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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 06.19.19
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Kar
12:47
I for one also think the Archer trade was a bust......However, I do NOT blame Huntington.  I think he went for it - hail mary style - and it did not work out.  You can NOT blame him for trying.  Sometimes trades work - sometimes they blow up.
Jason Mackey
12:48
Agree there. If I'm a fan, I'd be much more upset over inactivity than a gamble that didn't work out. Nobody wins 'em all.
Bob's Burghers
12:48
What is your Pirates 25-man roster on Opening Day 2020?
Jason Mackey
12:48
Little early for a question like that, Bob. Anything more specific you'd like to ask?
PhillyJake
12:48
How's that Cutch trade working out?
Jason Mackey
12:48
Hard to crush that Pirates there.
Jeff
12:48
Keller pitch mix has been the same in all 3 starts. Mostly fastballs. Are you saying it’s Diaz?
Jason Mackey
12:49
Diaz calls his own game ... but in consultation with Ray. Again, I don't know how much we're trying to discern here. Keller had command of next to nothing in the first two.
SalemPirate
12:49
Has Polanco played himself onto the bench?
Jason Mackey
12:50
For the time being, I think he's played himself into a platoon role. He's just been striking out too much, and the defense isn't making up for it. Can't take Reynolds or Marte out. Have to basically rotate three guys for one spot until either Dickerson or Cabrera is moved.
PhillyJake
12:50
Vazquez is young, affordable and controlable.  While no one is off limits for trades, that's about as close as one could get.  This is what NH likes to acquire, not trade away.
Jason Mackey
12:51
Right. But they need better starting pitching and middle relief before the closer even comes close to mattering. Not saying that they should immediately trade Vazquez, but if you could get some legit prospects to eventually step into the starting rotation, I'd definitely consider it.
SD1057
12:51
Is Tallion done for the year?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Not the year, but I don't believe he's throwing yet ... and I believe that puts us past the six-week mark. We're going to get an update later today. I'm not expecting a bunch of really positive news with him, but it's hard to say he's done for the year.
Frazier, A.
12:52
Can you please weigh in on what happened to my bat? I was supposed to be a high average, gap to gap guy. But I stink. Any help would be appreciated. Gracias.
Jason Mackey
12:53
It's a long season, Adam. I think you're just going through a rough patch. Word of advice, though: Don't duck out of the clubhouse early and leave your teammates to answer for a mistake you made in the eighth inning of a tied ballgame.
jim in VT
12:53
who goes down for Williams to come up?
Jason Mackey
12:54
Would imagine it's Keller.
PhillyJake
12:54
Dead & Co tomorrow night for me!
Jason Mackey
12:54
Have fun.
SalemPirate
12:54
You and Gator should co-host chats.
Jason Mackey
12:54
Nah, too tough to direct traffic and see who has answered what. Gator might be on mailbag duty.
John
12:54
Really thought Dario Agrazal had some bad luck in Miami, would love to see him get another start at some point
Jason Mackey
12:55
I agree. I thought he got kind of a raw deal. Also thought Hurdle was a little too quick on yanking him. Four balls got his hard? C'mon.
PhillyJake
12:55
Man if you're beating up on Stallings you're really looking for something to hate on.  Beating on a third string catcher is just.... cruel
Jason Mackey
12:55
Stallings has been a perfectly serviceable backup catcher, IMO.
disaffected fan
12:55
Does Nutting bother to even attend the games now or in the past?   Does this show how much ownership cares about the product?
Jason Mackey
12:56
I don't think it matters. Coming from Penguins, Burkle wasn't there a ton. And even if he was, he never made a show of it, never wanted to be shown on camera, etc. Sticking your face out there publicly doesn't translate to being a good owner or caring.
PhillyJake
12:56
Keller gave up two earned runs last night.  Still people hating on him?
Jason Mackey
12:56
I don't understand the criticism over his fastballs. Dude got outs. Has some stuff to learn, sure, especially fielding his position. But I thought last night was a step forward for him.
Too Tall Ball
12:56
Sorry, but Gator’s chats are boring. Depth of baseball knowledge seems weak given his usually shallow answers. Maybe you can coach him up, Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:57
I think Gator is still learning the ropes. Take it easy on him. It's a little easier for me having grown up here, watched the Pirates my whole life and already been in the grind of the thing covering the Penguins. He'll get there. ... Or, more cage matches.
Guest
12:57
Jason, I was sad to see that you are in favor of John Mayer playing with the Dead. Man, I thought you were a true Dead Head. Mayer is a dorky loser and he is making the Dead look like N'Sync! C'mon, Jason!
Jason Mackey
12:58
Haha. I'm actually not a Mayer fan. He's OK, but no Jerry, no go for me.
Greg P
12:58
I cannot stop laughing at your partner in crime’s story that some scouts like my defense! That is hilarious! Have they seen me play healthy? I’m bad...
Jason Mackey
12:59
Yeah, Greg, I'm not sure I get where Nubs is coming from there. ... The Clemente Wall is the moon to you, pal. I think you can improve. I think you're hugely talented, but I might play R.J. Reynolds -- not to mention Bryan -- in right field over you from a pure fielding standpoint.
Mike
12:59
I have a theory that Archer is pitching hurt. He started the season well and then after the game against the dodgers and they announced the thumb inflammation his numbers have been atrocious with the exception of his first game in June. He returns from that thumb inflammation just days after the Taillon injury is announced. So my theory is that he is pitching through something because he feels that he can still throw for a team that really needs starting pitching. Now that some guys are getting healthy I won't be surprised if they announce him to the IL. Do you think there is any validity in my theory or just am Injust being an optimist? Lol
Jason Mackey
1:00
I don't think there's anything to what you're saying. If he's hurt, how does the velocity stay? And how does being hurt equate to routinely throwing pitches in terrible locations? If he's hurt, think about it, shouldn't he be spraying it with a drop in velo? Archer needs to better execute his pitches, find some confidence and start pitching the way he believes he can get people out.
Too Tall Ball
1:00
Regarding the Pirates pitching “philosophy”, I always felt that pitching coach Ray Miller from the 80’s-90’s had it nailed — “Work fast, change speeds, throw strikes”.  He had t-shirts made one spring training. The throw strikes part seems to have eluded the pirates bullpen this year - and Archer.  Surprised to see the Pirates rank fairly high in number of strikes thrown, given how many walks and HBP’s I seem to watch every game.  The Dodger series is a good frame of reference.
Jason Mackey
1:01
That's not a philosophy -- those are the basic principles of pitching. That's like yelling "shoot the puck" at a hockey game. Which team preaches working slow, throwing everything the same and throwing balls? ... The problem isn't the Pirates pitching philosophy; it's the terrible attempt at executing it.
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