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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 04.14.23
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Jason Mackey
12:48
Yes, I do. And he needs to do a couple things: 1. Throw more strikes. 2. Use his changeup. 3. Avoid tipping pitches. I think that third one has gotten him into trouble with a few big innings allowed.
George Costanza
12:48
How are the starting pitchers doing in the minors and are there any possible number one starters down there for the future. Seems like it has been since Derek Cole that the Bucs have had a true number one. George is getting upset!!
Jason Mackey
12:49
Is Derek Gerrit's younger brother? Ortiz and Bido are the guys at Triple-A, IMO. Priester eventually, but he'll need more time. Burrows is hurt. Jones is terrific but in Double-A. Nicolas could be an option eventually, too.
Justin
12:49
Castro seems like a worthy piece on a roster - versatile, scrappy, some thump - but his L R splits are staggering in his young career.  .900ish ops vs lefties and .600ish vs righties.   Have you heard anything from the team about if they think he's more of a good role player/platoon guy long term, or do you think that he starts to hit righties a bit better?
Jason Mackey
12:50
I don't think they have their mind made up on him, nor should they. His splits have been crazy, I agree. He's also a switch hitter, which tells me it isn't just seeing a specific arm slot; could also be maintaining two swings.
Hank
12:50
Do you think the Bucs approach Mitch with an extension during the season or this offseason?
Jason Mackey
12:50
Yes, I do.
Tony P
12:50
Business question- for the home  opener I bought a parking pass for a lot on the north shore. I bought in the Pirates site and it was delivered to the Ballpark App on my phone.  For years we’ve heard that the Pirates don’t make any money from parking.  Do you know if they do get a cut of the money from parking purchased through their website?
Jason Mackey
12:51
Mark Belko would be a better one to ask on this. mbelko@post-gazette.com. Have zero idea how the parking revenue situation works.
Justin
12:51
I dont have hard data to back this up, but it at least seems like the Pirates have been adding more korean and japanese players over the last few years than in years further in the past.   Do you think this could help with recruiting higher profile asian players going forward?  Have you heard anyone talk about the topic of dipping into higher profile asian free agents going forward?
Jason Mackey
12:54
I know what you mean. I think there are a couple things at play. One, Cherington has been pretty open (for him) about needing to find players everywhere. The Pirates haven't been good enough with international stuff in recent years, and that's not just the DR or Venezuela. The new group has really emphasized that and has secured a bunch of talent from the Pacific Rim. And I do think it's the sort of thing that can snowball. Guys know each other sometimes. One might look up to another. People talk about how players are treated. And if you think about it, the Pirates should be doing this stuff.
Cullen B
12:54
What does Bae need to do to become an everyday guy vs a super utility player?
Jason Mackey
12:55
Might be nothing, honestly. He might just fit better as a utility type. But I would like to see him make contact more -- shoot, bunt, hit grounders to the left side -- and strike out less.
Potato Pete
12:55
Haven't seen much of CSN lately. Would he be the first to go down if they wanted to call Swaggerty up?
Jason Mackey
12:55
Yeah, he hasn't played much. And probably. Seems like they would go that route over Jack.
epiballo
12:56
Hey Jason ... I have read a lot of comments on your articles, accusing you of cheerleading for the Pirates. They usually follow up with the usual 'Never win with Nutting' angst. Just want to say I love your balanced coverage of the Pirates; it is so refreshing to actually read positive reporting on the Buccos!
Jason Mackey
12:57
I try to be as fair and respectful as possible. I've written plenty of stuff that's critical of the Pirates, but as the beat reporter, my analysis tends to be more numbers-based and analyzing what I've been around and talked to people about. I know readers like to say whatever because I don't write [screw Bob Nutting] all the time, but that's not my job. I leave that to our columnists or editorial board.
12:58
I've also criticized Nutting and how much he spends. I've asked him multiple times why he doesn't spend more money, why he owns the team, whether he would sell and what leads him to do business the way he does. But I guess that stuff doesn't count.
WalterW
12:58
Hi, Can you tell me what influence Radley Haddad has as game planning and strategy coach for the Pirates. How does that work with regard to lineups, etc?
Jason Mackey
1:00
He does a lot with opposing matchups, where pitchers have success and where they don't. An easy way to think of Radley's role is as a liaison between the analytics folks and the baseball side. He may translate research from data into stuff that can be coached or implemented into strategy. There's also informing people of what opponents' like to do, etc.
Justin
1:00
Re: the LSU question.  I'm not sure what my question had to do with draft pools and spending.  Maybe you took my question as some anti-Pirates dig.  It wasn't.  I was asking if you've heard anything about sending extra guys there to put extra eyes on Crews, and heck, Skenes, in order to determine who the best player in the draft is.  It's okay if the answer is no, that you haven't heard of any special extra attention to LSU.  That's fine.
Jason Mackey
1:01
OK, I haven't heard of any special extra attention to LSU. I was answering the question for everyone, though, not just you, responding to a fairly typical concern that I hear about their drafting. I guarantee people are worried that if they're not spending extra resources on Crews, they're gonna draft Daniel Moskos again or something. My point was that that's not the case.
OK, folks. That does it for this week. Thanks so much for participating! Talk to you next Friday.
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