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The Shawn Mackey Show: Back in the Game, Breaking It All Down

 

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, especially in the pitching staff, and the decision-making from the dugout has me scratching my head.

I was critical of David Ross before, and now I’m seeing some of the same questionable patterns with Craig Counsell. Pitching management, bullpen usage, timing—it all feels… off. There’s a mental side to baseball that doesn’t get talked about enough, and I think some of these moves are putting guys in positions to fail instead of succeed.

Take the situation with Javier Assad. You move him around, throw him into tough spots, leave him in too long—and then don’t use him again? That’s not just strategy. That’s messing with a player’s rhythm.

Lineup Decisions & Missed Opportunities

Then there’s the lineup.

I get trying to shake things up. I get rewarding players who are hot. But sometimes you can overthink it. You move a guy up in the order, change expectations, increase pressure—and suddenly the results fall off a cliff.

We saw it recently. A guy hitting nearly .400 gets moved up… and then goes ice cold.

Coincidence? Maybe. But I don’t think so.

Baseball is just as mental as it is physical. You can’t ignore that.

My Picks: Still Standing (For Now)

Coming into the season, I made some bold calls—MVP, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young. And so far? I’m still in the fight.

There are guys producing, guys trending upward, and guys proving they belong. But it’s a long season, and things can change quickly. That’s what makes baseball great—and frustrating at the same time.

And then there’s Shohei… doing Shohei things. At this point, it almost feels unfair. Like teams are playing against an extra roster spot. We’ve never really seen anything like it.

Ian Happ & The Clutch Conversation

I’m just going to say it—I’ve never fully bought in.

Yes, he’s talented. Yes, he’s accomplished. But when it comes to clutch situations, I need more. Way too often, I see missed opportunities—strikeouts in big moments, especially looking.

And that’s the part that drives me crazy.

If you’re going to go down, go down swinging. Don’t leave it in the umpire’s hands, especially in today’s game.

I’ll give credit when it’s due—he’s had moments. But I need consistency in those moments. Not just flashes.

Chicago Bears: What Was That Draft?

Switching gears to the Bears—and honestly, I’m still trying to figure it out.

There were pieces I liked. The early picks make sense. But after that? It feels like they got a little too experimental.

I understand building for the future, especially on the offensive line. But there are positions you don’t gamble with—and I think left tackle is one of them.

Then you add in some of the later picks, and it starts to feel like a “let’s see what happens” approach.

Maybe it works. Maybe it doesn’t.

Right now, I’ve got more questions than answers.

Looking Ahead

This was just a check-in episode, but there’s a lot coming.

Next time, we’re diving fully into National League predictions—breaking down each division, top to bottom. And of course, getting ready for that Cubs-Cardinals matchup.

Soup will be back, and we’ll get into it the way we always do—real, unfiltered, and straight to the point.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, this episode felt like getting back in rhythm.

Life threw some curveballs, but we’re stepping back into the box. And there’s a full season ahead—plenty of time to get it right, call it out, and enjoy the ride.

I’ll catch you when I catch you.

– Shawn

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