Paul Swydan: i everybody! Tonight, the FanGraphs After Dark chat is hereby replaced by the All-Star Game Live Blog! My goal is to get started around 7:15 pm, so we have time to chat before first pitch.

Paul Swydan: So tune back in around that time. If I’m not here, know that it’s only because I’m trying to wrangle the children into their pajamas. Until then, I’ll get some polls going. See you soon!

Paul Swydan: American League

Paul Swydan: American League

Paul Swydan: All-Star Game

Paul Swydan: Mookie Betts

Kiley McDaniel: I’m back home after a day full of BBQ and travel delays yesterday. Have an article I’m wrapping up on interesting pro prospects I’ve seen recently and the oft-teased big prospect update (TM) is also in the works

Comment From the real brian
Would prospect Earl Sweatshirt receive an odd Future Value?

Kiley McDaniel: I see what you did there

Comment From Phil
After starting the year terribly, Dominic Smith looks to be slowly turning things around. Have you seen anything encouraging in his swing, or is this just a short hot streak?

Kiley McDaniel: Caught a game of him in Florida and hope to get another on my next trip down later this month. Two scouts I talked to said he was the best hitter in the league and the raw power is still there, so this is just one of those “power will show up in games later” situations. The track record of really good hitters getting to that power is very positive, so as long as the contact is still good, I think it comes together. The pre-draft Todd Helton comp is still in the ballpark.

Comment From Bren
There are a lot of conflicting reports out there on Gavin Cecchini’s defense. Can you fill us on anything you might be hearing?

Dan Szymborski: Noon: A Time for Chatting

Comment From Neil Huntington
How about them Boccos!

Dan Szymborski: Bocco?

Dan Szymborski: Sounds like a Commedia dell’arte stock character that got banned for making children cry.

Dan Szymborski: “Hey kids, it’s Bocco, the Clown Prince of Reaping Souls!”

Comment From GSon
and.. Dan is right on time.. whuttah guy !!

Jeff Sullivan: Hey guys, sorry, it’s bad timing for a chat in the middle of a move. But I’ll do what I can!

Jeff Sullivan: I’ll never be this late again in my life!

Jeff Sullivan: Now for the baseball

Comment From Matt
would you trade Desmond for Samardjza? keeper league

Jeff Sullivan: Reminder that I don’t deal well with fantasy questions! Because I don’t know how to answer them, because I don’t play.

Comment From brad
If you could ban one type of stat from baseball broadcasts forever, what would it be?

Eno Sarris: Chicago and Boston, I’m about to ran all through you, and I think this son represents the carnage I will leave in my wake.

Eno Sarris:

Eno Sarris: yooooooo

Comment From Guest
what do you think of the man bun

Eno Sarris: no

Comment From Pale Hose
Jacob deGrom made me feel inappropriate things at work yesterday.

Paul Sporer: Hey everybody, we’ll get going very shortly. I’m relieving Dave Cameron today, though it’ll be more the traditional 1-inning use (i.e. 60-90 minutes of chatting) as opposed to my normal multi-inning relief chats (multiple hours) just bc of scheduling.

Comment From Jon
Hey Paul! Do you like any of these RPs for save speculation? Will Smith, Tazawa, Soriano, Strop, Jim Johnson, Delabar, Cecil, Hudson, Burgos, Siegrist

Paul Sporer: Smith is very interesting if KRod is moved (and he should be). Otherwise, I’m looking at Tazawa for a similar reason and Hudson as a long-shot sleeper-type

Comment From Jon
Which side do you like in a keeper? Polanco+ AJ Ramos or Odor + McCullers

Paul Sporer: That’s not bad, but I’d lean the first side

Comment From AL Pitching Coach
It’s Paul!!! What an unexpected treat for Wednesday! I’m in an AL-only league looking to scoop up the next impact SP to be called up from the minors. Am I right in thinking the top 3 options are Jose Berrios, Brian Johnson and Luis Severino? If so, would you be so kind as to rank the three in terms of 2015 impact, as well as tell me anything you feel relevant in their regards? Your help is greatly appreciated.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Jeff is on vacation, so you’re stuck with just me! Get your questions in, and I’ll see you at 9 pm ET.

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s do this.

Comment From Pale Hose
Did you have a good 4th, Paul?

Paul Swydan: I did. Went to a friend’s lake house, and two of the houses on his lake had dueling illegal fireworks shows. It was pretty awesome, actually.

Comment From Pale Hose
One of these years there will be a FG meetup I can make it to.

Paul Swydan: I know, I was disappointed I couldn’t make the DC one this weekend, since I set it up and all. But I heard good things!

Kiley McDaniel: Kiley is here and he’s slightly sunburned from some day HS tourney games yesterday

Comment From Bob Benson
Last week in his chat, Cameron mentioned that you two had discussed Hunter Renfroe and that you would be downgrading his prospect status. Can you elaborate on why?

Kiley McDaniel: There were some contact/approach concerns on Renfroe from back in his amateur days, but he hit so you couldn’t really factor that into his prospect status as much, unless you were really convicted it wouldn’t work at higher levels, which most scouts couldn’t do because all the tools are there.He had a yellow flag of a tough half-season at AA last year that we needed to pay attention to this year and he hasn’t really improved. Now those concerns are real and that Jeff Francoeur comp I got seems more real, too.

Comment From Nick C
Are the Mets in on any other international free agents not named Gimenez or Gregory Guerrero? I know they have little money left over after trade.

Kiley McDaniel: Most prospects under 500K don’t have a high profile, so I wouldn’t expect to hear much more. That said, if you look at the J2 boardhttp://www.fangraphs.com/sc…

the Mets did the best of any team at getting two high end players and staying under their pool, with the Braves just behind them. That’s the best you can ask for among the 20+ teams staying under their pool. You have permission to be happy about this.

Comment From Stanatee the Manatee
I live near a couple Frontier League teams. How much do MLB front offices scout/keep an eye on independent minor leagues like that one?

Eno Sarris: heyo! weird day! be here shortly.

Eno Sarris:

Comment From hooha
Thirsty Thursday has now become Wet Your Whistle Wednesdays

Comment From hooha
Wacky Wednesday?

Comment From Good Wood
All hail Cesar Hernandez!

Comment From hooha
If you’re here chatting today, does that mean tomorrow is Friday?

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Join Jeff and myself tonight at 9 pm ET for all the baseballing action you can act on.

It’s Jeff’s last chat for two weeks, so get in all the fancy Royals questions you’ve dying to ask! See you soon!

Paul Swydan: Hi guys! Let’s do this.

Comment From Jung Ho Kodos
Head to head league where I’ve taken second place 5 years in a row. Should I trade Joc for Stanton if I’m comfortably in the playoff picture and can survive the time between now and when Stanton comes back, or should I be worried about Stanton’s power when he gets back?

Jeff Zimmerman: I would worry if Stanto makes it back at all

Paul Swydan: I would absolutely be worried about his power when he comes back, because hand injuries tend to take longer to get over.

Paul Swydan: That’s another good point. Stanton’s injury is a clear sign that the Marlins can sell.