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Jason Mackey's sports chat transcript: 01.30.25

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Jason Mackey's sports chat transcript: 01.30.25


Jason Mackey: Hello, everyone. Good afternoon and welcome to my bi-weekly sports chat. Thanks so much for stopping by. Mailbag next week. Plenty of great questions already. You know the drill. We'll get started in about 15 minutes.
Jason Mackey: And away we go ...

Guest: Hey Jason, hope life is going well for you! Great coverage on our Bucs throughout off season. Since Cherington ha said there will be additions to roster… what are you hearing about a RF/ hitter with power? Beat’em Bucs
Jason Mackey: Thank you, same to you. Allow me to relay what I've been hearing ________ . I do think they'll do something. They better. Even if it's a platoon guy with Suwinski. I don't expect it to suddenly energize people, but if they just let it go ... that would be bad.

Just Curious: Jason, any idea what Chicago was willing to trade in return for Coach T.? Thanks.
Jason Mackey: Nope. And I don't think we'll ever know.

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John in SC: I see lots of talk about the Pens tearing done the roster and starting over. While I would hate to see it, that must also include Sidney Crosby. I say that because it would be an injustice to him to be involved in a rebuild. He deserves to have a final chance at another cup, which he almost assuredly would not get here. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey: Sid deserves the right to call his shot, in my opinion. I'm OK with whatever he wants. He's a top-five player all-time and also one of the kindest most genuine professional athletes ever. If he wants to stay -- and all indications are that he does -- then that's the end of the discussion for me. Now, everything else should be on the table, though Kyle Dubas is obviously hamstrung by NMCs.

Pittsburgh Steelers owner Arthur J. Rooney II looks on prior to the NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia.
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Dan N: I know you’re against trading young pitching but looking at the Red Sox and especially the Orioles need for it don’t you think they are an excellent matchup for the Pirates outfield positions…That way you don’t have to go into free agency looking every year ? Obviously depends on the young pitcher you’re giving up but they need to avoid the remaining free agent list..
Jason Mackey: It would take an awful lot of hitting to convince me to part with young pitching. For organizations like the Pirates, who aren't going to pay for that, I would protect it at all costs.

Terry Martin: Hey Jason, hope life is treating you well! Great coverage on our Bucs this off season… since Cherington has stated they will make additions… what are u hearing on a hitter and RF! Trade or FA signing? Beat’em Bucs
Jason Mackey: Not much, Terry. Wish I had more for ya. Make sure you're reading Noah Hiles and Andrew Destin, who have our day-to-day coverage of the team now. If they do something, I might chime in. But those guys are driving the bus.

Wayward: Jason, as always thanks for the chats. Setting aside what the Bucs could/should have done this offseason, do you see them adding at RF and/or another RP or are they done? Kind of feels like they are waiting to see if the price drops or interest picks up from any potential RF guys.
Jason Mackey: Popular topic. They need to add a RF platoon option, IMO. A right-handed bat. I'm OK if they're done with the bullpen. Actually don't hate those moves. Mayze was really good in '23 and from '21 to '23.

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Guest: Good morning Jason. Love hearing you on the radio in the evenings as well as your writing. You are a breath of fresh air. My question is about Nutting. How is he perceived by other owners in baseball. Do they see him as a competent owner or the bumbling buffoon we recognize him as in Pittsburgh
Jason Mackey: Thank you. I appreciate you saying that. I have enjoyed the growth and challenge. I would imagine they see Bob as ... limited. He's a nice guy. I don't think "bumbling buffoon" is how they would describe him. But I would imagine -- unless they have evidence that the public does not relative to the Pirates' books -- they think of him as frugal and probably not the right guy to own an MLB team. But like in a lot of these cases, the poor teams often serve a purpose as food for the rich ones.

Joel: Jason, in terms of the Pirates approach to the off season, either Cherington is some combination of risk averse and incompetent or Nutting has directed him to reduce payroll. Which is it?
Jason Mackey: I'm not sure. I'm not even sure what their "approach" has been, to be honest. Sit back and hope nobody notices? I don't get it. ... Well, I mean, I do. They're trying to Moneyball their way to wins. Finding what they believe are diamonds in the rough, trying to help them and win on the cheap. If it works, they're geniuses. If it doesn't, they're probably fired.

Richard: What changes to the rules or new rules would you like the NFL to enact next season? Thanks Jason.
Jason Mackey: Hmm ... I'd like to see some personal fouls and QB hits called the way they should, meaning it's not a flag if you cough on Mahomes or a few others. I also think the new kickoff rule is a waste of time. Either go back to what it used to be or save our time and start every possession at the 30.

Ginnie P.: Hi Jason! Have you heard any news about Pittsburgh getting a WNBA franchise? Thank you.
Jason Mackey: I have not, Ginnie. I know we were behind several others from a league perspective. The study that was done was also more about the viability and less about laying the groundwork for something to happen. I do think it would be awesome if it occurred. I just worry we're in line behind too many bigger markets.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce celebrate victory against the Buffalo Bills after the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo.(AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
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Mr Ed: It’s January 30 so still time for the Pirates to make a significant external move, but at this juncture do you think it is a fair assessment for me to think the Pirate’s off season strategy was “the players who were good last year will be good again, and those that weren’t will be better, and injured ones will fully recover”. It just seems Cherington is bound and determined to try and win with his analytical processes and internal development because I have to believe Nutting would be ok with more payroll than projected right now.
Jason Mackey: Yeah, I think that's mostly fair. We probably never should have expected "a significant external move" in the first place. But expecting more than they've done is certainly reasonable. Like I said, I do think they'll do something else. They need to. And it needs to restore some semblance of confidence here.

PrinceBob: Which nickname is blander, Guardians or Commanders? And how does Indianapolis get to keep being the Indians? I know as a minor league team they fly lower on the radar but we have high school teams here with nicknames like that who have been pressured to change. And Chiefs is okay but Redskins wasn't?
Jason Mackey: I don't understand it. This is probably a deeper and more nuanced discussion than I'm capable of having in the middle of a chat, Gunner. They're both pretty bland, but I'd prefer either over the Utah Hockey Team, I know that.

JamesWV: Hi Jason, Congratulations on your expanded roll with the PG as well as getting more and more air time on the Fan but you’re still my Pirates go to guy and I realize they aren’t going to make a move to excite the fan base but I also know they have to find out what exactly they have with Henry, Jack, Endy and Livior. Do you expect any marked improvement with any of them with a new hitting coach in place?
Jason Mackey: Thanks, James. I appreciate the kind words. I really enjoyed my time covering the Pirates. I appreciate you following my current work. ... I do think they can improve, yes. Their approach last season was not smart. I'm not saying it's all Andy Haines' fault. It's not. That sort of stuff came from above him. But I think those guys you mentioned could potentially be fairly impactful players in '25. If that happens, I think it will go a long way toward the Pirates jumping from 76 to 85=86 wins.

Nardini: Hey Jason, do you see the Pirates signing a SIGNFICANT free agent or making a SIGNIFICANT trade before opening day?
Jason Mackey: This word is coming out a lot. I don't know you're definition of SIGNIFICANT. Of others' definition of the word. Do I think they're going to make some sort of splash? No, I don't. But I do believe they will address OF/RF/offense in a larger way before Opening Day.

PrinceBob: Have you as a reporter ever wondered why you bother asking questions of athletes, coaches, executives, etc.? This came to mind when I was reading about the person at Piratefest who asked Travis Williams if the Pirates are really serious about winning. It's a question most of us wonder about but did anyone hearing or reading about it believe that this was when Williams would finally let it out of the bag and say what many of us suspect, i.e., "Nah. We're good with how things are as long as that $30 million or so rolls in each year?" I see so many non answers from coaches and execs that I think I'd often wonder what the point is if I were a reporter.
Jason Mackey: I don't think so. I think those in charge should be challenged and forced to answer questions they don't want to answer. It's part of holding them accountable, etc. This is also a larger discussion, but a lot of times those in charge take that question as a personal attack from the person sitting in the chair. It's not. They're in a position of power. A lot of people pay money, invest time and effort, etc., to follow what they do. It's part of the job. People should get an opportunity to question. When you speak to the media, you're not speaking to the people in the room, you're speaking to fans. So, no. I don't question that. It's my job. As long as my process is sound, I couldn't care less what anyone thinks of me. At the same time, those on the outside tend to transfer their anger toward the questioner if the answer stinks. I can't help that.

The Dude: While it is true that much of the recent Steeler failure in the playoffs has to do with a lack of a franchise quarterback, isn't it worth noting that some of those losses were to less than elite opponents taking the snaps - Blake Bortles, Joe Flacco, Baker Mayfield, Tim Tebow, and so on?
Jason Mackey: I'm not sure that part of recent Steelers history has been omitted, Jeffrey.

Billy V.: Mr, Mackey: From what I’ve heard, the baseball experts have said the Pirates have given up too much in their recent trades. Agree?
Jason Mackey: What recent trades are we talking about here? Horwitz? That's the only "real trade," and in that case, I agree. I've said as much a bunch.

PrinceBob: Kind of is a similar vein to my question about getting responses that don't really answer tough questions, well, kind of, when Mike Tomlin said that George Pickens needs to mature did anyone ask him what would happen if he did not mature?
Jason Mackey: No, no one did. Tomlin would not answer that, but in the vein of holding those in power accountable, you bring up a good point. But again, Tomlin would respond -- as he always does with this stuff -- that he's not going to air any of that publicly. So, we typically use our time on something else.

demosthenes98: How aware do you think the Pirates' players are of the results of the team's recent fan survey about their relationship with the franchise? What can be done to raise their awareness?
Jason Mackey: I'm pretty sure they know how fans feel about the Pirates right now. They want to disprove and change the narrative. Believe me, guys are also aware of what this place was like when the Pirates won or what type of story they became when stuff was good. I don't think they're going to retire because fans are complaining in a survey.

demosthenes98: I know that $300,000 is a lot of money to you and me, but the last time I checked, the Pirates are owned by a billionaire. Why do they insist on fighting their players over such relatively trivial amounts? What are they going to do when players inevitably start fighting back? And what's stopping MLB arbitrators from seeing through the charade and handing Pirates players wins until the team is sold?
Jason Mackey: I mean, you can be upset about the Pirates' cheapness. Go nuts. But they're hardly the only MLB team to quibble with a player over $300,000. They also won the case against Oviedo, FWIW. I'm not saying their spending habits are without reproach, but I'm pretty sure their reputation is already established among players.

Kendrick: Hi Jason, no question, just a comment that I was glad that Oviedo lost his arbitration hearing. I can’t believe he asked for a raise not having played last season.
Jason Mackey: It's based on service time. Oviedo worked his butt off trying to get right. I don't have an opinion either way. There's a process for a reason. Johan is allowed to ask for what he did. The pirates are allowed to see it the way they did. And someone breaks the tie. My only commentary on arb, honestly, is who gives a crap? I don't care what you make. Do you care what I make? Doesn't change anything. I think it's stupid that's it's talked about like it's the least bit relevant.

Kyser Sozay: Now that Queen and Wilson have been named to the Pro Bowl what-ever-it-is, isn’t it time to stick a fork in that whole endeavor?
Jason Mackey: I hope not. I was invited 45 minutes ago. If we stick a fork in it, I have to cancel my trip.

Sam: Hi Jason. Considering the “free” aspect of free agency, is there a world in which the Steelers get back neither Wilson nor Fields? Or does that world simply mean they are paying more than they planned on paying for one of them so as not to be shut out?
Jason Mackey: Sure. I think that's entirely possible. They have a lot of needs. They may not want to overpay. And those guys may look at the current FA class and say, "You know what? I'm gonna get to March 12 and see what's out there."

PrinceBob: It's pretty commonly agreed that winning big in the NFL requires a good quarterback. But when Denver won the Super Bowl Payton Manning was past the time when he was a really good quarterback. They won with defense and a running game. Is this still possible? There don't seem to be many ways the Steelers can get a really good quarterback but would it be realistic to focus on defense and their running game and finally get a playoff win or three with guys like Fields, Wilson, Whoever, etc.?
Jason Mackey: I think that's a valid point. Also, may be more realistic than you think. If they sign Fields, they have to surround him with "weapons" ... meaning a better running game, more wide receivers, make defensive improvements, etc. No matter what happens, I don't think the Steelers are going to be quarterback-based in '25.

Greg in Greenville: Jason, Hope you and your family are well. As you know the Pirates sent e-mails to some Pirate fans asking them different questions about the team and management. Do you think the Pirates actually care about the responses they received?
Jason Mackey: They might care about them. Do I see them changing their spending habits because fans probably ripped the heck out of them? No, I don't. Basically I don't think the results of the survey will lead to meaningful changes.

PrinceBob: Is Adam Frazier the right field addition everyone says the Pirates need? I liked him a lot when he was here before but honestly, a.202 batting average?
Jason Mackey: I sure hope not. Frazier should be the 26th man.

Joe Starkey: I am so weird
Jason Mackey: We all are, Joe. You have to be weird to do this job.

Aces High: It was said at Pirate fest to show some respect when the chants of sell the team were going on. Isn't respect earned and not given. What have this management team and ownership done with the blessing of drafting Mr. Skenes 1-1 to improve this lineup and compete??? When they won't add payroll to the lineup when you have the best player they've had since Bond's, I am not sure how a fan is supposed to hold out any remaining hope.
Jason Mackey: I wasn't there. I'm not reacting to something I didn't see. I also like Brownie and respect what he's doing there -- he's sticking up for his organization, his employer, in a heated moment. To your point, yeah, they need to win. Said this earlier, but they're making a huge bet here that they can win with this group. Objectively, Aces, they did. Some. They went 56-54 through 100 GP last year. They had a 10-game losing streak and played lousy fundamental baseball. But what if that was 5-5 with better fundamentals and maybe some situation hitting? What if they had won 83-84 games? Would you be as upset or would you say, "Hey, this is a pretty decent core here. They didn't make it all the way, but Skenes didn't come up until 5/11, Jones was hurt, etc."
Jason Mackey: I get why people are upset, believe me. That's fair. They should be. But my point is that it's still possible to win. What if they do?

Wayward: Jason, Noah and Andrew did/do a great job covering the Bucs, are you planning a trip to spring training? If so, what are you the things you are most interested in seeing?
Jason Mackey: I am planning a trip. As of now leaving around 3/8 or so. Later than I would like, but those guys will be in our condo from 2/8 onward. ... A lot. Skenes, obviously. Bubba Chandler against top competition. Development of Oneil Cruz. Is Ke'Bryan Hayes healthy? Can Jack Suwinski and Henry Davis figure it out?
Jason Mackey: I could go on. We have a lot of questions to get to.

Steel Addiction: Jason, thanks for the chats as always! Listening to AR2 speak about the current state of the Steelers should make anyone question what exactly he is watching. Speaking about the "mean" over the last decade...has the Steeler Way become lost?
Jason Mackey: Well, you may be crossing Art Rooney II with his brother. But to your second point, yeah, I worry that the Steeler Way has become lost. When does patience become a problem, right? If the NFL is operating within a bunch of trends and the Steelers are outside of them, pretty soon it's fair to wonder whether that is indeed a bad thing. It's also worrisome that they've really seemed to insulate themselves from this sort of stuff. Or so it seems.

Dallas: will Rich Rodriguez be able to elevate WVUs football program more than Neal Brown was able to?
Jason Mackey: I have my doubts. Name one college football reunion story that has gone well. I know they're out there, but it's not a super common thing. And believe me, I'd love it if he got WVU in the CFP or something like that. But the Mountaineers have a long way to go before we talk about them winning the Big 12.

Josh: Do you think Bubba Chandler makes the rotation out of camp or does he need more AAA experience?
Jason Mackey: As much as I want to see him become Jared Jones 2.0, I think he probably needs a little more experience.

Howard: Why do the Pirates have so many TV/radio analysts? Wouldn't it be better if they just had a set TV booth and a set radio booth? I hate never knowing who is doing any given series.
Jason Mackey: They've done a lot Brown on TV, Block on radio. They rotate that some, but I'd say it's probably 75%/25%. They rotate analysts for a couple reasons. Different perspectives and eras, for one. But also those guys' schedules and personal desires play a part.

Steel Addiction: As some point, the Penguins need to get younger and faster on the ice. I understand loyalty to guys like Crosby and Malkin, but if they want to win another cup in the next 10 years they really need a youth movement. Why not look at picking up some valuable draft picks while there is still value to be had?
Jason Mackey: I agree the Penguins need to get younger, but if you're talking about trading Crosby and Malkin, that's kind of impossible with their no-movement clauses.

Steel Addiction: Is Bob Nutting totally obtuse in sending out surveys to season ticket holders, or does he really just not care what the answers to those surveys are so it's more of a formality? Seems to me anyone that really wants to read those answers must be a masochist.
Jason Mackey: I don't know. I can't relay his thinking on the matter. I'm guessing it's an effort on the Pirates' part to better connect with fans. At the same time, they know what fans want out of them. And it's not entrance/exit ease at PNC Park or variety of concessions.

PhilinCT: As always Mr Mackey, thanks for the "above the line" work. A left handed reserve middle infielder that they actually sold high on a few years ago?? I have seen several rationalizations and in a vacuum I can accept that but what about addressing a real need? Do I dare hope that the two weeks before ST will bring something (anything) better?
Jason Mackey: Thank you for that. I don't know what you're talking about here. A left-handed middle infielder? I've touched on my feelings about what they'll do between now and ST. We need to move along.

Todd Gak: So the Pirates have a chance to win over this city with the Steelers & Pens issues. Let’s sign Adam Frazier and Tim Mayza.
Jason Mackey: I'll bet you a dinner that Adam Frazier was in Summer Catch.

Guest: Good morning Jason, do you believe the Pirates will ever actually sign a free agent to a multi-year deal? Since Cherington's hiring, they have only signed free agents to a single-year deal, clearly not the way to build a competitive team.
Jason Mackey: I do -- eventually. They haven't done so to this point because they haven't won. Have been over and over this. But if guys have other options -- and those earning multi-year offers do -- why would you choose to play here? Until the Pirates win, the song will remain the same. They also need to overpay, which doesn't happen when it comes to Cherington wanting to be ... let's say efficient with every dollar.

Josh: You should have seen the look on my father’s face when I told him the Pirates signed Adam Frazier. It was the same look he gave me when I told him I wanted to be a ventriloquist
Jason Mackey: So he was super pumped? That's great.

Justin: Let's just say the Penguins get a few good prospects via sell trades, see realistic progression in their current prospects, and tank their selves into a blue chip top 5 pick. Do you think the "organizational depth" will be close to what is necessary in order to try to win again, in earnest, next offseason? ie, sign good players instead of taking on high cap meh players to get draft picks.
Jason Mackey: They have some decent prospects now. And, yeah, they could wind up with a top-five pick. I could see that happening at this point. Does that coalesce as early as next season? I think it's possible, sure.

Mark C: Do you find it odd that the Pirates released this survey yesterday regarding the outside world's thoughts on the organization? I hate to sound rude, but I don't think they need a survey to figure out what the vast, vast majority of the fanbase and ticket buyers think of the franchise.......
Jason Mackey: Yes, I found it odd. For the reasons you mentioned.

Shelty: How short is my leash this year? If the team is muddling along at our usual .400 - ..450 winning percentage am I in trouble? Do I need an above .500 season to keep my gig?
Jason Mackey: I would say absolutely need more than a .500 season. I'm curious how long Shelty has. If they have a bad first month, does Bob act? A bad two months? I think it's probably more than the latter than the former.

Clown Show: How is it possible that this city somehow managed to have the 3 worst owners, 3 worst GMs and 3 worst Head Coaches/Managers in pro sports anywhere ? Impressive. Really
Jason Mackey: They should fire everyone and sell all three teams. Just pack it in. It's been a good run, everyone.

Guest: Please tell me Frazier was signed as depth and we are still after a starting RF. I'm not against bringing him in for depth, even on a major league deal but we have to be looking for someone better right??
Jason Mackey: Frazier is a lefty, so is Suwinski. They're redundant. Frazier was signed as a bench piece.

Guest: Last year the Pirates farm system was ranked 2nd, now it is ranked 20th (out of 30 teams). How is this possible when they have drafted in the top ten for almost a decade? In the five years Cherington has been in charge, the farm system has dropped in the rankings. In those five years, the team hasn’t finished above .500 once. So where is the “rebuild” he was brought in to manage? Where is the goal of being competitive consistently? It’s bad enough when the team won’t spend even moderately to improve through free agency, but when they also suck at player identification and development it shows just how poorly this franchise is run.
Jason Mackey: I don't know what rankings had the Pirates second last year, but to your point:
*They did bring up Skenes & Jones. That changes things.
*It hasn't been good enough. Hence why they swapped out their farm director (John Baker).
*I'm not overly moved by farm system rankings. Those same rankings had Eddy Yean, Hudson Head and Tucupita Marcano. If they're gospel, I'm OK skipping church.

Hopeless: The other night WPXI asked is there any hope for Pittsburgh sports. No there is not. Not now. Not ever. No Pittsburgh sports team pro or college will ever win a title, play for a title or even make the playoffs again. This city is the City of Losers not Champions
Jason Mackey: Like I said, it's been a good run. Fire everyone. Sell 'em. Just end it.

Guest: Does Spagnuolo have a soulution for Saquon?
Jason Mackey: I can't believe I'm typing this, but there might be some evidence with what the Steelers did. They handled Saquon fairly well.

Cullen: Is hockey the only sport left with competitive integrity? It seems like every other sport is moving towards having super teams that dominate, haves vs have nots, or being ((seemingly)) rigged for popular teams with superstars...money ruins everything good, man.
Jason Mackey: The optimism in here today is something. No, no sports have anything, Cullen. They all stink. Especially ours. I'm only going to watch racquetball from now on.

Spin o Rama: How do you think the Pirates are gonna spin the overwhelmingly negative reviews they will receive from their survey ? Does anyone believe any of this will make a difference ? This whole thing is a con. Winning isn't part of the con
Jason Mackey: I don't think they're going to react to the surveys. I wouldn't. I also wouldn't have sent them out in the first place. They had to know this sort of thing would happen.

A Fraz: Jason, does my huge acquisition mean that we will trade Peggy or one of our other numerous middlin middle infield options?
Jason Mackey: I don't think the Pirates would be against it. I don't know where Peguero would play (SS?) ... the same for maybe Triolo, Bae and a few others. Yeah, it could have a ripple-effect on trades, sure.

Guest: What would TJ fetch in a trade and do you think any team would trade for Cam?
Jason Mackey: The Steelers aren't trading either one. It's a waste of our time.

Holy Moly: Tried to plan my bucket list trip to go see some Spring Training games in Bradenton. Ridiculously expensive. How do they expect new or old fans to want to follow the sport when they charge these prices for practice games ?
Jason Mackey: I don't know ticket prices off-hand, but have you looked around and seen the prices of (checks notes) literally everything lately?

Eugene: Jason, this is increasingly feeling like my goodbye tour in this two-incline town. If so, it's been more than a great run, and my critics are still clueless. Your thoughts, if any?
Jason Mackey: You have a no-movement clause. You control your fate, Geno.

Coach T: Jason, we could get a guy/girl off the street to assist with my time management and replay inadequacies for around $120K, including decent bennies. Why will not Art pull the trigger?
Jason Mackey: Yeah, I'm sure the Steelers would get a few applicants if they put that one on the ol' website.

Ryan: Good afternoon Jason What do you think about the pirates bringing back Adam Frazier i think it was a good decision because he did good when was first with us
Jason Mackey: If he's the 26th man, I'm fine with it. But he should not be their primary option in RF, and I don't believe he will be. I like the leadership. He's a good dude and knows how it should look. I just don't need him playing 140 games.

Jokes on Us: The Steelers have become the laughingstock of the NFL.
Jason Mackey: I'm not so sure about that.

YA Tittle: Jason, Fields should be priorities making accurate short/in stride/dump-off/screen-type passes, and he may actually have a shot at being decent. Your thoughts, if any?
Jason Mackey: Justin Fields should rely on what makes him good -- running, arm strength, etc. Some of this stuff works, sure. There's plenty of tape out there on how to have success with QBs like Fields.

Stormin Mormons: How about the Utah Mackeys for the new Utah hockey team name ? Just a thought
Jason Mackey: Nah. Too boring.

Cullen: Can I call in to the fan as an out of state Pirates fan? I try to catch you when I can, just have to say you're doing great work!
Jason Mackey: Ha. Surely. I'll be back Friday night. Thanks so much for that. I've been enjoying it.

Olivia: Jason, am I the perfect person to stroll into Sunglass Bob's office and demand he reduce his EBITDA to around $60M and put a decent product behind my man?
Jason Mackey: I had to Google EBITDA, but sure, Livvy. If you do, please put that on social media. That interaction would be priceless. Come to think of it, any interaction you have with Bob Nutting, put that on there. Doesn't even have to be asking about payroll.

Drew: Jason, in hindsight, if I was truly a world beater, I would never have escaped the event horizon of THE Ohio State University?
Jason Mackey: I don't know what you're saying, but Drew Allar made a bad throw and lost in the College Football Playoff semifinals. I'm OK with that. He's coming back, and Penn State should be a legit top-5 team in the country next year. I don't need to get mad over that.

Saquon: Jason, I am on a mission, and I fully expect to be named the MVP of the upcoming contest. It's my world right now and Taylor and Travis are just living in it. Your thoughts, if any?
Jason Mackey: I think it's gonna be a good football game, with a lot of desire, intrigue, athletic ability and excitement. It'll be Super!

RS: Pens upcoming trade deadline, are you looking at getting back draft picks or players and would you be willing to take less of a return on a Rackell or Petterson deal if you can add a Jarry or Graves type contract to the trade?
Jason Mackey: I'd prefer players, younger players who are closer. I think they should be targeting 2025-26 as a soft return, 2026-27 as more reasonably competitive. It would depend on those guys. As with all of this stuff it depends on the real, not the theoretical. Hard to answer.

Justin: Do you think that the people who run the pirates think that this is all just going swimmingly going into year 6, and that any fan who disagrees is stupid?
Jason Mackey: No, I don't.

Justin: if you bring back Justin Fields, get a healthy good line in front of him, and manage to acquire a 2nd talented WR (FA or 1st rounder) to pair with Pickens, that things could work pretty well?
Jason Mackey: Yes, I do. A lesser version of that went 4-2. I know the opponents weren't as good. But the Steelers have money. If they get a real WR2, a legit backfield complement to Warren and a few more things, it might not stink.

Justin: No real question here. More just commentary you can feel free to agree or disagree with. The pirates spending $30 million less than what they should be spending is only a small slice of the pie here. The bigger slices of the pie are almost entirely whiffing on trading Musgrove, Marte, Taillon, and Bell, and not drafting an above average hitter since Austin Meadows in 2013 (which is a factual claim by the way, by career wRC+). Just TWO decent hitters via those trades or by draft would totally change the feel of this team, for 0 dollars added to payroll.
Jason Mackey: You're not wrong. These points have been made many times before. Spending is part of it, yes. But there's been too much failed drafts, lost trades, bad FA signings, lack of international talent, etc.

Eli: hi Jason, have you gotten a sense from any of the Pirates players that they’re a little bit upset by the lack of additions or even anything resembling a real plan to win, namely the pitchers/Reynolds?
Jason Mackey: Right or wrong, I think they think they can win with what they have. The might be right. They know they play for the Pirates. They'll never say this, but they didn't expect their employer to be crazy active this offseason. They know it's largely on them.

Jan: Hi Jason, I too, welcome your entry into the broadcast arena. I hope you will follow in the steps of the late Myron Cope and the late Stan Savran, who were professional when on the air as opposed to some local sports show hosts who lower themselves by talking about their bathroom habits and similar subjects. I don’t believe you can go wrong if you have access to the tapes of Myron and Stan and follow their example. Thank you.
Jason Mackey: Thanks, Jan. Stan has always been an idol of mine. Same with Guy Junker, who I just had on a podcast. I'm a huge Guy fan, especially for his approach. Thank you for listening. It has been a lot of fun. I try to be decent and genuine.

TVC15: I kind of knew that Drew Allar would continue to play small in big games against Notre Dame. Could next season finally see him take a giant leap forward to become the quarterback everyone thought he would be .... but hasn't so far?
Jason Mackey: I think so. I think there's a lot of talent there. I believe in Drew Allar. He hasn't played his best in big games, that's fair. But I like the idea of him coming back, and I'll get he gets his before he leaves PSU.

Greg in Steubenville: Hi Jason, I have to agree with what Kendrick said about Oviedo. It’s not about the money, but the principle. For example, I would not ask for a raise if I was unable to do my job. I’m hoping Oviedo can be a big factor for the upcoming season.
Jason Mackey: It's not his fault he couldn't do it. His arm broke. Then he worked super hard to come back stronger and committed his whole year to doing everything within his power to improve. The entire arbitration system is based on service time, not MLB games played. I fail to see the issue here.

TVC15: Was the whole Bears asking about Tomlin thing just made up? Maybe by Rooney? I have to think the Bears would a million times rather have Ben Johnson. I know I would.
Jason Mackey: I don't think it was made up. That's a heck of a thing to concoct.

Gene: Who is the starter at catcher and who will be #2 ?
Jason Mackey: Starter is easy: Joey Bart. #2 probably will be figured out in spring. I could see a competition between Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez.

Vinnie: Hey Jason, saw a photo of LeBron James visiting Duquesne’s hoop team and was wondering if you know how former coach Keith Dambrot is doing if you know.
Jason Mackey: I don't. I'm sorry. I talked to Keith a couple times but obviously don't know him well enough to give you an answer like that.

TVC15: To paraphrase Hall of Fame pitcher Jim Palmer talking about his manager Earl Weaver .... is the only thing Mike Tomlin knows about offense is that he can't stop it?
Jason Mackey: Who needs Mike Tomlin to know about offense? He should know enough to trust his OC. I also don't like him dictating style of play, although I realize that's his right. If I'm managing that, I'm telling my OC, "I want points. How you get there, I couldn't care less."

Commissioner: Penguins, Pirates and Steelers, all in serious disarray with seemingly no recognition of their failures and incompetence, and no forward thinking to fix it. Tell me why I should be more positive about their futures. Thank you
Jason Mackey: You shouldn't. We're firing everyone and selling the teams. Everything stinks.

Bob@7Springs: How many more seasons, including the upcoming one, do the Pirates have control of Skenes? We lost one due to him being Rookie of the Year. Did we lose one also because of when we brought him up last year?
Jason Mackey: They have him for four more seasons after 2025. You get six. Last year was one. This year will be two.

Drunk uncle: I miss Abby’s articles . Is she still work for pg
Jason Mackey: She is not. She's working at home, running our family.

Scary: Given the horrible events that occurred last night and all the traveling you do do you ever get nervous about flying ? Has there ever been any scary incident that happened when you traveled with the team or covering a game ?
Jason Mackey: I don't. And I don't plan to. But we will be praying for all of those affected. Just awful.
Jason Mackey: OK, folks. That does it for this week. Thanks so much for joining me. Again, mailbag next week. If you have a question, shoot me a note at jmackey@post-gazette.com.

First Published: January 30, 2025, 3:22 p.m.

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