Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! My apologies for not setting up the chat earlier. I usually sit down and do it at 5:30, but tonight at 5:30 I was at the park for a picnic for my son’s school. Whoops!

In any case, fill up the queue and I’ll get some polls working and together we can do this. Just make sure you caress the ball the way you would your wife or girlfriend or husband or boyfriend. Baseball!

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s do this.

Comment From Matt
What are you doing with Hanley Ramirez? In the lineup but are you selling now?

Paul Swydan: I’m holding. Unless you find someone really desperate for a shortstop.

Comment From Jose
Jacob Turner: ERA 5.35, FIP 4.27, xFIP 3.73, BABIP .351. Even better numbers if you remove his one start before going on the DL. Is he turning a corner?

Paul Swydan: Color me intrigued, but it’s hard to fall in love with a guy who has such a low strikeout rate. May be one of those guys whose peripherals always look better than what he really is.

Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends

Jeff Sullivan: Welcome to the other side of the holiday weekend

Jeff Sullivan: I’ll be with you just as soon as my coffee stops dripping

Jeff Sullivan: Which is like right now!

Comment From PS
PROVIDE CONTENT

Jeff Sullivan: You’re the first!

Jason Collette: It’s been 4 years since Jose Lima passed away — I loved watching that guy on the mound

Jason Collette: No wonder it was quiet in here, I’m an idiot and posted the scripting in the “view” mode rather than in the coding mode.

Comment From Vliet
Jason – Is not a good time to sell high on Ventura or Gray and what level of position player can I expectin return?

	Jason Collette: I think that time has passed on Ventura & for Gray, just ride it out. Great team, great park, enjoy the ride

Comment From Guest
will Fielder be ok next year? do guys lose power after the surgery?

	Jason Collette: Anything related to the back is never a good thing for a power hitter. I don’t see myself ranking him in the top 50 next year.

Comment From PS
IT WORKS

	Jason Collette: I’m such an idiot

Comment From Chet Lemon
Drop T. Hunter for B. Shaw?

	Jason Collette: Tommy? Yes. His closing career is circling the drain.

Eno Sarris: I will be here soon!

Eno Sarris: In the meantime, hear something that blew my mind.

TheSoundtrackBeast:

Eno Sarris: This came out before Stairway to Heaven. Both bands played about ten shows together in the year before Stairway came out. Fast forward to about a minute in if you want to hear what I’m talking about.

Comment From Jake
Sup Eno.

Eno Sarris: Sup.

Dave Cameron: Happy Wednesday. The queue is now open for your non-fantasy questions.

Comment From Gabe
Yes yes, SSS and all that, but–hypothetically speaking–if d’Arnaud and Flores don’t work out, are the Mets screwed in both the short- and long-term?

Dave Cameron: They’re screwed in the short-term no matter what those two do, because this team is bad. But in the long-term, no, having two prospects not pan out doesn’t ruin your future.

Comment From Graham
What do you think the Nats do with Zimmerman when he gets back, position-wise?

Dave Cameron: Espinosa has stopped hitting again, so probably put him back at third and shift Rendon back to second.

Comment From Darren
Jays just went into first on Fangraphs Playoff Odds for AL East. Thoughts?

Paul Swydan: Hi guys, join me tonight at 9 pm ET. I put up some polls, so vote for those and then get your questions in. Or, get your questions in and then vote. Or just come back at 9. Look, do something, OK?

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Let’s chat.

Comment From Matt
Do you still have faith in Wil Myers turning it around this season? Any power?

Paul Swydan: His swing percentages are improving, and his plate discipline percentages are either the same or improving. It’s his batted ball mix. More grounders, more infield popups, fewer homers. I’m inclined to think that this will correct itself once he adjusts back to the adjustments pitchers have made on him. I’m not worried.

Comment From Markkk
Is Josh Donaldson really this good? SSS?

Paul Swydan: Well, he’s been this good for going on nine-10 months, so I’m not willing to call him a fluke at this point.

Jeff Sullivan: Reaaaalllly can’t stand Cover It Live

Jeff Sullivan: Hey guys! Problems all solved now! Let’s talk about Dallas Keuchel!

Jeff Sullivan: And remember that I don’t answer fantasy questions because I haven’t played fantasy baseball in a decade and I can’t give you any worthwhile advice. Also, the questions annoy literally everyone but the asker

Jeff Sullivan: So if you’re going to ask a fantasy baseball question, at least try to disguise it as a real baseball question because I can handle some of those

Comment From American League Hustle
Anything you can tell me about Chase Whitley? I’m intrigued by the 10.9 K/9 rate he posted in the minors this season before getting called up…

Jeff Sullivan: Not really a starter, not really a reliever, throws a lot of a changeup

Dan Szymborski: Monday. Noon. A time for chatting.

Dan Szymborski: First things first, our Electoral Brawllege matchup for the day.

:

Dan Szymborski: #9 Andrew Johnson takes on #10 John Tyler

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Comment From RK
Tell me you buy into Bauer’s improved control more than ZIPS ROS.

Jason Collette: Has Grant Ball-four thrown a strike yet? Let’s chat

Comment From RotoLando
What are The Ray’s

	Jason Collette: A disappointing baseball team. Next question

 

Comment From Graham
Messed up. I’m 124.1 over for my projected IP max currently. Should I trade some pitchers or just allocate my innings better? or both?

	Jason Collette: Be more choosy about who you use moving forward. Also, don’t understand the obsession with leagues putting caps on innings. Floors – sure, but if someone wants to punt saves to max out their K’s & wins, let them.

 

Comment From RotoLando
What are The Rays’ problems this year? Seems like the AL East is as wide open as it has ever been, but they can’t capitalize.

	Jason Collette: Bullpen has been overtaxed because of too many five and dive outings. They have 13 quality starts as a team, which last I checked, is worst in baseball. Also lack a deep bench so they have been victimized by suboptimal matchups in key situations late. When you lose 60% of your rotation and your top pitching reserve, stuff like this happens.

 

Comment From RotoLando
Juan Carlos Montoya Lopez Nunez Oviedo!

	Jason Collette: Prepare to die!

 

Comment From Schilling and Pence
Two questions: (1) What’s your guess as to how Singleton performs when he gets up? (2) Is Kuroda a buy-low candidate, or is Kuroda done?

	Jason Collette: 1 – He’ll struggle. 2 – I’ve always been fine owning Kuroda until mid-August when he fades off

 

Eno Sarris: I should just open this like a minute before we chat, that way I could maybe keep up with the stream of questions. Nevertheless, I’ll be here in ten minutes.

Eno Sarris: And in the meantime, enjoy the song that introduced me to indie hip hop.

Th1zzardOfOz:

Comment From Pale Hose
Hey Eno. If you’re asked about a player is your default response based on real baseball or fantasy?

Eno Sarris: Great question. Real, I think, but context is huge. Here, fantasy.

Comment From Michael
Think Zach Britton is worth a stash at this point?