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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 04.14.23
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Jason Mackey
11:54
Hi everyone. Thanks so much for stopping by my weekly Pirates chat. We'll get going shortly.
Prince Bob
12:03
This is such a better time for me to find you! How have you been. I have a Rule 5 question. If a team keeps a Rule 5 draftee on their Major League roster for a season that player is theirs and after that season he can be sent to the minors with no consequences, right? (If not the rest becomes moot.) But does he need to remain on the 40 man roster and if he's taken off the 40 man at some point does he become eligible for the Rule 5 draft again even if he's had a full season in the Majors?
Jason Mackey
12:08
Ha! It's more about finding the time to do Days are just crammed right now with often writing three stories, plus occasional travel, podcasts, etc. Only so many hours. Anyway ... Rule 5 stuff. The Rule 5 stuff goes away after a year. The only question is whether there's any rule preventing a player from being selected twice in the Rule 5 draft. Like theoretically -- and I don't know why this would happen, just making up a scenario -- if Jose Hernandez made it through, and the Pirates wanted to take him off the roster this offseason. Could he get picked again? I believe so, but I'm not positive. Would require more digging and time than is currently available.
Prince Bob
12:08
Why do the Pirates keep sending runners from third base home on ground balls hit to drawn in infielders when there is no force play?
Jason Mackey
12:09
It's called the contact play. They do it. Most teams do it to force the defense's hand. I hate it. Too often for my liking, you wind up running into an out.
Tim
12:09
What role do the Pirates envision Rodolfo Castro and Ji-Hwan Bae having long-term?
Jason Mackey
12:10
I think it's still somewhat TBD, Tim. We've seen what Bae can do. He could probably be an elite CF or super-sub, with a contact bat and plenty of speed/SB. Castro has more power. He's not a shortstop, but he could be a 2B or even 1B. I think it depends with their offense and whether they're able to tamp down the strikeouts. But I think they definitely envision those guys having important roles somewhere.
Guest
12:11
What roster move do you think will be made when Stephenson is ready to come back?
Jason Mackey
12:14
Yeah, this is a tough one. Won't be Bednar or Holderman. Really, really doubt it would be DUJ. I know it will be unpopular, but my guess would be Maureta, just because he has options. I like Dauri. He's a lot of fun and has pitched well. But it's kind of the business side conspiring against him. Other options would be De Jong or Crowe, and I don't see the Pirates going that route. Can't go Hernandez, and I worry about him being the only lefty. So, keep Zastryzny.
Guest
12:14
What do you think about Dauri Moreta so far?
Jason Mackey
12:14
Really like him -- my last answer has nothing to do with how he has pitched. Really good slider and changeup. Great personality. Such an easy-to-like dude.
epiballo
12:14
Does the loss of Cruz for four months change your projection on how many games the Bucs win this year?
Jason Mackey
12:14
Nope. Not at all.
epiballo
12:15
Brubaker was working through his pitching challenges before his injury. Does missing the next year to year and a half kill his chances of becoming a meaningful contributor for the Pirates?
Jason Mackey
12:15
I don't think so. However, I would be stunned if he doesn't come back as a reliever. Makes sense.
epiballo
12:15
The Bucs are playing solid baseball right now, but is it sustainable? From the bottom of the lineup producing and good pitching, and other factors in their winning, what do you see as a mirage in the long term?
Jason Mackey
12:16
Within reason, sure. Can they catch it, get decent starting pitching and count on their bullpen to be good? Yeah, I do. Offense will have ups and downs. Injuries will happen, and they're still not deep enough. The pitching staff is already depleted. I still think they can still 74-76 games.
epiballo
12:18
The sleeveless uniforms of the Clemente/Maz era are my favorite, and the banana uniforms with the layer cake hat the least. What about you?
Jason Mackey
12:19
I would probably agree with the vests. Always love a good vest. I'm also partial to the early 90s uniforms because they mean so much to boyhood me. But I understand why they wouldn't stand with those of the 60s or 70s. Will always love the gold pullover & pillbox cap.
Guest
12:19
Bullpen thoughts rn?
Jason Mackey
12:20
Been excellent. Far better than expected. DUJ > Holdy > Bednar is a late inning combo that really works. Chase and Crowe are where they should be: middle innings and multiple. Moreta has been a good fireman. They've gotten enough from the lefties. They've been careful with Hernandez. What's not to like at this point?
Munkeefist
12:21
If Mathias continues to struggle long term, who do you think would be the next man up? Would they consider pulling the trigger on Nick Gonzales earlier than they want/hope? Thanks for the chats!!
Jason Mackey
12:21
I wouldn't. I love what Nick did this spring, but he's hitting .195. Not sure it's a crime for him to stay in Triple-A. I'd go Marcano at this point. They need someone better at short than Castro. Marcano isn't a natural shortstop, but I trust his defense more than I do that of Castro.
62 Stack Monster
12:22
Jason, I gotta say I am surprised about this start.  Among others, I was sure this team was to continue its 100 loss streak.  It's early and it's a long season but I am encouraged that the 100 losses will end.  With Cruz out and Bae showing his abilities, when might we see other young players?  Endy Rodriguez had a great spring and I think should have been on this roster. Gotta play your best players, even if they are young, to WIN.
Jason Mackey
12:23
I'm not surprised. Nobody who reads these chats or my coverage should be surprised. ... My answer: When they deserve it. Just wrote that Gonzales is hitting .195. The time ain't now. I can't predict when they'll figure it out any more than you, they or the Pirates can. But I know there's no rush.
Gene
12:23
So far the Pirates have played well but pitching is key so where do you think they can make improvements as the season progresses?
Jason Mackey
12:24
I think their pitching has been pretty good, Gene. Albeit a bit inconsistent. Hill and Velasquez had two duds, then were each really good last time out. You want that to smooth out. Roansy Contreras, same deal. ... If Mitch is a legit ace, that helps a ton. I like Oviedo. Just went over the bullpen. You'll need Ortiz to come up and pitch well, too.
2011-12
12:24
Jason, I am getting the same feeling that I got back in 2011 and 2012 when that young group started filling in the roster at PNC(Cutch, Walker, etc.). They won early in the season and played with enthusiasm and showed promise. Both seasons ended in collapse, but gave us hope. This current group is starting to do the same despite the loss of Cruz for a few months. How do you compare the two groups? Do you feel the same?
Jason Mackey
12:25
Have spent a lot of time comparing the groups. They're doing what you said -- surprising and getting people excited. It's been fun. I think the catching component when Hedges return will match. There are veterans in key spots to stabilize. And I think you're seeing a group that genuinely enjoys playing together. Such good chemistry in that clubhouse right now.
Guest
12:25
Compared to how sporadic the bullpen duties were last year, how beneficial is it for guys like DUJ, Holdy, and Bednar to know that they have the 7th, 8th, and 9th, respectively each night?
Jason Mackey
12:27
It's huge. And especially Duane pitching the seventh. He's really good there. Dude has been in and out of games in like 4 minutes. I think Holderman is still learning, but he has some nasty stuff. Bednar has been his typical self. I think of Milwaukee in their good years with Suter/Boxberger > Williams > Hader. Not saying the Pirates are that, but it's a solid back end.
Scooter
12:27
Good morning, Jason! The Chris Archer trade a few years ago was rated as perhaps the worst in Pirates’ history, and rightly so. Now that some time has passed, can we conclude that it wasn’t nearly as bad as first thought? Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow, the prime pieces that we gave Tampa Bay, each made the all-star team early on. However, currently, Meadows has a career average of .259 and is with Detroit. Glasnow has a career ERA of 4.00 and 20 total wins. Both have battled frequent health issues. Thank you for your time!
Jason Mackey
12:28
I'm not ready to concluded or concede that, Scooter. The trade sucked. Plain and simple. On a couple different levels. Not as bad? Maybe. But that's only because of health reasons. The failure to develop those guys was bad. Then the poor assessment of their own players led to a horribly lopsided deal.
Potato Pete
12:28
Will we see Bae become the most-used SS in Cruz's absence? Castro's defense has been very poor so far.
Jason Mackey
12:28
It has. And I think we will some. But I also think they're starting to really love having Bae in center. Might be the smarter move to keep him there and figure something else out at short.
Blas Minor Fan Club
12:28
First, congratulations on the Golden Quills nomination. Nick Gonzalez wasn't mentioned in your article about call ups. Do the Pirates want to keep him in AAA for most of the year, or could this be a situation if he gets hot that he gets called up in June sometime? He could play 2B while Castro plays SS.
Jason Mackey
12:30
Thank you very much. That wasn't ticking off top prospects as much as it was trying to frame Cherington's comments in ways readers could better understand. I would wait on Gonzales. Again, he's struck out a bunch -- 20 in 12 games -- and is under .200. No rush.
Potato Pete
12:30
Swaggerty just has an illness, right? The last thing they need is another injury derailing another promising season, after Cruz, Brubaker, and Burrows. I fear that Burrows will have the same outcome as Brubaker, which is just a real kick in the balls to those of us excited to see him make his mark in Pittsburgh this year.
Jason Mackey
12:30
Correct, illness. And, yeah. Also worried about Burrows.
Potato Pete
12:30
How long before Mathias walks the plank? Marcano is hitting the cover off the ball, while I see Mathias as just another VanMeter/Chang Quad-A type. Need to see what they have in Marcano. If he doesn't work out, fine, but at least you gave him the chance to prove himself.
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