First Call: Deontay Wilder blames outfit for loss, Conor Sheary proves his point, Astros’ Jose Altuve hit by pitch

In Tuesday’s “First Call,” we look at the predictive powers of Conor Sheary. Deontay Wilder has a wild excuse for his loss to Tyson Fury. And Jose Altuve already got hit by a pitch.

Premonition?

Maybe Conor Sheary was right all along.

The former Penguin was traded to the Buffalo Sabres before the 2018-19 season. Since then, he’s tended to play pretty well against the Pens.

He has four goals and six points against the Penguins in five games, including two goals in Pittsburgh on opening night this year. And he has been a plus-5.

“You want to just prove to people that you can still play,” Sheary told me on Oct. 4. “You kind of get the feeling that someone doesn’t want you when they trade you. I took that to heart. Coming back here is always fun.”

Well, I guess he really did prove he could still play. To the point that the Penguins reacquired him Monday night.

The team’s Twitter account welcomed him back with this video of his famous game-winning goal against the San Jose Sharks during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

OH SHEARY pic.twitter.com/kO3et7sq1z

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 24, 2020

As for Patrick Marleau, he joined the team Monday.

? ➡️

Welcome to the team, Patrick Marleau! pic.twitter.com/IeCW3moNx8

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) February 25, 2020

Sheary will get his old #43 back. Dominik Simon is giving Marleau #12. Simon will wear #18. The Penguins next play Wednesday night in Los Angeles against the Kings.

A sense of humor about it

It’s assumed that LSU quarterback Joe Burrow is going to be the top NFL draft choice by the Cincinnati Bengals at the end of April.

So he is being scrutinized at every level. He was measured at the draft combine. And his hands measured at nine inches.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the length from pinkie to thumb was tied for the smallest among first-round quarterbacks measured at the combine since 2008. Ryan Tannehill and Jared Goff were the other two.

Burrow joked about the reactions of concern.

Considering retirement after I was informed the football will be slipping out of my tiny hands. Please keep me in your thoughts.

— Joey Burrow (@Joe_Burrow10) February 24, 2020

To illustrate some of the silly analysis, Patrick Mahomes’ hands were measured at just a quarter of an inch larger. And Mahomes is believed to be the best quarterback in football.

Whatever you say, Deontay

Deontay Wilder lost to Tyson Fury Saturday night in a WBC title boxing match.

And boy does he have a whopper of an excuse.

Wilder is blaming his entrance costume.

Sad that Deontay Wilder says he lost to @Tyson_Fury in part because his legs were weakened by the 45lb costume he wore for his entrance in honour of Black History Month. Surely the real reason he lost was the brilliance of the other person in the ring
#TysonWilder pic.twitter.com/LiFVdP3L0w

— Jeremy Vine (@theJeremyVine) February 25, 2020

He says it was too heavy and he got tired walking to the ring.

“I paid a severe price because my legs were how they were because of my uniform,” Wilder said via ESPN.com. “My uniform was way too heavy. It was 40-plus pounds. We had it on 10 or 15 minutes before we even walked out and then put the helmet on. That was extra weight, then the ring walk, then going up the stairs. It was like a real workout for my legs.”

OK. That’s a new one.

If it’s me, I’m just gonna admit that the 6-foot-9 inch, 273-pound guy beat me up. I think that sounds better than saying “my outfit made me tired.”

I mean, what makes you look more soft?

Get used to it

You know all that talk about how Major League pitchers were going to throw at the Houston Astros out revenge for stealing signs.

Well, we are off to a fast start. Jose Altuve got grazed by a pitch from Detroit Tigers reliever Nick Ramirez. Houston manager Dusty Baker dismissed the incident as an “accident.”

Altuve was booed lustily during his first at-bat, which became a strike out.

Jose Altuve’s first appearance at the plate this spring. #astros pic.twitter.com/axIfy3G1ch

— David Nuño (@DavidNunoABC13) February 24, 2020

The Astros won 11-1.

Geez. Maybe they don’t need trash cans or buzzers after all.

Or maybe the Tigers just stink.

His 15 minutes of fame

The David Ayers Victory Tour continues.

He is the Zamboni driver who became a one-night emergency goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes.

Ayers was inserted into a game Saturday night and actually held on to win a 6-3 contest against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Now his victory tour is in full gear. He appeared on Sportsnet, the “Today Show” with his mom (who gave him a kidney 15 years ago), and even the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

Zamboni operator and emergency @canes goalie David Ayres saved the day when @StephenAtHome went down with an injury! #LSSC pic.twitter.com/TGMp1YJj6h

— The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) February 25, 2020

Colbert dotted Ayers into various skits throughout the night, like when he “couldn’t finish the monologue because he pulled a hamstring.”

Ayers also “played piano” with the band while wearing goalie gear.

He’ll appear in Raleigh tonight before Carolina’s home game against Dallas.