The Pomp And Joe Show
12 PM: Ray Fittipaldo with the latest on Rodgers, Heyward, and Hill, the Bechtold Breakdown - tanking, Cronin, Aliquippa, bachelor parties
20 Feb 2026
Chapter 1: What is the latest news on Aaron Rodgers' potential return?
77 years Milwaukee they are tied for the second longest at 57 years I'm just running through everybody right now in my head in the divisions so the AL Central is out the remainder of the NL Central is out in the East Baltimore 1-1 the Yankees obviously are out Toronto was in the 90s the Red Sox was very recent Who was that last team that I'm thinking of in the division? 69 Mets?
No, they won in the 80s with Strawberry and Gooden.
They did. Alright, bear with me. The East, we know it's not Philly. We know it's not the Atlanta Braves. You can eliminate a lot of those teams.
Dallas would get this for sure.
Chapter 2: What does Cam Heyward's cryptic post mean for his contract situation?
He would be all over this.
Well, I'm just trying to go through every division and think about who it would be, and I'm not even looking at the MLB standings or anything right now.
Would you like a hint?
To gander.
Yeah, tell me the ALNL. So both remaining teams, the one that's tied with Milwaukee is in the NL West, and the other team that has a longer draft than the Pirates are in the AL West. Why did I not say San Diego? San Diego is tied with Milwaukee, 57 years. And you said the other is in the AL West? Correct.
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Chapter 3: How likely is Tyreek Hill to join the Steelers this season?
Man. Seattle Mariners. That's right. They've never won a World Series. Won in 1977.
That should have came to me a lot quicker than it did.
So hopefully the Pirates can change that number. Only four teams have a longer World Series drought than they do.
I have three more numbers for you, Sean. They're all yours, my friend.
Chapter 4: What impact does the upcoming draft have on the Steelers' wide receiver strategy?
16. Brian Reynolds only hit 16 home runs last season. That was tied for the fewest in a full season since his rookie year in 2019, and he hit just 249 at the plate, the lowest ever outside of the COVID season. I expect a big bounce-back year from Brian Reynolds. I am hopeful and optimistic about what Reynolds will be able to bring this season. My other three numbers, 216, 196, and 10.
216, Paul Skeen set a new Pirates single-season record for a right-handed pitcher with 216 strikeouts last season. 196, Paul Skeen's ERA and 55 career starts. 10 and 10, Paul Skeen's record in 2025 en route to winning the Cy Young. How about that, Sean?
Chapter 5: Should fans embrace tanking as a strategy for team improvement?
How about those numbers?
What a numbers game. This is going to have to become a new thing. Bring me in. You and I could do pirates every week.
The Pirates numbers game brought to you by hopefully someone soon. Rainy this morning, but the rain has subsided. We have some sun right now in the afternoon. High of 64. Jeff Hardings, Fan Weather, brought to you by Secure Money Advisors.
Chapter 6: What happened with Mick Cronin and his player ejection?
Want to retire in a Florida beach house? Let Secure Money Advisors help get your retirement on track. Ray Fittipaldi joins the show next. Aditi Kinkabwala was on with the PM team earlier this week and said that there is a minuscule chance that Aaron Rodgers returns to the Steelers. That is much different than what we've heard from a lot of national insiders. The Tom Pelisseros of the world.
The Ian Rappaports. Has Ray heard something different since we last spoke to him? We'll find out next. Austin Bechtold in on the Pumpin' Joe show on a Friday on the 5th.
Chapter 7: What does Aliquippa's appeal mean for high school football classifications?
Ah, yes. You know what that music means. It's time for Ray Fittipaldo, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Ray is brought to you by the AV-rated super lawyers LGKG. Luxembourg, Garbutt, Kelly, and George from LGKG. Hello, Ray. Are you enjoying the nice weather that we're having this week until it starts to snow again on Sunday?
Yeah, I was going to say you better enjoy it now because I guess we're getting two to three inches on Sunday afternoon. So as soon as it melts, it comes back.
Ray Aditi was on with the PM guys earlier this week, and she said that she only thinks there's a minuscule chance that Aaron Rodgers comes back next season.
Chapter 8: What are the best bachelor party destinations according to the hosts?
Are you in lockstep with that, or have you heard differently?
No, I mean, I've actually heard pretty much the opposite, that things are trending in the direction where Rodgers likely would return. Now, that's not going to be 100% until... The Steelers hear that from Aaron Rodgers himself, but there's been a lot of communication there between Mike McCarthy and Aaron since Mike took the job. I have not heard that he is leaning in the other direction.
So I guess the good news, Austin, is the combine is next week. We might get a little bit of insight out there from Omar Khan as to exactly what's going on. I'm sure he's going to be asked. about a timeline for, for Aaron's decision. Um, but you would think, you know, with free agency starting in mid-March that the Steelers would have won an answer.
say, by March 12th, March 15th, something like that.
Because, Ray, I saw Jeremy Fowler say yesterday, I think it was on ESPN, that this thing could drag out months again. Like, are we seriously going to do the same exact thing that happened a year ago? Maybe it doesn't go as deep into June or whatever. But still, they have to know way well before the draft.
Yeah, I can't see it going until June again. I mean, you would think after what the Steelers... went through last year. I mean, let's be honest about it. The Steelers probably knew in April, sometime in April, that Rodgers was going to come. It was just a matter of Rodgers taking his time and having a few things being worked out on his end.
It wasn't like the Steelers were hanging in the wind wondering if he was going to come. They knew he was going to come at a certain point last year. Now, could the same thing happen again this year? They kind of know what's going on, and Aaron doesn't do the offseason program. I don't know about that.
But believe me, one way or the other, the Steelers are going to know by mid-March what's going on. Whether the public and the media is clued in on it, I can't say for sure. But I can guarantee you the Steelers will know for sure by mid-March what's going on there.
Ray, Cam Hayward is maybe making news. Who knows? He posted a picture on Instagram today that I'm currently looking at. It is a black and white picture of Cam just staring into the camera sitting on the bench. And there is no caption that is associated with this that he posted two hours ago. What should we take from another Cam Hayward cryptic post?
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