Jay Jaffe: Good afternoon and Happy Bartolo Colon Home Run Day to you all!

Jay Jaffe: It’s the fifth anniversary of this magnificent shot https://www.mlb.com/video/colon-s-first-career-homer-c669896583

Jay Jaffe: which, as I explained in this Twitter thread, holds special significance at Casa Jaffe-Span

Jay Jaffe: My piece on the Angels’ DFA of Albert Pujols just went up a short time ago https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-angels-finally-bite-the-bullet-by-cutt…

Jay Jaffe: It follows a piece I did just yesterday on how bad their defense has been https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-angels-rotation-woes-have-a-lot-to-do-…

Jay Jaffe: Anyway, on with the show!

James: Trent Grisham is good. But is it possible he might be under the radar, star level good?

Dan Szymborski: He’s certainly *played* like a star the last 80ish games now. I’m not convinced that he’s quite that good, but he’s certainly proving me wrong.

Beepollen: So, the Dodgers – what the hell’s going on???

Dan Szymborski: I should note they have a 20-12 pythag record, which equates to a 101-win schedule. And that’s going to be far more predictive than their current record is

James: What is going on with all of the league wide injuries? Pandemic short season related? Pitchers throwing harder than ever? SSS?

Dan Szymborski: I haven’t looked at injury rate compared to previous Aprils, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the weird 2020 made things riskier.

Meg Rowley: Hi all, and thanks for stopping by. Let’s get rolling on the chat.

Magic Kingdome: Who starts Game 1 of the 2021 ALCS for the Mariners?

Meg Rowley: All right now settle down.

Meg Rowley: I encourage everyone to take joy where they can find it and revel in good starts and also, not set yourself up for disappointment.

Padres Offense: Pls give the magic hitting juice. I need.

Meg Rowley: If it makes you feel any better, they are slightly underperforming their baseruns but yeah, it’s been an unwelcome swoon. I don’t expect it to be a sustained swoon, but yeah, would be good for Machado and Cronenworth to get going.

Jay Jaffe: Good afternoon, folks, and welcome to another edition of my Friday chat! Later today I’ll head up to Yankee Stadium for my first game of the year — my first since last September 16, when Kyle Higashioka hit three home runs in a game I covered (though my attentions were elsewhere when it came to subjects) and my first as a fan since September 19, 2019.

Jay Jaffe: Speaking of Higashioka, I wrote about him, Gary Sánchez, and the Yankees’ not-so-sudden catching controversy yesterday https://blogs.fangraphs.com/amid-yankees-funk-kyle-higashioka-catches-….

Jay Jaffe: I wrote about position player pitching weirdness today https://blogs.fangraphs.com/position-players-are-suddenly-and-probably… and also had a spot on the FanGraphs Audio podcast talking to Dan Szymborski about the Pioneer League’s experimental rules https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fangraphs-audio-dan-szymborski-recites-his… which I wrote about here https://blogs.fangraphs.com/decision-by-derby-the-pioneer-league-joins…

Jay Jaffe: And that’s enough housekeeping for now

Estevão: Mookie Betts is the fifth best hitter on the Dodgers? Thoughts

Jay Jaffe: Betts has been a bit banged up; he missed a couple days due to lower back stiffness and then got drilled on the right forearm. I don’t think there’s much to worry about here; his 121 wRC+ is still solid, and the Dodgers do have a bunch of good hitters, though their recent slide suggests they’re missing Cody Bellinger more than before, and their depth has taken a few other hits.

Dan Szymborski: The appointed time for chat has arrived.

Dan Szymborski: Also changed my avatar. Some of you were confused why I looked so old at 42. That was the Old Dan Szymborski avatar.

Dan Szymborski:

Greg: Can Huascar Ynoa stick as a starter? Pretty much fastball/slider only so far.

Dan Szymborski: I do worry about two-pitch starters. I’ve wanted Kevin Gausman to develop an actually effective breaking pitch for years now to at least a cutter or something.

Dan Szymborski: Hitters are very adaptable creatures. I’d love if Ynoa’s occasional change was more of a weapon he could use

Meg Rowley: HI everyone, and welcome to the chat. Going to grab a fresh cup of coffee and then shall get started.

o’s: will we ever see chris davis again?

Meg Rowley: Perhaps around town, having a coffee, running some errands…

Meg Rowley: I’m sure when he’s completed his injury rehab that he’ll be back, though I wouldn’t be surprised to see his playing time taper. There’s too much left on the contract and the club too far from contention for him to totally fall off, but getting a better sense of what they have in their young guys and any veterans who cycle through is too valuable to afford him a ton of ABs.

Andy: Where can my young daughter and I watch/listen to women analyze baseball. Podcasts do not hold her attention, but she enjoys broadcasts and YouTube channels like Fuzzy. She’s growing frustrated with the lack of voices like hers around a game she loves so much

Meg Rowley: There’s always the Yankees radio broadcasts, which are an audio option on MLB dot TV. And while their games might not be the most scintillating, you could try Orioles radio, where I believe Melanie Newman is doing play by play.

Eric A Longenhagen: Howdy howdy from lovely AZ, where I’m debating either hanging here in the Valley today and tomorrow to see more minor league spring stuff or making a last-minute SoCal drive to see amateurs.

Eric A Longenhagen: I only have a couple days of minor league spring left and then what will probably be a little gap between that and Extended (no schedules yet), which may be the best time to skip town for amateur stuff…

Eric A Longenhagen: anyway, chat…

Toshi: I remember you were concerned about Julio Rodriguez’s approach at plate during winter ball. Has your opinion changed since then?  Thanks.

Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, still thirsty for sliders. Looks leaner and is running a full grade better now than the winter, though. Still making hard contact when he picks something good to swing at

Mike: Hey Eric – when do you plan to make your next update to your draft list on the BOARD?