JotCast | FanGraphs After Dark Chat

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Paul Swydan

9:11

Do you HAVE to keep someone? When I played Scoresheet, the keeper slots were fungible. If you don't have to keep either player, I wouldn't.

Stan

9:11

Is G Richard's upside worth the risk?

Paul Swydan

9:11

Yes.

Roy Hobbs

9:11

Is market size the issue with why MLB won't consider places like Omaha or Nashville as options for an expansion team?

Paul Swydan

9:12

I would think that's part of it. Another large factor is likely team territories. Omaha is probably split among a bunch of teams, most notably the Royals, while Nashville likely belongs to the Braves. Not sure about that, but there is probably some factor there.

It's why I support putting a team in Mexico City and San Juan - less of the territorial claims to deal with.

Matthew

9:13

If you don't hate fantasy questions - $260 cap, standard league plus OBP, hits, QS, K/9 can keep 5. Trout-45, Kershaw-43, Bogaerts - 18, Votto - 27, Goldschmit - 44, Gary Sanchez - 1, Edwin Diaz - 1, Jake Lamb - 1, Danny Duffy 1

Paul Swydan

9:13

Please, I'm flattered you all ask a dullard like me any questions at all! Trout, Kershaw, Votto, Sanchez, Diaz.

9:14

Bogaerts for $18 is attractive, as is Duffy at $1.

Goldschmidt at $44 is pretty good too, but you can't tie up half your budget on three players, and you have to keep Trout and Kershaw.

Matthew

9:14

If you do hate fantasy questions, how many wins could a good 3rd base coach add?

Paul Swydan

9:15

0.5 at most.

Murdoc

9:15

Ahh man. I missed the Archer chat and the Avengers chat, and now I haven't seen any of these movies.

Paul Swydan

9:15

I've only seen two -- Arrival and Hidden Figures. I imagine most people in the chat haven't seen the majority of these movies, but I could be wrong.

Let's put that to a poll, actually.

9:16

How many of this year's Best Picture nominees have you seen? (see prior poll)

All nine (0% | 0 votes)

7-8 (0% | 0 votes)

5-6 (3.5% | 2 votes)

3-4 (3.5% | 2 votes)

1-2 (28.1% | 16 votes)

None (64.9% | 37 votes)

Total Votes: 57

Weezy

9:16

So last week I asked a question about pre-arb/arb salaries, and Travis' article on the middle class of baseball spoke to my question: The way players have been compensated seems to be at least bending, if not breaking. How do you see MLBPA fighting to change player compensation in the next CBA?

Paul Swydan

9:18

To be honest, the MLBPA doesn't seem all that interested in fighting this fight. What they need to be doing is fighting for more rights for the young class of players - minor leaguers and young major leaguers. Get their pay upped and on a closer playing field to veterans, and veterans would again become more desirable. But that doesn't seem to be happening, nor do I expect it to.

5 Run Homer

9:18

I'd like to mention that I'm only watching the WBC because I'm starved for baseball

Paul Swydan

9:18

That's OK though!

Stevil

9:18

Biggest hole in baseball: Tigers CF, Nationals Closer, Angels rotation, or elsewhere?

Paul Swydan

9:18

I mean, in all of baseball? Probably elsewhere.

Murdoc

9:18

Where's the best landing spot for Dozier now?

Paul Swydan

9:19

I fear that he won't be going anywhere until the trade deadline or until a contender suffers a debilitating injury.

9:20

When I looked at this, the Yankees and Angels seemed like good fits, but the Angels signed Valbuena, and the Yankees don't seem to want him, so ... http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/who-wants-brian-dozier/

9:20

It seems like playing the game in 1950 and playing the game in 2000 would be very different things. In 2050, will we feel the same away about the year 2000? Or is baseball "solidifying"?

Paul Swydan

9:21

I'm sure it will feel different. If I knew *how* it would be different, I can assure you I would be spending my time in Las Vegas, getting rich off of my omniscient ways.

Cam

9:21

It's difficult to argue with what Freidman & Co have done to ensure the Dodgers are a healthy franchise (personnel wise) top to bottom. Strong MLB team, strong farm. However - with the ultimate goal being a World Series win, how long does the ownership group give this front office before they decide to go in another direction? One feels that, regardless of the process, results will determine their fate. Do you think there's a line penciled on a calendar?

Paul Swydan

9:21

Nope. They got within two games of the World Series last season, I think they've done a very good job thus far.

Guest

9:21

What kind of career should we expect from Lewis Brinson? Star? Superstar maybe?

Paul Swydan

9:22

I would never *expect* anyone to become a superstar.

The Long Con(ley)

9:22

Dave's post about the Marlins got me thinking. What team(s) are most like to try the 'new' bullpen multi-inning ace strategy?

Paul Swydan

9:22

I don't think any teams, to be honest. Starting pitchers are stubborn, as are managers and coaches.

9:22

Facing a dillema in my keeper (12 team, $260 budget, 5X5): Have 2 keeper spots available for 4 players. Jon Lester $10, Robbie Ray $3, Matt Shoemaker $3 and Andrew Miller $3. Note I have already used $185 from my first 6 keepers. That's why I lean Ray + Miller because upside and those sweet ratios.

Paul Swydan

9:23

Definitely Miller. I probably bite the bullet and keep Lester too, because despite your budget crunch, $10 for him is a bargain, and if you need to deal him the day after the draft, you could get a lot for him.

Doug

9:23

WAR is a useful tool to compare pitchers to hitters for trade purposes. But the fielding part for position players screws things up a bit IMO. Is there an alternative way to do this comparison?

Paul Swydan

9:24

Well, you don't need to look solely at WAR, nor should you. You need to compare a variety of statistics, plus the normal scouting reports and soft-side factors.

The Cincinnati Kid

9:24

Could a team of FG staff + Trout beat a Rookie level team?

Paul Swydan

9:25

Wow. I doubt it. If you gave us Trout plus say, an actual professional pitcher, maybe, but I don't think any of us is capable of actually pitching to professionals.

I don't know if any of us is actually capable of throwing strikes from 60 feet 6 inches even 4 times out of 10.

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