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

In his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: What's preventing outfielder Oneil Cruz from becoming an elite MLB player? What role do analytics play in manager Derek Shelton's constantly shifting lineups? Which prospects beyond Bubba Chandler are worthy of promotions? Will Chandler bump Carmen Mlodzinski from the lineup whenever he rea...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Ray Fittipaldo recap their final seven-round mocks ahead of the NFL draft next week. Why did both choose Oregon DL Derrick Harmon over other DL options like Walter Nolen and Kenneth Grant? And projected first-round options at other positions l...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes ESPN senior college football writer Heather Dinich to analyze the 2025 and 2026 NFL draft QB classes to find the best possible fit for coach Mike Tomlin's team. How does Heather feel about 2025 options at the position including Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, Will Howard and Tyler Shoug...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles previews the team's four-game series against the Washington Nationals this week. Are Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller in must-win situations following the weekend sweep vs. the Cincinnati Reds? Can Skenes bounce back from his rough start last week vs. the St. Louis Cardinals? And what should we make of fellow rotation members Andrew Heaney and Bailey Falter? Noa...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Christopher Carter explains his Steelers NFL draft big board, with additional insight from Post-Gazette insider Ray Fittipaldo. Why is Chris down on the 2025 QB class? Ranking Shedeur Sanders barely inside his top 50 and Jaxson Dart outside the top 100? Where does Jalen Milroe fit into that mix...

On their weekly Steelers NFL mock draft tracker video, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko react to the week in projected picks for the team from around the Internet. -Does GM Omar Khan's heavy focus on QBs like Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart in top 30 visits signal a preference to target that position over defensive line and names like Derrick Harmon, Kenneth Grant, W...

On his weekly Saturday Conversations podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey welcomes KDKA-TV's Rich Walsh to tackle some hot Pittsburgh sports topics and learn more about Rich's career in television. On the football front, Rich explains why he doesn't want the Steelers to reach for a QB like Jaxson Dart in the NFL draft and gives his thoughts on keeping George Pickens next to DK Metca...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles streams LIVE ahead of the club's weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds. Can Bailey Falter keep the rotation's momentum going? After Carmen Mlodzinski and Mitch Keller turned in winning performances in the series victory against the St. Louis Cardinals? What difference will the return of Kyle Nicolas make in the bullpen? And can Andrew McCutchen, Oneil C...

On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Post-Gazette Steelers insiders Christopher Carter and Brian Batko react to T.J. Watt's cryptic Instagram post this week and reports from some national sources that contract negotiations with the linebacker may have hit some snags. Is it too soon in the process for fans to be concerned? Or is there a...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Did Steelers GM Omar Khan back himself into a corner by not addressing the defensive line in a major way in free agency? Forcing a possible tough choice between QBs like Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart and DLs like Kenneth Grant, Derrick Harmon and Walter Nolen in the NFL draft? Are neg...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to the week in Pittsburgh sports news. Is Aaron Rodgers delaying his deal with the Steelers out of fear of losing his job like Kirk Cousins did to Michael Penix Jr. with the Atlanta Falcons last season? As Fox Sports insider Jason McIntyre has speculated? What should we make of Justin Fields' comments to reporters, in whic...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley break down the Pirates' series win over the NL Central rival St. Louis Cardinals, which concluded Wednesday afternoon with a 2-1 win in 13 innings. The recap begins with a full review of the pitching staff, specifically highlighting the progress made in the bullpen. Did arms like Dennis Santana and Justin Lawrence show the relievers can st...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Could Steelers GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin get QBs Aaron Rodgers and Shedeur Sanders to peacefully coexist if both were added this offseason via NFL free agency and the NFL draft, respectively? How long would Rodgers be able to hold Sanders off in such a scenario? Should we inter...

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 QB Shedeur Sanders' scheduled visit to the team's facility ahead of the NFL draft. Do GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin have genuine interest in Deion Sanders' son should he fall from the top five in the draft? Or is i...

On his weekly Chipped Ham & Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes newly signed defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale to the show. How does the the veteran fit into coach Mike Tomlin and DC Teryl Austin's defense alongside names like Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton? How does he believe his career-best season a year ago with the New England Patriots can translate to his ne...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Should the Steelers be paying attention to the first-round buzz starting to swirl around Alabama QB Jalen Milroe after he was invited to attend the NFL draft in-person later this month? Or should he still be a guy GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin consider only in the later rounds? And...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to talk in depth about the team's needs at receiver heading into the NFL draft in a couple of weeks. How much do GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin's plans at the position hinge on George Pickens' future? Could they still target...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles previews the club's series against the St. Louis Cardinals LIVE. What grade should we give manager Derek Shelton's club after its first 10 games of 2025? What should we make of the rotation after a rough week for names including Mitch Keller, Bailey Falter, Carmen Mlodzinski and Thomas Harrington behind Paul Skenes? And how encouraged should we be by Ke'Brya...

On the weekly NFL mock draft tracker show, host Derrick Stilley welcomes Steelers insider Christopher Carter to look at the latest popular picks. Defensive tackle has been a popular position in Round 1, but could the Steelers double-dip in Round 2? Would QB Jaxson Dart be a reach in the first round like Kenny Pickett was in 2022? And is there a world in which the Steelers draft a wide receiver ear...

Pirates TV reporter Robbie Incmikoski joins Post-Gazette columnist Jason Mackey to talk about the 2025 Pirates, his book "Sacred Grounds: What Our Ballparks Mean to Us" and more. How does Paul Skenes stack up against some other players he’s covered? And what led Incmikoski to pursue a career in TV, and what does he want his next professional chapter to be? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWiz...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Edgar Snyder & Associates, Steelers reporters Christopher Carter and Brian Batko take a look at the quarterbacks in the NFL draft class and ask: Would taking one in Round 1 be Kenny Pickett all over again? Plus, who are some outside-the-box picks we have our eyes on, and who could be a trade-up candidate? Hosted by Simplecast,...

Pirates insider Noah Hiles and columnist Jason Mackey preview Friday's home opener and address the elephant in the room: Will fans boo manager Derek Shelton and the team? And if so, is that fair? Plus they offer thoughts on how the Pirates can jump-start their offense, the evolution of Mitch Keller as a pitcher and the questions about who can stop the bleeding in the bullpen? Hosted by Simplecast,...

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news live around 5 p.m. Eastern. Should the Steelers have pushed harder to trade for QB Joe Milton III, who went from the Patriots to the Cowboys on Thursday in exchange for a pair of later-round draft picks? Could he have more upside than Mason Rudolph as a backup? Or would his age and room for development even made h...

The Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Jason Mackey react to the week in Pittsburgh sports news. What should we make of comments from Steelers owner Art Rooney II, coach Mike Tomlin and GM Omar Khan about their pursuit of Aaron Rodgers? Is it wise for the Steelers to look toward the 2026 NFL draft for their QB of the future, given the many compensatory picks they’ll have at their disposal to try to t...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles and sports columnist Jason Mackey break down the team's series loss to the Tampa Bay Rays this week. Did Wednesday's win, led by Paul Skenes, show this team can get on the right track? Or should Derek Shelton's club expect a chilly reaction from its fans when it returns to Pittsburgh for Friday's home opener on Friday? What is the state of the bullpen withou...