Eric A Longenhagen: Hi everyone, and welcome back. Gonna keep things to a tight hour this week so I can hustle across the valley to a big league game, but I’ll move as quickly as possible.

BC: Here are two top tier prospects, Tatis and Bichette. Which one has the biggest upside?

Eric A Longenhagen: I think Tatis because he might actually stay at SS

THE Average Sports Fan: Do you think Senzel can be ever decent at SS?

Eric A Longenhagen: It’s possible. If you assume you can hide what used to be considered subpar range with better positioning then it certainly improves his chances. If I’m skeptical of anything it’s how he’ll look around the bag.

Eric A Longenhagen: But I guess we’ll see. I don’t like watching Paul DeJong at SS baseball but I guess we’re headed there.

Dan Szymborski: Hey guys!

Lee: What are your thoughts on Franchy Cordero’s # of plate appearances in the majors this year?

Dan Szymborski: It’d be surprised if he got more than 100 honestly.

ericstephenisgod: is wilmer font the nl cy young favorite at this point?

Dan Szymborski: Ha

Lee: Did Thor just peak for the year? 7 of 12 perfect 1st inning pitches at 100 or 101 mph

Travis Sawchik: Greetings from the media workroom at the Cincinnati Reds spring training complex in Goodyear, Arz.

Travis Sawchik: Let’s get started …

Howdy: Any chance Senzel breaks camp with the Reds?

Travis Sawchik: zero chance due to service time issues but the bat might be ready and the shortstop experiment is pretty interesting

Jordan: Travis, how hard do you have to squint to see the Pirates being a legit wildcard contender? Are they REALLY that much worse than STL/MIL/COL? They could have a really strong bullpen, starting pitching should be okay, if not spectacular. Offense could struggle, for sure.

Travis Sawchik: Everything went wrong for the Pirates a year ago … If enough breaks right they could be in the WC mix, but I think the 75-win forecast seems pretty reasonable

Kiley McDaniel: Leave your question here and I’ll be back at noon eastern to chat. See my twitter @kileymcd for my notes from the MLB Int’l showcase (July 2nd, 2018 eligible Latin prospects) this week and Carson tells me that my post with tons of draft info will be going up shortly.

Kiley McDaniel: Inception

Kiley McDaniel: whoa

Matt: This isn’t where I parked my Jeff Sullivan

Kiley McDaniel: You will be able to find him here next week and me in my rightful place next week!

He Hate Me: Given that pitchers have a higher injury risk than hitters, does it make sense to focus more on hitters in the draft and then trade some of your seasoned hitting prospects (some of whom might be blocked) for young pitchers that have proven to be durable in their first few seasons? This seems to be the opposite of what the Braves have done (closer to what the Cubs are doing?).

Meg Rowley: Hi all! There is snow on the ground in Seattle, and the city is loudly digging up my street for some reason, so let’s chat and distract ourselves.

Matt Klentak: When should we expect to hear more about Miguel Sano’s suspension? Day before opening day? When did league finally announce Chapman’s suspension?

Meg Rowley: I would think before Opening Day. Chapman’s suspension came down on March 1, and the league took its time figuring that one out because it was the very first one of its kind. You’d think they’d give the team some time to sort out its plans.

Matt Klentak: What did you do with Jay Jaffe?

Meg Rowley: Jay is on vacation, but I believe will return to his regularly scheduled programming next week.

Danny: Chances the Padres trade their lower-level (A) prospects for MLB-ready pitching and go for it in the next two years with a still-young Myers and Hosmer?

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to one-time Wednesday baseball chat

Jeff Sullivan: Kiley is out of the country and could only chat on Friday this week, so we pulled off a temporary swap. Sorry for you disappointed Kiley fans!

Ryan H: Thoughts on Forrest Whitley?

Jeff Sullivan: Haven’t seen specifically what he’s being suspended for. All I know is he’s being suspended. These things are typically about weed, and while no minor-league player should be smoking weed while it’s a suspension-worthy activity, it’s absurd that they can be suspended for this and big-leaguers can’t

Jeff Sullivan: Speaking just in generalities, I doubt this reflects a huge behavior problem on Whitley’s part, and I expect that he’ll still reach the majors by the end of the summer

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning from surprisingly chilly Tempe.

Eric A Longenhagen: If you missed some notes from my weekend looks, they are here: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/draft-notes-from-college-baseballs-ope…

Eric A Longenhagen: I also saw Oregon St (Madrigal, Larnach, etc) but those guys are back in town this week so waiting to write them up after the weekend.

Eric A Longenhagen: Also wrote up the guy TB got back from MIN for Odorizzi, Jermaine Palacios: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/scouting-new-rays-prospect…

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay, lt’s begin.

Tommy N.: With the Hosmer signing what happens to guys like Naylor and Austin Allen now?

Matt: Hi Dan. Did you chat move to Mondays because you could never remember when Thursday was?

Dan Szymborski: Actually, that’s kinda what happened.  Weekdays mush together, I think for me *and* Carson since one of us would always forget.

Bobyt: Do the Dodgers need any holes filled. IE another starting pitcher.

Dan Szymborski: They’re perhaps a skosh below average at 2nd, but I doubt they aggressively try to fill that up.

S: Where does Dickerson end up? Rockies makes some sense.

Dan Szymborski: Rockies do make sense, plus there’s history there

Travis Sawchik: Hi

Travis Sawchik: The offseason is technically over … but yet it warmed up over the weekend

Travis Sawchik: Go figure!

Travis Sawchik: Let’s talk about it …

Q-Ball: Chris Tillman back to the O’s felt inevitable, and turns out it was…

Joe: The biggest news of the last week, obviously, is that Chris Tillman just signed with Baltimore. What’s the chance he rebounds to be something better than a complete disaster?

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Bork: Hello, friend!

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friend

Fredrick: Hi Jeff! Do you know when the pre-season Depth Chart prjections will be updated to include ZiPS? Also, do you know if steamer or ZiPS has taken into account the new humidor at chase field?

Thanks

Jeff Sullivan: Can’t imagine the projections will adjust themselves for the humidor