JASON MACKEY’S PIRATES CHAT
HIGHLIGHTS
Highlights from Jason Mackey’s Pirates chat, which you can join weekly at postgazette.com. Questions and answers have been edited for clarity:
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James: How much playing time do you see [Ke’Bryan] Hayes and [Cole] Tucker getting this year and do you see Tucker playing any other positions than shortstop?
Jason Mackey: I see them getting some. Like, about 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. 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 [Kevin] Newman and allow Tucker to play at short.
CoalportKid: As we sit here today, how does the pen line up for next weekend?
Jason Mackey: As we sit here today — which means no Kela — here’s how I would go: Burdi (closer), Crick (set-up), 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: 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: 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.
Scott: Can you please clarify, if a MLB player tests 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: 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.
Darnell: What is the status of [Gregory] 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?
Jason Mackey: 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.
Jordan: Can they really start playing baseball in 8 days when teams are shutting down workouts, holding players out of workouts, etc. due to testing issues? Testing is what this whole plan is based on.
Jason Mackey: I don’t know, but I can tell you that I really, really expect them to try. Right or not, I think MLB is now very much committed to this. I very much see them continuing to do this.