JotCast | Travis Sawchik FanGraphs Chat | 8/21/2017

Travis Sawchik FanGraphs Chat

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Smoky Joe Wood

12:49

So, as Adrian Gonzalez's career seems to be coming to a close, it seems like a good opportunity to assess the Great Trade. Beckett and Crawford are gone. The Red Sox's return, Rubby de La Rosa and Allen Webster, turned into Wade Miley who turned into Carson Smith, who has yet to pitch for them. Is there a moral here somewhere? Would both teams make the same trade again?

Travis Sawchik

12:49

Sounds like an ESPN 30 for 30

Fascinating deal, for sure

Colt Holt

12:50

Is joey votto is the underappreciated player in baseball. Lots of talk about goldy, but votto just does his thing and gives some of the best interviews in the process which aren't seen or appreciated on the national level.

Travis Sawchik

12:50

As much as people want to see Trout in October, I want to see Votto, too

E

12:50

Mike Trout is tied for 3rd in WAR and doesn't have enough plate appearances to 'qualify'

Travis Sawchik

12:50

Insane. He gave everyone a lap start in the 4X100 ... and he still might win the race

The Dude

12:51

Is there a player with elite potential (i.e., Trout, Harper, Correa) in the minors right now

Travis Sawchik

12:51

That's a high bar. I don't think so

Robert Andino

12:51

Whats the bigger fight in baseball communities.. robo umps vs. umpires or scouts vs. sabr metrics

Travis Sawchik

12:51

Technology is disrupting a lot of industries

12:52

But scouts and umpires will always have roles to fill, though some of their tasks will become redundant

I think we're going to have four umpires on the field for the foreseeable future, but I think we could see some scouting departments reduced

David B

12:53

If the season ended today, it would be the Yankees with their +111 run differential vs. the Twins with their -42 run differential in a win or go home game. When do we move away from dictating the outcome of a 162-game season with one game?

Travis Sawchik

12:54

The postseason has become more of a made-for-TV tournament ... And I don't see that changing, too much. I do think we will eventually see chances made to the wild card format. Maybe something like the KBO format, where the lower seed has to beat the top wild card twice. The top wild card only needs to win once

Personally, I'd love to see a best-of-three that begins with a double-header. ... .Could have an NCAA tournament feel to open October

Joe

12:56

Actually, I think it may be classifying the slider as a cutter. Look how the cutter usage has spiked the last 7 or so games. Bauer continues to evolve!

Travis Sawchik

12:57

It's doing something .... Bauer has evolved

Brian Kenny

12:57

Pick a sport any sport where the coaches must wear the player uniforms

Travis Sawchik

12:58

We're getting away from this in baseball where I rarely see some managers wear the jersey top ... Getting pretty close to some team apparel on top and khakis on the bottom

Hadji the Cat

12:58

Travis, do you know of any studies on the value of a catcher's throwing arm? I recently read an opinion that a weak arm (a la Montero or d'Arnaud) is no less valuable and potentially more valuable than a good arm because it encourages more steal attempts, which most teams overvalue, thus leading to more outs on the basepaths.

Travis Sawchik

12:58

It would be interesting to study. I don't think I want Montero's arm behind the plate

Anon

12:59

Girandi will literally never not wear a full uniform.

Travis Sawchik

12:59

So old school

Matt

1:00

Judge is striking out only slightly more than before, and his GB profile (without having looked at the #s) seems pretty standard. Seemingly the big difference is getting under pitches he usually drives and thus making warning-track outs and cans of proverbial corn. As an optimist, I feel this is just the higher strike zone on him, and he'll adjust his hands and make the change. Should I be more concerned?

Travis Sawchik

1:00

What's encouraging is Judge made a big adjustment from last season to this season, and I suspect he'll be able to adjust again

1:01

When you're that massive of a human being, opponents have a larger zone to attack so i think he's going to have dramatic peaks and lulls

CamdenWarehouse

1:01

Girardi isn't old school. Here's old schoo: http://baseballhall.org/hof/mack-connie

Travis Sawchik

1:02

Did Connie Mack wear suits in peak summer humidity?

Ghost of Billy Martin

1:02

Can't kick dirt and throw bases in khakis

Travis Sawchik

1:03

It's unconventional but it can be done

Smoky Joe Wood

1:03

You are right about managers not wearing the jersey, and actually a lot of football teams require coaches to wear the team logo, even if the NFL doesn't. So it's not hugely different.

Travis Sawchik

1:03

MLB is looking more and more like the NFL, especially when we arrive at a future of four-team divisions

Smoky Joe Wood

1:04

Cameron predicts Price won't opt out. Do you agree? How much might his tension with Boston media affect the decision? I wouldn't characterize him as unhappy overall, since he seems to like the team and the coaching staff.

Travis Sawchik

1:04

I think Price has had issues with the media at every stop he's made ... so I don't think that will play into his decision

Matt

1:05

If you're Joe Maddon facing Max in Game 1 of NLDS, what is your lineup? For all his lineup shifting in regular season, he settles in a bit during the postseason.

Travis Sawchik

1:06

Cubs vs. Scherzer from late June: http://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2017-06-27&team=Nationals&dh=0

5 Run Homer

1:06

Ronald Acuna doesn't have elite potential?

Travis Sawchik

1:06

Sure, but placing him in the Harper-Trout-Correa conversation seems unfair

Slapshot

1:07

Is Altherr and Devers too much to give up to get Sale for a pennant chase in ottoneu? While Sale helps a ton this year, I doubt I could keep him next year at his current salary, which leads to my hesitation in trading Devers for him.

Connecting…

Travis

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3:38

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Any concern over Acuna's lack of power over his last eight AB?

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Baffled!

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4:47

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What's up with Justin Wilson?

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Jordan

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4:55

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Gio for Cy Young... leads in bWAR!

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Locke

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3:39

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Any thoughts on Frank Schwindel? Been crushing the ball since being promoted to triple A

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Denard

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3:48

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Would you say the MLBPA is much weaker now than when Marvin Miller was the head?

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Lloyd Braun's Freezer

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3:48

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Do you think the Phillies should make a run at quality free agent starters this winter, such as Pineda and Jamie Garcia? Looks like they're starting to build an offensive core, but they have absolutely no depth in their rotation beyond Nola and Eickhoff.

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toki

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3:50

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With the way Devers and Nunez are hitting is there any chance Nunez plays 1b regularly when Pedrioa is back?

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Eli

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3:54

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Please talk me off the Aaron-Judge-is-the-second-coming-of-Kevin-Maas ledge.

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Ice Drake

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3:55

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What is the ceiling for the Rosario/Buxton/Kepler all around OF? Top 2?

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Bo

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3:55

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How long until Chapman is back as the closer? Will he be able to keep it again?

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toki

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3:56

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Is Donaldson going to see more time at SS or is this just a bad experiment that came about due to being in an NL park?

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Bo

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3:58

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Any reason to bring Rosenthal back this year, even if he doesn't need TJ?

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Kvn

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3:59

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Why is a HBP worth more than a walk in the wOBA calc? If anything, I'd expect a BB to have slightly more value because it's not a dead ball play and there's a possibility to advance more than one base (albeit a small one).

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Cy Borg

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4:00

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With Keyshawn back when rosters expand, will he overtake Max for the NL Cy?

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Batman

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4:00

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How did they Rays fall apart so suddenly?

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Marwin Gonzales- Power Hitter

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4:02

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Is there something wrong with Devenski? Walks are up and Strikeouts are down so far in the 2nd half.

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Gary

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4:03

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Should Yandy be in the majors? His AAA stats are outrageous.

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Beau

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4:04

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whats a realistic outcome for Nicky Delmonico? Ben Broussard, Travis Shaw?

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Bob Villar

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4:05

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Thoughts on Aaron Sanchez for next year?

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Mark

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6:16

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He sucks

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Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe

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4:05

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If you actually want to know what happens if you lose all of your tickets, if I lose all of mine we go on a week's vacation to Peru. If she loses all of hers, I get her credit card and debit card for a month.

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Free Wilmer Font

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4:06

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When does Wilmer Font get a chance! dudes been tearing up AAA. I want to see him in the pen down the stretch.

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Sterling Mallory Chris Archer

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4:06

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What's more trivial, an eclipse or the fact that Yuneski Bethancourt used to be a major league starting shortstop?

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Pat

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4:06

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Thinking of Verlander's eventual HOF chances. He's viewed as a fringe candidate right now..yet, he's had 2 really close CY losses (one controversially so with the Tampa writers filing ballots early last year). 2 no hitters, but, 3-4 1 hitters (including a lost perfect game vs Pittsburgh with 2 outs in the 9th).

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Slapshot

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4:07

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Is an injury

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Sir Nerdlington

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4:08

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What do MLB execs use to track who is on waivers? And what'd they do before the internet?

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Al Gone Quinn

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4:08

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How bad is Pujols' contract, in totality? Will he rebound from negative WAR next season?

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Slapshot

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4:08

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Is an injury like Lester's almost a blessing in disguise in that it gives him a month or so to rest in the middle of the season, meaning less arm fatigue by the time the playoffs roll around?

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Jon

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4:12

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Can we get excited about Patrick Corbin again?

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Big Joey

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4:12

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My team is STACKED with young talent (and Miggy). 7x7 (extra categories are OBP, SLG, HLD, L) Keep 6 forever: Gary Sanchez, Bellinger, Hoskins, Lindor, Sano, Conforto, Judge, Miggy.

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Vlad

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4:12

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Thoughts on yelich ROS and next few years? Was hoping for big things this year but didn't happen. Conforto with a much higher ceiling at this point?

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Tricky Dick's KnuckleCurve

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4:12

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If your St. Louis, your team is full of talent, but it's almost all of the solid-regulars-type. What's the best way to consolidate 3-4 strong role players into a star?

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Anon

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4:13

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What would your rapper name be?

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Mike

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4:13

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Kiermaier will be a top ___ OF ROS?

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Anon

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4:13

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What rhymes with Sawchik?

0

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Anon

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4:15

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What's up with the Yankees?

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Jim

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4:15

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What are your top 3 favorite ballparks to visit?

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Hannah Hochevar

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4:17

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What's your take on the streaking Buxton? Contact/K rates showing improvement. What do you think his ROS numbers look like?

0

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Royal Pardon

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4:18

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We tend to do pretty good in the postseason...

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Jeb

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4:18

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Nyy needs a bat. How about Markakis? Would Torres be enough?

0

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JimmyBallgame

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4:20

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Which 2-3 teams do you see as best positioned to be legit playoff forces going forward (i.e. next 5 years)?

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CubFan

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4:22

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Think Treinen is the closer heading into 2018? If so, does he have the stuff to hold onto the job all season?

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Hadji the Cat

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4:23

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With his 2017 debut looming, where is everyone on Giolito? The floor seems to have lowered since this time two years ago. Is the ceiling the same?

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Matt

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4:23

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Independent of how the rest of '17 plays out, what types of changes do Theo/Jed need to make , outside of adding another SP, to sustain the window of opportunity?

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ManBearPuig

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4:24

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Which baseball player (not named Puig) is most likely to suffer eye damage from staring at the eclipse?

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Bpb

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4:24

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Honestly, why not let Judge sit for three gamedays and see if it resets him? Losing his OBP would be worth it if it allows him to sit. Is there a good reason not to do this?

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toki

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4:24

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What do you see the Cubs doing with there roster when Contreras comes back now that they Rivera and Avila?

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CubFan

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4:24

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Which two AL pitchers from this list will produce the best roto stats in 2018....Shoemaker, Triggs, Alex Meyer, Tropeano, Nate Jones.

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Jason

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4:24

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The lineup the Nationals ran out there this weekend was brutal. Obviously Trea and Bryce back soon. Regardless, any concerns?

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Hadji the Cat

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4:25

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Going forward, how does Orlando Arcia rank among SS in the league? Does he crack top 10?

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CamdenWarehouse

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4:26

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Manny for 2nd in wRC+ since AS break?

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CubFan

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4:26

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Read a recent article from an Oakland paper that quoted management as saying Dustin Fowler, if he's healthy, will be their everyday CFer in 2018. He had a nasty knee injury. Think he can be an everyday player?

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Wily Mo's Ghost

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4:27

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Who'd you rather have: Robbie Ray, Robbie Ross, Robby Scott, and Robbie Grossman; or Johnny Cueto, Johnny Giavotella, Johnny Barbato, and Jhonny Peralta. Assume good health.

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Ham Porter

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4:27

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I was going to guess Donaldson!

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CamdenWarehouse

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4:28

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It's Charlie Blackmon. You have to use the 2nd half split, not last 30

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Bob Waller

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4:29

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Sunny even on the Pacific NW coast, yay! Sitting outside eclipse chatting. OK, so, the Twins are starting to look like the best of the second WC teams in the AL. They should go get someone like, I don't know, Jaime Garcia. What say?

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YKnotDisco?!

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4:29

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Has Seager erased any/all concerns of moving off SS or has the pitching staff allowed ridiculously weak contact. Probably both, eh? I'm thinking positioning plays a large role too.

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Wily Mo's Ghost

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4:30

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What about an augmented reality system? The home plate umps wear dorky-looking glasses that give them various info about the pitch. If they are confident in their instincts despite the info, that's their call, but it should still cut down a lot on "guess" calls when the ump was blocked by the catcher or just otherwise missed it.

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Nats fan

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4:31

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Who would you sign long term if you were the Nats: Harper or Rendon ?

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t

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4:31

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The Phillies have given Tommy Joseph 800 PAs and he's run a 95 wRC+ and come up with -0.4 WAR. They can afford it because they're going nowhere this year but that's a really extended audition. What do you think of moving a top prospect out of position for that?

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Old Hitter

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4:32

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If Nelson Cruz gets to 40HR this year he will have hit 40 in his 34, 35, 36 and 37 year old seasons. Has anyone ever done that and do you think he can keep it up another year or two?

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Xmx

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4:32

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How is Joe West in trouble?

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Skip

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4:32

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Don't really get the Rays moves. Its sort of "Win Now" buy adding Duda and the bullpen, but not really enough? Is a three-headed front office to blame for lack of vision?

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Hannah Hochevar

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4:33

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Excited to see Andrew Albers take on his former team?

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...

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4:33

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do you think the Rockies and Diamondbacks are still the two wildcard teams or will some other team like the Brewers or Cardinals (or Cubs) sneak in?

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Elvis

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4:36

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Can Meadows make the team out of Spring Training or does he wait until mid year 2018. Big assumption that he will get more playing time than physical therapy until then.

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Tom

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4:36

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Have you seen anything to suggest G.Cole has made improvements recently or is this what he is, a really really good pitcher but below ace level?

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DB

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4:37

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Re: NL nearly beating AL in OPS.. DH's have a 99 wRC+ this season.

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Bruce Bocce

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4:38

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Been on the Mike Fiers rollercoaster all year. Is the next leg up or down?

0

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Xmx

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4:42

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Wait what did Joe West do this time?!

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Richard

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4:43

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Are there any metrics that say Carson Fulmer may be able to reach a #2/3 potential for the White Sox?

0

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Me

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4:45

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What does the Red Sox need to be a true contender? I mean, they might win the division but its not enough to beat the Indians and then LAD or Was

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Robert Andino

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4:45

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Did the Marlins make anything good happen around the deadline and is Stanton for sure a goner?

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Sal Fasano

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4:46

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Not to drone on with Cleveland pitching questions, but we've seen Bauer 'turn it around' before. Is this legit? Because for once, it feels legit.

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Crusty

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4:47

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Wins Above Relationship? Let's hope this in no way catches on for us Nefi Perez's of the world.

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bhgill41

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4:49

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You forgot to mention it is MLB Ss Josh Donaldson who is doing the hitting. How do rank him next season if he gains Ss eligibility? I was hoping he would get hot so other suckers overpay for him next y3ar

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toki

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4:49

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In your opinion which 2 players would be the worst to put on the same team? Valencia and Butler, Papelbon and Harper, Odor and Bautista? Or someone else?

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desertfox9139

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4:49

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of all the young pitchers the braves have brought up, does newcomb seem the most fitted for ML success with his easy velocity & passable off speed?

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bhgill41

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4:49

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Will Joey Gallo fair better than the last person Matt Bush ran into?

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BB guy

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4:51

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is

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BB guy

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4:51

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nick

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Walt

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4:51

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Is Jorge Soler toast, or should we still expect some future fireworks? Dude's LD% is not too far below his batting average this year....

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BB guy

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4:51

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Is Nick Senzel getting promoted to ML on September 1?

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Ronald Acuna

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4:51

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hello

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Roger

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4:51

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whats wrong with mookie betts?

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Joe

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4:52

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more importantly for the Red Sox, it helped free up money for the Sox to sign Shane Victorino, and Johny Gomes, and they helped the Red Sox win the WS in 2013

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Anon

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4:52

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How soon until we see robot players?

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Stars Collide

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4:53

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At some point, does the number of "ace" pitchers dwindle so far that the cy young winner and MVP are the same? Is that point in a couple months?

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Sonny

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4:54

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Having heard both AI generated music and Joe West's album I can assure you robot umps can and will release better country music albums than current umpires

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trask

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4:56

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buxton or e rosario in 16tm pts

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trask

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4:56

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16 tm pts. Any reason to pick up Price?

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Guest

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4:57

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Do A's potentially have a solid infield with Healy, Barretto/Pinder, Semien, and Chapman?

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Dave Cameronaunepetitegraine

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5:00

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What do YOU think should be done about bad umps?

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Brian Kenny

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5:03

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if the religous orthodox can do it, so can baseball managers

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Dave Cameronaunepetitegraine

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5:03

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Why is Lindor so different than the scouting reports?

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Matt

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5:04

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All-Star suggestion: Replace the game with a game of Baseketball

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Michelle

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5:04

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Thanks for chatting! So, Tommy Pham's awesome this year, but that degenerative eye condition sounds like a sell, sell, sell in dynasty/keeper, right?

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Dave Cameronaunepetitegraine

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5:05

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Re Lindor: he was supposed to be an unreal defender with questionable bat, but enough speed and OBP to get by. Now he's a good defender with power and a bit of speed. Is it by choice?

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Rapha

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5:05

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Will Cards fans see Jack Flaherty this season?

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Mark

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6:16

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Depends on if they are in the same location as he is at any given time

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