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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 05.22.19
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Guest
12:31
Who is the prankster on the pirates? Every team has a locker room prankster!
Jason Mackey
12:31
I'm sorry. I just got here. I'm sure that sort of thing exists, but I can't say I have a strong enough feel for who that might be, at least not yet.
PIRATES
12:31
What is up with Cervelli this season?
Jason Mackey
12:32
Tough year for him. It's the way it goes sometimes -- nothing goes right. The foul ball off the chest, for instance. It just seems like there's a magnet on him. Then in the field, he bungles the rundown. Gets a hit, he's out of the game. Just a tough year. I don't have a precise answer for you. I don't know if he or the Pirates have a precise answer at this point.
Guest
12:32
Jason, enjoy your first chat. I heard you were at a paper in Atlanta covering the Braves right before you took the Post Gazette job. Welcome to pittsburgh, amigo! Do you like the city so far??
Jason Mackey
12:33
I was not. I think you're confusing me and Nubyjas. I grew up in Pittsburgh ... went to Brentwood, played football and baseball, and then played baseball at Westminster College. Moved away, to D.C., for a couple years out of school (2006-10), then moved back. Have lived here ever since. Love this city!
section 115
12:33
Jason, so many of my BFFs are down on Clint, what say you?
Jason Mackey
12:34
Said it before, with all the injuries the Pirates have endured, I think Hurdle deserves a lot of praise for keeping them afloat. I wish he would give his pitchers a longer leash sometimes, but overall as a manager, it's hard to criticize too much. I think they've exceeded expectations to this point.
Chuck
12:35
Jason,  I read the Pirates have been thinking about trying Chisenhall at 3B when he finally is able to play.   Do you think this is a real possibility and has he played there prior?
Jason Mackey
12:35
Chisenhall has played plenty of third throughout his career, so this wouldn't surprise me. However, I think priority No. 1 for Chisenhall should be getting healthy. Worry about a position later.
rambler66
12:36
The Pirates take an approach that attempts to have them be competitive every year. The result of that seems to be a bunch of .500 teams. Would they be better served to keep payroll extremely low for a few years followed by a few years of high payroll. Seems to have worked to bring the Marlins a couple of WS championships over the past 20 years. The attendence would seem to average out too.
Jason Mackey
12:37
If the Pirates are going to change business models, I'm not sure that's the one to follow. How about increasing payroll a little bit, at least to middle-of-the-pack range? There's talent on the team, but they could use some help -- right now, for instance. This is a great sports city. Fans will respond and have responded before. I don't like what the Marlins did because it leads to a lot of lean years, but I do think the Pirates could stand to ramp it up a little beyond where their spending is right now. (And yes, I understand budgetary constraints, in case Bob Nutting is reading this. Still ... )
Mike Lanza
12:37
As a Pittsburgh guy new to the Pirates beat, I'd really appreciate your perspective on this:  How can so many Pirate "fans" follow the team closely as they root against it?  Sure, OK, they *hate* the owner, but in that case, why follow the team and get pleasure when it loses?
Jason Mackey
12:41
Hi Mike. I get what you're saying. I can see how people would get frustrated with that stuff, but it's not the players who are putting these constraints in place. You don't think the Pirates would love to see Dallas Keuchel walk through that door? C'mon. But I do get why fans get frustrated when they see the other two teams in town spending every available dollar. I think the Pirates could do themselves some favors by even spending a little more than they're comfortable with, and I think they did that last year with Archer and Kela, to their credit.
John in Augusta
12:41
Jason, welcome. I like Clint Hurdle and think he is a great guy and does well with what he has. Do you think the Pirate ownership is going to stick with him or will they start looking if the Bucs start to slide out of site as the season rolls on.  thanks
Jason Mackey
12:42
Thanks, John. For all the warts the Pirates have right now -- and even at three games over, we'd be stupid to pretend they aren't there -- I don't see Hurdle as being one. I think he's better than your average MLB manager, and i think he's been a big reason for their success.
Ty
12:42
With the emergence of Josh Bell, would the pirates consider including Will Craig in a deal that could bring back starting pitching? Maybe Madison Bumbarner from the giants? Maybe could include Archer in the deal?
Jason Mackey
12:44
Hi Ty. Last part first: I can't see the Pirates moving Archer at this point. It's bad business: selling an asset at its lowest point. The sense you get is also that the Pirates believe Archer can figure it out. If that's the case, then they're not going to move him. I see what you're saying about Craig, though, and I would have to imagine that would be an option for them. If Bell keeps this up, that would obviously adjust their first-base pipeline.
Chester Cheese
12:44
Does this mean you are no longer on the Pens beat? And can you write some great background stories like you do with the Pens? PLEASE!
Jason Mackey
12:44
Hi Chester. Yes, it does. I'll full-time Pirates. And yes, I fully intend on bringing the same approach to Pirates -- the off-field stories, the human-interest stuff, quirky pieces, etc. I appreciate everyone's patience while I get my feet under me, though. Those pieces are tough to turn right away.
Jack Straw
12:45
Are you still on the Penguins beat or do you have a new assignment?
Jason Mackey
12:45
I switched beats at the P-G. I'm the paper's lead Pirates/baseball writer now.
Jason in Slippery Rock
12:45
You were terrific with your Penguin insider reports. But how long do you think it might take to establish similar relationships inside the Pirates organization?
Jason Mackey
12:46
I'm not sure, Jason. I don't know if you can put a timeline on such things. I'm going to work my hardest to do it ASAP, but that's also not the type of thing you can rush. Thank you for the kind words. I do think I'll be able to churn out some decent stuff soon, but yeah, there's also a startup period that I'm working through now.
Guest
12:46
Dark Star from 3-29-30?  1930?
Jason Mackey
12:47
Ah, damn. Good catch. 3-29-90. The Branford Marsalis show. It's musical heaven.
Ke'bryan Mays Hayes
12:47
German Marquez leads the NL in IP, already has a GGSO this year, is top 5 in bWAR and fWAR among MLB pitchers. Last night was his third start with 7+ scoreless innings. Any reason why it was presented as a surprise that he pitched well?
Jason Mackey
12:49
I don't think it was presented as much that Marquez is incapable as it was the Pirates bats going silent; they didn't do much of anything. I'll also admit this: It was my first-ever baseball game story. Criticism is fair, and I can take it. I had a billion things going through my head last night, and there's a bunch of stuff I wish I would have done different. I have better and you'll see it soon starting tonight.
Mike
12:50
I read that the Pirates sent scouts to watch the Giants and Orioles.  Why?  Have you heard anything?
Jason Mackey
12:50
I think you mixed up the New York Post story. The Giants and Pirates had scouts at Camden Yards last night. ... I wouldn't get too worked up over it, honestly. Can't imagine they're gonna go get Clint Frazier.
Rob fox
12:50
They have to free keller right?
Jason Mackey
12:51
I would think so.
2 balls 1 cup
12:51
Have you packed enough underwear for the next roadtrip? Clean Underwear
Jason Mackey
12:51
I haven't packed for the Cincy trip yet, but I do plan on bringing clean underwear.
Peter
12:51
Thoughts on EndGame?
Jason Mackey
12:51
Have not seen it.
Krugerrand
12:51
All of the #1 seeds fell in the first round as well as some #2s.  Can the NHL playoffs really claim to produce the 'best' team, or has it become which team randomly survives?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Can't not answer a hockey question ... ha. I think these playoffs speak to the randomness of hockey. It's not always the best teams. More the team that gets enough bounces, gets hot, etc. I mean, c'mon. St. Louis was a hot mess earlier this year. How else to explain it?
Jenk
12:52
Has Searage lost his ability to be a horse whisperer?
Jason Mackey
12:53
I don't think so. Got this earlier, but my comeback would still be: What about Jordan Lyles? I'm not chalking Archer's situation up to a Searage issue.
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