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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 04.24.25
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Jason Mackey
11:35
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my (sorta) bi-weekly sports chat. Been a week longer than I'd like, but we're back. You know the drill. We'll get started around noon.
12:01
And away we go ...
Steelers Fan 1
12:01
Hey Jason, Claude Dubois is a fairly famous Canadian guitar player and I'm thinking of him because today is his birthday. I've heard that he's distant cousins with Mario Lemiuex, do you know if that's true? Also, I read somewhere I think that he almost joined the Grateful Dead back in the 60s. Any idea if that is true? Happy NFL DRAFT day!
Jason Mackey
12:03
Welp. I have zero issue what the heck you're talking about here. But Happy NFL draft day nonetheless. Can only go up from here.
PGH
12:03
This offseason seems like the most outraged the Steelers fan base has ever been. Are the Rooneys as aloof as they seem or do they actually feel concern for the state of the organization? In the 80s the team basically stunk and since the team was profitable the Rooneys didn't care. Could we be entering another decade of stank with the ownership being content to cash those big NFL checks and not field a true SB contender team?
Jason Mackey
12:04
I don't think so. I don't consider the Rooneys "aloof." I see Art II most times when I'm on the South Side. They're involved. Do they make the right decisions? Obviously gonna disagree there. They've gotten stale. But I don't think aloof is the right way to describe it. And, no, I don't think we're entering another decade of stank with ownership (Steelers, that is). At least I hope not.
buccos
12:04
Do you think there's any chance in Hades that the Pirates re-sign Skenes to a long-term contract? I want to know for two reasons 1. I'm a Pirates fan. 2. I'd like to get his jersey, but I don't want to shell out for one if he's gonna be a Yankee in a couple of years. Thanks for the chat.
Jason Mackey
12:05
No, I don't. Think about this: If you're Paul, why would you sign here until the Pirates prove they can win consistently? That will take some time. And by then, honestly, he'd probably be best-served going to FA and seeing what he could get. I just don't see it lining up, as I've written.
7 rings
12:05
Jason, is '86 the most underrated year for the Dead? You've got the 4/21 show at Berkeley. There's the 3 nights of bangers they do in Providence, RI. Just a ton of great shows all that year. And it was Barry Bonds's rookie year, which makes it even more special. Any sense of if the Pirates might bring Bonds in to help mentor some of the younger Bucs? Thansk!
Jason Mackey
12:07
Ha! No, I don't think the Pirates are going to bring in Bonds to mentor younger players. Would be awesome. But I doubt that happens. He's a west coast guy. Don't know if he would want to do it, etc. Most underrated year with the Dead? Hmm, I'm not going '86. I might say something in the late 60s. They hadn't quite found it by that point, but you hear some really cool signs.
Draft 2025
12:07
Jason, don't tiptoe around it any longer. Go on the record right now with who you think the steelers will draft tonight. GIVE US A NAME. Thanks for the chat!
Jason Mackey
12:07
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon.
Aces High
12:07
Why isn't Matt Gorski getting a chance to show if he belongs on the big league club?
Jason Mackey
12:08
Good question. I don't have a great answer for you, Aces. I was against it in spring; much of his production came in the back half of games. But he's been hitting with Triple-A Indy, and he's a far better option than Canario or Suwinski. It's baffling.
Guest
12:08
Hi Jason,
The failure of the Pirates to sign another free agent outfielder and relief pitchers during the offseason shows the greed and/or incompetence of ownership, especially during the limited period of time that Skenes will remain healthy and with this team.  Is it too late for the Pirates to acquire via trade additional offensive help?  Assuming Horowitz will provide the necessary support at first base and that Rodriguez will likewise furnish an upgrade at second base, another outfielder who can hit at least .250 will be necessary as well as more relief pitching.  Who do you believe the Buccos should trade to obtain the offensive support?  A veteran starting pitcher?  Thank you again for your outstanding writing.
Jim
Jason Mackey
12:11
The Pirates did not have a good enough offseason. This definitely isn't defending it. But their bullpen has been pretty solid. Their ERA (3.31) is currently the seventh-lowest in MLB. ERA isn't a perfect stat, and I'm not saying they're the greatest ever. But it wasn't a gigantic failure. They didn't do enough to address a bat, which could've come at 1B or OF. I don't think it's the right time to do anything external. Think about it: Anyone who's worth anything, wouldn't he be employed? And why would his team want to trade him? Probably gonna have to ride it out with what they have.
62 Stack Monster
12:11
Jason, Around the water cooler the other day, my boss, a Texas Longhorn alum, pointed out that Arch Manning earns $3.0M-ish per season as a backup in Texas the past couple years.  If drafted in the first round next year, he most surely will take a pay cut, correct?  Won't these economics eliminate the NFL draft altogether, or will first and second round draft choices be handed multiyear megadeals right off the bat?
Jason Mackey
12:12
It will certainly affect it. But I don't think it will eliminate it, no. If an NFL player wants to get to the NFL, he has to get drafted. So, goodbye NIL. He's also going to exhaust NCAA eligibility. I agree that this stuff needs to be better regulated, no doubt. But I don't think we're in danger of the NFL draft going anywhere.
CoalportKid
12:12
I was listening to the Angels broadcast last night and they had a stat that was approximately like the Pirates are 1-9 when Cutch doesn't start and like 9-6 when he does.  Holy TJ Watt, is this true? If so what gives?
Jason Mackey
12:13
You're in the ballpark. They're 9-7 when Cutch is in the starting lineup, 1-8 when he's not. Here's an easy one: put him in the starting lineup.
PrinceBob
12:13
If the Steelers draft a quarterback do they not sign Aaron Rodgers even if he decides he wants to play for them?
Jason Mackey
12:14
I think they will. But I don't think that they should.
62 Stack Monster
12:14
If Rodgers plays here, is the price $10M?
Jason Mackey
12:14
Let's hope. He seemed to kinda kill his negotiating power with that one, huh? I don't think it's much more than that.
PrinceBob
12:15
Do you know where the Tampa Tarpons are playing their home games now that the Rays are using their stadium? I looked on their website to see if they were fitting their home dates around Rays' honestands and they aren't. But I didn't see another location given.
Jason Mackey
12:15
I believe they're playing on one of the surrounding fields at the Yankees ST complex.
PrinceBob
12:15
From what I can tell, when David Bednar was at Indianapolis he was never put into a save situation. Why not? And do you think the Pirates plan to work him back into the saver's role or do you think Santanna has the job until he shows he's not up to it?
Jason Mackey
12:16
They normally have major league relievers pitch the first inning after the starter pretty much as a courtesy. They get their work in, and they're done. I also don't think they're in a hurry to rush Bednar back to the closer's role. He needs get right first. In the meantime, yeah, Santana is the guy.
PrinceBob
12:17
Is there any way to get the Pirates on TV in their home area other than cable as MLBtv blacks out your home team? And boy do I struggle telling how many outs there are by looking at those ever so slightly different colored dots they show.
Jason Mackey
12:17
You can stream through the SportsNet Pittsburgh website & app.
PhilinCT
12:17
Greeting Mr Mackey. As always your time is appreciated. I found your article about what the Steelers should and shouldn't do very interesting and extremely well written, even if I did not agree with everything you wrote. I truly enjoyed the tone you set in the article. What parts do you think they will actually follow and where will they diverge from your advice?
Jason Mackey
12:18
Thank you. Appreciate you reading and taking the time to send along a few kind words. I think they could trade back. I don't think they'll reach for a running back. I do think they'll stay after Aaron Rodgers even if they take a QB high. I do think they take a DL in the first round.
epiballo
12:18
Hi Jason! Thanks for the chats! Please explain to me how a team can lose their challenge, but then have a 'crew chief review' of a play that overturns that play. Happened twice to the Pirates. What's the difference?
Jason Mackey
12:20
Didn't you email this to me as well? I answered! "There’s not much of one. It’s a gray area in the rules. Umpires are allowed to look at things, and many crews will take input from managers. It works both ways as a way to try and use technology to get calls right."
epiballo
12:20
The Steelers have to draft a DL first to fix their defense, unless one of these rookie QBs can win shootouts with the likes of Burrows and Jackson. Agree?
Jason Mackey
12:20
Agree.
I'd prefer to see them draft a DL.
epiballo
12:20
If the Penguins play better defense, do you see Jarry being in net next season? The Pens have given him plenty of time to fix his game and he hasn't. Time to try something else, right?
Jason Mackey
12:20
I hope not. I think Dubas was playing for leverage there. They can't possibly think that Jarry is the answer. They also have young guys who should be given the opportunity to play.
PrinceBob
12:20
I think your preseason for the Pirates was something like 84 wins. Correct me if I'm wrong. What's your predicition now?
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