2018 Opening Day Very Long Chat

12:16
Craig Edwards: Happy Opening Day everyone. We’ve got Cubs Marlins starting shortly and Carlos Martinez against Noah Syndergaard also coming up. The queue is open for questions and comments. Meg Rowley will be here for the early games as well. We will get started very soon. Baseball.

12:18
Meg Rowley: Baseball!

12:30
Meg Rowley: Hello! We are back! Thank you for chatting with us! Exclamation point! We have a full day of chat ahead. Craig and I have you covered for the early games.

12:30
Meg Rowley: Travis and Jay will sub in for the midday games.

12:30
Meg Rowley: Sheryl Ring and Roger Cormier will take the late shift.

12:31
Meg Rowley: And Jeff Sullivan and Eric Longenhagen will make appearances at some point as well.

12:31
Meg Rowley: So much baseball chat!

12:32
andy: yes hello craig, can you please expound on the greg holland contract at some length and possibly with profanity

12:35
Craig Edwards: Let’s get this one out of the way. So the Cardinals are signing Greg Holland for about $14 million plus losing their second round draft pick with a slot value of around $1 million, which likely has a value of about five times that. That means, they valued Greg Holland, a player with very little market given it is Opening Day and won’t be ready for a bit, around $20 million for one year. That seems like a lot to pay for an okay closer. The Cardinals seemed to have done fine filling roles with quantity and this undoes that a little.

12:37
Thanks for the chat!: Chance Ichiro pitches this year?

12:37
Dave53: Either Longenhagen or McDaniel recently mentioned that Mitch White hadn’t been assigned to an affiliate.  What does this mean?  Extended spring training to work on conditioning or mechanics?

12:37
Eric A Longenhagen: He has a back issue

12:37
Meg Rowley: Eric!

12:38
Eric A Longenhagen: Breifly, headed to Dbacks backfields for intrasquads.

12:38
Eric A Longenhagen: Then I’ll be back.

12:39
Meg Rowley: re: Ichiro, the Mariners used (checks notes) 1 million pitchers last year. Will there be opportunity? I mean, maybe. Will Ichiro be on the roster long enough to pitch? …. that signing has the potential to feel very icky pretty quickly.

12:39
William Ashley: What are the odds of Scott Kingery matching/ improving upon Chase Utley’s career?

12:39
Bort: With the Cardinals signing Greg Holland, are they going to re-think their decision to promote Jordan Hicks? Or will they punt one of their lesser relievers?

12:41
Meg Rowley: re: Kingery, I think we forget how crazy good Utley was when he was crazy good. So maybe but it is a pretty high bar to clear.

12:41
Meg Rowley: Also, we will try to stagger these questions and answers a bit better.

12:41
Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah it’s pretty unlikely Kingery is a fringe HoF

12:41
Craig Edwards: Re: Hicks. It is kind of too late to rethink that. He’s on the 40-man and they took Valera and Lucas off the roster. Does it maybe make it more likely that he gets sent to the minors sooner than later? That depends on how he pitches, but they are going to have to use him to figure that out.

12:42
Craig Edwards: Derek jeter sighting on WGN.

12:43
Meg Rowley: It’s all Happ-ening, you guys.

12:43
Craig Edwards: that was some first pitch. Your 2018 Marlins ladies and gentleman.

12:44
Not Finnigan: Ian Happ: not bad

12:44
Meg Rowley: Can confirm.

12:44
Henry: Any comment on Salvy tearing his MCL moving his suitcase?

12:44
Meg Rowley: What a damn bummer. Being alive is so much harder than we let ourselves remember moment to moment.

12:45
Craig Edwards: That’s not the way you want to get Salvy rest early in the season. He might actually have a better second half, though.

12:46
Riley: Let’s talk about Blaze Jordan. How much of this hype is to be believed? I know the trendy thing is to say “temper your expectations, there’s only one Bryce Harper,” but didn’t everyone say the same thing when he was the chosen one on Sports Illustrated?

12:46
Eric A Longenhagen: He’s 15. He can hit the ball really far for his age with an aluminum bat. That’s all I know. He’ll be, what, 18 and a half on draft day? Fair chance he’s just physically mature for his age. That we know his name at 15 is promising, but I wouldn’t classify him as Harper 2.0.

12:47
Babip Roberts: Do you have a favorite player archetype? Ex: Rangy centerfielders with moderate power…15-HR/45-double first basemen…High K relievers with funky deliveries…

12:48
Craig Edwards: I would say pitchers who throw hard with a lot of movement and 20/20ish players who might turn a double into a triple.

12:48
Craig Edwards: Rizzo got hit by a pitch. The season has officially started.

12:48
Meg Rowley: Drink!

12:48
Eric A Longenhagen: Glove-first shortstops and eccentric relievers

12:49
Babip Roberts: Which team in the 16-30 range of reliever rankings has the best chance of an out-of-nowhere top 5 bullpen?

12:49
Meg Rowley: Really, realllly good framing catchers, and weird-ass relievers for me.

12:49
Craig Edwards: I think the A’s have a decent shot at it.

12:50
Henry: Meg… It isn’t even 10 AM where I am.

12:50
Meg Rowley: You can drink water, jeez.

12:50
Coffee Monster: Eric, thoughts on Pache’s swing change outlined in Travis’ article?

12:50
Eric A Longenhagen: Not unexpected. We ranked him, what, 37th overall based on projecting on the power?

12:50
Eric A Longenhagen: Here’s Travis’ article, btw: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-dream-on-cristian-pache/

12:52
Dave Cameron: Go Padres!

12:52
Eric A Longenhagen: This chat is haunted.

12:52
Meg Rowley: spooooky

12:52
brad: Does the development of Andujar and Torres impact the Yankees offseason target or Machado vs Harper?  Or does it give them trade chips for SP?

12:53
Craig Edwards: Eric might want to chime in, but Machado can play shortstop and Andujar can probably hit enough to play first. They could be trade chips, but if the Yanks want Machado, then they can go get Machado and I don’t think they will let Andujar or Torres get in the way.

12:53
Henry: Anybody else worried that limiting mound visits will actually make it longer, because the manager will go out for every single mound visit?

12:54
Meg Rowley: Not really. At a certain point, the rule requires you to make a pitching change.

12:55
Eric A Longenhagen: On NYY: Andujar in LF also seems fine given his current issues with throwing accuracy. Lots of ways to make that puzzle fit together.

12:55
NowWatchMeYuuuu: any chance baby vlad makes it to the bigs before Sept?

12:55
Eric A Longenhagen: Yes

12:56
TheGhostofKipWells: Not technically an opening day question, but which Ohtani line this weekend would garner more of a general overreaction from the baseball community:

A) 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 11 K, 2 BB

B) 3.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 5 K, 3 BB

12:56
Meg Rowley: B) for me, I think

12:56
Craig Edwards: B because A would be a sigh of relief. B brings up more concerns.

12:56
Alan: Thoughts on the Holland signing? I think if he’s effective, he could be a nice addition to the Cards’ pen, but I worry if his late season struggles continue, Matheny will keep rolling him out there anyway because all teh saves. Additionally, is there such a thing as a bad one year contract?

12:57
Craig Edwards: I share this concern.

12:57
Eric A Longenhagen: Saw him workout for teams last year and thought he sucked, so I’ll abstain.

12:57
Aaron: Is it possible for a player to have 80 grade game power and 60 grade raw power?  Thinking of a guy like Griffey Jr.

12:57
Eric A Longenhagen: Yes, Miguel Cabrera doesn’t have 8 raw like Joey Gallo, but the quality of the contact created 80-game power at peak. Guys out-hit their raw power grades all the time.

12:58
John: Dear MIA fans, Uren(for)a long season …

12:58
Meg Rowley: FanGraphs doesn’t endorse these sorts of jokes, but I personally do.

12:58
Meg Rowley: You have my personal endorsement.

12:59
Anonymous: Are any FG writers planning on auditing the mound-visit rules at some point midseason? Hard to get stats on them

12:59
Craig Edwards: Jason Heyward is tied for the MLB lead in RBI. No hits yet though.

12:59
Meg Rowley: This seems like the sort of insane thing I would do when I don’t want to sleep for several days in a row.

1:00
Thanks for the chat!: With the fly ball/high strike out environment, what are some ways to create more on the field action to make the game more stimulating? Alternative ballpark layouts or features?

1:01
Craig Edwards: I think raising the bottom of the zone would cause more swings and balls in play.

1:01
vivalajeter: In group chats like this, do you all see the questions and anyone can pick which one posts?  Or is everyone at the mercy of one fangraphs writer?

1:02
Meg Rowley: We all get to pick, which is why you sometimes see us post two at once!

1:03
Austin : Am I the only one who thinks everyone is too high on the Phillies this year? I’ve seen people make them out to be a sexy wild card pick but they seem more like a 75 win team to me.

1:04
Meg Rowley: We have them projected for 76 wins at the moment. I didn’t pick them for a WC in our staff predictions because I agree they aren’t quite there yet. But I could see them surprising based on the young talent and if they do (and he has a good year), the Arrieta signing will seem pretty savvy.

1:05
Meg Rowley: It’s nice to be better than you though mid-season, look around and realize you already have an Arrieta-type guy and don’t have to go get one.

1:06
Craig Edwards: I thought they should have added another pitcher after Arrieta. They are close, but wouldn’t pick them right now. They have a shot.

1:07
Jim Bob: I’m “working,” so I can’t see, but what is the crowd like in MIA?

1:07
Meg Rowley: Midwesty.

1:09
Nex: Are there ideas worse than the Orioles batting Chris Davis leadoff?

1:09
Craig Edwards: I’m sure Zach Britton can think of one.

1:10
The only guy from ND: What’s the average error on projections? 5-7 wins? So Phillies would need more than a typical forecasting error in their favor. Which is more likely with a young, rebuilding team, admittedly.

1:11
Craig Edwards: The odds aren’t that much different from the Diamondbacks or Rockies last year. Brewers in same boat. Some team is going to do it this year and it could be the Phillies.

1:12
Jo TIme?: Good sign re: expected PT to see J. Martinez starting and hitting 5th on day 1.

1:12
Craig Edwards: He’s got a little bit less swing and miss to his game than Gyorko so it makes some sense to sit him against Syndergaard, though Tim McCarver just made the exact opposite point with Gyorko being a FB hitter.

1:13
Rick: Fangraphs says Yankees win the AL East by two games; PECOTA says Yankees by 9 games.  Which is closer to reality?

1:14
Meg Rowley: I have a feeling that race is going to be very, very tight, though I think the Yankees ultimately prevail. Not sure that difference in projections is worth fretting about.

1:14
Eric A Longenhagen: Okay, I’m off to Salt River to see the Dbacks kids. Here’s the Marlins prospect list if you like the Fish and want to feel hopeful: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/top-29-prospects-miami-marlins/

1:15
Meg Rowley: Eric is so thoughtful.

1:15
mark: Any idea when Sabersim will be up?

1:16
Craig Edwards: I’m not sure the Yankees have the SP depth to run away from the Red Sox.

1:16
Jerj Clooners: How do you expect the playing time situation to play out between Grandal and Barnes?

1:16
Meg Rowley: re: Sabersim, sounds like there were some issues, and they might not be up today, but it is being worked on!

1:16
Craig Edwards: Re: Dodgers catching. Depends some on how much Barnes plays in the field, but something close to 50/50 makes sense.

1:17
Craig Edwards: only 99 mph from sydergaard on the first pitch.

1:18
Meg Rowley: It’s all over for him. Washed.

1:18
Dylan: Mets have Syndergaard 8th and Rosario 9th today. What’s your opinion on this?

1:18
Craig Edwards: I like it. Getting more runners on base for your best hitters is a good idea.

1:19
mike: Tulo was put on the 60 day DL.  I assumed a lack of urgency to move forward with treatment of his bone spurs and was  disappointed with the outcome.  Is this ‘wait and see’ method common with his situation?  he has been out since middle of July with ankle sprain and then bone spurs.

1:19
Craig Edwards: A decision like that also forces the team and player not to rush back which can be a problem when dealing with a lingering/long term type injury.

1:20
Tears for Fears: Lester is sitting 90 on his fastball. Should I be concerned?

1:20
Craig Edwards: No, but he declined last year, isn’t young, and there’s a possibility he’s a lot loser to average than ace this season.

1:20
sufjan stevens: Who do you think is the most visually impressive pitcher? Syndergaard? Sale? Someone else?

1:21
Henry: How can you not love Thor?? I so want to see him have an amazing season.

1:21
Meg Rowley: Sale remains one of the visually weirder pitchers, which you’ll be shocked to discover makes him very appealing to me.

1:22
Craig Edwards: Thor being healthy all season would be great for baseball.

1:22
Bert: Why would Matheny move Carpenter from the lead off spot? 25 HR and a .380 OBP getting the most at bats is a good thing.

1:23
Craig Edwards: I think the first four hitters in the Cardinals lineup are all similar enough that it doesn’t matter much. Putting the two best baserunners in the first two spots does make some sense.

1:24
Rick: Can Barnes be an everyday second  baseman?  E.g., to replace Forsythe after this year?

1:24
Meg Rowley: I’d be surprised if they do that. If nothing else, Barnes is a pretty impressive framer.

1:25
Craig Edwards: Yeah, I think they can probably do better than Barnes as 2b everyday.

1:26
Erik: Don’t you want your better baserunners batting 5th and 6th, or around there? No need to move up a base if you’re before the home run hitters, but if you’re behind singles guys, you really need to get on second.

1:27
Craig Edwards: not at the expense of not having your best hitters at the top of the lineup. it is more of a tiebreaker.

1:28
Vic Romano: Who is up first – Vladdy or Eloy?

1:29
Craig Edwards: The Blue Jays seem more likely to either a) contend and want his bat or b) sell a ton and want to bring him up to see what he’ll do.

1:30
Dan: What will feel longer: this chat or this Marlins season?

1:30
Meg Rowley: Well we’re likely to have some fun, so…

1:30
Denji: Chris Davis has the second best OBP projection after Machado per the depth charts. There’s just nobody in the lineup who gets on base, and Davis at least gets walks. I’d be more worried about Craig Gentry (?!) getting the opening day start.

1:31
Craig Edwards: that is a concern, yes.

1:32
Craig Edwards: mound visit for Molina. Going to be a lot of wasted airtime talking about the number of visits this year.

1:33
Meg Rowley: At least, earlier in games than in years past.

1:33
Meg Rowley: Announcers love to note late game mound visits.

1:33
James: Odds that the Marlins win fewer than 50 games? They are terribad and any player that does alright will inevitably get traded.

1:33
Craig Edwards: it is hard to not win 50 games. I don’t think the Marlins have that in them.

1:34
Charles Finley: MEG!!!

1:34
Meg Rowley: HI!

1:34
Yes: Adrian Gonzalez looks weird in a Mets uniform

1:35
Meg Rowley: Todd Frazier, too.

1:35
Craig Edwards: Eventful first inning for the Cardinals. HBP, walk, throwing error by Jose Martinez to let in a run, then DP.

1:35
Craig Edwards: Carlos Martinez in the first inning is going to be a narrative for a while I think.

1:36
Anonymous: I’m loving that Opening Day is actually opening day for every team in the majors now.  (Sorry, nats/tigers/pirates fans)

1:36
Meg Rowley: If you set aside the lots of folks are stuck at the office bit, it does have a very nice feeling of ceremony and celebration.

1:37
OddBall Herrera: Is striking out the opposing pitcher via a foul bunt the least impressive way possible to get your first K of the season?  Way to go Lester

1:37
Craig Edwards: yes.

1:38
JKD: Is there anything sadder than an Opening Day rainout?

1:38
Craig Edwards: yes, but Opening Day is also a day where we ignore perspective, so maybe no?

1:39
Dexter Flower: How many weeks before you get tired of Dan McLaughlin and Tim McCarver, Craig?

1:39
Craig Edwards: I like Dan and Tim can be fine. He’s a much better fit on the Cardinals broadcast than nationally because it is easier to focus on just one team.

1:40
ryan: MEG. have you had nicknames in your life? what has your favorite been? least favorite? CRAIG. same questions. happy opening day. let’s talk baseball and enjoy each other’s humanity.

1:41
Craig Edwards: Carson often calls me Craig E Baseball, which is both the best and the worst.

1:41
Meg Rowley: Meg is a nickname, and I like it well enough to write under it and answer to it in real life. Several friends call me Rowley, Growley, and Mow-Row. When I was in middle school, I was called a number of mean things based on having very curly hair I didn’t know how to manage, but we don’t have to revisit them.

1:41
Craig Edwards: So Molina, huh?

1:42
Not Finnigan: Foul pole homers are weird and good

1:42
Meg Rowley: Agree.

1:43
Grasul: The best non-Hometown TV announcers are the Mets guys.  I watch them even without Mets on a fantasy team as a Giants fan

1:43
Craig Edwards: Giants are pretty good, too.

1:43
Meg Rowley: I like the D-backs broadcast a lot.

1:43
Chris G: yadi bomb! whats your non homer take on molina and the HOF?

1:43
Meg Rowley: We also don’t give Joe Davis enough credit for managing a truly impossible task pretty damn well.

1:44
Meg Rowley: Ah the MLB dot TV circle of death, the season is truly here.

1:45
BillWallace: Both broadcasts that I’m seeing are not showing pitch speed.  Is this a new standard?  Not to show it?  Seems odd.

1:45
Meg Rowley: The Cubs team said they were having some system issues.

1:45
Craig Edwards: I think his case is a difficult one to evlauate. His WAR isn’t going to look great, but it also isn’t going to capture a lot of what makes him so well-respected in the game. If he had played before 2002, his WAR would be 5-10 higher because baserunning metrics weren’t captured in the same way they are now so older catchers get a slight gift in that regard where it hurts guys like Brock and Raines and even Rickey Henderson, not that he needs an even higher WAR.

1:46
bananas: tips for a father of 3 curly-haired little ones?? middle school is still a decade away but please help 😀

1:46
Rafael: Mets or Dbacks who gets the second nl wild card spot

1:46
Meg Rowley: It’ll be a nightmare no matter what! Just remind them it ends eventually.

1:47
Craig Edwards: You will find the answers you seek here https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-2018-staff-predictions/

1:47
Well-Beered Englishman: Speaking of announcers, the Marlins TV guys are softballing Jeter lots of questions about how they decide to open the roof or not.

1:47
Sadman: What has the potential for the saddest story of the season?

1:47
Craig Edwards: What did you expect on Opening Day, though?

1:48
Craig Edwards: Saddest story: Just in terms of baseball, it could be Albert Pujols costing his team a playoff spot if he doesn’t improve over last season.

1:48
Meg Rowley: I mean, we’ve already had a bunch of preseason TJ’s. That is awful, and I hope it is the worst thing that happens. The things worse than that usually involve real life tragedy.

1:48
Mo Vaughn: How many OF look more awkward tracking a baseball than Kyle Schwarber?

1:49
Craig Edwards: Yeah, he doesn’t look great, but Matt Adams played some outfield last year.

1:49
Meg Rowley: At Bat informs me that Ohtani will debut at DH tonight.

1:50
Craig Edwards: thank goodness we can watch Molina and Martinez exchange unusual sign language for 15 seconds instead of a mound visit.

1:51
Well-Beered Englishman: The Marlins announcer just said “a transitional change” and I cannot get over this.

1:51
Craig Edwards: Was he talking about a pitcher working on a new pitch in spring training?

1:52
BillWallace: This is a masterclass on content-free interviewing.  Going on two full innings now.

1:52
LioneeR: 4-3 cubs in 3rd inning.  why play your infield in?  Who cares if the run scores with so much game left?

1:52
Craig Edwards: I very much dislike playing the infield in. I just like to get outs.

1:52
Meg Rowley: *whispers* mute and put on the radio

1:53
Mike: The Cubs have the most overrated staff in baseball

1:53
Craig Edwards: Think you might be going a bit too far on this one. They are good.

1:54
Alex: Lester is probably the actual #4 on that staff with his velocity decline

1:55
Meg Rowley: Lots of this sentiment!

1:55
Craig Edwards: Quintana, Darvish, Hendricks/Lester, then Chatwood. Seems about right.

1:55
Ben: Is there a more lopsided outfield at the corners than Schwarber and Heyward?

1:55
Craig Edwards: I’m going to guess no.

1:55
Meg Rowley: Yeah, I think there are arguments to be made around Hendricks and Lester but yeah.

1:56
Jim: Re: Lester being a number 4: How frequently do you think a team’s best starter actually gets the ball on opening day?  Seems quite often that an aging vet gets the nod instead.

1:56
Meg Rowley: /Prepares to watch Felix start at Safeco tonight

1:56
Meg Rowley: No idea what you mean

1:56
Jeremy: Would Madden go all Kapler and have Heyward & Schwarber switch depending on the handedness of the batter?

1:57
Meg Rowley: I think you’re right. Managing those career transition points is a delicate operation, and I think a lot of teams punt.

1:57
Craig Edwards: I would not have Schwarber run that much.

1:58
Tears for Fears: Heyward has walked, doubled and caught an out in foul territory through three innings. Is this the Heyward the Cubs envisioned signing before the 2016 season?

1:58
Craig Edwards: I think they would take that for the next six years.

1:59
BillWallace: Both broadcasts are now showing pitch speed.  Guess the radars needed to warm up!

1:59
Meg Rowley: Well look at that.

1:59
Ryan: UZR actually pegs Schwarber as a well-above-average Left Fielder

1:59
Craig Edwards: that’s only about 1000 innings, though. and DRS says the opposite.

2:00
Christian: I’m stuck in the office and can’t watch the games. Can someone please explain the “unusual sign language” between Molina and Martinez?

2:00
Craig Edwards: Molina didn’t want to waste a mound visit, so they just used some hand signals to go over things.

2:02
Bort: How long do the Cubs continue with the Schwarber experiment before they pull the plug and trade him to the AL? They have tons of depth in the OF/IF.

2:03
Craig Edwards: If he had the type of trade value, people thought he had, it already would have happened. Needs to get past his bad year at the plate first.

2:04
Henry: CarMart already at 54 pitches, can they get Holland on a plane and get him to New York by the 9th inning?

2:04
Craig Edwards: What will the score be then?

2:04
Erik: Rizzo is so close to the plate that he moves out of the way on a pitch right over the heart of the plate. I love it.

2:04
Craig Edwards: I do not love it.

2:04
Mike: Don’t you have to be a decent hitter to be a DH? Would exclude the hopelessly overrated Schwarber

2:05
Meg Rowley: Recall, if you will, that he was a 131 wRC+ hitter just two years ago. Might not be that guy, but I think he’s closer to that than what he (and a .244 BABIP) produced last year.

2:06
Snood: how many games would the Marlins win if they played a AAA schedule?

2:06
Craig Edwards: I would guess around 90 or so, keeping in mind Triple-A teams play fewer games.

2:06
Ryan: Do you guys foresee the league setting another record for HRs this year?

2:07
Meg Rowley: Sure do!

2:08
Erik: Do we know what happened to Heyward? He was a legitimately good hitter and is now a legitimately bad one. That doesn’t usually happen in your prime. Is there an underreported injury? Did he just forget how to hit? Is that even a thing that happens?

2:08
Meg Rowley: To say more about that, we saw another increase in spring

2:09
Mac Gwire: Besides the game involving your own team, which one are you most excited for today?

2:09
Meg Rowley: [extremely disgruntled voice] I’m going to watch a lot of Angels games this year, huh?

2:09
James: How many games would the Astros win on a AAA schedule? 125?

2:09
Meg Rowley: Might need new math for that.

2:09
Craig Edwards: Heyward was hurt at the beginning of the 2016 season and he was undergoing a swing change at the time (he’s long been a tinkerer from year to year), and so never recovered in 2016. Last season, he was a little better. There’s still something there if he can get the right swing for him.

2:10
ScottyB: I hate, hate, hate mlb blackout rules!

2:10
Craig Edwards: They could definitely be better implemented, but they make a ton of money for baseball teams so probably not going away anytime soon.

2:11
Dookie Howser MD: Do the Angels have the best team to watch as a baseball fan in general? They have the best overall player (Trout), the best defensive player (Simmons), and all the intrigue around Ohtahni

2:12
Craig Edwards: For sure a team to watch this year, but the Yankees Stanton/Judge is going to get a bit more eyeballs.

2:13
Meg Rowley: I am even more disgruntled by this fact, but Craig is right. The Yankees are going to be awfully fun to watch.

2:14
tb.25: Odds that a comeback win today propels the marlins to an 80 win, projection-breaking season?

2:14
Craig Edwards: /checks projected standings/ the odds are not good.

2:14
Ryan: Aside from one involving your favorite team, what would be your preferred WS matchup?  I personally would love LAD-LAA (two best players in the world in Trout and Kershaw; potentially continued Ohtani excitement; young stars like Seager and Bellinger; another chance for all-time great Pujols to play in the post-season; and the extra juice of an intracity rivalry)

2:15
Craig Edwards: Probably Cleveland-Nationals, though angels would be great and your matchup is a good one.

2:15
Sonny: Is there a wider range of outcomes for a position group than the St Louis OF? That group could be top 1-2 in baseball but the floor is pretty low

2:16
Meg Rowley: Nationals would be a lot of fun.

2:16
Meg Rowley: Yeah, going to take some time to get used to González in a Mets uniform.

2:16
Craig Edwards: I think the floor is pretty high for the Cardinals OF. None of those players are likely to be bad, but the possibility of Ozuna and Pham repeating last season gives it huge potential.

2:17
Brandon M: Are the Marlins actually the least interesting team this year? I think you could make an argument for 2 or 3 other teams being less interesting.

2:17
Meg Rowley: Being really, really bad tends to be interesting in its own, sad way.

2:17
BillWallace: 0/2 so far on Starters making the 5th inning.

2:17
Craig Edwards: looking like 1/4 seems pretty likely.

2:18
Meg Rowley: I hate to say this, but I think my beloved Mariners could be pretty boring. Just sort of… there a lot of the time. True to the Blue!

2:19
David: Hi, I can’t get sabersim projections to load on fangraphs. Am I doing it wrong or is fangraphs no longer going to have those projections?

2:19
Meg Rowley: There were issues today, but they will be back!

2:19
Dookie Howser MD: Does the “Save America’s Past Time Act” effectively negate all that MLB was trying to do with Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities? Low minors are basically unpaid internships that these guys can barely afford without family support at this point

2:20
Craig Edwards: I don’t think those are related. RBI is a very good program when implemented well and gets players who wouldn’t necessarily get a lot of attention more access to scholarships and getting drafted. If you want to argue that paying minor leaguers is a much worse negative than RBI is a positive, that seems a fine argument to make.

2:21
Fredrick: Tommy Pham is not looking great at the plate, how worried are you guys that his vision issues could turn him back into a pumpkin?

2:21
Craig Edwards: that’s always going to be some concern, but he’s facing Noah Syndergaard today, which seems like the more likely culprit today.

2:22
ScottyB: What stat(s) would point to players just missing HR’s?

2:22
Jeries: Will the Cubs regret not re-signing Arrieta?

2:22
Meg Rowley: That rotation is still projected to be the 4th best in baseball!

2:22
Craig Edwards: you could look at xwOBA on fly balls. If it is much lower than actual wOBA, they might be missing homers.

2:22
Trent: Cards fan here . . . is Holland available to pitch today?  Bullpen might be getting more work than expected . . . .

2:23
Craig Edwards: I doubt he’ll be here for a few weeks.

2:23
Craig Edwards: not going to be in NY for this series for sure.

2:23
Mike: Is everyone associated with Fangraphs a Mariners fan?

2:24
Craig Edwards: I’m not.

2:24
Meg Rowley: Hardly. Jeff has smartly allowed his fandom to fade, which might mean he is better at self care than I am. He’s also been doing this full-time longer than I have. Though I’ve already noticed I care less than I used to.

2:25
First Man on the Sun: Was not expecting to see Cishek bat today…

2:25
Craig Edwards: Good thing Maddon is good with managing lineups, playing time, and players. and that they are playing the Marlins.

2:27
Alec Asher Wojciechowski: So Yuli is serving his suspension, then the Astros will decide if he needs to go to the DL… Does that seem odd to you?

2:28
Erik: Meg, has your Madison Mallards fandom also faded?

2:28
Craig Edwards: Yes, but it was going to be odd regardless. They start him on the DL and then at some point take him off to serve a suspension?

2:28
Meg Rowley: embarrassing confession: I never had the pleasure of going to a Mallards game. I am a horrible failure.

2:29
Brian Anderson: Am I a future all star?

2:29
Craig Edwards: probably not.

2:30
Justin: Thor no longer having amazingly dominant game.

2:30
Craig Edwards: 8 Ks, no walks, getting BABIP’d a bit.

2:31
Brandon M: Re: Yuli: so he’s not actually missing anytime because he’s already hurt?

2:31
Craig Edwards: seems like it.

2:31
Forrest: For a rule 5 guy, does a club risk losing the player if he goes on the DL? If not, would there be a big incentive for a club to DL a guy so he’s not taking up a 25-man roster spot?

2:32
CarrotJuice: Say JT Realmuto is traded before the All Star game. Who represents the Marlins at the All Star Game?

2:32
Craig Edwards: yes, he has to stay on the active 25-man roster for most of the year. Too much DL time and he gets offered back to the old team.

2:33
Meg Rowley: Boring answer (NO PUN INTENDED I SWEAR): Justin Bour maybe? Fun answer: Lewis Brinson!

2:34
Craig Edwards: even more boring answer, whoever their best reliever is.

2:34
Meg Rowley: Yeah, that’s also probably the right answer.

2:34
Justin: Also, does Starlin Castro hate his life having been traded from the Cubs and the Yankees?

2:35
Meg Rowley: Don’t know the guy obviously, but it can’t feel great to be thought dispensable. On the other hand, he gets to live in Miami.

2:35
Rockie Dangerfield: Is it too early to start this year’s Larry Walker HoF campaign?

2:35
2:35
Meg Rowley: Yes. We’re trying to have a civilization here.

2:36
tb.25: 5 innings in 2 hours. Guess limiting mound visits really helped…

2:36
Meg Rowley: Mound visits were geared more toward pace of play not time of game.

2:36
Craig Edwards: Right. it really isn’t the time, that’s the issue, it is the action.

2:37
Erik: The Marlins’ teardown will almost inevitably result in some unheralded prospected turning out to be an above-average player, simply because they’ll be starting so many unheralded prospects. Who do you think has the best chance?

2:38
Craig Edwards: I don’t know, but this is one of the lesser publicized benefits of a rebuild. You are using roster spots on potential lottery tickets and nobody ever gets blocked.

2:39
tb.25: Mound visits would, in theory, help pitchers. Allowing them to take a breather, collect themselves, strategize, etc. By limiting them, it supports batters. Is that was MLB wanted? Seems a bit unfair to manipulate the pitcher-batter dynamic through limiting visits.

2:39
Meg Rowley: It isn’t as if they eliminated them entirely. Each team still gets six, and that doesn’t include actual pitching changes.

2:40
vivalajeter: Watching Syndergaard pitch today, how on earth does anyone ever end the season with a sub-2.00 ERA?  He looks filthy, yet he’s already given up 3 runs in 3.2 innings and he’s a bloop away from another one.

2:40
Craig Edwards: and yet, Clayton Kershaw exists and can pull it off. It’s amazing.

2:41
tb.25: would a batter equivalent to mound visit limits be limiting the step outs per at bat? 2 times they can leave the box, for example.

2:41
Meg Rowley: If they actually enforced the batter’s box rules, it would save a lottttt of time. Why are you messing with your batting gloves AGAIN, Robinson Cano? They’re fine!

2:42
Craig Edwards: that would do a lot more for pace than mound visits.

2:42
Brian Anderson: Why not? I don’t think a .280./.345/.485 is that far out of the question. With average defense/baserunning, that’s an all star some years with variance…

2:42
Craig Edwards: I’m just going with the odds. Making the All-Star game is hard.

2:43
Roger: Is it just me or does the Save America’s Pasttime Act seem needlessly petty?  If MLB raised pay across the board on assumption that minor leaguers are averaging 80 hours a week, it’d cost a team ~$1.2M a year to be in minimum wage compliance.  MLB wages as a share of revenue have dropped by much more than that.

2:44
Craig Edwards: Owners aren’t giving anyone money unless they have to, and even if they have to, they will try to find a way around it, like with the new law as opposed to having lawsuits filed. If you want the owners to do more, they have to be forced to by law, through the courts, or through labor negotiations.

2:45
Meg Rowley: All of which is to say minor leaguers would benefit greatly from a union.

2:46
Erik: Is there not some rule saying you can’t do what the Astros are doing with Gurriel? Seems like a pretty blatant way to cheat the system.

2:47
Craig Edwards: I’m not sure it is a situation that happens often enough to matter. He still gets his pay docked. I mean, players can play in the minors when they are on MLB PED suspensions.

2:47
Alec Asher Wojciechowski: Re rule 5 dl time: A player doesn’t get offered back after being on the DL too long, it just extends into the next year until 90 days is reached. Santander of the orioles still has to be on the roster for a bit, and Winkler of the Braves does too,  and he’s been hurt so long hes in arbitration!

2:47
Craig Edwards: thanks!

2:48
Al Gone Quinn: Does Pedersen build on his success (fluky?) from last season’s playoffs?

2:48
Craig Edwards: maybe. He wasn’t actually bad last season. His strikeouts were way down. He could be in for a solid season.

2:49
Erik: Has there been research done on whether or not an eight-man bullpen is actually useful? I don’t really remember ever thinking, “Man, we would have won today if we just had one more reliever,” since if you’re running through that many guys, you probably gave up too many runs to win the game. How would one actually go about researching that?

2:50
Craig Edwards: That’s a very good question. If you have 8 good relievers and use them all regularly, it could work. That’s hard to pull off and all the variables make it a difficult study.

2:51
Brian Anderson: Ok, makes sense. But I’m still an average-above average regular?

2:51
Craig Edwards: not yet, Brian.

2:52
Judge and Drury: Is Ohtani starting at DH today a publicity stunt or is this going  to be common?

2:52
Craig Edwards: It will be common until/unless he proves he can’t do it.

2:52
Ham Bone: The Cubs are almost not beating the Marlins, how much should I panic…………in an office setting?

2:52
Meg Rowley: I would advise not panicking because it would be disconcerting to your coworkers and also because it is silly.

2:52
Pad Squad: Harold Reynolds thinks the Padres will peak in 2023, 2024. But, Myers, Margot, Hedges, Renfroe, and maybe even Hosmer will be gone after 2022. So, do you think the Padres will be better with those guys, or once they leave?

2:53
Craig Edwards: I don’t even know what’s going to happen this year.

2:53
Craig Edwards: 2024? That’s crazy.

2:53
Meg Rowley: Who knows if there will even be baseball then?

2:53
never fail beta male: What stops MiLB players just walking out, union or no? Even if only non-prospects did it the leagues would flail. I am calling for a MiLB wildcat strike. 30 year old AA relievers of the world unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains and a world of Biloxi baseball to gain!

2:54
Craig Edwards: Organization is incredibly difficult. Also, the possibility of being a millionaire.

2:54
Sultan: Will we see more creative ATL-LAD style salary trades during the season? If a team near the tax needs to add during the stretch run, it seems they’d need to shed salary as well.

2:54
Meg Rowley: Wildcat strikes are hard enough to do when you already have a bargaining unit (plus technically illegal in the US).

2:55
Craig Edwards: I’m not sure. The Yankees have flexibility so who does that leave? The Dodgers could offer more in prospects if they really needed to. I’m not sure what the Giants would do.

2:56
Sonny: I would not sell alcohol to Matt Bowman without identification

2:56
Meg Rowley: He is a young looking youth, it is true.

2:57
Charlie: Does Syndergaard have a BABIP problem?

2:57
Craig Edwards: I doubt it. He hasn’t been blessed with great defenses.

2:57
S: Why is the leader of the Player’s Union someone with zero legal experience?

2:59
Meg Rowley: There is some benefit to having a person who has lived through that weird-ass work place. And they have a lot of lawyers who work for them. But it appears clear that there is need for greater strategic leadership at the top.

2:59
Steve: @Meg   Are those Rays Trackman affiliate operators positions paid?

2:59
Craig Edwards: and while some people were sounding alarms, for a while, everybody seemed pretty happy with how things are going.

3:00
Meg Rowley: Have confirmed that the Rays Trackman positions are paid.

3:00
EbenezerBatflip: Which boston kid hits more HRs, Benintendi or Devers?

3:00
Meg Rowley: $10/hour.

3:00
Craig Edwards: i will say Benintendi

3:01
Fred Gladding’s Third Helping: I am sad Acuna JUNIOR is not playing in Atlanta today. That is all.

3:01
Craig Edwards: It is unfortunate, yes.

3:01
Meg Rowley: Agreed.

3:01
pinstripe: What is Eno up to nowadays?

3:01
Meg Rowley: Writing for the Athletic, probably still drinking beer.

3:01
bonnie: batt mowman

3:02
Craig Edwards: He’s not doing himself any favors when it comes to staying on the team when Holland joins.

3:03
Moltar: Eno was just on the Rotographs podcast today!

3:03
Meg Rowley: See, alive and thriving.

3:03
Ryan: Who needs competent left field defense when you can mash dingers like that?

3:03
Craig Edwards: That’s why we have WAR.

3:05
tyler: by wrc+ Dwight Evans has 7 seasons better than any of Ichiro

3:06
Craig Edwards: another reason we have WAR, Ichiro has six seasons above 5 WAR, Evans, has 3.

3:07
EbenezerBatflip: Expectations for Rick Porcello? Does he ever regain any of his 2016 form? Or is it all stinkers and dingers from here on out?

3:07
Craig Edwards: I think he’ll be fine, but 2016 was a bit of a perfect storm for HR and BABIP that isn’t likely to happen again.

3:08
JJJones: I know that the players agreed to the CBA (it’s right there in the name) and are stuck with it for the next few years, but don’t you think that the owners almost HAVE to do something before it is up in order to improve the relationship?  Saying ‘too bad, you all signed’ doesn’t seem like a smart play, even if it is true.

3:09
Craig Edwards: They don’t have to do anything. In a year, we have the two biggest contracts in baseball history signed and they will say, see, everything is fine. That might not be totally true, but they don’t have to do anything.

3:09
Ham Bone: Have there been any studies on the effects of large pitch totals in an inning? Would a pitch count of 40 equally stress the arm if the pitches were 30/5/5  or 15/15/10?

3:10
Craig Edwards: I know pitching tired is bad, so I would assume 30/5/5 is going to be worse. Don’t know about studies.

3:10
Pat: Can you explain the logic of a pitcher batting 8th? Mets doing it today with Cespedes batting 2nd and it makes no sense to me.

3:10
Meg Rowley: re: the union. Teams don’t have to do anything. I think we should remember that they are making active decisions to do this. The CBA allows them to, but they are still making choices.

3:11
Craig Edwards: It makes it more likely to have runners on when Cespedes bats, which is what they want.

3:11
Ken: Still bummed about A.J. Puk. What good news is there for an A’s fan these days?

3:11
Meg Rowley: You’re getting a new ballpark! You have several fun Matts.

3:11
Ozzie: Twins game starting shortly, what are your favorite reasons to watch this team in 2018??

3:12
Craig Edwards: Seeing if Buxton can be a superstar, and I want to see if Lance Lynn’s gamble on himself works.

3:12
Tim: Do you think if they raised all minor league salaries to $47500 teams would eliminate some of the lower minors’ organizations?

3:13
Meg Rowley: No.

3:13
Craig Edwards: also a no.

3:13
Erik: Would Ichiro be a Hall of Famer if you ignored his cultural impact and the fact that he came over late from Japan? 58.2 WAR is borderline at best, but he has the hits milestone which could make him a no-doubter despite the fringe WAR total.

3:14
Craig Edwards: Vladimir Guerrero is in the HOF with less WAR. Having people watch you and think you are amazing is important, regardless of any cultural impact. He is a special, unique player like Vlad and that resonates with voters.

3:15
Meg Rowley: Ichiro’s peak was pretty special

3:15
Hit bull, win steak: FG staff seems low on the Rockies despite their WC berth last year and improvements to the bullpen this offseason. Is this because a) other Wild Card teams got better, b) Rockies got worse, c) both, or d) neither

3:16
Meg Rowley: Both for me. I remain confused by their refusal to get better on offense.

3:16
Craig Edwards: Rockies did well last year in part because the bullpen was very good and they are trying to double down on that approach, but having a good bullpen is something that’s hard to repeat. They have some holes.

3:16
Taylor: Where do you think Acuna will hit when he comes up? Markakis is hitting 4th today. Surely that can’t last

3:17
Craig Edwards: probably low in the order until he hits well, then higher as the season goes on.

3:17
Sadman: do you guys get tired of chatting? It would exhaust me.

3:18
Meg Rowley: Not to be overly earnest, but few things make me genuinely happier than talking about baseball. Now, all chats can go one too long, and sometimes there are trolly questions we don’t publish that are annoying, but generally, I like chats a lot.

3:19
Rob: Jose Martinez is legit, people.

3:20
Craig Edwards: He is certainly having a day. He probably just bought himself a lot more starts today.

3:20
Craig Edwards: Gyorko might have some cause for concern.

3:21
Moltar: Why don’t minor league teams guarantee players room and board? Not only would it be smart to control the nutrition of budding professional athletes, but it would majorly ease the burden of being paid substandard wages. Hockey guarantees this at all affiliated levels, even for players in the ECHL who have a slim to none chance at ever making the NHL.

3:22
Meg Rowley: More and more teams are providing lunch and dinner, and like, good lunch and dinner for their guys for exactly this reason. Why don’t they spend more? They aren’t required to. We might find that short sighted and too penny pinching (I do), but it isn’t surprising in our broader corporate culture.

3:24
Meg Rowley: This shows the lag my MLB.TV is experiencing but that Odorizzi strike out of Schoop didn’t suck.

3:24
bLEH: As a heartbroken dodger fan, I’m just happy baseball is back.  And I hope the Astros lose 100 games.  Unfortunately they’ll probably repeat and break my heart even more

3:24
Craig Edwards: I’m not going to tell you how to be a fan, but you will probably be much happier this year focusing on the good things your own team is doing.

3:25
Ham Bone: Re: panicking. I panicked, freaked out coworkers, cooled down in the server room, made chit chat with Barb from HR, drank another cup of coffee => SchwarBomb. This season might get exhausting.

3:26
Eric A Longenhagen: Yo, I have returned.

3:26
Meg Rowley: I was once told by a friend that I should try feeling less. Not better or worse. Just… less. If you figure out how, will you let me know?

3:26
Meg Rowley: How were the backfields, Eric?

3:26
Eric A Longenhagen: Busy, all four fields going at once.

3:26
Meg Rowley: Goodness.

3:27
Meg Rowley: This Mom Me-Time AT&T commercial is the living worst.

3:27
Craig Edwards: would you say you are back from dbacks back field.?

3:27
Eric A Longenhagen: I would but then I’d be Chris Berman

3:27
Meg Rowley: Yeah, I think we’d prefer you not be Chris Berman.

3:28
Meg Rowley: Oh hi there Gentry.

3:28
Eric A Longenhagen: Craig Gentry just robbed Eddie Rosario

3:28
EbenezerBatflip: Is it irrational of me as a non-californian to be annoyed with how many MLB teams the state of california has? Its too many, they need to merge the 5 or 6 teams into just 1 or 2

3:29
Craig Edwards: Yes it is. There are a lot of people in California.

3:29
Meg Rowley: So many!

3:31
John: How amazing is Greg Holland going to be for the Cards?  Have a great 9th inning guy again…great ballpark for pitchers…think he looks like the Holland of yore?

3:31
Craig Edwards: He will probably be fine.

3:31
Anonymous: You use your closer with a 4-run lead on Opening Day, right? It’s opening day! Get that W

3:32
Craig Edwards: Probably. offday yesterday, presumably more offdays in the near future.

3:32
Klubot3000: Do you think it bothers Hispanic players when their names are constantly misspelled? Thinking of the lack of a tilde for Acuña in particular this hype season.

3:33
Meg Rowley: Can’t speak for them but it bugs the crap out of me when someone drops an “h” in Megan, so I’d assume so.

3:33
Travis Sawchik: Hey, y’all. Happy Baseball

3:33
Meg Rowley: Travis!

3:33
Jay Jaffe: Hey gang, Happy Opening Day! Just as soon as I give my MLB TV subscription a whack, I’ll be along to eat some innings, chat-wise.

3:33
Meg Rowley: Jay!

3:33
Travis Sawchik: Meg!

3:33
Meg Rowley: Part of my job here is to be an enthusiastic greeter.

3:34
Travis Sawchik: We’re here to take the batons from the exhausted early chatters

3:34
Travis Sawchik: #bullpenning

3:34
Craig Edwards: Hello all!

3:34
Mark: Ian Happ, over under HR’s –32

3:34
Craig Edwards: under

3:35
Dave: Are you guys doing these chats every day all season long??  🙂

3:35
Craig Edwards: let’s not ruin it.

3:35
Beric Shortgenhagen: left my draft with too little healthy pitching, waiver wire is thin–who’ll help me most: Marco Gonzales, Andrew Triggs, Chris Stratton, Brandon McCarthy, Matt Shoemaker?

3:35
Meg Rowley: Thank you, Travis. I am off to finish a piece and then head Safeco way. Thanks for chatting everyone. I leave you hands far more capable than mine.

3:35
Eric A Longenhagen: Pick up Lucchesi

3:35
Eric A Longenhagen: Bye, Meg.

3:35
Meg Rowley: Bye, Eric.

3:35
Klubot3000: Travis! Please whisper more sweet nothings about Cristian Pache…

3:35
Travis Sawchik: [Whispers: He could be Buxton with a bat]

3:36
Klubot3000: /drools

3:37
Travis Sawchik: Eric and Kiley put him on the map, but I’m falling in love

3:38
Anonymous: It’s the Trav-Jaffe!

3:38
Travis Sawchik: The much anticipated Trav-Jaffe

3:39
sam: picked up holland as an FA after another team dropped him for luke gregorson. lol

3:39
Travis Sawchik: This offseason wasn’t weird or anything

3:39
Travis Sawchik: Holland officially came off the board before games started. So is it an offseason signing?

3:39
Jay Jaffe: Bye, Meg!

3:40
Steve: So far so good for Jose Martinez, eh?  What can we expect from him in a full season?  30hr with a .300 avg reasonable?

3:40
Craig Edwards: How about .280 and 20?

3:40
Travis Sawchik: Anyone else having issues with Spectrum cable refusing to show MLB Extra Innings games in 16:9, HD?

3:40
Craig Edwards: Alright, everybody. Thanks for all the questions. I’m heading out.

3:40
Jay Jaffe: Sorry about that, folks. My MLB TV desktop situation is 0-1 for the season for reasons I don’t yet understand. So I’ll be watching the New York broadcasts and checking out of town games on my local devices once they recharge.

3:41
Jay Jaffe: Bye, Craig! Hello, Travis!

3:41
Eric A Longenhagen: I’m on HOU/TEX

3:41
ryan: Jay! Travis! hours ago, while enjoying opening day baseball, i asked Meg and Craig a question that allows us to celebrate our shared humanity on this fine day. they had some great answers. i will pose the same to you two — what nicknames have you had throughout your life? what has been your favorite? least favorite? thanks…happy opening day!

3:41
Travis Sawchik: Most recently Billy Hamilton essentially called me an idiot 😉

3:41
Eric Chavez: Better Q – how long should I wait for people to forget your discussion of Pache before starting an auction for him in ottoneu?

3:41
Eric A Longenhagen: Oppo dinger for Springer

3:42
Travis Sawchik: Ha. Today would not be the best day

3:42
Travis Sawchik: Pache is our sixth-most searched minor leaguer at the moment

3:43
Jay Jaffe: the only nickname I have ever had was mercifully brief, maybe jr. high when a friend started calling me “Snaffe” as in “SNAFU”. Thankfully, that went away after I carved his eye out during lunch one day. Nobody has called me Snaffe since. True story.

3:43
K-Man: Eric, are you still high on Max Kepler? Seems like a potential swing change profiteer

3:43
Jay Jaffe: *story may not actually be true

3:44
Eric A Longenhagen: Yes, picked up on it during the Spring and ranked him accordingly

3:44
Team FanGraphs:

weird… anyone else getting this on their gameday?
29 Mar 2018
3:44
EbenezerBatflip: How much of a disappointment will next year’s hyped free agency be when Harper and Kershaw both re-sign next year and Machado is the only star Free agent, who goes to the team we all expect him to go to 2 years in advance.

3:44
Travis Sawchik: !!!

3:45
Travis Sawchik: Wasn’t Kepler anti- launch angle last year? Quite a pivot

3:45
Jay Jaffe: I can see Kershaw re-signing with the Dodgers before reaching free agency but Harper, being a Boras client, is definitely going to test free agency. But really, who cares about the hype when it comes to free agency? it’s not like the play-by-play of it is thriling or even memorable.

3:45
Eric A Longenhagen: Oh, I read ‘Max Stassi’, not Kepler. Astros on the brain.

3:46
Sonny: The only interleague game on the schedule today was rained out. Will this example of God stepping in to right a wrong convince MLB to keep Opening Day sacred?

3:46
Travis Sawchik: How does an OD game get scheduled for March 29 in Detroit?

3:46
Travis Sawchik: And the Marlins kick off the season?

3:46
Travis Sawchik: Weird

3:46
K-Man: Any picks for hot relievers emerging this season that nobody knows yet?

3:46
Eric A Longenhagen: Jairo Diaz, Seranthony Dominguez, Art Warren

3:46
Jay Jaffe: Well, it would look weird until they waited until May, Travis. Even given that this is a Tigers team nobody wants to watch.

3:47
Mark: Over/Under tears shed during Roy Halladay tribute

3:47
EbenezerBatflip: over 🙁

3:47
Jay Jaffe: Between the Halladay tribute and the moments of silence for Rusty Staub and Ed Charles in New York, there’s a bit of sadness around baseball, for sure.

3:47
Klubot3000: Eric, still comfortable with the 50/55 you had on Hicks heater? 101 with a little run just now.

3:47
Eric A Longenhagen: ?

3:48
Robert: Turns out the Astros are still good, huh

3:48
Travis Sawchik: I like the Astros in the AL West, I think

3:48
Travis Sawchik: 101-win projection! I’m not sure that got enough attention

3:48
Jay Jaffe: yowzah, not sure i’ve ever seen a triple-digit win projection in all of my years in the industry

3:49
Jeremy: Eric, who are you more bullish on this year, JP Crawford or Amed Rosario?

3:49
Eric A Longenhagen: I guess Crawford. Rosario is more talented but has to make mechanical adjustments to get there and I just don’t trust NYM player dev at all.

3:49
Klubot3000: Seriously though, major props to Eric and Kiley for all the work they do. The best prospect content out there and it isn’t that close.

3:49
Travis Sawchik: The men who put Pache on the map

3:49
EbenezerBatflip: Over/under 30 HRs for Mookie Betts?

3:50
Jay Jaffe: I’ll take the over. He hit 31 in 2016, 24 last year, and homers are probably going to be a dime a dozen again this year.

3:50
Travis Sawchik: I assume we’ve covered Jose Martinez already? Wow

3:50
Alex: Is it just me or are the Indians hinting that Zimmer is in a platoon? Was his Aug.-Sept. more indicative of who they think he is?

3:51
Travis Sawchik: Zimmer still has to prove he can hit LHP … but maybe the defense and speed warrant everyday play regardless

3:51
Travis Sawchik: I actually liked Melvin Upton Jr as a platoon partner, he’s always hit LHP

3:51
Adam S: If anything, I’d argue for MORE teams in (Southern) California, to reduce the market size advantages those teams have. LA/Anaheim are triple the population of Seattle, Minneapolis, Detroit, Tampa, etc. which are the same size as San Bernardino/Ontario.

3:52
Travis Sawchik: The commish mentioned Montreal and San Antonio today as ‘major league’ cities

3:52
Travis Sawchik: I think baseball would rather target underserved regions/cities

3:52
Lance: Eric, in this era of high heat, who is the softest throwing P prospect that you really believe in?

3:52
Eric A Longenhagen: Dudes with crazy extension and/or unique release points a la Yusmeiro Petit. So, Jose Taveras with Philly is one, Freddy Peralta with Milwaukee (he throws a little harder than that), Lucchesi, Nolan Blackwood

3:52
Travis Sawchik: Plus, hard to develop a fan base in SoCal with Dodgers/Angels/Padres having been around for decades

3:52
Erik: If Hall of Fame standards for starting pitchers are lowered to acknowledge modern-day pitcher usage, will Jon Lester have a shot? Eighth among active pitchers in WAR right now with 41.6, with a chance to end up north of 50, plus three World Series rings.

3:53
Jay Jaffe: Lester’s got some good postseason stuff in his favor but he’s going to have to stand out relative to Kershaw, Verlander, Greinke, Scherzer and Felix come ballot time. All of them have a Cy Young but he hasn’t, and he’ll never get one if he doesn’t get back to 2016 form, at least

3:53
Mark: Does the talent pool exist for a major (2+ teams) expansion push?

3:53
Travis Sawchik: In theory, it should. MLB hasn’t expanded in 20 years
and the planet has probably added 1 billion people

3:53
SI Scouting Reports: I was just reading the opposing scouts comments in SI. Have I just been reading a lot more analytically-focused baseball commentary or is it exceptionally old school (and not in a good way) this year?

3:55
Jay Jaffe: Having done many of those interviews over the years, I can tell you that those are some very old-school scouts that the staff talks to, with many of them participating year after year after year. They’re fun conversations but not every scout has a wide range of references when it comes to the analytic stuff.

3:55
Eric A Longenhagen: Houston just did the 4 OF shift vs Joey Gallo. Three INFs on right side. Alex Bregman caught a routine fly in left field.

3:55
Travis Sawchik: The SI scouting reports have always been my favorite part of the preview section … but there were some curious ones … incluidng a Gary Sanchez comp on Mejia’s bat?

3:55
Justin: Don’t forget CC, who is definitely ahead of Lester too.

3:55
Jay Jaffe: yes, good point on Sabathia. Also a Cy Young and some postseason mojo

3:55
E: Acuna did not enter 2017 as the top prospect, are there are any players currently not in the top 30 or so you think have the potential to make a leap toward the top going in to 2019?

3:55
Travis Sawchik: PACHE

3:56
Lipton: Objectively speaking, starting Elvis Andrus 3rd in the lineup isn’t a great choice, right? Regardless as to whether the breakout was real. Right?

3:57
Jay Jaffe: Objectively speaking, batting order kvetching is slightly less effective than complaining about the weather.

3:57
Lunar verLander: …was that a 4-man outfield in Arlington?

3:57
Travis Sawchik: Vs. Gallo? I think so. Anyone have a shot of the entire outfield. I saw three bodies in CF-LF

3:58
Travis Sawchik:

The Astros have deployed a four-man outfield against Joey Gallo.
29 Mar 2018
3:58
Erik: Eric, how does Tom Eshelman compare to what Kyle Hendricks looked like in the high minors? Obviously, even Hendricks himself was unlikely to turn out how he did in the majors, but does Eshelman at least have the Hendricks starter kit?

3:58
Travis Sawchik: I believe Gallo led baseball in FB% last season

3:58
Eric A Longenhagen: Hendricks changeup > anything of Eshelman’s

3:58
Austin: On the topic of Hall of Fame pitchers, does Hamels have a legitimate shot? No Cy Youngs but multiple All Stars, postseason success, 53 WAR…

3:58
Luke:

.@astros positioning vs Gallo. Wow.
29 Mar 2018
3:59
Travis Sawchik: Is Bregman playing LF? Or just a really deep 3B!

3:59
bonnie: how do you pronounce pache?

3:59
Eric A Longenhagen: PAH-chay

3:59
Travis Sawchik: Great name

4:00
Jeff Todd wannabe: Re: Hicks, Eric I think the other commenter was referring to the 2017 report on Hicks which lists his fastball as 50/55. (FYI this is the scouting report that shows up on his FG player page)

4:00
Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, I need to get Appelman to push the more recent tool grades. I assume he’s waiting for us to finish all 30 clubs but if he can update the ones that are current we should do that.

4:00
Sonny: Could Gallo bunt for a double against that shift?

4:00
Dave: So Gallo really needs to learn to bunt

4:00
Bobbi McGee: if Gallo successfully bunts / half swings to the left side, is that a double?

4:00
Travis Sawchik: Seriously

4:01
Eric A Longenhagen: Hamels is 88-91 so far today…

4:01
E: I feel like I’m always surprised when I look up the population of San Antonio and say to myself ‘wow, I didn’t know that many people lived there, huh’

4:01
Jay Jaffe: Hall-wise I’m a little lower on Hamels than I am all of the other guys I mentioned. He’ll have to show unusual staying power to put himself higher up within that group and be the best choice on a given ballot.

4:01
Travis Sawchik: San Antonio is looking less like a sleeper expansion candidate

4:02
Austin: Over/Under 45 HRs for Joey Gallo?

4:02
Travis Sawchik: Gallo could be a mini-Judge with a bit more contact. I’d still take under. That’s a big number

4:02
Travis Sawchik: But he could go over

4:02
Mark: What’s the current expansion list look like?

4:03
Jay Jaffe: To my eye, Montreal and Portland are atop the list. but that’s one man’s opinion and research, as I wrote about the topic several times at SI. https://www.si.com/mlb/2016/04/22/mlb-expansion-montreal-mexico-city-c… https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/10/19/major-league-baseball-expansion-prop…

4:03
bosoxforlife: Buxton, three breaking balls, three air swings, looking like he doesn’t have a clue.

4:03
Travis Sawchik: Remember last year?

4:04
Travis Sawchik: Brutal

4:04
Mark: Any under the radar good prospect names, maybe 65-70+?

4:04
Eric A Longenhagen: All of ASU baseball: http://thesundevils.com/roster.aspx?roster=162&path=baseball

4:04
Not Finnigan: I don’t think expansion is a good idea, but I so desperately want to see an expansion draft. How fun would that be to cover and analyze?

4:04
Jay Jaffe: If you’re judging a guy by his opening day at-bats, looking for clues of development, it’s gonna be a very long season

4:04
Travis Sawchik: It would be awesome

4:04
Travis Sawchik: Expansion draft that is

4:04
Mickey L: Mookie off to a poor start. Time to panic?

4:04
Travis Sawchik: And baseball needs to expand for a variety or reasons, including scheduling

4:05
Erik: Does a flyout to Bregman in LF get scored as F5? Or has someone come up with a way of handling crazy shifts in the scorebook?

4:05
Eric A Longenhagen: LOL, wait until you see the DRS numbers after a few weeks. Brett Lawrie all over again.

4:05
Jay Jaffe: PANIC NOW, DON’T WAIT UNTIL APRIL

4:05
Dave: Lester has 2 WS rings.  How many does Kershaw have?

4:06
Jay Jaffe: Kershaw has 3 Cys, and multiple Cys correlates better to Hall of Fame election than multiple championships.

4:06
jonathan swift: what are the odds panda wrests control of 3B back from Longoria? I hear he’s in the best shape of his life.

4:07
Jay Jaffe: about the same as the odds of a cartoon panda becoming the governor of California. Could happen, really.

4:09
Scott: Could either the Phillies or Braves be a .500 team?

4:11
Jay Jaffe: Sure. We have the Phils projected for 76 wins. A few leaps forward gets them to 81. Remember, the average error on such projections on an annual basis is about 6-7 wins. The Braves, with a 72-win projection, need a lot more to go right to get there, but it’s within the realm of possibility

4:11
Bob Dobalina: Plawecki 4 for 5 today. Top 100 guy once upon a time, any chance he takes his righty platoon role and runs away with the job? d’Arnaud just can’t seem to stay on the field long enough to solidify himself as an everyday player

4:11
Eric A Longenhagen: I dig Plawecki but think if anyone runs with the job after a d’Arnaud injury, it’ll be Nido.

4:11
Travis Sawchik: NL East gonna be really interesting in the not too distant future

4:11
Travis Sawchik: Maybe this year

4:11
Travis Sawchik: JUDGE ALERT

4:13
Jay Jaffe: Judge struck out. Hurry up and panic, folks!

4:13
rR: Best part of JUDGE ALERTs is that they’re now JUDGE-STANTON-GARY ALERT

4:13
Jay Jaffe: Indeed.

4:13
Jay Jaffe: Gone, Stanton

4:14
Travis Sawchik: Oh my

4:14
Travis Sawchik: Hey, little secret: I think the Yankees are going to break the team HR record

4:14
Charles: Correa have an 80 arm?  The velocity on that last throw was >>>

4:14
Eric A Longenhagen: Yes

4:14
Jay Jaffe: I’ve got a piece on that in the pipeline, Travis

4:14
Travis Sawchik: !!!

4:14
Jay Jaffe: Because multiple radio hosts have asked me about it

4:15
Travis Sawchik: 1997 Mariners have the record … 260-something?

4:15
Jay Jaffe: 264 IIRC

4:15
Travis Sawchik: Stanton should be compelled to use whole field in Yankee II

4:15
Travis Sawchik: Gonna be something

4:15
Eric A Longenhagen: Verlander is through two unscathed. Sitting 94-96 t97.

4:16
Jay: Joey Lucchesi starts tomorrow! Any predictions, Eric?

4:16
Eric A Longenhagen: You’re hired!

4:16
Yelich: Finally realize my power potential in MIL. I’m not asking you. I’m telling you.

4:17
Travis Sawchik: I believe you could get to 30 … dropped GB% by five points in each of the last two years

4:17
bonnie: Didn’t someone already write that piece on fangraphs?

4:17
Jay Jaffe: Jeff Sullivan wrote one https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-home-run-record-could-be-broken-tw…, which isn’t to say that there’s not more to be said

4:17
Lunar verLander: So who’ll be writing the “after 1 day of games, it is clear that the home run record will be broken again” article?

4:18
Travis Sawchik: I think Jeff wrote that this spring

4:18
Jay Jaffe: Ben Lindbergh  already wrote a piece for The Ringer about spring training rates being predictive of season rates league-wide. And guess which direction they’re going?

4:19
Eric A Longenhagen: It’s only going to keep increasing as player dev implements biomechanical science to increase velo in pitchers and swing leverage for hitters

4:20
Travis Sawchik: Probably new HR, K, velo, spin, bullpen usage records this season

4:20
Travis Sawchik: And forever

4:20
Travis Sawchik: By 2030, there will be no balls in play

4:20
Eric A Longenhagen: Like, at some point I think baseball is going to have an aesthetics crisis on their hands because the game is going to look very monochromatic.

4:21
bonnie: i think jeff wrote 2 pieces (plus the one linked by jay) on the spring hr rates. jeff writes a lot.

4:21
Jay Jaffe: I can’t keep up with Jeff, he’s literally always writing. Makes the rest of us look like lazy bums

4:22
Travis Sawchik: The prolific Jeff Sullivan

4:22
BATsman: You guys listening to music while you watch games? I don’t want to listen to color guys talk about what they would have done in the current situation. Give me some suggestions!

4:22
Jay Jaffe: Not today, not with a TV, iPad and chat going. I’ve got enough trouble making sure I can handle all that.

4:23
alpha309: Jay, while Cys normally have a better election rate than champs, wouldn’t you assume that Lester gets additional bonuses for his rings because they were on the Sox and Cubs teams that broke the “curses”?

4:23
Travis Sawchik: TV needs better analysts, for sure

4:24
Jay Jaffe: the Red Sox won in 2004 without Lester. He helped them win their 2nd in 2007. So color me skeptical he gets that much of a boost.

4:24
Travis Sawchik: ALTUVE ALERT (Bases loaded)

4:24
Travis Sawchik: Update: sac fly, 2-0 Astros

4:24
Jay Jaffe: TV needs better analysts but I’ve spent the past 5 months not listening to baseball, I can handle a bit of patter

4:26
Captain K: Aside from Kershaw which SPs have an interesting/realistic HOF case?

4:27
Jay Jaffe: I’ve written about this several times. On the sad occasion of Ray Halladay’s passing, I put together a table of JAWS and trad stats. https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/11/08/roy-halladay-death-plane-crash-hall-… Revisited the topic a few times over the winter, including my Johan Santana HOF candidate profile and something right after the playoffs for guys like Kershaw, Verlander and Greinke.

4:27
Travis Sawchik: fwiw, Manfred pushing for 32 teams on Rangers telecast

4:28
Jay Jaffe: all with a runner on second base from the outset.

4:28
Dave: Stanton’s exit velo on that HR was 117.3, hardest oppo ever tracked by Statcast…. mercy.

4:28
Travis Sawchik: !!!

4:28
Travis Sawchik: Manfred on pace: “Gotta take care of dead time first”

4:28
Eric A Longenhagen: LOL

4:29
FUROKU: Why doesn’t my Roku TV allow dual screen options with MLB.tv … why does MLB.tv have a different interface for every device I use it on?

4:29
Travis Sawchik: Re: Pace, so keep batters in the box …

4:29
Jay Jaffe: Why is a Toyota not a Honda?

4:32
E: How far does Bumgarner have to go for the HOF? Assuming he stops with these odd injuries

4:33
Jay Jaffe: A long ways. Obviously, he has some postseason credentials that will help but he’s only got 31.5 career rWAR, including hitting as a pitcher (which is in JAWS), and 104 wins. He’s only had one season of at least 5.0 rWAR; those low-ERA seasons kind of come out in the wash when you factor in AT&T Park. When you consider the HOF Peak standard is about 7 WAR… he needs to pick up the pace and it’s tough to do that when you keep getting hurt.

4:33
FUROKU: @Jay Jaffe – I couldn’t car less

4:33
Jay Jaffe: (tugboat noise)

4:33
Ham Bone: This is still the most terrifying Stanton oppo HR:

4:33
Travis Sawchik: Best launch angle ever

4:33
OddBall Herrera: Manfred on pace: “Rather than a bullpen cart, we thought having the relief pitcher be chased in by a pack of wolves would speed things up”

4:34
Travis Sawchik: We’re here to be entertained, right?

4:34
Eric A Longenhagen:

Best Arizona State Baseball Player Name

Eli Lingos (3.0% | 3 votes)
 
Fitz Stadler (18.0% | 18 votes)
 
Adisyn Coffey (15.0% | 15 votes)
 
Chaz Montoya (27.0% | 27 votes)
 
Spencer Torkelson (37.0% | 37 votes)
 

Total Votes: 100
4:36
Jay Jaffe: Didn’t Fitz Stadler direct silent movies in the 1920s?

4:36
Guest: L Duda slam off of J Shields puts KC up 4-0 on my White Sox only four batters into the season.

4:36
Jay Jaffe: Who says the Royals needed to spend $144 million on a first baseman?

4:38
Eric A Longenhagen: Fitz Stadler + Alex Lange = Fitz Lang

4:38
Erik: How long before an expansion happens is it officially announced? There seems to have been a lot of rumors in the past year or two, often pushed by Manfred himself. Is that what typically happens, say, two years before an expansion, or more like 5-10?

4:39
Jay Jaffe: It’s a multiyear process for sure. The two 1993 expansion teams (Florida and Colorado) were awarded in June 1991, but the roots of it went back to the 1985 CBA. The two 1998 ones (Tampa Bay and Arizona) were awarded in March 1995.

4:40
Travis Sawchik: Royals signed Duda for $141.5 million less than Eric Hosmer. Duda has 0.1 fWAR less than Hoser since start of 2014

4:41
Bork: Wouldn’t it be hard to keep an expansion secret? Like city council meetings etc are public, and if the potential owner is getting public funds as well its easily public news

4:41
Eric A Longenhagen: Torkelson ran away with the poll. He tied Barry Bonds’ freshman HR record last Friday. Who knows which of these accomplishments he feels strongest about?

4:42
Jay Jaffe: As with Olympic bids, the whole process, including the effort to get a stadium built and get an ownership group together to grease the right palms, is on the order of a decade

4:42
Travis Sawchik:

Shohei Ohtani sends a single through the right side on the first pitch he sees in his first big league at-bat.
29 Mar 2018
4:43
Enlightening Round: Ohtani was messing with you guys for spring training, hahahaha

4:43
Josh: How do you think Dave C feels when he watches Hosmer making outs at ~$25k per PA?

4:43
Jay Jaffe: anybody who takes spring training stats seriously needs his or her head examined.

4:44
Travis Sawchik: Dave should have forwarded all 168 FG articles on launch angle from 2017 to Hosmer on his first day in SD

4:44
Mound: I see dropping the mound named as a solution to the current high K, high HR environment. Do you think it is being seriously considered or do you think it will be?

4:44
Travis Sawchik: Plausible

4:44
S: Does MLB.tv no longer have Fantasy Tracker? Seems like the platform has fewer features than ever

4:45
Eric A Longenhagen: I’ve been unenamored with it, too. Twitch update has been great, though.

4:45
Tucker: Tyler Flowers with our first early exit of the year :/

4:45
Travis Sawchik: oh no!

4:45
Ayye: I think it was Boog Sciambi who said in a NYY-BOS game last season there were 5 batted balls in play in the first 53 min of the game. That’s not good aesthetically at all.

4:45
Travis Sawchik: That’s a problem

4:46
James Shields: Is it finally over for him? 35 pitches, four runs, five hits in the first inning, generally looked terrible.

4:46
Jay Jaffe: It’s been over since Bartolo homered off him. He’s just the last one to get the memo. Sad, really.

4:47
Enlightening Round: Eric, when do the minor league games start?

4:47
Eric A Longenhagen: A week from today. MiLB spring training games are still going on here. Michael Kopech was 95-99 yesterday.

4:48
Jay Jaffe: Re: dropping the mound, I think the more plausible solution is to tighten up the bottom of the strike zone, which has grown in recent years (as Jon Roegele documented again earlier this week https://www.fangraphs.com/tht/the-2017-strike-zone/). It’s probably less stressful on pitchers’ arms than lowering the mound, and strike zone changes have a very long history as a means of tinkering with offensive levels

4:49
Mark: In re strike zone…ROBOT UMPS

4:49
Travis Sawchik: Some day

4:49
Mark: Do you guys have other sports you watch for fun? Or is it pretty much all baseball, all the time

4:49
Travis Sawchik: Manfred did address robot umps today …

4:50
Jay Jaffe: I immerse myself in the Winter Olympics every four years, as they’re timed perfectly relative to the low point of the baseball calendar. I can’t really stick with a sport for very long otherwise

4:50
Travis Sawchik: Noted part of what gives HP umpire authority to manage game is ball-strike calls … not sure how much of a consideration that should be

4:50
Eric A Longenhagen: I’m mono baseball now.

4:51
Eric A Longenhagen: Magic: The Gathering has replaced the NBA and NFL for me

4:51
K-Man: Remember when Opening Day Starts were an argument in Jack Morris’ HoF-case? Then look around at the absolute goobers getting the nod today

4:51
Jay Jaffe: I mentioned Morris in this piece, More Than You Wanted to Know About Opening Day Starters http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/more-than-you-wanted-to-kno…

4:51
Travis Sawchik: STANTON ALERT

4:53
K-Man: Hey Eric, wrong chat maybe, but is there anyone with pedigree on Un. of Washington’s roster?

4:53
Eric A Longenhagen: Tony Graffanino’s kid and Willie MacIver are gonna be drafted this year. Both Jones kids were interesting in high school but haven’t done anything in college yet.

4:56
Six Ten: If the concern isn’t just too many Ks but also too many home runs (pace of play, lack of interesting plays in the field, etc.), how would tightening the bottom of the zone help?

4:57
Jay Jaffe: Different people have different concerns. The low pitches and relatively newly expanded zone are harder to hit so the thinking is that raising it back up would result in more balls in play and fewer homers. Whether that’s actually true is something that would need a closer look.

4:59
Guest: Flaherty just bunted to beat the shift. It looked like there was a fair amount of that in ST.

4:59
Travis Sawchik: Can Gallo bunt? He might want to try today.

5:00
Joe: Bundy 7 scoreless with 7 strikeouts

5:00
Eric A Longenhagen: Quiet nerd. Gallo hit ball far, hit ball too space

5:01
Jeff: Forgive me for not following a lot of AL East games, but when did JA Happ get good?

5:01
Travis Sawchik: Ha

5:01
Travis Sawchik: BUNDY ALERT

5:01
Travis Sawchik: Gallo could slug .500  on bunts vs. Astros

5:02
Jay Jaffe: Happ’s strung together three seasons of around 3.0 WAR in a row. His 9.4 WAR over the past 3 years ranks 24th in the majors. Very solid midrotation guy

5:03
Eric A Longenhagen: Aaron Nola has been nails so far. 89-93, K’d the side in the third on curveballs

5:04
Travis Sawchik: I was present for Happ’s 2015 turnaround in Pittsburgh, well, the part that occurred in Pittsburgh. I think Eno found he has greatest four-seam, two-seam movement separation amongst starters. Unusual approach that works

5:05
Jimmy: Aaron Nola just struck out 3 hitters with that curveball <3

5:05
Travis Sawchik: Nola kind of already broke out, but he might break out again to ace-level

5:05
Travis Sawchik: Changeup coming around, too, I think

5:05
Erik: Gallo slugged .537 on non-bunts last year…

5:05
bonnie: .500 is less than 1.000 #dingerz

5:06
bonnie: .500 is less than 4.000 #dingerz

5:06
Travis Sawchik: Got it!

5:09
tb.25: Any good comps for Verlander, in terms of aging with such velocity?

5:09
Travis Sawchik: He’s such a freak

5:10
K-Man: Whenever I click on the tab of the Angels-A’s game, it shows a split-second laggy still of Albert closing in on first base with the infielders already moving off their positions. Weird that this lag would be such a recognisable moment of Angels baseball these days

5:10
Jay Jaffe: Albert Pujols has been unstuck in time since 2012.

5:11
Daniel: Dylan Bundy certainly seems to fly under the radar a lot

5:12
Travis Sawchik: Bundy and Gausman — who was better down the stretch when he leaned on the split — could give the Orioles a solid 1-2 punch. They’ll need both to be good, obviously

5:12
Simon: Nolan Ryan held his velo late into his career.  Still pumping gas at 40 if I recall correctly.

5:12
Travis Sawchik: Wish we had PITCHf/x on Nolan Ryan

5:12
Jay Jaffe: oh lordy, yes.

5:13
Travis Sawchik: Smoltz averaged 93 mph in Age 41 season

5:13
Jay Jaffe: The pitch he threw that was measured CROSSING THE PLATE at 100.9 mph in in 1974 was estimated to have been around 108 where f/x would have measured it.

5:14
OddBall Herrera: Didn’t Pedro keep up his velo pretty well?

5:14
Eric A Longenhagen: Petey got loose at 86-89 and then would max out 90-93 in the second and third innings with Philly in ’09.

5:15
Travis Sawchik:

5:16
Travis Sawchik: If 20 years, an Advil commercial will be centered around a pitcher gassed after going twice through the opposing lineup

5:17
HankLloydWright: I opened my fantasy league by forgetting to set my lineup. I’ll never criticize a GM or manager again

5:17
Travis Sawchik: Didn’t Joe Maddon screw up a lineup card recently? It happens

5:17
Jay Jaffe: don’t tell this to our audience, but life is richer once you give up on fantasy baseball, HankLloydWright.

5:18
Jay Jaffe: wait, i said the soft part loud.

5:18
Travis Sawchik: You’re a quitter, Jay?

5:18
Jay Jaffe: I quit fantasy baseball after winning my league in 2011. When my now-19 moth old daughter needs help with her draft list, I’ll come out of retirement, but until then, aw hell naw

5:19
Michelle: I’m so excited you guys are here!

5:19
Michelle: What games are you watching?

5:19
Eric A Longenhagen: Bouncing around a bit, but PHI/ATL right now.

5:19
Jay Jaffe: I’m watching the Yankees-Blue Jays, with a charging iPad on Rangers-Astros at my feet (cord isn’t long enough)

5:20
Travis Sawchik: I’ve considered quitting … but I still enjoy it

5:20
Jay Jaffe: I went from fantasy to Scoresheet, where the drafts take a month and are a special kind of hell.

5:21
Jay Jaffe: I always found that in March, when everybody else was drafting, I had too much writing and previewing to do to focus on my own teams. I’m just a selfless guy that way, i guess. Also, not all that good at it, the league win notwithstanding.

5:21
Travis Sawchik: I play in simleague baseball. Special kind of nerd.

5:22
Anonymous: Fantasy is the gateway for fans of a team to become fans of the sport.

5:22
Jay Jaffe: I think that’s a fair point. I’m not discouraging anybody from doing it, just noting that it’s hard to do if you’re in this professionally and need to keep up with the actual games as a top priority.

5:23
Jay Jaffe: writing fantasy stuff (Fantasy Baseball Index, primarily) provided a good portion of my income once i made the jump to full-time writing. I’m grateful for that, for sure.

5:24
K-Man: Nobody watching BOS-TB? Sale is dealin’

5:24
Travis Sawchik: I take Chris Sale for granted … I just assume he’ll go seven with double-digit Ks. So filthy

5:24
Travis Sawchik: What’s most amazing about Sale is he’s stayed healthy. We know nothing.

5:25
Bill: What do you think of Teheran Eric?

5:25
Eric A Longenhagen: Never been a fan. Actually did that thing I do sometimes where I write up a big leaguer so you can see what the pitch grades translate to as far as role/WAR are concerned: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/scouting-julio-teheran-major-league-st…

5:26
Travis Sawchik: Donaldson’s shoulder …

5:26
Travis Sawchik: Those throws are looking rough

5:27
rkn: Donaldson’s arm is hurt

5:27
Travis Sawchik: Donaldson’s throwing looks painful

5:27
Nic: So sevy just gave up his first hit of the game.Could he be a under the radar Cy Young contender this year?

5:28
Jay Jaffe: I picked him to win the AL Cy, so pray for him to survive the season intact.

5:30
Oddball Herrera: Wow, that Donaldson video looks like vintage Ryan Zimmerman

5:30
Travis Sawchik: Yeah, not great

5:30
JD: Archer throwing a good changeup this afternoon. Is that his missing piece?

5:31
Travis Sawchik: I’ve seen a few. Good fade

5:32
Travis Sawchik: STANTON ALERT

5:32
Six Ten: Danny Duffy is such a strange pitcher. Looks just unhittable much of the time, and then will throw in an inning where he doesn’t just get hit but looks like someone with no business being on a major league roster.

5:33
Travis Sawchik: When Duffy his right he’s pretty damn good … but he’s not right very often

5:34
stever20: this new Yankee is ok I think

5:34
Travis Sawchik: He’s OK

5:34
Anonymous: Giancarlo “Surplus Value” Stanton

5:34
Jay Jaffe: Stanton RBI double. This Yankees lineup is going to score 8,000 runs.

5:34
Travis Sawchik: !!!

5:34
Eric A Longenhagen: Nola 5 shutout innings. 2 hits, one a bunt single

5:35
Jay Jaffe: Travis, is this your favorite band? I keep seeing you making references

5:36
Travis Sawchik: Woah

5:36
Travis Sawchik: That’s MY thing

5:36
Brian CashGod: nobody tell the Toronto fans that they have to face Stanton 3 more times this weekend, and 18-19x / season for the next 10 years

5:36
Travis Sawchik: Just think about Vlad. Jr., Toronto

5:36
HankLloydWright: Jay Jaffe in there with a hipster dad joke

5:37
Jay Jaffe: I had 46 years to practice before becoming a father. It’s not hard to get one right now and then.

5:37
Not Finnigan: How is !!! pronounced?

5:38
Austin: Judge-Stanton-Sanchez juggernaut in full effect

5:38
Jay Jaffe: bandwise, it’s “chk chk chk.” Their stuff is good to great. seek it out.

5:38
Travis Sawchik: I know the Yankees don’t really NEED Harper, but I want to see it anyways

5:39
Jkim: I just came back from the doctor’s – apparently I have a torn labrum.

He told me if I were a lefty major league pitcher, my career would be over. But lucky for me, I’m not.

Idk where I’m really going with this, but I’m sad that I, as an unathletic, 5’7″ dude, won’t make the majors

5:39
Travis Sawchik: Phillies are looking for a lefty BP pitcher

5:39
Travis Sawchik:

Are you a lefty with (somewhat of) a cannon arm and a dream of being in the big leagues?

It’s not too late –… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…

28 Mar 2018
5:39
Eric A Longenhagen: Cesar Hernandez HR. Teheran threw him four straight changeups, he golfed the last one out.

5:40
Jay Jaffe: I tore my labrum in 2003. It took my fastball from 55 mph to about 45 mph. The dream died then, at age 35.

5:40
Jeremy: What is a “Ty Blach” and should I be interested?

5:41
Travis Sawchik: Jay, 55 from the windup or crow hop?

5:41
Travis Sawchik: I have 55 with some arm-side run

5:41
Eric A Longenhagen: I’m 42-47 with 6 command. Taste it.

5:41
Jay Jaffe: Brian Sabean and Bobby Evans are making the whole staff out of Tys and Tylers. Blach, Beede, Herb and Cyr are all in their org.

5:42
Ohtani Kitean: Zac Kozart with a nice welcome to LA homerun!

5:42
Travis Sawchik: Cozart is interesting for more than the glove … Changed profile last season

5:42
Travis Sawchik: 40+ FB% in second half

5:42
Jay Jaffe: That was 55 from the windup in the Joker Marchant Stadium concourse in Lakeland.

5:43
Sgt. Pepper: The jumbotron at the Jays game has a graphic that tracks mound visits. Do other stadiums have this?

5:43
Travis Sawchik: Yes. More scoreboard clutter

5:43
Joey Gallo: well, now that 4-man outfields are a thing, roster construction gets a bit easier

5:44
Jay Jaffe: What we need is a graphic of Antonio Alfonseca counting the visits down on his six-fingered hands

5:44
Travis Sawchik: Not sure about regular 4-man outfields but we’re moving toward a rover/roving position

5:44
Can’t read good: I got MiLB streaming package this year. What teams (besides my local Baby Cakes) should I be watching? For the next wave of talent

5:44
Eric A Longenhagen: Fort Wayne

5:44
Travis Sawchik: LOL

5:45
Bernie Brewer: Chase Anderson has shown a good CB today. Just made Hosmer look pretty bad for a K.

5:45
Travis Sawchik: Curious to see Anderson’s follow up in 2018

5:46
Small Sample Size Guy: Mike Trout is going to decline rapidly this year.  Can’t even get a hit today!

5:46
Travis Sawchik: What if Trout just gets bored and retires?

5:48
S: Rockies decided to keep Blackmon at leadoff. Bad idea?

5:49
Travis Sawchik: I’m OK with best hitter getting most PAs possible

5:49
Jay Jaffe: just got a look at YES doing a montage of three Josh Donaldson throws. Ugly. Wow.

5:49
Travis Sawchik: Yeah, pretty ugly

5:49
Eric A Longenhagen: Toronto 40-man doesn’t have a clear replacement. Who else got big league reps at third this spring?

5:50
fill in the (kyle) blanks: the A’s are probably going to be mediocre this year but davis and olson going back to back on opening day sets the mind to wondering…

5:50
Travis Sawchik: OLSON ALERT

5:50
Ohtani Kitean: Do the Cubs’ pitching coaches have the pixie dust to make something out of Tyler Chatwood?

5:50
Travis Sawchik: What if Olson is freaking Babe Ruth?

5:50
Bort: Solarte is the obvious replacement at 3B for Donaldson, no?

5:50
Eric A Longenhagen: Agreed

5:50
Jay Jaffe: With that groundball rate, there’s a lot to like about Chatwood now that he’s out of Coors. I think he’ll be a solid back-end guy.

5:51
Travis Sawchik: High drama in Baltimore

5:51
Eric A Longenhagen: The Rex Brothers on for ATL to face JP Crawford with 2 on, 2 out in 6th.

5:51
Anonymous: *Arenado glares at travis*

5:51
Jay Jaffe: Both of them, Eric? That seems unfair.

5:51
Travis Sawchik: Rockies have two MVP candidates but …

5:53
Jkim: Kemp vs. Schwarber – who is worse in LF defense?

5:53
Jay Jaffe: I think this should be a weekly competition so long as both are playing regularly out there.

5:54
Ohtani Kitean: Neil Walker with ground rule double for first hit as a Yankee

5:54
Jay Jaffe: It’s fair to say that Travis and I are both members of the Neil Walker Fan Club

5:56
K-Man: game tied in Baltimore, holy moly

5:56
Jay Jaffe: Man, when is Showalter going to use Britton? Oh, right…

5:58
Travis Sawchik: Indeed!

5:58
Travis Sawchik: Walker was a great signing

5:59
Travis Sawchik: Especially with Bird’s continuing issues

6:00
Eric A Longenhagen: Philly up 5-0 after two walks by Brothers (pitching change) then 2-run single by Knapp. I’m changing games.

6:04
Anonymous: Ohtani Watch: T-minus 1 batter

6:04
Jay Jaffe: up now

6:04
Bernie Brewer: Josh Hader struck out the side. He good.

6:08
Erik: Nola coming out after 68 pitches and no runs allowed

6:09
Austin: So far just 2 guys have pitched past the sixth inning

6:09
Jay Jaffe: can’t wait to hear Jack Morris’ thoughts about this on Induction Day.

6:10
CarrotJuice: Lorenzo Cain in a non Royals uniform is weird looking.

6:10
Jay Jaffe: To be fair, he did play 43 games as a Brewer when he first came up.

6:12
Erik: Nola was pulled for a lefty specialist to face Freddie Freeman, so Freddie gives up a homer.

6:12
Travis Sawchik: Good intentions, though

6:13
Bernie Brewer: Lorenzo Cain in a Brewers uniform is amazing.

6:13
Travis Sawchik: Love that move for the Brewers. They could very well be in the playoff hunt

6:13
John Jaso Jingle Heimer Schmidt: I had Severino, Nola, and Anderson going today. 17 IP, 0 ER (so far), 5 H allowed.

Good day, eh?

6:13
Travis Sawchik: The fly-ball revolution is over

6:14
Jay Jaffe: Considering how bad the Brewers’ CF production was last year, Cain’s a huge upgrade

6:14
Jay Jaffe: Brett Gardner chipping in with a homer. Raising my estimate for the Yankees’ scoring to 9000 runs and 1000 homers

6:17
99: Does the bullpen usage revolution mean the beginning of the end of the quality start?

6:17
Travis Sawchik: Probably and to the pleasure of many

6:18
Ohtani Kitean: Houston’s bullpen doesn’t get the cred it deserves given awesomeness of rest of team, but: Giles, Peacock, Harris, Devenski, McHugh, maybe Sipp and Rondon — damn!!

6:18
Travis Sawchik: FG’s No. 2 projected bullpen

6:18
Travis Sawchik: It’s very good

6:18
Travis Sawchik: But Yankees’ pen is on another level

6:19
Hans Gruber: Who will be more fantasy relevant this year, A-A ron Hicks or Jose Martinez? (assuming same PT)

6:19
Eric A Longenhagen: Martinez. It’s real.4

6:19
Travis Sawchik: The new JD Martinez, Jose Martinez

6:19
Travis Sawchik: I like Hicks, too, though

6:20
Ohtani Kitean: Rangers employing the rover vs. Gallo

6:20
tb.25: Anyone got clips of these throws Donaldson is making?

6:20
Jay Jaffe: the clips were taken behind the barn and put down.

6:20
Travis Sawchik: Positions are going to become less meaningful

6:21
Eric A Longenhagen: Austin Hedges steals a strike to end trouble for SD t8. Still a one-run game in SD

6:22
Ohtani Kitean: i wasn’t on chat earlier if this was covered, but in case others haven’t heard, RIP Rusty Staub, original Houston Colt 45 and Montreal Expo — career .279/.362/.431

6:23
Jay Jaffe: I have a piece about Staub in the pipeline. Excellent ballplayer, Hall of Fame humanitarian.

6:23
Jay Jaffe: An icon in both Montreal and New York City

6:23
99: If Jose Martinez mashes in April does he get 550 ABs this year?

6:23
Travis Sawchik: He needs to play

6:24
James: How much value would a player like Austin Hedges lose if robot umps were calling pitches in games?

6:24
Travis Sawchik: A significant amount if you buy the BP framing metrics

6:26
Dan: Eric, the Royals cut Kyle Zimmer. How good was he at his peak and what could have been?

6:26
Eric A Longenhagen: Saw him throw one inning in 2014 Fall League before he broke for whichever-teenth time that was. At best he was 94-98 with a 6 breaking ball and 5 changeup. Delivery was always violent and inconsistent, though.

6:26
Jacob: Disappointed to see no discussion of bombapalooza in KC

6:27
Jay Jaffe: Six homers today, five by the White Sox, two apiece by Anderson and Davidson. Both of these teams are pretty far down the list of who I’m likely to be paying attention to on a given day but yeah, that’s a lot of bombs.

6:28
a bloo bloo jays: Just want to tell Carson, “I love you.” Hopefully, this comment represents that message, and satisfies my wish. Goodbye.

6:29
Eric A Longenhagen: Reminder you can go see Carson at this thing: https://homestand.ca/event/pitch-talks-april-5th/

6:29
Jacob: Davidson 114 and 115 EV on his homers. That’s….pretty hard hit

6:30
Austin: Can we expect to see Mackenzie Gore this year?

6:30
Eric A Longenhagen: That seems excessive.

6:30
Jay Jaffe: 4 1/2 years ago he was the MVP of the Futures Game at Citi Field. Not sure what’s happened since, developmentally, but that’s a long time ago

6:31
Eric A Longenhagen:

Better Hader?

Bill Hader (58.0% | 29 votes)
 
Josh Hader (42.0% | 21 votes)
 

Total Votes: 50
6:33
EccentricChemist: So besides Aaron Judge, is anyone capable of maintaining an everyday role and being a star with a K rate over 30%?

6:33
Eric A Longenhagen: Hosmer 6-4-3 ends the 8th, still 1-0 MIL

6:33
Travis Sawchik: Gallo

6:33
Travis Sawchik: Hosmer!

6:33
Travis Sawchik: I thought Hos and I had a meaningful talk about launch angle this spring

6:34
Anthony: Those Hosmer grounders man…

6:34
Jay Jaffe: yeah, the revolution has passed him by

6:35
Bernie Brewer: If only the Padres hired someone this offseason who could have seen Hosmer’s GB troubles coming…

6:36
Travis Sawchik: [Thinking emoji face]

6:36
Jay Jaffe: OK gang, I’m 3 hours deep in this, my velo is down a few clicks and I need to take a few innings on the child care front. Thanks for the good times and enjoy the rest of Opening Day!

6:37
Eric A Longenhagen: Hosmer’s facial hair fits The Revolution. What a waste. They need a second tambourine player.

6:38
Travis Sawchik: Hosmer can scoop, though

6:38
Travis Sawchik: Scoops Hosmer

6:39
Anthony: Hosmer’s got scoops though. Take that DRS!

6:39
spongebob baseball meme: all you guys talking smack on hosmer just missed that GG-caliber dig

6:39
Travis Sawchik: Noted!

6:39
stever20: Betances comes in and gives up a homer on 1st pitch.  Not what the Yankees wanted to see to start the season….

6:39
Nate: Boy, Giles isn’t making anyone miss right now. Yikes.

6:39
Travis Sawchik: #MarchPanic

6:40
Anthony: How long until Nicky Lopez has Alcides Escobar’s job?

6:40
Eric A Longenhagen: Do they give Mondesi a look first?

6:40
S: Fernando Rodney doing Fernando Rodney things

6:40
Travis Sawchik: No arrow to the ether today?

6:42
Travis Sawchik: The Fightin’ Fagerstroms trying to close it out in ninth .. Knebel on to pitch …

6:42
Ayye: Adam Jones has had a neat career so far, glad to see him still doing fun things

6:42
Bernie Brewer: So…Adam Jones did a thing

6:42
Travis Sawchik: Orioles are not going down without a fight

6:43
B. Ryce Hammer’s Luscious Locks: Pick two, J. Martinez, Conforto, Kingrey? one is a free agent in my league

6:43
Travis Sawchik: Martinez, Conforto for me

6:44
spongebob baseball meme: just tuned into MIL @ SD. weird to see braun at first.

6:44
Travis Sawchik: I think he can pull it off, was a 3B at one point … Thames just a pure platoon?

6:44
Eric A Longenhagen: Lined single to CF for Carlos Asuaje. SD has tying run on with 1 out in 9th.

6:45
Eric A Longenhagen: Headley is up…

6:46
Eric A Longenhagen: Headley flyball dies just shy of warning track in right

6:47
Dan: Yolmer Sanchez had a 3-run single (with no error on anyone). That hasn’t happened since 2015!

6:47
Travis Sawchik: !!!

6:48
Bernie Brewer: The Knebel curveball is just delicious

6:48
Eric A Longenhagen: Matt Szczur pinch run and SB for SD, scores on Freddy Galvis single. Tied at1.

6:48
Travis Sawchik: Too soon

6:50
Anthony: Eric, is Freddy Galvis your favorite player? Seems like your type of dude

6:50
Eric A Longenhagen: He’s in the team picture

6:52
Eric A Longenhagen: I don’t have a pop time on the Manny Pina CS of Galvis (who had a great jump off Knebel), but he hosed him and we’re going to extras in SD.

6:53
Sheryl Ring: Hello everyone!

6:54
Roger Cormier: Hey is this the mlb dot tv complaint line?

6:54
Sheryl Ring: I’m here with Miss Molly, the Official Chihuahua of FanGraphs, to take you into the wee hours of Opening Day.

6:54
Cubbieschig: Hello

6:54
Sheryl Ring: Hello to you, too!

6:55
Brandon M: Roger you are officially my favorite MLB predictor

6:55
Travis Sawchik: STANTON

6:55
Roger Cormier: Good golly, hello Miss Molly

6:55
Eric A Longenhagen: Brad Hand hit Jesus Aguilar on the foot, which isn’t allowed in baseball or a world with nominative determinism

6:56
Sheryl Ring: Stanton’s pretty good at that whole “hitting a baseball” thing.

6:56
Roger Cormier: Thanks, Brandon? I love that I get to cover the Dodgers, my favorite team, this evening

6:56
Travis Sawchik: Hey, look, reinforcements have arrived! The honorable Roger Cormier and Sheryl Ring

6:56
Travis Sawchik: I enjoyed chatting, folks. Enjoy the rest of this Very Long Chat … Enjoy Baseball. It’s already insane

6:56
Dave: Stanton, no. 2 to the 2nd deck just to the right of dead center. 434 ft at 109.4 mph

6:56
Roger Cormier: I’m afraid to ask but did Mr. Sterling make the same call as last time?

6:58
Ayye: You’re telling me Stanton is not Italian?

6:58
Sheryl Ring: Don’t ask me…mlb.tv gave me the Toronto feed’

6:58
Roger Cormier: This is what I am telling you

6:58
Roger Cormier: So apparently it’s not just me and everyone’s mlb.tv doesn’t have the multiple game viewing option?

6:59
Sheryl Ring: Meanwhile, the CWS/KC score is what everyone expected Duffy vs. Shields

6:59
Sheryl Ring: Roger, you are not alone

6:59
Roger Cormier: 🙂

6:59
Statcast Truther: Can someone explain how Stanton’s HR was “only” 434 feet, when it was second deck above the 400 sign? There’s simply no way that wouldn’t have gone more than 34 feet past the fence #thetruthisoutthere

6:59
Eric A Longenhagen: Scully and I are on it.

6:59
B. Ryce Hammer’s Luscious Locks: looks like the Whitesox ate their wheaties this morning!

6:59
Roger Cormier: Game is in Canada. Different measurements.

7:00
Sheryl Ring: You know, the White Sox could be interesting this season.

7:01
Sheryl Ring: And the Red Sox bullpen could be interesting in a different way.

7:01
Anthony: So, Matt Davidson’s gonna hit 387 homers this year for the hell of it

7:02
Roger Cormier: This tweet from Anthony Simon was from one hour ago: “Matt Davidson of the White Sox is the first player since @statcast debuted to hit multiple HR of at least 114 mph in the same game.”

7:02
Roger Cormier: Giancarlo who?

7:03
Sheryl Ring: Nick Markakis is batting cleanup.

7:03
Sean: This may surprise you but Canada actually uses the average moose as their common measurement

7:04
Roger Cormier: there’s no such thing as an “average moose”

7:05
Eric: @Roger – if you paste the tweet url into the chat, it will be automatically imported for you!

7:05
Roger Cormier: maybe i like copying and pasting things?

7:05
Sheryl Ring: I’m not sure what’s more amazing on opening day 2018: Markakis batting cleanup or Rob Refsnyder DHing.

7:06
Off Topic: Do the yankees have a low enough payroll to add Machado and still stay under the cap this year?

7:06
Sheryl Ring: If they were to add Machado at the deadline, I *think* the answer is yes.

7:06
Not Finnigan: Don’t forget Jose Urena starting on opening day, Sheryl

7:07
Roger Cormier: Aaron Nola taken out really early today, facing a cleanup hitting Markakis

7:07
Sheryl Ring: Urena did “win” 14 games last year. With a FIP of 5.2

7:07
J: is Ty Blach the worst opening day starter this year?

7:08
Roger Cormier: this year?

7:08
Sheryl Ring: No.

7:08
Sheryl Ring: James Shields started today.

7:08
Roger Cormier: That is the correct answer

7:09
jj: James Shields will get the W today

7:09
Sheryl Ring: Kill the win. NOW.

7:09
Roger Cormier: Certainly stop flying it

7:10
Sheryl Ring: If I were forced to start one of Urena, Blach, and Shields, I’d actually start Blach. Then I’d probably wonder what bizarre universe forced me to make such a depressing choice.

7:10
Not Finnigan: I’ll never forget Drew Hutchison starting on opening day for Toronto in 2015 and starting opening day for AAA Buffalo in 2016

7:10
Sheryl Ring: I always thought Hutchison would be good one day. 🙁

7:11
Roger Cormier: Bartolo Colon was the OD starter for the 2015 Mets. Buddy Carlyle got the save.

7:12
Bernie Brewer: 1915 Mets you mean?

7:12
Roger Cormier: No Bernard, I did not

7:12
rkn: Yesss the dulcet tones of A-Rod

7:13
Roger Cormier: dul·cet
?d?ls?t/Submit
adjective
(especially of sound) sweet and soothing (often used ironically).

7:13
Sheryl Ring: Brad Hand’s breaking ball is a thing of beauty

7:15
Roger Cormier: Are the Royals allowed to watch it?

7:15
Eric A Longenhagen: Things are getting wacky in Philly. Braves have climbed within 1, have runner on third (Bourjos) Bot 8 with one out.

7:16
Eric A Longenhagen: game-tying single for Preston Tucker

7:16
Roger Cormier: so pulling Nola after 68 pitches was…bad?

7:17
Ian Gunn: Are the jays destined for mediocrity?

7:17
Roger Cormier: Only if they believe it to be true

7:18
Roger Cormier: And if Donaldson’s shoulder doesn’t improve

7:18
The only guy from ND: The best part of opening day is that no game is truly meaningless, right? Projections haven’t yet borne out (or failed to borne out).

7:19
Roger Cormier: that’s up there. top 3 reason

7:19
Roger Cormier: i like the bunting. obviously the decoration not the baseball play.

7:19
Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: Where are we on silent MLB.TV commercial breaks vs old game highlights? Team silence reporting in.

7:20
Nate: The Dodgers, who are probably the reason we have a mound limit rule, are keeping track of them on the scoreboard…

7:20
Roger Cormier: Definitely Team Silence. They replay the same few old game highlights all dang year long

7:20
Sheryl Ring: I can’t wait to see what happens with the first seventh mound visit

7:20
Roger Cormier: They have them on every scoreboard, I believe

7:21
spongebob baseball meme: what’s the most opening day extra inning games? 2 so far with two more fast approaching.

7:21
Roger Cormier: And one ongoing in San Diego

7:22
Moltar: I’m team generic music. The same 3 ads or highlights gets real old real quick but the dead-silence to game action is jarring so…

7:22
Roger Cormier: the truth is in the silence

7:22
JJ: Is it me or have the umpires (across a few of the games today) been calling the up and in pitch a strike more liberally today?

7:22
Cubbieschig: Not just you

7:23
jj: Ohtani all 4 PA grounders to the right side

7:23
Jkim: Totally overreacting but Ty Blach looks like prime Cliff Lee so far.

7:23
Roger Cormier: Has Cliff Lee ever walked Yasiel Puig?

7:23
Sheryl Ring: Has Cliff Lee ever walked anyone>

7:24
Roger Cormier: No. How he is not in the HOF is baffling.

7:25
Big Joe Mufferaw: As a yankee fan, how excited should I be for this season?

7:25
Sheryl Ring: I am a Yankees fan. I am irrationally excited.

7:26
Roger Cormier: I am not. I am envious. Grr.

7:26
Not Finnigan: Boooooo, booooo, boo the Yankees

7:27
Roger Cormier: Chase Headley is up, bases loaded, 1 out in the 11th. tie game. dramaaaaaa

7:27
The only guy from ND: Can you imagine being a Yankees fan and having to live with yourself every day?

7:27
Sheryl Ring: I don’t have to imagine.

7:27
Stove: Sheryl, as a Twins fan I’m contractually obligated to give each one of your articles a thumbs-down from this point forward

7:27
Roger Cormier: i literally can’t

7:28
Sheryl Ring: That’s fine, Stove…it means you are reading them.

7:28
Sheryl Ring: 😀

7:28
Big Joe Mufferaw: That Bullpen! That Offense! and let’s not forget the Starting staff!

7:28
Brandon M: Yankees fans are so obnoxious.

7:28
Eric A Longenhagen: ^Those two were back to back in the queue, I swear

7:29
Roger Cormier: 5-1-3 double play. Headley has failed. To the 12th

7:29
Roger Cormier: 5-2-3 i mean

7:29
Nick: I remember when Cliff Lee walked JP Arencibia…

7:29
Roger Cormier: why must you lie, Nick the Liar?

7:29
Eric A Longenhagen: Arodys Viazcaino is pumping 97-99mph gas past Phillies hitters right now.

7:30
Roger Cormier: Evan Longoria popped up in his Giants debut.

7:30
Sheryl Ring:

Basically, Chase Headley does what Chase Headley has done for a decade. Good player, but put him in a spot late to… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
29 Mar 2018
7:31
Cubbieschig: Roger, Sheryl you rock

7:31
Sheryl Ring: We do. I agree. Thank you.

7:31
Big Joe Mufferaw: If MadBum comes back and shows he’s good and healthy by the deadline, Is Clint Frazier, Chance Adams and Billy McKinney (3 mlb ready prospects) enough to pry him away?

7:32
Eric A Longenhagen: Vizcaino went 3-1 changeup to Carlos Santana, ran it right off his hip and into the zone, then blew 99 past him to end t9

7:32
Sheryl Ring: I wouldn’t give that much. I’m not sold he’ll be the MadBum of old. Hand injuries can linger.

7:33
Roger Cormier: He has a limited no trade clause. I dunno if he would want to move. Like, i can’t picture him driving an ATV 3000 miles

7:33
spongebob baseball meme: yes the hot takes are here.. baseball’s back baby

7:33
kaiser: listening to giants-dodgers. belt is 3-51 against Kershaw with 27 strikeouts.

7:33
Roger Cormier: This is…true. He has one double though

7:33
Sheryl Ring: I feel obligated to report that Miss Molly is mesmerized by Clayton Kershaw

7:33
Roger Cormier: and he just got a single off of him

7:34
Moltar: Make that 4-52

7:34
kaiser: just got a hit 4-52 (belt)

7:34
John Jaso Jingle Heimer Schmidt: Giants fan here: I’d imagine the Giants have to hear “Gleyber Torres” to move Bumgarner and not see the city burn down.

7:34
Roger Cormier: They should try saying “Gleyber Torres” three times in front of a mirror

7:36
Big Joe Mufferaw: Who’s the hitter you feared the most while watching baseball? (meaning he was not on your team)

7:36
Roger Cormier: Larry Jones

7:36
Sheryl Ring: By far, Manny Ramirez

7:36
Sheryl Ring: Indians and Red Sox versions. An amazing pure hitter

7:37
Eric A Longenhagen: Johnny Damon during ’09 WS. Was locked in.

7:37
Big Joe Mufferaw: A-Rod even predicting pitches

7:38
Roger Cormier: yeah he’ll do that

7:38
Sheryl Ring: People rag on A-Rod, but he’s one of the smartest baseball people around.

7:38
John Jaso Jingle Heimer Schmidt: 33% of Kershaw’s swing and misses have been to Buster Posey and the pitcher.

7:38
Sheryl Ring: It’s *not even* April

7:38
kaiser: answer to Big Joe Mufferaw. Gotta be Barry Bonds. Teams would walk him with bases loaded.

7:39
Roger Cormier: Arcia singled in Choi. Brewers up 2-1.

7:40
Roger Cormier: I just got a DM from MLB Fan Support. That’s creepy.

7:40
Andrew: As a Brewers fan I hated seeing prime Pujols

7:41
Sean: So uhhhh… Markakis huh

7:41
jj: Nick Markakis clean-up hitter!!

7:41
ATL: Braves going 162-0 Markakis for HOF

7:41
Sheryl Ring: Markakis must’ve read my RF write-up.

7:42
Roger Cormier: Gabe Kapler outsmarted by Brian Snitker. You hate to see it.

7:42
Eric A Longenhagen: Nick Markakis walks it off for the Braves. Gabe Kapler’s decision making is going to be skewered by the Philly media. I’m out for today, enjoy the rest of the chat, all!

7:42
Roger Cormier: Mean Markakis did not want a 4th extra inning game today

7:43
cb: How many walks will Freeman get before Acuna is batting cleanup?  2 per game? 3 per game?

7:43
Roger Cormier: a million!

7:43
Sean: Has Kemp changed? ESPN is really pushing this new look Matt Kemp thing right now

7:44
Sheryl Ring: Ty Blach just got Matt Kemp to swing like a pitcher.

7:44
rkn: Gabe Kapler is about to get ripped

7:44
Roger Cormier: An extra bowl of salad?

7:45
Roger Cormier: ESPN is promoting a Cardinals/Mets game tomorrow. This game does not exist.

7:45
Braves fan :: 162-0 baby

7:45
Jkim: Kemp really going for the worst defense at LF today

7:45
Roger Cormier: But Schwarber?

7:46
Sean: Is Roger Cormier a real person or just some really sarcastic robot?

7:46
Roger Cormier: I’m not sarcastic

7:46
Nate: Could the Angels move Ohtani from DH to P back to DH? Could they move him as much as they wish?

7:46
Roger Cormier: In one game? No

7:47
Roger Cormier: You lose the DH if your DH fields a position

7:47
Big Joe Mufferaw: Nick Markakis has more hits at this point than Molitor at the same age and point in their career (2052 to 1870)

7:47
Sheryl Ring: Nick Markakis is not going to the HoF

7:47
kaiser: Roger, can you tell me the pirates players that will lead the team to a wild card?

7:47
Roger Cormier: All of them. It would have to be a team effort.

7:48
woodberry: Bundy got 12 wiffs on his slider today. Is there still ace-lite potential with him?

7:48
Sheryl Ring: Yup. All he needs is health, and for the O’s to let him use his cutter.

7:48
Big Joe Mufferaw: What IF! Markakis gets to 3000 hits with a similar batting line, is he a HOFer? Still no right??

7:49
Sheryl Ring: Still no. Markakis is at 25 WAR, 17 of which accrued through his first five seasons.

7:49
Sheryl Ring: Molitor had 67 WAR

7:49
Roger Cormier: The Brewers have just won

7:49
Roger Cormier: their perfect year remains possible

7:49
Andrew: Roger is actually former Cardinal and Philly pitcher Rheal Cormier

7:50
Roger Cormier: Nobody ever brings up Lance Cormier. It’s always Rheal, even though he was a lefty and everybody knows I am not.

7:50
Roger Cormier: a lefty

7:50
MRDXol: this seems like a good time to mention that i’ve had a community piece arguing for Davidson’s breakout this year pending for a while

7:50
John Jaso Jingle Heimer Schmidt: The Giants defense isn’t talked about enough.

7:50
Sheryl Ring: AND, Markakis has been a below average hitter three of the past five years. After his rookie year, Molitor didn’t do that in a full season until the last two years of his career.

7:50
Roger Cormier: Would a D-FENCE chant suffice?

7:51
Bernie Brewer: Brewers win!

7:51
Roger Cormier: or do they lose?

7:52
Roger Cormier: Sterling said he called Berlitz Language Center and talked to an Italian master about the pronunciation. The result: “Giancarlo, non si può de stoparlo! It is a Stantonian home run.”

“No one will understand it,” Sterling said of the call he broke out when Stanton went deep in his first at-bat as a Yankee in the top of the first on Thursday against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. “I hope it works.”

7:54
Nate: I’ve noticed something: batters attack Kershaw early in the count, and Kershaw often gets a lot of innings because he doesn’t get a big pitch count.

Is there a reason they don’t try and take him to longer counts?

7:54
Roger Cormier: i’m guessing because kershaw throws first pitch strikes a lot?

7:54
Sheryl Ring:

#OpeningDay. Tie ballgame. Bottom of the 9th.

Take it away Nick! #ChopOn

29 Mar 2018
7:54
Roger Cormier: and then you’re behind 0-1 on Clayton Kershaw

7:55
Guest: He becomes much harder to hit when you’re down in the count later in the AB

7:55
Jeff: I pity the yankee fans that spend their lives listening to John Sterling. We might not have the ringz and the glory, but at least we have Gary, Keith and Ron.

7:55
Roger Cormier: I…kind of would like some of the ringz

7:56
Moltar: Kershaw is Good

7:56
Roger Cormier: funny looking home run

7:56
Hingle McCringleberry: I’d rather get out after Kershaw throws 4-5 pitches than when he throws 1-2.

7:57
Sheryl Ring: I imagine most hitters would. Unfortunately, Kershaw’s command is such that if you stand there while three pitches go by, there’s a decent chance you’re out.

7:57
Tyler Flowers: Kershaw was clogging the bases …

7:58
Jkim: I just had Vietnam like flashbacks when they played that world series montage as a dodger fan

7:58
Roger Cormier: it was weird that they used “All Along The Watchtower”…

7:58
Randy: MLBTV *keeps* playing World Series montages. It’s awful.

7:58
jj: Mike Trout 0 – 6

7:58
Roger Cormier: of course. i picked him for MVP.

7:58
Sheryl Ring: The Orioles have had three straight opening day walk-offs, apparently

7:59
Roger Cormier: that’s pretty cool

8:00
Randy: Trout only went 0-6 three times last year.

8:00
Roger Cormier: that’s three times more than i would have guessed

8:00
Carson Cistulli Sabathia: Roger picking Trout was his only orthodox pick

8:00
Roger Cormier: I think I picked Acuna for rookie of the year

8:00
Tyler Flowers: I picked Markakis for MVP. Feeling pretty good right now.

8:01
Sheryl Ring: Don’t worry. By September, Trout will be hitting .400/.550/.850 with 65 homers and 70 steals, and have gone sixty straight games without a strikeout.

8:01
Roger Cormier: You probably feel better than Tyler Flowers right now

8:01
Big Joe Mufferaw: Well now Markakis is a HOFer right? lol

8:01
Carson Cistulli Sabathia: I’m calling it: Cody Bellinger walkoff grand slam…

8:01
sam: do i drop Matz or Estrada for strickland?

8:01
Roger Cormier: no

8:01
Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: MLB.TV, I have marked the Rays as my favorite team. Please stop showing me Ortiz hitting a homer off of Matt Moore.

8:01
Roger Cormier: but it was so gooooood

8:02
Randy: I’m sorry, it was only twice. And he never had a totally unproductive 0-6 (both times, he had a SB and at least one run)

8:02
Roger Cormier: The Randy Sports Bureau taking a hit right now

8:02
Tyler Flowers: I’ve felt wrist … *Worse.

8:02
Carson Cistulli Sabathia: Does Kershaw look less confident or is this just me?

8:02
Sheryl Ring: It’s *not even* April

8:03
Roger Cormier: It’s probably his facial hair

8:03
Roger Cormier: not as scruffy as you last saw him

8:03
Big Joe Mufferaw: Some guy in my fantasy league dropped Acuna, the day MadBum went on the DL (I owned MadBum), I hit the lottery right?

8:03
Roger Cormier: yes. congratulations.

8:04
Dave: I was offered Odubel Herrera in exchange for giving up Jose Berrios. I say no to that, right?

8:05
Roger Cormier: you do, but politely

8:05
Carson Cistulli Sabathia: kershaw got a swinging strike!

8:05
Roger Cormier: he’s gonna make it after all

8:06
Carson Cistulli Sabathia: No roger hes not Hunter Pence is suddenly good

8:06
Roger Cormier: The new left fielder Hunter Pence?

8:07
Sheryl Ring: Hunter Pence, before last year, had been good for a long time.

8:07
Dave: Will do. I’ve never met the guy, but we have mutual friends. Would be a bad look, ya know? Thanks!

8:07
Sheryl Ring: He’s just hurt a lot.

8:07
kaiser: another stellar belt Kershaw matchup. im taking a Kershaw strikeout.

8:07
Not Finnigan: 5 man infield in OAK

8:07
Roger Cormier: The Astros laugh at your 5 man infield

8:08
Roger Cormier: A’s have 1st and 3rd 1 out, bot 11, Semien batting

8:08
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Rodriguez has a surprisingly soothing voice, I hate him less now

8:08
Sheryl Ring: Posted for the screen name.

8:08
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Awww thanks Sheryl appreciate it

8:08
Sheryl Ring: No problem.

8:08
Roger Cormier: Figured

8:09
Big Joe Mufferaw: Will A-Rods Broadcasting career impact his HOF votes???

8:09
kaiser: What’s better: 5 man infield or 4 man outfield?

8:09
Roger Cormier: the latter, because it’s newer

8:09
Roger Cormier: It shouldn’t, but it might

8:09
Sheryl Ring: You know, I get asked this a lot. I don’t think so, but I don’t see a lot of the “steroid era” guys getting their images rehabbed like A-Rod has.

8:09
Roger Cormier: The Athletics have walked it off

8:09
Randy: A-Rod sounds like a salesman trying to sell me A-Rod.

8:11
Roger Cormier: it’s working

8:11
Billy Beane: Marcus Semien gets pie today. Early favorite for the MVP based on the numbers today. #clutch #analysis #re2pect

8:11
Mike Jones: Grandal: do you like the goo goo dolls?
Kershaw: yeah, why?
Grandal: why don’t you slide?

8:11
Roger Cormier: That’s funny because Kershaw would never admit he likes them

8:12
Poor Man’s Rick Reed: Who’s keeping track of ARod’s pitch guessing? It’s fun when he’s right, but I feel like he’s been wrong more often so far

8:12
Roger Cormier: I’m focusing now. ARod’s game is the only game in baseball for the next two hours.

8:13
Sheryl Ring: Great. We can all be sold A-Rods then.

8:13
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Jessica Mendoza is also good at this whole announcing thing, no?

8:13
Sheryl Ring: I think so.

8:13
Roger Cormier: i also think so

8:13
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Poor Marlins Man

8:13
Roger Cormier: He’s quite rich actually. Rich in friends.

8:13
Sheryl Ring: He made a $200,000 offer for those seats. He’ll be fine.

8:14
Andrew: Kershaw looks more like an Incubus fan

8:14
Buster Posey: baby’s Blach ballon makes her fly …

8:14
Billy Beane: Matt Olson’s going to hit 50 bombs this year.

8:15
Roger Cormier: Whatever tomorrow brings, Kershaw will be there

8:15
Big Joe Mufferaw: I like this espn crew. Way better than Joe “new players are not good” Morgan

8:15
Roger Cormier: Are we allowed to bring up Joe Morgan on fangraphs dot com?

8:15
Sheryl Ring: You know? I wouldn’t be shocked. I wouldn’t *expect* 50 dingers from anyone not named Stanton, but it wouldn’t shock me

8:15
Nate: If the Giants win this, I’m changing my Fantasy team name to “Baby Got Blach”

8:15
Roger Cormier: You…don’t have to do that

8:16
Sheryl Ring: The funniest thing about Joe Morgan to me is that he is the classic player who is better when viewed through sabermetrics.

8:16
Billy Beane: Over under on HRs hit by guys named ‘Matt’ in Oakland (Olson, Chapman, Joyce) this year is set at 74.5. What you got?

8:16
Roger Cormier: what about over/under .5 one of the Matts changing his name? i’d go over there

8:17
Sheryl Ring: I’ll take the under.

8:17
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Over to Beane by a lot

8:17
Sheryl Ring: 30 each for Chapman and Olson. But Joyce could struggle to get to double digits.

8:18
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Olson will get more than 30

8:18
Sheryl Ring: 30*ish*

8:19
Roger Cormier: Cody Bellinger tried his darnedest to launch that very low pitch

8:19
Sheryl Ring: Dodgers left their bats in Arizona.

8:20
Yes: Do the Dodgers hitters know they are facing Ty Blach and not Madison Bumgarner?

8:20
Sheryl Ring: I assume their pitching coach informed them. You never can tell, however.

8:21
8:22
Billy Beane: Joyce had 25 bombs last year. I think he’s a lock for 12-15 barring injury with an upside of 20ish again. BoMel loves him and he even (regrettaly) plays him against LHP, so he’ll get the PAs to get some.

8:22
Sheryl Ring: I could see it, but I could also see the young guys coming up and pushing him aside by June.

8:22
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Any info on if these balls are “juiced” this year/day?

8:23
Sheryl Ring: Nick Markakis hit a home run. The ball is juiced.

8:23
Roger Cormier: Only one team scored double digits today. But it was the White Sox.

8:23
Jkim: I thought i was ready for baseball again but every play reminds me of some play that occured in the WS and i feel like crap.

8:23
Roger Cormier: Might be your diet

8:23
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: I think the Dodgers are trying too hard to take pitches right now.

8:23
Roger Cormier: You simply can’t do that against Ty Blach

8:24
Jkim: That bellinger fly ball reminded me of his huuuge warning track fly ball in g2 that wouldve beeen a walkoff

8:24
Jkim: The lesson: baseball is torture. And great

8:24
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Very good point

8:24
Buster Posey: We dressed Blach up to look kind of like Bumgarner. We also told him to bellow after strikeouts and glare at everyone, but most especially Puig.

8:24
Shawn: I’d love to have been a fly on the wall for that ARod-J Lo’s dad Keith Hernandez conversation.

8:24
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Baseball is great because it’s torture, Jkim!

8:25
Roger Cormier: Well that was weird

8:25
Jkim: Roger im on a 1800 cal diet to cut fown for the summer to look like matt “i-lost-40lbs” kemp thank you very much

8:25
Roger Cormier: BSOML?

8:25
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: I’m Paniking (not original)

8:26
Sheryl Ring: Wow. Joe Panik homered off of Kershaw.

8:26
kaiser: My friend just trolled brewers fans. He played go cubs go at the wisconsin bar after the brewers won in extras!

8:26
Roger Cormier: He trolled the world. That song is bad.

8:27
Yes: Kershaw leans his entire body over during his windup for that drop down pitch he does and it totally gives it away

8:27
Sheryl Ring:

8:27
Roger Cormier: Just because you know it’s coming doesn’t mean you can hit it

8:27
Sheryl Ring: For Roger.

8:27
Roger Cormier: It’s playing in my head already

8:27
Anonymous: PANIK AT THE FRIS- you know what? No.  I’m better than this.

8:27
Roger Cormier: I appreciate it. New song in my brain.

8:28
kaiser: I am just surprised it is in the bar playlist

8:28
Sheryl Ring: The Giants will have a better offense than people realize, but Ty Blach won’t do this every five days. Cueto is the most important person in this team.

8:28
Roger Cormier: It’s Go Cubs Go and What’s New Pussycat?

8:28
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Is Kershaw good anymore?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

8:29
Roger Cormier: “Where was *I* when Clayton Kershaw stopped being good? In the Fangraphs chat room. Humblebrag, I know.”

8:30
Not Finnigan: And one (1) It’s Not Unusual

8:30
Billy Beane: How much change to you get when you pay $0.95 for something?   Panik-el. (I’m not better than this)

8:30
Roger Cormier: That’s a very on #brand joke for you, Mr. Beane

8:30
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: LOL Dodgers scoreboard has mound visits on it

8:30
Yes: Kershaw is afraid of Posey.

8:30
Beach: Any stats so far on average game length with the new mound visit rules?

8:31
Not Finnigan: Kershaw’s curve is still good imo

8:31
Sheryl Ring: Kershaw is still good. It’s March.

8:31
Bill Rott: What’s the worst you’ve ever felt about a loss that was mot

8:31
Roger Cormier: I’m guessing the time of game stats aren’t to be trusted today because of all the extra inning games

8:31
Sheryl Ring: Worst I’ve ever felt about a loss was the 2001 World Series, game 7.

8:31
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Beach it’s been one day

8:31
Cubbieschig: It’s early lol

8:32
Bill Rott: What’s the worst you’ve ever felt about a loss that was not by the team you root for?

8:32
Roger Cormier: that was a great game imho

8:32
Sheryl Ring: Oh, it was a TERRIFIC game. But I hated it all the same.

8:32
Roger Cormier: Bill that is a good question and I am trying to think of my answer

8:33
Bill Rott: Rangers 2011 WS game 6 for me. I love Nelson cruz

8:33
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Panik’s home run reminded me a lot of Bird’s off Miller

8:33
Sheryl Ring: Worst I’ve ever felt about a loss that wasn’t my team? That had to be Rich Hill last year.

8:34
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: THANK YOU SHERYL

8:34
Sheryl Ring: You’re very welcome, of course.

8:35
Beach: Come on, what else is March baseball for other than drawing sweeping conclusions from SSS?

8:35
Sheryl Ring: The end of winter. The rite of renewal. Games that matter. Watching freakish athletes do things less than 0.001% of the population can do.

8:35
Jkim: Sheryl you’re not helping with this Dodger fan PTSD thing

8:36
Sheryl Ring: Sorry. Just answering Bill’s question. Blame him.

8:36
The old professor: Where does Kingery get regular at bats if Cesar Hernandez plays well?

8:36
Sheryl Ring: Third base and shortstop.

8:36
Evan Longoria: I hate the NL. I want to go home.

8:36
ryan: still can’t believe kemp is starting for the dodgers .

8:36
Roger Cormier: Believe it

8:37
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Joe Davis’ call of Chase Utley’s catch in the 8th inning of Rich Hill’s game is forever in my memory

8:37
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Jkim agreed

8:37
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Bill….

8:37
Cubbieschig: Don’t blame u

8:37
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: ARod: “He must have dinner reservations”

8:37
Sheryl Ring: If you squint, there’s a little Mark Buehrle in Blach. Work fast, change speeds, throw strikes.

8:38
Roger Cormier: Does he shake off his catcher?

8:38
Not Finnigan: Vasgersian-Mendoza-Arod is an 80-grade booth

8:38
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: He might pull Kershaw, good point Alex

8:38
Nate: Dodgers have the have a 90 wRC+ since 2016 against lefties. How on god’s green earth can one of baseball’s best teams support that?

8:38
Roger Cormier: They have

8:39
Concrete fan: Roger, what bets have you made with your colleagues on your prediction ballot?

8:39
Roger Cormier: Oh definitely none

8:39
Roger Cormier: Gambling is illegal

8:39
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Kershaw pitches more!

8:40
Sheryl Ring: Roger, Roger, Roger. Sports gambling is legal in Nevada.

8:40
Sheryl Ring: I wrote an article about that, Roger. Did you not read it?

8:40
Roger Cormier: I am no longer welcomed in Nevada

8:40
Roger Cormier: Nor am I allowed to read about Nevada

8:40
The old professor: I will miss the JPCrawford era

8:41
Sheryl Ring: Funny story. I once had a TSA agent ban me from Boston.

8:41
Sheryl Ring: Seriously.

8:41
Roger Cormier: That *is* a funny story

8:41
Roger Cormier: Two hits for Mr. Kershaw

8:41
Sheryl Ring: It was over, of all things, a fabric leaf.

8:41
Jkim: Dodgers were good vs lefties last season but apparently (from this extremely small sample size) we’re back to square one

8:41
Jkim: KERSHAW IS A BETTWR TWO WAY PLAYET THAN OHTANI

8:41
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Kershaw is the best hitter on the Dodgers!

8:41
The old professor: Maikel Franco was voted “ most likely to become E5 2.0”

8:42
Not Finnigan: The ultimate Ohtani show-up

8:42
Clayton Kershaw: Eat your heart out, Ohtani. I could have shown you how pitchers really hit.

8:42
Bill: Kershaw has more hits than the rest of his team

8:42
Roger Cormier: Let’s relax. They’re just singles he hit. Singles barely count these days.

8:43
Sheryl Ring: Matt Vasgersian just called home runs “big biys.”

8:43
Sheryl Ring: *boys

8:43
Not Finnigan: I didn’t even know you were allowed to hit singles anymore

8:43
Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: Not only is Kershaw choking up, but he is separating his hands. The new 2%.

8:43
Sheryl Ring: Does that make singles “toddlers”?

8:43
Emo Mike Trout: At least Ohtani had a hit today……

8:43
Nate: Is Kershaw’s BABIP even sustainable? C’mon now.

8:43
kaiser: Giants radio team says young catchers will have to weigh mound visits because of new rule. Must not have seen Willson’s comments who say he will go to the mount infinite times and you cannot stop him.

8:44
Roger Cormier: If he’s talking about Big Boy burgers than singles would be White Castle sliders

8:44
Roger Cormier: The Cardinals today had their whole infield in for a couple of visits. That was a little different.

8:44
ryan: where i come from “17 big boys” would be quite the order at the local frisch’s

8:46
Ohtani Kitean: So, you are limited to 6 mound visits, why not meet at, say, second base from now on

8:46
Sheryl Ring: I’m pretty sure the rules prohibit that.

8:47
Not Finnigan: Have the pitcher go to the catcher

8:47
Sheryl Ring: I’m actually really interested in how this gets enforced,

8:47
Concrete fan: SSS fun: Trout<Othani<Kershaw in terms of hitting

8:48
Roger Cormier: As am I. Seems like they are just going to see how teams try to work around the rule and adjust.

8:48
Sheryl Ring: Matt Vasgersian thinks that the best pitcher in baseball is “personal taste.”

8:49
Roger Cormier: If the pitcher walks over to the catcher he would have to ask for time and the ump could just not grant that i guess

8:49
alpha309: Are they really having a conversation about how Kershaw may not be the best pitcher in baseball?

8:49
Sheryl Ring: Yes. Yes, they are.

8:50
Roger Cormier: Did Ty Blach recently change his name to Clayton Kershaw? I didn’t think so

8:50
kaiser: I say just let the pitchers and catchers send messages via each’s apple watches.

8:50
ryan: not surprised he thinks the best pitcher in baseball is a “personal taste” thing, given that he equates homers with Big Boy burgers.

8:50
Sheryl Ring: And I could see an argument for Scherzer. *Maybe* a healthy Thor. But not MadBum or Verlander.

8:50
Roger Cormier: Theory: Matt is hungry

8:51
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Yay Ty Blach is gone!

8:51
Not Finnigan: Best pitchers go Kershaw, Scherzer, Kluber, Sale, Thor

8:51
ryan: take a drink every time Matt references anything loosely related to food.

8:51
Roger Cormier: it’d be more fitting if we ate a burger

8:52
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Roger my family is now grilling me on why I laughed so hard

8:52
Roger Cormier: Are you not usually amused?

8:52
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: I’m eating a burger in about a half hour when my UberEats arrives

8:52
Not Finnigan: Flip Kluber and Sale based on taste, I guess

8:52
Not Finnigan: Grilling you like a burger, perhaps?

8:52
Sheryl Ring: Welcome to BurgerGraphs, ladies and gentlemen.

8:53
Randy: Dodgers blow this game wide open against the Giants pen.

8:53
8:53
Roger Cormier: Notgraphs had to die so Burgergraphs can feed those starving for baseball

8:53
Randy: The single best way to speed up game times would be for umps to not allow hitters to call time, especially once the pitcher is about to begin his windup. Why are they not even considering this?

8:53
Rubber Sand: We may have overcooked the joke

8:53
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: RYAN

8:53
Cubbieschig: Yum

8:53
Nate: Too many big boys is bad on my Bartolo Colon…

8:54
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Randy I love your thinking

8:54
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: NATE

8:54
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Seager CRUSHED that

8:55
Roger Cormier: Asdrubal Cabrera called for time right when Carlos Martinez was ready to throw a pitch today. Threw him off. After the game the Mets admitted they were trying to get him to unravel because he does that sometimes. So no, I don’t know why they aren’t considering it.

8:55
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: You guys are all sick of me probably

8:55
Roger Cormier: Sick of cake? Not possible

8:56
Not Finnigan: Cake is overrated

8:56
Sheryl Ring: Cake, in fact, is best on the second day.

8:56
Sheryl Ring: Especially birthday cake.

8:56
Roger Cormier: Cake vs. Pie who ya got?

8:56
Sheryl Ring: After we are done with burgers, we should eat cake.

8:56
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Roger – I assure you..I am not cake..I wish

8:56
Sheryl Ring: Pie!

8:56
Sheryl Ring: Thank you Roger.

8:56
Sheryl Ring: Pie.

8:56
kaiser: cake

8:56
Not Finnigan: Pie in a goddamn landslide

8:56
Roger Cormier: Get a load of this sentient cake trying to tell me he is not a cake

8:56
Randy: Are we talking about Felix Pie?

8:56
Cubbieschig: I like cake more

8:56
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Pie if it’s apple

8:57
Rubber Sand: Why must we choose?

8:57
kaiser: but I prefer savory foods more than sweets

8:57
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Puig has no plate discipline now

8:57
Not Finnigan: Not even a question

8:57
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: It’s a matter of personal preference, just like pitchers

8:57
Sheryl Ring: Sacrilege, kaiser.

8:57
Not Finnigan: Haha, “now” re:Puig

8:58
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Nate lol

8:58
Randy: Am I dumb to be excited to watch Yonder Alonso tonight?

8:58
alpha309: is Josh Osich really that hard to say?

8:59
Roger Cormier: Randy I don’t know you very well

8:59
Roger Cormier: But no I don’t think you’re dumb to be excited about that

8:59
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Sheryl and Roger y’all need regular weekly chats

8:59
Roger Cormier: The cake has spoken

9:00
Randy: Here’s one thing about me: I like the 3D strikezone thing on ESPN.

9:00
Sheryl Ring: I cannot argue with the Cake.

9:00
Seth: So if the Reds haven’t played can we really call it opening day? This is basically spring training++

9:00
Sheryl Ring: The games count. Ergo…Opening Day.

9:00
Roger Cormier: Good point. I’m old enough to remember the Reds always having the first game of the year

9:00
Roger Cormier: (I am 8000 years old)

9:01
alpha309:

9:01
Roger Cormier: Mark Grudzielanek. Great March hitter.

9:01
Sheryl Ring: Mark Loretta too.

9:02
Randy: Mark Grudzielanek: No Jeff Kent

9:02
Nate: I’d pay to hear Caray take a try at Marc Rzeczynski

9:02
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Fangraphs should start a broadcasting channel that displays sabermetric stats instead of BA/HR/RBI/OPS

9:02
Conner from AZ: Osich is trying really hard to see how far Belly can hit a fastball

9:03
Roger Cormier: “Marc Res…Marc Resin…they call him ‘Scrabble'”

9:03
Sheryl Ring: As much as I’d love that, there are copyright concerns Cake.

9:03
Roger Cormier: Would not have killed Bellinger to just go for a base hit in the gap there

9:03
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Bellinger struck out – flashbacks ahhhh

9:04
Sheryl Ring: It might have, Roger…it might have.

9:04
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Sheryl any advice for law school? (not joking I swear)

9:04
Roger Cormier: End every sentence with “(not joking I swear)”

9:04
Rubber Sand: OPS isn’t a bad stat at all IMO.

9:04
Roger Cormier: it’s not bad

9:04
Conner from AZ: ESPN lists OPS as the first stat on the hitter’s line when someone steps in the box! Progress is being made!

9:05
Roger Cormier: Didn’t Fox Sports 1 have a Statcast…cast a couple of times?

9:05
Nate: Sam Miller going to ESPN wasn’t in vain…

9:06
Sheryl Ring: Top three rules for law school. 1) Go to whichever school offers you the best financial aid package and is cheapest. As long as it’s accredited, it’ll do fine unless you want to be a SCOTUS justice. 2) Work for a law firm while in law school. Law school teaches you almost literally nothing about being a lawyer. 3) When they tell you to outline, don’t. Study however you study best. You can’t learn a bunch of really complicated gobbledeegook whilst also re-learning how to study.

9:06
Cake’s Sister: I’m internet famous by association

9:07
Rubber Sand: OPS is almost woba, and it is accepted by most fans. tbh I would rather have a telecast show OPS than Statcast. OPS+ would be nice though…

9:07
Klubot3000: Great advice, Sheryl! 100% agree. Good luck, Cake is.

9:07
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: She is my sister actually

9:07
Sheryl Ring: Thank you Klubot. And Cake (and anyone else)…feel free to DM me on Twitter if you want to talk more.

9:07
Roger Cormier: That’s wild

9:08
Roger Cormier: If anybody wants advice on how not to become a lawyer, hit me up

9:08
Sheryl Ring: My wife, who is much smarter than me, is not a lawyer. I often say that is because she is too smart to be a lawyer.

9:09
Brandon M: Any advice for pharmacy school, Sheryl?

9:09
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: I mean I’m not sure but I just got a text that said “Fangraphs chat is great today” and I told her who I was and….

9:09
Rubber Sand(apparently OPS guy): I don’t believe it Cake. Both of you say the exact same thing at the exact same time so Roger and Sheryl can see.

9:09
Sheryl Ring: Talk to a pharmacist. I believe that is good advice.

9:09
Roger Cormier: don’t get high on your own supply

9:09
S: Martinez, Severino, or Gray? (not fantasy)

9:10
Randy: This is cool:

Baseball nerds: The Dodger Stadium RF scoreboard has a new layout for 2018, and now features OPS+, WAR, pitch type,… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
29 Mar 2018
9:10
Sheryl Ring: Which Gray? Assuming Jonathan, I’ll take Sevy. Assuming Sonny, I’ll still take Sevy.

9:10
ryan: @sheryl my dad worked at the law firm that acts as outside counsel for MiLB, if that’s the sort of thing you’d be interested to hear more about via DM

9:10
Sheryl Ring: I would! I’m on twitter @Ring_Sheryl.

9:10
Cake’s Sister: It’s true

9:10
Not Finnigan: Can I get tips for journalism school?

9:11
Conner from AZ: This is a little off topic, but Miles Mikolas is gonna be a stud right? I watched a couple of hist starts this spring and was totally sold on his stuff. He looks incredibly nasty. I’m all-in

9:11
Roger Cormier: Some people say it’s a complete waste of time

9:11
Sheryl Ring: I like Mikolas. I think he could be Colby Lewis 2.0, which is pretty solid.

9:11
alpha309: Is this a career advice site now?

9:11
Roger Cormier: I’m not sold on him. But we’ll see.

9:11
Joe: No one ever asks me about my Underwater Basketweaving degree

9:11
Rubber Sand: Thank you Randy. And you guys are destroying my resolve to get more education. 🙂

9:11
Sheryl Ring: Only until we finish our burgers.

9:12
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: It’s very sad that Homer Bailey is starting an opening day against Mad Max

9:13
dodger fan: i miss morrow

9:13
Randy: I’m so glad that I’m finished with grad school forever. What an awful experience.

9:13
Bob: Ty Blach is beating Clayton Kershaw, so maybe not so sad.

9:13
Billy Beane: Roger, what do you think of Ulysses? I personally prefer Faulkner if I want stream of consciousness. I’ll take my answer off-air.

9:13
Billy Beane: Hey Sheryl, can I get some advice on how to best prepare a roux? Also, what temperature should I set my thermostat to in my house in winter?

9:13
Roger Cormier: Yeah Ulysses gets old real quick

9:13
Sheryl Ring: Re: roux. Using butter that isn’t spoiled. Re: thermostat. 68 degrees.

9:14
Roger Cormier: Gimme sound and gimme fury

9:14
Not Finnigan: Should I reheat my pizza from earlier today or eat it cold?

9:14
Roger Cormier: Reheat. You deserve it.

9:15
Sheryl Ring: Wait…I thought we were eating burgers?

9:15
Bob: Billy Beane: Joe Morgan says, “You probably like Moneyball more than Ulysses, because you wrote it.”

9:15
Billy Beane: 10 hour fangraphs chats are the best place for both player analysis and utter nonsense <3

9:15
Roger Cormier: Oh yeah, what’s your problem Finnigan?

9:16
Roger Cormier: Anybody else find it strange to see Longoria and Mccutchen in Giants uniforms?

9:16
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: #KeepNotGraphs – this chat is the GOAT

9:16
Da Bear: George Springer (HOU) and Tim Anderson (CWS) are both on pace for 162 Adam Dunn hat tricks this season. Who falls off that pace first?

9:16
Sheryl Ring: Oh I think Longoria is weirder than Cutch.

9:17
Not Finnigan: If I had a burger I’d eat it, but alas I do not

9:17
Roger Cormier: Saddest story ever

9:17
Sheryl Ring: www.grubhub.com

9:18
Roger Cormier: Springer…is better but he sure gets a ton of PAs doesn’t he? I’ll still say Springer

9:18
Bob: Yes, I just thought it was kind of sad to see them in Giants uniforms.

9:18
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Go to In-N-Out

9:18
Roger Cormier: animal styleeee

9:18
Sheryl Ring: I’ll say Springer too because Anderson is a bad hitter.

9:18
Roger Cormier: Chase Utley got a hit. I guess it’s not October.

9:19
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: LA proud

9:19
Randy: Chicago has some great food, but I sure do miss In-N-Out.

9:19
Not Finnigan: I live in a small town in northern Canada, neither In-N-Out or GrubHub are available to me

9:19
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: ouch Roger

9:19
Nate: “Swashbucklers” was not a word I expected to hear on a baseball game.

9:19
Roger Cormier: Too soon?

9:19
Roger Cormier: May I ask where in Northern Canada?

9:19
Sheryl Ring: Utley needs to be in the HoF

9:20
Bob: One hit closer to the Hall of Fame.

9:20
Roger Cormier: You two are hilarious

9:20
Randy: Utley would be a surefire HoFer if it weren’t for the Phillies screwing around with him because they wanted to give more ABs to Placido Polanco in the early 2000s.

9:20
Sheryl Ring: He is one anyway.

9:21
Sheryl Ring: 64 WAR. At his peak, five straight 7+ WAR seasons.

9:21
Roger Cormier: Ah ok. I have Canadian blood is why I asked but from New Brunswick.

9:21
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: What’s weird is seeing Watson as a Saint

9:21
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Giant*

9:21
Conner from AZ: When did Utley become the silver fox? It seemed like he was always Phillies Chase Utley and then one day he was suddenly old and now I feel old

9:21
kaiser: Anyone in chat been here the whole time? Get yourself a cookie!

9:22
Roger Cormier: Or a burger

9:22
Tim tebow : Would 32 team MLB thin out the league enough to bring back the 220-250 IP starter? Seeing pitchers gassed stinks but taking guys out after 85-90 pitches after six…feels lame.

9:22
Randy: Does 64 WAR get you into the Hall? That seems low.

9:22
Roger Cormier: It’s possible, Tim Tebow.

9:23
Roger Cormier: Even without the expansion, change is cyclical.

9:23
Sheryl Ring: Average HoF 2b is at 69 WAR.

9:23
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Taylor a great AB

9:23
Roger Cormier: You were saying?

9:23
Not Finnigan: I’ve been here all day, I’ve only moved from the couch to acquire pizza

9:23
kaiser: I’m off in 8 minutes. I keep hearing subway ads about their new wraps. I know Eno would be disappointment but he’s not here anymore.

9:23
Conner from AZ: And Mark Prior is a bullpen coach now. Where did my youth go?

9:24
Tim tebow : Chase Utley should lose 20 WAR for his game 2 NLDS play in 2015.  That puts him below 50 so he’s not a HOFer and yes that is how WAR works.

9:24
ryan: chris taylor strikes out and a-rod owes someone his house.

9:24
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: I got here at about 3:45 PST

9:24
Not Finnigan: Roger! Is your name pronounced Cormierrr or Corm-yay?

9:24
Roger Cormier: Neither!

9:24
Roger Cormier: Cor-me-aye

9:24
Jkim: Too patient that was middle middle.

Again WS flashbacks

9:25
Sheryl Ring: I actually think expansion would mean even shorter outings, because you’d need to find 15-ish more MLB-caliber starters, and there already aren’t enough to go around.

9:25
Roger Cormier: He was guessing and guess what he guessed wrong

9:25
Bob: Like Rheal.

9:25
Roger Cormier: Yes

9:25
Jkim: A-Rod called those 2 sliders.

I guess he’s been watching a lot of Romo in the offseason

9:26
Roger Cormier: Or watched Romo once

9:27
Bob: Is Romo now the Rays No. 5 starter?

9:27
Roger Cormier: No.3 starter

9:27
Shakespeare: Romo Romo wherefore art thou Romo

9:27
James Joyce: Don’t talk mess on my book

9:28
Roger Cormier: This is the most coherent sentence you’ve ever written, Joyce

9:28
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Just to remind everyone these announcers are great.  And..Ian Happ homered on the first pitch!

9:28
Roger Cormier: Does this chat have to end with talking about Ian Happ to give it a bookend?

9:28
Not Finnigan: Shakespeare and Joyce in one chat, how lucky are we?

9:29
Roger Cormier: Moderately

9:29
Sheryl Ring: We’d be really lucky to add references to Steinbeck and Doyle.

9:29
Juicy johnny : What part of New Brunswick you from

9:29
Bob: Has anyone mentioned yet that Dwight Evans led off the season with a HR against Jack Morris?

9:29
Roger Cormier: Jon Heyman did I think

9:29
Rubber Sand: Ryon Healy is my favorite player. I feel bad for myself too.

9:30
Roger Cormier: My father’s grandparents were from New Brunswick. I didn’t mean to imply I’m a True Canadian.

9:30
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Jessica Mendoza’s high fastball comment goes against the Jake Odorizzi article a few weeks ago

9:31
Bob: Non-Hall-of-Famer Dwight Evans homering off HOF’er Jack Morris.

9:31
kaiser: peace out fangraphers and company. time to get some grub and catch the late games!

9:31
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: We need a Dodgers walkoff today please

9:31
Roger Cormier: we do?

9:31
Nate: Kaiser…. makes me hungry for some rolls…

9:31
Conner from AZ: Just a reminder that the last time Trevor Story played an opening day in AZ he hit 2 HR’s

9:32
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Yes Roger for the good flashbacks

9:32
ryan: a-rod seems to have just implied we can’t tell how big and strong and wiry a player is if they’re wearing socks on the outside of their pants.

9:32
Davy Andrews: Hey Roger!

9:32
Roger Cormier: Hello Davy

9:32
Sheryl Ring: Socks are an excellent camouflage.

9:32
Not Finnigan: Goddamn there’s still one game left after this

9:32
Roger Cormier: Two

9:33
Roger Cormier: High fastballs are good to throw against launch angle practitioners. Who knew?

9:33
Conner from AZ: Ichiro has massive calves which sort of gets lost in the sock translation

9:33
Alvin Law: (This is actually still Davy.)

9:33
Roger Cormier: (Hi still Davy)

9:33
HankLloydWright: How many games would Mike Trout have to go without a hit for the Angels to bench him?

9:33
Roger Cormier: 162

9:33
steinbeck: “It has always been my private conviction that any man who puts his intelligence up against a fish and loses had it coming.”- my take on the Marlins this year

9:33
Hey buddy: If you pitched 200 innings, how many strikeouts could you get?

9:34
Roger Cormier: What took you so long to join a chat during a San Francisco game, steinbeck?

9:34
Sheryl Ring: I firmly believe this question to be a non sequitur. Because there is no way I’d get any *outs.*

9:34
Roger Cormier: I feel in my heart I would get one strikeout. Perhaps out of pity.

9:34
ryan: a favorite high school memory of mine is when my fellow infielders and i decided to play a “high sock” game. won via the mercy rule.

9:35
Roger Cormier: high school experiences are different yet the exact same

9:35
Sheryl Ring: Back in high school…I could actually hit a little bit.

9:36
Pie: Everyone I talk to thinks my Red Sox – AL East prediction is crazy. I’m not crazy, right?

9:36
Roger Cormier: I couldn’t hit a lick. Speaking of licks, Yasiel Puig did his thing again

9:36
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: Matt mentions Dwight Evans

9:36
Bob: Dwight Evans mention on ESPN!

9:36
ryan: another fun high school memory is this — my career ended on a throwing error in the city finals, allowing the walk-off winning run to score in extra innings. the player who scored: Andrew Benintendi.

9:36
Sheryl Ring: The Red Sox have Chris Sale and Mookie Betts. So no, you’re not crazy.

9:36
Nick Mar – Cake is Good: PUIG LICKS BAT NOOO FLASHBACKS

9:37
Davy Andrews: Steinbeck lived in NYC for a while (and Long Island). He helped build Madison Square Garden. It’s possible he ended up a Yankee/Giant/Dodger fan.

9:37
Sheryl Ring: The bat tastes like a burger.

9:37
Roger Cormier: I didn’t know that Davy.

9:38
Gary’s Son: i lick my television screen every time puig swings and misses.

9:38
Nate: Is it weird to root for guys only because they come from your state? (If you haven’t guessed, not many come from it)

9:38
Bob: I was in high school when Dwight Evans homered off Jack Morris. That’s why I remember it.

9:38
Not Finnigan: Does he know that Hickory bats don’t have a hickory smoked taste?

9:38
Roger Cormier: Theory: Yasiel Puig is also hungry

9:38
Sheryl Ring: How do you know that? How many bats have YOU tasted?

9:38
Roger Cormier: Which state, Nate?

9:39
Roger Cormier: I’m from New York so I just assume half of the players are from my state

9:39
HankLloydWright: I once tried to dunk on someone but he blocked it and jumped from one side of the court to the other. That person turned out to be Mike Trout.

9:39
Nate: Iowa.

9:39
Sheryl Ring: Mike Trout: the most interesting man in the world.

9:39
Pie: Sheryl, your logic is as comforting as ever

9:39
Friendly Friend: Hello Friends

9:39
Randy: Nate, everybody I knew in college from Hawaii LOVED Shane Victorino.

9:40
Roger Cormier: As Trout did this did he shout back “Sooooo long, Hank Llooooyd Wright”?

9:40
Not Finnigan: Doesn’t everyone love Victorino though

9:40
Roger Cormier: No

9:40
Randy: And Benny Agbayani is like Hawaiian Babe Ruth

9:40
Roger Cormier: A March legend

9:40
Sheryl Ring: Benny Agbayani. I feel old.

9:40
Rubber Sand: Does winning the Alaskan high school state squash championship equal winning the lottery?

9:40
Gary’s Son: i played high school basketball against brett lawrie. he was dunking on people in the 9th grade.

9:40
I drink Dodger Tears: Getting my glass ready

9:41
HankLloydWright: Yes, and he has a great singing voice. He also took a moment to give me a weather forecast. So well-rounded.

9:41
Roger Cormier: Wow!

9:41
Not Finnigan: For a while Brett Lawrie was my favourite player cause he was canadian and played in Toronto

9:41
Sheryl Ring: Brett Lawrie: the “next David Wright” 🙁

9:41
Roger Cormier: Will teams eventually just not field anybody when Cody Bellinger bats?

9:42
Not Finnigan: I then realized that was dumb

9:42
Friendly Friend: That’s not friendly, tears drinker.

9:43
Rubber Sand: Does anyone even know if it is healthy to drink someone else’s tears?

9:43
Roger Cormier: Some people I know completely subsist on them

9:43
Not Finnigan: But I also love Russell Martin for the same reason, plus he’s French Canadian which is even better

9:43
Jon: Does it bother anyone else how long and loopy Bellinger’s swing is?

9:43
HankLloydWright: In your defence Not Finnigan, there was a time when all  of us in Toronto thought Brett Lawrie was going to be good.

9:43
Sheryl Ring: It does not bother me, because of the long and loopy home runs it produces.

9:44
Roger Cormier: It’s a problem, until he hits another home run

9:44
Larry Bernandez: Puig seasons his bat with cayenne and…paprika?

9:44
Davy Andrews: Max Scherzer in Great American Ballpark tomorrow, Over/Under: 5 hits allowed, 4 home runs allowed.

9:44
Sheryl Ring: Over, under,.

9:44
Rubber Sand: “TEARS are a kind of liquid sandwich, comprising a watery, salty middle layer trapped between an outer layer of oil and an inner layer of mucus.” Thanks, Sheryl.

9:44
Roger Cormier: over, even

9:44
Sheryl Ring: Something to think about while munching your burger.

9:44
Not Finnigan: Brett Lawrie turning into a star 3rd baseman did happen

9:45
Not Finnigan: His name is just Josh Donaldson

9:45
Jon: I’m not worried about the results of his swing. It works, yet it somehow bothers me just watching the swing

9:45
Roger Cormier: I wonder if Puig does the bat lick thing now because he’s expected to

9:45
Roger Cormier: and if so, that’s sad

9:45
Ryan: I traded Greg Polanco, Mazara, and Wil Myers for Acuna in a keep forever dynasty. What do you think of this trade?

9:45
Sheryl Ring: I would not have made that deal, honestly.

9:46
Sheryl Ring: But I’m high on Mazara.

9:46
Roger Cormier: I’m ok with it

9:46
Roger Cormier: “Keep Forever Dynasty” sounds so epic

9:46
HankLloydWright: Brett Lawrie – Red Bull + Hairbun = Josh Donaldson

9:46
Sheryl Ring: I just happen to think that Mazara is going to be a monster.

9:46
I drink Dodger Tears: The 2017 World Series was a great time for me.

9:46
Billy Beane: <img src=”“>

9:46
TBH: “I would not have made that deal, honestly.” Why do people feel the need to specify that they’re being honest?

9:46
Roger Cormier: that might just be your laptop

9:46
Sheryl Ring: I’m a lawyer.

9:47
Roger Cormier: i am a habitual liar

9:47
Sheryl Ring: I need to specify when I’m being honest.

9:47
Bob: Is anyone really kept forever in a Keep Forever Dynasty League?

9:47
TBH: Well played

9:47
Not Finnigan: An habitual liar or a habitual liar?

9:47
Roger Cormier: John Maine

9:48
Bob: Honestly, you’re not going to keep any of those players forever.

9:48
Roger Cormier: Wait until the next CBA

9:48
Justin: I think the Mets thought they were in a keep forever dynasty league with Bobby Bonilla.

9:48
Roger Cormier: Too real

9:48
Not Finnigan: Kemp made a play and it didn’t look bad. Yaaay

9:48
Roger Cormier: It didn’t look good

9:48
Gary’s Son: over/under on matt kemp’s war this year: 0.

9:49
Sheryl Ring: Joc Pederson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Matt Kemp.

9:49
Roger Cormier: Under

9:49
Sheryl Ring: I’ll take the over, but not by much.

9:49
Roger Cormier: But maybe I’m lying

9:49
TBH: On that note, should Canada become a state?

9:49
HankLloydWright: Sheryl, I am a month away from finishing law school and the majority of lawyers I’ve met don’t seem to like it. Do you like being a lawyer?

9:49
Sheryl Ring: Make sure you get a job helping people.

9:49
Roger Cormier: Why do that to the wonderful Canada?

9:49
Jkim: I thought it was a double

9:50
Billy Beane: I still have Babe Ruth in my keep forever league. He hasn’t produced much for me lately, but the upside is too much to turn down.

9:50
Sheryl Ring: Anybody can save an insurance company money. Go find a job helping people in made. You’ll never get rich. But you’ll make a difference.

9:50
Roger Cormier: Two-way players are back in vogue

9:50
Roger Cormier: You could probably get a decent return

9:50
mike: how many games do you think yanks win this year

9:50
Sheryl Ring: 94

9:50
Roger Cormier: too many

9:50
Davy Andrews: When do park-adjusted factors get adjusted? Presumably AZ field will be less hitter friendly, but when does that get factored in?

9:50
Jkim: I recruit for hedge funds and BigLaw people jump at the chance to get out -even as an executive assistant role for a family office

9:51
Roger Cormier: I will ask my superiors

9:51
Bob: Is the analytics community too down on Matt Kemp? The Dodgers are a smart organization, and they’re playing him.

9:51
HankLloydWright: Thank you for the advice. Apologies to everyone for the non-baseball/non-burger talk

9:51
Roger Cormier: They’re also paying him

9:51
Bryce: Why did SF start Blach over Cueto??? Turned out well though. (Sorry if this has already been answered)

9:52
Sheryl Ring: I assume because Cueto was lined up to start Friday. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-johnny-cueto-li…

9:52
Help: I had an offer to join an MLB team in international operations, but I would’ve had to leave school with a semester to go and finish later. I turned it down, but have stayed in contact with the team to hopefully join next year. Did I make the right choice?

9:52
Roger Cormier: sounds like it

9:52
Bob: Can you play Babe Ruth as both a pitcher and an outfielder?

9:52
Rubber Sand: God Hank, would you quit discussing important life decisions?

9:52
Randy: Because the Dodgers can’t hit LHP

9:52
Sheryl Ring: It is difficult to play a corpse.

9:52
Da Bear: If you still have Billy Hamilton in your forever keeper league from the 1890s, you’re at least getting some return on your investment around now. Maybe not so much with the hits, but at least his SBs are back up.

9:53
Mr. Fister: Gabe Kapler to the pit of misery.  One game managed.  One game lost due to poor management.

9:53
Sheryl Ring: Except when corpses steal bases.

9:54
Brandon M: How late is this chat going to run?

9:54
Sheryl Ring: I have to check out after the Dodgers/Giants.

9:54
Randy: Difficult to play a corpse, but the Dodgers manage to play Matt Kemp, so anything’s possible?

9:54
Sheryl Ring: Very true,

9:54
Roger Cormier: It’s not a Talk Forever Dynasty Chat unfortunately

9:54
Tim: Do either of you have a dog like Kiley?

9:54
Sheryl Ring: The official chihuahua of FanGraphs is Miss Molly.

9:54
Sheryl Ring: (my dog)

9:55
Roger Cormier: I have a cat. He is indifferent to baseball.

9:55
Gary’s Son: kiley is a very good dog.

9:55
Roger Cormier: 13/10

9:55
Sheryl Ring: Miss Molly is mesmerized by pitching.

9:55
Ben Shapiro: Better record: Royals or White Sox?

9:55
Roger Cormier: White Sox

9:55
Sheryl Ring: White Sox.

9:55
Roger Cormier: Wait Sheryl

9:55
Roger Cormier: Are you being honest?

9:56
Randy: Why is Matt Kemp still standing on 1B?

9:56
Roger Cormier: Bring in Dave Roberts!

9:56
Not Finnigan: I think cats still outnumber dogs on this site, unless Szymborski doesn’t count

9:56
Brandon M: Why is Matt Kemp still playing baseball?

9:56
Sheryl Ring: A-Rod wants to bunt, when Grandal can end the game with one swing.

9:56
Roger Cormier: Why is Matt Kemp?

9:56
Nate: A-Rod bringing up Matt Kemp’s speed like it’s 2012.

9:57
Stephen Church: They are already one game up, so it seems obvious at this point.

9:57
Bob: Didn’t you hear Matt Kemp lost some weight.

9:57
Randy: Bring in Kirk Gibson. He probably has better wheels than Kemp.

9:57
Brandon M: Yeah, 2012 called they want their analysis back A-Rod

9:57
Roger Cormier: They didn’t text? Wow so 2012.

9:58
Gary’s Son: does eye black still work if it’s blue?

9:58
Rubber Sand: AHA BILL JAMES WAS WRONG SAC BUNT RULES THE DAY

9:58
Justin: Where do you think the Giants need to be record wise at the end of April to be in a good spot to compete for a playoff spot?

9:58
Sheryl Ring: First place.

9:59
Roger Cormier: They’d be in good shape if they finished a little over .500 after April, since they play the Dodgers a lot the next four weeks I believe

9:59
Sheryl Ring: Or, to be less facetious, if they finish April around 17-11, that’s a decent platform. But their pitching is rough without MadBum and Shark.

9:59
Bryant’s outrageous blue eyes: Cup cakes rule

9:59
Bob: It’s not eye black. It’s eye blue.

9:59
Sheryl Ring: Actually, according to this chat, pie rules.

10:00
Roger Cormier: It’s outrageous eye blue

10:00
Roger Cormier: Longoria with the basket catch

10:00
Roger Cormier:

Cake vs. Pie

Cake (38.0% | 16 votes)
 
Pie (61.9% | 26 votes)
 

Total Votes: 42
10:00
Rubber Sand: Roger and Sheryl, end it. Poll time: Cake or Pie

10:01
Bob: I had Strickland forever on my fantasy team thinking he was the closer of the future. I finally give up on that happening, and they make him the closer.

10:01
alpha309: pies are a type of graph

10:01
Gary’s Son: carrot cake = terrible

10:01
Will: Crazy hypothetical… what record do the Rays need to have at the end of April to be in Playoff contention?

10:01
Sheryl Ring: Tampa is better than people realize. They can be around .500 and linger around the wild card.

10:01
Gary’s Son: ice cream cake = the best

10:01
Gary’s Son: flavour context is too important to categorically generalize.

10:01
Roger Cormier: Wait, did any Dodger piss off Hunter Strickland three years ago? This might come into play now

10:01
Stuafoo: Pie is far superior

10:02
Not Finnigan: I will make an exception for cakes of the ice cream and cheese variety

10:02
Roger Cormier: I would guess the Rays would be best in the early portion of the season before their bullpen days blow up in their face

10:02
Davy Andrews: Can you two please switch beats for a week? Sheryl writes funny stuff and Roger writes in-depth legal analysis?

10:02
Roger Cormier: What can go wrong?

10:02
alpha309: if Pederson were to hit a triple, could Kemp score?

10:02
Jesse: I mean cheesecake is obviously pie

10:02
Bob: Matt Kemp stole a base off Strickland back when he was fast.

10:03
Roger Cormier: Strickland clearly doesn’t remember since he didn’t hit him

10:03
Roger Cormier: He *could* Alpha, but he wouldn’t

10:03
Stuafoo: He may kinda stink now, but damn if it isn’t cool to see Ichiro back in an Ms uniform

10:03
Justin: I don’t understand the point of putting in a pinch runner with 2 outs, why wouldn’t they just put the threat of speed on with nobody out?

10:03
Bob: He doesn’t realize it’s the same guy.

10:03
Stephen Church: His memory only stretches back 3 years max

10:03
Not Finnigan: Ballgame

10:04
Sheryl Ring: Giants win!

10:04
Sheryl Ring: Good game.

10:04
Roger Cormier: Hey! A two hour, 59 minute game!

10:04
Roger Cormier: we did it!

10:04
Sheryl Ring: All right, friends, I am out! But we must do this again!

10:05
Bob: The Giants win the Opening Day! The Giants win the Opening Day!

10:05
Bernard Gilkey: Are you related to Rheal Cormier? He is from New Brunswick

10:05
Roger Cormier: I always wondered this. I’m not certain. Loved you in Men in Black btw

10:05
Rubber Sand: The Rays were in the “courtesy” section of the end of the telecast… Is ESPN trying to take a shot at Andrew Friedman etc?

10:06
Roger Cormier: Of course

10:06
Bob: Are you related to Bernard Gilkey?

10:06
Roger Cormier: I wish

10:06
Gary’s Son: who’s replacing sheryl for the evening game? is it eno?!?!

10:06
Roger Cormier: Who?

10:07
Not Finnigan: Jon Gray has very Syndergaardian hair

10:08
WhiteSox Jon: Whats weirder, Black beats Kershaw or Zach Duke’s Kper9 being 36 right now?

10:08
Roger Cormier: The former.

10:11
Randy: Why is Patrick Corbin starting for the DBacks? Isn’t he their worst SP?

10:12
Roger Cormier: Well, Greinke got hurt. Also I don’t think what you said is entirely accurate.

10:13
Randy: I mean, it’s either him or Walker. Where’s Robbie Ray? Where’s Godley?

10:14
Roger Cormier: Is this Randy Johnson?

10:15
Randy: No, it’s the Macho Man

10:15
Roger Cormier: Oh, yeah?

10:15
billsaints: Holy ichiro looks not a day over 41

10:15
Randy: OHHH YEAHHHH

10:16
Roger Cormier: On that note, good night everybody. Glad to have watched baseball with new internet friends.





Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.

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