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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 11.04.20
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Jason Mackey
11:21
Hi everyone and thanks for stopping by my weekly Pirates chat. We'll get started at noon, but feel free to leave your questions right here, right now.
JohnMVQ
12:02
If the Pandemic continues into next Season, with little or no attendance revenue, how possibly can MLB teams pay the astronomical salaries of players for the year? Seems the Players will have to take big paycuts. Isn't the CBA up next year also?
Jason Mackey
12:02
And away we go ...
12:04
You bring up a good point, John, and I think it's why we've seen teams decline so many options; revenue-wise, things aren't great around baseball. It's not just the Pirates, believe me. Now, players' salaries are guaranteed. So they're not going to be taking pay cuts. Or at least teams can't force them to do that. But the economic issues as a result of COVID-19 are sure to affect the game. And, yeah, even before all of this a labor issue was expected. I don't think we've seen anything that would change that.
Ricky
12:04
Any chance the pirates sign Puig? After the way our outfield performed this year it’s a must we sign him. I can easily see him being an all star next year
Jason Mackey
12:05
For sure. If they have any chance of competing for a World Series title in 2021, it starts with Yasiel Puig. I still can't believe the fact that they missed that in 2020. What a different he would have made.
GMBC
12:05
Will I sign one guy to a major league deal?
Jason Mackey
12:07
Yes. Although I don't think fans are going to be terribly happy about it. Or even know who that guy is. ... But honestly, folks, who cares? I mean, I understand the fact that you're paying money and want to see Major League Baseball being played at PNC Park, not a Frontier League game featuring Guillermo Heredia. I don't want to see it any more than you do. But if the Pirates can truly build a sustainable thing here -- good farm system, good development practices, basically the ability to be like other successful, smaller-market teams, I'm OK with them punting a little on the present. I don't think there's any one player the Pirates can sign this offseason that will make them a markedly better team.
Wayward Eer
12:07
Do you think the Bucs, or Archer, would have any interest in a 1 year prove it contract?   If so, what would the dollars look like, $3M maybe?
Jason Mackey
12:07
Yeah, I can easily see some team paying Archer that. Might be Tampa, honestly. I think Archer will have options, and I really don't see him coming back here.
Chris archer
12:07
Where do you see me playing next year
Jason Mackey
12:08
I'd say either Tampa or the Cubs would be a good fit as well. A team with the ability to take a little bit of a financial risk that also could use some starting pitching help.
Pirates
12:08
Breakout player for 2020?
Jason Mackey
12:09
Do you mean 2021? Or are we doing this in evaluative form? ... Ke'Bryan Hayes would be my slam dunk of a pick if we're actually doing this for 2020.
Guest
12:09
I'm not convinced that Polanco will ever be an above average player. His swing seems too long through the strike zone. Should we cut ties, and if so, do we have anyone in line to step up?
Jason Mackey
12:10
I agree that Polanco has a long swing. I have some doubts, too. However, here's the "cut ties" comment again. This isn't football. They can't just "cut ties." They can DFA him. But unless someone else picks him up -- would you for $11.6 million? -- they're still on the hook for that money. You're paying him anyway. Why not exhaust all options to see if somehow he can help you, even if it's for a half-season then you flip him into something? That's what I would do.
MjB
12:10
Back in my day, almost every day of the week, this was the Pirates lineup, first four.   1. Moreno 2. Foli  3. Parker  4.  Stargell  5.  Madlock.   If you had to put the current Pirates roster into an every day 1-5, who would it be?   NOTE:  If you cannot do this, then, I know where we need to start building.
Jason Mackey
12:13
You said first four and gave me five players. Ha. But seriously, if you wanted me to sketch out the Pirates lineup for 2021, here's what it would be. Note: I expect them to trade Adam Frazier: CF Alford, 3B Hayes, LF Reynolds, 1B Bell, DH Moran, RF Polanco, 2B/SS Newman, 2B or SS Tucker, C Stallings. ... I'd probably go Tucker at SS and Newman at 2B. That's the natural position for Tucker, but Newman also stunk at 2B; so, if keeping him at short helped my infield, I'd adjust. ... I'm playing Bell in the field not because I think he'll be any good but because I think it helps his offense. And I need his offense to improve. So I'm living with the defensive issues.
Donna
12:13
Hi Jason.   Do the Pirates have any interest in Kolten Wong or is he too expensive for their budget?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:14
Hi Donna. I'm sure they have interest, but I also think Wong will want to play for more than $5.50/hour. So, I'm not quite sure there's a match there. (He's way out of their price range and would likely want to play on a contender.)
Sko
12:14
Do you see any Pirates getting moved this off season?? Frazier??? Is that why there is talk that Tucker will be in the infield next spring?
Jason Mackey
12:15
Yeah, I think they move Frazier. It's time. There was interest last year. I don't expect that to change after a second consecutive Gold Glove nomination. It was a two-month season. I don't think teams will hold that against him too much, while I think it makes sense for them to open up that spot and allow Tucker to play; they need to see what they have in him.
Matt from LA
12:15
Surprised that Stallings was not a Gold Glove winner? I was!
Jason Mackey
12:15
I was very surprised, yes. Nothing against Barnhart or Contreras, but I really expected Stallings to win.
Matt from LA
12:16
Your thoughts on "analytics" dictating and, in many respects, taking over baseball? What is the point of having a manager if all that he does is follow computer print outs?
Jason Mackey
12:18
I hate it. Really do. I try my best to understand the stuff. I use it a fair amount in my writing -- probably too much. But I also played the game for 25 years. Not like I'm ever going to put Brentwood High School or Westminster College on the same level as MLB, but it's enough safely say that it's about more than numbers. I wanna see starters left in the game longer. We're super careful now, yet arm injuries are everywhere. If a guy is rolling -- and Snell was -- I don't care about third time through. I care about trusting what my eyes tell me. I like analytics and think they're a good thing. But only when mixed with what you're seeing and the gut feel that baseball people should have.
Matt from LA
12:18
Are complete games for starting pitchers becoming a thing of the past?
Jason Mackey
12:19
Starting to become a thing of the past? Dude, been that way for a bit now.
Matt from LA
12:19
What rule changes implemented in 2020 will be carried over to next season? DH in the NL? Runner starting at 2n base in extra innings? 7 inning double headers? Expanded playoffs?
Jason Mackey
12:19
I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they were all carried over. Also, 28-man rosters. Could see that sticking, too.
Matt from LA
12:19
Assuming that we get this pandemic under control by next April/May and we have a viable vaccine, what is the future of minor league baseball?
Jason Mackey
12:21
I don't think anybody knows that one. I do know this: Spring training in 2021 very well could be staggered, with minor league stuff happening after the major league side finishes. Secondarily, it could be broken up by Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, at least to start. Third, there's a healthy amount of fear around the game when it comes to affiliate cities not having baseball for a second consecutive year. Essentially, there's a fear those teams wouldn't or couldn't come back.
Matt from LA
12:21
Yes, it would have been a nice award for Stallings, especially considering his play, his improvement from the previous year and his surprising 2020 season!
Jason Mackey
12:22
Nothing against Barnhart, believe me. I think he's excellent. But I just don't get what put him over the top? Being on a better team with a better pitching staff is my suspicion, which isn't fair to the player.
Sko
12:22
What update do you have on Oneil Cruz story? Does he still have to go to court? I read that he is playing winter ball.
Jason Mackey
12:24
He will have a hearing, and to my knowledge, we don't know when that is. It might be quick, too. It's weird. When that first broke, a press release came out from the Dominican government saying alcohol was involved. However, there was no subsequent documentation of a breathalyzer, nothing mentioned when he was arraigned, and the Attorney General's office basically backpedaled on the whole thing. It's a heck of an accusation to make from a government entity without any sort of proof or substantiation. But anyway, yeah, he's playing winter ball. And seems like, unless something magical as it relates to alcohol suddenly pops up, Cruz should be in spring training 2021.
AS Break 2021
12:24
Bell, Musgrove, performing above ave Taillon ave who gets dealt if any?
Jason Mackey
12:25
Not totally sure what you're asking, but I could see them trying to dangle Musgrove this offseason. Frazier, too. Definitely not Taillon, and I think it's too early for Bell. They may get to that point, but they'll likely look to move him -- if they do at all -- when his stock is higher than it is now.
Matt from LA
12:25
Can you imagine great Pirate managers like Murtaugh, Tanner and Leyland forgoing their instincts and allowing analytics to dictate their game strategy!?!?!
Jason Mackey
12:26
I can't. I can see Leyland ashing his cigarette on a guy's iPad, though.
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