The Shawn Mackey Show

  There’s something refreshing about being able to sit down with somebody who roots for your biggest rival and actually have an intelligent conversation about baseball. That’s exactly what happened on Season 3 Episode 7 of The Shawn Mackey Show when Soup joined me again to break down the National League Central, the Chicago Cubs, the St. Louis Cardinals, and where this MLB season could be heading. As a lifelong Cubs fan, I’ll admit it — I’m frustrated. Even with the Cubs sitting near the top of the division, I still don’t fully trust this team. Last season is burned into my memory. The Cubs held the division lead deep into the summer before completely collapsing late in the year. That’s why I’m not getting overly excited yet, even during winning streaks. One of the biggest topics we discussed was Craig Counsell and some of the questionable managerial decisions being made during games. I truly believe the Cubs are winning in spite of certain moves, not because of them. Whether it’s...

  I’m not even going to sugarcoat it—it’s been a minute. Life happened. And not in a small way either. What was supposed to be a routine setup to record turned into me accidentally cutting my own internet line while clearing out a patch of grass in the backyard. Yeah… you can’t make that up. That little mistake cost me an entire week of recording, and just when things got fixed, real life stepped in again. But honestly? I wouldn’t trade that time. I got to help my daughter with her film project—acting in it, editing it, being part of something creative with her. That’s the kind of stuff that matters. Now we’re back—and there’s a LOT to talk about. The Cubs: First Place… But I’ve Got Questions Let’s start with the obvious—the Cubs are sitting in first place. You love to see it. I’ll give credit where it’s due. Some people called this early, and right now, it looks like they were onto something. But I’m not fully sold on how we’re getting there. Injuries are stacking up, espec...

  I’m not going to lie—this episode of The Shawn Mackey Show might ruffle some feathers. But honestly? That’s what makes baseball great. In Season 3, Episode 5, I sat down with Robert “Soup” Campbell, and we did something every baseball fan loves… we made bold predictions for the National League. And yeah, we didn’t exactly play it safe. We talked MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year—but more importantly, we talked REAL baseball. Not just stats. Not just analytics. The eye test. The feel of the game. The stuff you only understand if you’ve lived it. I’ll be the first to admit—I even went a little “homer” with one of my picks. But if you’re not passionate about your team, what’s the point? We broke down players like seasoned fans, debated modern baseball versus old-school fundamentals, and called out what we think is wrong with today’s game. Too much analytics. Not enough instinct. And I stand by that. One of the biggest things we hit on? Baseball isn’t just numbers on a screen. It...

I’ll be honest—there’s nothing better than talking baseball with someone who truly understands the game. In Season 3, Episode 4 of The Shawn Mackey Show , I brought on my first guest of the season, Robert “Soup” Campbell, and we dove deep into everything from old-school baseball fundamentals to the modern-day obsession with launch angles. Robert and I go way back, and when it comes to sports—especially baseball—we’re like brothers from another mother. This episode felt natural, authentic, and exactly what I want this show to be about: real conversations, real knowledge, and real passion for the game. We started by breaking down Robert’s journey—from being a Division II ballplayer to getting a shot with the Reds. That alone tells you the guy knows what he’s talking about. But what really stood out to me was how aligned we are when it comes to philosophy. Fundamentals. That’s the word that kept coming up over and over again. In today’s MLB, it feels like fundamentals are becoming a...

 This week on The Shawn Mackey Show , I found myself diving headfirst into uncertainty—and honestly, that’s the theme right now for both the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. Let’s start with the Cubs, because the biggest concern right now is Seiya Suzuki. After his injury in the World Baseball Classic, we’re stuck in a frustrating “wait and see” situation. There hasn’t been imaging yet, and that alone is enough to make any fan uneasy. Knee injuries are tricky, and even something as simple as a bruise can linger longer than expected. At this point, Opening Day availability is a real question mark. And that leads to a bigger issue—depth in the outfield. If Suzuki misses time, now we’re looking at guys like Dylan Carlson, Michael Conforto, and even Matt Shaw potentially stepping into larger roles. That changes everything. What once felt like competition now feels like necessity. Speaking of the World Baseball Classic, I’ve got mixed feelings. It’s incredible to watch the best pl...

  Season three of The Shawn Mackey Show is officially underway, and I’ve got to be honest with you—I dropped the ball a little bit on the premiere episode. I had created new graphics, updated visuals, and planned some cool features for the show. But when it came time to edit the episode, the image file wasn’t sized correctly, and everything got cut off. That meant I had to rebuild the graphic from scratch. When you run a podcast solo like I do, with a full-time job on top of it, stuff like that happens. I don’t have a production crew or a fancy studio. It’s just me doing the editing, producing, recording, and promoting. But the truth is, I love doing it. I love sitting down each week, sharing my opinions, and talking sports with you. And eventually, I hope more of you jump into the conversation. Spring Training: Hope or Cause for Concern? Spring training in Major League Baseball is always tricky to evaluate. The games don’t count, lineups are constantly rotating, and you see ...