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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.13.20
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Jason Mackey
1:34
Hi folks. Greetings from Pirate City, where we're awaiting the arrival of Jarrod Dyson. We're gonna chat at 2, roughly, unless Mr. Dyson shows up. Ask your questions now, and I promise to answer them as soon as I'm able.
Jacque Strap
1:58
Re: your article on Colin Moran -- can you envision a future scenario where the next pitch is electronically communicated via earpiece to the players in the field? Approved by the league of course. Was thinking about this when Moran talked about getting a good first step. Knowing the pitch type and (intended) location could possibly help.
Jason Mackey
1:59
I don't see a scenario like that where it involves the entire team. Maybe the pitcher and the catcher, but I don't see how everyone would wear earpieces. That said, if there's a shift on, Moran may see what's coming. He should also know situations and tendencies for certain hitters, which is what he was discussing with me.
Rick
1:59
Interesting article this week about Pirate pitchers struggling to effectively use tech like Rapsodo.  Was that a sign of on field baseball ops behind curve, analytics unable to make complex data translatable?  Is better using pitch data an "easy win" from last year?
Jason Mackey
2:00
Thanks, Rick. I think it's a lot of things. I think it's on the players for not insisting they understand more. I think it's on the coaching staff for not making sure they understood. There are a lot of things. But they did lack when it came to preparedness ... which is something I would absolutely chalk up to an "easy win," something they can improve upon while spending very little money.
Just Wondering
2:00
Since MLB has implemented the luxury tax for high spending teams, shouldn't they be able to set up a similar system for low spending teams?  Spend X amount on payroll or be "taxed" to a certain level?
Jason Mackey
2:01
That's an interesting idea. Better yet: Just institute a salary cap and floor. Baseball, in my opinion, has a major financial problem. The Yankees are on one end of the issue and teams like the Pirates are on the other. And fans suffer.
Rick
2:01
was surprised to see Tahnaj Thomas crack Fangraph top 100 prospects.  Do Pirates see him as a potential starter or relief pitcher.  He'S intriguing but hasnt really been on the Prospect radar
Jason Mackey
2:02
I've heard nothing to indicate they plan on shifting him into a relief role, but I also can't say I've talked to anyone directly about him/that.
Dan
2:02
Hey Jason Im a big fan of Adam Frazier...I also believe he is the next trade to happen enabling Newman to move to second and Tucker to shorts...Thoughts ? I know Oakland was interested and it seems they DO have some catching prospects ! AND dont forget to get out to the Sand Bar restau on Anna Maria...
Jason Mackey
2:03
Thank you, Dan. Will check that out. I don't disagree with you. I like Frazier a lot. But if the Pirates are trying to stockpile young talent, which they are, then this makes a ton of sense. Someone wants your guy. You're actually decently insulated with middle infielders. Why not turn him into something down the road?
Woj from W Mifflin
2:03
Hi Jason thanks for chatting.  I want to know how Nutting decides what his desired net income is for the Pirates each year. I wouldn’t expect specific numbers but does he start with a desired bottom line and then back into payroll and other expenses given his expected top line revenue? Or does he use some other economic metric like ROI over a multi year period? What is the approach? I’d love to read an article from you with him explaining how he thinks about it.
Jason Mackey
2:04
I really doubt -- although I would love it -- that Bob Nutting is going to sit down with me or anyone and talk about how he plans to make money off the Pirates every year. He might talk about baseball or what he thinks about their direction, but to sit there and expect him to divulge some sort of business strategy, I'm not going to hold my breath.
Woj from W Mifflin
2:18
Jason, why didn’t you write last August about the Pirates clubhouse being “a morgue” as you said on the podcast last week and how bad things were as you referenced in last weeks chat? Not naming names but obviously with the few things that were public we could tell there were issues but why didn’t you share more last year? Professional courtesy or not wanting to get banned from the clubhouse?
Jason Mackey
2:19
I believe we did write about things being bad, no? I seem to remember writing plenty of their struggles and what went wrong. We wrote about the fights. We wrote about Vazquez. We wrote and talked about the bad vibe. I'm not sure what we didn't touch on that you think we should have.
Rick
2:19
Musgrove has been with two teams - Pirates and Astros. Was he suggesting, based on his experience, that the Pirates also engage in dark arts? That was a weird comment. Would it be fair to ask him if he gained a systematic advantage as a pitcher with ill gotten rum support as a 2017 Astro?
Jason Mackey
2:21
I think what Joe was saying was that major league teams have long been suspicious of this sort of thing, with the Astros and with other teams as well. Part of it might be paranoia, but I think part may be legit, too; until this past season, this stuff wasn't super policed, when it obviously should have been. I don't think Joe is accusing or implicating the entire league as much as he is saying, yeah, people probably did take some liberties in 207-18.
2017*
Rick
2:21
Pegeuro also cracked FG 2020 top 100 prospects (98).  May not be Wander Franco but looks like part of a really solid return.  Lots to like with his toolset for age
Jason Mackey
2:21
Thanks for pointing that out, Rick.
Wayward
2:21
Bucs done or do you see them keeping an eye out for bounce back pitcher is a starter/bull pen guy.
Jason Mackey
2:22
Ben Cherington today said there's nothing imminent. I believe that. This is probably it.
Rick
2:22
Would anyone care about payroll if the Pirates consistently made good baseball moves that werent overtly cost driven?  The Rays don't spend much annd they consistently load up with young talent and cutting edge everything.  They have a generational talent in Wander Franco who cost 3m iI int signing $.  Pirates last IS hit was Polanco nearly a decade ago
Jason Mackey
2:23
To be fair, the Rays -- I actually read this same criticism this morning -- have let a few get away, too, because they don't spend a ton. However, they've been better at identifying and developing young players so there's always a next wave. I can be OK with the Pirates eventually losing guys because they're a small market team. I'm not OK with how poorly they've backfilled those spots.
Rick
2:23
Tomzak mentioned no restrictions on Santana, Kuhl, and Burdi .  Seems overly optimistic for 3 pitchers coming off major arm injuries.  What was your take?
Jason Mackey
2:24
They've had long rehab processes. I'm also not a doctor. But people have come back from TJ before. At some point they're gonna throw with no restrictions.
Rick
2:37
Hope springs eternal in Bradenton.  Any disconnect between positive vibes of new faces vs doom and gloom of danbase and national media for Pirates prosects?
Jason Mackey
2:38
I'm not sure what you're asking Rick, but I don't think many of those assembled here care about the outside perception. Nor should they. What good would that do them?
steve
2:38
What is your sense of how long management will lean on Gregory Polanco before they make a change in right field. For the most part he has been major disappointment and not sure how much upside he really has left.
Jason Mackey
2:39
He's under contract, so they're definitely going to try and get something out of him. Also, what can you do at this point? It's not like they can say, "Ah, he stinks, and he's always hurt. Let's now trade him for Mike Trout." If he can't stay healthy or he stinks when he does play, they'll give Jason Martin or Jared Oliva a chance. Until then, they're going to give him a chance to prove that he can bounce back.
Woj from W Mifflin
2:39
My point is that the language I have heard/seen you use recently about how bad things were Last year goes well beyond anything I read last year.  Just sayin’.  But nuff said on it.  I appreciate your perspective and the reporting you are doing.
Jason Mackey
2:40
No problem. And I'm not perfect. I'm sure I/we could have hit that storyline harder than we did. But we wrote about their struggles and issues. I also think it's the sort of thing -- was probably like this for them, too -- where it sinks in with a little time just how unbelievably bad that vibe actually was.
Woj from W Mifflin
2:40
Any Lonnie Chisenhall sightings?  🤣  Seriously I have not seen him sign elsewhere or announce retirement.  Did I miss it?
Jason Mackey
2:40
No sighting of Lonnie, sorry. I have to imagine he's gonna retire.
Rick
2:40
sometimes veteran presence is overated but last year's team seemed to have a bit of a maturity problem. Dyson seems likeva good addition
Jason Mackey
2:41
He's certainly honest, I'll give him that.
Rick
2:50
Who's the first to be in the best shape of their life?
Jason Mackey
2:50
Definitely not me, I can tell you that. Ha. Haven't heard that one yet, honestly.
Markr
2:50
Is it true that the Pirates are going to sign Shalin Polanco for 2.5 million? If it is true I love this approach of going after the top international players.
Jason Mackey
2:51
I've heard they're interesting in signing Polanco and that's likely what it would take. We're talking about a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic. Making any firm predictions here is, at best, an extremely wobbly proposition. But yes, they are very much interested in him.
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