JotCast | FanGraphs After Dark All-Star Game Live Blog

Paul Swydan

11:24

Do you root for a specific team during the All-Star Game?

Yes, always the AL (32.7% | 55 votes)

Yes, always the NL (28% | 47 votes)

Yes, but not always the same team (1.8% | 3 votes)

No, it's an exhibition game (27.4% | 46 votes)

Sometimes, depends on the year (10.1% | 17 votes)

Total Votes: 168

Who do you think will win tonight's game?

American League (51.3% | 80 votes)

National League (37.2% | 58 votes)

I can't choose! (11.5% | 18 votes)

Total Votes: 156

11:30

Which starter making his first ASG appearance are you most excited to watch tonight?

Carlos Correa (11.6% | 19 votes)

Zack Cozart (3% | 5 votes)

Corey Dickerson (2.4% | 4 votes)

Aaron Judge (54.9% | 90 votes)

Jose Ramirez (16.5% | 27 votes)

Justin Smoak (3% | 5 votes)

George Springer (8.5% | 14 votes)

Total Votes: 164

7:51

Hi everybody!

Jack

7:51

Ronald Acuna worth keeping over Ray at same price ($1)

Paul Swydan

7:52

Couple of non-ASG q's before we get started.

If you mean Robbie Ray, then no, I'd keep Robbie Ray.

martin

7:53

Any reason why the AL outfield composition is Springer LF, Betts CF and Judge RF. I suppose there is a problem with having 3 RFs in the outfield. I remember faintly that John Farrell really doesn't like using Betts at CF (instead using Beni when Bradley gets a day off). Springer is also a CFer at times. Why isn't it Judge LF, Springer CF, Betts RF. I just suppose it's weird that Mills is playing the MLB leader in DRS out of position. Also, who do you think will close the game if the AL/NL had the lead?

Paul Swydan

7:54

Farrell's position is understandable, he doesn't want to jerk around his best player, and he can do that because he has 4 center fielders on his roster in Benintendi, Betts, Bradley and Young.

At the same time, Betts is easily the best center fielder among the three, even if Springer does sometimes play there.

So, I think it makes sense.

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe

7:55

Jose Ramirez and Aaron Judge have been en fuego all season. It is early...but would you keep either in an OBP league over this year's trio, Josh Donaldson, Freddie Freeman, or Corey Seager?

Paul Swydan

7:55

I'd probably rank them as such. 1. Judge, 2. Seager, 3. Freeman, 4. Ramirez, 5. Donaldson

So, yes.

Hardcore Bourn

7:55

Please name the best starting pitcher you would trade for Ryan Zimmerman 1-for-1.

Paul Swydan

7:56

Jon Lester? It'd need to be someone like him - a star, but in his 30s and on his downside. Zimmerman's Statcast magic might fade the second he doesn't have Murphy in his ear.

Matt

7:56

PAUL. I've been waiting to mention this for a week cause I skipped the last chat. Have you made nearly as wrong as a call as the call you made in Freddie Freeman's 2012 profile? I say that with no malice, just amazement.

Paul Swydan

7:56

Looking this up.

7:57

Here it is.

Profile: Freeman was slightly underrated in sabermetric circles last season thanks to the fact that his defense graded out poorly, but even just looking at offense alone he wasn’t anything special for his position. His .345 wOBA was just 18th among first basemen with at least 400 plate appearances, a mark that was bested by both Mark Reynolds and Daniel Murphy. Freeman struck out more frequently than he had during his tenure in the Minors, and his BB/K was slightly worse in the second half than it was in the first. At just 22 this season, Freeman should continue to improve, but he may not have the ceiling of his fellow 2011 rookie, Eric Hosmer. (Paul Swydan)

The Quick Opinion: Freeman is a decent value play, and he should get better as he matures, but his ceiling -- which he may not reach in 2012 -- is still likely to fall short of elite status for a first baseman.

7:58

I'll stand by this - Don't forget, expectations were SKY HIGH for Hosmer.

It's definitely not the worst thing I've ever written.

I once wrote that Hunter Pence would absolutely lose in arbitration. He won five hours later.

I once wrote that Daniel Bard would be "just fine" as a starting pitcher. He made like 2 more starts.

7:59

So, yeah, not embarrassed by that Freeman profile.

8:00

Good pull though!

Sorry, someone was at the door.

Justin

8:00

Why the hell is Felipe Rivero not in this game? He might be the best reliever in the game.

Paul Swydan

8:00

He might be, but he's still a reliever on a team that didn't merit two All-Stars, and Josh Harrison is having a pretty good season too.

Cam

8:00

I miss real baseball.

Paul Swydan

8:01

It's weird, but it was nice to not have to set my lineup the last two days.

Matt

8:01

Bringing my question back to the Game, you think Freeman should be in the game? I'm thrown back to 2012 Kemp when he had a scorching April but idk if he got in the game

Paul Swydan

8:01

As I wrote in my All-Stars post, I'm fine with it. He missed a good chunk of the first half, and the NL has no shortage of good 1Bs.

8:02

Furiously googling "Bebe Rexha"

8:03

Well, good choice on the relevancy front. Not so much on the "from Miami" front. 1 out of 2 ain't bad. Good anthem too.

HappyFunBall

8:03

I came here to make a joking comment on a blog post about why wasn't there an ASG live blog. But. Um. Ok.

Paul Swydan

8:04

Ya buddy!

Settle in. I've got a Jack's Abby tall boy, and I'm ready to roll.

ben

8:04

Was Jon Jay's 46.5-mph curveball the slowest recorded pitch in MLB history?

Paul Swydan

8:05

That's a marvelous question that I don't know the answer to. There have been some pretty slow eephus pitches in the past decade though.

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