The Pomp And Joe Show

Jared Jones was pulled from the game with a perfect game. Joe thinks the bigger problem was that the Pirates didn't score one run. He defends the Pirates decision. We all would have given Jones another inning. Joe thinks people should be more mad about the offense and the bullpen not coming through for Jones.

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Wednesday, July 8th, 2026

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Ryan O'Hearn put together one of the best games in Pirates and MLB history with three home runs and a Pirate record 10 RBIs. What's the greatest individual performance you've ever seen in person? Pitt historian Sam Sciullo joined the show. Sam was at the game that Tony Dorsett ran for 303 yards against Notre Dame. Penguins historian Paul Steigerwald joined...

Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: High school sports reporter Mike White joined the show. Mike shares some of the best performances in WPIAL sports history. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show joined the show. Everything is different with camp with Mike McCarthy as head coach. The staff and players must get up to speed quickly. Mike Tomlin training camps were physical, at l...

Hour 3 with Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Matt Clement: MLB analyst Matt Clement joined the show. "Ryan O'Hearn is a bigger All-Star snub than Brandon Lowe." Matt thinks the Pirates would rather sign two or three players like O'Hearn then sign Brandon Lowe. Matt Clement was at the Pirates game on Tuesday and was concerned about Paul Skenes at the start of the game. Skenes allowed two runs over si...

Hour 4 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Baseball Hall of Fame Director of Communications Craig Muder joined the show. Ryan O'Hearn's helmet is being sent to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame takes in 400 new artifacts a year! Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Ryan O'Hearn had one of the best days in Pirates history. The run support changed how Paul Skene...

Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Ryan O'Hearn had one of the best days in Pirates history. The run support changed how Paul Skenes pitched. He attacked the zone. Jason thinks Brandon Lowe might still have a chance at the ASG but it's not likely. Jason didn't understand why Carmen Mlodzinski pitched yesterday.

Baseball Hall of Fame Director of Communications Craig Muder joined the show. Ryan O'Hearn's helmet is being sent to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The Hall of Fame takes in 400 new artifacts a year! What belongs to the Hall of Fame and what belongs to the player when a big moment occurs? Curtain things belong to the league, the team, and the player. Teams have a donor agreement wi...

Matt Clement was at the Pirates game on Tuesday and was concerned about Paul Skenes at the start of the game. Skenes allowed two runs over six innings. Skenes threw 13 balls and 12 strikes in his first 25 pitches. Carmen Mlodzinski pitched two innings last night in a blowout.

MLB analyst Matt Clement joined the show. "Ryan O'Hearn is a bigger All-Star snub than Brandon Lowe." Matt thinks the Pirates would rather sign two or three players like O'Hearn then sign Brandon Lowe for the same money. O'Hearn got a curtain call at PNC Park with a career performance. What's the greatest individual performance in Pirates history?

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show joined the show. Everything is different with camp with Mike McCarthy as head coach. The staff and players must get up to speed quickly. Mike Tomlin training camps were physical, at least at the start, but Kaboly wonders if McCarthy will even have players tackling. The Steelers are going to be practicing at 11 am. 

High school sports reporter Mike White joined the show. Mike shares some of the best performances in WPIAL sports history. Kaboly recaps the first time he met Mike White. Phil Jerkovic and Darrelle Revis have had some of the greatest performances ever. 

Pitt historian Sam Sciullo joined the show. Sam was at the game that Tony Dorsett ran for 303 yards against Notre Dame. Penguins historian Paul Steigerwald joined the show. Steigy was on the broadcast with Mike Lange when Mario Lemieux scored five goals five ways. Steigy said you could tell early in a game if Mario was on his elite game and doing something special. Mario Lemieux has 49 shorthanded...

Ryan O'Hearn put together one of the best games in Pirates and MLB history with three home runs and a Pirate record 10 RBIs. What's the greatest individual performance you've ever seen in person? Bob and Lisa were at the game where Mario Lemieux scored five goals five different ways. Ben Roethlisberger throwing for 500 yards in back to back games. What are the best individual performances in Pitts...

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Joe Starkey and Austin Bechtold, from Tuesday, July 7th, 2026

Hour 1 with Joe Starkey: Dan Zangrilli reported that Brandon Lowe could still be traded. He said the Pirates have practically "no chance" of re-signing Brandon Lowe. The Pirates are 7th lowest in payroll and are barely over $100 million. The Pirates CAN sign him! We hear from Pirates fans who want the Bucs to commit to Brandon Lowe. Would you rather extend Brandon Lowe or Oneil Cruz??

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey: Would you rather sign Brandon Lowe or Oneil Cruz? Nick would take Oneil Cruz over Brandon Lowe. Charlie Batch said the Steelers are not going to keep four quarterbacks. Will Howard and Drew Allar need the reps and to overtake Mason Rudolph. Nick agrees and says the Steelers need to use the roster spot elsewhere. The Penguins signed forward Egor Chinakhov to a three-year co...

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: Konnor Griffin is expected to miss at least a month with a torn tendon in his left ring finger, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Joe and Austin discuss if the Pirates offense can sustain Griffin being out. Paul Skenes said some notable things to Jose Negron of DK PGH Sports about how his season is still ok. We have no idea what Paul Skenes is going to show up tonight.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey:

The Pirates are eight games ahead of last years pace, but Joe thinks NO ONE should be basing this year's team on last year. ESPN gives the Pirates a B for this point in the season. This date in sports history! July 7th. 

Pirates analyst Michael McKenry said that the vibration of getting jammed in your glove or at the plate is very painful with a finger injury and difficult to play with. Jared Triolo is swinging the bat better and will likely be called upon. Paul Skenes' fastball spin is down. Braxton Ashcraft has the best WAR of any pitcher on the Pirates. 

Konnor Griffin's injury is a big hit. We have no idea what Paul Skenes is going to show up tonight. Joe and Austin agree that the Pirates being at .500 or a game over at the All-Star Break is a win. The Braves and Brewers will be in town. We hear from fans.

Konnor Griffin is expected to miss at least a month with a torn tendon in his left ring finger, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Joe and Austin discuss if the Pirates offense can sustain Griffin being out. Paul Skenes said some notable things to Jose Negron of DK PGH Sports about how his season is still ok. Skenes said he's very pleased with how the season has gone for him.

The Penguins signed forward Egor Chinakhov to a three-year contract worth $6.25 million per season. Joe thinks it's a fair deal. Arturs Silovs is back on a one-year deal. Joe thinks the Penguins have a real chance to get Connor Bedard on an offer sheet. The Penguins would have to give up four first-round picks. The Flyers offered Leo Carlson a contract that would make them trade four first-round p...

Would you rather sign Brandon Lowe or Oneil Cruz? Charlie Batch said the Steelers are not going to keep four quarterbacks. Will Howard and Drew Allar need the reps and to overtake Mason Rudolph. Nick agrees and says the Steelers need to use the roster spot elsewhere.