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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 01.30.25
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Jason Mackey
11:44
Hello, everyone. Good afternoon and welcome to my bi-weekly sports chat. Thanks so much for stopping by. Mailbag next week. Plenty of great questions already. You know the drill. We'll get started in about 15 minutes.
12:02
And away we go ...
Guest
12:02
Hey Jason, hope life is going well for you! Great coverage on our Bucs throughout off season. Since Cherington ha said there will be additions to roster… what are you hearing about a RF/ hitter with power? Beat’em Bucs
Jason Mackey
12:03
Thank you, same to you. Allow me to relay what I've been hearing ________ . I do think they'll do something. They better. Even if it's a platoon guy with Suwinski. I don't expect it to suddenly energize people, but if they just let it go ... that would be bad.
Just Curious
12:03
Jason, any idea what Chicago was willing to trade in return for Coach T.?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:03
Nope. And I don't think we'll ever know.
John in SC
12:03
I see lots of talk about the Pens tearing done the roster and starting over. While I would hate to see it, that must also include Sidney Crosby. I say that because it would be an injustice to him to be involved in a rebuild. He deserves to have a final chance at another cup, which he almost assuredly would not get here. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:05
Sid deserves the right to call his shot, in my opinion. I'm OK with whatever he wants. He's a top-five player all-time and also one of the kindest most genuine professional athletes ever. If he wants to stay -- and all indications are that he does -- then that's the end of the discussion for me. Now, everything else should be on the table, though Kyle Dubas is obviously hamstrung by NMCs.
Dan N
12:05
I know you’re against trading young pitching but looking at the Red Sox and especially the Orioles need for it don’t you think they are an excellent matchup for the Pirates outfield positions…That way you don’t have to go into free agency looking every year ? Obviously depends on the young pitcher you’re giving up but they need to avoid the remaining free agent list..
Jason Mackey
12:06
It would take an awful lot of hitting to convince me to part with young pitching. For organizations like the Pirates, who aren't going to pay for that, I would protect it at all costs.
Terry Martin
12:06
Hey Jason, hope life is treating you well! Great coverage on our  Bucs this off season… since Cherington has stated they will make additions… what are u hearing on a hitter and RF! Trade or FA signing? Beat’em Bucs
Jason Mackey
12:07
Not much, Terry. Wish I had more for ya. Make sure you're reading Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin, who have our day-to-day coverage of the team now. If they do something, I might chime in. But those guys are driving the bus.
Wayward
12:07
Jason, as always thanks for the chats.  Setting aside what the Bucs could/should have done this offseason, do you see them adding at RF and/or another RP or are they done?  Kind of feels like they are waiting to see if the price drops or interest picks up from any potential RF guys.
Jason Mackey
12:07
Popular topic. They need to add a RF platoon option, IMO. A right-handed bat. I'm OK if they're done with the bullpen. Actually don't hate those moves. Mayze was really good in '23 and from '21 to '23.
Guest
12:07
Good morning Jason. Love hearing you on the radio in the evenings as well as your writing. You are a breath of fresh air. My question is about Nutting. How is he perceived by other owners in baseball. Do they see him as a competent owner or the bumbling buffoon we recognize him as in Pittsburgh
Jason Mackey
12:09
Thank you. I appreciate you saying that. I have enjoyed the growth and challenge. I would imagine they see Bob as ... limited. He's a nice guy. I don't think "bumbling buffoon" is how they would describe him. But I would imagine -- unless they have evidence that the public does not relative to the Pirates' books -- they think of him as frugal and probably not the right guy to own an MLB team. But like in a lot of these cases, the poor teams often serve a purpose as food for the rich ones.
Joel
12:09
Jason, in terms of the Pirates approach to the off season, either Cherington is some combination of risk averse and incompetent or Nutting has directed him to reduce payroll. Which is it?
Jason Mackey
12:11
I'm not sure. I'm not even sure what their "approach" has been, to be honest. Sit back and hope nobody notices? I don't get it. ... Well, I mean, I do. They're trying to Moneyball their way to wins. Finding what they believe are diamonds in the rough, trying to help them and win on the cheap. If it works, they're geniuses. If it doesn't, they're probably fired.
Richard
12:11
What changes to the rules or new rules would you like the NFL to enact next season?  Thanks Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:12
Hmm ... I'd like to see some personal fouls and QB hits called the way they should, meaning it's not a flag if you cough on Mahomes or a few others. I also think the new kickoff rule is a waste of time. Either go back to what it used to be or save our time and start every possession at the 30.
Ginnie P.
12:17
Hi Jason! Have you heard any news about Pittsburgh getting a WNBA franchise?  Thank you.
Jason Mackey
12:18
I have not, Ginnie. I know we were behind several others from a league perspective. The study that was done was also more about the viability and less about laying the groundwork for something to happen. I do think it would be awesome if it occurred. I just worry we're in line behind too many bigger markets.
Mr Ed
12:18
It’s January 30 so still time for the Pirates to make a significant external move, but at this juncture do you think it is a fair assessment for me to think the Pirate’s off season strategy was “the players who were good last year will be good again, and those that weren’t will be better, and injured ones will fully recover”. It just seems Cherington is bound and determined to try and win with his analytical processes and internal development because I have to believe Nutting would be ok with more payroll than projected right now.
Jason Mackey
12:20
Yeah, I think that's mostly fair. We probably never should have expected "a significant external move" in the first place. But expecting more than they've done is certainly reasonable. Like I said, I do think they'll do something else. They need to. And it needs to restore some semblance of confidence here.
PrinceBob
12:20
Which nickname is blander, Guardians or Commanders? And how does Indianapolis get to keep being the Indians? I know as a minor league team they fly lower on the radar but we have high school teams here with nicknames like that who have been pressured to change. And Chiefs is okay but Redskins wasn't?
Jason Mackey
12:22
I don't understand it. This is probably a deeper and more nuanced discussion than I'm capable of having in the middle of a chat, Gunner. They're both pretty bland, but I'd prefer either over the Utah Hockey Team, I know that.
JamesWV
12:22
Hi Jason, Congratulations on your expanded roll with the PG as well as getting more and more air time on the Fan but you’re still my Pirates go to guy and I realize they aren’t going to make a move to excite the fan base but I also know they have to find out what exactly they have with Henry, Jack, Endy and Livior. Do you expect any marked improvement with any of them with a new hitting coach in place?
Jason Mackey
12:23
Thanks, James. I appreciate the kind words. I really enjoyed my time covering the Pirates. I appreciate you following my current work. ... I do think they can improve, yes. Their approach last season was not smart. I'm not saying it's all Andy Haines' fault. It's not. That sort of stuff came from above him. But I think those guys you mentioned could potentially be fairly impactful players in '25. If that happens, I think it will go a long way toward the Pirates jumping from 76 to 85=86 wins.
Nardini
12:24
Hey Jason, do you see the Pirates signing a SIGNFICANT free agent or making a SIGNIFICANT trade before opening day?
Jason Mackey
12:25
This word is coming out a lot. I don't know you're definition of SIGNIFICANT. Of others' definition of the word. Do I think they're going to make some sort of splash? No, I don't. But I do believe they will address OF/RF/offense in a larger way before Opening Day.
PrinceBob
12:25
Have you as a reporter ever wondered why you bother asking questions of athletes, coaches, executives, etc.? This came to mind when I was reading about the person at Piratefest who asked Travis Williams if the Pirates are really serious about winning. It's a question most of us wonder about but did anyone hearing or reading about it believe that this was when Williams would finally let it out of the bag and say what many of us suspect, i.e., "Nah. We're good with how things are as long as that $30 million or so rolls in each year?" I see so many non answers from coaches and execs that I think I'd often wonder what the point is if I were a reporter.
Jason Mackey
12:28
I don't think so. I think those in charge should be challenged and forced to answer questions they don't want to answer. It's part of holding them accountable, etc. This is also a larger discussion, but a lot of times those in charge take that question as a personal attack from the person sitting in the chair. It's not. They're in a position of power. A lot of people pay money, invest time and effort, etc., to follow what they do. It's part of the job. People should get an opportunity to question. When you speak to the media, you're not speaking to the people in the room, you're speaking to fans. So, no. I don't question that. It's my job. As long as my process is sound, I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of me. At the same time, those on the outside tend to transfer their anger toward the questioner if the answer stinks. I can't help that.
The Dude
12:28
While it is true that much of the recent Steeler failure in the playoffs has to do  with a lack of a franchise quarterback, isn't it worth noting that some of those losses were to less than elite opponents taking the snaps - Blake Bortles, Joe Flacco, Baker Mayfield, Tim Tebow, and so on?
Jason Mackey
12:29
I'm not sure that part of recent Steelers history has been omitted, Jeffrey.
Billy V.
12:29
Mr, Mackey: From what I’ve heard, the baseball experts have said the Pirates have given up too much in their recent trades.  Agree?
Jason Mackey
12:29
What recent trades are we talking about here? Horwitz? That's the only "real trade," and in that case, I agree. I've said as much a bunch.
PrinceBob
12:29
Kind of is a similar vein to my question about getting responses that don't really answer tough questions, well, kind of, when Mike Tomlin said that George Pickens needs to mature did anyone ask him what would happen if he did not mature?
Jason Mackey
12:31
No, no one did. Tomlin would not answer that, but in the vein of holding those in power accountable, you bring up a good point. But again, Tomlin would respond -- as he always does with this stuff -- that he's not going to air any of that publicly. So, we typically use our time on something else.
demosthenes98
12:31
How aware do you think the Pirates' players are of the results of the team's recent fan survey about their relationship with the franchise? What can be done to raise their awareness?
Jason Mackey
12:32
I'm pretty sure they know how fans feel about the Pirates right now. They want to disprove and change the narrative. Believe me, guys are also aware of what this place was like when the Pirates won or what type of story they became when stuff was good. I don't think they're going to retire because fans are complaining in a survey.
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