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

On their weekly Pitching In podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Jason Mackey is joined by club TV analyst Michael McKenry to discuss hot offseason topics. Among them: How will general manager Ben Cherington replace starter Johan Oviedo in MLB free agency after news of his season-ending injury? Could Cherington choose to non-tender any members of last year's roster before the deadline Friday? Wha...

Post-Gazette sports editor Chris Dell joins host Tony Squares to break down all things Steelers-Browns, as well as top players to start and sit for Week 11 on our new "Steel City Sleepers" podcast and YouTube show. The guys discuss which Steelers and Browns players they're either buying or selling ahead of this Sunday's pivotal AFC North clash. They also dish out their top five sleepers and busts...

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 tackle a range of hot topics around the team. How do T.J. Watt and the defense match up against Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the Browns quarterback they'll face this week in place of the injured Deshaun Watson? Should general manager Omar...

In his weekly YouTube/podcast appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to analyze the Steelers' situation at inside linebacker. Are Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson enough to help the team reach the playoffs amid season-ending injuries to Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb? Or should the Steelers be considering a move to rebuild their depth ahead of their NFL Week...

On their weekly In the Trenches podcast, Pitt football standouts Jake Kradel and Gavin Bartholomew join Post-Gazette insider Noah Hiles to reflect on some memories ahead of Kradel's Senior Night on Thursday against Boston College. They discuss Kradel's favorite road stadiums to play in; beating Clemson on the road to an ACC championship in 2021; and Kradel overcoming injury and earning his startin...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze the team's rookies. Have names like Joey Porter Jr., Broderick Jones and Keeanu Benton secured starting roles for good after limited playing time early on? And what kind of impact could they have the rest of the way? Our du...

On their weekly Penn State sports podcast, Post-Gazette insider Seth Engle joins host Adam Bittner to discuss the Nittany Lions' frustrating loss to Michigan on Saturday at Beaver Stadium and the subsequent firing of offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich by coach James Franklin. Was it a surprise to see Franklin move on so quickly? Was the move a response to losses in big games or offensive sluggishn...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Aaron Schatz, chief analytics officer at FTN, to break down the team's advanced metrics. Do they paint offensive coordinator Matt Canada's unit as a disaster? Or is it more efficient than some might think? How does quarterback Kenny Pickett grade out? And where do the Steelers fit in the AFC North hi...

On their weekly Pitt sports mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Christopher Carter answer readers questions. Among them: Which of coach Pat Narduzzi's assistants could be out if he shakes up this staff this offseason? Could the Panthers lose numerous players to the NCAA transfer portal because of their bad results this season? Could Phil Jurkovec see playing time this week agains...

On their weekly Penguins podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Andrew Destin and Matt Vensel discuss six trends from the team's first 13 games and whether they'll continue moving forward. Can the top core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Erik Karlsson and others keep carrying the offense if the depth forwards don't step up? Are the Penguins a good or bad finishing team after going through peaks and valle...

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 break down the team's NFL Week 10 victory against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. Has the Steelers' running game found its stride with rookie tackle Broderick Jones in the lineup and backs Jaylen Warren and Najee...

Post-Gazette columnist Paul Zeise joins Adam Bittner to react to the Steelers' win over the Packers on Sunday. It was another ugly game, but it was also another win. What are our main takeaways as the Steelers move to 6-3? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the Saturday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast brought to you by the Acrisure Fan Advantage, the Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter welcomes ESPN's Rob Demovsky to break down the Steelers' Week 10 matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Will T.J. Watt and the Steelers defense be too much for first-year starting QB Jordan Love? Or can the young signal caller pose a threat despite an ordinary s...

On their weekly Pitching In podcast, Post-Gazette insider Jason Mackey and Pirates TV analyst Michael McKenry discuss Ben Cherington's comments at the MLB general manager meetings in Arizona. Specifically, they dive into the club's options as MLB free agency gets underway. Should general manager Ben Cherington be allocating his dollars toward acquiring starting pitcher? Or options at first base? H...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Mike's Beer Bar, Post-Gazette insider Brian Batko joins host Christopher Carter to discuss former Steelers running back Merril Hoge's recent comments about George Pickens. Was it fair for Hoge to call the receiver "immature" for his sideline demeanor and social media conduct in the week since the Steelers beat the Tennessee Titans...

In the latest episode of In The Trenches, Pitt football standouts Gavin Bartholomew and Jake Kradel and Post-Gazette Pitt beat reporter Noah Hiles go over the Panthers' 24-7 loss to Florida State. They then talk a little baseball before previewing the team's upcoming trip to Yankee Stadium to take on Syracuse at a neutral site in the Big Apple. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.ads...

In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to analyze the Steelers' wide receiver corps. Should general manager Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin have considered bringing back former WR Martavis Bryant before he signed with the Dallas Cowboys earlier this week? Do the Steelers generally have enough size at the position? And is George Pickens' a...

On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, host Christopher Carter welcomes Shelby Cassesse of 93.7 The Fan and WPXI-TV to discuss hot Steelers topics of the week. Among them: Is coach Mike Tomlin making the right call starting rookie Broderick Jones at right tackle over Chuks Okorafor instead of left over Dan Moore Jr.? What should we make of Tomlin's comments about receiver Georg...

On their weekly Penn State podcast, host Adam Bittner and Post-Gazette Nittany Lions insider Seth Engle discuss the hot topics ahead of a pivotal game against Michigan on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Were coach James Franklin's frustrations after this past week's win against Maryland fair? How badly has the Big Ten struggles this season hurt his team in terms of perception? And is the coach possibl...

On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko welcomes Fox Sports NFC North reporter Carmen Vitali to break down the Week 10 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. How does coach Mike Tomlin keep "baffling" national observers by racking up wins despite the Steelers' poor performance offensively? What do quarterback Kenny Pickett and Packers counterpart J...

On their weekly Pitt sports mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Noah Hiles and Christopher Carter answer reader questions. Among them: Have Jeff Capel and the Pitt basketball team settled on a starting five before their season opener Tuesday against North Carolina A&T at the Petersen Events Center? How much better will Blake Hinson be this season compared to last? Who will the Panthers' most im...

On their weekly Penguins podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Matt Vensel and Andrew Destin analyze the Jeff Carter situation. What are the Penguins' options with the veteran who's tallied zero points in nine games this season and was scratched in the 10-2 win against the San Jose Sharks over the weekend. Could he be traded? Waived and sent to the minor leagues? Continue to take up a roster spot as a co...

On the Monday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to to discuss receiver George Pickens' recent lack of production. Is something wrong with Pickens' games? Or are opposing defenses just loading up to stop him and force other Steelers receivers to make plays? And should Pickens' sour demeanor on the sideline concern...

On the Friday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast presented by Mike's Beer Bar, Steelers insider Brian Batko joins Christopher Carter to recap another comeback win, this time over the Titans. Is Kenny Pickett simply a winner, or is his fourth-quarter play still a mirage? Plus did Joey Porter Jr. and Broderick Jones lock down starting jobs after their great performances? Hosted by Simplecast,...

Post-Gazette sports editor Chris Dell joins host Tony Squares to break down all things Steelers and fantasy football on our new "Steel City Sleepers" Week 9 fantasy preview show. They also discuss their top five players to start and sit at each position, including top defensive (D/ST) streamers, kickers, sleepers, stashes and busts. Does Tua Tagovailoa belong on fantasy benches against a stingy Ch...