You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
MLBTR Live Chat
powered byJotCast
Jeffrey Todd
3:12
Hey everyone! Thanks for joining ... please leave some questions and we'll get started momentarily.
Michael
3:17
11 straight losses for the G-men. Are they finally going to be embarrassed enough to make meaningful changes this offseason, and not just apply expensive veteran band-aids like Longoria and McCutchen last year?
Jeffrey Todd
3:19
It is not so hot, is it? But what can they really do? Investing in the veterans was questionable, but it also would've been hard not to. Not as if it was particularly sensible to be dealing away their relatively better veteran pieces, either. They've trotted out a variety of young players to see what sticks.
3:20
In large part, I think they are going to have to keep trying to walk this line. The real thing they need to avoid is a) giving up young player capital and b) taking on future salary. That was the real issue with Cutch and Longo. Paying the money, standing alone, is defensible - particularly when it means maintaining paying crowds.
The A's taking the West
3:21
What do you think? Also at this pace it's not unreasonable to have them hosting the Wildcard game, do you agree?
Jeffrey Todd
3:21
It has been utterly remarkable. The fact that they are still legitimately in the division race is staggering given where things were entering the season and even early in the summer.
Chris
3:22
I'm a Cubs fan from Chicago who, by sheer luck, will happen to be in New York on September 25th and happen to already have tickets for the Mets game. Am I morally obligated to buy a David Wright jersey to wear?
Jeffrey Todd
3:22
Very cool. Don't waste the money and materials on schwag. Donate it instead of padding already thick wallets.
Dick Williams
3:22
Do you think we can target folks like A.J. Polluck and Dallas Keuchel? It would help us finally fill CF and add a much needed anchor to the rotation.
Jeffrey Todd
3:23
Those players are likely going to require ~Homer Bailey type risks in FA in terms of $ and years. And the Reds already have some significant contracts on the books. I'm sure they could fit another, but it would mean ramping up the risks. And this team isn't one piece away.
3:25
What was it, a month ago that I was being lectured on how close the Reds were and being told I was a hater? Now here we are, 21 games under .500. They have some good things going on but it's not like they really seem to be just on the cusp, esp in that division.
David Forst
3:25
Fiers & Bullpen, Mengden & bullpen, or bullpen only for the A's in the wild card game?
Jeffrey Todd
3:26
Don't see why they wouldn't have 2 starters ready to piggyback potentially. Maybe try to get 9 outs from each?
Gotta get creative with that oddly balanced rotation/pen mix.
Braves Homer
3:26
lets start the playoffs now! Braves 2018 WS Champs!!!
Jeffrey Todd
3:27
In this case, Braves Homer is right that the stunning is going to take place. I still can't believe the danged  Nationals ... now sitting 2 over .500. They had so many chances. But it's an ATL year. I don't really think they'll be my favorite in the playoffs, but that doesn't matter. Anything can happen in October.
Guest
3:27
Is Kimbrel the Red Sox closer 2019 and beyond. What might a contract look like? If not him, then who?
Jeffrey Todd
3:29
He may have shown enough cracks this year that he won't be able to top the Kenley/Aroldis levels. I haven't really solidified my thinking. His postseason showing could still move the needle, I suppose. But it'll be something like 4-5 years at 15-18 mil annually, I expect.
Red Sox? Sure. Among probably 8-10 teams, but I wouldn't bet against them if they really want him back.
Mark
3:30
The Astros have a plethora of OF depth; Springer, Reddick, Kemp, Tucker, Marisnick and Fisher. What would it cost the Rangers to acquire Kemp to be their starting CF?
Jeffrey Todd
3:32
HOU hasn't trusted Kemp against lefties and for good reason. So it's not like he ought to cost what a regular type CF would with his remaining cheap control. Then again, why would they part with him? What do the Rangers even really have that would tempt? Leclerc, I guess, but is that going to be something these teams would really explore.
3:33
Kemp is a really useful guy, even if the 'Stros decide some existing guys are everyday types, so I'm not sure he'd be the first guy they'd look to move. He can take CF and push Springer to a corner to platoon with Reddick/Tucker in 2019. I'd expect Marisnick/Fisher are more likely to be on the move.
James
3:33
Is there a correlation between win/save ops and the quality/success of a team? Other than the Mariners, most teams with a 1/1 or close to it are terrible. O's and Royals are around 40 - 50 wins and 40-50 save ops, Yanks, RedSox, Astro's and Indians are 80-90 wins and around 55-60 save ops, Mariners have 78 wins and 77 save ops.
Jeffrey Todd
3:34
You can safely ignore both stats, in my opinion. Especially wins. But yes, there is a correlation, which is part of the problem.
A's fan
3:34
Do you think A's will be able to extend Davis? Or should I prepare for another heartbreaking trade...
Jeffrey Todd
3:36
Davis isn't a guy who'd draw immense interest from other teams. I think the A's value him as much as any other team. They have payroll capacity and are going to be coming off of an amazing season, no matter how the postseason goes. Meanwhile, Davis's reps know how the market has treated DH types. So .... I think he's a very plausible extension candidate. Otherwise, he'll likely just play out his final season under arb control in Oakland.
GSon
3:36
Thanks for hosting the chat... fWar AL ROY's says Shohei, Bieber, Gleyber and Andujar... bWAR AL ROY says Bieber and Andujar change places.. Is there a history that supports bWAR v fWAR for award season?
Jeffrey Todd
3:37
I think many voters will use both, among a variety of other considerations. Don't think anyone just simply goes based on WAR alone, unless perhaps it's an overwhelming situation.
3:38
For me, it's Ohtani. What he's doing is utterly unique and amazing.
KTR
3:38
Who wins the NL Central?  If it's not the Cubs they choked, right?  They're clearly the most talented team in that division.
Jeffrey Todd
3:40
Not sure about that. The rotation has been questionable all year. Plenty of quality on the roster, no doubt, but they never seemed head and shoulders above the next two teams in the division to me.
Josh
3:41
You said in your article on the KBO that some people compare it to what North American sports teams are doing.  But how?  If an American team limited resources/salary based on race the world would fold in on itself and then explode into a million pieces of outrage.
Jeffrey Todd
3:41
Some people compare what to huh?
3:42
I wrote that the league is justifying spending limitations in the same manner that we hear often over here -- tamp down on spending to make sure competition is fair.
I was talking about salary caps and such.
3:43
You're fake outrage reversal is comical. Get out of here with it. Major League Soccer does the exact thing. It's not about race, it's about protecting and growing a domestic league that is a minnow compared to bigger/better foreign leagues.
3:45
It is honestly just infuriating the extent to which people try to draw our ludicrous political climate into everything. I'm sure we could have a reasonable discussion about this, but this is such a clown way to approach the matter.
Evan
3:45
What teams could pursue a trade for Francisco Mejia in the offseason?
Jeffrey Todd
3:46
Not sure why he'd be on offer, particularly. I kind of see he and Hedges coexisting myself.
Load More Messages
Connecting…