Eric A Longenhagen: Here is our last mock. Fingers crossed. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2018-mlb-mock-draft-v-3-1/

Eric A Longenhagen: And here is our draft board: https://www.fangraphs.com/scoutboard.aspx?draft=2018mlb&type=0&pos=all…

Eric A Longenhagen: Things still sounded unsettled as of a few hours ago, so there’s still a chance things totally blow up at the top of the draft, but we’d say it’s unlikely.

Eric A Longenhagen: We’ll be answering your questions throughout the evening and providing live analysis as things unfold.

Kiley McDaniel: Hearing it will go Mize-Bart-Bohm at the top, as expected

Dan Szymborski: Because You Were Bad:  A terrible Szymborski chat is incoming.

Seth: Can the Reds have Mize? Too many Ks for the top hitters…

Dan Szymborski: The Reds have struck out fewer times than league average.

Dan Szymborski: We live in a world in which 8.6 K/9 is average.

Raymond: How have your expectations of Rafael Devers shifted since the beginning of the season

Dan Szymborski: Not really.  We’re talking about a guy that basically skipped AAA and probably had a higher BABIP than was expectable

Travis Sawchik: Happy Draft Day, folks

Travis Sawchik: I am not our resident draft expert(s) but we will continue to have plenty of draft-related content

Travis Sawchik: So let’s talk about this game of baseball, shall we?

Bo: Have you read Rian Watt’s excellent article on Folty? Reason to believe he’s a front-line SP now that he’s got better separation between his FB/SL?

Travis Sawchik: Great piece and Ryan also noted how he has seemingly tightened up command and consistency of all his offerings. He’s made Bryce Harper look pedestrian which is tough to do.

Travis Sawchik: You could also make a case that Sean Newcomb was the best pitcher in the NL in May

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Tommy N.: Jose Pirela has a 1.2 bWAR but only a 0.3 fWAR why such a drastic difference?

Jeff Sullivan: Defensive Runs Saved puts Pirela at +5 as a second baseman and +3 as an outfielder. For Ultimate Zone Rating, it’s +1 and -1, respectively

Jeff Sullivan: A gap like that is likely to regress as we move forward; most importantly, if you’re the Padres, no matter what’s going on with Pirela’s defense, you want him to be hitting for some actual power. So far, he’s not

Dylan: How amazing is Brandon Nimmo?

Jay Jaffe: Good day and welcome to another edition of my Thursday chat. If I’m a little distracted today it’s because my parents are visiting from Salt Lake City and are prone to (figuratively) tugging at my sleeve for a bit of guidance. With that in mind, let’s get to it!

Duck Duck Goose: Why did I fly into the scoreboard last night?  Bad launch angle or was my exit velo too low?

Jay Jaffe: I’m going to go with bad eyesight on that one. Yeesh.

CJ Cron: Am I making the All-Star game? And how much better would the Angels have been with me around and Albert Pujols gone?

Jay Jaffe: I’ve never been much of a Cron-head, but yes, you’re off to a pretty good start (.269/.332/.486, 125 wRC+, 1.0 WAR for those who can’t be bothered to look it up), and yes, that’s 1.2 WAR ahad of Pujols at a fraction of the cost. I’m not sure that’s really All-Star caliber, though, and might suggest that catcher Wilson Ramos (.313/.356/.479) is putting together a more impressive season at a less crowded position, ASG-wise

Greg: Do you agree with Buster that less stolen bases and less hit and runs makes the game less interesting?

Kiley McDaniel: Hello everyone coming to you live from rainy Orlando while I’m waist deep in scouting notes that will be showing up on THE BOARD soon. Here’s what we have at the moment: https://www.fangraphs.com/scoutboard.aspx?draft=2018mlb&type=0&pos=all…

Greg: What’s the upcoming mock schedule?

Kiley McDaniel: One on Thursday or Friday, then another on Monday

Larry: Would you still put Gorman as the most likely pick for Atlanta?

Kiley McDaniel: Yes, but there’s a growing sense that, with teams in their meetings and little details leaking out, that beyond the top 5-6 picks, there’s a lot of uncertainty, private workouts and shifting opinions. And some crazy rumors in the top 5 at teams price shopping to figure out what all their options are.

Tommy N.: Any late draft whispers for the Padres and their newly acquired bonus pool money? Less likely to go underslot at 7 now?

Meg Rowley: Good morning! I hope everyone had a good long weekend, and isn’t too sad about going back to work.

Meg Rowley: And hey if you are, well you’re reading a baseball chat, so hopefully that helps.

Dane: Vlad Jr. When will he be up and what do you expect from him this year?

Meg Rowley: It’ll be interesting to see how, if at all, Donaldson’s injury shifts things for them. I know he described it as minor, but the Blue Jays’ hold on contention is verrrry tenuous.

Meg Rowley: I still think the service time stuff holds him down because I am cynical and bit mistrusting by nature, but there is an opening.

Meg Rowley: And I expect him to just hit the crap out of the ball. All the way to Jupiter a lot of the time. There will likely be defensive silliness, but you won’t mind because he will just hit the crap out of the ball, in my considered opinion.

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: Sorry about that delay — very much podcasting this morning and afternoon for some reason

Put me in coach: Worse contract at this point – Heyward or Pujols

Jeff Sullivan: Pujols. Heyward, despite everything, still isn’t an overall negative

Jeff Sullivan: It is too bad though — earlier this season, it seemed like Heyward was showing some real signs of life. They’ve all but disappeared, although in fairness he has experienced a concussion

Eric A Longenhagen: Morning from Tempe. Let’s get right to it…

Mertz: Is Corbin Burnes’ recent mediocre performance more of a function of his home park/league, or is he really having problems?  Do you see him making any MLB starts this year?

Eric A Longenhagen: Very likely the ballpark. Not sure he debuts this year because so many other viable guys are already on the 40-man and Burnes is not. Houser, Woodruff, etc.

Larry: Still feel like Gorman is the most likely pick for Atlanta?

Eric A Longenhagen: Yep

Dan: Thoughts on Cubs pitching prospects so far this year? From Underwood to Albertos, a lot seems to happening, good and bad.