Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 7/7/14

Dan Szymborski: You’re about to spend an hour with Dan Szymborski! Reason #34 you may be squandering the precious time remaining in your life.

Dan Szymborski: Was out all morning, so no presidents this week.

Comment From MI with lots of a’s
In OBP H2H league from when Alcantara comes up drop Aybar for him? Think he’ll be in the OF?

Dan Szymborski: If this is a re-draft, I wouldn’t. I love Alcantara (and so does ZiPS, he was *way* up in the ZiPS prospect rankings relative to consensus), but some of the BABIP’s going to be wrung out in the majors and I don’t think he’s going to be super awesome *this* year.

Comment From Andrew
Any SPs currently in the minors that you think will factor into an MLB rotation in the second half? Like Kingham, May, Wisler, etc.? Thanks for your time.

Dan Szymborski: Likely doing an article on this one in the near future.

Comment From Tommy
Calhoun or Granderson in OBP league?

Dan Szymborski: If not a keeper, Granderson by a hair, there’s at least a chance that he gets traded to a better park for his skills.

Comment From Matt
What realistically would Prado or Hill bring back for the Dbacks? Just salary relief?

Comment From Bret
Is Aaron Hill bad again? How much do the Diamondbacks have to eat for a team to be willing to take that contract?

Dan Szymborski: Realistically, without eating some dough, the Diamondbacks aren’t getting much in the way of prospectage.

Dan Szymborski: In the case of Hill, probably nothing.

Dan Szymborski: Sure, Hill could easily hit 300/420 going forward, but with 2/24 left after this seson on his contract, there’s just not a lot of value for a team to give up anything more than a token prospect

Comment From Larry Bernandez
How bad is it that Jeter is the starting SS for the all-star game? There were at least 10 better candidates in the AL in terms of WAR.

Dan Szymborski: Pretty bad. Baseball’s change to This Time it Counts! makes it a sillier thing than it used to be.

Dan Szymborski: When MLB treated the All-Star game as a fun exhibition of great players that you may not always see (in the age before for MLB.TV and all the marvelous gadgets we have today), it wasn’t so bad seeing a great player one last time in the game.

Dan Szymborski: But if this counts, I’m an Orioles fan and if the O’s happened to make it to the World Series, I want them to have had the best shot to get home field rather than play someone who is more or less a mascot at this point

Comment From Chip
When will the Rockies throw in the towel and trade CarGo and Tulo?

Dan Szymborski: The Rockies are endlessly a really hard team to figure out. They trade players when there’s no compelling need to do so and hold on to players when they’re not logical reason to do so.

Comment From Jesse
Thoughts on Scherzer being named to the AL squad over Richards? Seems like a name-recognition choice by Farrell.

Dan Szymborski: That’s only if you see the All-Star Game solely as April-June of that year performance.

Dan Szymborski: It’s very reasonable to consider Scherzer a bigger “star” than Richards. And even thsi season, their FIPs are very close.

Comment From Sirras One
I’ve heard people say that prospects MUST be overvalued if Billy Beane was willing to trade away two of his best prospects. Agree/disagree? I think it’s more related to win curve position personally.

Dan Szymborski: A’s are thinking playoffs – they’ve had tons of success, but never really have gone deep. Samardzija gives them a better chance to do so and they do get him for more than the next 3 months.

Dan Szymborski: Hell, the A’s could turn around and trade Samardzija for another nifty package in November.

Dan Szymborski: Well, December.

Comment From VU Commodores
After 2013 it seemed as if Jason Castro would be a top 5-10 C in MLB. 2014 has not gone to well for him. What are your thoughts the rest of 2014? and Career outlook?

Dan Szymborski: I still think he’ll be in the top 10. ZiPS and Steamer were both happy wtih Castro coming into the season, but both had him dropping off substantially from his 4-win 2013 (both were around 3)

Dan Szymborski: He was never going to maintain a BABIP around .350.

Dan Szymborski: But I think he’ll be better than this year (and he hasn’t really been awful, just averageish)

Comment From Scott
Thoughts on Pearce ROS? He’s still sitting on waivers, and I am going to need an EE fill in. 12 team roto dynasty.

Dan Szymborski: Poor Nolan Reimold. Every random 1B/DH power type becomes a God in Baltimore but him.

Dan Szymborski: Except Delmon Young, who sucked so much coming into the season that his Godlike improvement only promoted him to decent.

Dan Szymborski: pearce is worth it as an emergency flier, though it depends what the other options are, as alwys.

Comment From Alex Meyer
Does Drew Pomeranz have a future in the A’s rotation now? Thanks for your time.

Dan Szymborski: Long-term, it still remains likely. Hammel won’t be around forever and Samardzija’s also unlikely to be and until they’re pitching an healthy, question marks will be surrounding Parker and Griffin.

Comment From Theo
Thoughts on Kyle Hendricks?

Dan Szymborski: He could be surprisingly good, assuming the speculation that he’s about to be promoted is true.

Dan Szymborski: Or has he already? Again, I was out all morning.

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Comment From David
Rumors of Headley to TOR or NYY. He’s not going to magically become awesome again right? I mean, he’s not really hitting on the road either…

Dan Szymborski: His BABIP is *way* below his xBABIP. He’s one of the best second-half pickups, I think, in that his cost is likely to be suprressed.

Dan Szymborski: great spelling dan, you idiot

Comment From c/d
confirm/deny: this season’s trading is already more entertaining than last season’s.

Dan Szymborski: Confirmed.

Comment From tommy
how are ZIPs and Steamer different?

Dan Szymborski: One is done by me, one is done by Jared Cross.

Dan Szymborski: Seriously, I know how ZiPS is put together, but I don’t have Steamer’s source on my PC to compare (nor will I likely)

Comment From Pork n Beans
What do you think is wrong with Shelby Miller this year, and is it fixable?

Dan Szymborski: Watching Miller, I get the impression that he just can’t put away pitchers with his curve. And he doesn’t change speeds all that well.

Dan Szymborski: Miller strikes me as a guy who needs to develop another pitch

Comment From tommy
how does ZIPs account for future PAs for hurt players?

Dan Szymborski: It doesn’t – ZiPS is intentionally kept naive of future playing time (unless it’s for a team simulation, in which case i do my own PT assumptions, but those aren’t part of zips)

Comment From Pork n Beans
Do you think Gausman sticks in the O’s rotation now? What’s his likely ceiling at this point? Thanks a lot.

Dan Szymborski: If he continues to flirt with triple digits as he was in Boston, his ceiling is Sistine Chapel high.

Comment From tommy
Does ZIPs have any use for projections beyond a single season?

Dan Szymborski: I do lots of future projections with ZiPS, but they’re not usually part of the basic readout on FG.

Comment From Marcus A.
Are the Rays a legitimate playoff threat?

Dan Szymborski: No

Dan Szymborski: 8.5 games is bad enough, but having to leapfrog 6 teams is even worse

Comment From toot toot
having to choose between voting for richards, sale, and kluber in the all star game is like picking your favorite child, where one of your children is clearly way better than the others and is one of the best pitchers in baseball

Dan Szymborski: Salesalesalesalesale

Comment From Greg
Thanks for taking my question. Is there room for Salazar to rejoin the Indians’s rotation soon after the ASB, and do you think he’s figured things out at AAA?

Dan Szymborski: I’m very optimistic. Given the revelation that his triceps issue had been bothering him a bit for some time, all the way back to the spring, I’m more inclined to not be worried about his early season struggles

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Comment From ARNOLD
WHO IS YOUR DADDY AND WHAT DOES HE DO?

Dan Szymborski: John Szymborski and since he died a long time ago, he’s probably doing the same thing he was when I last saw him.

Comment From Greg
Thanks for taking my question. Do you think Drew Smyly will become more effective/consistent in the second half?

Dan Szymborski: He’s having a solid year, about where I’d expect him to be. Don’t be too greedy!

Comment From Guest
Cobb,

Dan Szymborski: Williams.

Comment From Norm
Now that the Cubs have Russell, what are the chances Castro gets traded in a few weeks?

Dan Szymborski: The Cubs aren’t going to let him go cheaply.

Comment From STiVo
Who is the most likely pitcher to be traded to the Orioles during this season?

Dan Szymborski: None. I dont’ think there are any really good fits for the O’s, pitching wise

Comment From Guest
Tulo open to being traded? Man, that would bring back a haul.

Dan Szymborski: Yes. “Which prospects do you guys want” “All of them.”

Comment From Larry Bernandez
I wish Coveritlive had a “like” option for posted comments. I’d use it a ton on these chats.

Comment From Just Sayin
Mookie Betts is so _________ because he likes to _____________.

Dan Szymborski: SMELLY, FART

Comment From Dodger Fangirl
projections have dee gordon at about 90 wrc+ ROS. Would you say this is about right?

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think it’s too far off (though I’ve already been wrong about Gordon this year)

Comment From toot toot
isn’t the suckiness of jeter being in the ASG more a problem with the ASG rules, rather than the format? i’d rather have jeter and not have the game not matter, rather than have no jeter because it is a SRS BUSINESS IMPRTNT GAM

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, I rather have the game not matter and Jeter than have the game matter and not have JEter.

Comment From EGL
Does Oakland’s trade with the Cubs imply that Tampa actually rejected a similar package for Price ? Wouldn’t Billy Beane have prefered Price ( with maybe a Zobrist included )

Dan Szymborski: It’s very possible. What I’ve been hearing is similar to what the guys who do more rumor reporting have heard, that the Rays have asked for the stars and are willing to settle for…the stars.

Comment From Paul M
Realistic odds on Addison Russell’s future? Perennial All-Star, good player, average player, bust– factoring in injuries, of course.

Dan Szymborski: He’s got a very high upside – he’s a legit top 10 prospect in MLB, and those guys all have serious star upside

Dan Szymborski: The A’s don’t think he’s going to suck, they know they’re giving up value to bring in the shark

Comment From Bryan
What is the reason that hitters are allotted 570 WAR for a season, but pitchers only 430?

Dan Szymborski: Run scoring is as important as run prevention. But position players contribute more to run preventing than pitchers do to run scoring.

Dan Szymborski: So there won’t be as many pitcher WAR, but since individual pitchers will have a higher percentage of that lesser WAR than position players do

Dan Szymborski: Pitching value is a smaller overall pie, but starting pitchers take bigger pieces of that smaller pie than hitters do

Dan Szymborski: of theirs

Comment From Dewey
What kind of return would Ian Kennedy bring?

Dan Szymborski: Low second-tier/high third-tier prospect. His peripherals are better than his ERA, but he’s a short-term rental and not a real difference-maker.

Comment From Diehard Cubs Fan
So the Cubs get another stud SS to go with Baez, both of whom are blocked in the majors by a resurgent Castro. Where do these guys end up playing in the bigs?

Dan Szymborski: Right now, the Cubs are simply trying to get as much value as they can and sort it out later.

Dan Szymborski: TOO MANY AWESOME YOUNG SHORTSTOPS is a problem that has given general managers headaches approximately 0 times in baseball history.

Comment From Spencer
What are the chances we see more players sign pre-MLB extensions, not because of money, but because they legitimately want to stay? David Price has to be looking at Longoria, wishing he could have signed up for something similar, rather than be on the block year after year. Obviously, the team always comes out on top in those deals, but is there a chance more and more players will be okay with that? Or is Price just a rare exception?

Dan Szymborski: You’ll see more, but in a lot of the cases, it’s really because it’s smarter. With signing bonuses being held down, top minor leaguers will have less money than they previously would have, which increases the incentive to take a deal that guarantees x million dollars later.

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Comment From Adam
Will Oscar Taveras be able to seize a full time job? I’ve got him as my UT, but I’m thinking I should be looking for a more stable source of ABs.

Dan Szymborski: I dont’ think he’ll seize it this year.

Comment From Derek
Which two do you like best ROS: Alex Wood, Yovani Gallardo, Mat Latos?

Dan Szymborski: Latos, the outmaker.

Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Does ZiPS like Alcantara better as an outfielder or second baseman?

Dan Szymborski: He’s more interesting as a 2B easily.

Comment From Dan
Besides Benoit, who do the Tigers trade for? A Bat and a player to swing it?

Dan Szymborski: I think the Tigers are fairly quiet except maybe bolstering the pen. If Benoit is brought back to Detroit, I thnk it’s their biggest move.

Comment From Derek
Redraft league, I need to trade one of: George Springer, Gregory Polanco, Mookie Betts. Which would you trade?

Dan Szymborski: Redraft, I’d trade Betts

Comment From Ryan
Like what you’re seeing from G. Polanco so far?

Dan Szymborski: Yes.

Dan Szymborski: What’s not to like?

Dan Szymborski: It’s like being at a craft beer competition and shrugging your shoulders.

Dan Szymborski: Now his BIS defense hasn’t been good in small sample size, but that’ll change. Hopefully soon because that -5 is killing me in my BIS defensive fantasy league.

Comment From Theo
Jed Hoyer confirmed it!

Dan Szymborski: Did he? I didn’t see.

Comment From Brendan
Josh Harrison!?!? Not even a regular starter for the Pirates…2014 All Star!?

Dan Szymborski: He’s been terrific but it’s a weird choice for ASG honestly

Comment From Ringtone Composer
Remember when Braves fans were outraged that the team might trade Jair Jurrgens for Adam Jones? That was amazing.

Comment From Guest
Why does zips roa hate hutch and stoman so much? Excellent mlb and milb track records, no unsustainable “luck” visible in their peripherals, mlb quality arsenals….yet zips projects both to be much less effective in the 2nd half – barely over replacement level. Is this just standard age/experience regression or is there something in their numbers i’m missing?

Dan Szymborski: 0.5 projected WAR in 9 projected starts is barely replacement level?

Dan Szymborski: Sounds like you’re taking a projection system’s playing time way too seriously.

Dan Szymborski: Same issue with Hutchison.

Comment From Mr. Farrell
How much of Bogaerts slump do you think is him protesting the move to 3B?

Dan Szymborski: I hate to attribute it to that, but there’s no reason for him to be at 3rd anymore. The Red Sox season is over and Drew no longer serves any purpose to this team.

Comment From Marcus A.
Jonathan Schoop has been pretty terrible. Still holding out hope for his future or is the walk rate too damning?

Dan Szymborski: He was never a Top Prospect. I think he’ll be OK in the long run, but his upside is limited

Comment From Run Run Run
I know you’re probably getting beaten to death by these questions, but why isn’t Stanton an AS starter? He’s an MVP candidate and I would think the fans would love seeing him out there starting.

Dan Szymborski: I think he’s actually become underarted again.

Comment From Spencer
What has seemingly gone unnoticed is that the A’s getting Hammel for half a season makes them better for now, and will probably get them a draft pick after he turns down a QO. Samardzija as well. They got better, and essentially traded prospects for picks that could yield them comparable prospects a little bit later. And not that the A’s would really get down like this, but it having those picks could also allow them to go after free agents with compensation attached.

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think the A’s give Hammel a QO.

Dan Szymborski: becuase they can’t.

Dan Szymborski: he signed a one-year deal with the Cubs, he’s a free agent this year and you can’t offer to a QO to someone you pick up after the start of the season.

Comment From Johnny Johnson
Kershaw’s the NL starter, right?

Dan Szymborski: He ought to be. He’s the scariest pitcher in the NL.

Comment From Flustered Royals Fan
What kind of dirt do you think Eric Hosmer has on Ned Yost or Dayton Moore that he can suck this much and still hit second?

Dan Szymborski: The Royals dont’ have a lot of great options and I think they should be commended for being so patient with a player with a lot of upside.

Dan Szymborski: I’m still cautiously optimistic

Comment From Dave
What kind of hitter do you think Kris Bryant will be in the majors? Pedro Alvarez like or much better?

Dan Szymborski: I like Pedro Alvarez. Kris Bryant, I have a mancrush on.

Comment From Richie Rich
Are you higher on Gausman or Stroman?

Dan Szymborski: Gauze.

Comment From Guest
Will FanGraphs ever carry zMLE or similar on its player charts?

Dan Szymborski: A possibility, we’ve just never implemented it.

Comment From Danny
Is there somewhere on the site that has xbabip?

Dan Szymborski: I dont’ believe FG has it anywhere, but I’m always realizing there’s tsuff I didn’t now

Comment From Tube
Shields a fair return for Choo? Thanks for the chat

Dan Szymborski: I think so.

Comment From baltic fox
Phil Hughes ROS: ZIPs seems pretty optimistic (an ERA around 4.00) despite his recent run of poor starts. Is it the low walk rate that suggests he will stay a decent pitcher?

Dan Szymborski: Certainly helps. He hasn’t really pitche d*horribly* hits have just been falling in.

Comment From h.villanueva
Has a better Hearthstone based baseball joke ever been made? I think not. Sadly it pales in comparison to the GM based joke fate has been playing on Philly fans for a few decades. One should not have to suffer through an Ed Wade and a Rueben Amaro tenure in one lifetime.

Comment From Nolan
Best young player in the game for the next 5 years: Polanco, Taveras, Bogaerts, or Machado?

Dan Szymborski: Of this group, Polanco

Comment From Kyle G
I know some work has been done on using various game data to predict injury. Will Zips plan on incorporating such data in the future? Immediately relevant: is Dallas K hurt?

Dan Szymborski: I’m reviewing lots of stuff along these lines, but I’m still nowhere near confident in them becoming part of zips yet

Dan Szymborski: Actual past injuries, like Tommy John surgery, I’m more confident in (and are part of zips)

Comment From Sea Town
James Jones the AL’s Ben Revere? or worse?

Dan Szymborski: Jones actually hit for power in the minors.

Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Nick Cafardo reported that Addison Russell was the LEAST likely of himself, Baez, and Castro to remain at shortstop…thoughts?

Dan Szymborski: Cafardo writes for the Globe, so I imagine he’s the least likely to play shortstop for teh Cubs.

Dan Szymborski: I did actually know what you mean, just being difficult. I think Baez is less likely.

Comment From Guest
Wouldn’t it be better if World Series home field advantage was rotated every year instead of being determined by an exhibition game?

Dan Szymborski: Just give HFA to the World Series team that won more games in the regular season, with relevant tiebreakers.

Dan Szymborski: Jones actually hit for power in the minors.

Dan Szymborski: WTF? I typed that minutes ago

Dan Szymborski: MLB’s excuses to not do this are just stupid – you don’t know who the teams in the World Series are until they get to the World Series anyway.

Comment From Aidan
I really ________ questions with __________

Dan Szymborski: POOP ON, BLANKS

Comment From Los
I’m scared the Rockies might accept one of the Astros offers for Tulo.

Comment From James
Did you get to watch Andrew Heaney in his call up, and if so what did you think?

Dan Szymborski: Sadly, I did not yet.

Comment From cbird
Why hasn’t Towers been fired? Is there any precedent to what he has done to the Dbacks organization? Which pieces can bring back any value??

Dan Szymborski: Some real dysfunction in the organization. Manager/GM have to go.

Dan Szymborski: Not a *lot* of real value there, I think the best they can do is clear decks.

Dan Szymborski: Obviously, if they trade Goldschmidt, they’d get a king’s ransom, but I dont’ think they will

Comment From john
Sandy says that Niese isn’t going to be traded because it would leave the Mets without a lefty starter. Seriously? Your team sucks, he is your most valuable asset. How is this man hailed as a genius?

Dan Szymborski: I get the impression that he’s being a good soldier for ownership.

Comment From YouHateMyTeam
Any minute chance the Cards trade for Price and Zobrist?

Dan Szymborski: Doesn’t really seem the Cards style.

Comment From EGL
Do you think that Tampa ultimately gets more for Price than the Cubs got ?

Dan Szymborski: No. I dont’ think anybody will actually offer them more than Russell.

Comment From hypothetical
if you could pick one player not currently on an asg roster or in the final vote to appear in the all-star game, who would it be?

Dan Szymborski: Barry Bonds

Comment From Northsider
I’ve heard a few people compare Kris Bryant to Troy Glaus. Am I just being a spoiled fan for being underwhelmed by the comparison?

Dan Szymborski: Glaus was a really awesome player. If not for his back problems, he very well could still be active and wrapping up a serious Hall of Fame case.

Dan Szymborski: Now, Bryant *could* be ever. But Glaus was a star and to complain about the comparison is a little like the kid at the sweet sixteen party that gets an acura instead of a mercedes!

Comment From Kobe
Don’t you believe the Oriloes need a #1 starter if they want to advance in the playoffs?

Dan Szymborski: It’s always nice, but in the hierarchy of needs, they have other holes.

Comment From Raz
I don’t understand Trumbo’s zips projection. Sure, he’s got a much more favorable home park now, but he has a career .329 wOBA. Why is his projection so optimistic?

Dan Szymborski: It’s a very large park change and wOBA is not park-neutral.

Comment From Larry Bernandez
where are you getting these cards from? They’re hilarious.

Dan Szymborski: I made them!

Comment From scatterbrian
So my old man is mad because the A’s traded their two best prospects for a 2-7 pitcher. How should I tackle this?

Dan Szymborski: Lots of head-shaking and assuming it’s true, remembering that you had a good childhood and to not be too hard for him.

Dan Szymborski: on him.

Dan Szymborski: Though if you don’t get along with him, maybe putting him in a crooked nursing home you saw on 60 Minutes?

Comment From Ryguy
How bout Price to the O’s…they could put a nice package together, yes?

Dan Szymborski: O’s are tough fit for Rays – they’re direct competitors (there’s solid game theory reasons to not trade in division) and it would likely have to involve Gausman. Which I Do Not Want.

Comment From Dan
Which GM is the best at fleecing his peers?

Dan Szymborski: The one who’s dealing with Ruben Amaro?

Comment From Don Zsymbrosky
Theo Epstein is the _______ to Billy Beane’s _____

Dan Szymborski: FARTNUGGET, DINGLEBERRY

Comment From Alex
How come Piscotty never gets any love?

Dan Szymborski: Hard to tell, he’s a decent enough looking guy, in reasonable shape, young, has some prestige.

Comment From Ron Swanson

Jeter in his last season should be the starting SS for the AL…period. He kept his nose clean in a time of complete scandal in baseball and did nothing but come up in big games and win. Gimmie a break – you're younger generation needs to be slapped with a monk fish right across the face to think otherwise.

Dan Szymborski: If it’s an exhibition, I agree with you. If it counts, it’s just silly – he’s not a good player in 2014.

Dan Szymborski: What’s the point of an All-Star Game that “counts” if you’re not playing players that are actually good?

Comment From phillies fan
Since you basically admitted you jinxed the giants, please write an article about the Phillies being awful so you can be proven to be a reverse jinx also.

Dan Szymborski: No such jinx power can make the Phillies good.

Dan Szymborski: And I didn’t jinx Kershaw at least! Just the Giants.

Comment From jocephus
hunter pence streams hearthstone on twitch.tv sometimes

Dan Szymborski: But do you have to look in his eyes, overflowing with madness?

Comment From Ragnaros the Firelord
Dan – can you publish your hearthstone ID for friend requests?

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, hold on, I dont’ remember the # offhand

Dan Szymborski: I’m always public with this stuff – DSzymborski on Steam, for instance.

Dan Szymborski: Zim #1236. But I’m still only OK as I’m kinda new and my decks aren’t quite where I want them to be (I’d love to have a Nat Pagle and a Black Knight)

Comment From austin
odds that la stella gets to 3.0 WAR? also, odds that the braves extend him before next april?

Dan Szymborski: 3.0 this season is kinda tough.

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, he *could* put up 2 more WAR in 74 games, but that’s tough. I like La Stella a lot, but I don’t think he’s a star.

Comment From kevinthecomic
Sobering thought for all those thinking about jumping on the Rays bandwagon: if all teams currently ahead of the Rays win at just a 0.500 clip for the rest of the year, the two wild card teams end up being Anaheim (89 wins) and Seattle (85 wins). So, for the Rays to get a wildcard birth in this highly unlikely and highly favorable (for the Rays) scenario, they would need to win 45 of their remaining 71 games (to get to 86 and usurp the Mariners), which works out to a 0.634 clip!!! Yeah, they’re done.

Dan Szymborski: Also the same issues for a berth!

Comment From Don Zsymbrosky
i miss mark prior 🙁

Comment From Christian
Why do I have a bad feeling the Mariners will panic trade for Price and give up entirely too much?

Dan Szymborski: There’s a certain logic to it, depends on what too much is.

Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Fun fact: Glaus started 8 games at SS for the ’06 Jay. That was some fun fantasy-eligibility!!

Dan Szymborski: Glaus played SS in college, the Angels actually toyed briefly with seeing if he coudl stick there

Dan Szymborski: But he was a big dude, so they chickened out and played him at 3rd immediately in the minors.

Comment From ThatGuy
Maybe a stupid question but is there a single stat combining WHIP and ERA? Keeping people off base and preventing runs is a pretty good summation of a pitchers job and a combination of these 2 would seem to be a good measure. Also, here is a blank so you can add some grade school humor __________.

Dan Szymborski: It’s kind of an awkward mush to stick those two together.

Dan Szymborski: Also: turdlicker.

Comment From Christian
Hearthstone feels so watered down compared to Magic

Dan Szymborski: But there’s a simple elegance.

Comment From Jaker
Nat Pagle isn’t as useful since the nerf. Black Knight is a staple in most competitive Druid decks. Would Headley be a staple in Toronto?

Dan Szymborski: Headley would be a fun acquisition to Toronto.

Dan Szymborski: With the right scenario, Pagle can still be *very* annoying (like Lorewalker Cho). If done right, you can make it a costly trade for the opponent. I’d love to craft a Leeroy Jenkins, too.

Comment From Ruben Gotay
Can you explain to me how Donaldson’s defensive stats are so good despite committing 15 errors? I get that his range is great but 15 errors is a ton

Dan Szymborski: Errors are a small percenatge of plays.

Dan Szymborski: He’s got a .948 FP in a league in which .955 is aveage for 3B. In other words, he’s got 2 more errors than a league average 3B with the same number of chances.

Dan Szymborski: You can make up a lot more than 2 plays in range.

Comment From Guest
If the Mariners traded for Price would they have anything left to add a bat as well?

Dan Szymborski: That’ll be tough.

Comment From Jaker
Leeroy is basically in every competitive deck. Go him first if you can!

Comment From Grunk Funklesunk
It seems like ____ is the only way to get posted in this chat

Dan Szymborski: SMEGMABURGER

Comment From Ryan
What’s up with Chase Headley? Higher LD%, lower GB% than career norms yet he is struggling. Think he would do better in the blue jays park?

Dan Szymborski: Yes, I think he’s a great pickup for someone.

Comment From Bryan
I run the warlock-murloc deck. Only deck I know of where you can do 20+ damage on turn 4.

Dan Szymborski: I did the dumbest thing ever the other day in hearthstone. I had two northshire clerics still hanging onto the board, had the opponent 1 hp from lethal

Dan Szymborski: but i needed to clear his taunts, so I did my quick circle of healing with achenai soulpriest to clear the board. Except I wa sonly half paying attention and did not put the soulpriest down first. Massive fatigue and i instadeathed myself despite having almost full life.

Dan Szymborski: And on that note, time to leave for antoher week. Thanks for coming guys!

Comment From Marcus A.
I have no idea what most of the last 10 questions mean.

Comment From Alex
NONE OF THAT MADE SENSE

Dan Szymborski: Hey, it’s the last question of the chat!

Comment From SADBOY 🙁
nerd