North Shore Nine went live from LECOM Park in Bradenton with Anthony DiNardo and Doug bringing the on-the-ground Spring Training energy (yes, with Bob Nutting lurking nearby). With the Pirates getting closer to Opening Day, the guys focused on what actually matters right now: pitching roles, roster fits, and which storylines feel real after the first couple weeks of camp.
The conversation starts with Mike Clevinger getting the ball and the question that follows him everywhere in March: what’s the role? Rotation depth? Multi-inning bullpen weapon? As a non-roster invite, he’s a name worth tracking, and this outing was a good checkpoint. From there, it turns into the broader pitching picture — the fifth starter battle, Carmen Mlodzinski’s usage, and why the “starter vs. bullpen” debate is going to define a few key arms as the Pirates narrow decisions.
They also run through a lineup that looks a lot closer to “regular season mode” than a typical spring card: Jake Mangum setting the table, Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds in the middle, plus Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna adding thump. Spencer Horwitz gets a mention with the WBC looming, and the guys touch on what they want to see from Henry Davis and the bottom-half pieces as opportunities shrink.
Watch/listen now and drop your biggest Spring Training takeaway in the comments. More Bradenton recaps are coming before Opening Day.
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