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Travis Sawchik
12:00
Hello, everyone
We need to talk
So let's get started, shall we?
Robert
12:01
Before the season, Jay Bruce said he was going to make a conscious effort to hit more fly balls. So far, his FB rate is up about 10% and conversely, his GB rate down about 10%. Does this make his hot start more buyable?
Travis Sawchik
12:01
I believe it does. And I wrote a bit about it earlier this spring ... http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jay-bruce-tries-to-improve-q-rating-in-...
12:02
Any time a player expresses an intention to make a change, makes the change, and performance improves ... I buy in
Dave Cameron wrote about Yonder Alonso today, which is a similar story. Alonso articulated a desire to hit more fly balls this spring and he's doing just that to date
mtsw
12:03
How do you square the two trendy ideas: "use your best reliever in the highest leverage situation possible?" and "don't repeatedly warm up relievers without using them?" Them seem like mutually exclusive concepts to a large degree.
Travis Sawchik
12:04
This can get a little tricky. Ideally you are starting off an inning as a reliever, to hopefully avoid some of that ... but it doesn't always play out so cleanly. I know A.J. Hinch has been upset with himself on occasion for getting Devenski up in the 'pen and not using him.
12:05
Good point/question
Evil Goatee Travis
12:05
Ignoring the economics of feasible markets, how many expansion teams does the level of talent support before a noticeable drop-off in product? The White Sox and Reds, for instance, are showing us that a team does not have to be infinitely better than a Triple-A club since rebuilding is more acceptable and losing can be chic as well.
Travis Sawchik
12:08
There will be a watering-down effect after any expansion period, but you could probably also cobble together a decent team from the FAs that were available on March 1 of the last two offseasons. So to what I think is your point, maybe there would be less of an expansion effect in the next round of expansion since there are a number of teams not really trying to compete and that's become more acceptable
So in sum, don't be afraid to expand MLB. Especially to Montreal
yojiveself
12:09
Justin Wilson, right?
Travis Sawchik
12:09
I would think so. I would pick him up in your league if you have not done so already
Planning something on K-Rod for later today
GM
12:09
How many teams have offered you positions like August?
Travis Sawchik
12:11
In case you missed it everyone, August is no longer a man of mystery and is officially a member of the Milwaukee Brewers front office
Pretty cool, right?
Kiermaier's Piercing Green Eyes
12:11
Why don't we include foul balls in batted ball data? Surely the 380 foot liner that just hooks foul is an informative data point.
Travis Sawchik
12:11
Market inefficiency! I bet some teams do in regard to exit velocity
yojiveself
12:11
if grandal doesn't get an hr this week at Colorado, ok to cut for Bandy, McCann or Avila?
Travis Sawchik
12:12
I wouldn't. He's been a very streaky hitter and you want to be around for the hot stretch
Theo
12:12
Would I have success in a small market? I've never had a payroll out of the top 5...
Travis Sawchik
12:14
Interesting question, depends on how you define success. While the 'curse breaking' narrative helps the legacy, Boston and Chicago should be two of the places set up more favorably to win. Winning a title is not easy anywhere, of course, and Theo and his team deserve a ton of credit. But much harder to win in Pittsburgh, Tampa, Cleveland (Colorado!!!!), obviously
Ronnie
12:14
The Rays relievers are currently sporting an MLB low 16.1 K%, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the 2011 Twins bullpen. Are they doing this on purpose?
Travis Sawchik
12:14
I wouldn't think this is part of any plan
Conforto
12:14
Am I not only an excellent hitter, but also an underrated Outfielder?
Travis Sawchik
12:16
I think so. I wonder if the Mets would consider sneaking Conforto into CF more often, like the Indians have done with Chisenhall
FWIW, Conforto has posted +1 DRS for his career over 85 innings in center
Brad
12:17
Could you please explain the Super 2 deadline. I read today from Dan Hayes that Moncada is about a week away from team having a 7th year of control, but I recall Dave Cameron saying super 2 deadline may be in mid-June? Are there two types deadlines? One for arbitration and one for free agency? Thank you!
Travis Sawchik
12:19
Super 2 is tied to arbitration eligibility not free agency. (There is a hard number for what constitutes a year of service time regarding free agency). Super 2 players are those with the most experience of players with less than two years of service time and more than three. The top 22 percent of those players -- players with most service time -- are eligible for an extra year of arbitration, meaning they get to arbitration a year earlier
The Super 2 date is a projection, but it usually falls in mid June
12:20
Seriously, who arrives at a rule like that?
Ally
12:20
You're a GM with your choice between Judge or Conforto-- who do you take?
Travis Sawchik
12:21
That's so tough. I'd probably take Conforto ... i trust the bat-to-ball skills more. But I'd be happy with either
joe
12:21
Are these Yankees legit?
Travis Sawchik
12:21
I had them as a wild-card team before the year, and I think they were the FG staff's favorite pick for the second wild card in the AL. So, yeah, I think they are a legit playoff-caliber team
Laroo
12:22
Is G Polanco ever going to hit another home run? How many does he end up with this year?
Sterling Mallory Chris Archer
12:22
I'm assuming you still have inside info from Pittsburgh. How's Gregory Polanco doing? Is his shoulder that bad where he's going to be bad all year?
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