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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.15.19
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Nick
12:26
The cubs are coming here and they can't win on the road to save their soul. So 3 wins against Cubs should spark the Pirates in to panant race right?
Jason Mackey
12:27
It could. Won't do them much good in the pennant race, but in the race for the panant, anything can happen.
bucs stink
12:27
Jason, there are a lot of Pirates games left. And I know you work for the team and you have to find reasons to get us to tune in and come out to the ballpark, so give me ONE GOOD REASON that I should keep watching this wretched team play out its season.   Thanks, Mr. M!
Jason Mackey
12:28
Um, Mr. M, I don't work for the team. I work for the Post-Gazette. There's a BIG difference there. Here's what I used to a reader earlier who asked sort of the same question. FloridaSteelers asked if I saw anything positive happening in the next couple years: " I think there's the possibility for something decent to happen. So they have Reynolds and Marte in the outfield. If they find another guy, that could be pretty decent. Hard to not like Newman. Moran has shown signs. You have Bell plus Tucker and Hayes on the way. I like Keller. I think Brault has turned a corner. You'd like to think you could get two competent starts among the following group: Archer, Williams, Musgrove, Kuhl and Agrazal. If they add a legit starter, that's not terrible. It's at least competitive. Bullpen-wise, you have Vazquez. Crick is better than he's shown. Rodriguez and Feliz are serviceable. Maybe it's Kela, but I'd look to improve there. Still, it should be competitive."
Mark C.
12:31
Maybe you can fill me in here, do you know anything regarding SP James Marvel at AAA?

Just based on numbers between AA and AAA (13-5, 2.74 ERA, inclduing being 4-0 with a 1.82 ERA during his time at AAA), he seems like a candidate to have some say in 2020.

Maybe he is just a guy, nothing special, just don’t know any background on him.
Jason Mackey
12:33
I can't say I know a ton, Mark. I've not actually seen him pitch. But I agree with you. His numbers tell me he's worthy of a look in September. ... Why not sooner? Good question. Probably don't want to piss off any of the older members -- Archer, Williams and Musgrove -- and Brault has been good. Agrazal became Keller. If you're gonna take someone out, it's Archer, Williams or Musgrove, and I think there's probably a reluctance to do that.
Nick
12:33
Is anybody at Pirates checking waivers constantly. There is a lot of cheap talent and Pirates are high in picking order, right? May be a chance to build up team for pennant race?
Jason Mackey
12:34
Seems like Nick has the sarcasm factor covered. Yes, I'm pretty sure they're checking the waiver wire.
Guest
12:34
A lot of people who talk about Mickey Mantle fail to mention his bunting abilities. When batting lefty, he could lay down a sweet bunt to the 3rd base line and beat it out with his speed to get a single nearly every time. Historians and talking heads tend to focus on his HR hitting, which was good, but his bunting is JUST ONE OF MANY areas in which I think no ball player since has matched him. When you think of the last let's say 10 MLB seasons, who do you think is the most gifted bunter?    Not who has the most bunts necessarily, but who is the best at bunting? Thank you as always, Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:42
I don't feel qualified to say who has been MLB's best bunter over the past 10 years. Sorry. You can flip through the BaseballReference situational hitting tools if you're really into it. This season Kolten Wong leads with nine: https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2019-situational-batting...
Nick
12:42
How can the announcer tell if its a 2 seam or 4 seam fast ball?
Jason Mackey
12:43
A two-seamer generally has run away from the arm side. A four-seamer is straight. There are exceptions, of course. But that's a quickie guide. A sinker -- you guessed it -- sinks. Announcers, like writers, also go by what MLB game loggers classify pitches as, so as to ensure accuracy.
Guest
12:43
Sorry to interrupt the Pirates talk, Jason, but I usually read, but don't post, in your chats. I've noticed over the years that you are asked occassionally about the band Train.    I just learned that their lead singer Pat Monahan is from Erie, PA. So if you have no other reason to pull them up online that is maybe the best reason.   Drops of Jupiter and Meet Virginia and Soul Sister are their best jam tracks. Anyway, I enjoy and respect your reporting style. Thanks for the chats and articles!  - Thanks!
Jason Mackey
12:43
I'm well-aware of Train. Thank you.
Mike
12:44
Jason, Help me understand why the Bucs DFA'd Kang for Reyes and Gonzalez. Neither is hitting well (or ever will) while Kang had 10 HRs and 24 RBIs. Yes he struck out a lot, but what did the Pirates have to lose by playing him more and keeping him until the end of the season? This seems like a no brainer to me, what am I missing?
Jason Mackey
12:44
I think they wanted to open up the spot to see what they have. I agree with you -- Gonzalez and Reyes have not offered much. However, the Pirates are learning that. I think eventually you will see them give Tucker and Hayes a shot, too, to see what they can do.
Doley
12:44
In the considerable pushback against the idea they've fallen behind analytically re pitching, has anyone in the organization addressed the repeated, specific comments by Cole, Morton, Glasnow, Baz, et. al that once they went elsewhere, they were immediately presented with analytics tools they'd never seen before?
Jason Mackey
12:45
Neal Huntington said this past Sunday that they need to revisit some of their practices and how they're preparing players. I would imagine this was part of those comments.
Guest
12:45
IF THERE'S A DH?!?!?!? Jason, you're scaring me, man!   Do you see the entire MLB having the DH in the near future?
Jason Mackey
12:45
I don't. But I'm trying to answer all possible angles of the questions.
?
12:46
In response to the Will Craig question, you mentioned casually that the DH might be a part of the NL.   You've been accused before of being a lackey for Manfred, but the way you mentioned the DH so casually shows me that you are indeed a lackey who tries to normalize the DH. Shame on you, Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:46
Stop it with that junk.
Joe
12:46
Though he got walloped pretty good last night and most other nights, I had no idea Hartlieb threw gas like he did.  97 and 98 on the fastball.  Why is he so ineffective in your opinion?
Jason Mackey
12:46
He misses his spots too much. They're major league hitters. They can hit 97 or 98 mph fastballs if they're in bad spots. Hartlieb misses up and out of the plate far too much.
Alan
12:46
Jason, are there really that many Pirates fans out there that think there is even the remotest possibility that the Pirates will go out and obtain a true "#1" starter to replace Taillion, or are all these people online bots? These can't be real people, right? And lets be serious, Taillion is a #3 at best on a WS contending team.
Jason Mackey
12:47
I think there are fans that hope the organization will address the loss of Taillon by bringing someone in, and I think that's a reasonable way of looking at it. I don't think anyone is looking at the Pirates to be the Yankees, but they do want them to spend money where it's required. That's fair.
c'mon man
12:47
C'mon, Jason. You can't seriously hope the DH is implemented in the NL, even if it would help the Pirates and Craig. You can't let Manfred's propaganda get to you, man. You have to be an independent voice as a journalist!!! C'mon, Jason! C'mon Man!
Jason Mackey
12:48
I don't care either way about the DH. Just trying to address all angles of the question.
no DH ever
12:48
I thought you were an independent voice covering the Pirates, but apparently you're just spewing whatever the MLB wants you to regarding the designated hitter. You have to be unbiased, Jason. Just because R. Manfred wants a DH universally doesn't mean you should be championing it in your chats. That stinks buddy.   However, i do generally dig your reporting style and work covering sports
Jason Mackey
12:48
You're over-reacting.
Guest
12:48
You rock, Jason!
Jason Mackey
12:48
Thank you.
Guest
12:48
I was going ask a baseball question but apparently this a music chat.  My ad.
Jason Mackey
12:48
You can still ask it. No reason to get upset.
Mark
12:48
I forgot about Keller.  Did you see who pinch hit for Corey Dickerson the other day in Philly?  None other than Sean Rodriguez.  Ouch.
Jason Mackey
12:49
At least Rodriguez didn't treat him like the Gatorade cooler. Come to think of it, that would be a pretty good fight.
Frasier
12:49
Hey, did I do enough to stop the talk about Cole or Newman moving to second? I think I did, but I may be biased.
Jason Mackey
12:50
You spelled your last name wrong, Adam. ... I think they're going to give Cole a chance. If he works, and he very well might, I think you could get pushed out of a job. But for now, you're the guy.
Ray Searage
12:50
What coaching staff changes do you see coming after the 2019 season? Will I still have a job?
Jason Mackey
12:50
I don't think so, Ray. I'm sorry. I like you. You're a very nice man, and I think you're done some good work here. But I think the Pirates really do need to go in a different direction pitching-wise.
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