You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's sports chat: 02.27.25
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Jason Mackey
11:48
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my bi-weekly chat. Mailbag last week. Let's chat it up today. You know how this works. Fire away now. Will be back at noon to answer.
12:07
And away we go ... sorry for the brief delay.
Pirates Parrot
12:08
How do you rank the NL Central teams this year?  Are the annually underrated Brewers finishing behind the Cubs and Pirates this year?
Jason Mackey
12:09
Honestly, I don't know. I get that's an un-sexy answer. Also, if you made me, I'd go: CHI, MIL, CIN, STL & PIT. But I don't feel good about it. I don't think we know what the Reds will have with Francona. I don't like picking the Cubs to win it. I don't think the Pirates have last-place talent on the pitching staff. I don't like betting against the Brewers. Honestly, it's hard to predict right now.
artie bridge
12:09
Jason, Has the ship sailed on Henry Davis, or is the jury still out?  And, in either case, what are the Pirates plan for him this year?
Jason Mackey
12:10
I think the ship remains at the dock. The jury is deliberating. Whatever cliche you wanna use. He's had a good spring. I know, we've said that before. They would like him to make the club. Even if he doesn't, I don't think the Pirates will cut bait. Why, right? There are tools there. He'll get another chance of two before the jury returns.
Drinking Kool Aid
12:10
Who is the next Steeler to make the hall of fame? And then? And then? The Steelers have the most hall of famers and that number will continue grow over the next few years.  Nfl needs to just rename it the Steelers Hall of Fame....Plus Other Teams
Jason Mackey
12:12
It should be Hines Ward, but I think it'll probably be Ben Roethlisberger. I mean, I get what you're saying about the number of Steelers. But they've also won six Super Bowls and can claim one of the best dynasties in Pro Bowls. Having that reflected in the Hall of Fame isn't weird.
J D
12:12
Jason, still waters run deep so since the Steelers have been very quiet with any changes, do you think they are on the verge of some major moves and if so, what do you think that would be?
Jason Mackey
12:13
I don't know about still waters, but I do expect them to sign a quarterback by March 12. My fear is that it will be Russell Wilson, the same thing over and over again. Once they sign a quarterback, I think more moves will follow.
Bob G
12:13
Jason, do you think there is any hope that Sullivan is fired and the Pens get Geno and Letang to waive their no trade clauses so we can get younger and faster like the game now demands? The Pens seem like the Steelers trying to do the same thing they did when they had young elite players when they now have old maybe okay players.
Jason Mackey
12:14
What would firing Sullivan accomplish, Bob? I get why, early in the season, it would've made sense. I wrote it, so I would be contradicting myself. That was also (1) After FSG said its goal was to win the Stanley Cup (2) Before we learned more about how the Penguins' plan has changed and (3) Before the 4-Nations Face-Off, when Mike Sullivan showed what he could do with capable players. The guy knows how to coach hockey. I don't think that's the problem.
12:15
As for Letang Malkin, I don't see it. I can see why it would make sense for them to do it -- they get to compete, the Penguins get younger -- but if they've made it this far, I have a tough time seeing 87, 71 and 58 just calling the whole thing off.
Bob G
12:15
Do you get depressed covering the Pirates? I start off optimistic in April but by May I have out away my Pirates hat and just laugh at their futility.
Jason Mackey
12:16
I don't cover the Pirates. That's the job of Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin now. I'm a columnist and write about all sports, but no, never have, never will. We're paid to write, either way. We're not fans. I'm more depressed when the Pirates aren't playing, because I just enjoy watching baseball and being warm.
J D
12:16
Jason, are the Bucco's going to win 90 games this year with a solid starting rotation or with it be in the low 70's?  Also, what young hitter (s) do you like so far?
Jason Mackey
12:17
I think they're going to be in the mid-80s. Young hitter, Konnor Griffin has been impressive. No doubt they got a good one there.
James
12:17
With all the talk of RSN uncertainty, do you think the Pirates will be on SNP for the long haul or will more change come?
Jason Mackey
12:17
No, I don't. I think they will wind up under the MLB umbrella when this CBA expires.
Pittsburgh Pete
12:18
Jason, love the chats!! Do you think there will be a work stoppage after the 2026 season when the CBA is up, and could you at all see the 2027 season cancelled if MLB pushes for a salary cap?
Jason Mackey
12:20
Yes and yes, Pete. I think Rob Manfred was strategic recently talking about the salary cap. He knows that ain't happening without deeper discussions. Manfred has long wanted a cap. The MLBPA does not. But if you look at pushes the league has made, it's to modernize baseball and bring it back to the mainstream. Hasn't happened, but that has been Manfred's push. A salary cap, in my opinion -- along with a floor and revamped revenue sharing -- would help a great deal. My sense is that Manfred, who is supposed to retire in January 2029, wants to leave a revamped system behind as a legacy.
Bon Scott
12:20
Where does the Pirates' rotation rank in MLB?
Jason Mackey
12:21
I'd put it around 9-12 range.
Guest
12:21
Hi Jason, thanks for doing this sports chat. A few weeks ago a it came out that Wilson had been stifled by Art Smith from making audibles during games when the defensive look made it necessary. If true, this would be outrageous...but a couple of local reporters not at the PG a few days afterwards said that this story had been put out by Wilson's agent and others and was not true. Further, the reporters said that most of the those in the Steeler front office seriously did not like Wilson and that he was as good as gone. What can you tell us about this? If there's truth to it, then Wilson's image as a positive, moral boosting leader is not so convincing, and perhaps he should be shown the door...
Jason Mackey
12:23
I don't comment on others' reporting, especially when it's anonymous because ... why? But I'll say this: I've known Gerry for a long time. I admire & respect the heck out of him. He's a friend. I know how he does the job, what he believes, how much he cares, where he gets his stuff, etc. I have zero reason to doubt his reporting.
12:24
FWIW, I don't put that on Wilson. I'd change the plays, too. Not giving your veteran quarterback that authority is asinine.
howard
12:24
best month of the year?
Jason Mackey
12:25
Usually anything that's warm, but I'm going April here because of baseball starting (should be 4/1, but I digress), temperatures going up, the Masters, etc. October is also elite: MLB postseason, NFL happening, college football, weather doesn't stink, etc.
Donny
12:25
I really hope MLB and ESPN come back to an agreement, league coverage wouldn't be the same without SNB on the network. Do you think they'll be able to work something out, and if not, how badly will it affect the sport?
Jason Mackey
12:26
I hope they do, too, Donny. I don't know. I get MLB's side. It wants the sport talked about more. ESPN wants to serve more mainstream. Baseball isn't that. I feel like this could be real.
Leemarvinwannab
12:26
Andy Toole could win at Pitt y/n?
Jason Mackey
12:26
Yes
Bill
12:26
In yesterday's chat I had mentioned free agent quarterbacks might be hesitant to come here due to Tomlin 's practice of lying to them about their role, then handcuffing them, having too much power over the coaching staff, and enabling Pickens.  I wanted to know why any QB would come here if they had other offers.  Can you think of any incentive for them to?
Jason Mackey
12:28
Sounds like you just want me to spit your answers back to you, Bill. A quarterback could come here because of money. As frustrating as the Steelers have been, if your other options are the Giants and Raiders, 10-7 or 9-8 might be better. You could look at this and say the Steelers were 10-3 last year. I could fix the problem and help finish the season better!
Steel City Kid in Alabama
12:28
Hey there! I’m not sure why I saw the Justin Fields performance last season so differently than the media and so many fans? I saw a guy that they were just hanging on with and whose statistics started pretty well but were declining each week. What are your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:29
I think we do have some revisionist history here. I don't totally agree with you, but I do believe we're thinking Fields was better than he was. Remember when Russ took over and how everyone started going about having a more mature passing game, not staring down receivers, etc.? What happened to that? I think Fields should be given a chance to start. But we do need to keep some of his struggles in perspective.
Guest
12:29
I'll start by saying I know Tomlin is going nowhere.  That being said, it seems Art and Omar cover up for him.  He has failed in so many areas....discipline, game preparation, developing players, putting them in position to succeed, making adjustments, postseason success.  The list goes on and on.  Why do they saw he is doing great?  Are they afraid of him?  Are they worried his ego can't handle anything less than praise?  It's mind-blowing.
Jason Mackey
12:31
I mean, you're acting like they're hiding evidence or something. They more comfortable with mediocrity than most. And averse to change. I'm not defending it, but that's the problem here. Tomlin personifies that, does he not? Need a clock-management guy. No! We're fine. Rest of the NFL is running another type of offense. No! We're be conservative and play not to loose. Other teams change out a coach after not winning a playoff game in nine years or whatever? No! We value stability. To me, it's similar. Comfortable being comfortable.
Guest
12:31
The Steelers do the same thing year in and year out.  Then they talk big about changes, and do nothing significant (like cosching changes).  Are they really that much different than the Pirates?  They both hover around.500 and have no postseason success.
Jason Mackey
12:32
Other than economics, no, they aren't.
Connecting…