Joe is a freelance sports columnist for the Tribune-Review.
Joe Starkey can be reached via e-mail or at 412-320-7848
Starkey: Robots over umps? Yes, please
By Joe StarkeyAngel Hernandez still has a job. That’s the punch line. Hernandez is the umpire who looked at a television monitor that all but screamed “YES!” and ruled “No.” The replay clearly showed an Adam Rosales home run in the Indians-A’s game May 8. Hernandez upheld the original call of double, …
Starkey: ‘Bruce’ Orpik is just getting started
By Joe StarkeyWhat a beautifully contentious Game 1 it was for Brooks (Don’t Call Me Bruce) Orpik. I’ll get to the “Bruce” part in a minute. Vintage …
Starkey: Expect sparks when Pens-Sens meet
By Joe StarkeyThis should be interesting. For teams that really aren’t rivals, the Penguins and Ottawa Senators have developed quite the rivalry — replete with verbal jousting, …
Starkey: Pens not in critical condition — yet
By Joe StarkeySomething struck me about the way Jarome Iginla carried himself in a television interview after the Penguins’ Game 4 loss (otherwise known as “Fleury’s Last …
Starkey: Marte a ‘special cat’
By Joe StarkeyTake what you will from the Pirates’ tough, 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals on Saturday. There was plenty to pick apart. I took this, in the form of a mental snapshot that will take a prominent place on the …
Starkey: Batch (probably) hits end of line
By Joe StarkeySo long, Charlie Batch. Not that you’ll be far away if the Steelers have an emergency. As you put it Sunday morning, “I’ll be right …
Starkey: The real key for Steelers
By Joe StarkeyIt’s a wonderful day across the NFL — and not just because Mel Kiper Jr. can finally take a nap. This is the only Sunday …
Starkey: 2 Pens power plays would be a blast
By Joe StarkeyIdeally, the Penguins’ top power-play unit would see Kris Letang playing the center point with deadly one-time options on either side — Jarome Iginla on …
Starkey: Pens’ first GM, 93, back in game
By Joe StarkeyIf I heard it once, I heard it a dozen times Wednesday night at Consol Energy Center: “Good to see you again, Jack.” See, even …
Starkey: Orpik an iconic Penguin
By Joe StarkeyThe moment passed quickly — so quickly that it really must be revisited. All kinds of things were happening April 2 at Consol Energy Center. …
Starkey: Gary Roberts knows: Winning’s hard
By Joe StarkeyGary Roberts hasn’t pulled on a Penguins sweater since 2008. He retired from the NHL in 2009. But he’s still capable of delivering the kind …
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