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

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley discuss the Pirates' perfect homestand, as they swept the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals behind outstanding starting pitching and a reliable bullpen. Colin and Noah start with the starters, talking about Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney and Paul Skenes against St. Louis, then they debate whether the success has an impact on 2025 or if it...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko ponder the coaching job in front of Mike Tomlin amid the acquisition of big personalities including Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Rodgers, Jonnu Smith, DK Metcalf and Darius Slay Jr. this offseason. How will Ramsey fit into the secondary sch...

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 whether Steelers GM Omar Khan has made his team too old with moves for veterans including DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers, Darius Slay Jr., Jalen Ramsey and Jonnu Smith. Can this team really compete with the NFL's best by making a roster that already including Cam Hey...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley reacts to Bryan Reynolds' recent hot streak, which has coincided with explosive offensive efforts for the whole lineup over the past week. Can Reynolds sustain this production to emerge from his season-long slump? Or is this a short-live hot streak? And to what degree can this offense score runs as long as he's hitting, showing an example for guys like On...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes long-time Miami-area radio host and podcaster Orlando Alzugaray to react to the blockbuster deal between Pittsburgh and the Miami Dolphins, in which they exchanged CB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith and S Minkah Fitzpatrick. Was the deal mutually beneficial? Or just Miami's way of unloading its proble...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Are the Steelers actually any better after making their blockbuster trade with the Miami Dolphins for former All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith while sending former All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick? Or is the team's talent level close to the same around new stars including QB A...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley discusses the last week in the Pirates minor leagues, highlighted by Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez's inclusion in the All-Star Futures Game. Colin starts by talking about Valdez and his meteoric rise through the prospect rankings this season, dominating at High-A Greensboro, then discusses Konnor Griffin and his similar success since being drafted No...

On a special LIVE Monday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko react to news that GM Omar Khan has made a series of blockbuster trade, bringing former All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey and TE Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh while sending former All-Pro S Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Miami Dolphins. Is th...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley previews the club's weekend series against the New York Mets with a focus on Mitch Keller, who has one of the worst records in baseball despite a solid 4.02 ERA. How much is his 1-10 record is his fault? How much blame does the offense deserve amid the struggles of names like Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Ke'Bryan Hayes? And what should we make of MLB tr...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Christopher Carter welcomes podcaster Dave Dameshek to get his assessment of the team ahead of training camp next month at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. They begin by pondering which young players could be x-factors in 2025, with a specific focus on the 2023 NFL dra...

In his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: Has manager Don Kelly handled outfielder Oneil Cruz's recent lapses correctly by benching him? Is there any reason owner Bob Nutting is holding onto GM Ben Cherington as the season slips further and further away? Will pitcher Andrew Heaney be dealt at the MLB trade deadline, opening up a sp...

The Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Jason Mackey size up the NFL free agent wide receiver market now that Aaron Rodgers is officially in the fold for the Steelers as QB. Should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin be targeting Amari Cooper as one of the biggest names remaining? Allen Lazard as one of Rodgers' personal favorites? Or could they still convince Keenan Allen to come to Pittsburgh to play...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley discuss the Pirates' three-game series against the Brewers. In the finale, ace pitcher Paul Skenes was pulled after four innings and 78 pitches. Noah and Colin theorize about why this decision was made, noting the health of the bullpen, Mike Burrows' availability and the scheduling quirk of the looming off day and a recent doubleheader in...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, the Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter and Adam Bittner react to Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers announcing his intent to retire after 2025. Is he serious? Or is there still room for him to return if things go well? And would GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin even want him back as they look toward a lo...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise explains why he feels the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates can all learn valuable lessons from the Oklahoma City Thunder's run to an NBA championship this season. For the Steelers, he looks at the Thunder's willingness to deal star Paul George in exchange for current stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and wonders if GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin should b...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Iowa Hawkeyes football coach and Upper St. Clair native Kirk Ferentz to get some scouting reports on his former players who will wear a different black-and-gold uniform in 2025. What can Kaleb Johnson contribute to the backfield as a third-round pick in the NFL draft? Especially amid competition for...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley discusses the last week of Pirates minor league baseball, starting with a look at top prospect Bubba Chandler's struggles in the month of June at Triple-A Indianapolis. Beazley highlights the success of the Pirates' High-A team in Greensboro, led by Konnor Griffin and Esmerlyn Valdez, then gives his starting nine to watch in the system. Beazley gives upda...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley discusses Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham, who went 3 for 3 with two doubles on Sunday and spoke postgame about visual issues he's been experiencing this year. Beazley describes what Pham is experiencing it, how he has managed it throughout his 10 year major league career, and what changed this year. Beazley also discusses what it means for Pham and the Pir...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder and Associates, the Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter and Adam Bittner react to rumors tying the Steelers to Miami Dolphins CB Jalen Ramsey. Should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin move aggressively to make a move to add a former All-Pro alongside names like Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay Jr. and Cory Trice Jr.? Or i...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, hosts Christopher Carter and Brian Batko evaluate the performance of rookies during OTAs and minicamps. Was Derrick Harmon the clear winner after claiming a starting spot early? Something names like Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr. have not been able to do early on? Why was RB Kaleb Johnson also...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to reporting from Steelers insider Gerry Dulac that the Aaron Rodgers signing and George Pickens trade this offseason were unrelated events as far as coach Mike Tomlin, GM Omar Khan and the front office were concerned. Was it wise to think of the moves separately? Or would it have been interesting to see Pickens work with a veteran like Rodgers acros...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to ponder some Steelers over/unders for the 2025 season. Will Aaron Rodgets surpass 3,200 yards and 22 touchdowns? Will either Jaylen Warren or Kaleb Johnson threaten the 1,000-yard mark? Can DK Metcalf get over the 1,000-yard threshold that's been a problem for Steelers receivers including George Pickens in recent years? And how m...

On his weekly mailbag video, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions, including: Why is Tommy Pham still on the Pirates roster? Is it reasonable to expect GM Ben Cherington to make some "baseball trades" with teams that have a surplus of bats in exchange for one of the Pirates' many pitching prospects? With Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle reportedly interested in bu...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to ESPN's NFL quarter-century team released this week, which included only two Steelers on the 53-man roster. Why were Alan Faneca and Troy Polamalu the only names to make the cut? Did T.J. Watt deserve a spot over the Browns' Myles Garrett? And were names including Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Chris Boswell, Cam He...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder and Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko evaluate the team's secondary following the DeShon Elliott contract extension agreed to earlier this week. How does Elliott solidify the secondary in the long-term next to Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety? What does Joey Porter have to p...