JotCast | FanGraphs After Dark Chat

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Jeff Zimmerman

9:18

Worst winning 11.

Paul Swydan

9:18

I pick the worst team winning 11 in a row because the worst team inevitably has a bad 4 and/or 5 starter, and it's tough to pull together winning streaks with a sinkhole or 2 in the rotation.

Murdoc

9:18

Do you like the Kipnis in center idea?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:19

Not really but the Indians can do whatever they want right now and it works

Paul Swydan

9:19

I think Kipnis has been brittle enough at the position he's played his whole life, so moving him to a NEW position seems like it probably wouldn't be a good idea.

jeonghunKim

9:19

Can you pick up one word to describe 2017 MLB Season?

Paul Swydan

9:20

Conventional.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:20

Boring

9:21

Those two descriptions are about the same

Paul Swydan

9:21

Yeah, I was gonna say boring, but that sounds mean. I just mean in the way that most things -- in aggregate -- have played out as expected. At least for the division races.

Rick

9:21

How can i find data on batting average or wOBA by pitch for players? Ranked.

Paul Swydan

9:21

Jeff?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:22

You can't.

Paul Swydan

9:22

Sorry, Rick!

Jackson C

9:22

Is Dennis Eckersley the best color commentator in baseball?

Paul Swydan

9:23

I'd say that he's in the conversation, but I don't listen to enough of the various broadcasters to have a worthwhile opinion.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:23

I'd guess no. I haven't heard much of Eck

Paul Swydan

9:23

I will say that right now I'm watching on the Tigers feed, and that I like those guys, because they're pretty low key.

Wily Mo's Ghost

9:23

What do you think is the proper definition of "batting around" in an inning? Broadcasters seem to regard it as 9 PAs, but that makes no sense to me--"around" implies coming back to the starting point, which would have to mean 10 PAs.

Paul Swydan

9:24

Yes, I find this discussion a little silly. To me, around is 10 PAs - the guy who led off the inning comes to the plate again in the same inning.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:24

I'm with Paul

Wily Mo's Ghost

9:25

Are these reasonable assumptions? 1.If Nuñez's knee is good enough to hit and not enough to field, he's the everyday DH in the playoffs. 2.If 1 is true, then Moreland is the primary 1st baseman. 3.Hanley is amog the least versatile players who might occupy a bench spot. And so logically, 4.Hanley has a serious chance of being left off the roster (and Sam Travis of making it).

Paul Swydan

9:26

I think that your assumptions are perfectly reasonable. But John Farrell has shown no inclination to bench Hanley whatsoever, and so I don't see this happening. The only way I see Travis making the postseason roster is if they go 14 position players/11 pitchers, and even then it might be tenuous, because of Brock Holt and reasons.

9:27

The bottom line is that I think Farrell has found it tough to bench Hanley because the Sox have struggled to hit for power, and Hanley still does that. It's ALL he's doing, and he's not even doing it at an elite level, but he is doing it at a level better than most of his teammates.

Todd Cobb

9:28

why don't catchers get custom paint jobs on their masks a la hockey goalies. Is this not allowed, would the culture around baseball frown on such a thing, or other?

Paul Swydan

9:29

I would say it's probably because it would be distracting to the pitcher, and distracting your own pitchers is probably not something you want to do.

But I also wouldn't be surprised if it's against the rules. :-)

Jeff Zimmerman

9:29

Not sure about the legality front, but I see nothing stopping them

jeonghunkim

9:29

how do you predict Eric Hosmer's Winter contact. Can he get a
over 10M contract?

Paul Swydan

9:29

Oh, he'll for sure get over the $10M a year hump.

Kris

9:30

Tough poll. Physical Specimen is definitely most likely to bust, but it's also the profile that gives you the best chance at six years of cost-controlled 4+ win seasons...

Jeff Zimmerman

9:30

I could see it near JD Martinez's

Wily Mo's Ghost

9:30

My favorite is the Donnie Sadler type. "With that speed, he just needs to hit it on the ground."

Paul Swydan

9:31

Well, where were you with that option before I published the poll?

Wily Mo's Ghost

9:31

I assume darkness--2nd game of a doubleheader. https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NY1/NY1191609182.shtml

Jeff Zimmerman

9:32

Paul Swydan

9:32

OK, you redeemed yourself with that, WMG. Since we can assume it was called on account of darkness, I'm inclined to let their streak stand.

Hatzis

9:33

I believe the 1916 Giants' tie game was on account of rain after 9 innings and a 1-1 score.

Paul Swydan

9:33

Oh, interesting. Well that's also not under their control, so, same answer.

Murdoc

9:34

Jon Buck was the last guy allowed to have a custom painted mask.

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