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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 05.11.23
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Jason Mackey
11:30
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Thanks for stopping by. We'll get started around noon.
11:57
And away we go ...
Munkeefist
11:57
How close are we to the service time manipulation date to get Davis or Rodriguez up? I know exact dates are hard to pin down, but have you heard anything? Thanks!!
Jason Mackey
11:58
The service time stuff would come into play in June. Endy is hitting .256 with a .752 OPS in 20 games. Missed time with an elbow. Not sure it's a huge deal he's still in Triple-A. I think they need to promote Henry to Triple-A. Expecting him to show something there is also not absurd. I think service time accusations are jumping the shark at this point.
EvanMeek
11:59
Was Palacios' appearance yesterday as a pinch-hitter simply a lefty-vs.-righty decision? I would rather have seen Delay at that point. In the midst of this slump what would there be to lose, except one more game.
Jason Mackey
11:59
They love matchups. So, yes, would imagine that's a lot of what governed that decision.
Dave
12:00
Is there anyway you could get a message to Pirate brass that us fans are tired of things like “service time” & “years of control”. Just put the best 26 guys out there & let the chips fall where they may. 9 times out of 10 we trade guys with years of control anyway.
Jason Mackey
12:01
Pretty sure "Pirates brass" is aware of how the fan base feels. Also don't think there are any huge issues right now. Addressed Henry and Endy above. Who else is violating your "service time" and "years of control" arguments? I can't think of someone who should legitimately be up here who's not. Wanting them to play better baseball, certainly. But not sure it's a Super-2 problem.
Dave
12:01
I had to work 12 hour night shifts in April so I missed the hot start. I start watching in May & it’s the same old. Am I the jinx or can we turn it around a little?
Jason Mackey
12:02
I think they'll find a happy medium in there, but it might not hurt to present a case to your boss. The city would thank you for it.
Coach15
12:02
With the personnel promotion & demotions,  whether of injuries or lack of production, isn't it time to go with the "big name farm-hands", instead of journey-like names from the farm?
Jason Mackey
12:03
Not sure what you're saying here Coach15, but seems similar to other questions: You want the young guys up here. My opinion: I don't think that's the move to make right now. They're still in first place, despite being awful for 10 games. Instead of charting a new course, how about playing better baseball?
BVA123
12:03
Any news on the Keller contract front?
Jason Mackey
12:04
Nope. They're talking. Preliminary discussions. Would imagine those first happened in spring. He wants to be here. They want him here. Wouldn't shock me if it gets done.
Wayward
12:04
Jason, what do you make of the base running problems?  Over aggressive, pressing, trying to make up for the lack of RISP and/or other teams realizing what they are doing?
Jason Mackey
12:05
Yes, yes and yes. In a few ways, I think the coaching staff is doubling down, believing this is what they have to do and they're undaunted by outside noise. I also think maybe stepping back and reviewing could cause a strategical shift. There are times to go and times to be cautious. I get why they're trying to push it now -- limited baserunners, terrible with RISP, etc. Will be easier once they start hitting more. Straight steals in the right counts haven't been the biggest issue.
Tom J.
12:05
Hello Jason - I asked a similar question to you about a year or so ago and wanted to circle back on it: What do people outside of Pittsburgh (people from other teams - GMs, Scouts or even media folks you might talk with) think about the direction of the Pirates? We have seen a difference in a years' time...just was wondering what the talk is outside of Pittsburgh. Thank you, Jason.  - Tom
Jason Mackey
12:07
Hi Tom. The general evaluation I get is favorable. People in the city are a lot more made or difficult on the Pirates than outsides, likely because of the scars that have developed. This group really is doing things better. Outsiders think the Pirates have made progress and have some interesting young players. They're certainly not perfect. We're seeing that. But I think the perception is that they blew it up and are building it back up.
PrinceBob
12:07
I looked at batting averages and OPS of Austin Hedges and Jason Delay last night and saw .143/.405 vs. .360/.951. Okay, we know Delay's going to come back to earth as time goes on. But is Hedges so much better at defense and handling pitchers that it makes sense to play as much as he does?
Jason Mackey
12:08
Hedges has been a better pitch framer. Throwing-wise, Delay has been better. They both do a solid job calling games and handling the staff. Blocking I might say Hedges has a slight edge. But I agree with you. I would more freely rotate than they are now.
Johnny B.
12:08
Why don’t catchers just squat anymore?
Jason Mackey
12:09
Almost everyone uses a one-knee style. They think it preserves the knees and helps with pitch-framing. I don't love it. Also, nobody cares about my opinion. It's often referred to as transitional catching.
Wayward
12:09
Jason, thanks for the chat.  Do you see a scenario where the Bucs sign another veteran arm willing to pitch at AAA with a chance to get called up?  It is not like they would be blocking a young guy and this staff may need another AAA guy at some point.
Jason Mackey
12:10
Yeah, I could see them doing that, though I don't think it will be anyone prominent. Could just be a guy looking for an opportunity, like a Shelby Miller believe it was two years ago.
62 Stack Monster
12:10
Jason, is the Pirate ship listing or sinking?
Jason Mackey
12:11
I think it's 24% of the way through the season. Four games into the Steelers season, did anyone have a definitive read on them? Don't know why it would be different here.
PrinceBob
12:11
There was a discussion in Joe Starkey's Q and A this week about whether the Steelers will want a new stadium soon. It was pointed out that theirs is almost as old as Three Rivers was when it was replaced and is not really state of the art anymore. I've never been there and have no opinion but the discussion reminded me that PNC is also getting close to the age Three Rivers was when it closed and that the Pirates' lease is much closer to the end than to the start. What do you see as PNC's future?
Jason Mackey
12:12
I don't see PNC Park going anywhere. I don't see the Pirates having another home. I see it as Wrigley, Fenway, those sorts of places. No, it's not as venerable of those places. Not what I'm saying. But the location works. In an almost too-good-to-picture kind of way. I think you'll see continued improvements, but I'm not sure I see them angling for a new home or anything like that.
Guest
12:13
Jason is Nuttings contract to Reynolds just to pave his way to less confrontation in developing land parcels around PNC? If not who do you see being extended next. Thank You
Jason Mackey
12:14
I don't know enough about that sort of stuff. Mark Belko would be your guy there. Also have a hard time seeing how baseball contracts would or would not be tied to land management. Would go with Keller for the next extension.
PrinceBob
12:14
Is there a general reaction by the players to this year's rule changes that you can see?
Jason Mackey
12:14
Yeah -- they love 'em. Even the most hardened anti-pitch clockers have softened. Game changer in every way.
Bob Prince was the best
12:14
Thank you for the chat Jason.  Looking forward, it seems that the Pirates have a backlog of 2nd base prospects in Marcano, Castro, Bae, Nick Gonzales, Termarr Johnson  - with Cruz firmly planted at SS, do you forsee any potential trades to get MLB ready pitching  ?
Jason Mackey
12:15
No, I don't. I don't know what they could get for Marcano, Castro or Bae, even if they wanted to do it. You don't know what you have in Nick and Termarr. As a result, I have a tough time seeing the Pirates give that up. I think most of their pitching improvements will have to be internal.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:15
Hi Jason! Thanks for the chats! I guess you can summarize the Pirates this way: They probably were not as good as their start this year but they are not as bad as they've looked in the past 10. Do you think the problems are in all 3 phases of the game or is it linked to starting pitching which has gone south the last 2 weeks?
Jason Mackey
12:16
I think you're bang on with your assessment. It's everything, too. The hitting with RISP has been awful. Approach, execution, buncha stuff. Fielding hasn't been good enough. Baserunning, of course. Nah, it's been widespread.
Johnny M
12:16
Hi Jason. Enjoy the chats. Let's face it. All The Pirates down in The Minors are mostly either injured (Swaggerty) or haven't panned out yet. Peguero, Gonzales & Priester to name a few have been disappointing and have gone backwards. They won't bring up Endy or Davis yet, the last 2 hopefuls down there. Ergo, still all this dumpster diving. See : Palacias. Our only main hope is talent way down in Double A & that is many, many years away from now. That's the way I see it. It's a gloomy picture.
Jason Mackey
12:16
Palacios was a pickup in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft and has been really good. He'
12:18
's had 3 MLB at-bats this season. Give it some time. Peguero is 22. College kids are drafted at 22. It's OK if he's not a finished product. Priester is also 22 and has made a whopping nine starts at Triple-A. Again, it's OK for someone that age to not be fully developed. Gonzales has been hurt. Not making excuses. It's just reality. There's so much of a rush to negativity for this fanbase. Just let more play out.
Sunner in Orlando from Lebo
12:18
When would be a good time to bring up Endy or Crash Davis? Hedges is an automatic out and Delay does not offer much either.
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