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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 07.15.20
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Jason Mackey
11:40
Hello, everyone, and welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. We'll get going at noon, but feel free to ask anything you want right now. Thanks -- Mackey.
12:03
OK, folks. Let's talk a little baseball.
BobK
12:03
Let's get this out of the way....  Do you think the Braves would go for Josh Bell  for Puig and Freeman?
Jason Mackey
12:04
Man, coming in hot, Bob. No, I don't. And I don't think the Pirates should try. My goodness. If Josh Bell in the past few months hasn't shown why the Pirates should pay him like a franchise player -- and thus not trade him -- I don't know what will.
BillC
12:04
When Ray Searage was here a year or two he was toured as a pitching guru for making the Pirate staff perform above expectations.  Then it seemed that he lost that magic touch and was chastises for not knowing what he was doing.  Now we have a new pitching coach and everyone seems optimistic about him. What do you see as being different with this coach over Searage that is the basis for optimism? It’s pretty much the same staff as last year except for Archer.
Jason Mackey
12:07
Honestly, Bill, the league changed. Also, let's take a reasonable approach here: I don't think Oscar Marin walks on water, and I don't think Ray Searage is a total idiot. The truth is somewhere in the middle. But Ray was really good at exploiting what was undervalued at the time -- two-seamers and sinkers, pitching inside, utilizing the bottom of the strike zone. Guys who did that well were undervalued, the Pirates played up those skills and voila. Well, the league has since skewed more toward the usage of spin, strikeouts and pitching up in the zone, while the Pirates (stubbornly) kept doing their thing. Same time, other teams were using things like Rapsodo, Trackman and Edgertronic cameras. The Pirates had them but did not understand a ton of what they were looking at. Pitchers have said they weren't educated on the use of them and didn't know what the data told them to do with their pitches. When the rest of the league is doing something like that and you aren't, man, that's pretty bad.
Stephen
12:07
Hi Jason.  With Puig signing with Braves, I was wondering if the Pirates had had any interest in him.  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:07
I believe he and Freddie Freeman have already been traded for Josh Bell. So I guess that means yes.
James
12:07
Jason...how much playing time do you see Hayes and Tucker getting this year and do you see Tucker playing any other positions than shortstop?
Jason Mackey
12:09
Hi James, I see them getting some. Like ~ 20 games, maybe? Perhaps after the trade deadline, if the Pirates would flip Adam Frazier. Or via injuries or Colin Moran simply not cutting it at first. I could see Tucker going to second but not third. Hayes should play there. And if they need to move someone out of shortstop, I would rather it be Newman and allow Tucker to play at short.
CoalportKid
12:09
As we sit here today, how does the pen line up for next weekend?
Jason Mackey
12:11
Good question. As we sit here today -- which means no Kela -- here's how I would go: Burdi (CL), Crick (SU), Rodriguez, Feliz, Stratton, Holmes, Erlin, Hartlieb, Brubaker (long man) and then either Neverauskas or Turley, perhaps giving the edge to Turley because left-handed.
Jeff
12:12
Hey Jason thanks for the chats.  Is it me or is there very little interest in baseball right now and even less in the Pirates?  Doesn't feel like MLB is doing a good job hyping up the abbreviated season
Jason Mackey
12:15
They're not, I agree. And there's about to be less, honestly, with the NBA and NHL starting up. As far as the Pirates, I don't think it's a "now" thing. When you spend as little as they are right now, I don't know how you can reasonably expect a discernible buzz. Like, excitement based on what ... Robbie Erlin? That said, I think they made great moves in the offseason, and I like the direction they're headed. That just doesn't lead to a ton of current buzz, so maybe that's it. But I think people in this town want the Pirates to not stink. I think it's a really good baseball town, and I think if Shelton and Co. can pull this off, you're gonna see people get really excited really quickly. ... Then league-wise, after the charade that transpired with negotiations, maybe it's best if they just shush it for a little.
Big Daddy
12:15
Pirates clearly attempting to fortify pitching through the draft. What minor league prospect will we see 1st at the big league level that will stay ?
Jason Mackey
12:16
I don't know, Big Daddy. That's tough to say considering I've seen none of them pitch. I like what I've read about Carmen Mlodzinski, but again, it's tough to say right now with no minor-league season.
Big Daddy
12:17
Who is your candidate to have a breakout year in this shortened season ?
Jason Mackey
12:18
I think you're gonna see some really good things from Mitch Keller. He has looked outstanding, one. But I also think they're going to allow him to pitch differently. The kid has some incredible stuff.
Southside Jimmy
12:18
Has Commissioner Manfred indicated if he will be attending any games when the season starts?
Jason Mackey
12:18
I have not seen anything to indicate that he is, although I'm sure he'll show up somewhere. Thankful aren't we all.
Scott
12:19
Can you please clarify, if a MLB player test positive for COVID during the season and while with the team, does the player need to quarantine for 2 weeks and do all players who had contact with the positive player need to quarantine?
Jason Mackey
12:23
Hi Scott, the player needs to be isolated until he has two positive tests. There is then contact tracing, yes. But in your situation, if the guy played in a game and then tested positive, I don't know what would happen. I guess conceivably you would isolate everyone who came in contact with him until they pass two tests, but I have a tough time seeing that actually happen.
Wayward
12:23
With Kela still out is Crick the default closer or would they take a flyer on someone like Burdi/others?  Also how has Stratton looked?  I think he could be a really valuable guy in a year like this.
Jason Mackey
12:25
I don't think Crick is the default closer, to answer the second part of that first. I think he might be given a chance, but I also think they're going to look at Burdi in that role. Eventually it could be Cederlind, too. ... Stratton has looked fine. Nothing spectacular, nothing terrible. But I agree with you. He might need to eat some innings from time to time, and he's shown he can be pretty good doing that.
Mark C.
12:25
Any news on Kela at all?  How about Hayes?  Is this a COVID thing (obviously HIPAA laws), or is this a legitimate injury.
Jason Mackey
12:25
No news, first off. Secondly, everything we've been told points to COVID, though there's no way of knowing without the player consenting. If it was another injury, the Pirates would have told us.
Darnell
12:26
What is the status of Polanco’s arm?  Will he be able to make the throws to third and home or will he need to relay his throws to an infielder?  Thanks Jason.
Jason Mackey
12:26
Hi Darnell. As of now, I've seen nothing that makes me worry about it. I've watched him both hit the cutoff man and throw through; the velocity and accuracy have been there. Like I've been saying with Polanco, though, I'm always a little leery, though, because of his injury history.
Jeff
12:27
What record do you think wins the NL central?  and how many games before teams are basically out of it?  I agree this is a great baseball town but part of me want to see a full rebuild versus the over confidence in a team that gets hot then sputters in a full season
Jason Mackey
12:31
Couple thoughts there, Jeff. I could see 35 or 36 wins representing that point. Last season, St. Louis had 91 wins -- a .562 winning percentage. This season, that translates to 34 wins. I think the Central will be a little better than it was last season. As for your other point, I think about 20 games will cause teams to realize they're out of it, 30 tops. Nobody would admit to you that a third of the way into a baseball season that they stink, but that's essentially what this would be.
Wayward
12:31
What do you think the differences will be in the starting lineup/rotation from the start on July 24th versus August 31st?
Jason Mackey
12:33
Hmmm, good question, Wayward. Probably none in the starting rotation, honestly. I guess I could see Brault and Kuhl split apart, if someone gets hurt or stinks, but that's probably it there. I think you might see Adam Frazier traded. Could also see Kela moved, assuming his current situation is rectified. That could open time for Cole Tucker and give Nick Burdi a more prominent role. If he's healthy and productive, I also think we could see more Ke'Bryan Hayes by that point.
CoalportKid
12:33
Any word how the Covid guys are doing?
Jason Mackey
12:33
Brito is back working out. Nothing on Cederlind. He's still in isolation.
TP Ranger
12:33
Jason, do you think the Braves and Indians names are safe, or will they be terminated like Washington's football team? My guess is that the Tomahawk Chop is history.
Jason Mackey
12:34
I agree with you, TP. I think they're done. And I think it's the right move. I don't understand needing a nickname badly enough that some can overlook it offended other human beings. Plus, look at minor league baseball and hockey. There are soooo many cool team nicknames that are sitting there, just waiting to be stolen.
Jordan
12:34
If the Pirates had had to play any of the teams from a state that PA is recommending 14 days of quarantine after returning from, would the team have had to do that? There is news about the local vs league mandates (ie Nats and Dodgers) affecting things, so thought I'd ask.
Jason Mackey
12:35
I think you're asking if the Pirates go to a quarantine state, would they have to quarantine for two weeks, right? My understanding is no, because they're treated differently than normal citizens. They're treated differently because they travel privately and test regularly.
TP Ranger
12:35
Jason, were you surprised that the 1960 Pirates champs edged out the 1979 Family team in the fans' favorite poll? I guess Maz had more influence than Pops!
Jason Mackey
12:36
I wasn't, actually. Since starting on this beat, I've chatted with many Pirates fans who were coming of age with the baseball fandom in 1960. Shoot, my dad was one of those. I'm not diminishing 1979 by any stretch, but I think a lot of the people who went nuts for that one were made fans -- and ardent fans -- by 1960.
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