First Call: Who would punch Myles Garrett in the face? Early goal of the year candidate

It’s our final “First Call” before an extended Steelers bye weekend. We tip our cap to Dan Potash’s efforts on ‘70s night. There was one goal last night even better than Sidney Crosby’s. And someone was dumb enough to punch Myles Garrett in the face.

Hit and run?

If I made a list of people I wanted to punch in the face, Myles Garrett would be towards the bottom.

Not from the standpoint of personality. He might be a real jerk for all I know. Or he could be the nicest guy in the world.

I would simply be scared to death of what he would do in retaliation.

Allegedly, a fan in Cleveland had more guts than me. Browns defensive end Myles Garrett told police Wednesday that he was “punched” in the face by a man while in his car in Cleveland.

A “fan” hopped out his car to take a picture with me and then punched me in my face. Hm, put your legs into it might have actually made me flinch. ?

— Myles "Flash" Garrett ⚡️ (@MylesLGarrett) October 16, 2019

Via ESPN.com, “Garrett, told police he was on his cellphone at 2:55 p.m. ET when a man later identified as Perez pulled up next to the vehicle and asked for a picture, according to the report. Garrett said the man got out of his car and approached his down driver’s side window and took a photo of him. After the man took the photo, he struck Garrett with a closed fist. The man got back in his car and fled the scene.”

The master criminal was later found by police… via his license plate.

Cleveland.com says no formal charges have been filed yet.

Sorry Sid

Sidney Crosby’s goal Wednesday night against the Colorado Avalanche was pretty slick.

RIGHT ON, SID! pic.twitter.com/6fgncJipvR

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 17, 2019

It wasn’t the goal of the night, though. Check out this doozy from Columbus Blue Jackets winger Sonny Milano against the Dallas Stars.

A hotline is being established for overwhelmed fans:

1-800-THIS-IS-AWESOME pic.twitter.com/OeWR6ozU2b

— Columbus Blue Jackets (@BlueJacketsNHL) October 17, 2019

That was Milano’s first goal of the season. Talk about setting the bar high for the rest of the year!

Columbus went on to win 3-2. The Stars come to Pittsburgh Friday night. They are struggling at 1-6-1.

“Capturing the spirit of the thing!”

It was “’70s Night” at PPG Paints arena during the Penguins 3-2 overtime win against the Avs. The theme focused on the 1977 hockey film classic “Slapshot.”

Dave Hanson, one of the movie’s stars and executive director of the Island Sports Center, was on hand.

AT&T Sportsnet Penguins reporter Dan Potash jumped in with both feet, as he often does with the team’s theme nights.

@JDHaltigan Not much. I rarely go on twitter or ever tweet anything. Other than look at The Fan twitter poll every morning. Check out Potash for 80’s themed night last Tues. #pens pic.twitter.com/jAo742tMTk

— Geoff (@GPMF1) February 8, 2019

He dressed up as one of Hanson’s rivals from the movie, Ogie Ogilthorpe.

Hanson vs. Ogie Potash. pic.twitter.com/e0zspRIJ25

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 17, 2019

Give it to Potash. He nailed the look.

Sadly, it was an NBCSN game. So we weren’t treated to an awkward in-costume interview with Mike Sullivan like we were on Star Wars night.

When it’s @penguins #StarWarsNight, better believe my guy Dan Potash is going all in. #DarthMaul @ATTSportsNetPIT pic.twitter.com/DfIEz2eFil

— Eric Burak (@EricBurak) December 8, 2017

What will they do?

MLB.com put together a list of players who may or may not be picked up by their teams on their club options.

Here’s what author Anthony Castrovince said about Starling Marte who he placed in the “easy pickups” category at $11.5 million, or a $2 million buyout, “The question is not whether the Pirates pick up Marte’s option but, rather, whether they deal him this winter.”

My guess is they keep Marte. I’m not sure how ditching Marte — even by Pirates standards — is justifiable or offset by talent elsewhere on the team.

As far as Chris Archer goes, that’s a different story. He falls into Castrovince’s “tough calls” category at $9 million, or a $1.75 million buyout.

“Archer’s Pittsburgh tenure (4.92 ERA in 33 starts) has been a tremendous disappointment, made all the worse by the emergence of Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows with Tampa Bay. But $9 million is probably a worthwhile gamble for a healthy arm with a career ERA+ around league average (103).”

Actually, in Pirates terms, here is why it would be “worthwhile.” He’s already under contract. He’s here. There is no free-agent pitcher that would be cheaper and that much better. And they likely won’t have anyone better to turn to coming out of spring training.

Inspiring stuff, right?