Joe Starkey Columns

Cup of Joe (Starkey): Something is wrong with Pirates ace Paul Skenes, whether he admits it or not

Anybody remember Paul Skenes? Let me refresh your memory. Pitching prodigy from LSU, first pick overall, tore through minors in 10 seconds, bombing hitters with 102-mph fastballs and devastating breaking pitches, including one he invented — a “splinker,” which nobody could hit. It’s not hard to find footage of Skenes...
Beyond the Bylines: ‘There is no defending’ Don Kelly’s decision in Pirates’ latest lossVideo

After a brief hiatus, “Beyond the Bylines” is back. Joe Starkey returned Friday morning to join me for our weekly TribLive livestream. As was the case before Joe left on vacation, we are still opening the show talking about Don Kelly’s bullpen managerial decisions. The only difference is, now we...
Cup of Joe (Starkey): Could somebody please notify Don Kelly that the Pirates are in a playoff chase?

Some of Don Kelly’s decisions this season have struck me as downright senseless — twice using a minor leaguer to pinch hit for Brandon Lowe springs to mind — but I have often defended him, especially on his bullpen usage. Usually, my feeling is this: What is he supposed to...
Cup of Joe (Starkey): Baker Mayfield would look great in Steelers black and gold

As Pittsburgh Steelers training camp heats up, a harsh reality hovers: This franchise still does not have a long-term replacement for Ben Roethlisberger. Drew Allar is a long shot. Will Howard is a pipe dream. May I interest you in a gently used Baker Mayfield? It’s not a likely scenario,...
Cup of Joe (Starkey): Mike McCarthy’s 1st sharp departure from Mike Tomlin is a sensible move for Steelers

A bunch of storylines emerged from report-to-camp day in Latrobe, including the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers will refrain from live tackling in practice sessions, just like they do in playoff games. New coach Mike McCarthy made that clear Tuesday, in his first sharp departure from The Mike Tomlin Method....
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Has Pirates catcher Henry Davis finally found his way at the plate?

You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. In the mailbag 1½ months ago, we suggested the Steelers sign Nick Herbig. Within hours, they...
Beyond the Bylines: A different take on T.J. Watt’s decline; moving on from Mitch KellerVideo

Two major points of conversation dominated this week’s “Beyond the Bylines” with Joe Starkey and me. 1. How can the Pirates fix their leaky bullpen? 2. How can Joe Starkey fix the bags under his eyes? I have more significantly more faith that the first thing will happen. Then again,...
Joe Starkey: The battle everyone will be watching at Steelers camp

The Steelers have had some pretty juicy quarterback controversies over the years, sometimes involving as many as three players. The Terry Bradshaw-Terry Hanratty-Joe Gilliam circus from the early 1970s springs to mind, as does the Kenny Pickett-Mason Rudolph-Mitch Trubisky battle of recent vintage. There were plenty in between, usually involving...
Cup of Joe (Starkey): Don’t let Jared Jones outrage distract from what’s still killing the Pirates’ season

I’m not sure there’s a team in baseball that would have let Jared Jones pitch much longer Wednesday, even if he was throwing a perfect game. Jones is coming off major arm surgery. This was just his eighth start. At most, he would have pitched one more inning. And even...
Cup of Joe (Starkey): Did Ryan O’Hearn just have the single greatest game in Pittsburgh sports history?

I was listening in my car when Ryan O’Hearn stepped to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning Tuesday night at PNC Park — and I won’t soon forget Greg Brown’s call when O’Hearn smashed a three-run home run, his third homer of the game, to bring his...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: When will the Pirates let Jared Jones pitch longer into games?

You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. In the mailbag one month ago, we suggested the Steelers sign Nick Herbig. Within hours, they...
Cup of Joe (Starkey): Brandon Lowe’s All-Star snub is outrageous, but Pirates’ mediocrity didn’t help

Paul Skenes said he was surprised to be the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lone representative for the All-Star Game, pending late adds. He shouldn’t be. The Pirates are the poster team for mediocrity, having hit .500 a league-leading 15 times. They were stranded at 45-45 going into Sunday’s game at Washington, 101⁄2...
Joe Starkey: Without changes, pitchers like Paul Skenes should balk at World Baseball Classic

Paul Skenes took the World Baseball Classic quite seriously. I’m not sure the same could be said for his team. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal quit the U.S. team in the middle of the tournament, prioritizing health and financial concerns in a contract year. Also, after a win against Mexico,...
Beyond the Bylines: Paul Skenes is broken; the Penguins have ‘other brother syndrome’ again

This week’s “Beyond the Bylines” with Joe Starkey and me dives into Paul Skenes’ recent issues. We also attempt to figure out why he has fallen off a cliff and how to fix him. We talk about the Pittsburgh Penguins and what they’ve done so far on the free agent...
Joe Starkey: Paul Skenes situation goes from worrisome to alarming as Pirates’ rotation implodes

Last offseason, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes implored management to find some bats. This offseason, it might be Pirates hitters imploring management to find some arms. And so it goes with our Pittsburgh Pirates. Patch one tire, another one pops. That’s how you go decades without a playoff series win,...
Joe Starkey’s Mailbag: Would you trade Pirates starter Jared Jones for an elite closer?

You ask. I answer. It’s time for “Mailing It In,” a weekly Q&A that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via X, but you can also hit me up at jraystarkey@gmail.com. In the mailbag one month ago, we suggested the Steelers sign Nick Herbig. Within hours, they...

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