Post-Gazette Sports Network: Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates, Penguins and more

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Jason Mackey and Colin Beazley analyze reports that the club discussed a trade with the New York Mets involving key pitching assets Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chander. How seriously should fans take the reported talks? Would dealing these young arms be a smart move for GM Ben Cherington, given his pitching depth surrounding names like Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller? Or...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable break down the latest news surrounding the Panthers football and men's basketball teams from AD Allen Greene. This show is presented by FanDuel. What should we make of the news that Pitt football is lowering its capacity at Acrisure Stadium? Is this a good move for the athletic department? Is Jeff Capel's job secure or is he on the hot...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison breaks down the latest news surrounding the team following its 6-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at PPG Paints Arena. This show is presented by FanDuel. What have Connor Dewar and the fourth line meant to this team after he scored two more goals against the Blackhawks? How has offseason pickup Anthony Mantha been able to impact the tea...

On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko analyze the composition of new coach Mike McCarthy's staff so far. Is McCarthy leaning too hard into prior relationships with assistants like James Campen, Scott McCurley, Ramon Chinyoung and others? Or holdovers from Mike...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes PG colleague Noah Hiles to assess the team's options now that new coach Mike McCarthy is in place. This show is presented by FanDuel. Should Aaron Rodgers' previous success with McCarthy -- including a Super Bowl win -- weigh in the calculus with him set to turn 43 next season? Is it time for Will Ho...

Post-Gazette Pitt insider Stephen Thompson breaks down the Panthers' 80-76 OT win over Wake Forest on Tuesday night. This show is presented by FanDuel. How were the Panthers able to outlast the Demon Deacons? What did Roman Siulepa show with his continued dominance on the boards? How was Pitt able to cover up a bad shooting night with an ability to force and score off of turnovers? Can Omari Withe...

On the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to analyze the next moves in front of new coach Mike McCarthy now that he's been introduced. Can anyone from outside the Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher coaching tree really coach the defense the same way after McCarthy'...

With two weeks remaining in the regular season, there remain two schools — Sewickley Academy in Class 2A and Class 6A New Castle — with unblemished records. Our Post-Gazette WPIAL insiders, high school sports editor Keith Barnes and the incomparable Mike White, delve into their belief if one, both — or neither — can finish the regular season undefeated. Also in this week's episode, the two chat ab...

Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Gerry Dulac and Ray Fittipaldo react to the introduction of Mike McCarthy as Steelers coach, replacing Mike Tomlin. They explain how McCarthy showed his love for his hometown; his belief in the existing defensive scheme that dates to Bill Cowher and has produced standouts from Levon Kirkland to T.J. Watt; his kind words for QBs Will Howard and Aaron Rodgers; his plan...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison breaks down the latest news and notes around the team. This show is presented by FanDuel. Should the team be expecting a suspension for Bryan Rust after his high hit on Brock Boeser at the end of the Penguins' 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks? How would the team potentially handle his absence? Is Evgeni Malkin OK after doubling over in pain after being...

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Noah Hiles welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze the impact Mike McCarthy's hiring to replace Mike Tomlin as coach could have on the offense. Could he get more from players including DK Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth, Roman Wilson, Darnell Washington, Jaylen Warren and others under contract for...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable check in on the development of some of the Panthers' young players. This show is presented by FanDuel. Is Roman Siulepa finally starting to round into form and showcase some of the major potential we heard about before the season? What's the next step for the freshman from Australia? Why haven't Macari Moore and Kieran Mullen developed...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the team's decision to hire Mike McCarthy as its replacement at head coach for Mike Tomlin. Does this move finally give the franchise a fighting chance to develop a young quarterback and functional offense? With pieces in place that in...

Host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise to react to news that the Steelers are hiring Mike McCarthy as coach to replace Mike Tomlin. This show is presented by FanDuel. Were owner Art Rooney II and GM Omar Khan right to go with the veteran coach, who won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers before a stint with the Dallas Cowboys? Should they have waited for younger ca...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison breaks down the team's recent dominance on its road trip through the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. This show is presented by FanDuel. What's working for them? How dominant was the defense against the Calgary Flames, and how potent was the offense against the Edmonton Oilers? What does this mean for the rest of the team's season? King also breaks d...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable take stock of the Panthers' rough basketball season. This show is presented by FanDuel. Should Jeff Capel be worried his team will miss the ACC tournament for the first time in his tenure? Where can they steal some wins over this next tough stretch? What's their "magic number"? How can Pitt stay out of foul trouble and convert...

On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko ponder the attractiveness of the team's roster for prospective coaching candidates including Chris Shula, Nate Scheelhaase, Mike McCarthy, Anthony Weaver and others. Could the presence of aging stars like Cam Heyward, T.J....

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes long-time Pittsburgh radio personality Jim Colony to reflect on the 2007 coaching search that led to Mike Tomlin and what it could mean as owner Art Rooney II and GM Omar Khan search for his replacement. Our duo ponders lessons and priorities from that period in team history that may apply today. Wil...

Post-Gazette Pitt insider Stephen Thompson breaks down the Panthers' men's basketball team's latest loss, this time snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at Boston College. What led to this late collapse from Jeff Capel's team? How many points did Pitt leave on the table with blown layups and free throws? How can they right those wrongs? If the Panthers can't beat Boston College in a game like...

The WPIAL has a rare Power Four basketball recruit from Indiana. No, not the Hoosiers. Indiana High School! Our Post-Gazette WPIAL insiders, high school sports editor Keith Barnes and veteran scribe Mike White discuss 6-foot-8 junior swingman Aaron Webb, who has offers from several elite schools, including Louisville and Pitt. Also in this episode, our duo talks about the legacy of Woodland Hills'...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel and Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Christopher Carter to ponder the ways QBs factor into the search to replace Mike Tomlin as coach. Could owner Art Rooney II and GM Omar Khan prioritize Aaron Rodgers returning with a name like Mike McCarthy? Or is Rodgers too ol...

Post-Gazette Penguins insider King Jemison checks in from the Penguins' Western Canada road trip to break down the latest happenings around the team. Where did the Penguins find the depth scoring that allowed them to win comfortably in Seattle against the Kraken? Can they rely on names like Parker Wotherspoon, Connor Clifton and Brett Kulak to give them offensive production amid blue-line injuries...

On the Tuesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by FanDuel, host Noah Hiles welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo for the latest updates on the coaching search to replace Mike Tomlin. What should we make of Jeff Hafley choosing the Dolphins after interviewing with the Steelers last week? Will owner Art Rooney II and GM Omar Khan wait for candidates Chris Shula an...

Live around 5 p.m., Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise weighs in on the high degree of coaching turnover this season following the departure of Mike Tomlin, Sean McDermott, John Harbaugh, Kevin Stefanski, Pete Carroll, Brian Daboll, Mike McDaniel and others. Have expectations from fans, owners, and GMs like Omar Khan gotten out of control? Will teams like the Steelers, Bills, Ravens, Browns,...

Post-Gazette Pitt insiders Stephen Thompson and Abby Schnable react to the latest transfer portal news surrounding Pat Narduzzi's program. This show is presented by FanDuel. Pitt found a backup quarterback in Holden Geriner from Texas State and a backup kicker in Antonio Chadha from Western Illinois. What will each player bring to their respective position group? With much of the transfer portal c...