The Cook & Joe Show

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jeff Hathhorn and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Monday, July 20th, 2026

Hour 1 with Jeff Hathhorn: The Pirates took two out of three from the Cleveland Guardians over the weekend. Billy Cook had two RBIs and threw a runner out! Do you feel good about the series? Dennis Santana had another terrible game for the Pirates as the Guardians walked it off against the former closer on Saturday. The Pirates have 18 blown saves. A report came out from Bob Nightengale that the Pirates don't want to add much payroll, but Jeff disputed it and the Pirates are willing to add salary.

Hour 2 with Jeff Hathhorn: Post-Gazette columnist Noah Hiles joined the show. Noah doesn't think anyone is looking to acquire Mitch Keller right now, or looking to trade him. Who is going to trade for Marcell Ozuna? The Pirates should have room to add payroll, but it will be difficult. The Pirates strength is the starting rotation. Ben Cherington said there are things the Pirates could have done with trades, but people would not be happy with it.

Hour 3 with Jeff Hathhorn: Esmerlyn Valdez has been incredible for the Pirates. Would you approach him with a long-term contract? Valdez has been CLUTCH. He has a good approach and has been very important to the Pirates' season. Harry in Westview wonders why the Pirates won't make Carmen Mlodzinski the closer. It was cool to see how much people care globally about the World Cup.

Hour 4 with Jeff Hathhorn: Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. "I expect them to be aggressive" at the trade deadline. Ben Cherington said deals aren't getting done now. Jason doesn't think the Pirates have to shed payroll in order to add players. It's time to move on from Dennis Santana and he cannot pitch in later innings. Austin's team crushed Jeff and Mullsy for his team at The Open.

Austin's team crushed Jeff and Mullsy for his team at The Open. Jeff finished last at -4. Mullsy's team was solid, -7. Austin's team had Scheffler, DeChambeau, and Sam Burns, -13. 

"I expect them to be aggressive" at the trade deadline. Ben Cherington said deals aren't getting done now. Jason doesn't think the Pirates have to shed payroll in order to add players. It's time to move on from Dennis Santana and he cannot pitch in later innings. Oneil Cruz's timeline has been pushed back. The Pirates need Endy Rodriguez back.

Harry in Westview wonders why the Pirates won't make Carmen Mlodzinski the closer. It was cool to see how much people care globally about the World Cup. The flopping is crazy. Europeans got to see the best of America.

Esmerlyn Valdez has been incredible for the Pirates. Would you approach him with a long-term contract? Valdez has been CLUTCH. He has a good approach and has been very important to the Pirates' season.

Ben Cherington said there are things the Pirates could have done with trades, but people would not be happy with it. It makes us think back to the Chris Archer trade. Cherington said they need to believe in guys internally. Jared Jones is getting back to being one of the Pirates best pitchers.

Post-Gazette columnist Noah Hiles joined the show. Noah doesn't think anyone is looking to acquire Mitch Keller right now, or looking to trade him. Who is going to trade for Marcell Ozuna? The Pirates should have room to add payroll, but it will be difficult. The Pirates strength is the starting rotation. Noah doesn't think Jared Jones will pitch past the sixth this season. The Pirates need another pitcher to eat innings.

Dennis Santana had another terrible game for the Pirates as the Guardians walked it off against the former closer on Saturday. The Pirates have 18 blown saves. A report came out from Bob Nightengale that the Pirates don't want to add much payroll, but Jeff disputed it and the Pirates are willing to add salary. "What Nightengale said just isn't true." Jeff said adding salary isn't a worry.

The Pirates took two out of three from the Cleveland Guardians over the weekend. Billy Cook had two RBIs and threw a runner out! Do you feel good about the series? We are glad they took two out of there but it feels like they left things out on the table.

The Bucs are over .500 for the first time in a decade at the All-Star Break, The Steelers start Training Camp in a little over a week and Is Jason Robertson to Pittsburgh still possible.

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Donny Football and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Friday, July 17th, 2026

Hour 1 with Donny Football and Tyler Kennedy: TK thinks something would have been done by now if the Penguins were trading for Jason Robertson. Should the Penguins put all three Russians on the same line? Kennedy thinks the NHL is "watering the product down' with the schedule by going to 84 games.

Hour 2 with Donny Football: Ray is watching Jaylen Warren vs. Ricco Dowdle and Germie Bernard vs. Roman Wilson. More than anything, people want to know about Will Howard and Drew Allar. Ray thinks Drew Allar could exceed expectations and play well, but is seen as the No. 4 QB. Primanti's dropped off sandwiches and pickle bread today! The NHL released its schedule yesterday and a couple of hours later, MLB released its schedule.

Hour 3 with Donny Football: Will the Pirates be buyers or sellers? We think they will be buyers. Donny thinks Mason Miller is unrealistic. Donny is not trading Seth Hernandez. Can Paul Skenes return to his elite status? The Padres are open to trading Mason Miller. Could Miller actually be traded home to the Bucs? CBS Sports and FanGraphs thinks the Pirates will be the final Wild Card. Chuck in Uniontown calls the show.

Hour 4 with Donny Football: Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk joined the show. Jared Jones is turning a corner after making eight starts. Bob thinks, at some point, the Pirates will use Jared Jones like their other starting pitchers with pitch count. Esmerlyn Valdez has been a great surprise for the offense. Pirates and Guardians on schedule to play to start the second half.

Pirates and Guardians on schedule to play to start the second half. Jared Jones starts for Pittsburgh, Gavin Williams for the Guardians. Jones hasn't been that good so far in night games.

Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk joined the show. Jared Jones is turning a corner after making eight starts. Bob thinks, at some point, the Pirates will use Jared Jones like their other starting pitchers with pitch count. Carmen Mlodzinski's usage has been up and down but the Pirates are using him in long relief, instead of just one inning. Bob thinks Esmerlyn Valdez has been a great surprise for the offense.

The Padres are open to trading Mason Miller. Could Miller actually be traded home to the Bucs? CBS Sports and FanGraphs thinks the Pirates will be the final Wild Card. Chuck in Uniontown calls the show.

Will the Pirates be buyers or sellers? We think they will be buyers. Donny thinks Mason Miller is unrealistic. Donny is not trading Seth Hernandez. Yahoo Sports thinks it would take a top 100 prospect to acquire Luke Weaver, plus two relievers who could backfill Weaver next season. Can Paul Skenes return to his elite status? Can the offense keep this up? What will Oneil Cruz and Spencer Horwitz look like they they're back? What happens with the young pitchers? 

Primanti's dropped off sandwiches and pickle bread today! The NHL released its schedule yesterday and a couple of hours later, MLB released its schedule. We were stunned baseball announced its schedule on the same day as the NHL. They announced it months before they usually do and we don't even know if there will be baseball in 2027.

Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo is watching Jaylen Warren vs. Ricco Dowdle and Germie Bernard vs. Roman Wilson. More than anything, people want to know about Will Howard and Drew Allar. Ray thinks Drew Allar could exceed expectations and play well, but is seen as the No. 4 QB. Ray thinks Will Howard will start and play close to the whole first half to start the preseason.

Tyler Kennedy thinks the NHL is "watering the product down' with the schedule by going to 84 games. He thinks teams will rest players and more injuries will occur. TK thinks there will be "load management" in the NHL now with 84 games. 

Stanley Cup Champion Tyler Kennedy joined the show. The smoke in the air from Canadian wildfires is making "dangerous" conditions on peoples health. The Pirates are scheduled to play in Cleveland tonight. Cleveland's air has gotten better. TK thinks something would have been done by now if the Penguins were trading for Jason Robertson. Should the Penguins put all three Russians on the same line?

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jeff Hathhorn and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Thursday, July 16th, 2026

Hour 1 with Jeff Hathhorn: Jeff lists multiple Pirates who have played in the Futures Game that didn't go on to have an MLB career or a very notable career. Should the Pirates consider trading Edward Florentino? Fans continue to tell us they would trade Oneil Cruz for Mason Miller and Tomcat wants Michael King. We hear from fans!

Hour 2 with Jeff Hathhorn: MLB insider John Perrotto joined the show. The Guardians pitch well, especially in their bullpen. Their offense doesn't have much power. Mitch Keller has a 5.13 ERA in his career in the second half. John suggests the Pirates put Mitch Keller in the bullpen to try to get right and find what he needs to get on track. Oneil Cruz was hustling better and more engaged when he was healthy. John thinks Cruz could take off and doesn't want to trade him. How much blame should Bill Murphy get for the Pirates' poor pitching?

Hour 3 with Jeff Hathhorn: The Fanys Awards, with Jeff Hathhorn and Austin Bechtold. Our Pittsburgh awards over the past year. Going Low golf analyst Craig Mankins joined the show. The Open Championship is underway, and Jeff's team is doing better than Austin's and Mullsy's fantasy teams. Craig said it's difficult playing overseas with the way the courses are designed. 

Hour 4 with Jeff Hathhorn: Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show joined the show. Lamar Jackson was named the 69th best player in the NFL. We dive into training camp and more talk about Aaron Rodgers and others. What are we looking for? Mark Kaboly thinks the big story at training camp will be how much of a step Will Howard has taken this season.

Mark Kaboly thinks the big story at training camp will be how much of a step Will Howard has taken this season.

Steelers insider Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show joined the show. Lamar Jackson was named the 69th best player in the NFL. We dive into training camp and more talk about Aaron Rodgers and others. What are we looking for?

Going Low golf analyst Craig Mankins joined the show. The Open Championship is underway, and Jeff's team is doing better than Austin's and Mullsy's fantasy teams. Craig said it's difficult playing overseas with the way the courses are designed. 

The Fanys Awards, with Jeff Hathhorn and Austin Bechtold. Our Pittsburgh awards over the past year.

Baseball proposed a $171 million salary floor. The media rights deal is going to go up and teams will have significantly more money. How much blame should Bill Murphy get for the Pirates' poor pitching?? 

MLB insider John Perrotto joined the show. The Guardians pitch well, especially in their bullpen. Their offense doesn't have much power. Mitch Keller has a 5.13 ERA in his career in the second half. John suggests the Pirates put Mitch Keller in the bullpen to try to get right and find what he needs to get on track. Oneil Cruz was hustling better and more engaged when he was healthy. John thinks Cruz could take off and doesn't want to trade him.

Endy Rodriguez and Jake Mangum have made impacts on the team, but are not dependable starting players. Rodriguez has a chance to. Fans continue to tell us they would trade Oneil Cruz for Mason Miller and Tomcat wants Michael King. Austin doesn't want to trade from the Major League roster.

Jeff lists multiple Pirates who have played in the Futures Game that didn't go on to have an MLB career or a very notable career. Should the Pirates consider trading Edward Florentino? We think he should be the headliner of a big deal but Seth Hernandez is off the table. The Pirates need to trade prospects. We hear from Bucco fans.

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Jeff Hathhorn and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Wednesday, July 15th, 2026

Hour 1 with Jeff Hathhorn: Anthony Mantha signed a two-year, $4.75 million per year contract with New Jersey. Could the Penguins acquire Jason Robertson because it could cost Ben Kindel and two or three first-round picks. Jeff Patton of Baseball Card Castle joined the show.