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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.26.20
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Jason Mackey
11:22
Hi folks. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Feel free to ask away now. I'll be back at noon to answer 'em. Thanks!
Rob
12:00
If you had to prioritize what the Pirates would be looking to add at the deadline, what would that list look like? Are they looking to get the best possible players available regardless of position or are they going to look to fill holes organizationally to better the future?
Jason Mackey
12:00
And away we go ...
12:02
Hi Rob, in my opinion, they should in no way be thinking about position. For the deadline, they should be prioritizing prospects, thinking long-term. If they wind up with a couple more shortstops, whatever Good problem to have. But they should use this time to be stockpiling prospects. I guess the only exception here might be pitching. You can never have enough pitching.
Tommac48
12:02
Why don’t more left handed hitters try and beat the “shift” with a bunt down the third base line when the third basement is actually closer to the shortstop position?  Colin Moran did it last week and the play lead to a scoring opportunity.  Your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:03
If they can do it, fine. I guess. But, honestly, if I have a power hitter who's left-handed ... I want that guy doing what he does best. I know this doesn't apply much to the Pirates, but for other teams, I'm willing to take my chances on a lefty swinging away and possibly crushing something. I don't want my big RBI guys settling for a bunt single. There's also the issue of whether or not someone can actually do it. Many of your big power guys don't handle the bat (read: bunt) terribly well because they're rarely been asked to do it.
Rob
12:06
Have you seen enough from the new coaching staff to believe that they are safe going into next year?
Jason Mackey
12:08
I think the coaching staff is fine going into next year, but not because I've been overly encouraged by what they've done or something like that. Bob Nutting, in my opinion, isn't about to pay two managers not to work, and I think to support Derek Shelton, you're probably going to let him build continuity with his staff, especially considering how short this season has been. I suppose if the offensive issues continue maybe you take a look at the hitting side, but I like Rick Eckstein a lot. I hardly think he's been the problem.
MjB
12:08
Why are J.T. Riddle and Jarrod Dyson on the field except as pinch hitters or pinch runners?   Honestly, I can handle watching the Pirates be no hit by a great pitcher, but if it happened with young players on the field, there would still be a positive from it.  They would be positive that they never want to experience that again.  Let's start looking to the future today!
Jason Mackey
12:10
I agree with you, MjB. I think a lot of people feel that way. I honestly think a lot of people around here like baseball enough that they would watch and invest even if the Pirates were bad ... but they were at least transparent about it. Like, hey, we're fallen off. We're not where we want to be. Please be patient. We're gonna play the kids. We need to go back to the drawing board with this new group, start over and grow this the right way. In the meantime, we're going to build for the future on the field. What's wrong with that? Then play Hayes, Cederlind, Oliva, Martin, Tucker, etc. Guys who will theoretically become something. The only reason I can rationalize playing those types now are because the trade deadline is approaching, and maybe Ben Cherington is holding out hope he might be able to move one or two of them.
wvpirate
12:10
Which 4 current Pirates would you keep to build the team around?
Jason Mackey
12:13
This is a good one. I'll assume only guys who have been in the big leagues since this says "keep around." ... We'll go Reynolds, Keller, Newman and Bell. ... I worry about Bell, though. He's been quiet this season. Has been quiet, really, since the 2019 All-Star Game.
David
12:13
It’s hard to evaluate scouts and player development people from a fan stand point but it sure does make a lot of sense to get new people to replace Larry Broadway and Joe Dellicarri who basically are in charge of the most important places in a rebuild. Any thoughts or news on this? I’d just love as a fan to see some new people and get some optimism
Jason Mackey
12:18
Hi David, I see where you're coming from. Here's what I think: Cherington has talked a lot about needing to keep certain people and processes in place simply to learn what was done before so the Pirates don't repeat that. I think this might be a function of that. I would not be surprised if the Pirates chose to go in a different direction this offseason. I also see, as a fan, why you might want that. If they're going to build this thing from the ground up, those positions are important.
alan
12:19
The 2020 Pirates vs. the 1962 Mets in a 7 game series. Who you got?
Jason Mackey
12:20
Oooh, man. That's good. I guess the 2020 Pirates, although I don't feel terribly confident in that response. I keep telling myself that, this club was reasonably competitive last All-Star break ... can it be this bad? Suppose it can. Marte, Vazquez, injuries, etc. I get it. But I definitely thought they would be better than this.
Danny
12:21
Larry Broadway, Joe Dellicarri, Kevan Graves, Junior Vizcaino, and Steve Williams....all from NH regime and all need to go!!! This is why we are in this mess and I don’t want them making any more big decisions. New blood please Cherington!!!
Jason Mackey
12:22
I understand what you're saying, Danny. And you may have a point with some of them, if for no other reason than you need to reasonably show that you're charting a new path. But, one, the people you mentioned are good people. They're also not dumb. They have excellent reputations around the game. But I do understand wanting/needing to improve development and believing that, hey, maybe it's time to try something different. That's fair.
Guest
12:22
I know they have to do this, but how can the Pirates seriously promote season ticket sales for next year with the current product on the field. Plus we all know they are going to claim the financial impact of this season prohibits the owner for spending money on players! There has been no commitment to spend coming from management!!!
Jason Mackey
12:23
I don't disagree with this either. They haven't spent enough on major league players, absolutely. They should spend more. But as you said, I don't fault them for trying to promote themselves. They should be promoting the daylights out of themselves, honestly, and doing all they can to communicate openly and honestly with their fans.
Casey
12:23
You see any more changes to the Pirates front office in the coming weeks/months? Too many Huntington guys= No trust from fans
Jason Mackey
12:24
The suddenly wanting to can all of Neal's people is interesting. And again, not saying I can't see a reason for it. But what has this new regime done to inspire such loyalty? I think the reasonable solution here is to do what they were probably going to do all along -- make adjustments after the season.
Joey
12:24
How can rebuld be effective if you trade your most valuable players? When are you ever actually built? What is the time commitment to this?
Jason Mackey
12:28
Hi Joey. I'm not sure I completely understand your questions, but I'll do my best. A rebuild by trading your most valuable players would work like this: Say they trade Josh Bell. You could argue that he would be their current MVP, but he's also close to becoming a free agent. If the Pirates think they won't be able to afford him, they would flip him to someone for multiple prospects who are years away. They would then develop those guys the right way, then bring them up and playing them while they were under team control or eligible for arbitration. Do that with a couple guys, and you get a rebuild. Do that correctly, and you get a successful rebuild, because, keep in mind, you're also drafting players and you should be developing them appropriately. And I don't know for a team like the Pirates you can sit back and say, "We're built." If they're not going to spend competitively at the major league level, this is all they have: succeed in finding good players and identifying them, then back-fill whenever ...
... you have to jettison a guy because he makes too much.
Danny
12:28
Any word on when Fulmer gets activated? Also what do you think the corresponding move will be for him since I think he’s out of minor league options?
Jason Mackey
12:29
He has to go through COVID-19 protocols and probably throw a little. Could be this weekend. Or, if they didn't wanna bother with a flight to Milwaukee (they might not), then next week's homestand, I'd say.
Wayward
12:29
Who do you see as realistic options getting moved over the next week, Holland, Kela and maybe Frazier?  Who gets called up in the next wave?
Jason Mackey
12:31
I think those three, yeah. I could also see opposing teams having some level of interesting in Richard Rodriguez or Chris Stratton -- reliable relievers. Trevor Williams is another possibility. Next wave should include Ke'Bryan Hayes, Blake Cederlind, Jason Martin, Jared Oliva and maybe Will Craig. I'm also curious how close Cody Bolton might be from a pitching standpoint.
Craig
12:33
Since we will be picking in the Top 3 picks...any other names besides Kumar Rocker you hear the Pirates are on early?
Jason Mackey
12:35
"On early" doesn't really exist. I don't know what that means. At the top of the draft, they're gonna scout all types. So I guess technically they're "on" a lot of guys. But so are all teams. Anyway, Vandy actually has another kid, Jack Leiter, who's really good if the Pirates would not get Rocker. Jud Fabian is a Florida Gator and a true center fielder. There are a few high school position players up high, too: Brady House, Christian Little and Braylon Bishop.
Curt
12:35
After we go through this rebuild, what is the very highest range you could see Bob Nutting stretching the payroll too?
Jason Mackey
12:37
I think it depends on the success of the team, Curt. I don't think there's a set number, but I do think Nutting realizes that they didn't do the last one right after 2015. So, it's hard to say. And I know it might sound nuts. But I do expect, once the rebuild happens, that Nutting will be more amenable to spending. But -- and you might think this is unfair, and that's fair -- I think he wants the rebuild to happen first.
Guest
12:37
Will the embarrassment of last night prompt people to finally wake up and demand Bob Nutting be held accountable by the State government for the millions he has stolen from taxpayers ?
Jason Mackey
12:38
If you're gonna complain about Bob Nutting, go nuts. There's plenty to pick at. But Lucas Giolito would have no-hit a lot of teams with the stuff he had last night. Not about to start randomly linking anything that happens to Nutting. Giolito was good. End of story.
Lou
12:38
What do you see happening with regard to the Pirates at the trade deadline next week?  Any options to actually restock the mostly bare cupboard for a rebuild, or more likely small deals to shed salary and take a couple of pot-shots at lower level prospects?
Jason Mackey
12:39
I think it depends on what the market offers -- like if anybody wants what Cherington is trying to move -- but yeah, a general answer would be that I do expect them to be active. I expect Ben to try and acquire prospects they can develop. Doubt we'll have heard of any of 'em. I think a byproduct -- although not overt intention -- will be shedding salary.
Rich
12:39
In what year coming do you think can you realistically say "The Pirates have a legitimate shot to win the division"
Jason Mackey
12:42
At this rate, maybe 2023. I think this year is a loss. 2021 is a loss, a rebuilding year. Maybe they surprise in 2022, but I don't think you would say they have a legitimate shot. By 2023, perhaps they have Peguero, Priester, Hayes, Cruz, Mason Martin, Gonzales, Malone, Rocker and others. Which, by the way, is not the worst-sounding lineup. And I've not mentioned Reynolds, Newman, a catching prospect they still need, Cederlind, Jason Martin or Jared Oliva. Could definitely be forgetting names, too, because there are a lot of questions to work through.
Donna
12:42
Hi Jason.  Do umpires get upset when a catcher like Stallings is always moving his mitt trying to steal a strike?  I can understand doing so on close pitches, not when the pitch is clearly a ball.  Thank you.
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