May 17, 2024Pirates' Nick Gonzales, Edward Olivares show more aggression at plate? | Paul Skenes encore?On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the Pirates' 5-4 win against the Cubs on Thursday night in Chicago. Was the aggression we saw at the plate from players including Nick Gonzales and Edward Olivares a reflection of a changing approach to hitting amid a team-wide slump? Or just a coincidence? How did Jared Jones pitch a solid game despite not having his best stuff? And looking ahead to Friday, what will Paul Skenes do in his second MLB start?
Jason tackles those questions, gives his thoughts on the Steelers' Najee Harris coming to offseason workouts motivated and encourages the Penguins not to trade defenseman Marcus Pettersson this offseason.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 17, 2024Will Steelers' Cam Heyward hold out? What's the latest on his contract? | Najee Harris drops weight?On the Friday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko joins host Christopher Carter to discuss the latest news surrounding defensive captain Cam Heyward. Why is he expected to skip offseason workouts with the team? Will his holdout persist into training camp? Or will he be able to reach a new contract with the team?
Our duo tackles those topics and ponders what it means that running back Najee Harris has dropped some weight ahead of Steelers OTAs and minicamp. Then later, Pirates insider Andrew Destin joins Christopher to look ahead to Paul Skenes' second MLB start Friday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 16, 2024When will Pirates' Bob Nutting lose patience with GM Ben Cherington, manager Derek Shelton?On his weekly First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey takes stock of where the Pirates stand after 44 games, on a 70-win pace. How fair would it be for owner Bob Nutting to be losing patience with GM Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton, as young hitters including Henry Davis, Jack Suwinski and Nick Gonzales continue to struggle and young pitchers like Quinn Priester and Roansy Contreras are being shipped out via DFA and the minors? And what happened to the "player-centric" development model Cherington promised, as the club seems to be imposing a cookie-cutter approach on hitters offensively?
Jason tackles those questions, then reacts to the Steelers schedule, released Wednesday, that includes four primetime games as well as a Christmas Day matchup with Patrick Mahomes, Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 16, 2024Reacting to Steelers' 2024 NFL schedule: Is Christmas vs. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs really so bad?In his weekly YouTube appearance, Post-Gazette sports columnist Paul Zeise joins host Adam Bittner to react to the Steelers' 2024 NFL schedule release. Is the Christmas Day matchup with the Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Netflix a good thing or a bad thing? Will playing three of the first four games on the road hinder the offense's ability to gel with new faces Russell Wilson, Troy Fautanu and Zach Frazier among others joining the fold? How will this team hold up against a tough second half of the slate that includes all six division games with the Bengals, Ravens and Browns. Plus dates with Super Bowl contenders including the Chiefs and Eagles? And is the home opener against Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and the Chargers a sneaky tough one?
Our duo tackles those questions and more, then gets into the Pirates. What should we make of the short-lived six man rotation and the decisions to DFA Roansy Contreras and option Quinn Priester back to the minors. Does the coaching staff's failure with those players portend bad things for Jared Jones and Paul Skenes? Was Nick Gonzales' success with Triple-A Indianapolis overhyped? And when will Ben Cherington get some real heat for how this team is performing?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 15, 2024Can Steelers' Roman Wilson be their No. 2 WR in Arthur Smith's offense? NFL schedule predictions?On the Wednesday episode of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, host Christopher Carter welcomes Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo to analyze third-round NFL draft pick Roman Wilson's role in new OC Arthur Smith's offense. How much potential does Wilson have to be a No. 2 behind George Pickens and ahead of names like Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller and Quez Watkins? Can he handle a high volume of targets after not seeing the ball a ton in his college offense at Michigan? Or are the Steelers going to need to trade for a proven No. 2 like Courtland Sutton, Brandon Aiyuk or Deebo Samuel?
Our duo tackles those questions and more. They also ponder what the Steelers can expect in the NFL schedule release Wednesday night. And later, Pirates insider Andrew Destin joins Christopher to break down the team's series against the Brewers in Milwaukee.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 15, 2024What is ex-Pirates sideline reporter Robby Incmikoski up to? What are his best Pittsburgh memories?On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey checks in with former AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh Pirates sideline reporter Robby Incmikoski to see what he's been up to since leaving the network last fall. How are things in his new role with Bally Sports Southwest, covering the World Series champion Texas Rangers? And what are some of his favorite memories of working with the Pirates in a tenure that spanned the playoff years with Andrew McCutchen, Gerrit Cole and Neil Walker to more recent struggles under GM Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton? Our duo tackles those topics and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 14, 2024Steelers offseason: Is a Pat Freiermuth extension worth it? Should they have drafted a CB over OT?On his weekly Chipped Ham and Football podcast, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Brian Batko answers reader questions. Among them: Is a Pat Freiermuth extension really worthwhile for GM Omar Khan considering the tight ends injuries and uninspiring production? Should the team have selected a top NFL draft corner like Quinyon Mitchell, Terrion Arnold, Nate Wiggins or Cooper DeJean instead of the sixth tackle off the board in Troy Fautanu? Could QB Justin Fields be an option at another position like WR or KR if he fails to beat out Russell Wilson for the top QB job? What about undrafted free agent John Rhys Plumlee? And how quickly can Arthur Smith assemble all of his pieces on offense before the unit hits its stride?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 14, 2024Time to give Pirates' Oneil Cruz credit? Clock ticking on Rowdy Tellez? Wrong move with Roansy?On his daily First 10 podcast, Post-Gazette sports columnist Jason Mackey reacts to the club's 8-6 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night. Is it time to give shortstop Oneil Cruz credit for emerging from his early-season slump? How much longer can general manager Ben Cherington let Rowdy Tellez struggle at first base? And will the Pirates cum to regret designating Roansy Contreras for assignment to make room for Paul Skenes on the MLB roster?
Jason tackles those questions, then explains why he prefers the Steelers' QB situation with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields to the $212 million contract that the Detroit Lions just gave to Jared Goff.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 14, 2024Pitt football: How can new transfer portal commits Chief Borders and Josh McCarty help Pat Narduzzi?On their weekly Pitt mailbag podcast, Post-Gazette insiders Christopher Carter and Abby Schnable answer reader questions. Among them: What can Chris and Abby tell us about new Pitt transfer portal commits Chief Borders and Josh McCarty? How is Pat Narduzzi's 2025 recruiting class coming along? What are Blake Hinson's NBA chances after an impressive showing at G League camp? And what is the financial situation like for the Atlantic Coast Conference?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesMay 13, 2024Steelers rookie camp recap: Troy Fautanu works out at RT? Beanie Bishop a slot CB option?On the Monday edition of the North Shore Drive podcast, presented by Mike's Beer Bar, Post-Gazette Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo joins host Christopher Carter to react to the team's rookie minicamp over the weekend. Should we read anything into Troy Fautanu working out at RT as opposed to LT? Is undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop an option at slot corner? Who is Anthony Averett, the veteran CB signed after a tryout during rookie camp? And how did new faces including Zach Frazier, Roman Wilson and Payton Wilson look on their first weekend as Steelers?
Our duo tackles those topics and more on the football front. Then Christopher welcomes Pirates insider Noah Hiles to react to Paul Skenes' MLB debut against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday at PNC Park. And another series loss for the team.
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Music from https://filmmusic.io "RetroFuture Clean" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)