Dave Cameron: Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Dave Cameron: Sorry for the delayed start; had a toddler meltdown to help with.

David: Will Chris Taylor turn into a pumpkin or is this a Justin Turner-esque resurgence?

Dave Cameron: Those aren’t really the only two options. Taylor projected as a roughly league average player heading into the season, so it’s not that weird that he’s had a good 50 at-bats. I don’t think he’s going to turn into an offensive star, but he’s a good defensive middle infielder who isn’t a terrible hitter.

Erik: The Phillies’ rotation was supposed to be their strength, but even the pitchers doing well by ERA like Hellickson have awful underlying numbers. What do you make of them going forward? Are they still the average unit they were projected to be at the start of the year?

Dave Cameron: A healthy Nola would help, but Velasquez isn’t doing anything to push back against the idea that he’s a long-term reliever.

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Paul Swydan: PLEASE keep voting in that first poll. I think we’re on the right track with it being on of the A’s. But which one? Agh!

Eric A Longenhagen: Morning from an anomalously cool Tempe.

Eric A Longenhagen: Today’s chat will be held tight to an hour as I’ve got some games to hit today.

Eric A Longenhagen: Begin!

Jack: Is Jake Gatewood’s power here to stay now? 2015-16 were rough but seems to have tapped into that frame so far this season

Eric A Longenhagen: The power hes always been there and totally undermined by swing and miss issues.

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s strijing out a lot this year, walk rate has gone from 3% to 14% which is too big of an uptick to be entirely real.

Travis Sawchik: Hello, everyone

Travis Sawchik: We need to talk

Travis Sawchik: So let’s get started, shall we?

Robert : Before the season, Jay Bruce said he was going to make a conscious effort to hit more fly balls. So far, his FB rate is up about 10% and conversely, his GB rate down about 10%. Does this make his hot start more buyable?

Travis Sawchik: I believe it does. And I wrote a bit about it earlier this spring … http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jay-bruce-tries-to-improve-q-rating-in-…

Travis Sawchik: Any time a player expresses an intention to make a change, makes the change, and performance improves … I buy in

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Bork: Hello, friend!

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friend

Trader Joe: True or False?: Rockies would be better off trading LeMahieu for pitching and calling up Ryan McMahon to play 2B.

Jeff Sullivan: That seems very false

Eno Sarris: I’m going to play this because I like it, creepy sound at the beginning or no.

The Average Sports Fan: Will Altherr continue to get full time PT?

Eno Sarris: Long term I think he’s still a fourth outfielder. Strikes out a lot, doesn’t walk a ton, overreached on small sample power imo, and platoon splits worrisome.

greg: Is Aaron Judge’s 54% HR/FB sustainable?

Eno Sarris: LOL

chris: How long do the Indians roll the dice with Chisenhall in center before calling up Zimmer?

Clark Kent: Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 5/3/17
by Carson Cistulli

Dan Szymborski: The post about the chat is by Carson.

Tyler Glasnow: Would you give my new changeup a 55 scouting grade? Is the only thing holding me back now consistent control?

Dan Szymborski: The latter I think is the biggest obstacle. I wouldn’t want to give an exact grade without specifically reviewing the tape and looking at it, but it looks much improved to me

mtsw: Does Ryan Flaherty possess the least remarkable career in MLB history? Has never been an everyday starter, except as an injury replacement and will likely go all 3 rookie seasons and 3 arb years as an Oriole then (probably?) retire after this season. Say something about Ryan Flaherty’s lack of remarkability.

Dan Szymborski: It would be interesting to find the mediocre-est player in history.

Dave Cameron: Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Dave Cameron: Nice to be back on the west coast after a trip to DC for Pitch Talks on Monday night.

hscer: thanks for doing Pitch Talks DC on Monday, “Previous Speaker,” great stuff as always

Dave Cameron: Thanks to the folks who came out and made it a fun night. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Average Sports Fan: Are the slow starts for the Royals and Blue Jays actually blessings in disguise? NO reason for misplaced hope. You are terrible, SELL!

Dave Cameron: The Blue Jays aren’t terrible, they just dug too big a hole.

Eric A Longenhagen: Morning from Tempe.

Eric A Longenhagen: Here are this morning’s daily notes: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/daily-prospect-notes-52/

Eric A Longenhagen: Let’s get right to it.

Ron: Albies has 80 games at Triple A with a wRC+ of 85 and OBP below .300. When are we allowed to start being concerned?

Eric A Longenhagen: He’s the age of a college sophomore and was hitting .290 before the weekend started. He’s fine.

Tommy N.: Do you have any thoughts on Joey Lucchesi? Could he be a fast riser considering his age?

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Bork: Hello, friend!

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friend

Sock Therapy: Is Aaron Judge the messiah

Jeff Sullivan: Some people are made in something superior to God’s image