You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.03.21
powered byJotCast
Jason Mackey
11:38
Hi, everyone, and welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to ask your questions now. I'll be back at noon to answer them. If you ask which free agents the Pirates are interested in, reminder No. 55,782: If that information was attainable, meaning they were actually interested in anyone or willing to share their desires with anyone, it would be out there. I would not wait until asked in a chat to reveal it. Thanks.
12:02
And away we go ...
greg
12:02
Jason.Hi. What can fans look for regarding improvement for this season as a stepping stone for coming seasons? By the way enjoy your columns and like the insights.
Jason Mackey
12:05
Hi Greg, thank you for the kind words. A couple things. And this is a question that tends to trigger a long response. But I would look for the Pirates, at the major league level, to field better and play a better fundamental brand of baseball. I'd look for Reynolds and Newman to look more like they did in 2019. I'd look for the pitching staff to take a step forward led by Keller, Kuhl, Brault and Brubaker, as of now. I'd also have patience. It won't be great. A lot of following the Pirates this year should be following the progress made their prospects at all levels of the minor leagues. Do what I'm doing: Embrace it, have fun with it, try to learn something. It's different, especially for someone who formerly covered Stanley Cup runs. But I know I still find it entertaining, seeing how it all could possibly come together.
booradley
12:05
Even if Nutting magically opened his wallet to sign a a top free agent, would anyone actually come here?
Jason Mackey
12:06
Not if they had a better offer, no. Or even the same offer. It also makes no sense for the current situation of the team. Why spend money when they're not build to contend? Save it for when they are.
PrinceBob
12:06
When we got into talking about guys like Clemens, Bonds, and the Hall of Fame, I hope I didn't come off as saying I hoped you never got to vote. I respect your opinions. You did say something about steroids technically being legal in MLB then and I know you're right. But I am also pretty sure that it was illegal to possess steroids without a doctor's prescription and Bonds got his from BALCO. Anyway, if you get your vote you'll need to decide whether you'll vote as Jason or Brian.
Jason Mackey
12:07
That last part is going to be the hardest. Hopefully I'll have it figured out by then. I didn't take anything personally, Gunner. It's all good. It's an interesting debate, for sure, although Bonds and others will be long off the ballot before I get to vote.
PrinceBob
12:07
That said, here's this week's topic which comes from the Cardinals trading for Arenado. The Cardinals play in the 19th largest metro area in the US with Pittsburgh in 20th with about 280,000 fewer people. Is there anything in baseball's economics that allows St. Louis to have Arenado, Goldschmidt, Wainwright, Flaherty, etc. when Pittsburgh could not? I know attendance is much higher there but it would be much higher for the Pirates if they had players of that caliber.
Jason Mackey
12:10
It's not as simple as the size of the metro area. The economics of baseball -- and there's no way I'm going to fully cover that sort of thing here -- are also predicated on TV contracts. Off the top of my head, I would have to imagine the Cardinals have a better and more lucrative one than the Pirates. That said, I don't present any of that to absolve the owner. Whether Nutting can't or won't spend more doesn't matter to me. If you own a team, you're assuming that responsibility. Now, I like what they're doing with Cherington and the rebuild. I think it's needed. But if Bob won't spend something on the other side, he should be run out of town. I just think they deserve a chance to show that this can be done.
But, yeah, to your point, if Ron Burkle or Mark Cuban owned the Pirates, they could absolutely start spending on those types of players, and they probably would.
Ralph
12:11
Hi Jason. Thanks for the chats. If MLB decides there will be a DH in the NL, do you think the Buccos will just use Polonco or sign a veteran hitter or has shown an ability to perform
Jason Mackey
12:13
Hi Ralph, I think it depends on a couple things. And sorry, but I don't think this has a definitive answer. I think they'll sign at least one veteran guy who can play the outfield. That guy also may have experience at first, which could be a plus. Does he siphon some starts from Polanco? Very possibly. Could spell Moran, too. I think the thing with the DH spot they need to be wary of is having guys who are used to that routine. If Polanco produces when he plays the field but struggles to hit when he's just a DH, then I'd play him in right and try to get value there. If it's the other way around, then maybe I DH him and play the position-flexible veteran out there. I'm sorry it's kind of a complicated response.
billmaloni@aol.com
12:13
Old habits. Just reading names of all first timers and second year players in Buccos camp creates hope.
Jason Mackey
12:14
I understand why people would be down on the Pirates for now. I don't understand why anyone would dismiss their chances of being good again in 2023 or 2024. And don't give me the typical Nutting crap. His spending habits have essentially nothing to do with whether these prospects pan out.
monicamo
12:14
good afternoon brian (wink wink) - in your last chat you mentioned the Big Bird's son Elijah Green as the possible first overall pick in the 2022 mlb draft. thanks for the info. some people are describing him as Junior-lite and after seeing some highlights i think it is so important to get him. i'm beyond excited about the possibility of Rocker and Green !!!
Jason Mackey
12:16
As you should be. Which is why I don't necessarily understand the clamoring for signing free agents or caring whatsoever about now. Seriously, the most important thing the Pirates can possibly do here is draft well. Do that, make smart trades, hit on a couple international signings ... things will be markedly different in a couple years.
billmaloni@aol.com
12:16
Now if some of them can hit or pitch........
Jason Mackey
12:16
I don't hear many concerns about whether Nick Gonzales or Quinn Priester can do that. I want to see them against actual competition, too. But the reviews so far are very good.
billmaloni@aol.com
12:16
Please predict which, if any, of the first year invitees to camp will hit or pitch well?
Jason Mackey
12:19
My favorites are those two. Also curious to watch Liover Peguero and see if Travis Swaggerty can earn a job. He thinks he can, for whatever that's worth. A sleeper for me, strange as it might sound, is Clay Holmes. He has the stuff. If he stays healthy and they up his curveball usage, he could be really good.
Jeff
12:19
Thanks for the chats Jason.  Saw RC column and have to agree, baseball is heading for trouble.  Do you think they work things out with new CBA or are we headed for strike/lockout?
Jason Mackey
12:20
My pleasure, Jeff. I agree with pretty much everything Ron said there. Those two parties can agree on almost nothing, and I would not be shocked if there's no season in 2022. I also think it might be the best thing for the sport long-term. All of this is going to come to a head at some point. My hope is that the result is a salary cap. I think baseball needs one.
Jack Doyle
12:20
No question, just a thank you for a nice article on Grant Jackson. Obituaries are no fun to write, but at least you had a good man to write about.
Jason Mackey
12:21
Thanks, Jack. I appreciate that. I disagree with your characterization of obituaries, though. You're telling someone's story. The Jackson piece wasn't necessarily that, but writing those things, that jobs, means a lot to people.
Jeff
12:22
Thanks for all you do and for putting up with the "how can you possibly cover this team" crap.  Pirate fans are angry and justified but in a world where anyone can find anything to be angry about anything (2020) why add this to the list?  Whereas I havent gone to games in recent years I am going to take a different approach this year.  Go to some games, enjoy the ambiance, good food and maybe see a superstar in the making.  Suggest others do the same!
Jason Mackey
12:24
Hi Jeff. Thanks for that. I don't get frustrated -- OK, sometimes I do -- but I just feel a need to explain the whole beat-reporters-aren't-fans dynamic to people. Also, I asked for this. I think people forget that. I'm also having a great time covering some unique moves and a really interesting time period. If this works out, it will truly be a career-defining thing for me -- starting at the beginning and writing about this stuff all the way through.
12:25
Again, I'm not excusing the Pirates' mistakes. They've made a lot of them. Nutting should spend more -- when it's appropriate. They should also spend on the right stuff. But I'm far from miserable given the Pirates' competitive state. There's more than enough to write about that people seemingly want to read.
Danny
12:25
Can you share any info you may have about Foltynewicz? His velo was way down in 2020, but seemed to add a couple ticks back in his showcase.
Jason Mackey
12:26
I've heard he was healthy. I also don't think anyone knows why the velo was down. I think players would like to see him given a chance. I also don't think pitching is all about velocity. I would be looking at the crispness of stuff, the command, the feel he has for what he's doing.
Justin
12:26
Do you think it is in the team's best interest to lose as many games as possible this year, or to take some shots on reclamation projects to maybe deal later?   Not to mention, there has to be value in making the team marginally more interesting/watchable, beyond any trades of those reclamations.
Jason Mackey
12:28
The ideal Pirates season, in my mind, would look like this: Sign some veteran free agents who make the team watchable and interesting for a couple months. Give some hope. Play better baseball. Flirt with being relevant or at least .500. Then sell those guys off and suck out loud the rest of the way, solidifying a high draft pick and ultimately getting that pick right. How's that sound?
Wayward Eer
12:28
Who of the non-roster, or newly acquired, guys do you think have a chance at making the roster?
Jason Mackey
12:29
Legit chance? Maybe Difo if they trade Frazier. Maybe Holmes or Marvel, because they've been up before. Potentially Swaggerty, too, although that's a pretty big jump. Obviously Gonzales, Priester, Peguero, Martin and others are the most exciting, but they don't strike me as major league ready at this point. Just don't think it's the best thing for them.
Tarzan
12:29
I think the Pirates should trade Cruz and Priester for Archer. And maybe through in  Gonzales. What do you think?
Jason Mackey
12:30
What an unbelievably bad trade that was. I'm just sitting here shaking my head. And you're right, that's about the equivalent.
Donna
12:30
Hi Jason. I was somewhat surprised that Jose Osuna was let go.  I thought he provided some power and he played a number of positions.  I think he would have been better if Shelton had given him more playing time.  Your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:31
Hi Donna. For whatever reason -- and I'm not totally sure why -- things never clicked with Osuna under Shelton. The manager didn't use him much, and Osuna didn't perform when called upon. I do think you have to earn what you get, and Osuna didn't earn much. Phil Evans was better. Why Osuna experienced such a dropoff, I don't know.
Justin R.
12:31
Does the impact of Covid harm teams like the Pirates, who due to financial constraints must rely on maximizing development (including games against good competition), more than other teams?
Jason Mackey
12:32
Hey Justin. I think that will be learned more over time, but I don't disagree with the premise. Ben Cherington has said that, that they probably need more development than other teams. No doubt the minor-league season hurt everyone. I just don't know how at this point to rank it.
Load More Messages
Connecting…