Starkey & Mueller

The Pirates salvaged the series against the Cubs with a win yesterday, crushing former Bucco Jameson Taillon. Do they have another need when it comes to a right-handed bat? The only power bat they have from the right side (that isn’t a switch hitter) is Esmerlyn Valdez. It would be a lot different if Marcell Ozuna got it going, but we have waited long enough for that. After being dominated by lefties on back-to-back nights this weekend, is a right-handed bat in their future?

Will the Pirates make big moves ahead of the deadline? How they do against the Cubs and Diamondbacks could determine how aggressive they are. Also, Pitt Football coach Pat Narduzzi stops by.

Open Phone Friday.

The Pirates begin their biggest home stand of the last 8 years tonight when they take on the Cubs at 6:40. Mullsy thinks that the Pirates need to get something out of Ozuna, Triolo, or Davis when they play against the lefties. 

Mark Kaboly joins the show for the next hour. Mark thinks that both Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard have a lot to prove in training camp this Summer. Mark says that nobody knows anything about Broderick Jones at this current moment, and that it is probably a lost cause because Troy Fautanu and Max Iheanachor are the team's tackles for the foreseeable future. More with Mark. Ben Roethlisberger said on his podcast the other day that the Steelers should cut Mason Rudolph. Mark thinks that the Steelers should roll with all four QBs, and maybe have one guy come up with a phantom injury that gets him put on the IR. Even more with Mark Kaboly. Mullsy quizzes Mark on a very tough trivia question from last year's Pirates season.

The Pirates' most likely player to be traded this deadline is Hunter Barco, according to Stephen Nesbitt. Mullsy thinks that Barco could potentially be of interest to the Padres, who are looking for league-ready starting pitching. Mullsy thinks that the Pirates are going to trade mid-level prospects for decent relievers. He is not expecting any blockbuster moves.  Callers chime in and share their deadline mock trades that the Pirates should make.  Donny Football Debrief with Charlie Borges. Tony Romo has been arrested on suspicion of DUI today. He also may now have the funniest mugshot of all time. 

Donny Football Debrief with Charlie Borges. Tony Romo has been arrested on suspicion of DUI today. He also may now have the funniest mugshot of all time. 

The Pirates' most likely player to be traded this deadline is Hunter Barco, according to Stephen Nesbitt. Mullsy thinks that Barco could potentially be of interest to the Padres, who are looking for league-ready starting pitching. Mullsy thinks that the Pirates are going to trade mid-level prospects for decent relievers. He is not expecting any blockbuster moves. 

The Final Edition of Fair Game with Nick Farabaugh before Steelers Training Camp starts next week. What does Nick expect to see as Mike McCarthy prepares to take over for Mike Tomlin?

The Pirates are about to take on the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park in a massive series. The Pirates trail the Cubs in the division and the Wild Card races. If the Pirates can sweep, they will be in a much better spot than they are right now.

Ben Roethlisberger has spoken about the backup QB situation and is in line with Mullsy once again. Ben said it’s wiser to hold on to the 2 young guns that you don’t know about yet, Will Howard and Drew Allar. Obviously, Aaron Rodgers isn’t going anywhere, which leaves Mason Rudolph as the odd man out. Ben said he would cut Mason. Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. Where does Ray come down on the QB2 battle as we approach training camp? Ray thinks Mike McCarthy could have Will Howard as prepared as Mason Rudolph entering the season, which would make Rudolph expendable. How much pressure is on Roman Wilson? Ray thinks there will be some on Dylan Cook, who is holding off Max Iheanachor for the starting right tackle spot. What is the future like for Broderick Jones, who may not even be healthy enough to play? The guys got Ray’s feeling of the Steelers continuing their training camp at St. Vincent College after all of these years. Total Request Thursday.

Max Fried came off the injured list faster than anybody expected and absolutely mowed down the Pirates on the back end of the double-header yesterday. In an article on the Pirates’ team website, Aidan Stepansky writes that the Pirates could end up moving bats for arms in an attempt to cut payroll. Apparently, the Marlins are going to take a buy and sell approach to the deadline. Cam Heyward said recently that the Steelers players hate having training camp at Latrobe. Donny Football Debrief – The Pirates have just traded international signing bonus pool money for Padres RHP Ron Marinaccio. Dennis Santana has been DFA’d as a corresponding move. Jake Paul also recently said that he has talked to NFL coaches and they want to bring him in.

Bubba Chandler had maybe his best start of the season yesterday, and Don Kelly pulled him at 84 pitches. Matt Capps did not sound like he was pleased with this decision on the broadcast. Mullsy now thinks that Bubba Chandler should be borderline untouchable, mostly because he doesn’t think the return on a trade would be nearly good enough. Poni thinks that Bubba Chandler might be the best athlete on the Pirates’ roster, including Konnor Griffin. Chandler is also only 23. KDKA TV’s Bob Pompeani joined the show. Bob tells the guys about how he maintains his great hair. Bob thinks that it was predetermined that Bubba Chandler was going to get pulled at some form of pitch limit, because if that was not the case it would not have made sense to pull him. Bob also thinks that part of this is Don Kelly’s decision, not just the front office’s. Bob says that he would trade Bubba Chandler for Mason Miller straight up, if given the opportunity. Power Rankings – Top 5 Steelers with something to prove in camp.

Bubba Chandler put together the best start of his career last night, but the Pirates were shutout by the Yankees in the second game of their doubleheader. The offense scoring 0 is a story, but not the big one. With Chandler cruising into the 7th inning, Don Kelly pulled him from Brandon Eisert. Predictably, the Yankees immediately scored twice to take a 2-0 lead (where the score would stay). Was it preplanned? Why can’t the Pirates push aside the script if someone gives them reason to? The guys brought up times this year when a pitcher is pulled well ahead of when the team would like, so why not have the same energy now? The lack of feel has grown in the wrong direction. A tough call for the final out last night. The guys wanted to hear more heat from Don Kelly on the umpires, even in a game that was a shutout loss. Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Did the front office push for Don Kelly to pull Bubba Chandler last night? The guys wanted to know the predetermined nature of decisions like the

Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. Where does Ray come down on the QB2 battle as we approach training camp? Ray thinks Mike McCarthy could have Will Howard as prepared as Mason Rudolph entering the season, which would make Rudolph expendable. How much pressure is on Roman Wilson? Ray thinks there will be some on Dylan Cook, who is holding off Max Iheanachor for the starting right tackle spot. What is the future like for Broderick Jones, who may not even be healthy enough to play? The guys got Ray’s feeling of the Steelers continuing their training camp at St. Vincent College after all of these years.

Donny Football Debrief – The Pirates have just traded international signing bonus pool money for Padres RHP Ron Marinaccio. Dennis Santana has been DFA’d as a corresponding move. Jake Paul also recently said that he has talked to NFL coaches and they want to bring him in.

Max Fried came off the injured list faster than anybody expected and absolutely mowed down the Pirates on the back end of the double-header yesterday. In an article on the Pirates’ team website, Aidan Stepansky writes that the Pirates could end up moving bats for arms in an attempt to cut payroll. Apparently, the Marlins are going to take a buy and sell approach to the deadline.

Power Rankings – Top 5 Steelers with something to prove in training camp.

KDKA TV’s Bob Pompeani joined the show. Bob tells the guys about how he maintains his great hair. Bob thinks that it was predetermined that Bubba Chandler was going to get pulled at some form of pitch limit, because if that was not the case it would not have made sense to pull him. Bob also thinks that part of this is Don Kelly’s decision, not just the front office’s. Bob says that he would trade Bubba Chandler for Mason Miller straight up, if given the opportunity.

Pirates insider Jason Mackey joined the show. Did the front office push for Don Kelly to pull Bubba Chandler last night? The guys wanted to know the predetermined nature of decisions like the one made last night. Should we be concerned about Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, who are both in the midst of a rough drought? Jason projects Spencer Horwitz to return ‘this weekend’ and Oneil Cruz possibly in the next 2 weeks. Jason said the report of the Pirates not spending extra cash at the deadline is ‘baloney.’ Jason doesn’t think there will be a half measure taken this time around.