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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 10.30.19
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Jason Mackey
12:30
You can also compete on a low payroll if you make a couple of smart and shrewd moves in the offseason. They ca still do that. Also, I think compete is a relatively term; they can compete for a postseason spot. I don't think they're going to compete for a World Series.
Groveton
12:30
Who do you see as "affordable" free agent catchers?
Jason Mackey
12:31
Maybe Pina and d'Arnaud. They need someone who's good defensively, is from somewhere halfway decent and can add something, anything offensively.
Sammy
12:32
Should there be any worry that the person hiring a baseball guy has no baseball experience? Also, please tell me they aren't considering anyone over the age of 45? If they want to be true to their word, they need fresh blood, someone young, innovative, and as far from the organization as possible.
Jason Mackey
12:33
I don't think there should be worry. Travis Williams had no hockey experience when he took his Penguins job. That seemed to work out, OK. Also, he comes from this line of thinking, that you need to put good people in place and trust them to do the job. The Penguins do that. The Pirates did not. I think you're going to see that change in the future. And Travis is smart. No, he doesn't know everything, but I think he knows what he doesn't know, and I think he knows how to find answers, if that makes sense.
Alan
12:33
Forgive me for not sharing in the exuberance that most are displaying with this long overdue house cleaning. With the minor league cupboards bare, Nutting all but confirming he won't be opening up his change purse, I don't see the possibility of a competitive team being fielded for quite some time. Would you agree?
Jason Mackey
12:34
You're forgiven. And no, I don't agree, as I said. I don't know how you can just say, "Nutting won't spend, so they won't win." ... A's don't spend. Rays don't spend. Brewers and Twins spend less. They win. Why can't the Pirates? If they hire the right people and align themselves with that stuff, again, why are we saying they can't do that? Hate Nutting all you want. This part of doing business has nothing to do with him.
Sammy
12:34
If they aren't committed to necessarily spending more, but also not committing to a rebuild...that kind of sounds like more of the same, no?
Jason Mackey
12:34
Not if you overhaul your baseball operations department to look more like teams that are able to win on a tight budget.
Ryan
12:35
How much better could you see the new pitching staff being next year?
Jason Mackey
12:35
With the right catcher and a revamped pitching plan, similar to what they did with hitting this past offseason, I could see them finishing in the top half of the National League.
LA Matt
12:35
Replacing the "best management team in all of sports" was a start. If nothing else, it gives us some hope! Now we just need a lot of patience to go with that hope. As they say, Rome was not built in a day!
Jason Mackey
12:36
I don't know, Matt. I just heard from a couple people who have already informed me that this new group has failed. ... Sarcasm aside, I think Travis deserves to be heard out. See what his moves are. See how they work. Give the guy a chance. I get people are really mad at Bob Nutting, and I'm not saying you shouldn't be. But Travis Williams did none of that. He's been part of a winner. Let's see if he can do something positive here, no?
LA Matt
12:36
Thoughts on Hurdle or Huttington finding other comparable major league jobs?
Jason Mackey
12:37
I think Neal will be back in baseball at some point, maybe as an AGM/scouting guy elsewhere. Clint I could see going into TV soon. Maybe he tries to manage again, I wouldn't rule it out, but I could see him just saying the heck with it and going the TV route for another decade or so.
LA Matt
12:37
Will Lonnie Chisenhall be back? Was he ever here?
Jason Mackey
12:38
I've had Chisenhall described to me as an Andrew Luck-type situation. I don't know if he ever made it to Pittsburgh, as I was not on the beat. But, no, I don't think I will ever get to meet Mr. Chisenhall.
Groveton
12:45
Your thoughts on trying Colin Moran at first base?
Jason Mackey
12:46
I don't see a point. If they're going to keep Josh Bell -- and I think they will/should -- then you only really need a defensive replacement late in games. Jose Osuna can be that, in addition to outfield depth and a decent pinch-hitter. Osuna can give Bell a breather when he needs it, too. I would rather Moran focus on his defense at third.
digger
12:47
Feel free to call me an idiot. I think the Bucs should bring back Martin. Respected veteran in the clubhouse. Good at pitch framing and can help the other catchers. The alternatives (at the price the Pirates are willing to pay) are too attractive. With the additional roster spot he won
Jason Mackey
12:48
You're an idiot. ... I'm kidding. I wouldn't be against it at all. Also, Jacob Stallings could play more than a traditional backup. I think it would depend on money and other offers for Martin. But if they could do something on the cheap, sure, that's a decent bridge plan.
RPK
12:48
There's an awful lot of ifs.  If they hire the right people, if players play to their potential, if Polonco figures it out, if the stars align.  Not a recipe for success!  Your thoughts
Jason Mackey
12:48
I think that's a lot of ifs. I also think the Pirates are in a bit of a tough spot. That's going to be that way for any struggling team.
Brendan
12:49
Do you think either Nutting/Williams has a preference for a heavy-analytics type of candidate, or a seasoned "baseball guy" for GM?
Jason Mackey
12:52
I don't think we know a ton at this point; however, if I had to pick, I would say an analytics-heavy guy -- and yes, I know I reported they reached out to Dan Duquette. I think they're just casting a fairly wide net at this point. I thought it was striking that Nutting admitting that they've fallen behind the times when it comes to analytics. I would expect them to address that because it's something where you don't pay a ton, but it could produce massive results.
Danny
12:52
Could the pirates look to trade Marte to a team like the Padres for a guy like Hunter Renfroe and catching prospect Luis Campusano? Get much needed power and a potential catcher of the future. 2 big needs
Jason Mackey
12:54
They could. I don't think it's likely, but they certainly could. Renfroe just hit 33 homers in his age 27 season. Campusano is a top prospect. I'm not sure Marte, for his contract and at that age, would command that sort of return.
G
12:54
Do you think Josh Bell and Starling will be traded? And should they be traded?
Jason Mackey
12:54
I don't think they will and  I don't think they should. They're more valuable to the Pirates than anyone else.
LA Matt
12:54
I know that in the grand scheme of things it ranks low on the To-do list, but I hope that we can get rid of the 1979 uniforms on Sundays and come up with a new third jersey.
Jason Mackey
12:54
I kinda liked those, to be honest.
G
12:55
Do you think they will lose out on their top Manager candidates since they had to pause the search?
Jason Mackey
12:56
Nah, I don't think it's that big of a deal. From what I've heard, Kotsay, Shelton and Banister were the top three. I guess Kotsay could go to the Giants and Shelton to the Mets, but even then, if then, they would have Banister. I think they have some solid options. I think that storyline is a little bit overblown.
Canyon
12:56
Why do you think the Pirates fired the minor league coaches
Jason Mackey
12:57
They didn't buy in to some of the Pirates' philosophies under Huntington and Stark. The political correct way of saying it is that they weren't preparing players the way their bosses wanted, but it was more nuanced than that. That's all I can say on the record.
James
12:58
Who are some of your breakout candidates?
Jason Mackey
12:59
Assuming you mean for the Pirates ... I actually think Polanco is going to have a strong year. Don't know if you would qualify that or not. But I do think he's gonna put it all together. Finally.
John
12:59
What have you heard on Brubaker and his season ending injury this past year?
Jason Mackey
12:59
He started throwing toward the end of the season. He's good. Expected to be ready for spring training.
LA Matt
12:59
I liked them too but it is time to move on! To me, the 79 uniforms is just another reminded that it has been over FORTY YEARS since our last World Series! Most Pirate fans were not even born that long ago.
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