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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 10.03.24
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PrinceBob
12:44
What's your take on separate playoffs for public and private schools? When I went to a Catholic high school in the late Sixties the PCIAA (Pennsylvania Catholic IAA) had separate playoffs from the PIAA. The reasoning was we were at a disadvantage in terms of the talent pool we could draw from because even though it was area wide it was restricted to only Catholic kids who were a minority. How and when did this change?
Jason Mackey
12:46
It blows my mind, honestly. I'm from Pittsburgh (went to Brentwood) but lived in D.C. for 3 1/2 years, covering preps in the DMV. They had the WCAC, which consists of DeMatha, Bishop O'Connell, Good Counsel, etc. -- programs you might see on ESPN. They recruited, but they played amongst themselves. So did public schools. Then maybe you crossed over at some point for fun. Silly to me that you have recruiting high schools competing for the same prize as normal ones. But Pennsylvania has always suffered from "this is how it's always been done" and also thinking that the rest of the world is crazy. So, it doesn't surprise me.
Hit Man
12:47
Mike Easler for hitting coach ? Couldn't hurt could it ?
Jason Mackey
12:47
Is he even still coaching? He can't be. Doesn't look like it.
Bern
12:47
Would you share your thoughts on Najee Harris?  Coradelle Patterson seemed to be getting key snaps last weekend until he was hurt and just appeared so much more decisive and faster than Harris.  Is Harris simply not a top half NFL RB?
Jason Mackey
12:49
Sure. What about? He likes the A's and Giants and Oakland. Can sometimes get agitated with media and responds by pretending he doesn't know what anyone is asking. Has great hair. ... As far as his running, I think he is on ability. I'm not sure there's the right fit or usage here. They need someone more direct. Not sure that's his style. Wouldn't shock me if he goes somewhere else and blows up.
demosthenes98
12:49
After what happened first with Rowdy and then with IKF, it's safe to say that Pirates management is no longer a reliable source of information about the Pirates, isn't it? Will you and your PG colleagues have to independently verify everything they say before printing it? And how is this a sustainable situation?
Jason Mackey
12:50
I'm not sure of your criticism here. You think the Rowdy/IKF situations taught us to independently verify information? We did that before. It's also funny that you think the organization gives any information at all. What the Pirates did was dumb and short-sighted, but I'm not sure it's a referendum on how we report.
PrinceBob
12:50
Maybe I didn't follow the American League closely enough. I didn't know Detroit was even a remote playoff contender until late September so was sweeping Houston as big a surprise generally as it was to me?
Jason Mackey
12:51
Umm, they weren't very good early on, then put things together. Given their build over the past 5 years -- similar to the Pirates -- they should be a playoff team.
Plutonium
12:51
After the bush league move by Nutting with Tellez and IKF this franchise will have the attractiveness of Chernobyl to any decent free agent. And I still think Skenes is gonna get traded this offseason because this owner just doesn't care about winning.
Jason Mackey
12:52
They're gonna trade Paul Skenes. Good God. I get being mad about those two things -- I think they're absurd, especially how they mangled the IKF one -- but they're not gonna trade a guy making < $1 million who might be the best pitcher in MLB. That's just silly.
Munkeefist
12:52
Will there be a need to go after FA starting pitchers this year with all of our returning starters, guys coming back from injury and upcoming promotions? Hope they can allocate that money elsewhere. Thanks for the chat!!
Jason Mackey
12:52
I expect them to use money elsewhere. Should be a bat or two and bullpen.
Sheila
12:52
Good afternoon.  Who gets on the football field first?  Russell Wilson to play in a game or his wife Ciara to sing the national anthem?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Ha. This made me laugh, Sheila. I would have a hard time believing Ciara performs before Russ plays.
demosthenes98
12:52
It's no longer a given that major league teams are *always* better than minor league ones, isn't it? Is it not well within the realm of possibility that a championship minor league team, or a minor league all-star team, could defeat, say, the '24 White Sox, the '93 Sharks, the Pirates, or another historically bad major league team?
Jason Mackey
12:53
Yes, it is. That's an insult to major leaguers and the work needed to get to that point to even suggest it.
epiballo
12:53
Am I misguided to think the Pirates have some important pieces in place already to compete in 2025? The starting rotation should be a real strength and the bullpen has some good arms. Many of the young position players have shown potential. Any chance they resign Chapman, and why wasn't Cherington more definitive on Cutch coming back for another year?
Jason Mackey
12:54
Not misguided. I wrote the same thing earlier this chat. And on Cutch, probably because I think they wanna see if they can get him to retire. He's not gonna, mind you. But I think they'd rather use that spot another way.
My opinion, of course.
PrinceBob
12:54
Since UNC football has come up I'm thinking of James Madison and that 70 points. Do you think JMU is on the horizon of any Power 5 conference as an addition? It's their first or second year in D1-A and they've already sort of forced their way into a bowl despite being in that transition period from 1-AA and now 70 points on respected Power 5 team.
Jason Mackey
12:54
Not sure I know enough about James Madison to say, but I can't imagine JMU's other sports are on par with their P5 counterparts.
HA HA HA
12:54
Agreed: The Pirates are not only the laughingstock of Baseball but of pro sports anywhere
Jason Mackey
12:55
This might be an over-exaggeration, though the Pirates have not helped themselves lately.
Jerry's Kids
12:55
The White Sox make the playoffs/have a winning season before the Pirates. Guaranteed
Jason Mackey
12:55
Disagree.
Mr Ed
12:55
You enjoy basketball, Jason? I assume you will be covering some Pitt and Duquesne hoops this winter. Should be fun. I think both teams will have good seasons.
Jason Mackey
12:55
Yes, I do. Very excited for that. And absolutely. I'm excited to cover a bunch of area hoops. Any good stories or column ideas, hit me up at jmackey@post-gazette.com.
Seven
12:56
Jason, in my imaginary future world, I have three world championship trophies on my desk, one for each of Pittsburgh's professional teams. What date is stamped on each trophy (and going into the next century is allowed)?
Jason Mackey
12:56
Steelers 2025
Penguins 2026
Pirates 2027
Ski
12:57
Back in late spring early summer I questioned you on how Cherington’s bonus is paid. Profitability of team or wins.  You chastise me and said let’s give it time. Given the end of season moves with player bonus I ask the same question!
Jason Mackey
12:58
I'm not chastising you. I'm saying it's fair to let a process play out. Well, we did. And it stinks. And I've been plenty critical of everything. But I think it was fair to let them have the 2024 season first before getting mad about it, no? Also, I don't know if there's a bonus or how it would be paid out.
Guest
12:58
It seems like a lot of QB's have a shelf life on par with baseball closers.  A couple of good years, then a significant drop off in their performance.  Do you see this trend?  If so, is it because D coordinators figure them out, they signed a huge contract and don't try anymore or something else?
Jason Mackey
12:58
I'm not sure I see that trend, to be honest. Josh Allen is fine. Patrick Mahomes is kinda good. Lamar Jackson. You get the point. Maybe the second- or third-tier guys, but that's always gonna happen. Strikes me as an unfair comparison.
Commissioner
12:59
If fans continue to attend Pirate games nothing will change. Nutting will continue to make a profit and not spend enough money to make them a competitive team. If people go to games, they’re not only supporting the players but also the owner. The only possible way things change is if the fans have a full fledged boycott and do not attend games.
Jason Mackey
12:59
You're not wrong. But that also isn't gonna happen. Too good of a baseball town. People won't give it up.
Trade
12:59
OK. What kind of deal do you put together for Adams ?
Jason Mackey
12:59
Second-rounder and a bit part. Calvin Austin III? A DB? Ask them what they need ... but it has to be relatively minor.
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