Archive for Chat

Dan Szymborski: Release the Chaten!

Roberto Beers: The lull in HS content has left me drifting to other F2P games, namely TFT. Have you played? Thoughts on the AutoChess genre?

Dan Szymborski: Intrigued by it, but haven’t dipped my toes in yet. HS has been fun!

Joe: Do you have updated ZIPS numbers for Tatis? I know his babip can’t stay this good so what are realistic expectations for him?

Dan Szymborski: You should see a WAR update in the trade value series. I may do something more substantial before the offseason.

Matt: Please confirm that your name is not in fact, “Szymbobski”

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning from Tempe. One link for you this morning:

Eric A Longenhagen: Kiley and I podded about Futures Game. It’s a long episode in which we go over our notes and talk about Board changes. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fangraphs-audio-presents-the-untitled-mcdo…

Nick: I know you guys weren’t excited about the Braves draft after day two. With the six HS picks they’ve now signed from rounds 11-19, how significantly does that change things?

Eric A Longenhagen: Somewhat, they’re adding a bunch of 35+ FV types. Depth is nice, now they need to develop those players.

Chris: The Yankee fans sure think Clint Frazier is worth any player… What’s a realistic one for one trade comp for their fans

Eric A Longenhagen: I have Frazier 50’d, so I think he’s a real piece. Would he, alone, net someone like Matt Boyd or White Merrifield who has 3ish years of control left? Probably not, but he’s a great start.

Jay Jaffe: Good afternoon, folks, and welcome to today’s chat. Just moments ago I filed my lengthy tribute to Jim Bouton, who passed away yesterday [Update: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/pitcher-author-everyman-hero-jim-bouton-1939-2019/]. He had a massive impact not only on the culture at large, but on me personally, as I crossed paths with him several times. Thus I’m more than a little verklempt. I’ll begin the chat in  few minutes, after I take a breather and order lunch. Your patience is appreciated.

Xolo: How much do you think Syndergaard might bouce back by simply getting away from the Mets?

Jay Jaffe: Given the state of their wretched defense, which ranks last in the NL in UZR and Defensive Efficiency, quite a bit. For one thing, he’s got a 3.98 FIP compared to a 4.68 ERA, and additionally has received below-average pitch framing. For another, the atmosphere in that clubhouse may well be a factor, particularly considering the recent change in pitching coaches. I’d imagine he pitches much better if he changes scenery, and I do think that if the Mets commit to dealing him, he would be the deadline’s top target, ahead of Bumgarner.

Dave from Modesto: I apologize if this seems combative, but why did you feel the need to bring up “service time shenanigans” in the first sentence of your article about the Home Run Derby? And do you legitimately feel that the only reason Alonso wasn’t promoted last season was service time concerns? (defense, playing time available given other guys on the roster, 40-man concerns played no role?)

Jay Jaffe: Major League Baseball and its teams use the All-Star week festivities to highlight the product they’re offering. I think a marquee event during which people are taking stock of the sport most pressing issues — the CBA, the home run tide, etc — is a perfect time to highlight its efforts to undermine its own product. And no, I don’t believe there’s any other credible explanation for Alonso’s belated arrival outside of financial ones, given that he’s proven to be defensively adequate.

J: Highly recommend Xifu over on Livingston and Nevins for lunch. Don’t think they deliver but it’s like $5 for a huge spicy and sour soup with 10 dumplings.

Kiley McDaniel: Hello from ATL, Scout is napping nearby and I’m back from a week on the road.

Kiley McDaniel: we have lots of futures game thoughts coming soon, including high speed video of every pitcher, a review podcast and updates to our rankings from futures game observations

Kiley McDaniel: the most interesting pitch in slo-mo was the changeup/screwball of Grayson Rodriguez of the Orioles, as seen in this tweet:

Kiley McDaniel: and also I just saw college Team USA so we’ve got a much better idea of the 2020 and beyond draft classes now, so any questions about specific rankings can likely be fielded by THE BOARD: https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/2019-in-season-prospect-…

Kiley McDaniel: to your questions:

Charles: When is the top 50 most valuable trade chips coming out?

Kiley McDaniel: Hello from North Carolina! Following around college Team USA and the Cubans for a few more days before I head to Cleveland for the Futures Game and our FG live event

Kiley McDaniel: some details on the saturday event, if you’d like to attend: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/announcing-the-fangraphs-all-s…

Kiley McDaniel: here our J2 coverage links in one tweet:

Kiley McDaniel: the J2 edition of THE BOARD has confirmed, non VZ bonuses and the minor league version has all 35+ connected players (even if they haven’t signed yet) added to team lists

Kiley McDaniel: including Jasson Dominguez at 61 overall and 1st on the NYY list

Kiley McDaniel: lastly, we have some fun stuff planned with the high speed video and Eric has seen Greinke, deGrom and Kershaw, so here’s his article trying to figure out other guys that do stuff similarly to Kershaw using the video: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-find-some-clayton-kershaws-to-scale/

Meg Rowley: Hello all, and welcome to the chat.

Meg Rowley: A few bits of housekeeping before we kick off.

Meg Rowley: Tickets are still available for our Cleveland event, but they are going fast.

Meg Rowley: They can be purchased here https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/fangraphs-cleveland-all-star-e…

Meg Rowley: It should be a very fun time, and someone (read: Kiley) is likely to say something goofy, so if you’re in the area, join us!

Meg Rowley: We will sell tickets at the door. Those sales will be cash only.

Dan Szymborski: CHAT IS HERE

Justin: What does a fair trade for Felipe Vazquez from, say, the Dodgers look like?

Gub Gub: Where’s the beef?

Dan Szymborski: Oops, scroll

IsIt2020Yet?: Huntington says no way they’re trading Vazquez. With this core looking at best like a .550 team, why the heck not? Who cares if he’s still closing a handful of games for a middling team in four years?

Dan Szymborski: They probably should. While I wasn’t the least bit crazy about the Archer trade, my belief was for it to work out, it had to mean that they were going to double-down and finally adopt a win-now priority in the offseason.

Eric A Longenhagen: Hey, everyone. Only link I’ll press upon you this morning will be our July 2 stuff. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/july-2-international-amateur-p…

Lilith: Should I be worried about Trammell? He seems to have lost all of his power over the past year. I heard a rumor that he changed his swing? Is that true?

Eric A Longenhagen: I wouldn’t worry about it. I don’t think he’ll ever hit for significant power, it’ll be an OBP/defense thing.

John Coppolella : What chance do you see of Kevin Maitan ever tapping into his (once) immense potential?

Eric A Longenhagen: maybe 5%? If he were a junior college prospect he’d probably be a 400k sort. Still a prospect, and it’s important to look at him with the context of his amateur reports, but his career probably died when some combination of the player and Braves let his body get out of control.

Brandon J: What do you make of Josiah Gray? Could you see him surpassing Jeter Downs as the better prospect of the Dodgers/Reds trade?