Carson Cistulli: Paul Swydan has bullied me into posting this notice for the After Dark Chat, which will — according to inveterate bully Paul Swydan — begin at ca. 9pm ET.

If history is any indication, some combination of Chris Cwik and Jeff Zimmerman will be involved.

If history is any other sort of indication, the hosts of this chat will answer your — yes YOUR — questions.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody! Sorry, I left the house earlier this evening without posting the chat. Many, many thanks to Carson for being so kind. Say something nice about Carson in the comments.

Unfortunately, Chris and Jeff are out of commission for awhile, so I’m flying solo tonight. Keep the questions coming, and I’ll see you soon!

Comment From Hitler But Sadder
I have cleared my schedule for this.

Paul Swydan: I have too. And since it’s just me, let’s start this thang early.

Comment From Mr. Ca$hman
Thoughts on Michael Brantley ROS?

Paul Swydan: I don’t really think Brantley is doing much different in a positive way. He’s hitting far more ground balls, which may be responsible for the uptick in his BABIP. Now, there’s a chance that that is sustainable, but given his past rates I’d expect it to come down some. His BB/K is also way down, which isn’t a positive marker.

Jeff Sullivan: Whoa. Is this chat going to start on time?

Jeff Sullivan: Sort of! Let’s do it!

Comment From Jack
Do you know anything about the NF (nasty factor) measurement of each pitch on MLB Gameday screen? I presume it is some combination of velocity, location and movement. Is this something worth keeping an eye on when trying to judge a pitcher’s performance? If so, can we get it tracked on Fangraphs?

Jeff Sullivan: I don’t know if they’ve changed NF over the years since it was introduced, but when it was newer, I remember Matthew Carruth did some investigation and he found it was basically worthless.

Jeff Sullivan: It’s a neat idea, but pitching is too complicated and pitch effectiveness relies too much on the pitches before and the pitches after. And PITCHf/x doesn’t know anything about deception. So their heart is in the right place, but this isn’t a stat to look at.

Comment From JFK
Julio Urias from LA , top of the rotation projection?

Eno Sarris: Sorry! Just a bit behind. But I’ll be here in six minutes.

Eno Sarris: lyrics of the day. prove you didn’t google it by telling me what the dude’s last two projects were. Okay that’s probably too hard.

In New Delhi (smelly Delhi) and Hong Kong
They all know that it won’t be long
I count my fingers (digit counter) as night falls
And draw bananas on the bathroom walls
The killer cycles (humdrum), the killer hurts
The passage of my life is measured out in shirts
Time and motion (motion carried) time and tide

Comment From Maxamuz
Let’s start this chat out with a quick Lucas Duda blurb. He is hitting .320 over the past 7 days.

Eno Sarris: Phew.

Comment From Geoff
Best minor league stash for this year other than Myers? Taveras, Yelich, Wheeler, or someone else?

Eno Sarris: If they trade Ethier, it’s Puig. Love his combo of power and contact.

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

Dave Cameron: Queue is now open, and we’ll start in about 15 minutes.

Comment From Ken
Dave – Thanks for the chat. Wondering about your view of Corbin. Can a SP have sustainable success with one great pitch – the slider – once everyone knows it’s coming?

Dave Cameron: It’s possible, but also very rare. Randy Johnson made it work, but he was 6’10 and threw 100 mph. Madison Bumgarner is probably the closest comparison you could draw to Corbin, but his command has historically been much better, and again, he’s taller. It will be interesting to watch though.

Comment From Michael
The pirates all-stars this year are….

Dave Cameron: Andrew McCutchen, A.J. Burnett if he keeps this up, maybe Russell Martin.

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

Jeff Zimmerman and I will be here to entertain all of your baseball-related queries. Chris Cwik will NOT be here, something about preparing to get married this weekend. I don’t know, sounds suspect.

Anyway, get in your questions. As a tribute to Chris, we’ll be running some polls on your favorite movie with a wedding scene. There’s tons, so don’t be mad if I don’t pick yours. Or, be mad if you want, it’s up to you really.

See you soon!

Paul Swydan: We’ll start in 15 minutes. By the way, if you have a tasteful message of good luck — or of warning — for Chris, drop it in the comments, and we’ll run them at the end of the chat!

Paul Swydan: Hi guys. Let’s get started. Jeff will be along shortly.

Comment From Tim
Would you trade A.Jones and P.Corbin for M.Trout?

Paul Swydan: Probably. I like all three players, but if you’re going for it, I like the gamble on Trout.

Comment From asdfasdf
Would you bench Cishek for David Hernandez now that the Marlins are going with a committee? Thanks

Jeff Sullivan: And we begin at my customary three minutes after the hour!

Jeff Sullivan: Usual notes: the queue is very busy so don’t be offended if I don’t get to your question. I don’t know much of anything at all about fantasy baseball so asker beware. I’m going to try to cut this off after an hour instead of 100 minutes because today is unusually busy.

Jeff Sullivan: Onward, friendly chatters

Comment From Chris
Patrick Corbin has a .246 BABIP, 88% LOB, 3.9% HR/FB, and an xFIP of 3.59, yet Keith Law said on Twitter that he was legit. What are us normal folks missing on him?

Jeff Sullivan: I’m going to be writing about Corbin a little later today! More investigating to be done, but his slider looks to be incredible against both handedness…es.

Jeff Sullivan: Corbin shouldn’t strike anyone as an ace in the making, but he looks to be a legitimate above-average starter, as Law might have been implying.

Dan Szymborski: Will the circle-change be unbroken, by and by, by and by? The answer to this and a percentage of other questions asked coming up next, on the Dan Szymborski Baseball-Related Chat of Doom and Ultimate Destruction!

Comment From zack
Homer Bailey or Lance Lynn rest of season?

Dan Szymborski: Irish Creme by a sip.

Comment From Tim
Can you explain why HBP and BB have different weights in wOBA?

Dan Szymborski: It’s from historical data. Most likely is that HBP is more random — some unintentional walks are going to be “partly” intentional and those “partly” intentional walks are, on average, going to be given in slightly lower leverage situations.

Comment From Ray
Curious as to what you expect from Grandal once he comes back. I did not see ZiPS on his player page. Would you expect more of the same as last year or would you discount his offense as a result of the positive PED test?

JD Sussman: Hey everyone, sorry for running a few minutes late. I know you’re thrilled that Mike will not be joining us. Post questions!

Comment From LarryA
Do you take Roto Questions?

JD Sussman: Whatever your heart desires, LarryA. Though, like Mike, I’ll only take questions on guys I’ve seen or guys I’ve heard a good deal about.

Comment From TK
I know he’s repeating low A but is Rossell Herrera playing his way back into relevance? Top 100 guy down the road? Position?

JD Sussman: I’d bet on Herrera’s tools. I need to cut the video of him from spring training, but he’s a LONG athletic kid. Really love what he was doing from the left side. I just took him in a deep 14 team league, and I’d advise grabbing him. But, he isn’t a SS.

Comment From OJones
Roman Quinn had a little hot streak last week but has fallen back a bit. I know Mike was very high on him through the offseason, do you see him starting to perform to Mike’s lofty expectations?

Eno Sarris: be here in 15

Eno Sarris: Super upbeat lyrics of the day! Because… Rankings week.

Feel it come, I don’t know how long
It’s gonna stay with me, I’ll let desire be, desire go
Oh, dare I face the real world

Everyday, back and forth, what’s it for?
What’s it for? Back and forth, everyday
Everyday, back and forth, what’s it for?
I don’t know, I’ll get out, won’t have to check my watch.

Comment From person hscer
ghost Eno returns

Comment From Nicky Numbnuts
Think I got a problem down here…

Comment From Mark
Cathartic experience of the day: Dropping B.J. Upton. I feel like I did when I dropped CJ Wilson last year.

Eno Sarris: strange interlude.