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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 11.18.20
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Jason Mackey
12:23
Haha. Thanks, Jer. You're the greatest.
Jeff
12:26
I know you haven’t been around Cherington as much, but what are the differences you can see?
Jason Mackey
12:28
I've actually been around Cherington more than Huntington. Remember, I only came onto the beat in May 2019. I think with Cherington there's more of an openness to what's happening around the game. He pays attention to it and learns. I think Huntington was very proud of what the Pirates did, and they hung their hats on that, almost to a fault. I think Cherington is more guarded and cautious. Not that Neal was ever letting it fly like Jim Rutherford, but I can't picture Ben saying "10,000 simulations" or something like that. I think Neal wanted to try and explain things and sometimes got himself into trouble as a result.
Guest
12:28
What do you think the Pirates are going to do with Williams?
Jason Mackey
12:29
Trevor, I'm assuming. Baseball-wise, I'd say non-tender. I don't see that money or opportunity making sense for a team in their situation. However, them putting him out there on social media the way they are, that's an odd thing to do for someone you plan on non-tendering in a couple weeks. So, I'm beginning to think they might keep him around for another year, thinking he can find it again.
Scott
12:33
Did Rios, Murphy, and Maile reject or accept their outright assignments? I know they all had the option to reject, and it would be atypical for someone in that situation to accept them. I feel like I've seen conflicting reports, so I wasn't sure.
Jason Mackey
12:33
Good question, Scott. I've sought clarification on this. I will post the answer if I get it before the chat is over. If not, shoot me another email, and I'll get it to you. Thanks.
Jeff
12:33 
and along the same....Williams vs Coonelly?
Jason Mackey
12:36
Hard to say for team initiatives and business stuff since COVID was so weird. Travis is definitely way further away from baseball, whereas Frank was definitely involved in baseball decisions. Frank also talked a lot more. We haven't heard from Travis since February, which, in my opinion, has been too long. But I do think Travis has a strong sense for the business operations of this thing. Frank did, too, of course. But I think that Travis might have a little more experience with fan perception, place in the market, promoting the team, etc. Think about the stuff the Penguins have done well. David Morehouse is obviously a huge, huge part. But Travis has had influence and learned a lot there, too.
Your Name Here
12:36
Its only November and the Pirates are mathematically eliminated from the postseason or breaking .500. Correct ? In fact they never break .500 again. Yes ?
Jason Mackey
12:37
I don't understand what you're asking. I don't see the 2021 Pirates as a playoff team, but if they get pitching and some hitters -- Bell, Reynolds and Newman -- bounce back, I could see them flirting with .500, at least for certain stretches. I don't think they're as bad as 19-41.
Cory
12:38
Have you checked out the draft prospect Brady House? He would be an interesting 3B choice.
Jason Mackey
12:38
I agree with you, although I'm not sure I see a scenario where it makes sense for the Pirates to draft him.
Jeff
12:44
With minors shut down last year, do you think a rule 5 pick would be more a crapshoot than normal?
Jason Mackey
12:46
Potentially. I think it's circumstantial, meaning I think it depends on the player and his own situation. But with where the Pirates are at, I absolutely think they should be able to find someone in that spot who can contribute.
Guest
12:46
Is bring back Kela a thing that is being thought about in the Front Office?
Jason Mackey
12:47
I think it's being thought about -- but not seriously. I think they expect him to try and test the free agent market, as he should. I think they expect him -- because of his arm and potential -- to land something while going that route. If he doesn't and he's available for cheap, yeah, I think it's something they would be open to. I think Kela would, too, now that the regime has changed. But I think the priority for him is going to be to make more than the Pirates might be willing to pay given where they're at in their build.
Jeff
12:48
Keith Law wrote recently Rooker is not a slam dunk for 1.1
Jason Mackey
12:48
I'm sorry. I'm not sure I follow.
Evil Dave
12:48
A last place finish seems inevitable, but do you predict the worst record again in MLB?
Jason Mackey
12:49
I'm gonna say no. I can understand why a last-place finish feels inevitable. Out of the Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs and Reds, I don't know who you can say will have gotten worse than the Pirates. But I don't think the Pirates are 19-41. There has to be someone out there who's worst.
worse*
Scott
12:50
Since you kind of mentioned it, what percent of the pie did Frank have in the Archer trade? It was so out of character at the time, and the more that came out after he was gone the more it seemed like it was more than we may have thought.
Jason Mackey
12:50
I don't know if I could put a percentage on it, but I definitely believe he had an influence in the Archer trade. And given his stature, I'd have a tough time believing it was insignificant.
Kyle K
12:50
Another name that everyone kind of forgets about is Phillip Evans, who was on fire before getting hurt. Is he the kind of guy the Pirates have in their plans for the next few years? Or more of a fringe piece?
Jason Mackey
12:51
I fully expect Evans to be on the 26-man roster in 2021. Great pickup for them. Made peanuts. Showed he could hit and play multiple positions. That's the sort of thing they need to find -- minor league guys or fringe major leaguers other teams overlooked. But, yeah, Evans was outstanding.
Jeff
12:51
Rocker as number one pick in draft for Pirates. Your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:52
I think we should let the college season play out. At this point, I don't see how he wouldn't be the No. 1 overall pick. But again, they don't have to make it right now. They have to make it after the college. I'm fine waiting until then for a final answer.
Scott
12:52
A Rule 5 thought you can weigh in on...with team's looking to cut costs with cheap controllable players, may this not be a route to do it? As we saw this past season, teams weren't shy in calling up inexperienced players from the lower minors and giving them a shot. To me, it makes it feel more likely that someone like say...Ogle gets selected than what he normally would be.
Jason Mackey
12:53
Possibly. But, a counter-argument: Given the innings issues sure to be experienced around the game, necessitating more pitchers, is it worth it to allocate an active roster all season to a Rule 5 guy if there are any questions about his ability to perform? I don't know. But if I'm carefully curating my roster and trying to make I don't overtax guys who didn't throw much in 2020, I'm not sure I'm going to do it with Class A guys if I don't have to.
Scott
12:54
Do you see absolutely any chance the Pirates are active in the expected robust nontender market? Based on some of you other replies, I would guess no. While I'm not hopeful either, I think it wouldn't be an awful plan.
Jason Mackey
12:55
Ummm ... I think they'll look through the bin. But again, I don't see them over-extending themselves for NOW. And I think that's a lot of what they might encounter. The sense I get from this group is that they're very interested in building from within and acquiring guys for cheap and fixing them. More than they are by doing it via major league free agents who are even semi household names.
Jimmy
12:59
What in the world was Cam Bonifay thinking by not protecting Joe Randa in the 1997 expansion draft after he hit .307?
Jason Mackey
12:59
Because he smiled too much? I honestly have no idea. It didn't make sense then and doesn't make sense now. Randa hit .302, BTW.
The Eman
1:00
For all you old Pirate fans, I saw ElRoy Face recently at a golf outing and he can still hit the ball. As one of the first modern relievers, I think he should be in the HOF - what think you, Jason? He has the second most consecutive victories in MLB history and!
Jason Mackey
1:01
I'd second that. Don't know if they still do it, but Face told me last year that he and Maz still get together every week or every other week, something like that, to play this cheap nine-hole course in Greensburg. They play like $1 hole or something like that. Could think of worse ways to spend a morning.
The Eman
1:01
And had he not blown the save in the ‘60 WS 7th game, would have been the MVP of the series.
Jason Mackey
1:01
Have done a lot of cool stuff in this job. This ranks right up there: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2019/08/29/pittsburgh-pira...
Rich from Indio CA
1:01
Jason, how do you see the minor league season playing out next year. ?If they don't play again development is completely lost.  I am concerned about the realignment in the minor league and it's impact on development
Jason Mackey
1:04
I'm concerned about it, too. I'm also concerned about what happens if they can't play. I don't know if a lot of these cities can survive two summers without baseball. But development-wise, I think minor league spring training will happen after the major league one. I think they'll hope and pray for a vaccine, like all of us. And failing that, I think they will do everything humanly possible -- including, I would imagine, confining things to Arizona and Florida -- to get something done, though it would be much better if it happened in affiliate cities.
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