You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's sports chat: 09.16.22
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Jason Mackey
11:15
Hello, everyone, and greetings from the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Day 2 of Penguins rookie camp for me. Will be here to take your questions on anything until around 1 p.m. So, fire away.
12:02
And away we go ...
Phil
12:03
Iko, Iko or Women Are Smarter? Do we really need to pick one or the other at this point?
Jason Mackey
12:04
We don't. At least I don't think so. Love them both, though my wife would probably prefer I say Iko Iko.
Castro
12:04
Jason, assuming I'm not related to that dictator guy, I'm starting to look like a potential piece of the puzzle, no?
Jason Mackey
12:04
Um, yeah. Not related to Fidel. But have liked what Rudy has done since coming back. Certainly has a ton of ability.
Trey
12:05
Jason, be honest now, had you ever heard of cluster flies?
Jason Mackey
12:05
I've heard this time of year is bad.
12:06
Separately, I just found "Cluster Flies" the Phish tribute album on Apple Music. Thank you for that!
alan
12:06
Please tell me the Pirates won't go into 2023 with the same catchers as they have now.
Jason Mackey
12:06
I would expect them to address the position in some way, yes. I think they'll bring back Roberto Perez. And probably have another complementary piece, too.
Wareham, D.
12:07
Jason, you seem to know music. I have to assume that you know of my work? If not, Malibu Love Nest is a good intro into my virtuosity. Lots of good Luna tunes, man.  And my wife is hot and talented too....OK, I'm off now....
Jason Mackey
12:08
Have not, actually. Will have to check it out. Thank you. Dean Wareham?
alan
12:08
How many home runs will Judge hit when Yankees play the Pirates?
Jason Mackey
12:09
Believe they handled him well last time, no? I'll say he gets one in the two games.
Prince Bob
12:09
After last weekend, should the Power Five expand to Power Six and include the Sun Belt Conference? What's different between a newish  conference like that which can pull off major upsets and an established one like the MAC which almost never can but does manage to have a member lose to Holy Cross?
Jason Mackey
12:15
Um ... that might be a bit of an overreaction. But I get what you're saying. When it's all said and done, honestly, I'd like top-tier CFB to go to, say, four bigger conferences. I think six is too many. Two is too few. Somewhere in the middle.
putinbatch
12:15
I'm blaming Canada and the O line for getting Watt hurt. Mostly Canada ;) This game should have been a laugher. TJ shouldn't have had to play so hard at the end to help us escape with what turned out to be an unlikely win. And I'm not buying Tomlin's 'we got an early lead' excuse for our inept offense. Getting an early lead means we don't have to keep + drive the ball on offense? Amazing how our offense STILL looks the same. Do you think our defense will continue to keep pace with our offense in touchdowns scored? thanks for letting me vent!
Jason Mackey
12:17
You're blaming Matt Canada for getting T.J. Watt hurt? Oh boy. I hear a lot of complaining -- I did/do cover the Pirates -- but this is an all-timer. It's not even worth arguing with. I'm inclined to go along with it, as long as it's not serious. Please tell me it's not serious.
Guest
12:17
Jason, back in the day a pitcher’s ERA was the coin of the realm in determining his value. Now, it seems a mere afterthought. When did ERA drop in evaluating a pitcher’s effectiveness, and do you think this is a positive trend?
Jason Mackey
12:19
I wouldn't call ERA an afterthought. I just think it's one of a whole bunch of stats -- and obviously not perfect. Baseball stats are tricky, believe me. Have had this discussion a lot. The fan base is old, and those folks mostly don't care or want to know about wOBA, for one. Or BACON or exit velocity or spin rate or whatever. It needs to be a balance. I'm fine citing ERA -- and do -- but I think we need to understand that it doesn't always tell the full story.
Prince Bob
12:20
I've meant to ask you this for a while now. When you were the Pirate beat guy you'd occasionally say that you weren't a fan. It's hard to believe that someone who got a job as a sportswriter was not a fan growing up. Were you an exception? Or if you weren't an exception, what became of the fan that you were? I can't imagine, for example, that I could stop being a Pirate fan if my job was to cover them.
Jason Mackey
12:22
I am not a fan. And was not a fan covering the Penguins. But, yeah. Of course I was a fan growing up. The process is pretty organic, honestly. The team becomes work. It occupies a crazy amount of time and, like any job, prevents you from doing things you would otherwise do -- family, hobbies, whatever. You're also at their mercy time- and schedule-wise, and we have competing objectives. So, naturally, there are going to be points where you hate the team you cover. There are teams that surely hate the people who cover them. But the whole fan thing disappears quickly.
12:23
Also, because it's work, you inherently root for the easiest outcomes. I want blowouts, no rain, no overtime and no late lead changes.
Tom J.
12:23
Hello Jason - As baseball is wrapping up...your early World Series picks?  Of course there are not guarantees, but who beats to Dodgers to get to the Series?   Thanks, Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:25
Hi Tom. I don't think anyone beats the Dodgers, to be honest. Maybe the Astros. But I still think the Dodgers will win their second in three years.
Trey
12:25
Jason, just thinking out loud, the Fare Thee Well rendition of Standing On The Moon in the windy city is a signature, and dare I humbly say, the definitive version of that particular ditty?
Jason Mackey
12:26
My own personal favorite is Alpine Valley '89, but I'd put FTW in the top-five. Trey's voice is so perfect and soulful on it.
Coach O
12:27
Based upon your interactions with him, and those close to him, does Bob Nutting grasp, I mean REALLY GRASP the level of vitriol and anger the vast majority of Pirate fans hold towards him? He seems like a decent man, you would think it would bother him to the point where somewhere along the line he would feel compelled to respond with a justification of his financial operation of the team. But, he just seems so ……placid, like he just doesn’t really have much of a competitive drive.
Jason Mackey
12:29
Good/fair question, coach O. ... I do think Bob realizing some of the frustration. He's not completely naive. I also don't think he understands all of it. Here's where I come down on Nutting and current situation: I do think Bob wants to do this right and isn't trying to scam everyone. I also think he's extraordinarily cautious. This is a way of thinking that is a common descriptor among those close to him and obviously one that governs how he thinks about the Pirates. I do think he wants to win. But I think his view of the path to get there is different than that of a fan's and also probably atypical of many in his position. In other words, a lot of owners will spend with their hearts to do something. Right or wrong, I don't really see Bob doing that.
guest
12:29
Why enlarge the bases?
Jason Mackey
12:30
Their No. 1 reason involves player safety. I don't get it, but whatever. If they think it's helps, don't see what it could hurt.
Tom
12:30
I keep hearing it was just Canada's first game of the year but he is 18 games in and still relies on gimmicks. Is he going to be here in 3 years? Is Pickett going to be another first round qb bust because they wouldn't get a long term OC in before they drafted him?
Jason Mackey
12:31
I don't think Matt Canada is a very good offensive coordinator. I don't understand any OC or plan that turns the middle of the field into a no-fly zone. That said, I think it might be fair to let Kenny Pickett play in a regular season NFL game before we go down the road of the OC making him a bust.
Prince Bob
12:32
Why are the minor leagues still playing? Is it because of the late start or is this permanent?
Jason Mackey
12:32
Minor leagues started on time. They're not governed by the CBA, hence this current need to unionize. This is the new schedule. A and AA are done this week. AAA goes through the end of the month, I believe.
Avg. Yinzer
12:32
Jason, to what degree (in percentages, por favor) will 2026 World Series celebrations be tempered/lessened (you get the point) by the fact that one gleeful, sunglass-wearing RN will likely be in attendance?  Any chance he would not attend so as not to dampen the festivities?
Jason Mackey
12:34
It sounds like you're trying to be mad about Bob Nutting or the Pirates, but I'm not really sure of the context or what you want me to answer. It's not impossible to win here. Yes, I wish it would happen sooner, too. Would give me a crapload of stuff to write about. But there's a plan, and they're following it.
wvpirate
12:34
Do you think the Pirates will try to sign an Outfielder or 1st baseman this off season? Or trade a couple prospects that they don't have room on thier 40 man roster for someone who might help for a few years?
Jason Mackey
12:35
I think they will sign an option at first base, yeah. Doesn't necessarily have to be someone with experience in the OF. I think they need to let guys play and develop there. ... They could, but I would be surprised, given how they've been burned by this sort of thing in the past, if they trade prospects and don't prioritize them.
Connecting…