Jay Jaffe: Good afternoon, folks! Today I bring you a comparatively brief chat (just an hour) and the final one from this 2 pm ET time slot. Next week, I’ll be part of our group Wild Card chat (details tba), and in two weeks, I’m planning to debut in the 12 pm ET slot on Tuesdays.

Jay Jaffe: This is mainly because parenting responsibilities — mostly pick-ups from school  — have been cutting into this 2 pm time. I hope those of you who have joined me here will make the journey.

Jay Jaffe: I’ve got a piece today that’s the first of a four-part series, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the remaining contenders in a Replacement Level Killers-style trip around the diamond, only this time with pitching as well. This first installment is devoted to the best in the NL https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-strongest-positions-on-the-remaining-n…

Jay Jaffe: Tomorrow will be the best in the AL. Yesterday I checked in on what’s left of the Wild Card races https://blogs.fangraphs.com/setting-up-a-wild-card-final-week/

Jay Jaffe: and now, on with the show…

brooklyn resident: Ohtani: best DH season ever?

Dan Szymborski: Chat Time Great Action Copter Passion Justice GO!!!!!

Champdo: Chances Parker Meadows plays this well next season?

Dan Szymborski: Depends on what you call well!

Dan Szymborski: But ZiPS does have him up to 2.3 WAR in like 540 PA

Dan Szymborski: That he *appears* to be at least a mild positive in CF really makes him playable

Guest: Who is the biggest sleeper prospect for 2025 season based on ZiPS?

Jay Jaffe: Good afternoon, folks! Welcome to my first chat of September. I apologize for that — this current time slot hasn’t worked out well lately with dad duties and so I’m going to explore moving to a 12 pm time slot

Jay Jaffe: Anyway, I’ve got a piece up today about the returns of Buxton and Correa to a Twins team that has been pretty bad lately https://blogs.fangraphs.com/byron-buxton-and-carlos-correa-are-back-bu…

Jay Jaffe: Yesterday I checked in on Eugenio Suárez’s turnaround and how it’s helped the Diamondbacks take hold of a Wild Card spot https://blogs.fangraphs.com/eugenio-suarezs-extended-hot-streak-contin…

Jay Jaffe: Anyway, on with the show

Insert Witty Name Here: So uhhh….where ya been?

Jay Jaffe: A lot of times that I miss the chat it’s because I have to pick up my daughter from school or (in the summer) camp.   Just tough to get around needing to happen in the middle of a chat.

Tech support: Embedding on fangraphs website is broken. Missing opening <

Dan Szymborski: Uh oh

Dan Szymborski: OK, this seems to be fixed now

Dan Szymborski: But I’ll have to type pretty slowly since nobody’s in here yet

Oddball Herrera: So I was looking at Dylan Crews’ first home run.  It was a homer in 30/30 parks, but had an expected BA of like .330…I understand that a 30/30 homer may not have a 1.000 xBA, but isn’t it a little odd that what was apparently a no-doubter was by xBA much more often than not an out?

Oddball Herrera: My last question makes me wonder what the ‘worst’ 30/30 ballparks home run by xBA looked like

Jay Jaffe: Good afternoon, folks! Welcome to another edition of my Tuesday chat. Apologies that it’s been a few weeks since my last one. Deadlines and summer travel will do that. Anyway, I’m currently working on a piece checking in on the seasons of the Boras Four, none of which has proceeded as planned, and on Monday I looked into Shohei Ohtani’s 40-homer, 40-steal feat, his odds of getting to 50-50 (thanks to Dan Szymborski), and some other 30-30 and 40-40 (!) candidates https://blogs.fangraphs.com/shohei-ohtani-joins-the-40-40-club-in-gran…

Jay Jaffe: And now, on with the show…

Eli: In a previous chat you mentioned how the Yankees and Gleyber need to move on from each other. Do you think Gleyber’s career is salvageable elsewhere? And from the outside is there something about how the Yankees develop young players (not named Judge) that seems broken?

Jay Jaffe: Yes, I think Torres is salvageable. He’s only 27 years old, and he’s shown the ability to play at an above-average clip as recently as last year (and he’s been better since the All-Star break, .273/.354/.406, 117 wRC+).

Jay Jaffe: I don’t think there’s anything particularly damning about the Yankees’ development of young players, even for all the shrill screeching about Anthony Volpe’s slumps. He’s put up 3.5 WAR this year despite his offensive inconsistency, and if he’s merely a plus defender with a position-average bat, that’s still a pretty solid outcome. Austin Wells has panned out nicely on both sides of the ball, Ben Rice not so much (but his stock was much lower). Peraza’s injuries have gotten in the way. Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt have been good outcomes

Who’s Fabio: Hi Jay – thank for the chat.  What happens to official stats after yesterday’s Jays – Boston game as it is a continuation of a game in June.  It was technically Chad Green’s 3rd save of the year I think so does someone have to adjust all the stats in the boxscores after?  Does Jimenez’s playing time get started in June now?

Dan Szymborski: Thank you those in attendance for fulfilling your legally required duties to appear here.

Justin: Hi Dan, what are your thoughts on the Victor Robles extension?

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think it’s unreasonable for anyone

Dan Szymborski: He’s hit a lot better last two seasons, but in a limited role. But there’s certainly a good deal of risk

Dan Szymborski: but theres’ upside too. People forget that Robles was once one of the elite prospects and had a *very* solid rookie season

Dan Szymborski: But there’s downside too since he has like a low .600s OPS since COVID