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Jason Mackey's sports chat: 08.19.22
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Prince Caspian
12:25
Jason, nice article of course, but personally, I did not achieve closure resulting from your chat with FGMJR. That's life, I suppose.
Jason Mackey
12:26
Thank you, Prince. I get that. I still had questions, too. And I spent a lot of time asking Jim followups. You're free to feel however you want. But I can't force him to say more.
Reggae Woman
12:26
Jason, one of the best Phish jams. Your concurrence is assumed. Take care.
Jason Mackey
12:26
Oh, yeah. I've been getting way more into Phish lately, and it's so incredible. As my wife says, "Their good stuff is soooooooo good." I'm learning more about that.
mikelanza
12:27
In a significant sample size now (178 AB), Oneil Cruz is batting .197, has a .635 OPS, and strikes out in 40% of his ABs.  Advanced fielding metrics say he's a slightly below average fielder, and he's a fast baserunner who makes way too many mistakes.

In other words, his statistics show him to be a far below average major leaguer.  Why should his place in the lineup be secure at this point?
Jason Mackey
12:28
Because ... players can still evolve and get better, no? Also, who else are we trying to play there? I'm fine using the reps on Cruz. He's played 50 MLB games. I don't see how we've arrived at anything remotely close to a final verdict, and it's not like he's boxing out someone else who HAS to be playing.
Dave
12:29
Hi Jason, I'm extremely pessimistic that there's been any meaningful change in the Pirates system. It looks like they still value the same types of things in terms of player acquisition, as can be seen for example in the lackluster fastballs most pitching prospects have, besides maybe Chandler. Contreras' stuff has taken a step back while the team brazenly manipulated his service time. The much-lauded player development under Baker seems to have nothing to show for itself, given the system-wide results, Perhaps the best we can say is that Marin may have helped Keller, but even he apparently got the advice for the two-seamer from outside the organization. Sorry that I haven't reached a real question here, but things just look so bleak. I'm worried that we'll just see the same kind of blah blah nothingness this winter, and then instead of people talking about 2024 as a target year, it will be 2025. There's no will to change things other than PR and perception.
Jason Mackey
12:31
I don't totally agree with your comment, Dave. I also don't know what you're getting at with some things. What do you mean Contreras' stuff has taken a step back? In what way? Velocity? Movement of his pitches? Execution of them? What are you seeing here. Yes, they've had issues -- still -- with transitioning development from Triple-A to the majors. Fair. But they're also doing that with the old regime's players, and I think it's harder to change players who have started out a certain way. And fastball velocity? I couldn't care less. I want guys who can pitch. They need more pitching, yes, but I don't see how that's John Baker's fault.
doug
12:31
Why is this literally all baseball chat
Jason Mackey
12:31
I would love more non-baseball questions.
Ace
12:32
How much longer does the Josh Van Meter show have to go on?
Jason Mackey
12:32
It's not a chat or mailbag without someone complaining about Josh VanMeter.
Mr Xiaoqi
12:32
Do you have any idea who even one of the Pirate minority owners might be? Why is this such a secret?
Jason Mackey
12:32
I do not, sorry. And that's a good point. You can find out minority owners for the Steelers and Penguins in their media guides, I believe. Not for the Pirates.
Tommac from Ytown
12:32
Why does Shelton often play someone other than Michael Chavis at first base?  Chavis hits for a better average, has more power, plays good defense and seems to be a “take charge” guy in the field. Why isn’t he in the starting lineup more often?
Jason Mackey
12:33
I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but he has started more than anyone over there, no? They gave Bligh Madris some run, although Bligh has really struggled at the plate. I don't understand who's playing TOO MUCH in your mind.
epiballo
12:34
The Steelers 'Bumble Bee" uniforms look a lot like the one worn by the Three Stooges in "Three Little Pigskins (1934). The Steelers wore that uniform in 1933; any connection?
Jason Mackey
12:35
I just had to look this up. Ha! I don't think so, although I can't say I'm an expert on Three Stooges lore. Anyone else have any insight?
Trey
12:35
Hey, you found a female who digs Phish? That's tough sledding, sometimes, depending on the region, and other complex socioeconomic factors. Congrats.
Jason Mackey
12:36
I did. And I'm an extremely lucky man. Way out-kicked my coverage.
Wayward
12:36
WVU have a "punchers" chance against Pitt?  Pundits are all on the Panthers and the line is hovering around 7.  WVU has a chance to be sneaky good, just not sure of the 1st game.
Jason Mackey
12:36
I don't see it, frankly. I see Pitt really able to dominate the line of scrimmage. I don't know how the Mountaineers are gonna be able to do anything about Pitt's running game, frankly.
Marc from Germany
12:36
Hi J! Why all the gloom and doom about the steelers ILB position? Jack is the 3 down guy, Bush is ok on passing downs, spillane is good against the run. I get that it's far from what they invisioned when drafting Bush, but it should work behind a good dline, no?
Jason Mackey
12:37
I don't know, Marc. Devin Bush scares the hell out of me, run or pass. Not sure I feel a ton better about Robert Spillane. And what about beyond that? The biggest issue last season for this group last season was stopping the run. Need active ILBs to do it. They're gonna be asking a lot out of the D-line.
Jim in VT
12:38
Jason, if I spin around in my chair, I can look into "Nectar's', which is Phish Ground Zero.
Jason Mackey
12:39
Ahhhh. You're making me so jealous right now. I could really go for some gravy fries.
Gumbo
12:39
Jason, your unbiased grade on Ronny Hextall's offseason, and your outlook for Guins 2022/2023?
Jason Mackey
12:41
I'll give Hextall a B, but I still think it's hard to determine anything. What do they get out of Malkin? Is there another trade coming? Feels like there might be. I thought they could have/should have done more with the backup goalie situation. I don't totally understand what's happening on the left side of their defense. That said, love the Petry add. I also wanna see more of Rakell, potentially with Sid.
Wayward
12:41
What team, in any sport, would you like to see in person that you havent yet and why?
Jason Mackey
12:42
Good question. On this side, we're not as into teams as venues or cities. One place I'd really like to check out is the Big House. Seems huge and awesome. Notre Dame Stadium. Also Yankee Stadium. Have never covered a golf major and would love to do that as well.
Dan
12:42
Jason, your thought on the Stillers 2nd tier RB’s? Boykin or Sims right now?
Jason Mackey
12:45
I've liked Jaylen Warren, but I've probably been most impressed with Anthony McFarland Jr., honestly, as far as the RBs go. WR-wise, Boykin has stood out to me more during the days I was in Latrobe, although I've heard more buzz about Sims. I'm also not sure they're gonna wind up carrying six given what they should get from Johnson, Claypool, Pickens, Austin III and Olszewski.
Wayward
12:46
Which of the Bucs prospects do you think we will see in August, and who do you think gets the September reward call-up?
Jason Mackey
12:47
I could see them doing the latter with Burrows -- having him making the Contreras start. You'll probably see Bae at some point, plus Suwinski, Swaggerty and maybe Bins behind the plate.
Guest
12:47
Jason who is your Pirate MVP? Obviously Reynolds gets a nod and Bednar is there also. But anyone else deserving?
Jason Mackey
12:47
It's Reynolds and not close as far as I'm concerned.
Dave
12:48
I think it's perfectly viable to question Cherington. He's all talk, no action, outside of tanking and dumpster dives. The system is deep but lacks impact talent, and some of his trades, especially the Marte trade, look absolutely atrocious. Malone might never pitch again. Probably the sole thing that's gone in his favor this summer is Reynolds having an injury and not being as tradable as a result. The criticism can stop if he extends Reynolds, signs some actual MLB talent such as Mancini, Haniger, or Quintana, others, and actually develops one player who can help the MLB team. More than anything else, there's no communication at all about what they are trying to do, and they treat people with disdain when they point out the obvious such as what they did with Contreras. I mean, look at Milwaukee -- they don't spent outrageously and they traded an all star closer. They still put a good team on the field and let their fans know what they are trying to do and why they make their decisions.
Jason Mackey
12:49
I didn't say it's unfair to question, Cherington. You're automatically saying it's not gonna work. That's different than questioning the process. I agree on some trades being lopsided, including the Marte deal. And yeah, the communication stinks. Remember when they tried to start this "New Pirates" thing in October 2019 about how they were gonna better communicate with their fans? What happened to that? ... I'm just saying we cannot accurately say at this point that everything is gonna stink. That is all.
Wayward
12:49
Speaking of development, I havent seen a great deal at the Major League level.  I know the talent is lagging but can you see this as the year that Marin and maybe even Haines are let go?
Jason Mackey
12:50
Put it this way: I have a hard time understanding how they could play at a 100-loss pace for a third straight year and bring back the GM, manager and both top assistants. How could you possibly do that and say you're operating with urgency on any level?
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