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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 03.25.22
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Jason Mackey
10:46
Hello, everyone, and welcome to my Pirates chat. Have some extra time, so I thought I'd do one of these randomly. We'll get started at 11.
11:00
OK, let's do this. Deviating from the Grateful Dead today with a little blues on the playlist. (Currently Ten Years After) ...
Guest
11:00
Why keep Newman when the Pirates have so many infield prospects? This team is a lock on 100 losses, why not play these prospects?
Jason Mackey
11:01
It's a curious decision, for sure. I will say, Newman offers stability and a strong defensive option. Now, would I rather see Oneil Cruz? Of course. But to explain their thinking, I think they think Newman can be something of a veteran guy, someone who at least defends well and may still have untapped offensive potential.
Wayward
11:01
Sorry, when do you think we will see some more assignments?  Anyone surprising you as it relates to making the team?
Jason Mackey
11:02
Couple days maybe. This whole spring is weird with that stuff. The moves so far haven't surprised. Gotta get those guys innings to get ready for the minor league season, and there's plenty to sort out with the MLB club while also getting those guys ready. I think Eickhoff could have a chance. Would Allen qualify as a surprise? He's been really good and seems intent of making it. Not gonna say Cruz is a surprise, but man, has he been fun.
Jerry Wertz
11:02
Jason, how will the Buccos determine the ultimate defensive position for Oneil? Will they allow him to take his lumps at the major league level to make the decision, knowing that wins and losses aren't the primary goal this season? Or will they conduct the experiment at AAA? What is your prediction on the ultimate fit?
Jason Mackey
11:04
I think it's nuanced, Jerry. Here are the factors I would consider: Is Newman doing anything offensively? How is Cruz's confidence? What are the issues? Consistency or technical issues that might require coaching over reps? Is he hitting? Is he playing the outfield? ... Again, there's a bunch of consider when you talk about something like that. I think if he's hitting well enough and it might truly be a case where he's just not gonna be as consistent as might want with the glove, you live with that. But I also don't think it's that simple.
Soggy
11:05
Hi Jason, for some reason the news that the Pirates are taking Reynolds to arbitration has really bummed me out & completely soured me on any hope that the Pirates will turn into a competitive small market team.  It's a never ending building for the future.  Unfortunately, the future never arrives.  Can you provide some glimmers of hope that the Pirates (Nutting)  won't  disappoint us again?
Jason Mackey
11:06
This is a tough one and one I've fielded a lot lately. Let me preface it by saying that I don't agree with their thinking here. The PR hit you take alone isn't enough for me to justify haggling over this. Secondarily, why risk alienating your best player? I don't think Reynold would be that way. He's a stand-up guy and a good person. But would you blame him for not wanting to sign here, even if they did offer a legitimate extension, because he doesn't really trust people? I wouldn't.
11:07
Now, you asked about hope. I still maintain that the Pirates are doing the small market thing really well. Drafting, development, international, whole deal. That's important. I think they are showing us who they are and want to be, though. Find prospects. Grow them. And you're only going to spend so much. When guys get out of that limit, unfortunately, they're going to be traded. It will matter less if they're able to win, but this ticks people off -- and justifiably so -- because of how bad they've been lately.
Jeff
11:07
I know the most recent CBA was agreed upon and we're back to work (without addressing the economic disparity that still exists).  I may have missed this in the articles I read, but when will this current CBA expire?  I just wondered how long the Pirates and other small market teams will be at a disadvantage.  Have a good day.
Jason Mackey
11:08
Yeah, the new CBA stinks for small-market teams and competitive balance throughout MLB. It expires in five years. Wish it expired tomorrow.
Paul
11:08
With the DH and short spring resulting in more pitchers needed, the bench might be small. Do you have a feel for how many/who the bench players will be?
Jason Mackey
11:10
Assuming they go to 28 -- not sure if that's official official yet -- I would expect them to carry at least 14 pitchers. Would be starting nine, plus five on the bench. Depending on composition, I could maybe see a four-bench bench (Cole Tucker and Hoy Park, for instance, could play multiple spots), but I do think pitchers will be prioritized. I think you're gonna see a lot of starts that last four innings, then maybe backed up by two or three innings out of a couple long men in the bullpen.
Justin
11:10
obviously it's just a few spring games, but do you get the sense that the Pirates think that Greg Allen has a little bit more in the bat than what he's shown in the majors so far?  A few real pretty swings so far.  Can we pencil him in as the opening day LF?  Is it just him vs Alford for that spot?
Jason Mackey
11:11
He's certainly in the mix, and, yeah, there's a very good chance he could play there. Again, still a ways to go, but Allen has looked better than Alford and does seem to offer them a variety of things -- solid defense, speed, some sneaky pop, etc. If this continues, he absolutely makes the team. Start or not? We'll see.
Justin
11:11
Do you think that a lot of the theme of this season will be giving guys one final shot, and moving on?  Looking at the lineup yesterday I saw Newman Tucker Alford and Allen as guys who need to show something relatively quickly this season, and have other guys in AAA breathing down their neck.
Jason Mackey
11:13
That should be the theme of every season, no? But I get what you're saying, and some of that is accurate. Tucker, for sure. Allen is being given an opportunity. If he does something with it, cool. If not, they didn't lose much. I think they're going to cycle through people until they find productive players. I think you'll see them give chances to guys on the 40-man for business reasons, then, yeah, they're gonna have some prospects earning a shot. That's just sort of the natural evolution of this thing.
Justin
11:13
obviously we can pencil in Keller and Quintana to start the season.  Thompson probably has an inside edge.  Who gets the final spots in the rotation?  Do they give Peters and Bryse a shot to show something (or to not show something)?
Jason Mackey
11:15
I would expect Brubaker to be in the mix. Possible Crowe, too. He has looked solid. Wanna see more from Wilson. I think at this point I would look at something like this: Quintana, Keller, Bru, Crowe, Peters and Thompson ... Wilson in the bullpen. I think Wilson could be fairly fungible if he pitches better or maybe they use Thompson or Crowe there; I don't think either would be terrible options. I'm curious on Peters. He's looked really good at times since the Pirates got him.
Justin
11:15
Just looking at Jamie Ritchie's fangraphs page, he seems to be 2x more interesting than Michael Perez in my opinion.  Any idea who has the edge on the backup C job?
Jason Mackey
11:16
I think it's still TBD at this point. Michael Perez was bad last season. No way around it. And, frankly, they both scare me given Roberto Perez's injury history. I'd like to see them bring someone else in. But assuming they don't, I think it's probably about even at this point between Perez (Michael) and Ritchie.
11:21
Don't everyone ask all at once. Ha. Weird. Showing there's plenty of people in here, but I'm only showing two questions left. If yinz got 'em, don't be shy ...
Soggy
11:27
A follow up one for you Jason.  I think Ben Cherington has been excellent in acquiring talent, etc. for the "future" wild card run. At what point do you think he jumps ship?  Does he get poached by another team, or does he resign once he is forced to deal away the talent he has accumulated.  I can't imagine him being on board with the Reynolds arbitration decision.
Jason Mackey
11:29
I wonder about that, too. I don't think Ben would ever say this publicly because it would just cause him a bunch of problems. But, shoot, even Scott Boras really likes Ben and appreciates the way he handles himself. That should give you an idea of how Ben has operated previously. Would that guy, who worked in Boston and spent money, really take his team's far-and-away best player to an arbitration hearing over $650,000? I don't think so. Again, as I've written, I think there's a time and place for that stuff. I get it. I just don't think it should be when you're the $35 million Pirates worrying about Bryan Reynold and his five-plus fWAR making a little more money. He's earned it.
Justin
11:29
is anyone in "the best shape of their life"?  "Best shape" tweets are my favorite yearly tradition and I haven't seen any :/
Jason Mackey
11:30
The two good ones are Miguel Yajure and Hoy Park. Yajure dropped 15 pounds by eating better. Park added about 15 through diet choices and working out more.
Coach O
11:30
It’s almost universally acknowledged that the new CBA did nothing to improve the economic disparity between big and small markets. So why did Pirates, Cinncy, KC, Oakland, etc vote for it? Only takes 8 to nix it. And immediately after it was signed, Oakland starts trading off it’s good players. Just vote no instead Oakland. I just don’t get it Jason. Do small market owners have no guts or only care about profit, or both?
Jason Mackey
11:31
Believe it's nine to nix, but your point is made. The only thing I've heard -- because neither Bob nor Travis has spoken on the matter -- is that Nutting felt it would be more productive to vote yes and advocate behind the scenes. Not sure what he's advocating for or how. Would love to touch on those things in a session with him. But so far that interview/request has not been granted. So, we'll see.
Soggy
11:32
Last one on the Reynolds debacle... any feedback from current players or more importantly, the "future" talent in the minors on the Pirates decision to take Reynolds to arbitration?  I would assume that decision opened a lot of eyes & planted a lot of questions amongst the players about the Pirates commitment to field a competitive team.  I cannot think of one reason, why a player would want to come to PGH via FA, draft or trade unless it was to try and salvage their career.
Jason Mackey
11:36
I think it ranges. I think some guys probably don't care. I know some probably thought it was stupid. I'm not gonna blanket statement those guys because that's unfair. The reality is that the only way for Pittsburgh to become an attractive destination for free agents is by winning and spending money. Until one or hopefully both happen, it's gonna be like you said: Those players are only going to come here if helps their careers.
Justin
11:36
Who is one player or prospect who comes to mind who you get the sense that the team likes more than the fans like?
Jason Mackey
11:37
Easy one: Kevin Newman. Probably isn't helping Newman's stock with fans that he could be blocking Oneil Cruz. Might be interesting, though, if you have Cruz up here and shift Newman to second base. Might be a better option than Chavis or Park. Could bounce Tucker around multiple places.
BuppyKing69
11:37
Over/Under: 65 wins?
Jason Mackey
11:38
I'll go under, though not by much. My thoughts at this point are around 62-100.
bill b
11:38
Maybe a different type of question - what, if any, uniform changes might we get this year? Any alternates? What would you like to see? I would love to see the gold jerseys back again.
Jason Mackey
11:39
I would, too. Was joking with someone the other day that I would love to see the 2007-era vests.
Oh, it was Bednar. I told him he should go sleeveless. He said he might. But seriously, I can't tell you any plans because they have not yet communicated those with us.
Wayward
11:39
If Peters isnt in the SP rotation do they keep him, Howard and Banda in the pen?
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