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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 08.29.24
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Outta here
12:51
So where do you think Bob moves them when the lease expires in 2030 ? My money is on Charlotte
Jason Mackey
12:52
I don't see Bob moving the team. I think the lease is ultimately renewed.
Dallas
12:52
Why don’t you talk more about WVU? They are closer to PGH than Penn state
Jason Mackey
12:54
Generally because Penn State stories perform fairly well on our site traffic-wise, and WVU ones do not. It's probably a chicken-or-the-egg thing, but in my position, I'm not able to write about one team frequently enough to change that. I try to match what I do to the popularity of teams and issues everyone is talking about most.
DFA
12:54
You think if the Renegoof wasn't a Yinzer he'd shipped out or DFA'd by now ?
Jason Mackey
12:55
No, I don't. They had a two-time All-Star closer for relatively cheap, with little risk on the contract. He could be from Siberia, and it's the same thing.
12:56
And the DFA thing ... why? He's got a pretty decent track record. He's not pitching well. I get that. But you're just going to punt on it for nothing? I wouldn't. They're still on the hook for the balance of money this year, unless someone claims him.
Justin
12:56
Termarr Johnson played SS in his Altoona debut.   Is this coincidence or are the Cruz move and that Termarr lineup decision intertwined?   Are you under the impression that he can be a shortstop in the bigs?
Jason Mackey
12:57
The scouts I've talked to about Termarr playing SS in the big leagues have expressed some concern about that. That being said, it does change things. I can't blame them for trying. That's probably why you may see more of it at Altoona.
Justin
12:57
When the Oneil Cruz news was announced, I expected to hear "yeah, we have been talking to Oneil about it for a few months now. He is on board." I was surprised to hear they just sprung it on him on Sunday.   Doesn't this seem like a nonideal way to have handled this?
Jason Mackey
12:59
Yeah, it's clunky, for sure. Shoot, the Sunday prior, Cherington said Cruz was their shortstop. Huh? What changed? Tough to follow the logic. It's why I thought waiting until the offseason would be better.

But, Oneil said he wanted to go immediately. I do understand making the call now -- I didn't need to see more to conclude that the defense at SS isn't good enough -- and giving him the option. He said he wanted to get out there immediately. If that was the case, I'm OK with it.
Smothered Hope
12:59
Why won’t Shelton blame himself?  At least if the Steelers get their butts kicked, he includes himself and the coaches in the games
Jason Mackey
1:00
It is odd, you're right. Very rarely has Shelton put losses on himself. I can't say for sure that he's never done it -- we're talking about 162 games a year -- but it doesn't happen often, that's for sure.
Brendan
1:00
Hey Jason, if you had to guess, what are the % chances that GMBC and Shelton are both back next year?
Jason Mackey
1:00
I don't like putting percentages on things. Good chance Ben stays. Don't think they want to overhaul the entire thing. If this continues, I find it very hard to believe Shelton will be back.
Curious in Cali
1:00
I'm exhausted...I truly want to stay a lifelong Pirate fan, but I'm just worn down. Is there a limit to the suffering a fan must endure before jumping ship?
Jason Mackey
1:01
"Have you been a Pirates fan all your life?"
"Not yet."
$1 to anyone who gets that reference.
YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME
1:01
As a Cubs fan, it was a great game!  Agree?
Jason Mackey
1:01
I'm not a Cubs fan, though I am a fan of Wrigley.
Dallas
1:01
Is it fair to say the fans are overreacting on Shelton, Cherington, and company? Cherington is a WS winning GM and has acquired the best young pitching prospect in baseball in skenes. Shelton has consistently improved and shown the intestinal fortitude required to be a MLB Manager. I can’t help but wonder if the fans standards are a little too high.
Jason Mackey
1:03
I don't think fans are overreacting, no. It's year five of a rebuild. They should be winning. Not expecting a World Series, but [looks around] this hasn't been good enough. I think you can acknowledge the good, too. I've tried to do that and be fair about things so the criticism comes across as legit. But, no. This isn't acceptable.
Wayward
1:03
Jason, I believe today is the last day a player who is waived can play in the postseason for a new club.  Do you see the Bucs waving anyone else today?
Jason Mackey
1:03
Maybe, but they already did it once with MAT. Wouldn't you make those moves at the same time?
Cullen
1:03
Does forcing the Cruz move to CF help or hurt the Pirates in possible extension talks? Do you see any movement of the two parties coming closer to a deal this offseason or has that ship sailed? If not Cruz, who is the next extension candidate?
Jason Mackey
1:04
I don't think it matters. Because we don't know. They weren't close before. Probably not close now. He probably doesn't want to play CF right now, but he could grow to like it over time. Don't expect it to impact things one way or the other.
Jerry
1:04
Jason, ever check out my cover of Smokey's I Second that Emotion?  The guitar work is exquisite, as one would expect.
Jason Mackey
1:04
Have not. Thank you for the rec.
Cosmo Kramer
1:04
This has to be the last straw for Cherington and Shelton doesn't it?? Regressed this season in every facet of the game and the lineup is barely half of a major league lineup. Is it time for yet another 5 year plan?
Jason Mackey
1:05
Not time for another five-year plan. Don't think they want that. But as I've said a bunch, if nothing changes, yeah, I think moving on from Shelton is plenty reasonable.
PrinceBob
1:05
I guess I have one more Pirates' question that I expect someone else may have asked. But in case not, do you think the Cub series and especially yesterday will have any effect on the likelihood of Cherrington and/or Shelton coming back next year?
Jason Mackey
1:05
Yeah, that's been asked a time or two. Will just leave it for that reason.
Mike from MD
1:05
Hello Jason.  While I understand that some of it is recency bias, the Pirates are really bad right now.  Even at the points in the season that were not great, you could look and see some potential younger players that could help.  There is not a whole lot of that now.  It feels like the minors have taken several steps backwards here.  Again, easy to feel down when so many terrible loses have just happened.  I just am not sure how this current group can turn this around next year.  Do you have any thoughts on how they can right the ship?  Even if they fire the manager, I am not sure how confident I am in Ben C at the top.
Jason Mackey
1:06
I hear ya, Mike. Get this a lot. It would require them getting more out of younger players. Suwinski and Davis. Cooke and Yorke. Mlodzinski and Nicolas. On and on. I think it's possible. They have some pieces. But they also need to spend better than they have recently. Cherington's FA spending has been bad as well.
Greggy B
1:06
Jason, is my seamless and recent transition from a good-natured homer type spouting endless positivity to a brutally honest critic the most telling indicator that we've entered yet another baseball apocalypse in the 'burgh?
Jason Mackey
1:07
Brownie has been honest about all of this. And I'm glad he has. Fans deserve that. I get team-friendly broadcasts. Brownie, like all of us, has bosses. But there are certain times where you need to call a spade a spade.
Endy
1:07
Jason, I realize that it's a very short sample size, but would you say I have a higher ceiling with the bat or the glove?
Jason Mackey
1:08
The bat.
Shohei
1:08
Jason, do you concur with your cohort Starkey that I'm the GOAT, no questions asked?  For whatever else may be considered Starkey's shortcomings (e.g., off the tee, putting, chipping, etc.), the man presents a fairly sound argument on this matter, IMHO. Your thoughts, if any?
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