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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 06.01.22
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Ryan
12:50
What percent chance do you think we see Nick Gonzales by Sept? Also, any idea when Henry Davis will be off the 7 day IL for Altoona?
Jason Mackey
12:51
We'll get injury updates later today from Todd Tomczyk, their director of sports medicine. I think there's a chance with Nick, but it's slim. After the slow start, if he finished at Class AAA, that would still be a pretty big victory.
Judy
12:52
Is there a 13 Pitcher limit on the 26 Man beginning today or did it get postponed again? Beede would be one option to send down. Seems like Shelton has given the SS job to Castro. He's Batting .180 & is prone to hiccups on the field. What do your eyes tell you my friend?
Jason Mackey
12:52
It was postponed again. Shelton said yesterday he's probably going to switch Castro and Castillo soon. I agree that I don't think Castro's natural position is SS. Too many mistakes. Still needs more development time.
Jeff
12:52
Castro sure getting a long lease. Do you think Bae could be up soon to replace him?
Jason Mackey
12:53
He is, you're right. Surprised by that. And I don't know about "soon," but I do think you will see Bae at some point this year.
Mike
12:53
Two unrelated questions - 1) Given the catching struggles (outside of last night), what's the loss of calling up Sabol from AA? He's hit his whole minor league career, things can't get much worse. And 2) is the primary reason for not calling up prospects related to not having the coaching bandwidth to develop? I would have to imagine management would sell more tickets. Thanks!
Jason Mackey
12:55
I'll do the second part first -- no. It has nothing to do with catching bandwith. They have a ton of guys to work with whomever up here. Between bullpen catchers, former catchers, catching coaches, they're fine. As for Sabol, he's played 35 games above Class A. That's a pretty big ask to bring him to the big leagues and do everything that's expected of a major league catcher. It takes time to get to that point for a reason.
Matt from LA
12:55
All things (injuries, certain players (e.g., Reynolds and Keller) not performing up to hopes and expectations) considered are you surprised that the Pirates are actually doing as well as they are? I know that I am!
Jason Mackey
12:56
Yes, I am. I think it's a pretty big compliment to those in the clubhouse playing these games, as well as Derek Shelton and his staff. Hasn't always been pretty, but there's pretty much nobody who expected this team to be just six games under .500 nearly 50 games in.
Matt from LA
12:56
GREAT article by your wife on The Bus and his graduation from ND. Just curious, but did you go to school wanting to be a sportswriter and what about her? Or did both of you just want to be newspaper reporters willing to write about anything?
Jason Mackey
12:58
Thanks, Matt. I will let her know. Neither of us went to school for this actually. Ha.I graduated with a degree in broadcast comm, wanting to get more into TV and radio. But I fell in love with writing as a junior and senior in college while interning in D.C. and watching a few Washington Post reporters. She was an anthropology major who was also in the Army and worked as a drug rep and a nurse. I explain to people that my wife is just a professional nerd -- she's curious, smart, talent and works her ass off. Traits you have to have to do this job.
(I could write a book on how we've both done this. We should have a podcast together.)
Tiberius Sempronius Gracchus
12:59
With Davis now in AA, I what do you think of promoting Blake Sabol to Pittsburgh to catch? Is there a concern about his defense? I know he's not had many AA at bats but he's 24 and obviously Davis is going to be the starter in a year or two.
Jason Mackey
12:59
Got this earlier, Tiberius. No. I think it's unfair to Sabol to do that. You're not putting him in a position to succeed by doing that.
Justin
12:59
is it crazy to look at the current crop of hitters on the team and in the upper minors, and to conclude that 2-3 solid SP acquisitions could put them into 82+ win territory in 2023?
Jason Mackey
1:00
Nope, it's not. Have been saying all along. I think you'll see signs in 2023. I think they'll truly be able to compete by 2024 -- when the group that's in Altoona now gets here in full force.
Jeff
1:00
Attendance should pick up now that schools are out….might be a good time for Travis Williams to give a interview!!
Jason Mackey
1:04
Or any time since February 2021. I wouldn't hold your breath. ... I give Cherington credit. Good or bad, he's been available. Explains things as much as he can. Gets it. ... Travis hasn't given local media the time of day, and it leads the public -- right or wrong -- to question the accountability that exists within the organization, under his leadership. ... Paying customers deserve to hear from the owner or president of the team more than once every couple of years.
Tom
1:04
Jason, I don't follow other MLB teams in detail, so my question is do the Pirates have an unusually large number of players on the IL relative to other teams. Seems like a revolving door.
Jason Mackey
1:05
Not really, no. I can't give you hard numbers, Tim. But anecdotally, they're not any harder hit than anybody else. It's unfortunately become a bit of a trend. To take a 10-day IL stint versus risking more serious injury or something like that.
The Eman
1:05
Great GD show you’re listening to! I think the fact that the Pirates only drew around 25,000 to a fireworks night on a pleasant evening says everything you need to know about their attendance problems. You’d draw that many spectators if you shot off fireworks after an appendectomy.
Jason Mackey
1:06
Yeah, people aren't going to games as much because they're not winning as much. We've known this. When they start winning -- and spending more money -- people will start going. Fortunately, the Post-Gazette bases its business model on how many people consume my content. I've been fortunate for that number to remain steady.
GPT
1:07
Kevin Kramer was objectively terrible in his MLB career. Why would he feel the need to be the voice of players 'screwed over' by the former regime? And I acknowledge the former regime was terrible towards the end as well.
Jason Mackey
1:07
I think Kramer was trying to stick up for his friend, which is cool. But, yeah, I agree with you. It comes off as blaming. Tucker would be the first to tell you that he hasn't been good enough. That's it. That's the answer. It's your career. Own it.
Jake
1:09
You stated not wanting to lose Triolo, so do you think he's an automatic project from the Rule 5 Draft this fall?
Jason Mackey
1:11
He would be for me. I think we need to let this season play out, but I think there's too much value there -- both sides of the ball -- to risk losing.
Jeff
1:11
Suwinski or Mitchell back to minors when Allen ready?
Jason Mackey
1:11
Maybe. But there's at least two weeks until that conversation matters. Allen hasn't started his rehab assignment. I'd say mid-June or later until he's back. Lot of time between now and then.
John A from NC
1:12
Jason, if you were the manager of the Pirates, please give me your best starting lineup that we should use the majority of the season(you are allowed to use any players currently in our organization). Also your pitchingb
Jason Mackey
1:13
Hi John. I basically got this question for the newsletter. If you haven't signed up yet, by the way: https://my.post-gazette.com/preferences/#/
1:14
I'll leave the position player stuff to the newsletter but instead tackle pitching. My rotation: Quintana, Brubaker, Thompson, Contreras, Keller. ... Some might question Keller. I wanna know what I have with him.
CoalportKid
1:14
Is there any reason at all to believe R. Castro is a viable MLB shortstop?
Jason Mackey
1:14
I think Castro is raw, still developing. No, he's probably a 2B or 3B. But I think yinz need to cut the kid some slack. You can't expect him to play like something he's not.
PirateFan123
1:14
Do you have any idea when Oneil Cruz will be playing again? Will we see him in the Indy lineup tonight?
Jason Mackey
1:15
We hear from their director of sports medicine later today. I should know more then.
Jeff
1:15
oh for the days of Frank Coonelly. Never met a pen or mic he didn’t open up too.
Jason Mackey
1:15
Yup. There's a balance there. I'm OK with Travis not talking a lot and leaving much of it to Ben. But he should answer questions like twice a year, someone should have addressed the new CBA.
1:16
*and someone should have addressed the new CBA
Jiggy with it
1:16
Do you see any of the baby bucs being sent down to the minors with guys like Hembree, Gamel, Tsutsugo and Vogey coming back from IL.
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