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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 06.05.19
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Jason Mackey
11:52
Hi folks. Welcome to my Pirates chat Volume II. Happy to have you here. We'll get started at noon. Thanks so much.
Guest
11:57
Hi Jason, Since the Phillies need a centerfielder with AMAC's injury and the Pirates need pitching would the Phillies part with Adonis Medina their 3rd best prospect to acquire Marte or would they feel that is too much?
Jason Mackey
11:58
I can't really speak for how the Phillies feel on things, but here's what I do know: Even though a prospect would be great to have, and the Pirates certainly need more of them, they very clearly need MLB help. ... If they're willing to trade Marte -- and they should be, IMO -- they need to do it to get a major league pitcher or two to help out. What they're doing right now isn't anywhere near good enough, and there's little signs of it getting better.
draft
11:58
what's the word on our draft picks so far? think there's any future stars in the group?
Jason Mackey
12:01
I like the Priester kid a lot. ... Some of the others are ... well, I don't know if I'm going to call them future stars. Pitchers are such a crapshoot. ... I do like Matt Fraizer, the outfielder from Arizona. Seems like there's a pretty good amount there. Some of the pitchers are undersized or underdeveloped, but again, you just don't know. It's so hard to read this stuff in baseball.
RIP
12:01
Jason, we lost two good ones last week - Roky Erickson and Leon Redbone. I associate both of those guys with the Dead in the sense that they both heavily influenced Garcia. Any thoughts on how their music impacted Jerry G?
Jason Mackey
12:01
I don't, I'm sorry.
batting
12:01
Is the concern about Josh Bell chasing bad pitches overblown?
Jason Mackey
12:02
None. From me, them or Josh. ... I think he was trying to do a little too much. Got an extra off day yesterday. I can see why. Just to try and move past May. It was great, but I think he started to feel like he had to hit a home run every pitch. ... He got to a really good place with his plate discipline, and I think it will be pretty easy for him to get back.
OHIO412FAN
12:02
Jason, I am a huge fan of your writing and style. You will he dearly missed on the Penguins beat! Loved every minute of it. Anyways, what do you make of the current Pirates? Why are they struggling? How can they improve to get back on the right track?
Jason Mackey
12:03
Thank you for the kind words! To answer your question, not a lot, honestly, outside of seeking some external improvements. I think Mitch Keller needs to make the start Friday. That's probably a given, but I don't think that's the answer. The bullpen is not good. They need to address both their rotation and bullpen and maybe give up an outfielder to do it, but I don't know if I see that happening.
Guest
12:03
I thought Gator had the Pirates chat this week. When is his next one?
Jason Mackey
12:05
Gator had it last week. He did the mailbag this week. They alternate: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2019/05/29/Nubyjas-Wilborn...
Guest
12:05
Did you give Matt Vensel any advice before he took over your beat?
Jason Mackey
12:06
I didn't sit him down and provide a step-by-step process on what to do, because I don't think that sort of thing is necessary given he was on the beat for a year, but I did furnish him with every contact I have. ... Throughout the year Matt and I talked plenty. He covered the Vikings in Minnesota and the Ravens in Baltimore. He should be aware of how to handle things.
OHIO412FAN
12:06
What kind of direction do you think Neil Huntingon goes heading Into the halfway point and trade deadline? Any possible trade ideas?
Jason Mackey
12:07
I would trade an outfielder for a pitcher, but I don't think that's the route they're going to go. Certainly seems like from everything we've heard that they're going to ride it out with the group they have.
OHIO412FAN
12:07
Is Mitch Keller not ready yet to play in the big leagues? Outside of pitching, I feel they’ve had plenty of young guys take over starting roles on the team (Brian Reynolds, Cole Tucker). Just how much have injuries affected this team? Can you give injury updates on all who are disabled currently? Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:08
I don't think you can make that determination from one start, especially one as uneven as he had. What I learned from that start was that I want to see more. I think he was incredibly nervous or anxious during the first inning. It cost him. I wanna see him again without that sort of pressure.
OHIO412FAN
12:08
Is it possible Clint Hurdle is on the hot seat? What changes need to be made in order to get this team to be a true contender again?
Jason Mackey
12:08
I don't see it. He's signed for a couple more years, and I don't see this franchise being willing to pay two people to manage its team.
OHIO412FAN
12:08
Not sure if you feel the same as many Pirates fans/Yinzers feel, but these people feel Bob Nutting doesn’t spend the necessary amount of money to win. He doesn’t invest enough into the roster so it is capable of strength runs and wining with cushioned depth. Pirates, if I’m correct, have one of the lowest payrolls in the league. I’ve always believed being a small market team doesn’t matter. Take a look at the Brewers, Cardinals, Royals 2015, Twins, etc. Thoughts? What can the Pirates do or learn from the around the league?
Jason Mackey
12:10
You're in more-questions-than-my-wife-has-asked-me-today territory ... Yes, I think Bob Nutting can spend more money. I don't think that's making a huge leap. But I also don't think it's impossible to win on the lower end of the pay curve. Look at what they've found in Melky Cabrera and Bryan Reynolds. Elias Diaz has been good. Jordan Lyles. There's some definite value there. But when you keep trotting out Nick Kingham, I mean, c'mon. That's not working, and you keep doing it. If you go Keller, I get it. If you get someone, I get it. You know what they say about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results ...
OHIO412FAN
12:10
Which prospects of the Pirates do you feel have the most likely chance besides Keller to be called up?
Jason Mackey
12:10
Ke-Bryan Hayes is the next one I'd be watching.
OHIO412FAN
12:10
Is it me, or is it Clint Hurdle doesn’t play the absolute best lineup every game? Something I’ve picked up on more and more throughout the years.
Jason Mackey
12:11
They believe in a rest-and-recovery process that I think a lot of their fans -- who are more old school -- probably don't believe in. There is a reason for all the rotation, and it's similar around baseball these days. Trying to keep guys fresh.
lorddale
12:11
Do you think the pirates will try and add some pitching soon or do you think they have given up ? My wife & I are fans & live in IL.  we are coming end of Sept for Steve Blass goodbye & to see the Steelers , Id like to think the trip wouldn't just be for the Steelers !
Jason Mackey
12:12
Ha. I see what you're saying. I think they need to, and they very well might, but I don't see it being some super-sexy move. Put it this way: I don't think they're signing Dallas Keuchel or getting Madison Bumgarner.
GD fan 1991
12:12
Love the chats, Jason. You ever heard the DC 1991 Dead show? A classic set and I think in a lot of ways you can hear tones in the second half of the show that reflect what Archer has gone through this season. I don't always think the Dead's music relates well to baseball, but something about that set just really strikes a chord with Archer's 2019 season. Thoughts on that or other favorite Dead sets that related to baseball, specifically Pirates ball?
Jason Mackey
12:12
Thank you! No thoughts on linking Grateful Dead setlists to baseball, but I will be sure to check out what you mentioned.
Guest
12:12
Is it time for Hurdle to fire Searage? Would Clint even have the courage to do it?
Jason Mackey
12:13
I can't speak on the "courage" angle, but I'm not about to pin this on Searage. It's not his fault Pirates pitchers consistently miss their spots. They're also using guys -- without naming names here -- who should be in Class AAA in the major leagues. The fact that they get hit hard and sometimes struggle ... is that really Ray's fault?
Guest
12:16
Why hasn't Reggie Crawford been drafted this year yet? Great Lefty from right here in PA. Might the bucs draft him?
Jason Mackey
12:17
Signability? Not sure. It's a little tough to figure out reasons for why/why not individual players are drafted or not drafted given the volume of this thing, especially guys who aren't super local.
Guest
12:17
Did you get drafted for baseball out of high school? My cousin was saying you played college ball and thinks you got selected in a late round by the Tigers. Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:18
Haha. Your cousin is very, very wrong. Heck no. ... I played in college (Westminster), but it wasn't exactly Florida State. Sure as heck wasn't drafted. Or even close to it.
Dave
12:18
Greg Brown mentioned on the broadcast that Rookie Davis would start Friday in Milwaukee, but then he pitched mop up duty in the 9th. What's the deal – was Brownie mistaken, or might Brault/Kingham's latest unravellings lead to a more permanent rotation change? Keller is on turn for Friday...
Jason Mackey
12:18
I believe Keller is on schedule to start Friday. I would be really surprised if they gave Rookie Davis the start and did not offer Keller another chance, especially after how Davis fared last night.
Guest
12:19
Were John W's comments about that player's granddad rolling over in his grave overblown or what or not?
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