First Call: Michael Keaton pans Pirates again, Cam Heyward warns AFC North QBs - TribLIVE

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Tuesday’s “First Call” gives a frightening perspective to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bad start. Michael Keaton takes another swipe at the franchise. And Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward is giving a little jab to the quarterbacks in his division.

Tweet from Wayne Manor

Pittsburgh native and award-winning actor Michael Keaton once famously criticized Pirates management.

In PNC Park. On the day the “Batman” star was invited to throw out the opening pitch.

You remember his “write the check” line back in 2006, right?

Well, Keaton continues to be passionate about the team. But he’s still frustrated about their losing ways. Keaton sent out this tweet about the Pirates Sunday afternoon.

“You’re either rebuilding or you’re not!!!! Either do it or don’t. Not that complicated. Commit to something.”

Someone may want to send the “Bat Signal” to Keaton. Because the Pirates are clearly rebuilding.

I know, I know. They refuse to say it out loud. But do they really have to do that?

The Pirates have the lowest payroll in the National League at a prorated $24.6 million. That’s just barely ahead of another “rebuilding” team in Baltimore. The Pirates can barely field a team.

OK, I get it. There is the occasional Jarrod Dyson or Derek Holland here and there to fill out the roster. But where else are they holding onto veterans that aren’t worth keeping which would indicate a failure to rebuild for the future?

Now, as far as their ability to rebuild intelligently? Their ability to put legitimate prospects on the field? Their willingness to spend once they get close to finishing that rebuild?

Those are different questions. And when they are ready to be posed, maybe we can look forward to another Bat tweet at that point.

Come to think of it, maybe Keaton’s tweet should be in reference to the Penguins?

High praise for Heyward

I stumbled across this post from NFL.com recently. It’s a list of the best NFL players who are 30 years old or older.

Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (31) was rated as the fifth-best in the league in that demographic. Russell Wilson, Julio Jones, Chandler Jones and Aaron Rodgers were the only players ahead of him.

Ali Bhanpuri writes, “As dominant an interior lineman as there is in the AFC, Heyward has only improved with age: All three of his Pro Bowl nods and both of his All-Pro selections have come during the past three seasons.”

He also noted that Heyward ranked No. 1 in stops (55) among defensive linemen with a new career high in tackles (83, up from 59 in 2013).

Surprisingly 30-year-old David DeCastro was left off the list. He should’ve made it after a fifth Pro Bowl season in 2019.

The article states Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and other injured players in 2019 — such as A.J. Greene, Cam Newton and Trent Williams — weren’t considered because of the amount of time they missed.

Early warning

Since we’re on the topic of Heyward, he was on Adam Lefkoe’s Bleacher Report podcast.

They were talking about the three Heisman Trophy winners who are starting quarterbacks in the AFC North. That list includes Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns and rookie Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Heyward wants to “wreck” all of them.

So @CamHeyward, what kind of energy can we expect from the Steelers defense this year?

"We've got a gauntlet of Heismans that I'm looking forward to wrecking this year."

Lamar. Baker. Joey B. It's on. pic.twitter.com/wxUgsVQi3n

— The Lefkoe Show (@LefkoeShow) August 10, 2020

If you’re keeping track, the Steelers split against Mayfield and the Browns last year. They lost their only game against Lamar Jackson at Heinz Field. In the rematch down in Baltimore, the Steelers lost to the Ravens’ Heisman-winning backup, Robert Griffin III.

In 2018 — the rookie season for both Jackson and Mayfield — Jackson only threw one pass over two games against the Steelers as they split their games against Joe Flacco. They topped Mayfield and the Browns 33-18 the only time they faced him.

Reality check

Back to our Buccos for a moment. They were supposed to be playing the St. Louis Cardinals this week. But that’s not happening. The Cardinals have been temporarily shut down because of a coronavirus outbreak.

The Pirates are 3-13. That’s the worst record in baseball. Last place in the National League Central.

St. Louis currently resides in third place in the division. They’ve only played five games because of their lockdown.

That means the Pirates are 4½ games back of a team that has only played five games.

That is math in 2020. That is baseball in 2020. That is your local baseball franchise in 2020.

Embrace it. Hug it. Love it. Bask in it.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

Categories: Pirates/MLB | Sports | Steelers/NFL | Breakfast With Benz