Jeff Sullivan: here is a video of a volcano https://www.youtube.com/wat…

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s chat about baseball! Let’s not chat about fantasy baseball.

Jeff Sullivan: As a word of warning, I was completely out of touch over the weekend, so good luck getting an insightful answer on anything that’s happened extremely recently. One can catch up only so much

Comment From Alex
Favorites from the NL, AL?

Jeff Sullivan: A’s and Nationals

Jeff Sullivan: Still think of the A’s as the best team in the AL, but now I highly doubt they’re catching the Angels in the division, so that makes things complicated

Nicholas Minnix: Hello, folks! Hope you’re doing well. I’ll be with you at the top of the hour.

Comment From Tom
Votto droppable in an eight-team league?

Nicholas Minnix: Yes. But you waited this long! 😀

Comment From Vic
Does Syndergaard deserve some Sept starts?

Nicholas Minnix: Deserve is a heavy word. Don’t think it’d hurt to give him one or two.

Comment From Guest
You ok with starting Peavey and Lackey this weekend?

Eno Sarris: I’ll be here a the top of the hour

grahambop:

Comment From John Stamos
SWING

Eno Sarris: well maybe around 40% of the time.

Comment From Chad
Do you expect the Cubs to become players for Giancarlo this offseason? Almora, Edwards, McKinney, and a 4th, maybe a lower level arm anywhere close enough for the Marlins to agree?

Eno Sarris: When I tried to put together a package that equaled Stanton’s surplus value last year, it needed to be a top-10, a top-25 and another top 100 or two. I don’t think that satisfies the requirements, but he does have one less (fewer?) year of control.

Neil Weinberg: Hey all. We’ll get started at 3pm.

Remember, this chat prioritizes question about our stats and our site, but I’m happy to take whatever other questions you have. Fantasy and prospect questions will get lower quality answers, though, sorry!

I’m @NeilWeinberg44 on Twitter if you want to chat some other time.

Neil Weinberg: Alright, let’s chat

Neil Weinberg: I’ll go an hour for sure, but maybe two if you ask many questions. So more questions = more chat.

Comment From Andrew
Hey Neil, what are the best metrics to use to predict a power breakout for younger players?

Neil Weinberg: To predict a coming breakout or to determine if it’s real? Really some mix of plate discipline numbers and something like ISO. You really want quality of contact data, but that’s not publicly available

Comment From CS
Do you guys have a full list of players some where that can be extrapolated into excel? I would like to utilize the spreadsheet / hyper link abilities to better conduct an offline draft

Dave Cameron: It’s the last Wednesday in August, so let’s chat for an hour or so.

Dave Cameron: The queue is now open.

Comment From Eminor3rd
Thoughts on the extension of Jack Z?

Dave Cameron: It was inevitable. Teams don’t fire GMs in the middle of winning seasons, and they weren’t going to go through another off-season of speculation about his contract. Dayton Moore got a similar extension not too long ago. It’s what happens when a team contends for the first time in a while.

Comment From Bret
Are the Jays headed to a rebuild this offseason? Should they be?

Dave Cameron: I think they’ll take a run at it again and then blow things up mid-season if it doesn’t work. There will be plenty of trade value left with Bautista, Encarnacion, etc… in July.

Paul Swydan: Hi guys! We’ll be with you live at 9 pm ET! Well, Jeff will only be here for half the time, because he has to do a radio spot because people are all interested in the Royals again.

Paul Swydan: But I’ll never leave you, loyal reader. SO load up the queue with questions and we’ll cram you full of baseball at the designated time!

Paul Swydan: OK, let’s do this.

Jeff Zimmerman: Alright

Paul Swydan: FYI, I’ve been listening to this song all day. Stupid Red Sox.

https://www.youtube.com/wat…

Comment From Pale Hose
Last week you guys forced me to study. Back to the regularly scheduled Tuesday night distraction!

Jeff Sullivan: Hey guys. Dog fight outside my apartment!

Jeff Sullivan: The random kind, not the organized kind

Jeff Sullivan: Anyhow, hey, ask all the fantasy questions you want. I’m not going to answer them though

Comment From STiVo
How does a better’s WPA change if he gets a hit, but a runner is subsequently thrown out at home to end the inning during the play? Does the batter get dinged for the entire negative WPA of the play?

Jeff Sullivan: That’s a good question! Let me quickly investigate, by taking a look at Yasiel Puig’s recent running into a triple play

Jeff Sullivan: It would appear that indeed the batter pays the price for the baserunner’s error, if it is indeed a baserunner’s error

Dan Szymborski: BAR THE DOOR KATIE, IT’S A PIER SIX BRAWL

Dan Szymborski: In other words, the chattage has commenced.

Dan Szymborski: But first off, our usual strangely non-baseball related business.

:

:

Comment From CS
Thoughts on Wada ROS and next year? Iawakuma 2.0? (somewhat racial profiling)

Nicholas Minnix: Hello, folks, and welcome. I’ll be with you at the top of the hour!

Comment From Matt
Do you think Maikel Franco has turned it around over the past month? Still someone to be excited about?

Nicholas Minnix: He’s kind of slowly turned it around, period, I’d say. Yes, still.

Comment From AL Pitching Coach
Hi Nicholas. Hope you had a great week! In an AL-only league, any worries starting Gausman @ Cubs, Smyly @ Jays and Gray vs. Angels today? Thanks!!!

Nicholas Minnix: Thanks, you too! Generally speaking, I wouldn’t worry. Having said that, Smyly and Gray face two of the top MLB offenses. Having said THAT, if those teams are susceptible to one arm more than another, then it’s the type they face today. This is more of a “where are you in the standings?” question. In general, esp. in AL league, I’d throw the guys I’ve been riding all year, as you likely have with them.

Eno Sarris: Be here now. Also, I’ll be here soon.

manofonetitle:

Comment From Billy Beane
Is something wrong with Sonny Gray?

Eno Sarris: Nah. Wasn’t a mid-twos ERA guy. The change has graduated to okay but isn’t great.

Comment From American League Hustle
Assuming he can remain a full-time regular, prediction on Mookie Betts, both ROS and 2015?

Eno Sarris: I think he’s probably a .275/7/20 true talent guy right now, but next year I think if he can get out of the bottom of the order, .280+/10/30 is possible.