(Hour 1 with Bob Pompeani and Paul Zeise) The Pirates are undefeated! Bob and Paul talk about the hot start for the team. The bullpen shut things down, besides one miscue by David Bednar. Rowdy Tellez did what they brought him in for: hit bombs. Bailey Falter was exactly who we thought he was. Is there any chance the Pirates try to bring in a fifth starter? Is this the time the Pirates keep it up? Are they going to become the new team in town with the Steelers being mediocre, the Penguins being eliminated, and Pitt out of season? The Final Four is set in the NCAA Tournament. Is NC State a 'Cinderella'? They are a Power 5 team. They act like a Power 5 team. No one, except Jim Boeheim, had NC State going this far. What is more effective this tournament? The play of Burns and Edey or the 3 point shot?
(Hour 2 with Bob Pompeani and Paul Zeise) Joe is still in Florida. He has been golfing on tough courses and Bob and Paul talk about Joe's golf game. With his track record of calling into Bob's show and it being April Fools Day, will Starkey try to call in? A tangent about Joe and Paul golfing together. Paul finds it easy to get into Starkey's head. Joe is hanging out with Ron Cook. A discussion about Ron and his retirement. Looking at the current Pirates lineup. When will Nick Gonzales make the jump and take a roster spot? Will they end up trading him at the deadline if they become buyers? Bob says it is easier for them to win their division than a wild card spot. The guys talk about the Pirates possibly becoming buyers while recognizing they are getting very far ahead of themselves. Bob is almost tricked by a April Fools tweet,
(Hour 3 with Bob Pompeani and Paul Zeise) Brooke Pryor wrote a story about Kenny Pickett for ESPN. The guys dive into the article and what it says. The article has a paragraph that says while Pickett struggled, he was set up to fail. Who's fault was it? Did Pickett give up too easily? Why would Pickett be happy in Philadelphia as a backup but not Pittsburgh? Did Bob get tricked again? An apparent report says Rory McIlroy will be joining LIV golf but Paul needs to look into that more. However legitimate news breaks with the Tennessee women's basketball team firing their head coach. The LIV golf report looks not real. Which leads to a discussion about where Twitter has gone since Elon Musk took over and how much you have to vet sources now. The guys talk about the LIV and PGA merger.
(Hour 4 with Bob Pompeani and Paul Zeise) A discussion about Dru Joyce Jr being named the head coach at Duqusene. The guys go back and forth about local minor league teams across all sports. A crazy lacrosse night promotion story. A quick recap of the Pirates and a short preview of their upcoming series
A fake report comes out about Rory McIlroy. Bob has to be careful about beliving it. A discussion about LIV and PGA and different golfers and their loyalties.
If the Pirates continue their winning ways, would they be buyers at the trade deadline? A quick discussion on umpires and how good or bad they have been the first weekend of the season.
Pickett seems happy being a backup in Philadelphia. Why did he not want to stay in Pittsburgh? Bob and Joe dive into Brooke Pryor's article about Pickett.
Starkey has not been in the last few days. While it has been cold and rainy in Pittsburgh, he has been in Florida with Ron Cook soaking up the sun.
How clutch has Zach Edey been? Does NC State have a chance to beat them? Caitlin Clark vs Angel Reese II looks to be an exciting matchup. Are the UConn Women's team an after thought now?
The Pirates have started the season 4-0 for the fourth time in the last 40 years. Can the bullpen keep it up? Can they continue to produce runs? How will they handle Bailey Falter?
Does it actally matter? Do they have even the smallest chance at making the playoffs?
Paul gets into an argument with a fan on Twitter about the subject. Are you a Cinderella if you play in a Power 5 Conference?
Where does wide recevier rank in the Steelers prioties? What is happening at center? Also is Michael Penix Jr an option on Draft Day 2?
Do you buy it? Does Paul? What annoys Paul most about sports betting?
Paul is joined by Joyce to talk about his hiring process, recruiting strategy, and more!
Can the Pirates bullpen continue their Opening Day success? What are the Pirates' realistic playoff chances?
The full Joe Starkey Show with Paul Zeise from Thursday, March 28th, 2024
HOUR 1 WITH PAUL ZEISE: Opening Day Six Pack. Paul has the Pirates winning 78 games. Starting pitching is an issue. Did the Pirates do enough? Austin thinks they win 85 games as Jones and Skenes become the answers to the rotation. JASON MACKEY OF THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE joined the show. If the Pirates contend, Paul Skenes needs to be a part of it. Jason believes Skenes will be up by Memorial Day. He has the Pirates winning 83 games. We don't know what Cruz's ceiling is. Paul doesn't think the Pirates are deep enough in the rotation to be over .500.
HOUR 2 WITH PAUL ZEISE: The Pirates are going to hit more home runs this season than years past. There are expectations on the Pirates this season where there hasn't been at all in the last four years. Trevor Bauer isn't easy to get along with, but Paul thinks it's a humbling experience to get torn down like he has and try to bounce back. Paul correctly predicts the two callers who wanted to complain about the Pirates. Many fans are optimistic. We hear from Pirates fans.
HOUR 3 WITH PAUL ZEISE: PIRATES PRE AND POST HOST DAN ZANGRILLI joined the show for the 12pm hour. Dan doesn't think it's obscene to think the Pirates can contend for the postseason. He gave his thoughts on what the Pirates will look like this season. DAN ZANGRILLI thought all resources needed to be put towards starting pitching entering the offseason and didn't think first base was as much of an issue. Michael A. Taylor will play center field. The Pirates have to hit and depend on the bullpen to win games, plus defense.
HOUR 4 WITH PAUL ZEISE: MIKE DECOURCY OF THE SPORTING NEWS joined the show. The Sweet 16 begins tonight. Paul thinks it's the real start of the tournament with teams that can win a championship. Kentucky is keeping John Calipari, Mike said Calipari's changes his ways and also have gotten unlucky. The ACC was undervalued this season and the ACC did well against the Big 12, but they owned the bottom of the Big 12. The bottom of the ACC is what's hurt the ACC. Bids being stolen hurt Pitt. LeBron could help Duquesne's recruiting. Austin's Sweet 16 picks.
The NCAA Tournament resumes today with the Sweet 16
MIKE DECOURCY OF THE SPORTING NEWS joined the show. The Sweet 16 begins tonight. Paul thinks it's the real start of the tournament with teams that can win a championship. Kentucky is keeping John Calipari, Mike said Calipari's changes his ways and also have gotten unlucky. The ACC was undervalued this season and the ACC did well against the Big 12, but they owned the bottom of the Big 12. The bottom of the ACC is what's hurt the ACC. Bids being stolen hurt Pitt. LeBron could help Duquesne's recruiting.
DAN ZANGRILLI thought all resources needed to be put towards starting pitching entering the offseason and didn't think first base was as much of an issue. Michael A. Taylor will play center field. The Pirates have to hit and depend on the bullpen to win games, plus defense.
PIRATES PRE AND POST HOST DAN ZANGRILLI joined the show for the 12pm hour. Dan doesn't think it's obscene to think the Pirates can contend for the postseason. He gave his thoughts on what the Pirates will look like this season.
Paul correctly predicts the two callers who wanted to complain about the Pirates. Many fans are optimistic. We hear from Pirates fans.
The Pirates are going to hit more home runs this season than years past. There are expectations on the Pirates this season where there hasn't been at all in the last four years. Trevor Bauer isn't easy to get along with, but Paul thinks it's a humbling experience to get torn down like he has and try to bounce back.
JASON MACKEY OF THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE joined the show. If the Pirates contend, Paul Skenes needs to be a part of it. Jason believes Skenes will be up by Memorial Day. He has the Pirates winning 83 games. We don't know what Cruz's ceiling is.
Opening Day Six Pack. Paul has the Pirates winning 78 games. Starting pitching is an issue. Did the Pirates do enough? Austin thinks they win 85 games as Jones and Skenes become the answers to the rotation.