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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 07.01.22
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Jason Mackey
1:01
Hello, everyone. Thanks for my Friday chat. We're an hour later, but someone once told me, better late than never. Might have been my mom. Anyway, let's roll.
Sylvester
1:06
Any idea what Shelton was talking to Cruz about in the dugout last night after he caught the pop up?
Jason Mackey
1:06
No idea, honestly. Can ask later today, but it gotten buried under the Michael Perez Show. Thanks for the reminder.
Wermser
1:06
Happy Bobby Bonilla Day.
Jason Mackey
1:07
Same to you, Wermser.
Steven
1:07
What’s the ETA on Bae? Before the break or after the trade deadline?
Jason Mackey
1:07
Not sure, Steven. I don't think there's a firm date or feel there. Gonna depend on Cruz and Newman. I do think they bring Newman back. But they wanna have somewhere for him to play. So, if you're making me pick one, I would say after the deadline.
Wermser
1:07
What do you see pirates starting outfield in 2024?
Jason Mackey
1:09
Is this Joe Starkey? ... I'll say Reynolds in center, Swaggerty in left and Suwinski in right. I've thought about Cruz in right. Still am thinking about it. But he's been better than expected at short. If this continues, maybe you keep him there.
Steven
1:09
Would you venture to guess Bednar might be headed for an IL stint after all?
Jason Mackey
1:10
Eh, depends on how he feels today. Obviously haven't had a chance to chat with him today. Shelton said last night his struggles were more rust than feeling anything. But, yeah, if he doesn't feel right today, I think that's a route they could and would go.
Mark C.
1:10
How real is Jack Suwinsky?  I hate to be so skeptical, but his minor league stats never really fortold this.
Jason Mackey
1:12
I'm trying to toss water on Suwinski, believe me. But his OBP is still very low. He's lifted some balls, which is great. And I like him a lot as a player. But if you're asking me to critically asses what he's done, I understand why someone would have pause. Now, I listed him in my starting outfield for 2024. That's because I see him improving those contact skills and getting on base more. The eye and plate/zone discipline are there. Just a matter of growing into that type of player.
Larry
1:12
Why didn’t Bae get this shot while Van Meter, Marcano and Newman were in the IL? He’s been Indy’s best hitter all year and now seems like he’s SOL now that those guys are back.
Jason Mackey
1:13
Yeah, it's interesting why they've waited so long with Bae. However, I think we're starting to see a trend here, with this group skewing more toward caution when it comes to bringing guys up. Crazy as it sounds, I do get them wanting to give veterans a chance; either they play their way into a trade or they stink and the draft pick improves.
Bill
1:13
Jason, happy Friday to you and happy holiday weekend. I know the roster is in a transition period but how much longer can they ignore what Bae is doing at Indy? I really hope they give him a shot soon.
Jason Mackey
1:14
Hey Bill. Same to you. Yeah, this seems to be a popular topic of conversation this week. Hope the previous answer will suffice.
Bill
1:15
Newman, Gamel, and Yoshi coming back I understand. I truly dont see a role for Marisnick and if he ever gets healthy, Greg Allen. Shame because Allen had a great spring and may have missed his chance. What are your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
1:16
My thoughts mirror yours, Bill. They're gonna have a tough time fitting all of the outfielders. Gamel's gonna play. Reynolds, too, obviously. So they can absorb, at most, two outfielders. You have Suwinski, Madris, Marisnick and Allen. I see them going one old guy and one veteran. Stinks for Bligh, but I get it. No way Marisnick AND Allen make it back.
Paul
1:17
I get the whole "don't rush prospects" and "try to get something in a trade for your vets before dumping them," but with Ji-hwan Bae, is it that? Or do they just don't think he has that much much to offer the major league club? I mean, I don't see what else he needs to learn from AAA.
Jason Mackey
1:17
We were there with Cruz, too, remember. I think they want to have regular playing time available. Diego Castillo has had a good month. They wanna play some vets -- which I know people hate. But I would argue their slow-playing this and waiting for playing time to be more available tracks with what they've done. It's nothing against Bae.
Bill
1:19
Cody Bolton out of the bullpen in the MLB. Soon do you think?
Jason Mackey
1:20
Yeah, I would have to think Bolton is up here relatively soon. Could be bullpen, could be as a starter. But he has pitched well down there. They need arms.
Justin
1:20
I know the "when will we see Prospect X" questions have to get old, but do you think we'll have to wait till at least August, or perhaps even next June, to see Bae in Pittsburgh?  I imagine they wanna try to sort thru the 2b guys already on the 40 man before making it more crowded by the seemingly-superior Bae.
Jason Mackey
1:21
You'll see Bae this season. I think you'll have to get through the trade deadline -- unless there are injuries -- before that happens, yes.
Stew
1:21
It seems like the Pirates aren’t even considering any of the big four high school bats in the draft when pretty much every expert has those four a notch above everyone else. I don’t really get it
Jason Mackey
1:21
I wouldn't say they've crossed anything off their list. Last year at this time, pretty sure we were in the Rocker/Leiter zone, before focus shifted to Mayer. Of course, they drafted none of those guys. Don't pay attention to the pre-draft crap-spewing.
Andrew T
1:22
Is the plan for the veteran guys to get back here ASAP, get some sort of productivity from them and then deal them for whatever they can get and then stick with the young guys?
Jason Mackey
1:22
There's more nuance to it, but yeah, generally speaking, I think they want to get vets in, play 'em, then see where that leads.
Jaywilly
1:22
Any idea who is starting tomorrow?
Jason Mackey
1:23
Hold the tomatoes -- my best guess would Bryse Wilson.
Luke
1:24
Will the pirates stick with their trend of college bats at the top of the draft?
Jason Mackey
1:24
I don't think we know. Too much variance in front of them. But I do think they like college bats and would probably be enticed if one was available that made sense.
Marlon Byrd
1:24
What are your thoughts on the future of Nick Gonzales?  Do you think he’s a legit prospect?  I know some people are concerned with his K rate.
Jason Mackey
1:25
I'm not. Not at all. I think Nick is a legit prospect. He had a crappy start, no doubt. But he was starting to really turn a corner because getting hurt. No concerns at all.
Sylvester
1:25
Hayes has been great in the field. What are realistic expectations at the plate?
Jason Mackey
1:27
I see Key as a line drive, hard-contact guy who tops out at 15-20 hours and a .800-plus OPS. I don't think he'll be a traditional power hitter, obviously, but I don't see him as being offensively deficient either.
Justin
1:28
what do you think the chances are that the 2022 group of young guys shows enough that the FO+Ownership start to supplement this group with Burnett/Liriano/Martin caliber acquisitions to try to perhaps win "a year early"?  I think a solid 1b, a good SP, and another lower key Quintana type SP would go a long way. Team as projected now would be incredibly inexpensive (45ish-50ish million by my calcs), so even adding a few such players would still end in a bottom-five-in-baseball payroll.  Fans get excited. Team would be decent.  Ownership would still have minimal $ investment.
Jason Mackey
1:30
I think that's fair, Justin. I think you may see a smaller version of that this offseason. They should seriously look at filling a hole or two, but I don't think we know what those are. Always need pitching. That's different. But do you sign Roberto Perez and hope he grows into Henry Davis? I don't know. Depends on Davis' development. Do you sign another outfielder? Depends on what happens with Jack, Swaggerty, Bligh, etc. Does Mason Martin figure it out at first? Do they move someone there? Plenty of questions. But I think you will see a version of supplementing, yes.
Jaywilly
1:30
My mom used to say “better late than never” all the time. Must be a mom thing.
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