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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 11.11.20
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Jason Mackey
11:39
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. We'll get going at noon, but please feel free to fire away now. Thanks, as always, for participating.
11:59
And away we go ...
Guest
11:59
The Pirates are selling season tix for games to start 4 months from now. Do they know something that Dr. Fauci doesn’t?
Jason Mackey
12:00
I don't see that as anything unique. They need to continue functioning as a business. I think everyone can kinda see there should be an asterisk attached to any tickets purchased. At the same time, looking at other events, I can see why they'd be optimistic they could get at least some fans inside PNC Park.
TP Ranger
12:00
Hi Jason. Thanks for your excellent work from Bradenton, giving us a heads up about many of the Pirates promising young players. Given that the team's best hope of reaching the playoffs is still 2-3 years down the road, what is the team's best approach for 2021? Should fans anticipate a .500 sort of season?
Jason Mackey
12:03
Appreciate that, TP. Yeah, I think best-case .500. I don't think they're as bad as 19-41, and I don't see them as a playoff team. Here's why: It's reasonable to think Bryan Reynolds, Kevin Newman and Josh Bell will perform better than they did in 2020. We get a full season of Ke'Bryan Hayes. I also think Anthony Alford can be pretty solid in center. The bullpen found some decent arms. I think the rotation can be good if it stays healthy, as evidenced by what happened over the final 15 games or so. Do they have enough power? No. Are they good enough in the field? TBD. Definitely not enough depth. Gregory Polanco is a wild card/mostly a disappointment for the money. But I do see them with some decent potential to improve.
TP Ranger
12:03
Jason, in view of the backlash from Game 7 of the World Series, do you see a point where analytics may slowly be de-emphasized and "eyeball" managing and scouting return to prominance?
Jason Mackey
12:04
It was Game 6, TP, but I get your point. And I don't think it will de-emphasize analytics as much as it might remind that eyes and feel are important, too. But that being said, I think the Rays feel like they have to play and run the game a certain way to be successful. And given baseball's financial climate, I'm not sure they're wrong.
TP Ranger
12:04
The Pirates most likely will need to fill in with a couple of free-agents? Anyone out there they have their eyes on that you are aware of?
Jason Mackey
12:05
No. They're so far down the line with that stuff that it's a fool's errand to try and predict.
TP Ranger
12:11
Can MLB help teams who are suffering loss of income from no attendance by advancing them some of the national TV money slated for future years?
Jason Mackey
12:13
I'm not sure, TP. That's an interesting question. I think the issue would become "which teams?" I think, right or wrong, that a lot would say they're in trouble. And, also, I don't know how "advanceable" any of that is in a realistic sense. Like the Pirates have had to furlough or fire employees. Are we saying they can re-boost their business side because we've repurposed expected dollars from 2023? I'm just not sure how possible any of that is.
Guest
12:16
Think of moving Bell to American League.. DH to the true definition. What kind of prospects could we exspect in return ???   Do you feel there would be serious interest ??
Jason Mackey
12:18
Not right now, not based on his 2020 season and 2019 finish. Or, I should see, I don't think the interest is where it could be. I just don't see the urgency to make that move right now. If you're going to trade Bell -- I'd still like to see them keep him and send a message to fans -- the idea will be to do it right, not quickly. This would be the latter.
Jeff
12:18
WHy would Shelton back Cash's decision?  He has nothing to gain and only invites the question why?  I get it was his first year so he gets a performance pass but why when most baseball people DONT agree with the move why even comment on it?   Dodge the question
Jason Mackey
12:19
I can't really answer that for you, Jeff. Only Shelton can. I give him credit for speaking honestly, though. i don't agree with him, but also, my opinion and your opinion mean a heck of a lot less than his. ... I get the numbers thing. No issue. But my God, baseball needs to better utilize feel and sensibility.
Guest
12:19
Good morning.  Given the spending history of Pirates ownership, what free agents do we realistically have a shot at signing?  And would Nick Burdi be included in that group?
Jason Mackey
12:21
Good morning/afternoon. The Pirates do have interest in Burdi. As for others, honestly, no. I'm not looking at them to sign anyone even remotely splashy. They'll sign a few. Maybe they'll find a Jordan Lyles or Corey Dickerson in there. But nothing crazy. My read on their situation is that they're gonna build with prospects, grow those guys up into major leaguers, then supplement around them.
12:22
I do think that Bob Nutting will spend when it's time. I don't think Ben Cherington or Travis Williams would have come here if they didn't truly believe that. But I just think, whether you agree or not, there are some things that have to happen first.
Wilbur Wood
12:22
Are there any "soft tossers," i.e, John Tudor like guys still in the game or is everyone a greater or lesser flame thrower. And do you think the knuckleball pitcher is extinct?
Jason Mackey
12:22
There are a few. Kyle Hendricks is my favorite. Someone who gets by on location and knowing how to pitch. I love the contract it offers to the obsession over velocity or spin rate. One of my favorite pitchers growing was always Greg Maddux for that reason. Jamie Moyer, too.
12:23
And, yeah, I honestly don't remember the last time I saw someone chucking knucks. Maybe Newman and Reynolds during batting practice.
Tameson Jaillon
12:23
Has Nutting shown any signs that he will allow Cherington and the front office to do more money wise? Do you think he ever will?
Jason Mackey
12:24
Tamo, good to hear from you. Cherington is on record saying he believes the Pirates will spend when it's time: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2020/02/16/ben-cherington-...
I don't know what else I can give you. It's not like written in blood or anything around the ballpark.
Lad 9
12:24
Hi Jason.  I very much enjoy your coverage - you truly are all over the beat.  Thank you.  My question is: Do you ever see a scenario where Nick Gonzales is shifted to first base? The reason I ask is the glut (hopefully) of talent in the middle infield.  I can see Peguero at SS, I think that Cruz will end up in RF and I certainly believe that Gonzales could be the second baseman, but that leaves Bae out in the cold. Mason Martin is the hope at 1B, but there is a LOT of swing and miss in his game and that is concerning, even though he is young. I know that Gonzales really goesn't have the preferred size for 1B, but his bat is a much better fit.  Just a thought for a few years down the road.
Jason Mackey
12:25
No, I don't, Lad. And thank you for the kind words on the coverage. Gonzales is too small, honestly. If they were going to move him anywhere, it would be the outfield. Actually talked to Nick about this a couple months ago. He grew up playing outfield. Caught some, too, but really did well in the outfield. I asked if he thought he could do it at the major league level. "Absolutely," he said. Plus, Martin is legit.
Lenny
12:25
Are you hearing any word on who the Pirates affiliates will be next year and if they would be any changes?
Jason Mackey
12:26
I have not, Lenny. There's a lot up in the air with minor league stuff, but I've gotten no indication there will be any major changes.
Bob K
12:26
With minor league affiliations already changing, what do you think happens to black bears (morgantown), since NY-Penn league is effectively gone?  I assume Indianapolis, Altoona are ok, since they are "close enough" to Pgh.  But what about Greenville?  Maybe Morgantown goes into High A in the new "Mid-Atlantic" League??
Jason Mackey
12:27
Yeah, Bob, to build off of what Lenny asked: I don't think there will be any changes with Indy or Altoona. There might be some shuffling at the lower levels, and I can't profess to have enough of a feel on Greenville. I can tell you that I've never heard anything about the Pirates potentially losing it.
Jeff
12:27
Good afternoon.  Given the history of spending by Pirates ownership, what free agents do we realistically have a shot at signing?  And is Nick Burdi in that group?
Jason Mackey
12:28
Hi, Jeff. I think I got this one earlier. If there's something you're wondering that I didn't address, please ask again.
wvpirate
12:28
Do you think this winter we are probably going to see the Pirates trade established players for prospects. And sign stop gap free agents who might be traded at the deadline?
Jason Mackey
12:29
I think we'll see some of that, yeah. I'm expecting Adam Frazier to be traded and, to a lesser degree, Joe Musgrove, which would probably depend on return. Both deals would net prospects. I also think they will sign some free agents -- again, nothing huge -- on short-term deals that they could potentially flip.
Dick
12:29
Who will be our comeback player of the year? We have several candidates.
Jason Mackey
12:29
I think it has to be Jameson Taillon if he's able to make a bunch of starts and do really well.
MjB
12:29
This is it.  This is the time to instill a salary cap, both ceiling and floor.  That's how you stabilize the economics of the sport in these times.  Please tell me why that's not possible under these circumstances?  I know that there are teams with super high payroll.  Fine, take that team and make it the top.  Then, raise the bottom to 20% above the lowest team.  It needs to occur.
Jason Mackey
12:34
I agree with you. I wish there was a cap, believe me. But it's because the MLBPA will never, ever agree to it. Maybe baseball comes back in its next CBA with a cap. But nobody is gonna agree to that now. Does need to happen, though, absolutely. I think baseball is losing -- and has lost fans -- because of the competitive imbalance that exists. It's a shame because it's a great sport. Also needs to speed up games.
Drew VonScio
12:34
Jason, has anything been established by the league about how many rounds there will be for the 2021 Draft? I'm hoping that it will be more than five so that the Pirates can continue to build up their farm system.
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