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Paul Swydan

9:44

Well, OK, I hate specialization.

I hate matchup relievers, and I hate the DH.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:45

Luck, I think that hidden injuries play a huge role

Paul Swydan

9:45

I think most of us would prefer to see the universal DH. I do not. I don't like mid-inning pitching changes. But I don't know if these are "beliefs" necessarily, so much as they are style preferences.

I'd be interested to hear some of the things you all disagree with.

DaveV

9:45

Newbie here, reading "Big Data Baseball" now, decided to see what is up online and found this site. I have a LOT to learn! Red Sox fan, Boston born and raised

Paul Swydan

9:46

Welcome, Dave V! Might I humbly suggest that you check out our Library/Glossary - http://www.fangraphs.com/library/

Lots of great info there.

These Guys Are Still Underrated

9:46

Rougned Odor and Mookie Betts are soon going to be perennial .290/30HR guys

Jeff Zimmerman

9:46

Just take it slow and ask questions.

Paul Swydan

9:47

Not only that, but they also excel at boxing and bowling, respectively!

Jeff Zimmerman

9:47

And one has free BBQ for life

APODionysus

9:48

Which Red Sox player who's last name begins with B ends the season with the higher fWAR? Betts? Bradley? Bogarts?.. uuuuhhh Brentz?

Paul Swydan

9:48

Obviously Brentz. I'll see Bogaerts, but Betts is going to give him a run for his money.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:48

Betts

DaveV

9:49

Ya, I was looking at that = lot of the terms new to me. but GO JBJ! He was always a great fielder and kept getting sent down becuz of poor hitting, he sure has turned that around

Paul Swydan

9:49

For sure.

Von Schloss

9:49

Re: sabermetrics, and there is no way presently to quantify this, but the acceptance that the human/mental element per individual player probably has a lot more to do with day to day and situational performance than we realize.

Paul Swydan

9:50

It's doubtful there will ever be a way to quantify that.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:50

Agree, but I think this works it way into the stats where a player is distracted every five days or so

Teal

9:50

If the Royals are still in contention come the trade deadline do you see them adding any pieces on the level that they did last year?

Paul Swydan

9:50

Jeff?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:52

One, I think they may be able to move Dozier for something decent with two other 3B in his way. Maybe Chase Vallot who is climbing prospect rankings.

Minty

9:52

What're the odds that AJ Reed doesn't come up before August/September? I'm regretting the stash.

Paul Swydan

9:52

I think he'll be up in a few weeks. That's why they moved Gattis back behind the plate.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:52

Going back, I have been looking at E5's batted ball velocity. Over the past two seasons, it has only be over league average at the end of '15

Paul Swydan

9:52

In general, a prospect you have to stash is someone who you shouldn't expect to see before mid-June.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:53

I think they are pushing him to the Super 2 date. If any prospect stays after then, then be worried

marc

9:54

When is a good time to start stashing Dee Gordon?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:55

I would chance it before the 2 week mark

Paul Swydan

9:56

Maybe right after the trade deadline.

APODionysus

9:56

Speaking of JBJ's fielding: Is that going to stabilize? Do we expect him to finish the season with the elite defense we expect from him or has something in his play (besides the bat) fundementally changed?

Paul Swydan

9:56

Even elite defenders sometimes have years where they're only +2 to 3. I don't think anything has fundamentally changed.

Teal

9:57

Dismissing batter vs pitcher stats entirely is something I can't completely buy, there's something psychological there.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:57

I thought his defense was never going to be the problem. Paul?

Paul Swydan

9:57

I don't think it's a problem.

As for Teal's comment, that's interesting. I think it does apply in certain situations. But they are hard to come by.

pat

9:58

how productive do you see brantley being over the next three years? will he productive at all this year? will he ever again able to replicate his 2014 and 2015 seasons?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:59

I am worried about his shoulder being a constant issue for a couple of seasons. He needs to get healthy before anything else.

Paul Swydan

9:59

Well, he didn't really replicate his 2014 season in 2015. And I never expected him to. Brantley is a nice player, but he's no star, and the fact that the Indians twiddled their thumbs this offseason when they knew he'd miss time is mind boggling to me.

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