The Pomp And Joe Show

There are no current talks with Oneil Cruz on a long-term extension. His value is skyrocketing. Cruz's power potential is large and his plate disciplate so much better. Baseball told everyone they're trying to command small market teams to spend $171 million. It would be a game changer if the salary cap and floor goes through. A lot of players are not aware of what's going on with the labor deal. People are on the owners' side.

The Pirates piggyback worked Thursday. Jared Jones pitched five scoreless innings and Carmen Mlodzinski earned a four-inning save. Pittsburgh is 4.5 games out of first and is in the first Wild Card spot. Joe thinks the Pirates are going to get to 86 wins and a Wild Card. Jeff Passan thinks the Pirates need to target a catcher. The No. 1 need is the bullpen.

Ray thinks the Darnell Washington deal makes sense and doesn't hurt their cap number. Ray was surprised that Nick Herbig signed for as much as he did. Ray thinks the Joey Porter Jr. deal will get done. If the Steelers move off a pass rusher, he thinks it's Alex Highsmith. He doesn't think they have to trade either. Herbig is now making $6.5 million more than Highsmith per season.

We are excited for training camp. Joe is eagerly anticipating what we will see. The Steelers feel different with Mike McCarthy as coach. The Steelers might be more aggressive on offense and have changed some of their philosophy with Patrick Graham as the defensive coordinator.

Do you feel better about Mike McCarthy now than when he was hired? Joe and Austin both think YES. It's football in shorts, but it's very different from Mike Tomlin. Joe thinks this gives some cause for hope. T.J. Watt is being forced to move around. Derrick Harmon was good in year one and Joe thinks he will be a great player this season. Joe is far more encouraged.

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Bob Pompeani (10-12pm), Joe Starkey, and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Thursday, June 4th, 2026

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Tyler Kennedy: ordan Staal scored his first Stanley Cup Final goal since '09. TK wants to see some new teams make noise and helps the NHL, where the Golden Knights did a great job putting together the team. Could the Penguins acquire a top five draft pick? Joe proposes the Penguins trade Erik Karlsson and Rickard Rakell to a team like the Sharks for the second draft pick.

Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: We wonder why the Pirates didn't bring Carmen Mlodzinski into the game after the Pirates said he was going to pitch high-leverage innings. Mlodzinski hasn't pitched in nine days. "Forget tomorrow's plan" Bob says regarding Mlodzinski scheduled to pitch on Thursday. The Pirates should be a really good team, but they're not because of the bullpen. We think the Pirates should have used Carmen Mlodzinski in the sixth inning and let him close.

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: The Steelers have signed tight end Darnell Washington to a four-year, $42 million deal, with $21 million guaranteed. Washington is the 12th-highest paid tight end in the league. Gerry Dulac reported the Steelers think they can only sign three of the four pick members of the 2023 draft class. Mike Florio said that the first two years of T.J. Watt's contract were fully guaranteed, and the signing bonus spread out. There wouldn't be as big of a financial burden trading T.J Watt.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey and Jeff Hathhorn: Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Jeff would make a trade for a reliever right now. Joe would be ok with the Pirates overpaying. Jeff didn't have an issue with pitching Montgomery and Soto in the eighth. Jeff thinks Wilber Dotel and Carmen Mlodzinski could be four-inning closers to end the game. Paul Skenes hasn't been the same and teams are making him throw pitches. Who would you protect on the Pirates, Penguins, and Steelers to protect in a possible expansion draft?