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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 05.26.21
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Jason Mackey
11:18
Hello, everyone. And welcome, of course, to my weekly Pirates chat. We'll get started at noon, but feel free to ask whatever you want now. Will be back shortly to answer.
11:57
And away we go ...
Zap
11:57
Are the comparisons between Keller and Glasnow really fair in your mind? I'm talking in terms of declaring the new regime has failed if Keller isn't developed into a strong starter, if not an ace. Couldn't it just be the case it turns out Keller's stuff isn't that good? Flat fastball, not a ton of spin on his off-speed stuff, etc?
Jason Mackey
12:01
Sounds like you read Rum Bunter. Here's where I come down on this: We don't know. Keller hasn't been good enough this season, I will agree. Or at least hasn't been consistently good enough. He has also made 25 MLB starts, which is less than a full season. I used to cover the Penguins. I covered Bryan Rust coming up, and he was terrible as a young player. Wouldn't pass to Crosby or Malkin. Was tentative. Now look what happened. He developed, and he's one of their best all-around players. I agree that Keller's stuff has not been as good this season. That can happen for a variety of reasons. But I'm not ready to make any sort of definitive declarations about him. Let him work through his stuff. This is the year to do it.
Hank
12:01
Who in the front office did Miguel Yajure tick off?
Jason Mackey
12:02
Nobody. This is their strategy. You can hate it -- and the MLBPA probably does, because they're essentially preserving service time. But it's the Pirates' way of giving Class AAA guys sporadic experience with the big club. I think you'll see Yajure get another shot. I think you will see Chase De Jong and others get shots as well.
Danny
12:02
If you were in Ben Cherington’s shoes what would your preference be with the No. 1 pick? Leiter/Rockier, one of the prep short stops or maybe a little bit of an underslot with Henry Davis?
Jason Mackey
12:04
I go back and forth on this. And I think it also depends on signability and asks, because I would not want to overpay if I'm the Pirates for a few reasons. 1. This is a draft, scouts have told me, that's good for those swing-back-around kids, the ones you might be able to sway from college with dollars. So, I wanna keep that option open. Two, it's deep at the top. That said, and as much as I like the high school shortstops, you can never have enough pitching. I would probably go Leiter. But if the ask was nuts, I wouldn't be afraid to pivot.
PrinceBob
12:04
What is The Authenticator?" Obviously it's someone who authenticates things, mostly "milestone" baseballs, it seems, but it seems like something with considerable down time. How often is something authenticated? Does each dugout have one? Does he do anything else?Is it someone who travels with the team? Is it
Jason Mackey
12:05
Any more questions? Ha. You answered your own question. The authenticator ... wait for it ... authenticates things. No, he doesn't travel. Each ballpark has one. Not each dugout. One per park. No, I do not believe he does anything else.
PrinceBob
12:05
Does he do anything else? Is it a paid job and if so, how does one get it?
Jason Mackey
12:06
Ha. I don't know how one gets that job, to be honest with you. Maybe go to authenticating school? Not faking your way through that!
Zap
12:06
Any word on the Swaggerty injury? Assume you would have reported it if so, but it's been strangely quiet since he was sent to Pittsburgh for diagnosis.
Jason Mackey
12:06
I've been digging, believe me. Have gotten a bunch of, "only what you reported." Ha. Sent to Pittsburgh for more. We talk to Todd Tomczyk later today, and I expect to hear an update then.
Mike from Maryland
12:06
Jason, I really appreciate your coverage of the Pirates. I also enjoyed when you were covering the Pens as well. Thank you for your hard work. My question is, while I completely agree with the direction that the Pirates have taken, going for a full rebuild, and I like the process that we have seen from Ben Cherington, I have some concerns about the future OF prospects. There are several IF players to be excited from, and quite a few pitchers that are going to be fun to see develop, I am not sure that there really high end prospects on the horizon in the OF. Certainly nothing close to what we have with Hays or Gonzales. Outside of Hudson Head in A ball, do you see any prospects that we should really get excited about?
Jason Mackey
12:08
Hey Mike, thank you so much for the kind words. I hear your concern. It's a valid one. They have more guys in the infield than they do the outfield, for sure. Head is one. Also, Cal Mitchell and Canaan Smith-Njigba are two names you should know. Probably Sammy Siani as well. Swaggerty you know. They could always shift Cruz out there, and I think either he or Bae will ultimately have to move, although I understand why they haven't yet. Shalin Polanco is a ways off, but he's someone they like a lot. Solomon Maguire is another international signee they paid a lot for, a guy with considerable upside.
Zap
12:08
Question about the lack of lefty pitching prospects in the minors - there are a ton of promising right-handed pitchers but few if any lefties. Have you heard anything from Cherington et al that it's an area of need that they need to target?
Jason Mackey
12:09
No, I don't think it's a concern at this point. Where the Pirates were/are at, they just need arms. They can't afford to show a preference one over the other. I think you would like to have more lefties, sure, but not at the expense of passing over a better pitcher. Agree with you, though. It is odd that they have almost none.
Tom
12:10
I understand at some point you just need warm bodies to fill a position and thats why we have the Vargas/Gamels/Toms/Difos. But when Vargas and Difo are geting starts over Cole Tucker in the infield, that’s where they lose me. I’m not implying Tucker is out savior, but what’s the harm in stringing some starts together. Isn’t the goal for this year to see what we have? Those waiver guys aren’t it.
Jason Mackey
12:11
Completely agree, Tom. I would have a tough time bumping Newman. I like his defense. At the same time, isn't this year about finding out what you have? If I was Shelton, I might see about Newman playing third. Or, hell, put Tucker in the outfield. My concerns with him aren't defensive; they're whether he can hit. As such, I would love to get him, like, 20 straight games and just leave him alone, see what he can do. If he stinks, at least you know, and you gave him a fair shot. Random ABs isn't a fair shake, IMO.
Kol Diamond
12:11
Why don’t The Pirates trade one of those lockdown relievers for a good hitting outfielder
Jason Mackey
12:14
Well, a few reasons. One, you need a team willing to make that deal right now. It's not even June. A lot of teams are figuring out what they have, and trades are usually only made right now in special cases. The Pirates would be looking to execute the opposite of a "baseball trade," meaning a reliever for prospects. If teams can avoid giving up prospects, they will. So I think that's what you're seeing. Also, it doesn't make sense for them to use their tradable players for what is essentially patchwork. If you're gonna stink, stink. What will someone between Ka'ai Tom and Bryan Reynolds on the outfield scale really do in terms of wins and losses? Use what you got to get 2, 3 or 4 guys you have to wait on and grow.
Gabe
12:14
Does Swaggerty’s injury all but guarantee he won’t be with the big club this season?
Jason Mackey
12:15
I/we need to find out the scope and severity before answering that. Expecting an update today. Have been digging on it, but haven't been able to get anything, obviously.
Rico
12:15
Yo Mackey can I ask you a blunt and honest question? Why can't Bob Nutting spend like $70-$80 million a year during this "rebuild" process? He does that we'd have more real major leaguers on the roster, the team would be more competitive and the fans would have more interest because the team wouldn't stink and be out of the race so early like they are now?
Jason Mackey
12:18
That's a completely fair question, Rico. And I don't have a good answer for you, unfortunately. The answer from the team would likely be something about baseball's financial system, revenue sharing, etc. I don't buy it. If you can't spend $40 million than the league minimum -- using round numbers here -- you need to sell the team, plain and simple. I do understand why/how it benefits them now to suck and suck a lot and how they can't say that publicly. I think that's more of what this probably is. Why spend money now? It only obfuscates the big-picture goal, which is to stink, hoard picks, make smart ones, develop those guys and win in a couple years. But I agree with you in the sense that it's hard to give anyone a legitimate reason to watch what has been some really awful baseball this month.
Brad
12:18
Hi Jason love the chats! I took my wife to the game yesterday and we both agreed the owner is doing a disservice to us fans. $9 beers, $7 hot dogs, etc... to watch an uncompetitive terrible cheaply constructed baseball team. Shouldn't the owner want to invest year after year in his major league team? It's not worth going to watch bums like Vargas.
Jason Mackey
12:23
I don't disagree with you, Brad. Those prices are obscene for what's on the field right now. The only thing I can tell you ... well, two things. 1. I don't run the team. 2. Vote with your dollar. ... That said, I do think the Pirates are doing some things right now at the moment, with Cherington, development, prospects, etc. I think the direction here is solid. But I think they could be doing a better job making the current product more accessible to fans and giving them a reason to go. ... Be honest and up front. Be affordable.
Gabe
12:23
I don’t mind seeing Ponce out there getting a spot start. But what exactly hasn’t Yahure shown that he can’t be that guy? He might be their most consistent starting pitcher right now
Jason Mackey
12:24
He has. He's shown plenty. They wanted to look at Ponce, who was on regular rest. That's it. It's not an indictment of Yajure.
Richard
12:24
Hey Jason! Are there any of the Pirates prospects that aren’t in MLB’s top 100 that you could see entering the top 100 next year?
Jason Mackey
12:31
Yessir. A couple ones are on my radar. Once he gets healthy, if he produces, Liover Peguero is that good. I also really like Tahnaj Thomas, the pitcher Mike Persak profiled today. A must-read, BTW. Could also see Mason Martin becoming a top 100 guy if his tremendous start continues.
PrinceBob
12:31
Assuming Trevor Cahill gets healthy and after his return pitches about like he's done until now, does he have any trade value?
Jason Mackey
12:31
None as of now. I can't imagine someone would want that. But I think there's also time to salvage it.
Lonnie
12:31
Why on earth is Hayes stuck in Indy until early June? I was reading Cherington screwed that up but don't know all the details. Real confidence booster for me as a fan to see incompetence from the new GM smh.
Jason Mackey
12:32
They move him to the 60-day IL. He's eligible to come off of there June 3, I believe. I don't understand how Ben screwed that up. It's May 26. He's been out for like 7 weeks. He's gonna have to build back up. What's the big deal?
Felix the Cat
12:32
When or if the Pirates are rebuilt and ready to contend, what should we expect the payroll to be Jason? I read your chat last week and it got to $100 million 1 year. Nutting committed didn't he to spending when the time is right? So what does that mean? Avg major league payroll? $130 million? I'm confused.
Jason Mackey
12:35
I don't know if they're putting a number on it, Felix. I mean, I would hope $80, $90 million? Would love higher, obviously, but I'm trying to be realistic. Bottom line, I don't know. I don't think anybody knows. I think it could depend some on how many people come out -- I'm not trying to spin you here, but that is an input -- how well it goes, what the situation calls for, etc. Again, I would love -- and I think fans deserve -- to see it over $100, at the league average, maybe above. But I'm also trying to be realistic here. Sorry for what's probably a fairly non-helpful answer, but I don't think that boundary is really set.
Sunner in Orlando
12:35
Looking at the current unwatchable AAA product on the field, the idea that the Pirates will be competitive in 2023 and beyond looks far fetched to me. While the farm system looks a little better than it did a couple of years ago, I don't see any potential players who are going to make that big of a difference or who will be ready to make the jump to the big leagues any time soon. I see mediocrity at best for the next 3-5 years. Please give me some names to watch in the minor leagues that will save the Pirates ship from sinking!
Jason Mackey
12:37
Well, Mason Martin, Canaan Smith-Njigba and Rodolfo Castro have been really good at Class AA. I don't know how you've reached the conclusion that they won't be able to contribute in two years, but I would respectfully disagree. Same goes for Nick Gonzales at High-A, along with Quinn Priester and Tahnaj Thomas with the same team. Oh, and Roansy Contreras at Class AA. Miguel Yajure has been good with Indy and the major league club. Agree the present hasn't been good, but I'm not as down on the future as you.
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