Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Jeff and I will be coming at you live at 9 pm ET. Until then, read my take on Khris Davis, Jeff’s take on Matt Harvey, and pepper the queue with questions.

See you soon!

Jeff Zimmerman: I am working on an article about what I call “leaners” (maybe there is already a name). It looks at players who have a majority of their HBP happen in X-2 counts. Are there any known “leaners” you know of?

Paul Swydan: DEREK. JETER.

Paul Swydan: Sorry, the hate still flows strongly within me, I suppose. Anyway, let’s get this started.

Like we always do about this time.

Paul Swydan: But yeah, let Jeff know in the comments.

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Is Carlos Quentin too obvious?

Jeff Sullivan: And now this is happening.

Comment From bdhudson
whoa, on time….

Jeff Sullivan: I am. You guys aren’t.

Jeff Sullivan: So hello there everybody. Let’s talk about Allen Craig and his batting splits, because that should occupy an hour or so!

Comment From Kris
How big of a nonstory is the Astros turning a profit?

Jeff Sullivan: On a scale from 1-10, it’s a 5 non-story. We don’t actually know the real true numbers, and of course the Astros are making money with a payroll of 11 cents.

: I’m all set up on the back deck of my house so we’ll get started in about 10-15 minutes…

Comment From zack
Who should the Mariners build around: Smoak or Montero?

: Of those two players, I’d lean more towards Smoak but I’m not sure if either player is a guy you’d want to build your club around… I’d wait and see if Franklin or Miller can be that guy… or some dude named Zunino, when he’s healthy.

Comment From Keeper? I hardly know her
What do you think of Zimmer, Syndergaard, and Stephenson? Is there a standout of the pack?

: All 3 are pretty impressive… I ranked all three of them in July: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/fangraphs-2013-mid-season-top-50-prospects/

Comment From Andrew
Do you think Avisail Garcia will live up to the “Little Miggy” nickname? Thanks.

Eno Sarris: see you at the top of the hour!

Eno Sarris: lyrics o day, will be easy for some, so let’s all not google it.

Oh, Elizabeth, don’t keep me guessin’, I opened up the door and saw you undressin’. The words came out, one after another.

Comment From bdhudson
Least favorite ballpark?

Eno Sarris: Could be Anaheim, if you’ve been following along on Twitter. Lego/hospital ribbed plastic floors, strip mall food stands with stickers for signs, bad beer, bad food, fake rocks in center field. o.Co gave me food poisoning and has food problems, but at least you can find a Lagunitas anywhere in stadium.

Eno Sarris: (Shea and Fulton County Stadium, and Candlestick were all horrid)

Comment From jeff
Mike Napoli droppable in 10-team? Gattis, Ramos, Martin, Chooch available

Dave Cameron: It’s Wednesday, so let’s spend an hour or so talking baseball.

Dave Cameron: The queue is now open, and we’ll start up around noon.

Comment From Patrick
Have you ever seen a worse defensive OF than what the Phillies have fielded this month?

Dave Cameron: A few years back, the Twins had Cuddyer in center, flanked by Delmon Young and someone else who was just as bad. The Mariners OF defense this year is also horrendous.

Comment From T
X * RA9-WAR + Y * FIP-WAR = “True WAR”

What is your best guess for X and Y?

Dave Cameron: Probably something like 30/70. This is a question we’ve pondered a lot, and whenever someone figures out how to fill in the missing variables, pitcher WAR will take a significant step forward.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Well, it’s here. It’s FINALLY HERE!!!! Xander Bogaerts makes his glorious major league debut in all of its gloriousity, and we’ll be here to talk about it tonight at 9 pm ET.

You get in some questions and I’ll get up some polls. See you soon! (Polls at bottom of transcript)

Paul Swydan: One sec guys.

Jeff Zimmerman: Some shameless self promotion. Comparing Season playoff chances to game playoff chances: http://www.royalsreview.com/2013/8/20/4639768/converting-playoff-odds-to-a-game-win-expectancy

Paul Swydan: Boom. Alright, let’s do this.

Comment From Eddie Gaedel
On a scale of 1-10, how much do you love saying Salazar?

Paul Swydan: I’ll give it a 6. Six and a half maybe.

Jeff Sullivan: Well would you look at that. It’s a live sports chat, on FanGraphs!

Comment From Sean
You’re 2 minutes early. What’s your excuse?

Jeff Sullivan: Still finishing the last bites of my breakfast!

Jeff Sullivan: All right, let’s see what we’ve got for baseball talk

Comment From Brady
This is a super serious question. Why are you such a goofball?

Jeff Sullivan: Other roles are already occupied

Dan Szymborski: Announcing, for your amusement, bemusement, and possible cemusement, Time’s Person of the Year for 2006, a man who drinks so much beer that he *literally* provides revenue to bars and breweries exactly equal to the amount he spends on beer, Daniel John Jacob Jingleheimer Szymborski!

:

Comment From GSon
Can we make this an ARod Free Zone for the next hour?

Dan Szymborski: YOU ALREADY DONE BROKEN IT!

Comment From Jon
Would trading for Justin Morneau help the Pirates? He could take over for Jones’ side of the 1B platoon and push Jones into a RF platoon with Tabata.

Dan Szymborski: Honestly, very marginal upgrade. Morneau’s toasty.

: We’ll get started in 10-15 mins so get your prospect/rookie questions in now…

Comment From Rick
who has more of an impact next year, springer or lindor?

: I’m going to go with Springer… if we’re talking about offensive impact. He’s going to have speed and power (but probably a low batting avg) while Lindor will provide most of his value on defense in the early going.

Comment From Mike
Robert Stephenson is making his first start in AA tonight. He looked great in his last start in the California League. Will you be watching tonight and how long until he could realistically be ready to pitch in the Majors in a rotation.

: If I have a chance, I’ll tune in to MiLB tv and watch some of it… I would imagine he probably needs 3-5 months in AA/AAA before he’s ready.

Comment From Jimbo
Mike Olt: Starting 3B for CHC next year? Called up this year?