You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's sports chat: 07.31.25
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
The Truth
12:37
Hayes feels like one of those guys who will get better immediately after leaving Pittsburgh. Am I crazy to think this? He certainly wouldn't be the first!
Jason Mackey
12:38
Yeah, I have those feelings, too. Wouldn't shock me. We also have a large sample of him underperforming at the major league level.
Gene
12:38
Why does it seem like the Steelers have no interest in FA WR’s Amari Cooper or Keenan Allen ?
Jason Mackey
12:39
Not sure, Gene. I know Allen said he wouldn't want to play in Pittsburgh, although that could obviously change. Maybe they have, and we haven't heard about it. They also could have established a price for themselves that the Steelers don't want to pay.
The Truth
12:40
How is the Hayes trade not a salary dump? They got rid of an expensive contract, and they got a guy in Triolo who can do 80% of what Hayes can at a way cheaper rate. Money certainly had something to do with this, no?
Jason Mackey
12:41
I think we're talking about semantics here. One, the money is kind of a wash with Rogers, though they could flip him. Two, yeah, it kind of is. They are dumping his salary. Is that a bad thing? They weren't getting enough of the production they need (offense) from his salary. They just better re-invest that money into the 2026 club.
KDub
12:41
How do you see Pitt football's season going? Some tough games on the schedule but it seems the ACC is wide open after Clemson.
Jason Mackey
12:42
I'm really excited for Pitt & Penn State. Just filed a column about Desmond Reid this morning. I think Pitt could win eight or nine games. I wanna see what sort of strides are made year two under Kade Bell. Defense has a chance to be a lot better. Need to see more pressure from that group.
That's It, Fort Pitt
12:42
Any rumors Bednar stays and gets extended? Hypothetically, what wold an extension for him look like?
Jason Mackey
12:43
I don't think they're there -- extension-wise. My most likely outcome here involves keeping Bednar, then paying him for his final year of arbitration. Figure out what's next in '26.
Nate
12:43
I know that it looks less likely that the Pirates deal Keller, but is that the right decision?
Jason Mackey
12:43
I think so. If you're gonna keep this GM, I wouldn't trust him to add offense. It's a much easier deal to make in the offseason.
Gene
12:43
Why have Henry Davis and Jack Suwinski struggled to hit at the Major League level?
Jason Mackey
12:44
All kinds of stuff. Mechanical tweaks that went poorly. Too many inputs from the coaching staff. Players not executing a plan. Too much swing and miss. Thinking too much. Not being left alone. It's been an amalgamation of things.
John Russell
12:44
Is Ben Cherington still the GM on August 2nd?
Jason Mackey
12:45
Yes. But I don't think he's the GM who's building the '26 team.
Wayward
12:45
Jason, anything out of Latrobe surprising to you?
Jason Mackey
12:45
Was rained out, so I didn't see much. I'll go with this, though: Aaron Rodgers does not look washed. At all. There's plenty of zip on the ball and movement with his legs. I don't hate this at all.
Mark Cerny
12:45
How many hours after the 6:00pm trade deadline does GMBC get the axe?  This is damn near scandalous at this point.
Jason Mackey
12:45
I don't think it'll be hours after the deadline.
Bruce
12:46
I am nervous about today's MLB trading deadline. We really need bats, and I just don't trust Cherington to find them for us. I am with you that we should just trade guys on expiring contracts, but I don't think that's what he'll do, given his job is on the line. What do you think he will do?
Jason Mackey
12:46
I don't doubt he'll try. I just don't see those moves getting OK'd by ownership.
Tom M.
12:46
I know none of them were very good but in what order would you rank Littlefield, Huntington and Cherington as GM’s?
Jason Mackey
12:47
I'd go Huntington, Littlefield and Cherington.
Jim
12:47
We always talk about who would be on the Mt. Rushmore of Pittsburgh's elite athletes from history. Who would be on the bizarro Mt. Rushmore of Coaches/GMs/Owners of Pittsburgh teams that are just absolute disgraces to the city?
Jason Mackey
12:48
What a weird thing to put on a Mt. Rushmore. I'm assuming you mean like Ben Cherington, Mike Johnston, maybe like Bob Berry or something? Would take some deeper thought. Not sure it's worth that type of "honor."
Ryan
12:48
Good afternoon Jason what pirates get traded today I’m thinking Heaney IKF and Santana and Pham get traded
Jason Mackey
12:49
Heaney, IKF & Pham, IMO.
Tom M.
12:49
I’m OK with the Pirates trades so far but I don’t think Cherington should be allowed to trade any valuable assets such as Keller. I also wouldn’t trust one of his minions. Hopefully, more significant trades would be left for a new GM in the off season. Is that approach even practical?
Jason Mackey
12:49
Yes, it's practical. I don't understand why you'd keep the GM as a babysitter, but I have a hard time believing Cherington will have the latitude to make a sizable move.
Lies all lies
12:49
Seems like the trade deadline is gonna be another epic failure for the Pirates. Why even bother at this point?
Jason Mackey
12:50
An epic failure why? What if they don't do anything significant? The epic failure, to me, would be more making a horrendous trade.
Livvy
12:50
Can they trade Paul today? We don't like it here. The people are weird and the team stinks
Jason Mackey
12:50
Stop it.
Andy Carnegie
12:50
Hey Jason, hope the day is going well for ya.  Regarding Bednar, I said after his close call vs the Giants that the Bucs should hold him out for any more save situations until he's either traded or is still on the team after the deadline because he's likely to blow a save in those two remaining games. He has a penchant to snowball after he almost blows a save. And that's exactly what the Bucs did.  They had Santana save the second game and Mattson the last one.  Do you think they were thinking the same thing and not chancing on him to blow a save and perhaps lower his trade value somewhat or were they just protecting him from a possible injury because teams were asking him?  Sorry about the long post!
Jason Mackey
12:51
No, I'm thinking they were trying to rest Bednar's arm. I don't think it had anything to do with the Bednar. Given his body of work, I don't think baseball executives would be reacting to one bad outing.
Marty Caridi
12:51
Jason, apologies if this has been asked. Do you see Konnor Griffin getting promoted to Altoona anytime soon? Is there anything left to prove in Greensboro?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Soon? I don't know. But I think the finishes the year  there. Keep in mind, also, all MLB clubs have developmental checkpoints players have to meet. For him, it might be defense or hitting a certain pitch a certain way. Very specific things that aren't necessarily traditional stats.
That's It, Fort Pitt
12:52
Do you think Travis Williams needs replaced? Supplemented. It seems to me they need someone, in some role, whose sole job is increasing revenue.
Jason Mackey
12:53
I think Travis has done some decent things to improve the business side and find ancillary revenue, things around the ballpark, things of that nature. But given the nature of their off-field issues, I certainly wouldn't question Nutting going in a different direction.
Connecting…