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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.28.19
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LA Matt
12:16
I understand that, for PR purposes, Neil Huntington has to spew forth the Pirate spin, but do you really think that he believes even half of what he is saying? Yes, they were 2.5 games out of first at the All Star break, but they were a below 500 team. Yes, if every starter has a career year in 2020, they will be a contender. Etc.....
Jason Mackey
12:18
I think Neal has taken an optimists view of the situation. I'm with him on some of it. I do think they have some nice young pieces in Bell, Reynolds, Newman, etc. They should feel good about that. I like Marte's year, I think Moran is better than he's given credit for. But they need to fix some serious holes -- catcher, starting rotation, bullpen. I can agree that they're better than 20 games under .500, but are they really a team that would've been 2 1/2 games out of a legitimate division? No.
rcc prof
12:18
Jason, I am curious. What is the criteria for a small market? Is this a valid reason to explain some teams' failures or is it an excuse?
Jason Mackey
12:18
I don't think there's definitive criteria. It's more just logic when comparing Pittsburgh to, say, Chicago or New York.
LA Matt
12:19
PLEASE,PLEASE quit quoting the Pirate justification for this joke of a team: "They were 2 1/2 out of first place at the All Star break!" They were BELOW 500 even after a very hot streak prior to the break!  Anyone who knows the game knows that they were a bad/mediocre team before the break and a very bad team afterwards.
Jason Mackey
12:20
I'm the beat writer. It's my job to quote people in charge saying things. It's a columnist's job to give his/her opinion, and it's your right to formulate what you think based off of those comments. That's why I presented Huntington the way I did -- getting the heck out of the way. He's allowed to feel the way he feels. Do I agree with everything he said? No. But in the article that's not presented because it was supposed to be Neal's thoughts.
John
12:20
Can we please stop suggesting MLB will make Nutting sell? There is very little precedent for this, and when it happens, it's not because of a lack of spending. It's when someone like McCourt literally can't fund the team to properly operate it. All the league wants is a business run competently, and there is nothing to suggest the Pirates are not that. If anything, Nutting righted the ship that was way off course under prior management.
Jason Mackey
12:21
Yeah, I don't see MLB forcing Nutting to sell. If Nutting sells, it's because he believes he can make a lot of money by doing so.
MjB
12:21
Why would anyone think that every player is going to have their best stuff every single night????   I try so hard to understand why Clint Hurdle believes that four or five relievers will have their best stuff on a given night.   It's so statistically impossible for anyone to believe that.  Let a guy a throw two-three innings if he has his good stuff, and when it's apparent he does not, i.e. Rodriguez/Stratton, get them out of there!
Jason Mackey
12:22
Throwing 2-3 innings is simply not the way relievers are handled anymore. That's not a Hurdle thing. That's a baseball thing. People are just reeeeally careful with that stuff because the numbers back it. I do wish Hurdle would be a little more relaxed with his starters' pitch counts. Those guys can go longer than they're being allowed.
Wayward
12:23
Which of the minor leaguers do you see getting called up either 9/1 or when AAA season ends?
Jason Mackey
12:24
I think you'll see Tucker, Martin and Kramer, although those are easy. I also think that Ke'Bryan Hayes will get a chance. Perhaps Yacksel Rios, too.
John w
12:24
Jason....I definitely feel like it's time for Hurdle to go and I agree a younger manager that can relate to the players would be a better move for the Pirates to make.....that said is there anyone out there in the Farm system right now that would fit the bill in Pittsburgh?
Jason Mackey
12:25
Maybe Brian Esposito in Indy; however, I still think either Prince or Banister would be preferred options.
Wayward
12:25
Neal has said they don't need/want to do a tear down/rebuild.  In my mind if you move Vasquez and Marte and come up with young sp, catching and maybe another power corner guy to combine with the young core would be a good start.  What do you think?
Jason Mackey
12:26
I'm OK moving Vazquez because they're insulated against it with Kela and Crick, if Crick can get right. They don't have another center fielder who can do what Marte can. Plus, I think he helps more than he would fetch on the trade market. I think it's different for a closer, who really is only gonna help a contending club. Plus, if they traded Vazquez, it should and would be for a pretty good haul.
John
12:26
In the CBA, there are Market Scores, which are used for revenue sharing calculations, with 100 being an average. While there's no definition of how Market Score is calculated, Pittsburgh is 27th with a Market Score of 56. I believe that's a good place to start with the definition of a "small market".
Jason Mackey
12:27
Thanks, john. You win.
John
12:27
REVENUE SHARINGMARKETSCORE
* Phased in over four years (2017–2020) at 25% per year, per Article XXIV(A)(12).
RANK CLUB SCORE DQ% 1 NYY 235 100% 1 NYM 235 100% 3 LAD 178 100% 3 LAA 178 100% 5 CHI 124 100% 5 CWS 124 100% 7 TOR 119 100% 8 WSH 113 100% 9 PHI 111 100% 10 OAK 108 100%* 10 SF 108 100% 12 BOS 101 100% 12 TEX 101 100% 14 ATL 96 0% 15 HOU 93 0% 16 SEA 81 0% 17 MIN 76 0% 18 DET 74 0% 19 ARI 72 0% 19 TB 72 0% 21 BAL 70 0% 21 COL 70 0% 23 MIA 69 0% 24 CLE 64 0% 25 SD 60 0% 26 STL 57 0% 27 PIT 56 0% 28 KC 53 0% 29 MIL 52 0% 30 CIN 51 0%
Jason Mackey
12:27
Appreciate the assistance here.
LA Matt
12:27
My criticism is not that you quoted Huntington, just that you too said the same thing in response to an earlier question on this very chat. I expect it from Huntington, not from an objective beat writer.
Jason Mackey
12:28
You expect, what, me to disagree with everything the general manager says because you do? I'm allowed to have my own opinions on things, and a chat is a good forum for them. You're allowed to disagree with me, too. It's OK.
jds317
12:28
What's the latest on Polanco?  He's been injured/ ineffective all year.  Any real hope that he comes back strong next year?  Is Osuna a viable OF option?
Jason Mackey
12:29
I think Osuna would be a viable bench option, but they don't want to have him playing every day. Latest on Polanco is that he's doing full baseball activities in Bradenton and has participated in a sim game down there. We will know more today after talking to director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk. They expect him to be back this season.
Tone Loc
12:29
Given the injury history, is it possible that the Pirates start 2020 with Osuna in right instead of Polanco?  I realize Polanco has a greater upside, but he really can't be trusted to an everyday player at this point, can he?
Jason Mackey
12:30
I think they would like to start with Polanco. That's really their best option. And if they don't have him, I would expect them to sign someone like Lonnie Chisenhall -- although you would hope that this player, you know, actually winds up playing for them.
Jason Pagliaro
12:34
Any chance the team could sign Bell and Reynolds to extensions before they hit arbitration or do you think they ride it out with both?
Jason Mackey
12:35
I can't speak as much for Reynolds, but I have my doubts on Bell after talking to his agent, Scott Boras, at the All-Star Game. I will say this: It would be smart of the Pirates to get both done while they can. And it may even make sense for the players, in a way, at least as a bridge to arbitration.
ke'bryan mays hayes
12:35
" I think Moran is better than he's given credit for. "
Jason Mackey
12:36
Someone disagrees, I see.
ke'bryan mays hayes
12:36
"I think Moran is better than he's given credit for." You are wrong. He is not only terrible, he is overrated.
Jason Mackey
12:37
He has an OPS of almost .800, fourth-best on the team and higher than that of Kevin Newman (nothing against Newman). Will likely drive in more than 80 runs while hitting around .280 and should finish with more than 15 homers. Again, I'm not gonna put him in the Hall of Fame tomorrow, but i think "terrible" is a little harsh.
Dave
12:38
Any chance we will hear directly from the owner as to what the organization will do to improve?
Jason Mackey
12:38
I'm told Nutting will talk at the end of the season or around then. (Yes, I know there's a month left.) I think he should talk ASAP. Fans deserve to hear from him and clearly want to hear from him. Trust me, you're not the first person who has brought this up.
Chuckster
12:38
If the Pirates would surprise everyone and fire Hurdle, would Mike Matheny be a good replacement?  He would bring a different and fresh perspective as opposed to someone like Tom Prince or Jeff Banister.
Jason Mackey
12:39
I don't think so. I think they need someone younger, someone who is willing to screw around and try some different stuff because they definitely don't have a traditional roster. For those reasons, I question whether Prince or Banister would be the ideal choice, but they're already on the payroll, so ...
Don't vote Moran
12:40
But 103 wRC+ (so, basically average), with bad base running and defense. So, nah.
Jason Mackey
12:43
Moran wRC+ = 103 ... salary: $507,500
12:44
Manny Machado wRC+ = 109 (rank 16; Moran was 19th) ... salary: will make $30 million next season. I can live with the shortcoming. Plus, again, I didn't say he was the greatest player ever. Just that he wasn't terrible. Geesh.
Raymond
12:44
Would Jay Bell or Andy Van Slyke be a possible replacement manager? Win over fans that way?
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