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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 09.19.24
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Jason Mackey
11:55
Hey, everyone. Thanks for finding my weekly sports chat. Hopefully we're finally veering away from heaps of Pirates questions. We'll get started in a couple minutes.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
11:58
Does anyone in the Pens organization seriously believe they are better than last year and will make the playoffs? Unless the big 4 play out of their minds this year, the Pens will be closer to last than first this year.
Jason Mackey
12:00
You're obviously entitled to think how you want. I also don't work for the Pens. But I happen to think it's perfectly reasonable for them to win a round. Asking a team that spends to the cap to do that isn't insane. We saw flashes of what they could have been late last year. If they can play more responsible (within reach), get more from players with a history of producing (also within reach) and have their $5 million goalie play like it, I don't see why they couldn't be better.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:00
How can the Bucs run the same team back next year? This lineup is terrible! Some of the games this year they trotted out 3-4 starters that were hitting below .200! You can't make this up. Nutting needs to spend a few shekels to get this team to average IMO.
Jason Mackey
12:02
Man, a ray of sunshine from Florida. The Pirates have their problems, certainly. But they do have a top-10 starting rotation, along with a couple position players to build around. Not saying all is perfect. It's not. But how can they run the same team next year? What do you want them to do? They have guys under contract. It's not like a library where you just return/check out new books.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:02
The defense of the Steelers is playing well but there will be games that the offense will need to out gun the opponent. Will they ever have the capability to do that this year or will scoring 16-18 points per game be the norm?
Jason Mackey
12:03
Goodness gracias. I think they'll never score again. They'll be lucky to have 2 points per game. If they don't fold the franchise, it'll be an abject failure. Really, just stop playing sports altogether. Let's stare at walls and scream in frustration.
Wayward
12:03
Jason, If the Bucs were to move on from Shelton would Kelly get consideration, or would he thought to be too close to the problem?
Jason Mackey
12:04
Good question. I do think he would get consideration. If they moved on, at this point, it would have to come from Bob Nutting. I know Bob likes Don Kelly. However, I think Bob, if he made that move, would be saying the status quo has to go -- and he'd be right. So, I think DK would get considered but ultimately passed over for someone else.
Jock Sutherland
12:04
Great prediction on Pitt WVU score last week!   What does it say about where we are at with college sports these days when Pitt gets great QB play from a freshman, the sentiment it is not "Wow what Pitt fans can look forward to in future" but rather "What school will he end up at who will pay him more"   at least in pro sports players are locked with contracts for a number of years.
Jason Mackey
12:05
Ha! I was close. And I think it says crappy things, honestly. I don't like it. Had that thought myself: Man, Holstein is good. He'll be gone soon. It stinks. Not what college sports are supposed to be about, but I'm not sure you can put the toothpaste back in the tube at this point.
Undisciplined
12:05
Hey Jason.  I asked this question in the three previous chats this week with no response.  Hopefully the fourth time is a charm.  When Locke was called for a poor penalty, he threw a temper tantrum and was immediately greeted by Sean Payton on the sidelines.  He was yelled at and remained on sidelines.  Have you ever seen Tomlin do that?  I've only seen him pat the guy on the behind and send him right back in for the next play.  Isn't the type of leadership, discipline, and accountability that Payton showed exactly what we need?  Wouldn't that go far in making us the respected and championship organization that we once were?
Jason Mackey
12:08
I answer every question in my chat, so I'm not sure how it would have been ignored. Maybe you mean you asked the others. ... I think you're reading too much into one interaction. Tomlin hasn't been good enough lately. That's fair. They need to win the playoffs. That's the standard. But you're saying he's not showing leadership because he doesn't immediately pounce on someone after they threw a temper tantrum. I think Tomlin may just go about things differently. I've certainly seen him have heated discussions with players on the sidelines. I've also seen him afford them space. Scenarios are different. I think Tomlin has the respect of everyone in the organization, which to me, is the sign of a leader. But, it can also be true that his playoff record recently hasn't been good enough.
QB Killer
12:08
Are the games that Tomlin plays with quarterbacks hurting the team chemistry and culture?  At different points in time he has indicated to Mason, Mitch, Kenny, and Russ that they are his QB.  Then he just plays who he wants.  I feel we lost Mason because of this and he is easily our best QB since Ben.  Is his lack of being honest hurting our chances of getting a good QB here?
Jason Mackey
12:09
He didn't seem to kill the Hall of Famer the Steelers had for a long time. My guess is that Kenny Pickett did more damage to himself that Tomlin ever did. Here's a way to render the head coach's feelings on quarterbacks moot: play better. I think it's possible Fields and Wilson could get there. I wanna see more. Wilson also isn't healthy right now.
Marnie
12:09
Hi Jason:  on Crosby's extension, do you know if he does any commercials or product endorsements?   I'm just curious.  Fans appreciate his willingness to forgo more money on his contracts as the assumption is he could negotiate for more.  Though $8.7 per is hardly living in the poor house.
Jason Mackey
12:10
Ha. Yeah, he's doing just fine for himself. He does some stuff in Canada. Tim Hortons, for sure. Believe there might be a couple others. He definitely has other sources of income. I've also been in his house. He's doing just fine -- beautiful place, loves his lifestyle. But it's hardly fancy. Just a regular dude.
TVC15
12:10
After the Steelers lose badly to the Chargers will Russell Wilson get the start against the Colts?
Jason Mackey
12:11
I don't know if they're going to lose or not, but it depends on whether Russ is healthy. He's not now. Or not healthy enough.
Jock Sutherland
12:12
And on the same topic of college players payouts.  As you pointed out today in your column on Pitt VB (great article), Pitt has some of the best volleyball players in the country.   Do you know how much a VB player would normally get in NIL money?   I really believe Fisher has create a culture that ladies want to be a part of so too worried they would lose significant players on money alone but would be hard to stay at the top if not at least paying them comparable to the schools with deeper pockets.
Jason Mackey
12:13
I don't know exactly, but I just checked on3's top 100, and there are no volleyball players listed. So, would have to be under $672K. Agree with you, though: What Fisher has created and Pitt has become is awesome to see.
Penalty Nation
12:13
The Steelers are highly penalized again.  This happens every year.  Tomlin insists it will improve, yet it rarely does.  Many of the penalties can be easily fixed - JPJ grabbing all the time, false starts, etc .  It seems Tomlin doesn't know how to fix this.  Could a coach that teaches fundamentals fix this?  Fundamentals don't seem to be a strength of Coach Cliche.
Jason Mackey
12:15
I find it hard to blame all of this on Tomlin. At the same time, I don't want to come off as defending Tomlin and saying I think everything he does is great; he has his faults. My own opinion, I think what the Steelers have done this season so far penalty-wise has been relatively outside of Tomlin's purview. But that stuff does seem to persist more than it should. I agree with you there.
Black N Gold
12:15
Jason, Do you ever get tired of kissing Mike Tomlin's hind quarters?
Jason Mackey
12:15
Good one. Thank you for the contribution.
Mike A.
12:15
At what point do the Pirates REALLY begin to worry that Oneil Cruz's ankle will prohibit him from EVER reaching his potential, a la Rennie Stennett?  They have posited time and time again he was "fully recovered", yet he keeps having "tweaks" and "setbacks".  I'm skeptical.
Jason Mackey
12:16
I don't share that sentiment, Mike. It's a long season. Nobody is completely healthy. He's coming off an injury. It's not worth risking it. If he feels funky, sit him. Why push it if there's a chance now?
Wayward
12:16
Jason, Which athletes that are new to Pittsburgh (lets say they came after you started your new gig) have you enjoyed talking to and why?
Jason Mackey
12:19
I'm pretty sure I predate every athlete here aside from Sid, Geno, Letang and Cam -- at least as far as covering pro sports. But as far as new guys, I really like Patrick Queen and DeShon Elliott over at Steelers. Awesome dudes and funny. Trying to think of others who are new since April 2024 who I've talked to and really liked ... I think I listed my favorites. Haven't met any of the new hockey guys yet.
PhilinCT
12:19
Mr Mackey, loved your Pitt vs Penn State volleyball article this morning. Now that you've been in the new position for a little while what is the most "surprising" discovery you have had covering more than just baseball?
Jason Mackey
12:20
Thank you very much. Appreciate that. Maybe how much I loved baseball and was spoiled by it? I don't know if that makes sense. It's just a different culture around the sport: more open, comfortable however you wanna say it. You really get to know people as opposed to the other sports. I miss that. It's surprising to me, always, how secretive the other sports can be.
Bern
12:20
With 9 mins left Sunday, the Steelers ran the ball and 3rd and long to, presumably, play it safe deep in their own territory and keep the clock running up 2 scores.  Then they punt with 20 seconds remaining on the play clock.  Am I being overly critical or is that a mistake by the special teams?  Seems you'd run that down to 3-4 seconds there.
Jason Mackey
12:21
Could be somewhere in between. But they won the game. Probably a little nitpicky.
PrinceBob
12:21
I'm a lot older than you but your job means you've been following baseball closer than I do. Have you ever seen a bullpen collapse like the Pirates' has this year? I cannot think of one. On a related note I feel so bad for David Bednar. I hope he gets the Clemente award to salvage something from this season. But what can the team be thinking about him in terms of next year?
Jason Mackey
12:22
I have not, no. Nor have I seen something go so quickly from a supposed strength to rotten in such a short period of time. It's alarming. And I'm not sure it's just performance or just injuries or any one thing. I've been looking at prep, scouting, usage, etc. There's a bunch there that's probably unpleasant. Needs to be better.
PrinceBob
12:22
Are you still not sure you believe Ben Cherrington when he said Shelton will be back next year? And can Cherrington himself really be sure he'll be back?
Jason Mackey
12:23
That's correct. I can't imagine Bob would have made that decision by then. ... I have never heard legitimate whispers or from people who would really know that Ben was in trouble. That can always change, but the sense I've had is that they don't want to go that deep on anything.
SDWC
12:24
How can the Pirates best find a power hitter?  Obviously not going to sign an impactful FA. Is it development of existing talent, is it the draft, or an international signing?
Jason Mackey
12:25
Should be any/all of the above, honestly, SDWC. And what's stopping them from signing an impactful FA. Seriously. They spent ~$36 million last year. Do it again -- reliever, a legit bat and Cutch. Shouldn't be that hard.
SDWC
12:25
Is Justin Herbert anticipated to play this Sunday?
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