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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.05.20
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Jason Mackey
12:31
You're not. I agree with you. And if that's impossible, to fall $29 million below the league average, what the heck are we doing here? Again, this number is skewed because of the teams at the top. But wanting your favorite team to spend more than $50 million on payroll is not an unfair ask.
Hi
12:31
BDog--Nutting's liquid cash means nothing. The owner isn't writing checks for the business out of his personal checkbook. It's the cash generated by the business in question, not the owners personal net worth.
Jason Mackey
12:32
You bring up a good point. It's not as simple as Nutting just writing a check. Also, you can win without spending like the Yankees. It has been done before. But their current payroll is very low.
Morty
12:32
Funny how last year's big Pirates prediction in a national publication was Josh Bell being a bust.  Why does anyone put stock in this USA Today crap?   Pirates lack impact players, but they have a young and improving core and had some bad luck last  year with injuries.  I could easily see a repeat performance of 70 wins +/- a few.  Nothing to get excited about but not doomsday scenario
Jason Mackey
12:33
I couldn't care less about the USA Today prediction. But given this is my beat, and my life, I'm happy people want to talk about baseball. I just think you need to take these things with a grain of salt. I also think much of the negativity will dissipate if the Pirates can be even remotely respectable in 2020.
Morty
12:33
Is the FO prioritizing defense this offseason?  Seems like the additions profile with weak offense but decent defense/speed?  If that'
Jason Mackey
12:34
They have behind the plate, anyway, bringing in a couple guys who handle pitchers well. Heredia is also a decent bench guy, honestly. They could do worse. Much of their defensive improvement also must come from within. The Pirates were awful in this department last season. It's on Shelton and Co. to improve big time.
Morty
12:35
sorry hit send too soon -- is FO considering D improvement in roster/lineup?  Seems like Newman and Moran would be impacted.  Bell may be exception
Jason Mackey
12:35
I think I got this one earlier. If not, lemme know.
BDog
12:35
Jason has anyone in the media including you asked Nutting why he cut payroll after the 2015 team won 98 games and 3 straight years of record attendance? I still 4 years later do not understand why he did this and why he was unwilling to add another piece or 2 to get us to the world series. Can you ask him that during spring training? And also please ask him why he didn't use the $50 million BAM money on payroll. Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:36
I can't speak for what was done before; I only got on the beat in May 2019. I would have to imagine so, yes. Although there have been different topics broached with Bob during our time with him this offseason.
But yes, will be happy to address this with him in spring training. I think you bring up a very good point.
Hi
12:40
One of the biggest misconceptions...payroll did not go down after 2015.
Jason Mackey
12:41
Believe 2016, technically, went down like a couple million bucks, but then 2017 was above 2015. Regardless, I get what the reader was saying: Nutting didn't properly build upon that 2015 club. And it also wasn't just Bob. Huntington didn't do a good enough job continuing to keep the window open because his moves left a lot to be desired.
JimM
12:41
Are the Pirates still looking at CF Fas? Trades?
Jason Mackey
12:41
Both, I would say. Cherington said he hopes to have someone by the first full squad workout.
Cappy
12:41
Any word on why Wehner wasn't promoted to Blass' position this year. I'm  being serious this rotation nonsense sounds awful. Wehner is 1 of the few that will actually criticize the team during the broadcasts so I'm thinking maybe that played a part in it.
Jason Mackey
12:42
Not a ton I can share publicly, other than it has nothing to do with the quality of Wehner's work. I think it had more to do with the schedule than anything. I agree with you, though: I think Rock does a really, really good job.
Morty
12:43
Can we hold out hope for some infusion of  higher end DR/Latin America talent.  Guys like Acuna were acquired for a few hundred K.  Pirates haven't hit on any comparable international signings since Polanco.
Jason Mackey
12:43
Yes, you can. And should. It's a part of baseball that the Pirates, as a small-market team, simply need to do well. And they've been bad at it lately. They need to discover more talent in the DR or wherever, then actually develop that talent through their system.
Hi
12:44
Sorry, it didn't go up a ton, but it absolutely did not go down. It's not hard information to find, but that particular narrative is constantly pushed. Basically, you can't say the Pirates didn't spend after 2015; they didn't spend well.
Jason Mackey
12:45
Not doing the back-and-forth crap here. If you wanna look at the Pirates' yearly payrolls, go here and draw your own conclusions. I said my piece on it: http://www.stevetheump.com/Payrolls.htm#2015_payroll
Tank
12:45
More annoying repetitive commercial, the Liberty Mutual Doug and Emu stupid commercial or the Discover Card commercials that have seemingly run for 3 years straight now.
Jason Mackey
12:46
I'd say the Discover Card ones. But it's close.
SalemPirate
12:46
Any thoughts on who might be the CF Ben is seeking?
Jason Mackey
12:47
Have not heard a ton on Pillar. That was surprising. Hamilton would make some sense, too. Could look to bat him leadoff, maybe move Reynolds or Newman to the No. 3 spot, the other at No. 2.
Morty
12:47
Another question for Nutting -- are you concerned that the perception of unwillingness to spend on talent has impacted the front office's ability to extract maximum return value in trade because trade partners assume financial motivation?
Jason Mackey
12:48
Will write it down, Morty, thank you. Although I, ugh, would not exactly expect him to say yes to this one.
Mark
12:48
Hi Jason.  I'm guessing that Cherington came here because he got bored working for a big spending owner.  He wanted a new challenge and wants to be like Billy Beane and put together a competitive team on a shoe string budget.  What do you think?
Jason Mackey
12:49
I don't know if "got bored" is the right way to put it, but I do think he likes this stuff. I talked to him for 30 minutes this morning, and you can tell he's passionate about it. That, combined with the opportunity that would exist here for someone to produce a sustained winner, I can see why someone like Cherington would give Pittsburgh a shot.
BDog
12:49
You know Jason you gotta wonder if  a guy like Polanco would have become a superstar if he was in a different organization that developed better. He was a 5 tool player and he imo has been a huge disappointment. And there are others too who imo never reached their potential and I think they might have in a different organization. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:50
I think Polanco needs to stay healthy. I'm not going to put that on the Pirates. That's not development. That's the dude being able to stay on the field. I can't even tell you if they screwed up his development or not because he really has never been consistently healthy.
SalemPirate
12:50
Any info on the new tv deal forthcoming? Should it be made public?
Jason Mackey
12:51
I think it should be made public, absolutely. However, I wouldn't hold your breath. There's a better chance of Bob Nutting giving you his home address than the club announcing those details. They will be speculated on, sure, but hard confirmation? No way.
Morty
12:51
after 2015 they "spent" on bargains like Niese (costed fan fave Walker) and end of line reclamations like Vogelsong and Jaso when they needed SP and a 1st baseman
Jason Mackey
12:52
Not wrong ... but there's a lot that has happened between 2015 and now. Many more mistakes made if we're really going to analyze it.
Morty
12:52
Baz is a better example of poor development pipeline than Polanco.  He was still very young and it seemed like they wrote him off early.
Jason Mackey
12:52
Baz, Meadows and Glasnow. If the Pirates had developed those guys appropriately, there's no way they trade them. There would be no reason for them to trade them.
Tammy
12:52
Hi Jason I think you do a good job. Do you think the home opener sells out? My boyfriend and all of his friends think it won't because the fans are fed up. I agree with that. Thank you.
Jason Mackey
12:52
Hi Tammy,
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