Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Join me, and possibly Jeff, tonight at 9 pm as we potentially bid a couple of teams adieu, and see if anyone really wants to win the AL Central as well.

We can also talk anything else on your mind! See you soon!

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s do this. I think you’re stuck with just me tonight, you guys. Sorry about that.

Comment From Guest
Best matchup tonight: STL at CHC

Paul Swydan: I mean, not really, but I like your spirit!

Comment From Salvo
I can keep three of these five as cheap starters in 2014: Paxton, McHugh, Duffy, Fiers, and Derek Holland. Which two get the ax?

Paul Swydan: Assuming you mean 2015, I would give Fiers and Holland the ax, as I believe they have the least upside.

Jeff Sullivan: Well let’s talk about baseball, live

Jeff Sullivan: I suppose we don’t have many alternatives

Jeff Sullivan: Or we have infinite alternatives

Comment From Jake
Shane Greene’s true talent, over/under league average starter?

Jeff Sullivan: The last time I checked this — probably two weeks ago or so — Greene was the MLB leader in rate of pitches thrown low, as defined by some standard I used. Beat Keuchel. Beat some relievers who exceeded my minimum threshold. Greene knows how to keep the ball down like few others

Jeff Sullivan: I think maybe that becomes exploitable, and maybe he owes a good deal of gratitude to Brian McCann and the Yankees’ receivers, but with the strike zone expanding down there I think Greene can succeed now in a way he might not have been able to do 5 or 10 years ago

Nicholas Minnix: Hello, everybody! A surprise chat today. I’ll be with you at the top of the hour, look forward to answering some questions.

Comment From Los
I was 80 games over .500 in my league in 1st place. I got crushed 9-1 in the first round (after a bye) to a team that was 3 games over. Why do I still play H2H?

Nicholas Minnix: I have no idea!

Comment From Brad
Championship in weekly points league. Degrom has been my ace lately but I’m concerned collins shuts him down after rosters lock. Go with degrom or 2 start peavy against sd and la. Thanks.

Nicholas Minnix: Wouldn’t risk it. Go with Peavy.

Comment From David
Nats rotation – Roark or Gio?

Comment From Jake
Prospects chat whoooo

Kiley McDaniel: I don’t have a snappy intro this week either so luckily Jake stepped in with a whoooo

Comment From Jake
In general, how long does it take for seven figure+ international prospect signings to start showing up in the minor league system/prospect rankings?

Kiley McDaniel: Some of the top guys will go straight in there, like Pedro Gonzalez did for the Rockies, but I don’t think any of them will get into the 45 FV category unless I hear some crazy good reports from instructs. Jurickson Profar got crazy good instructs reports right after he signed, for context.

Kiley McDaniel: Also, we moved today’s chat to 11 since I’m going to the PIT-NYY instructs game at 1 and NYY has most of the July 2nd guys on the roster. Not sure what the lineup will be for today, tho. Follow me on twitter and I might tell you.

Comment From Jake
Whoooooooooooooo!

Eno Sarris: yo

Eno Sarris: This is dedicated to the A’s. Because it feels sad.

natty pongpiboonkiat:

Comment From Pale Hose
Phil Hughes K/BB makes me feel like Eno taking grip pics.

Eno Sarris: I even took grip pics of Phil Hughes, to complete the circle.

Comment From Stephen
stream bauer @Min tomorrow?

Neil Weinberg: Hey all, we’ll chat at 3pm. Remember priority to stat, data, FG questions, but happy to take regular baseball talk as well. I’m @NeilWeinberg44 on Twitter if you want to get in touch.

See you soon!

Neil Weinberg: Alright, hey everyone!

Neil Weinberg: Let’s do some chatting.

Comment From Tim Whatley
I would obviously take Pedro over Kershaw in terms of level of peak years (those dominant yrs during the PED era is insane). But in terms of sustained greatness over a longer period of time….have to give it to Kershaw if he does this a few more years…Agree?

Neil Weinberg: Big if, Pedro was amazing for a nice amount of time. To be determined. He has been good enough for this to be a plausible question.

Comment From Pete
Hey Neil, thanks for doing this. As a batted ball type, how stable is IFFB%? What kind of sample size thereof might be meaningful?

Dave Cameron: It’s Wednesday, so let’s chat. The queue is now open.

Dave Cameron: Alright let’s get this party started.

Comment From Kris
Where do you think the Braves go from here?

Dave Cameron: I’d expect a lot of change this winter. Maybe a new GM/manager, lots of trades, and a very different roster next spring.

Comment From Dan
rational mets being being irrational: would a smith,plawecki,niese (+flores/herrera) offer get it done for tulo? adds integrity (when healthy) to lineup w/ a formidable quartet (syndy/matz,wheeler,harvey,degrom)

Dave Cameron: Not even close.

Jeff Sullivan: Hi friends

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s baseball chat

Comment From Tom
Jeff, when CoverItLive asks for an e-mail address so they can send a reminder for this chat, would you like me put in yours?

Jeff Sullivan: I was at my computer on time, too, I just had to read through Blengino’s latest before I opened this up. Didn’t want to wait

Jeff Sullivan: Blengino’s latest! http://www.fangraphs.com/bl…

Comment From CuriousGeorge
Jeff did you see the community article yesterday on stealing bases? In it there was a little model for figuring out should you steal, and i couldnt get it to work. the first box where you like 2x0x never worked for me! any insight?

Dan Szymborski: Salt peanuts.

Dan Szymborski: First things first, our usual president-related business.

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Comment From jocephus
how crazy would it be if KC fired yost in the next week or so

Dan Szymborski: It would be a little weird. It’s not as if he’s anything new. It’s like someone who suddenly decides to stop burning his hand on the stove every morning for 4 years because it hurts. Well, why’d you stop now? Didn’t it hurt before?

Nicholas Minnix: Hello, everyone! I’ll be with you at the top of the hour!

Comment From Guest
Hey Nick, Im in need of a Slg boost in 4×4, im looking at Pearce, Vogt, Rasmus or Stubbs? Unless you have any better suggestions. Thanks

Nicholas Minnix: SLG boost, gotta be Pearce, I think. Vogt may not play again reg season, also.

Comment From Hamilton Porter
Over/under: 3.5 MLB homers for Sano next season

Nicholas Minnix: I’ll take the under.

Comment From Brad
Hi Nick: Hh pts league weekly lineups. Next week for ss? Peralta 6 games, Aybar 7 games, Xander 6 games or Rutledge 7 games at coors. Thanks.