U mad, bro?: Steelers fans push back against offensive line concerns; misplaced Pirates rage; poor Paxton Lynch

This week’s “U mad, bro?” sees some Steelers fans pushing back against criticism of the offensive line. Some misdirected Pirates fan rage. A sarcastic farewell to a Steelers free agent. And flat-out disdain for this column.

I had an angry email exchange with Chris, who is a Pirates loyalist to the end. He’s not happy that I continue to suggest the Pirates should select Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter atop the MLB draft later this month.

“I’d encourage you to start actually watching baseball before you decide to rile up the dumbest people on the internet with the worst (expletive deleted) take I’ve seen this week. You have no idea how the draft process works, how slot values work, etc. (Fellow Vanderbilt pitcher) Kumar (Rocker) and Leiter have NEVER been considered slam dunk prospects like (Gerrit) Cole — who you directly compare them to, like a moron.

If you get paid to write about baseball maybe (expletive deleted) watch it. Read about it. Enjoy it. This miserable victim act that the stupidest people in Pittsburgh do about the Pirates is (expletive deleted) embarrassing for all involved. And you’re clearly trying to rile them up with this (expletive deleted) ‘poor column.’

That’s the issue here, even beyond the disingenuous take.”

Yikes! Well, in that case, I take it all back.

You’re exactly right. And you’ve probably been right for — what — 25 of the last 28 years or so? Just like the team.

No, wait, it appears I have that backward.

You’ve got some anger issues, Chris. I would, too, if I bought the organization’s spoon-fed baloney for almost three decades as you have.

This guy didn’t appreciate the fine craftsmanship of last week’s “U mad, bro?” post.

Making fun of Pittsburgh sports fans really endears you to the city

— TWWITE (@TWWITE4) June 24, 2021

What would endear me more? Making my Twitter avatar a Tom Brady picture as you did?

By the way, I think I agreed with every person in this post last week. I didn’t even mock the guy who compared Adam Frazier to Bill Madlock and Dick Groat. I just disagreed. Geez, I was in a forgiving mood! Who did I make fun of, exactly?

Well, besides you on Twitter.

“Stephen B Smith” chimes in on the Adam Frazier trade concerns from Pirates fans in “U mad, bro?” last week.

What fans have anxiety about trading Frazier ?!?!?

— Stephen B. Smith (@Stephen_B_Smlth) June 24, 2021

I think I’ve reprinted a “don’t trade Frazier” opinion three weeks in a row here. Trust me, I’ve left out quite a few more. The last two weeks I’ve seen Frazier compared to Bill Madlock, Dick Groat, Bill Mazeroski, Dave Cash, Rennie Stennett and Phil Garner.

Don’t act like I’m the one making this stuff up.

I’ve never heard of it outside of this. Anyone who says they shouldn’t trade Frazier doesn’t know baseball

— Stephen B. Smith (@Stephen_B_Smlth) June 24, 2021

I’d word this a little differently and say, “Anyone who says they shouldn’t trade Frazier doesn’t know *how the Pirates function within* baseball.”

Because a team that is trying to win, or at least improve quickly, isn’t going to trade a 29-year-old infielder with a Gold Glove that is hitting .327 and is only making $4 million.

Other teams may have actually already tried to extend him.

John thinks there has been too much panic about the Steelers offensive line.

“Does anyone really understand the game of football? I know you have a job to do but I will make a bet with you that the line will not be worse and the running game will be at least in the 10-15 bracket of 32.

Every player the Steelers let go was done. Put a fork in them. When it’s over it’s time to bring in the youth and build again.”

Wanna make a bet? Here’s a bet. I’ll bet that if the Steelers run game jumps from 32nd into the top half — as you suggest — it’ll be about more than just the offensive line improving.

It’ll also be because they drafted a talented first-round running back and the new offensive coordinator kept it on the ground more often.

Look, I agree that Maurkice Pouncey, Alejandro Villanueva and David DeCastro aged out. My concerns about the Steelers offensive line aren’t about who they let go. I’m worried if the guys who remain are good enough.

I like Kevin Dotson at left guard. But they already let B.J. Finney walk once before. Chuks Okorafor is making a position change. Zach Banner has never been a full-time starter and is coming off ACL surgery. Trai Turner was banged up and ineffective last year in Los Angeles with the Chargers. And Kendrick Green is a rookie.

I think this year the Steelers are going to have to help the line more than the line helps the skill position guys.

Finally, James takes a little jab at former Steelers quarterback Paxton Lynch, who signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

“Maybe the Steelers can get a compensatory pail of maple syrup for the free-agent loss?”

James, if so, that’ll still benefit the Steelers more than anything Lynch ever did.