JotCast | Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 03.30.22

Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 03.30.22

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Jason Mackey

1:28

Greg Allen, in my opinion.

Justin

1:29

Do you think Quintana is toast, is talented but just working on specific things in spring (and getting shelled as a result), or something in between?

Jason Mackey

1:29

I think it's spring. I'm not putting too much stock into what he does. I haven't seen anything alarming.

Ryan

1:29

good afternoon Jason what do you think about Mitch kellers game yesterday let’s go Bucs and what do you think about David Bednar so far this spring

Jason Mackey

1:30

Got Bednar earlier. He's been his same, consistent self. Love his curveball. Mitch has been their best player or pitcher this spring. Completely different demeanor, relaxed and confident. Physical stuff has always been there. I love how much he's pounding the zone. Not afraid to it either. Real good stuff.

Sal

1:30

Why do you keep shilling for Bob Nutting? You might write a column criticizing a decision by them but you keep trying to portray a rosy picture that the Pirates will spend when the time is right. You know that not true Jason.

Jason Mackey

1:31

For crying out loud. How have I been shilling for Bob Nutting, Sal? I've said he's objectively been a bad owner, should spend more, should talk to the media, and I disagree with him voting in favor of the new CBA. Anything I'm missing on the shill list?

Wvpirate

1:31

Do you anticipate any trades before opening day?

Jason Mackey

1:31

I don't, but I also hate predicting that stuff. All it takes is one player hurt and the right phone call to be made.

Jeff

1:31

The angst on Nutting and Reynolds is misplaced I believe. I don’t think Bob had any idea what was the arbitration negotiations with Reynolds team. His in house lawyers and FO baseball people handle it. He gives them budget, they use it.

Jason Mackey

1:32

You may be right. And that is how the process works. However, I will say that Bob isn't a hands-off owner, and the Reynolds situation isn't your run-of-the-mill arb guy. Hard to believe he was completely in the dark on it.

Ryan

1:32

Hey Jason, I am a die hard Pirates fan and I enjoy reading your articles. Any chance we see Nick Gonzales up the final month if he has a great season? I believe he could be the next star for the Pirates by next season.

Jason Mackey

1:33

Hi, Ryan. Thank you for that. There's a chance, yeah, but probably slim. It's tough for guys to go two levels in one year, the last one being MLB. That said, Nick is the top 2B prospect for a reason and very mature. So it wouldn't surprise me. I'm just saying it's not guaranteed.

Ask him

1:33

So when Bob Nutting ascends from his gold plated throne to speak to the great unwashed will the the BBWAA ask him hard questions that will force him to give actual truthful answers or will they let him get away with the usually tired cliches he always does every year ? Essentially will somehow ask him "where have the billions he has received gone and why isn't it showing on the field ?"

Jason Mackey

1:34

I fully anticipate us asking him tough-but-fair questions and doing it in a professional way. I don't like the insinuation of letting him get away with stuff. I've asked Nutting multiple times why he doesn't spend more. Others have grilled him, too. Just because they don't always answer, doesn't mean the questions aren't asked. (Pardon the 72 negatives.)

Bobby Hill

1:34

With the new ROY clause in the new CBA, can we realistically expect to see Cruz before July?

Jason Mackey

1:34

Yeah, I think Cruz will be up before July. Boy, yinz love this new clause. It's like Santa!

Justin

1:34

There was a lot of buzz when the Pirates hired Oz Ocampo. I think I saw on twitter that they parted ways. What happened there?

Jason Mackey

1:35

Yeah, I was the one who broke it. Oz is pursuing something else. He wouldn't tell me what. Probably an announcement coming soon. But it wasn't on bad terms. Oz said he was very happy with his time here.

Frank

1:36

Hi Jason which pirate prospect stands out the most

Jason Mackey

1:36

Besides Cruz ... Canaan Smith-Njigba has been good. Diego Castillo, too. Mason Martin would be a third I'd tell people to follow at Class AAA Indy this season.

Danny

1:36

My hunch is they will keep Reynolds until he has a year of control left and then trade him. That way they possibly get a year or two from him when they are good.

Jason Mackey

1:37

You very well may be right. And I think they could trade him now if they got a really good offer based on his years of control. They don't NEED to do anything. I think the market/offers will dictate what they do.

Pre

1:37

Any chance we see Gonzales, Davis or Priester in late season callups if they light it up on the farm (a la Cruz/Contreras)?

Jason Mackey

1:38

Yeah, I think there's a chance. But like I said before, those are some big leaps. We'll just have to see how they perform. It's also theoretical until games start. But I would like to think if they earn it, the Pirates would give them that chance.

Wvpirate

1:38

Which players are out of options? Either they make the team or lose em?

Jason Mackey

1:39

I would check FanGraphs. I don't have that in front of me at the moment, but you'll see MiLB options on the primary player pages.

Sports Writing

1:39

I'd imagine covering a Stanley Cup winner is far more fun than covering this trainwreck. It's gotta be depressing know there is no hope for success in the future for the team

Jason Mackey

1:40

Covering a Stanley Cup run was one of the highlights of my career, yes. But I also love covering the Pirates. They're just different. I loved the unpredictability of the Cup run. I loved that my family was really into it. I loved traveling with Ron Cook, Joe Starkey and Gene Collier -- guys I've looked up to in this business for a long time. Hanging out with Sam Werner, who was a good friend. Going to cool cities. But again, you guys want me to be all pissy because the Pirates aren't good. Give it up. I love my job, and I'm happy. I asked for this.

Jason

1:40

Hi Jason. Just wanted to say that as you know the Pirates are an embarrassment! I live in Clearwater and I usually go to spring training games when they play the Phillies and Bluejays. What management has done this year with their best player and arguably one of there better up and coming players sending him to AAA was the final straw for me. What is the owner thinking? I’m just done with them. Pittsburg deserves so much better!

Jason Mackey

1:41

Thank you for the reminder. Had been a good 2 1/2 minutes since I heard that one. But you're right, Pittsburg does deserve better. Let Pittsburgh deal with the Pirates and give Pittsburg the Yankees or something.

Drum Dad

1:41

Could this year's Pirates rotation be among the worst in baseball history?

Jason Mackey

1:42

It could. Or it could again be among the bottom 5-7 in MLB. I've liked what I've seen from Keller. Thompson had a 3.24 ERA last year. Brubaker has shown promise. I'm not saying they're going to be world beaters, but among the worst in baseball history is a pretty big statement.

L.J.

1:42

Hi Jason, Thanks for the articles I was just wondering which pitcher will start opening day this year? I am thinking Keller.

Jason Mackey

1:43

We don't know yet, L.J. Believe Crowe would be on turn, but I don't know if they would go that route. I could see picking someone for opening day, then starting Mitch for the home opener.

Will

1:43

I've been reading that everyone is very high on Henry Davis's maturity and leadership. Given the teams lack of depth at catcher, any chance we see him as a late season call up?

Jason Mackey

1:43

There's a chance, yes. Again, will depend on how he hits and catches. Not so much how he leads.

Nick

1:43

It's hard to get a feeling for some of these small injuries and how serious they may be--so do you see anyone starting the year on the IL?

Jason Mackey

1:44

Yeah, they will have guys on the IL to start. Possibly Oviedo, Yajure and Kranick. Mears and Cederlind are already there. I think it's TBD on Hayes, who did everything but run yesterday.

Ask him

1:44

Sorry. Didn't mean to imply you personally weren't but he a lot of other media seem to let him off the hook. Maybe the TV media should send Andy Sheenan or one of their investigative reporters to his press briefing

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