Jason Collette: Good day! You can start adding questions to the queue. Will begin answering them just before noon.

Michael F. Weber via Twitter :

Zorilla has a message for #RedSox fans. #Rays #BeatBoston #DHSweep pic.twitter.com/mOVM7K4ven

Comment From I changed names!
The angels put Mike Trout on the block (hypothetically), how many teams have the chips to actually get him?

	Jason Collette: Chips & cash? One – Boston

Comment From Rated Rookie
Better things ahead for Chris Archer? Seems like not so many strikeouts and lots of hard contact. I mean, that’s what it looks like when MLB.TV isn’t buffering.

	Jason Collette: He looked fantastic yesterday through the first 4 innings and then completely lost his release point.

Jason Collette: Be right back – auto glass guy just showed up. Oh yea, never go to dealerships that crack your windshield while doing an oil change on your car and then say the car was like that when you brought it in.

Jason Collette: OK, sorry. Back. Let’s get rolling!

Eno Sarris: yes! happy may day. here in a few.

Jesse Farthing:

Eno Sarris: Because I just blocked out time for the All Star Game and pitchfork on my family calendar and am psyched.

Comment From guest
its world history. i dont want to

Comment From guest
should i go to class?

Eno Sarris: funnier backwards

Dave Cameron: Happy Wednesday. I’m at the doctor’s office (no worries, everything is fine) so the chat might be a little late starting today, but I’ll make up for it on the back end if we don’t start right at 12.

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

Comment From RK
Has your opinion of Trevor Bauer changed at all in the first month? Seem to recall you were pretty down on him (like most of us).

Dave Cameron: Personally, I think the most overrated players in the game are bad command/high fastball pitching prospects who rack up strikeouts by pitching out of the zone in the minors. Bauer, Archie Bradley, lots of guys fit this mold, and get a lot of hype because of velo and K numbers, but if you want to succeed in the majors, you have to throw strikes. Sometimes they learn, but it’s not as often as people think.

Comment From Matt
Is there any difference between a strikeout swinging and a strikeout looking? I know that it seems like there shouldn’t be, but I was curious to know if one is better/worse than the other.

Dave Cameron: Swinging strikeouts are more predictive, for both the batter and the pitcher, going forward. Called strikeouts are mostly a function of randomness.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Jeff and I will be here at 9 pm ET to nerd it up and/or down with you. In the meantime, please enjoy this wide array of polls. And by wide array, I mean four polls that cover two topics.

See you soon!

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s light this candle!

Comment From Evil Fredi Gonzalez
Looks like we’re going against one of the best pitchers in baseball tonight. Sounds like the time to throw out my backups who are all far worse both offensively AND defensively. They’ll never see it coming! MUAHAHAHAHAHA!

Paul Swydan: Mawahahahahahaha!

Comment From Shoeless Joe Jackson
Any chance Pete Rose is admitted to the HOF posthumously?

Paul Swydan: I suppose there’s always a chance, though I’m not holding my breath.

Jeff Sullivan: Hey guys. I’m pretty badly under the weather, so I’m probably not going to be on the ball with regard to a lot of baseball questions.

Jeff Sullivan: So let’s deal with some baseball questions.

Comment From Jeff
83-79 a plausible record for the Mets?

Jeff Sullivan: Unlikely but plausible, especially if they start to get more aggressive with promotions later on

Comment From TKDC
Over/Under 25 strikeouts in Braves/Marlins game tonight?

Jeff Sullivan: I’m going to be a lil bitch and say under

Dan Szymborski: And ZimChat has returned. Courtesy of the fact my lungs are no longer trying to escape my lungs with the intensity of Hurricane Katrina.

Dan Szymborski: First thing first, our weekly business – the Electoral Brawllege.

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Comment From zack
Will BJ Upton ever stop sucking?

Dan Szymborski: I keep waiting for Upton to come around and I remain mildly optimistic, but the longer it goes, the less likely it is to happen.

Jason Collette: Chat will begin at 11:30 ET — opening up now to get some questions in the queue

Comment From Graham
Do you think Danny Duffy gets a spot in the Royals rotation anytime soon?

	Jason Collette: Not unless they waive the white flag on the season and trade Shields, or someone gets hurt. They’re not going to demote guys they just signed this offseason and Ventura sticks in. Their main problem is the abyss that is Billy Butler’s stat line right now. Yikes

Comment From Quinton McCracken
Can you justify Josh Lueke’s roster spot for the Rays? Unless there is a compelling options-related reason or some explanation beyond that, I just can’t see it.

	Jason Collette: I would rather see Brad Boxberger in the spot. Boxberger has passed the eye test as a MLB reliever and has swing and miss stuff. Lueke is a low-leverage type, but the Rays have always been hesitant to give away any pitching asset.

Comment From Pale Hose
I’m going to Progressive and PNC for the first time next week. Any suggestions?

	Jason Collette: 2 of the 8 parks I have not yet visited. I would say you need to go to the Great Lakes Brew House while in Cleveland; it’s not near the park but it is still very much worth the trip.

Comment From Biff
Reasonable ROY projections for Viciedo? 10-team mixed worthy?

	Jason Collette: 20 HR, .260. Barely 10 teamer

Comment From The Cell
Anything to suggest Adam Dunn can keep it up this year?

	Jason Collette: K rate is the same, drawing more walks, but everything else is right in line with what he has done in the past except he’s not as pull happy with his batted balls.

Eno Sarris: Be here soon!

subpoprecords:

Eno Sarris: enjoy

Comment From Jared
Why?

Eno Sarris: Let’s get existential.

Comment From Awake in Seattle
Eno!!! My fantasy team is getting crushed by Almonte and Miller. Do they turn it around? Should I hold steady or look for replacements?

Dave Cameron: It’s Wednesday chat day and the queue is open.

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Dave Cameron: And while we wait for the chat to start, a recent picture of the puppy.

Dave Cameron: Queue is very full today, so just as a fair warning, there are going to be a lot of unanswered questions. I’ll get to as many as I can.

Comment From Benji
Can Melky have another MVP type season like he did with the Giants?

Dave Cameron: Probably not, but I think he could be a solid +3 win player for them.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Jeff is off tonight, so I’ll be flying solo. So fill up the queue and we’ll talk some baseballs at 9 pm ET.

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s do this!

Comment From Matt
I just traded Xander Bogaerts, Michael Pineda for Mark Trumbo. We use R/HR/RBI/SB/OBP/Slugging….My HR/RBI are worst in league by a lot already and I have both Choo and Votto to offset OBP. Good trade?

Paul Swydan: I guess that depends on how much we should buy Pineda. And if it’s a dynasty league. If it’s a redraft league, I think you did a good job of filling needs. If it’s a dynasty league, I don’t like it very much. Esp w OBP as a category.

Comment From TheGoodPhight/David
What are the odds that Cliff Lee’s FA contract is the best large contract (100MM+) ever?

Paul Swydan: I think it’ll be up there. It’s definitely an area where I would like to see more research. IIRC, Manny Ramirez’s deal was pretty good. And A-Rod’s FIRST deal was more than worth it. I’m sure there are others. But Lee is definitely going to be up there if he keeps this up.