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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 02.19.20
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Jason Mackey
12:07
Alright, folks. I'm sitting in the dugout watching Chad Kuhl throw live BP at Pirate City. I can think of no better way to kick off this week's Pirates chat. Let's do this.
Dennis
12:07
Has any thought been given to moving Bell back to RF and Osuna to first if Polanco falters this season?
Bob from Mt. Lebanon
12:08
Bob Nutting spoke to the team this week. It mY recollection he usually follows that with a media session. D Did he do that this year? Did he do that this year? In not, why not?
Jason Mackey
12:08
No, they're not going to move Bell to right field. He's staying at first base. I think they have a few different routes they can go if Polanco struggles, but it won't include Bell.
Because Nutting has spoken a lot this offseason, they're pushing it to March. Makes no difference to us, honestly, as long as we get him.
Jeff
12:08
Good morning.  Are the Bucs interested in signing any more available free agents, or are they done and this is the team for 2020?
Jason Mackey
12:09
I wouldn't say it's a hard no, but I would describe the chances of them doing that as unlikely.
Markr
12:09
Do the Pirates view Swaggerty as starting CenterfIelder or more of a 4th outfielder? If they dont see him as the future. Is there anybody in the system who could be the future?
Jason Mackey
12:15
I think it's too early to tell, honestly. ... And early from the standpoint of what he's shown. I think all parties can probably agree we should have seen more out of Swaggerty to this point. But let's say this new regime gets more out of him. He could be a center fielder, absolutely; he just has to show more than he's shown.
Markr
12:15
Would it be crazy to trade Oneil Cruz now? He would probably bring back a nice return to help in more places
Jason Mackey
12:16
For an organization that wants to stockpile young talent? Yeah, it would be crazy. Sorry, not trying to be rude. But I would absolutely not trade someone with that much upside.
NorCal Buc
12:16
I'm excited for this season.  I look at our 2018 seson, before the injuries and rotten clubhouse of '19, and I see a good core group led by Williams, Archer and Musgrave, Bell, Reynolds and Polanco, plus a solid bullpen.  Hoe's this for optimism!
Jason Mackey
12:17
There ya go. Hey, it's not my to tell you either way. If you wanna feel bad about the Pirates, go nuts. But there is a noticeably different vibe down here, and I think we need to take into account how bad things go last season.
Yark
12:17
Has the GM mentioned or seem inclined to look at extensions for any of the current players? Kela reynolds musgrove taillion maybe archer and bell? Others?
Jason Mackey
12:19
Based on the stuff he's done thus far -- admittedly not a ton -- I feel like those are down-the-road concerns. Not saying they won't happen, but I think they need to see how things shake out first, with a variety of things.
David
12:19
Looking down the road a bit, but in the wake of the Astros cheating scandal, will that roster be blackballed from the Hall of Fame by voters much in the way that the confirmed or presumed steroid users are currently?
Jason Mackey
12:20
That's an interesting question. I think it depends on what else comes out. Were other teams cheating? Did those guys have Hall of Fame careers? But I would have to imagine that that sort of thing will stick with those guys, provided the scope of the cheating doesn't change. Will probably be tough to shake, too.
Coach15
12:20
Am I crazy, but after watching Buccos from the past & the way they construct their roster, is there any reason I should SERIOUSLY think they can pull off more than 70 wins?
Jason Mackey
12:21
I think you can expect more than 70 wins, yeah. The Pirates in the past were woefully behind preparing pitchers and integrating analytics into their pitching program. That much has changed drastically. Things got really bad last year in terms of clubhouse culture and the manager losing the team. Derek Shelton has the exact opposite happening right now. Injuries also wiped out any major league players during the final month, thus making last season even worse. Expecting .500 ball this season isn't nuts, in my opinion.
Jim
12:21
I admire you writers who somehow put a positive spin on this trainwreck! When Nutting throws his scraps out you guys vacuum them up. Irealize its your job but how do you do it?
Jason Mackey
12:22
Thank you for equating what I spend an inordinate amount of my life doing to vacuuming scraps. I'm also sure that my wife and kids -- who lose me for about six of eight weeks during this current stretch -- appreciate it, too.
12:23
I'm trying to be fair, Jim. Trying to get people the benefit of the doubt. I don't understand making up your mind that something will stink before it even happens.
Bob
12:23
Are Spanky and Bill Virdon in spring training?
Jason Mackey
12:23
I have not yet seen them.
Jimmie
12:23
I have lost my enthusiasm for the Pirates after the Dickerson salary dump last season.  Are there any mitigating circumstances in the Dickerson trade?
Jason Mackey
12:23
What do you mean by mitigating circumstances?
Mark
12:24
Hi Jason.  A previous heralded PG sportswriter once said that a new pitching coach will help one guy, hurt one guy, and have minimal affect on the rest.  If that's true, then we're looking at another 5.00 staff ERA.  They traded their most dynamic offensive player (for peanuts) from an already anemic offense.  So are the Buccos looking at the wrong end of a 5-2 run differential this season?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:25
I'm not going to base my assessment of the Pirates' new pitching plan on "a previous heralded PG sportswriter," whatever that means. My guess is that pitcher did not cover much in this era, where we're talking about Rapsodo, Trackman, etc. There's a lot to know now. And the Pirates didn't do as much with it as they should, which I've had numerous people who would absolutely know tell me.
Jeff
12:25
Previously at Pirate city the music would be cranked up during workouts. Fans could not hear ball hitting bat or smacking into glove. Has new managrment stopped this practice and turned the music off?
Jason Mackey
12:26
They still play music, but I think it's a little lower. I happen to like it, honestly.
Too Tall
12:26
Thanks for all the great stuff you’ve been sharing with us from Bradenton, Jason. Love your writing.
Jason Mackey
12:26
Thanks, Too Tall. Appreciate the positivity.
Zack OWU
12:26
Jason what are some of the PNC Park changes that you think fans can expect to see? You mentioned in your article about concessions, entry and exit, merchandise, etc. What do you think we will see changed? Any ideas?
Jason Mackey
12:26
I'm not quite sure, to be honest with you. I was curious as well, and Travis did not want to go into much detail. We'll have to wait and see.
Too Tall
12:26
So Colin Moran Has been working on his defense. That’s good. I hope someone points out to him that standing upright and flatfooted at third base as the pitch is delivered is not the best way to make sure you have the range to get shots at the hot corner. I watched him last year and it drove me nuts. Have you ever observed this? Once the games start down there i would be interested to know what you observe about how he readies himself pre-pitch.
Jason Mackey
12:28
I will absolutely be watching Colin Moran's defense. And, yeah, I know what you're talking about: His footwork needs work. We talked about that last week. He knows it. He needs to get better, too, if he's going to fend off Ke'Bryan Hayes.
ALB
12:28
Do you believe Cole Tucker will be on the major league roster when the season starts?
Jason Mackey
12:28
As of now, no. It looks like he's being cast with the minor league guys. Could change, obviously, but if you're going to ask me now, I'm saying he's in Indy.
Curious fan
12:28
How involved was Coonelly, really, in the team's baseball operations? I assumed he just handled the business side of things, but the reports on Travis Williams make it sound like Coonelly was much more involved than I thought
Jason Mackey
12:29
He was extremely involved. Some would probably say too involved. He absolutely had input into baseball decisions. I think that was one of the things that hurt the former group, honestly. Nothing against Frank personally, but I think that job is hard to do if you have your hand in that many piles.
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