Eno Sarris: Two things are funny to me about this video. 1) When I grew up in Jamaica, I heard reggae covers of everything, I learned the words to Billy Jean that way. 2) The early season is sort of strange and new, but also something totally normal and comfortable. Like a cover.

Ben WMD: Who’s more worthless – Delino DeShields or Travis Jankowski?

Eno Sarris: DDs bats from the right side, so it’s him.

Hannah Hochevar: Read all your advice, listened to all your pods, and somehow the only thing I took away was that I needed to get Lonnie Chisenhall on my team…

Eno Sarris: P Weird.

RotoLando: Who do you believe in more, Eric Thames or Jesus Aguilar?

Dave Cameron: Happy first Wednesday of the season, everyone.

Dave Cameron: Sorry for the late start. Cistulli is to blame, of course.

Dave Cameron: I’ll go a few minutes extra to make up for his distraction.

Stevie: How much do you think Bundy adding his cutter will help him this season?

Dave Cameron: I think command is probably the bigger issue. Having a cutter won’t change things dramatically unless he’s back to putting the ball where he wants it.

Victor: It’s august 2017, and the Red Sox are playing good baseball and leading the Al East. Their starting first basemen is (insert name here).

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Jeff Zimmerman: Hi

B: Need to fill last two spots on my rotation, who do you pick from the following? Can play now, or hold and see (deep bench):

Musgrove, Bundy, Norris, Cotton, Gsellman

Eric A Longenhagen: Mornin’. Shorter chat today since I was on for three hours last night during our opening day chat marathon.

Eric A Longenhagen: That is here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-opening-day-live-blog-extravaganza…

Eric A Longenhagen: Also, Jays list: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/top-17-prospects-toronto-blue-jays/

Eric A Longenhagen: Sox list: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/top-15-prospects-boston-red-sox-2/

Eric A Longenhagen: Rays list: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/top-31-prospects-tampa-bay-rays/

Eric A Longenhagen: One last thing before I start, there A LOT of questions in the chat asking when Prospect X is going to be in the big leagues. Blanket answer: I don’t know. Too many variables impact that sort of thing that have zero to do with the player’s performance.

Dave Cameron: Happy Opening Day everyone!

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

ctw: Baseball.

Brandon M: GO RANGERS!!

Charlie: LGM

GDUBSS: I’m here for the extravaganza. Am I in the right place?

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Bork: Hello, friend!

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friend

Query: The chat will begin soon!

Jeff Sullivan: I have good(?) news!

Eno Sarris: was going to play some mac dre, but this is close enough, and has better visuals

Borkins: Ello, mate!

Borkins: Cody Reed to the bullpen because…..????

Eno Sarris: They have too many starters! I dunno. I figure Feldman or Arroyo will flame out or Rookie Davis won’t have enough secondary stuff and he’ll be back.

Ragingtwig: I think this decision is ridiculously easy, but am waffling nonetheless: can keep Yoan Moncada ($3) or David Dahl ($8) in keep 6, $2 inflation, both for the next three years. OBP and SLG league. It’s Dahl right?

Eno Sarris: You get at least a half year more PT, and then Dahl also offers much more floor. I’d do him. Pause.

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Jeff Zimmerman: Hi

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Dan Szymborski: Hey guys!

CamdenWarehouse: Do you see Stephenson in the Reds rotation at some point this season?

Dan Szymborski: If his command is OK, I think he’ll get some time considering where the Reds are. Maybe even in if it isn’t.

mtsw: Does the fact that the arbitration system rewards counting stats for hitters but wins/saves for pitchers create a systemic bias towards teams with pitcher-friendly parks? Hitter counting stats are park dependent but wins/saves aren’t really.

Dan Szymborski: Never really thought of it, but I don’t think enough players go to arb for that to be a big deal.

Dan Szymborski: And I believe that they’re free to make an argument wiht a player to this effect.

Dave Cameron: Happy last Wednesday before baseball, everyone.

Dave Cameron: Let’s do our final preseason chat of the year.

Dave Cameron: And look forward to some real baseball on Sunday.

senorsilver: Anything to Thames struggles in the spring? Maybe one guy where spring is relevant?

Dave Cameron: I doubt it. He’s always had power, even before he went to the KBO, and there’s zero reason to think that faded over the winter.

Erik: In a division with two bad teams, like the NL East, how much do you think the players care about at least finishing higher than one team in the division? Obviously, players are hyper-competitive and want to win every game, but at the end of the season, will the Phillies or Braves be happy that they at least finished higher than the other team, even if it’s objectively worse for the team’s future since it means a worse draft pick?