’s “first call” refutes the notion that former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Michael Vick could be attempting a comeback. Jameson Taillon continues to write a beautiful season in New York. Josh Bell has calmed down in Washington. The pirates might get a break with the Rockies in town.
And Patric Hornqvist is struggling, as is the rest of his Florida Panthers teammates.
No more Mike
Michael Vick remains retired.
The former Steelers quarterback has announced he will no longer play in the Fan Controlled Football League. On Friday there was a Reuters report that Vick would return to the field. But the four-time Pro Bowler put that conversation to bed via Twitter on Sunday.
I hung her in 2015 never to return. We had a great time and achieved so much. I’m saying that to say they’re hanging in there and I’m not coming out of retirement. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/gKShE54z3a
– Michael Vick (@MichaelVick) May 22, 2022
Fan Controlled Football is an eight-team league played on a single 50-yard indoor field in Atlanta. It’s a seven-a-side format and the fans call games.
Reuters reported that Fan Controlled Football has 12 million viewers on Twitch, Peacock, NBCLX, DAZN and fubo Sports Network.
Easier way ahead?
After being swept at home by the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend, perhaps the burden will be a little lighter for the Pirates in their next series.
The Colorado Rockies are in town for three games Monday through Wednesday. The Rockies have lost 10 of their last 13 games. Her record went from 16-11 to 19-21 during that period. They have lost five straight series to the Diamondbacks, Royals, Giants, Royals and Mets.
Colorado is now bottom of the National League West, eight games behind division leaders Los Angeles Dodgers.
In terms of runs allowed, Colorado has scored 218. The Pirates (221) and Cincinnati Reds (219) are the only teams in Major League Baseball that allow more.
Colorado is scoring quite a bit, eighth in the MLB with 190 runs. Away from Coors Field, however, the Rockies are terrible. They are 5-10 on the way. That’s the lowest number of road wins in the National League.
JMo’s Mojo
Jameson Taillon continues his good season with the New York Yankees.
The former Pirates pitcher went seven innings and allowed just one deserved run during a 3-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
It wasn’t Taillon who took the loss. It was Aroldis Chapman from the Bullpen. He allowed AJ Pollock that home run in the ninth inning in a 1-1 tie.
IMPRESSIVE! AJ POLLOCK!#Change the game | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/kUMyYzRwNG
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 22, 2022
Chapman would allow another run after that as the White Sox clinched the win from the Bronx in the first game of a doubleheader.
Taillon is now 4-1 with a 2.95 ERA. He had seven strikeouts and only one walk on Sunday. His strikeout-to-walk total in 2022 is 34-5.
In the nightcap, Chicago won a 5-0 shutout to win the series 2-1.
Can’t ring the bell
One ex-pirate who suddenly has problems is Josh Bell.
As recently as May 3, Bell reached 0.366. After going 0-5 in Milwaukee on Sunday, the Nationals first baseman’s batting average is down to .291.
The switch hitter is in a 0-to-22 dip. Surprisingly, Bell only hits four home runs a year. For the entire month of May, Bell has only three extra base hits — two home runs and a double.
Hornqvist fights
One of the reasons the Florida Panthers have such a hard time with the Tampa Bay Lightning is that Patric Hornqvist can’t find the net.
So far, Hornqvist has scored just one goal in nine games in the playoffs. He also only has one assist. In Sunday’s 5-1 loss, Hornqvist was down 2 from a penalty.
Hornqvist has no points in the series against the Lightning so far, and Tampa now leads 3-0.
Tim Benz is a contributor to the Tribune Review. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless otherwise noted.
