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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 07.10.25
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Chris from Hampton
12:50
Hi Jason! I saw Dom tweet out something Hiles said about 2026 being Skenes' last year in Pittsburgh. How realistic do you think this is, and is it avoidable?
Jason Mackey
12:51
I don't think 2026 will be Paul's last full year in Pittsburgh, first off. Disagree with Noah there. But that's OK. People can see things differently. It's avoidable to go further, sure. They just keep him for longer. They're not going to extend him, but they have 3 more arbitration years after next season. They could just keep going with those.
mark
12:51
jason, will pitt ever get an on-campus stadium? thanks!
Jason Mackey
12:52
Man, I would love it. I think that every time I'm on campus. Happened recently at the Phish show. I miss it so much. I just don't see it happening, though, sadly. Where you gonna put it? Schenley Park? Pitt has enough athletic building issues at the moment. Not sure we need to add an on-campus stadium back into the mix.
Bobby Nutty
12:52
What a remarkable run the Buccos have been on since the Manager change. Kudo's to the players. But aren't we still just about where we were earlier this year? I don't plan to spend any more money because, quite frankly, I'm already making a killing with the mediocre team that is on the field.
Jason Mackey
12:53
I don't think you're making a killing. It's also not a remarkable run. But I'd imagine you're trying to make a point with frustration regarding ownership? I get it, believe me. You're not alone.
Guest
12:53
Which team do you think have worse owners, Pirates or Browns.  I think Rothlesburgher was the winningest QB in Clevland's stadium for around a decade.  That's unbelievable.
Jason Mackey
12:54
Didn't the Browns people sign DeShaun Watson for $230 million guaranteed?
Bruce
12:54
I have been seeing in sports news potential Pirates trades for prospects, most of whom have not seen MLB yet. Given how long we have waited for a winner, does it really make sense to go with prospects again, rather than some proven major league bats?
Jason Mackey
12:55
Umm ... there's a middle-ground here. And I can't answer for what you've seen. But the Pirates should be targeting a young hitter who can be part of their team for years to come, someone on the cusp of debuting or early in his debut. Small-market teams do this all the time. Transfer value into more players you can keep longer. That's not a bad thing.

If, of course, you do it right. Which the Pirates have not.
Guest
12:55
We hear a lot that the O-line needs time to "gel".  Does the gelling happen pre-snap knowing their responsibilities OR after the snap during the play?  To relate the question in jam band terms, do they get together on the play list for the set OR feeding off each other and knowing what each other are doing during an extended jam, off script.
Jason Mackey
12:57
*Jell

*Gel is what you put in your hair.

My mom, a former English teacher, used to get on me for that. Ha. Good question, though. It's both, honestly. They need to communicate presnap when it comes to responsibilities, etc. They also need to react off of one another once the play starts. I think it's a lot knowing what the other guy is going to do before he does it.
Bruce
12:57
You have rightly been critical of Cherington, calling for him to be let go.  I'm wondering how that impacts your access to him and others in Pirates' management. I imagine they wouldn't be thrilled about talking to you at the moment.
Jason Mackey
12:58
Not in the least. The Pirates have all been pros about it. They know how this works. I have been treated no differently by anyone over there, nor would I expect to. I also don't take personal shots. I disagree with how the guy has done his job, and it's my job to write or say that.
PrinceBob
12:58
I a couple general questions about minor league baseball that maybe you can answer. When a major league team puts someone on the IL and they bring someone up from AAA the AAA team is short handed. Do they call someone up from AA or play short handed? And if that happens does AA call someone up and does this go on down the line until low A is short handed?
Jason Mackey
12:59
Couple things can happen. They might have someone on a reserve list who can be activated. If there's enough time, they will make a move. Or there are times where the Triple-A team has to play short, though those are fairly rare.
Danno
1:00
Were the Penguins ever engage TB for Howard?
Jason Mackey
1:00
Not sure either way, Danno. Would be a better question for Vensel. If they were, I haven't seen it.
Danno
1:00
May not be the person to ask. With NIL. Will teams be unable to sign HS players over slot values?
Jason Mackey
1:01
I don't see that playing a big factor. Guys want to ultimately play pro ball, right? Someone gives you $2 million or so and a shot to do that right away? If you want to, you're gonna do it.
Jack Black
1:01
Give me a percentage chance that Sidney Crosby is traded before he retires.
Jason Mackey
1:02
Non-zero?
Ryan
1:02
Good afternoon Jason what do you think about the Play of Nick Gonzalez he has looked good
Jason Mackey
1:02
Good afternoon, Ryan. Encouraging, though he has cooled off some. Love what Nick has done to drive in runs. Has shown power. Zero question about him playing second base every day. And the defense has improved.
Marnie
1:02
Hi Jason:  With trading for Jonnu Smith, do you think the Steelers will cut or try to trade Friermuth assuming Smith is the pass catching TE that Arthur Smith prefers?
Jason Mackey
1:02
Absolutely not.
PrinceBob
1:03
The other minor league question is if you know what their umpires do in the off season. I can't imagine the A league guys make enough that they don't need to work in the off season but what kind of jobs can they get when potential employers know they'll be gone for six months? I suppose you can ask the same question about the players at that level. I know major leaguers used to get off season jobs but they were celebrities. I can imagine a car dealer or sporting goods store being glad to have them because customers would come to meet them but that's not the case with umpires or most low minor leaguers.
Jason Mackey
1:03
I do not know what Triple-A umpires do in the offseason. Good Lord. Has to be the most obscure question I've been asked during a chat.
PrinceBob
1:03
Someone else may have asked this, I got here late, but is this last call for Jack Suwinski?
Jason Mackey
1:04
I don't know if it's the last call, but it's getting there. I also say not yet for the sad reason that they really don't have anyone else pushing for time.
PrinceBob
1:04
You lived in Manassas? I loved Manassas. I wanted to live there when I was in the area but it was too far to commute from. How long ago were you there? It's much bigger now than when I was there.
Jason Mackey
1:05
I did. Loved it. Covered Prince Williams County at The Post -- and took a lot of pride in it. Though my last year I wound up covering Howard and Anne Arundel in Maryland. Heck of a drive from Unity Reed (old Stonewall Jackson) High.
PrinceBob
1:06
Assuming Bob Nutting believes, as most everyone else does, that it's stupid to have a GM who's going to be gone oversee your trade deadline and draft, if Ben Cherrington still had his job for those events do you think it means he'll be back next year?
Jason Mackey
1:07
No, I don't. I think Bob Nutting views those events as something he signed up for -- for better or worse -- by committing to bringing Ben and Shelton back for this season. After those pass, all bets are off. We'll see if I'm right.
1:08
He is, it'll be reasonable, and they will. Couple million? It's an interesting question. Do players/teams/agents/arbiters value Statcast numbers as much as raw production? But he's been a 6.0 WAR player in 326 MLB games. That's not nothing, and he'll be compensated for it, as he should.
PrinceBob
1:08
I believe O'Neil Cruz is eligible for arbitration next year. Any idea what he'll get and do you think the Pirates will pay it?
Aces High
1:08
How do the Pirates have only Konner Griffen as a top position player in the minor league pipeline when they have been drafting in the top 5 for seemingly 10 years in a row? This is Cleveland Brown's level organizational level embarrassing.
Jason Mackey
1:08
The drafting has not been enough, as I've written and said a whole bunch.
PrinceBob
1:09
Do you think St. Francis will be a trend setter or an outlier among small D1 schools in moving to D3 in the new world of college athletics?
Jason Mackey
1:09
I think you'll see more and more schools do it. Unless there's better regulation of that stuff in the NCAA. That's my hope. Tough for St. Francis or Robert Morris to keep pace.
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