You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 11.18.22
powered byJotCast
Jason Mackey
11:19
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. You know the drill. We'll get going at noon. Until then, feel free to leave whatever questions you have. Thanks!
12:02
And away we go ...
Guest
12:02
Good morning, Any idea why the Pirates did not protect Nunez? Why is Underwood stiil on the roster?
Jason Mackey
12:03
Second part first: I would be surprised if Underwood Jr. was still on the roster tomorrow, I think he will be non-tendered. As for Nunez, it's the same as Sabol and Gorski. First baseman/power hitter types are rarely taken. Too hard to keep on the roster the entire year, and most teams have better options. That said, I worry about Nunez.
PrinceBob
12:03
We see that the Astros had multiple hundred plus loss seasons a few years back and are now pretty much a dynasty so you could conclude that the Pirates could do the same. But now the Astros have a $193 million payroll. So what do you see as a realistic top for the Pirates over say, the next decade? And what's your guess as to their maximum payroll when that magical time to spend comes? I can not imagine it will be anything close to where the Astros are. Do you think they'd get near the MLB average, something like $163 million?
Jason Mackey
12:04
That's a huge different between the Astros and Pirates -- the willingness to spend. I do think the Pirates will increase payroll, but I don't think it will get to $163 million. (Don't know if that's the average or not, honestly.) I think the goal should be around $100 million, and I'd hope they get there inside of five years, preferably inside of three.
PrinceBob
12:04
How advantageous or non advantageous do you think next season's rule changes will affect the Pirates relative to other MLB teams?
Jason Mackey
12:05
Not a huge amount for any team, honestly. Will help a little. They have an athletic roster. The biggest change, honestly, is going to be the pitch clock. Long overdue. Fans are going to love how much this changes things.
Jeff
12:05
Why would bucs not protect someone like Nunez and leave Underwood on the roster ?
Jason Mackey
12:06
See above. Nunez types rarely go -- though I still wouldn't take the chance. Wouldn't shock me if DUJ is non-tendered.
Thomas
12:06
Is it a timing issue or what that Underwood might still be here, but Nunez was not added to 40 man?   Seems like more of the backwards thinking that has plagued this organization for decades.   Underwood should have been released during the season, he is terrible.
Jason Mackey
12:06
For the third time, Nunez types are usually not taken, though I wouldn't risk it. Wouldn't worry too much about DUJ, at least until after tonight. Will say this about him: He eats innings. Would rather over-tax him than, say, Ro.
Cullen
12:07
In the Pirates townhall with Williams, Cherington, and Shelton there was supposedly a quote about Pirates "meaningfully" increasing payroll this offseason. Werr you able to verify anything from the townhall? I know media wasn't allowed/invited.
Jason Mackey
12:07
I have not been able to find a recording, unfortunately. Until then, tough to say. But I do expect them to increase payroll $20-$25 million, as I've been saying. Up to you whether you think that is meaningful or not.
Irwin M. "Fletch" Fletcher
12:07
Do you think Endy Rodriguez's defense is good enough to stick behind the plate in the majors?
Jason Mackey
12:08
I do, Irwin. That being said, I don't want him there long-term. Catching is hard. Guys get hard. Endy has a tremendous bat. I also think Henry Davis, in the long run, will be a better pure catcher. If I was calling the shots, I would get Endy comfortable somewhere in this group: 1B, 2B, LF or RF. I'd play it based on how he responds, where he does best, that sort of thing.
Cullen
12:13
The players left off the 40 man for the rule 5 seems like a calculated risk with most looking unlikely to be picked up. Do you see any names on other teams that the Pirates could target in the draft?
Jason Mackey
12:15
I like Andres Chaparro from the Yankees. Seems like a tremendous hitter, and the Pirates need more of those. Would seem to me that he deserves a chance. My favorite is probably Jose Lopez from the Rays. Pirates have no lefty presence. My man here struck out 95 in 59 1/3 IP last year at Triple-A.
Scrap from Harrisburg
12:15
I ran out of patience watching the Pirates this season. My severely autistic, non verbal grandson and I were watching a game and he walked up to me and on his Ipad speech program he had written “Watch Phillies”!
Jason Mackey
12:16
Unfortunately I hear comments like this all the time. The Pirates are asking a lot of their fans right now. They could garner some goodwill by speaking to them en masse -- like Travis Williams being available or Ben Cherington and Derek Shelton being actually transparent with answers -- but obviously that stuff hasn't happened. As a result, people are gonna tune out after three straight seasons at a 100-loss pace.
Guest
12:17
With recent news of the Pirates townhall and lack of invited media coverage it appears the organization still struggles to be transparent with the fan base. They often have used phrasing as “having enough resources to compete”as the current way to address payroll questions. My question is why don’t they just admit they can’t spend like a big market team but will spend to say a similar sized market such as Cleveland?  Or do you get the sense they aren’t even willing to do that.  As a fan I just want them to shoot straight and let us know how they plan to compete not a generic answer or one that provides lack of clarity about what they can do realistically financially.
Jason Mackey
12:18
Since I've been covered the Pirates, I've heard a crap ton of talk about transparency. Yet I've seen very little transparency. Nutting talked shortly after hiring Travis Williams and said they need to do a better job communicating with fans. He hasn't talked in a group setting since, and Travis has been willing to answer real questions -- not about planting trees or handing out turkeys -- just three times. That's not good enough. It's certainly not transparent. Especially not when you consider the regular word salads that Cherington offers in his answers. Someone has to offer an honest assessment of the organization at some point.
Todd
12:19
Hi Jason. Why would the Pirates have someone on the 40 man then non-tender them?  Would they have not been better to leave that person off the 40 man and protect someone else?
Jason Mackey
12:19
Non-tender basically means they don't want to go through the arbitration process. Think about Newman or Duane Underwood Jr. The Pirates are basically saying that we don't want to bother; we think we can replace you for cheaper. If in fact they go the non-tender route.
Rob
12:20
Have heard some discussion of Choi benefitting from no shifting, but he's hit surprisingly well when shifted vs not and hasn't produced much long ball. He works counts and takes walks and maybe elbow issue held him back, but did BC acquire the rare hitter who will be hurt by no shifting?  Cost was low but there are opportunities costs to getting the wrong player. Your thoughts?
Jason Mackey
12:21
Umm ... I don't know how we've gone from Choi will be helped by the shift to now he'll be hurt. We'll have to see it play out, but my hunch is still that he'll benefit; most lefties will. And, no, I don't think there are "opportunities costs" here. The only issue would be if Nunez or Sabol/Gorski proves they're ready and the Pirates stick with an awful Choi. That has not yet happened.
Cullen
12:21
The last time the Pirates had a competitive window they signed a mid tier free agent pitcher the season before they were truly competitive. Any chance they do something similar this time around? Tyler Anderson got 3y/39m, could look at something similar?
Jason Mackey
12:23
I know where you're going, Cullen, but let's remember a few things. Liriano came after two years of winning. This ain't that. Also, until the Pirates prove themselves, you're gonna be hard-pressed to find a player who wants to tether themselves to this organization for more than one year. It could happen in the right scenario. Maybe Quintana is it, because he genuinely did love it here. But those opportunities are rare. The Pirates first need to not suck, then they can think about multi-year deals. It's a weird Catch 22.
Big John
12:23
Go Bucs. Jason, big Grateful Dead fan here, too.  I just had to post this. It is so apropos right now.       Grateful Dead - Cold Rain And Snow (Orchard Park, NY 7/4/89) (Official Live Video) - YouTube
Jason Mackey
12:23
I love this. My absolute favorite Bertha and one of my favorite shows period. I listen to it every time I'm up that way.
Cullen
12:23
Any chance the Pirates still go after a RH platoon bat to pair with Choi for 1B/DH?
Jason Mackey
12:24
I'd say there's a chance. Not a great one, but a chance. I think ideally they would like Andujar to become that guy.
Tommac in Y-town
12:24
Jason:  hat signs of optimism should we have about the 2-23 Pirates?
Jason Mackey
12:25
I think the rotation could be solid: Mitch, Ro, Ortiz, Oviedo, Brubaker and others ... with Burrows, Q, couple more on the way. ... I don't hate an OF of Suwinski, Reynolds and Bae ... Hayes, Cruz, maybe Castro, Newman or someone else and Choi ... Perez back. Need bullpen help. That would be watchable, IMO.
Zack
12:26
I’ve heard mention of the Pirates being involved in free agency, especially with some starters. Do you think that they acquire any more talent this year via trade. One area that seems to be getting a little clogged is the outfield group. Think they could trade some prospects for MLB talent
Jason Mackey
12:26
I would be surprised to see them send out prospects for "MLB talent" at this point. Not like they're loading up for a division run. I think they need to -- and want to -- figure out how good their prospects can be.
Wayward
12:27
Jason, as always thanks for the chat!  Do the Bucs look at a veteran for the 3rd/4th OF and DH spot or do you see them rolling with Reynolds, Andujar and a rotation of the younger guys like Suwinski, Mitchell, Swaggerty?
Jason Mackey
12:27
I don't think they would mind it ... for the right price. Like if they could get a veteran OF who can play some 1B and wouldn't be out of place in a bench role, for cheap, that might be their guy. But that would be it. The impetus should be playing the young guys and letting them grow.
krasnotheoysterboy
12:28
If I understand the rule change regarding infield shifts, it will be a boon to dead-pull hitters, right?  Even more incentive to swing for the upper decks in right or left, and even more advantage to teams that can afford to platoon pull-hitting, slugging outfielders?
Jason Mackey
12:28
This might be overcooking it a tad, but yeah, I do think it will benefit pull hitters, who were previously hitting into small gatherings.
Load More Messages
Connecting…