Might seem weird, since we’re having our wildest winter in decades, but Wednesday will mark the formal reporting of pitchers and catchers to the Pirates’ spring complex in Bradenton, Fla. … and we’ll be there in force.

Jose Negron and Greg Macafee will fly down for the the opening, and I’ll also fly down at some stage, though I’ve obviously got to work that around the contending Penguins’ schedule. At least one of us will be on hand for every session, every game (excepting the alternate city on simultaneous split-squad exhibitions), and all else.

The coverage will come in the form of words, visuals and more visuals. And by that I mean more photography and videos than ever. We want our followers to feel like they’re on the scene with our journalists, and we’re confident we’ll be able to share everything but the traffic lights. 

We’ll also be debuting a Double Shot of Pirates live video program every weekday at 3 p.m. That’ll be co-hosted, as all of them are, by me and Chris Halicke, and it’ll lead right into our Double Shots of Penguins at 3:30, then Steelers at 4. These will have reporting from the scene, as well, including when I’m down there myself.

It’ll be different. Probably more different than I’m making it sound. But I can say unequivocally that we’re excited about this approach and, from there, applying it to football and hockey.

INSIDE THE WORKS

• Comments and related cups/emojis are moving much more smoothly this week, thanks to some sprucing up by our developers at BoomPress.

• Our app users soon will be able to expand photos, coinciding with the visuals we’ll be offering from Bradenton.

• Our Downtown HQ/shop’s now overflowing with cardboard boxes. Stacks and stacks of ’em. That’s the curse that comes before the blessing of having the NFL Draft here.

• We’re hiring. Big-league experience a must. Email: Jobs@DKPittsburghSports.com

• Feel free to add a review of any aspect of our business on our Google business listing, or on our Apple and Spotify podcast channels. Makes a significant difference.

BACK TO BUSINESS

• Our video views for our most recent full seven-day span, Jan. 30-Feb. 5, were 252,393. Our most-watched program was my Daily Shot of Steelers on Brian Angelichio’s hiring at 9,518.

• Our page-view numbers, also for Jan. 30-Feb. 5, were 823,563. Our most-read original piece was Chris’ news of Angelichio’s hiring, at 15,996.

• Our company social media: 71,848 followers on Facebook, 59,699 on X, 57,932 on YouTube, 17,617 on Instagram, 8,097 on TikTok, 6,658 on Threads.

• We make mistakes. If you see one, email: Typos@DKPittsburghSports.com

• The Downtown HQ/shop’s open Tuesday-Saturday, 12-6 p.m., while our company-themed merch can be had in our online store.

• Anything you need, email: Help@DKPittsburghSports.com

• Thanks for supporting this proud venture.