Welcome to Joe Starkey's mailbag, where the Post-Gazette columnist and 93.7 The Fan radio host answers your questions about sports, life, Lonnie Chisenhall and everything in between. If you want to ask Joe a question, tweet him at @JoeStarkey1 or email him at jstarkey@post-gazette.com. On to the questions …
Crazy Eight Ball Eddie, @CrazyEddie41347: Is it time for the Pirates to trade one of the young arms for a bat to generate some runs?
Starkey: Now you’re thinking, Edzo. I applaud you. In fact, I am standing in the middle of a Mt. Lebanon coffee shop clapping my hands and nobody knows why. It almost makes too much sense. The Pirates’ organizational strength, from the majors on down, is pitching. The weakness is hitting.
Do something!
We could get very daring here and talk about trading 28-year-old Mitch Keller, hoping to land a hitter with a similar resume. Which is to say, a good, established player still firmly in his 20s. I couldn’t help but notice the San Diego Padres just landed a 27-year-old, two-time batting champ in Luis Arreaz without giving up one of their top-five prospects (though they gave up three of their top 15).
What’s more, the Marlins, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN, will pay the majority of Arraez's remaining contract this season. You’d think Bob Nutting would have been on that like bees on honey. The Padres will basically pay Arraez the league minimum for the rest of the season. He has one more before he reaches free agency. That would be the problem, of course: The Pirates likely would not choose to pay Arraez the going rate after the 2025 season.
But can you imagine that guy leading off for the Pirates? This, from MLB.com's analysis: “Arraez’s bat-to-ball skills are second to none. Since he debuted in 2019, he has recorded MLB’s only three seasons in which a player took at least 500 swings and had a whiff rate lower than 8%. That fits right in with the Padres’ ‘get ’em on and get ’em in’ philosophy, mixing on-base skills with slug.”
Would I want to part ways with Keller? Of course not,, but you have to give something to get something. The Pirates obviously have two untouchables in Jared Jones and Paul Skenes, but after that, any pitcher in the organization should be on the table.
It’s a shame, because if Nutting was willing to spend real money on free agent hitters — just one, Bob! — we wouldn’t even talk about trading young pitching.
Stephen Angelcyk, @SAngelcyk33: Joe, will Paul Skeins really make a difference to the Pirates if they can't get the bats going consistently?
Starkey: First of all, Dr. 33, you should learn to spell his name correctly. He’s gonna be here awhile. It’s “Skenes.” And if I had to answer your question in a word, it’s “yes,” but I do get your point. And that’s why I wrote all that stuff above.
Ryan Chepkevich, @oofoof8: What Pirates player will make the all star game in July I’m going to Say Jared Jones.
Starkey: He’s the obvious — and only — pick right now, Dr. C. And if it weren’t for Zack Wheeler, Jones might be the frontrunner to start for the National League. He’s tied with Wheeler for the league lead in strikeouts and is sixth in ERA.
Mike DeFabo, @MikeDeFabo: Joe do you like Cornish hens?
Starkey: I don’t like them, Mike.
I love them.
Mike, @coachpsu16: In honor of Mother’s day, Favorite sports memory that you shared with either your mom or grandmother?
Starkey: Wow, that’s a good one, Coach. My mom wasn’t really into my sports when I was growing up — she didn’t like sports — but you just reminded me: For some reason, she joined my dad and me in watching the legendary 2007 Boise State-Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl. She never watched football games, but this one riveted all of us. It’s the greatest football game I have ever seen. We were captivated by the David-Goliath storyline, the trick plays from Boise State, the unrelenting drama, the postgame proposal from Boise State running back Ian Johnson. All of it. That wasn’t a game; it was a movie — and at the end, myself, my dad and my mom all stood up and clapped in our little house in Amherst, N.Y.
I’ll always remember that. Thank you for jostling the memory.
HW15HOF86, @hineswardhof: Hines ward hof ever?
Starkey: You know my feelings on this, Dr. HW15HOF86: Hines Ward is one of the best all-around football players I have ever seen. Peter King calls him the best blocking wide receiver of all time. I laugh when people say Hines doesn’t have the numbers. He had 1,000 catches, 12,083 yards and 85 touchdowns (top 20 all-time in TDs, tied with Paul Warfield and more than Calvin Johnson, Anquan Boldin, Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson), despite playing half his career with questionable quarterbacks and much of his career in crappy weather conditions.
HOW DOES HE NOT HAVE THE NUMBERS?
And his clutch production? Well, as you and I sit here right now, he still stands tied for fifth all-time in playoff touchdown catches (10), seventh all-time in playoff receptions with 88, and 10th in playoff receiving yards (1,181).
So I ask again: This is a man who is top 20 all-time in touchdowns, top 15 in receptions (with 18 more than Randy Moss) and ranks in the top 10 in every significant postseason receiving category and won a Super Bowl MVP, but is somehow deemed not to have a good enough statistical resume?
What are we doing here?
Ed Helinski, @MrEd315: Whether college or pro sports in Pittsburgh, which fanbase is the most intensely passionate about its team?
Starkey: Interesting question, Dr. Helinski, and I present one in return: How do you measure passion? Strictly in attendance numbers? Loyalty? Noise level? Battling the elements? This one is impossible for me to answer. All three teams have amazing fans, though I will commend one group in particular: the small cadre of intensely loyal Pirates fans who have continued to show up through all the losing, despite being the fan-base equivalent of that guy in the legendary GIF who repeatedly absorbs kicks to the groin. It’s a bloody shame that we’re going on a decade (again) without a significant game being played in that beautiful ballpark. Those people deserve one, beyond the Paul Skenes debut.
Maximus Moore, @MaximusMoore13: Hello Joe, in a long drive competition who would win, you or incrinculent co-host Paul Zeise. Also, in an arm wrestling competition, Paul or the great Ron Cook?
Starkey: Paul is a better golfer than me, but I drive the ball farther, at least at the moment. I made a recent “discovery” with my driving, but we all know what happens to those kinds of discoveries in golf: They are usually lost, never to be found again.
BTW, Paul’s drives are a sight to behold. He shoots almost directly to his left, and the ball usually boomerangs back into the fairway. I haven’t seen anything like it.
Oh, and Paul would literally pull Ron’s arm off.
Dylan Harrison, @iAmDylanH: Greetings Dr. Starkey. This is the former Dr. Rooneyburgh but I'm locked out of my account. Anywho, I was surprised by Steelers not exercising Najee's option. Do you think a potential trade is completely out of the question? With the Khan artist I don't rule anything out.
Starkey: I’m sorry to hear that, Dr. Harrison, unless you did something to deserve being locked out. I also like the use of “anywho.” After all these years, maybe 50 or so since I first heard it, I thoroughly enjoy it.
To your inquiry, I was mildly surprised by the Najee situation, and nothing is out of the question with these Steelers. Unfortunately for Najee, it’s true: You can find running backs anywhere. Teams do it all the time. I believe three of the past 16 Super Bowl champs had a 1,000-yard rusher, and that number doesn’t even mean anything anymore. A mere 58 yards per game will get you a thousand.
Austin Bechtold, @AustinRBechtold: Hello Cornelius, Dr. Crowley thinks he’s the least athletic host or producer at the station. Is he correct?
Starkey: Yes, and it’s wonderful to hear from you, City Limits.
Jay, @Crossland895: Greetings Joe! I’d like to, once again, engage you in a game of free association:
1 The Steelers most impactful rookie will be …
2 The Steelers will finally win a playoff game …
3 The Pirates will be sellers at the deadline …
4 Mike Sullivan will be the Pens head coach on Jan. 1st 2025 …
Starkey: No, no, greetings to YOU, Dr. Jay …
1. Payton Wilson, otherwise known as the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.
2. Yes, and three men named Wilson will help lead them there.
3. Yes.
4. Yes (and thank you for asking).
GerryM171969, @GerardMaho29399: Good evening, Governor Starkey. Presuming they can get an agreeing trade partner, do you see the Penguins unloading Jarry, and what would you like to see in return?
Starkey: I sure hope they do, Dr. M171969 — and all it takes is one team to believe in him, although GM Kyle Dubas unbelievably gave Jarry a 12-team no-trade clause in addition to $5.3 million per year on the extension he signed last summer. Why not a stake in the franchise? Top goalie prospect Joel Blomqvist appears to be ready, or close to it. Get rid of Jarry’s salary and let’s go here. Bring in a vet (maybe bring back Alex Nedeljkovic) to pair with him. Sooner the better.
Burghie, @houseofburgh412: Joe since Tom Brady just had his roast… if you could pick any LIVING Pittsburgh sports icon to have a roast in his honor who would you pick?
Starkey: Chris Mueller.
Joe Starkey: jstarkey@post-gazette.com and @joestarkey1 on X. Joe Starkey can be heard on the “Joe Starkey Show” weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan
First Published: May 7, 2024, 1:54 p.m.
Updated: May 8, 2024, 2:00 a.m.
