You ask. I answer. It’s time for a weekly Q&A mailbag that appears Tuesdays at TribLive.com. Most of the questions come via “X,” but you can also hit me up jraystarkey@gmail.com. Let’s gooooo …
Frank from Cranberry, via email: Joe — hope the colonoscopy went well. The prep sucks. Anyway, you and Donny Football (now baseball?) are the two best on The Fan! I have a question for the mailbag. Given the Bucs offseason activity thus far, I’m really excited for the season. I think this team, if it avoids major injuries to key players, can win in the 81-87 range and compete for a playoff spot. What say you?
Starkey: There’s a gargantuan difference between 81 and 87, Dr. F — likely a playoff spot or not — but thank you for the kind sentiments.
And yes, it’s true: If we can send people to outer space on joy rides and pretty much clone human beings, we really should have a better colonoscopy prep plan than guzzling a keg of Gatorade mixed with Miralax over 10 hours to produce more blowouts than the 1960 World Series.
Isn’t there a pill we could take? Couldn’t one powerful drink do the trick?
Anyway, thank you. Everything went well.
To your question, the Vegas odds still peg the Pirates’ over/under at around 77.5 wins. That sounds low to me.
Fan Graphs has the Pirates at 82 wins and finishing second to the Cubs in the NL Central. PECOTA projects 80 wins and third place — 10 games behind the Cubs — with just a 26% chance of making the playoffs.
In other words, very few people believe the Pirates will finish significantly above .500 and make the playoffs.
I happen to disagree. I’m going 85-77 and a wild card spot.
I believe Konnor Griffin will play Malkin to Paul Skenes’ Crosby. It’s sort of incredible that the Pirates may have landed two generational players. I just heard baseball analyst Keith Law call Griffin “Willie Mays at shortstop” and say he is the best prospect since Mike Trout. (No pressure).
Two huge keys: The young starters beyond Paul Skenes and internal improvement from Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz. If those things don’t happen, the Pirates are bound for the high 70s.
If those things do happen, along with the lineup additions and the inevitable arrival of Griffin (I’m guessing three weeks into the season), I’m going to be right: 85-77 and Skenes on the mound for Game 1 of a playoff series.
Can you imagine that? Holy ostrich milk.
J, @Crosslands895: ESPN has the Penguins ranked eighth on their Power Rankings, would you feel comfortable with calling this team a contender? p.s. My family has coyote hunting dogs. So if you’re ever faced with that problem, it can be dealt with promptly.
Starkey: The second part of your entry is in response to the fact that coyotes reside right here in Green Tree, Dr. 895, which is rather unbelievable to me. It’s also all I think about as I’m walking my tiny dog. So yes, I might summon you and your dog from the bullpen when you least expect it.
Meanwhile, the Penguins. What a story they are so far.
Are they a “contender?”
Not yet, is what I would say, although that could change with a piece or two at the deadline. If that doesn’t happen, they still strike me as the kind of team that could spring a first-round upset. And then maybe they get lucky if somebody knocks off Tampa Bay, which is clearly the team to beat.
Josh Howard, @jhow2687: It always amuses me with the championship parades’ attendance numbers because I don’t think they can truly estimate what the attendance is. But in your opinion would a Pirates World Series championship parade surpass any number we have seen with the Steelers and Pens parades?
Starkey: That’s an odd question, Dr. Howard, although it does have me thinking.
Are you poking fun at overhyped Pirates predictions? (Not that I would blame you, even if I’m one of the over-hypers).
Why would a Pirates parade draw more people? I’m not following. I’d imagine it would be about the same.
It’s also not going to happen this year, but I have long predicted the Pirates to win the World Series in 2027, and I will stick with that prediction.
Geoffrey Lewis Music, @glewismusic: G’day joe! My real last name is Griffin and I’m so excited about (Konnor Griffin) being a Bucco. Between you Austin and Bob, who has the most famous namesake?
Starkey: I suppose me because Ringo Starr’s real name is Richard Starkey. Austin Bechtold and Bob Pompeani cannot match that (unless I’m missing something).
Ryan Chepkevich, @oofoof8: Who will lead the pirates in home runs and RBIs and hits I’m thinking Lowe, O’Hearn and Cruz Let’s Go Bucs!
Starkey: Man, if Cruz leads the team in hits, that would either be a great sign or a terrible one. I’m thinking Cruz for home runs, though, Ozuna for RBIs and … Konnor Griffin for hits.
(Activate Kirk Cousins voice): You like that?
Chris Barbre, @Steelers_ChrisB: Who do you think will be the first player that the Steelers re-sign and/or extend before free agency?
Starkey: Well, we’re about due for Cam Heyward’s annual contract dispute, are we not, Dr. B? I think you’ll see the Steelers sweeten his deal. I think you’ll see Chris Boswell on a new deal. I hope you see Kenneth Gainwell re-signed.
But to your question, it’s probably Aaron Rodgers. They need to know who their quarterback will be, and all signs are pointing to a Rodgers return.
Burke O’Toole, @BurkeMan513: Dr. Starkey, who will lead the Pirates in homers this season?
Starkey: I already answered that, Dr. 513. Oneil Cruz will hit 31 and lead the team.
Thank you for asking.
Matt Choate, @mattchoate: Dr. Starkey, with the shift in baseball where rosters are more relief pitchers than bench players do you think MLB will expand rosters to allow additional players? Seems like maybe a CBA topic in ‘27. Cutch would probably like it.
Starkey: I don’t care about this, to be honest, Dr. C, but I guess you’re right. And it still wouldn’t bring back McCutchen. You can’t have two DH-only players on your roster.
Pete Raybar, @PRaybar: Hi Joe! Who are your favorite all-time national play by play announcers in each sport?
Baseball: Vin Scully
Football: Pat Summerall
College football: Keith Jackson
Basketball: Marv Albert
Hockey: Doc Emrick
College Basketball: Dick Enberg, maybe. That’s a tough one.
Ryan Jones, @RyanJon08044492: Steelers, Penguins, Pirates…..who is the next team to win a Championship?
Starkey: There’s a new one! I’m sorry, Dr. Jones, it’s a fair question. And it’s the Pirates (in 2027).
J P, @JoeyPicksIt: Dearest Dr. Joe. Should the Pirates invite Will Craig back to spring training to work with the infielders
Starkey: By all means, Dr. J. You never know when the old first-to-home rundown might happen.
Steve, @Steve 3209839331: Do the Steelers realize they need multiple receivers yet or are they going to run it back for the third year in a row with no weapons?
Starkey: I wrote about Omar Khan’s never-ending quest for receivers right here, Dr. 3209839331.
Ed Helinski, @MrEd315: What are you liking and disliking about the Pirates so far? And what’s your take on the Pirates payroll spending spree?
Starkey: So far? We’re only one day into spring training, Mr. Ed! I’ll tell you what I love: Paul Skenes and Konnor Griffin. You win with stars. I can’t wait to watch Griffin play.
As far as the “spending spree,” let’s not go too far. The Pirates finally showed they are kind of trying to win. That’s the least they could do. And it’s not like they went out and splurged on high-priced free agents.
They did, however, pump the payroll past $100 million, which, again, is the least they could have done.
David Barndollar, @DBarndollar: What size and term of contract would TJ Watt get today?
Starkey: If he hit the open market right now? Definitely above $30 million per year but likely not 41, Dr. B. He’d still be a hot commodity, even coming off a down season. Pass rushers are coveted.
Roman Wozniak III, @Yinzerpaloozast: Dr. Joe Cherington ain’t cooking but he’s finally turning the stove on… is this more of an effort to be competitive or to keep Skenes around… and is it near enough to do so?
Starkey: It could be MLB pushing the Pirates to spend a little more and actually try a little bit. It could be Bob Nutting finally realizing that money spent could result in money earned via fans returning to the ballpark.
Whatever it is, I’m guessing it’s definitely not enough to keep Skenes around past the date he’ll hit free agency. The Pirates control his rights for this season and three more. He’s far, far more likely to be traded before that than to stay beyond that.
Not to be a downer.