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

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to analyze the special teams unit. Is position coach Danny Smith ready for all the changes to the NFL kickoff rules, having just turned 70? Does Cordarrelle Patterson have the kick returning job locked down? Or will there be some competiti...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey answers reader questions. Among them: Who's the better fit among potential Penguins trade options for GM Kyle Dubas? The Carolina Hurricanes' Martin Necas? Or the Columbus Blue Jackets' Patrik Laine? What does the Alex Nedeljkovic extension mean for Tristan Jarry's future here? And why are Sidney Crosby and Kris Letang Jason...

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin react to the club's series win against the Cincinnati Reds this week at PNC Park. How did the club's starting pitching trio of Paul Skenes, Bailey Falter and Mitch Keller have so much success against the Reds, allowing only three runs all series? And how can that be a catalyst for the pitching staff moving forward? On the other end of the...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to break down the team's QB competition between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. Why does national media perceive the battle to be a 50-50 proposition, when locally it's clear that Wilson has the starting job comfortably heading into t...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the passing of San Francisco Giants and MLB legend Willie Mays through a Pittsburgh lens, as well as the Pirates' latest loss to the Cincinnati Reds. He also gets into some hockey topics. Among them: Could the Penguins acquire Columbus Blue Jackets standout Patrik Laine at a discount in a trade this offseason? And...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider welcomes ESPN analytics guru Seth Walder. The duo tackles the team's upcoming appearance on HBO's Hard Knocks as well as GM Omar Khan's offseason moves so far -- an possibly moves to come. What do the analytics say about the trade for Justin Fields and the signing of Russell Wilson to make up the team's quarterbacks room...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to Paul Skenes' latest victory on the mound for the Pirates against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday at PNC Park. How important was it that Skenes showed he can adjust on the fly? And what does that mean for the rest of his rookie season with his club fighting for an NL wildcard postseason berth?   Jason tackles those qu...

On their weekly Pitt sports mailbag video, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Abby Schnable answer reader questions. Among them: How does Meleek Thomas leaving Lincoln Park High School in Pittsburgh to join Overtime Elite in Atlanta affect Jeff Capel's chances of recruiting him? How are Pitt athletes doing at the swimming and diving Olympic trials? And how does coach Dan Hurley's decisio...

On the Monday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to analyze the team's situation at quarterback. What should we make of Justin Fields' demeanor in his competition with Russell Wilson? How does the dynamic between the two echo the 2022 QB competition between Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Picke...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey explains why he feels better fundamental baseball from manager Derek Shelton's Pirates is as important to their chances as what GM Ben Cherington can add to the roster via deals before the MLB trade deadline. He also gets former Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett's thoughts on young aces Paul Skenes and Jared Jones; reacts to Mt....

Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin speaks to reporters during the team's minicamp this past week on the South Side. He explains how the secondary is coming together with new faces such as DeShon Elliott and Donte Jackson joining familiar ones like Cam Sutton, Joey Porter Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick; how Patrick Queen and rookie Payton Wilson fit into the unit at MLB; how Cor[y Trice Jr. is...

On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko to react to DC Teryl Austin's news conference this week. What lessons did Austin learn from 2023 that he's applying to 2024, specifically in deploying safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Damontae Kazee? How have the acquisitions of free agents...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey answers reader questions. Among them: Will GM Ben Cherington make a significant move to improve the offense by the trade deadline? If names including the Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or the New York Mets' Pete Alonso are unrealistic, what other options does he have to upgrade on Connor Joe and Rowdy Tellez? Could...

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to discuss whether the Pirates or Steelers are closer to experiencing playoff success. Do dominant pitchers Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Jared Jones make the Pirates an immediate threat if they can get to the postseason? Or are Mike Tomlin, Russell Wilson and the Steelers the better bet because of t...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the Pirates' loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night. Are Henry Davis and Kyle Nicholas showing signs of shaking of season-long funks? How much does the club's success rest on them figuring things out? And what is wrong with Ke'Bryan Hayes, and how much more does manager Derek Shelton need to see from hi...

On the Wednesday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to react to new OC Arthur Smith's comments Tuesday at the team's minicamp. Specifically, they explain the ways Smith is showing his understanding of the team's history and identity and looking to re-establish its culture created by i...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to Paul Skenes' latest dominant start for the Pirates on Tuesday night against the St. Louis Cardinals. What new tricks did Skenes show that we hadn't seen at the MLB level previously? Are his lengthening outings proving GM Ben Cherington right for managing his innings early in the season? And can Skenes and fellow ro...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes former Super Bowl champion cornerback Bryant McFadden to discuss Steelers minicamp and coach Mike Tomlin's three-year extension. Is there a major difference between OTAs and minicamp? What makes signing Tomlin long-term a good move for GM Omar Khan and owner Art Rooney II? And why is Tomlin uniquely...

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith speaks with reporters during minicamp Tuesday at the team's South Side facility. He explains how the installation of his new offense is going with names like George Pickens at receiver; Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren at running back; Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at QB; and young standouts up front including Troy Fautanu, Zach Fraizer and Broderick Jo...

Post-Gazette Steelers insider and columnist Jason Mackey join host Adam Bittner to react to coach Mike Tomlin's three-year contract extension, announced by the team on Monday. Is the length of the deal a surprise, or business as usual for owner Art Rooney II and GM Omar Khan? How tied is Tomlin's fate to the success of new OC Arthur Smith, coming off of Matt Canada's disastrous tenure? Can Tomlin...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey ponders the struggles of young Pirates including Henry Davis, Jack Suwinski and Jared Triolo. Is GM Ben Cherington doing something wrong with their development? How do their struggles fit into MLB-wide trends with names like the Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson, the Baltimore Orioles' Jackson Holliday and the Texas Rangers'...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to preview Steelers mincamp this week. Is Russell Wilson the face of the team's offense? Or are names like Najee Harris or George Pickens also contenders? What about the offensive line and names like Broderick Jones, Troy Fautanu and Za...

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Andrew Destin and sports columnist Jason Mackey react to the club's series victory against the Minnesota Twins at PNC Park over the weekend. Among the topics: Is Rowdy Tellez truly out of his season-long slump after a strong start to June? Why are Henry Davis and Jack Suwinski continuing to struggle? What is working for Nick Gonzales right now? And what are the big sto...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko for the latest from OTAs. How does NFL free agent signing Cam Sutton fit in the Steelers' current defense? Will he play outside cornerback across from Joey Porter Jr.? Or will he play the slot while Donte Jackson takes outside duty? And do...

On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey answers reader questions. Among them: Will Pirates GM Ben Cherington make significant moves to improve before the MLB trade deadline, in hopes of winning an NL wild-card spot? Could starters Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Jared Jones all make the MLB All-Star team? Is Nick Gonzales a darkhorse All-Star candidate? What's the s...