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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 08.28.25
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Jason Mackey
11:31
Hey, everyone. Welcome to my weekly sports chat. We're gonna start a little early this week -- around 11:40 a.m., as I have a few things to take care of around 1 p.m. So, feel free to fire away now.
Jeff
11:43
Any more insight into Cherington’s job status?
Jason Mackey
11:43
And away we go ...
Nothing has changed from what I've written and said a bunch previously. My expectation is that the Pirates go in a different direction this offseason.
Wayward
11:44
Jason, I have been impressed with the way Davis handles the pitching staff.  As has been discussed many times the bat it the issue.  Can he be a .230-.240 guy?  What changes would he need to make?  While I think you would like to get more out of the bat than that, if he becomes an above average defensive/game management guy it would seem worth it.
Jason Mackey
11:46
I've been impressed by Henry, too. And it's not new -- we've known he works his tail off and has everything you'd want in a player attitude-wide. I agree with you, as well. Has to hit more than .170 to play every day back there. I do think he can. Needs to shorten his swing some. Health matters. I also like when I see Henry using all fields; occasionally he can get a little too pull happy.
Jim From Beaver County
11:46
Jason, what's your take on Steelers adding another receiver before Week 1?   I don't think it's necessary since you have 3 tight ends who can catch.   What say you sir?
Jason Mackey
11:48
I think it is necessary, Jim. I don't understand what they're doing here.

Adding Rodgers -- urgency
Trading for Metcalf and paying him a lot -- urgency
Signing Slay & trading for Ramsey -- urgency
Using your first-round pick on DL -- urgency or at least addressing your biggest need with your most draft capital.

Why, then, are you OK with basically the same WR depth as last year? They're a little better, maybe. But not a ton. Add someone, please.
Orest
11:48
When are the Pirates going to give Nick Yorke an opportunity?  The Suwinski and Canario runways have reached their respective conclusions.
Jason Mackey
11:51
Probably September, Orest. Maybe you see more Suwinski. I wouldn't hate it. But right now his OPS is .682 in August. I'd advocated riding it out with him, and to a degree I'm sticking with that. However, I also want to see if this is real with Triolo. Gonzales & Horwitz should play. I'd like to see Bart at 1B. Can't have all the things. It's why I would've trade IKF -- would give Yorke another opportunity. I wanna see Yorke up here. If it takes moving Suwinski or Canario to do it, fine.
Commissioner
11:51
Any word on Mark Robinson? I’m surprised he’s not on the practice squad.
Jason Mackey
11:52
No word, Commissioner. Surprised, too. But he could be looking for regular work. Thought they would keep him.
TVC15
11:52
Hi Jason,  IMO Penn State's chances of winning a National Championship all depend on Drew Allar playing a whole lot better than he did last year in big games. Will he?
Jason Mackey
11:53
Short answer: yes. I believe in Allar. Maybe I've lost my mind, but I don't care. I think he takes the next step. Maybe a couple of them. Why? Has actual receiving talent this year. I love what Penn State did in the portal. I think Trebor Pena will thrive. Devonte Ross was a 1,000-yard guy at Troy, Hudson as your 3? Little different for Drew.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:54
How do the Bucs approach the offseason as far as acquiring a bat or 3 to get competitive. Do they trade one of their young arms to get a bat or do they try to pick up a free agent or 3? They can't keep bargain shopping and expect a cast-off hitter to magically have a career year to help them into the playoffs.
Jason Mackey
11:55
Probably a combination, Sunner. They need offense. The positions they have available are probably OF, 3B & DH. (They should seek an upgrade over Cutch.)

As much as I hate it, I could see trading Mitch Keller. Frees up money. They have back-fill. Could net a young, controllable bat. Then you also spend. Like, actually spend. We'll say $25 million on two bats.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:55
Any word out of Cam's camp about his contract and about him playing this season under his current contract? I know the Steelers won't negotiate with him as he just signed a new contract last year.
Jason Mackey
11:55
No word. You'll know when we know. I don't expect it to cause him to miss games, though.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:55
How should Penguin fans look at the upcoming season? Do they hope the team tanks so they have a 10% chance of getting Mckenna or do they think with Sid and the up-and-coming youngsters that they can make noise to squeak into the playoffs?
Jason Mackey
12:02
Personally, I would have no problem with bottoming out this season for the chance to draft McKenna. In the NHL, like most sports, that's often required to get back to the top. That's also hard to tell fans or the team that. Of course both sides want to win. It's also an interesting prong when you think about the Hoffmann Family of Companies potentially buying the Penguins. Will they want to step on the gas? I don't know. But I wouldn't begrudge them for wanting to stave off a rebuild with an investment this large.
Gene
12:03
Do you know if Calvin Austin will be able to play week 1
Jason Mackey
12:03
Don't think anything has been determined or said. But based on what he's been doing and how he's been talking about it, it certainly seems to be trending that way.
Ryan
12:03
Jason what do you think about the play of Bubba chandler Braxton Ashcraft and Henry Davis i think all three have looked good especially Ashcraft
Jason Mackey
12:04
Chandler and Ashcraft have been especially good. Have really been impressed by Chandler's changeup. That might be the biggest surprise here. Should this continue, they're both absolutely in my '26 rotation.
Todd
12:05
So Bubba. How good is he? Taper my excitement please
Jason Mackey
12:05
Ha. Why? He was the top pitching prospect in MLB for a reason, Todd.
Butch
12:05
I hope all the fans clamoring for a salary cap and floor understand that when that happens each owner is essentially on the same team.  Meaning if they see a higher revenue stream in another city the bottom dwellers will be moved.  And, that easily could be our beloved Buccos!  Make sense?
Jason Mackey
12:06
Do they regularly move teams in the NFL, NHL or NBA, Butch? Didn't think so. But maybe I missed something.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:06
Worried about the run game of the Steelers. I did not see much in the preseason to instill confidence. Did the run game look better in practice and joint practices with the Bucs? I think that might be the key to Rodgers' success if he can use play action to throw receivers open and a good run game obviously helps that goal.
Jason Mackey
12:07
We don't see enough in practice -- because of a lack of pads and it being practice -- for me to answer that with authority. But I'll say this.

If the Steelers could look like the best offense ever a couple preseasons ago, why can't the run game go from mediocre or concerning to good once the regular season starts?

I refuse to read too much into what we've seen. For a variety of reasons.
TVC15
12:07
Will Tomlin's braggadocious talk about having a "historic" defense this season come back to bite him as much as his famous "Unleash Hell in December" gibberish?
Jason Mackey
12:07
It's certainly set up for that to happen, huh? (I think the defense is actually more likely to be really good than stink out loud.)
Skeeter
12:08
Is Don Kelly the Pirates manager next season?
Jason Mackey
12:08
I would be surprised if he's not, Skeeter.
John
12:08
Do you think the Pirates should resign Tommy Pham and or Isiah Kiner Falefa?
Jason Mackey
12:10
No, I don't, John. And here's why:

Both will look for bigger opportunities. The Pirates also have bigger needs than what IKF or Pham can provide. Pham is the one I second-guess myself on more. Where is breaks down, though, is that the Pirates need an .800 OPS-plus bat in LF next year. They can also pay for it. They don't need to gamble on Pham. Pham would work as a fourth outfielder, but he's played well enough that he's justified in avoiding that fate.

Bottom line, I just don't see a match.
PrinceBob
12:10
Hi Jason, I know you don't comment on other writer's pieces but I came across a couple ideas from Joe Starkey and Dejan Kovacevic and I wonder what you think of them. The first is Starkey's column yesterday where he said the Pirates aren't that far away from being good. I agree. This might be the most frustrating bad season I've watched because they have championship quaility pitching and should be in the thick of things if they'd done just a little to beef up theri hiting. And if they do that in the off season, no guarantee they will, should be in the thick of it next year. I'd guess you agree given your preseason predicition of 84 wins.
Jason Mackey
12:12
I agree with Joe's premise. I've written and said this plenty. I don't think the Pirates are that far off. One example of that is here: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/jason-mackey/2025/08/21/jason-mack...

Not sure what the Dejan thing would be, but he and I are pretty much aligned on our assessment of this team/front office.
TVC15
12:12
Will this be Evgeni Malkin's last season?
Jason Mackey
12:13
In the United States, I believe.
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