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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 04.13.22
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Jason Mackey
11:40
Hello, everyone. Thank you for joining my weekly Pirates chat. We'll get started shortly!
11:58
OK, let's do this. A little Phish in the headphones this week.
PrinceBob
11:58
If you were forced to bet a year's salary on whether any Pirate starting pitcher will throw a complete game this year how would you bet? And if yes, what number would get you to bet no?
Jason Mackey
11:59
Yeah, I would bet that's not gonna happen. I also don't bet. Don't understand the last part of what would get me to bet no. Shelton simply doesn't want his pitchers -- unless they prove otherwise -- to go through a third-time through.
PrinceBob
11:59
Should MLB consider changing the requirement of a starting pitcher going at least five innings to get a win? If teams are going to pull starters before they face hitters a third time a pitcher's going to need to be doing really well to make five full innings, probably so well that changing him doesn't make sense. And I've always thought it was kind of weird that a starter could go 3-4 innings, leave with a lead that stands all game and have the win go to someone who probably pitched even fewer innings than that starter did. Or do we just decide wins aren't an important stat anymore and not care who gets it?
Jason Mackey
12:01
I agree with the second statement. Wins are a meaningless stat. That said, I was actually going on that rant the other day in St. Louis to Jimmy T (Pirates PR guy). So Bryse Wilson goes 4, and we saw that's not enough for a win. But Miguel Yajure goes, what, 2? And that is enough? I would like to see the official scorer has total freedom to pick a win if it's less than 5. I don't think they should aware wins for four-inning starts, unless that was somehow the most significant pitching performance.
Jeff
12:01
Not that I'm giving up on this year, but looking ahead to next year, which Pirates players are going to be free agents after this season?  Also, of all the visiting teams coming to PNC Park this year, who would you be interested in seeing the most?  The Yankees?  Phillies?
Jason Mackey
12:03
Yankees, for sure. That one is easy. I hope we somehow wind up with Cole and Taillon pitching at PNC. ... To answer the other part of your question: Perez, Hembree, Quintana, Gamel, Marisnick and Knapp. Unless, of course, they would non-tender someone.
Jeff
12:03
It’s 4 games into season with 2 off days. Why do you think Shelton has to sit Castillo and play VanMeter?
Jason Mackey
12:04
I do not know. Don't understand that move. Because they gave up something to get VanMeter? Because VanMeter has pictures of someone? No way Diego is tired. And I can't come up with a single baseball-related reason why VanMeter is a better play right now than Castillo.
Dick Tenebaum
12:05
Hi Jason. What do you think of the following idea to make Pirates' baseball more attractive to us old folks who still want to go to a live game but can not spend up to 4 hours there?

6 Alte Kaker Nights during the season for folks over 65. Why not....there is Pup Night, Veterans night, Italian Night, etc. Give us old crotchety folks our own game!

The games would start at 4:30, run 6 innings or end not later than 7:00 whichever comes first so we can get home for a nap. The game must have a 15 minute intermission after the 3d inning so we can go to the bathroom. There must be free parking close to the stadium so we can use our walkers safely.  There must be early bird concessions close by serving applesauce, cottage cheese and other easy to chew foods.  Instead of a Free T-Shirt the Pirates would hand out Depends with the Pirate logo for the first 10,000 fans.  No extra innings, fireworks,  running the bases or other shenanagans.  Your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:05
I don't wanna risk the Pirates running out of team-themed Depends. Way more costly than hot dog buns.
Jordan
12:05
Will Nutting and or Williams ever speak to the media? I’m sure you and others would have a lot of questions.
Jason Mackey
12:06
We do. And I hope. They've also been requested. Nutting talked yesterday about Hayes stuff, but I agree, there's a lot to ask. As I've said before, I/we can't make 'em talk. Can only request them.
Alex Madison
12:06
Am I the only pittsburgher who follows indy and altoona more than the Pirates?
Jason Mackey
12:06
I don't think so. My Twitter feed at night is probably more minor league stuff than major leagues. Good for you. There are great stories and a ton of intrigue there.
Ed
12:06
The Pirates are one Sidney Crosby (type) pitcher and one Sidney Crosby (type) position player away from the playoffs but this will never happen.
Jason Mackey
12:07
If you lemme know where a Sidney Crosby-type anything is available, I'd love to know. Dude is one of a kind, and I can tell you that from a lot of first-hand experience.
Chuck
12:07
Jason,  The extension for Hayes is awesome, but do you think a similar one is in the works for Reynolds?   We need to see more than the Hayes commitment to begin to believe anything will change with ownership
Jason Mackey
12:08
Not to my knowledge, no. I think they would like to. And I think they've talked about doing it. But do I think there has been any meaningful traction gained? No, I don't. I agree, we need to see more than Hayes. But I am willing to hear Nutting out based on what he said yesterday. They needed to go scorched Earth. They did. Now it's time to extend those guys. One down, Reynolds, Bednar and maybe more to go.
criedfricken
12:08
Hey Jason thanks for having this chat.  I was at the opener yesterday and really liked the excitement of the big crowd.  I thought Jose pitched very well.  Do you see him as a mainstay in the rotation this year.
Jason Mackey
12:09
Glad you enjoyed it. As did I. Excited to get back to the yard tomorrow but happy to enjoy my family today. I do, yes. I see him as a Tyler Anderson type. However, like Anderson, would imagine strong performance means a trade.
Gilbert
12:10
Is Drake Fellows, one of the players in the Musgrove trade, still in the organization or is he just injured? Seems like we never heard much of anything since he was traded to the Pirates.
Jason Mackey
12:12
Hi Gilbert, good question. I will look into this. I don't believe he's injured (or at least haven't heard that). HIs roster status is odd. Listed on his player page as Low-A Bradenton but not on the Marauders' team roster. Has not been released I know that. Very well could be in the FCL. I'll check.
criedfricken
12:12
Jason who is considered the ace of the rotation this year or are the coaches still undecided so far.
Jason Mackey
12:13
I don't think there's a predetermined "ace." Objectively, not sure they have one. But "top pitcher" would probably be either Quintana or Keller depending on performance. Again, this is something we'll learn over time.
Jordan
12:13
Years ago, Nutting extended Hurdle and Huntington without announcing it to media. Do you think something similar is happening with Shelton and Cherington?
Jason Mackey
12:14
It would not shock me at all. Nutting said yesterday that he and Travis Williams couldn't be more confident in the direction the Pirates are headed under Cherington, which also includes Shelton, obviously. Knowing that, would imagine extensions are just a formality at this point. I suppose they could wait until midseason on Shelton, but I don't see either going anywhere.
Boiler G Dog
12:15
Jason: Indians season ticket holder in Indianapolis. Are the Pirates planning on keeping SS Oneil Cruz at SS? He is a man at 6’7” 220. Thought maybe LF or 3B would be a destination for him.
Jason Mackey
12:16
Not third base. Pittsburgh's MLB club has a pretty good one of those. They're trying him in the OF, yes. Believe he played there the other day. Not sure where he fits long-term, although he certainly fits somewhere. With how little we've seen from Newman and Tucker offensively, I'll gladly live with whatever inconsistencies are still in Cruz's defense. Bring the man up and let him hit.
Brian
12:16
Why are you doing a chat when there is a game soon?
Jason Mackey
12:16
I'm "off." Mike Persak is covering the game.
South Texas Buc
12:16
Hey Jason, after Cruz gets the call up hopefully by late May or early June, who do you think the next big name to be brought up to the big league club will be? Martin, Frazier, or possibly another name? I know we’re not even a week into the season, but I’ve already had enough of Tucker and Vogey to be quite honest. They’re nothing more them bench pieces if even that. Also tsustsugo was nothing more than a flash in the pan. He should not be getting every day AB’s. Shelton needs to be playing guys more like Diego whose been hitting the ball consistently. I think Hes gonna be a good young player to watch throughout this season into next. How many more tries will some of the aforementioned guys keep getting? Your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:18
South Texas, I don't think it's fair -- either way -- to make assumptions based on four games. Need a way bigger sample size to reach any sort of definitive conclusion. That said, if you're asking who I think might get a chance next, I'd probably go one of the OFs on the 40-man roster -- Swaggerty or Smith-Njigba, because it's easier. Martin, maybe. Obviously if there are injuries that changes things, too. But again, four games in, let it breathe a little.
Rockwell
12:18
So you always claim Shelton can't be blamed for anything because of what he has to work with. Sorry pal but that is hogwash. Yesterday latest example Perez doubles and terrible Cole Tucker is up who can't hit and Shelton doesn't have him bunt the runner over. I'm sorry but that is manager malpractice. This guy is an awful manager and I wish you would call him out. And Cole Tucker should have been cut already. He stinks.
Jason Mackey
12:21
Haha. "Call him out" ... on what? Losing games with this roster? I've criticized his handling of pitchers. I do remember the situation you're describing, though. Third inning. Tucker went 13, Hayes 63, Reynolds 43. I would have played for a big inning, too. You have a man in scoring position, 9-1-2 up. Early, score tied. I'd rather have the out and believe that Hayes or Reynolds would drive in the run, even if Tucker makes an out. I'm more irritated at Tucker's approach; there's a way to make a productive out as a right-handed hitter there, taking the ball the other way. He didn't. Not sure what "calling him out" is gonna do.
Guest
12:21
Do the Pirates use turnstile numbers or tickets sold as the basis for attendance totals. I was at the game yesterday and there is not a chance that 34,000 plus were in the ball park
Jason Mackey
12:21
Tickets sold.
Mr. Beetroot
12:21
The Pirates fought the PG for 2 years to release the money info. It's obvious Nutting doesn't want to spend the necessary money. Former politicians calling the organization out. What do you think?
Jason Mackey
12:23
I think there's an easy solution to all of this: open the books. I get the Pirates' argument -- stuff contained was proprietary, etc. They also argue they're spending revenue-sharing funds in a good way. OK, great. Show us. Now, they're hardly the MLB team to keep their books sealed. All but the Braves do it. But I wish we could have gotten to a place with that stuff where they opened them because I think it could have made for an even better story.
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