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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.06.23
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Jason Mackey
11:47
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my Pirates chat. I've missed these and wanted to change things up from the mailbag. We'll get started in about 15 minutes but feel free to fire away now. Thanks!
Wayward
11:58
Jason, As always thank you for the chats.  What do the Pirates see in Vilade that they have kept him on the 40 man all winter?  To me they have let go some potential useful arms to keep him.
Jason Mackey
12:01
Hi Wayward. Of course. ... Interesting on Vilade. Could be positional versatility -- we know they love that. Could be getting on base. They also love that, and he was at .345 at Triple-A last season. Could also be that they liked some of those arms less. I'll believe they really like him when we get to ST and he -- if -- he's getting meaningful reps.
Jason
12:01
Most teams have what they consider an Ace pitcher. Who is the Pirates Ace and if they don’t have one why don’t they? I think Cole was the last pitcher you could label as an ace but they haven’t seemed to address it in years. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:03
I think this can often be an overused term. Do teams need to have a Capital-A Ace? I don't think so. They need to have a deeper rotation, which the Pirates have not had. These Aces also tend to cost money, which the Pirates haven't spent much of lately. I think Mitch or Roansy could be those types. Wouldn't be surprised if an Ace emerges. Same time, I think those guys are becoming a really rare breed, as teams shift more toward numbers and avoiding third time through.
Wayward
12:03
Which storyline(s)/player(s) during Spring Training intrigue you the most?
Jason Mackey
12:05
Just a few quick hitters ... Potential Reynolds trade (don't think it'll happen) ... Cutch's return, obvs. ... New and improved Hayes with more power? ... What does Hedges add? ... Are Hill/Velasquez any good? ... What does Cruz do for his first wire-to-wire season? ... The second-base job. ... Evaluating Derek Shelton with a better team. ... Figuring out if the bullpen can actually be good. I could go on.
Cullen B
12:05
Who is this year's breakout candidate?
Jason Mackey
12:05
Good question, Cullen. I'm going with Colin Holderman. I think he's going to be really good.
Rich In Indio
12:05
Any news on the B Reynolds front.  I see a crowded outfield and if they don't move him the young guys will be stuck behind him.  I didn't want him to go but now the positions seem fixed.
Jason Mackey
12:06
None. I don't expect them to move him until the deadline, if the deadline.
Cullen B
12:06
Have you heard anything from the front office about a Cruz extension?
Jason Mackey
12:06
Have not. But that doesn't mean there haven't been conversations. With this group, highly doubtful they would share anything there.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:06
Hi Jason! Thanks for the chats! With the offseason moves, I see a team that may get up to 70 wins max. Are we to believe that this will be a trend into contention in a few years or is this just another "acquire a few vets" to dump at the trade deadline AGAIN!?
Jason Mackey
12:08
Hi Sunner. Greetings from your former land. I think we need to let it play out. If you made me pick one, I would say the win total > 70, and this winds up looking like progress toward the end goal. I see this being a teaser of a year, when they flirt with everyone, but ultimately can't sustain it because there will be traded, plus the youngsters aren't used to doing it over 162.
Jay Daven
12:08
Jason, is it realistic to think the Pirates can win 80 games this year?  Also, what area are they most improved from last year?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:09
I don't think so. I think that's high. Unless you're asking me about the East Carolina tennis team, in which case I don't know. ... I think first base/offense is the area in which I expect and think there will be the most improvement. I like what they did there for the most part.
CoalportKid
12:09
Pirates made a lot of moves and are expected to be better.  What about the rest of the NL central?
Jason Mackey
12:10
It's not very good, one. If you made me pick a winner right, I'd go Cardinals. But I think the Brewers will be close. Still not sure what the Cubs are doing. I also don't see them eclipsing STL or MIL.
Guest
12:10
Do you think the Pirates would have signed Conner Joe if they believed that they would sign McCutchen? Seems like there is no place in the outfield for prospects at this point...
Jason Mackey
12:10
No, I don't think they would have made that move. Cutch's return -- the right move, IMO -- impacts Joe more than anyone else. Feels superfluous now.
J$Money
12:10
Are you aware of any ongoing discussions on a potential Bryan Reynolds trade? Looking into your crystal ball, what do you predict happens with Reynolds?
Jason Mackey
12:10
Not aware of anything substantive. My expectation at this point is that the earliest would be the trade deadline.
Uncle Floyd
12:11
Do you feel the Pirates have a chance to battle for 2nd or 3rd place in the division rather than fighting to stay out of the cellar?  Do you feel veteran leadership help in in this regard?
Jason Mackey
12:11
The vets should help them play better ball and improve clubhouse morale, no doubt. Enough to jump to second place? Have a tough time seeing that. Shoot, if they finished fourth, I think that would be fine. Third would be great. Second is a little much for me.
Dave
12:11
Injuries play an important role in development.  Who in Spring Training needs to show he is truly healthy?
Jason Mackey
12:13
Plenty of guys, Dave. ... Since you said "development," assuming you mean young guys: Davis No. 1. Gonzo, too. Would like to see something from Swaggerty, who has been plenty hurt. ... MLB-wise, I wanna see Yerry and Holderman are 100% again. Rich Hill isn't young. Ke'Bryan Hayes has been banged up. Think that's the bulk of it.
Marc
12:13
Hey Jason, I'm not trying to knock the team too much, but Piratefest used to be a great weekend of baseball down at the Convention Center (I even remember it at the Expomart) with many of the current players in attendance. I enjoyed the event for season ticket holders last week, but there were only 3 current players and there really wasn't much to do. Why has this event diminished so much? Thanks, I enjoy your coverage.
Jason Mackey
12:15
You can knock 'em. They're wrong for not having PirateFest or the CARE-a-van. Those were cool events, and I don't understand why they're disappeared. I can't give you a reason, either. Hope to learn more when we get to talk to team president Travis Williams.
Tom W.
12:17
Chances Marcano, Bae or Swaggerty make the opening day roster?
Jason Mackey
12:18
Hi Tom. I like the chances of Bae making it. Don't see any path for Swaggerty, unfortunately. I would go with Reynolds, Cutch, Suwinski and Joe in the outfield, with Bae getting some time. I'm 50/50 on Marcano, if he hits. Could see him earning a bench spot. I like his defense. Could depend on injuries, Castro and if he hits.
Captain Obvious
12:18
Why should the fanbase believe the narrative that the spending behavior will change next season and beyond? I'm not sure why anyone would expect or believe that to happen when year after year under this ownership, the team never signs meaningful Free Agents. After the 2015 season, coming off of a 98 win season the front office did nothing to supplement that roster. That pretty much shattered any hope I personally had of meaningful spending changes by this organization. Thanks for the chat!
Jason Mackey
12:20
I understand the frustration. I get it every single day. At the same time, this did happen. A look at their payroll surrounding the last three playoff teams: 2010: $39 million
2011: $42 million
2012: $51.9 million
2013: $66.8 million
2014: $71.9 million
2015: $90 million
2016: $100 million
12:21
That ... shows an increase. So what is preventing that from happening again? Do I hope they grow it beyond $100 million? Absolutely. Do I have doubts they're going to spend $100-$120 million consistently? Yeah, sure, some. But questioning it increasing ... why? It has increased. Fairly recently, too.
Lucille
12:21
Jason, any consideration being given to expanding your musical horizons beyond the standard blues progression, or are you sticking with three chords and the truth until the end of days (or next Thursday, whichever comes first)? Gracias.
Jason Mackey
12:22
Ha. My musical horizons are fairly expanded, Lucille. Can you be a little more specific?
Mike
12:22
Other than running spring training, what does Don Kelly do as a bench coach? Will he also be involved with infield defense again this season?
Jason Mackey
12:23
Not a ton. That's why they promoted Mendy Lopez. There's a lot of direct communication with players on roles, usage, things they're working on, etc. Kelly is an important liaison between analytics and video folks, learning more about the Pirates and what they're doing well/poorly, in addition to the same stuff for their opponents. Don Kelly never stops moving, I know that. He's constantly going somewhere, doing something and talking to people.
PG MNGT
12:24
Jason, we appreciate your jack of all trades flexibility, but if you had your druthers, would you rather: a) pen a standard, mundane newspaper article, b) respond to self-selected, softball mailbag questions, c) apply some make-up and do one of those Chris Carter video things, or d) chat with irritating yinzers who think they have all the answers? Danke.
Jason Mackey
12:26
Maybe, based on the tone here, I should e) get a new job? ... A standard, mundane newspaper article? Self-selected, softball mailbag questions? I don't know. Maybe I suck, but I view my job as being a combo of all this stuff. I should be able to write, break news, tell stories and analyze. I should be able to have chats and do mailbags ... speak on video or via radio appearances/podcasts ... and be available and accountable to readers via email. I try. I'm not perfect. But my mistakes are never from lack of effort.
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