Dave Cameron: Happy Wednesday, everyone. I’m off to Boston for the Sloan conference this weekend, so if you’ve got a ticket, come say hi at some point this weekend. The baseball panel features Mike Petriello, Harry Pavlidis, the guy behind the eBIS software MLB teams use, Brian Kenny, and myself, so it should be a lively discussion.

Erik: Is the Warthen slider real or myth? If it’s real, how? It’s not like he can copy the pitch, and it can’t be that he’s the only person to know how to throw a hard slider, right? Why isn’t everyone doing it?

Dave Cameron: Pitching coaches can emphasize different aspects of pitches or grips, and it seems pretty clear that Warthen encourages his pitchers to throw hard breaking stuff. Everyone else probably doesn’t agree that the emphasis is necessary, just as everyone didn’t agree with Dave Duncan about sinkers down or Leo Mazzone about fastballs away.

Dave Cameron: Just because one guy has success with one approach with one group of pitchers doesn’t mean that everyone should or will copy it.

The Average Sports Fan: Is Eric Hosmer good? What does his next contract look like?

Dave Cameron: I think it’s difficult to defend the idea that, to this point, Eric Hosmer has been a good MLB player. He just hasn’t hit well enough to be a good first baseman, and there isn’t enough evidence to support the idea that he’s made up for it with his glove.

That said, the Statcast numbers suggest that he could be a good hitter with a different launch angle, and scouts obviously love the swing, so that combination probably makes him more likely than most meh players to become a good player in the future. I don’t think it would be all that weird if he finally figured out how to stop hitting groundballs at some point and became the guy the Royals apparently think he is already.

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Felix: Best Netflix show is Daredevil

Graves: Netflix original: Ultimate Beastmaster

Caffeind: Daredevil or Stranger Things

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning everyone, we’ll keep things tight to an hour today as I wrap up the Washington prospect list and move on to New York (AL).

Eric A Longenhagen: Here’s the Mets list: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/top-20-prospects-new-york-mets/

Eric A Longenhagen: let’s begin

Slamboni: What are your thoughts on Anderson Tejada? Still young and has room to grow, but his numbers intrigue me

Eric A Longenhagen: I like him. Good bat speed, you’re right that the body has more to give and there’s already some power in there, not sure he’s a shortstop but the bat projects fine at second base and if he does stay at short he could be a star. Was raw vs any offspeed stuff in AZL but showed some ability to adjust.

Fred: Do you prefer Allard or Braxton Garrett?

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to Friday baseball chat

Bork: Hello, friend!

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friend

ChiSox2020: Is Boston’s outfield going to be all time great on both sides of the ball?

Jeff Sullivan: Allow me to say this much —

Dan Szymborski: And away we go! Thanks for coming guys, had some internet issues yesterday.

Kevin: The Brewers best starting pitcher this year will be __________________

Dan Szymborski: Teddy Higuera 1986 remains the best starting pitcher for the Brewers as of 2017!

Dan Szymborski: You guys know my position on fill in the blanks! Just be gald I didn’t say fart.

Geoff Williams: If a team was projected to go 81-81, and added a batter who you knew would homer every at bat- but was limited to 15 pinch hit appearance through entire year, would that team be a World Series favourite?

Dan Szymborski: A playoff favorite, but I think you’d run out of PH appearances for the playoffs.

Eno Sarris: be right there

Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: If this is how the Internet reacts to intentional walks being removed, I’m afraid of what’s going to happen when the NL gets the DH.

Eno Sarris: Lots of handwringing, all caps screaming, things of that nature.

Sandy A.: Any word on how the new ballpark in ATL is gonna play?

Eno Sarris: I saw that the fences were a few feet shorter in the power alleys but weather is the biggest part of park factors, so about the same I’d guess.

Black Beard’s Delight: Home sick with a fever of 102, but it’s ENO SARRIS BASEBALL CHAT!!!!!!

Dave Cameron: Happy Wednesday, everyone.

Dave Cameron: Everyone is in camp, games are happening shortly… baseball is almost back.

Dave Cameron: Let’s talk about the 2017 season, or just about anything else on your mind.

The Average Sports Fan: What pace of play initiative are you most in favor of? Most opposed to?

Dave Cameron: I’m pro-pitch clock. Almost every pace/length problem gets solved if we shave 2-3 seconds off the time between pitches. In 2015, when players actually were trying to speed things up, it was really noticeable, and the game was way more enjoyable to watch. And then it all went away last year for no reason.

Dave Cameron: In terms of most opposed, no one thinks that runner on 2nd in extra innings thing is a good idea.

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan:

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Jeff Zimmerman: Hello

Cody: I have the second pick in a H2H with R, HR, RBI, SB, OBP along with ERA, SV, K/9, WHIP, and QS as categories. Trout is going first – as somewhat of a beginner to fantasy baseball, who you would recommend taking second overall? Kershaw, Bryant, Betts, etc..

Eric A Longenhagen: Hi all, links quick before I get going….

Eric A Longenhagen: Braves list: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/top-32-prospects-atlanta-braves/

Eric A Longenhagen: Also, I was in San Diego to see Vanderbilt over the weekend so video of relevant guys is starting to go up.

Eric A Longenhagen: Here’s Jeren Kendall.

Eric A Longenhagen: I’m hitting ASU’s afternoon game against Oklahoma State today and will write up Kyle Wright, Kendall + others for later this week.

Eric A Longenhagen: Okay, let’s start.

Travis Sawchik: Greetings, everyone. Thanks for being here today. Let’s begin Sawchik Chat VII …

Moltar: Travis, I’ve been home recovering from nose surgery since wednesday and I’m going insane from boredom. How do MLB players deal with their recovery time before rehab from all the various surgeries they get? Anything I can do to stem the boredom for the next couple days before I can go back to work?

Travis Sawchik: I know Pirates pitchers recovering from TJ or other surgery/injuries at the club’s complex on Florida had a trivia team in Bradenton, Fla. …But, yeah, boredom being away from teammates and competitive is probably one of the more difficult parts of rehab for players

RABBINICAL COLLEGE GUY: Who makes it to a playoff game first at some point Twins or the Reds? Why?

Travis Sawchik: Twins have Buxton and Sano, and their potential, and no Cubs in their neighborhood. That’s a better outlook, I think. I would have liked to have seen them add De Leon this offseason

Q-Ball: Does the new CBA, with the more uniform IFA slotting, hurt a team like the Pirates, who have made a real investment in DR relative to other teams?