Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 7/27/15
July 27, 2015
| 11:56 |
: Noon. A time for chats.
|
| 11:57 |
provide some damn content will ya?? |
| 11:57 |
: Content isn’t made. It’s summoned from the aether.
|
| 11:57 |
: Every thing I will ever say already exists. The question is if I can find it.
|
| 11:58 |
Some have suggested that Norris, Boyd, Reid-Foley from Jays would’ve been an equivalent package to the one the Royals sent to the Reds? Do you think so? |
| 11:59 |
: It’s not crazy, though I like Norris better than anybody in the Royals trade.
|
| 11:59 |
Is it still worth it for the Jays to go after SP rentals? Yankees seem to be running away with the division, and the wild card mix is pretty busy. |
| 11:59 |
: I believe so – I wrote a piece on this subject on ESPN.
|
| 12:00 |
Dan, I don’t think daily fantasy gambling is your thing, but just from an odds standpoint, is there a better strategy than stack the Jays game and hope for a 10-8 laugher? |
| 12:00 |
: It’s not a bad one.
|
| 12:00 |
Hanson Bell McGuire plus small piece(s) for Hamles and cash, who says no? |
| 12:00 |
: Probably Phillies.
|
| 12:00 |
What would a Jays package for Fiers look like? |
| 12:01 |
: If you’re picking up Fiers, the return better not be something that can be remotely called a “package.”
|
| 12:01 |
I am the Boat. |
| 12:01 |
: Godo to know.
|
| 12:02 |
Dodgers De Leon for Price. Fair? |
| 12:02 |
: Straight up? The Tigers may be exploring a Price trade, but I doubt we see this.
|
| 12:03 |
Pirates are projected (by Fangraphs not you) to finish with the second best record in baseball and are projected to be rewarded by facing Bumgarner again in a one-game playoff. Can I petition MLB for Atlanta and Pittsburgh to switch divisions since Atlanta is further west anyway? |
| 12:03 |
: You can petition MLB for anything you want!
|
| 12:03 |
: Atlanta’s farther west, but Pittsburgh is a more natural opponent for the midwest teams.
|
| 12:04 |
So I just saw that the first word on Biggio’s plaque bio was “gritty.” A) Why? B) I thought we were past this. C) Shouldn’t he be insulted by being put in the same class as David Eckstein? |
| 12:04 |
: Smallish white guy didn’t fit on the plaque.
|
| 12:04 |
So, Clippard is getting traded soon. Who closes for the A’s? Pomeranz? IS IT BARRY ZITO TIME? |
| 12:04 |
: Depends who’s still there when the dust is settled.
|
| 12:05 |
Sounds like Pads are pushing for a SS – Would Jose Iglesias for Ross/Benoit/Barmes/ be anywhere near enough for the Tigers? |
| 12:05 |
: Whiel the Tigers would consider it, the problem is the team isn’t good enough that they can make gains by reallocating MLB talent. They’re thinner than ever.
|
| 12:06 |
The O’s have a lot of FA turnover coming up and are pretty out of the division race at this point. A few of those guys could fetch something as rentals, do you see them selling? |
| 12:06 |
: I don’t, but they should.
|
| 12:06 |
: (If they’re nto adding)
|
| 12:07 |
: Standing pat is the worst thing for the O’s. Being around .500 is a very dangerous trap for a passive organization.
|
| 12:07 |
What should I be looking at in a Zobrist return? Does Clippard/Ike/Chavez get thrown in to get a TOP prospect return? |
| 12:08 |
: Depends where you draw the line at top. Rentals getting crazy packages is really mostly a thing of the past.
|
| 12:08 |
thoughts on colin cowherd? |
| 12:08 |
: I make dumb comments, but that was more than dumb.
|
| 12:08 |
That Mike Trout guy leads baseball in fWAR again…YAWN! |
| 12:09 |
: I know I’ve said it before, but Trout has somehow become a run-of-the-mill future inner circle Hall of Famer so far!
|
| 12:09 |
I can’t believe people still criticize ZIPS. I mean it can correctly predict the career war of what? 99.999% of the global population exactly. Beyond that, they are just splitting hairs right? |
| 12:09 |
: Yup. There’s only like a thousand or so people on the planet it has trouble with!
|
| 12:09 |
Can you or a colleague please write an article on the Jays, stating that it’s too late to make a move? and that they should just stand pat? Maybe AA will read it and stop him from buying. Also, mention that they should have bought a month ago, but the window is closed due to ineffective team management |
| 12:09 |
: Disagree, but they need bigger adds than they would have
|
| 12:10 |
How real is Odor? Does it make sense for me to move Xander for him, if I have Correa and Seager rostered as well? |
| 12:11 |
: He’s not *this* good, but he was always better than his early season line. It’s not his fault that the Rangers stupidly panicked about 100 PA.
|
| 12:11 |
Are the Orioles going to do anything before the deadline? |
| 12:11 |
: I suspect nothing significant.
|
| 12:11 |
*insert Lost joke about not Penny’s boat |
| 12:11 |
Heard both the Indians and Rangers as suiters for C. Gomez and also they seem willing to sell. Odd that both are taking a similar strategy, and does that lower the value of Gomez that both interested teams have no obvious need to be buyers? |
| 12:12 |
: They’re both looking past this season. Gomez is essentially on a 1/9 contract after this season, which means he has significant value to a team looking for next year options.
|
| 12:12 |
: No law that all trades have to be win now. If you can get a win soon trade done while everybody else is focusing on win now, why not?
|
| 12:12 |
Screw you and your logic. I just want the Pirates to have the best chance at a World Series! |
| 12:13 |
Shouldn’t Ruben just grow up already and trade a star pitcher in high demand throughout the League for whichever of Boston’s 21st-30th prospects they deem most expendable? (Paraphrased from every message board regarding Hamels) |
| 12:13 |
HOF weekend has got me thinking Burnett. HOF worthy right? What team will be on his cap tho? |
| 12:13 |
: He can wear any cap he likes if he pays admission and it’s not vulgar and against Cooperstown guest policy.
|
| 12:14 |
How inspiring is it that the Mets’ FO actually did something? Might we expect them to do more somethings in the near future? |
| 12:14 |
: The Mets are a hard ognization – they simply have lousy ownership
|
| 12:14 |
DeLeon, Holmes, Verdugo and Barnes for Hammels. Who shoots milk out their nose? |
| 12:14 |
What do you think it would have taken for the Mets to get Simmons from ATL? |
| 12:15 |
: Quite a bit – I dont’ think the Braves are burning with desire to move him.
|
| 12:15 |
Since being called up from AAA, Odor has a ridiculous .308 ISO. He’s also virtually stopped swinging and missing. How much of this is sustainable going forward? |
| 12:15 |
: Well, that’s not sustainable. I think he was definitely an underrated player coming into the season though.
|
| 12:15 |
: But be aggressive and never miss only really works if you’re Vlad.
|
| 12:17 |
: Sorry, cat turned off PC – switching to laptop
|
| 12:18 |
If you were the Padres, would you look into eating any of kimbrel’s contract in a trade? |
| 12:18 |
: Only if it gets a better prospect. Baseball has reduced the ability to use money for prospects, so it’s the only way you can utilize money for prospects for free
|
| 12:18 |
CEspedis for Wheeler a reach? |
| 12:19 |
: I would be very unhappy with the Mets if they did that.
|
| 12:20 |
We know that they should, but do you get the feeling that the Reds will trade Chapman before the deadline? |
| 12:20 |
: I do not.
|
| 12:20 |
Where do you think Ben Zobrist ends up? Seems like a perfect fit for the Yankees right? |
| 12:20 |
: I don’t like speculating on A’s trades as they tend to come out of nowhere, without even whispers.
|
| 12:21 |
Re: Pittsburgh to NL East. Obvious solution is to move Tampa to a real city in the west (Portland or Vancouver perhaps) and to the AL West, move Houston back to the NL Central, move Pittsburgh to the NL east and Washington to the AL East. |
| 12:22 |
Is Zack Godley anything? Good debut but not much MiLB track record? Overlooked potential or flash in the pan? |
| 12:22 |
: Most likely a flash in the pan But one of the benefits of being a lousy team is that you can afford to see.
|
| 12:22 |
What do you make of Castellanos’ recent run? A really nice couple weeks, or is this him reaching his potential, meaning this is what we should expect going forward? |
| 12:23 |
: He was bound to improve, though his defense is going to keep him from really being more than an OK player, I think.
|
| 12:23 |
Gun to your head.. the 2015 WS will be between which 2 teams? |
| 12:23 |
: Gun to my head, I’ll say anything you want until I can get away and call the police.
|
| 12:23 |
|
| 12:23 |
Currently active player you think is most likely to juuuuuust miss the HoF? |
| 12:24 |
: Beltran and I am going to be comletely pissed
|
| 12:24 |
What move could the Nats make that would have the most impact on their WS odds? |
| 12:24 |
: Getting to write a lineup card with at least half of their good players
|
| 12:25 |
What should the Royals do to clear Cueto’s spot on the roster? Move Young to the pen and DFA Blanton? |
| 12:25 |
: That’s what I would do. Blanton’s already been reverting to being Joe Blanton
|
| 12:25 |
How many more years does Trout have to sustain this where he can just retire early and still be a lock for the HOF. |
| 12:26 |
: Just the minimum. And if he’s killed after the 2018 season in a tragic hot air balloon accident, he gets Addie Jossed into the Hall.
|
| 12:26 |
has a pirates fan, I love what NH has been able to do for the Pirates. Tho should i be worried some big market team will try to scoop him up in the near future? |
| 12:26 |
: Possibly, but the organization he built will remain in place
|
| 12:27 |
: Rebuilding the Pirates required a visionary. Maintaining the Pirates requires a competent engineer.
|
| 12:27 |
What does Steve Pearce’s next contract look like? Feel like nothing between 3/24 and minor league deal would surprise me given his idiosyncratic profile. |
| 12:27 |
: Oh, it’ll be under the 3/24 I’m sure
|
| 12:27 |
Do the Giants even need anything? (Parra, I guess, but besides that…) |
| 12:27 |
: A starter. Their rotation sounds better than it is
|
| 12:27 |
Why is Amaro still employed, especially now? |
| 12:28 |
: The lawyers are making sure incompetence isn’t a protected class first.
|
| 12:28 |
What will Darren O’Day get in free agency? Elite numbers but doesn’t seem to excite people like fireballers do. |
| 12:28 |
: He’s not a magical proven closer, so maybe Mike Adams dough.
|
| 12:28 |
Angels are interested in Zobrist, along with everyone else. Could Heaney be on the table? |
| 12:29 |
: Not right now. Teams are far more likely to trade young players if they *may* help now rather than if they actually are.
|
| 12:30 |
Pat Venditte is on a minor league rehab game. Know what that means? IT’S ALMOST VENDITTE TIME YEEEEEEEEEEEEE |
| 12:31 |
: I still don’t understand how a switch pitcher goes on the DL with one sore shoulder
|
| 12:31 |
: An escalator can never break, it can only become stairs. You should never see an Escalator Temporarily Out of Order sign, just Escalator Temporarily Stairs. /hedberg
|
| 12:32 |
CJ Edwards ever get another chance to start? |
| 12:32 |
: Seems likely, though I’m very concerned about the walks this year
|
| 12:32 |
Should the Royals go “all in” and trade for Zobrist? Or would the improvement be so marginal that it wouldn’t improve their WS odds enough to warrant the loss of prospects? |
| 12:33 |
: I think that’s one trade too far considering they got Cueto to help in the playoffs. Given that the playoffs aren’t really in doubt, the gains become more marginal since it’s mostly *just* the playoffs
|
| 12:34 |
I had been feeling pretty bullish on John Lamb but reading Kiley’s scouting I am much less so. Where do you fall? Was hoping he’d be a good 2nd half SP |
| 12:35 |
: I think he’s worth a shot for a team that has the luxury of experimenting – I think high-minors performance coupled with lack of stuff shouldn’t prevent a player from getting an opportunity
|
| 12:36 |
: That being said, he just isn’t the pitcher he was in 2011.
|
| 12:36 |
What is your favorite non-baseball pastime? |
| 12:36 |
: Video games.
|
| 12:36 |
Some rumors that mets and brewers had a deal in place for parra for a prospect they asked for, and the brewers pulled back last minute. Does this station the relationship? Make it less Kelley for another deal? |
| 12:36 |
: Probably not. if the teams still have a mutual interest, it’s in their interests to still trade
|
| 12:36 |
You posted my question but didn’t answer. What gives? |
| 12:36 |
: Lemme see.
|
| 12:37 |
: I assumed that was rhetorical.
|
| 12:37 |
would profar and chichi be enough for hamels? |
| 12:37 |
: No
|
| 12:37 |
Isn’t if Philly was willing to eat most of Papelbon’s $13mil vesting option in order to trade him, the same as utilizing money for prospects for free? |
| 12:37 |
: Yes.
|
| 12:37 |
mreh mreh. Feeding time is soon. Prepare your soul. mreh. |
| 12:37 |
: He won’t bug me until 2 PM.
|
| 12:38 |
: I don’t know how he knows it’s 2 PM. He’s usually within 5 minutes on either side.
|
| 12:38 |
: And he already figures out when the clocks have moved after the first day.
|
| 12:38 |
Looking at the teams in the AL East, am I biased to think that the Yankees are WAY more complete than all the others? What can they do at the deadline to get even better? (Seems like Refsnyder/Drew at second is a better alternative than what is actually out there) |
| 12:39 |
: I don’t think they’re WAY more complete, but they’re the second-tier team in the division that has played the best. July was nice for the Yanks.
|
| 12:39 |
: The Yankees are a hard team to upgrade.
|
| 12:40 |
: I *do* think Zobrist would be a solid upgrade at second.
|
| 12:42 |
: The team’s biggest upgrade may be stop using Sabathia
|
| 12:42 |
Found this question in the Aether of “Things already written not yet said”: How excited are you for next Supreme Court session? |
| 12:42 |
: Didn’t I answer enough Supreme Court Qs the other week?
|
| 12:42 |
: I’m not even a lawyer, you bastards!
|
| 12:42 |
Alfonso Soriano HOF? Man .. he had some stellar years |
| 12:42 |
: Not happening. We can’t even get half the easily deserving candidates into the Hal lthese days
|
| 12:43 |
What could Collabello get the Jays in a trade? Seems like a good bat that could help net a starter or reliever. |
| 12:44 |
: He’s seen as a serviceable minor league veteran role player that is good enough to have a solid month or two here and there. And that is correct.
|
| 12:44 |
: If he was young, maybe a team believes he could put it all together for a season
|
| 12:45 |
: But he’s not, of course.
|
| 12:45 |
: He’s six months younger than Miguel Cabrera.
|
| 12:45 |
HOF Question from below, but reversed… just makes it in |
| 12:45 |
: I don’t think anyone undeserving barely makes it in over the next several years.
|
| 12:46 |
Moncada cost 63 mil for the sox to sign him.. If a 18 year old Int FA came up and had 80- speed and 80- power while being a true SS. How much do you think he would sign for? Also if this prospect was in the draft, would he have the power to make the team overpay and forfeit picks in next years draft? |
| 12:46 |
: Players in the draft have no power.
|
| 12:46 |
Mike Trout could retire next year and make HOF just from his first few years. Has there been anyone as dominating as him as early in their career? |
| 12:46 |
: Honestly, I think he *should* if he retired today, just on his peak. But I don’t think the voters would, given the opportunity.
|
| 12:47 |
Most underrated manager in MLB? |
| 12:48 |
: Clint Hurdle? He’s certainly not an amazing in-game tactician, but he ‘s able to not get in the way of his team’s success and is willing to change things that aren’t working. Those two things are probably 75% of a manager’s job.
|
| 12:48 |
What would you do with Dave Dombrowski after this season. Start over fresh or re-sign him? |
| 12:48 |
: It depends. I’d have to talk with him and see his vision for a rebuild.
|
| 12:49 |
Should the Orioles become sellers and sell away some of their sweet sweet expiring contracts? |
| 12:49 |
: If they’re not buyers, they should be sellers.
|
| 12:49 |
What says your model on the O’s playoff odds right now? I was optimistic going into the series against the Yankees series last week. Yikes! |
| 12:49 |
: Down to 20% at last check. The divisional scenarios are only a few now and that leaves them fighting for a wild card with most of the rest of the second rate league.
|
| 12:50 |
: Right now, the AL is a league full of second-rate teams. The NL is a league full of first-rate and third-rate teams.
|
| 12:50 |
Who will have a higher HOF vote %. Jeter or Rivera? |
| 12:50 |
: Jeter
|
| 12:50 |
I hear Cozart might be on the block? Is he a league avg. SS and what do you think Cinc could get for him? |
| 12:51 |
: I don’t think he would be that desired this winter. When you have a shortstop who gets most of his value from defense, the fact that he tore up his knee is going to limit his value considerably.
|
| 12:52 |
How many times a day do you think Venditte has coaches/vets come up to him and say “If you wanna make it to the show, you’re gonna have to cut the ambidextrous crap”? |
| 12:52 |
: He’s 30, none at this point.
|
| 12:52 |
Has Aaron Nola done anything over his first two starts to make you think he could become a No. 2 or even an ace rather than a mid-rotation arm? |
| 12:52 |
: I like Nola, but two starts from a player will never change my opinion.
|
| 12:53 |
: Unless, of course, he tore his elbow and shoulder and got run over by a bullpen cart (I miss those)
|
| 12:53 |
Yes but an escalator doesn’t rely on the platoon advantage. |
| 12:53 |
: Yeah it does – it has value for the lazy.
|
| 12:54 |
In Hamels talks, Refsnyder apparently isn’t on the “no way in hell” list. Is the lack of faith NYY has in Refsnyder getting a bit concerning? |
| 12:54 |
: I think people are getting a little *too* excited about Refsnyder, honestly
|
| 12:55 |
: I think he’ll be good, but people are getting carreid away.
|
| 12:55 |
Whats more likely to happen, Caminero turns it around or Holdzkom stays healthy gets the call and performs like last year? |
| 12:55 |
: I hope Caminero turns it around considering I keep Canyonero lyrics about him on Twitter
|
| 12:55 |
Do you follow @mitchhedbot yet? |
| 12:55 |
: I do not, but I should
|
| 12:56 |
Do the Royals trade Holland after this year? He’ll be mad expensive, and they have tons of other good relievers…(I thought he should have gone before this season, at peak value). |
| 12:56 |
: I think they should. Will? That’s a different matter.
|
| 12:56 |
yesterday @mitchhedbot gave me one I’d forgotten about for maybe the first time: “I had a Mr. Pibb, Mr. Pibb is a replica of Dr. Pepper… but it’s the bullshit replica, cause dude didn’t even get his degree.” |
| 12:56 |
How can you justify removing Chris Young from the Royals’ rotation with his 1.07 WHIP and 3.32 ERA? |
| 12:57 |
: Go out and buy a bunch of stocks based on how well they performed last month. Tell me how you did next month.
|
| 12:57 |
How happy is Cueto to be playing in KC instead of CIN given that there still seem to be organizations out there who don’t understand the magnitude of various park factors and defense? A couple months of sub 2.00 ERA ball will earn him 10s of millions extra this offseason no? |
| 12:57 |
: I don’t think most of the GMs that have the money to spend are this stupid anymore.
|
| 12:57 |
What will it take for the Yankees to pull the CC plug? Is not wanting to admit a mistake a factor in letting him continue to compromise their chances? Or is it just his salary that’s keeping him aboard? I’m guessing it’s the latter which just doesn’t make sense to me. Certainly Cashman is smart enough to understand the concept of throwing good money after bad, which is essentially what he’s doing. |
| 12:57 |
: Teams are very bad at sunk costs.
|
| 12:58 |
what if the Tigers traded Price and Moya to the Phillies for Hamels, then the Phillies could keep Moya and trade Price? Then the Tigers could still play this year, get a year of Hamels, and shop him next year if they aren’t contending |
| 12:59 |
: I’m not sure what the Phillies geto ut of this other than only having 4 days to trade their best pitcher instead of all winter.
|
| 12:59 |
What’s the best PA if you want to do a “WAR per” – 600? 650? |
| 12:59 |
: I like 600 simply because a lot of people use it and that makes it easier to communicate.
|
| 12:59 |
If Reds can deal Leake/Bruce/Byrd/Chapman and get decent returns, they could end up in pretty good shape for the future, no? Get rid of Philips and suddenly they have Votto/Suarez/Cozart/Frazier/Mesoraco, plus Hamilton and a maybe-okay pitching staff. |
| 12:59 |
: They could, they won’t.
|
| 12:59 |
I’d think the Yanks are easy to upgrade — SP |
| 12:59 |
: Their willingness factors into the equatio though.
|
| 1:00 |
It was just reported by a Chicago insider that Jays continue to make biggest push for Shark. What kind of prospects would it take to get him? Norris+? |
| 1:00 |
: Less than that. And if Shark required Norris, I’d back off. I think the Jays should make an addition, but not at all costs.
|
| 1:00 |
Why didn’t the Yankees try and keep Refsnyder up longer to see if he would work at 2B? If he plays well at 2B they wouldn’t have to trade for Zobrist |
| 1:00 |
: The Yankees are very risk-averse.
|
| 1:00 |
NYY has the highest proj ROS in the AL, they’re only behind the Dodgers in WS odds. You think second-tier team is a touch aggresive? |
| 1:01 |
: No. WS odds are league specific remember (you can’t have two NL teams in the WS), not a realative measure of team qualty.
|
| 1:01 |
Which player(s) complete the mets roster? |
| 1:02 |
: Eric Young Jr. because no Terry Collins roster is complete without an awful fast player to misuse.
|
| 1:02 |
RE Anthony’s question on essentially paying for prospects, are we gonna stat seeing this on a bigger scale? If PHI were to eat a lot of Hamels’ Contract, say, $70 MM, getting 2 or 3 blue chip prospects isn’t out of the question. |
| 1:02 |
: Ah, yes. We *should* see teams willing to do this. It’s the best opportunity to buy prospects.
|
| 1:03 |
: Trading Hamels for two prospects and trading Hamels + $ for two prospects and a better one is a de factor prospect purchase. It’s one of the few ways to leverage money for prospects.
|
| 1:04 |
: Though MLB would probably step in if it became apparent teams were signing plkayers to dummy contracts for the purpose of buying prospects.
|
| 1:04 |
: Though I’d have to think about how this would work to exploit the system
|
| 1:05 |
Is it just me, or are a lot more players jumping over AAA nowadays? |
| 1:05 |
: It’s you. Players play much longer in the minors than they used to.
|
| 1:05 |
How did the addition of Cueto change KC’s playoff odds? |
| 1:05 |
: Minimally.
|
| 1:05 |
: Why are there more negative Indiana facts in my timeline?
|
| 1:05 |
Would you rather be a MLB regular (non all star) today or in 1975? |
| 1:06 |
: Today. You get paid more. Plus I didn’t exist in 1975.
|
| 1:06 |
dArnaud returns and the Mets add an average to below average offensive CF, is their offense suddenly decent? |
| 1:06 |
: Wouldn’t say decent, but at least less-horrible.
|
| 1:06 |
Do you think Seattle will be a buyer or seller? Do they have a realistic chance at a wildcard looking at how the offense has been surging recently? |
| 1:06 |
: They should be a seller, but they won’t
|
| 1:06 |
Not questioning players playing longer in the minors… It just feels like teams are more willing to have guys skip AAA… not necessarily as a general rule, |
| 1:07 |
: I don’t believe this is the case.
|
| 1:07 |
I’d think a sale of dummy contracts for projects could be worked by a cheap team to get revenue sharing without actually paying players, depending on how the accounting works for minimum salary requirements |
| 1:07 |
: Yeah, I’d have to think about it though. Hard to ponder in a 15-second chat answer.
|
| 1:07 |
Wanna throw down some money on who gets fired first on the first day of the offseason – Jack Z or RAJ? |
| 1:07 |
: IF they make it to the end of the season, both.
|
| 1:08 |
: OK, we’re past 1 PM now, so time for what is strangely the most popular part of my chat, The Lightning Round.
|
| 1:08 |
: The rules of the Lightning Round are that I have to answer *every* and *any* off-topic question, with the exception of very vulgar questions or work-related reasons.
|
| 1:08 |
Pepsi or Coke |
| 1:08 |
: Coke.
|
| 1:08 |
Why were there no presidents? |
| 1:08 |
: Spelt late.
|
| 1:09 |
: Slept late.
|
| 1:09 |
Lays or Wise Potato Chip? Or Other |
| 1:09 |
: Utz.
|
| 1:09 |
Will you give me a reference? |
| 1:09 |
: Dictionary or encyclopedia?
|
| 1:09 |
Wipe up or down? |
| 1:09 |
: That’s more a horizontal question.
|
| 1:09 |
Who is the greatest philosopher in the world today? |
| 1:10 |
| 1:10 |
Britannica or Wikipedia? |
| 1:10 |
: Wikipedia is more accessible. I don’t have a brittanica set.
|
| 1:10 |
Why did the chicken cross the road? |
| 1:11 |
: Clearly the chicken desired something on the other side of the road.
|
| 1:11 |
If you had the chance, would you pet the Milwaukee Lion? |
| 1:11 |
: No. I like cats that won’t bite off my hand.
|
| 1:11 |
: Without a hand, typing is harder, as are video games, and I’d only be able to play left-handed only piano music.
|
| 1:11 |
If you could have an extra body part (has to be of something you already have) what would you choose—-besides the obvious? |
| 1:12 |
: Heart. I’m no scientician but I hear they’re pretty crucial.
|
| 1:12 |
Any religious beliefs? |
| 1:12 |
: No. I’m an agnostic. *Not* an atheist.
|
| 1:12 |
should I tell my wife I cheated on her with her mother and step sister? It was at the same time.. |
| 1:12 |
: Sure.
|
| 1:12 |
What if Bo Jackson never got injured. |
| 1:12 |
: He’d be Emperor of the United States by now.
|
| 1:12 |
Mike Trout has summitted the WAR leaderboards. The world has returned to its natural state. |
| 1:12 |
mets tradding for clippard! |
| 1:12 |
Favorite stand up comedian, today and all-time? |
| 1:12 |
: Hedberg
|
| 1:13 |
Favorite Guitarist? |
| 1:13 |
: Segovia
|
| 1:13 |
Duke Silver or Johnny Karate/Mouse Rat? |
| 1:13 |
: Duke Silver
|
| 1:13 |
remember that brittanica guy who sold the books? always wanted to punch him |
| 1:13 |
Favorite video game? |
| 1:13 |
: All time, probably Final Fantasy VI. Right now, Crusader Kings II.
|
| 1:13 |
Did Bradley Cooper voice the racoon that was in the Mets locker room, or just the one in that movie? |
| 1:13 |
: I do not know.
|
| 1:13 |
Opinion on words like “conversate” that the british/irish use? Drove me bonkers when I lived there. |
| 1:14 |
: I hate or-e-GONE-o
|
| 1:14 |
should pluto be a planet? |
| 1:14 |
: Yes.
|
| 1:14 |
My wife was behind me when I sent that question. |
| 1:14 |
: Well, she knows now.
|
| 1:14 |
Country you’d like to visit? |
| 1:14 |
: Turkey.
|
| 1:14 |
Biggest regret in life? |
| 1:15 |
: Not exercising more. Eventually, probalby not having children.
|
| 1:15 |
How would you use invisability? |
| 1:15 |
: assuming you mean invisibility, I’d rob banks I think
|
| 1:15 |
If you were a poor Dominican kid who wasn’t quite good enough to make it to the States, would you take steroids and risk getting caught for the potential reward? I know I would. |
| 1:15 |
: Yes.
|
| 1:15 |
: The risk/reward is too high.
|
| 1:15 |
Wayne’s World or Bill and Ted’s? |
| 1:15 |
: Bill and Ted has aged better, so that.
|
| 1:16 |
Favorite Marvel movie? |
| 1:16 |
: Iron Man
|
| 1:16 |
Have we passed Half Life’s (hooray final fantasy vi! screw vii. ;-p) |
| 1:17 |
: Wait, passed what?
|
| 1:17 |
If you were granted by a genie the choice of ONE of the following: flying, invincibility, super speed, x-ray vision, or heat vision, which power would you choose? |
| 1:17 |
: invincibility
|
| 1:17 |
Turkey is great! Visit the Basilica Cistern! |
| 1:17 |
: I’d love to visit all the old byzantine places.
|
| 1:17 |
My wife is a blow version of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. |
| 1:17 |
: blow version? Like she’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg with a cocaine habit?
|
| 1:17 |
Tommy Bo has to joking, no? |
| 1:18 |
Best pork ribs you’ve ever had? |
| 1:18 |
: This hole in the wall in north carolina which name i can’t remember now
|
| 1:18 |
1. Hooray final fantasy vi — screw vii. 2. Has Half Life 2 passed its half life yet / are we due for a Half Life 3 yet? 3. or-uh-gone-oh — gahhhh yeah I forgot about that one. 4. Turkey is rad. Highly recommended. |
| 1:18 |
: Valve can’t count to 3.
|
| 1:18 |
its not too late to exercise |
| 1:19 |
: No, but it would have been better to have started earlier. I could’ve been buffa ll this time
|
| 1:19 |
What percentage of the lightning round questions do you answer honestly? |
| 1:19 |
: All of them to the best of my ability. That’s the rule.
|
| 1:19 |
would you be cool with more Matrix movies? |
| 1:19 |
: Yeah, though they’d suck probably
|
| 1:19 |
You said you may regret not having kids. I’m 28 and on the fence of having or not having kids. What makes you think you’ll regret not having them? |
| 1:19 |
: I may. It seems the kind of thing you regret when you’re on your deathbed someday.
|
| 1:20 |
Are we best friends? |
| 1:20 |
: My best friend is named Alan. Are you Alan?
|
| 1:20 |
Do you think Cowherd was out of line for his DR comments? |
| 1:20 |
: Yes
|
| 1:20 |
Opinion on the Dragon Quest series? |
| 1:20 |
: Love it
|
| 1:20 |
Ever pee in the shower? |
| 1:20 |
: Yes
|
| 1:21 |
easier to give up: baseball or video games? |
| 1:22 |
: video games. I love both, but only one is connected to my making a living
|
| 1:22 |
wait I’m in NC tell me where this hole in the wall is |
| 1:23 |
: I believe South of Greenville somewhere
|
| 1:23 |
Do any of your cats freak out when they have to travel in a car? |
| 1:23 |
: Yes
|
| 1:23 |
hotdogs or corndogs? |
| 1:23 |
: hot dog
|
| 1:23 |
Do you cook? What’s your favorite dish to prepare? |
| 1:23 |
: Yes, stir fry
|
| 1:23 |
Would you rather travel the world for 2 months fully subsidized or spend 6 hours on the moon fully subsidized? |
| 1:24 |
: World.
|
| 1:24 |
: I’m too chickenshit to go to the moon.
|
| 1:24 |
For a Matrix-like movie, I *highly* recommend Source Code. |
| 1:24 |
I lead a sad life. |
| 1:24 |
: These aren’t questions.
|
| 1:24 |
You say that about the Matrix movies, but they’re coming out with a new Rocky and I’m stoked for it. |
| 1:24 |
I’m 38. Odds the Indians win a championship before I die? |
| 1:24 |
: 60%
|
| 1:24 |
From a guy who didn’t want kids, then had a kid, I’m here to tell you that you will regret not having them. They’re great, especially when their first word is “baseball,” like with my little guy. |
| 1:24 |
Ever poo in the shower? |
| 1:24 |
: Noo.
|
| 1:24 |
Pretend you’re Farhan Zaidi. Would you rather give up Jose de Leon or Grant Holmes in a Hamels deal? |
| 1:24 |
: Holmes
|
| 1:25 |
gonna watch any sgdq? |
| 1:25 |
: Probably
|
| 1:25 |
Ever pee in the sink? |
| 1:25 |
: Yes, actually.
|
| 1:25 |
fries or tots? |
| 1:25 |
: fries
|
| 1:25 |
What model of car do you drive? |
| 1:25 |
: 2004 Mazda 6s
|
| 1:25 |
Most popular fast food places you never eat? |
| 1:25 |
: Burger King
|
| 1:25 |
: I don’t eat much fast food – maybe once a month
|
| 1:26 |
Interested in Fallout 4? |
| 1:26 |
: Yes, but not crazily
|
| 1:26 |
If you could, how many people would you estimate follow your chats live? |
| 1:26 |
: A few thousand.
|
| 1:26 |
do you watch any reality shows like survivor/big brother? |
| 1:26 |
: Top Chef really.
|
| 1:26 |
are you a Mass Effect fan? Paragon or Renegade? Love interest? Control/Synthesis/Destroy? |
| 1:26 |
: Not huge
|
| 1:26 |
What did you have to do (both in high school and college) in order to get a job at fangraphs? What is your dream job? |
| 1:27 |
: Not directly. The undergraduate math classes obviously led me to doing something that made me get into baseball writing more easily
|
| 1:27 |
: But iw asn’t the proximate cause.
|
| 1:28 |
: When it comes down to it, I’m a baseball writer because I was in a very useful circle in the mid-90s.
|
| 1:28 |
Pretend you’re Farhan Zaidi. Why the hell are you on this livechat? |
| 1:28 |
: Becuase I like FanGraphs?
|
| 1:28 |
is it *wrong* of me to theoritically only teach my not yet existing kid to throw lefty handed? |
| 1:28 |
: Wrong is depends on your personal ethics.
|
| 1:28 |
ever jerk the gravy train en route to the poo town while on the loo in the john? |
| 1:28 |
: I don’t think so.
|
| 1:28 |
Ever order 4 stars on spiciness at an asian or thai restaurant? |
| 1:29 |
: Yes. Ask fro “Thai spicy” at a Thai plce.
|
| 1:29 |
My first kid’s first full sentence was “Daddy, I want bacon.” They aren’t all bad… |
| 1:29 |
Deepest into the Earth you have ever been? ie caverns, caves |
| 1:29 |
: These caves south of Columbus OH?
|
| 1:29 |
: I don’t know if I was deep enough to be below sea level though
|
| 1:29 |
If thousands of people are following, how do I get 4 questions answered in lightning round? Just not many people asking stuff? |
| 1:29 |
: Strangely, more people read, but fewer ask questions in the Lightning Round
|
| 1:30 |
: I think people just like me answering weird questions
|
| 1:30 |
If you got a puppy, do you think your cats would raise it to be a cat? |
| 1:30 |
: I would guess so. They’d probably avoid the puppy.
|
| 1:30 |
I’ve agreed to having one kid with my girlfriend, but she wants two. Give me an argument to make her only want one. I’ve tried cost but apparently money isn’t an issue in her head. |
| 1:30 |
: Tell her everyone in your family is a psycho and only have one kid because every time they had two, one murdered the other
|
| 1:30 |
are the solo adventures in hearthstone worth playing? is there some way to not pay for them? |
| 1:31 |
: Grinding out gold. The sol adventures are fun, especially on the hard mode.
|
| 1:31 |
: Realistically, card games require money. You’re still better off than Magic, in which competitive decks typically start at around $75
|
| 1:31 |
Don't eat fast food. |
| 1:31 |
Seinfeld or Curb? |
| 1:31 |
: Seinfeld
|
| 1:31 |
Question you wished somebody would ask in the lightning round? |
| 1:32 |
: I don’t have a particular one. I think if you want someone to ask you a question, you’re kind of a dickhead.
|
| 1:32 |
I am at a crossroads in my life and I don’t know what to do, and instead of rising to the challenge of deciding what lies in my future I am receding further and further into the fearful dark corners of both the world and my mind. How do I break what seems to be the continual pattern of indecision and terror that rules my life, as well as the crippling insecurity and self-doubt? |
| 1:32 |
: Alcohol?
|
| 1:32 |
have you played plants vs zombies? |
| 1:33 |
: No, actually. I don’t much play casual games
|
| 1:33 |
Did you see and like Birdman? |
| 1:33 |
: Haven’t seen it.
|
| 1:33 |
Are you kind of a dickhead? |
| 1:33 |
: Yes, but not a full one.
|
| 1:33 |
black jack, slots, roulette or other? |
| 1:33 |
: Poker
|
| 1:33 |
seems like Inspire is going to be way more powerful than virtually everything else in the game. like i think they are way underestimating how powerful it will be? |
| 1:33 |
: No. I don’t actually think Inspire is all that good.
|
| 1:33 |
: It’s too slow.
|
| 1:33 |
I live just 1.5 miles from Stebbins Anderson. That’s an odd store. |
| 1:34 |
: I worked there in high school. Though I guess I must have answered a questions about my first job.
|
| 1:34 |
: Going back to previous question – Inspire *effects* are powerful, but the cards themselves aren’t. There’s very little to stop aggressive or combo decks to *get* there.
|
| 1:35 |
: How would you stop face hunter? There’s exactly one card so far that has value there: the shaman Totem Golem thing (is that what it’s called?)
|
| 1:36 |
: Like people talk about the 1/8 tournament medic stopping aggro decks. But it doesn’t – aggro decks will simply ignore it and you’ve spent round 4 doing little that will win you the game.
|
| 1:36 |
Have you ever considered gardening? (I ask as I remember I need to water my plants before they cook in some 100 degree california sun) |
| 1:36 |
: I’m not much for landscaping type things. I chose my lawnmower based on it’s ability to mudrer everything it toched.
|
| 1:36 |
Would that make you a flaccid head? |
| 1:36 |
: I’m not sure.
|
| 1:36 |
i did a regression analysis for econ sr thesis on factors that might explain a pitchers effectiveness as well as injury. Can i do anything with this? would getting it published somewhere help get a job in baseball in anyway? |
| 1:37 |
: Kind of off-topic for the Lightning Round, but it’s always useful publishing
|
| 1:37 |
Keaton, Chaplin, or Lloyd? |
| 1:37 |
: Chaplin
|
| 1:37 |
Unless they add more anti aggro (board clears) inspire cards won’t work and no one will play them. |
| 1:37 |
: Bingo. It’s the BRM dragons all over again.
|
| 1:37 |
: At least so far.
|
| 1:37 |
: Dragons are cool. They suck in actual competitive games.
|
| 1:37 |
: Look at Chromaggus. Cool card. Powerful effect. Terrible in constructed.
|
| 1:38 |
You have a time machine and you can do one of two things. A. Kill Hitler and the holocaust never happens but you get no credit. B. Buy 25% Google Stock at its cheapest cash out at its peak. You choose which? |
| 1:38 |
: Probably A.
|
| 1:38 |
: Though to be honest, I’ve never killed anybody, so I’m not sure.
|
| 1:38 |
What if our quest to find life in space turns up not only life, but a way to bring the dead back to life here? Applause or chaos? |
| 1:38 |
: Both.
|
| 1:38 |
you ever been to Portland? What’d you think? |
| 1:39 |
: It was hot and the panhandlers seemed kind of lazy compared to east coasters.
|
| 1:39 |
: I was there in July about a decade ago and it was during a crazy heat wave
|
| 1:39 |
: And on that note, time to leave.
|
| 1:39 |
: Thanks for coming everybody!
|
| 1:40 |
: As a reminder, you can read me work at ESPN.com, chats and projections here at FanGraphs, DSzymborski on Twitter, and ZimSmash on Twitch, though the last is mostly out of baseball season.
|
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
Cashman offer the tigers nova, gary sanchez and Mason Williams for Price? Who hangs up first?
Cashman made the offer. Hanging up would be rude.