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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 7.22.22
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Bill
12:29
Jason, I follow the Bucs and their minor leagues all the time and I never saw this coming from Delay. Offense is probably not sustainable but if he can hit .250 and play good defense, that can work until catching prospects arrive. Do you agree?
Jason Mackey
12:30
I appreciate the excitement, Bill. But I think it's too small of a sample size at this point. I like Delay. I like what he's done. I hope he does well. Need to see more of him before I have an actual opinion.
Cullen
12:30
Will Termarr sign over or under slot?
Jason Mackey
12:31
I don't know, but my suspicion based on their draft is they think they'll need to go full slot to get him; the college pitchers they drafted don't have nearly as much leverage. Termarr is committed to Arizona State, where his brother plays. He has leverage. But I also think the Pirates probably accounted for it and will entice him to sign.
Logan
12:31
Hi Jason! Have you heard any recent updates on Lonnie White’s injury or when he might be back?
Jason Mackey
12:33
I have not, Logan. I know he was having elbow issues and is on the 60-day IL, slated to return early next month. We'll get updates from Todd Tomczyk on Wednesday. I will make a note to ask.
Jack
12:33
Hi Jason, what do you think of the play of the catchers recently? Delay has been a nice surprise. Thanks!
Jason Mackey
12:34
They've been passable, yeah. Is it enough? I don't think so. I also question whether it will hold up. But given who we're talking about here, I would agree that it's been better than expected.
tgmartin@logility.com
12:34
Jason, Noticed the abundance of LH hitters. Any thoughts on Bucs going after some RH hitter eventually this year. Outside of Reynolds (SH) and K'Bryan, Newman, Catillo and Chavis INF-OF mostly LH Hitters?
Jason Mackey
12:35
I'm not super worried about their splits at this point, honestly. But, yeah, they are lefty-heavy. They just need more good hitters, period. It can be an input into someone they sign, but I don't think they're in a position to be too picky.
Zack
12:35
Firstly don’t let Poni and Mueller bully you over Dave Matthew’s, he’s great. Speaking with other writers around the league do you find that they often feel as though the Pirates are starting to turn a corner here? Also do we likely start to see the pirates bring in quality vets this off-season to maybe help bolster a rotation
Jason Mackey
12:36
Haha. You know I sent those guys some Jimmy Buffett songs, and they never responded? Jerks. And, yeah. DMB rocks. I don't care what they say. ... Writers aren't the right group; they don't see the minor league system. When you talk to scouts who cover and evaluate this stuff, yes. That's their belief -- that the Pirates are on a good path. Which is why I often say what I do during radio interviews.
tgmartin@logility.com
12:37
When in Atlanta, what are your favorite eating spots at Truist Park? Man, the new stadium as so many amenities!
Jason Mackey
12:37
The press box! That's the only place I eat at the park. Now, in the Battery, my favorite restaurant by a landslide is Superica. Seriously one of my favorite spots anywhere. I went there twice last trip.
John
12:38
Do you think Cherington might seek out a change-of-scenery type potential upgrade at the deadline, similar to the Chavis deal? The Mets are apparently open to trading JD Davis and Dom Smith, and the Yankees Miguel Andujar, just as some examples. Seems like one of the viable ways to add talent if we aren't going to bring in mid-level free agents.
Jason Mackey
12:39
I don't think he would have anything against it. However, one of the reasons the Chavis deal worked because it was for basically nothing. Just Austin Davis, a waiver claim. Do the Pirates have that guy this time around? I kinda doubt it. That said, Cherington does appreciate the change-of-scenery types. He cites Justin Turner in this, and he's not wrong. The Pirates need to be a team who helps guys find it like so many have done with their former players.
Mark
12:39
My most pleasant surprises this year have been Thompson and Chavis?  What about you?
Jason Mackey
12:40
In my newsletter, I had Mitch Keller. But I wouldn't agree with either of those two. Wil Crowe might be up there, too. But I still view Keller as my biggest surprise. He's been consistently very good.
tgmartin@logility.com
12:40
Has Rudolpho Castro fallen out of favor with big team? He seems to be on a bit of a tear last time I looked at Triple AAA Indy. What are your thoughts on him? Utility player? Solid starter?
Jason Mackey
12:42
Rodolfo. Saw on Twitter the other day something like, "You shouldn't be able to criticize a player unless you can spell his name correctly." He's not a reindeer, Terry! Castro hasn't fallen out of favor, no. But he's also hitting .236 over his last 20 while playing positions that are either blocked (third) or the landing spot for some stuff they need to figure out (short or second). You'll see him again, but he's having to bide his time.
Bill
12:42
If Yoshi continues to struggle in a couple weeks, any chance they give Madris some reps at 1B or would they just turn 1B over to Chavis full time?
Jason Mackey
12:43
It would depend on how Bligh is hitting and handling first, but that wouldn't surprise me at all. That said, I think I would prefer Bligh in the OF, Chavis at first and Bae at 2B, if we're turning things over.
Justin
12:43
It seems like there was a focus on pitchers with great command and secondaries early in the draft, with lesser fastball grades.  Do you think this is anything to read into (ie. maybe they think they can develop velocity)?  Or do you think that's more coincidence about who they thought was best player at those spots?
Jason Mackey
12:44
It's part of it. They also look for guys with clean deliveries -- I.e. not huge injury risks. There's a lot that goes into that. I also think fastball velocity is overrated, especially at that age. I would much rather have someone with clean mechanics and an ability to throw multiple secondary pitches, including a changeup. Weight, strength and MPH can come later.
Cullen
12:44
Who will be our next prospect to jump into the top 100?
Jason Mackey
12:44
I would think Termarr.
Bonanno
12:45
Hey, Jason, your chats are among the highlights of my week.  I grew up in Northport, Long Island and have been a ferocious  Pirates fan since 1970.  (The seventies were a glorious time to be a Pirate, and Steelers, fan).  The Bucs haven't been in a World Series since I was 15 years old.  I have held my head high through the great seasons and the awful ones.  My question is this:  For the first time in a long time, I have complete confidence in the team's general manager and I am looking at what we're building and I actually believe the Pirates are going to be a lethal team in two or three years.  Am I living an illusion, or do you think we're on the verge of greatness?
Jason Mackey
12:46
You might be coming in a little hot there, Bonanno. Greatness? I'm confident they're in a good place. I like wha they're doing in the minor leagues. They're accumulating talent. It's never a guarantee, though, and I'm sure not about to the Pirates right now with up groups of the 60s and 70s.
Guest
12:46
I'm not a hockey fan, so this is the really the first time I read your articles.  I appreciate your coverage of the Pirates as well as your tweets.  My question, what kind of future to you think Bligh Madris has with the club?
Jason Mackey
12:47
Thank you for reading. As for Bligh, I think it's TBD. Dude has shown an ability to hit. Isn't overmatched in the outfield. Good character guy. It's also a crowded position, and he'll have to perform. So, I wanna see what his next statement is in the second half. But I like his bat and athleticism. Needs to be more consistent at the plate, but that's hardly uncommon for his age.
tgmartin@logility.com
12:47
Know the hometown Braves are salivating over Bucs drafting Termarr. He lives in SW Atlanta area and goes to Mays HS. Kid has a lot going for him! I like his style and attitude!
Jason Mackey
12:47
I do, too. Great pick, IMO.
Justin
12:47
Oneil Cruz is at least passable vs righties so far, but seems so totally lost against lefties.   Do you think it'd be better to keep him in there vs lefties to struggle and hopefully figure something out, or does that risk hurting confidence too much?  I definitely lean toward letting him struggle since it's not like winning 73 games by platooning him instead of 72 games by letting him struggle matters.
Jason Mackey
12:48
I would not demote Cruz at this point. I wanna see how he adjusts. Sending him down worries me after how we saw it put him in the tank early on. If I'm the Pirates, I want to reach and coach this kid -- because he clearly needs it. My play would be keeping him here and loving him up, not sending him up.
Jps717
12:48
How many more days do we have to spend watching Yoshi and JVM?  two DFA both by months end?
Jason Mackey
12:49
Yeah, I'm expecting them to be gone by the trade deadline. So, like, 10 max. Maybe fewer.
Jack
12:49
Hi Jason, who is the next prospect that you expect to see promoted that we haven't seen yet in the bigs? (Assuming that, after the deadline, players like Suwinski, Madris, Marcano, etc. make their way up again.) Thanks for all you do covering the Bucs!
Jason Mackey
12:49
Next that we haven't seen ... with that qualifier, I think I would go with Bae. We've seen the ones you mentioned.
Joel
12:49
Jason, your draft coverage of Termarr Johnson really got me stoked. But overall the draft I thought was rather meh, especially compared to last year. Not enough upside. Why did the Pirates go with so many college seniors with such poor performance records? Is the Pirates’ minor league staff really capable of turning some of these guys around?
Jason Mackey
12:50
I don't see why they're not, Joel. I haven't seen these guys perform. Guessing you haven't either. I would give it time. College stats aren't always an indicator of pro performance, especially when we're citing flawed ones like ERA.
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