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MLBTR Chat With Mark Polishuk
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Mark P
9:06
Happy Sunday, everyone!  Let's dive into some baseball questions
Owen
9:07
How are the Mets doing this?
Ethan
9:07
What’s your take on the Mets? Are they for real?
Mark P
9:07
Turns out that when you get great pitching and great hitting for two solid weeks, you can win a lot of games!  It's a very nice run for the team, and a real burst of good news for a team that badly needed it
9:08
Whether they can keep it up for the rest of the season or not?  Hard to say, though it's worth mentioning that nobody in the wild card race is exactly running away with it.  If the Mets can just keep themselves in the hunt, they can capitalize on other teams falling off
will
9:09
what percentage chance do you see oakland making the playoffs
Mark P
9:10
The AL wild card race seems to be down to just the Oakland, Tampa, and whomever doesn't win the AL Central between Minnesota and Cleveland.  So there's a two-in-three chance the A's get a wild card just due to a lack of other contenders.

Overall, I like the Athletics' chances.  The Twins took a big hit by losing Nelson Cruz.
Joe Maddon
9:11
Will I be managing the Cubs after this season?
Mark P
9:14
I still have my doubts.  Maddon said it himself today, it seems to be about interpersonal relationships and communication with the front office, rather than any wins and losses on the field.  

It seems like something just went awry between Maddon and the front office last year, whether it was just the stress of a semi-disappointing season or something deeper.
JC
9:15
Chances of the Astros resigning Cole?
Mark P
9:15
I'd guess he's pitching elsewhere in 2020.  Between the Verlander extension and the Greinke trade, Houston already has a lot of money invested in starting pitching.
SunDevil
9:16
I understand that you don’t want to play your catcher every single day for rest purposes, but why in the world does Carson Kelly not play a vast majority of the time??
Mark P
9:18
The D'Backs have semi-moved away from their "three catchers on the roster" idea, since I doubt Swihart will see much time behind the plate.  

But it could be that part of the season Kelly is hitting so well is BECAUSE he's been eased into a regular workload.  Whatever it is, it seems to be working.
Joseph
9:18
Who Signs Holland?
Mark P
9:19
I'd guess every team with a need in the bullpen (so, basically every contender) will give him a look.  As I mentioned in the post about Holland's release today, a reunion with the Nats makes sense on paper
Mark Turner
9:20
Did you watch that Vladdy at-bat?
Mark P
9:20
For those who didn't see today's game, Vlad and Aroldis Chapman had an epic 13-pitch confrontation in the ninth inning, with Chapman getting Guerrero to ground into a double play.  Great stuff
Dylan
9:22
Where do you think Madison Bumgarner will end up after FA?
Mark P
9:24
Right now, I'm about 55-45 that he stays with the Giants.  How's that for some bet-hedging?!

Giants ownership has an interest in keeping attendance up, and keeping the team as competitive as possible rather than going into total rebuild mode.  Re-signing Bumgarner is a good step in that direction.
Pirate Fan
9:24
What are the chances the Pirates clean house this offseason and fire Neal Huntington, Clint Hurdle and others?
Mark P
9:27
There hasn't been much hint of such an overhaul, but you have to believe it becomes more of a possibility with the Pirates in such a freefall.  Hurdle is the likelier of the two to go, though if I'm Pirates ownership, I have to be asking major questions about Huntington's plans to get the team back on track
DM
9:27
what do expect the Yankees to do with andujar
Mark P
9:28
Probably nothing other than let him get healthy and ready to go for Opening Day 2020.

They'd be selling low if they dealt him, and Andujar is still under control through 2023, so there's no rush.  The Yankees have a real embarrassment of riches in the infield right now
Mike Hazen
9:29
How do I use the money saved from trading Grienke? Extensions, free agents, and/or just reduce the payroll?
Mark P
9:31
(Mike Hazen is Arizona's GM, btw)

I don't think you'll see any big splashy signings, but they'll be more capable of landing second- or third-tier free agents, or taking on money in a trade
Rob
9:31
Might be a stupid question...but if tauchman keeps up his current pace do you sit him in favor of Stanton when healthy or what's the play there
Mark P
9:32
With all due respect to the scorching-hot Mike Tauchman, he isn't Stanton.  The good news for NYY is that with the division more or less locked up, they can spend September getting everyone healthy and ramped up for October baseball, plus figuring out their playoff roster
Dodger1
9:33
Why aren't the Dodgers letting Gavin Lux play already? He should be their starting 2B right now and into the playoffs.
Mark P
9:34
Dodgers aren't exactly sweating a pennant race right now, so they seem to content to just wait for Taylor and Hernandez to get healthy rather than start Lux's service time clock early.
Frank Lane
9:35
How are there so many moves in August?
Mark P
9:35
Teams are still allowed to trade players on minor league contracts, which is why you've seen more than a few deals made since the trade deadline.  

Plus, with MLB trades no longer allowed, some teams are just deciding to cut bait on veterans (i.e. Joe Panik, Greg Holland) rather than explore waiver trades
Nick Castellanos
9:37
Do the Cubs shell out the necessary money for me? I might be a better fit with them than most and the Cubs have a record of improving poor defensive outfielders (Schwarber, Fowler, Coghlan).
Mark P
9:38
The Cubs will get more breathing room under the luxury tax threshold next year once some contracts come off the books, so re-signing Castellanos isn't out of the question.

But, the Cubs might prefer to just simply acquire an outfielder who isn't such a defensive question mark.
Justin Riffell
9:39
Is the punisher Aristides Aquino for real or a flash in the pan?
Mark P
9:39
He wouldn't be the first late bloomer in baseball history, but there isn't much beyond this season to suggest that Aquino is an elite bat.  He's a great story right now, though
I’ll Hang Up And Listen, Thanks
9:40
What’s the real secret to developing a farm like the Astros? Tank for five years, draft unusually well, or spend a ton on international prospects? Jealous Mariners fan...
Mark P
9:41
Don't forget a nice dose of luck, too.  While the Astros rightfully get a lot of credit for their great drafting, they weren't foolproof (i.e. Mark Appel, Brady Aiken).
Arte Moreno
9:42
Chance we flip Adell for a #1 starter?
Mark P
9:42
Pretty doubtful, since I'm guessing Adell is the replacement for Calhoun in the LAA outfield
Bronx Bombers
9:43
17 giuys on the injured list, and a double-digit lead!
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