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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.05.20
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Jason Mackey
12:50
Big if true.
Joel
12:50
For me the most depressing thing about this disrupted season is that we don't even have minor league games to give us a shred of hope for the future. What the Bucs have at the major league level is just flat out abysmal. Joe Musgrove if your ace? Please. They can't find one single reliable relief arm. It's insane. And I strongly disagree with you on Cole Tucker. Tucker doesn't have the offense for shortstop. Why are they trying him in the outfield where his offense becomes even more of a liability?
Jason Mackey
12:51
Thanks for the comments, Joel. Agree on the minor leagues. For a few reasons. But it stinks, absolutely. And that's not Joe's fault, to be fair. He even said he's probably not an opening day guy on most teams. He's a solid 3-4. We don't know on Tucker. I don't see how you can say either way. The sample size is too small, which is why I'm saying I'd like to use this time to see.
Drew
12:52
I think you're suggestion about the Daniel Stern-Dan Aykroyd option could be construed as inciting a fan to commit a felony, so maybe rethink that suggestion?  LOL!  My question is how much of the poor play we've seen so far can be attributed to shortened ramp up to the season and how much is just lack of talent?  Relievers not throwing strikes, Osuna leaving third base unoccupied in extra innings which allowed the runner on second to move up unchallenged, some of the poor outfield play in general...I realize we are operating under different circumstances because of COVID this year, but I get the sense that throwing Tucker out in center is something you might do in Spring Training not in the middle of the season.
Jason Mackey
12:53
It's a joke, Drew. C'mon now. ... You bring up some valid points, though. And this came up with Shelton the other day, too. I brought it up after Frazier was picked off again. Basically is this an unfortunate byproduct here, that guys aren't executing feel plays. The shortened ramp-up has had that effect, but there are also fundamental baseball plays that these guys aren't making. Maybe they're pressing over a lack of offense. Maybe they're incapable mentally of making them. I don't know. But I agree that it's become a bit of a problem.
Mel
12:54
I’ve heard Musgrove is considered to be a team leader.  Does the fact that he is winless affect that role?  Who else would you consider to be a team leader?  Have the Pirates had any team only meetings to date?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:55
They talk a lot as a group, Mel. So, yeah. And I don't think the W-L record has much to do with it. (I hope that's the case, too, as not only is that a flawed stat, but they'd be down to two leaders.) Joe is a good dude, a straight shooter who cares about his teammates. He's easy to respect, and he's played on a winner. I think that's why he's considered a leader.
Bernie
12:55
Glad to see the fans are finally not showing up this year in protest.
Jason Mackey
12:55
That took 11 games?
Tom
12:55
How do you put up with Filiponi?
Jason Mackey
12:55
Ha. Andrew is a friend. And he's also tremendously talented. Like Madden, he's trying to get a rise out of you. He's just going about it a different way.
Buccs72
12:55
welcome to the dark side with us who see how bad this team is and how Bob Nutting is choking off any chance of future success.  I liked your admission that you would like to see the Pitates spend money on real players in many places.  But realistically (and I think you know it too) Bob Nutting won't.  So give us your odds that the Pirates payroll exceeds $40 million in 2021 after they shed more veteran salaries like Archer, Frazier and maybe Polanco?
Jason Mackey
12:58
The dark side? Dude, I'm not on any side. If they win 162 or lose 162, my salary doesn't change. My "admission" is also not new. Have been saying that since last season. They should spend more. Their argument typically is that they can't, because they're a small market team. Then put it up for sale. Burkle and Lemieux wouldn't operate like that. Same for Thomas Tull, Michael Keaton or Mark Cuban. At that point, if you're not going to spend, you're hoarding a civic institution. That said, I do believe they've learned some things. I think they hired good people with Travis and Ben, smart people. And I think Nutting will spend when it's appropriate. But it doesn't matter as much now (although, again, they could do something.) The bigger focal point should be acquiring prospects, building processes and creating this from the ground up.
Dale
12:58
We forgive you for your flirting with .500 prediction. Would you like to provide a revised prediction for the year?
Jason Mackey
12:58
Surely. I'll go with 24-36.
Joel
12:58
And speaking of the minor leagues: what exactly are the minor leaguers doing? Are all of them working out/playing or just the AAA and AA players clustered on Altoona? What a disaster this year for the organization top to bottom.
Jason Mackey
12:59
They're working out at home, at facilities or in Altoona. They're not just sitting at home.
Ricky
12:59
If the pirates don’t pick up archers option that should free up 10 million or a little more. Would you think they would spend that money in free agency? Surely they will spend more next year
Jason Mackey
12:59
I would sure hope so, Ricky. Hopefully on Yasiel Puig.
Ricky
12:59
When’s cederlind coming up
Jason Mackey
12:59
When he's ready. Cherington said Sunday that he's not yet there arm-wise. I'd look for maybe mid-August? Late August?
Mason jackey
12:59
do you think the pirates pick up a new CFer next year? I think they pick someone up next year and then have Swaggerty year after
Jason Mackey
1:00
Potentially. I think it depends on what Tucker and Martin do the rest of the way.
Benny Ann
1:00
Think the Pirates screwed themselves by giving away Reese McGuire?
Jason Mackey
1:00
They've screwed themselves in a lot of ways, but I'm not sure the biggest one is Reese McGuire.
Never Give Up Never Surrender
1:00
Jason, you keep saying they need to spend more money (not going to happen). They need to get more out of the guys they do have (should happen as you can't get much worse). They need to flip pieces at the deadline and not screw up those trades (I don't see any Pirates player being coveted by any other team). I've read your chats and previous others Bucs chats and always refrained from blaming the owner.  But in all honesty this team will never be major league until they have an owner with major bucks to spend. What chance do we have of EVER seeing that happened do you think?
Jason Mackey
1:01
I can't put a percentage on something like that. You want me to handicap if Bob Nutting is gonna sell? Do I think there's a chance? Sure. Do I think he might wanna keep it in his family? Sure. But even he doesn't know whether he wants to own the team forever.
Mason jackey
1:01
Is kela expected back this week
Jason Mackey
1:01
They're not saying. But I would be shocked if he's not pitching in games by early next week.
Rich
1:01
Del Pozo. How does a guy who can't throw strikes even get to the high minors let alone the majors? Could he once throw strikes but lost the ability? I know teams look at velocity and spin rates in evaluating talent but they also can see what a guy does in an actual game.
Jason Mackey
1:02
I'm baffled by it too, Rich. Surely he must've been better in Altoona. Would be hard-pressed to be worse.
Gabe
1:02
Think Cherrington might be kicking himself for not capitalizing on Bell’s big year in ‘19 by not trading him this offseason?
Jason Mackey
1:02
No. It wasn't the right time. They should try to keep Bell, not trade him.
1:03
OK, folks. That's gonna do it. Tried to get to 'em all there at the end. Missed a few. But I have to go into the office for a podcast, then we have pregame avail and such. So on a schedule today. Thanks for doing this. Talk to ya next week.
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