JotCast | Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 03.30.22

Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 03.30.22

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Jason Mackey

11:40

Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Thanks so much for stopping by. Plenty to talk about. I'm in Florida but not Fort Myers for the game today. Mike Persak is your guy. I'm pounding out season preview stuff. We'll get started here shortly.

12:08

OK, here we go. Sorry for the delay. Was finishing up some non-writing stuff ...

Guest

12:08

When is the great and almighty Nutting going to give his token interview? I truly hope someone will ask him the benefit of taking our best player to arbitration and exactly what message it sends to the remaining fans and their minor league players. The slug is a businessman and not a sports fan. Please don't let him off the hook.

Jason Mackey

12:09

So Bob has been requested. Multiple times. We do not yet have a day. Was told there was a chance he would speak down here, local beat writers covering spring training, but again, we're eight days from opening day and nothing is scheduled, so ...

12:10

But I agree with you on the questions. Why go to a hearing with Bryan Reynolds? Why did you vote to approve this CBA? How do you see this benefitting the Pirates? So much to ask, and I guarantee you if won't be let off the hook.

12:10

Hi Jason, Thanks for the chat. When is the Reynolds arbitration hearing? I don't fault any players for taking this route especially with Pirates management. I'm rooting for Reynolds.

Jason Mackey

12:11

I do not yet have a date. In getting this question, I did ask again. But I'm not aware of any date. I'm rooting it doesn't happen. I want them to avoid the hearing and get something done long-term, although I don't actually think that will happen.

OK, and just got a note back: Nothing has been scheduled overall. Would imagine it happens during the regular season.

The Price is Right

12:11

Jason, past opening day, how can anyone feel good about this team? The owner sucks, the manager sucks, the players suck and the announcers suck.

Jason Mackey

12:15

I admire your positivity. Look, objectively, I understand the frustration over Nutting. Imagine money wasn't a factor. Have the Pirates under his watch won enough to say they've been a successful franchise, that he has been a successful owner? Of course not. It's been the opposite. You can't draw any reasonable conclusion on Shelton considering the major league club could easily have a $35 million payroll. He's not playing with a full deck. You can say the players suck, but they're also being asked to do more than they're capable. If someone asked me to cover local government, guess what, I'm not going to be very good at it. If you ask some of these guys to pitch to Fernando Tatis Jr., yeah, it might not have a great ending all the time. And save the crap on the announcers. People think they stink because the team stinks. Same treatment the writers get, and it's garbage.

Pre

12:15

Hey Jason. Can you give us a sense of where people around the team think they are with regards to this rebuild? Do people closer to the team than us fans feel like the callups this year will be cracking the competitive window open by next year, or should I watch minor league games and tune back into the Buccs in 2026?

Jason Mackey

12:26

I think the truth is in the middle, Pre. I think there's an understanding that this year very well could be rough. At the same time, I think by 2023, you should start to see some actual impact of prospects. Ideally, it should start a cycle of better days. I think 2026 is overshooting it a bit.

Woj

12:26

Hi Jason, I don't have a problem with Cruz in AAA; his presence in MLB lineup won't turn them into a .500 ballclub. More exciting? Probably. Winners? No. I'd rather have the extra year of control. I have a MUCH bigger issue with the Reynolds arb decision and the unwillingness to sign any meaningful free agent to a long-term deal (ala Rockies/Kris Bryant). I don't see any strategy here other than spending as little money as possible on the MLB roster not just this year but every year. Do you see any sign(s) that the Pirates will ever do a long-term deal for big money? I mean other than GMBC or Nutting saying they will? Again, in the real world and sports, money talks and BS walks. Thank you for your excellent work covering the Pirates!

Jason Mackey

12:28

Short answer, Woj, is no. Sadly. I mean, what evidence is there to say they're interested in doing something long-term with anyone? Cutch? I mean, maybe. But he could have and would have gotten more elsewhere. I hear your points. Completely fair. And I don't begrudge anyone who makes the point that Cruz is better served in AAA, with that extra year of control on the back end. Joe Starkey actually just wrote an excellent column on it, which I'll link. Personally, I would like to see them give the player enough runway to earn a spot, but nobody died and made me the Knower of All Things. Just my opinion.

Here's Joe's column: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/joe-starkey/2022/03/30/pittsburgh-...

Bill

12:28

Sad to hear yesterday that we won't be getting you and Mike on the North Shore Drive Buc'n Trends podcast this year (big mistake if this was a decision made above you). Is there any other media outlet where you guys will do something together? I thought it was an excellent weekly podcast recapping the MLB side, but also everything happening in the minors.

Jason Mackey

12:30

Hi Bill. Thanks for the feedback. I don't think it's permanent. We're re-evaluating a lot of our podcasts and also looking to prioritize a newsletter, which I will write. There are only so many hours in the day, so we do have to pick what to prioritize. Again, appreciate that people like it. If enough speak up, I'll gladly take that to people at the P-G because our job is to serve our readers. But I'm just explaining where the thinking is at this point ...

Gene

12:30

Who we be this years closer on opening day?

Jason Mackey

12:30

It'll be a committee. I expect Bednar and Stratton to handle most of the save opportunities.

Guest

12:30

Hi Jason…just an FYI; your coverage of the Pirates has forced me into a PG subscription…keep up the good work!

Jason Mackey

12:32

Ha. Forced you? Come on. I'm proud of the work our paper has done. I'm also not about to get political on here or anywhere. (Of course I don't agree with everything our paper writes editorial-wise. To me, sports should be separate from any of that.)

12:33

Also, we have an awesome and beautiful features writer named Abby something. Check her out.

Jim M

12:33

Jason, I’m okay with sending Cruz down for a few weeks to gain an extra year of control and to give him outfield reps. What will really drive me crazy is if they wait until mid June to avoid Super 2. Your thoughts? Thanks

Jason Mackey

12:34

Hi Jim. Most of my thoughts are in today's analysis. I think they should give him a chance to keep going, but I certainly understand how you feel. I think plenty of others feel that way, too. But to me, they need to get to a point where if players show they're ready, you let 'em play. It has to start somewhere. You can always say, "Well, they stink now, it's not worth it." But if you start giving players enough runway to show what they can do, maybe that changes. At minimum, they need to get people into the ballpark. Cruz is one of the biggest/only draws they have. And if he

12:35

he's truly that good -- which I think he is -- then my goal isn't an extra year of club control. It should be extending him. And you change the perception of your team and what you allow players to do -- convincing them to sign extensions with you -- by changing your habits.

Guest

12:35

Before his ankle injury, how was Hayes looking at the plate? Is he pulling the ball again or still struggling?

Jason Mackey

12:36

He was looking better, yes. I wouldn't say completely 2020 or anything like that, but it was much better than 2021. I really do think he was bothered by the hand/wrist thing last year. I don't think the swing you saw most days/nights was truly him.

Wayward

12:37

Jason, as always, thanks for the chats. As we inch closer to the end of spring training. What position do you see the Bucs dumpster diving for? C, Relievers, fringe starter/long guy (although it seems like there are a couple of those guys on the roster already)?

Jason Mackey

12:37

Of course. My pleasure. I think they'll be dumpster diving for anything anybody throws in the dumpster to be quite honestly. Not sure people who wait by dumpsters are sitting there waiting for a specific meal, right?

12:37

Jason, Regarding last year's Rich Rodriguez trade yield for Wilson and DeVito, is there anything to report on DeVito?

Jason Mackey

12:38

Nothing. I've been to three camps for minor leaguers down here, including minor league spring training. I have not yet noticed him do anything. He may have been out there, mind you, but I'm just saying I didn't notice him.

Allegheny Hammers

12:38

Fantasy baseball draft tonight - do you have any Bucco sleepers for me? Last year I know that Bednar was getting hyped so I snagged him after the draft, and that turned out to be a decent pick up. Anyone catching your eye outside of the obvious ones that might have a meaningful impact this year?

Jason Mackey

12:39

I don't know how deep your league is, but I do think Mitch Keller is gonna be for real this year. Not sure if that is a pick that would play in your league, but I'm drinking the Kool-Aid.

Greg

12:39

Jason,Hope you and your family are well. Are the Pirates seriously going to take Reynolds to arbitration over $650,000, doesn't that show they will never spend money on players, also doesn't Shelton have to start showing he can manage his pitching staff better in order to keep his job. Seems hes always pulling pitchers at the wrong time.

Jason Mackey

12:41

Hi Greg. Yes, they really are going to take Reynolds to a hearing over $650,000. Or, I guess I should say that I have no indication that they're going to settle on anything before a hearing -- short- or long-term. The disagreement I have with Shelton -- and we've talked about this -- is with his quick hook. He's wary of the third time through. I believe that if one of these guys has something on a given night, you don't mess with it. We can agree to disagree. I will say, it's hard to judge Shelton on his management of pitchers because of who's on the staff. Managers look a lot smarter when they're choosing between Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, ya know? That ain't Shelton's life.

Wayward

12:41

Jason, are the Bucs going to have carry Alford as the 4th OF and hope he starts to hit a little or someone like Tucker and/or find someone as cuts by other teams start to happen? They seem to have a bunch of young OF's who just need a little more time.

Jason Mackey

12:42

I think it's TBD, Wayward, like most things. As of now, yeah, I would say Alford makes the team. If someone comes along who's DFA'd, I also think they could DFA him. I do think Tucker has done enough to earn a spot at 2B with Cruz going down. I like Allen in the OF with Reynolds and Gamel.

John

12:42

I believe not paying Brian Reynolds is a true sign that they have no plans on keeping him. Why would fight him over such a small amount of money when they are truly trying to build a winning team? Bob Nutting always angers the fans

Jason Mackey

12:43

I don't disagree. The number of players who go from arbitration hearing to long-term contract is very, very small. Secondarily, extension talks have never really gained traction. Now, I don't think it's something they're trying to do. But they're certainly listening on offers.

Adam in Boulder

12:43

The new CBA states that if a team doesn't spend 50% more than their revenue-sharing pool proceeds the grievance burden of proof shifts to the team. It used to be 25%. The Pirates' current payroll isn't even half of their revenue-sharing proceeds, is it? What does this new rules mean for them?

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