SPORTS CHAT

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights from Paul Zeise’s Thursday sports chat, which you can join weekly at post-gazette.com. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity:

thomastown: All the talk about playing the various sports without fans will serve the wealthy owners and players. My concern is with the stadium workers who still will be left behind. Has there been any discussion that the owners and players collaborate on contributing to a fund to help out these folks?

Zeise: I think some already have done that and also some of the players have stepped up to try to help those people out. Unfortunately they are going to be the most hurt out of all of this because I don’t see fans any time soon.

Buzzard Bill: The MLB owners couldn’t be more tone deaf regarding the split with players. Do they not understand that after this year is over they will eventually need to negotiate future contracts with the players union? If no baseball is played this year, expect a significant reduction in attendance next year as more people just give up on the sport.

Zeise: Baseball will be played this year but under less than ideal circumstances because I don’t see a deal getting done, I really don’t. The owners will force the 48-game season on the players, some will opt not to play but you are right — the next time the CBA is up it will be an absolute war as the players won’t soon forget this.

Bizzee Bee: After all of these years, how is it possible that the [Pirates] never drafted and/or developed a bunch of left-handed power hitters to take advantage of the short porch at PNC [Park]?

Zeise: Well, there was Pedro [Alvarez] ... and you are right. One of the things PNC Park affords the Pirates is the ability to build a team of lefthanded pitchers and left-handed hitters and they have done neither.

Southside Jimmy: I thought Larry Fitzgerald’s essay in The New York Times was excellent and thought-provoking. I applaud him and the evergrowing number of athletes and public figures who are trying make this world better. I think we as humans need to treat and see each other as humans. Racism and bigotry is not limited to one group of people, but exists among

all us, black, white, brown, yellow and red. Life is not easy. We can make it easier for everyone if we respect ourselves and treat each other with that respect.

Zeise: It isn’t hard — treat people with the same respect you want treated with.

Tyler: I liked the selection of Nick Gonzales by the Pirates. With some seeing Tucker and Newman as the shortstop and second baseman of the future, do you think Gonzales and Cruz may be shifted to play outfield?

Zeise: I don’t think so. If you read the scouting report on Gonzalez he isn’t a good defender and doesn’t have a great arm. I think if anything Tucker could move to the outfield because he has the skill set to be an excellent defensive outfielder.

Federico: What’s your gut feeling on Lamar Jackson ? Would he be a star for years or teams will figure him out and be a middle of the road type of guy?

Zeise: He is extremely talented and really a guy who seems to get better and better. I would not underestimate how good he is and how good he has a chance to be. He looks to me like he is going to be a star for a long time to come.

Donna: With the apparent waning interest in baseball by our young people, do you see baseball reducing the number of draft rounds? If the trend continues, I can’t see MLB having 40round drafts.

Zeise: The other thing is the shrinking minor leagues. I mean they are talking about cutting out about 60 minor league teams. That’s a lot less spots for players to land, so yes, I think they will cut the draft.

Mahan: It’s still early for [Mason] Rudolph we know, however, for what you have seen in both (and circumstances) would you rather have Rudolph or Josh Rosen backing up Ben if we could get him for cheap?

Zeise: Rudolph. He knows the offense and I have seen nothing from Rosen that makes me thinks he is an upgrade. Also, it doesn’t sound like Rosen is a good team chemistry guy, either.

Thomas W.: I understand the [PostGazette] has Heath Miller narrowly beating out Louis Lipps as the best [Steelers player] ever to wear No. 83. Do you happen to know what those two are doing now? I enjoyed watching them play.

Zeise: Lipps is still local and I know he dabbles in media and I’ve seen him at some golf outings and stuff. I’m not sure what Heeeaaaathh is up to.