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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.11.21
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ev
12:44
Hello Jason, Thanks for these chats.  Is the Pirates prospect depth at OF so thin, that it is deemed necessary to hold on to Tom for the remainder of the year?
Jason Mackey
12:46
No. I don`'t even think they're that thin in terms of outfield prospects. Maybe at Class AAA. I just think Pirates management likes Tom. I think they view him much more favorably than the fan base. Although who knows. They're just doing the right thing by letting him stick around while hurt. Maybe they make a move and try to sneak him through once he's ready. Can't imagine he gets claimed, and I have no issue with Tom in Class AAA. He just doesn't belong on a major league roster right now.
Blackhawk Bob
12:46
Looking ahead to 2022 season will the Pirates continue to claim reclamation projects from the waiver wire or go more with in house players and see what they have. Especially with position players
Jason Mackey
12:47
I think you will see that less, sure, as those options become available. But they have to come available first. That said, I think Cherington views that sort of stuff -- finding a $20 under a rock, so to speak -- as something the Pirates need to do to succeed. I'm not sure he's wrong there.
Justin
12:47
Do you think teams factored vaccination status into their trade deadline valuations?
Jason Mackey
12:47
Not at all. They're trying to make the decisions for their baseball teams.
Bill
12:48
Jason-- I want to see Park play and it might benefit Castro to get some AAA time. What would the harm be in giving Tucker starts at SS and Park at 2B rest of the year? Whether its fair or not to Newman shouldnt matter, performance should. They need to see what they have in Tucker
Jason Mackey
12:48
I agree with all of that, Bill. I would like to see Castro play; so, if that means moving one of the other two to the outfield from time-to-time, I would be OK with that. And I hope they get Chavis up here as well. Newman also has options. He's easy to send down.
Hank
12:48
What is the injury status of Yajure, Contras, & Cruz? Will we see Yajure in any more MLB games this year?
Jason Mackey
12:49
We'll hear more from Tomczyk at 4:15. Yajure started a rehab assignment couple days ago. Cruz and Contreras are throwing but probably weeks from games. And, yes, I think Yajure will pitch in MLB again in '21.
Dave
12:49
Hi Jason, do you think BC might invest in some one year, veteran deals this off-season? There are some minor trade options, as you just mentioned, but this seems like an easy way to start bridging the gap to the Altoona talent wave and ideally improve the MLB product. In particular, it seems like at least one SP and RP would make sense — maybe a slight step up over the Anderson investment. I think the first phase of the rebuild has gone about as well as it can, but I think it would be a mistake to be overly passive this winter.
Jason Mackey
12:50
Yes, I think he will look to do that in spots, likely trying to get guys who will perform and use that to roll into a trade. It's also sometimes tricky getting guys who are willing to come here because of the Pirates' competitive situation.
Bob
12:50
The Castro HR story was fun but he skipped AAA and is only hitting .203. Is it time to give him some AAA experience and give Park or maybe even Marcano an extended tryout at 2B?
Jason Mackey
12:51
Marcano, no. Ben has talked about Marcano needing more development time, and I have no reason to disagree with that assessment. I see your point on Castro. I'd like to see more to find out, but it very well could be true that he needs more seasoning just like Marcano.
Phil G
12:51
Jason, long shot question but have you heard any rumblings about prospective CBA items or changes for next year? DH and expanded playoffs come up but I’m curious about service time, draft lottery, etc. that obviously would impact the Pirates plans more so than other items.
Jason Mackey
12:51
I have not heard any rumblings regarding the stuff you mentioned. The first two things, yes. But not the latter.
1984 Steelers
12:52
How much pressure must competing teams be placing on themselves to sweep the Pirates and any team in last place as far back as they are?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Teams put pressure on themselves every day. It's no more or less give the opposing team's record.
Guest
12:52
I know there is a rebuild going on but to put a team out there with no chance on most nights is sad. Getting embarrassed by the Reds regularly is an example. I am trying to understand why selling tickets to PNC does not seem that important to this organization. This year is a bust. Do you see next year being much of the same ? This culture of infutility cant be good no matter what in the long run.
Jason Mackey
12:54
It's their only chance to compete if they strip it down. This is part of that. Yes, they would hope to play better baseball. The MLB club has struggled, no doubt. But think about this: How can teams who spend less compete? They win the draft/development stage of this. They're not going to win the free agency portion. So you need to keep major league costs low, when you know you're gonna lose that fight, and draft, develop and discover better than other teams. Once the cycle takes hold -- and a good part of it already has -- you'll start to see the results at PNC Park. I think the Pirates could be doing a better job of making things cheaper and more accessible right now, because they're so bad at the MLB level, but baseball's whacked-out economic system begets stuff like this.
1984 Steelers
12:54
Was PNC Park a good investment for Pittsburgh city taxpayers based on the level of success the team has had since 2001?
Jason Mackey
12:55
That's an extremely subjective term and loaded question. I like baseball, and it has helped me have a really cool job for a living. So I think it has. I also respect others' opinions that might be different than mine.
Chris
12:55
Hi Jason.  Is it true that the MLB draft will go to a lottery type system as opposed to the team with the worst record drafting first?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:56
I've heard nothing imminent with that. Like a lot of things, I'm sure they're talking about it. Nothing has been decided.
Justin
12:56
All of a sudden, Cole Tucker is having a pretty intriguing year in AAA.  lots of BB, few K's, good obp, and the most surpring thing, the best ISO of his career.  Any idea if this is the result of real adjustments they helped him make, or is it just an older player playing well in AAA?
Jason Mackey
12:56
I think it's a little bit of bother. I've been getting reports that these are some of the best ABs Tucker has had. Could be feeling threatened. I also know he's been making adjustments with his lower half. Has definitely been better.
Adam in Boulder
12:56
Have you seen anything from Young Hayes at the plate over the last month or should change our minds about him being on the way to consistent greatness, or is this slump just a speedbump on the way to him being the next Arenado rather than the next Charlie Hayes?
Jason Mackey
12:57
Lemme put it this way: I've seen nothing with Hayes that worries me. I don't know who he's going to be. Neither does he. He should be the best version of himself, and that's pretty damn good. But, geez. The kid is 24 and going through some [stuff]. I don't know when we changed as a society or baseball industry to where he goes through a month of them and it's like the damn sky is falling.
Steven
12:58
Maybe not 26, but starting lineup?
Jason Mackey
12:59
I'll do it this way: Stallings & Perez; Hayes, Castro, Moran and ... upset: Tucker; Gamel, Reynolds and Swaggerty. That work?
1984 Steelers
12:59
Shelton looks so disheveled. He does not present himself well in a grungy sweatshirt and scraggly beard. Look at how the St Louis manager looks professional.  What kind of influence does a manager’s appearance have at any workplace?  The problems with this organization are complicated and many.
Jason Mackey
1:00
I must say: I get pelted with Pirate fan bitching for a living. This, my friend, is a new one. Shelton's beard and sweatshirt is an issue now? I will make sure to let him know to clean it up today during BP. The nerve of this guy!
A different Bill
1:00
Clearly they aren’t winning with how the team is currently structured. And not only are they losing, they aren’t even competitive. So why give at-bats to Nogowski, Polanco, Difo, and Newman when they clearly aren’t part of the future. See what you have in Chavis, Tucker, Marcano, and any other guy at triple A guy they feel may have a future.
Jason Mackey
1:01
With you on Chavis and Tucker. However, it's more important that they get Marcano's development right. If they feel there's more to do, I'm gonna trust them to do the job. But generally, yes, I think they should be making that change.
Paul
1:01
Hey Jason, thanks for the chats.
Jason Mackey
1:01
Sure, Paul!
Wayward
1:01
Thanks for the chats Jason.  It has been a bad year for some of the guys that we thought could contribute especially Oliva.  Will he/they get another opportunity or do you he is going to get pushed aside by this upcoming prospect group and guys like Chavis?
Jason Mackey
1:02
I wouldn't say "pushed aside." However, it is reality. Every day that you don't produce, someone else might. So Oliva will get another chance, but I don't think he has any sort of stronghold on a position at this point.
Paul
1:02
At what point does the organization start considering replacements in their sports medicine department? Constant injuries throughout the majors, but perhaps more concerning, are the amount of injuries throughout the system. Nearly half of the organization’s top 30 is currently on the IL, and many of them are of a serious nature.
Jason Mackey
1:02
I think it's hard to pin that on the sports medicine folks when we're talking about no minor league season this year, then going to a full one. It's a funky time. They're doing the best they can. A lot of teams are very hurt.
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