Jonathan Hooke

2026 Pirate Predictions Record: 88-74 Playoffs: Yes Best Avg: Mangum Best OPS: Lowe Skenes Cy Young?: Yes Biggest Disappointment: Ozuna HR Leader: Cruz (32) RBI Leader: Lowe (94) All Stars: Skenes, Cruz, Lowe, Ashcraft Breakout Player: Ashcraft Bold Prediction: Griffin wins ROY

@seanhbytes @ThePoniExpress I don't think he signs that because he can hit FA in 3 years for a ton of money. If I am the Pirates, I don't sign that either. You're signing up for 2 years at roughly $55 mil per season bought out. I just don't think that's good business for either side.

@JonathanwHooke @ThePoniExpress I think the team might be able to rip up his contract and get him to agree to 180 over 5 years. Basically buying two more years by pulling his post free agency salary forward, at a little discount. At his age I'm not sure it makes sense for him unless he really loves Pittsburgh.

How about this: Paul Skenes. 4 year $140 million extension. Who says no?

@B33feSupreme @ThePoniExpress For his sake, I hope it happens and maybe the next CBA changes things, but I just cant see year 1 being that high of a number.

@JonathanwHooke @ThePoniExpress It’ll be around that if he wins another CY Young or is a finalist for it

@B33feSupreme @ThePoniExpress He will absolutely not make over $20 million next year.

@JonathanwHooke @ThePoniExpress There’s no chance he’s making less than 20 in his first arb year.

@seanhbytes @ThePoniExpress Yeah thats not gonna happen. For a few reasons. Yeah the AAV is way lower than it would be and you just cant let his arb years play out and then do this. But if you wanna pay him $35m per year AAV starting next year. Say 7-$245, then that is fair. But Skenes won't sign that.

@JonathanwHooke @ThePoniExpress I think Poni is suggesting extending him 4 years beyond 2029. Skenes' agent would laugh at that.

@ThePoniExpress Griffin is signed through 2034.

Paul Skenes is under Pirates team control thru 2029. Konnor Griffin is signed thru 2033. That’s a big window to win with the 2 best talents in baseball.

@_adamcrowley Since 2022, the Pirates have paid Ke'Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds, Mitch Keller, and now Konnor Griffin. I am by no means a fan of Bob at all, but spare me the "Nutting won't pay anyone" comments anymore. With the exception of Skenes, Bob has signed guys long term.

The goalposts are being moved! "Pay someone!" They paid Reynolds. "Pay a young guy!" They paid Griffin. Now we can only take them seriously if they pay Skenes?

A meaningful commitment.

@PantherLair If they were all just going to leave anyways, just fire the guy. What are they thinking? The fan base isn't coming back for this guy. I hope they know this. He cannot coach. Jeff Capel would've went 20-11 with Michigan's roster and you can't convince me otherwise.

@PantherLair So what factored in then because I can't comprehend this at all. It makes no sense. We all knew Beebah was gone. But now you add in Roman, Omari and apparently you can use get out of LOI's now? How do you bring him back w/out these assurances from these guys coming back?

Big news for Pitt here. Felesi signed an athletic aid agreement to attend Pitt, but it looks like he'll be backing out of that.

@VickVinegar007 @Teresa_Varley @steelers Because they need to utilize Acrisure for the behind the scenes stuff. Players, commissioner, etc. You cant justt put the stage in the middle of gold 1 or something like that. It wouldn't be feasible.

@Teresa_Varley @steelers Why wouldn’t they use the city skyline as the back drop? Or the river? This could possibly be the ugliest view in this beautiful city. IMO

The next step in building the NFL Draft Stage and Theater is underway, with more changes expected to be visible in the next few days. 🗒️: bit.ly/4c4KoWc

In honor of a very successful Opening Weekend at PNC Park, we're giving away this team-autographed poster. RT for your chance to win! 🏴‍☠️

@DTonPirates It will not be close to a sellout today and it would not be close to 30k tomorrow Pretty easy to look at the ticket sales. I think you might see 25-30 today. Penguin game definitely hurts today a little bit with the weather. Tomorrow I would expect more 10-15 w/ Easter

Very interested to see how #Pirates draw next five days. Beautiful day today, expect close to a sellout. Nice day tomorrow, cool, expect 30K? Then Padres Mon-Wed. Skenes Tuesday, day game Wed. 120,000 for the 5 games. Over or Under?

I think there’s a very good chance Bob Nutting gets cheered tomorrow. And he should.

@JimHammett Yeah, it’s really everything all at once. I think when they decided to flip the cameras, they should’ve kept the benches on the same side. It would’ve looked significantly better than what it does now.

@JonathanwHooke I think the Zoo’s downfall is tied to what’s happening on the court the past decade.

I can’t think of the last decision pertaining to the Pitt basketball program that was sensical and positive.

@JimHammett Honestly, at this point, I would disagree with that. With a couple outliers, the zoo has been terrible since. It barely fills up and looks awful on TV The camera angle also sucks on that side versus the old way They thought it would look like Duke by flipping it. It’s not close

Maybe flipping the Petersen Events Center cameras in 2019.

@TheDanKingerski I get what you're saying but why does it matter? Every single outlet where people watch games in this town has both. To my knowledge comcast, directv, and armstrong all have it. Fubo has it. People who buy SNP 360 have it. It really doesn't matter.

I'm doing my pregame. I've got to ask incredulously, why in god's name isn't a huge game against Detroit on Sportsnet and the Pirates game on SNP+?!

@BradyReeks @JBaileyNFL It surely is

@JBaileyNFL Is yellow not also a Pitt color?

Tell Pitt to get their own stadium so the end zones can be yellow year round

@JBaileyNFL Or maybe the Acrisure Stadium grounds crew can just keep it yellow all the time and switch out the Pitt vs Steelers lettering? Its the same yellow.