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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Jimmie: I would enjoy an article explaining the various pitching strategies of the Pirate pitchers. What is each pitcher’s strikeout pitch? What do pitchers like to do in certain situations? I would assume that major league batters know each pitcher’s strikeout pitch; do they? Why do writers never address this aspect of baseball? Are these closely guarded secrets? If you do not want to divulge Pirate pitchers’ secrets, why not reveal what we know about rival teams’ pitchers’ strategies?
Jason Mackey: Good to know, Jimmie. And I’m sorry what all baseball writers have done up to this point has been substandard. ... Trust me, if a pitcher would be willing to divulge exactly what he likes to do in every situation, I don’t think we’re turning that down. But they don’t . ... That said, we can review tendencies and do some stuff through research and Statcast . ... I agree it would be an interesting piece, especially this season when access will be limited . ... Would imagine something like the best weapons or most-used weapons for pitchers.
Jim M: What is the difference between the 30 players from the list of 60 who don’t make the roster and the taxi squad other than where they practice? Thanks
Jason Mackey: I’m not completely clear on that, Jim. Obviously all 60 won’t travel. And the Pirates can bring as many as three with them on the road, provided one is a catcher. OK, so that leaves 27 of the 60, with likely 20 having started at Altoona. Do the other seven stay at PNC Park? Or do they go to Altoona? I’m not sure.
Danny: Do you think Ke’Bryan Hayes makes the opening-day roster?
Jason Mackey: I do, yes. I think it’s time to give him a chance. I think you probably had him up here anyway, around this time in the season. Is it perfect? No. But I think you need to see what he can do. I also think he would be a significant defensive upgrade over Colin Moran, while the DH would allow the Pirates to keep Moran’s bat in the lineup. I don’t know if I would play Hayes every single day, but I would like for the Pirates to get him established. Without a minor league season, they need to improve his development in some form or fashion.
seferg: When does the revised schedule come out?
Jason Mackey: I’ve heard next week, although I wouldn’t be shocked if it came out this weekend. I think they want to get through everyone’s reporting/testing and get camp started, then you’ll see it.
Sammy: Only the 30 active are at PNC plus three taxi squad on the road-travel. All the other 27-34 (depending on the time of the season) will be in Altoona training and staying ready. One major difference for spots 41-60 are they aren’t on the roster and would need to added, but aside from that, no real major difference.
Jason Mackey: Thanks for the assist, Sammy.
Christian M.: Hey Jason, how long do you personally think until we get to see Nick Gonzales in the bigs? (Barring no more major postponements due to COVID.)
Jason Mackey: I would say two years. This season caught me by surprise. I thought they would try to get him integrated into their system, but they chose not to put him on the 60. Figure at the earliest he would start next season at Class A, then reach Class AA or Class AAA by the end of the year, possibly a promotion to the bigs after that. Would obviously be super, super fast. So that’s why I’m saying two.