The Pomp And Joe Show

Pittsburgh sports is on a big upswing, the Penguins are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Pirates have signed Konnor Griffin and the NFL Draft is only a couple weeks away!

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Joe Starkey and Austin Bechtold, from Friday, April 10th, 2026

Hour 1 with Joe Starkey: Is this the most improbable Pittsburgh sports team to make the playoffs? Joe thinks the Penguins shocked themselves. Joe doesn't think Kyle Dubas would have even predicted these great things have happened. No one could have seen 30 goals from Anthony Mantha, or Justin Brazeau to have a strong year, or rookie Ben Kindel to be a stud, or Evgeni Malkin to find it again and have a great season. The 1989 Steelers were also one of the biggest surprises.

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey: Will the Steelers find a way to keep Nick Herbig? Ray thinks the Steelers may be able to get a second or third for Alex Highsmith but Ray would rather keep him. Ray doesn't think you can get enough value for Watt. Tyler Kennedy and Poni would rather play the Islanders than the Flyers. Joe and Austin want to play the Flyers and thinks it would be great entertainment.

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: Poni tweeted a rumor that Aaron Rodgers will be in Pittsburgh and announce the Steelers first-round pick. Nick Yorke is leading off and Marcell Ozuna is batting fourth as the Pirates begin a three-game series against the Cubs in Chicago. NHL reporter Sean Gentille of The Athletic joined the show. Sean didn't think the Penguins would make the playoffs and thought they would be a bottom five team.

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk joined the show. Bob is fine with not having ABS in his career. He doesn't think much anymore about pitchers being pulled from games early because it happens all the time. Bob is a big fan of Braxton Ashcraft. Who should win MVP? Our predictions for Pirates-Cubs.

Austin thought the Penguins were going to be bad this year and get Gavin McKenna. Should should win MVP? Our predictions for Pirates-Cubs.

Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk joined the show. Bob is fine with not having ABS in his career. He doesn't think much anymore about pitchers being pulled from games early because it happens all the time. Bob is a big fan of Braxton Ashcraft.

Sean didn't think the Penguins would make the playoffs and thought they would be a bottom five team. He thought Mike Sullivan was better than we thought, didn't see Dan Muse being this good, and Erik Karlsson being great this year. Sean thinks Columbus is the best five-on-five team out of the Flyers and Islanders that the Penguins would want to play. Sean is in D.C. for what could be the last few games of Alex Ovechkin's NHL career.

Poni tweeted a rumor that Aaron Rodgers will be in Pittsburgh and announce the Steelers first-round pick. The Justice Department is looking into the NFL and how games are on so many different streaming services. Nick Yorke is leading off and Marcell Ozuna is batting fourth as the Pirates begin a three-game series against the Cubs in Chicago.

Tyler Kennedy and Poni would rather play the Islanders than the Flyers. What!! Joe wants to play the Flyers and thinks it would be great entertainment. The Penguins are tough to play against and Austin thinks they would more than likely win.

Will the Steelers find a way to keep Nick Herbig? Ray thinks the Steelers may be able to get a second or third for Alex Highsmith but Ray would rather keep him. Ray doesn't think you can get enough value for Watt. He thinks the most likely scenario is that Herbig leaves and the Steelers get a comp pick.

The 1989 Steelers were also one of the biggest surprises. but then make the playoffs and beat the Houston Oilers. Joe credits Fenway Sports Group for getting Kyle Dubas and letting him shape the franchise.

Is this the most improbable Pittsburgh sports team to make the playoffs? Joe thinks the Penguins shocked themselves. Joe doesn't think Kyle Dubas would have even predicted these great things have happened.

The Pomp and Joe show 4-9-2026

-Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joins at the top, and they discuss which teams the Penguins do (or do not) want to face in the playoffs. Is Philadelphia a team you'd want to avoid? Where do Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby rank among the best players of all-time? -TK and the guys share their picks for all of the major trophies in the NHL. TK believes Dan Muse should win the Jack Adams award for coach of the year by a wide margin over Buffalo's Lindy Ruff. Also, who have been the brightest stars on the Penguins, and which player(s) disappointed you most?

-Why Mitch Keller was pulled at 75 pitches, how the Pens can clinch (and all of the wild scenarios if they don't win again this season), Pomp's Masters meals, records set on SportsNet Pittsburgh, Mark Calcavecchi getting kicked out of The Masters, Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Diana Russini being seen together, and the chances Alex Ovechkin returns next season. -Can Rory McIlory repeat at The Masters?

-Phone calls on the Steelers, T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig. -A deep dive into Joe's mailbag across a wide variety of topics!

-Jeff Hathhorn from The Fan joins! The guys discuss The Masters, Mitch Keller being pulled at 75 pitches, the Konnor Griffin deal, and the Penguins' season from head to toe. -Do you think the Pirates will reach the playoffs? Will the current state of baseball make the path to the playoffs even tougher for the Bucs?

Do you think the Pirates will reach the playoffs? Will the current state of baseball make the path to the playoffs even tougher for the Bucs?

Jeff Hathhorn from The Fan joins! The guys discuss The Masters, Mitch Keller being pulled at 75 pitches, the Konnor Griffin deal, and the Penguins' season from head to toe.

Phone calls on the Steelers, T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig.

Why Mitch Keller was pulled at 75 pitches, how the Pens can clinch (and all of the wild scenarios if they don't win again this season), Pomp's Masters meals, records set on SportsNet Pittsburgh, Mark Calcavecchi getting kicked out of The Masters, Mike Vrabel and NFL insider Diana Russini being seen together, and the chances Alex Ovechkin returns next season.

TK and the guys share their picks for all of the major trophies in the NHL. TK believes Dan Muse should win the Jack Adams award for coach of the year by a wide margin over Buffalo's Lindy Ruff. Also, who have been the brightest stars on the Penguins, and which player(s) disappointed you most?

The guys are at 84 Lumber Anderson Showroom in Mt. Lebanon today! Former Penguin Tyler Kennedy joins at the top, and they discuss which teams the Penguins do (or do not) want to face in the playoffs. Is Philadelphia a team you'd want to avoid? Where do Mario Lemieux and Sidney Crosby rank among the best players of all-time?

Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: The Pirates and Konnor Griffin have a deal. The Pirates have signed Konnor Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million deal. We listen to the first half of Griffin's press conference and react to the day. Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Jeff Patton of Baseball Card Castle joined the show. The General has a Konnor Griffin Rookie card. He also is adding a Braxton Ashcraft autographed rookie card!

Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: How do Pirates fans feel about ownership right now? Have opinions changed? Joe thinks Pirates fans should be pumped, but this is the cost of doing business. Have they earned back your trust? What does a good season look like for Konnor Griffin? Starkey, Pomp, and Matt Clement give their stats.

Hour 3 with Bob Pompeani and Joe Starkey: Joe thinks the Pirates are going to be a legit team this season. Matt Clement wants to see a little more trust in some players like allowing Carmen Mlodzinski to pitch more innings. Matt thinks Bubba Chandler is a work in progress with his control and has a live arm, but is going to take time. Who is the face of the Pirates? Paul Skenes said that Konnor Griffin is going to be the face of the Pirates for years now.

How big of a story will Will Howard be? The secondary plan was Kirk Cousins for Mark Kaboly.

Who is the face of the Pirates? Paul Skenes said that Konnor Griffin is going to be the face of the Pirates for years now. Skenes thinks this is a culmination of what the organization has done well!

Matt Clement wants to see a little more trust in some players like allowing Carmen Mlodzinski to pitch more innings. Matt thinks Bubba Chandler is a work in progress with his control and has a live arm, but is going to take time. Pirates fans chime in on the state of the team and ownership.

Bob Pompeani, Joe Starkey, and Matt Clement give their ideal seasons for star shortstop Konnor Griffin.

How do Pirates fans feel about ownership right now? Have opinions changed? Joe thinks Pirates fans should be pumped, but this is the cost of doing business. Have they earned back your trust? MLB analyst Matt Clement joins to talk about Konnor Griffin's contract.

There are no opt outs in Konnor Griffin's deal and can get as high as $150 million. Konnor Griffin's dad said Konnor wants to be a one-uniform guy. Jason doesn't really see a salary cap and salary floor happening. He thinks baseball will want to come back with momentum. Jeff Patton of Baseball Card Castle joined the show. The General has a Konnor Griffin card as Card of the Week!

The Pirates and Konnor Griffin have a deal. The Pirates have signed Konnor Griffin to a nine-year, $140 million deal. We listen to the first half of Griffin's press conference and react to the day.

The full Pomp and Joe Show, with Joe Starkey and Austin Bechtold (behind the glass), from Tuesday, April 7th, 2026

Hour 4 with Joe Starkey: Marcell Ozuna is in-between at the plate and Michael said Ozuna is not catching up to the fastball. Michael thinks Konnor Griffin has a lot going on off the field with having 30 family members in the stands and big expectations. Stuart Skinner was back at practice.

Hour 3 with Joe Starkey: This is the highest-scoring Penguins team of the Sidney Crosby era and Paul thinks it's because of Dan Muse. Muse has been able to find all this success without a true number one goalie. Steigy thinks Rickard Rakell is the third most important forward behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. What is going on with the reported Konnor Griffin extension?

Hour 2 with Joe Starkey: Peter Schrager has the Steelers taking edge rusher T.J. Parker in the first round. "The arms dead" for Carson Beck. Nick Farabaugh doesn't see upside with Beck. Nick's top five quarterbacks. Nick Farabaugh thinks Jordyn Tyson, KC Concepcion, Omar Cooper, and Denzel Boston are the four wide receiver names to keep an eye on in the first round.