You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's sports chat: 06.14.24
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Guest
12:24
Hello Jason.  Jose Hernandez DFA’d, then traded for cash to LA.  Thought he was pretty good for a Rule 5 guy last year.  Numbers in majors this year decent, although small sample size.  Understand his numbers at AAA not great, but maybe he just felt he shouldn’t be there.  Revolving door of mid relief has been a problem.
Jason Mackey
12:25
I hear ya. Agree with most. They need more relief options, that's for sure. I just don't think this one was entirely results-based. Don't know how it could be. If you want him to improve, fine, send him down and have him do it. Instead, they DFA'd him.
Mr Ed
12:25
Been a long time reader of the PG and in its day the Pittsburgh Press and it seemed the sports columnists would write 3,4 columns a week. Since you have taken on your new job Jason, I swear every day I open the PG browser there is a new column from you. Tremendous work ethic. Is the pace you are writing at due in part to adrenaline of new job or do you plan on keeping up this pace?Impressive stuff.
Jason Mackey
12:26
Thanks, Ed. I didn't know that many people noticed. Ha. ... I love it. As I said earlier, I don't feel like I'm writing enough. I'm trying to find a happy medium. I like writing. It makes me happy. It's just a matter of not annoying everyone else. But I am glad you're enjoying it.
Gene
12:26
any idea what type of suspension Cam Sutton will receive from the NFL.
Jason Mackey
12:26
Not yet. Has to be something but can't say I have a great feel for the number of games.
Guest
12:26
Jason, love Jack, but he has to go back down and get refocused.  League has punched back, and lack of AAA time (138 AB’s, if I am reading stats correctly), seems to have caught up to him.  Hard to watch!
Jason Mackey
12:26
I agree with you. The best thing for the player at this point.
TVC15
12:27
I've read that the Steelers paid undrafted free agent John Rhys Plumlee a $35,000 signing bonus that is believed to be the highest the organization has awarded to an undrafted player. What is their fascination with him? Will he make the team?
Jason Mackey
12:28
Can't imagine he does. He is an incredible athlete. Maybe they want to see if he can do something else?
Q
12:28
Do you think the Pirates are going to continue to rotate between the catchers thru the rest of the season? I feel like at some point you have to let your 1.1 catcher play every day and work thru his hitting lumps. Not sure sitting on the bench is going to get his OPS above .500
Jason Mackey
12:28
Yeah, it's a tough dynamic. I think they would like to see Henry earn the job. But I agree with you: tough to do that when you're sitting on the bench, right? If Henry gets hot, I think he will play.
Ryan
12:29
Good afternoon Jason how can i see your first and 10 stuff go pirates
Jason Mackey
12:30
Oooh, thanks so much, Ryan. Trying to grow this. Really appreciate you and anyone else watching. A couple links. Find us on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/@PGSportsNow

And then off of our main P-G site here: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/the-north-shore-drive-sports-...

Those places will popular each day (M-F) with new episodes.
Justin
12:30
what's one thing that you see fans (of any sport) getting out-of-proportion angry about that you think isn't a huge deal, and what's something that you think they don't tend to make a big enough deal about?
Jason Mackey
12:33
Hmmm, I love this, Justin. Awesome question. And to be fair, reporters are guilty of this, too. In hockey, there's a lot of overreaction about who plays on which line/defense pairing. Baseball, the equivalent might be the lineup. Football, maybe base/dime/nickel discussions? Making a big deal out of the preseason is always "fun." ... A not-big-enough deal is just the human element of being around these guys. It sounds like a defense, but it's not. The baseball season, for example, is incredibly long. I didn't fully appreciate it until I covered it ... and I wasn't playing. Stuff happens. Life gets in the way. You have bad days. You can't just magically stop that stuff because you're a professional athlete, and I think people either can't or don't want to acknowledge that.
Gene
12:33
Skenes and Jones limited in ininigs
Jason Mackey
12:33
They will have to be, yes. Wouldn't imagine they get more than a 20-25% jump over last season.
Zack
12:33
do we also think the Pirates intend to sell at the deadline as well? Aroldis perhaps? I think if they’re out of it again by the deadline it would only make sense to, and address the adding in the offseason
Jason Mackey
12:34
I don't know how they could, Zack. Aroldis was such an overpay. I guess they could eat some salary, but if he's struggling, the value left is going to be minimal. Grandal? Taylor? Who's acquiring that? Their options are limited.
JF
12:34
I get in the baseball draft there are a lot more rounds than in football..in football you are expected to hit on your 1-3 picks every year. In baseball the Pirates seem to have done well with Pitchers in the 1st round, but why do we never hear of any players drafted in the 2nd+ innings developing?
Jason Mackey
12:36
They don't have a great recent track record with developing position players -- at least ones that they've drafted. Triolo? Maybe. Gorski? There's not a lot there. Probably one of the reasons they've tried to change how they develop guys.
Guest
12:36
I noticed that Skeenes somewhat flails around during his follow through.  Sometimes he ends up on the right side of the mound, sometimes to the left.  Could those motions possibly give a tell to the batters?
Jason Mackey
12:37
It sure doesn't look like it. Not sure what it matters if the ball is in the glove. I think by that time, it's too late.
Gene
12:37
Why is Hayes not performing like everyone thought he would? Great defensive player but why so mediocre offensively.
Jason Mackey
12:37
If I had that answer, I would sell it. I question whether he's healthy. From what we can see, he's not elevating the ball as much as he did, and he also appears to be late on the fastball. Typical of his struggles.
maz01
12:38
Yesterday during Shelton's presser, not one difficault question concerning the important divisional game, all soft questions including from Sports Net Pittsburgh reporter. There are only two reporters that ask tough questions, you were one, & the other has his own site.
Jason Mackey
12:40
Ha. Proud to have that distinction. I'm not on the trip. Wish I was. I love St. Louis and miss traveling. But in the new job, at least as of now, my only chance to cover stuff on the road is Steelers.
Zack
12:40
With the ever changing world of college athletics and the conferences do you have any kind of feel for where we end up? It seems like there won’t be an end til there’s an even smaller subset of teams than there is in FBS in their own level of football.
Jason Mackey
12:42
I know what I would like to see: either four or even two giant conferences. Like an Eastern and a Western. And who knows what happens. That's probably 17 confusing iterations from now. But they're doing everything else to be like the pros. Why not this? What would solve it, honestly, would be treating football and basketball different than everything else. Go back to regional stuff for soccer, volleyball and baseball, etc. Create unique football and basketball leagues.
Tyler
12:42
What do you think the Pirates need to do to become serious contenders?
Jason Mackey
12:43
Serious contenders as in the World Series, a lot. But to get to the postseason this year? Add a bat and a reliever. Like, decent ones. If you're talking World Series, you need more offense from Hayes, more consistency from Cruz, more power from first base, another starting pitcher, a better catching situation, an outfield bat and maybe two, plus deeper bullpen help.
Hondo
12:43
Hey Jason, huge Celtics fan, but always respected Jerry West.  He had class and a great career as a player and after he left the court.  Thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.
Jason Mackey
12:43
Thanks for sharing, Hondo.
Ryan
12:43
Thanks Jason how can i see the questions from Yesterday and your answers
Jason Mackey
12:43
Here's the episode:
Laura
12:44
Hi Jason.  Is it me or does Cruz easily get frustrated at the plate, especially when a southpaw is on the mound?  It seems he has no idea what he wants to do and his sense of the strike zone is not the greatest.
Jason Mackey
12:45
You have a good eye, Laura. That said, he's just an emotional player. I like most of that. I want that. But you're right. He does react more than most. ... I think Oneil is growing up. He so badly wants to succeed. It's coming from a good place. But, yeah, sometimes he does get outside of himself and try to do too much. It's easy to forget the experience he lacks.
Janice
12:45
TGIF Jason.  If you could interview 5 sports figures, national or local who have passed on, who would be on your list?  Thank you.
Jason Mackey
12:48
Thanks, Janice! Awesome question. Love this. ...  I'm gonna stay local just because I think t's more impactful. ... Clemente and Stargell are easy ones ... Bob Johnson on the Penguins side ... The Chief ... Josh Gibson. That was hard. I feel like I missed multiple.
Connecting…