Ryan Thinks It’s 2016 Again. So We’re Blogging.
Somewhere between live shows, spring training planning, and arguing about bullpen usage, Ryan decided what NS9 needed in 2026 was a blog again. A blog. Like it’s 2016 and we’re convincing ourselves the Pirates are about to run the Central for the next five years.
But this week actually justified it.
Pitchers and catchers reported. The payroll is over $100 million. They signed Marcell Ozuna. Paul Skenes is entering Year 3. Konnor Griffin is suddenly not just a “future” guy. There are real things happening, and it finally feels like there’s enough substance to sit down and write about.
So here’s what we covered this week.
NS9 Emergency Podcast – Marcell Ozuna
The Ozuna signing wasn’t a random late-winter addition. It wasn’t depth. It wasn’t a “hope this works out” move. It was the Pirates acknowledging that the offense could not look the way it did last year and still expect different results.
For years this lineup has operated with zero margin. If the starter gave up two runs, it felt like the game was over. Every solo homer felt fatal. You were constantly hoping everything broke perfectly just to score four runs. Ozuna changes that conversation. Even in what was considered a down year, he was still above league average at the plate. Two seasons ago he was in MVP discussions. That is a different level of hitter than what this team has been rolling out consistently.
We also didn’t ignore the awkward part. There are a lot of DH-type bats on this roster now. O’Hearn, Lowe, Ozuna. Someone is going to be playing out of position at times, and the defensive alignment is not going to be clean every night. But six months ago we were saying this team needed multiple legitimate bats. They actually went and got them. That’s not something we’ve been able to say very often.
If you missed the full discussion on how this changes lineup construction and what it means for expectations, that entire NS9LIVE episode is up.
NS9LIVE – Pitchers and Catchers Report
Every February brings optimism. That part is automatic. This one felt different, though, and not just because baseball is back on the field.
Jared Jones starting the year on the 60-day IL matters. The rotation depth behind Skenes and Keller is still a real question. They probably still need another veteran arm if they’re serious about protecting innings early in the season. Those are legitimate concerns.
But the tone around camp is not rebuild energy anymore. Paul Skenes sounds like someone who expects to win now. Year 3 changes things. He’s not the exciting rookie finding his footing. He’s the face of the franchise. When he talks about expectations, it doesn’t sound hopeful. It sounds standard. That’s a shift.
We talked through what the early-season rotation realistically looks like, whether another starter still needs to be added, and how aggressive the front office actually seems willing to be. If you want a feel for what camp sounds like right now instead of what it looks like on social media, that full episode is worth watching.
The Point – Should Konnor Griffin Start Opening Day?
Three weeks ago this felt like offseason filler. Now it doesn’t.
We brought on Jason Mackey, Stephen Brault, Gary Morgan, and Ryan and asked the question directly: should Konnor Griffin start Opening Day?
Stephen didn’t hesitate. Yes.
The logic is simple. If your goal is to win games, you put your best option on the field. Multiple people on that panel believe Griffin might already be their best option at shortstop. That’s wild considering he’s 19 and barely touched Double-A, but that’s where the conversation is.
Brault also shared that Griffin told him on Day 1 that he wants to be in the Hall of Fame. That’s not normal prospect talk. That’s how he’s wired.
The more interesting part of the show wasn’t even the “should.” It was the “will.” Because if he’s just good in spring, the Pirates probably default to development. If he’s ridiculous, they won’t have a choice. That tension is real, and it says a lot about where this organization is mentally right now.
That full debate is worth watching because it’s not hype. It’s an actual discussion about whether the Pirates are willing to be bold when it matters.
This team isn’t boring right now. There are real debates. Real expectations. Real pressure.
If you missed any of the shows this week, they’re all up.
And this is the last week we’re home before we head to Bradenton for two full weeks of spring training coverage. Live shows, interviews, daily content, everything.
So if this week felt active, it’s about to ramp up.
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