North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast
Where Pittsburgh Pirates Fans Gather For Insight, Fun, & A Little Therapy #LetsGoBucs #Pirates #MLB
Could 2027 Be Paul Skenes’ Last Year With the Pirates?
Could 2027 really be Paul Skenes’ final season with the Pirates?
Alex Stumpf answers your questions on another Friday OffBeat mailbag, including what could happen with Skenes if the Pirates fail again in 2027, what still needs to change with Henry Davis’ swing, who could be Pittsburgh’s next extension candidate and how the looming MLB lockout could impact this offseason.
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The Brewers Won It All. What’s the Pirates’ Excuse Now?
The Milwaukee Brewers just won the World Series — in baseball’s smallest market.
Alex Stumpf looks at what Milwaukee’s championship actually says about the Pittsburgh Pirates, why payroll alone can’t explain the difference between the two organizations, and how the Brewers built a sustainable winner through development, coaching, trades and organizational culture.
In this episode:
Why Milwaukee’s championship was years in the making What the Brewers proved about winning in a small market Why Quinn Priester is an example of the organizational difference What Pittsburgh can — and can’t — blame on payroll Why Alex...The GM the Pirates Didn’t Hire Is in the World Series
Did the Pirates hire the wrong GM? With Matt Arnold and the Brewers in the World Series, Tyler and DiNardo revisit Pittsburgh’s 2019 decision to hire Ben Cherington over Arnold and debate how different the last seven years could have looked.
Plus, we dig into the Pirates’ hiring of former Astros pitching coach Sean Buchanan, what it says about their pitching development strategy, and finish by putting some of the hottest Pirates takes floating around social media on trial.
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The Pirates Prospects FanGraphs (Eric Longenhagen) Is Buying Right Now
FanGraphs prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen joins DiNardo live from the Arizona Fall League to break down some of the most intriguing players in the Pirates farm system.
Eric explains why Jhonny Severino is back on his radar, what has changed with Wyatt Sanford, how good Easton Carmichael could be behind the plate and why Michael Walsh has big-league bullpen stuff. They also get into the concerns surrounding Zander Mueth, the Pirates’ selection of Derek Curiel and an under-the-radar arm Pirates fans should know in Reinold Navarro.
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Wyatt Sanford Is Becoming More Than a Glove-First Prospect
Pirates prospect Wyatt Sanford joins Alex Stumpf in Arizona after launching a 454-foot home run — the longest of his professional career — to talk about the offensive jump that changed his season.
Sanford explains how he added strength and power, why he’s working to cut down the swing-and-miss, and how being labeled a glove-first player became motivation. He also talks working with his dad, studying video, his “hitting rat” mentality and what Pittsburgh should expect from him.
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Pirates Prospect Easton Carmichael Is Chasing 20/20 in 2027
Alex Stumpf sits down with Pirates catching prospect Easton Carmichael in Arizona to talk about his breakout season, what he learned from his first full year and why he's already setting his sights on a 20/20 season in 2027.
Carmichael also discusses his approach at the plate, growing up as a coach's son, his development behind the plate, learning to move on from failure and what he wants Pirates fans to get every time they watch him play.
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What Do the Pirates Do With Mitch Keller Now?
Jim Rosati breaks down the decision facing the Pirates with Mitch Keller after an injury-plagued 2026. Keller says he’s healthy and expects a normal offseason, but with $18.4 million due next season, should Pittsburgh keep the veteran starter or move his contract and spend that money elsewhere?
Jim also gets into Brandon Lowe’s upcoming free agency, why the qualifying offer is an easy decision, and whether the Pirates can really afford to operate like the Brewers or Rays when they don’t have another Brandon Lowe waiting in the organization.
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Can Bryan Reynolds Replace What Brandon Lowe Gave the Pirates?
The Pirates are likely losing one of their most consistent hitters in Brandon Lowe, and replacing that production won't be easy. Alex Stumpf looks at why Bryan Reynolds may need to become the steady, month-to-month force Pittsburgh's lineup needs in 2027.
Reynolds showed stretches of All-Star level production in 2026, but his second-half drop-off was part of the Pirates' offensive struggles. With plenty of variance elsewhere in the lineup, Pittsburgh needs one of its highest-paid players to deliver from April through September.
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Jhonny Severino Walks It Off! | Pirates AFL Recap
Our Arizona Fall League trip ends with a walk-off.
DiNardo and Jim recap a long day at Camelback Ranch that ended with Jhonny Severino delivering the game-winning hit for Glendale. We also break down an impressive outing from Cristhian Tortosa, a rough night for Brandon Cain and what stood out from Easton Carmichael behind the plate, including a couple interesting moments with the ABS challenge system.
We also wrap up the trip and preview some of the conversations we recorded in Arizona with Sam Dykstra, Eric Longenhagen and more.
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Will the Pirates Trade Mitch Keller? Konnor Griffin, Brandon Lowe & More
Alex Stumpf opens up the OffBeat mailbag to answer some of the biggest questions surrounding the Pittsburgh Pirates heading into the offseason.
What does Konnor Griffin need to continue developing with his swing? Could Mitch Keller actually be traded? Should the Pirates bring Brandon Lowe back? Does this rotation need another left-handed starter? Alex gets into all of that and more while looking ahead to some of the decisions that could shape the Pirates in 2027.
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Wyatt Sanford SHOWS OUT in Glendale’s 10-0 Win | AFL Day 2 Recap
Wyatt Sanford gave Pirates fans plenty to watch in our second day at the Arizona Fall League.
The Pirates prospect went 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base as the Glendale Desert Dogs rolled to a 10-0 win over the Mesa Solar Sox. We break down what stood out from Sanford's night, what we're seeing from him in person and everything else we noticed from another night in Arizona.
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These 2 Pirates Prospects Are Closer Than You Think
The Pirates announced several of their minor league award winners this week, and Alex Stumpf sees two players who could be closer to Pittsburgh than people realize. He breaks down Murf Gray’s breakout season and path to the majors, plus why Derek Diamond’s stuff and versatility could make him a legitimate option for the Pirates as soon as 2027.
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What We Need to Learn From the Pirates in Arizona
NS9LIVE! is coming to you from Arizona as we kick off our Arizona Fall League coverage.
Jim, DiNardo, and Alex each give one thing they want to see or learn from this trip, plus we touch on the Pirates’ Minor League award winners announced this week, recap our first day in Arizona after somehow bringing rain to the desert, and wrap up with our thoughts on the World Series.
What matters most for these Pirates prospects while we’re out here? Let us know what you want us watching for.
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Brandon Cain Was a Hitter. Now He Throws 99 MPH for the Pirates
Pirates pitching prospect Brandon Cain joins Jim from the Arizona Fall League for the latest Get To Know.
Cain talks about going to Oklahoma as a hitter, the moment he got back on the mound and watched his velocity jump, touching 99 mph and what he’s working on during his time in Arizona. He also gets into his relationship with cousin Lorenzo Cain, studying computer science, building his own PC, Call of Duty, his draft-day celebration and which Pirates prospect he’d want to face in the box.
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Why the Brewers Will Beat the Rays in the World Series
Alex Stumpf breaks down the Brewers-Rays World Series matchup and explains why he believes Milwaukee has the edge in a seven-game series.
From Milwaukee’s dominant bullpen and pitching versatility to the position-by-position matchup featuring Jackson Chourio, Junior Caminero, William Contreras and more, Alex goes through where each team has the advantage before making his World Series prediction.
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What the Pirates Need to Learn From the Rays
The Chris Archer trade happened eight years ago, but are the Pirates still feeling the effects of it?
Alex Stumpf looks at how the Rays built another pennant-winning roster largely through trades, why Tampa continues taking aggressive swings for talent, and why Pittsburgh can’t let one disastrous deal make the organization afraid of taking risks.
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Did Milwaukee Prove the Pirates Have No Excuses?
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series, and their run has reopened one of the biggest debates surrounding the Pirates: if Milwaukee can consistently win as a small-market team, what excuse does Pittsburgh have left?
On today’s Bucco Brew, DiNardo and Jim dig into what Milwaukee’s success actually proves, why Pirates fans can still want major changes to MLB’s economic system, and whether a salary cap, spending floor and expanded revenue sharing would create a more level playing field. Plus, why changing the system wouldn’t automatically fix the Pirates, but could finally...
3 Pitchers the Pirates Should Target This Winter
The Pirates’ biggest offseason need is still the offense, but there are holes on the pitching staff that could use some attention too.
Alex Stumpf looks at three pitchers who could make sense for Pittsburgh this winter: Ryan Yarbrough, Brock Burke and Enyel De Los Santos. From starting depth and another left-handed option to adding more upside in the late innings, Alex breaks down what each pitcher brings and why their traits could fit the Pirates in 2027.
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15 Scouts Watched Michael Walsh. The Pirates Scout Stayed.
Pirates pitching prospect Michael Walsh joins North Shore Nine for the latest Get To Know from the Arizona Fall League.
Walsh talks about growing up as a championship swimmer in Chicago, choosing baseball, losing nearly two college seasons at Yale during COVID and the Pirates scout who stuck around through one of the roughest outings of his college career. He also relives closing out Greensboro’s Fourth of July perfect game, talks Andrew McCutchen, Altoona pizza, life in the AFL and gives us the rundown on some of his Pirates teammates.
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The Brewers Just Proved the Pirates Have No Excuse
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the World Series, and Alex Stumpf says their run should force the Pirates to ask one very simple question: Why aren’t we the Brewers?
Milwaukee has spent a decade consistently winning in baseball’s smallest market. Alex looks at what the Brewers have built, Bob Nutting’s comments about “leaner years,” why payroll isn’t an excuse for everything and whether the Pirates are finally ready to double down on the foundation they’ve created.
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The Pirates Need to Fix This Lineup. Here Are 3 Realistic Fits
The Pirates need more offense this winter, particularly another right-handed bat and help around the infield. Alex Stumpf looks at three external additions who make sense for Pittsburgh: Taylor Ward, Edmundo Sosa and Eugenio Suárez.
These are not rumors or reports connecting the Pirates to these players right now. Instead, Alex explains why each fits what Pittsburgh needs, what the risk would be and why all three could make sense on short-term deals.
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Who Stays? The Pirates’ Biggest 2027 Roster Decisions
Colin Beazley fills in for DiNardo tonight as NS9LIVE! digs into his Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ranking of every Pirates player by their likelihood of returning in 2027. Which players are locks, who could be traded, and which familiar names might actually be gone this winter?
We’ll get into Mitch Keller, Nick Gonzales, Carmen Mlodzinski, Endy Rodriguez, Jared Triolo and more, plus Brandon Lowe and Triolo being named Gold Glove finalists and what Pittsburgh’s infield could look like next season.
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Get To Know Zander Mueth: “I’m Just Gonna Throw Hard”
Pirates pitching prospect Zander Mueth joins Jim from the Arizona Fall League to talk about his move to the bullpen, simplifying his approach and what he learned working alongside Paul Skenes shortly after being drafted.
Mueth also discusses changing his arm slot, dealing with adversity, his unusual offseason yoga routine, golf and growing up in small-town Illinois before answering some rapid-fire questions about his fellow Pirates prospects.
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The Pirates Bullpen Still Has One Hole to Fix
The Pirates bullpen could be a real strength in 2027, but there is still one clear hole Alex Stumpf doesn’t think they can ignore: another reliable left-handed reliever.
Gregory Soto had an uneven season, but he was also asked to handle more leverage than originally planned and still finished with 67 innings, 79 strikeouts, a 3.63 ERA and 1.1 WPA. On today’s OffBeat, Alex looks at whether Soto should be brought back, why Mason Montgomery’s emergence doesn’t eliminate the need for another lefty, the internal and free-agent alternatives and how payroll uncertainty could shape the decision.
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Pirates Prospect Wyatt Sanford Took the Doubt Personally
Pirates prospect Wyatt Sanford joins Jim from the Arizona Fall League for another Get To Know interview.
Sanford talks about the questions surrounding his bat when the Pirates drafted him in 2024, how those doubts still motivate him, the work behind his breakout power in 2026 and the influence his parents have had on his career. He also discusses his injury, learning to take ownership of his development as a professional and what surprised him most about pro baseball.
Plus, Wyatt goes rapid fire on his Pirates teammates, including Michael Walsh, Easton Carmichael and Zander Mueth.
<...Should the Pirates Trade Mitch Keller This Winter?
Mitch Keller enters the offseason as one of the biggest questions facing the Pirates. After an injury-shortened season and an ERA over five, Keller is set to make more than $18 million in 2027, but does moving him actually make Pittsburgh better?
Alex Stumpf looks at Keller’s trade value, the possibility of a bounce-back season, the Pirates’ growing rotation depth and whether that money could be better spent elsewhere.
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The Pirates Have Two Obvious Problems to Fix
The Pirates don’t need a complete overhaul this offseason, but there are a few obvious weaknesses they have to fix if they want to take another step in 2027.
On today’s Bucco Brew, we look at Pittsburgh’s struggles against left-handed pitching and some potential offseason targets who could help, discuss Wyatt Sanford’s breakout and what the next wave of Pirates prospects could look like, and figure out how much work still needs to be done with a bullpen that cost this team too many games in 2026.
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Can the Small Markets Take Down the Dodgers?
Alex Stumpf breaks down Guardians-Rays and Brewers-Dodgers as MLB’s final four battle for a trip to the World Series. Why Tampa Bay’s depth continues to separate them, how Milwaukee’s bullpen could give the Dodgers problems, and why Alex is sticking with his original Rays-Brewers World Series prediction.
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Easton Carmichael Is More Than A Power-Hitting Catcher
Pirates catching prospect Easton Carmichael joins North Shore Nine for a Get To Know You conversation from the Arizona Fall League.
Carmichael looks back on his first full professional season, hitting 20 home runs, catching a no-hitter in Greensboro and the chaotic story behind his promotion to Altoona. He also explains why catching feels like a chess match, how he remembers opposing hitters by their cleats and what he hopes to learn from his time in Arizona.
Plus, Easton talks growing up in an Oklahoma baseball family, catching his brother at OU, his sneaker collection, cooking...
Pirates Could Have an Elite Bullpen in 2027
The Pirates bullpen was one of their biggest problems for much of 2026, but things changed dramatically down the stretch. Alex Stumpf looks at why Mason Montgomery, Luke Weaver and Lake Bachar give Pittsburgh the foundation of a potentially excellent bullpen in 2027.
But there are still plenty of questions. Where does Carmen Mlodzinski fit? Can Yohan Ramirez repeat his breakout season? Who is the second left-hander? And with limited help waiting in Triple-A, how aggressive do the Pirates need to be this offseason?
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What If Paul Skenes Is Just… Good? | Pirates Rotation Review
The Pirates entered 2026 expecting their starting rotation to be one of the strengths of the team. Instead, even with Braxton Ashcraft emerging as an All-Star, the group ended up much closer to average than elite.
Alex Stumpf looks at Paul Skenes’ step back and whether this version of him could be closer to what the Pirates get moving forward. He also breaks down the progress from Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones, Mitch Keller’s uncertain future and whether Pittsburgh should use its pitching depth to help address the offense this offseason.
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Would You Trust the Pirates in October?
The Pirates are watching October baseball from home, but how far away are they really? Tonight on NS9LIVE!, we build Pittsburgh’s hypothetical playoff rotation and lineup, decide which late-season breakouts are actually real, and look at what the teams still playing have that the Pirates don’t.
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Pirates Have 3 Catchers. Do They Have a Starter?
The Pirates set a franchise record for home runs by their catchers in 2026, Rafael Flores Jr. made an immediate offensive impact and Henry Davis developed into a good defensive catcher. So why does the position still feel like such a major question entering 2027?
Alex Stumpf breaks down Flores’ issues behind the plate and against high velocity, whether Davis can finally take an offensive step forward, Endy Rodriguez’s uncertain future after another injury and whether Pittsburgh has any realistic alternatives outside the organization.
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Pirates Have A BIG Infield Problem To Solve This Offseason
The Pirates have some pieces to build around in the infield, starting with Konnor Griffin, but there are still some major questions heading into 2027.
Alex Stumpf breaks down where Nick Gonzales, Spencer Horwitz, Jared Triolo and the rest of the current group fit, what prospects like Murf Gray could eventually provide, and why the Pirates may have to go outside the organization for another impact infielder.
And above everything else: can they really afford to let Brandon Lowe walk?
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Pirates' 2027 Bill Is Coming... Will They Actually Spend?
The Pirates’ 2027 offseason is already starting to take shape. DiNardo and the crew break down the latest arbitration projections, what Pittsburgh’s payroll could look like next season, and the bigger question: how much does this team actually need to spend to take another step forward?
Plus, Wyatt Sanford is already making noise in the Arizona Fall League, we check in on the Pirates prospects playing in Glendale, and look at where Pittsburgh should prioritize its money this winter. If you had $25 million to improve this roster, where are you spending it?
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Pirates 2027 Roster Outlook: Is The Outfield Already Good Enough?
The Pirates have started looking toward 2027, and Alex Stumpf is going position by position to figure out where this roster needs to improve.
First up: the outfield. Bryan Reynolds remains one of the safest bets in the lineup, Oneil Cruz took another step forward and Esmerlyn Valdez showed real impact potential as a rookie. But is that enough? Alex looks at the Pirates' internal depth, Jake Mangum's role, the possibility of adding another bat and whether someone like Taylor Ward could make an already promising group even better.
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We Ranked EVERY 2026 Pittsburgh Pirate... Paul Skenes in C Tier?!
The 2026 season is over, so it’s time for our FINAL Pittsburgh Pirates tier list.
Nate & Neil went back through the entire roster and ranked everyone from S to F based on their performance, impact and what we expected from them coming into the year. Brandon Lowe and Oneil Cruz headline the S tier, but things get weird fast when Rafael Flores Jr., Mason Montgomery and Yohan Ramirez all end up ranked ahead of Paul Skenes.
We also get into Konnor Griffin, Bryan Reynolds, Jared Jones, Bubba Chandler, Braxton Ashcraft, Esmerlyn Valdez and plenty more wh...
MLB Division Series Predictions: Who’s Moving On?
The Wild Card round is over, so Alex Stumpf is back with another round of MLB playoff predictions.
Can the Yankees survive without Aaron Judge against Tampa Bay? Does the White Sox offense have enough to get past Cleveland? Alex breaks down Brewers-Padres before explaining why the Dodgers’ bullpen could open the door for Atlanta to pull off the upset.
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Where Does Nick Gonzales Fit for the Pirates in 2027?
Alex Stumpf takes a look at where Nick Gonzales fits into the Pirates’ plans for 2027. With Konnor Griffin expected at shortstop, Brandon Lowe headed toward free agency and questions remaining at both second and third base, Pittsburgh has some decisions to make in the infield.
Could Gonzales settle back in at second? Is third base still an option? Could the Pirates even explore getting him reps in the outfield? Alex breaks down what went wrong defensively in 2026, why locking Gonzales into one position could help, and why the Pirates may need answers before a potential MLB lockout be...
Who Actually Knows Ball? Grading Our 2026 Pirates Predictions
The 2026 Pittsburgh Pirates season is officially in the books at 82-80, so tonight on NS9LIVE! we're pulling out the receipts.
Before Opening Day, DiNardo, Tyler and Jim made 15 over/under predictions involving Brandon Lowe, Oneil Cruz, Paul Skenes, Konnor Griffin, Jared Jones, Braxton Ashcraft, Gregory Soto and more. Now we're going through every one, grading the picks and finally determining who actually knows ball.
Plus, we look back at the biggest takeaways from the Pirates' first winning season since 2018 and what 2026 changed about the outlook for 2027.
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