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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.26.20
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Mario
1:20
Can you please answer me something? If Nutting spent 100 million in 2014-2015 then why on earth can't he spend the same amount every year? Look not trying to be a conspiracy theorist but do you think it's possible he is losing lots of money with his newspapers and Seven Springs and really doesn't have that much money at all? Because we had record attendance from 2013-2015 and he decided to shed salaries and cut payroll the next year! Something doesn't add up Jason.
Jason Mackey
1:22
Because the amount he spends is tied to how much money is coming in. And because they made some terrific moves in 2016, it hurt the club performance-wise. For teams like the Pirates, they need to keep winning and keep the money coming in ... and keep making good decisions in order for that business model or whatever you want to call it to sustain. Independent wealth isn't the sole driver of spending money, although it obviously doesn't hurt.
Drew
1:25
Since teams are only able to trade players who are currently either on their major league roster or in the practice pool, would it be wiser to wait until the offseason to trade someone who you control past the end of this season?  I'm not applying that to Kela or Holland or Dyson (if you can get anything for him) right now, but I'm not so sure about guys like Frazier. I'm not saying don't listen to offers to guys you control past this season, I'm just saying you need to make sure you are blown away by the return.
Jason Mackey
1:27
Sure. I think that's one factor to consider. If you can wait, do it. I think that's similar to any year, though, right? If the return isn't great, and you still have the player under contract, then maybe it makes sense to wait.
Alan
1:27
Is Reynolds a one hit wonder?
Jason Mackey
1:28
I don't think so, personally. I think he's been in a slump, and I think he's been over-thinking things. He's been not great for 25 games, I agree. But that happens a bunch during a regular season. We're paying attention more because it's at the beginning of a shortened one. Doesn't mean he's forgotten how to play baseball because he was in a rut.
Crazy Bone
1:28
Why all the Josh Bell love from everybody? He didn't have a good 2018 season, he had a bad 2nd half of 2019 and he's been awful so far this season. 7 weeks of great baseball last year doesn't mean squat when you haven't done anything before or after. Heck Pedro hit 100 RBI's and 30 HR's in 2013 and was out of baseball a few years later. Bell doesn't deserve any kind of long-term contract and the Pirates dodged a bullet imo by Bell's agent not letting him sign here. Agree?
Jason Mackey
1:30
I'm starting to, yeah. Bell had 16 home runs in May/June last year. He's had 23 in March/April, July, August and September 2019, as well as August 2020. Is that terrible? Obviously not. I think we may be seeing a little more that his 2019 season was more a product of two great months as opposed to some sort of gigantic leap forward. And also, I'm not saying I 100% think that. I just worry that could be the case if he doesn't pick it up.
Guest
1:30
Hi Jason! Worried that Bell's ceiling may be right now and that pitchers and scouts know how to pitch him outside with breaking stuff that he whiffs at on a regular basis. Should we trade him now or wait until the off season? I say now but he will probably turn back into an MVP candidate on another team with the Pirates luck!
Jason Mackey
1:32
I don't think now is the time. Based on his post-All-Star-break 2019 and what he's done this far, I can't imagine his stock is terribly high. I would ride it out. I also don't think what you mentioned is what we're seeing. He's not getting pitched all that differently. He's more hurting himself by chasing crap.
Danny
1:32
I’m having a hard time gauging what Trevor Williams could fetch in return. He may not have a super high ceiling but a quality starter with a couple years of control seems like he should be able to get a decent haul. What are your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
1:33
I agree with you. Not gonna be a marquee return or anything like that, but it should also be half-decent given his track record, age, production, etc. He has pretty decent value. I think I say before an opposing team's top-15; I'll stand by that.
Wayward
1:33
Listened to the Podcast and agree with the premise that Rodriguez and Williams may have the most trade value.   What would you see the turn be for those two.
Jason Mackey
1:34
It's so hard, Wayward. But thank you for listening. They're gonna be minor league guys, lower-level. I'd want pitching. I'd want someone with projectable stuff -- good breaking stuff, at least a 60 (20-80 scale) fastball, that sort of stuff. Those aren't the guys where I'm OK taking a chance on somebody random.
Don Orris
1:34
Do you read the comments that the fans leave from your articles in the PG? I know Zeise does because he has replied to some people before. I have never seen you do that and was just wondering. I think you should be reading them though because we spend the time to comment.
Jason Mackey
1:40
Hi Don. I do sometimes, not always. My email is on every article, and I answer every email I doesn't involve someone swearing at me or threatening me. I'm available on Twitter. I answer every single question every week in this chat. I don't think I'm doing readers a disservice by hiding. But I don't read them sometimes for a few reasons: When people disagree with what I wrote or they're just mad, they sometimes turn it into me being an idiot or why didn't I do this or that or I'm so stupid, or they say something mean. Mental health-wise, that's not good for me. It's not good for anybody. I work really hard. I try to do a respectable job. I think I do that. And I do read them probably 60% of the time -- and answer, if appropriate. But I don't always because of what I mentioned (people getting mad at the team and taking it out on me), as well as there simply being an upper limit in my day. I work a lot, and I like it. But sometimes you have to cut it off and hang out with your family.
Chazmo
1:40
The low payroll this year may be beneficial in the long run due to decreased revenue. But in my opinion, the increased appreciation of the teams value should make ownership willing to operate at break even or even in the red some years to fiek
Jason Mackey
1:41
I don't disagree with what you're getting at. As a pro sports owner, I think sometimes you need to make emotional, semi-stupid decisions. This sounds weird, but I think sometimes the Pirates have almost been too prudent. You have to think a little like a fan when you own a team. Some people like Mark Cuban think a lot like a fan. I think Bob Nutting could stand to think more like a fan.
Wayward
1:41
Why no discussion of Moran as a trade candidate?   DH, 1B, 3B hits Right handers.
Jason Mackey
1:41
Potentially. But right now he's a better hitter than Josh Bell. He might be a succession plan to Bell at first. He's also concussed. Point being: I would keep Moran and see what happens when he comes back from this.
Bigly
1:41
Is it me or does it seem there are a lot of terrible umpires this season? Most are calling easy balls as strikes and you can tell the hitters are frustrated.
Jason Mackey
1:42
It's not just this season. We need robo umps sooner than later.
R
1:42
i think everyone is hoping that Covid is gone by next year, but if it lingers and affects next season do you see MLB playing another season without fans? My fear is some teams, like the pirates, couldn’t survive something like this for another season. No player development, no fan money, just something I hope doesn’t happen
Jason Mackey
1:42
I'm gonna hope and pray there's a vaccine by next season. I don't even want to think about the possibility of that not happening. And yeah, the Pirates would be in a tough spot.
Chazmo
1:42
Maybe the low payroll this year will be beneficial in the future due to the low revenue. IMHO , ownership should be willing to operate with little or no yearly profit  some years because of the appreciation of the teams value over the years in order to field a winning team. What do you think?
Jason Mackey
1:44
I think I got this before, but yeah, I agree with you. If they make a whole bunch of money, as Joe Musgrove said, it's not like they go around handing out bonuses. Similarly, it's not like, if they make a bunch of money, they're gonna go sign five extra players.
Bigly
1:44
What happened to Travis Swaggarty? Why haven't we heard anything from the organization about him? Another first round pick that seems poorly developed and not brought to the majors quickly enough it seems.
Jason Mackey
1:46
Poorly developed and not brought to the majors quickly enough ... those two statemenrts contradict each other. Physically, Swaggerty is in Altoona at the Pirates' satellite camp. Aside from that, he hit .265 with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 121 games at High-A last year. Not exactly someone proving a point that they need to be in the big leagues. He needs to hit. And, yeah, the former regime might've screwed up his development. I don't know enough good or bad to say what truly happened to him, but this new group needs to get him making progress in a hurry.
Guest
1:46
Problem with this trade deadline is that no one on the club is having a good year to bring back anything of value. How do you bargain with no chips? Or do they take what they can get, shed salary and move on?
Jason Mackey
1:47
Probably a little bit of both. They do have some pieces. Nothing that will command a blockbuster-level haul, but they'll be able to make some deals, watch.
wvpirate
1:47
Do you think in the next player/owner agreement. That there may not be a ceiling on payroll. But a lower limit of what a team to spend to avoid tanking?
Jason Mackey
1:47
I don't think there will be, but I would love, love, love to see a better economic system. I think fans would, too. And absolutely one that involves a floor and a ceiling.
Franklin89
1:47
Does Alan get to ask a question everytime? Dude just seriously asked if a team was going to trade for a player who just got Tommy John
Jason Mackey
1:48
It's a free country. He's allowed to ask whatever he wants, and nobody needs to judge here. I'm not saying that was one, but I've asked plenty of stupid questions throughout my career.
Sports Harder
1:48
Pirates never break .500 again. Ever. Agreed ?
Jason Mackey
1:48
No, I don't.
Bigly
1:48
You haven't answered any of my questions. You just skipping over some?
Jason Mackey
1:49
I have not skipped over a single question. I never do, unless it's insulting or inappropriate. Or about the Insane Clown Posse.
Guest
1:49
General baseball question.  When is baseball going to implement the electronic strike zone?  This would have been the perfect season to do it.  The umps are better given they are graded but still.   I would have loved to get Eric Gregg graded when he was still working😀
Jason Mackey
1:49
I can't give you a date, but I can say that I agree with you. They need to. And I don't even fault the umps, honestly. Guys are throwing so hard and with such nasty breaking stuff, the human body has a limit with reaction times and such. I think they're flirting with it.
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