The Pomp And Joe Show

The full Joe Starkey Show from Thursday, May 9th, 2024

Hour 1 with Joe Starkey: Paul Skenes is here! The Pirates announced yesterday the top pitching prospect in baseball will start Saturday against the Cubs at PNC Park. We recall other notable debuts in Pittsburgh sports over the past 10 years. 
Air Force head coach Mike Kazlausky joined the show. Paul Skenes caught and pitched during his senior year and was a 6-foot-6 leadoff man who also closed games. Kaz thought Skenes could have been a first-round pick at catcher. He told us Skenes still wants to serve in the Air Force once his baseball career is over and cried when they had a conversation about transferring.

Steelers Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis joined the show. Jerome is helping out at the Joe Moore o-line camp. Jerome was surprised, but not at the same time that Najee Harris did not have his fifth-year option picked up because of how running backs have been devalued. Jerome recalled old Steelers stories and once said he thought Najee had the chance to be better than him. A lot of it also has to do with health and productivity of the offensive line. 

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey: Paul Skenes is one of, if not the hardest throwing starting pitcher in recent baseball history. Kaz doesn't think there's ever been a sophomore team captain at Air Force baseball, but Skenes was. He takes great pride in being the leader of the school and Skenes carried around the flag at football games and helped to defend it. 

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: LSU baseball head coach Jay Johnson joined us to discuss Paul Skenes and his MLB debut. Paul was always focused on his next start and how to continually get better. He's a unique breed. Jay knew Skenes was a star during his freshman year and wasn't at LSU at the time. He had a great meeting and visit with Skenes. "I stand by this, if he was just a hitter for us last year, he would have hit 25-30 home runs and been a First Team All-American position player." Skenes has the character of someone he's never been around.

Pirates reporter John Perrotto joined the show. Jason Bay is the only Pirate to win Rookie of the Year. John thinks Paul Skenes still has time to make up ground and win the award. The lineup needs significant help.

Keith Law of The Athletic joined the show. Paul Skenes has altered how he pitches a little bit and developed the splinker pitch, a splitter and sinker combo he throws 95 mph. It's been effective against righties. He's not the best pitching prospect ever, not at the Strasburg and Cole level, but Skenes is one of the five best pitching prospects ever.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: 93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Many No. 1 overall picks at starting pitcher have not worked out. Paul Skenes debuts Saturday and is building up to be the greatest/most anticipated debut in Pirates history. Jeff thinks over 4.2 innings and will go over 75 pitches. Over/under with Jeff. Bud Dupree is talking to the Chargers but has spoken to the Steelers. Calvin Austin might want to workout harder with the number of WR4's the Steelers have signed. Pitt has unveiled its 2024 Hall of Fame class. DeJuan Blair's cousin called in as Blair has been announced as a part of the 2024 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame class.  

DeJuan Blair's cousin called in as Blair has been announced as a part of the 2024 Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame class.  

93.7 The Fan Sports Director Jeff Hathhorn joined the show. Many No. 1 overall picks at starting pitcher have not worked out. Paul Skenes debuts Saturday and is building up to be the greatest/most anticipated debut in Pirates history. Jeff thinks over 4.2 innings and will go over 75 pitches. Over/under with Jeff. Bud Dupree is talking to the Chargers but has spoken to the Steelers. Calvin Austin might want to workout harder with the number of WR4's the Steelers have signed. Pitt has unveiled its 2024 Hall of Fame class. 

Pirates reporter John Perrotto joined the show. Jason Bay is the only Pirate to win Rookie of the Year. John thinks Paul Skenes still has time to make up ground and win the award. The lineup needs significant help. 

Keith Law of The Athletic joined the show. Paul Skenes has altered how he pitches a little bit and developed the splinker pitch, a splitter and sinker combo he throws 95 mph. It's been effective against righties. He's not the best pitching prospect ever, not at the Strasburg and Cole level, but Skenes is one of the five best 

LSU baseball head coach Jay Johnson joined us to discuss Paul Skenes and his MLB debut. Paul was always focused on his next start and how to continually get better. He's a unique breed. Jay knew Skenes was a star during his freshman year and wasn't at LSU at the time. He had a great meeting and visit with Skenes. "I stand by this, if he was just a hitter for us last year, he would have hit 25-30 home runs and been a First Team All-American position player." Skenes has the character of someone he's never been around.