Dave Cameron: Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Dave Cameron: Since it comes up from time to time, a book recommendation for others with toddlers: Ella and Penguin is our current favorite book. Definitely worth checking out. Dragons Love Tacos is a close second.

Dave Cameron: And on that note, let’s talk some baseball!

Ned Yost: I understand the hype behind Ohtani. But let’s be real: even the surest of sure things in baseball go bust. I haven’t seen one person even suggest there is any possibility that he turns into merely, say, a number 4 starter rather than a franchise changing mega-star. Listen, there is nothing wrong with being a number 4 starter! Nothing! That’s still a good outcome. But why does it seem like everyone has predetermined stardom for a kid who is coming off an injury riddled season in a completely different atmosphere in Japan?

Dave Cameron: Maybe we’re reading different things, but I haven’t seen anyone say there’s no risk here. People are talking about him passing up a $200M contract if he were a free agent; $200M free agents still come with downside, as J.D. Martinez currently illustrates.

Dave Cameron: Of course there’s a chance he’s not as good as the hype. I think there’s a real chance the two-way thing doesn’t work and he’s just a pitcher in a few years.

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Beni and the Betts: Being a Red Sox fan, I can’t say I’m too upset with this, but it seems like Judge is being slighted in the MVP race, no? He leads Altuve in most relevant categories (both old fashioned and sabermetric) and yet most writers are acting like Altuve is a no doubter.  What say you?

Paul Swydan: I don’t think either of them are no doubters, but I would agree that the media narrative has landed on Altuve’s side. We’ll see Thursday I guess. I honestly don’t care either way.

Eric A Longenhagen: Hi everyone, give me like 2 min (I’m wrapping up a call about Cubs prospects)

Eric A Longenhagen: (sorry)

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay, thanks.

Eric A Longenhagen: The Cardinals list is up on the site (but you probably already knew that)

Eric A Longenhagen: Let’s begin

Bloop and a Blast: Any chance Senzel moves to MI in the MLB? My fantasy team needs a SS…..

Travis Sawchik: Greetings and salutations

Travis Sawchik: And happy Ohtani season

Hank: What kind of moves to you expect Anthopoulos to make in his first offseason with the Braves?

Travis Sawchik: AA has a reputation as an aggressive trader but I wonder if he will be a little more conservative early on as he does some inventory and gets acquainted with the Braves …. So maybe some smaller-type transactions

Creg: Where do you put the odds that Otani signs with an NL team? It seems like the teams, Otani’s agent and probably he himself will recognize that it’s better if he just DHs.

Travis Sawchik: I’d be surprised if he lands in the NL … unless he really wants to play in the field on days he’s not pitching. But i think he’s going to land with an AL club

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Creg: Does Cozart continue hitting enough to be a realistic 3B option for someone?

Jeff Sullivan: I imagine he’s going to stay at shortstop, and I imagine he’s going to stay with the Reds

Jeff Sullivan: I don’t think that’s anything like a guarantee, but it’s my current best guess

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: We’re a long way out from the MLB All-Star Game, but should there be a substitution rule where one [1] player can be reentered into the game? It’s an exhibition and we all want to see the best players in the tightest spot anyways, right?

Eno Sarris: you, me, this chat here, it’s a

Guest: Hate to be that guy who suggests the JBJ trade, but is him (to be replaced by JD), Groome, and Chavis enough to make the Rays consider trading archer

Eno Sarris: Is that a great fit? I mean in terms of assets, maybe it’s enough, but it depends on what rankings either team has on the prospects. In terms of fits, though, they have a center fielder and a third baseman…

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: Eno, I was just visiting the west coast with the intention of a move soon; however, how do west coasters handle the 9am Fangraphs chats? These chats are a godsend midday here for those on the east coast.

Eno Sarris: Gotta show early, do some email responses that cc the whole office and let you know you’re there, close the door, and talk into the phone intermittently like you’re on a conference call. solved.

Rufus T. Firefly: With the change in use of mediocre starters (i.e. likely fewer innings and chances at wins and K’s) is it time to focus more on power long relievers for fantasy?

Dave Cameron: The normal “Happy Wednesday” greeting seems inappropriate today, given the loss of Roy Halladay yesterday.

Dave Cameron: So I’ll just welcome you to our chance at a memorial for one of the best pitchers I’ve ever seen.

Dave Cameron: We’ll do some normal off-season/awards talk too, but if you want to share your favorite Halladay memory, I’d love to read them.

stever20: So what pitchers of today remind you the most of Halladay?

Dave Cameron: There isn’t anyone who embodies everything Halladay had. Kluber is maybe closest, so that’s obviously more dominance by strikeouts. Maybe Jose Quintana, though he’s not nearly as good as Halladay was.

CT: I never rooted for any of Roy Halladay’s teams during his career, but I’ll never forget watching his NLDS no-hitter in 2010 on a 20″ TV because I had no other option that day, but I didn’t care. Seeing Roy pitch, in that game and otherwise, was special and you knew it when you saw it and would put up with just about anything to see him throw.

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody.

hscer: I wonder what we’re going to be talking about…sigh…

Nic: RIP Roy Halladay.You will be remembered.

Nathan: RIP Roy Halladay

Pablo: Just dug my Doctober shirt out from under my bed and put it in the wash so that I can wear it out this weekend. If you see me at the UT game or around Austin please say hello. RIP

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay, we’re on. Pretty sure I’m headed to Mesa for this afternoon’s AFL game (not 100% on who the starters will be, the AFL has just decided to stop posting probables, apparently) so as is typical during AFL time, we’re keeping tight to an hour. Let’s boogie.

Josh: How close are Kyle Tucker and Garrett Whitley to the majors? Both seem to be getting fast tracked

Eric A Longenhagen: Tucker might get there next year in the event of injury but Houston has a glut of upper-level outfielders even after dealing Teoscar. Whitley was in Low-A last year so I disagree that he’s being fast tracked. he was a raw HS bat from the Northeast, not a guy who’s typically going to move quickly.

Whatup: Adbert Alzolay (sp?) – what his long term potential?

Eric A Longenhagen: Chance to be a mid-rotation starter. 93-96, was 95-97 in Fall Stars game. Has two viable secondaries. I’m a fan.

David: Anything thoughts on Yankees’ Chris Gittens and Nick Nelson? Both seem like high upside lottery tickets, anything we can get excited about?

Travis Sawchik: Don’t be sad the 2017 season is over, friends …

Travis Sawchik: Be glad it happened

Travis Sawchik: Now, on to 2018 …

Tim: So what’s your off-season sports drug of choice?

Travis Sawchik: It’s such a dark period in my life

Travis Sawchik: My favorite non-MLB event is the NCAA men’s basketball tournament if you consider spring training to be offseason