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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 09.23.22
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Jason Mackey
11:51
Hello, everyone, and thanks for stopping by my weekly chat. Talking to you today from frozen UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. Questions can be about anything -- hockey, baseball, football, fun stuff, you name it. We'll get going in a few minutes.
john sweeney
11:53
55 again fails to hold up the middle, he does not recognize  the football addage that the low man wins,he must be replaced .
Jason Mackey
11:54
Let's just get going. I may have to run (not literally) into the dressing room for availability, so no sense in wasting time before that happens.
11:55
As for Devin Bush, I mean, I get it. It's also not just him. As in, if you made Devin Bush completely disappear, I still have questions about their run defense. It was bad last night, though the Browns are also a tremendous running team with a terrific offensive line. My point: problem is bigger than any one person.
epiballo
11:55
What happened in the game in Cleveland had to be expected by the majority - the Browns boast a beast of a running game and our run defense, well ... needs work. The offense finally threw downfield which, for a while, seemed to open up the running game a little bit. But the dropped passes! Big concern or something that just happens?
Jason Mackey
11:57
They're 1-2. They scored two touchdowns instead of one. The defense got pushed around. I wouldn't call this a five-alarm emergency, but I don't think it's smart to sit around and pretend like all is well. All is not well. The highest-paid defense in the NFL should not get manhandled like that. Offense went to sleep for almost all of the second half. Some questionable play calls again. I agree with Tomlin's comments last night when he said something like, "We're not in the business of feeling good. We're in the business of wins."
epiballo
11:58
Not much to cheer as the Bucs wind down their season, but here is one: I am enjoying the angst among the fans and sports reporters over the four-ball walk to Judge! What, we should pitch to him because they pitched to Mazeroski? Why be the one to give up #61? We owe nothing to the Yankees or to any sense of baseball history! Agree?
Jason Mackey
11:59
Yeah, the Pirates get paid, too. Seriously, no jokes. You do what you have to do to win the game. Those habits should be created now. That being said, I would use the challenge of pitching to Judge as a teaching moments, since it doesn't actually matter for the Pirates, but I also don't have a problem with employing strategy the way you normally would.
The Eman
11:59
What did you think of WYEP’s countdown to fall? Only two Grateful Dead in top 100 (Ripple at #17, Devil at #100) - sacrilegious! Love The Weight, but not as top song.
Jason Mackey
12:00
Music is waaaay too subjective for a list like that, IMO. I love the Dead, and those wouldn't be my picks. But that's OK. That's what makes it great. Shoot, not sure "The Weight" is my favorite Band song. (Probably "Cripple Creek," but I'd have to think more.)
Gregg from Shaler
12:00
I couldn't help being struck by the irony of the the several camera shots of "The Standard is the Standard" slogan during last nights game. How does Canada receive an exemption from that when he consistently fails to meet what I would consider the standard for a professional OC?
Jason Mackey
12:02
Canada was better for parts of last night's game, certainly. I think we can be fair and balanced and admit that. But it is amazing to me that this is the best they can do? There's a world of offensive minds out there, and we're trotting out Matt Canada? Get weird. Gimme a no-name. Anybody aside from someone who is allergic to the middle of the field and whose most inventive concept is an end-around to the wideout.
Drew
12:02
With all of the position players who have debuted this season and all of the ones waiting in the wings in Altoona, how likely is it that some of those players find their way into a trade this offseason?  And of that group with limited ML experience or on the verge of the big leagues, who do you think is most likely to be dealt?
Jason Mackey
12:03
I'd be surprised if the Pirates dealt any of them, Drew. I suppose if they got a really good offer they might consider it, but I wonder what the Austin Meadows/Tyler Glasnow trade did for giving up on prospects too soon. The Pirates don't HAVE to make that move now. They're certainly not loading up for anything and damn well better have the funds to be active in free agency. I wouldn't give away prospects -- when you clearly need more young talent -- when you don't have to.
Prince Bob
12:04
"Sunseedgate" got me to wondering what goes on in the Pirates' farm system. I'm not obsessive enough to have made notes, but in the Clint Hurdle days I thought the Pirates extended too many defensive innings with bonehead plays and shortened too many offensive ones the same way. I hoped the new regime could sort that out. The explanation we often get for these plays is that the players are young. But they've been pro players for years and should know which base to throw to, not chase a batter back to home plate to get him out, that when you're on the field and a play is happening it's not snack time, etc.. Do other teams do this and I only notice the Pirates because I mostly watch them? Do players who make these  stupid plays face consequences?
Jason Mackey
12:06
I can't tell you what other teams do, Gunner. I'm also not about to excuse the seed thing or Will Craig. The only issue I have, or thing I would say, involves physical mistakes. Like, Oneil Cruz. He has made wild throws, booted balls, whatever. I couldn't care less, though I know some people flip out about this. They're physical mistakes. He's learning. If a dude throws to the wrong base, what's the big deal? As long as it's not repetitive, obviously. But the wild stuff or lack of effort, that's a glaring issue.
Wayward
12:06
Carolina and the Rangers still the top of the Eastern Conference?  Do the Penguins have enough to hang with them?
Jason Mackey
12:08
Certainly atop the Metro. I think if we're looking at the entire EC, I would include Tampa and Florida in there as well, maybe Toronto. If the Penguins stay healthy, I think they can. I just worry if there are injuries, especially in goal. Not much room for a dropoff.
Wayward
12:08
Could Bae be a critical piece to the Bucs rebuild?  Leadoff guy, good OPS, with speed and positional versatility.
Jason Mackey
12:10
Sure, he could be. There's a lot to like about his game. He's also really trailed off lately, which makes the timing for this kind of odd in my mind. Not like he was riding a hot streak. And maybe there's some sort of injury, I don't know. But Bae does a lot of stuff they lack. If he can translate to the majors, then absolutely he could be a huge part of things.
Prince Bob
12:10
What do you think of the Celtics suspending Udoka for a whole season for having an affair with a female employee? If the affair was as consensual as all the stories are claiming will they also suspend her and if not, why not?
Jason Mackey
12:11
Not trying to duck this, but I don't have a huge opinion here. There's likely nuance to this that I couldn't possibly know. On the surface, yeah, it probably seems a little harsh. I also don't think the world needs my judgement on something like this without gathering the requisite amount of information.
Drew
12:11
This is more of a professional question for you.  I'm sure you have friends or at least a friendly relationship with other writers covering the game.  When a great play happens on the field (whatever the sport), is there conversation between colleagues about the play?  On the other hand, if you notice something that is more subtle that happens on the field, do you keep that to yourself or do you mention it to others? I'm asking because I could see value in discussing one of those subtle things that happens to get someone else's take on it, but I also can see that you could risk giving someone else an idea for a similar story.  Just wondering...
Jason Mackey
12:13
Great question, Drew. It depends on who we're talking about. If I'm sitting at Penguins and see something, obviously Matt and I will share anything. I'll naturally talk to him in a way that I wouldn't a competitor. Same with Mike Persak at baseball. ... Now, I'd say 80% of beat reporters are friendly or at least professionally courteous with one another. Of course he have reactions, tell jokes and talk about things. But if something is that crazy that it nets a group discussions, we're probably all thinking about writing it anyway.
Prince Bob
12:13
The Pirates have twelve games left and need to win half of them to equal last year's win total. Do you think they will and if not can we believe they're making progress from where they were last year?
Jason Mackey
12:14
I don't see how they do it, Gunner. The Pirates strike me as a team that simply wants the season to end -- not one about to rip off a .500 stretch. I'd like to think otherwise because there are some quality people in that clubhouse trying to earn a living. But they just seem beaten down.
12:15
I think progress in this case is tough to define. I don't think they're making as much as they think they are; however, a lack of progress at the major league level can exist outside of stuff in the minors. In other words, the MLB team can stink, but you can still feel good because prospects are coming.
Carl in Carrick
12:15
Manager Shelton recently said the Hayes sunflower seeds eating incident was handled internally.  What does this mean?  Fine?  A stern rebuke?  In my opinion, the fact that Hayes played the next game did not a proper message to the rest of the team .  Thanks Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:16
Yeah, I think it was probably a discussion. And I agree with you. There's no way the gravity of that came across with Hayes playing the next game. I thought they went too light there.
Bernard
12:16
Is TJ Watt the most valuable player in the NFL ex some of the top QBs?  The Steelers are a playoff contender with him and legit can't win a single game when he's out.
Jason Mackey
12:17
That's an interesting philosophical discussion, Bernard. We clearly see his value, right? Steelers still don't have a win without him. At the same time, I guess I have an issue with it because the Steelers haven't been good. Should someone who's adding value be part of a winner? But I certainly get what you're saying. It's a good point.
Cliff
12:17
What will Bae bring to Bucs?   Better glove than Cruz, Castro, or Newman.?   Better outfielder than Mitchell or Suwinski?
Jason Mackey
12:18
Bae is super fast. He has also discovered more power. I would say a better glove than Cruz and Castro, for sure. Definitely a better OF than Mitchell, maybe Jack, although I don't dislike Jack as an OF. Bae can flat-out fly, though. He might be the fastest player in the organization.
Cliff
12:20
O’Neill to first base?
Jason Mackey
12:21
You've seen him throw. You wanna waste that arm? I don't. I'd rather corral it.
epiballo
12:21
With the aging core intact and additions to the blue line, a goalie tandem that still only offers to be potentially good, should Penguin fans entertain legitimate hope for a Stanley Cup run?
Jason Mackey
12:22
I wouldn't rule it out. The NHL season is so damn long. So much stuff happens. But if the Penguins get peak form from Crosby, Malkin and Letang, plus with what they're surrounded, they're certainly in the mix. There's also much to be determined over 82 games, plus playoffs. Need to avoid injuries and get Tristan Jarry's best.
Gene
12:22
Why aren’t the Steelers getting both Freiermuth and Gentry more involved in the offense?
Jason Mackey
12:23
Because tight-end targets typically occur over the middle of the field, and those are illegal in Matt Canada's offense? No, I don't know./ Obviously there are errors with that statement. Just trying to be funny. But I couldn't believe they didn't involve Freiermuth until the fourth quarter. Don't even know if Gentry played, to be honest. And, to be fair, they involved the tight ends a lot in Week 1. I just don't know what happened.
J$Money
12:23
Doesn’t it make sense to fire Matt Canada now and give Kenny Pickett time to learn the new coordinator’s system since the team is not going anywhere this season anyway? They can then hit the ground running next year after hopefully drafting and/or signing free agent ol, ilb, dl and cb to be much more competitive next year.
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