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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 04.08.22
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Jason Mackey
12:32
I haven't left my desk/computer since I got up this morning because of work stuff. I'm having a blast. :-) Getting outside would be nice, if possible. I need a little break. I would say two years and $9.5M-$10.5M would be reasonable.
PrinceBob
12:36
Do you have a feeling for how long Brian Reynolds will be a Pirate?
Jason Mackey
12:37
For a couple more years anyway. Beyond that I think will come down to whether they're able to get anywhere with extension talks. So far they haven't. But I don't see them trading him like this year or even next.
LJG
12:37
I think the Hayes extension was a big mistake for an injury prone player who had I good month and they have Triolo in the pipeline Do you think the Pirates will come to agreement with Brian Reynolds on long term contract?
Jason Mackey
12:37
I don't agree with your Hayes assessment, but that doesn't matter. You're allowed to feel however you want. I have my doubts. I wanna think so, believe me. But I don't have much evidence to support optimism at this point.
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus
12:39
Is Vogelbach going to be the regular leadoff hitter? I understand that he has a decent career on base percentage but with his potential power, a more more middle of the order slot would seem more appropriate. I know there's no Omar Moreno on the current roster but Tucker or Newman would seem to be a better choice, no?
Jason Mackey
12:39
No, I don't think he's going to be the regular leadoff hitter. I think Shelton is tinkering with some stuff. Wouldn't shock me if he scrapped it by Saturday, honestly. Also don't know how much Vogelbach likes hitting there.
Idggy DeBeau
12:39
More of the same and probably a little worse than last year. What did we as patrons do wrong to deserve this?
Jason Mackey
12:40
As the great Mick Jagger once sang, "You can't always get what you want. But sometimes, you get what you need."
MjB
12:40
They play 162 games.   I have been on teams that have been destroyed one day and came to life the next.  I can get past that.  I don't understand the lineup or the approach to Wainwright.   He beats the Pirates every time because we flail at breaking balls.  He rarely strikes one of Bucs with a fastball.  I understand that Wainwright is most likely HOF pitcher, if I don't understand the terrible game plan at all.
Jason Mackey
12:41
I don't think their game plan was to look at called strikes, swing through pitches and mis-hit balls. I think Wainwright is a better pitcher than most of them are hitters. He fools with them. Their timing is off. They're not able to counter what he's doing. That's why he's been doing this, feels like, since the 80s. And they will lose 90 to 100 games.
Larry
12:41
What is the Pirates' Opening Day payroll, and which source for this information is the most reliable? I've read various things from third lowest in MLB to lowest. And what really is the most important indicator - 26-man roster, injured reserve additions, retained contracts, or total payroll?
Jason Mackey
12:44
I usually go with Baseball Prospectus, which projected them to be last at $36.8 million before the Hayes deal. But this stuff can get hugely confusing. it's tough because we don't know team control amounts for < 3 guys. Polanco is the only retained $3 million. I usually go with 26 -- it's 28 this year. That puts the Pirates at $38,525,000 with $700K for the under 3 crowd. That's not accurate, but it gives you a picture. And this is before the Hayes extension, which is not yet official.
Alex Madison
12:44
If, big IF, the pirates extend Ryenolds, can we kiss goodbye any chances of a impactful FA signing for the next 5 years?  Team payroll might chase $60M, thats way too much!!!  :-)
Jason Mackey
12:45
No, I don't think that's the case. I think they will sign meaningful free agents when they're better and have more prospects ready for the big leagues -- and this isn't an Oneil Cruz thing. I'm talking like Cruz, Contreras, Martin, CSN, Mitchell, Peguero, Priester, Mlodzinski, Gonzales, Davis, Burrows, etc. Not all but some. Need a greater volume of talent, then you'll see other signings.
Wayward
12:45
Jason, is Marisnick automatically the normal 3rd OFer or do you think they give Tucker the bulk of the opportunities?
Jason Mackey
12:46
I think they'll see how it shakes out, but I would expect Marisnick -- because of his experience and defense -- to get more reps than Tucker, at least initially. I think it will also depend on who hits. That hasn't typically been a strength for Marisnick in the past. I do think he winds up being their regular 3OF.
The Eman
12:49
Question about long term deals like Hayes just signed. Does the club purchase any type of insurance to protect their financial obligation in the event of a player injury that ends their career?
Jason Mackey
12:53
Some do. It usually depends on the size of the contract. I do not known Here's a good read from The Washington Post on the topic: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2016/09/09/worried-about...
ev
12:53
Hi Jason, I am stunned STUNNED that the Pirates inked Hayes, although, I think, it was a very team friendly deal considering what Atlanta paid for their pre arbitration 1B.  When will cooler minds prevail and decide that $650K is nothing or, perhaps, sign Reynolds for a long term deal?
Jason Mackey
12:54
I think fairly soon, honestly. I don't think they will get to a hearing with Reynolds. Don't know if they will sign him to a long-term extension, but I think they'll try. Long way to go.
MjB
12:54
I realized I should clarify.  The choices of Hoy Park and leading off with Vogelbach.  Foremost, Vogelbach cannot lead off.  If you're going to play Newman, lead off with him or Hayes.  Then, use Castillo until you are sure that hot streak was not a fluke.  Park may figure it out, but at this point, is he really your starting 2B?
Jason Mackey
12:55
Shelton said yesterday that second base is going to be fluid. Same with leadoff. Have some patience, MjB. There are 161 of these things. Nothing is etched in stone.
Jeff
12:55
Two questions.

Hayes has the big contract now, assuming it is signed and official.  Do the Bucs try to get something done with Reynolds?  

Last, I haven't heard how ticket sales are going.  I used to hear about that in years past, but not so much.  Any word on how that is going?
Jason Mackey
12:57
I think they will, yes. At least to avoid a hearing. ... What would you hear in the past? Curious. Because I've tried in the past, and that's typically not something I see the Pirates commenting on. ... Progress is not great, I would say. They're trying to sell out the home opener. I don't think they'll get there. ST have dropped. It's just part of where they're at right now.
Brad Lincoln
12:57
How many of our Young Bucs need to come up to get us to .500. Two thirds (at least) of our roster is made up of guys who should be bench players or in AAA. Even if Cruz and Contreras come up and do well, using WAR they're only gonna, AT BEST improve us by 5-7 wins right 'out of the box.
Jason Mackey
12:57
Yeah, no. They're not gonna bring up the Young Bucs because they'll magically make everything better. This is the backup QB theory. They're gonna bring 'em up when they're ready. Maybe they help. Maybe they don't. But it won't be to chase results with the MLB club.
Mike
12:57
Will Bryan reynolds be a pirate next year?
Jason Mackey
12:58
I think so, yes.
Punxy Fan
12:58
Thanks for your good work Jason. Good for Hayes-Pirates, hope a Reynolds deal happens soon. Different take on Cruz not starting with the big club so he can get more seasoning: wouldn’t he have gotten better mental seasoning by experiencing an opening day in St Louis with the excitement of Pujols’ return and playing 4 MLB games, then coming back for the home opener and being part of a team experience? Now, when he does come to PNC Park, the buildup and pressure will be such that he’ll disappoint people if he doesn’t go 4-for-4 with 5 homers. Is the mental aspect part of the Pirates’ calculations? Long question, sorry.
Jason Mackey
12:58
Thanks, Punxy. I don't think Cruz is affected by the mental side of playing in a major league park. Didn't look that way last year. I think you'll see him after they preserve that year of control.
DrScotTB
12:58
Love your work Jason!  Why are the Pirates trying to force Oneil Cruz to become an outfielder?  Why not let him develop as a shortstop and leave him there?
Jason Mackey
12:59
They're not "trying to force him" to do anything. I think they want that to be an option for him because they might have another really good SS in Liover. Can't play both at the same time, and Cruz has an arm and athleticism that could play well in the outfield. He also hasn't been the greatest defensive SS, although I don't care with his offensive capabilities.
Ryan
1:00
Good afternoon Jason asked Paul zeise yesterday who he thinks i will lead pirates in home runs strikeouts and wins in going with Reynolds Keller and Keller who do you think see you on Wednesday when we play the Cubs
Jason Mackey
1:00
I agree with those answers.
Guest
1:00
Why the change in demeanor in regards towards a potential extension of Reynolds?
Jason Mackey
1:01
My own two cents: I think by the time Nutting learned they weren't going to settle with Reynolds, it was too late. And he wasn't happy about what his people did. He let it go, not wanting to meddle, and boom. They're taking Reynolds to arb. Again, speculation on my part. Don't know that for sure, but that's how the info tracks.
Drew
1:01
Hey Jason, do you think Wil Crowe will stay in the bullpen, or switch back to the rotation later? Or a mix of both?
Jason Mackey
1:02
Right now I think Wil Crowe stays in the bullpen. He's been very good there. Although if their starters struggle, I could see him shifting back as well, assuming he continues to pitch well. But right now, I like him in the bullpen.
Robert J. Nutting
1:02
Greetings Non Billionaire. I cannot believe that these poor people are so up in arms about me not agreeing to pay this fellow from my Baseball company more money. Them say he's an "All Star" and an "MVP", whatever that means. I don't understand this athletic terms. Anyway non Billionaire, I wanted to let you all know that I've been spending all the hard stolen profits I've made from my Baseball company on something that really matters. Myself. You're welcome non Billionaire
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