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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 08.22.24
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Jason Mackey
12:34
I mean, I can't imagine he's having a great time right now. In fact, I know he's not having a great time right now. But a little confused by what you mean with "mentals." He was great over the final two months last year. His attitude or headspace isn't the problem. His back is broken, and it would be great for the Pirates -- and obviously him -- if that could change.
JoeHa
12:35
Jason … A major league player is the cream of the crop or he wouldn’t be in the majors. These guys are the best of the best. Why is it that the Pirates coaching staff tries to change players approach to hitting and pitching instead of tweaking the players natural abilities and make improvements there.
Jason Mackey
12:35
You ask a wonderful question. I don't know. That's what I thought we were doing here -- trying to bring out the best of each guy individually. I don't know how or why that should align with a team-wide approach. In a perfect world, I get what the Pirates are doing. But I just don't think you can ask everyone to function like that.
South Texas Buc
12:36
Hi Jason, appreciate you still taking the time to do these things. You really are great at what you do. Going into the 25 season you can’t help but feel this team regressed this year outside of the starting pitching. I put this more on cherrington more than anyone else and think they need to go in another direction with the coaching staff. A name who was rumored before Shelton took the job was jason Kendall. Would love to see him get a shot as I think he has the perfect personality for where the pirates are right now. He’s a guy that rubbed some people the wrong way but you could never question his hustle and how hard he played and never took a play off. He could lead by example. He also wouldn’t be the guy to put up with all these mental errors, baserunning blunders, and bonehead lack of fundamentals that has plagued this team for too long. I think these players need chewed out and benched and made an example of when they coming some of these mental error mistakes. There’s just no accountability with Shelton
Jason Mackey
12:37
I think there's a better chance of Ben Cherington hiring the table I'm sitting at to manage than Jason Kendall. Kendall -- and I love him; this isn't a criticism -- is the polar opposite of how they do things right now. I just don't see someone like Cherington tolerating what Kendall would be: in your face, brutally honestly, probably crapping on how analytically driven they've become, managing by feel and less numbers ... it's just not a match. I get your point. You're not wrong. But I don't think it's ever gonna happen.
Will
12:38
I was unpopular with Pirate fans when I suggested trading Bednar at deadline of each of the previous 2 season (can't imagine there was much of a market at 24 deadline).  Did the Pirates hold on to Bednar past sell date when he could have yielded significant earlier return?  He's been mostly awful this year and his performance has contributed to cratering from WC race (though not single handedly to blame). His years of control and low cost would have been a valuable trade commodity while he performed well, and a shutdown closer has minimal value to a losing or mediocre team.  I like Bednar, value his prior contribution, and respect his local roots, but it's really not enough.
Jason Mackey
12:39
I think this is Monday Morning Quarterbacking at its best. Bednar hasn't been good this year. Not gonna sugarcoat. I also don't think he's healthy, but no excuses -- he's out there, performance will be judged accordingly. I was not at all in favor of trading him before, and I'm not gonna flip and say they should have because he's had a bad year. We're talking about a two-time All-Star who has done everything right for a bargain of a salary. I'm fine with what they did.
Joey B
12:39
Jason, should I take it personally that I don't get to work with Skenes?
Jason Mackey
12:39
No. You will next year. You've had an awesome season. Enjoy it!
Will
12:39
TESTIFY on publicly financed stadiums! Well put Jason
Jason Mackey
12:40
Ha. There's more I could share. Just not the time or place. Would rather have my feet/fingers under me more than a random chat.
South Texas Buc
12:40
jason What are the chances the pirates sign a big name like Alonso, or Cody Bellinger at first. And also at CF another big name bat. Would change the whole dynamic with just 2 big time bats and filling two huge defensive holes we have right now
Jason Mackey
12:41
You've followed the Pirates, right? What do you think the chances are of them signing a big name such as _____ ? It's not good, South Texas Buc. Doesn't mean they can't make a smart signing, but I would be flat-out stunned if either of those two happened. Just not how they roll.
Nicky G
12:41
Jason, what's up with my hammy? Have not heard much about it lately.
Jason Mackey
12:41
Aren't you playing games?
Stash
12:41
Jason, is it just me, or have Shelty and BC really gotten defensive lately as the ship has started taking on significant volumes of H2O?  I'm thinking they might realize that the end is coming for one of them if this slide continues.
Jason Mackey
12:42
Eh, might just be you. Shelty was after the Pederson game. And I'm sure he's hearing footsteps. Cherington hasn't talked since the trade deadline, so not sure where him being defensive would be derived from. Certainly not his state run radio show.
Guest
12:42
Is there any coach who gives inciteful, honest  answers at press conferences?  If not now, who was the last coach to do so?
Jason Mackey
12:43
Assuming you mean insightful here ... and no. They say various forms of nothing, although I always enjoyed Sullivan being pissed and terse after a playoff loss. That at least gave me something, even if it wasn't words. You knew how he felt. The last person around here who was legit, old school honest: Rutherford.
Will
12:43
But Bednar has some injury history and less velo than previous years.  I know it's MMQB at it's worst, but his value to Pirates would have been even greater to a contender -- controllable, affordable and highly effective.  They could have gotten legit prospects for peak Renegade.  Pirates also haven't extended him and that's telling
Jason Mackey
12:44
You can have your opinion. It's not mine. I wouldn't have traded him. I still would not trade him. And there were no such concerns this offseason when the theoretical decision would have had to have been made.
PrinceBob
12:44
I have enough trouble keeping days of the week straight. I wondered how it had gotten to be Friday.
Jason Mackey
12:44
Ha. I'm sorry. Not trying to confuse you. Just aligning chats at the P-G with writers' workflow and whatnot. Mine is flexible, so I agreed to move.
Prince Caspian
12:46
If you had to put a percentage on it, Sid retires a Penguin?
Jason Mackey
12:47
I still think probably like 75-80%. It's so hard to think that he would go anywhere else (though I would get it). I've also heard more belief that this would get done than concern that there was a problem.
PrinceBob
12:47
The question I was going to put into that last message was say I only read the headline where Ben Cherrington said O'neill Cruz was "their shortstop." Did he mean for that night's game, the rest of this season, until he's traded in the salary dump for the next rebuild? Can they really think seriously of annointing the shortstop who leads MLB in errors made their shortstop of the future?
Jason Mackey
12:49
Ha. It was kind of vague, though I think Ben met (likely) for the future. Does not seem like they're going to move him. That said, it would be a real weird setting to say such a thing. Chances are, they're going to approach Oneil -- if they would indeed do it -- this offseason about it and allow him the year to work. Ben does nobody any good by randomly dropping something on his radio show that's gonna tick off Oneil. They need to give him the year. I see he has struggled. You see he has struggled. But let him work through it, then have an organizational, intentional conversation with him this offseason. If anything, you're just letting evidence accumulate at this point.
OK, folks. Looks like that's it for the week. Awesome questions. Need to head over to Steelers. Thanks so much for switching this. Talk to you next THURSDAY!
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