North Shore Nine: A Pittsburgh Pirates Podcast

Murf Gray has been one of the hottest hitters in the Pirates’ minor league system, and on this week’s Bucs On Deck, Jim and Anthony Murphy break down what makes his early pro performance so interesting.

Gray, a competitive balance pick in last year’s draft, is already showing an intriguing offensive profile in Bradenton with power, hard contact, strong bat-to-ball skills, and the type of production that could push him quickly through the system. But the biggest question may be on the defensive side: can he stick at third base, or does a potential move to fir...

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped a late-night game to the San Francisco Giants, and while the offense had its issues, the bigger concern once again came from the middle relief group.

Carmen Mlodzinski gave the Pirates six innings and kept them in the game, even if it was not the cleanest or most convincing start. But once the game turned to the bullpen, Justin Lawrence struggled to execute and the Giants opened things up. Anthony DiNardo and Tyler break down whether Don Kelly made the right move, why the blame cannot fall entirely on the manager, and why...

Nick Gonzales has quietly forced his way into a bigger role for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and suddenly third base is not as simple as Jared Triolo returning from the injured list and taking the job back.

On today’s episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf looks at the Pirates’ third base situation, why Gonzales has earned real playing time, and why Triolo’s Gold Glove defense still matters for a team with serious defensive issues elsewhere on the field. The conversation goes beyond offense, digging into how the Pirates can best support a young pitching staff, especially with outfie...

Tonight on NS9LIVE!, we’re starting with the NS9 Really Stupid Question before looking back at some Pirates takes we may need to apologize for.

Ty Ty is ready to apologize for saying the Pirates wasted money on Gregory Soto, who has been lights out. DiNardo is walking back even entertaining the idea of trading Mitch Keller. And both are owning up to going under on Brandon Lowe’s season home run total after he just launched his 10th.

We’re also taking a bigger look at Donny Ball as Don Kelly reaches 162 games as Pir...

The Pittsburgh Pirates took another series, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-2 behind another strong start from Mitch Keller. DiNardo and Doug break down Keller’s continued reliability, the Pirates’ improved rotation, timely offense from Brandon Lowe and Spencer Horwitz, and why this team feels much different than past versions.

The guys also discuss how the Pirates responded after a rough series against St. Louis, why the offense no longer feels completely dependent on one or two players, and what this strong start to the West Coast trip says about the club moving forward.

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Jared Jones made his second rehab start with Indianapolis, and while the box score was not perfect, the bigger takeaway was clear: the power stuff is still there, the fastball touched 100 MPH, and he got through the outing healthy. Now the Pirates have a real decision coming.

On today’s OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down Jones’ rehab outing, why the bullpen conversation exists, and why moving him into a relief role may not be as simple as it sounds. From workload concerns to late-inning transition challenges to the value of keeping him on a starter’s schedule, this e...

Paul Skenes delivered another dominant performance for the Pittsburgh Pirates, throwing eight shutout innings with seven strikeouts and no walks in a 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jim and Neil break down just how special Skenes has been, why this start was exactly what the Pirates needed after a rough loss, and how his historic numbers continue to stack up against some of the best pitchers of the live ball era.

The offense, however, remains a concern. Brandon Lowe’s first-inning home run was the only run of the night, as the Pirates went 0-for-8 with ru...

Paul Skenes is still one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball, but Alex Stumpf thinks there may be an even better version hiding underneath the current results.

In today’s OffBeat, Alex breaks down how Skenes’ pitch mix has evolved in 2026, why the changeup usage has exploded, where the curveball disappeared to, and whether the Pirates ace is relying too heavily on the fastball/changeup combination instead of utilizing his full arsenal.

Is this just natural evolution for an elite pitcher… or is the best version of Paul Skenes still ahead of us?

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The Pittsburgh Pirates opened their series against the Arizona Diamondbacks with an ugly 9-0 loss, and this one got away early. Jim and Neil break down a rough first inning that featured defensive mistakes from the Pirates’ outfield, including more concern around Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz playing together defensively.

They also discuss Bubba Chandler’s strange outing, where he walked six but still battled through five innings and kept the Pirates within reach before the bullpen let things fully unravel. Yohan Ramirez struggled, Evan Sisk helped save the bullpen, Dennis Santana had another rough appearance, and Konn...

Konnor Griffin is heating up, and this stretch feels like more than just a hot week at the plate.

On today’s episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down Griffin’s strong series against the Reds, his recent 10-game surge, and the swing adjustments that may be helping the Pirates’ young shortstop settle into the major leagues. From simplifying his leg kick to quieting his hands and getting himself into a better position to hit, Griffin is showing real signs of growth at just 20 years old.

Alex also explains why the biggest takeaway may not be the...

On this episode of Bucco Brew, we’re diving into Konnor Griffin and the way he has started to heat up since turning 20. Is this just a hot stretch, or are we watching him begin to develop into the type of player the Pirates believed they were getting?

We also talk through a massive bounce-back weekend for the Pirates. After getting swept in four games by the Cardinals, they responded by sweeping the Reds, who entered the series in first place, and outscored Cincinnati 28-7 across the weekend. That is how you answer a bad series.

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What a difference a weekend makes.

After getting swept by the Cardinals and losing five straight, the Pittsburgh Pirates badly needed a response. They got one in a big way, sweeping the Reds at PNC Park and flipping the entire tone around this team.

On today’s episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down how the Pirates bounced back, why the Reds series felt bigger than a normal early-May matchup, and how performances from Braxton Ashcraft, Mitch Keller, Gregory Soto, Oneil Cruz, Joey Bart, and Konnor Griffin showed the most optimistic version of what this Pi...

The Pirates needed a response after a rough Cardinals series, and they got exactly that with a weekend sweep of the Cincinnati Reds.

On this NS9 Postgame Show powered by Primanti Brothers, Tyler and Jim break down the Pirates’ 1-0 win, led by a career-best outing from Braxton Ashcraft. Ashcraft went 7.2 scoreless innings, leaned heavily on a dominant curveball, and continued making the case that he has become Pittsburgh’s clear No. 2 starter behind Paul Skenes.

The guys also discuss Gregory Soto coming up huge out of the bullpen, Chase Burns matching Ashcraft pitch-for-pitch, Konnor Grif...

The Pittsburgh Pirates bounced back in a massive way, crushing the Cincinnati Reds in a 17-7 win on the NS9 Postgame Show powered by Primanti Bros.

Anthony DiNardo and Neil break down one of the wildest offensive performances of the season as the Pirates put up 19 hits, drew 11 walks, scored five runs without putting a ball in play, and watched Cincinnati’s pitching staff completely unravel. The guys discuss the Pirates’ response after a rough Cardinals series, Konnor Griffin’s big four-hit game, Oneil Cruz, Carmen Mlodzisnki's outing, the Reds’ meltdown, and why this win felt so good aft...

Seth Hernandez is wasting no time showing why the Pirates were thrilled to land him in the first round. On this week’s Bucs On Deck, Jim and Anthony Murphy break down Hernandez’s electric start to his pro career, including his dominant numbers in the Florida State League, overpowering pitch mix, absurd whiff rates, and why his advanced command and changeup separate him from most high school arms.

They also discuss how quickly Hernandez could move through the Pirates’ system, why a Greensboro promotion may not be far away, how he compares to past prep pitching prospe...

Tyler and Jim are back on the NS9 Postgame Show after the Pirates finally snapped their five-game losing streak with a 9-1 beatdown of the first-place Cincinnati Reds. Mitch Keller delivered exactly what Pittsburgh needed with seven strong innings, Bryan Reynolds set the tone early, Henry Davis launched two home runs, and Marcell Ozuna finally got one to leave the yard as the offense broke out in a big way.

After a brutal week, the Pirates gave themselves and the fan base a much-needed reset. Tyler and Jim break down Keller’s night, the offense piling on, Ni...

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended April with a five-game losing streak, a sweep at home against the St. Louis Cardinals, and a lot more questions than they had just one week ago.
On this episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down how the Pirates went from 16-11 and right in the thick of the NL Central race to 16-16 and last place in the division. Paul Skenes struggled against the Cardinals again, the defense cost the pitching staff more outs, the offense missed chances with runners in scoring position, and the bullpen issues continued to show up at the...

The Pittsburgh Pirates just got swept at home by the St. Louis Cardinals, dropped five straight games, and fell back to 16-16 after what had been a promising April. So now the question is simple: are the Pirates actually in trouble?

On this episode of NS9LIVE!, DiNardo, Tyler, and Jim each bring one reason why Pirates fans should not be overly concerned and one reason why the sky might actually be falling. The conversation hits on the thin margins around this team, the state of the NL Central, bullpen concerns, Don Kelly’s recent decision-making, Paul Sk...

The Pirates drop their 5th straight game as they fall to the Cardinals 10-5. Cody and Doug breakdown the action and vent some frustration.

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The Pirates dropped their fourth straight game with a 5-4 loss to the Cardinals, putting a rough finish on what had been a promising month of April. Alex Stumpf breaks down the key late-game at-bats, why Marcelo Ozuna’s struggles are becoming harder to dismiss, and how his lack of production in the middle of the order is impacting an offense that has become too top-heavy.

With Paul Skenes set to take the mound next, the Pirates still have a chance to stop the skid and finish April on a better note. But after one of the ro...

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped their fourth straight game, falling 5-4 to the St. Louis Cardinals in another frustrating loss that felt there for the taking.

Tyler and Doug break down Bubba Chandler’s uneven start, Don Kelly’s bullpen management, the decision to go to Evan Sisk and Chris Devenski in a tight game, and why the Pirates’ lack of urgency stood out during a rough stretch against the NL Central.

They also discuss the continued concerns with Brian Reynolds, Oneil Cruz and Marcell Ozuna, Nick Yorke’s big pinch-hit moment, Nick Gonzales nearly walking it off...

The Pirates dropped their third straight game, falling to the Cardinals again as their first real losing streak of the season begins to take shape. Alex Stumpf breaks down Braxton Ashcraft’s rough outing after being activated from the bereavement list, Hunter Barco eating 4.2 innings after a brutal travel day, and why the Pirates badly needed someone to save a depleted bullpen.

There were at least some offensive signs late, with Oneil Cruz homering after returning from illness, Ryan O’Hearn continuing to hit, and Konnor Griffin putting together one of his better swings with a ninth-inning home...

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped their third straight game in an 11-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, wasting a night where the offense hit three home runs and put up enough runs to win most games.

Jim and Doug break down Braxton Ashcraft’s rough start coming off the bereavement list, Hunter Barco being forced to wear nearly five innings out of the bullpen, and why the Pirates’ middle relief situation is becoming a real concern. They also discuss Oneil Cruz launching his ninth home run of the season, Ryan O’Hearn continuing to produce, Nick Gonzales extend...

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a chance to turn Monday night into one of the best feel-good wins of the season. Instead, it became another frustrating loss that slipped away late.

Alex Stumpf breaks down the Pirates’ 4-2 loss to the Cardinals, where Mason Montgomery, Justin Lawrence, and Wilber Dotel helped carry a near-perfect bullpen game into the seventh inning. Dotel, in particular, looked outstanding and was in line for a memorable night before the ninth inning unraveled.

Dennis Santana has been one of the Pirates’ most reliable arms, but this was not his night. Alex disc...

The Pittsburgh Pirates were cruising toward another strong NL Central win before everything unraveled in the 9th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Neil and DiNardo break down a brutal late-game collapse, Dennis Santana’s rare meltdown, the decision-making around the bullpen game, whether Don Kelly deserves blame, and why pulling Wilber Dotel after four strong innings became a major talking point after the loss.

They also get into the Pirates offense going quiet after the early runs, Jake Mangum’s costly baserunning mistake, Marcelo Ozuna’s continued struggles, and why this loss stings more becaus...

The Pittsburgh Pirates just took two out of three from the Milwaukee Brewers, and now their biggest week of the season is here.

On today’s Bucco Brew, we break down why this seven-game homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds could be a real early-season measuring stick in the NL Central. The Pirates have been stacking series wins, playing better baseball, and now have a chance to create separation in a division where every team is currently above .500.

We also dive into Nick Gonzales’ recent stretch, Oneil Cruz’s role at the top of...

Jared Jones is getting closer to returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and his first rehab start with Bradenton could put him on track to rejoin the rotation by late May. But once Jones is ready, the Pirates will have a real decision to make.

Alex Stumpf breaks down where Jones fits, why his fastball/slider combo still gives the Pirates a different look, and how his return could impact Carmen Mlodzinski’s role. Could Mlodzinski move back to the bullpen? Should the Pirates use an opener with him? Is a six-man rotation realistic? And how much should Pi...

The Pittsburgh Pirates missed a chance to sweep the Milwaukee Brewers, falling 5-0 in a rough offensive showing at American Family Field.

Jim and DiNardo break down a game where the Pirates managed just two hits, struck out 18 times, and had no answer for Kyle Harrison, who dominated over six shutout innings. They also discuss the Sunday lineup decisions, Joey Bart’s continued struggles, whether Rafael Flores should become part of the catching conversation, and Carmen Mlodzinski’s second straight shaky start.
Even with the ugly loss, the Pirates still took two of three in Milwaukee, fini...

Pirates survive in Milwaukee and take another road series from an NL Central opponent.
Tyler and Neil break down the 6-3 extra-inning win over the Brewers, including Mitch Keller’s steady start, Don Kelly’s quick hook to Isaac Mattson, another strong night from the bullpen, and how the offense found a way against Jacob Misiorowski’s ridiculous velocity. Plus, Konnor Griffin keeps showing signs, Nick Gonzales keeps finding RBIs, and the Pirates move to 16-11 with another win that feels a little more real than lucky.

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Edward Florentino has quickly become one of the most exciting names in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system, and this week on Bucs On Deck, Jim and Anthony Murphy take a closer look at why the young outfield prospect is generating so much attention.

After a huge 2025 breakout between the complex league and Bradenton, Florentino is already viewed as one of the Pirates’ top prospects and one of the more intriguing young hitters in the organization. The guys discuss his advanced approach, power potential, ability to lift the baseball, strong contact numbers, center field outlook, and what he st...

Paul Skenes was nearly perfect, Konnor Griffin had the first big moment of his young career, and the Pirates rolled to a 6-0 win over the Brewers in a massive early-season NL Central matchup.

On this NS9 Postgame Show powered by Primanti Bros., DiNardo and Tyler break down Skenes taking a perfect game into the seventh inning, how efficient and dominant he looked, and why a no-hitter feels like it is only a matter of time. They also dive into Konnor Griffin’s huge 20th birthday performance, including his home run, three-hit night, stolen base, and what it...

The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to a much better start, but there’s one problem: the rest of the NL Central looks good, too.

On this episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down why the Pirates’ path to the postseason may be tougher than expected, even if they continue playing competitive baseball. The Cardinals are young and interesting, the Reds have a similar pitching-first formula, the Cubs have high-end offensive talent, and the Brewers remain the team Alex refuses to doubt until they’re officially out of it.

Alex ranks the biggest NL Central threats to the...

The Pirates dropped the series finale to the Texas Rangers, losing 6-1 on a rough night against Jacob deGrom. Bubba Chandler battled traffic early before Texas broke the game open, while Oneil Cruz provided the lone Pirates run with his eighth home run of the season.

Jim and Neil break down Chandler’s command issues, why this start should not create panic, Konnor Griffin’s early MLB adjustment period, the missed bases-loaded chance in the sixth, and why the Pirates still sit in a good spot despite losing two of three in Texas. They also look ahead to t...

Braxton Ashcraft turned in one of the best starts by a Pirates pitcher this season, and Alex Stumpf breaks down why it mattered far beyond the box score. From the efficiency, to the pitch mix, to the in-game adjustments, this episode of OffBeat looks at why Ashcraft’s latest outing felt like a major step forward.

Alex dives into Ashcraft’s seven-inning performance, how his slider and sinker worked together, why his ability to self-correct stood out, and what this could mean for the Pirates rotation moving forward. If Braxton Ashcraft keeps pitching like this, the conversation arou...

The Pirates answered in a big way in Texas.

Jim and Neil break down Pittsburgh’s 8-4 win over the Rangers, highlighted by a four-run ninth inning, another huge night from the lineup, and a dominant seven-inning outing from Braxton Ashcraft. They also dive into Oneil Cruz’s absolute missile off the foul pole, key production from Bryan Reynolds, Brandon Lowe, and Marcelo Ozuna, and what this win means heading into the rubber match against Jacob deGrom.

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Andrew McCutchen faced the Pittsburgh Pirates as an opponent again, but the biggest story wasn’t what he said. It was what he wouldn’t say.

In this episode of OffBeat, Alex Stumpf breaks down McCutchen’s first comments to Pittsburgh media since joining the Texas Rangers, the questions that had to be asked, and why the non-answers may have revealed just as much as any quote could have. From the disappointment of how his Pirates return ended to the bigger picture of what his legacy still means to the organization, this episode dives into a relationship that s...

The Pirates dropped this one 5-1 in Texas, and Doug joined DiNardo live from Globe Life Field to break it all down on the NS9 Postgame Show Powered by Primanti Bros.

They dive into Carmen Mlodzinski’s rough outing and why one bad start still doesn’t change the bigger conversation around his role in the rotation. They also talk about the weird turning point in the game with Nick Yorke’s glove mishap, Oneil Cruz nearly changing everything with a missile to the wall, and why this one felt like one of those frustrating “game of inches”...

Andrew McCutchen is set to face the Pirates, and OffBeat takes a hard look at everything that led to this moment. Alex Stumpf breaks down McCutchen’s place in franchise history, why his return to Pittsburgh in 2023 felt so meaningful, why the relationship with the organization seemed to fracture, and why a reunion in 2026 no longer made baseball sense.

This episode dives into the emotion of McCutchen’s Pirates legacy, the reality of where his game was at this stage of his career, and why this awkward ending still does nothing to diminish what he meant to base...

The Pirates are 13-9 and playing some really good baseball right now. On this episode of Bucco Brew, we break down what’s gone right for Pittsburgh, including a strong record, one of the better ERAs in baseball, and the kind of overall play that has fans starting to believe this team might actually be onto something.

We also dig into the part of this team that still feels shaky: the bullpen, especially the middle relief. While the Pirates are winning and the vibes are high, that area continues to feel like the biggest issue that could ge...

Wilber Dotel’s MLB debut was not perfect, but it was still a really encouraging first look. Alex Stumpf breaks down what stood out from Dotel’s outing, why the Pirates were willing to call him up now, and what his long-term role could look like in Pittsburgh. From the fastball touching 100 to the bigger picture of the Pirates’ pitching depth, this episode looks at why Dotel could be more than just a short-term bullpen arm.

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