Jay Jaffe: Good afternoon, folks, and welcome to my first chat of May! Happy Cinco de Mayo to those celebrating, and a belated happy Star Wars Day if that’s your thing.

Jay Jaffe: On Friday I wrote about the league scoring environment through the end of April, noting that walk rates are up, likely due to the impact of the new ABS Challenge system https://blogs.fangraphs.com/more-walks-more-runs-an-early-look-at-offe…

Jay Jaffe: On Sunday I had a bizarre gardening accident, but fared better than the average Spinal Tap drummer https://bsky.app/profile/jayjaffe.bsky.social/post/3mkxvubesl22v

Jay Jaffe: Yesterday, I wrote about Ildemaro Vargas’ unlikely hitting streak. (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/ildemaro-vargas-is-suddenly-a-hitting-mach…), and last night I went up to Yankee Stadium to do some reporting to supplement a tribute to longtime Yankees radio play-by-play broadcaster John Sterling, who passed away at age 87. That will be up tomorrow.

Jay Jaffe: Sterling, of course, is famous in the site’s lore https://x.com/JSterlingCalls/status/1300580776464068608

Jay Jaffe: and one final programming note: next Tuesday evening I’ll be accompanying MLB.com’s Michael Clair to Word Bookstores in Williamsburg to moderate a discussion of his book on the Czech Republic’s national baseball team and its unlikely rise: https://bsky.app/profile/michaelclair.bsky.social/post/3ml4k6v4zqs2u

Eric A Longenhagen: Morning, readers, welcome back. Let’s hop to.

Stashin: Who comes up first – De Vries or Emerson?  And who has a bigger impact this year and next?

Eric A Longenhagen: That’s a good one. Obviously, the Emerson extension makes him feel more proximate at the start of the discussion. JP Crawford has a .390 xwOBA right now and Cole Young has found his footing. So those two are holding serve at the moment. Emerson has been fine, he’s not kicking the door down…

Eric A Longenhagen: De Vries has now been at Double-A for a little over 200 plate appearances. He could justifiably be promoted soon. If he sustains this level of performance at Triple-A for another four-to-six weeks while Hernaiz continues to look like he has, there’s a more obvious vacuum there.

Eric A Longenhagen: I think De Vries will hit for power immediately. Emerson’s swing is less dangerous in ways and places that pitchers can access.

A dummy: As a prospect dummy, should I get excited over Pedro Ramirez or is it just a case of the cubs writers pumping up their guys?

Brendan Gawlowski: Hello everybody

Brendan Gawlowski: Usual housekeeping items… Last week I published the Royals list, so give that a look if you haven’t already. Eric and James are working on the Cubs right now and I’m most of the way down the trail on Padres. We’re gunning to publish both this week.

Brendan Gawlowski: I suspect Giants will follow those two before we pivot to the Florida teams to finish things out.

Brendan Gawlowski: Let’s get to it

drplantwrench: the angels bullpen is a goddamn disaster, and only partially because of injuries.  is there anyone in their minor league system that could provide backup?

Brendan Gawlowski: They’re thin, particularly if they’re going to use Urena as a starter. I was surprised Cody Laweryson didn’t stick, as he’s a perfectly fine fungible reliever, but he’s also hurt now, so.

Eric A Longenhagen: Good morning from the kitchen island in Tempe, I’m happy to be home and chatting from my usual spot for the first time in a month. The Nats list ran today, so go check that out. Brendan published Royals Wednesday, enjoy that, too.

NFP: Victor Figueroa real or no real?

Eric A Longenhagen: Watched a bunch of him this week while tying loose ends on Nats and his swing does look different.

Eric A Longenhagen: More viable, actually accessing the power. Let’s see if the spray changed…

Eric A Longenhagen: Looks pretty similar. Contact rate actually down compared to last year, but it’s early… Needs more info.

Pirates: Talk me off the ledge regarding Konnor Griffin. Is this still adjusting? Right now nothings working for him

Dan Szymborski: Here! Sorry, I had a weird problem getting int

thelwynn: The Mets are back, how long until they are in first place?

Dan Szymborski: It’s hard to say. The Mets will get to first place if there’s sufficient time remaining in the season for another tragic downfall

Farhandrew Zaidman: Evergreen question – is Shohei a better hitter or pitcher?

Dan Szymborski: Probably still hitter

Judge, speed demon: It’s pretty funny Judge’s “slow” start is 9 HR and a 163 OPS+ with 5 steals. With Ohtani and Soto probably taking it easy because of pitching and injury, maybe he’s the next huge slugger with surprising SB totals (he usually does steal 10-15 a year)

Brendan Gawlowski: Hello everybody

Brendan Gawlowski: Couple list updates… KCR is in editorial as we speak and is going live tomorrow.

Brendan Gawlowski: Eric’s rundown of the Nats should also go this week

Brendan Gawlowski: I will be picking up either Padres or Giants right after that.

Brendan Gawlowski: We will also have a weather report on some of the 50 FV guys coming out soon.

Brendan Gawlowski: Made sense to take a look at it because we’re going to have a couple new 50’s on the lists this week