You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 05.27.22
powered byJotCast
View Full Chat Next Page
Jason Mackey
12:43
Hello, everyone, and welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. New date/time because of the day game. And greetings from San Diego. We'll get started here shortly.
1:04
OK, sorry for the slight delay. Fell down the rabbit hole of looking up where the Pirates' .197 BA w/RISP ranks all-time. It's ... not good. Anyway ...
WalterW
1:04
Good day, What is happening with Cam Alldred? I was quite surprised to see them DFA him after 1 inning. What is next in this process?
Jason Mackey
1:05
I was as well. He pitched well up here and has pitched well in Indy. Right now he can be claimed. Believe there's two more days where that can happen. If he's not, he goes back to Indy.
Guest
1:05
pirates start at least 4 players hitting under .200,,,,some times 5,,,,,how are you going to win with that
Jason Mackey
1:06
You aren't. I think batting average is overvalued. I equate it to plus/minus in hockey. Doesn't tell you much ... unless someone is like -20. I think you can fairly say there have been struggles. There have been struggles with the Pirates offense. They have to find solutions, and it may just involve giving younger players opportunities. It should.
Joel
1:06
Hi, Jason. We corresponded by email this past week after your diatribe game story on the 18-4 blowout loss to the Cardinals. Thanks for being so responsive. I want to follow up in the chat and make the obvious point: we Pirate fans want to believe in this management team, but don’t insult our intelligence with lineups made up of mediocre veterans and players picked off the waiver wire when more talented players are ready to roll in your own system. Enough already! It’s time for Cruz, Martin, Smith-Njigba, Mitchell, and others to come up to the big leagues and take their lumps. I’m sure I speak for many that it would be much more exciting to have a losing team with young players on the rise than a losing team seemingly designed to be uninspiring. Clemente, Mazeroski, and Groat were part of some terrible teams in the 50s. Bonds and Bonilla got pummeled in 86 and early 87. But then they exploded. Give the fans a break and play the kids!
Jason Mackey
1:07
Perfectly reasonable sentiment here. I think Pittsburgh is a wonderful baseball town. I think it's a pretty understanding place. Nobody expects the Pirates to contend for the division right now, but I think fans do want to see effort toward something. Watching these guys now is a part of that.
Guest
1:07
Do you think the success Clay Holmes is having with the Yanks is an indictment of Sherrington? How could Sherrington have not seen what the Yanks saw? Also, why couldn't Sherrington have gotten more for Yanks. Neither Hoy nor Castillo have done much at this point. Don't you think Sherrington should be held accountable for this terrible trade?
Jason Mackey
1:09
Cherington. Why can't people seem to get his name right? The issue with Holmes is the issue the Pirates had with Glasnow, Meadows and others. He never should have been tradable in the first place. He got about what he should have gotten based on what Holmes did here. The issue is what Holmes did here ... or I guess didn't do. I think the Pirates should be blamed for cutting bait to early on Holmes, yes. That said, I think there's an over-arching discussion to be had here. I think a lot of players are like Clay -- they leave, go elsewhere and have new life. They join a franchise with a payroll and expectations and all that fun stuff, and they change. I think it's a byproduct of not spending as much as you should on major league players. Those inside the clubhouse feel defeated in inadequate or not as set up to compete as others do.
sonya
1:09
i think the pirates should try and trade  Mitch Keller for another pitcher.Who do you think they should get
Jason Mackey
1:10
I don't think the Pirates should trade Mitch Keller. It's why the Clay Holmes trade is gonna get crushed, if it hasn't already. You're trading a stock at its lowest point and not getting enough back. I'd ride it out.
I miss Willie
1:10
How much of Reynolds' and Hayes' batting woes can be attributed to having no protection because of the other seven hitters (and I use the word loosely) around them? I'll hang up and listen...
Jason Mackey
1:12
Some. Not all. Bryan Reynolds needs to be mature enough in his approach to not chase, and he is. He didn't last year. Not like Ken Griffey Jr. was hitting behind him then. Hayes needs to get more lift on the ball. That's not Josh VanMeter's fault. I'm sure there's some inherent pressure to carry this team, but I think their "struggles" are attributable to different things.
Bucs Fan in Ga
1:12
How much longer do u see front office sticking with lack of productivity from Yoshi at 1st base😊appreciate your on the spot reporting on our Bucs! Happy Memorial Day!
Jason Mackey
1:13
Happy Memorial Day to you too! Thank a veteran. He's on the 10-day IL. This could be it, depending on what happens. Maybe they give him some time when he comes off the IL, but we're a quarter of the way through, he's been bad, I think it's time to explore other options. Suppose it could be Chavis, then figure out what middle infield looks like. Hope they give Mason Martin a shot soon as well.
Puddin Tane
1:13
Yoshi is hurt and the Pirates still don't call up Martin!? What gives?
Jason Mackey
1:14
Would imagine they feel he still has work to do with swing-and-miss/strikeouts. Don't love it. Believe he's third in MiLB in XBH. Had 1.230 OPS since May 13 going into last night. I get wanting him to strike out less, but he's still been productive.
Noel Gallagher
1:14
Hello Jason. Who are some of the rising prospects in the pirates system that weren’t highly regarded before the season like Cruz, Gonzales, etc.?
Jason Mackey
1:15
You've probably heard of him by now, but I believe Matt Gorski still leads all of affiliated baseball in home runs. He's one. You might know of Mike Burrows but should. Pitcher in Altoona. Shoved last night. Has been one of the best in AA. Jared Jones at High-A Greensboro is nasty. Blake Sabol, utility guy in Altoona, has been quietly really good. I could go on, but those are a few.
Ryan
1:16
Good afternoon Jason what do you think about the Buccos so far this season Hayes and Bednar have looked good at this point they should be the pirates all star representatives
Jason Mackey
1:17
I wouldn't go Hayes but Bednar, absolutely. No question. They've been up and down. When the starting pitching has been good, they have a chance. Need to field better. I love them playing the kids, though I don't think that's going to magically have them playing .500 ball. Need a better catching option. I think Reynolds is going to break out soon. Chavis has had a fine season.
Guest
1:17
Are we started?
Jason Mackey
1:17
We are indeed.
Nate
1:17
After another great start from Burrows last night, when will he be moved to AAA? And do you think we see him this year in Pittsburgh as a Sept call up?
Jason Mackey
1:17
I can't imagine Burrows is long for AA. He's absolutely dominating. Would imagine a move is coming soon. And, yeah, I could absolutely see him getting the Ro treatment from last season, assuming this continues. Dude is nasty.
Jim M.
1:18
Jason, Mason Martin has 5 HRs in the last week and has cut down on his strikeouts. With Vogelbach and Yoshi on the IL, is there any reason to not bring him up?  If nothing else he’s a left handed platoon with Chavis
Jason Mackey
1:20
I don't disagree with you, Jim. Not sure I totally understand what they're doing there, and I plan to ask Shelton about it later today. (They were off yesterday.) I would imagine they think Mason has more work to do with that stuff, but as I said earlier, he's been productive. How has he not earned a look? FWIW, his strikeout rate is 32.8% on the season, which is definitely bad. And it's been 34.5% over the past 13 games. So I wouldn't say those issues are behind him by any stretch.
Phil
1:21
Why was Alldred DFAd? With all the detritus on the 40-man that could've been sent packing (Hembree, Beede, Fletcher, Mears, Underwood, Parl, Tucker, Tsutsugo), they choose to DFA a young LHP that deserved a longer run in the bullpen. I don't get it.
Jason Mackey
1:21
I don't get that one either, Phil. My only guess is they think they can sneak him through because he's low velocity and hasn't really pitched much in the major leagues. I worry he winds up like Beau Sulser, and they lose him.
FloridaPaul
1:21
How is the new pitch signaling system working for the Pirates and do you think it is helping somewhat with speeding up the game?
Jason Mackey
1:22
It's working fine. I think it does sometimes. Helps establish a better rhythm. Some guys like it. Others not as much. I'm not sure it's had any effect on shortening games in a meaningful way, but it is making it harder to steal signs.
Bill
1:22
Jason, when do you realistically think Cruz and Martin come up? With Martin we know there will be strikeouts but there should also be power and better defense at 1B. That alone should help make the decision.
Jason Mackey
1:23
Honestly, if their recent runs continue, it wouldn't surprise me if they joined the club next week in Pittsburgh. At least one of them anyway.
Bill
1:23
Rumor has it Ritchie was going to be the backup to Perez at end of ST before his injury. He’s back at Indy now and if he performs, do you think they give him a look eventually? M Perez just isn’t cutting it.
Jason Mackey
1:24
Yes, I do. They like Ritchie a lot. I think he's probably a better defensive catcher than Perez. That being said, those guys are like 2 for their past 43 or something crazy like that. They should be looking under every imaginable rock.
Wvpirate
1:24
No one seems to remember that Clay Holmes was let go by the Pirates the winter before. There were 29 other teams that passed on him before the Pirates resigned him. Personally I have not given up on the 2 players the Pirates acquired especially Castillo.
Jason Mackey
1:24
I appreciate the sentiment, but if this version of Clay Holmes sticks, I'm sorry, neither Diego Castillo nor Hoy Park is matching that. He's unseating Aroldis Chapman for crying out loud.
1:25
But you make a fine point that other teams had their crack at him. Development is an inexact science, for sure.
Ryan
1:25
Jason what do you think about the play of gamel he has looked good i think we win tonight and Sunday let’s go Bucs
Connecting…