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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.26.20
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Jason Mackey
12:44
HI Donna. Not when they do it respectfully. When the catcher is presenting the pitcher to the umpire, they're cool with it. When the catcher starts yanking it, real herky-jerky, they don't like that. It's insulting. That's one of the reasons Stallings does so well with framing. He has soft hands, but he also thinks -- what it might look like for an umpire, what will happen if he lets the ball travel or if he doesn't, where can I position my glove so it looks like the ball is closer to the plate than it really is. But again, what they don't like is when there's a quick, violent movement of the glove.
Alan
12:44
Cole Tucker looks pretty good in the outfield..any chance he will hit at least .230 ?
Jason Mackey
12:45
I think that's very much within reasonable. Not surprise by what he's done out there. He needs to play more. I've liked it. Looks like he could stick. But his swing and pitch-selection -- outside of last night, where everybody stunk -- has been much better.
Steve
12:45
Thanks for all your research Jason. Much appreciate your player reviews in your columns! An idea I have not seen floated: set up a one time dfa account separate from the regular payroll. It would be expensive(we know how that goes) but a way to drop out the guys who can't reliably produce, can't generate a trade, or ones that just tell mgt that they don't want to be here. Any merit?
Jason Mackey
12:47
I don't think so, Steve. If you don't wanna be there, go home. That's your choice. But I can't just wake up and tell the Post-Gazette that I don't feel like coming to work, and they're gonna be like, "Oh, OK. Let us put you on this list so you still get paid." They can suck it up, or someone else can and will do their job. Same here. ... As for the production standpoint, hey, it's a tough business. They knew that coming in. I've yet to deal with a professional athlete who expected a break because he or she wasn't producing.
Negative Nate
12:48
With all the trade talk going on, what type of player can the Pirates get with the talent they have?  I guess any trade will be for the proverbial minor league prospect with great potential.  I’ve heard that song before.
Jason Mackey
12:48
Yes, you can expect them to target lower-level minor league guys. The quality of that guy, I think, depends on team looking to add a Pirates player.
Alan
12:49
can they get a return for Taillon? He was ok b4 TJ surgery..but only ok.
Jason Mackey
12:49
Nothing whatsoever. They're also dedicated to supporting his return; so, I don't think a trade is something they would even consider, to be honest.
Alan
12:49
All I hear about Joe Musgrove is how good an athlete he is. So why can't he pitch any better?
Jason Mackey
12:52
Because I don't think pitching has a ton to do with being an athlete. Has some, sure. But look at Greg Maddux. Not sure he could dunk, sprint or had some sort of really good shuttle time. But the dude knew how to pitch. Musgrove needs to get healthy, one. He has also struggled at times keeping all of his pitches as sharp as he needs to. I like Joe a lot, and I don't think he warrants getting picked on here. But I think you can fairly say that he hasn't been as consistent as he or the Pirates would have liked him to be at this point.
Mary Lynn
12:52
Is Shelton going to start having a regular lineup or will he continue to juggle it for the remainder of the season?  Thanks Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:53
I think you're going to see a lot of juggling, Mary Lynn. Especially after the trade deadline. I'm expecting him to get all sorts of crazy at that point, when it might be audition time all over the place. I think he's had one repeat lineup.
Jacob
12:56
There have been many pieces written on why not a lot is to be expected this trade deadline, as well as returns shouldn't be as good as expected due to many different reasons. How worried should we be that the Pirates end up selling low on a lot of their assets and are left with subpar returns, and not all that ahead from where they are now?
Jason Mackey
12:57
Here's where I come down on that: How do we know? Seriously. These guys are miles away from the majors, the players the Pirates will be getting. We don't know if they're gonna be legit major leaguers or flops. So, I wouldn't worry too much about it, honestly. Good front offices also find diamonds in the rough. We don't need to have an opinion right now, believe it or not. It's gonna take a couple years to see if Cherington did this one right or not.
Guest
12:57
How hated is Bob Nutting by the players ? I'm guessing very. Probably the most hated owner of any sports team in history
Jason Mackey
12:58
I'm not sure. I can't explicitly say I've ever chatted with a Pirates player re: Nutting good or bad. I suppose there might be some resentment there, but that would be nothing more than me projecting onto them.
Lou
12:58
Has the NL adoption of the DH for this season been what you expected this year in terms of watching games and managerial impact.  I still hope to see it go away next year, as I enjoy the double switches and gameplanning that it encourages.
Jason Mackey
12:59
It has, Lou. I think it has made games more entertaining, and I think, honestly, that we'll never go back. It's here to say. I like the strategy, too, although I get why people might not want to see that in 2020. I'm of the belief that baseball needs to adjust a little to stay relevant.
Alan
12:59
When PNC park loses the name ..odds that it will be called Primanti Brothers Park?
Jason Mackey
1:00
That's an interesting possibility, although 1. I refuse to believe PNC wouldn't wanna stay given their place in the market, etc. and 2. Whether that makes the most sense for Primanti's. Not like they need the increased exposure here.
Carl
1:00
Barring trades, who are your starting eight and starting rotation next season?
Jason Mackey
1:02
That's hard, Carl. Maybe 3B Hayes, SS Tucker, 2B Newman, 1B Bell, C Stallings, LF Reynolds, CF Martin, RF Polanco. (Frazier traded) ... Not gonna do the order. And ... Musgrove, Kuhl, Brault, Taillon, Keller. (Williams traded)
But again, really tough because of trades.
Homer
1:02
With both the extra year of control and Super 2 estimate well in the rear view, is there something we're missing with Hayes? Does this just mean they truly don't think he's ready? There's no way he doesn't come up at some point, right?
Jason Mackey
1:03
The only thing I can figure is that they're trying to showcase guys for the deadline, then after it, they'll come to their senses and play Hayes. But, yeah, that's all I got now that Super 2 has passed. Their answers have been that he isn't ready, either physically or baseball-wise, but I don't know what they're waiting for him to do. Let him play and learn. What's the worst that can happen? They lose?
Alan
1:03
The only positive I read about Mr. Polanco is that he smiles a lot. Is that worth 11 million dollars...? I smile a lot too.
Jason Mackey
1:04
Fair. But you're not under contract -- with no possible buyout until after 2021 -- for a couple more years.
Franklin89
1:04
MLB Trade Rumors reports Blue Jays are interested in Kuhl and Williams. At end of article it states neither would "command a haul for the pirates." As I agree that neither are 1 or 2s in a rotation, they still are legit starting pitchers in the majors which arent available everywhere especially at a trade deadline. What kind of return do you think is reasonable? Red Sox got Bay, Dodgers got Manny and we got Laroche's brother. -Yinzer at trade deadline July 31, 2008
Jason Mackey
1:06
I'm focusing on younger prospects, guys with tools. Those deals and this are apples to oranges because I couldn't care less about an MLB piece. To move Williams -- I wouldn't move Kuhl -- I would want a top 15 prospect. Again, that might be an extreme ask, which is fine. But I also don't feel like I have to trade him right now. He's only 28.
Yuri
1:07
Hi Jason, will we see the designated hitter in the National League next year and in the future?
Jason Mackey
1:07
I think so, Yuri. I have a tough time seeing it go away.
Bruce
1:13
Should we assign lots of blame to Eckstein based on the fact that nearly every Pirates hitter has underperformed this season? The numbers are brutal and when you have guys like Josh Bell swinging through 94 mph fastballs down the middle over and over, to me that's a big problem.
Jason Mackey
1:14
I'm fine with blaming Eckstein. He's the hitting coach, and his guys aren't producing. That's fair. But I would not blame them more than the players, which some people seem wont to do. It starts and ends with them. But, yeah, as a team they've regressed, and it would be foolish to ignore/not address that.
Alan
1:14
Given that 6 players were hitting under .220..does that taint the no-hitter?
Jason Mackey
1:14
Not to me. He would've no-hit a bunch of teams last night, as I said. Stuff was absurd.
Rob Manfred
1:15
We all love Mr. Nutting Jason! He is against a salary cap and his teams are almost always non-competitive which helps out the other owners. He's swell!
Jason Mackey
1:16
This is a misconception among baseball fans: Rob Manfred would love a salary cap. I truly believe that. I just don't think he's ever going to get one because the MLBPA won't allow it. But any commissioner anywhere should welcome parity. The problem is Manfred can't just universally implement a salary cap.
RS
1:19
Any idea what the pirates plan to do with the glut of shortstops in their system? Not saying they are all good but they seem to have drafted/signed a lot recently. Erik Gonzales has been a bright spot this season but he seems like a trade piece.
Jason Mackey
1:20
I think Gonzalez would be a trade piece if anyone is interested. That remains to be seen. As for the glut of shortstops, those things have a way of working out. I think they could move Gonzales to second base. I'd think about moving Cruz to the outfield, although I'd probably wait for an offseason to do it. Tucker has looked good in the outfield. Newman could bump over to second. They have a decent amount of flexibility there.
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