North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

Alex Stumpf revisits the Pirates’ biggest offseason swing: the Brandon Lowe trade. After Lowe homered against Mike Burrows and the Astros, it feels like the perfect time to look back at why this move mattered so much for Pittsburgh. The Pirates needed left-handed power, real lineup impact, and a win-now message to the clubhouse. Lowe has delivered all of that, while also helping make Pittsburgh a...

The Pittsburgh Pirates stayed hot with another big offensive night, beating the Houston Astros and moving five games over .500. Neil and Doug break down the Pirates’ fourth straight win, Oneil Cruz’s huge three-run homer, Endy Rodriguez continuing to force his way into the lineup, Jake Mangum’s four-hit night, Brandon Lowe’s power, and an offense that keeps finding different ways to produce. They...

Konnor Griffin was arguably the Pirates’ most valuable position player in May, tying for the team lead with 30 hits, batting .306, and finishing just behind Brandon Lowe in fWAR. Now, he starts June on the injured list. Alex Stumpf breaks down Griffin’s rapid rise, the adjustments that fueled his strong May, why this injury matters more than some of the Pirates’ other setbacks, and how thin the in...

Carmen Mlodzinski’s role with the Pittsburgh Pirates suddenly feels a lot more complicated. After being moved back to the bullpen, Mlodzinski landed on the restricted list, creating a strange situation for the Pirates’ rotation, bullpen, and his future with the organization. Jim and DiNardo discuss why Carmen had every reason to be frustrated after losing his rotation spot, why the way things play...

Alex Stumpf breaks down the Carmen Mlodzinski situation after the Pirates placed him on the restricted list when he communicated he was not ready to pitch out of the bullpen. Mlodzinski has made it clear he wants to be a starting pitcher, and he pitched well enough this season to have a real case. But with Jared Jones returning, Braxton Ashcraft forcing his way into the rotation, and the Pirates b...

The Pittsburgh Pirates completed the sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a 9-3 win, and Neil and Doug jumped on the NS9 Postgame Show to break it all down. Braxton Ashcraft continued to look like one of the most important arms on this staff, Ryan O’Hearn picked up right where he left off, Nick Gonzales added a home run, and the Pirates once again showed the bounce-back ability that has defined this...

The Pittsburgh Pirates somehow found a way to beat the Minnesota Twins, 10-9, in one of the wildest games of the season. Jim and Tyler break down the Pirates jumping out to a 7-1 lead, Mitch Keller’s rough outing, the Brandon Lowe ejection, Jake Mangum’s huge day, Spencer Horwitz continuing to thrive in the leadoff spot, Nick Gonzales staying hot, and Gregory Soto locking down the four-out save. I...

Jim and Anthony Murphy break down one of the most intriguing arms in the Pittsburgh Pirates system: Antwone Kelly. After a major velocity jump, a deeper pitch mix, and a strong stretch in Triple-A, Kelly has quickly become one of the more fascinating pitching prospects in the organization. The guys discuss his development, his starter vs. bullpen outlook, why Pirates fans are getting eager to see...

Bryan Reynolds delivered the swing of the night, launching a walk-off home run to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-5 win over Derek Shelton’s Minnesota Twins. Jim and Tyler break down one of the Pirates’ most satisfying wins of the season, from Reynolds’ huge night at the plate to the bullpen keeping the game alive after Jared Jones’ first MLB start in 609 days. They also discuss Jones’ return, Kon...

Jared Jones is back with the Pittsburgh Pirates and will return to the starting rotation, ending any debate about whether he should be used out of the bullpen. Alex Stumpf breaks down why starting was always the right call for Jones, why a six-man rotation never made much sense, and why Carmen Mlodzinski ultimately became the odd man out. The move may help a struggling Pirates bullpen, especially...

Jared Jones is officially returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates rotation, but his comeback forced the team into a tough decision: Carmen Mlodzinski is headed back to the bullpen while Bubba Chandler stays in the rotation. On this episode of NS9LIVE, Jim, Tyler and DiNardo break down why the move makes sense for the Pirates, why it still feels rough for Mlodzinski, and what it says about the current...

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped another frustrating game, and it followed a script that has become way too familiar: Paul Skenes gave them a chance, the offense did just enough to keep the game alive, and the bullpen let it get away. On this NS9 Postgame Show, Neil and DiNardo break down another rough night for the Pirates relief corps, the continued struggles from the right-handed bullpen options,...

Alex Stumpf breaks down Bubba Chandler’s uneven start, the mechanical issues he may still be working through, and why his long-term outlook remains strong. With Jared Jones potentially returning soon, the Pirates may have a real rotation decision coming between Chandler, Carmen Mlodzinski, and Jone Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our coll...

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a chance to keep momentum going, but another bullpen collapse turned a winnable game into a frustrating loss. DiNardo and Neil break down why the issue goes beyond Don Kelly’s decision-making and points directly to the construction of the bullpen, especially the lack of reliable right-handed relief options. They also discuss Bubba Chandler’s continued command issues, the...

One year after making his MLB debut, Braxton Ashcraft looks like much more than a wild card for the Pittsburgh Pirates. On today’s episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down another strong Ashcraft start, how his slider-heavy approach helped him attack the zone, why his stuff continues to hold deep into outings, and what his workload could look like as the Pirates move deeper into the season. Ash...

The Pittsburgh Pirates crushed the Chicago Cubs 12-1 in one of their most complete wins of the season, and Cody and Jim broke it all down on the NS9 Postgame Show powered by Primanti Brothers. Esmerlyn Valdez made an immediate impact at PNC Park with a massive two-run homer, an outfield assist, and another reminder of why Pirates fans are already buying into the energy he brings. Braxton Ashcraft...

Alex Stumpf takes a closer look at Antwone Kelly and why the Pirates may need to keep him on the radar as an internal bullpen option in 2026. Kelly has struggled at Triple-A Indianapolis this season, but his recent outing against Detroit’s Triple-A affiliate showed the kind of swing-and-miss stuff that made him one of the more interesting arms in the system. With Jared Jones nearing a return, Wilb...

Cody and Doug breakdown the action from the Pirates 2-1 win over the Cubs on Memorial Day. Carmen Mlodzinski and Wilber Dotel shut down Chicago's offense and Gregory Soto slams the door shut in the 9th. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jared Jones could be back with the Pittsburgh Pirates this week, and that creates one of the most important pitching decisions of the season. DiNardo and Ryan discuss Ben Cherington’s latest comments, Jones throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, whether he returns directly to the rotation, who could lose a starting spot, and how his return could impact the bullpen. The guys also lightly recap the Tor...

Spencer Horwitz jumped on the first pitch Sunday and helped the Pirates avoid falling below .500… but should that swing lead to something bigger? Alex Stumpf dives into whether Horwitz has quietly become the Pirates’ best leadoff option, why his on-base profile deserves more attention, and what Oneil Cruz’s recent struggles mean for lineup construction while Ryan O’Hearn is sidelined. Could Don Ke...

The Pittsburgh Pirates salvaged the final game of their series in Toronto with a 4-1 win over the Blue Jays, powered by Mitch Keller’s strong start and three much-needed home runs from Spencer Horwitz, Oneil Cruz, and Esmerlyn Valdez. Tyler and Doug break down Keller’s role as the Pirates’ stopper, why his consistency matters so much to this rotation, and how the Pirates finally found the over-the...

Paul Skenes had one of his rougher starts as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell 5-2 to the Toronto Blue Jays, continuing a frustrating stretch where the offense once again failed to come through with runners in scoring position. Tyler and Doug break down Skenes looking human for the second straight outing, the Pirates’ ongoing issues against left-handed pitching, Don Kelly’s lineup decisions, Oneil Cruz’...

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped a frustrating 6-2 game in Toronto, and this one felt like a missed opportunity. Bubba Chandler delivered the most encouraging start of his young MLB career, striking out 11 Blue Jays over five innings while flashing the swing-and-miss stuff that makes him such an important piece of the Pirates’ future. But the defense and bullpen gave the Pirates almost no margin for...

The Pittsburgh Pirates made another aggressive prospect promotion, calling up Esmerlyn Valdez for his Major League debut after a road trip that already included Jhostynxon Garcia and Wilber Dotel getting opportunities. On this episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down why Valdez is getting the call, what his power could bring to a Pirates lineup that needs more offense, how he could fit at first...

The Pittsburgh Pirates suddenly have a much younger, & interesting roster. Tonight on NS9LIVE!, Tyler and DiNardo react to Esmerlyn Valdez getting promoted to the big leagues and what it could mean for the Pirates lineup. How much should Valdez actually play? Does this move make sense right now? And is this a real opportunity or just the Pirates trying to patch things together after the Ryan O...