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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 10.21.22
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Jason Mackey
11:47
Hello, everyone, and welcome to my chat. Here at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, covering practice. Starts at noon and could end around 12:20-12:30 p.m., so let's get this thing going now.
El dingo
11:57
Why hasn’t Rudolf been given a chance?  He was stuck behind Ben his entire career and now it looks like he will never get a chance in Pittsburgh.
Jason Mackey
11:58
I feel bad for Mason. I think he got a raw deal here. Same time, he got chances and never did anything with them. I wish they would have traded him. But I don't see how turning to him makes sense. Pickett is the future. Play him.
11:59
I see both winning. I think Pitt wins comfortably over Louisville. I think the back half of the schedule should be kind to the Panthers. And I think the Steelers get it done in Miami. Oddly, because the defense makes some plays.
The Weekend
11:59
Ok. I'll go first I guess. How do you see the weekend playing out for the local football teams (Pitt, Steelers)
Paul
11:59
Why aren't you picketing with your PG colleagues?
Jason Mackey
12:03
There are more than 40 of us who aren't. A couple reasons. One, the Pittsburgh Newspaper Guild filed a grievance against my wife, Abby, for freelancing and tried to have that taken away. Not all freelancers, mind you. Just Abby. I'll support my wife/family first every day of the week. If that's a problem, sorry. Also, we were given less than 48 hours to make a decision, when a strike was forced on us -- not agreed to by membership. It's a tough call. And obviously something many did not feel comfortable doing. It's tougher when there's no strategy communicated regarding possible victory, strategy or available health care. Given my family situation, I don't feel comfortable relying on "there should be" and Go Fund Me pages.
Joel
12:03
Hi, Jason. It seems to me that the Steelers have fallen into sports purgatory, not good enough to contend but not bad enough to get the high picks to revitalize the team. What realistic hope do they have to get out of this situation without falling further?
Jason Mackey
12:08
Hi Joel. Not sure we can draw any discernible conclusions at this point, honestly. They could be heavily rebuilding. They could be off to a horrid start. Not sure which it is. ... Need to see more of a sample. Also need to see how the defense improves.
El dingo
12:08
What budget friendly free agents/reclamation projects could the cash strapped pirates target this off season?
Jason Mackey
12:11
Can't go full bore on this, but one option behind the plate that's easy would be Roberto Perez. Someone I like at first base is Carlos Santana. Could be had and gets on base -- something they obviously value.
Doctor Doctor
12:11
I'm sure the Steelers will get blowback with Kenny but its Dr Mickey Collins who essentially created the science on their staff ? Shouldn't we trust the guys who created the program to know when a guy is clear ?
Jason Mackey
12:12
Concussions are tricky. I'm also not close enough to the situation to levy an opinion here. I'm sorry. I would hope whomever is making the decision is trusting the work of trained medical professionals.
Joel
12:14
Jason, thanks for checking in with the Pirates prospects out in Arizona. One overlooked aspect of the Orioles success in 2022 was their bullpen, which consisted almost entirely of waiver wire pickups. But the Pirates’ forays on the waiver wire seem to always end up as dumpster dives. Is this a scouting issue or a teaching issue?
Jason Mackey
12:16
Not sure we can tell, Joel. It could be a talent issue. Maybe an identification issue. The hit rate on these things isn't terribly high to begin with. And it's not like we should be counting upon them to consistently find All-Stars on the waiver wire. ... They did do some better things with pitching this season (Keller, Brubaker, etc.) They should probably just not be counting on this as a team-building strategy.
Joel
12:16
Jason, did you know Peter Diana? I only knew him through his work, obviously, which was consistently outstanding. What a loss at such a young age.
Jason Mackey
12:17
I did know Pete. Well, too. A wonderful man and always incredibly nice to me. Yesterday was a sad day. Today, too.
Phil
12:17
Striking is never comfortable or easy but don't you think the strike would be more effective if the sports staff (the most popular and profitable part of the paper, I assume, especially during Steelers season) actually took a stand with your colleagues instead of being a bunch of scabs? Aren't you leaving your colleagues on the picket line out to dry?
Jason Mackey
12:19
You can see my answer above. The Guild came after my wife's job and tried to have that taken away. For nothing. Because she pitched stories and executed them. ... While caring for our kids -- I'm obviously gone a lot -- and tucking that work into nights and whenever. That's not showing me/our family solidarity is it, by trying to prevent someone from chasing their dream.
Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher
12:19
I have much respect and appreciation of your work. However, it will a go away if you answer yes to this question. Do you like the return of the "Robo Penguin"? (This is of course a tongue in cheek question and will still like and appreciate your work.)
Jason Mackey
12:20
Ha. Thanks, Irwin. ... I'm lukewarm on it. Don't hate it, don't particularly love it. A general thought on this: I'm not a huge fan of all the retro jerseys being modernized. I would rather see them exactly as they were. No touchups needed.
Mason
12:21
The Pirates' front office and Travis Williams have consistently said they're trying to emulate teams like the A's, Rays and Guardians who win on a budget. Despite those teams' on-field success, they all consistently rank among the bottom of the league in attendance, even when they're playing well. Has Williams or Nutting ever addressed that aspect of it? What could the Pirates do differently? Or are fans just naturally going to be cynical about a team operating on a shoe-string budget?
Jason Mackey
12:22
Nutting and Williams haven't addressed any aspect of anything, to be fair. Been a long time since they've talked. But, no. I don't think they have to talk about this. Pittsburgh is an awesome sports town. If the Pirates put a winner on the field, it will be supported. Period.
Jerry
12:22
Jason, what about this D. Donato kid and his Fire on the Mountain? Or his Angel from Montgomery?
Jason Mackey
12:23
This is the first I've learned of this. Seems like I need to check it out.
Kordell
12:23
Lost in all the criticism of Dotson on the sack that sent Pickett out of the game, was Harris' failure to recognize his responsibility.  He impatiently stepped up into the wrong gap; any one see this that way, or question MT on it?
Jason Mackey
12:23
I'm not around Steelers enough to say, Kordell. Sorry. But you bring up a fine point. That said, it's Dotson's job to not allow that sort of thing to happen. Anything else is missing the point. Make the block, Pickett is almost assuredly fine.
Jules
12:24
Hi Jason.  Do you anticipate any changes to the Pirates’ coaching staff?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:24
Not at this point, Jules. At least not in terms of people being fired. Guys might leave for other jobs, but I can't predict that at this point.
Go Away
12:24
Phil. Can you leave the man alone. He stated why he isn't joining. I'm sure your some mindless union thug but the guy doesn't need you to tell him what to do. You'd do the same thing if it was your wife. Give it a rest
Jason Mackey
12:26
It's OK. I understand the criticism. And some people might hate me for it. That's fine. But my first priority in life is to make sure my wife and kids are happy and protected. I'm gonna back here, and that wasn't cool what they did. I think a lot of men in my position would do the same.
*gonna back her. It's cold in here.
Ricky Rakell
12:26
Jason, any thoughts on my pretty sweet pirouette?
Jason Mackey
12:27
Tricky Ricky! I loved that nickname from Poehling. You've been quite good in Pittsburgh, Tricky Ricky.
PrinceBob
12:27
If you could choose to get rid of replay or keep it as it is which would you pick? I just read Brian Kelly's comment that replay is ruining the game and I know lots of people agree. Why can't there be a limit of thirty or forty five seconds? They're looking for an OBVIOUSLY blown call. If you can't see it's blown in that time it's not obvious and the call should stand.
Jason Mackey
12:27
Oh, I know. I get it. I would love to see replay gone. Take our chances. It'll never happen, but I hate how it has ruined the spontaneity of sports.
PrinceBob
12:27
Before this baseball season started, did you see the Oriole's turnaround coming? I'm hoping not because it would make me think the Pirates could do the same next year.
Jason Mackey
12:28
Yes, I did. I knew it would happen at some point. And I think the Pirates will win again. People always get mad at how long this stuff takes. And I get it. But what they're doing can absolutely be done.
Sad Sad Sad
12:28
I see all these Baseball cities going wild about being in the playoffs, and look back on the past and then I realize those fun times or even above .500 season will never happen in Pittsburgh again. Why do people tolerate this garbage ?
Jason Mackey
12:28
I think the Pirates will win here. I really do. They have some legit talent in the minor leagues. They won't all be great, but they won't all suck either.
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