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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 09.16.20
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Gabe
12:42
Alford’s injury was a huge bummer because he looked like an exciting player. Realistically is he in the team’s plans going forward?
Jason Mackey
12:42
Without a doubt. He'll compete with Cole Tucker and also Jason Martin and Jared Oliva in spring training 2021. They like Alford a lot.
Scrapx
12:43
Since last year’s All Star break my Pirates have been playing some of the worst baseball I have ever seen.  I don’t see any improvement coming for years.  Tell me I am wrong.
Jason Mackey
12:43
To the point of the rebuild -- sorry, build -- yeah, it's gonna take a couple years. They still should be able to improve, like with the fielding, but I do believe they're looking more at 2023-24 than 2020-21 as a loose time to compete again.
Joe Musgrove
12:44
Now that I have proved that I can pitch into the fifth inning allowing less than 6 runs will I be in the Cy Young award race in 2020?
Jason Mackey
12:44
I don't think so, Joe. Sorry. Is this Miguel Del Persak?
Alan
12:44
Playing JT Riddle is essential to obtaining the first pick in the draft..Is this why he gets playing time? Or have I missed something?
Jason Mackey
12:44
It's the only reason I can come up with to play him, Alan.
Matt
12:44
I know everyone seems dissapointed and upset about this year's record and performance, can you see any optimism for 2021 and beyond? I can with the young arms that we have (Turley, Howard, Ponce, Brubaker, Keller, Cederlind, etc.), and the draft that Cherington put together this year. Don't people realize that young players will make mistakes, and more experience will help with that? Also, how can people bash Shelton and Cherington already? I mean, they haven't even really had a chance to show what they're about.  What's your personal opinion about Cherington and Shelton? I mean, I feel like once the young guys come up through the system, Shelton will have a more consistent line-up, rotation, go-to bullpen arms, etc..
Jason Mackey
12:47
I think some of this was asked earlier. ... To Cherington and Shelton, couple things: Cherington is akin to watching paint dry when talking to the media. I think it's intentional. But he's not stupid. He knows what he's doing. I think he knows what needs done. But I think he knows it takes time. I don't pretend to believe this is easy, but as fans, yinz do need to give him some time. ... I like Shelton a lot as a person. Remember, he's a first-time manager, too. And I think that has spilled over into a lot of areas, including media, dividing up playing time, etc. He's not perfect. But I think they needed someone with his temperament because of how much they need to dig out of this. I think a lot of the critical move-by-move analysis should probably wait until after he gets some better players.
Jacob
12:47
To me, Trevor Williams and Kyle Crick feel like "surprise" nontender options, even though they probably shouldn't be (a surprise, that is). Where do you see the likelihood of the Pirates tendering them contracts right now?
Jason Mackey
12:48
For Crick, it depends on his medicals. If it's truly a lat thing, I'd hang in there. I worry that it's not, though I obviously don't have access to his medical records. I would be stunned if they didn't tender Williams a contract. He's taking regular turns in the rotation. They seem to really like him and value him, regardless of what outsiders may think.
KG
12:48
What's up with all these lopsided scores we have seen across baseball? Did MLB juice the baseball a week ago?
Jason Mackey
12:48
It's a weird game and weird things happen. Don't know if I have more of an explanation than that.
other Jeff
12:48
Jason,  thanks for chats and hats off to you for keeping these chats going.  This organization might be the worst in baseball so not sure how you do it.  Do you see the culture changing within the organization?  Lets assume we do get better and are in a position to buy.  players, unless young and needing to be on MLB team aren't interested in coming here.  I get we need to do a better job developing young talent but how do we get to a point where players want to come here.  Hard to ever see that scenario
Jason Mackey
12:52
My pleasure. You all enable me to do what I do for a living, and I hope I never lose sight of that. ... I have not seen the culture changing in the organization. Now, I'm no longer in the clubhouse every day, but in terms of how media is treated -- what we're told, when we're told, how we're told, etc. -- that has not changed despite an insistence that they would be more communicative with fans. But team culture-wise -- which, to me, the communication is part of -- has not really shown any meaningful path forward. They talked about having more fun in spring training, and I think they did. But I don't think there's much fun being had around there right now. As for acquiring talent, that's probably a two-way street. The Pirates have given the outside world zero indication they're interested in legitimately paying for players, other than the Guillermo Heredias and Luke Mailes of the world. So, it might not matter who wants to come here. And if they get better, being a good team/contending solves everything.
Buck
12:52
If there is a new stimulous package can the Pirates get some of that money to improve the payroll?
Jason Mackey
12:53
I'd certainly like to see them spend more on the major league product, as you all would, too. They also need to focus on development and such. They've done the latter but haven't done the former.
Bucco Neil
12:53
I'm not really an angry Pirate fan and don't mean to dump on Polanco. But as you said, correcting that long swing should be doable but for some reason isn't happening. That gets me to thinking about the mental mistakes he's made in the outfield, on the bases, etc. Is he just hard to coach? Some guys are. Is he maybe just, this is awkward to say, not someone who focuses well? And how many more chats will there be this year? They're really good.
Jason Mackey
12:54
I have no plans to end them, Neil. I think it's an important interaction with fans. As long as there's participation -- and there most certainly has been -- then I'll keep holding 'em. If the interest dries up, then we'll move on. ... I don't think Polanco is hard to coach, per se. Very nice guy. Wants to do well. Maybe he's hard to coach in the sense that he has a tough time putting teaching points into practice, but he's certainly not a jerk.
Jacob
12:54
Oh yeah, another one would be Nick Burdi; do you see any world in which they pay him an arbitration deal, no matter how small it may end up being? Surely to no fault of his own, and I feel terribly for him, but it just doesn't seem to be working out.
Jason Mackey
12:55
Yeah, I actually think they would. I can't imagine he would get much. But they have access to his medicals. They're treated him. I think there's probably a confidence there. And, man, if he figures it out. The guy is some talent, obviously.
Brian Reynolds
12:55
I was the Messiah last year..what hapened to me?
Jason Mackey
12:56
Welp, for starters, you're not hitting the ball as much as you were last year. See, that's important.
Gabe
12:56
I think everyone can agree the Riddle’s existence on this team remains a riddle. Would it be completely irrational to cut him lose and bring in Neil Walker these final couple weeks as sort of a swan song send off?
Jason Mackey
12:57
I like Neil a lot. Tremendous guy. That said, it would be a swan song with nobody in the stands, for a front office and team he has no connection to. And it would be doing the exact same thing we're flipping out about with Riddle -- playing a veteran while blocking the kids. I don't see it happening.
Matthew
12:57
One last question:How can people not see that the Pirates are getting robbed of games this year? Some of the losses are their fault, yes, but when you take into consideration the replays we lost out on, the ball-strike calls we've been getting, etc., it feels like the Pirates have been getting screwed a lot. Do you agree with this, and how much impact do you think it had on the team this year?
Jason Mackey
12:58
I don't think they've had it worse than other teams I watch. I also think there's something to be said for being able to overcome that crap, which they haven't been able to do. I will agree with you that the umpiring is mostly awful. I used to be against automated balls and strikes, but this season may have changed my mind.
Char Val Colt
12:58 
There's no hope for the Pirates is there ? Like ever ? Like they'll always be terrible ? Like they'll stink for eternity ?
Jason Mackey
12:58
Something funky is happening here, Char.
AlanI
12:58
If someone really wanted to buy the battling Bucs how much would they need to spend?
Jason Mackey
1:05
A lot of money. Ha. Would imagine over $1 billion, although I don't think Nutting wants to sell. So obviously that would require more.
GPT
1:05
I get the financial aspect of it with Polanco, especially with this organization.  But it's cringe worthy watching him.  He's making Chris Davis look like Mike Trout.  How did it come to this with Polanco?
Jason Mackey
1:05
That's a good question. And I'm not sure anyone knows the answer to it. Injuries have obviously played a part. Bunch of time missed.
Char Val Colt
1:06
Is it true Bob Nutting's evil lair was the basis for Dr Evil's evil lair in the Austin Powers films ?
Jason Mackey
1:06
It was not. But it would be funny to see Bob in that environment.
Bill
1:06
What odds are you currently putting on the 7-inning-double-headers sticking around in the future? Baseball hates change, I know that, but I love it. If not the 7-inning-double-header, do you think there are any items that were put in due to COVID that MLB would consider making permanent? DH in the NL? Expanded rosters?
Jason Mackey
1:07
I expect expanded rosters to stick. Was told that by a MLBPA source last week, that he wouldn't be surprised they stuck around, if for no other reason than allowing teams more pitching. I think they'll consider the seven-inning doubleheaders. Honestly, now that I think more about it, wouldn't shock me if they all stayed. I know I don't hate the extra-inning rule. (I hate five-hour games more.) And I think there's a desire by both sides to have the DH.
Char Val Colt
1:07
Is the Gregory Polanco the biggest bust in Pirate history ?
Jason Mackey
1:08
I don't know about that. Maybe because of the money. But at least he did something. They had plenty of guys who had all kinds of hype who never delivered at all. Polanco has had moments. Just not enough of them.
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