Podcast appearances and mentions of Ben Cherington

Was this past weekend's series against the Rockies the worst of the Pirates season? Poni wonders what should happen if the Pirates finish the year with another losing record. Would it finally be time for Pittsburgh to trade Paul Skenes?

Hour 1: What should the Pirates do if they have another disappointing offseason? Poni and Dom get into a heated argument over Paul Skenes' season. And why are people still mad about what Wyndham Clark did at Oakmont last year?

John Perrotto joins the show to talk about Cherington's job security, what the Pirates trade plans are, if Aroldis Chapman could be on the move to Pittsburgh, what the Pirates could get for their No. 34 comp pick, what we should make of Paul Skenes' season so far, and more!

Hour 3: Could the 2030 World Cup end up on a streaming service? John Perrotto joins the show to talk about Ben Cherington's job security. And Dom says the USA's win in the Revolutionary War is overrated.

Hour 4: Are the Steelers building a team to win a Super Bowl? Colin Beazley joins the show to preview the Pirates' next moves. And Dom details a crazy new movie releasing in theaters this August.

Hour 1: What should the Pirates do if they have another disappointing offseason? Poni and Dom get into a heated argument over Paul Skenes' season. And why are people still mad about what Wyndham Clark did at Oakmont last year? Hour 2: Matt Clement joins the show in-studio for the full hour! What return could the Pirates get in a Paul Skenes trade? The guys play another round of Bucco Auction House. And Dom has Matt teach him how to throw a curveball. Hour 3: Could the 2030 World Cup end up on a streaming service? John Perrotto joins the show to talk about Ben Cherington's job security. And Dom says the USA's win in the Revolutionary War is overrated. Hour 4: Are the Steelers building a team to win a Super Bowl? Colin Beazley joins the show to preview the Pirates' next moves. And Dom details a crazy new movie releasing in theaters this August.

Should the Pirates listen on Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz? We are curious what their futures are if the Pirates sell at the MLB trade deadline. The Pirates are at a crossroads. We hear from Pirates fans who are ok with the Pirates listening on offers. Do you trust Ben Cherington to make great trades?

Hour 1 with Joe Starkey: The Pirates are 36-37 and are nine games out of first in the division. The piggyback strategy hasn't worked. Are the Pirates going to be a seller instead of a buyer? Should the Pirates listen on Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz?

Do members of the Audacy Pittsburgh office have and KNOW how to use jumper cables? How much would you give up for Aroldis Chapman? Joe would give up any prospect not named Seth Hernández. Joe thinks Chapman would bring great energy. Ben Cherington said that Konnor Griffin has started his throwing progression.

Ben Cherington said yesterday that July is the time to make moves, essentially slipping up and telling everybody that it is impossible to make trades right now. Poni thinks that Cherington is completely to blame for the bullpen being terrible this year. Poni thinks the Pirates would be a legitimate contender with a better bullpen.

Ben Cherington said yesterday that July is the time to make moves, essentially slipping up and telling everybody that it is impossible to make trades right now. Poni thinks that Cherington is completely to blame for the bullpen being terrible this year. Poni thinks the Pirates would be a legitimate contender with a better bullpen. More on Ben Cherington and the Pirates' bullpen. Cherington apparently thinks that the answers to the Pirates' bullpen are in the building, which makes Poni think that the Pirates won't do much at the trade deadline. Bucco Auction House – Poni, Donny, and Jack bid on different Pirates.

Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson discuss the amount of patience Pirates' management seems to have with several players that are struggling long-term this season.

PM Team Power Rankings – The greatest home runs in PNC Park history. Steve Palazzolo joined the show. Steve agrees with the Buccaneers in the sense that he would not pay Baker Mayfield a ridiculous amount of money. He also thinks that the Trevor Lawrence contract is justified. Steve thinks that Keeanu Benton is worth around what Turk Warton got in Carolina, so about $15 million. Steve is connected to Ben Cherington in a way. Donny Football Debrief – Donny Futbol Debrief: The World Cup is upon us. Poni says that he will watch every game the US plays in the World Cup.

Steve Palazzolo joined the show. Steve agrees with the Buccaneers in the sense that he would not pay Baker Mayfield a ridiculous amount of money. He also thinks that the Trevor Lawrence contract is justified. Steve thinks that Keeanu Benton is worth around what Turk Warton got in Carolina, so about $15 million. Steve is connected to Ben Cherington in a way.

Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. When is Ben Cherington going to acquire a bullpen arm? No one has asked Paul Skenes why he doesn't throw 100 mph anymore and Jason doesn't care. Oneil Cruz has a hand injury and occured on Saturday. Konnor Griffin has an elbow forearm injury.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: This date in sport history. Drafting the best Steelers backup quarterbacks of the 21st century:Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. When is Ben Cherington going to acquire a bullpen arm? No one has asked Paul Skenes why he doesn't throw 100 mph anymore and Jason doesn't care. Oneil Cruz has a hand injury and occured on Saturday. Konnor Griffin has an elbow forearm injury. 

Adam Crowley, Dorin Dickerson, former NFL GM Doug Whaley and Nicholas "Harry" Callas discuss what should happen to Pirates' GM Ben Cherington if the team misses the 2026 MLB postseason.

Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson wonder if Pirates' general manager Ben Cherington is doing enough to maximize this team's potential this season.

Hour 1 with Joe Starkey: We recap the Bob Pompeani 35th annual golf outing. Why are we not seeing the usual Paul Skenes right now? Ben Cherington said the World Baseball Classic may be a lingering effect of why Skenes has struggled his last four starts. Skenes has been good, but hasn't been elite. Are you worried about Paul Skenes?

We recap the Bob Pompeani 35th annual golf outing Why are we not seeing the usual Paul Skenes right now? Ben Cherington said the World Baseball Classic may be a lingering effect of why Skenes has struggled his last four starts. Skenes has been good, but hasn't been elite. Skenes' fastball has gone down more than a mile and a half on his fastball.

Why were Callas and Limits invited to the Bob Pompeani golf outing and Joe Starkey was not? Also Poni and Mueller were not invited to play golf today. Limits was using clubs from the 1800s. The Pirates were swept by the Atlanta Braves over the weekend. Poni says it is the fault of Ben Cherington. The Pirates now have 14 blown saves this season and have done nothing to address their faltering bullpen. Poni says he is sick of hearing about the "three starters in a playoff series, they have a chance". The bullpen has blown it and Mitch Keller is too inconsistent. Hockey Talk! Red Wings star Dylan Larkin requested a trade and submitted three different teams on his "trade list": Minnesota, Vegas, and Florida. What would it take for the Penguins to outbid those teams? Noah Hiles joins the show! Poni asks if being swept by the Braves is cause for concern for Noah. Noah says he is not worried overall, but still has concerns about the state of the pitching staff. Noah brings up the fact that the Pirates fired Oscar Morin. Noah says multiple starting rotation members indicated they could perform better with a different pitching coach.

Why were Callas and Limits invited to the Bob Pompeani golf outing and Joe Starkey was not? Also Poni and Mueller were not invited to play golf today. Limits was using clubs from the 1800s. The Pirates were swept by the Atlanta Braves over the weekend. Poni says it is the fault of Ben Cherington. The Pirates now have 14 blown saves this season and have done nothing to address their faltering bullpen. Poni says he is sick of hearing about the "three starters in a playoff series, they have a chance". The bullpen has blown it and Mitch Keller is too inconsistent.

Noah Hiles joins the show! Poni asks if being swept by the Braves is cause for concern for Noah. Noah says he is not worried overall, but still has concerns about the state of the pitching staff. Noah brings up the fact that the Pirates fired Oscar Morin. Noah says multiple starting rotation members indicated they could perform better with a different pitching coach.

We listen to Ben Cherington's comments on Konnor Griffin. What is the update on the Pirates' shortstop? Cherington gives an update on the throwing program.

We listen to Ben Cherington's comments on Konnor Griffin. What is the update on the Pirates' shortstop? Cherington gives an update on the throwing program. The NBA Finals is at MSG tonight. What is the going price for a ticket to Game 3 of the NBA Finals? What would the ticket prices be for a Pirates World Series game at PNC Park? Mullsy envisions a dream scenario: Jim Leyland throwing out the first pitch to Barry Bonds. Bucco Auction House. Producer Charlie makes his debut and bid on fewer than 30 blown saves by the Pirates and Marcel Ozuna's batting average over .205.

Ben Cherington spoke about potentially adding to the bullpen. Poni and Mullsy break down the GM's comments. Ken Rosenthal said that the Pirates are one of the busier teams trying to add a bullpen arm. What would it take for the Pirates to reunite with former closer Aroldis Chapman?

Ben Cherington spoke about potentially adding to the bullpen. Poni and Mullsy break down the GM's comments. Ken Rosenthal said that the Pirates are one of the busier teams trying to add a bullpen arm. What would it take for the Pirates to reunite with former closer Aroldis Chapman? Did the World Baseball Classic change how Paul Skenes prepped this season? It was a dismissed thought last week. Now, Ben Cherington said that the WBC threw Skenes off, which could explain why Skenes has not been as dominant this year. The Donny Football Debrief: Mullsy brings up hockey and not me. Pens fans are very protective of Ben Kindel. Mike Babcock will be Connor McDavid's next head coach even though Columbus fired him for going through his players' phones. Brendan Sorsby is back in the NCAA.

We listen to Ben Cherington's comments on Marcel Ozuna. How long will the Pirates wait for Ozuna to turn things around?

We listen to Ben Cherington's comments on Marcel Ozuna. How long will the Pirates wait for Ozuna to turn things around? Caleb Williams names the best quarterbacks of all time and lists Aaron Rodgers among them. Where do Poni and Mullsy rank Rodgers among the best of all time? Do you know Bob? Trivia question about Bob Pompeani. Also, Intern Dom is very upset about Morgan Wallen.

The Entire 6-8 PM Team Full Show from Bob Pompeani's charity golf outing

Another blown game for the Buccos last night and this one could take the cake for the 2026 season. The Pirates led 8-3 in the 7th inning in Houston, and wound up losing 11-9. Paul Skenes couldn't get out of the 5th inning then multiple bullpen arms got rocked, including ones that were previously pretty reliable. Are the lights too bright for Don Kelly? How much is on Ben Cherington? How does the blame get divvied up with the Pirates bullpen blunders? Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Jason told us Carmen Mlodzinski will pitch tonight and will ‘piggy-back' off Jared Jones, who starts tonight. What will his role look like out of the ‘pen? The guys wondered if the role of Wilber Dotel will grow since he's one of the few arms that has been consistently reliable. Jason mentioned Joey Bart as a trade piece the Pirates could have once he gets healthy. Jason has doubts if improving the bullpen from the outside is doable. Who are some other arms in the organization that could help the big league club? Are we at the end of the line with Dennis Santana?

Another blown game for the Buccos last night and this one could take the cake for the 2026 season. The Pirates led 8-3 in the 7th inning in Houston, and wound up losing 11-9. Paul Skenes couldn't get out of the 5th inning then multiple bullpen arms got rocked, including ones that were previously pretty reliable. Are the lights too bright for Don Kelly? How much is on Ben Cherington?

Ben Cherington said that they spoke with Carmen Mlodzinski about going to the bullpen on Wednesday and still believe he can be a starter, but this was best for the team. Cherington said Sunday that the Pirates made a lot of progress with Mlodzinski and he will pitch soon, but wasn't ready to Sunday.

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Where in the world is Carmen Mlodzinski? The Pirates put Mlodzinski on the restricted list and wasn't available to pitch against Minnesota. Ben Cherington said that they spoke with Carmen Mlodzinski about going to the bullpen on Wednesday and still believe he can be a starter, but this was best for the team. Cherington said Sunday that the Pirates made a lot of progress with Mlodzinski and he will pitch soon.

Adam Crowley and Dorin Dickerson react to some comments made by Pirates' general manager Ben Cherington regarding the beginning of SP Jared Jones' rehab and what the team's plans are once he returns.

Jared Jones could be back with the Pittsburgh Pirates this week, and that creates one of the most important pitching decisions of the season. DiNardo and Ryan discuss Ben Cherington's latest comments, Jones throwing a bullpen session Tuesday, whether he returns directly to the rotation, who could lose a starting spot, and how his return could impact the bullpen. The guys also lightly recap the Toronto series before looking ahead to the Memorial Day matchup with the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. With Chicago struggling badly entering the series, this is a spot where the Pirates need to capitalize at home. Subscribe to North Shore Nine for more Pittsburgh Pirates coverage all season long. @eddiep_photos TICKETS FOR OUR JUNE 13TH TAILGATE: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Northshore9tailgate0613 Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hour 1: Jeff Hathhorn in for the guys today! Jeff gives a State of the Union Address for the Pirates. Why was today's Memorial Day game start time moved back? And a French Open tennis player went through a scary situation over the weekend.

How close is Jared Jones to returning to the Pirates? Ben Cherington refused to say on his radio show yesterday whether Jones will return as a starter or reliever.

Hour 2: The guys discuss proper bathroom etiquette at work. How did the Egyptians build the pyramids? NASCAR honored Kyle Busch over the weekend. And how close is Jared Jones to returning to the Pirates?

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey: Steelers reporter Mike DeFabo of The Athletic joined the show. Mike doesn't think the Steelers will keep four quarterbacks. "I think this is going to be a great offense for Pat Freiermuth." Mike thinks Will Howard will be the backup. Nick Herbig's future is strongly in his hands and the Steelers may need to do a lot for him to stay in Pittsburgh. Do you trust Ben Cherington to fix what's ailing the Pirates?

Do you trust that Ben Cherington can fix the Bucs' problems?

In this hour, "Donny Football" Chedrick assesses the job that Pirates' general manager Ben Cherington has done based on how players he acquired in the offseason are performing so far this season. Also, Pirates' broadcaster Greg Brown comes on The Fan Hotline. May 22, 2026, 9:00 Hour

Jeff Blair and Kevin Barker react to the news that José Berríos has undergone Tommy John surgery before being joined by Pittsburgh general manager and former Blue Jays executive Ben Cherington (13:05) ahead of the Pirates' weekend series in Toronto. He shares his thoughts on the Pirates' season so far, Brandon Lowe's impact, how Konnor Griffin has adjusted to the majors, and Paul Skenes' elite mentality. Then, Jeff and Kevin listen to John Schneider's pre-game availability. Finally, Sportsnet MLB insider Shi Davidi (32:02) shares the latest on Alejandro Kirk's status, what the team expects from Trey Yesavage against the Yankees, Daulton Varsho's recent adjustment at the dish, the plan for Spencer Miles and the fifth spot in the rotation, and what the batting order might look like when the team is fully healthy. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates.

McCarthy's Morsels – What did Mike McCarthy say to the media today? 93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Jeff to talk to Aaron Rodgers with other reporters today and is glad they got him today or else it would have waited until next week. Does it mean anything that Rodgers declared this his final season? Jeff wants to believe Rodgers can work with Mike McCarthy again and leave it on a positive note. Jeff said McCarthy runs a very rigid practice structure so far. Is there anything to make of the offensive line moving around in OTAs? Jeff expects Troy Fautanu to start at left tackle after playing on the right side his first 2 seasons. Will Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson be the starting guards? Jeff gets the early feeling that Mason Rudolph will be the odd man out in the Steelers QB room. Judge Jack – Who is more to blame for Pirates bullpen woes, Ben Cherington or Don Kelly?

The Pittsburgh Pirates had this game in their hands, and then the bullpen completely gave it away. On tonight's NS9 Postgame Show powered by Primanti Brothers, DiNardo and Jim break down the Pirates' brutal 11-9 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies after blowing leads of 6-0 and 8-3. The offense did its job, Braxton Ashcraft gave them enough to win, but the late innings turned into a disaster as Mason Montgomery, Gregory Soto, and Dennis Santana could not close the door. This episode dives into the growing concern around the Pirates bullpen, whether Ben Cherington needs to act quickly, how much blame belongs on Don Kelly, and why losses like this matter when the Pirates are trying to stay in the NL Wild Card picture. The Pirates have shown they can hit. The rotation has been strong. But if the bullpen keeps melting down, it may not matter. Subscribe to North Shore Nine for Pirates postgame coverage, live shows, analysis, and reaction all season long. TICKETS FOR OUR JUNE 13TH TAILGATE: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Northshore9tailgate0613 Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jared Jones is eligible to return from the IL on May 25, and all signs point toward that happening soon. But the bigger question around the Pirates is not just when he returns, it is what role he returns to. On tonight's NS9LIVE!, we dive into Jones' upcoming return, the recent bullpen question he brushed off, the reaction to his demeanor, and the fact that both Ben Cherington and Don Kelly have avoided giving a direct short-term answer about his role. Long term, everyone agrees Jones is a starter. But short term? That answer has been much less clear. We make the case for why Jones should come back into the rotation, what that would mean for Carmen Mlodzinski moving to the bullpen, and how that move could strengthen two areas of the roster at once. Plus, we get into the bullpen itself and the rise of lefties Evan Sisk and Mason Montgomery. With so many struggles from the relief group, is it time for the Pirates to start trusting those two in bigger spots? And, of course, we kick things off with the NS9 Really Stupid Question. @eddiep_photos TICKETS FOR OUR JUNE 13TH TAILGATE: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Northshore9tailgate0613 Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee 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 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: Ray thinks if the Steelers are around .500 after eight games, they will be nearing their first losing season in 20+ years. Joe Burrow has only lost in Pittsburgh once and it was his rookie season. Ray would be shocked if the Steelers are 1-3 after their first four. Ben Cherington continues to believe in Marcell Ozuna and said they need to keep running him on the field. Communication needs to be better for the outfield defensively.

Ben Cherington continues to believe in Marcell Ozuna and said they need to keep running him on the field. Ozuna's walks numbers have been better and is hitting better. The power is there. Cherington said that Reynolds has done what they have expected in the outfield. Communication needs to be better. Cherington thinks Cruz has been aggressive in the outfield and improving. 

Jeff thinks this is gearing for Carmen Mlodzinski to come in for Jared Jones when Jones returns. Joe loves the idea of an opener. Ben Cherington said Henry Davis is getting bad luck and is making good contact.

Hour 4 with Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Jeff Hathhorn: Jeff thinks this is gearing for Carmen Mlodzinski to come in for Jared Jones when Jones returns. Joe loves the idea of an opener. Ben Cherington said Henry Davis is getting bad luck and is making good contact. Jeff Hathhorn thinks there is a desire on both sides with the Penguins and Evgeni Malkin for one season. Alan Saunders is reporting the Steelers won't play on Christmas Eve or Day.