JotCast | FanGraphs After Dark Chat

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Melvin Upton Jr.

9:46

Do I still have a spot on the Jays next year or should I be ready to pack my bags?

Paul Swydan

9:46

Don't pack those bags, Melvin.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:47

You hit 20 home runs, just like everyone else in the league

Steve

9:47

Bonds & Clemens getting in this year?

Paul Swydan

9:47

Next year.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:47

Not yet, getting closer though

Rick

9:47

Come down off your high horse Paul: Baseball, like all professional sports to a degree, is founded on an exemption from antitrust liability precisely so that teams can hold down salaries--they don't get "free labor" like college teams, but they get a much sweeter deal than if the professional sports market were truly free.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:48

I am pretty sure Paul would agree with your statement.

Paul Swydan

9:48

Free labor is but part of the equation. Don't ever ask me to care about what Penn State does. Ever. In anything. What they did to cover up for Jerry Sandusky is unconscionable and forever unforgivable. And USC isn't exactly the All-Saints Club.

9:49

Also, yes, I don't like the anti-trust exemption.

Devin Mesoraco

9:49

how many games will I play before I break again?

Paul Swydan

9:49

Hopefully thousands. But probably less than 300.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:50

Odds are a full season. I just did a study for BHQ and found there is no such thing as being injury prone with hitters

Jack C

9:51

Are there any rules in the MLB I'm regards to signing a player without a "base" salary? I was talking to a friend about a possible Kris Bryant extension, and he suggested a 7/150 deal, with 2 options at the qualifying offer+ 10%, with a 20% total buyout. Is that type of offer even allowed by the MLBPA?

Paul Swydan

9:52

I don't know if it is or isn't, but generally the MLBPA frowns upon creative contracts because while it might work out for an all-world player like Bryant, it could set a negative precedent for less talented players.

Terry

9:53

Most overrated holiday: New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, or Halloween?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:54

Of the three, New Years eve. The other two involve getting candy.

Paul Swydan

9:55

I say Valentine's Day. At least the spirit of New Year's Eve and Halloween is that you socialize with your friends and neighbors. The spirit of Valentine's Day is that you spend way more money on normal products like food and flowers to show your significant other that you love them. It's an objectively ridiculous premise.

Ray

9:55

Will Trevor Story be hindered by the thumb injury or will he be good to go in 2017?

Paul Swydan

9:56

Jeff knows this better than me. I would think he'd be past the normal adjustment period players experience after thumb injuries by the end of spring training, but I don't know the stats on the carry over from one season to the next, I just know that it is a big deal IN-season.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:56

He should be good by now if he correctly did all the rehab .

Jim Lonborg

9:57

Ugh, so glad Trout isn't a football player. Wouldn't you rather see him play 3000 games rather than 60 or 70?

Paul Swydan

9:57

I would, though I certainly haven't watched the majority of Mike Trout's games. I guess I'm wasting my life.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:58

I haven't watched enough of him either.

Biff Tannen

9:58

Is TEX done adding starting pitching? They still need desperately need a #3 as neither Perez nor Cashner are very good.

Paul Swydan

9:58

You'd certainly hope they are looking for rotation upgrades, but I can't say for certain whether they are.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:58

Probably, but I figured they would have moved Profar

Tony

9:59

If you had 7 keepers in a standard 5x5 but with obp over avg and your bats were Donaldson, springer, c.seager, Villar. Would you finish with price, arrieta and kluber or go with kinsler or belt? 14 teams

Paul Swydan

9:59

I don't see how you can possible be keeping Villar over Kinsler or Belt.

10:00

I'd probably drop Arrieta and Villar and keep the rest.

Jeff Zimmerman

10:00

What??

Paul Swydan

10:00

I guess Jeff doesn't agree.

Moe Jaddon

10:00

Belt over Jake? NO WAY

Jeff Zimmerman

10:00

I would go with the 4 hitters, Arrieta and Kuber, and then ...... Kinsler

10:01

The last keeper could also be Price

Paul Swydan

10:02

Either way, it looks like you're in good shape, Tony.

If Jeff and I are going to be in good shape tomorrow, we need to get our beauty rest, so we're going to call it a night.

Thanks as always for hanging out. Here's to a great 2017!

Jeff Zimmerman

10:03

Bye

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