Podcast appearances and mentions of don kelly

Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to analyze the future of Henry Davis and other young players with the Pirates. Is Henry Davis still a viable candidate to be the club's catcher of the future? Or are his struggles at the plate to profound to overcome in his time share with Joey Bart? Will any of Nick Yorke, Cam Devanney, Liover Peguero or Ji-Hwan Bae appear on the opening day roster next season? What should GM Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly do with Oneil Cruz amid his continued underachievement? Where should Cherington be planning to allocate his free agent dollars for 2026? And where do names like Denis Santana, Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler fit into the future bullpen mix? Our duo tackles those questions and more.

We start by debating a big question raised in Noah Hiles' mailbag this week: will GM Ben Cherington return in 2026—and should he? (Spoiler: we're not so sure that's the right move.) Next, we break down how Don Kelly has performed as interim manager and whether he deserves the job long-term. Plus, we reveal which Pirates prospects are headed to the Arizona Fall League and share what their invitations mean for the organization's future. 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

On his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: How should the front office manage the Oneil Cruz situation heading into next season, with major questions looming over his ability to become a true MLB star? Is GM Ben Cherington's job secure if this team is able to finish close to the .500 mark under manager Don Kelly? Was moving Bubba Chandler into the starting rotation next to Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller a wise idea? How much should Braxton Ashcraft's workload be managed moving forward? And if the Pirates can only keep one of Andrew McCutchen or Tommy Pham for 2026, which one should they choose?

Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey joins host Adam Bittner to react to the Pirates' run of success over the past couple of weeks, culminating in a series win against the defending World Serie champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. Could this hot streak save GM Ben Cherington's job despite the ugly start to the year? Will Bob Nutting believe in the direction he's set, especially on the pitching side? And how does Don Kelly figure into the future? Our duo tackles those questions; analyzes reasons young pitchers like Paul Skenes, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft and Mike Burrows are arriving MLB-ready after years of prospect underachievement; and ponder whether Jared Triolo can keep up his offensive numbers and be closer to the player the Pirates hoped Ke'Bryan Hayes would become.

George Pickens already made business decisions with bad effort. Paul Skenes dominated the Dodgers. Joe thinks the Pirates can be a Wild Card team next year. We believe Don Kelly will be back. Red Zone will have one min of commercials.

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey and Donny Football: Nick has the Steelers making the playoffs and being better than the Bengals. Nick likes the additions in the secondary. He thinks the Steelers can also be a top 5 defense. Nick picks 10 wins. George Pickens already made business decisions with bad effort. Paul Skenes dominated the Dodgers. Joe thinks the Pirates can be a Wild Card team next year. We believe Don Kelly will be back. Red Zone will have one min of commercials.

Aaron Glenn has been asked frequently about Aaron Rodgers, Don Kelly is basically .500 as the manager and perhaps has done enough to keep his job, Tommy Pham is growing on Joe, why can't instant replay determine clear missed calls in baseball still, Jaylen Warren's extension, the General offers up an Ohtani card.

Joe continues to trim weight and he's close to his goal. Bob commends him. We open a 6 pack - Heyward's status for Sunday, we examine it from the perspectives of Cam, the Steelers, and fans, are pass rushers becoming overvalued, would Cam get booed, the Jets are down a key player, Konnor Griffin had an injury scare but seems to be alright. Aaron Glenn has been asked frequently about Aaron Rodgers, Don Kelly is basically .500 as the manager and perhaps has done enough to keep his job, Tommy Pham is growing on Joe, why can't instant replay determine clear missed calls in baseball still, Jaylen Warren's extension, the General offers up an Ohtani card. Both Pomp and Joe have bold takes for NFL MVPs - Baker Mayfield and Bo Nix. Defensive coaches ranked the offensive coaches anonymously. Kyle Shanahan is #1. Is Arthur Smith in the same realm as the best guys? He was listed as an honorable mention. Pomp says most of his callers on the Nightly Sports Call have been critical of Cam. Would Cam want to see the Steelers get shredded if he sits out against the Jets? What happens if they win? Joe says there's a lot of cheaters in golf. Dan Zangrilli stops in to discuss Ohtani's place in history, Chandler and Yorke, Triolo, if Tommy Pham should be back, the Framber Valdez and Devers incidents, the excitement about the Pirates in 2026. We review the potential starting players for the Bucs next year. An annoyed Mark Kaboly joins to provide his thoughts on the Heyward situation and how it will end, his Steelers and NFL season predictions (he was rattled by Starkey's inquisitions). Reviewing the early returns for the top college QB prospects. Pomp likes Nussmeier. We all need to see more from Allar, but he looked good vs Nevada. Belichick's debut was a disaster, can Pitt surpass expectations? Joe is working on his greatest Pittsburgh bloopers of the century.

Joe continues to trim weight and he's close to his goal. Bob commends him. We open a 6 pack - Heyward's status for Sunday, we examine it from the perspectives of Cam, the Steelers, and fans, are pass rushers becoming overvalued, would Cam get booed, the Jets are down a key player, Konnor Griffin had an injury scare but seems to be alright. Aaron Glenn has been asked frequently about Aaron Rodgers, Don Kelly is basically .500 as the manager and perhaps has done enough to keep his job, Tommy Pham is growing on Joe, why can't instant replay determine clear missed calls in baseball still, Jaylen Warren's extension, the General offers up an Ohtani card.

Ben Roethlisberger thinks the Steelers are built to win a Super Bowl. The guys can't disagree more. Can they even win a playoff game? The Steelers are underdogs in 11 games this season. Poni thinks the Steelers will, technically, exceed expectations before dropping his record bomb on us. He has the Steelers finishing 7-10 this season and a pick in the top 10 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Former MLB pitcher Matt Clement joined the show. Matt talked about the level of amazement he has watching Shohei Ohtani play baseball, who is slated to pitch tonight or tomorrow against the Pirates. How much more does he have to do to have a real argument as greatest player in baseball history? Matt gave a lot of credit to Don Kelly for having this team play at a .500 level since taking over as manager. The guys asked Matt about an awkward pitcher-catcher situation from last night in Houston. Donny Football Debrief – Some fantasy football fun with our company fantasy draft tonight.

Former MLB pitcher Matt Clement joined the show. Matt talked about the level of amazement he has watching Shohei Ohtani play baseball, who is slated to pitch tonight or tomorrow against the Pirates. How much more does he have to do to have a real argument as greatest player in baseball history? Matt gave a lot of credit to Don Kelly for having this team play at a .500 level since taking over as manager. The guys asked Matt about an awkward pitcher-catcher situation from last night in Houston.

Logan Arblaster fills in for Nicholas "Harry" Callas on the The Fan Early Morning Show. Logan is excited that the wait for football is over. He thinks very highly of the roster this year, especially on defense. There are so many reasons to be optimistic. Also, a New York team broke an unwritten rule. Not the Jets, not the Giants, but another New York team that Logan has a problem with... Examining the Pirates through Don Kelly's first 100 games as the Pirates' manager. Happy Labor Day!

NS9 Postgame Show Powered by Primanti Bros. Jim and Cody recap the Pirates' 5–2 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway. Mitch Keller delivered a strong start with seven strikeouts and no earned runs, but defensive miscues and a disastrous inside-the-park homer flipped the game. The guys dig into Henry Davis' continued offensive struggles despite his defensive growth, wasted scoring chances with runners on base, and Alexander Canario's rare big day capped by a homer over the Green Monster. They also hit on bullpen concerns, Don Kelly's 100th game as manager, and the bigger picture of how the Pirates' pitching staff is shaping up for 2026. Subscribe for more Pirates talk and postgame coverage all season long! Presented by Fanduel 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

Noah Hiles is reporting that Isiah Kiner-Falefa is being placed on outright waivers. Joe likes the job Don Kelly has done, but he gave away two games against the Cardinals with his decisions. Penn State men's and women's hockey are playing at Beaver Stadium on January 31st and the women's hockey team is hosting Robert Morris.

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles gives his insight on which prospects may be promoted next after top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler made his MLB debut over the weekend. Offensively, could we see Nick Yorke and Cam Devanney make their way to Pittsburgh soon? Especially with injuries to players like Oneil Cruz limiting manager Don Kelly and GM Ben Cherington's offense with the lineup? And on the pitching side, do Hunter Barco and Eddy Yean make the most sense? Especially in relief roles between now and the end of the season? Noah tackles those questions and more.

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles reacts to news that top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler is set to be promoted to the MLB club this weekend for a series against the Colorado Rockies. Why was now the right time for Chandler in the eyes of GM Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly? Are they making the right move in using him out of the bullpen to start? Or should he be in the rotation alongside names like Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft? And what doe this promotion mean for 2026 rotation spot, with competition including Mike Burrows, Johan Oviedo and others? Noah tackles those questions and more.

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles goes inside the clubs decision to demote starter Andrew Heaney to the bullpen this past weekend. Was the decision by manager Don Kelly and GM Ben Cherington financially motivated? As was seemingly the case last year with pending free agent Rowdy Tellez? Or was it performance related amid Heaney's profound second-half struggles alongside names like Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and others in the rotation? Especially with prospects like Bubba Chandler and Hunter Barco in search of opportunities? Noah tackles those questions and more.

Host Adam Bittner welcomes Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey to react to the Pirates' disastrous series sweep at the hands of the Brewers in Milwaukee. Why is this team still struggling so much, even after GM Ben Cherington decided to keep productive veterans like Tommy Pham and Isiah Kiner-Falefa on expiring contracts? How did manager Don Kelly's club fall so far behind its small-market peer, led by GM Matt Arnold? Can Bob Nutting or anyone else really complain about MLB economics when the Brewers are thriving like they are? And how much longer can Cherington hold onto his job? Our duo tackles those topics, plus some on-field questions. Is there any hope left for Jack Suwinski, who's struggled immensely since his most recent promotion from the minor leagues? Will Oneil Cruz's injured list stint snap him out of his post-All-Star break funk? And how bad could this offense be in 2026 if both Tommy Pham and Andrew McCutchen choose not to return?

Kevin Gorman of TribLive joins me for the baseball podcast. We talk about their failures in Milwaukee, Don Kelly as a manger so far, demands from future GM candidates if Ben Cherington is fired, Bubba Chandler's future and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his weekly Pirates mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: Should we be concerned about Bryan Reynolds long term after a down season? How will Don Kelly manage his starters' and bullpen's workloads differently than Derek Shelton did? Why does Alexander Canario still have a roster spot? What is the most important stat to consider for a new pitcher or position player? Is there any way to legitimately pressure Bob Nutting into selling the team? And who are some players GM Ben Cherington could target to bolster the infield through free agency or a trade acquisition? Noah answers those questions and more.

Oh, they can 'flush it,' all right ... just not how Don Kelly meant it. 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

Paul Skenes vs. Freddy Peralta was supposed to be a marquee pitching matchup… but the Pirates didn't get the memo. Skenes gave up his first first-inning run this season, and from there it all unraveled into a brutal 14-0 loss to the Brewers. Jim and DiNardo break down the disaster — from the lifeless offense to the bullpen implosion — and ask the big questions about whether this team has already quit. Plus, they dive into the frustrations building among fans, the future of Don Kelly's staff, and what it's like to sit through one of the most miserable games of the 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

The Pirates got steamrolled at home, falling 8-1 to the Giants in a game that was never close. Doug & DiNardo break down another uninspired performance from Don Kelly's squad — including brutal defense, non-competitive at-bats, and a a bad outing by Mike Burrows. We also discuss the debut of Cam Sanders. 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

Hour 1: Will Howard suffered a hand injury at camp, but Dom says this could actually be a positive for the Steelers. It appears Howard Stern is done at SiriusXM. And Joe doesn't know who Sydney Sweeney is. Hour 2: Mark Kaboly joins the show to talk Will Howard's injury, preseason games, and more! ESPN and the NFL have officially announced their merger deal. And Joe and Dom get into an intense James Franklin debate. Hour 3: Dan Zangrilli joins the show to talk about his Paul Skenes extension comments from earlier this week. Joe is feeling self-conscious about his looks. And there was confusion over when Joe should do a live read. Hour 4: Dom says Micah Parsons will get traded to the Ravens. Should Aaron Rodgers play at all this preseason? And did CBS do the Steelers dirty with their Week 1 announcing schedule?

Dan Zangrilli joins the show to talk about doing play-by-play for Pirates games, the Paul Skenes extension bombshell, where the Pirates go from here, if Ben Cherington will be back in 2026, just how impressive Don Kelly has been this season, if Dan knows how to take a compliment, and more!

Don Kelly shouldn't be getting caught in any crossfire. 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

An embarrassing weekend at PNC Park with the Pirates being swept by the White Sox by a combined score of 27-7. The White Sox went into the series as the second-worst team in baseball by record. The Pirates didn't look like they belonged on the same field. After the 6-game win streak, the Pirates have won just 1 of their last 10 games. And what happened to this team playing harder for Don Kelly? The Paul Skenes draft pick now looks like a curse because of how much they have fumbled the situation. How does this team compare to the 2010 Pirates team that lost 105 games?

An embarrassing weekend at PNC Park with the Pirates being swept by the White Sox by a combined score of 27-7. The White Sox went into the series as the second-worst team in baseball by record. The Pirates didn't look like they belonged on the same field. After the 6-game win streak, the Pirates have won just 1 of their last 10 games. And what happened to this team playing harder for Don Kelly? The Paul Skenes draft pick now looks like a curse because of how much they have fumbled the situation. How does this team compare to the 2010 Pirates team that lost 105 games? The 3 highest-attended games of the season have resulted in the Pirates being 0-3 and outscored 22-8 in those games. Callers sounded off on the weekend that was at the ballpark. Pirates pre-post game host Dan Zangrilli joined the show. Dan got to handle the radio play-by-play duties this weekend in-place of Joe Block, even though it lacked excitement overall. Dan said he will hop into the booth for another series later this season. Dan recapped the horrible weekend at the ballpark. Has this season been as bad as some ugly seasons of the past? The guys looked at that 2010 time versus now.

The Pirates are spiraling, and it's hard to find anyone stepping up. We kick things off with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Colin Beazley, who joins us to break down his latest reporting on the clubhouse vibes, Bailey Falter, Ke'Bryan Hayes, and how Don Kelly is handling the mounting pressure. From there, we dig into Jack Suwinski's surprise return, Tommy Pham quietly carrying the offense, and whether Paul Skenes and Oneil Cruz can bring any spark during All-Star week. The team can't win on the road, the energy feels off, and now they're rolling out bronze plaques at PNC — is anyone actually fixing what's broken? Guest: Colin Beazley Drop your thoughts in the comments — what would you do to fix this mess? 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

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.

Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg told the doubters of Oneil Cruz in the HR Derby to watch him take BP sometime. Greg said it's good for baseball and the Pirates having a player in the Derby. Greg said he plans on asking Don Kelly about Cruz taking part and if he's worried about him going into a second half slump. Greg talked about a few big prospects that flopped with the Buccos. The guys wanted to get Greg's reaction to the Cruz throw home from Sunday afternoon. Greg reiterated that Ben Cherington will take a pretty big swing at the deadline. Does Greg believe the Pirates are ‘close' to being a playoff team? The guys asked Greg about Paul Skenes getting pulled after 5 innings the other day and if he was on-board with it.

ESPN is continuing to put out potential Paul Skenes trade packages with a few weeks to go before the trade deadline. It feels like they are filled with names that we have, mostly, never heard of. We also looked at the no-trade list for Bryan Reynolds and it's a little confusing. Is he afraid of taxes? Donny Football Debrief – Happy Birthday, Jack Lambert. Is there a more popular Steeler all-time? Pirates broadcaster Greg Brown joined the show. Greg told the doubters of Oneil Cruz in the HR Derby to watch him take BP sometime. Greg said it's good for baseball and the Pirates having a player in the Derby. Greg said he plans on asking Don Kelly about Cruz taking part and if he's worried about him going into a second half slump. Greg talked about a few big prospects that flopped with the Buccos. The guys wanted to get Greg's reaction to the Cruz throw home from Sunday afternoon. Greg reiterated that Ben Cherington will take a pretty big swing at the deadline. Does Greg believe the Pirates are ‘close' to being a playoff team? The guys asked Greg about Paul Skenes getting pulled after 5 innings the other day and if he was on-board with it.

Bob Walk joins the show to talk about his Fourth of July plans, how fun this past homestand was for everyone on the Pirates, what Don Kelly has proved the last couple series, what has changed for David Bednar this season, if Paul Skenes should start for the NL in the All-Star Game this year, how impressed he is by Konnor Griffin, and more!

It's Julie Kim & Don Kelly! Recorded in 2022 at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Ottawa, Don Kelly explains reconciliation - at Ali's expense! And Julie Kim reminds you not to judge other mothers for their child-rearing choices.

In his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: When can fans expect to see top prospect Konnor Griffin crack the major league roster? Is GM Ben Cherington focused on adding hitting at the trade deadline, and what could a star pitcher like Mitch Keller net them in return? Is it safe to assume Cherington will be back next year considering he's manning this trade deadline for owner Bob Nutting? Is it a certainty Andrew Heaney gets traded considering Johan Oviedo is making his way back from injury and Bubba Chandler and Hunter Barco are waiting in Triple-A? Where is Dauri Moreta? And why has the Pirates defense been so much better since Don Kelly took over as manager from Derek Shelton? Noah answers those questions and more.

PG columnist Jason Mackey joined the show. The guys asked Jason about the story brewing about Luis Ortiz and a potential gambling investigation. Investigators are looking 2 individual pitches in this story that apparently altered betting markets. The red-hot Pirates have won 6 straight games, but how long can they keep this going? Jason said this run does not change his mind about the current landscape of their front office. At what point should Ben Cherington be vindicated for his work? Jason does not trust Cherington to make notable trades involving Mitch Keller or David Bednar if those opportunities arise later this month. Jason fully expects Don Kelly to be back next season, but how much credit should Cherington get for that? Going back to the Derek Shelton firing, Jason believes it was a Bob Nutting call to make that change 38 games in. What should the expectation be for Spencer Horwitz?

Post-Gazette Pirates insiders Noah Hiles and Colin Beazley discuss the Pirates' perfect homestand, as they swept the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals behind outstanding starting pitching and a reliable bullpen. Colin and Noah start with the starters, talking about Mitch Keller, Andrew Heaney and Paul Skenes against St. Louis, then they debate whether the success has an impact on 2025 or if it simply sets a positive foundation for 2026. Colin highlights the role manager Don Kelly has played and if these are positive signs for first-year hitting coach Matt Hague. The two finish with a brief preview of the upcoming road trip in Seattle, Kansas City and Minneapolis.

The Pirates just swept the Mets and took the series from the Cardinals, and somehow we're starting to believe again. In this episode of the North Shore Nine Postgame Show, Tyler and Doug break down the Bucs' fifth straight win — a 1-0 nailbiter behind Paul Skenes' “struggling” five shutout innings, a clutch sac fly from Henry Davis, and game-saving defense from Tommy Pham and Spencer Horwitz. They also give flowers to Caleb Ferguson and Isaac Mattson, debate the Pirates' sudden cohesion under Don Kelly, and ask the question we're all thinking: what if they just win 10 in a row? Oh, and they give away sandwiches.

Pirates pre-post game host Dan Zangrilli joined the show. Dan said it's clear the team is responding better to the Don Kelly style of managing than they did to Derek Shelton. The overall vibe is much better too. Dan pointed out how good the team has been, at home especially, since Kelly has taken over. Dan would prefer not trade Mitch Keller, calling him the ‘safest' guy in your rotation. Dan said trading Bailey Falter or one of the younger arms is more attractive to him than trading Keller. Chris, unbelievably, asked Dan about the Pirates possibly contending enough to be buyers at the deadline.

Mike Florio joins the show to discuss Ramsey/Minkah trade, Pirates make history with 6-game winning streak, Matt Clement joins the show to discuss Don Kelly/Pirates.

Former MLB pitcher and high school hoops coach Matt Clement joined the show. Matt talked about why a strong personality in a manager can be important and brought up the 3 great managers he played for in the majors. He said the attitude shift is clearly different under Don Kelly, which is showing on the field. Matt lauded a Kelly for his management of the bullpen to this point, noting that it can be very difficult as a manager. Matt also credited Kelly for how he has handled Oneil Cruz in the last week since his tough series against Milwaukee. Back-to-back wins for Mitch Keller in a year where he has impressed despite what the record shows. The guys asked Matt a few questions about Greg Maddux and some other great pitchers he played with. Matt told an old Jack Wilson story.

The Post-Gazette's Adam Bittner and Jason Mackey size up the NFL free agent wide receiver market now that Aaron Rodgers is officially in the fold for the Steelers as QB. Should GM Omar Khan and coach Mike Tomlin be targeting Amari Cooper as one of the biggest names remaining? Allen Lazard as one of Rodgers' personal favorites? Or could they still convince Keenan Allen to come to Pittsburgh to play alongside names like DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson and Robert Woods? Our duo tackles those topics, as well as Jason's column on why Rodgers is the most important person in Pittsburgh sports right now. Then the guys pivot to hockey ahead of the NHL draft later this week. Should GM Kyle Dubas look to trade up? Or hold onto both of his first-round picks? Could he move draft capital to add firepower around Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang? Move out bad contracts to guys Erk Karlsson, Ryan Graves and Tristan Jarry? Or could names like Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust be on the trade block? Then in the third segment, airing on the PG's Pirates YouTube channel, Adam and Jason analyze recent hot streaks for players including Spencer Horwitz and Nick Gonzales. Are they sustainable in the long run or just the latest flashes in the plan? Could those two guys preserve GM Ben Cherington's job by playing well? What should manager Don Kelly do with the struggling Oneil Cruz? Why is Bubba Chandler having trouble in the minors? And should Andrew McCutchen have a roster spot with this team next year if he continues to perform?

In his weekly mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette Pirates insider Noah Hiles answers reader questions. Among them: Has manager Don Kelly handled outfielder Oneil Cruz's recent lapses correctly by benching him? Is there any reason owner Bob Nutting is holding onto GM Ben Cherington as the season slips further and further away? Will pitcher Andrew Heaney be dealt at the MLB trade deadline, opening up a spot for prospects like Thomas Harrington and Hunter Barco? Does Henry Davis deserve more playing time at catcher amid Joey Bart's recent struggles? And what is the Pirates' best possible starting lineup on paper currently?

Don Kelly shows Oneil Cruz who'll be boss. 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

Tim Benz calls in to discuss the Pirates continuing to stay right around .500 ever since Don Kelly took over.

Tim Benz calls in to discuss the Pirates continuing to stay right around .500 ever since Don Kelly took over.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Post-Gazette Pirates insider Colin Beazley discusses Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham, who went 3 for 3 with two doubles on Sunday and spoke postgame about visual issues he's been experiencing this year. Beazley describes what Pham is experiencing it, how he has managed it throughout his 10 year major league career, and what changed this year. Beazley also discusses what it means for Pham and the Pirates moving forward throughout the 2025 season as GM Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly look to get more out of the lineup generally, with names like Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, Ke'Bryan Hayes and others looking to get on a roll in support of stellar pitching from starters including Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller.

The fight matters, and it starts with Don Kelly. 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

There's already no mistaking the Don Kelly effect. 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

Hembo and Buster discuss Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson's removal from the permanently ineligible list, the end (for now) of the Rafael Devers-to-first base drama, the Javier Baez renaissance and the Phillies gathering momentum. Then, Todd Radom shares his thoughts on Rose's potential Hall of Fame induction. Plus, this week's Ballpark & Beyond and the quiz. Later, Tim Kurkjian on whether he's a believer in the Twins, how the Yankees handle third base after Oswaldo Cabrera's injury, and his conversation with Pirates manager and Pittsburgh native Don Kelly. CALL THE SHOW: 406-404-8460 EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS 7:29 Hembo 27:52 Todd Radom 41:43 Tim Kurkjian 1:03:49 Bleacher Tweets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices