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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 09.08.21
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Jason Mackey
12:07
Someone needs to ask Nutting what? Why he doesn't spend more? I have. Twice.
AustinTXPirateFan
12:07
Do you think Pirate Management tries to keep any of the guys they took a flier on say, Gamel, Yoshi, Shelby Miller, etc?
Jason Mackey
12:07
Well, Gamel is under contract. So, yeah, I would imagine they commit to going through arb with him. Tsutsugo depends on what he does the rest of the way and his market; I don't think they're against it. Same for Miller. They don't know enough about him at the MLB level yet.
Steven
12:08
Little late to the chat so I’m not sure if this has been discussed yet, but Yoshi looks decent! He’s got power but sucks at fielding. Do you think he’ll command some money this winter with teams looking at him like, “dang, there’s the power people have been talking about” or is it moreso, “I need to see more” so he’ll be affordable. I feel like a bigger market team can throw him a couple million just as a bench piece/DH whereas the Pirates most likely won’t and would strictly utilize him as a DH if it becomes universal.
Jason Mackey
12:08
Yeah, it's just hard to say at this point. Depends on whether this continues. Remember Nogowski. If Yoshi hits like this through October, then, yeah, I think he probably played his way out of Pittsburgh. But I also think they could use him if the production falls somewhere in the middle.
Prince Bob
12:09
I have a really small sample size when I say this, but if they're going to run the contact play a lot, and I can see why they might, the runners need to get bigger leads.
Jason Mackey
12:09
I will make sure Shelton knows.
Steven
12:09
Piggy-backing off Yoshi, it’s been refreshing to see consistent power as of late. Sure Reynolds would hit some (ie 20+ like what he has now) but he’s moreso a contact hitter who has power. Hopefully guys like Chavis and Martin can add more so that way we’re not strictly relying on XBH with runners on to score runs and win games, HRs help the cause a lot.
Jason Mackey
12:10
No doubt. And they're never going to be a top-tier power-hitting club. But it has been really bad this season. Just imagine in a couple years, though. You could have Reynolds, Cruz, Martin, maybe even Castro. Henry Davis has some pop.
Prince Bob
12:10
Thanks. But I'll want a consultant's fee.
Jason Mackey
12:10
For what? Telling a runner on third base to get a bigger lead and thinking you fixed the problem?
Joel
12:11
Tiny sample size, but the Hayes in the lead off spot experiment seems to be going well. Both Bonds and McCutchen batted lead off early in their careers. What do you think of Hayes staying there for a bit, maybe even next season?
Jason Mackey
12:12
Joel, my man. I'm not committing to this for Friday let alone next season. I'm a big believer in not messing with a winner. I loved how Mike Sullivan would almost always keep the same lineup and lines after a Penguins win. Do the same. As long as they're winning, hit Hayes leadoff. I'm not thinking about it any more than that.
Prince Bob
12:12
Sarcasm maybe doesn't translate well.
Jason Mackey
12:12
It's all good.
Daniel Sametz
12:17
Hi Jason,
There is some hate for Newman but with the good defensive   year he's having I do think he deserves another year in the team.  Do you think he can turn around with the bat?
Jason Mackey
12:19
Hi Daniel. I think Newman is what he is at this point -- a solid defensive shortstop who's not gonna add a ton with the bat. Is he better than he's been this season? Yeah, I think so. Was 2019 probably a mirage? I think there's some truth to that as well. Big picture, I think Newman can start another year, and it's fine. But beyond that, I think the Pirates need to turn things over to Peguero, Castillo, Marcano or Cruz -- whoever winds up being their shortstop of the future and someone who adds more offense.
Prince Bob
12:19
I kind of thought you were being sarcastic when you said you'd pass my observation along to Shelton so... sorry if we got muddled.
Jason Mackey
12:19
I might bring it up to him. Who knows. We sometimes talk about random baseball stuff during BP. Just depends on if that conversation happens or not.
Steve
12:24
Did you see the interview in the booth with Cervelli last night? Such a class guy. He expressed interested in managing in the future. Hope he ends up back with the Bucs someday. Feel he would be a great manager all around.
Jason Mackey
12:25
Hi Steve. I did, yes. I was watching the TV feed from my seat, then I chatted with Cervy (along with other reporters) afterward. I thought he was terrific. On TV and the specific stuff he said about catching, managing, handling pitchers, etc. Such a smart dude, and I'm glad, most of all, that he's healthy. I hope he winds up with the Pirates as well. I think there's a lot of knowledge he can share with younger players.
MjB
12:26
I had a coach that once timed our shortstop's best jump throw against the plant your foot and make a good throw technique.  You will never guess who the winner is by a landslide?   If Kevin Newman plants his foot and makes a strong throw, Moran catches the throw, the inning ends, and we win a game.  Why do managers tolerate that.  I see it night after night in MLB.  It's all about highlight plays instead of making an easy out.
Jason Mackey
12:26
I think it's hard to say, black and white, one is always better than the other. And I think as a manager, you need to trust your players to make instinctive, athletic players. You don't see Mike Tomlin telling Steelers receivers when to dive and when to keep running. You have to trust your players.
Prince Bob
12:27
Not to beat this to death, it's hard to see what runners at third are doing when you watch on TV. In some replays where the guy gets thrown out it looks to me like they were barely off the base when the ball was hit. But again, I've seen only a few of these situations.
Jason Mackey
12:28
I don't think their leads or secondary leads have been the problem. I think it's pushing a certain way of thinking -- always aggressive. With better players, it might be a good thing. We've seen them get burned playing their infield in as well. I also don't think it's hugely detrimental to the cause.
Phil in GA
12:28
With respect to the timing of minor league promotions, winning as a group, keeping them together angle, I thought I saw something from Baker that they may not do as much of that next year.  Do you think some (not all) of it is waiting to see if the new CBA changes service time rules at all and then adjust appropriately?  I know the organization would never admit it, but let's be clear, if, for example, they adjust service time so that anything before Aug 1 counts as a full season for a freshly promoted rookie, teams would take that into consideration with development time tables.
Jason Mackey
12:29
Was actually chatting about this with someone yesterday. I don't think you're seeing them manipulate service time at Class A. If this was Class AAA, yeah, I would have my suspicions. But man, we're so far away from that. We're not even at the point where we're guaranteed it'll matter about players' service time.
MjB
12:29
BTW, I would take Cervelli as a coach in a heartbeat after listening to him last night!
Jason Mackey
12:29
I would find a role for him in the organization, if he would be willing to do that. I don't know if he is. Pretty good life he leads right now.
Prince Bob
12:29
Thanks. I am now officially retiring that topic.
Jason Mackey
12:30
Thank you.
Cullen
12:34
Thanks for the chats as always, they're very insightful! I saw Nick Gonzales was taken out of the game yesterday, any word on why?
Jason Mackey
12:37
Have not heard anything. Tomczyk talks in a little. I will say, he had 5 PA in a 21-4 win, so it may have just been getting someone else playing time or giving Nick a rest. But should find out in a couple of hours if there's anything legitimately up.
Mark
12:37
Hi Jason.  IMO, the Pirates should play the Cleveland Baseball team (nice huh?) every year.  The Detroit rivalry is not very interesting.  Why can't Cincy-Detroit be the rivalry?  They can call it the Sparky Anderson classic.
Jason Mackey
12:39
I don't care, honestly. Detroit isn't a rival. Cleveland isn't a rival. But I think having that series matters for situations like the Yankees vs. Mets, Giants vs. A's and other interleague series that you want to have every year. If you wanna do Cincy-Detroit, that's fine. Pittsburgh-Clevaland. I'm still not sure you've created anything that's super captivating.
Phil in GA
12:39
Do you have any sense for how things play out with Chad Kuhl going into the offseason/next season?  Trade in the offseason, keep but back to the rotation, etc.  I had him pegged to finish starting this year and be traded in the offseason but no idea now that they put him in the pen.
Jason Mackey
12:40
Yeah, I'm not sure, Phil. That's a good question. Have actually been meaning to check in with Chad about life as a reliever and what he thinks. Thank you for the reminder. I also think he could just maybe come back as a reliever and make a career out of this thing. He could be really, really good. I don't think Kuhl would be the middling type, and the Pirates could just give him important innings, hope he pitches well, then trade him next season. I do think he gets traded eventually. Just unclear when and what he'll be doing at the time.
12:41
OK, folks. That's going to do it for me. I need to head outta here. Thanks so much for working with the funky timing. Let's do this again next Wednesday!
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