You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 05.12.22
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Zack
12:50
Any work on Priester and when we might see his season start in Altoona. Also what are some names from the pirates top 30 we could see in Pittsburgh that we haven’t yet this season?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Update on Priester in yesterday's notes: Throwing from 125 feet on flat ground and off a mound. They're taking some time because they're working on his delivery some to try and prevent future injuries. ... Top 30 names: Cruz, Swaggerty, maaaybe Burrows, Bae, Smith-Njigba, Martin and Mitchell would be my main top 30 ones.
Nate B
12:52
Give me a realiastic timeline on when you feel the Pirates are going to be competitive again? Seems like the lineup with Cruz Davis Martin is in good hands but Pitching is really young..
Jason Mackey
12:52
I think you're gonna see signs in 2023. Maybe playing really good ball until August, then faltering, something like that. I think they'll be legit competitive by 2024.
MjB
12:52
I didn't understand the VanMeter experiment at the time of the signing, and even though he has been doing better lately, what is the point of him being on the roster?   Perhaps the best way to ask would be to say, "What do the Pirates see that I don't?"
Jason Mackey
12:53
I think they see more offense there than you or I do. And I think it's fine while they don't totally have someone pushing for time there to keep him. He's ... a guy. Not gonna embarrass you. Good personality. Likable. He's keeping a spot warm basically.
Justin
12:53
Do you share the same optimism about Gonzales that was shown to you in your interviews for the Gonzales article?  Do you think he's just an adjustment away?
Jason Mackey
12:54
I have absolutely zero concern with Gonzales. Worrying whether he's gonna hit for me is akin to worrying whether Reynolds will hit.
Wayward
12:54
Jason, What's your take on Bae?  Is a major league utility guy, or could he be a regular at CF, 2B or even SS?
Jason Mackey
12:55
I don't know if I see him as a regular SS. I think his value is his versatility. He's so stinkin' fast. I would bounce him, but again, gotta hit first.
Zack
12:55
So right now as I see the rotation it looks like they have 3 pitchers dependent on pitch count and start quality they’re comfortable with allowing going deeper into ballgames (Brubaker, Quintana, Keller) the other 2 “rotation” slots are mostly starters or handcuffed starts.
Jason Mackey
12:56
You might be right. Those first three could also be cut short depending on how they're pitching. But they do like Peters, Crowe and a few others in their current roles. I like Wilson more out of the bullpen. Curious to see what they do with Duane.
Zack
12:56
with that going forward do you expect the bullpen to be a lot of long arms and maybe 3-4 1 inning guys?
Jason Mackey
12:56
Yes, I do. They're basically splitting the bullpen in half.
Justin
12:56
Do you think that a Cole Tucker would get claimed if DFA'd?  He just seems so utterly lost.
Jason Mackey
12:56
Why would they DFA him? He has an option remaining.
Mark
12:56
Hey Jason, Hope you and your fam are doing well. I was just wondering what your thoughts on the series against the Reds?
Jason Mackey
12:57
Thanks, Mark. My biggest thought is that these guys don't suck. Seriously. They just played really well at home. They're not awful. I think people consider these games free wins. I worry that the Reds may be starting to come out of this.
Justin
12:57
Nicely done breaking the Castro news first :)
Jason Mackey
12:57
I think Kody Duncan had it first. (Didn't realize it until I checked my mentions, then credited Kody.)
AJ
12:57
If Cruz doesn't get going in Triple A, is there a possibility he isn't in Pittsburgh until late in the season? Also at what point should we be concerned if he doesn't heat up?
Jason Mackey
12:58
We're nowhere near the point of being concerned. I also think he'll be just fine, FWIW. Just give it some time, AJ. He's a terrific player. He had a lousy start. He's gonna hit.
Ed
12:58
Interesting notes on Dewey Robinson and changes to Pirates organizational pitching approach. I always assumed bridge starter was out of necessity and top pitchers want 1st pitch through 6-7 innings /100 pitches. How is philosophy of pitching inning blocks rather than full games embraced by younger pitchers in development pipeline who aspire to front of rotation? It's an interesting approach on paper but I wonder how it plays with pitchers who aspire to 8-9  figure deals as top tier 'starter'
Jason Mackey
1:00
Yeah, it's gonna be met the same way all would meet it: They want to cycle out of it. Not like they hate the Pirates, but front-line starters get paid a lot of money. So, prove you can do it. Most won't, however. And I think guys also enjoy being used appropriately. That helps them. So there is incentive to get on board.
Ed
1:00
Did you see highlight of Cruz butchering route to routine flyball in LF in Indy? Looks like there's still a lot of work to do there if he's going to play OF
Jason Mackey
1:00
I did. It's not good. He doesn't wanna play out there, and he doesn't look comfortable. I would pause the OF experiment, let him focus on SS and hitting, then revisit once that stuff is settled.
Ed
1:00
Is Castro getting call up?
Jason Mackey
1:00
Yes.
Ed
1:00
Can this team win 70 games, and if so would that be considering a decent season given low expectations?
Jason Mackey
1:01
I predicted they will win 62. Now, can they win 70? I think they can, yes. Maybe if they stay healthy, there are some surprises, pitching is better than anticipated, etc. I just don't think 70 wins is terribly likely.
Sal
1:01
Indy has a huge roster--have the Pirates actually been traveling with a Taxi Squad, or is Indy only activating 28 a game with extra players hanging around?
Jason Mackey
1:02
They have not been traveling with a taxi squad, no.
Guest
1:02
Super stoked for Castro, showed a lot of promise last year and brings the energy. He should run Tucker out of the building
Jason Mackey
1:02
People need to chill on the Cole Tucker hate. It's not like he's walking around Pittsburgh tipping over strollers or something. Geez.
Bill
1:02
Nice to see Carter Bins hit his first AAA HR. If he can hit even average, he'd be an upgrade over Knapp, dont you think?
Jason Mackey
1:03
I don't think they should be in the habit of rushing prospects because of shortcomings with the MLB club. Also, I don't care if Knapp is swinging a toothpick if he's a good defensive catcher.
Rod Scurry
1:03
When do you see us actually contending for the division and why? I don't see anything other than a piece here and there for the next two years, so 2025 at the earliest, if then?
Jason Mackey
1:04
Answered this a little earlier, but you need to focus on Altoona. That's the biggest part of the Pirates' farm system right now. The bulk of that group should get to Triple-A next season and may debut in the bigs. Year after, should be more comfortable, with Cruz, Roansy, Hayes, maybe/hopefully Reynolds and others. So, signs in '23, winning in '24 is my belief.
BT
1:04
Pitchers are told what pitch to throw most, if not all, of the time.  Has it gone too far?  Are managers overthinking, and actually hurting their pitcher.  Major league pitchers have been successful their whole lives, let them find their own groove.  Didn’t Glasnow pretty much say the same thing…..he became successful in Tampa once they quit micromanaging his every pitch
Jason Mackey
1:05
There's telling someone what to throw and telling somebody how to throw. Most pitchers don't wanna think through calling a game. Catchers are also closer to the hitter and better able to read swings. So they call pitches. If a pitcher isn't confident in something, he shakes. Having someone pitch YOUR way is a different thing when it reached the Glasnow level. Nobody should do that, and the Pirates are no longer operating that way.
Connecting…