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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 08.15.19
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Jason Mackey
11:52
Hi folks. Welcome to my bi-weekly Pirates chat. Lots to talk about, obviously. Leave your questions, and I'll be back at noon to answer 'em. And thanks, as always, for participating.
Jon Snow
12:02
The Pirates could add 20 million dollars next year to pick up 2 starters and still have a payroll under 90 million dollars. The small market line has worn out. Cleveland, Cinn, and the Brewers all spend more than the Pirates and put a better product on the field. The Pirates need to stop trying to sign bargain basement free agents (see Chistenhome lol) and use that money to sign proven talent.
Jason Mackey
12:04
Jon, I'm not sure you've come up with some revolutionary concept -- no offense. Although I do love the nickname of Chisenhome. I don't know how we've been missed that this whole time. Agree 100 percent with what you're saying. I think they have some good pieces right now, but they also have some flaws. If they're not going to strip it down and start over, then they need to spend some money patching their current holes -- starting pitching, catcher, a bullpen arm.
FloridaSteelers
12:04
Jason,  talk me off this cliff, do you see ANYTHING positive happening with this team in the next couple years?
Jason Mackey
12:07
I think there's the possibility for something decent to happen. So they have Reynolds and Marte in the outfield. If they find another guy, that could be pretty decent. Hard to not like Newman. Moran has shown signs. You have Bell plus Tucker and Hayes on the way. Should the Astros and Yankees start cowering in fear? No. But there could be improvement ahead. Ditto for the pitching. I like Keller. I think Brault has turned a corner. You'd like to think you could get two competent starts among the following group: Archer, Williams, Musgrove, Kuhl and Agrazal. If they add a legit starter, that's not terrible. It's at least competitive. Bullpen-wise, you have Vazquez. Crick is better than he's shown. Rodriguez and Feliz are serviceable. Maybe it's Kela, but I'd look to improve there. Still, it should be competitive.
Joe
12:07
Do you feel more confident when Bell bats from the left side? I sure do.  He looks unnatural in my opinion from the right side of the dish.
Jason Mackey
12:07
I do think he looks more natural from the left side, but I don't think he should stop hitting righty. In a perfect, DH-filled world, I might have him stop playing the field. But not stop hitting from the right side.
Tom
12:08
Was just reading, Mackey, that the guy from Bon Iver recently played on stage with Dead and Co. and he apparently did LSD before his set. Now is that commonplace? How could you play music on drugs of that caliber? Have you ever tried LSD or other drugs like that when you were younger?  Thanks. P.S. I'm hoping to see the Dead play at some point, even though the lineup is different.
Jason Mackey
12:09
The Dead and LSD have long been intertwined, dating back to the Acid Tests. I, however, have never tried it. Nor do I intend to.
Hades
12:09
Any chance in Hades that Hurdle is the Bucs manager on opening day 2020?
Jason Mackey
12:09
I don't think so, personally. If something doesn't happen in-season, I could see him deciding that retirement was simply a better option and moving on, maybe with a nudge or two from the organization.
Guest
12:10
The Pirates are stinky, so I gotta ask an MLB question - who do you like to win the World Series this season? Houston? Yankees?
Jason Mackey
12:10
Just because they're out of playoff contention doesn't mean they're not worth talking about, IMO. ... I would take the Astros because of the ridiculous pitching.
Jason too
12:10
When I look at a player like Will Craig in Triple A Indy, I see a player who could possibly be a leader going forward with a +.500 pirates team. Do you see him factoring in big time in the Pirates long term plans?
Jason Mackey
12:11
Will Craig and long-term ... I think it depends on his ability to play the outfield or any possible rule changes with the DH. If there's a DH, yeah, I do. He would be a perfect first baseman, and you DH Bell. If not, I have a tough time seeing it. I don't think he would be someone I'd run out to right field every day. It's a tough spot. He also needs to get more consistent in his approach at the plate, as I understand where he's at with his development.
Guest
12:11
Hypothetically - Would you trade Josh Bell, Taillon, and the next 10 first round draft picks for Mike Trout? Consider trout's age and contract #.
Jason Mackey
12:12
Ten first-round picks? Um, no.
SBJ
12:12
Hi Jason.  In light of Taillon’s surgery and rehabilitation, do you see the Pirates going after a quality #1 pitcher  either in free agency or in a trade?
Jason Mackey
12:13
I think Taillon's injury means they'll pick up the option on Chris Archer. I also think they might sign a pitcher in free agency. However, while Taillon was a No. 1 for them, I don't think his injury means they're going to pay front-of-the-rotation money. That would be waaay out of character. But even if they got a legitimate MLB starter, that would be a step in the right direction.
dougp
12:13
Have you watched the Hulu TV show "Letterkenny"? It is outstanding. Truly funny.
Jason Mackey
12:13
I have not, but thanks for the recommendation.
Bob
12:13
I know the Frontier League (Washington Wild Things) is not a "minor league" per say, but could a MLB team sign their players?
Jason Mackey
12:13
They could, yes. And I believe that some players have signed with MLB clubs. The list is short, though.
True fan
12:14
Hey Jason, thought you might beinterested to know that i just found out that i have an uncle who apparently went to monroe elementary school with Jerry Garcia. He said that Garcia was playing piano back then and that he was missing part of his finger. Is that TRUE? How could a guy with part of a finger missing wail on guitar so well later in life?  I'm just trying to figure out if my uncle is lying because he's a bit of a trickster.    He once shaved all of our heads because he said we had lice, but we didn't really. haha. Thanks, Jason!
Jason Mackey
12:15
Don't know about your uncle and sorry about your hair. But, yeah, Garcia was missing a significant chunk of his right middle finger. Believe it was the result of an accident involving his brother. It's one reason you don't hear Jerry finger pick a ton.
Guest
12:15
How much do you miss covering a good team (Penguins) now that you are covering a bad team (Pirates)?
Jason Mackey
12:19
We've been over this, but it never seems to go away. ... I hate being insulting to fans/readers, so please don't take this this way. But we're not you. I try to keep in good perspective what we get to do for a living. We're incredibly lucky, and I love this job. But if the team I cover wins or loses, it doesn't change my job. They win, we write. They lose, we write. Just do it without overtime or any lead changes. ... If you're doing this job to write about only wins, you're doing it wrong. Honest to God, one of the ways I realized I wanted to do this was living in D.C. and reading Barry Svrluga on some really bad Nationals teams. And he made me care, because he was good. If I'm doing my job and doing it well, I'm giving you stuff to care about, win or lose. So, no, I don't miss my old beat because the Penguins were better results-wise. They each present their own challenges. There are some things easier with my baseball, and some things that I find more difficult. None of them involve wins or losses.
#21
12:20
Jason...is the possibility of Clemente’s number being retired gaining any momentum or decreasing?  Thanks .
Jason Mackey
12:21
I'm assuming you mean on a league-wide scale ... honestly, I don't have any sense either way on that. But I do think it's grown even more rare for players to choose No. 21, especially latin players. It's almost explicitly off-limits.
Duke
12:21
Do you think the Pirates will reopen Vasquez  trade talks with the Dodgers over the winter?
Jason Mackey
12:21
I think it depends on how they fare in the postseason. If they win a World Series with tremendous relief pitching, maybe not. But if they fall short again, I think it would make a lot of sense.
dead fan 1971
12:21
Jason, not a pirates question or Penguins, but did you read the piece today in the LA TIMES where Fogerty says that the DEAD messed up CCR's performance at Woodstock? Basically, the Dead hogged the stage for like 5 hours and kept CCR from going on until the very early morning. By that time the crowd was asleep. Also, is the Dead's set at Woodstock any good? Can you listen to it all online? Thanks for the chat!
Jason Mackey
12:22
I did not read the piece, but I will. That's interesting. Had never heard that before. Do love Fogerty. ... No, I don't think it's available anywhere. As I understand it, the performance was so bad -- guys were literally getting electrocuted because of the rain and equipment malfunctions -- that they insisted on it not being included on the DVD or released.
Guest
12:23
Marte - a Pirate in 2020 or on some other team?
Jason Mackey
12:23
I think he's a Pirate in 2020.
Mark
12:23
Hi Jason.  I could definitely see next year's starting staff being Big Joe-Trevor-Arch-Brault and either Kuhl or Agrazal.  That is simply not good enough in my opinion.  What do you think?  Thanks.
Jason Mackey
12:24
It depends on how they're pitching. If we're talking Musgrove's best stuff, 2018 post-break Williams, Tampa Bay Archer and maybe Mitch Keller thrown in, then yeah, I think that could be very good. I also don't think it's terribly likely you get all that, which is why I think they should add someone, to insulate themselves from those inevitable struggles.
CampHillguy
12:24
The Dickerson give away — — can we conclude this was a simply dump of Corey’s remaining $2.8 M salary ? Any word on the PTBNL? As for the $250k in international bonus pool $$s received in the deal, do we know if NH has even spent the international bonus pool amounts allocated to the Pirates the last few years?
Jason Mackey
12:25
Yeah, it was a dump. I'll admit that. But the Pirates do use their allotted pool money in international signings, I'll give them that. Also, it's not actual money per se. It's what they're allowed to spend. But the Pirates do use it, if I'm not mistaken.
12:26
No word on the PTBNL. Does me zero good to have information on someone or something and withhold it until I'm asked in a chat.
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