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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 09.01.23
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Jason Mackey
11:37
Hello, gang. Thanks so much for stopping by for my every-other-week chat. I'm here in St. Louis, one of America's finest cities, and we'll get started at noon your time.
11:58
And away we go ...
Johnny M
11:58
Hi Jason. You are great for doing these chats. Thank you. So how was Kansas City on the beat? I assume you hadn't been there yet. Same way with Minnesota? I didn't look up the last times we played them on the road is why I'm asking.
Jason Mackey
11:59
Johnny, I am not great for doing these chats. I don't know if I'm great for anything. But I'm glad you enjoy them. ... Kansas City was boring, just because I ended up working the entire time. I have been there before (2020, '21) but just had too much to do during the day; traveled in Monday and worked Tuesday & Wednesday. Wish I could have gotten to the Negro Leagues museum or various BBQ spots but didn't happen.
Rich In Indio
12:00
The Pirates like to have position flexibility but that doesn't apply to everyone.  The hole at 1st base could be filled by several different players but it is never mentioned.  For example, B Reynolds - very weak arm in LF, O Cruz - lack of mobility after ankle injury just might be the answer, H Davis who has struggled in RF.  Do you think they would make such moves.
Jason Mackey
12:01
No, no and no, Rich. You can't just put anyone at first base. So many questions here. Reynolds has never played 1B. ... Wait, neither has anyone else you mentioned. Cruz is no longer mobile? Cruz & Davis have the best arms on the team? Why are we burying those at first base? Carlos Santana was the first defensively capable 1B the Pirates have had in a while. I don't know about you, but I actually enjoyed having someone who could hold his own over there. So, no. I don't think they would make such moves.
Michael - 412DoublePlay
12:01
You mentioned the other day that Haines appears to be back for 2024. Should we expect a shake-up elsewhere? Is there anyone (without giving names) who likely won’t be back on this staff?
Jason Mackey
12:02
Nothing I would term a "shakeup." Will there be some change? Would imagine so. Usually there's something, but I don't think I would call it a shakeup. Ben said Monday to Stumpf and I that he thought they had the right pitching people in place. He also confirmed Shelton would return. I reported yesterday Haines was coming back.
Johnny M
12:03
What did you think of Adam Bittner's story earlier this morning? A great read on those 4 guys & where they're at right now.
Jason Mackey
12:03
I haven't read it, sorry. I'll have to check it out later.
Jonathan
12:03
Hi Jason. Do you anticipate Andujar getting some time at 1B or mostly in right field? I know this is a position that they need to address in FA and have no real options. Rivas clearly isn't the answer and Joe serves as a better bench piece. Could this be an addition to make the team as a 1B/RF for 2024?
Jason Mackey
12:05
I anticipate Andujar getting time at 1B. Rivas hasn't done anything. Think he's hitting .116 over his last 14 or something like that. (It's in OTB.) They should see what they have in Andujar. I think he'll play both, but I expect to see him at 1B.
BVA123
12:05
You think Hayes’s month is a gonna last longer than just a month? His number are way better than last year. XBH’s are up. Power is up. He looks like he is back. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:06
I do, yes. There are a couple things happening. He's catching the ball more out front, which is leading to power. His body is also allowing him to do that. I think the rest has helped. There are also different cues he has worked through with Double-A Altoona hitting coach Jon Nunnally. But, yes. I see this stuff as completely repeatedly. Not to the tune of a .950 OPS or whatever, but better than what he's been doing? Absolutely.
Sylvester
12:07
In your professional opinion how close are the Pirates to making the playoffs?
Jason Mackey
12:07
I could see them clearing .500 next year and competing for a playoff spot in 2025.
PrinceBob
12:07
I was reading about the growing number of MLB pitchers needing Tommy John surgery. The going explanation is usually arms being overworked from too many innings and throwing too hard and that maybe the solution is a reduced workload. But I know Japanese teams have a much different idea about keeping pitchers healthy and it basically involves greater workloads. This got me to wondering how the frequency of having Tommy John surgery and arm injury among Japanese pitchers compares with that frequency here. I don't expect you to know this but if you wanted to look into this where would you begin?  I have no idea where to  look.
Jason Mackey
12:11
It's an interesting topic, for sure. Not that it matters, but I would skew toward the Japanese side. I think the over-managing of this stuff -- and resulting under-working, for lack of a better term -- hurts more than it helps.
Not sure I can be a huge help, at least anything more than Google, though I did find this from the National Library of Medicine that might be of some use: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6512154/
Johnny M
12:12
I noticed The Pirates passed on Gioloto & everybody else yesterday. Cleveland picked him up & 2 other relief pitchers. They're going for it.         I guess Pirate mgmt on the other hand don't mind cobbling & running out Openers for this last month of the season. They sure haven't any semblance of a 5-man staff for awhile now.
Jason Mackey
12:13
Yeah, Giolito is the only one I would have considered. You are paying $2 million for a month of work when you're out of contention, hoping he might sign here. I wouldn't have claimed, say, Clevinger, for $5.42 million (buyout + remaining salary). I know it upsets people, and I know I'm required to have an opinion. But I would much rather they get development right and draft the correct players.
Mark
12:13
Is Davis actually hurt?
Jason Mackey
12:14
Yes. I sincerely doubt the Pirates could convince Henry Davis he was going to sit because of some sort of phantom injury.
PrinceBob
12:14
I know that you've written more than once that 2024 is when the Pirates should begin being competitive again. Are you more optimistic, less optimistic, or about the same about this? If it's less optimistic what would the team need to do to improve your optimism and do you think they'll do it?
Jason Mackey
12:15
About the same. I wrote and said ~74 wins this year. That's about where they'll finish, and it'll be about a 12-win improvement. Next year they should clear .500, maybe flirt with a playoff spot, I  don't know. I see playoffs as more realistic in 2025. To answer your question: This year hasn't changed much for me in terms of optimism or what I expect.
Johnny M
12:15
Jason, you've seen Cutch in action. Do you think he can still play OF next season? He's talking about it. He's going to be 37 in 6 weeks.
Jason Mackey
12:16
I haven't seen him play the OF. I've seen him hit. But, yes, I do think Cutch can get healthy enough to get out there 1-2 times per week. And I think they need that from him.a
Jerry
12:16
Jason, if you had to whittle it all down to one tune, it would have to be Scarlet Begonias, no?
Jason Mackey
12:17
Would be top-five for me, sure. My favorite Dead line has long been: "Once in a while, you get shown the light ... " Preferred version: Copps Coliseum, 3/22/90.
GT
12:19
What is the plan for Davis? I feel if he’s the DH some might think it was a wasted pick. Will the Pirates carry three Catchers next year?
Jason Mackey
12:20
I think there's plenty TBD here. Ultimately, I think the hope is that he probably plays a competent RF and spells Endy twice a week behind the plate. Not sure that'll happen this year for a couple reasons, but that's the long-term plan. This year, I think they just need to get him healthy, then work a lot on defense in the offseason.
Stash
12:20
Jason, is your job really as hard as you have been making it out lately? Freaking fish tacos in San Diego? Some might say you need a dose of reality.
Jason Mackey
12:23
I'm sorry, is there something I'm missing here? I have the greatest job ever. I love it. It also requires me to work around 80 hours a week, and I miss a bunch of time at home with my wife and kids. On the back end, yeah, I get to eat fish tacos in San Diego and see a bunch of cool things. I don't think I ever lose sight of that. I apologize if my celebrating the good parts of my job offended you.
Trey
12:23
Jason, if you had to whittle it all down to one cover, it would have to be Reggae Woman, no?
Jason Mackey
12:24
Definitely up there for me in the Phish catalog. Still might go Uncle Pen or Quinn the Eskimo, but it's close.
Bteve Slass
12:24
Would you expect the Pirates rotation next year at the start with Skenes most likely in AAA to be 1. Keller 2. Oviedo 3. FA 4. FA 5. Contreras/Ortiz/Priester/Jones???
Jason Mackey
12:25
Yeah, they need at least one FA in the middle. ... I don't think Jones, unless something crazy happens over the final month. ... I think Roansy ends up figuring it out and occupies one spot. They might have something in Jackson, too.
Andy the Slyke
12:26
Unless I read it wrong, in your column on Haines, you said the Reynolds was, essentially, the poster child for keeping Haines. In what world is dropping 40 points in average and 100 points in OPS the last two years a sign that a hitting coach should be retained. If your best hitter drops precipitously it is not usually a sign that your hitting coach should be retained (see Yelich, C),
Jason Mackey
12:27
My argument there -- and it's not an argument because I'm not defending Haines -- would be Reynolds getting to more power and working out of the slumps he has the past two, which I would argue are not Haines' fault. But when Reynolds has been good, he has mixed on-base and better pitch selection with a greater amount of power. The problem is that he's had prolonged stretched that have dragged down the numbers.
JT
12:27
Jason, any idea why the talk of unloading Hayes and inserting me at the hit corner has seemed to die down lately? Gracias.
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