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Jason Mackey's Pirates chat: 12.23.20
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Jason Mackey
11:18
Hello, everyone. Welcome to my weekly Pirates chat. Hopefully you're killing time at work and want to talk a little baseball ... or whatever else. Feel free to leave your questions right here, right now, and I'll be back at noon to answer them. Thanks!
12:05
Okey doke. Let's get going, people.
Prince Bob
12:05
Is Sam McWilliams with no major league experience  and a minor league career ERA of 8.18 ( I think it's .18, it's over 8.00) a case of analytics gone mad? Would you ever do a deal like that if you were a GM?
Jason Mackey
12:09
I think it's a fascinating case, Gunner. I don't think it's right to call it "analytics gone mad" because what if he dominates? That's money very well spent by the Mets. And, there are worse horses you could bet on than a Rays pitching prospect panning out; they're incredible with that stuff. I look at it like this: Baseball has clearly changed what it values in prospects, and McWilliams is representative of that, because of his developmental timeline. Hell, analytics might save this kid's career instead of going "mad." Or it might also speak to baseball needing to change its financial landscape, so teams are less willing to take this sort of risk.
New castle Pete
12:09
Hi Jason Are the Pirates still on track to draft Rocker or will they draft based on the needs of the team come June?
Jason Mackey
12:11
Well, the needs of the team are Rocker (and other top-end arms), Pete. I do think they're going to take the best player available, with no sign-ability issues/constraints. I don't think Cherington comes here if he's not 1,000% convinced he's allowed to build this thing from the ground up the right way, which includes drafting the best-player available when you have the No. 1 pick. Whether or not it's Rocker -- right now it is -- I think will depend on what happens during the 2021 season.
Pirates fan
12:11
Pirates offseason get worse and worse every year. Now this year we haven’t even heard a rumor the pirates are interested in anyone. It’s getting to the point now that it’s hillarious
Jason Mackey
12:13
Devil's advocate here: Why should they sign someone? I think the Pirates should be more honest about their plans. I think they should admit they need to rebuild this thing from the ground up and ask for patience. But if that's reality -- and again, I think it is -- what are you spending on right now? They should be bad. They should prioritize high draft picks. They should be open with their fans and make the team accessible in other ways, like dirt-cheap games or cool promotions or just finding a unique  way for people to connect. But nothing their doing with their moves says they give two {snowflakes] about the 2021 season, so why are we even grading them on that scale? It's a rebuild, plain and simple.
Ricky
12:13
my Christmas wish list.... Sign yasiel puig✅
Jason Mackey
12:13
Isn't that everyone's?
Guest
12:13
Jason, I may have missed this, but why was the DH not kept in the NL this year?  This would have definitely benefitted the Pirates getting both Bell and Moran in the batting order.
Jason Mackey
12:14
Nothing is final. As of now, it's not. But it's already become a bargaining piece relative to the league wanting expanded playoffs. Having talked to people about this, I would be shocked if pitchers are hitting in the National League this season. It makes no sense.
Levi
12:14
Is it safe to say Bell and Taillon won’t be traded to NY?
Jason Mackey
12:14
No, it's not. They had conversations about Bell and Taillon. At the Yankees' behest, I should point out. A deal might not make sense. Nothing wrong with that. Or they may revisit at a later day. They're talks and maybe negotiations. It's not like if you do it once and don't finalize a deal they're dead.
seferg
12:15
Lets flip the script a bit.  What position(s) do you feel the pirates are set at for them to be a playoff caliber team.  All 8 positons, 5 starters and closer are eligible for this question
Jason Mackey
12:19
Love a good script-flipping ... good question. Long-term, I think they're set at third and either LF/CF, depending on what you do with Reynolds. I also think you could likely count on one quality infielder between Newman, Tucker, Cruz, Peguero and Gonzales. Obviously you want more, but bottom line, I'm comfortable saying I think one of those guys will be a legitimate player. I like Priester a lot. So do scouts. If we're projecting several years down the road, I'd be OK with saying among Priester, Keller, Malone, Kuhl, Brubaker, Rocker/Leiter, they should win up with three rotations stalwarts, if not more. ... I also really like Mason Martin at first base, though he hasn't risen high enough in their system to where I say he's a lock to contribute on a playoff team in 3-4 years. I think he could. He has the potential. But I'm not calling it a lock. ... Closer-wise, I like Cederlind there. A lot. They also have hard-throwers who could transition here. ... I think I'd go 3/8 positions, 3/5 starts and a closer.
Bill B
12:19
True or False, Kumar Rocker will start AND get a win before the end of the 2022 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jason Mackey
12:20
I lost track of the hypotheticals in this question. Dude has another season to play. Pirates have a pick to make. And we haven't even touched his readiness for MLB hitters. Guess I'd say false based on all those factors, but man, who the heck knows.
pozone
12:21
Will Bob Nutting ever see the three ghosts and spend his money on Pirate Players?
Jason Mackey
12:22
I know I've been criticized for this, but I do think he's going to spend whenever they turn this thing around from the bottom. And if he doesn't, I think Ben Cherington and Travis Williams will be very unhappy given some assumptions they've probably made.
MelKiper
12:22
Who does BC like as the number one pick right now? Any insight?
Jason Mackey
12:23
I'm not sure he'd tell his wife and kids, if we're being honest. Given where they're at, what he looks like and what they need, I would expect them to go Kumar Rocker at this point. But, again, there's a whole college season to play. That could change. It's also not just Ben's decision. He consults with a lot of people.
MarioMendoza
12:23
Does Polanco bat over .199 this season and finish as the starting RF?
Jason Mackey
12:25
I'm gonna say he barely clears .200 and finishes the season in a timeshare because they can't trade (and his contract). It's hard to dislike Polanco the person. Would love to see him produce and get himself traded, perhaps recapture his career. But no recent evidence we have suggests that's coming.
Buck
12:25
Do we see the new upper management being quicker with the philosophy of advancement of players or more steady as they go?
Jason Mackey
12:27
I don't think there is, or will be, an overarching philosophy with that stuff. And that's OK. What I want to see out of them -- good question, by the way -- is actually having a feel for this stuff. The old regime rushed guys, then buried others. They did fine at the lower levels of the minor leagues, but guys were not properly prepared to take that final step. That, to me, comes down to knowing when to make that move, and that's often an individual kind of thing. I do think it will be different under Cherington, but I don't think it will be 100% one way or the other.
wvpirate
12:27
Is spring training still scheduled to start in February? Read reports that the season will be delayed.
Jason Mackey
12:28
There are no reports that the season would be delayed. Would think we and others would write that. There are reports they're talking about it. League wants to delay to get fans in ballparks and vaccinated players at spring training. They're OK playing fewer games because they lost a lot of money last year, and this would reduce costs. The MLB Players Association is not. It's going to be hashed out. And they probably need to figure it out soon.
BranchRichey
12:28
The Pirates farm system needs to generate a talent like Hayes every year for the next 5 years for the team to contend. Who is that player this year? I don’t see one.
Jason Mackey
12:31
Umm ... I don't know if the best farm system in baseball is churning out a Ke'Bryan Hayes every year. That's a pretty bold ask. The Pirates, however, do have a group of guys in Priester, Peguero, Malone, Gonzales, Martin, Rocker/Leiter/No. 1 pick, Mitchell, Siani, etc. -- surely leaving some out -- who could pop a couple years from now. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that. To me, the 2021 Pirates must figure out Cole Tucker and Will Craig. Are they any good? Can they play at this level? Oneil Cruz is close to that point. Maybe Max Kranick. Rodolfo Castro is also on the 40-man. They hav some project pitchers. But to say there's no Ke'Bryan Hayes coming in 2021, I mean, two-thirds of the teams in MLB, if not more, could say that.
Buck
12:31
the new upper management are they more likely to advance players quicker or slowly?
Jason Mackey
12:31
Believe I got this one earlier. Thanks, Buck!
Mike
12:31
Make your best hypothetical case for the Pirates shocking the world and making the playoffs this season.
Jason Mackey
12:34
OK, here goes: Cardinals -- arrested by St. Louis police for committing every murder in New York; Cubs overdose on nerve tonic; Brewers behave like chickens due to a hack hypnotist; and the Reds fall down the Cincinnati Mystery Spot. Just like that, Pirates win the NL Central.
seferg
12:34
How many (if any) players do you see making the team's opening game that are not currently in the Pirates system?
Jason Mackey
12:35
Assuming you mean free agents adds? I'd say maybe one -- a fourth outfielder. Maybe they grab a pitcher, a swing type, but that's about it. (I know that's not a terribly exciting answer. I'm sorry.)
PerfectGame
12:35
Can the Pirates promote an early spring college baseball tournament of Pitt, WVU, and Point Park? Don Kelly must have some pull. And who would win?
Jason Mackey
12:37
That's a great idea. They do have college games at PNC Park from time-to-time, although this may not be the year for any of that. Would be cool, though, to see the Pirates do something like that and make area college baseball a bit of a bigger thing. That said, they do have plenty on their plate right now. Oh, and Division III powerhouse Westminster College would beat all of them.
WorkFastChangeSpeedsThrowStrikes
12:37
A wise pitching coach once preached these words. What’s up with Mitch Keller? Maybe he is the one to break out this year. What’s going on here and when do we see more consistency?
Jason Mackey
12:38
I can see Keller having a very good/breakout year. How good was he after he returned from injury last year? To me, the thing with him is innings and experience. He has all the tools in the world. Just needs to be healthy and pitch. I do think they will monitor his innings based on throwing so little in 2020, this likely being a non-competitive season and the Pirates wanting to ensure he's healthy (with minimal wear and tear) in 2-3 years.
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