Three things could occur this afternoon once Andrew McCutchen steps into the box for his first at-bat in Pittsburgh in far too long:
1. Strike one for a pitch clock violation
2. The ump would grasp the moment
3. Nothing would be left to chance
Starting with that first one, Cutch would unapologetically take that strike if it means fully partaking in what'll represent his official homecoming when the Pirates and White Sox meet at 4:12 p.m. today at PNC Park for the franchise's 142nd home opener.
"Oh, I'm stepping out," Cutch told me over the weekend. "Believe me, I'm stepping out. That'll be for the city."
To the second one, in all likelihood, the home plate umpire would, in fact, exercise common sense. No one loves an ump, but they love the game, and they fairly view themselves as part of the fabric of the game. They're aware of such situations.
To that last point, though, I'm informed that the Pirates' management recently reached out to Major League Baseball with a request that Cutch gets granted that time, including as it relates to the pitch clock, to let it all play out without penalty.
I haven't been informed as to the result of that request, but ... hey, look, it's baseball. It's a big thing. And if one thinks back on even the most recent history of big things around the game, it's easy to recall the revelry in St. Louis for Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina and countless other examples. Now, none of those involved a pitch clock, so this might be semi-historic in that regard, but that awareness always has to be in place in one of our nation's great pastimes.
Even before that at-bat, expect another foundation-rattling moment when Greg Brown will announce Cutch to the crowd as the players emerge individually from the dugout toward the third-base line. As for when that might happen ... I asked Brown if he expects anyone will hear a syllable he's speaking, he shook his head and replied, "Not from Bryan Reynolds onward," referring to the player who'd be introduced just before Cutch.
What a day it's about to be, my friends.
MORE PIRATES
• Speaking of Reynolds, I don't have much to add to the radio silence that's enveloped the contract situation other than to stress that nobody's closed the figurative door on anything. For real. The opt-out clause threw the Pirates for a loop -- as it should have, conveniently coming after money terms had been achieved -- but all concerned remain focused on a solution.
• In a lifetime over covering such scenarios, I've never once seen one that crumbled after money terms had been achieved. Not expecting it here, either. And some of that, yeah, has to do with the Pirates being aware that this would be an epic embarrassment after this much -- and this public -- of an approach had already been made.
• To put it another way on this, Cutch's day, I'm told that his own one-year, $5 million contract came with more back-and-forth than most think. It wasn't automatic from either side. But it's to Travis Williams' credit, I'm further told, that he made clear to everyone on the baseball side that this couldn't be one of those processes the team could enter without a W at the far end.
• I don't have numbers, but ticket sales are up "exponentially" over 2022, per a source. And that began precisely on the day everyone would expect it did.
• As for today, I'm told it's extremely limited and SRO-only at that. And I'm further told that an enormous percentage of this happened post-Cutch, as well. That's getting quite the value for a $5 million contract. He'll almost certainly end up paying for himself in sales alone over the entirety of the summer, which is wild.
• Actual baseball entry: The reason Ji Hwan Bae hasn't found a home yet at either second base or in the outfield is that he's got a ton to prove in all areas. But, particularly since he's impressed management with his outfield work -- not just the sensational catch the other night in Boston -- his own potential combined with Rodolfo Castro sputtering through the spring and now into the season ... let's just say there are several plates spinning on several sticks. And it might be Castro's fate that determines Bae's.
• Another actual baseball entry: The first basemen who are catching Oneil Cruz's throws across the infield ... aren't comfortable. And let's just say for now that it's been noted with no small amount of enthusiasm in the clubhouse. For anyone at the game today, watch Carlos Santana in this context. It's a treat.
PENGUINS
• Based on the Fenway Sports Group's oft-stated priority for employing only the best of the best when it comes to managing their various sports teams -- they're the ones who say it, not me -- it seems inconceivable they'd keep Ron Hextall after this season. And that goes double if the Penguins fall short of the Stanley Cup playoffs, since that'd make national news (and maybe even catch their notice up in Boston). But that said, there's been not a peep from anyone in authority.
• There've been lots and lots of peeps from within, though, when it comes to a general discontent with the state of affairs. That might not mean anything now, but it sure will if/when FSG's people who matter feel they can afford another JetBlue nonstop to make it out this way and start asking the right questions of the right people.
• One language all owners have in common is a loss of revenue. In the Civic Arena days, those running the Penguins once told me they'd set their annual budget to assume there'd be two rounds of playoffs. That kind of information no longer becomes public -- hey, the post-bankruptcy period was a blast while it lasted, huh? -- but the estimate I'd gotten way back then on how much would be lost with each round was roughly $2 million. Extrapolate that to today's ticket prices and all else and ... yikes.
• To clear the air on this: Hextall wasn't hired by Mario Lemieux. The only significant role Mario had in that wave of hires was to strongly suggest the Penguins add Brian Burke to the management team after Hextall had already been tabbed.
• As long as I'm clearing the air, and since Marc-Andre Fleury was in town, the decision to cut Flower loose in the Vegas expansion draft was made all the way up to ownership. Meaning Mario, Ron Burkle and everyone else. And all of them were on the same page in that, one, they found it to be excruciating -- Burkle once told me he'd rather have just forfeited the Penguins' $15 million cut of the Golden Knights' expansion fee -- and two, they knew there were a ton of reasons they couldn't keep both Flower and Matt Murray. (Not least of which was that they weren't optimal net-sharing partners, as one might recall.)
• Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin each logged his 78th game last night, meaning they're still at perfect attendance. Meaning that even if this team does make the playoffs ... yeah. But one thing worth pointing out now, I think, is that Mike Sullivan was opposed to any NBA-style load management regarding his stars, including Kris Letang, despite all being in their mid-30s and seemingly ideal candidates. The reason, as he once mentioned to me in COVID times when there were no such concerns, is that he ... well, he just doesn't believe in it. Because the players don't believe in it. And since he's got one of the best symbioses with his top tier of players as any coach I've ever covered, that was that.
• Noticed Brian Dumoulin's improved play of late? As in vastly improved? He might've been the Penguins' best overall performer last night, and not just because of two dynamic assists. I asked him afterward about one thing specifically, and that's been his proclivity for seeking out open ice in the offensive zone and presenting his blade. He laughed it off, humble as ever, but then explained that he's made it a priority to be more active on the attack, as he feels it helps his overall game. "Either that," he added with a grin, "or nobody was finding me, right?"
STEELERS
• Don't presume Zach Gentry's re-signing guarantees a spot on the roster. The team genuinely values what he brings, but the upcoming NFL Draft is beyond loaded at tight end, and that'll be more influential -- as it should be -- than any outright need. If the temptation's great enough, that'd likely leave Gentry on the outs. And yeah, this surprises me, too.
• No idea on Bud Dupree. Stone silence from his side. I did hear at one point that maybe more management types had hoped to be involved than the day of his visit a few days ago, but that's not verified.
• Glenn Thomas as potential replacement for Matt Canada? Well, sure, that's a viable scenario anytime any assistant's added under anyone in any walk of life. But there are zero rumblings to that effect.
• Defensive line. Think defensive line. Because they are. Doesn't mean they'll force it at No. 17, but they'll end up with one or two through the class, and they'll be weighing it all along.
• On that front, management's nowhere near as down on Dan Moore Jr. as much of the fan base seems to be. I know for a fact that their emphasis throughout the offseason has been on the interior of the line, even when scouting for the draft and, within that, even when they've looked at tackles. Meaning they've asked if those tackles can become better guards.
• Thanks for reading Insider, everyone! And have a terrific time at the home opener!