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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 07.21.23
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Spaceman
12:29
Another season of Rich Hill in the making, even with a possible trade this season?  He seems to be a very positive influence on this young team AND can contribute.
Jason Mackey
12:30
If he wants to pitch again at 44, I think the Pirates would absolutely consider it. They have loved having him here. Awesome dude. Great competitor. Has a ton to offer. But right now, per my last answer, it's business. So long as it's reasonable and not some C-level prospect, I'd prefer to get something back and let him chase a ring.
J$Money
12:30
In your opinion, do the Pirates have really good prospects who will be above average major leaguers, average prospects who will be either average or below average major leaguers because they didn’t draft well or really good prospects but the Pirates don’t have good enough coaches to develop them? In other words, do you believe the Pirates will turn this thing around in the near future? Thank you!
Jason Mackey
12:31
I can't give you one blanket answer on the entire state of their farm system, but yes, I do think they will get this figured out. I think they will find enough guys from the minor leagues, then supplement spots where they're lacking and ultimately wind up playing winning baseball either next year or the year after.
Spaceman
12:31
Thanks for your recent factually based article concerning Ke Bryan Hayes “unhappiness” and injury status.  Seems he is really struggling with the injuries this season.  Has the Pirates made their plans known concerning his estimated time of return?
Jason Mackey
12:34
They have not. Because they don't know. I have talked to Key and his dad a lot over the years. Dunlap's comments surprised me, too. Unhappy because of his back or the lack of hitting/winning? Yeah, fair. But unhappy period? No, I don't believe that. I think some of that is probably my advantage knowing those guys for four years or so and how they act & think about things. You also gotta remember that the Pirates are in the middle of really sucking, Ke'Bryan hasn't been good enough, and he's been hurt a ton. People are going to be frustrated. But looking at it from 2019 until now, again, I don't get the sense that he's miserable. Shoot, I've had conversations with Key about barely talking to his dad and laughing at how crazy outgoing he is compared to his son. I'm just waiting for a lot of that to die down.
PrinceBob
12:34
I'd bet that if you took a poll of Pirate fans asking who the most incompetently managed MLB team in the past 10-15 years is, the Pirates have a great chance at the top spot. But what about the Angels? They have money to spend, currently they have arguably the two best active players in the game on their roster, one of whom may well be the best ever, but I believe it's been longer since they've made the post season.
Jason Mackey
12:35
I think Starkey wrote this recently, but yeah, they might be the biggest disappointment in baseball because of how much they've spent and how much they've wasted.
WB
12:35
Any insights into Bryan Reynolds struggles this year? Despite hot start he's trending closer to 2019 season and looks lost at the plate. This isn't peak years Pirates signed up for with extension and he's on pace for < 2 WAR this year. He's proven he can be better than this but hasn't really shown it this year.
Jason Mackey
12:36
Offered some before, but yeah, I don't think he's healthy. I also think he's similar to a lot of Pirates history: too tentative and too concerned with getting walks. Think about the 2019 version of Reynolds we saw. This ain't that. I think his back is still bothering him, but I would like to see him be more aggressive. I would actually see guys chasing at this point versus watching so many called strikes and allegedly sticking to a plan.
Neal Huntington
12:37
After Skenes, why is the Pirates’ draft getting such high marks? They drafted a bunch of wild college relievers. They drafted no above slot guys besides Meuth (who has been compared to Tanner Houck, oh boy). Just a bunch of nobodies. They have lots of money left for Cuvet (whose rankings suggest 4th-5th rounder) but were they saving up for another over slot on Pick 11 and someone beat them to him?
Jason Mackey
12:38
I haven't followed the ins and outs of what people are saying about the Pirates' draft, but I would trust intel gleaned at MLB Pipeline, Baseball America and other publications a great deal because I know where they get their intel -- from scouts and people in the industry. And this would be the same if people were saying the Pirates' draft sucked. But one of the things I've gained in this job is an appreciation for how friggin' hard it is to do this stuff. We're talking about men and women who spent 80-90 a week chasing this stuff. I'd be foolish to think I know more than them.
wvpirate
12:38
Will Triolo move over to 1st base next year?
Jason Mackey
12:39
I think it's very possible. I'd have Oneil at short. Maybe Nick G at second. I don't think Hayes is going anywhere. If Endy catches (and thus doesn't play first), it makes sense. I like Triolo a lot. He could win a Gold Glove over there. Dead serious. He's a great defender.
Hank
12:40
Do you think next year is the year Bucs are back over 100mil in payroll? The pirates have been cutting payroll for the last 5 years or so, in what I thought would be to spend during the competitive window.
Jason Mackey
12:41
I'm not sure, Hank. Possible. Maybe if they extend Keller or Cruz or sign some more vets. It's possible, though it wouldn't be by much. They have spent more recently, with Hayes, Reynolds & the FA signings this winter. I wish they would spend more, too, but you can see what they're going for: A Rays model where the payroll never gets too high or low and much of their talent is brought up from within. Now, we can debate how good they are at doing that, certainly. I think the sample size is still small. Just explaining the thought process.
PrinceBob
12:42
I read your piece yesterday about how and where Pirate games will be televised next year. I'm really feeble minded about business so I'm not sure how much I understood. So I'll just ask if from what you see means that if I'm in the old family homestead next year I'll be able to watch the Pirates on my MLBtv package. And conversely, if NESN ends up with their broadcast rights it means the Pirates will be blacked out here in Massachusetts?
Jason Mackey
12:42
It means you should be able to watch the Pirates wherever you are by paying for the MLB.TV package, lifting any existing blackout restrictions a la Arizona and San Diego. That's where I think this ultimately lands.
Wayward
12:43
Jason, On a video discussion with Andrew around the all star break it sounded like you believed that Gonzalez, Davis, Carmen and Triolo were keepers, you werent as high on Castro and Marcano and the jury was still out on Bae.  I dont mean to put words in your mouth but could you expand your thoughts as it relates to those guys?
Jason Mackey
12:45
Yeah, that's basically it. Have liked what I've seen from those guys. Castro needs to hit righties better or pick a side. Not in love with his defense. Strikes out too much. I don't know what Marcano does. Not much power. Not much on base. OK defensively. Has he done enough to stick? Bae ... he's been OK. Certainly runs well. Still swings out of his shoes. Flashy in center but he's often in recovery mode. Infield defense has been meh. I think Davis has more power than anyone here. Triolo can defend really well. Gonzales should be able to offer atypical pop for a 2B. Can play SS better than Marcano, too. Mlodzinski has been quite good as a reliever.
Wayward
12:45
Jason, do you think they try to bring Swaggerty back on a non-roster basis?
Jason Mackey
12:46
I don't think so. Believe he was released yesterday.
12:47
Or two days ago. I guess they still could -- and Ethan might Kool-Aid man his way into the situation with DFA rules and such -- but doesn't seem like that's their intent.
Neal Huntington
12:47
The Pirates have no real current MiLB hitting prospects with upside until you get to Bradenton, unless you count Cheng who is off to a very slow start at Altoona.  If our touted young MLB hitters fall short of expectations ( and name the last hitter who didn’t since Cutch/Marte), will the Bucs end up having to trade for more Choi-like players? And is their hoped for success tied to BC keeping his job?
Jason Mackey
12:48
Ummm, I think this is a bit of an unfair generalization. Henry? Endy? Shoot, not like Oneil or Suwinski are super old. Would you like more? Sure. But saying there are none until Cheng is a bit much.
Guest
12:48
what happens at 3rd base when Hays is healthy enough to playbDoes he start over Triolo ???
Jason Mackey
12:49
I would think/hope so. Triolo to first would be my prediction.
PrinceBob
12:49
Do you think the Pirates can get anyone really promising in a trade for Rich Hill? Yes, the rest of this season is just really early spring training for 2024. But I think part of that training should involve getting the kids to experience winning games and I think that might happen more often with Hill in the rotation. The pitching is thin enough that he's not blocking anyone and if he can bring a good return it makes sense to do it. But how much of a market is there for a 43 year old?
Jason Mackey
12:49
I think they could get something for him. And I would just be asking myself the question -- as I said before -- what if he gets hurt? Then, nothing. Yeah, you're losing something, sure. They can also get pitching back.
Scott in WashPA
12:50
How do you explain not only the drop-off in performance but also the decrease in the velocity of guys like Contreras and Ortiz? Is it physical, mechanical , mental?  I dont see how guys can lose 5mph + in less than a season.
Jason Mackey
12:51
Given the biometric data the team analyzes, I would be stunned if they knowingly deployed pitchers with arm problems. Or that those guys just said screw it with their careers and pitched through pain. That said, I think they're making these guys think about entirely too much when it comes to delivery, things being in sync, pitch usage, etc. I think these guys are taking a decent amount off to do what they're being told to do. They're also pushing two-seamer/sinker usage with Ortiz & Quinn, which naturally dulls the velo a bit.
Quinn Priester
12:51
Hey, Jason. Am I going to be starting against the Angels this weekend?
Jason Mackey
12:52
No. Probable starters are out.
Ryan
12:52
Jason what do you think about the play of Jared Triolo it would be nice to see him hit a home run soon go Bucs
Jason Mackey
12:52
Yeah, great defensively. Like the bat. Would want to see more power. Actually wrote about Triolo earlier: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2023/07/21/pirates-jared-t...
Austin
12:52
If you had to answer today which Pirates players do you think are traded before the deadline?
Jason Mackey
12:53
Hill, Santana, Choi & Hedges. Fire. Sale.
Mateo
12:53
Do you have any information on if Daniel Cuvet is firm to Miami? All that left over savings has to go somewhere right? I can’t imagine they just sit on it.
Jason Mackey
12:53
He posted on Instagram two days after the draft that he was going to Miami. That seems pretty firm to me.
Hank
12:53
I know us fans are convinced that Haines will be fired after the season, but what are the chances he sticks around?
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