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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 04.03.25
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Jason Mackey
11:58
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my bi-weekly sports chat. You know the drill. We'll get started very soon.
Drayno10
12:02
How many more at bats will we have to endure watching Jack Suwinski swing and miss?
Jason Mackey
12:02
And away we go ... the usual disclaimer, not defending anything. But ... it's been 7 games. It's also not like everyone else is hitting. And they're down an outfielder in Reynolds. I agree that I'd like to see Suwinski hit more, but that goes for a lot of guys right now.
George Steinbrenner
12:03
How bad are my yankees going to pummel your pathetic pirates with these amazing torpedo bats?
Jason Mackey
12:03
My Pirates? I work for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The only team we had/have that I know of is a softball team known as the Dwags.
Cullen
12:03
How many times are Pirates GM's going to make the mistake of holding on to closers at the top of their values instead of moving them for meaningful pieces? I like Bednar but this team didn't really need an elite closer when we were losing 100 games even with him. Seeing teams like the Royals get Bubic for half a year of Chapman is frustrating considering how fungible relievers are now a days.
Jason Mackey
12:05
Not sure I have a numeric answer for you, Cullen. I'm also not willing to say we've determined how 100% of Bednar's season will pan out. Furthermore, they committed a one-year deal to thinking he could bounce back from a terrible year last year. It could be the wrong move, certainly. But it's not like they signed Bednar to a 4-year extension last winter.
Guest
12:05
Bae starts one game and looks awful (and he also have a game where he makes a huge mistake running the bases), and is never seen again. Will Bae get a chance this year, or will it always be Pham (batting .067 and Suwinski with a nearly 50% k rate) only?
Jason Mackey
12:06
I would imagine they send Bae down for Canario. Beyond that, I have no idea. It will depend on Bae's development and production, along with available playing time at the major league level. But Bae didn't do himself any favors with that ridiculous baserunning display.
J D
12:06
Jason, is there any reason why Bednar has really regressed?  Is it the Bill Blass syndrome?
Jason Mackey
12:07
I'm guessing you mean Steve Blass syndrome -- and no. I'd argue Bednar is the opposite of that; his regression is tied to pitchers that are too meaty, not an inability to find the zone. I think some of it involves tipping. I also think it's a series of mechanical tweaks to combat the tipping and poor performance.
Aces High
12:07
Have the Pirates fallen behind the curve in MLB due to continually drafting pitching? It's been said they won't pay for starting pitching in free agency, but they also won't pay for decent bats in the lineup. Does GMBC make it to year 2026?
Jason Mackey
12:08
I don't have any issue for small-market teams drafting a bunch of pitching. It's expensive on the open market and much cheaper via the draft. Now, the Pirates should be better at drafting and developing position players. That's also true. But I don't see drafting pitching as the issue.
Sad Pirate Fan
12:08
Do you think we see any of the offensive prospects soon if this keeps going? Yorke to me would be appropriate given that Nicky G, is on the shelf for a bit.
Jason Mackey
12:09
I'm not saying there are moves imminent, other than what sounds like Canario joining the club. But, sure. If certain guys don't hit, the Pirates are eventually going to give others a look. That happens every year.
J D
12:09
Jason, do you believe that Rogers is the best available QB for the Steelers?  How do you think he will mesh with the OC and PIckens when he runs the wrong route?
Jason Mackey
12:11
Thank you, J D, for asking a question that doesn't involve the Pirates. This is an all sports chat. It's legal, I promise. ... I have no issue with Rodgers coming here. I think he still has something left. Now, is that worth $40 million? I don't think so. We also don't know that number for sure. It does intrigue me how much he and Tomlin have something to prove. ... As for Pickens and Artie Smith, I think the Steelers need to let Rodgers do his thing. That includes audibles. I don't see that being an issue. And if Pickens runs the wrong route, I have no issue with Rodgers addressing it. That should happen. Although it might be more productive with George if it's done privately.
Paul
12:11
Is the start to the season not just a microcosm of what’s to come? Despite quality start after quality start, poor offense and poor defense will lead to a poor record. It’s pretty simple when you lay it out. When you do nothing to improve the offense, the team will falter no matter how many good young arms you have.
Jason Mackey
12:12
It could be. We don't know. This happens every year. Everyone wants to make determinations based on a small sample size and act like something has changed. In the past, that has meant acting like the Pirates have improved a bunch when they really weren't that good. I don't know if they're 2-5, sloppy fundamentals and everything else that's wrong bad. They certainly could be. But I don't view poor fundamentals as being tied to offseason spending. They should be able to do that stuff regardless of the size of their payroll.
J D
12:13
Jason, should the Pirates be buying torpedo bats for everyone?  They need help!
Jason Mackey
12:13
The Pirates do have a lot of players who are intrigued and/or ordering them. Here's Noah Hiles' story on it: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2025/04/03/mlb-torpedo-bat...
Cullen
12:13
I've been Cherington's biggest hype man during this rebuild and I can't help but feel extremely disappointed and frustrated 6 years in. We keep making silly little league mistakes and frankly other than the rotation, the roster is worse than what Huntington left Cherington...it seems like we're in another 10,000 simulations situation where we're just praying everything goes right to sneak into the playoffs. Not that it matters but my hype for this season is basically gone and I'll probably catch a handful of Skenes starts and Chandlers debut and ignore the rest. It's gutting to watch Bob and the front office kill lifelong baseball fans passion for the game, I know I'm not the only one.
Jason Mackey
12:14
I don't blame you for feeling frustrated, Cullen. I don't know what to tell you and the thousand others who have emailed me. I get that it sucks. I still think it's only 7 games. Nothing has been fully determined.
Ryan
12:14
Good afternoon Jason what do You Think About The Play of Oneil Cruz so far this Season besides his defense in Miami on opening day he has Looked Good LETS GO BUCS
Jason Mackey
12:16
Hi Ryan. His work in the outfield hasn't been great. I wish his development there was further along. I didn't like his lack of awareness in Miami, either, when he didn't run hard with two down and was thrown out at home. That being said, I thought his at-bats have been mostly very good. Zone awareness has been excellent, same for swing decisions. Drove in a key insurance run with a sac fly recently. The walks and steals have been great to see. Obviously the power remains elite.
Paul
12:16
Can anyone explain the signing of Pham? It doesn’t make sense to me on about 10 different levels. From a pure performance perspective, it doesn’t make sense. And from Bob Nutting’s pocket book, it doesn’t make sense. Can they not even penny pinch correctly?
Jason Mackey
12:16
Never underestimate the Pirates! No, seriously. Tommy Pham is the type of personality they've needed. But he has to produce. He has had a poor start. A lot of guys have. I'm not going to evaluate the validity of a signing 7 games in.
Aces High
12:17
Haven't the Pirates drafted quite a few SS prospects in recent drafts? How do they not have a player ready to take over the SS position for years to come instead of an aging player, who is so far doing a great job by the way?
Jason Mackey
12:18
Yeah, they've invested a lot on SS, but much of that has been younger guys are the lower rungs of the minors. Those guys aren't ready. They've also had guys who just haven't been good enough: Peguero, Alika & Marcano spring to mind there. They deserve criticism for not finding a better solution there, absolutely. Agree, IKF has been solid.
Henry Hill
12:18
Over/under 10.5 HRs the Yankees will hit during the 3-game set this weekend in Pittsburgh?
Jason Mackey
12:18
Under.
Paul
12:18
While GMBC has excelled at drafting and developing pitchers (although he really can’t take credit for Skenes), and also finding solid reclamation projects on the mound, he and his staff have been equally horrible at developing or finding hitters. And looking at the prospect list, there isn’t help on the way. Why do you feel they’re failed at this aspect of development?
Jason Mackey
12:19
I'm not sure, Paul. But it's a valid observation. If I had that answer, I'd sell it to them and make a lot of money. It could be mid-identifying guys. Maybe making too many swing tweaks? I don't think there's one magic answer. But you're right; they haven't developed enough young hitters.
The Eman
12:19
Paul Skenes appears to be a really fine young man. He’s also someone who could, assuming no more than two or three years of missed time due to arm problems, could approach 300 wins. If he stays on the Pirates for the next five years, it will probably cost him five or six wins a year. For his sake, I hope he gets traded out of Pittsburgh soon.
Jason Mackey
12:20
Wins are an overrated stat in evaluating pitchers, but yeah, obviously Skenes is quite good at baseball. I don't know why anyone would root for a Skenes trade.
Paul
12:20
How can this franchise truly justify not bringing in a single offensive support this past offseason? And then have BCGM and Shelton both exclaim ahead of opening day that “now is the time to win.” Do they honestly take us as fools?
Jason Mackey
12:21
Their reasoning -- and again, this is not an endorsement; you asked a question that I'm simply answering: They believe that a new hitting coach and new philosophy, mixed with some additions on the margins and internal improvement will lead to enough offense to support what they believe to be a very good pitching staff.
My opinion: They should have done more. Their margin for error right now is way too thin.
Phil
12:21
Humor me: what would it take for Bob Nutting to sell the Pirates?
Jason Mackey
12:22
He stands to make $1.5 billion right now, and he's hanging in because he likes it. I can't imagine what it would take. Maybe his family coming to him and pleading with him to sell? It won't be money.
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