Brandon Cain Was a Hitter. Now He Throws 99 MPH for the Pirates

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. Download the North Shore Nine app: https://northshorenine.com/get-app Read more from Alex Stumpf on Substack: [Alex Stumpf Substack link] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Download our app! : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-shore-nine/id6771171000 : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northshorenine.app Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ZY250XUYiS-yX7xOQCdLA/join 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 #pittsburghpirates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Subscribe to Alex Stumpf’s Book Rule Bucs: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ Download the North Shore Nine app: https://northshorenine.com/get-app North Shore Nine is presented by FanDuel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Download the North Shore Nine app: https://northshorenine.com/get-app Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Download our app! : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-shore-nine/id6771171000 : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northshorenine.app 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 #pittsburghpirates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Subscribe to Alex Stumpf’s Book-Rule Bucs Substack: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ Download our app! : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-shore-nine/id6771171000 : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northshorenine.app Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ZY250XUYiS-yX7xOQCdLA/join 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 #pittsburghpirates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Download the NS9 app: https://northshorenine.com/get-app Read more from Alex Stumpf on Substack: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 remove one of the organization’s biggest built-in excuses. Download the NS9 app: https://northshorenine.com/get-app Bucco Brew is powered by De Fer Coffee & Tea. Use code NS930 at checkout. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. OffBeat is presented by FanDuel. Alex Stumpf’s Book-Rule Bucs: https://bookrulebucs.substack.com/ Download the North Shore Nine app: https://northshorenine.com/get-app Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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. Download our app! : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/north-shore-nine/id6771171000 : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.northshorenine.app Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9ZY250XUYiS-yX7xOQCdLA/join 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 #pittsburghpirates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.