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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 09.29.21
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Jason Mackey
12:30
It's their own money. Do you mean as opposed to, say, MLB?
ev
12:30
Jason, thanks for the chats.  This season has been difficult to handle. Can we expect some improvement next year?
Jason Mackey
12:31
Umm ... I would like to say so. I think there COULD be some improvement, but I'm not guaranteeing it. I do think it will mean more. What I mean: A lot of the guys you see next year will actually be part of this thing. They might struggle. They might take some lumps. But I think the losses will actually be for something. They also could surprise some people, although I'm obviously not counting on that, nor should you.
alan
12:31
Hi Jason. Who do you think is the Minor League player of the year for the Pirates?
Jason Mackey
12:32
I've kicked this around a lot, alan. Really good Q. I'm going Matt Fraizer. Oneil Cruz is crazy exciting. Mason Martin has mashed. I really like Nick Gonzales. (Talking position players here.) But when you look on balance ... I have a tough time ignoring Fraizer. Was one of the most productive hitters in all of MiLB.
Mike
12:33
Hi Jason...I do like that the Pirates have a higher winning percentage than the Steelers!  (Small sample size...but)
Jason Mackey
12:33
That they do, Mike. Ha. I'm not sure 3 games is an adequate sample, though, as you said.
Wayward
12:33
Thanks for the chats Jason.  Who of the Milb's do you see getting an aggressive placement next year?
Jason Mackey
12:34
Thanks, Wayward. My pleasure. I don't know if I see any "aggressive" placements. Like Gonzales, Priester, etc. will move up. I think much of Bradenton will move up. Altoona to Indy, etc. Is that aggressive? I guess maybe you could make the case for Gonzales to go to AAA or something like that, but I don't feel the need to do it. Maybe Henry Davis to AA? I would be good with that. Don't know if that qualifies as "aggressive."
Ian
12:34
One more...do you think that Diego Castillo gets more than a 'cup of coffee' in the bigs next year?
Jason Mackey
12:35
Yes, I do. I think he's in that group of players who will be given a legitimate shot. They like him. Would not surprise me at all to see him get a run of playing time to show what he can do.
alan
12:35
Another brutal start for Mitch K. When is this going to end?
Jason Mackey
12:36
I've actually been encouraged by Mitch. He wasn't good last night, I agree. Looked like old Mitch. I think we just need to temper some expectations here. He's not Tyler Glasnow, and I mean that two ways. That's OK. If he's gonna give you a competent 5 innings, fine. Whatever. I'll take it. But that's not ace material. That's a guy.
Matt from LA
12:36
Although I appreciate your optimism (and considering this past season and year we need more than a little of that in our lives), when it gets in the way of objectivity and reality it serves no other purpose than to turn away your audience.
Jason Mackey
12:37
So the way I see -- and have written about the Pirates -- have turned away my audience? Is that what you're trying to tell me, Matt?
alan
12:39
Can we say goodbye to the third base coach who helped get Moran thrown out the 4 times he sent him?
Jason Mackey
12:40
I don't think they're going to do anything with Joey Cora, no. I know fans aren't fans, but I really don't sense that Shelton agrees with it. He has helped from an infield perspective. And I think he's been a little less aggressive lately. But I also understand the sends have been a little much/head-scratching.
Canyon
12:40
Hey Jason love reading your stuff. What do you think should happen this off-season? Also where does Hoy Park fit in all this?
Jason Mackey
12:41
I don't think there's a permanent place for Park at this point. He needs to hit more and keep hitting. Could see him in the infield or outfield or maybe bouncing around. Depends on his offense. ... I would like to see them sign a couple guys this offseason: an outfielder (maybe Yoshi), plus a pitcher or two, including a starter. There will be a bunch of Rule 5 protections. Some different stuff with developmental camps. Maybe a trade or two (Chad Kuhl is one that comes to mind) and hopefully an extension (Bryan Reynolds would be my priority.)
alan
12:42
I have never gotten an answer of where the money comes from to sign draft picks...
Jason Mackey
12:43
They team pays them, Alan. Do you mean where does the team get the money? There's revenue sharing. Profit. All the normal avenues.
Ted
12:43
Has the organization put a hold on moving Cruz to the outfield? Personally I’d like to see him stay at short.
Jason Mackey
12:43
They have, at least for the rest of the season since he was hurt. They want to focus on him finishing the season healthy and getting better at shortstop.
PrinceBob
12:43
As we're nearing the end I want to jump on the pile of people telling you how much they enjoy the chats and your Pirates coverage in general. And last week a guy my age talked about not being able to buy a Pirates' ticket. You seemed a bit puzzled by this. I believe he was talking about something I asked you about early in the season, that you cannot buy a paper ticket now but rather need to do something with your phone. If they keep this policy I may well have been to my last Pirate game.
Jason Mackey
12:45
Thanks, Gunner. I really appreciate that. I'll be honest: I did not know they require that. Like you seriously can't walk up to the box office with a credit card and expect to receive a ticket back? That seems to unnecessarily box out a huge number of baseball fans. I understand cashless transactions, but I think it's reasonable to ask people to have a debit/credit card at this juncture. Requiring everyone to have a smart phone and app knowledge, when we're talking about baseball, that's a little surprising.
alan
12:45
The powerball is now over half a billion. If Nutting wins it do you think he would spend it on better players?
Jason Mackey
12:48
Ha. I would sure hope so. And I believe so. I also see Bob as the type who would never play the Powerball because he like doesn't wanna wait in line for a ticket or something. (This is my annual overture that Nutting is not some gnarly ogre wanting to push Pittsburghers down flights of steps.) Is he overly cautious in his business dealings? I think so. I'd like to see him echo fans' passion with his wallet. I also understand that baseball is dumb with its economics. Anyway, I do think Bob will spend more when some of these prospects get closer.
alan
12:48
Has G. Polanco made it back to the majors yet?
Jason Mackey
12:48
He has not. He's still at Class AAA Buffalo, in the Blue Jays' system.
PrinceBob
12:48
Do you know if Bryan Reynolds really WANTS to sign a long term deal with the Pirates?
Jason Mackey
12:49
I think he would for the right price. I think for a few different reasons -- a small sample, then a bad 2020 -- that number has not been reached. I expect both sides to revisit this offseason.
ev
12:49
Hi Jason, I think your objectivity is rock solid.
Jason Mackey
12:50
Thanks, ev. I appreciate that. I'm not perfect. Don't try to be. But saying I've alienated my audience or whatever because I think they could win if they draft and develop better ... that just sucks to hear. No two ways around that. I sacrifice an insane amount of my life and time with my family to do this comprehensively and fairly. Then someone just gets to type a couple words into a computer criticizing that incalculable number of hours ... yeah, stinks.
alan
12:50
I know there is a war for players..how about one for coaches and managers?
Jason Mackey
12:51
Absolutely. Couldn't agree more, alan. Surprised it hasn't happened, honestly. Someone get one of the betting sites on that.
Matt from LA
12:51
Not necessarily! I just think that you have a tendency to be overly optimistic in your evaluations of players and their performances to the detriment of objectivity/reality. E.g., Moran or Hayes have a decent game and you seemingly ignore the fact that they have been (well?) below average for the majority of the season. Keller pitches four innings and ONLY gives up three runs and you have him as a potential Cy Young Award winner next year.
Jason Mackey
12:53
I think you're intentionally overstating or overgeneralizing my work. I've said it a million times before and will say it again: There's nothing preventing the Pirates from drafting/signing good players and developing them the right way. Might they struggle to extend them? Yeah. Baseball's economic system sucks, and so does the Pirates' history (or lack of it) dishing out contracts. But that doesn't prevent them from signing talented kids out of the Dominican or doing what they did in the draft. If this makes me a fool for believing this, then I'll be a moron, Matt, and you can capitalize on the audience that I've alienated.
PrinceBob
12:53
Is Tucker suited for a bench role? I wonder if a guy who struggles with hitting but has gotten better maybe needs to do it every day.
Jason Mackey
12:54
Yeah, I don't think it's ideal for him. I'll say that. However, the way Shelton operates, it's a pretty good rotation. Even if you're in a bench role, it's not like it was 25 years ago. He's still gonna play. But same as I've been saying, he's gotta hit. Then you can find a place to put him.
Ian
12:54
Great stuff, thank you.
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