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

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley recaps the week in Pirates prospect news, which included a second perfect game in nine days from Class High-A Greensboro ahead of the MLB trade deadline next week. He also gives updates on individuals in the minor league system including Bubba Chandler, Billy Cook, Jared Triolo, Konnor Griffin, Tony Blanco Jr, Edward Florentino and more. Hosted by Simplec...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes colleague Ray Fittipaldo for a position-by-position preview of training camp, which begins Wednesday at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. -How will things shape up at QB behind Aaron Rodgers, with Will Howard challenging Mason Rudolph for the backup role? -Is Jaylen Warren prepared to assume starte...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles reports the latest of what he's hearing about the Pirates' dealings ahead of the MLB trade deadline next week. Are the rumors that Ben Cherington will be fired as GM soon actually bunk? And what power will he have to make a major deal before the deadline in the eyes of owner Bob Nutting? Are the New York Yankees making a play for Mitch Keller? Perhaps more s...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to react to the revelation of the team's new throwback uniforms, inspired by its original look from 1933. Is it too loud like the infamous "bumblebee" uniforms of the last decade? Will we miss the block numbers from the 1...

Pirates insider Noah Hiles dives into the team being swept for the eighth time this season, this time at the hands of the bottom-dwelling Chicago White Sox at home. The loss drops Pittsburgh as a franchise to below .500 all-time for the first time since 1903 and marks the team's 11th loss in 12 games. Amid their ugliest stretch of the season, the Pirates also now look to have an issue with the sta...

In his weekly Pirates mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: When will MLB award Pittsburgh another MLB All-Star game to possibly showcase stars like Oneil Cruz and Paul Skenes in their home stadium? What's the latest Noah's hearing on the trade front, with particular regard to Mitch Keller? Could the Chicago Cubs be looking to acquire Ke'Bryan Hayes...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to draft 2025 breakout candidates ahead of training camp next week at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. Is Payton Wilson the most obvious pick, given the prominent role he's expected to have? Can names like Zach Frazier, Mason McCo...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the Steelers’ new 4-year contract with linebacker T.J. Watt, which averages significantly less than the reported $40 million per year he was seeking. Did GM Omar Khan make a good deal, solidifying his team’s future after acquisitions of big name veterans this offseason, including DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith? Or did he h...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to the hot topics in Pittsburgh sports this week. Should Steelers GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin make an exception to their rule of not negotiating contracts with players during training camp and into the season when it comes to T.J. Watt? Or should they stick to their guns as he reportedly seeks a contract that would...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to ponder which returning players are under the most pressure when training camp begins next week at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. They start with the offense. Is Broderick Jones under real pressure right now? Or does the la...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. He gives his thoughts on a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter that the number of years in his next contract has become the sticking point in contract negotiations with T.J. Watt. Should GM Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin give into the demands of a player who will turn 31 this season? Or hold fi...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes receiver Calvin Austin III to tackle a range of hot topics ahead of training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe next week. Calvin shares his message for kids in his native Memphis, Tenn., ahead of his youth camp coming up this weekend; explains why he likes the getaway nature of coach Mike To...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to discuss what's at stake for the team's rookies during training camp, which begins next week at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. What does first-round NFL draft pick Derrick Harmon need to do to solidify his status as a presumed...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles provides his analysis on Day 1 of the Pirates 2025 draft activity, which included four picks in the first three rounds. The draft started with a bang, as the top right-handed pitching prospect, 19-year-old Seth Hernandez, slide to the Pirates at No. 6. That pick was followed by another young arm, then with a pair of experienced collegiate bats. Hiles gives t...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news and analyzes the Steelers' upcoming 2025 NFL regular season schedule. How good of a start does Pittsburgh need to have to secure a home playoff game with early-season contests against the Jets, Seahawks, Patriots, Vikings and Browns? What record does Mike Tomlin and company need to maintain in the AFC North agains...

In his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: How many full seasons does Paul Skenes actually have remaining in Pittsburgh? What are the team's best and worst-case scenarios for this weekend's MLB draft? How much does a draft prospect's agency affect their willingness to draft a player? Is it true that Ben Cherington didn’t do much in...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news and breaks down why he believes the Pittsburgh Steelers and T.J. Watt are currently playing a game of high-stakes chicken with his deal. Will Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan listen to trade offers from division rivals like the Baltimore Ravens over the next two months, or will they eventually make Watt the highest-paid...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news and analyzes whether the Steelers are legit postseason contenders ahead of the 2025 NFL regular season. Paul breaks down why he believes this is the best Steelers team on both sides of the ball since Pittsburgh had Ben Roethlisberger in 2017. Do the additions of Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith, among o...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news and breaks down a number of recent Steelers trending topics, including fallout from the Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith and Minkah Fitzpatrick trade. He also breaks down the misconception behind Art Rooney's franchise ownership as the Steelers turn 92 today, after he founded the team in 1933. Did the Steelers fleece the...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles discusses the last week in the Pirates minor leagues, leading with the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers twirling a combined perfect game on the Fourth of July. Noah starts by discussing that impressive feat by farmhand pitchers Khristian Curtis, Jake Shirk and Michael Walsh, then breaks down updates from some of GM Ben Cherington's top prospects. Noah gives up...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley unpacks Pittsburgh's series sweep in Seattle, as the team was shut out in three consecutive games and had one extra base hit all series. Beazley makes the case that this is the worst offensive series in Pirates history, noting that this was the first time since 1888 that the club had been shut out for an entire series. Beazley then focuses on the pitching...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news and breaks down a number of recent Steelers trending topics, including Terry Bradshaw's controversial comments about Chuck Noll. Is prime Aaron Rodgers better than prime Patrick Mahomes? Paul reacts to Big Ben's recent comments and discusses why the Steelers' former Super Bowl-winning QB would come out and say tha...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley discusses five potential partners that could make sense for the Pirates at the 2025 trade deadline, as the Pirates are expected to sell at the deadline. The Pirates will be listening to calls on everyone other than Paul Skenes, so Mitch Keller, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andrew Heaney, Adam Frazier and more could be on the move. Beazley thinks tr...

On a special Thursday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko joins host Adam Bittner to analyze the team's receiving options following the acquisition of Jonnu Smith. Will OC Arthur Smith use the tight end more as a WR2 behind DK Metcalf? Given that Smith put up big receiving options last year with the Miami D...

In his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: When can fans expect to see top prospect Konnor Griffin crack the major league roster? Is GM Ben Cherington focused on adding hitting at the trade deadline, and what could a star pitcher like Mitch Keller net them in return? Is it safe to assume Cherington will be back next year considering...