The Cook & Joe Show

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Monday, March 23rd, 2026

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Donny Football's wedding was this weekend! Joe is concerned that Ottawa could pass the Penguins in the wild card race and is getting concerned that they won't make the playoffs. Noah Hiles reported that the Pirates have discussed an eight-year, $110 million extension. Ken Rosenthal details what conversations with Konnor Griffin has looked like!

Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: What our 2026 Pirates lineup looks like. What would constitute a good start to the season? Do the Pirates have a top 10 rotation in baseball?

Hour 3 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Mitch Keller is in line to start the Home Opener. Carmen Mlodzinski is going to be the 5th starter, but is in line to start the third game of the year. Ben Cherington explained why Konnor Griffin is starting the season in the minors. The best Steelers 5th-round picks.

Hour 4 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: What is your Pirates win total? Joe says 86 wins, they make the playoffs, and Marcell Ozuna is the MVP, outside of Paul Skenes. We have an elite Sweet 16 in the East with Jon Scheyer vs. Rick Pitino and Dan Hurley vs. Tom Izzo. Who are you rooting for? We dive into each region.

We have an elite Sweet 16 in the East with Jon Scheyer vs. Rick Pitino and Dan Hurley vs. Tom Izzo. Who are you rooting for? We dive into each region. There are no mid-majors remaining in the Sweet 16.

What is your Pirates win total? Joe Starkey, Bob Pompeani, and Austin Bechtold give their wins, playoffs, and other predictions.

We review the best 5th-round picks in Steelers history, presented by our friends at Edger Snyder and Associates.

Mitch Keller is in line to start the Home Opener. Carmen Mlodzinski is going to be the 5th starter, but is in line to start the third game of the year. Bob and Austin think Hunter Barco should be the 5th starter. Ben Cherington explained why Konnor Griffin is starting the season in the minors.

What would constitute a good start to the season? Paul Skenes had a slight dip in his velocity on Saturday. Are we concerned about the rotation? Joe doesn't think the rotation is great. Joe wants to see Mitch Keller take a step up and pitch more consistently. Do the Pirates have a top 10 rotation in baseball?

Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey build their Pirates lineups and compare it to the final spring training lineup.

Ken Rosenthal said that the Pirates and Konnor Griffin have had contract extension talks, but they haven't been advanced discussions. The Pirates would need to recall Griffin before April 9th to receive a draft pick from 26-32 overall if Griffin would win Rookie of the Year. The Pirates could hold Griffin down to avoid an additional year of arbitration. Griffin also hit under .200 in spring training.

Donny Football's wedding was this weekend! We recap the wedding and our favorite memories. Joe is concerned that Ottawa could pass the Penguins in the wild card race and is getting concerned that they won't make the playoffs. Jim Bowden has the Pirates lineup ranked 21st in baseball...

Crowley and Dorin hung out with the Bucs this week, the madness starts as the sports world starts to heat up!

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Joe Starkey and Austin Bechtold, from Friday, March 20th, 2026

Hour 1 with Joe Starkey: High Point has pulled off the upset of the tournament, beating Wisconsin in the last 10 seconds by one. Joe is sad that Pitt is not in the tournament once again. What is your Pirates win total? Could Pitt return to their previous standing from 17 years ago? Joe shares his all-time Pitt team from the 21st century!

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey: Ray has the Steelers taking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at 21. He had a great combine and Ray thinks he could be a good selection there. Ray doesn't think signing Jaquan Brisker and having Elliott and Ramsey prevents the Steelers from drafting Thieneman. Stanley Cup Champion Jay Caufield joined the show. He is ok with the Penguins' goalie rotation now, but in the playoffs you have to ride the hot hand.

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: Jon Heyman reported that $110 million might be an appropriate number for Griffin. He said the Pirates are interested in an extension. Pitt's Kyle Louis visited the Steelers. Joe thinks that Skenes' ERA will go down again from 1.96 and 1.97. Skenes is the greatest pitcher that we have ever seen.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: Sean thinks the Penguins need to continue to stack points. It's not just about wins. He is more confident about the team now than three weeks ago. Sean thinks we need to reevaluate what makes a good goaltender. A good save percentage now is around .900 and is one of the lowest in YEARS. Gentille's top four Penguins of all time. Donny's wedding is this weekend!

Previewing Donny Football's wedding coming up this weekend!!

Sean thinks the Penguins need to continue to stack points. It's not just about wins. He is more confident about the team now than three weeks ago. Sean thinks we need to reevaluate what makes a good goaltender. A good save percentage now is around .900 and is one of the lowest in YEARS. Gentille's top four Penguins of all time.

n o one could have expected Paul Skenes to be one of the greatest pitchers of all time ALREADYY. What does Skenes do this year? Joe thinks that Skenes' ERA will go down again from 1.96 and 1.97. Skenes is the greatest pitcher that we have ever seen.

Jon Heyman reported that $110 million might be an appropriate number for Griffin. He said the Pirates are interested in an extension. Pitt's Kyle Louis visited the Steelers. NFL draft experts are evaluating Louis as a safety. How will teams determine who can challenge balls and strikes?

Columbus is one of the hottest teams in hockey and catching up to Pittsburgh. Jay thinks Carolina is a tough draw against the Penguins. Goaltending NEEDS to be the Penguins separator. He is ok with the Penguins' goalie rotation now, but in the playoffs you have to ride the hot hand. Erik Karlsson is playing incredible.

Ray has the Steelers taking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at 21. He had a great combine and Ray thinks he could be a good selection there. Ray doesn't think signing Jaquan Brisker and having Elliott and Ramsey prevents the Steelers from drafting Thieneman. Ray thinks the Steelers would be ok taking a receiver on day two and is a deep receiver draft. He also thinks the Steelers need a guard in the top 100.

Could Pitt return to their previous standing from 17 years ago? Joe shares his all-time Pitt team from the 21st century. Would Jamie Dixon have still had success at Pitt if he stayed and coached longer than three seasons in the ACC?

If a tree falls in Starkey's backyard, does it really make a sound? Clearly the fuss afterward has! High Point has pulled off the upset of the tournament, beating Wisconsin in the last 10 seconds by one. Joe is sad that Pitt is not in the tournament once again. What is your Pirates win total??

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey, from Thursday, March 19th, 2026

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: The Penguins took a point but lost 6-5 in a thrilling overtime matchup against Carolina. Erik Karlsson is playing his best hockey as a Penguin, BY FAR. Jack Hughes wants the puck back from the Hockey Hall of Fame for his Golden Goal. Tyler Kennedy thinks it's embarrassing that Hughes wants to give the puck to his father and not keep in the Hall of Fame.

Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Longtime college basketball coach Ron Everhart joined the show. This is Super Bowl Sunday for college basketball fans! Miami (Ohio) defeated SMU in the First Four and they proved they belong in the tournament. Ron details how NIL has changed the sport and especially in recruiting. Ron Everhart has swayed Joe to pick Arkansas to go far. Joe has St. John's winning the NCAA Tournament.

Hour 3 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Ron Everhart recalls coaching T.J. McConnell and how he knew McConnell would be an NBA player. He said he offered McConnell a scholarship after watching him defend Terrelle Pryor so well. Joe Starkey, Bob Pompeani, and Ron Everhart draft their three best college basketball players of all time.

Bob has Michigan State winning the National Championship! Jeff Hahhorn joins, has Arizona winning the title. Bob thinks the first day of the Stanley Cup playoffs is better than the first day of March Madness!Joe thinks Braxton Ashcraft will have a better year than Bubba Chandler. Jeff Hathhorn thinks the injuries have kept Ashcraft back, but he's always had the stuff to be a great starter. Joe thinks the Pirates will win 86 games. Jeff picks 82.

Joe thinks Braxton Ashcraft will have a better year than Bubba Chandler. Jeff Hathhorn thinks the injuries have kept Ashcraft back, but he's always had the stuff to be a great starter. Joe thinks the Pirates will win 86 games. Jeff picks 82. Jeff thinks Carmen Mlodzinski will be the fifth starter.

Bob has Michigan State winning the National Championship! Jeff has Arizona winning the title. Bob thinks the first day of the Stanley Cup playoffs is better than the first day of March Madness! Ron Everhart returns. Ron shares how he started bringing five guys off the bench at a time during his time at Duquesne.

Joe Starkey, Bob Pompeani, and Ron Everhart draft their three best college basketball players of all time. The guys reveal their Finals Fours. 

Ron Everhart recalls coaching T.J. McConnell and how he knew McConnell would be an NBA player. He said he offered McConnell a scholarship after watching him defend Terrelle Pryor so well. Ron shares some of his best college basketball stories with us.

Examining the NCAA Tournament bracket. Sam Young's pump fake at Pitt was one of the best Joe's seen, and Joe spoke to Young this week about his career. Ron Everhart has swayed Joe to pick Arkansas. Joe has St. John's winning the NCAA Tournament.

Longtime college basketball coach Ron Everhart joined the show. This is Super Bowl Sunday for college basketball fans! Miami (Ohio) defeated SMU in the First Four and they proved they belong in the tournament. Mid-majors are struggling to schedule power teams. Ron thinks that Robert Morris is an underrated place to coach. Ron details how NIL has changed the sport and especially in recruiting. 

Jack Hughes wants the puck back from the NHL Hall of Fame for his Golden Goal. Sidney Crosby said he's fine not having his Golden Goal puck and is happy it is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Tyler Kennedy thinks it's embarrassing that Hughes wants the puck. TK doesn't think that's Hughes' puck to have.

Tyler Kennedy joins us! The Penguins took a point but lost 6-5 in a thrilling overtime matchup against Carolina. Joe and Bob were happy the Penguins took a point and helps in their journey to the NHL playoffs. Erik Karlsson is playing his best hockey as a Penguin, BY FAR. TK thinks Dan Muse allowing Karlsson to be himself and play his game has unlocked him.

Joe is in awe of everything at the Baseball Card Castle to kick off the Feed the Need event. We get some early donations. The General even has some Myles Garrett items, but not in the front of the store. Is Caitlin Clark like Tiger Woods in terms of impact on their sports? The Fan trading cards are a hot commodity. Joe shouts out Daemen College. Will Sid return tonight in Carolina? Most of the teams the Pens are competing with are really hot. Team USA lost in the WBC final. Aaron Judge was really bad. Mason Miller was available but didn't pitch. It's hard to take it seriously with some of the factors that played in. Joe feels like he's at the Field of Dreams. There's a great collection of sports items up for bid. Drew Allar is throwing today, and the Steelers aren't there. The Steelers big wigs went to Georgia today. Tiger Woods back for the Masters? The latest on the Pittsburgh Sports Media bracket - Pomp destroyed Bechtold, Joe moved on, but Donny and Poni lost. The card of the week is Malkin. Mark Kaboly joins to discuss Drew Allar, suggesting a Steelers scout may be there. Does Mark think the Steelers will draft a QB? When will we finally get an answer from Rodgers? What will the Steelers do at OLB? How will the Steelers prioritize guys in need of new contracts? Would the Steelers draft at ILB early? What will the NFL draft look like? Will Kaboly be there live? Bob might be an MC at the event! It looks like Crosby will be back tonight! Matt Clement joins the guys, and they open baseball trading cards. Discussion about Mason Miller and the WBC, how he feels about the ABS challenge system, why Mason Montgomery intrigues him, how the Pirates are handling Jared Jones. Matt was part of a ridiculous rotation with the Cubs. A discussion about Steve Bartman. The Limitless Express: the Pens have confirmed that Crosby is back tonight. A losing streak could drop them out of the playoffs. Kenny Pickett is trying to fit in with the Panthers and might have a shot to play, Jeff Hathhorn shows up and joins, NFL teams with multiple first-round picks this year, Maxx Crosby says he's glad to be with the Raiders, flag football in LA. Crosby's return puts everyone else back into better spots. The Pens have more sandpaper this year. How will the Pens handle their goalie rotation in the playoffs? The General details some of his most unique items. Jarkko Ruutu gets namedropped. Konnor Griffin was the hottest commodity for bidding today.

Joe is in awe of everything at the Baseball Card Castle to kick off the Feed the Need event. We get some early donations. The General even has some Myles Garrett items, but not in the front of the store. Is Caitlin Clark like Tiger Woods in terms of impact on their sports? The Fan trading cards are a hot commodity. Joe shouts out Daemen College. Will Sid return tonight in Carolina? Most of the teams the Pens are competing with are really hot. Team USA lost in the WBC final. Aaron Judge was really bad. Mason Miller was available but didn't pitch. It's hard to take it seriously with some of the factors that played in.  Joe feels like he's at the Field of Dreams. There's a great collection of sports items up for bid. Drew Allar is throwing today, and the Steelers aren't there. The Steelers big wigs went to Georgia today. Tiger Woods back for the Masters? The latest on the Pittsburgh Sports Media bracket - Pomp destroyed Bechtold, Joe moved on, but Donny and Poni lost. The card of the week is Malkin.