Neil Weinberg: Hi all, we’ll get started at 3pm but the queue is open. Remember that this chat prioritizes stat/data/FG/how does that work type questions, but everything is fair game.

If you’re looking for me, @NeilWeinberg44 on Twitter during non-chat hours.

Neil Weinberg: Alright, let’s discuss baseball! Keep the questions flowing.

Comment From Raymond
How exactly is WAR calculated?

Neil Weinberg: For position players: http://www.fangraphs.com/li…

Complete position player example: http://www.fangraphs.com/li…

Neil Weinberg: The pitcher one is a little more complicated and is out of date on the site. I’ll be updating that, hopefully very soon.

Comment From Matt (St. Louis)
When evaluating projected stats, is there a hierarchy you think works best to sort through players? Meaning, is it helpful to look at wRC+ first and then combine that with the best wOBA second, and so on.

Dave Cameron: It’s Wednesday, so that means we’re chatting.

Dave Cameron: The queue is now open, and we’ll start in a few minutes.

Comment From Bret
What’s next for the Blue Jays?

Dave Cameron: Sounds like probably a reliever. I could see them going after Miller or Robertson, since they’re clearly pushing forward on the short term.

Comment From adam
Do the Jays believe in their pitching enough to justify Martin’s contract?

Dave Cameron: The AL East hasn’t been this weak in a long time. If ever there was a time for every team in the division to go for it, this is it.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Jeff and I will be here at 9 pm ET to cram some baseball down your cramholes. In the meantime, gorge on the polls I’ve set up!

See you soon!

Paul Swydan: Let’s get it.

Comment From Pale Hose
Can we can an after dark preview of the Hardball Times Annual? Is there a tentative release date?

:

Hi everyone and useful info for the off season.

Paul Swydan: That’s Jeff’s way of saying he’s already sick of the offseason. 🙂

Jeff Zimmerman: This is all Paul’s baby. I have seen the cover.

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s live baseball chat

Comment From Guest
On time!

Jeff Sullivan: In one way!

Comment From Guest
OMG! So much has happened! Tell me all about it!

Jeff Sullivan: A bunch of teams did really dramatic yet reasonable things. Jays very reasonably committed to Russell Martin. Braves and Cardinals reasonably committed to a short-term/long-term value trade. Marlins are looking like they might decide to become a baseball team, which is overdue.

Kiley McDaniel: Looking for a snappy intro? Then you’re at the wrong chat.

Comment From TK
That’s… kinda snappy, no?

Kiley McDaniel: Sounds like I need to ratchet down the snappiness. Note taken.

Comment From Graham
Seeing a number of differing opinions on Devon Travis since he was traded to the Jays. Everything from “not a big-leaguer” to “possible future batting champ.” What are your thoughts on Devon Travis?

Kiley McDaniel: He’s an okay defensive 2B with feel for the barrel and some speed that has a not so dynamic swing but makes the most of it. Could be a starter if it all comes together, more of a fringe regular or good backup for me.

Comment From Del Martin
Rumor has it that the Padres and Rangers are working on a trade that would reunite Preller with some of his discoveries. As a Padres fan, who should I be hoping for?

Eno Sarris: will be here shortly. in the meantime, Cults. Because xylophone.

CultsVEVO:

Eno Sarris: I’m here!

Comment From MarinerDan
Anyway you consider taking someone OTHER than Trout #1 overall in 2015?

Eno Sarris: Nope!

Comment From Ethan
Your thoughts on the Cervelli-Wilson trade?

Neil Weinberg: Hey all, queue is open and we’ll get going at 3pm! Priority to stat/data/FG questions, but anything is fair game. I’m @NeilWeinberg44 on Twitter if you’re looking for me. See you shortly.

Neil Weinberg: Alright, let’s consider important* topics (*-no guarantee of actual importance)

Comment From Pale Hose
Does Steamer project PAs? I know the projected PAs on the player pages on manually set by FG staff. Say Steamer projects a player for 200 PAs and FG manually adjusts to 400 PAs. Are the rates stats kept the same and counting stats double?

Neil Weinberg: Steamer projects PA, but FG also does custom playing time numbers. That said, Steamer is driving the rate stats 100%, so a .340 wOBA projection is a .340 wOBA projection whether we project 1 PA or 500 PA

Comment From Vslyke
How often do bugs like Nori Aoki’s -10 BsR pop up?

Neil Weinberg: I don’t know the official answer, but I seem to notice one or two mistakes a year…usually they are easy to correct, but sometimes not. I’m not sure exactly why we haven’t updated the database on that one, but he’s supposed to be a slightly above average runner this year

Dave Cameron: The offseason is in full swing, and we’re probably not that far away from the first few dominoes falling. We’ll spend an hour chatting about different moves, starting in about 15 minutes.

Comment From hscer
Thank you for preparing me for those Jordan Zimmermann trade rumors yesterday. I would guess we haven’t heard the last of those.

Dave Cameron: I don’t really see the Cubs as a good fit, but teams with middle infield depth (especially LH middle infielders) could be a good partner for the Nationals. The Nationals in an interesting spot where it actually might make sense for them to degrade their 2015 team on purpose.

Comment From Mike P.
Can Ervin Santana do better this time around?

Dave Cameron: Yeah, I think so. Last year, he got screwed by poor representation, and his silly $100 million ask scared off all the teams that would have given him $50 million. By the time his agent realized they’d screwed up, the money was spent elsewhere.

Comment From Guest
What is the best contract of the free agency era? The worst?

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

First FanGraphs After Dark chat since September, who’s excited? Sorry I didn’t get the queue open sooner, but it’s open now, so pop in with questions, and Jeff and I will see you at 9 pm ET!

Paul Swydan: Hi peoples!

Comment From Rated Rookie

Most offseason/hot stove rumors.

Paul Swydan: Helpful reminder before we begin!

Jeff Zimmerman: Hey y’all

Comment From Josh
Who hangs up: Tulo for Andrelton, Gattis and Lucas Sims

Jeff Sullivan: You have questions about baseball

Jeff Sullivan: I have a responsibility to answer some of them

Comment From stuart scott
BOOYAH

Jeff Sullivan: Hey Stuart

Comment From Xolo
What do you know about Kwang Hyun Kim? For $2M, doesn’t sound like the Padres are expecting much from him.

Jeff Sullivan: Here’s what I’d say: teams are more excited about international players than ever, given their overall success, so for a top bid to come in at $2 million, that tells you not a lot of teams believe in the player being worth much of anything