Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 5/11/15

12:03
Dan Szymborski: It’s war on the east coast? It’s war out west? I don’t care, it’s the Dan Szymborski Cavalcade of Sadness!

12:03
Comment From Guest
The event is now live.
Waiting for the writer to provide content…

12:03
Dan Szymborski: Shoot, it might be waiting for awhile if it requires actualy content.

12:03
Comment From LarryA
How long to options last? Like if Albert Pujols didnt use up his 6 or whatever amount of options each player gets, can he be sent to the minors?

12:04
Dan Szymborski: No, because there are service time limits to demote a player without his permission aside from the option years.

12:04
Comment From Hi Erix
Hey Dan – what’s wrong with Kershaw so far? Cause for alarm?

12:04
Dan Szymborski: He’s fine. Have a piece up at some point talking a bit.

12:04
Comment From mtsw
Should Orioles fans feel their team is unlucky with catcher injuries (Wieters on the 60 day) or not unlucky since Caleb Joseph is arguably playing better than you’d expect Wieters to?

12:05
Dan Szymborski: They shouldn’t feel unlucky – the 265/357/418 they’ve gotten from catcher isn’t inferior to what they’d get from Wieters.

12:05
Comment From Pat
Have you ever looked at Chris Young’s heatmaps? Talk about being unortodox

12:06
Dan Szymborski: His heatmaps are weird because he’s around 11 feet tall.

12:06
Comment From Guest
I spent a last week on vacation. What did I miss from baseball?

12:06
Dan Szymborski: Not a Kemp hit.

12:06
Comment From joe
when does Kluber start to turn it around? what’s going on here?

12:06
Dan Szymborski: Think he’ll be fine.

12:07
Comment From EC
Any thoughts as to why Scherzer is pitching deeper into games this year than in years past?

12:07
Dan Szymborski: He’s not actually throwing more – he had 21 110-pitch games last year. He’s had 1 this year.

12:07
Comment From Tim
Time for a bold move by the Braves….Who do they trade, Wood or Miller?

12:08
Dan Szymborski: Not sure they need a bold move – they’re pot committed in their rebuilding.

12:09
Comment From HK
True or False: Jung-ho Kang was the best signing of the off-season

12:09
Dan Szymborski: A little premature.

12:09
Comment From Natitude Adjuster
Thanks for nothing, Dr. Szymborski! I asked you to provide canned spiel for last Wednesday’s Nats/Marlins game, and you refused. So I had to talk about Bryce Harper’s 3 HRs and beer. Actually… it was fine.

12:09
Dan Szymborski: See, canned spiel sucks!

12:09
Comment From baltic wolf
Hi Dan. What do you think the Orioles will look like in 2016? Obvious hole in RF. With the possible departure of so many free agents, do you think the Orioles spend the cash and pursue somebody like Heyward?

12:10
Dan Szymborski: There are too many variables at play to know what the situation will be like this witner.

12:10
Comment From The Oriole Bird
Odds Pineda would’ve tied or broken the 20-strikeout single-game record yesterday if left in for all 9 innings against the Orioles?

12:11
Dan Szymborski: Not super high – the guy was already at his career high pitches in MLB.

12:11
Comment From hscer
so Kershaw over Pineda ROS then

12:11
Dan Szymborski: Of course

12:11
Comment From mtsw
What’s faster: speed of light or speed at which Red Sox fans went from justifying the Panda contract by saying he can DH in two years to justifying the Hanley contract by the same logic? More seriously how is it possible that Hanley is so bad in the outfield? Bad coaching or something else?

12:12
Dan Szymborski: Tachyons are hypothetical still, so speed of light.

12:12
Comment From Minty
How long do you expect Correa to stick at SS before he’s moved to3B? Does he get the Machado treatment?

12:12
Dan Szymborski: I suspect the Astros will be more willing to let him try to stick than the O’s were.

12:12
Comment From mtsw
Which trendy pre-season division winner pick is in more trouble? Indians or Red Sox?

12:13
Dan Szymborski: Indians

12:13
Comment From Guest
Traded my devon travis for his jake arrieta. Did I win?

12:13
Dan Szymborski: Fairly even I think

12:13
Comment From STiVo
I was asked (during Mother’s Day dinner, no less) about the difference between the different A-ball levels. I kind of fumbled through an answer. Is there a good answer to this?

12:13
Dan Szymborski: It’s not so much that they’re *different* just that they’re different levels

12:13
Dan Szymborski: It’s not like the 7th inning is the beer inning in high-A and five strikes is out in middle-A

12:14
Dan Szymborski: There are short-season leagues in the lower A leagues.

12:15
Dan Szymborski: You could just as easily call the Sally/Midwest Leagues B and the short-season leagues C, doesn’t really make a difference

12:15
Dan Szymborski: (I’m in the minority of calling Sally/Midwest Middle-A – I feel it’s more descriptive than having low and short-season A)

12:15
Comment From Alex
Harper: going to have a great year, or going to have a GREAT year?

12:15
Dan Szymborski: GREat

12:15
Comment From Vic
What’s the latest with D Wright? Will he be back sometime this week?

12:16
Dan Szymborski: They’re going to try, but given his constant injury problems, I’d be bearish in that sense

12:16
Comment From Phillies113
The Twins and Mets have both outperformed BaseRuns expectations by 4 wins apiece. Why is this? Low quality of opposing teams? Or something more?

12:16
Dan Szymborski: Don’t have their quality of opposition off-hand, but stats are simply more volatile over 30 than 162.

12:17
Comment From HappyFunBall
We live in a world with Steve Pearce, second baseman. Will wonders never cease?

12:17
Dan Szymborski: He’s actually at the point where I’m going to have to give him a 2B rating in DMB next year

12:17
Comment From Sully
With Allen Craig getting demoted and looking broken, the Lackey trade looks like a complete disaster, doesn’t it?

12:17
Dan Szymborski: Not lookign great of course

12:17
Comment From Vic
Pete O’Brien is 24 or 25 and doing well in Triple A. Doesn

12:17
Comment From Vic
‘t

12:18
Dan Szymborski: The problem is he can’t really play catcher

12:19
Comment From STiVo
I realize that all pitchers are subject to breakage. Is Strasburg even more prone, now that his shoulder is being weird? (Don’t worry, the chiropractor fixed it!!)

12:19
Dan Szymborski: Ever pitcher is.

12:19
Comment From Flipper the Dolphin
The New Era of shortstop, there is almost no more power hitting SS in these days, do you see this trend enduring for the next years, or eventually is this is going to change in the near future? Tnx

12:19
Dan Szymborski: These things tend to be cyclical

12:19
Comment From mtsw
If you’re sitting near the baselines and catch a foul ball as an adult should you be required to hand it to a kid in your section even if, as a kid yourself, you never got to sit in seats that good and you suspect the kid is probably a spoiled brat?

12:20
Dan Szymborski: Not required.

12:20
Dan Szymborski: As I see it, being good at catching foul balls is one of the benefits of being an adult.

12:20
Dan Szymborski: Sure, you could give the ball to a kid. But when was the last time a kid stepped in and paid your income taxes?

12:20
Dan Szymborski: Growing up, my parents/grandparents would have *never* let me win at anything.

12:21
Dan Szymborski: When i was little and woudl rough house with my dad, he’d pin me instantly. He told me that he could let me win, but lying wouldn’t make me stronger than him.

12:22
Dan Szymborski: So I like to think I grew up with a realistic assessment of my qualities and flaws.

12:22
Comment From Bart
What’s wrong with Carlos Gonzalez?

12:22
Dan Szymborski: Him, I thin khe’s broken.

12:22
Comment From baltic wolf
Do you know anything about Dylan Bundy’s timetable? Can Orioles fans expect him to join the staff in late July or early August?

12:22
Dan Szymborski: I think they’re playing it by ear rather than a rigid timetable

12:22
Comment From Julio Pepper
Salazar’s better than Carrasco, yeah? What a stud.

12:22
Dan Szymborski: I love Salazar – I still think it was ridiculous he didn’t start the season in the rotation

12:23
Comment From mtsw
Why does the Orioles defense look so bad thus far? Uncharacteristically sloppy play from Flaherty, Manny and expectedly sloppy play from Travis Snider and Evreth Cabrera seems to be setting their pitching staff back

12:23
Dan Szymborski: Last I checked, they were still a few runs above average

12:24
Comment From Mike, of Mike and the Mechanics Fame
What do you think are the odds on a given day that you could correctly pick two MLB players to get a hit? (This is MLB’s “Beat the Streak” contest. Pick up to two players per day, and you must select 57 straight players (i.e., 29 straight days of 2 picks per day) and you win $5.7 million.)

12:24
Dan Szymborski: 57 straight players? Damn long odds.

12:24
Comment From Bart
What’s wrong with Chris Sale?

12:24
Dan Szymborski: I dont’ think he’s comfortable with his slider right now

12:24
Comment From Kerblawblawblaw
Do you see Kang being a top 5 SS/3B the rest of the way?

12:24
Dan Szymborski: That’s a little premature.

12:24
Comment From hscer
Pineda’s 20 K odds were lower than the odds of his shoulder literally falling off which were lower than the odds of Cashman strangling Girardi when Pineda reached 140 pitches.

12:24
Comment From Cashmere Taco
Despite its marginal benefits, its fun to talk lineup optimization. For a middle of the pack offense, if the best hitter is #2, do you keep the highest slugging % in the 4 spot or move it up to 3? Isn’t the 4 spot still likely to come up more with men on base? Thanks

12:24
Dan Szymborski: Depends.

12:25
Comment From Jay Boo-ruce
Hey Dan. What do you see for me ROS? Somewhere between the good and horrible years I’ve had or am I doomed?

12:25
Dan Szymborski: I thinK Bruce will be OK. Not *great* but at least adequate.

12:25
Comment From Jack
Miguel Sano is starting to heat up…any projection of him coming up in a month if he keeps this up? Not like they have anyone of value at 3B. And it might sell some tickets.

12:25
Dan Szymborski: Given the time he’s missed, I dont’ think there’s any real benefit to rushing him.

12:26
Dan Szymborski: He’s also been ragged defensively down there. See if he rakes at AA and then send him to AAA.

12:26
Dan Szymborski: It’s not like Plouffe shas stunk

12:27
Comment From Tim
Does Chris Johnson make the Bucs better? Relatively cheap. Neither Harrison or Alvarez can hit lefties.

12:27
Dan Szymborski: No. There’s the little problem of Chris Johnson being worse defensively at third than Alvarez is.

12:28
Dan Szymborski: I think I’d take Miguel Cabrera at 3rd actually.

12:28
Comment From Fuzeballz
Would a Dom Brown promotion to Philadelphia be an improvement, neutral, or who cares?

12:28
Dan Szymborski: A who cares. Fact is, he’s not even hitting at AAA now.

12:29
Dan Szymborski: If anyone ever needed a new organization, it’s Brown.

12:29
Comment From Julio Pepper
Wasn’t Machado a way better defender than Correa even in the minors?

12:29
Dan Szymborski: Yes

12:29
Dan Szymborski: But the O’s had other options and were super quick to move him off

12:29
Dan Szymborski: I think the Astros will take a wider view than Blatimore did

12:29
Comment From mtsw
Feel like MLB is scrambling to spin off MLBAM before the next CBA so players can’t try to claim some of that money for themselves?

12:30
Dan Szymborski: Anything MLB does is to screw players over. That’s just how they roll.

12:30
Comment From saskatunes
As a Smyly/Tanaka/Wainwright/Stroman/Verlander owner in a 20-teamer, should I just head into rebuild mode? Somehow I am in 2nd place though (thanks Mookie and Marisnick) but I can’t see keeping it up

12:30
Dan Szymborski: Ouch – I’d look to rebuild.

12:30
Comment From Man in the Box-berger
sup Dan? Am I the closer now or is McGee a must own handcuff?

12:31
Dan Szymborski: I still suspect McGee gets the closer job back when The Box Factory has a rough patch.

12:31
Comment From Muckrakegraphs
What would a Julio Urias ZiPS projection look like? Awesome or really awesome?

12:32
Dan Szymborski: His ZiPS earlier looked pretty excellent for such a young player

12:32
Comment From RotoLando
Kyle “Klobb” Lobstein. Heh heh.

12:32
Dan Szymborski: Ah, the Goldeneye version of a staple gun

12:32
Comment From DatsunB210
How meaningful is “speed off the bat” as a hitting metric? If a player is leading the team in balls hit 95+mph, but is hitting 260 with 2 HR, what is this metric telling you?

12:32
Dan Szymborski: I think at this stage, we’re still figuring out what this data actually *means*. RIght now, it’s just cool stuff.

12:33
Comment From Man in the Box-berger
Hey dan what do you see from Leonys Martin this year? Thought he’d be a solid .275 8/50/30. Too generous or is he just slumping like seemingly everyone on Texas?

12:34
Dan Szymborski: Too generous, at least in the BA

12:34
Comment From DatsunB210
Michael Saunders: not that good, or being marginalized? Your thoughts on the Toronto edition of this conversation?

12:34
Dan Szymborski: I think he’s fine, but he’s not very durable

12:34
Comment From mtsw
It’s been reported that Everth Cabrera has 5 years of service time and can’t be sent down, even though his BR page shows 4.1 years of ST. I know BR isn’t exact but that seems like a huge discrepancy. Possible that Boras is trying to snow the Orioles into rostering him through misinformation or something? It’s weird.

12:34
Dan Szymborski: It’s actually not a discrepancy

12:35
Dan Szymborski: Those decimals aren’t actually decimals, they’re days

12:35
Dan Szymborski: 4.179 is one day short of 5.

12:35
Dan Szymborski: He was at 4 years, 144 days in the spring.

12:36
Dan Szymborski: That’s 36 days short of 5 years, not 85.6% of a season.

12:36
Comment From EC
Does Zips say anything about Jameis Winston?

12:36
Dan Szymborski: No

12:36
Comment From Bobby Y
Is Semien going to lose playing time if he keeps up the errors or will the A’s find a place for him?

12:36
Dan Szymborski: The A’s are creative.

12:36
Comment From Alvaro
Talking about Steve Pearce, that BABIP is lower than his LD% how much bounce-back could be expected?

12:36
Dan Szymborski: He’ll be more or less fine

12:37
Comment From Guest
Giving a foul ball to a kid is only required if the kid is yours. If a kid acts like they deserve the ball for being a kid, don’t give it to them.

12:37
Comment From STiVo
So–I still don’t know the difference between the A-ball levels! Are players at A- usually younger than those at A and A+? Is it a step up each time to go from A-, A, A+? Do they all play the same number of games?

12:37
Dan Szymborski: It’s a step up.

12:38
Dan Szymborski: The high-A leagues play 140, the short-season ones a little over half that

12:38
Comment From Hank G.
Jeff Sullivan agreed with a poster (offhandedly in his last chat) that A-Rod is a top 5 all-time player. That’s a little high, isn’t it? I could see arguably top 10, depending how you adjust for era.

12:39
Dan Szymborski: I probably wouldn’t call him top 5

12:40
Dan Szymborski: Just to be top 5 in hitters, A-Rod has to be better than one of Ruth, Bonds, Mays, Aaron, Cobb. And that’s assuming you have him past Williams, Hornsby, Musial, etc.

12:40
Dan Szymborski: I *might* be able to argue him getting to 10th among position players, but 5th among everybody? No way

12:40
Comment From Sully
Harper is on pace to hit -1 home runs today, OH NO

12:40
Comment From Man in the Box-berger
Hey Dan. Best NA stash for this year only please. Franco, Buxton , Seager, Gallo, Sano, Medlen, Beachy. How do you like that order?

12:40
Dan Szymborski: Gallo I think.

12:41
Comment From Guest
will jesus montero ever make the pineda/montero swap the least likely trade to ever pan out for both sides?

12:41
Dan Szymborski: No.

12:41
Comment From Fantasy
Strasburg or sale not dynasty

12:41
Dan Szymborski: Strasburg in the better position.

12:41
Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Danny Salazar’s career WAR is more than half of Luis Salazar’s career, already. Take that Luis! And you played for 13 years!

12:42
Comment From Fred
With the Mets looking contender-y, did they screw the pooch by signing Cuddyer? It leaves them no room to make any moves unless someone in the OF gets injured.

12:42
Dan Szymborski: I thought it was a lousy signing before and the fact he’s not actually hitting isn’t going to make me like it more.

12:42
Comment From Curtis
Semien’s 2HRs vs. King Felix an indication of anything? I wonder how many have 2HRs off him?

12:42
Dan Szymborski: No

12:43
Comment From DatsunB210
Is Jake Lamb better than Tomas at 3b?

12:43
Dan Szymborski: Defensively, I think so.

12:43
Comment From Brian
Masterson doesn’t seem like a candidate to close, but could you see him becoming a top tier setup man again if he continues his woes as a starter?

12:43
Dan Szymborski: Not really

12:43
Comment From DatsunB210
Even if Corey Seager rakes all year long, he’s not coming up til 2016, right?

12:43
Dan Szymborski: They have a bit of a logjam right now, I dont’ think the Dodgers have any need to rush him

12:43
Comment From Danny
More value this year: Rodon or Sydergaard?

12:44
Dan Szymborski: I think Rodon simply because I don’t trust the Mets with Thor.

12:44
Comment From mtsw
O’s roster crunch continues and they may have to DFA an outfielder at some point this year. Who do you choose to DFA if you’re them: De Aza, Lough, Snider, Pearce or Paredes (infielder but mostly being used as a DH). They all seem unusually close in talent/utility.

12:45
Dan Szymborski: When he’s hitting like this, you’re obviously not going to DFA Paredes.

12:45
Dan Szymborski: I still have more confident in Pearce going forward than Young

12:46
Dan Szymborski: Either Lough/De Aza the most likely to get DFAed

12:46
Dan Szymborski: The issue is that they have similar skillsets – how many lefty 4th outfielder types do you really need?

12:46
Comment From Guest
should i grow a man bun?

12:46
Dan Szymborski: Seems a little too trendy.

12:46
Dan Szymborski: You can grow a man bun ifyou’re absolutely ripped though.

12:47
Dan Szymborski: If you look like Khal Drago shirtless, go ahead. Otherwise don’t

12:47
Comment From Bart
Is Christian Yelich overrated?

12:47
Dan Szymborski: I think he’s rated.

12:47
Comment From TW
Who do you prefer for remainder of the season? Nathan Eovaldi or Shane Greene?

12:47
Dan Szymborski: Eovaldi honestly

12:47
Comment From Bart
Generally, how are ZIPs and Steamer predictions calculated – some kind of formula?

12:48
Dan Szymborski: Can’t tell you anything about Steamer. ZiPS is a whole set of interlocking algorithms and processes, not some formula you bang out.

12:48
Comment From Guest
why do people go crazy for beer/whiskey/wine? i dont see people trading hummus on the internet

12:48
Dan Szymborski: It’s not like there’s a whole lot of difference in hummus preparation.

12:48
Comment From Guest
What is the history of dividing A ball into different levels? Did it used to be only A/AA/AAA, and as systems got bigger they split A-ball into tiers? That history might help STIVo.

12:48
Dan Szymborski: There used to be a lot more levels.

12:48
Dan Szymborski: Minor league baseball used to be frigging HUGE

12:49
Dan Szymborski: Every donky little town had a team

12:49
Dan Szymborski: There was even a short-lived minor league that had 4 teams, 3 of which were in Duluth.

12:49
Comment From Tim
Markakis was/is a mistake for the Braves..I see a fit for him and the Angels or Mariners. Do you see any interest being possible by those 2 teams?

12:49
Dan Szymborski: I wouldn’t be interested.

12:50
Comment From hscer
People felt bad about the B and C designations, so they just made C A-, B A, and A A+. It’s grade inflation but in the minors! (I don’t care that I’m wrong.)

12:50
Comment From Fred
I always pretend I’m going to catch the ball and then let it ricochet wildly of the stands and hope it hits the sniveling spoiled brats in the face.

12:51
Comment From MVP
Odd’s that our 2015 MVP’s will be Trout and Harper?

12:51
Dan Szymborski: It’s very, very possible.

12:51
Comment From Tiger
Is Steven Matz a must stash. Any other current minor league pitchers you would like to have more than him for 2015?

12:51
Dan Szymborski: I actually really like Matz.

12:51
Comment From Joey
Dan, doesn’t A-Rod get extra credit for being a SS? With positional adjustment he doesn’t make your top 5 hitters list?

12:51
Dan Szymborski: OK then, which one of those 5 is he better overall than?

12:51
Comment From Bart
Do you think Utley is through?

12:51
Dan Szymborski: Starting to feel that way. He’ll be better, but he may be near the end.

12:52
Comment From Terrell
Rate the following lower end SP:

12:53
Dan Szymborski: Hard to do so – Barry Foote and Butts Wagner weren’t pitchers.

12:53
Comment From jocephus
they’ve taken the hobbits to sydergaard!

12:53
Comment From Terrell
Rate the following low end SP ROY: Karns, Frias, Colby Lewis, Hecto Santiago, Lincecum and Corbin Do you like any of them?

12:53
Dan Szymborski: Not particularly.

12:53
Comment From STiVo
What do you expect from Jose Fernandez in 2015 after returning from Tommy John Surgery?

12:53
Dan Szymborski: If his arm is healthy, I think he’ll be pretty darn good. TJ surgeries in which the guy actually is able to pitch again have a really good success rate.

12:54
Comment From saskatunes
Any idea what’s going on with Clayton Blackburn? hurt in S/T but it sounded minor, can’t find any news on why he continues not to pitch.

12:54
Dan Szymborski: Didn’t he pitch this week?

12:54
Dan Szymborski: Hold on, let me check

12:55
Dan Szymborski: Yeah, he pitched on Saturday

12:55
Comment From Alan
Steven Souza droppable in 12-team H2H?

12:55
Dan Szymborski: Yes

12:55
Comment From Big Joe Mufferaw
Chances Colon wins the cy young?

12:55
Dan Szymborski: Pretty low.

12:55
Comment From DatsunB210
is Billy Burns another version of Peter Bourjos? Which would you rather have?

12:56
Dan Szymborski: Rather have Bourjos

12:56
Comment From STiVo
Maybe Maikel Franco is in the “who cares” camp about his callup too, like Dom Brown. But do you expect Franco to be good when he’s called up?

12:56
Dan Szymborski: I think he’ll be OK, but nothing amazing

12:56
Comment From Fred
So help me god, if ZiPS is calculated using math I will lose my freaking mind.

12:56
Comment From mtsw
Where would you put expansion teams if they added 4? 6?

12:57
Dan Szymborski: Charlotte and New York, I think

12:57
Dan Szymborski: or possibly Montreal and New York.

12:57
Dan Szymborski: But I doubt MLB goes back to Montreal that quickly

12:57
Comment From Statistically Confused
Is McCutchen going to turn this season around?

12:57
Dan Szymborski: Yes

12:57
Comment From DatsunB210
Man, Adelanto was a hole. Glad every donkey team doesn’t have a team anymore.

12:57
Comment From Conor
Assuming Bryce Harper does not sign a deal that buys out free agent years, will he be baseball’s first $400 million man?

12:57
Dan Szymborski: He’s not a bad candidate, especially given how he’s hitting.

12:58
Dan Szymborski: but I suspect it’ll be someone later.

12:58
Comment From randplaty
Getting really worried about Kemp and his power. Are you worried yet?

12:58
Dan Szymborski: I was never on Team Kemp.

12:59
Dan Szymborski: I thought it was a bad trade for the Padres at the time and I’ve loudly said that for about 5 months now!

12:59
Comment From Stanza
Best modern movie soundtrack composer is?

12:59
Dan Szymborski: Morricone

1:00
Dan Szymborski: All-time still Korngold

1:00
Dan Szymborski: SHOOT THAT WAS FOR LIGHTINING ROUND

1:00
Comment From Tommy
Phil Hughes just landed on my waiver wire. Worth a waiver wire pickup???

1:00
Dan Szymborski: Yes

1:00
Comment From mtsw
How does the Jason Garcia experiment end? Any reason to think he’s actually good?

1:00
Dan Szymborski: Not really – he’s not a great fit for a team like the O’s

1:00
Comment From Bart
What do you think of Corey Dickerson? Will he be a top 10 OF this season?

1:00
Dan Szymborski: No

1:00
Comment From mtsw
What does Wieter’s next contract look like if he’s never able to play C again as a result of his TJ surgery?

1:00
Dan Szymborski: If he can’t play catcher, he’s not all that interesting.

1:01
Comment From Joey
In a world where the Yankees let him stay at SS and MLB didn’t suspend him for an absurd amount of time, I think A-rod would amass more WAR than Aaron, so I will replace Aaron from your list with A-rod. Ok that’s a bit of a stretch….. I’ll def. put A-rod in my top 10 position players tho

1:02
Dan Szymborski: But it’s really hard to give him credit for play that never actually happened.

1:02
Dan Szymborski: If we give A-Rod SS time he was denied, then why not give Ruth advanced medicine he was denied?

1:02
Comment From dg
I think Matt Williams is a terrible manager. What’s the consensus on him?

1:02
Dan Szymborski: Meh-minus.

1:02
Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Fan of ‘Man with No Name’ Trilogy? I ask because Morricone.

1:02
Dan Szymborski: Yes

1:02
Comment From mtsw
If you had to manage a baseball team composed of playable characters in Final Fantasy 6, who plays where?

1:04
Dan Szymborski: Edgar catcher, Shadow shortstop, Strago DH, Sabin LF, Cyan 1B, Locke CF, Relm 2B, Setzer P, Umaro RF, Mog SS,

1:04
Dan Szymborski: Need a 3B

1:04
Dan Szymborski: Maybe Gau in CF Locke at 3B

1:05
Dan Szymborski: Oh wait, I used Shadow and Mog both

1:05
Dan Szymborski: Put Mog at 3rd then

1:05
Comment From Stanza
Why didnt the academy pick Hans Zimmer for Interstellar this year?

1:05
Dan Szymborski: Havne’ tseen it or heard the score

1:05
Comment From Fred
Sabathia or Hahn ROS?

1:05
Dan Szymborski: Hahn

1:06
Comment From Maguro
Seltzer at SP? Shadow literally has a skill called throw. Coin toss aint the same.

1:06
Comment From mtsw
Why not Shadow as Pitcher?! His skill is “Throw”

1:06
Dan Szymborski: Good point.

1:06
Dan Szymborski: Maybe Setzer as the closer? He throws money, so that sounds like a closer.

1:07
Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
‘Once Upon a Time in the West,’ or ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?’

1:07
Dan Szymborski: G, B, U

1:07
Comment From Andrew
Where does Ultros fit in on this team?

1:07
Dan Szymborski: Umpire?

1:07
Comment From STiVo
Better ice cream flavor: Chocolate chip cookie dough or cookies n’ cream? Man, I really want a cookie right now!

1:07
Dan Szymborski: I like cookie dough better

1:07
Dan Szymborski: Since we’re already going off-topic, time to start the Lightning Round

1:08
Dan Szymborski: For those unfamiliar with the rules, I am *required* to answer *any* question on *any* off-topic so long as there’s no explicit or a work-related reason.

1:08
Dan Szymborski: and that starts NOW

1:08
Comment From Tommy
Have u seen Whiplash?

1:08
Dan Szymborski: On my to-watch list.

1:08
Comment From Sean Nolin
what brand of pizza

1:08
Dan Szymborski: None. Make my own or go to the indie place nearby that’s quite good

1:08
Comment From Conor
How many people are in the chat at once?

1:09
Dan Szymborski: About 1000 usually

1:09
Comment From Sean
Thoughts of Warcraft 3?

1:09
Dan Szymborski: Terrific game. Wish they made a Warcraft 4.

1:09
Comment From Maxamuz
side boob or under boob?

1:09
Dan Szymborski: Side.

1:09
Comment From ericblair
have you tried poutine

1:09
Dan Szymborski: Yes

1:09
Comment From Guest
Favorite college football team

1:09
Dan Szymborski: Navy

1:09
Comment From mtsw
Coffee: overrated, underrated or properly rated?

1:09
Dan Szymborski: Overrated, but that’s just personal – I dont’ really like coffee that much

1:09
Comment From Dan 2.0
Best NBA player ever?

1:09
Dan Szymborski: Jordan

1:09
Comment From Maxamuz
Backstreet Boys or NSync?

1:10
Dan Szymborski: Oh God. NSync I guess, but not out of like

1:10
Comment From Maxamuz
Toilet Paper: Over or Under?

1:10
Dan Szymborski: Over

1:10
Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Have you seen the extended-version of ‘Good..Bad..Ugly?’ Eastwood and Wallach added lines to a few scenes….

1:10
Dan Szymborski: I don’t believe so

1:10
Comment From Sean
How many questions are in your queue?

1:10
Dan Szymborski: At the worst, a couple hundred.

1:11
Comment From mtsw
Duane Reade won’t sell someone Sudafed more than once in 30 days (to discourage people buying it to make meth) but only 20 come in a pack. Do they have to treat me like a drug addict just cause I’m congested?

1:11
Dan Szymborski: Walgreens wouldn’t sell me Sudafed once when my driver’s license was a week expired.

1:11
Dan Szymborski: ITS THE EXPIRATION OF MY RIGHT TO DRIVE LEGALLY, NOT AN EXPIRATION OF MY IDENTITY!

1:11
Comment From Gimpy
Have you ever actually won a fantasy baseball league ?

1:11
Dan Szymborski: Yes

1:11
Comment From Conor
Your favorite Derek Jeter girlfriend?

1:11
Dan Szymborski: I don’t honestly keep track of that stuff.

1:12
Comment From Guest
If you were forced to play one MLB game, what team and position do you pick?

1:12
Dan Szymborski: O’s, 2B

1:12
Comment From DatsunB210
Awper hand or lucksman?

1:12
Dan Szymborski: Lucksman. My Strange Huntsman is labeled the Stochastic Processman.

1:12
Dan Szymborski: I’ll get the proof while we do this

1:13
Comment From Phillies113
Any hair care tips you’d like to impart?

1:13
Dan Szymborski: Wash it occasionally? I don’t have amazing hair.

1:13
Dan Szymborski: I mean, my hair’s not bad – I have a flowing golden mane, but I just wash it daily and comb it once in a while

1:13
Dan Szymborski: Oops, wrong image

1:14
Comment From Maxamuz
Would you rather eat freeze dried camel liver or raw dog in soy sauce?

1:14
Dan Szymborski: raw dog I think

1:14
:

1:14
Comment From Luca Brasi
PBSS (poopy butt sweat syndrome) or Butt Wipes?

1:14
Dan Szymborski: I like flushable wipes

1:14
Comment From Maxamuz
Its not Duane Reade or Walgreens, its a federal law.

1:14
Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Best part of ‘The Untouchables’ was the Morricone score (Connery is fun I guess). That film is overrated.

1:15
Comment From Joey
What type of television do you own? car?

1:15
Dan Szymborski: I have a panasonic 60 inch upstairs

1:16
Dan Szymborski: Two 42 inch LGs and a 58 inch samsung on the wall in my office.

1:16
Dan Szymborski: I have a 2004 Mazda 6 with 97,000 miles.

1:16
Dan Szymborski: Fairly old now, but the mileage is pretty low and it’s been very dependable

1:16
Comment From mtsw
Protip: you can’t buy beer in the Yankee stadium bleachers with an expired ID either but they don’t care in the fancier seats. Classism right?

1:16
Comment From Guest
How many errors would you commit in one game as the O’s 2B

1:16
Dan Szymborski: I’d do better at the fielding than the hitting

1:16
Comment From Abe
Who are you, really?

1:17
Dan Szymborski: Daniel John Szymborski

1:17
Comment From Abe
Do you play any instruments?

1:18
Dan Szymborski: Piano excellently, organ and tenor recorder quite well, euphonium, tuba, trombone, oboe, clarinet to various degrees.

1:18
Comment From Josh G
Gryffyndor or Slytherin?

1:18
Dan Szymborski: Slytherin.

1:18
Comment From Abe
Pokemon: Red or Blue?

1:18
Dan Szymborski: Not into Pokemon enough to know

1:18
Comment From Abe
Charmander, Squirtle, or Bulbasaur?

1:18
Dan Szymborski: Charmander

1:18
Comment From Andrew
Kefka is my umpire of choice. Imagine the chaos

1:18
Comment From Fred
Biting your tongue: just your teeth’s way of getting revenge on your tongue’s sweet, sweet ability to taste things?

1:18
Dan Szymborski: Nervousness maybe?

1:18
Comment From Maxamuz
Pepsi or Coke? Nacho Cheese or Cool Ranch?

1:18
Dan Szymborski: Coke, Cool Ranch

1:18
Comment From mtsw
Did you play Cities: Skylines?

1:18
Dan Szymborski: I have it but I haven’t played it much yet though I hear it’s sweet

1:19
Comment From Abe
Classic refrigerator with freezer on top, evenly split down the middle, or freezer on the bottom?

1:19
Dan Szymborski: I have one split down middle. If Galileo is still alive next time I buy a fridge, I’ll get one with a freezer on the bottom because of his annoying tendency to open the fridge and help himself to poorly wrapped food.

1:19
Comment From mtsw
Going to watch the Dota2 international this year? Know you’ve said MOBAs aren’t your thing but its a pretty good spectacle

1:20
Dan Szymborski: I might, not really into it.

1:20
Comment From Gimpy
Of all the people you know, who is the most knowledgeable about baseball ?

1:20
Dan Szymborski: That’s a tough one. Maybe Ron Johnson in SABR. Possibly Steve Treder, but I dont’ really *know* him

1:20
Comment From Josh G
Friends or Seinfeld?

1:20
Dan Szymborski: Seinfeld

1:20
Comment From Abe
What’s the best temperature?

1:21
Dan Szymborski: Indoors 70, outside 67

1:21
Comment From Maxamuz
would you rather never be able to wipe again or have to pee your pants whenever you have to go?

1:21
Dan Szymborski: Never wipe. I’ll just have to take showers every time I go at home

1:21
Comment From Gimpy
If I offered you 2 million dollars in cash to never write another word about baseball, would you do it ?

1:21
Dan Szymborski: 2 million? I think so.

1:21
Comment From Bart
How long have you been writing for fangraphs?

1:21
Dan Szymborski: I’ve never written anything for FanGraphs!

1:21
Comment From Maxamuz
Justin Beiber or One Direction?

1:21
Dan Szymborski: Uggh. Bieber I guess. Only one person to snuff out.

1:21
Comment From Abe
Mac & Cheese: Elbows, Shells, or Spirals?

1:21
Dan Szymborski: Elbows

1:22
Comment From RO
Do you prefer the Panasonic or the Samsung? I’ve always had a Samsung

1:22
Dan Szymborski: I like the Samsung

1:22
Comment From mtsw
Knowing Excel a marketable skill if you don’t have formal training in it?

1:22
Dan Szymborski: Depends on the job, at least useful

1:22
Comment From Cain Marko
You’re located in Ohio yes? going to MITB in June?

1:22
Dan Szymborski: Hadn’t made any plans

1:22
Comment From Maxamuz
Potato salad or egg salad?

1:22
Dan Szymborski: Egg Salad

1:22
Comment From Joel
Nike or Under Armour?

1:22
Dan Szymborski: Nike

1:22
Comment From mtsw
Favorite Yankees player Seinfeld cameo?

1:22
Dan Szymborski: Tartabull

1:22
Comment From DatsunB210
Ever heard UK Gold by Thom Yorke and Robert del Naja?

1:23
Dan Szymborski: I have not

1:23
Comment From Guest
Are you serious on those instruments? That’s a lot…

1:23
Dan Szymborski: Yes

1:23
Comment From Fred
So you’re DJ ZiPS? I’d listen to that record.

1:23
Dan Szymborski: DJ Szyzzle.

1:23
Comment From DatsunB210
Better mountain range: Sierras or Rockies?

1:23
Dan Szymborski: Sierra Nevada due to the necessity of the icepack for CA

1:24
Comment From Josh G
Most frightening moment of your life?

1:24
Dan Szymborski: Possibly when I lost my passport in Toronto.

1:24
Comment From Cubbies
Kris Bryant get to 30 bombs this year? Bryant or Soler end up with more?

1:24
Dan Szymborski: He falls short

1:24
Comment From Maxamuz
Why does Mario wear white gloves?

1:24
Dan Szymborski: All his other gloves were dirtied doing plumbing

1:24
Comment From Guest
Do you hate answering trade questions in these chats?

1:24
Dan Szymborski: I only answer a few – they’re boring for a general audience

1:25
Comment From Curtis
Secretary of State or Secretary of War?

1:25
Dan Szymborski: War

1:25
Comment From RSF
Standard Twinkie or Twinkie weiner sandwich?

1:25
Dan Szymborski: Standard

1:25
Comment From Curtis
Nintendo 64 or Genesis?

1:25
Dan Szymborski: Genesis

1:25
Comment From Reg
R. Wilson worth 120million?

1:25
Dan Szymborski: I think a little high personally

1:25
Comment From Job
Are we sure Ed Hearn wasn’t a software developer?

1:25
Dan Szymborski: I believe we’re sure

1:25
Comment From John
would you fly to kansas city to see rush and then take in a few royals games?

1:25
Dan Szymborski: Perhaps

1:25
Comment From Fred
If DJ ZiPS played a club and all 1000 of us chatters were in it, what percentage could legitimately dance to your fat beats? I say

1:26
Dan Szymborski: I don’t have any beats, so probably not a lot

1:26
Comment From DatsunB210
Talk at the urinal, or stick to your business ?

1:26
Dan Szymborski: If your penis is in your hand, stick to finishing the task at hand

1:26
Comment From Curtis
ALL CAPS or no caps at all?

1:26
Dan Szymborski: no caps

1:26
Comment From DatsunB210
When you hear “hotboxing” do you think of pot or farting in a tent?

1:26
Dan Szymborski: farting under a sheet

1:26
Comment From Curtis
George Gervin or World B. Free?

1:27
Dan Szymborski: I do not have the requisite knowledgebase to make informed decisions this subtle

1:27
Comment From Abe
Mario or Luigi?

1:27
Dan Szymborski: Luigi

1:27
Comment From Abe
What does the chat look like on your end?

1:27
Dan Szymborski: Text

1:27
Comment From MW
Why ZIPS and not SZYPS?

1:27
Dan Szymborski: Easier

1:27
Comment From Guest
What percentage of trade questions posed do you actually answer?

1:27
Dan Szymborski: 10

1:27
Comment From Abe
Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles?

1:27
Dan Szymborski: Knuckles

1:27
Comment From Josh G
Who’s your doppelgänger?

1:27
Dan Szymborski: Not sure i’ve found one

1:27
Comment From Reg
bacon or sausage

1:27
Dan Szymborski: Sausage

1:27
Comment From Larry Bernandez
If a Democrat and a Republican are both drowning, and you could only save one of them, do you read the paper or eat lunch?

1:28
Dan Szymborski: Eat lunch. Wnat to make sure they know that I see them and am just not doing it.

1:28
Comment From STiVo
R Griffin III worth 120… dollars?

1:28
Dan Szymborski: Perhaps 200, 250.

1:28
Comment From Curtis
Nerd or Dork?

1:28
Dan Szymborski: Dork

1:28
Comment From Larry Bernandez
The world ends in 12 minutes. What do you do?

1:28
Dan Szymborski: Drink

1:28
Comment From STiVo
On the bright side: Of all the non-U.S. places to lose your passport, Toronto might be the best.

1:28
Dan Szymborski: Is there a good place to lose your passport really?

1:28
Comment From Maxamuz
1:28
Comment From Karting
Toad, Koopa Troopa, or Baby Mario?

1:28
Dan Szymborski: toad

1:28
Comment From Larry Bernandez
Re: World ending: What do you drink?

1:28
Dan Szymborski: Whatever’s closest. Only have 12 minutes.

1:29
Dan Szymborski: And on that note, time to end this stream for this week!

1:29
Comment From Pirates+Hurdles
why do you purse your lips so often in photographs?

1:29
Dan Szymborski: That’s what I look like

1:30
Dan Szymborski: As a reminder, you can find me at ESPN.com, chats and projections at Fangraphs, DSzymborski on Twitter, and ZimSmash on Twitch

1:30
Comment From DatsunB210
best free hat TF2. It’s the gibbus isn’t it?

1:30
Dan Szymborski: yes

1:30
Comment From Maxamuz
You have 3 bullets and in the room is Hitler, Bin Laden, Mao Zedong and Sadaam. Who dies”?

1:30
Dan Szymborski: I can keep all 3 bullets – all those guys are already dead. I’m not shooting a gun inside a room unless I absolutely have to.





Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.

4 Comments
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Hoff
8 years ago

Is today ask stupid questions day? smh…

Cornflake5000
8 years ago
Reply to  Hoff

clearly you think so