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

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles and sports columnist Jason Mackey react to the breaking news that manager Derek Shelton was fired Thursday. Why was Shelton relieved of his duties now, and what led up to it? What does this mean for the team going forward under Don Kelly, who was named manager in Shelton's stead? Is Kelly the long-term choice in the dugout? Is general manager Ben Cherington...

On his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: Will owner Bob Nutting consider selling the team after its slow start to 2025 and amid relentless scrutiny from fans? Are Billy Cook and Nick Yorke MLB caliber players? Or just more bad trade returns for GM Ben Cherington? Will 2024 first-round MLB draft pick Konnor Griffin be promoted more...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to a busy week of Pittsburgh sports news. Are GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin signaling an intention to punt on the 2025 season after trading George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys? And allowing names like Najee Harris, Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to leave via NFL free agency in exchange for compensatory picks for th...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley break down the Pirates' series sweep, their second in a row, at the hands of the St. Louis Cardinals, which concluded Wednesday afternoon with a 5-0 loss, their seventh in a row. The conversation starts with a rundown of the last six years of the Ben Cherington and Derek Shelton era, with some surprise that a season with moderately expecta...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern, primarily the Steelers' decision to trade George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a third-round pick in next year's NFL draft. How does this move fit into a confusing offseason so far, one that's included big additions in DK Metcalf, Kenneth Gainwell and Darius Slay Jr; big...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo react to the team's decision to trade WR George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys. Why would GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin make this move now? After the NFL draft? If they thought they might trade Pickens, why didn't they draft...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. He welcomes Washington Wild Things general manager Tony Buselli to analyze the Pirates' most recent losing funk, which included a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night. Is this team fixable around stars like Paul Skenes, Oneil Cruz and Andrew McCutchen? Does manager Derek Shel...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Akron Beacon Journal Browns insider Chris Easterling to discuss the AFC North rival's chaotic offseason that has former Steelers at the center of it. What is going on with Kenny Pickett and the crowded QB room? Where does he fit in with names including Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Is former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger underrated compared to names like Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and others as former Baltimore Ravens rival Terrell Suggs suggested on a podcast recently? Or does he get his just due around the league? Paul offers thoughts on...

Pirates insider Noah Hiles previews the upcoming series with the St. Louis Cardinals, a team Pittsburgh has actually had some success against this season. Can the Pirates take advantage of what has been bad pitching from the Cardinals? Will Carmen Mlodzinski be making his final start for a while? And what is this series' bold prediction? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.co...

On the Monday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo analyze the offensive line after GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin chose not to add to it via the NFL draft. Is that a sign of confidence in young players including Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu, Mason McCormick and Zach Frazier?...

On his weekly Saturday Conversations podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes SportsNet Pittsburgh analyst and former Pirates pitcher Steven Brault to discuss the team's slow start. What it an MLB clubhouse like when a team gets off on the wrong foot? Where do the Pirates most need to improve under manager Derek Shelton? And what can they learn from the evolution of Oneil Cruz...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Should Steelers general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin consider Titans quarterback Will Levis as a potential alternative should their NFL free agency pursuit of Aaron Rodgers fall through now that Levis appears poised to be displaced by No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Cam Ward in...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles previews the team's three-game series against the San Diego Padres this weekend at PNC Park. Can starters Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter and Andrew Heaney persevere in traditionally tough matchups against this dangerous lineup? Or will names like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Luis Arraez get the best of them? Can Andrew McCutchen and Oneil Cruz stay hot...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko analyze the team's 2025 NFL draft class that was finalized last week. What is the talent ceiling for sixth-round pick Will Howard as a QB? Will he be a career backup type like a Landry Jones or Mason Rudolph? Or can he make a push to...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Do the Steelers have enough depth at receiver now that Robert Woods has joined Calvin Austin III and Roman Wilson behind DK Metcalf and George Pickens? Or will those three still have to prove themselves as reliable pieces for coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith? And...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to a busy week in Pittsburgh sports news. How much pressure is on Steelers coach Mike Tomlin following the firing of the Penguins' Mike Sullivan? Will he face expectations to win in 2025, after GM Omar Khan decided to keep names like George Pickens and T.J. Watt rather than trade them for future draft capital? And amid the...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. How much better did general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin make the team's roster this offseason now that the NFL draft is complete? Are the Steelers better positioned to compete following the trade for DK Metcalf; the signings of names like Kenneth Gainwell and Darius Slay Jr....

On his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: When will prospect Bubba Chandler be promoted to bolster the rotation behind names like Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller? Did Ben Cherington make a mistake in not extending Oneil Cruz this offseason, given his hot start at the plate? Who's the front runner to be the Pirates' All-Star through Ap...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo analyze the offense's backfield following the NFL draft. Is third-round pick Kaleb Johnson a better fit at running back than Najee Harris was? How do their styles compare and contrast? And how will he pair with new teammates Ken...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles previews the team's three-game series against the Chicago Cubs that begins Tuesday night at PNC Park. Can Paul Skenes, Andrew Heaney and Carmen Mlodzinski slow down the red-hot Cubs lineup led by Kyle Tucker? Can Andrew McCutchen and Oneil Cruz stay hot to lead a Pirates lineup that's shown progress over the past week? And what other surprises might the Cubs...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes KDKA-TV sports reporter Cassidy Woods to react to the Steelers moves -- and lack thereof -- during and after NFL draft weekend. Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin make the right decision in keeping George Pickens rather than trading him for draft capital with his rookie deal expiring after 2025...

Post-Gazette Sports columnist Jason Mackey and Penguins insider Matt Vensel react to news that the team and coach Mike Sullivan have mutually agreed to part ways. How mutual was the decision in reality? Was Sullivan ready to move on? Or was GM Kyle Dubas the prevailing force in the decision? Who could the team be looking at to replace Sullivan? What does the coaching change mean for the veteran tr...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles reacts live to the club's West Coast road trip and looks ahead to a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs to close out a frustrating April. How hot can Andrew McCutchen stay now now that Bryan Reynolds is fully healthy to play defense, making more room for McCutchen in the lineup? Can Bailey Falter turn his early-season inconsistency around with prospects lik...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo react to the team's selections in the NFL draft over the weekend. Did GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin do enough to address the ailing run defense with selections including Derrick Harmon, Jack Sawyer and Yahya Black? And how wil...