JotCast | Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 10/13/17

Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 10/13/17

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Jeff Sullivan

9:24

It's never that bad a look to fail to advance past the defending champions, but the Dodger narrative, of course, will stretch beyond involving only this season

Zach

9:24

Of the four possible WS matchups, what is your personal ranking of what you would want to see?

Jeff Sullivan

9:25

I'd like to see the Dodgers move forward just so we can be done with the underachieving label

I don't want too much time to pass by without Clayton Kershaw pitching in a World Series

9:26

I don't think I have a pick in the AL. Can't know for sure until I see what my brain does when I turn on an actual game, but I see a lot to like about both clubs

MadduxGlavineSmoltz

9:26

Dave is pretty down on the braves rebuild at this point. Where do you see the franchise at, especially considering the scandal? What would you do this offseason in Atlanta?

Jeff Sullivan

9:26

This is going to be an offseason of licking their wounds

9:27

They're going to be penalized pretty heavily

Dave and I are of a similar opinion -- neither one of us is all that fond of a rebuild built around high-risk young pitchers. At least Acuna and Albies are present

9:28

I think the Braves are still a few years away. Might be behind the Phillies

Babe Lincoln

9:28

Do you agree with Dave? https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/dear-mlb-please-fix-the-slide-replay/

Jeff Sullivan

9:28

Yes, strongly

These replay reviews are the worst thing about baseball at the moment

On the field, anyway

9:29

Even stupid, idiot-brained retaliatory fastballs at least get people energized

These replays are just slow death

Wes

9:29

Does Ohtani's ankle surgery affect him coming to the MLB or any teams decision to draft him?

Jeff Sullivan

9:29

Nah. So much value here that everything will proceed as normal provided nothing goes horribly wrong

9:30

Plenty of players go through offseason surgery

9:30

Do you know of any instances of GMs or front offices trying to meddle on in game match ups and lineup moves in game? With the stakes this high the temptation must be sky high

Jeff Sullivan

9:31

I can't recall an instance of mid-game intervention, but it has probably happened. It wouldn't be common, but in playoff scenarios, everything gets mapped out in advance

Jack

9:31

What are the odds that Cleveland would get next to nothing from three superstars? Seems like there's bad luck and then there's what Cleveland got in the LDS.

Jeff Sullivan

9:31

Lindor will always have the grand slam

That was a special moment

Millie

9:31

I can't seem to find a reliable interpretation of what should have been called in the 5th. Do you have one?

Jeff Sullivan

9:32

I 60-70% believe that, by the letter of the law, Baez should've been out on a dead ball. But I 99% believe I would've found that annoying because Wieters was in no way inhibited by the contact

I also 100% believe the uncaught-third-strike rule is stupid in the first place

9:34

So I'm fairly sure the wrong decision was made regarding a stupid rule that occurred during a stupid rule

Seff Fullivan

9:34

Are you in any way upset about last night's outcome?

Jeff Sullivan

9:35

Modestly dissatisfied but deeply thankful I'm not a Nationals fan

I'm mostly just annoyed we were all robbed of actual eighth-inning closure

Zach

9:36

Will Houston not having a good lefty reliever hurt them against Bird, Didi, etc.?

Jeff Sullivan

9:36

McCullers and Devenski are death to lefties. Not quite as good as having talented actual lefties, but I think they're positioned fairly well

AJ Preller

9:37

Will I be able to flip Hand to a similar package I received with Kimbrel? Post Season games seem to demand dominant reliever like Hand...

Jeff Sullivan

9:37

Hand will remain hotly pursued. Excellent reliever who shouldn't play another game in San Diego

greg

9:38

At what point in time should I start to be nervous next year as a Reds fan if they still haven't made a decision on who, or if, they'll move either Suarez or Senzel off of 3B?

Jeff Sullivan

9:39

They'll make a decision when they need to. They don't need to

Sam

9:39

What single batter-pitcher matchup are you most excited for in the LCSs?

Jeff Sullivan

9:39

Judge-Keuchel

9:40

Keuchel doesn't really have the stuff to attack Judge up and in with heat

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