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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 06.01.22
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Jack
12:32
How do you deal with the knuckleheads at 93.7?   They are so negative re: anything Pirates or Steelers.   Yet the Penguins and Pitt can do no wrong.   Talking baseball with those dolts must be difficult.   Good luck!
Jason Mackey
12:33
Ha. Those guys are all my friends. In the case of Joe, Ron and Paul, they're also my coworkers. I miss being on as regularly with those guys as I used to be, and I've told them that. I hope there's an opportunity to go back in a more regularly capacity.
Justin
12:33
Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's a very high chance that Tucker makes it through DFA limbo and remains Pirates "property", right?
Jason Mackey
12:33
I wouldn't describe the chance as "very high." Teams tend to take chances on former first-round picks the first time through this process. But, yeah, there is a chance he remains with the Pirates.
Dan
12:33
Joe Block posted an entertaining tweet today showing the Pirates were 6 games out in the wild card race. Realistically, what is your latest adjusted expectation this season? 70 wins? More? Less? (Good prep music, btw)
Jason Mackey
12:35
Thanks, Dan. Really digging this show. Did not see that from Joe, although he's the best. Love Joe. Yeah, I would adjust to around 70 wins, give or take one or two. I also think we should account for a post-deadline fallout and more injuries, which are inevitable. If they're pitching, that's not gonna be great, I don't think. But right now, yeah, they don't look like a 100-loss team.
Justin
12:35
I've had my fair share of issues and skepticisms with Cherington and how he's done things, but I have noticed something that I see as good.  This is intangible, but does it seem to you like he's made a point to acquire a lot of "baseball rat" "dog in him" "scrappy" "will do the little things in order to win" types?  Guys like Chavis, Marcano, Castillo, Suwinski, Vogelbach, Bednar all seem to have that intangible factor IMO.  Also kept around guys like Castro who have that aura.
Jason Mackey
12:36
I don't know if that's a trait you would ascribe to a GM. Like he's actively looking to acquire those players. I think it's more that, as the Pirates, you want guys who want to be there, who get by on effort and work ethic and all that stuff. You need that doing what they're doing. But, yeah, I do think there's something to be said for vetting character and personality, and the Pirates have done well with that stuff.
Justin
12:36
When's your Cruz callup date prediction?  i have June 17, personally.  Seemingly plenty of Super 2 buffer, and beginning of a homestand.
Jason Mackey
12:37
Could be. Said before mid-June. None of us know for sure.
Ethan
12:37
PrinceBob...as someone who asks a ton of questions, I know what it means to have someone be willing to answer them. It was my pleasure, and thanks Jason for posting it. If you have more, find me on Twitter, happy to answer anything.
Jason Mackey
12:37
Ethan's handle: @EthanHullihen
Justin
12:37
what's your view on the Huntington regime criticisms recently brought up on Twitter by Kevin Kramer, if you've seen it?  Does it strike you as valid, as a not-talented-enough player blaming others, or something in between?
Jason Mackey
12:40
I have a few thoughts there. 1. Kevin Kramer is responsible for Kevin Kramer's career. Not Neal Huntington, not Kyle Stark. It felt like blame-shifting to me. 2. That said, they screwed up a lot of development. It's why they're no longer employed here. 3. It's a mistake on Nutting's part that they were allowed to act how they did for as long as they did. 4. I don't need Kevin Kramer's takes on Cole Tucker. Cole is his own person, and I'm formulate my opinion on him based on what I've seen and what I've heard from him and the Pirates, not Kevin Kramer.
Camden
12:40
When do you think Quinn priester will get his chance? Next season?
Jason Mackey
12:40
In the big leagues? Need to get him in a Double-A game first.
Ryan
12:40
Good afternoon Jason what do you think about the play of Reynolds these few games he has looked good can’t wait to watch him and the rest of the team on Sunday let’s go Buccos
Jason Mackey
12:41
Reynolds' swing has looked better to me. The best thing about what Reynolds has done lately, though: no more awkward chasing, evidence he's trying to do too much. He's hitting balls hard. They've just gone at people. That'll change. He's due for a breakout, I'm telling you.
Mike Lanza
12:41
This past week, Oneil Cruz has committed about an error a day at SS, the most important defensive position on the field. His fielding percentage at SS for the season hovers around .900.  Countless other top prospects, like Neil Walker, have made whatever defensive changes were asked of them to make the big leagues. What's keeping Cruz at SS at this point? Is the Pirates front office to blame for not being firm enough with Cruz?
Jason Mackey
12:42
You know Derek Jeter once made 56 errors in a season in the minors, right? It's OK. They happen. He's hardly a finished product defensively.
Trey
12:42
Any news on who the Pirates will target during the 2022 MLB DRAFT this year? How do you think they have the top 4 ranked? I would like one of those high school bats.
Jason Mackey
12:43
No "news" on who they will target, Trey. Sorry. And I honestly haven't dug too terribly far into the draft stuff. Been consumed by other things. Apologies.
Matt
12:43
I know you have been asked a million times. When will we see Mason Martin? Before July 4th?
Jason Mackey
12:44
I'm beginning to think no, Matt. They're gonna give Chang some run, I would imagine. Then you have Yoshi coming back. I would expect they give him reps. First shot at consistent playing time honestly might not be until after the Fourth.
Just gonna happen
12:44
They're just gonna crash again aren't they ? I'm used to it now. We should stop getting excited because they're only going to disappoint us as always. Correct ?
Jason Mackey
12:44
It's a long season. I don't know what to tell you. There are ups and downs. They're playing well right now. They're also gonna have some crappy series. If you don't want the momentum swings, I'd suggest avoiding sports.
Canyon
12:44
What do you think they want to get when they trade Quintana or Gamel this deadline?
Jason Mackey
12:45
Prospects, obviously. They're not going to pick by position or anything like that. But you're looking to bolster the system. With Quintana, at this point anyway, they could probably shoot fairly high.
Bob
12:45
What do you think is the primary reason Mason Martin has not been promoted yet? Service time manipulation, high strikeout percentage, or other?
Jason Mackey
12:46
I think it's high strikeout percentage and consistent productivity at this point. I want to see Martin, believe me. But he has struck out a lot and has been very streaky.
Bill
12:46
Been really impressed with Marcano. Very quick, compact yet powerful swing. Love seeing his excitement level too. He might force his way into the picture earlier than they expected, would you agree?
Jason Mackey
12:47
He's done that already. Plays multiple positions. He's fast. Handles the bat well. Sneaky power. I'm a big proponent to continue playing guys if they're productive. Don't give me this rest BS, unless they're legit banged up, which he's not. Give him some run. Let's see what he can do.
Justin
12:47
Does Yu Chang have minor league options left?  I see he has minor league time this year, but I can't tell if that's the result of using an option or if that was a rehab stint.
Jason Mackey
12:47
He does not.
Guest
12:47
In the best day of his life, on a local team, is Josh VanMeter ever going to be your cleanup hitter?  Please, don't tell me, "Hey, they won, didn't they?"  It just cannot occur.
Jason Mackey
12:48
No, he's not. And shouldn't be. But it's not VanMeter's fault. Again, I would have Cruz or Martin up here, bat them there and see what they could do.
Cameron M
12:48
Hypothetically if the pirates were to trade any of their plethora of prospects for an established major leaguer, which players in the system do you think are overvalued that maybe you’d be willing to part ways with?
Jason Mackey
12:50
I wouldn't trade a pitcher. That sort of thing scares me. But they do have a decent amount of outfielders -- Suwinski, Mitchell, Smith-Njigba, Fraizer ... even Madris, Swaggerty, etc. You could look at middle infield: Castillo, Castro, Park and others. Would not want to lose Triolo. Definitely not Peguero or Nick G.
Ryan
12:50
when do you believe we will see Mason Martin up? Any chance we see him by this weekend for the homestand?
Jason Mackey
12:50
I would be surprised if it's that early. Would think they play Chang to see what he can do. Then you have to factor in Yoshi's potential return.
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