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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 10.03.24
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Jason Mackey
12:26
I sure hope not. On both counts. They shouldn't have a new plan, honestly. I think they have a halfway decent group. Starting staff is good. I'm fine with Cruz, Hayes (assuming health), Cutch, Reynolds, Bart, IKF. You hope for BLDC or maybe Jack to win a job. Who knows what happens with Jack/Henry under a new hitting group. Should have $$$. Go spend on a premium FA or two. Fix the bullpen. It doesn't require a new plan. But it requires admitting that they haven't been able to fit the pieces together in a way -- or a create a culture -- that begets winning.
Kevin from Lebo
12:26
Jason, love your chats and sorry for another Pirates question.  I have long maintained that a good manager steals 4 or 5 games a year through smart baseball moves.  I can think of 1 from Shelton this year and at least 8 to 10 losses directly attributed to his moves.  It's the difference between being in 5th place and almost making the playoffs.  How can this guy come back?
Jason Mackey
12:27
Don't know where you get that 4-5 number. Most will tell you that's way high. At least from moves alone. I think the bigger things, honestly, is setting the tone and the standard for what will be tolerated and what won't. I don't know how anyone can look at the Pirates right now and say guys respond to Shelton.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:27
How can the Pirates not clean house after another bad season? Look at what the Royals did after losing 106 gams last year! They are doing something right while the Pirates are always doing something wrong every year. Enough is enough!
Jason Mackey
12:27
I don't have a magic answer for you. I feel like I've addressed my own amazement pretty thoroughly.
Gene
12:27
How far away do you think the Pirates are from having a winning season?
Jason Mackey
12:28
A couple actual changes and some solid FA signings. Maybe a new hitting plan and reaching some younger players with talent. It's attainable.
They should have had a winning record this year.
Southside Jimmy
12:28
Hey Jason.  Many people do not realize that Pittsburgh has a rich boxing history, with such greats as Harry Greb and Billy Conn among others.  Any idea why there aren’t more notable fight cards held in the city?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:28
I can't give you much there, sorry. Would imagine it's somewhat related to the decline in boxing in general? Again, I'm definitely not an authority on the subject. I'd be guessing.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:28
Do you think Tomlin is not naming Fields the starter going forward because he wants to keep Russ in the mix, or he just doesn't trust Fields to anoint him the starter for the rest of the year?
Jason Mackey
12:29
I think Tomlin isn't naming Fields the starter because he doesn't have to. Russ hasn't been healthy enough. When Russ is healthy enough, then Mike needs to say something. That could happen this week. And if Justin plays well, I bet he keeps his job and is named the starter, assuming Russ becomes a full participant in practice.
Tom M.
12:29
Still lots of talk about Steelers trading for a receiver. I come from the school that draft capital should be closely guarded and the draft is the best way to long term success. That’s even more so since Khan seems to have a better track record so far with the draft.  On the other hand, the draft is still a crapshoot so why not trade some? What are your thoughts on this?
Jason Mackey
12:30
Enjoy your school, Tom. If I'm Omar Khan and I can swing a trade for Adams, Kirk, Hopkins or Sutton, I'm absolutely doing it. They need to win playoff games now. They have a lot of other things. I'm sorry. I'm going for it. I'd trade a second-round pick in a second to get Davante Adams. Wouldn't even be a question.
Black N Gold
12:31
Jason, If you owned the Steelers would you force MT to hire a game management coach? He is really bad at challenges, the clock, 4th downs, et al
Jason Mackey
12:31
I don't know the current infrastructure here -- might be a better question for Gerry, Ray or Brian -- but I would spare no expense here. Such an important area ... and one where the Steelers could be a heck of a lot better.
Mavis
12:31
Hi Jason, after the Aiyuk “will he or won’t he be a Steeler” debacle , I’m not getting my hopes up that the Steelers have a good chance in trading for Davante Adams.  Your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:32
Doesn't look like it, Mavis. Read yesterday he wanted to play with a QB he knows. Jets could use him. That seems like a more likely landing spot, which is why I'd maybe pay a little more if I'm Omar.
Duffy
12:32
What does OPS mean in professional football ?
Jason Mackey
12:33
Football operations? I don't know. I know what OPS means in baseball (on-base plus slugging).
PrinceBob
12:33
I know you're hoping to get more non Pirate questions and I'd like to help but you keep writing things about the Pirates that stimulate responses. So here goes, I'll try to limit. When you wrote that despite Cherrington saying Shelton would be back next year that you weren't sure you believeed him I wondered why? The organization is so dediscated to standing pat you could set it on a plinth. Honestly I think I'd have been less surprised if they'd given Shelton an extension than if they'd fired him.
Jason Mackey
12:35
I get it this week, believe me. What they did, what I've written. They're a topic, for all the wrong reasons. But thank you for picking up on the desire to diversify. ... Respect your opinion. I'll throw a wrench into it, though: Remember how disjointed 2019 was? You never know. I agree with the unfortunate reality of them accepting mediocrity. That's how it feels. But there is a part of me that wonders if they don't just screw up the messaging or order of operations because it did very much happen the last time. Or at least that's how it was perceived publicly, I should say.
Chrissy
12:35
Hi Jason, I enjoy your chats.  If you could sit down to dinner with 5 of your favorite sports figures and pick their brains, who would they be?  Thank you.
Jason Mackey
12:37
Thanks so much, Chrissy. This is awesome. I'll go like this: Jack Lambert, Mario Lemieux, Roberto Clemente, Peyton Manning and Roy Munson. ... Nah, just kidding on the last one. Probably Drew Brees. Was a huge Brees fan dating back to his time at Purdue.
Tuggie
12:37
As a hope-to-be sportswriter/columnist, I would like to know if you ever get writer’s block and if so, how you deal with it, especially when you are under a deadline.  Thanks Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:39
I do. We all do. Couple ways. Like Ron Cook, I'll sometimes pace the hallways at a venue. There's also an understanding that we're pros. We all have to do our jobs when we're not at our best. I've been doing this for nearly 20 years. You learn. At home, I like to do something -- household chores or run -- to reset my brain before coming back to a story.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:39
Looking at the Pens roster and I see nothing to give me hope that they will be better than last year with the "youth infusion". Unless the big 4 play out of their minds and stay healthy, this is not a playoff team. Agree?
Jason Mackey
12:39
I do not. Not really in a position to restate my feelings on the entire roster -- I've definitely written and said them -- but I think this team could be halfway decent, if guys stay healthy. A lot hinges on the goaltender.
PrinceBob
12:39
Part 2. I think both Cherrington and Shelton should be fired but I believe you thought if it was just one it should have been Shelton. If I canned just one it would be Cherrington. I've been in the heart of Red Sox Nation for forty years. (No Sheetz here, sigh.) I didn't get why the Pirates hired him to begin with but guessed he, like their free agent signings, was desperate enough to get back into a GM's job that he'd work cheaply. He had one great championship season here and he deserves some serious credit for that but that team was as much Theo Epstein's as Cherrington's. Since then I believe he's had only two teams that didn't finish last (correct me if I'm wrong) and one of those was last year's next to last Pirates. In fairness you can't hold the first two Pirate teams against him but the first line of defense many people used when they wanted to defend Shelton was to say "look at the players he has." Well, Shelton didn't sign those player.
Jason Mackey
12:41
From my understand, Cherington isn't working cheaply. At least by Pirates standards, I think he's doing quite well. The rest of this sounds like your own statement and not a question, so I'm gonna move on. There's a ton to get to.
Jeff M
12:41
Davante Adams contract is ridicules and not guaranteed after this season. So any team trading him will either renegotiate or release him after the season. What is fair trade value for a player to only be around the rest of this season? Also, do you see the risk of having a 2nd diva WR on a run heavy team?
Jason Mackey
12:41
They don't have a second wide receiver. How many legitimate playoff teams don't have a WR2? If you're going to address the spot another way, I'm fine with that. But it can't remain as is.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:42
I read where fans are thinking the Steelers should trade Highsmith because of Herbig's ascension, I think that is crazy talk. Herbig got pushed around in the run D by the Colts Oline. While Herbig is a good pass rusher, I don't see him as a future replacement for Highsmith.
Jason Mackey
12:42
I would absolutely not trade Alex Highsmith.
Darnell
12:42
Hey Jason.  Even though he is on the search committee, I think Pat Bostick would be a great choice to replace Heather Lykes.  Do you know if he is interested in the position?  Thanks
Jason Mackey
12:43
Here's a take: I don't think it should be one position. And I think the world of Pat. I would absolutely have him involved. But I'd like to see them go with a three-pronged approach: a fundraiser, a traditional AD who schedules and handles facilities and a GM who works with NIL, the portal, etc.
PrinceBob
12:43
Final rant and one easy Pirates' question. Your column about if Nutting won't fix the team someone else should was bang on the mark. It seems like the Pirates are now a rich guy's vanity toy. That should not be allowed to happen. If MLB won't stop it state and/or county govenrments should. All these teams get public money. The easy one is what broadcasters do in the off season?
Jason Mackey
12:44
I'm glad you enjoyed the column.Thank you. They reintroduce themselves to their families. Ha. They'll show up at public appearances, but these guys work around the clock. They're loooong days. They do every game. They're not compensated like players. They try to be normal people again.
Ryan
12:44
Jason with Hockey regular Season Starting Soon what do you think about Bryan Rust during training camp i think he gets 30 goals if he stays Healthy LETS GO PENS
Jason Mackey
12:44
You love your boy Rusty, Ryan. I, too, think he could get 30. Wouldn't surprise me. Have liked a lot from Rusty. It's the same stuff we've seen, though. Always finding a way to have an impact.
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