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Paul Swydan

9:11

Oh snap.

Lightning

9:11

So Home runs are on pace to be the most ever. More convinced the balls have been doctored. Let's say this is true. Would the teams know and have to agree to it? If they did not, could teams have any legal action against MLB? I think this would help some teams more than others.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:12

Also, just heard back from Steamer and it updates every night. I know it takes into account velo changes.

Paul Swydan

9:13

I don't think teams would have needed to be informed beforehand, but if it was a deliberate plot by the Commissioner's Office, I would think word would have filtered out at some level. As for legal action, I'm not sure if the teams can sue the league or not. Even if they can, I'm guessing that would never happen.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:13

Supposedly, the balls last year were withing spec. There is more wiggle room in design than expected

MattyMo

9:14

Favorite position player to watch on tv is? How about pitcher?

Paul Swydan

9:14

Xander Bogaerts and ... I don't know. Drawing a blank on pitcher.

Kershaw, I guess.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:15

Trout probably, as to be someone who can hit and field. Colon for pitchers. He gives us old big boned guys hope.

Big Tuna

9:15

Who gets called up first: Barreto or Meadows?

Paul Swydan

9:15

Will guess Meadows. The A's have no reason to rush Barretto.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:16

But at least Barreto is hitting.

144 wRC+

and a 31% K%

Big Tuna

9:16

Do you think Dyson gets another shot to close in Texas this year if he gets his act together or no?

Paul Swydan

9:17

I suppose that depends on what the next man up does. I'll say no, but bullpens are fluid.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:17

Maybe. I think he hurting in the elbow and/or shoulder. Velo and spin down.

MattyMo

9:17

If you are building a pitcher with anyone's 3 pitches, what are they? (For example Zach Britton's sinker, Fernando Rodney's splange etc.)

Paul Swydan

9:18

Pedro Martinez's fastball. Pedro Martinez's curveball. Pedro Martinez's changeup. :-)

Jeff Zimmerman

9:18

Chapman's fastball, Kluber Curve/slider thing and .....

9:19

hell, Britton's sinker would be great since it is great by itself

Big Tuna

9:19

Does anybody have any idea what's going on w Beltre? I know it's a grade 1 strain, but there doesn't seem to be any indication of how long he's out

Paul Swydan

9:19

My guess is it's hard for them to know because they probably have to chain Beltre to the trainer's table to keep him off the field.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:19

They really have no idea, especially at Beltre's age

joe pera

9:20

What advice do you give a high school kid that wants to be a scout when he is older

Paul Swydan

9:20

Go to games, sit with the scouts, ask questions. Start writing to the teams, ask them to sponsor you for Scout School.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:21

Go to as many scoutable games as you can and talk with scouts.

Mr. Nor'easter

9:21

Am I crazy to start Ryu tonight? H2H and I may run out of starters (can't be sure that Manaea and Duffy start Thursday). His first two starts were in bad places (Chi and Col) and I think he will get through five now. If Duffy and Manaea start Thurs., I won't need him, but Oak. and KC and being non-commital.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:21

Some good hints in the book "Work in Baseball"

Paul Swydan

9:21

Starting against a Rockies team on the road is never a crazy idea.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:22

He's just as good as anyone else

Paul Swydan

9:22

Though I will say that now that they've been away from Coors Field for a few days, they may have adjusted back to sea level pitching.

Marshall

9:22

What's a good way to put starting pitchers into historical context since the usage has changed some much, even compared to just a few years ago?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:22

My Ryu write up: y

http://www.fangraphs.com/fantasy/old-pitchers-with-fresh-starts-mccart...

Paul Swydan

9:23

It's a really tough question, but the best thing I can say is use the minus stats - ERA-, FIP-, xFIP-, etc.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:23

That's about it. It's getting tougher

Marshall

9:24

Do relative ERA measures (e.g., ERA+) unfairly hurt current starting pitchers because the league ERA is suppressed to a large extent by relievers, who tend to have lower ERAs and make up an increasingly large portion of total innings pitched?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:25

But the pitchers aren't going through the lineup as much which should lower their ERAs also. It's a pretty tough question to answer.

Paul Swydan

9:25

It's really an interesting question. I don't know what the right idea is. I think it could be the other way too. Perhaps pitchers from previous generations were capable of throwing in the high 90s all the time, but the style was more that they should throw at 90% of their velocity. Maybe that's where "reached back" for more velocity comes from, because those starters were never throwing as hard as they could, whereas pitchers today always are.

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