Jeff Sullivan: It’s always something, isn’t it? This time my router wasn’t working. All right, full steam ahead!

Jeff Sullivan: Is this working? Is this working yet?

Jeff Sullivan: Okay, weird CiL hiccup. Uhhhh this has not been a very promising start

Jeff Sullivan: Let’s turn to the audience for questions!

Comment From Aaron
So the Braves and their strikeouts became a big deal over the weekend as many Braves fans and radio hosts freaked out over a 3 game losing streak to a good team on the road. I know you’ve written on it, but any new thoughts?

Jeff Sullivan: No new thoughts. The Braves are going to strike out a little more than most teams do, but that’s only one of their characteristics. Why would the strikeouts matter more now, as opposed to when the Braves were 12-1? Why was it fine then, and problematic in May?

Dan Szymborski: It begins. 30 seconds to turn down your speaker.

Comment From zack
could you see any smaller market fringe contender like Pittsburgh, Colorado, or Baltimore going all in and trying to deal for Cliff Lee?

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think so. Even if they were willing, I don’t think the Phillies are living in reality land.

Comment From tylersnotes
which happens first: keppinger walk, hr, or sb?

Dan Szymborski: starting to think sun turns into a red giant first.

Comment From Archer
Espinosa vs. Daniel Murphy RoS in a 12-team H2H 5×5(OBP)?

Mike Newman: Hello all. Welcome to this week’s chat. We’ll get started at noon, but feel free to start posting questions.

Comment From Rags
I don’t have a question but my boss didn’t show up for work today. Hooray Friday!

Mike Newman: My kind of Friday! I’m sure every reader in here is in the same situation. Right?

Comment From Aaron
What are your feelings on Braves pitching prospects? Alex Wood has looked GREAT so far. Where do you rank him, Cabrera, Sims, Graham, and so on?

Mike Newman: I’ve seen all four. Graham and Wood are very good pitching prospects. Not elite, but mid-rotation/high leverage reliever types. As for Sims/Cabrera, I just submitted a piece with HD video on both to FanGraphs.

Comment From Guest
Who reaches the majors first, Byron Buxton or Miguel Sano?

Eno Sarris: 15 minutes!

Eno Sarris: lyrics of the day are FRESH (at least for this old man)

Out of control but you’re playing a role Do you think you can go til the 18th hole Or will you flip-flop the day of the championship? Try to go it alone on your own for a bit

Comment From person hscer
Am I in the right place? This is where we talk about baseball and other things, right?

Eno Sarris: Sure. Or whatever.

Comment From Steve
What does a full season of Prime Anthony Rizzo look like?

Eno Sarris: I’d hate to get all gushy about him, but I think he could have more than one .290+/40+ season on his ledger.

Dave Cameron: Hey all – we’ll go ahead and get started in 15 minutes, but the queue is now open. Get your questions in now.

Comment From Pete
What are your thoughts with regard to swinging at the first pitch as opposed to being more patient at the plate?

Dave Cameron: If you get a middle-middle fastball, let it loose. There are certainly times when first pitch swinging is the right plan. You shouldn’t be looking to take pitches just to take pitches. The point is to swing at hittable pitches. If you get a first pitch hittable pitch, swing at it.

Comment From JEB
Do you think Tazawa has a chance to take over the closer role? Or do the Sox have too much money in the other guys to keep him in there?

Dave Cameron: Tazawa’s an extreme fly ball guy, and closers don’t always love putting guys like that in the closer’s role because of their HR problems. But, I think he could hold the job until Bailey’s healthy.

Comment From Koby
How many Ks does Darvish finish the season with?

Paul Swydan: Hi everybody!

There’s a 95% chance that I’m flying solo tonight. Chris is definitely not going to be here, and Jeff probably won’t be. So you’re stuck with me and all of my nerdly glory!

Get your questions in, and I’ll be back at 9 p.m. ET to tackle as many of them as I possibly can.

Paul Swydan: Jeff wants to know – what ballparks do you believe are affected the most by a specific wind direction? Let me know your thoughts and I’ll post them.

Paul Swydan: Alright, let’s do this thing!

Comment From Stuck in a Slump
No one seems to be talking about Scott Feldman, but the guy went 7 innings and limited the Rangers to 3 base runners. In his last four starts he has a 1.63 ERA and a 0.80 WHIP with a 7.5 K/9 rate. Is this for real?

Paul Swydan: Well, he’s not good enough to consistently post a 1.63 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, but he is an underrated play, and the K/9 could definitely stand up. I like him as a 4th/5th starter in mixed leagues, and even better in NL only leagues.

Comment From shirley
did clay cheat? Is Eckersley just a wee bit too protective of him?

Jeff Sullivan: Okay! Let’s start late like usual.

Jeff Sullivan: Ordinary caveats:

Jeff Sullivan: (1) I am not a fantasy baseball expert
(2) I am not a baseball expert
(3) There are a lot of questions that go in the queue

Jeff Sullivan: One-time caveat:

(4) I’ve been out of town due to a wedding and I just got back late last night so I’m not at all caught up on what’s going on in baseball. Six-day blind spot!

Jeff Sullivan: So know ahead of time that this is going to be the least satisfying live chat in FanGraphs history. At least, in my FanGraphs history. I apologize and next week will be normal. You may see yourselves out.

Comment From Delusional Braves Fan
SIMMONS! Suck it haters

Dan Szymborski: Szymborski ist angekommen. Zittern unter seiner nerdlichen Blick!

Comment From Guest
Soriano or Minor RoS for fantasy?

Dan Szymborski: Depends what you need, really.

Comment From Guest
Will Ian Kennedy rebound?

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but he’s more like 2012 and 2010 than 2011.

Comment From Mike
Marcell Ozuna have a good year?

: Hello all, welcome to today’s chat. As I prepare a plate of delicious take-out Chinese food before we begin, please take a minute to check out my newsletter project at http://ROTOscouting.com.

Comment From e
Worried about Hultzen’s should? The mariners said it’s minor, but that’s how things always start. What’s your take?

: With Hultzen’s awkward mechanics, there’s quite a bit of, “I told you so” speculation happening right now. When I saw Hultzen last season, his mechanics were more across his body than during a pre-draft look. Unfortunately, he was so efficient in a spring training start (3 IP, 30 pitches), that I didn’t have a chance to follow up in Arizona. Not much more to do other than wait and see at this point. the Mariners don’t have a reputation for hiding injuries or anything.

Comment From Matt
Concerned at all about Bogaerts’ law of power thus far? The rest of his numbers seem alright, although his K rate is a tad worrisome. Thoughts?

: He’s young and still developing, so I’m not worried. I’m convinced his playing for the Netherlands, combined with the cold weather April has caused him to get off to a slow start. He’s heating up with the weather and I still consider him to be a top-5 prospect in baseball entering 2014.

Comment From Fish Food
Yelich before July?

Eno Sarris: 15!

Eno Sarris: Couldn’t have been older than 10
But to me and my friends
The voice on the other end might as well have been God’s
1995, the Division Series
Edgar’s up to bat
Bottom of the 11th inning
Got the whole town listening
“Swung on and belted,” the words distorted. “Joey Cora rounds third!
Here comes Griffey! The throw to the plate’s not in time!
My, oh my, the Mariners win it!”
Yes. Fireworks, they lit up ceiling in the Kingdome
We had just made history

lyrics of the day. should be easy.

Comment From Guest
dee gordon to transition to 2b?

Eno Sarris: Might actually help him make the bigs! He is taking grounders there.

Comment From @WorkTheWire
How much longer until BJ Upton comes around?

Eno Sarris: in batting average leagues, never, not in that cat at least. But I think he’ll hit homers and steal bases eventually.