Conversations with Colony Podcast
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93.7 The Fan's Jim Colony shares his one-on-one interviews with athletes and sports newsmakers in Pittsburgh.
Catching Up With Trevor Williams
Pirates Trevor Williams is waiting out MLB's coronavirus shutdown in his native San Diego with his wife,Jackie, and their young family - a 4-year old, an infant and a newborn. So, even though Williams would rather be pitching, it hasn't been the worst thing in the world to have a full-time dad around to help out. It's also a nice coincidence that Williams and new pitching coach Oscar Marin are neighbors so they have been able to get some work in together. Williams says he's in reasonably good th
May 3, 2020 • 10:46
Taillon Out But Not Down
Jameson Taillon has never lived up to the billing of second overall draft pick - after Bryce Harper and before Manny Machado- but it's really through no fault of his own. Here is what's he has endured - Tommy John surgery in 2014, sports hernia in 2015, testicular cancer in 2017, and after finally having an injury-free 2018 in which he was one of the best in MLB the second half of the season, he suffered a forearm injury in 2019. Further examination showed he needed a second Tommy John, so he wo
Mar 12, 2020 • 5:19
Derek Shelton at the Midway Point
With the second off day coming up Wednesday, the Pirates are at the unofficial halfway points of the Grapefruit League schedule and Thursday will mark 2 weeks until Opening Day in St. Petersburg. So I figured this was a good time get a progress report from Derek Shelton. Among the topics: how he's adjusting to being a manager, getting as much input from as many people as he can -his coaches, opposing managers, the analytics people, and his players (which is something a little different for them
Mar 10, 2020 • 12:07
Intriguing Cederlind Closer To Pittsburgh
With his flowing blond locks on an athletic 6-4 frame, 24-year Blake Cederlind certainly looks the part and when he hits triple digits on the radar gun (which he did several times in Grapefruit League games) that only hammers the point home. After starting out last season in Bradenton, Cederlind quickly moved up to Altoona and got a late-season look in AAA. Even though he did not allow a hit in 5 appearances and struck out 9 in 4-and-a-two-thirds innings, Cederlind was among the first round of c
Mar 9, 2020 • 5:04
Crick Healthy and More Confident in 2020
After emerging as a late-inning set-up man in 2018, Kyle Crick regressed in 2019. Not only did his performance suffer after a 3-game MLB suspension following an incident with a coach, Crick then suffered a hand injury when he punched Felipe Vasquez in a clubhouse fight September 9th, thus ending a forgettable season. After off-season rehab, a wiser and more confident Crick is back and pitching well so far, looking to (re)claim the 8th inning role. A lot of good stuff here. See omnystudio.com/
Mar 7, 2020 • 5:53
Joel Hanrahan Still In The Game
In Joel Hanrahan's 3-and-a-half seasons with the Pirates he never really struck me as a future coach. After not doing much in Washington, the hard-throwing Hanrahan had his two best seasons with the Pirates, posting 40 saves in 2011 and 36 in 2012 before being traded to the Red Sox and shortly thereafter arm trouble ended his career. I always kind of figured Hanrahan would go back to his native Iowa and, as the great Chuck Noll would say, get on with his life's work. But it turns out his life's
Mar 6, 2020 • 7:26
Neil Walker "Playing With House Money"
Neil Walker's Pittsburgh Kid nickname no longer com play LFpletely fits. At 34, he is far from a "kid" and, while he won't be selling his north hills home anytime soon, Walker is now longer "Pittsburgh" during the baseball season; in fact, he is now on his 6th team since 2016 - Mets, Yankees, Brewers, Marlins and now he's trying to latch on with the Phillies. He has company - Andrew McCutchen, Josh Harrison and Francisco Liriano are other members of the Pirates' 98-win 2015 team. Walker is in c
Mar 5, 2020 • 8:28
Stallings Stepping Up
Jake Stallings began a slow, but steady, climb through the Pirates system after he was picked in the 7th round of the 2012 draft out of the University of North Carolina. He spent small parts of the 2016-18 seasons in Pittsburgh before his battlefield promotions became permanent due to injuries. And now, with Francisco Cerveli and Elias Diaz gone altogether, Stallings would appear to be the de facto #1 catcher although signee Luke Maile and invitees JR Murphy and Andrew Susac all have some major
Feb 28, 2020 • 8:37
Donnie Kelly - Another Pittsburgh Kid - Returns Home
Don Kelly is establishing himself as a baseball lifer. The Mount Lebanon native was drafted by the Tigers after an All-America career at Point Park but actually broke into the majors with the Pirates in 2007. Kelly went back to Detroit and spent 6 seasons there before joining the Marlins for 2 more years before retiring. Playing 5 years for Jim Leyland probably rubbed off on Kelly who was identified as a potential big league manager and, after going back to the Tigers as a pro scout, Kelly was
Feb 27, 2020 • 10:34
Marucci A Man For All Sports And Sports Science
The unassuming Jack Marucci has gone from Uniontown through West Virginia University to become a major player in both college and pro sports. Not only is he in his 24th year as Director of Athletic Training at LSU but, along the way, he founded the Marucci Bat Company which is used by more major leaguers, including Pirates slugger Josh Bell, than any other bat. I caught up with Jack making his annual Grapefruit League tour and had a wide-ranging conversation about LSU football, advances in trai
Feb 26, 2020 • 12:00
Tucker Fighting For A Spot
After a nice spring and a solid start at AAA Indianapolis, former first round pick Cole Tucker made quite a splash with the Pirates by hitting a home run in his first major league at bat (off now teammate, Derek Holland). But Tucker cooled off after that, hitting .152 in May, and found himself back in the minors. After slight improvement in September, Tucker is now fighting for a spot this spring and has seen game action each of the first 3 days of Grapefruit League games. We talked about faci
Feb 25, 2020 • 4:09
Hockey Talk With Branden Tanev and Jared McCann
Branden Tanev came over in the off-season while Jared McCann was traded to the Penguins a little over a year ago so they can identify with Jason Zucker who is now trying to fit in as quickly as possible. I caught with them this week talking about Zucker and also their roles with the Penguins. First Tanev, who went up against Zucker quite a bit during his 4 years with Winnpeg: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Feb 14, 2020 • 5:51
Jason Martin with Colony 3-12.mp3
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Mar 12, 2019 • 2:21
Adam Frazier with Colony 3-5.mp3
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Mar 5, 2019 • 2:24
Adam Frazier with Colony 3-5.mp3
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Mar 5, 2019 • 2:24
Craig Getting Closer
First baseman Will Craig has certainly lived up to his status as the Pirates 1st round draft pick out of Wake Forest in 2016. After a couple of so-so minor league seasons Craig's power numbers exploded at AA in Altoona - 20 HRs and 102 RBI - which gets him into Major League camp still knowing he's going to start in AAA. He was in line for the game-winning hit Sunday but his fellow top prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes had to win it with a Grand Slam instead which was fine by him. See omnystudio.com/lis
Feb 26, 2019 • 4:52
Chisenhall Makes Good First Impression
Outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall couldn't have made a much better first impression. Okay, he could have tripled or homered on the first pitch he saw in a Pirates uniform but he had to settle for a double. Then he scored on the very next pitch when former Indians teammate Erik Gonzalez singled to the opposite field for the first run of what turned into a wild 10-6 walk-off win over the Marlins on a walk-off grand slam by Ke'Bryan Hayes. He's not only adjusting to a new team but also a new spring trai
Feb 26, 2019 • 4:45
Steven Brault shorter 2-24.mp3
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Feb 25, 2019 • 1:43
Steelers Defensive Coordinator Shares Your Concerns
You think you're worried about the tackling of the Steelers defense (or more accurately lack of tackling)? Try being Steelers Defensive Coordinator Keith Butler - and his job depends on it. Butler bugged by more missed tackles as the defense gave up 37 of the 51 points in Green Bay although he hasn't had his actual starters on the field yet. Just one more concern as I caught up to him in-between practices before the pre-season game against Tennessee. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri
Aug 23, 2018 • 5:32
Can Henderson Run His Way Onto The Steelers?
Former Pitt star Quadree Henderson developed into an All-America return man with the Panthers but can he earn a spot with the Steelers? Mike Tomlin told us on The Fan Morning Show that Henderson can "run his way " onto the roster so how can he do that? I caught up with Henderson to find out - and also discovered he does a fair imitation of Special Teams coach Danny Smith! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 16, 2018 • 2:41
Tom Bradley - Still Teaching and Still Learning
New Steelers secondary coach Tom Bradley is certainly not new to coaching - with over 35 seasons in the collegiate ranks (most at Penn State) - but Bradley is new to the NFL. So while Bradley's job is still teaching techniques, as an NFL rookie, he is also learning from his players and open to their ideas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 9, 2018 • 5:57
Spiders, Snakes and Big Trucks
Here's a Fun Fact - the biggest truck in the Styeelers lot does not belong to lineman but to a running back! Stevan Ridley owns it - and with good reason - as I discovered the other day at training camp. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 2, 2018 • 1:56
The Engaging Mike Hilton
What's more nerve-racking - covering Rob Gronkowski or making a marriage proposal? Only a guy like Steelers slot corner Mike Hilton can answer that question! I caught up with Hilton during the first week of training camp as he prepares to improve on his breakout 2017 season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 31, 2018 • 3:45
Quadree Henderson hoping to move next door
After a record-setting career as a Pitt returner, Quadree Henderson is hoping to move on by actually staying put - at the Rooney UPMC Practice Facility, but through the other door. After going undrafted, Henderson ended ujp with some choices and chose to sign with the Steelers who are always in the market for a returner who is not one of their regular WRs or RBs. I chatted with Henderson about that, about rounding his game - and about Mason Rudolph and James Washington. See omnystudio.com/lis
May 11, 2018 • 2:58
Ruhwedel ready for Game 3 ... but who else will be?
Penguins defenseman Chad Ruhwedel knows that he'll be in the line-up for Game 3 against the Capitals at PPG Paints Arena but with Brian Dumoulin a game time decision his partner could be Jamie Oleksiak or perhaps Matt Hunwick. That and more as I caught up with him after the morning skate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 1, 2018 • 2:29
Olli Maatta and Penguins not taking long to regroup
Defenseman Olli Maata and the Penguins have already put Game 2 behind them. Maata says "learning to lose" is a big reason for their post-season success. Happy to be back home and happier that Brian Dumoulin was on the ice despite taking that headshot Sunday afternoon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 30, 2018 • 1:51
How 'Bout Them Cowboys? (Oklahoma State Cowboys, that is)
Friday was a pretty good night for Jordy Mercer. First, Mercer helped the Pirates rally from a 5-0 deficit with a game-tying 2-run double in bottom of the 9th of what turned into a 6-5 11-inning win over the Cardinals. Then his night got really good when he found out the Steelers had drafted 2 of his fellow Oklahome State alumni - WR James Washington and QB Mason Rudolph. Mercer was beaming with Cowby pride when I caught up to him in the Pirates clubhouse! See omnystudio.com/listener for p
Apr 30, 2018 • 2:33
Oleksiak Anxious for another Taste of the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia Rivalry
This post-season marks Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak's first foray into the NHL playoffs and he admits his first post-season game in Philadelphia was an eye-opening experience. Oleksiak says it took him about 10 minutes to realize that adrenelin alone was dangerous in that atmosphere and he was finally able to settle into his game. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 18, 2018 • 2:33
Hagelin Ready for Game 4
Before HBK became all the rage 2 years ago when Nick Bonino replaced an injured Evgeni Malkin before, then during, the Stanley Cup run of 2016, it was actually the HMK line that was rolling - Carl Hagelin, Malkin and Phil Kessel. Kessel rejoined Malkin and Hagelin for Game 3 in Philadelphia and Hagelin thinks they're ready to do good things in Game 4 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 18, 2018 • 1:52
Brassard Not Any Different Than Most of You
Penguins Center Derick Brassard is currently rehabbing a lower body injury, hoping to return for the playoffs, where he has been known to take his game to a higher level. Other than that, Brassard is probably a lot like you since he has a fan of just about every other sport. Enjoy! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Apr 5, 2018 • 4:28
Riley Sheahan Becoming a Pittsburgher
Penguins center Riley Sheahan is about a month into his Penguins tenure and finally starting to learn his way around town. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 22, 2017 • 3:21
Ryan Reaves a Natural Fit
It did not take long for winger Ryan Reaves to make himself at home with the Penguins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 22, 2017 • 2:05