The Shawn Mackey Show

  There are some topics that keep me up at night as a sports fan, and right now nothing is bigger than the possibility of a Major League Baseball lockout after this season. The more I've researched what both the owners and the players are asking for, the more convinced I am that this battle is far from over. In my last episode, I broke down what the owners want. This time, I wanted to look at things from the players' perspective because understanding both sides is the only way to see where this could eventually end up. The players are pushing for higher minimum salaries, earlier access to free agency, increased luxury tax thresholds, and penalties for ownership groups that refuse to invest in their teams. From where I sit, I actually understand many of their arguments. Professional athletes have a limited window to maximize their careers, and I don't blame them for wanting to earn as much as they possibly can while they have the opportunity. At the same time, I can't he...

  This week on The Shawn Mackey Show , Robert "Soup" Campbell and I tackled one of the biggest stories facing baseball today—and honestly, it has me more concerned than ever about the future of the game. The more I researched Major League Baseball's labor situation, the more convinced I became that the owners have nobody to blame but themselves. For decades they handed out massive contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and now they're acting surprised that the system isn't sustainable. We looked back at how Kevin Brown became baseball's first $100 million player before the floodgates opened. Since then, more than 150 players have crossed that milestone, and today we're seeing contracts that would have seemed impossible just twenty years ago. The biggest problem isn't necessarily paying superstars. Elite talent deserves elite money. The real issue is that average players are now receiving superstar contracts, leaving teams locked into deals th...

  As a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, I never thought I'd reach the point where I would seriously question my commitment to this team. I've been following the Cubs for 53 years, through the highs, the lows, the heartbreaks, and the unforgettable 2016 World Series championship. But after watching this team stumble through another frustrating season, I find myself asking a difficult question: Where do the Cubs go from here? The Cubs entered June needing to prove they could recover from a brutal 10-game losing streak. While they've shown flashes of life offensively and have managed a respectable month so far, the inconsistency remains impossible to ignore. One night they score 16 runs and look unstoppable. The next night they blow a 5-0 lead and lose a game they should have won comfortably. The biggest issue isn't just one player, one manager, or one bad stretch of baseball. It's an organizational problem that starts on the field and extends all the way to ownership. Craig...

  As a lifelong baseball fan, I've seen plenty of ups and downs, but what's happening with the Chicago Cubs right now is becoming increasingly difficult to watch. In this episode of The Shawn Mackey Show , I break down the Cubs' recent struggles following what looked like one of the most promising starts in baseball. After sitting at 27-12 on May 8th, the Cubs have gone into a tailspin, posting a shocking 5-17 record since then. The latest frustration came in a painful 2-1 loss to the Athletics. With runners on base in the ninth inning and the heart of the lineup due up, the Cubs once again failed to execute in a clutch situation. It's becoming a recurring theme that has many fans, myself included, asking serious questions about the team's approach. I discuss why I believe the Cubs are struggling with situational baseball, why I would have played for the tie in the ninth inning, and why manufacturing runs has become a lost art in today's game. Sometimes a bunt, ...

  As a lifelong Cubs fan and host of The Shawn Mackey Show , I’ve got to be honest — this latest Chicago Cubs collapse has me absolutely frustrated beyond belief. Watching this team drop eight straight games after TWO separate 10-game winning streaks feels like déjà vu all over again. One minute we’re talking playoffs, the next minute the offense disappears, the pitching implodes, and the coaching decisions leave me scratching my head. ⚾😡 In this episode, I break down everything that’s gone wrong with the Cubs, from Craig Counsell’s questionable lineup decisions to Jed Hoyer’s inability to truly fix the roster. I talk about why I believe this roster still has the same core issues it’s had for years and why fans are finally reaching their breaking point. The Cubs aren’t just “slumping” anymore — this feels deeper than that. I also dive into Pete Crow-Armstrong’s usage, the bullpen struggles, Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson’s disappointing performances, and why I think some major orga...

  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 that goes all the way back to 2024 . I truly believe the Cubs are winning in spite of certain move...