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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 05.19.23
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Fat Al
12:27
What the heck happened to Ortiz? He looked so darn good last year, hitting 100, and dominating with 2 pitches. In both Indy and Pittsburgh this year, not nearly the same? Any insight into this?
Jason Mackey
12:28
Got this one earlier, Al. I see a young pitcher who first needs to iron out some mechanical issues. I think he's tentative because he's not confident and scared of spraying the ball everywhere, so he's taking some off.
PrinceBob
12:30
I'll assume you read Adam Bitner's latest column in which he said that most of the success the Pirates have had this year has been due to their veterans rather than their young guys. (If you haven't read the column ignore me.) I've thought the same thing now and again and for me it raises questions about how well the team develops talent while at the same time understanding that most of the highly regarded prospects are still in the minors. I don't have a specific question here but just wonder what your thoughts on that column are.
Jason Mackey
12:32
I don't completely understand making an assertion in either direction. Not sure who's constantly saying they're young, they're young, they're young, when we simultaneously -- or at least I do -- talk about the veteran additions this offseason and those being important. They certainly have young players. They also have old ones. That's fairly typical for a baseball team. Some of the young guys haven't produced. It's also been 43 games -- or halftime of Week 5 in the NFL season. Would we be making the same sort of assessment of the Steelers at that point? Probably not. Which is why I'm in not necessarily in favor of painting the Pirates as being something or not being something at this point.
Gene
12:32
When do you think we start seeing guys being brought up to the Pirates?  We definitely need more offense as well as pitching.
Jason Mackey
12:34
I don't have a magic answer for you, Gene. The smart a*% in me wants to say after the Super-2 deadline, when they're magically developed, but I know there's nuance there. I would say probably when there's a combination of minor league production, a major league need and legitimate opportunity. And, yeah, I don't doubt Super-2 stuff plays a factor as well.
PrinceBob
12:34
And while I'm asking you for reactions to things you may not have seen, what do you think of Joe Starkey's idea that Rudolfo Castro should consider giving up switch hitting?
Jason Mackey
12:35
I don't hate it. But what I would like to see is this: Ditch the switch hitting but play every day. Might sound counterintuitive, I know. But I would like to see what Castro can be if you let him play every day. If he's right-on-right a lot, I don't care. I wanna see what he can do.
The Eman
12:35
Shorter games gotta be reducing concession sales. I wonder how owners actually feel about games being 30+ minutes shorter.
Jason Mackey
12:35
I would be interested in seeing league-wide numbers on that, though I'm not about to hold my breath.
Donnie Iris
12:36
Despite the bats finally doing something Wednesday, they still have to give the offense a shot in the arm. I noticed Cal Mitchell is hitting the cover off the ball recently and that Gonzales has been doing well since coming off the IL. Couldn't be too much of a stretch to swap them out for Owings and Andujar, no?
Jason Mackey
12:37
We're gonna do a lot more hypothetical callups, huh? ... I don't have an issue with Owings being on the roster. He's their best defensive option at short. Andujar ... yeah, don't get that. You could easily go Mitchell there.
Guest
12:37
Your thoughts on Henry Davis DHing and playing right field. Is management lying about Davis needing time behind the plate and keeping him down for Super Two reasons, or is it merely a way to give him some exposure at different positions while also giving him a break from the rigors of catching and keeping his bat in the lineup? The numbers I've seen have him catching 21 games, DHing or RF seven games.
Jason Mackey
12:38
Yeah, I don't understand what they're doing there. At all. I wouldn't be screwing around with Henry in RF. I would be having him catch, bouncing Endy around and making it work together in Triple-A. I'm OK not calling up either one yet. I wanna see Henry in Triple-A. But them being apart doesn't make any sense to me.
Donnie Iris
12:38
Greg Brown and Matt Capps have to wear a baseball cap backwards or at ridiculous angles going forward, right? Their antics Wednesday just might have broken this offensive funk.
Jason Mackey
12:39
I would be disappointed if they didn't. Though I don't know if Capps will be back this series given how much they rotate.
Donnie Iris
12:39
I just don't think they can give Hayes any more time as the leadoff batter. McCutchen, Bae, maybe Joe there? This is one of the reasons where losing Cruz really hurts.
Jason Mackey
12:40
No doubt. I don't like Hayes there either. Would rather him hit sixth. Here's a weird one: Suwinski. He sees a lot of pitches. It would be my way of challenging him to make more contact. "I don't care about your power, Jack. It'll come. See pitches and put the bat on the ball." Agree that losing Cruz hurts here.
Seferg
12:40
If they held the all star game next week, which pirates would have a legitimate case to go?  I am thinking Keller and Bednar
Jason Mackey
12:40
Those would be my picks as well.
Marnie
12:40
Hi - how do the Pirates use the PitchCom - or the ear piece I see the Catcher wearing. Is it just to communicate with the bench or is this in lieu of traditional hand signs between pitcher and catcher?  Or both?
Jason Mackey
12:41
It's for just the pitcher, catcher and I believe three designated fielders to listen. The catcher presses a button, and it tells the pitcher where/what to throw. The fielders can listen to position themselves accordingly.
Chi town Bucco fan
12:41
Hi Jason - in your article this week after the 4-0 loss to the Tigers this week, we’re you implying ever so subtly that GMBC was none too pleased with Shelty’s lefty loaded lineup despite stats showing the justification for a righty heavy lineup?
Jason Mackey
12:42
I was not. I wrote about GMBC being outside the clubhouse and such because I saw him there, and I used it to structure what I felt like was a need for a move. Has nothing to do with the construction of the lineup that night.
Guest
12:42
Most high end players spent at least tow or three years getting accustomed to MLB pitching.  Even Roberto Clemente spent a full three years before hitting his stride. in 1959.  My request is for you to highlight this developmental curve, in order that your pesky readers understand the difficulty in hitting a pesky curve.
Jason Mackey
12:43
When did this become a jukebox?
12:44
(I'm just kidding. Lemme brainstorm some ways to attack this. I know the point you're getting at: the length of time it takes to adjust, etc. Just have to figure out a method to wrap arms around it. Any suggestions?)
Guest
12:44
Marcano has a bright future, but he simply needs time to develop at this level.
Jason Mackey
12:45
He has a .588 OPS in 101 MLB games. I don't hate Marcano as a player, but it's also fair to want more than that while developing at the game's highest level.
Ryan
12:45
Good afternoon Jason what do you think about Mitch Keller two good starts in a row
Jason Mackey
12:46
He's been one of the best pitchers in baseball, an All-Star and ace. Not sure what else there is to say that hasn't already been said. Happy for the guy. He's been through some crap and deserves all the shine he gets.
Seferg
12:46
Is there a possible return date for Oniel Cruz or is he done until next year?
Jason Mackey
12:46
No exact date, but I would expect the first week or two of August.
Anthony
12:46
Are the Pirates choosing not to play Cutch in the field or is it an injury that is preventing him from playing out there? It seems like it limits other players getting days off in the field, but still being able to DH.
Jason Mackey
12:47
Yeah, I asked Shelton about this, I think, in Baltimore. Recently. Answer was odd. Brought up the ankle, which, yeah, happened. But also long after he was banished from OF. Maybe it was to play Joe out there more? Not sure. Cutch wants to play out there. I don't think it's an injury or him asking for the break. But he doesn't make the lineups.
Anthony
12:48
If you had to guess when do you see the team promoting Nick Gonzales? He's been hitting better this month and has been cutting down on the strikeout rate.
Jason Mackey
12:49
Same as earlier, Anthony. Probably when there's more available opportunity. Right now, they're flirting with stuff that's deleterious (mark that one down) for prospects by jockeying back-and-forth with playing time. Gonzales needs to play. They need to figure out what they have in other guys.
George Costanza
12:49
What can be done to kickstart this struggling offense? Is Brian Reynolds pressing a bit with no home runs hit in a while?
Jason Mackey
12:50
Talked to Reynolds in Detroit. That's not the sense I got. Same ol' Bryan. One answer: "I’m still having a pretty normal season. Just waiting for the next hot streak." ... His homers tend to come in bunches. I don't think we're far away from the next HR binge.
Jason in Clearwater
12:50
Hey Jason who you going with in the draft? The best hitter or the best pitcher? Seems to be between 2 guys for the number one pick.
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