Podcast appearances and mentions of Ben Cherington

What is Cherington thinking right now? A caller gives insight on a few prospects the Pirates could target. The Pirates drafted a guy in the 2nd round and he went to college instead. The General offers up a Ryne Sandberg card and throws in Nick Kurtz. Joe asks about a Caitlin Clark card.

Ke'Bryan Hayes traded to the Reds for reliever Taylor Rogers and prospect Sammy Stafura. Stafura is a top ten prospect in the Reds organization. The guys like the trade. Mullsy is afraid that Hayes will go to Cincinnati and start hitting. Poni thinks that Ke'bryan hated Pittsburgh. Mullsy says that Ke'Bryan needs to take accountability for playing terribly in Pittsburgh. Mullsy says that a change of scenery could work out for Ke'Bryan. Poni says that Paul Skenes should drive Hayes to the ballpark so that he can be in the lineup that faces him. People on twitter are saying that not even a hitter's park can make Ke'Bryan a good hitter. Poni really thinks that Hayes is just a terrible hitter, Mullsy thinks that the Pirates player development could be the problem. Poni mentions Hayes' constant terrible body language. Bucco Minute. Mullsy says that he is showing that he likes the Hayes trade, just in a weird manner. Every caller agrees that the Hayes trade was a success. One caller called the Hayes trade “absolutely amazing”. Poni makes the point that both Quinn Priester and Clay Holmes have been good since the Pirates traded them, and says that he doesn't want Ben Cherington making trades. Mullsy asks why Cherington is still employed. A caller says that the Hayes trade was just a salary dump. Mullsy says that Ke'Bryan would be a massive bargain if he could hit at all.

Bucco Minute. Mullsy says that he is showing that he likes the Hayes trade, just in a weird manner. Every caller agrees that the Hayes trade was a success. One caller called the Hayes trade “absolutely amazing”. Poni makes the point that both Quinn Priester and Clay Holmes have been good since the Pirates traded them, and says that he doesn't want Ben Cherington making trades. Mullsy asks why Cherington is still employed. A caller says that the Hayes trade was just a salary dump. Mullsy says that Ke'Bryan would be a massive bargain if he could hit at all.

Hour 4: Joe received a crucial text during the break, but was it actually a scam? Should Ben Cherington be allowed to make moves before the deadline? And Quinn Priester has been lighting it up in Milwaukee and Joe wants to know why.

Isaiah Likely was carted off the field at practice today, John Harbaugh called it a multi-week injury. Greg Newsome was also carted off the field, and his injury is assumed to be bad. The guys disagree with the Ravens being the Super Bowl favorites, according to Fanduel. They think that the Ravens will run into a wall against Kansas City or Buffalo. Pirates Broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg says that he still thinks that Ben Cherington will make a big trade before the deadline. Brown says it's possible that David Bednar has pitched his last game as a Pirate, but it's also possible that he will remain a Pirate. He also says that Bednar took PNC Park all in after his 100th save. Brownie says that he's confident that Cruz and Skenes will remain Pirates at the deadline. He also says the Pirates should take advantage of desperate teams at the deadline, and that the Pirates need a left fielder. What's the Pirates best deadline move? Poni and Mullsy name JA Happ, Zane Smith as potential answers. Mullsy says that JA Happ should have pitched the Wild Card game against Jake Arrieta. Tony Watson for Oneil Cruz was a great trade, but not good enough to be the best ever. A commenter says that Austin Hedges for bonus pool money should be in contention. Poni says that the Red Sox do not like Mitch Keller. Donny Football Debrief – Poni skipped a field trip to a Yankees game in Little League, and missed a perfect game. Is Ben Roethlisberger a better quarterback all time than Brett Favre? The guys do not think so. Donny thinks Ben is around 12th best all time, while Favre is around the 8th. Poni mentions that Brees gets dinged for playing in a dome, but Favre doesn't get any credit for playing in bad weather. Mullsy says that Favre's last season was statistically better than any season Ben had. Poni says that he is going to bet on the Hall of Fame Game.

Isaiah Likely was carted off the field at practice today, John Harbaugh called it a multi-week injury. Greg Newsome was also carted off the field, and his injury is assumed to be bad. The guys disagree with the Ravens being the Super Bowl favorites, according to Fanduel. They think that the Ravens will run into a wall against Kansas City or Buffalo. Pirates Broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg says that he still thinks that Ben Cherington will make a big trade before the deadline. Brown says it's possible that David Bednar has pitched his last game as a Pirate, but it's also possible that he will remain a Pirate. He also says that Bednar took PNC Park all in after his 100th save. Brownie says that he's confident that Cruz and Skenes will remain Pirates at the deadline. He also says the Pirates should take advantage of desperate teams at the deadline, and that the Pirates need a left fielder.

What is the biggest reason we don't want the Pirates to trade Mitch Keller? Is it because we like the player so much or because we don't trust the guy making the moves? It feels more like the latter for us, but the former for fans. Chris pondered how much more valuable Keller is than a guy like David Bednar? The return could Mitch Keller could be historic, but not for the reason you may be thinking. Will the Pirates be making another move with the Blue Jays because their front office has a relationship with Ben Cherington? Pirates insider Noah Hiles from the PG joined the show. Noah is starting to believe Mitch Keller will be here after the trade deadline on Thursday. He thinks they would have to be ‘blown away' by an offer in the next 48 hours. Noah said the Pirates could look more to the offseason as a time Keller is moved when another team is willing to part with multiple Top 100 prospects. The guys asked Noah about the report out there that the Cubs would be willing to part with their top prospect in order to get Keller. Noah said the asking price for David Bednar is a team's Top 5 prospect, but it obviously depends on what team that comes from. Why did Bednar have the emotion showing Saturday night after a save at PNC Park? Is there a chance of a random trade, like the Quinn Priester one from last year? Noah could see a trade between the Pirates and Orioles even though both teams are sellers. Noah told the guys that there were trades for Bednar that got blocked by the front office a couple of years back.

The Pirates just allowed one run in 30 innings… and somehow we're still not sure if they're buyers or sellers. On today's Bucco Brew, we break down a dominant series win over the Diamondbacks, including Paul Skenes' latest masterpiece and Andrew Heaney's potential farewell start. Then we dive into Ben Cherington's Sunday press conference and try to decipher what “building toward 2026” really means. Are the Pirates about to deal Bednar? Keller? Or do nothing at all? Plus — Anthony Murphy joins the show to talk prospect updates, including Bubba Chandler's hot streak, Cristian Florentino's breakout, and where things stand with Termarr Johnson and Esmerlyn Valdez. We wrap with a preview of the upcoming Giants series and what this week could mean for the entire future of the Pirates' 2025 season. Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myshopify.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m ►BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northshorenine.bsky.social

In this hour, Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson continue to follow and address the latest news and rumors around the MLB trade deadline. Also, the two react to a poem written by the late, former Pirates' OF Dave Parker that was read at his MLB Hall Of Fame induction ceremony. July 28, 2025, 6:00 Hour

Paul Skenes made some comments after yesterday's win and Poni can't believe the words haven't gone viral. He, as kindly as possible, called out the front office for their lack of moves in the offseason. How close are the Pirates to being a contender? Why didn't they do more to make the team better? Calls and reaction to what Paul Skenes said about the Pirates front office. Pirates pre-post game host Dan Zangrilli joined the show. Dan talked to both Ben Cherington and Paul Skenes yesterday. Dan said his takeaway from the GMBC conversation is what the approach could be like going into the deadline. Dan is getting the indication that if the Pirates do move on from Mitch Keller, they may not get big league caliber talent in return. Dan explained that David Bednar could be difficult for the Pirates to trade due to his local ties. Dan thinks either Bednar or Dennis Santana will be elsewhere by the time the trade deadline rolls around. He also mentioned a few sentimental things Bednar did the other night, in the event he is traded.

Do we trust Ben Cherington to do anything of significance? Neither of us like the idea of a Mitch Keller trade because the track record for GMBC is an ugly one. Is David Bednar on the move? Who is the most famous person to check out your Twitter profile? Baseball writer John Perrotto from Pittsburgh Baseball Now joined the show. John has the feeling that the Pirates will trade David Bednar in the next few days. John doesn't think the Pirates should feel forced to trade Mitch Keller because they still have him under control for the next few years. Would anyone take on the contract of Ke'Bryan Hayes, who John tells us seems unhappy here? Poni got John's reaction to the quotes from Paul Skenes the other day, taking some subtle shots at the front office. There was an altercation in Philly today between Bryce Harper and Rob Manfred – what does that mean for the future of baseball and a potential work stoppage?

Pirates pre-post game host Dan Zangrilli joined the show. Dan talked to both Ben Cherington and Paul Skenes yesterday. Dan said his takeaway from the GMBC conversation is what the approach could be like going into the deadline. Dan is getting the indication that if the Pirates do move on from Mitch Keller, they may not get big league caliber talent in return. Dan explained that David Bednar could be difficult for the Pirates to trade due to his local ties. Dan thinks either Bednar or Dennis Santana will be elsewhere by the time the trade deadline rolls around. He also mentioned a few sentimental things Bednar did the other night, in the event he is traded.

Pirates insider Noah Hiles from the PG joined the show. Noah thinks the Pirates front office to make the team better in 2026 as they approach the trade deadline. How aggressive will Ben Cherington be? Noah still firmly believes Mitch Keller will be on the move and listed 4 teams of interest. Noah anticipates a trade for Keller going down to the deadline, possibly in the final hour. Noah said the Pirates want to acquire guys that can be everyday players for them immediately. How many other Buccos will be on the move? Noah guessed that David Bednar will be gone and thinks Dennis Santana could be on the move too.

ESPN ranked all 32 NFL rosters, ranking the Steelers at 19. Mullsy doesn't have an issue with this ranking. PFF ranking Myles Garrett as the best player in football was dumb. The AFC is stronger than the NFC, which is another issue for the Steelers. The Steelers have fumbled the quarterback position ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Mullsy says that TJ Watt and Cam Heyward should be Hall of Fame locks. This roster would be ranked higher than 19 if QB wasn't weighted so heavily. Mullsy mentions that almost every starting QB in the NFL was a first round pick out of college. Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg was very happy for Dan Zangrilli after he called the weekend series against the White Sox, and said that he didn't need any advice. Brown also said that Skenes performance last night looked like the “definition of a stopper”. Greg says that the Pirates aren't going to rebuild, and that they're going to try to win next year. He also says that he doesn't think that Ben Cherington will make moves to try and save his job.

Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg was very happy for Dan Zangrilli after he called the weekend series against the White Sox, and said that he didn't need any advice. Brown also said that Skenes performance last night looked like the “definition of a stopper”. Greg says that the Pirates aren't going to rebuild, and that they're going to try to win next year. He also says that he doesn't think that Ben Cherington will make moves to try and save his job.

Do the right thing, and fire Ben Cherington today. Hear award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic's Daily Shots of Steelers, Penguins and Pirates -- three separate podcasts -- every weekday morning on the DK Pittsburgh Sports podcasting network, available on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/dkpghsports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles reports the latest of what he's hearing about the Pirates' dealings ahead of the MLB trade deadline next week. Are the rumors that Ben Cherington will be fired as GM soon actually bunk? And what power will he have to make a major deal before the deadline in the eyes of owner Bob Nutting? Are the New York Yankees making a play for Mitch Keller? Perhaps more so than the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs? What's a reasonable return for him in a deal? And is moving Ke'Bryan Hayes' contract a priority? Possible with rental options including Tommy Pham, Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Caleb Ferguson? Noah tackles those questions and more.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were just swept by the White Sox, and it's pushed the fanbase to the edge. In this episode of Bucco Brew, we dive deep into Ben Cherington's tenure as GM, and ask the question: why is he still making decisions for 2026? We also recap another brutal series loss and preview what's ahead against the Tigers. It's time to hold this front office accountable.

It's another rock bottom for the Pirates after being swept by the White Sox. Can you trust Cherington to handle the deadline? We're on Ben Cherington watch today. His contract could keep him around longer though. We react to Kevin Gorman's comments on the topics. Callers give their thought, including one who still will go to games regardless. More callers are eager to give their take on the Pirates, some are ready for Steelers season. The Steelers announced their throwback jerseys from 33. Another caller is worried about Rodgers staying healthy. Another caller is defending Bob Nutting. Others bring up the missed opportunities to add to the roster recently. Noah Hiles joins to discuss how the Pirates are feeling after the awful week, Ben Cherington's job security, can he successfully navigate the trade deadline, what type of players the Pirates could target at the deadline, could Cutch get dealt. Will Keller's value be at its highest now or in the offseason? It's almost time for Steelers training camp. Their spending on defense is in contrast to most of the NFL. A caller throws shade at Callas but he had an epic wiffleball call over the weekend. TJ Watt is 9 spots below Garrett on PFF's top 50, could the Packers be a trade partner for the Steelers at WR. Nick Farabaugh joins to discuss his take on the Steelers new throwback uniforms, what questions he wants answers at training camp, Watt's usage, which young player needs to have a big year, what will be the biggest overreactions in training camp, how bad is Juan Thornhill, which DBs could see extensive snaps, who could be next for an extension. The Sean Segment - Acuna's throw, WNBA players want better pay, Rich Hill is still going, McDavid plays beer league hockey, Erie's minor league baseball team is rebranded. ESPN ranked the best NFL rosters, and the Steelers are surprisingly low. We react to their supposed weaknesses, strengths, and X factors. What are the biggest storylines for Steelers camp - Broderick Jones, Kaleb Johnson, will there be additions at WR/safety, Jalen Ramsey's position. Johnny the Barber challenges Bechtold. Austin went to the Pirates game on Saturday and was mad about the people just there to sell their bobbleheads.

It's another rock bottom for the Pirates after being swept by the White Sox. Can you trust Cherington to handle the deadline? We're on Ben Cherington watch today. His contract could keep him around longer though. We react to Kevin Gorman's comments on the topics. Callers give their thought, including one who still will go to games regardless. 

Noah Hiles joins to discuss how the Pirates are feeling after the awful week, Ben Cherington's job security, can he successfully navigate the trade deadline, what type of players the Pirates could target at the deadline, could Cutch get dealt. Will Keller's value be at its highest now or in the offseason?

Noah Hiles joins to discuss how the Pirates are feeling after the awful week, Ben Cherington's job security, can he successfully navigate the trade deadline, what type of players the Pirates could target at the deadline, could Cutch get dealt. Will Keller's value be at its highest now or in the offseason? It's almost time for Steelers training camp. Their spending on defense is in contrast to most of the NFL. A caller throws shade at Callas but he had an epic wiffleball call over the weekend. TJ Watt is 9 spots below Garrett on PFF's top 50, could the Packers be a trade partner for the Steelers at WR.

As the Pirates continue to struggle with the MLB trade deadline approaching, Adam Crowley reviews the transactions Ben Cherington has made since he's been GM of the Pirates.

Who is at the top of your frustrations list when it comes to the Pirates? It feels like Ben Cherington is even more at fault than the owner because the money that is spent is spent poorly. What if he made another mistake and drafted Dylan Crews (like Mullsy wanted) instead of Paul Skenes? Donny defended Neal Huntington for what he accomplished by the 6th year of his tenure, which was 2013. It's staggering that Cherington got the Skenes draft pick correct, but has been so bad at everything else.

Ben Cherington says that he is constantly on the phone, regarding the deadline. Some random bogus MLB account on twitter said that Cherington would be dumped today. Mullsy says that the Pirates division competition year by year is not very tough, yet they almost never compete. Mullsy thinks that the pirates need to trade Mitch Keller for a “real bat”. Why is it taking Nutting so long to dump Cherington? Mullsy hosts “Poni Trivia” as a means of giving away tickets to the Pony League World Series. Mullsy says that Neil Huntington did a much better job than Ben Cherington. Weekend Review. Mullsy says that TJ Watt does not get the same respect nationally that he does here, an inverse of how it is with Mike Tomlin. Scottie Scheffler continues his dominance. Mullsy says that he is easily the best golfer since Tiger's prime.

Ben Cherington says that he is constantly on the phone, regarding the deadline. Some random bogus MLB account on twitter said that Cherington would be dumped today. Mullsy says that the Pirates division competition year by year is not very tough, yet they almost never compete. Mullsy thinks that the pirates need to trade Mitch Keller for a “real bat”. Why is it taking Nutting so long to dump Cherington?

Hear award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic's Daily Shots of Steelers, Penguins and Pirates -- three separate podcasts -- every weekday morning on the DK Pittsburgh Sports podcasting network, available on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/dkpghsports

NS9 Postgame Show Powered by Primanti Bros. The Pirates close out Yinzerpalooza with a brutal 7-2 loss to the White Sox, completing a sweep that saw them outscored 27-7 over the weekend. Jim and Cody break down Andrew Heaney's disastrous outing, the continued collapse of the offense, and what it all means for the future of the team. They dive into the underperformance of key players like Reynolds, McCutchen, and Hayes, question Ben Cherington's plan, and highlight the growing frustration among fans. With the trade deadline approaching and the Pirates now in line for a top draft pick, the guys ask the tough questions about where this franchise is headed. Subscribe for more postgame coverage, weekly shows, and all things Pittsburgh Pirates. Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myspreadshop.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m ►BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northshorenine.bsky.social

Former MLB Pitcher Matt Clement joined the show. Clement says that Oneil Cruz did his job in the home run derby, that job being to entertain. He also says that he hopes that MLB does not move to a swing-off format for regular season games. Matt says that the job that has to be done at the trade deadline is not an easy one for Ben Cherington. Matt says that if it were up to him, he would trade David Bednar.

TJ Watt has signed his extension with the Steelers. One of the biggest radio hosts in America thinks it's more of the same from the Steelers – spending on defense, scraps on offense. Chris agreed. He pointed out that the Eagles spend so little on their defense and they are the best-run team in the league. When can the Steelers flip that narrative? Colin Cowherd thinks TJ Watt is worth the money, but not a fan of the deal from the Steelers perspective. Mullsy says that the Steelers have not been spending money on offense because they don't draft anybody that's worth paying. Mullsy also says Tomlin is most at fault for the QB situations going south. Former MLB Pitcher Matt Clement joined the show. Clement says that Oneil Cruz did his job in the home run derby, that job being to entertain. He also says that he hopes that MLB does not move to a swing-off format for regular season games. Matt says that the job that has to be done at the trade deadline is not an easy one for Ben Cherington. Matt says that if it were up to him, he would trade David Bednar.

Graves is back this season to talk about the Pirates and help break down the upcoming series with Chrystal. The Pirates and White Sox both sit at the bottom of the Central Division and have plenty of unfortunate similarities, and Graves does a great job of pointing out their commonalities. Here is what Chrystal and Graves talked about: What's new with the Pirates? Firing managers and poor ownership How the Pirates and White Sox are nearly the same Remembering Dave Parker Yinzerpalooza weekend and Mac Miller Day Paul Skenes gets the All-Star start for the National League Pittsburgh's inability to develop prospects Ben Cherington and the distrust among fans Minor leaguers get called up and don't play Will Bob Nutting ever wake up? Trade deadlines A potential lockout in 2027? Pitching previews Andrew McCutchen lovefest Who is the biggest threat to the White Sox? Keys to winning the series Fears of being swept, or at least losing two of three Automated Ball-Strike system is coming soon The league is ready for a salary cap and floor What happened to the torpedo bats? You can find Graves on X and Bluesky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The State of the Pirates. A season that has mostly been a failure that is nearing its next checkpoint in the form of the trade deadline. What can the organization do to salvage this season? We've known that the team would have a limited amount of time with Paul Skenes and so far, they have wasted it. Their plan was to bring in guys they could easily flip at the deadline, almost like they knew they would be bad. Names like Adam Frazier and Tommy Pham were the biggest offseason acquisitions. It seems like Bob Nutting is afraid to fire Ben Cherington because they would be admitting this regime has been an utter failure. Why are they allowing Cherington to run the trade deadline? Is there a real chance he is gone before the season is over? Chris has divorced himself from the idea of the Pirates taking advantage of their time with Skenes.

PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason gave his thesis on the Pirates season and said the offense is just unacceptable. Jason again questioned the future of Ben Cherington and said he does not believe Bob Nutting was happy about the offseason approach. He remained confident that Cherington is done after 2025 wraps up. We played a YES or NO game with Jason in regards to players that could still be Pirates after the deadline, and Jason thinks the Pirates will hold on to Mitch Keller.

Chris reacted to a quote from Noah Hiles last night, stating that the Pirates will be ‘aggressive' and ‘make a lot of moves' at this year's trade deadline. Do we want the Pirates to make noise at the deadline? We aren't very comfortable with Ben Cherington making many significant moves. The players on expiring deals should be as good as gone, but what about the big-names like Mitch Keller? We reminisced about some disastrous trades in the Cherington era so far when it comes to the Pirates selling off bigger names.

Emergency Pod: Pirates Trade Adam Frazier to Royals for Cam Devanney The Pirates have started trade szn, sending veteran utility man Adam Frazier to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for AAA shortstop Cam Devanney. We break down what this means for the big league roster, why Ben Cherington made this move now, and what Devanney could bring to the organization. We dive into Frazier's impact during his second stint in Pittsburgh, Devanney's breakout season in Omaha, and how this deal could affect the Pirates' plans heading into the trade deadline. Drop your thoughts in the comments and make sure to like and subscribe for more Pirates coverage all season long! Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myspreadshop.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m ►BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northshorenine.bsky.social

Ben Cherington tries kicking the can. Hear award-winning columnist Dejan Kovacevic's Daily Shots of Steelers, Penguins and Pirates -- three separate podcasts -- every weekday morning on the DK Pittsburgh Sports podcasting network, available on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/dkpghsports Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Pittsburgh Pirates shocked some folks by selecting high school right-hander Seth Hernandez with the 6th overall pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. We break down the pick, what it means for the future, and how it fits into Ben Cherington's draft strategy. Then we shift to All-Star Week: Paul Skenes will start for the National League in Atlanta. Oneil Cruz is swinging for the fences in the Home Run Derby. Subscribe for more Pirates content all season long. Drop a comment with your thoughts on the Hernandez pick or which prospect you want to see in Pittsburgh next! Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myshopify.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m ►BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/northshorenine.bsky.social

In this hour, Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson react to some comments Pirates' GM Ben Cherington made about how he's approaching the rest of this season and the beginning of 2026. Also, this professional golfer who's a Pittsburgh native is doing some great things! July 14, 2025, 7:00 Hour

The guys discuss Ben Cherington's lackluster draft history since taking over as GM of the Pirates.

Did the Pirates make the right choice when they selected Seth Hernandez? The guys try to name 5 good draft picks by Ben Cherington. Latest edition of the Donny Football Debrief.

In his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: How many full seasons does Paul Skenes actually have remaining in Pittsburgh? What are the team's best and worst-case scenarios for this weekend's MLB draft? How much does a draft prospect's agency affect their willingness to draft a player? Is it true that Ben Cherington didn't do much in free agency because he spent too much of the baseball budget on the analytics department? If so, how is he still employed? Also, has there been any update/mention of the fan survey results that went out in the spring? Noah answers those questions and more. For more Pirates coverage, visit: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates Visit our sponsor, Greenawalt Roofing, at https://greenawaltroofing.com/service-areas/pittsburgh-pennsylvania/

Noah Hiles made some waves yesterday with his mailbag answer about Paul Skenes. He made even more last night on-air when he told Donny that Skenes' best contribution to the Pirates would be the return they get for him in a trade. There also may be a report out there that Ben Cherington has a deal signed through 2028, which would be horrible.

Noah Hiles made some waves yesterday with his mailbag answer about Paul Skenes. He made even more last night on-air when he told Donny that Skenes' best contribution to the Pirates would be the return they get for him in a trade. There also may be a report out there that Ben Cherington has a deal signed through 2028, which would be horrible. We got more clarification on the Ben Cherington contract situation, but found that Neal Huntington and Clint Hurdle were both let go with 2 years remaining on their deals following the 2019 season. MLB insider Bob Nightengale from USA Today joined the show. Bob believes Ke'Bryan Hayes has interest from the Yankees along with a few other buyers around Major League Baseball. He said to look out for the Tigers and Diamondbacks as well. Bob said it may be smarter to hold onto Hayes in the offseason. Bob said there is ‘too much smoke' around Mitch Keller and he expects him to be on the move with teams like Blue Jays, Yankees and Mets atop the list. Bob said it's a shame that Paul Skenes has a losing record and wondered if he can be the first Cy Young winner to pull it off. Bob added that he thinks Zach Wheeler deserves to be the front-runner in the NL Cy Young vote and should be the starter in the All Star Game.

Cam Heyward ranks No. 83 on the top 100 players list. Cam was No. 98 last year and No. 45 in 2023. Jeff thinks, like we were, that Minkah Fitzpatrick was surprised by the trade. Jeff believes Don Kelly has a good chance to remain the Pirates manager in 2026, regardless of what happens with Ben Cherington.

PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason disagreed with Noah and said he thinks Paul Skenes will still be here for multiple seasons because he doesn't see the team moving off from him ‘that soon.' Jason is under the impression that Ben Cherington will run the deadline and the draft before he is let go later in the season. Will Cherington make some sort of Hail Mary trade?

Could next season be the final one for Paul Skenes with the Pirates? A story from Noah Hiles suggested that it could be. It wasn't a report from Noah, just his prediction of how things could end for Skenes in Pittsburgh. How does that make you feel as a Pirates fan? It feels like they are already waving the white flag on this guy who they drafted just 2 years ago. Can the Pirates do anything about it? GIVEAWAY. PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason disagreed with Noah and said he thinks Paul Skenes will still be here for multiple seasons because he doesn't see the team moving off from him ‘that soon.' Jason is under the impression that Ben Cherington will run the deadline and the draft before he is let go later in the season. Will Cherington make some sort of Hail Mary trade?

Paul Skenes has combined for 14 innings in his last three starts. Ben Cherington said the Pirates are limiting Skenes so he can pitch in the All-Star Game. Should the Pirates trade Mitch Keller? If they do, they need to acquire offensive pieces. It would ideally be established hitters.

Pulse of the People - One fan is worried if Drew Allar comes to the Steelers, Pitt fans will be mad when he struggles. Fans weigh in on Pitt-Penn State, Ben Cherington, and the Steelers. A rant from Paul in Washington.

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani: Ben Cherington said the Pirates are limiting Skenes so he can pitch in the All-Star Game. Bob wasn't happy the Pirates pulled Skenes after five innings and 78 pitches. Bob is tired of talking about prospects and what they can be. Bob wants the Pirates to acquire an established hitter if they trade Mitch Keller.

Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise reacts to the day in Pittsburgh sports news and breaks down a number of recent Steelers trending topics, including Terry Bradshaw's controversial comments about Chuck Noll. Is prime Aaron Rodgers better than prime Patrick Mahomes? Paul reacts to Big Ben's recent comments and discusses why the Steelers' former Super Bowl-winning QB would come out and say that on his podcast. Also, was Bill Cowher correct in saying that Rodgers needs "the keys" to Pittsburgh's offense in order to be successful this season? And are the T.J. Watt trade rumors viable, or will Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and company finally get a record-setting deal done before training camp? Lastly, Paul weighs in on the Pirates' recent slump back to reality and why owner Bob Nutting and general manager Ben Cherington still need to clean house for everyone not named Paul Skenes and Andrew McCutchen. For more sports, visit post-gazette.com.