Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 10/10/14

Dan Szymborski: Chat time!

Dan Szymborski: First, now that we’re in the offseason rhythm now, time to get the presidents rollin’ again.

:

:

Comment From Bret
Jeremy Hellickson shouldn’t bring the Rays much return at all, should he?

Dan Szymborski: Not really, no.

Comment From Modlife
How come Sandoval is looking at nine figures but Headley’s probably getting $60M tops when they’ve been incredibly similar players?

Dan Szymborski: Because Headley’s become underrated.

Comment From Mike P.
Can the Rays cut payroll and still compete?

Dan Szymborski: Yes, but it’s getting a little tougher as they haven’t drafted as well in recent years, even taking into consideration the lower picks

Comment From Guest
How does Hoover beat Wilson.

Dan Szymborski: Size advantage, I assume.

Comment From Art Vandelay
Sorry Truman, this is W. all the way.

Comment From Ballmore
Do you think the Rays stay in-house for their manager, or turn to someone outside?

Dan Szymborski: I suspect that they go in-house for continuity reasons.

Comment From adam
If you had to choose one Cub’s prospect who would it be?

Dan Szymborski: Bryant

Comment From Jean
What if your name was Dean Sezymborski?’

Dan Szymborski: Then I would be a different person.

Comment From RotoLando
Two contenders, defined by their middle initial

Comment From Carson C.
How many lessons would you learn from a long weekend as an impostor scout?

Dan Szymborski: I think lessons would learn me.

Comment From adam
Under/over Brewers wins: 88

Dan Szymborski: Under.

Comment From adam
How effective will Latos be in 2015?

Dan Szymborski: WSolid #2

Comment From Vslyke
Why the hell are the Braves trading Gattis? Bethancourt completely failed to impress last year and there’s no reason to rush his development.

Dan Szymborski: The organization tends to thrash around a bit. You could ask the same question as to why Fredi Gonzalez still has a job.

Comment From RotoLando
In your opinion, what is “The Ultimate Burrito”?

Dan Szymborski: I haven’t done the same canvassing that 538 did

Comment From Hrkac Circus
Would Liriano be better served taking the QO, staying in Pittsburgh where he’s thriving, or gamble for the multi-year deal on the market?

Dan Szymborski: I think he would be better served at hitting the market.

Comment From A Viral Marketing Researcher
Why, of all the Adult Swim nonsense that gets sent into the ether, did Too Many Cooks in particular blow up?

Dan Szymborski: Too many cooks can spoil the broth.

Comment From Guest
CSN reporting “Industry sources say the Phils are looking for at least three top prospects, two that can play right now and another that isn’t far away.” Will they get it? Even if they are willing to pay his full salary, why wouldn’t a team just settle for one of the FA arms instead?

Dan Szymborski: I would be very surprised if they did. The ability to have Cole Hamels under contract is a modest addition to his surplus value and having him at 4/103 with option is value of its own, but it’s not three top prospect value.

Dan Szymborski: I suspect Hamels will stay with the Phillies – I have no reason to believe that the Philadelphia Phillies, as an organization, have any clue as to what value their players have in trades. Or any clue as to the value of any player on any team in any time period in any context.

Comment From Guest
EVAN GATTICA

Dan Szymborski: THERE IS NO GENE FOR THE HUMAN SPIRIT OR BEING DANGLED IN TRADES

Comment From James
Can we expect something half way decent from Arod this season?

Dan Szymborski: I wouldn’t. He’s essentially missed a whole year after missing most of another year due to injury. And he’s old. And was cliff diving for years before all this.

Comment From Cashmere Taco
Only until Ibanez’s name came out on the Rays list of 8 candidates was I even aware that he wanted to manage. One would think he has to officially retire as a player first

Dan Szymborski: He doesn’t *have* to.

Dan Szymborski: Most players don’t actually announce their retirements – for those that are free agents, there’s no real purpose.

Comment From Hrkac Circus
I’m well aware his away splits are better, I just meant the coaching staff seems to be able to tame him a little better.

Comment From AL
Dan, off of the top of your head (or educated guess), what does Zips think of Heyward next season. Does it forcast better power numbers or more of the same offensively with terrific defense?

Dan Szymborski: Probably 3-4 WAR, just as aw wild guess. Probablyh closer to 4

Comment From RotoLando
What is the most hilariously unlikely trade rumor you’ve read so far?

Dan Szymborski: Generally involving Hamels

Comment From A ROBOT
In your opinion, what is THE ULTIMATE ROBOT

Dan Szymborski: Man.

Comment From jocephus
wheres dat twitch simulcast?

Dan Szymborski: Oh, I’m still doing it.

Dan Szymborski: I just haven’t started the official team-by-team rundowns.

Comment From Art Vandelay
Aoki a fit for the Twins?

Dan Szymborski: Meh. Not sure they’re ina position where older role palyers make sense.

Comment From Brett
What happened with the Braves’ MiLB system? A few years back, they’re a top-5 org, now they hover around 20. Prospects disappointing, bad management or both?

Dan Szymborski: They’ve had a lot of disappointments among their prospects. It woudl be hard to match the peak-Schuerholz Braves in scouting and the team isn’t very aggressive finanially these days

Comment From Jack.
Do you think the Red Sox will get their number 1 pitcher through a trade or going the FA route?

Dan Szymborski: If thye get a #1 pitcher, I imagine it will be through dough.

Comment From Xolo
Which outfielder do you think the Dodgers end up trading? Seems like who they’d prefer to move and who other teams would prefer to acquire are different.

Dan Szymborski: Now, I expect it to be Ethier in a near-dump. Cue LA Times columnists getting mad as if Ethier was a desirable commoditiy.

Comment From Adam
Why is there a period after the “S” in Harry S Truman? C’mon Szymborski you’re better than that.

Dan Szymborski: Oops

Comment From neal
why do people assume the phillies operate in a manner that is sane or rational?

Dan Szymborski: The same way people are sure they’re going to start exercising more on January 1st.

Comment From Teric and Im
I prefer Totino’s Pizza Rolls commercial to Too Many Cooks https://www.youtube.com/wat…

Comment From Mark
Thoughts on Cory Rasmus going back to becoming a starter?

Dan Szymborski: I think it’s a good idea. Starters are simply a lot more valuable and if there’s a chance a good reliever can be a decent starter, y ou have to try until you conclusively know it won’t happen.

Comment From austin
reports say braves are pushing gattis hard… who does he go to, and what kind of return? if he went to KC, could the braves net dyson plus a mid-level prospect?

Dan Szymborski: I think it would be Dyson and a lower prospect than that. I get the feeling from the Braves that Gattis’s emergence has been more an annoyance than anything

Dan Szymborski: Since it was never part of The Official Plan and Gattis has made decision-making harder.

Dan Szymborski: The same reason why B.J. Upton had to be Leadoff Man Centerfielder Guy for way too long.

Comment From Art Vandelay
Is A-Rod the Yankees DH this year? That feels weird to type.

Dan Szymborski: I think it’s very likely the team goes for a 3B and relegates A-Rod to a role like that.

Comment From Frank Chance
Has Cashmere Taco never heard of player-managers?

Comment From Mike
Is Darin Ruf worth anything in a trade? He seems like Trumbo/Gattis-lite (and has a better OBP than both).

Dan Szymborski: Maybe a minor prospect, but he’s probably not as good as his MLB OPS+ so far, which is around 120.

Comment From Bip
But Ibanez is missing out on his farewell tour

Comment From adam
I don’t understand the Mookie love. Someone please explain what everyone else seems to see…

Dan Szymborski: Uhh, he was a 21-year-old with a >,950 OPS in the high minors who performed very well in the majors in his stint and can at least theoretically play 2B

Comment From Jean
What if his name was Hole Camels?

Dan Szymborski: He’d have lame parents

Comment From Cashmere Taco
The Twins new uniforms look ______

Dan Szymborski: meh. Don’t mind loss of pinstripes, but I think gold trim is kinda tacky

Dan Szymborski: Oh wait, it’s a fill-in-the-blank

Dan Szymborski: boogery

Comment From Keitha
Have you ever had Australian pizza?

Dan Szymborski: Is there such a thing?

Dan Szymborski: Is it a regular pizza, but made by convicts and having bizarrely named toppings?

Dan Szymborski: “Pepperoni? That’s Mangachinkapook!”

Comment From Guest
Heard Han Ram is willing to move to third for a team. I’m guessing this is good for him, no?

Dan Szymborski: Never hurts to be more flexible. That being said, I don’t think it’s an imperative he move off SS – he’s a lousy defensive SS, but he’s not really notably awful and his bat can make up for a lot of sins

Comment From neal
can’t the yankees just cut a-rod in spring training when he inevitably sucks, and save themselves a lot of drama?

Dan Szymborski: They could. That contract, and A-Rod’s standing, makes his contract as much of a sunk cost as anything in history

Comment From Guest
Who wins in a fight, Ryan Theriot or Steve Dilbeck?

Dan Szymborski: Theriot. I can’t imagine they’d be fighting though

Comment From Sadwick
I have a bag of crappy cheap burgers, a cup of cold stale coffee, and shitty work Wi-Fi. Let’s do this.

Comment From BobbyS
Ugh, late again! I blame the burrito from last night!

Dan Szymborski: I was right on time!

Comment From Guest
should the Tigers consider signing Headley and moving Castellanos to RF?

Dan Szymborski: Certainly a possibility – the’ve gotta improve that outfield somehow

Comment From quizmaster
Will Braves succumb to Redskin’s PC pressure and rename Cobb County Confederates upon move?

Dan Szymborski: I’m not touching this debate!

Comment From Jordy
Team most likely to surprise in 2015 out of this brunch: Marlins, Mets, Astros, or WSox?

Dan Szymborski: Mets. As poorly run as the organization is, they do have enough talent in proximity of the roster that they could accidentally get lucky and win 90, despite their best attempts to not do so

Dan Szymborski: Astros day will come, but I 2015 is probably too soon and it’s a rough division

Comment From Conspiracy Theorist
Is every internet commenter on baseball articles really just a bot coded by RAJ, a genius who prefers trolling to baseball success?

Dan Szymborski: The Phillies would be better off if Amaro spent his time trolling the internet instead of thinking about baseball players.

Comment From adam
as a phillys fan i hate being the laughing stock of the mlb. too late to jump on the O’s bandwagon?

Comment From Big Joe Mufferraw
Jon Lester will end up in ________ on a __ Year Deal, Worth ____________.

Dan Szymborski: penis, fartnugget, boobs

Comment From houzer
True or False … VMart will not be 7-8M better than Billy Butler next year

Dan Szymborski: True, but I think he will be 5-6 better, so it’s close.

Comment From Guest

Comment From Martin
Who is more valuable over the next three years, Ervin Santana or Fransisco Liriano?

Dan Szymborski: Liriano

Comment From Mike
I know he’s puffing up his client, but is Nero somewhat accurate that if Kang was Cuban and putting up those numbers he’d get much more than the speculation is now?

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think he’s far off.

Dan Szymborski: Kinda funny that they are two Star Trek antagonists too

Comment From Parrot
Am I crazy for thinking that the Pirates are WS favorites right now? Sure they will lose Martin but they can trade Pedro to the Red Sox for Mookie and sign Masterson, McCarthy, and Lester. Maybe trade Taillon and Mercer to the Rockies for Tulo.

Dan Szymborski: I think that’s a little crazy. It won’t get you committed, but I think it’s too optimistic

Comment From Tom
Shelby Miller + Stephen Piscotty = Carlos Gonzales?

Dan Szymborski: I honestly have no idea what it takes for the Rockies to do anything.

Comment From gump
if k%-b% is better than k/bb for pitchers, is it also better to use for hitters?

Dan Szymborski: Unless I’m misunderstanding the question, it’s a bigger advantage fo pitchers because batters aren’t historically valued on a per 3 out basis.

Comment From AL
Thoughts on Lind to the Brewers? I would have thought that Gattis could/would have made a lot of sense for the Crew.

Dan Szymborski: It’s a good move. They got someone who should thrive in a hr-friendly park for a pitcher who just isn’t very good.

Comment From Cashmere Taco
Frank Chance: touché

Comment From Martin
Would Rasmus be a good fit for the Cubs? Can play LF and slide over to CF if Alcantara proves to be unworthy of a starting role.

Dan Szymborski: I can definitely think of worse stopgaps.

Comment From Rawson
“Seems like who they’d prefer to mvoe and who other teams would prefer to acquire are different.” -Every team, everywhere, all the time

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but there’s usually at least some correlation.

Dan Szymborski: I might think my hat is worth $50 when it’s actually worth $30. But the Phillies would think 5 $20 bills are worth $200 because there are 5 of them.

Dan Szymborski: Errr 10 of them

Dan Szymborski: dammit math sentence fail

Dan Szymborski: Did I ever mention I had a math major?

Comment From Big Joe Mufferraw
Do you think the Marlins are serious about a Stanton Extension, or is this just PR positioning for an upcoming trade (next calendar year)?

Dan Szymborski: Honestly? No idea.

Comment From GRRM
My new history book, The World of Ice and Fire, has debuted at #2 on the bestseller, and for a time was the #1 book in all of Amazon land… how long does that push back Winds of Winter?

Dan Szymborski: At Martin’s writing pace of 2 words a week, humanity needs to overcome the Hayflick limit quite quickly to read the ending to the series, I fear.

Comment From jda
Aside from using ERA instead of FIP, are there other differences in how fWAR and “zWAR” are calculated? Every year I have trouble matching the two, even accounting for playing time and the different metrics.

Dan Szymborski: Parks are slightly different, I don’t value DH as less than 1B (more in a second). Differences look bigger than they are mainly because people overestimate how precise a WAR measure is. 2 runs is more than 0.2 WAR after all, so it doesn’t take a lot to move the needle.

Dan Szymborski: In *every* attempt to look at players playing at DH while normally playing another position while weeding out injured players, it does appear that a player will hit worse as a DH than playign a position

Dan Szymborski: I’ve tried looking at this 5 or 6 ways and I come up with the same answer – that there’s something about the DH that makes hitting *harder* than it would be for the exact same player playing a position at the same time.

Dan Szymborski: If there’s something about the DH that makes playing DH harder, that should mitigate the no defensive value..

Dan Szymborski: Imagine if DH made normal players lose 200 points of OPS (far larger than actual of course). . You’d still have to value OPS from DH more greatly because given how terrible pitchers are at hitting, you’d still have a de facto requirement to field a DH.

Comment From Joseph Gladstone
Should the Astros trade Altuve while he’s at peak value?

Dan Szymborski: No. His contract is so team friendly (if they pick up options, he’s essentially signed for 5/21 or something like that) that he’s probably worth more to the Astros – I think they don’t get enough prospects to make up for all that value.

Comment From Keitha

Dan Szymborski: I really hope those are plum tomatoes cut along the longer axis and not severed lips.

Comment From Jean
What if his name were Ham Ran?

Dan Szymborski: He’d probably be a George Lucas named characters

Dan Szymborski: “Here comes the new Sith Lord, Darth Bubblebobble!”

Comment From Sadwick
Szymborski seriously answered a fill in the blank question…… That’s it then, the sounds you hear are seals of the apocalypse cracking open. Everyone please remain calm and wait for your untimely demise.

Comment From Hameltoe
Think the Mariners sign Hanley trade Miller and Sign Vmart?

Dan Szymborski: No, but they might sign V-Mart. Unless Martinez interferes with their yearly plan to have 4 or 5 terrible DHs on the roster.

Comment From mattybobo
The thing everybody loves about Mookie is that he’s a very young player who looks pretty kick ass at baseball. Those guys tend to be popular.

Comment From Guest
if a rod returns and hits 70 HRs would Bud Selig reinstate himself just to end the madness

Dan Szymborski: I have to admit, it would be funny.

Comment From Double Jack McDowell
Given the importance of sequencing, are we underestimating how detrimental a strikeout is for a hitter? Just putting the ball in play buys a lotto ticket. Also seems like BABIP’ing is a skill to a certain degree. No?

Dan Szymborski: To a certain degree, but remember, we’re already counting those balls in play that become hits, so we don’t want to double count.

Dan Szymborski: All the projection models, as far as I know, consider a lot of hitter BABIP to be ability.

Comment From Billy
How much of the shine has come off Buxton and Sano due to injury and Billy Hamilton from a failure to get on base, even with his defensive abilities?

Dan Szymborski: It’s worrisome, but hardly something to really fear. Yet.

Comment From Guest
a whole bag of burgers?

Comment From Cashmere Taco
is a burrito a sandwich

Dan Szymborski: No, I’d consider them in the rollup category.

Comment From Guest
someone yesterday no joke asked me if federal employees have the day off because of a big concert being thrown in DC…on veteran’s day

Comment From jda
Do you include minor league post-season games in your projections?

Dan Szymborski: I actually don’t because that data can be really awkward to get.

Comment From paulie
I’d guess he made them an offer they couldn’t refuse…MLB Trade Rumors ?@mlbtraderumors 54s55 seconds ago

Angels Avoid Arbitration With Vinnie Pestano http://www.mlbtraderumors.c…

Comment From Gary W
Remembering the silent treatment Bonds got, couldn’t the Yankees cut ARod now and have a really good shot of no one picking him up? Who’d want that headache, especially with all the DH-types in FA this year?

Dan Szymborski: I think if the Yankees release A-Rod, hiw MLB career is over.

Comment From Cartoon Network executive
the sequel to this absurdity should be called Too Many ________s?

Dan Szymborski: dongwranglers

Comment From Ryan
Is the the Cardinals opening day right fielder on the roster yet?

Dan Szymborski: I think so

Comment From David
I asked in somebody’s chat a couple weeks ago (can’t remember if it was yours) whether Howie Kendrick to the Nats for pitching would be a fit and was told the Angels won’t move Kendrick. It has since come out that he’s available. So I’ll ask again. Is that a fit and what type of deal would it take to get him? Only one year remember.

Dan Szymborski: I still think the Angels in the end, will be more inclined to hold onto him.

Comment From Big Joe Mufferraw
Is Hideki Mastsui a HOFer? Been a debating this for a while. His MLB stats are good, but not HOF worthy, but if you add them up with his Japan stats, 2600 hits, 500+ HR, 1600+ RBI.

Dan Szymborski: I should do a translation of his NPB stats as I’ve done with ichiro.

Dan Szymborski: Even if his stats in NPB were considered without a translation, the BBWAA-induced Logjam is absolutely horrific and would crowd out Matsui as it has a lot of deserving players.

Comment From Tom
Think you might ever release those GAR rankings from a while back?

Dan Szymborski: I’m always torn – I’m still not completely satisfied with it and in truth, Jaffe’s JAWS does a lot that GWAR does.

Comment From Joe
Did the Pirates win a multi billion dollar lottery without me noticing, because that’s the only way that suggesting they somehow fit Lester, Tulo, McCarthy is anything less than insane. Allso, Betts is probably worth about 10 of Pedro.

Comment From austin
what would a heyward extension look like? 6/100?

Comment From Guest
what happened to it [the math major]?

Dan Szymborski: I forgot most of the information that went into it.

Dan Szymborski: Seriously, if you sat me down right now and made me take a Calc III test, I would fail. I took Calc III in 12th grade.

Dan Szymborski: I’d be able to pass anything statistics-related in all likelihood. And maybe matrix and linear algebra.

Dan Szymborski: Nothing else.

Comment From your mother
are you a cautious driver?

Dan Szymborski: Fairly so..

Comment From AJ
Hellickson reportedly close to being traded to an NL team. Any guesses as to which one?

Dan Szymborski: I have no specific knowledge on this one (I sometimes do, but I’m nto a reporter, so I keep it to myself) but I’d guess Cubs, Braves, or Pirates

Comment From Joseph Gladstone
I’m hungry and have burgers and the igredients for a smoothie. What should I eat. I’m not SUPER hunger but I mean i need lunch.

Dan Szymborski: Burger smoothie. Duh.

Comment From Mike
After that hat/money/bills comment, are we really sure we should trust YOU on any valuation involving money?

Dan Szymborski: You shouldn’t trust anybody on anything.

Comment From Shameless Shoehorn
Are we soon going to see teams use their ”8th inning guys” in high leverage situations (ex: pull the pitcher in the 6th with 2 men on in a close game) instead of purely for a clean 9th? Seems like Girardi is doing this a lot.

Dan Szymborski: No. Nobody ever gets fired for following conventional wisdom.

Comment From Snuffleupapuss
The Braves have also graduated Simmons, La Stella, Teheran, Wood, and Hale in the last 3 years. It’s pretty hard for your farm not to go downhill for a bit after that.

Comment From John
Mookie Betts for Pedro Alvarez might be the worst theoretical trade I’ve seen on here

Comment From Steve Dilbeck
You guys waste your time talking about dragon books no wonder youre terrible at baseball analytics, think that by forming little geek crews you make your cold heartless POV more right. We’

Comment From Dan Szymborski
Hey, Dan! Do you ever talk to yourself?

Dan Szymborski: I mostly sing nonsense songs.

Dan Szymborski: To myself.

Dan Szymborski: I’m a little distracted at the moment, two cats are on a bookshelf fighting hilariously

Comment From Phil
Why do I see Keith Law referencing forward ZiPS projections in his free agency/offseason analysis stuff on ESPN? I thought that hadn’t been released yet? Insider info? If so, seems strange for him to so casually reference it.

Dan Szymborski: Keith got some sneak peeks. I do work for ESPN after all.

Comment From J
Darth Bubblebobble would be lame, but if it was the ghost whale from Bubble Bobble? That’s some scary shit.

Comment From Jean
What if his name were Byron Buxom?

Dan Szymborski: Good pornstar name.

Dan Szymborski: Especially an alternative porn name, I think, the details of which I will allow you to extrapolate for yoursef

Comment From Adam Dunn
I think people tend to overrate how detrimental K’s are to hitters. It means I’m making at least 3 pitches, and a K is far better than a ground ball with a man on first!

Dan Szymborski: The thing is, you also save a lot of double plays.

Dan Szymborski: And those hits that turn out as hits rather than strikeouts are already contained in the record.

Comment From RotoLando
2015 is the year of full-on Heel A-Rod, right?

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think A-Rod has enough humility to try to go the heel route.

Comment From Kris
what else is in the ‘rollup’ category?

Dan Szymborski: Anything that’s kind of rolled up in a little nest. Pita sometimes.

Comment From Carl Carlson
Any chance the Jays look to move Jose Batista? If so, the Cardinals seem like a solid destination for him, plus they have pitching to deal.

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think they move him.

Comment From GWAR

Did someone say our name?

Comment From RotoLando
How many times have you been driving along a mostly empty road, and flipped your short bus?

Dan Szymborski: Wait, what?

Comment From Guest
Do you know Bill Simmons?

Dan Szymborski: I know of him, but I’ve never interacted with him in any way.

Comment From peachesnnuts
sing nonsense songs? like Too Many Cooks?

Dan Szymborski: Like before I came here, I was signing a song about Ben-Gay to the tune of Those Were the Days (the mary hopkin one not the tv theme song)

Dan Szymborski: “That was Ben-Gay my friend, your pains are at an end, as it cools and heats your pain away

Dan Szymborski: Terrible, but that’s the craziness I sing to myself

Dan Szymborski: I was also singing “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Phillies!”

Comment From Guest
Blizzcon thoughts?

Dan Szymborski: I’m glad they explained Overwatch after the trailer because as usual fro Blizzard, the trailer actually gave almost no useful knowledge about what the game would be

Dan Szymborski: “OK, so there’s what looks to be an Australian, a zombie with a sniper gun, a mecha-gorilla, and a robot Grim Reaper for some reason!”

Dan Szymborski: And I’m very happy that new Hearthstone cards are coming very soon. The meta is quite stale.

Dan Szymborski: I’m hoping a few of these defuse zoolock, handlock, and hunter

Dan Szymborski: clockwork giant looks like a fun anti-handlock card – essentially allowing you to respond to a twilight drake with an 8/8.

Comment From BassmanUW
Would Hellickson to the Cubs really make any sense, aside from the Joe Maddon connection? He’s a back end of the rotation starter with limited upside, and the Cubs have plenty of those (Wood, Straily, Doubront, etc.) I couldn’t imagine the Cubs giving up anything meaningful for him.

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think they would give up anything meaningful. I just don’t think he has a lot of trade value.

Dan Szymborski: Last chance for random off-topic stuff before i close chat for the day!

Comment From Guest
Do you know anyone irl with Tourette’s Syndrome?

Dan Szymborski: Not that I know of.

Comment From gump
heel a rod?

Dan Szymborski: Like during Jeter’s day, his music would play and he’d come out to congratulate Jeter but when he gets there, he rips open suit, there’s a red sox uniform underneath, and he powerbombs Jetes through a table.

Dan Szymborski: Stuff like everytime he hits a HR, he should mime an injection into his bicep. And anytime he’s booed, act like they’re cheering him and try to pump up the crowd

Comment From Guest
So are reports about the Phillies demands for Hammel basically leading to Cliff Lee 2014 2.0 or have they learned something?

Dan Szymborski: Phillies never learn.

Comment From Scrapper
If you were the Cubs, would you start Baez next season with the big league club or let him have another half season in AAA?

Dan Szymborski: It’s kinda hard to tell with so many roster questions up in the air

Comment From Sadwick
This comic made me sing nonsense songs to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme for more than a week.

Comment From Sadwick
This XKCD comic had me singing nonsense songs to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme for more than a week. http://xkcd.com/1412/

Comment From Joseph Gladstone
Dan, have you seen your WikiPedia page? Your References section is twice as long as the article and it doesn’t even mention your nickname (The Szymborgler).

Dan Szymborski: My wikipedia page is horribly out of date – I’m not relevant enough for anyone to fix it up. And I won’t do it myself because of conflict-of-interest reeasons.

Comment From Cashmere Taco
current favorite tv show

Dan Szymborski: It’s Always Sunny

Comment From Burrito
Preference… Chipotle, Qdoba, Moe’s, or some local joint?

Dan Szymborski: I’ve actually never eaten at Chipotle or Qdoba. I’ve had bad experiences with quick-served food in that genre

Comment From Bryan
Excited about Mechs vs Goblins? I can’t wait

Dan Szymborski: GNOMES!

Comment From Guest
it’s the impliCATION

Comment From Guest
tell us some facts about yourself dan we can update it based on those facts

Dan Szymborski: At the very least, that I work for ESPN is probably the most notable thing about me. I really shouldn’t be more than a stub-level, I think.

Comment From Pizza
Preference…Australian, Chicago, New York, Totino’s, Saint Louis?

Dan Szymborski: Everything but the St. Louis

Comment From Joseph Gladstone
Legalize it or no?

Dan Szymborski: Remember, I’m a libertarian. I only care about you injecting heroin in your backyard if you’re driving or flying a plane.

Dan Szymborski: And on that note, time to sign for another week.

Dan Szymborski: As usual, you can find my work at ESPN.com, projections and chats here at FanGraphs, and DSzymborski on Twitter and other places

Comment From Joseph Gladstone
If your Wiki page was up to date I’d be able to remember you’re a Libertarian.

Dan Szymborski: It shouldn’t be on my wikipedia page as it’s self-reported. You’d have to find a reliable source.

Dan Szymborski: (as in a secondary source rather than a primary source)

Dan Szymborski: I stay *out* of political debates on the internet unless it’s a free speech issue or more meta-analysis of stuff.