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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 06.03.20
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Jason Mackey
1:46
Hi folks. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. A little later today because Ben Cherington spoke this morning. Plenty to discuss. We'll get going at 2.
Mark
2:01
Hi Jason.  Do you think heads will roll for exercising Archer's option or will it be chalked up to bad luck?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
2:03
Hi Mark. Thanks for the question. I don't think "heads will roll." I think it will be chalked up to just ... baseball. That's all you can do. It was the right business move to pick up his option. I don't think Archer's struggles were all his fault, believe me, and I think the best thing would've been to keep him and let the new staff work with him. It's tough for the Pirates that this happened, though, because now I think the best business decision is probably to let him walk after this season, which means you've basically given away Meadows, Glasnow and Baz.
Ricky
2:06
After looking at the pirates roster I think puig would be a great addition to this ball club. Polanco will most likely be hurt at some point or just needs days off to prevent an injury. Puig needs to be the guy we get
Jason Mackey
2:07
Man, the Puig question early this week. And from you again. Nice work. You're right. No way they can sleep on Puig. He's the ticket to a championship, for sure.
Wayward
2:07
Does Archer's injury open the door for Brault, or do you see someone like Stratton or an outside option to fill the spot?   If it is filled internally how does that affect the bullpen composition
Jason Mackey
2:08
I think Brault is in the starting rotation. I think it becomes Musgrove, Williams, Keller, Holland and Brault. Your bullpen is likely Kela, Crick, Rodriguez, Santana, Burdi, Feliz, Stratton and Erlin. Extras, I'd say, include Holmes and Kuhl; they may even try and flex those guys out to multiple innings, Kuhl especially.
Cody
2:08
Hi Jason,
Jason Mackey
2:08
Hello Cody.
Donna
2:08
Hey Jason, are you optimistic or pessimistic about there being a baseball season this year?
Jason Mackey
2:09
Hi Donna. I'm pessimistic anymore. It has gotten ridiculous in my opinion, unless Major League Baseball is content to say, "Fine, we'll just do 82 games with prorated pay," which is where they started. I don't think that's going to happen, mind you, but that's the only way I see there being baseball. I'm seeing this as the owners want to do what they want to do, and that's pretty much about it. It's frustrating.
WeatherMan
2:10
What is the over/under for the number of times Puig is brought up per week? People never learn apparently.
Jason Mackey
2:11
We have one. I'm not sure why we're not talking more about the missing piece, the savior the Pirates have needed the entire time, the guy whose natural skills are so sublime that his existence alone will instantly jolt the Pirates into contention.
Butch
2:11
Any chance archer option is picked up next season?
Jason Mackey
2:12
I don't see it happening. I don't see how you could do it. Struggled mightily in 2019. Hurt in 2020. Then $11 million in 2021? It's not this regime's job to atone for the mistakes of the former one. Archer may well turn out to be a solid pitcher, but I just think it's too big of a chance to tell for that money, especially in Pittsburgh.
Ricky
2:12
any chance the pirates add a pitcher now without archer? I would call the dodgers and see what they want for Ross stripling I remember he was almost traded to the angles earlier this offseason
Jason Mackey
2:13
I don't think so. Cherington said a little bit ago that teams, at this point, probably aren't going give up pitching; they're going to hoard it. Also, the Pirates probably shouldn't part with any sort of assets here. Stinks to say, but the best thing they should probably do is keep any young talent they have and lump it for the present, hoping Brault or someone else can fill that spot.
James
2:13
We know that Kramer and Archer would be on the 60-day IL now, but Brault and Holmes were slated to start on the 15-day IL, presumably. Are they healthy and ready and this point?
Jason Mackey
2:13
They are both healthy and ready to go. They won't start on the IL.
Jim
2:14
Do you see any hope this inept,cheap and incompetent team will ever be relevant in any time in the future? I think their only hope is for a work stoppage and a salary floor as well as salary cap is the only hope.Baseball in most cases now is not a team sport but an I sport.Sad commentary on a sport that used to excite so many of us.
Jason Mackey
2:16
I'm sure, Jim, that even if there were a salary cap floor, the Pirates would still find a way to screw that up, right? That seems to be the sentiment conveyed here. But seriously, yes, I see hope for them. Teams like the A's and Rays win on tight budgets because they employ smart, knowledge-seeking people. The Pirates went out and got a bunch of those types this offseason, people who are sterling reputations around baseball. I know you want them to spend more money. I do, too, believe me. Makes it more fun to cover. But it's not impossible to win baseball games if you do things the right way. I really do think they did some of that this offseason.
Trevor Williams
2:16
How do you see me pitching this year?
Jason Mackey
2:17
I see you being vastly improved, Trevor. And your employer will need that from you. Best thing you can do is more consistently execute pitches when you have guys ahead; you had too many mistake pitches in 2019, and they burned you.
Walt Z.
2:17
Is the designated hitter in the National League here to stay?
Jason Mackey
2:17
I think so. I don't think there's going to be any appetite from the league side to go back after it's implemented.
Wayward
2:18
With the expanded rosters, plus a "taxi" squad of 20 players it seems like a lot of the "fringe" guys the Bucs have picked up (Stratton type) are going to be harder to acquire?
Jason Mackey
2:19
Maybe. Team are also cutting minor leaguers they don't feel are going to be part of their future. But I do think your point is a good one: If a team thinks a guy MAY help, it's gonna keep him around and stash him on a taxi squad.
Bill
2:20
Hi Jason,
Jason Mackey
2:20
Hi Bill. Is this Bill Brink?
Butch
2:20
Is Chad Kuhl under consideration as a starting pitcher for this season or is their plan still to have him as a relief pitcher this season?
Jason Mackey
2:21
Cherington wouldn't say on his call with us. My guess: maybe both. Some of it will be health-dependent, sure, but I do think the Pirates could make use of Kuhl in the starting rotation; he just has to be able to handle the demands. If he's not 100%, then maybe they can use him out of the bullpen until that time comes.
Bill
2:22
Hi Jason, Always enjoy your articles and chats. I agree with your rotation and bullpen predictions, but I think the Archer injury could open the door for JT Brubaker somewhere down the line. Probably would have made his debut last year if not for injury. Thoughts?
Jason Mackey
2:22
I don't think you're wrong, Bill. Could easily see this becoming an opening for Brubaker. But I don't necessarily see him starting with the big club. Ponce, too. I think you could see them take a longer look at Cody Ponce to fill one of those spots.
Mikey
2:22
With Archer out and Brault in the rotation, who would be the next two starting pitchers up in case any of the top 5 starting pitchers miss time?
Jason Mackey
2:25
Hmmm, good question Mikey. It might be Brubaker and Ponce, honestly. I'd like to think Chad Kuhl would be in there somewhere. If he's healthy, he's ahead of those first two. But so much will depend on health. I also wonder about Marvel, Del Pozo or Noesi. I know we're kind of in the weeds here, but if you only have guys built up to around three innings out of spring training -- a real possibility -- somebody is gonna have to pitch.
Wayward
2:26
Jason, do you think we need a specific Nutting is cheap and  should sell the team question/comment for us to hit the weekly "trifecta"  or does Jim's cover it?
Jason Mackey
2:26
No, I think we need something along those lines. Would be great if we could somehow relate Nutting to some ridiculous event over which he has zero influence, with its outcome decided by his inherent cheapness.
Jim
2:27
I see your point. They have turned this fan support off for so long its going to take some good hings to get us to care again.Why did it take so long for us to find out how terrible the entire organization was?
Jason Mackey
2:28
Because that's not something you openly advertise. Also, if you have people saying that stuff to you off-the-record, it's a violation of trust to suddenly start blabbing about it. And believe me, those inside the clubhouse know what trickles outside of it.
James
2:28
Saw Cherington say minor league cuts are coming; any indication at this point how many?
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