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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 04.13.22
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Kyle
12:23
How did u like Vogelbach standing at the plate like a statue for 6 straight pitches not even swinging the bat? He gets paid for that? What a joke. He should have never replaced Chavis yesterday anyways.
Jason Mackey
12:29
I didn't understand that move, if we're gonna talk about Shelton's managing. But again, Kyle, it's early. I'll agree the early returns on Vogelbach haven't been good, but, shoot, it's been four games.
Mike
12:29
Jason why haven't you replied to any of my recent emails. Last one from you was a few weeks ago telling me you would get back to me on why posts keep getting deleted. You never did. Happened a few more times as well and I emailed you and nothing back. That's not cool. You tell us to reach out. At least have the professionalism to reply back.
Jason Mackey
12:33
Hi Mike. Let's be accurate here if we're gonna put it out in public. You sent an email March 24 about a comment being deleted, to which I responded. There was an email exchange. I said I would seek out an answer. I asked our web people, did not hear anything back. Also keep in mind that I have nothing to do with moderating comments for our website. And that there was an issue with your comments disappearing that involved a technical glitch on your end. Third, your issue with comments disappearing is the only time it has ever been brought to my attention. Not saying it doesn't happen to others. I don't know. But it's certainly not a consistent issue where people are emailing me all the time about it. You emailed again April 9 about a comment disappearing.
12:36
Now that we're caught up, I will again have our webteam look at why your comments are disappearing. For the I-don't-know-how-manyth time, it is not intentional. I also don't know enough -- since I'm not a web producer, I don't work on the back end of our website and am not familiar with the system used to moderate comments -- to lead you through a troubleshooting process. And I'm sorry. I've been swamped with myriad tasks between going from Florida to St. Louis to Pittsburgh, the Hayes extension, opening day, the home opener, preview section, etc., that I haven't had the time to give this my undivided attention. Question my professionalism if you must, but I would argue that this does not demonstrate a lack of that.
Fois Gras Burger
12:36
What happened to Bill Brink? Lots of people still wondering. Dude mid season just leaves the beat. Then he writes a few articles and now you never hear from him. Is he still with the PG? The whole saga was bizarre.
Jason Mackey
12:38
I wouldn't call it bizarre. Bill had done the Pirates beat for a long, long time and did a great job. He wanted 2019 to be his last on a beat, because his wife was pregnant, and he wanted to shift into a different role. I finished the 2019 hockey season and, knowing Bill's desire, asked to switch. So I joined the beat, and Bill became an enterprise writer. At some point between then and now, he was offered another job at Carnegie Mellon and took it. I don't know what Bill did wrong there. He's an awesome dude and a good friend of mine.
Daquido
12:39
Why do we call a group of both men and women GUYS? Hey guys, etc... Last I checked women are not guys. Would we call a bunch of men girls? Like Hey Girls!! Makes no sense.
Jason Mackey
12:39
That's why Yinz is perfectly acceptable to use.
DJ
12:39
Hi Jason, I think a lot of us are rightly focused on Reynolds as the next extension target, but from everything you've reported, it seems like that's a conversation for the winter at the earliest, with the best case scenario being that he does a two year extension and we all avoid arbitration. I doubt a Cruz extension could come together quickly, but wouldn't it be a way to make all of this talk about extra years of control, super two, rookie of the year voting, etc., a moot point? Obviously it's hard to know if the player would be interested, but we could sign him to a deal the same length as Hayes and he'd still hit free agency in his age 30 or 31 season.
Jason Mackey
12:41
It would be, yes. However, those deals are really tough because it's hard to establish value. Think about it: If you're the Pirates, as exciting as Cruz has been, he has nine MLB plate appearances. Why break the bank? I mean, you might sign him, but you're not gonna drop a ton of cash with so much uncertainty. Then for Cruz, why would he agree on less than he believes he's worth right now? Just play, prove it and earn more?
ev
12:41
Hi Jason, I watched 2 of the Pirates games on MLB Extra innings (DirecTV) this weekend.  Given that it's only two games in, but, I am bullish on Chavis, Diego Castillo and Yajure.  All three looked very promising.  Contreras struggled, but, like I said, it's only 2 games..
Jason Mackey
12:42
Thanks for the thoughts. I agree with you. Some of the more exciting performances we've seen this season. I'd like to see more of Chavis at first and Diego at second. I'm totally fine with Yajure and Roansy being piggyback starters.
Cole Tucker
12:42
Why can't I hit? Is there any hope for me or will this be my last season with the Pirates before they release me. Vanessa my girl won't want to keep dating me if I am unemployed you know.
Jason Mackey
12:42
Not gonna dive into the Vanessa talk. Too much respect for Cole as a person. But it does seem like some of the swing adjustments we've seen from you in spring training are gone. I would try to get back to the Cole Tucker we saw in March. The first few games haven't looked like that.
Jeff
12:43
You mentioned Jimmy T. Is he still working PR?
thought he was being replaced.
Jason Mackey
12:43
They're still searching for his replacement before he fully transitions into the team historian role.
Louis
12:43
Who has Oscar Marin made better? I'll sit back and wait. I can't think of anyone. Is he on the hot seat? Mitch Keller has not improved at all and to me that's on Marin.
Jason Mackey
12:44
Completely fair criticism. And Mitch got better on his own. I don't think he's on the hot seat; however, I can't really back and say he's made a bunch of pitchers better or has a way of doing things that has been revolutionary. That said, there have been some tough circumstances, and he hasn
't always had top-end talent to mold. Still would agree I'd like to see more production out of his guys. That's fair.
Philip
12:45
yes they are planning on losing but wouldn’t signing “a few major leaguers” to small one year deals make sense? At least appease fans a smidge AND could trade at deadline for more prospect to build for the all important future???
it’s pathetic the team they are fielding. Good for Nutting lacks dignity.
Jason Mackey
12:47
I would like to see them spend more on major league payroll, yes. As I wind up having to repeat every week in here. That said, man, remember what they are. Do you think someone who is good and has options wants to come here? Seriously. I think I'm pretty fair/optimistic about what the Pirates are building. I give them the benefit of the doubt probably more than I should. But think about it from a player perspective, if you have a deal to play in, say, Kansas City or Pittsburgh, where ya going? It's not even a discussion if it's, say, St. Louis or San Diego or something like that. Yes, they should spend more. But they aren't exactly what I would call a destination franchise right now. The hope should be to change that. And it is.
Mike
12:47
People aren't emailing you all the time because most people don't care or don't want to waste extra time doing that. I post regularly. There are lots of others who get their comments deleted for no reason.
Jason Mackey
12:48
Well, I don't really operate in a world of blind assumption, Mike. I will look into the latest one and any associated issues with your P-G username. I will also look for someone on the web side to contact, as I cover the Pirates for a living. I don't moderate comments. And, frankly, I'd rather not be blasted in public for something over which I have no authority. Thanks.
DJ
12:49
Thanks Jason. Yes, I definitely get the timing thing on both sides re: Cruz. I guess I'm also hoping that it could be in the cards after this season, depending on how things go. To be honest, I'll be pretty surprised if he is called up before June. Watching him in Indy, and he's clearly ready at the plate -- he doesn't get a ton to work with, but he's not pressing. I think even calling him up in early May and "risking" that he'll earn the full year of control with the new rule would be a step forward in terms of the whole "stake in the ground" rhetoric, since if Cruz is an impact player, it should be a priority to keep him here in the same way as Hayes.
Jason Mackey
12:50
I hope so, too, DJ. You make a fine point about "stake in the ground" vs. Cruz. Now, I do think they wanna see what Newman can do, if he can become tradable, while also seeking refinement on Cruz. (I don't agree with it; just communicate my impression of their plans.) But if that ship sails, then, yeah, it'll be Cruz time. If he earns a year of control because he's the RoY, man, what a great problem that would be for them to have.
Cocktailsfor2
1:00
Yeah, I know the Bucs aren’t gonna play anywhere near .500.
Jason Mackey
1:00
I honestly don't care what their winning percentage is this season so long as we see young guys coming up and getting a chance. Cruz, cough, cough. Cruz.
Connor Williams
1:00
I just don't quite understand the vanmeter fascination I've tried the past few days but there seriously doesnt seem to be any good explanation for him to be getting so much playing time
Jason Mackey
1:01
I would agree with that assessment.
Cocktailsfor2
1:01
That said, does Shelty need to exacerbate it with these lineups?
Jason Mackey
1:02
It doesn't help. I get playing Knapp over Perez, day game after night game. Don't think anyone is complaining about that. I just hate seeing like an over-adherence to playing time. If Castillo hits, let him play. That should go for anyone, if you're productive, on this team, in this lineup, man, I'm not about to stop you.
Trevor
1:02
Bad timing after that DP, but doesn’t Reynolds command a ton of value? If he won’t sign here, why shouldn’t the Pirates trade him? He’s a CF who can hit. The Pirates should be able to get a ton for him.
Jason Mackey
1:03
Absolutely. And his value is sky high right now with so many years of control. Still, I wouldn't. I think they should do what they did with Hayes -- extend him, pay the man. You want people to believe in what you're doing? They extend Hayes and Reynolds, people will absolutely sit through a crap season in terms of wins and losses while believing in the bigger picture plan if they're gonna do that.
ev
1:03
In 2019 Chavis had had 18 HR in 95 games for Boston.  Then, it seemed, he jumped around to a couple of teams between 202 and 2021 (Pirates).  Was he injured?  Yes, Covid had its impact in 2020 also..
Jason Mackey
1:05
I wouldn't say he was hugely hindered by injury or anything like that. It was honestly more about getting regular playing time. He produced when he got it, but then was squeezed out of a spot in Boston.
Mike
1:05
I didn't want to have to chat about it Jason but you haven't replied to an email from me in over 2 weeks
Jason Mackey
1:05
I emailed our webteam (again) seeking an answer and someone who can better answer your questions.
GPT
1:05
Since the majority of interest will be in the minor league affiliates, will the PPG start doing a daily recap of the Pirates' farm teams so we can follow the prospects of note?
Jason Mackey
1:07
We do our weekly minor league reporter, which includes a reported feature, as well as other small components -- top 10 list, other notables. I have asked about doing a nightly farm report in the past, but our editors have preferred the weekly approach. I do think it could be worth another swing thing, even if it's web-only.
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