JotCast | FanGraphs After Dark Chat

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Ruin Tomorrow Jr.

9:46

The Phillies currently are in a dark period obviously, but what do you think are the biggest problems facing them at the moment?

Paul Swydan

9:48

I think the biggest problem is that their prospects are simply not panning out as expected, and as such their rebuild may be delayed indefinitely. That's a bitter pill to swallow, because they acquired a lot of premium talent to get to this stage, and for most/all of them to fall apart is not something you would anticipate. Perhaps their Farm Director needs to go, but I don't know enough to say that concretely.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:49

They don't know which free agents to buy to the possible holes in the lineup

Smoky Joe Wood

9:50

As a fan, I'd rather the team I root for do what's in their interest (which in my case might mean pulling Sale or Kimbrel, though I assume that would not please Mr. and Mrs. Fox) and not what's in MLB's interest.

Paul Swydan

9:50

Right, so would every fan base, which is why MLB doesn't put their foot down. But if it continues, the game will just drift further into irrelevance, which is a shame, since it's the only major sports game that is played for an entire week.

9:51

So at some point, MLB needs to lay down the law. They already gave everyone an extra day off after the game to let pitchers recover.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:52

Pass

martin

9:53

I saw a post earlier on twitter about how Kimbrels season as has been up to part with Gagne's Cy Young Season . Thoughts? Are Jansen and Kimbrel the best two closers in the game right now? Can they keep this up? Any possibility they win the Cy Young?

Paul Swydan

9:54

I think at this moment, they're the two best, but that could change rapidly. I don't think they should win the Cy Young right now, but who knows what the rest of the season will bring. Maybe the 10 best SPs in each league will burn their pitching arms in a really localized grease fire.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:54

The probably can't keep it up and again, they won't win the Cy Young

9:54

Is it very sad to roster Matt Albers in a 10-team league?

Paul Swydan

9:55

It's probably sadder for the Nationals than it is for you, but yes, that's mildly depressing for everyone outside of the Albers family.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:57

He was never going to keep the closer's role

slowdive

9:57

The galactic megastars want to play us in a single elimination game. If they win, they will destroy the planet. We can pick nine players of any era to start for the earth all-stars. Who is the starting pitcher? I say, Pedro c. 1997-99. Who you got?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:58

If they are left handed, it will be Randy Johnson.

Paul Swydan

9:58

Definitely Pedro. Second pick would probably be Maddux. Both of them have the ability to change his game plan to keep the Megastars guessing and the excellent, diverse repertoire to make it work.

WILSON CONTRERAS

9:59

Would you which side do you prefer Lindor Trout Lamb or Harper Bryant Correa

Paul Swydan

9:59

The Harper/Bryant/Correa side.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:59

Agree

Paul Swydan

9:59

Tough to make me pick the non-Trout side!

The Initials

9:59

Starting Lineup of AJ Reed, DJ LeMaheiu, JJ Hardy, TJ Rivera, AJ Pollock, BJ Upton, JD Martinez, JT Realmuto. Rotation of AJ Griffin, JA Happ, RA Dickey, JT House, JC Ramirez. Smattering of Relivers like AJ Ramos, JJ Hoover, JT Chargois. Bench with JP Crafword and JT Riddle, CJ Cron at DH as its an AL team coached by AJ Hinch. Playoff Contender?

Paul Swydan

9:59

The pitching staff is a little light to be a true contender, but I love this concept!

Jeff Zimmerman

10:00

No idea, depends on so many external factors.

curious student

10:00

What did you guys study in school? And how do you feel that prepared you for your current job? Did you ever consider doing something different as a career?

Paul Swydan

10:01

I studied marketing. I definitely did not think this would be my career. I fell into it when I was a marketing intern for Baseball Prospectus. I don't really think my marketing degree prepared me for being a writer or editor, but I think it helps with some of the other aspects of FG's business.

Jeff Zimmerman

10:02

Nuclear propulsion and geography. The Navy thought me how to deal with idiots. Some stats in geography, Otherwise, nothing

Paul Swydan

10:03

Nothing is also the amount of time left in this chat. Thanks, as always, for hanging out. Next week the chat will either be postponed to Wednesday or cancelled altogether. Next Tuesday I'll be at Fenway getting my Manny bobblehead. :-)

Jeff Zimmerman

10:03

Bye

Paul Swydan

10:03

Until next time!

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