All-Star Game Live Blog - 7/15/14

4:06

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Tonight, since there’s this fancy game up in Minneapolis, the FanGraphs After Dark chat has been supersized into the All-Star Game Live Blog.

We’ll start earlier than usual, 8 pm ET, to coincide with the start of the game. I’m going to be flying solo on this one, because Jeff is off on a family vacation this week. So, I’m not sure I’ll last the whole game, especially if there are stupid rain delays like there were last night. But I’ll give it the ole’ college try!

I’ve got some polls set up, and the queue is open. I’ll take the normal questions we take each week too, if you want to ask those. But we’ll try to focus on the action, Jackson.

See you soon!

7:57	Paul Swydan: Hi guys. Just settling in. We’ll get started in a few minutes.

7:59	Comment From Pale Hose I was expecting a chat, but I get a live blog instead. This is probably the highlight of my week…

7:59	Paul Swydan: Me too! Well, I am going to a De La Soul concert on Thursday, but this is right up there!

8:00	Comment From mike How good is Cutch? His numbers are unreal am I reading them right.

8:00	Paul Swydan: You are in fact reading them right.

8:00	Paul Swydan: Did we get a new national anthem and nobody told me? What the heck is this crap?

8:00	Paul Swydan: I mean, uh, the children are our future.

8:01	Comment From @BestFans McCutchin has an inflated BABIP, regress that and he’s no better than Allen Craig

8:01	Paul Swydan: Now that’s funny.

8:01	Comment From Lyle Why was there a rain delay in the derby? Can you not hit homers in the rain?

8:01	Paul Swydan: Yeah, I’m not sure. No one went indoors.

8:02	Comment From person hscer Jeter will single, score, come out (having played just 1 inning in the field, helping the AL), and win the MVP if the AL wins the game (or maybe even if they don’t).

8:02	Paul Swydan: Apparently Johnny Farrell says he’s giving him four innings. I guess we’ll see.

8:02	Comment From Pale Hose Paul – Is Allen Webster going to get a shot at the rotation this year?

8:03	Paul Swydan: I don’t think he gets a real look unless and until someone gets traded.

8:03	Comment From Catoblepas TOO MUCH RESPECT

8:03	Paul Swydan: Catoblepas is not having it.

8:03	Comment From JV Whats Alcantara do ROS and also is he a good keeper for next year?

8:04	Paul Swydan: I wouldn’t bank on him for a big performance right out of the gate, but he’s definitely a good keeper for next year.

8:04	Comment From PS see, i dont care at all about the all star game at all (not even watching). but these chats? ya, cant miss em.

8:04	Paul Swydan: Appreciate it!

8:04	Comment From Mike T. Johnny Farrel v. Colin Farrel FITE

8:04	Paul Swydan: I think Johnny Farrell would just smack him with his square jaw and that’d be that.

8:04	Comment From PS JETER IS PLAYING 4 INNINGS!? – i bet the NL teams will be laughing every second of it

8:05	Paul Swydan: Well, I didn’t say it was a good strategy for winning the game.

8:05	Comment From Jimmy McNaulty I always see PS around these chats and I’m curious, what does the PS stand for

8:05	Comment From Ryan C Just some swing porn here: http://gfycat.com/OpenAlive…

8:05	Paul Swydan: That’s pretty.

8:05	Comment From brad carlos gomez batting 9th?

8:06	Paul Swydan: Hard to look at that and decide that Matheny filled out the lineup card honestly. Brewers occupy spots 6, 8 and 9. Pretty homerish lineup if you ask me, but then I am not a big Matheny fan.

8:06	Comment From Hoss Radbourn Just explained to my daughter why this is Jeter’s last all-star game and now i’m sad because he’s the only one in the game older than me

8:07	Paul Swydan: Yeah, that is sad for you. I’m probably not far off.

8:09	Paul Swydan: Who is Idina Menzel? Good ole MLB and FOX. Thousands of performers on the planet, and they pick someone that no one outside of the NYC theater crowd (no one whom are watching this) recognize. Classic.

8:09	Paul Swydan: They couldn’t even ask Prince? Come on.

8:09	Paul Swydan: At least make Prince tell you no.

8:10

Comment From Isaac Slade
I just learned that Ben Lindbergh and I graduated a few years apart from the same undergrad and have mutual friends. There’s him, former editor in chief of BP. Here’s me, praying for my questions to be answered on Fangraphs chats and hitting about 1% of the time. Where did I go wrong?

8:10	Paul Swydan: Isaac, I like you just the way you are.

8:10	Comment From Guest They said she was from Frozen.

8:10	Comment From Lyle Wasn’t she on Glee for a few episodes?

8:11	Paul Swydan: See, but none of us is sure. That fails the standard. Whoever sings the national anthem of the All-Star Game needs to be instantly recognizable.

8:11	Comment From zmiko Let it go Paul

8:11	Paul Swydan: You can’t make me!

8:11	Comment From Guest http://www.imdb.com/name/nm…

8:11	Paul Swydan: Oh my, Taye Diggs is married? That ruins all of my wife’s dreams.

8:12	Paul Swydan: And now I see Harold Reynolds, and that ruins all of my dreams for a pleasant evening. Everyone’s screwed.

8:12	Comment From Isaac Slade Thanks, Paul. I’m gonna submit to you a pitch for an article I have a new way to think about pitcher wins, I think it will really shake the industry.

8:12	Paul Swydan: Cool!

8:12	Comment From brad Never heard of her and hope to not hear her sing again

8:12	Paul Swydan: I mean, she did a good job, I’ll five her that.

8:12	Comment From Idina I sang Let it Go from Frozen. I’m huge.

8:12	Paul Swydan: I guess MLB is targeting the tween set?

8:13

Comment From PS
this might be oddly creepy/weird, but my first chat was run was actually run Paul so i just copied his initials for the lack of a creative name; and i have just kept them since. weird? also i think i was OD’ing on red bull at the time (from utter lack of sleep) while studying for midterms so my brain couldnt think of a create name

8:13	Comment From PS (or a reference to ‘ PS i love you’) but as a 19 year old male, its a little tougher to prove that one.

8:13	Paul Swydan: Well, alright then.

8:13	Comment From JV who is the best keeper for 2015 only–jordan zimmermann ($18), felix hernandez ($34) or sonny gray ($17)?

8:13	Paul Swydan: I’ll say Felix, Gray and Zimmerman, in that order.

8:13	Comment From Guest Speaking of Frozen, how about some late October baseball outdoors in MN.

8:13	Paul Swydan: Maybe next year?

8:14	Comment From Guest I want to see Trout vs. Kershaw tonight, best against best. That’s why we watch this thing, right?

8:14	Paul Swydan: I think so. But at least everyone in St. Louis gets to see Wainwright!

8:14	Comment From Allan S. I’ve been thinking: people will care more about the HR Derby if it actually matters, right? So let’s say that whoever wins earns his team 5 free wins. Hell, he can even pick what teams to take the wins away from. So long, Angels…

8:14	Paul Swydan: Five wins is a ton.

8:14	Comment From Omar Fangraphs contributor trade value off the dome, go:

8:14	Comment From Allan S. I’ve been thinking: people will care more about the HR Derby if it actually matters, right? So let’s say that whoever wins earns his team 5 free wins. Hell, he can even pick what teams to take the wins away from. So long, Angels…

8:15	Paul Swydan: 1. Dave Cameron 1A. Jeff Sullivan. 3000. Paul Swydan

8:15	Comment From a confused man Why don’t Fangraphs commenters care about my fantasy team?

8:15	Paul Swydan: I don’t get it either.

8:15	Comment From RuPaul Swydans Drag Race Make a prediction: what’s the most exciting deal we’ll see in the next 16 days?

8:16	Paul Swydan: The David Price deal will be the most exciting for everyone, but the Jake Peavy deal will be the most exciting for me personally.

8:16	Comment From PS am i the only one who finds it absurd that Selig wants to ban smokeless tobacco?

8:17	Paul Swydan: His ASG presser is all about tossing out cream puffs of positive publicity for all the extra press that show up. I’m sure that was more than part of the motivation there.

8:17	Comment From Oh Captain My Captain What do you think about Kipnis ROS. Was offered Kip, Polanco and Revere for Adam Jones and Prado. Sounds decent, but Jones is a freaking stud and is Mr. Consistent.

8:17	Paul Swydan: I could see it. Kipnis SHOULD be better. Maybe ask for someone better than Revere as the third player in the deal?

8:17	Comment From Lyle For your NL starter question your forgot to put “Matheny doesn’t want to piss of the giant that is Waino”.

8:17	Paul Swydan: Well I was trying to frame that delicately.

8:18	Comment From brad when did you work for the rockies and what did you do for them? You miss it?

8:18	Paul Swydan: March 2004-November 2010. Started in tickets, moved on to help run the team’s magazine/program and work in advertising and marketing. I also got to sit in with the baseball ops team on arbitration prep.

8:19	Comment From JV What team does Joc Pederson play for next year and does he get everyday ABs?

8:19	Paul Swydan: Dodgers, and yes.

8:19	Paul Swydan: Here we go!

8:20	Comment From Mike Trout I’ll mow the grass, sing the national anthem, star in frozen, eat Harold Reynolds and win MVP. Believe dat.

8:20	Paul Swydan: Almost a perfect beginning for Jeter. Wow.

8:20	Paul Swydan: McCutchen just too fast.

8:20	Comment From Pale Hose Did you see Eno’s piece on all-star matchups? Were you surprised at how little players seemed to know about rosters?

8:21	Paul Swydan: I didn’t, but no, I’m not. This is part of the reason why the players’ vote has been horrible in the past.

8:21	Comment From Emmett Come on ump, this give him the call, it doesn’t matter…Oh wait.

8:21	Comment From PS HA JETER MISSES IT! (i decided to watch it. ugh)

8:21	Comment From chuckNchino NL takes it, and Stanton wins MVP… called my shot

8:21	Comment From Lyle How is Trout not in CF?

8:21	Comment From Dudebro Whose chats are more full of nerds: yours or Eno’s?

8:21	Paul Swydan: Tie?

8:22	Paul Swydan: RE: Trout, have to wonder if Farrell made Scioscia a promise to not ride Trout too hard? Still tho.

8:22	Comment From Nobody Well now we know the NL’s plan: hit everything to the shortstop because jeter can’t field

8:23	Paul Swydan: Man, Carew really whipped that first pitch in there, didn’t he?

8:23	Comment From Guest Fashion advice per Joe Buck, exactly what will get the TV ratings.

8:24	Comment From Omar Swydan weekly chat regular contributors trade value off the dome, go:

8:24	Paul Swydan: I’m freezing up. There are a lot of regulars that I recognize, but can’t think of them at the moment.

8:24	Comment From PS tulo is not better than trout. debating watching this on mute.

8:24	Paul Swydan: Wait, did they say that?

8:25	Comment From Nick How many SS’s make that play? Probably only the ones playing deep enough to get around the ball, but it was still a rocket and if anyone else on the NL hits it its a top 10 play…

8:25	Paul Swydan: Don’t disagree with that. It was a great play.

8:25	Comment From Sleeper & the Best! Better stash in points league redraft? Alex Meyer or Dylan Bundy.

8:25	Paul Swydan: Bundy.

8:26	Comment From Guest should i have a beer tonight

8:26	Paul Swydan: No, you should have multiple beers!

8:26	Paul Swydan: Speaking of…

8:28	Paul Swydan: That Jeter ad is really something else. Well done by Nike/Jordan.

8:29	Comment From brad are the rockies really considering re-signing cuddyer? will that stunt development of Blackmon and Dickerson?

8:29	Paul Swydan: Come on brad, I’m in a good mood here.

8:29	Comment From Crunchy Carl Have a kombucha!

8:29	Paul Swydan: Carl, we’ve been over this.

8:30	Paul Swydan: That was cool.

8:30	Comment From Guest https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.a…

8:30	Paul Swydan: Now that’s funny!

8:30	Comment From brad sorry paul will this cheer you up? sox trade peavey to Yankees?

8:31	Paul Swydan: That wouldn’t, because he’d probably rip off 10 straight wins.

8:31	Paul Swydan: Nice – Jeter with the double. Good for him.

8:31	Comment From Lyle Seriously Gomez isn’t in CF? Do the managers just not care?

8:31	Paul Swydan: Well, it’s hard to argue with McCutchen in center.

8:32	Comment From HULK WHY DOES THIS GAME HAVE TO DECIDE HOME FIELD HULKSMASH

8:32	Paul Swydan: Tell em Hulk.

8:32	Comment From Guest Did you hear that “Overrated” chant in the background?

8:32	Paul Swydan: I didn’t. That’s disappointing.

8:32	Comment From Dudebro dude should have a sweet natty. don’t drink nerdy Eno beers.

8:32	Paul Swydan: I’m having a Summer Shandy. Definitely not a nerdy Eno beer.

8:33	Comment From Guest The overrated chant was a single heckler.

8:33	Paul Swydan: Still tho.

8:33	Comment From Hank That’s going to bother a lot of people on this site.

8:33	Paul Swydan: Wait, what is?

8:33	Comment From Hank Haven’t seen Perez catch all that much – does he regularly backhand stuff in the dirt or is that more unfamiliarity with Felix’s stuff?

8:34	Paul Swydan: I’m not intricately familiar with them either, but I’d guess they just got crossed up.

8:34	Paul Swydan: Wow, two hitters, both balls crushed to right field.

8:35	Paul Swydan: It’s almost like Wainwright isn’t the best pitcher in the National League…

8:35	Comment From someone Is Kershaw available to pitch?

8:35	Paul Swydan: He’s listed on the bench.

8:35	Comment From Nobody Oh no, now we’re going to hear all the “they grooved pitches to Jeter just like they did with Ripken” comments

8:35	Paul Swydan: He’s still got to hit it.

8:35	Comment From BeerGraphs We rate the Leinenkugel Summer Shandy with a 8.17 BAR and 104 Style+

8:35	Paul Swydan: Is that good?

8:36	Comment From PS I WANNA B LIKE MIKE

8:36	Comment From Emmett Trout gonna Trout.

8:36	Comment From PS KERSHAW WOULDA K’d HIM

8:36	Comment From BeerGraphs http://beergraphs.com/leade…

8:36	Paul Swydan: I stand corrected, this IS an Eno beer! Ha.

8:36	Comment From BeerGraphs “This is a fantastic beer” — our own site says so!

8:36	Comment From Guest Sample size of 2 AB, great Fangraphs analysis.

8:37	Paul Swydan: I didn’t need the 2 AB to tell you that Kershaw is better than Wainwright.

8:37	Comment From Michael According to Inside Edge, Jackie Bradley Jr. is 0 for 22 on Remote and Unlikely plays in his career. Also, Brock Holt, as an outfielder, is 6 for 10 on such plays. Can we safely conclude that Brock Holt is a much better outfielder than JBJ will ever be?

8:37	Paul Swydan: Uh, no.

8:37	Comment From @BestFans Waino earned this, just wait until we’re 81-0 in the second half morans!

8:37	Comment From Tommy You need one hit. Who do you want up at bat, Trout or Miggy? ….had a conversation with an old bar regular the other night

8:37	Paul Swydan: That’s a good question. Let’s put it to a poll!

8:38	Paul Swydan: Wow that got out in a hurry.

8:38	Comment From Guest i called it MIGGY

8:38	Comment From PS TROUT. YOU WANT TROUT HITTING.

8:38	Comment From harber double, triple, homer, YIKES

8:39	Comment From Joe What about a 4 PA sample size?

8:39	Comment From PS ugh of course miggy has to show up Trout on one of the most watched stages.

8:39	Comment From Emmett To be fair, any pitcher will struggle facing Trout.

8:39	Paul Swydan: Tell that to ’99 Pedro. Tell that to Felix last inning.

8:39	Comment From Nick If I need one hit I want Trout, if I need 1 rbi with a man on 3rd less then 2 outs I want miggy.

8:40	Paul Swydan: That’s very specific. Are there are any other situations in which you’d want Miggy?

8:40	Comment From brad maybe we get to see Kershaw vs trout next inning

8:40	Paul Swydan: Silver lining!

8:40	Comment From Guest if kershaw had the start miggy wouldn’t even been up this inning.

8:40	Paul Swydan: It’s true.

8:40	Comment From Emmett Wow, that pitch was a couple inches in off the plate.

8:41	Comment From NelsonCruzControl Who did ’99 Pedro struggle against? There must have been someone.

8:42	Paul Swydan: Matt Williams reached on an error by Roberto Alomar.

8:42	Paul Swydan: http://www.baseball-referen…

8:42	Paul Swydan: And then was wiped out on a double play.

8:43	Comment From Nick Tough realistically you want Trout to get the hit because you want Trout on base afterwards. Miggy is useless on the base paths, but your prototypical RBI situation with a man on 3rd I’d bet miggy has better numbers and fewer k’s

8:43	Paul Swydan: That wasn’t the question though.

8:43	Comment From PS id want trout over miggy even if trout is swinging with only one arm (say the other one is broken)

8:43	Comment From brad where would you rank pedro all-time? His domination in steroid era has to help his case dramatically?

8:44	Paul Swydan: Yes. Yes it does. Personally, the best ever. Objectively, still top 10, but not the best ever. He didn’t have the longevity.

8:44	Comment From Nick In context it was the answer you were looking for though. You asked what other situations would I want Miggy, my answer was in context only when you need a productive out to get a run in.

8:44	Paul Swydan: Oh, sorry, you’re right, I did say that.

8:44	Comment From a gazelle what’s the hottest thing you’ve ever touched

8:45	Paul Swydan: The stove? Or the oven rack maybe? Or Rihanna? Just kidding, I’ve never touched Rihanna.

8:45	Comment From PS paul, whats your opinion on the lester contract situation (a slight deviation from the discussion at hand) i dont want them not to sign him but i dont want them to give him too many years because i think its slowly downhill from here

8:45	Paul Swydan: The lowball offer wasn’t smart. I think they’ve gone from a situation where Lester would hear them out after the season ends to a situation where Lester is definitely going to test the market now.

8:46	Paul Swydan: Red Sox management hasn’t had a real strong season, to say the least.

8:46	Comment From PS what would YOU give lester tho?

8:46	Paul Swydan: I’d try to bowl him over with the dollars on a shorter years contract. Say, 4/$110.

8:46	Comment From Josh C i was expecting 2 innings for felix

8:47	Paul Swydan: I was too. This is ridiculous.

8:47	Comment From Guest You listen to this Comcast customer service call that’s been making the rounds today? I hit play while doing some mindless work and it filled me with rage; unpleasant, but perhaps better than a deep sense of ennui.

8:49

Paul Swydan: The first and only time I was a Comcast customer was in 2003. I was living in a graduate dorm at U of Denver, and had no other options.

I ordered the NBA package. Channels 751-to like 765. Something like that. Nearly every night, the Celtics were the first game to start, so they were channel 751. One problem. The ODD NUMBERED channels on the package DIDN’T WORK!

I called customer service to complain a half dozen times over the first month or so of the season, only to be finally told that they wer aware of the problem, weren’t going to fix it, and weren’t going to refund me my money either.

Like I said, last time I was a Comcast subscriber.

Rant over.

8:49	Comment From brad LOVE CHASE UTLEY

8:49	Comment From NelsonCruzControl Lester: 5/135. Because if the Sox don’t sign him, the Yankees are going to.

8:50	Paul Swydan: I would still prefer 4. But I would prefer 5 to him on the Yankees, for sure.

8:50	Comment From person hscer Can’t stand Verducci as a writer. So sanctimonious. No opinion yet on his announcing.

8:50	Paul Swydan: He’s been OK, but in general I just don’t like 3-man booths. I never know who is going to talk. It’s maddening.

8:50	Comment From Nobody Well there was that article about the increased number of relievers, and pitchers in general in the all star game

8:51	Paul Swydan: I don’t care. Not everyone has to play.

8:51	Comment From Guest Why don’t we elect all-star announcers?

8:51	Paul Swydan: That’d be great.

8:51	Paul Swydan: I feel like maybe Trout didn’t go at that as hard as he could have.

8:51	Comment From Guest Trout pulled a Puig.

8:51	Comment From Emmett Vin Scully. Forever.

8:52	Comment From Joe It’d be Vin Scully every year though.

8:52	Comment From person hscer Vin Scully with 98% of the vote, and 2% for Hawk stuffing the ballot box for himself.

8:52	Comment From brad ID PICK KUIPER KRUKOW

8:52	Comment From Db Vin Scully always!

8:52	Comment From Will Is there any current all star you could possibly justify telling to sac bunt?

8:52	Paul Swydan: In the starting lineup? Maybe Gomez?

8:52	Paul Swydan: Josh Harrison?

8:53	Comment From ST3 That’s why Trout’s not in CF, obviously.

8:53	Comment From person hscer Like the CF camera angle tho!

8:53	Paul Swydan: Yes, definitely on that. Hopefully this is the start of a trend for FOX. Though they can’t do it everywhere. Like Colorado, for instance.

8:53	Comment From Guest That is why Gomez is batting 9th.

8:53	Paul Swydan: Damn.

8:54	Comment From Pale Hose http://i.imgur.com/J772lRB.png

8:54	Paul Swydan: Ouch. I have higher hopes for Episode VII than this.

8:54	Comment From Joe Best fans in baseball chirping that Puig should have caught the ball hit by Trout. #leadership

8:55	Comment From Nick Lester’s WAR over the last 5 years: 6.3, 5.2, 4.4, .7, and 3. 2.5 this year puts him on pace for less then 5. For a player on the wrong side of 30 that doesn’t exactly scream 26-27m per year.

8:55	Paul Swydan: Well, perhaps not. But the way I look at it, I’d rather overpay for fewer years with pitchers, because I’d rather not pay $20M for an injured pitcher.

8:55	Paul Swydan: In a fifth year, that is.

8:56	Paul Swydan: Man, I can’t wait for Guardians of the Galaxy.

8:56	Comment From Johnny Manziel I’m imagining that cartoon as sung by Idina Manzell.

8:56	Comment From PS is Trout in Guardians of the Galaxy?

8:57	Paul Swydan: I think he’s the tree.

8:57	Paul Swydan: We deserve to have a movie where Trout just yells, “I am TROUT!”

8:57

Comment From Old Friend
In a federal court, the right to a jury trial in a civil action: (a) is available for actions in equity, not law; (b) is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; (c) can be conferred by statute; or (d) may never be waived by inaction, because it is a constitutional right. Only two weeks left of this nonsense! Then I’ll be missing your chats while I spend a month and a half attempting to forget everything I’ve just learned.

8:57	Paul Swydan: Good luck! We have at least two lawyers on staff in Wendy and JD.

8:58	Comment From Stanley Trout is the guardian of the galaxy, learn your marvel universe shit

8:58	Paul Swydan: Damnit.

8:58	Comment From person hscer If Brooklyn Nine Nine is going to Sundays…does that mean “Animation Domination” is over

8:58	Paul Swydan: Oh man, Terry was the only one they could get to show up? C’mon.

8:58	Paul Swydan: And Terry is like the hardest working one of the group to begin with!

8:59	Comment From Nobody Aww, looks like no Kershaw vs Trout 🙁

8:59	Paul Swydan: Why did they take Trout out? He’d be up 5th…

8:59	Comment From Guest How good of a hitter would Matt Adams be if he had some plate discipline. He swings( but often hits) at everything.

8:59	Paul Swydan: He’d probably be a worse hitter. He’s successful with his style. Let him rock it.

9:00	Paul Swydan: Tom Verducci with the breaking news that Kershaw has a hitch in his delivery.

9:00	Comment From Andrew Cashner Kinda like how I rock a mullet

9:00	Paul Swydan: Thanks for sharing, Andrew.

9:01	Comment From ST3 Can we stop making fun of Cardinals’ fans now that Kershaw is in?

9:01	Paul Swydan: I’m not sure why I would ever want to stop making fun of Cardinals fans.

9:01	Comment From @BestFans No.

9:01	Comment From Emmett Can we never stop making fun of Cards fans?

9:01	Comment From PS apparently invisible puddles exist on pitchers mound.

9:01	Comment From Andrew Cashner ain’t no thing Paul

9:02	Paul Swydan: A high, hard one. Joe Buck channelling Nick Nolte in 48 Hours. Hopefully not too much though…

9:02	Comment From Northsider It pleases me to no end that Cards fans have developed such a negative public image. When did this happen, I want to celebrate it annually

9:02	Paul Swydan: Annually? Why not daily?

9:02	Comment From Mike verducci is trying way to hard to get excited like harold reynolds… nobody should try to do anything like harold reynolds

9:02	Paul Swydan: Sal Perez is slow.

9:03	Comment From Krusty Don’t we see Trout v Kershaw annually in the interleague rival series?

9:03	Paul Swydan: Well, maybe, but the whole country isn’t paying attention for those games.

9:03	Comment From Guest People are jealous of success (and annoyed by the continuous media coverage). Hence the hate for all things Yankees, Cardinals, etc.

9:03	Paul Swydan: Is that it? Wow, I never knew that before!

9:03	Comment From Guest Way to screw up who’s coming up next Fox

9:04	Paul Swydan: FOX – just trust us, K?

9:05	Comment From Will I mean if I was FOX I’d want Jeter and Trout up every inning. You can’t blame then for trying.

9:05	Paul Swydan: True.

9:06	Comment From Geust This liveblog should just scroll across the bottom of the game

9:06	Paul Swydan: That would be something.

9:06	Comment From PS is fangraphs ever doing something in DC? i live in Vermont (so no chance of seeing you guys around here) but i go to school in DC so…something in DC during august-may excluding select breaks?

9:06	Paul Swydan: Hank Aaron is like, “what the HELL is he talking about now?”

9:07	Comment From ST3 True story: Ken Rosenthal is standing up during this interview with Selig.

9:07	Paul Swydan: Awww, leave Ken alone, he’s one of the good guys.

9:07	Comment From person hscer I’d be at a FG in DC event in a heartbeat FWIW

9:08	Comment From Geust PS bring all the Heady Topper and Hill Farmstead and Lawson’s you can in your car when you come to DC and I will pay you handsomely.

9:08	Comment From Nick Hey Paul, I’m going to the Saber Seminar in August. I want to go to the meetup Friday night, is the bar going to give me grief getting in since I’m 20?

9:08	Paul Swydan: That’s a good question. I don’t remember them checking IDs at the door, but then it’s been a long time since I had to worry about such things.

9:08	Comment From Emmett Same for me but in LA (or Chicago when I’m in school).

9:08	Paul Swydan: There is one in Chicago this week, isn’t there?

9:09	Comment From Will “I don’t think I would have done anything different” – The Commissioner over one of the most controversial eras in baseball history

9:09	Comment From Pale Hose Woo! FG commenters meetup in DC

9:09	Comment From Matthew Yaspan sup all, hey boss!

9:09	Paul Swydan: Hi Matt!

9:09	Paul Swydan: Bautista has played at Target Field before, right?

9:09	Paul Swydan: That was weird.

9:09	Comment From brad wait you worked for rockies when they lost to red sox in world series, who did you root for?

9:10	Paul Swydan: Fortunately, the Red Sox winning in ’04 gave me the luxury of rooting for the team who was signing my paychecks. Still, one of the worst weeks of my life. I was getting it from both sides the entire time.

9:11	Comment From Big Joe Mufferaw Over a 7 game series, do you have the NL or AL team winning?

9:11	Paul Swydan: Probably the NL team.

9:12	Paul Swydan: But I haven’t given it any sort of hard analysis.

9:12	Comment From Geust DC ppl: Black Squirrel (in AdMo) Saturday night let’s do it

9:12	Paul Swydan: I mean, maybe if you put your real name on it….

9:12	Comment From PS ILL BRING VERMONT BEER! ill just be uber specific when i have a 21 year old buy for me

9:12	Comment From Michael Having David Ross as your personal catcher for an entire season is worth about 1 WAR (according to BP pitch framing numbers) or 0.35 ERA. Why would you give that to a guy about to hit free agency?

9:13	Paul Swydan: A) I’m not real sure I want to go ahead trust the veracity of those numbers. B) I’m pretty sure David Ross is also a free agent after this season.

9:13	Comment From Geust …I’m Dutch.

9:13	Comment From Krusty It’s a known fact that OF defense suffers after participating in the HR derby. Of course, that doesn’t explain Trout’s route to the ball earlier tonight.

9:13	Paul Swydan: Burn.

9:13	Comment From person hscer If pitch framing ends up really that valuable, is that a case for robo umps?

9:14	Paul Swydan: In all honesty, robot umps would be boring.

9:14	Comment From A guy who didnt think he was that old tbh Is everyone on this site half my age

9:14	Paul Swydan: Probably. Not me tho. I’m 35.

9:14	Comment From Michael Right but David Ross being a free agent won’t matter when he’s already inflated Lester’s numbers to the point where you can’t afford him anymore.

9:15	Paul Swydan: Well, in general, signing free-agent pitchers isn’t exactly an optimal strategy. But if that’s your strategy, there’s only going to be a couple better options than Lester, inflated stats or not.

9:15	Comment From ST3 Trout must have heard that comment about his routes to the ball.

9:15	Paul Swydan: Ya. That, or it was a lollipop.

9:15	Comment From Matthew Yaspan do we have a velocity reading on that darvish curve

9:16	Paul Swydan: Well, I can’t even check because of the silly Gameday mid-inning ad.

9:16	Comment From Guest Have you heard anyone put forth an argument that pitch framing is “cheating”? I got a guy saying it and I find it a little unfathomable.

9:16	Paul Swydan: If it was cheating, it would be against the rules.

9:16	Comment From Nobody Gameday says 57 mph

9:16	Paul Swydan: Cripes.

9:16	Comment From Lyle Paul are you a fan of any other sports or just a baseball guy?

9:17

Paul Swydan: I love basketball (Celtics). I love college hockey (BU). I used to love football (Patriots), but now my interest in waning, and I think I’ll be out on football after Brady and Belichick retire. Also, I love soccer, but can’t pick a team. Was obsessed with the World Cup. Watched almost every game.

9:17	Comment From person hscer That movie that perpetuates the “10% of the brain” idea…I think maybe Hollywood people use 10% of their brains, but

9:17	Paul Swydan: Yeah whatever, stuff blows up and Scarlett is in it. Count me in. Even the wife is excited. Score!

9:18	Comment From Emmett Why college hockey but not the NHL?

9:19

Paul Swydan: Well, college hockey at BU is one of the best experiences in sports. Or, at least it was when I went there. Stupid Agannis Arena.

Also, I gave up on the NHL after the last strike. If you’re dumb enough that you sit out for a whole year and still end up with the short end of the stick when your foe is Gary Bettman, then you don’t deserve my attention.

9:19	Comment From person hscer If you ranked every American by their combined interest in movies and soccer, I think I’d be in the bottom 100.

9:19	Paul Swydan: But we both love baseball, and that’s a beautiful thing!

9:19	Comment From alfredo Speaking of Scarlett, you see Under the Skin? Heard it was great.

9:20	Paul Swydan: I have not. It seemed like the kind of movie I’d want to see, but only as a rental when I’m by myself so that if I hated it I wouldn’t have to admit to anyone that I watched it.

9:20	Comment From person hscer 2-2. MVP.

9:20	Comment From person hscer (of the game)

9:20	Paul Swydan: If the AL maintains this lead, probably.

9:20	Paul Swydan: Oh, Verducci.

9:21	Comment From Michael Are you excited about KC’s reported interest in Jonny Gomes? Also, how much do you hate JF for playing Mookie Betts less than half the time?

9:21	Paul Swydan: Yes and yes.

9:21	Comment From Matthew Yaspan what was alfredo simon’s fake name again?

9:21	Paul Swydan: Oh, I forget. Help me out, guys.

9:21	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts Chances Jeter gets to 1 WAR in his final season?

9:21	Paul Swydan: Decent. Steamer has him at 1.0, ZiPS at 0.8.

9:21	Comment From ST3 Carlos Cabrera.

9:21	Comment From alredo Carlos Cabrera

9:21	Comment From Pale Hose Carlos Cabrera for Simon

9:22	Paul Swydan: Thanks guys.

9:22	Comment From brad carlos correa?

9:22	Paul Swydan: WRONG AGAIN, brad!

9:22	Comment From alredo http://www.fangraphs.com/bl…

9:22	Comment From Matthew Yaspan brad miller is shamefully close to 1 WAR so i’d imagine its a good shot

9:23	Comment From Jeff Is there another, younger outfielder the Mariners should be targeting? I don’t like the idea of giving up assets for Marlon Byrd to give them a slightly better chance at getting to a 50/50 playin game.

9:23	Paul Swydan: Well I think the point is that they really wouldn’t give up assets for Byrd.

9:25	Comment From Michael Odds that two consecutive Red Sox games will feature a Clay Buchholz CG?

9:25	Paul Swydan: 0.0%.

9:25	Comment From person harbls After no luck going through people I know, I’m currently attempting to fill a room in my place via craigslist ad. What are the odds the person doesn’t turn out to be a serial killer

9:26	Paul Swydan: My sister found a roommate on CraigsList once, and lived with her for like 3+ years. It could happen to you too!

9:26	Comment From PS 0.1%, common paul.

9:26	Paul Swydan: I mean, I know I’m not special, but you don’t have to put such a fine point on it, geez.

9:26	Comment From person harbls Good to know! Although I’m not inspired: there should be a FG classifieds section…

9:27	Paul Swydan: There definitely should not be a FanGraphs classified section.

9:27	Comment From Krusty I hear Scarlett Johannsen is searching for a room on Craigslist.

9:27	Paul Swydan: Synergy!

9:27	Comment From Jeff I think you could’ve used the same answer for the Buchholz question and the Craigslist roommate question.

9:27	Comment From Big Joe Mufferaw Cabrera better not homer again at steal the mvp from Jeets

9:27	Comment From Matthew Yaspan i was curious about a mets-rangers colon-for-rios swap with both teams looking toward 2015, and what the chat community thinks of that

9:28	Paul Swydan: Everyone is free to weigh in. Personally, I don’t see why the Rangers do this.

9:28	Comment From PS your more special than anybody who will ever work for Fox sports (specifically their baseball announcing team)

9:28	Comment From Guest There is a Fangraphs classified section: http://www.fangraphs.com/qa/

9:29	Paul Swydan: That’s not the same thing. Though I do forget about that section of the site all the time.

9:29	Comment From PS Rios > Colon (terms of value)

9:29	Comment From Nobody I don’t like Colon in Arlington at all

9:29	Comment From brad am the guy who is wrong a lot, but why would rangers trade rios for colon?

9:29	Comment From PS paul is wrong again.

9:29	Comment From Mom in you illustrious fellows’ opinions, any realistic chance Chase Utley gets dealt?

9:29	Paul Swydan: I think a desperate team may try to get him to waive his no-trade, but I don’t see it happening.

9:29	Comment From person hscer 10-5 and he has his ring. case for?

9:30	Paul Swydan: I mean, being excited about life, I guess.

9:30	Comment From Bam! Jeter dated Scarlett Johansson

9:30	Paul Swydan: He did, didn’t he?

9:30	Comment From Guest Tulo>Jeter

9:30	Paul Swydan: Not if you asked Tulo. When the Yankees came to Colorado in 2007, the Rockies bought Tulo a big bottle of Jeter’s cologne. ‘Twas funny.

9:31	Comment From brad no, Phillies ownership treats Utley like their jeter and Utley doesn’t want to leave

9:31	Comment From Lyle Who hasn’t Jeter dated?

9:31	Paul Swydan: My wife, I hope.

9:31	Comment From Emmett Jeff Passan on twitter ~ Adam Wainwright admitted he grooved a fastball to Derek Jeter in the first: “I was gonna give him a couple pipe shots. He deserved it.”

9:31	Paul Swydan: Killing me, Jeff.

9:32	Paul Swydan: Nice. Farrell hasn’t done a lot of things right this year, but he treated Jeter right tonight. That was nice.

9:32	Paul Swydan: Curtain call?

9:33	Paul Swydan: Those Red Sox hats are awful, btw. Why is their triangle red?

9:33	Paul Swydan: Rangers too.

9:34	Comment From a canadian Did Waino groove those ones to Trout and Cabrera, too?

9:34	Paul Swydan: Once you get used to it…

9:34	Paul Swydan: Sale vs. Stanton is pretty sweet.

9:34	Comment From Lyle Did my eyes deceive me or was that Pete Rose sitting near Selig?

9:34	Paul Swydan: I hope your eyes did not deceive you, but they probably did.

9:35	Comment From Michael If you were running an expansion franchise, which of these players with their current contract would you most like to draft as your 2B? A. Dustin Pedroia, B. Mookie Betts, C. Brock Holt, D. Sean Coyle

9:35	Paul Swydan: Probably Pedroia. Still a bargain contract. No offense, Mookie.

9:35	Comment From Section329 That fits with the conspiracy theory in 2001 that Chan Ho Park grooved one to Cal Ripkin

9:36	Paul Swydan: It’s not a conspiracy. I’m sure he did it. I’m sure Wainwright did it tonight. It doesn’t matter.

9:36	Paul Swydan: Once you get used to it…

9:36	Comment From filihok I dated a woman that ‘dated’ Pedro Martinez while he pitched in AAA.

9:36	Paul Swydan: That’s cool.

9:37	Comment From Bam! Lol miggy holding Gordon

9:37	Comment From Mom That was indeed puffy faced Pete Rose

9:38	Comment From Catoblepas That’s why the whole home-field-advantage thing is so stupid. It makes us think this stuff matters! None of this matters, and that should be encouraged, with full absurdity.

9:38	Paul Swydan: Hey, it’s not Jeter’s fault the NL doesn’t have a generational talent retiring at the end of the year.

9:39	Comment From Holden how bad would jeter have had 2 play to not get the mvp award?

9:39	Paul Swydan: I dunno. The game is setting up nicely for him to get it. Doesn’t usually happen.

9:39	Comment From person hscer Between how he did and Uggla in that one ASG

9:39	Paul Swydan: Oh man, Uggla was so bad. That was in ’08.

9:39	Comment From Allan S. So I was thinking, no one watches the Futures Game, right? What if we had it decide draft rankings; whichever team’s players do worst gets the first pick, and going backwards from there…

9:39	Paul Swydan: What if we had the Futures Game tomorrow?

9:40	Paul Swydan: Gordon is so fast.

9:41	Comment From Samantha Who would win in a race: Dee Gordon, Billy Hamilton, Usain Bolt, or a Cheetah?

9:41	Paul Swydan: Still probably the cheetah, right?

9:41	Comment From JV What the hell is Harold talking about? Can LuCroy not hit bad pitchers?

9:42	Paul Swydan: See, the problem is that you’re still listening.

9:42	Comment From Samantha What if each one of them was riding a cheetah?

9:42	Paul Swydan: Then Usain Bolt. He’s a cheetah whisperer.

9:43	Comment From Lyle Cheetahs can reach 60mph in 3 seconds.

9:43	Paul Swydan: I feel like you made that up, Lyle.

9:43	Comment From filihok All those pitchers in the regular season disre2pecting Jeter by trying to get him out.

9:43	Comment From JV no chance for Jeets to win MVP now right?

9:44	Paul Swydan: I’m leaving the door open.

9:44	Paul Swydan: That Simon Says ad is horrible. Do kids even still play Simon Says? I wasn’t planning on teaching that game to my kids.

9:45	Comment From Guest Randall Simon says hit a sausage mascot with a baseball bat

9:45	Comment From Josh C I agree it was annoying

9:45	Paul Swydan: Thanks Josh C!

9:45	Comment From Matthew Yaspan i hope the unnamed scout that berated me a year and a half ago for saying id take lucroy over hosmer at first base is reading this now….

9:45	Paul Swydan: I hope so too!

9:46	Paul Swydan: brb

9:49	Paul Swydan: FWIW, I think that Gotham show is oing to be awful.

9:49	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts Fox execs be like “Whats a show idea that can’t fail?!” Answer: Batman

9:49	Paul Swydan: I feel like we see plenty of Batman’sback story. I don’t think we need a whole show about it.

9:49	Comment From Guest Gotham = DC’ attempt at a SHIELD-like show, even though SHIELD isn’t particularly good or popular?

9:49	Comment From PS i watched the gotham trailer, it actually looks good

9:50	Comment From Harry Porter and the Voldemalts …but it will still fail

9:50	Comment From ST3 Trying to think of a long irrelevant children’s game to make a Fausto Carmona pun about but failing. Crowdsource?

9:50	Paul Swydan: Agents of SHIELD got better as the season progressed, and if the rumored thing that happened actually did happen, it’s gonna get even better next year.

9:50	Comment From person hscer Sequels and Superheroes – 99% of movies

9:51	Paul Swydan: 98%. Come on now.

9:51	Comment From Section 329 Not fair. They are leaving Kershaw in.

9:51	Paul Swydan: They are?

9:51	Comment From Guest 2% for Adina Menzell musicals!

9:51	Comment From Michael Batman would be a better commentator than Harold Reynolds.

9:51	Paul Swydan: Dark and brooding.

9:52	Comment From Sam Fangraphs writers have recently been citing a stat called “tru” ERA which takes into account quality of contact allowed for pitchers. Is this stat kept track of somewhere?

9:52	Paul Swydan: We have?

9:52	Comment From Guest truERA = the new line of flat-brimmed era ballcaps iirc

9:53	Comment From Michael If All-Star teams had mascots who would you vote for?

9:53	Paul Swydan: For Dinger, just to piss everyone off.

9:54	Comment From Hank I prefer the falsERA, presonally

9:54	Paul Swydan: That’s a joke I would make.

9:55	Comment From Lyle Philly Phanatic best mascot in sports

9:55	Comment From Sam Yes, “tru” ERA has been referenced in several posts this year. Kershaw, Tanaka, and Alfredo Simon have been analyzed in this way, to name a few.

9:55	Paul Swydan: Don’t know. We have the various FIPS, and SIERA, on the player pages.

9:55	Comment From Guest the philly phanatic once pantsed my brother in public

9:55	Paul Swydan: WINNER.

9:56	Comment From person hscer Verducci railed against the length of MLB games for SI, blaming working the count; now praising Puig’s plate patience

9:56	Comment From Guest is it possible to pants someone in private?

9:56	Paul Swydan: That’s a good homework assignment for you. Report back with your findings in the seventh inning.

9:57	Comment From Bob loblaw LVP=Cano

9:57	Comment From Bob loblaw Puig got LVP locked up?

9:57	Paul Swydan: Make up your mind, Bob!

9:58	Paul Swydan: But no, I think Wainwright has that locked up.

9:58	Paul Swydan: Wow that was a lot closer than I thought it would be!

9:59	Paul Swydan: Thanks, Harold.

9:59	Comment From Rated Rookie Princess Bride is on Encore. That seems a better way to use my TV screen.

9:59	Paul Swydan: Well, thanks for stopping by, RR.

9:59	Comment From Hank All kidding aside I think the poster on truERA is referring to Tony Blengino’s work looking at various pitcher sustainability. (he looks at LD, FB GB production and adjusts it)

9:59	Paul Swydan: Oh, ya. Tony has got all kinds of crazy stats.

9:59	Comment From PS he did the arm thing after the tag had already missed him………………

9:59	Comment From person hscer heh, that was a pretty sweet move by Tulo avoiding the tag on the arm