Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 9/15/14

11:59
Dan Szymborski: Salt peanuts.

11:59
Dan Szymborski: First things first, our usual president-related business.

11:59
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11:59
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12:00
Comment From jocephus
how crazy would it be if KC fired yost in the next week or so

12:01
Dan Szymborski: It would be a little weird. It’s not as if he’s anything new. It’s like someone who suddenly decides to stop burning his hand on the stove every morning for 4 years because it hurts. Well, why’d you stop now? Didn’t it hurt before?

12:01
Comment From Vslyke
Do you see the Braves making any major changes after a very disappointing season?

12:02
Dan Szymborski: No, it’s not an organization that makes bold, aggressive changes like that

12:02
Comment From Jake
Johnson, are you kidding?

12:03
Dan Szymborski: Uh oh, CiL issues

12:03
Dan Szymborski: Wait, it hangs while I publish a comment and but I can type my own comments just fine? WTF CiL?

12:03
Dan Szymborski: Let me try restarting the interface

12:04
Comment From James
I’m not defending the guy, just curious about your opinion: Tactically, how many currently-employed MLB managers are clearly better than Ned Yost?

12:04
Dan Szymborski: OK, that seems to be better.

12:04
Dan Szymborski: Yost is my least favorite manager, so all of ’em.

12:04
Comment From Jake
Does NYY take on another $200+ mil in obligations this offseason?

12:05
Dan Szymborski: Honestly? No idea. The Yankees have been so weird – they kinda screwed up last season by refusing to go over a number and then suddenly deciding that they can go over after all, missing out on other needs. They got Tanaka, but the offseason was a giant mishandle

12:05
Comment From MetsFaithful5
Who SHOULD win the ROY? And to you, who MOST likely will? DeGrom has been fantastic. Do you think he’s for real (number 2 starter)? Or will he end up as a number three for a bad to okay rotation?

12:05
Dan Szymborski: I think Hamilton’s probably had the best year and I think he’ll get it

12:05
Comment From John
Do you see the Pirates taking a step back next year due to some key players (Martin & Liriano especially) hitting FA?

12:06
Dan Szymborski: A little bit, Martin’s not super easy to replace. Honestly, they likely have to replace Martin’s production even if they bring him back – he’s a catcher on the wrong side of 30 and he’s got a 140ish OPS+ with a career of around 100

12:07
Comment From neal
is pedroia on the verge of a collapse?

12:07
Dan Szymborski: I don’t think so. He’s likely got aways to go before climbing the cliffs of insanity.

12:07
Comment From Jake
Yasmani Thomas, over/under $90 mil this offseason?

12:07
Dan Szymborski: Over, I think.

12:07
Comment From Vic
I moved to Baltimore in 1998….finally getting to see the Orioles do the the Yankees and Red Soxs what they always did to the Orioles! So satisfying.

12:07
Dan Szymborski: It is.

12:07
Comment From Brad Hawpe
Which are more trustworthy/accurate, the PITCHf/x or BIS plate discipline numbers?

12:08
Dan Szymborski: It’s hard to tell without a number to compare it to. Otherwise, I’d have to go by methodology and they both seem like they’ve got decen systems.

12:08
Comment From Mike
Unless by bold you mean overpaying for BJ. That was pretty bold, right?

12:08
Dan Szymborski: I faulted the Braves for his use this year, but I still think that contract was perfectly reasonable at the time.

12:10
Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
If the stories are to be believed, LBJ could fight off GHWB with a third appendage (and I’m not talking one of his legs)

12:10
Dan Szymborski: Let’s not forget, Bush was a navy pilot so had at least some fighting training i’m sure

12:11
Dan Szymborski: I’m surprised LBJ’s beating Bush, personally, but the word of the chat is the result.

12:11
Comment From Dan
Will Gio Gonzalez be in the Nationals playoff rotation?

12:11
Dan Szymborski: No

12:11
Comment From erghammer
Based on your experience in fantasy, what do you think is the most important thing that other players undervalue the most? In other words, what is the Moneyball strategy for succeeding in fantasy?

12:12
Dan Szymborski: Not a particular stat, but more of a philosophical thing. I think people sometimes fall into a trap of evaluating players in fantasy as they do in real life. There’s obviously a relationship, but there’s stuff valued in fantasy that’s not in MLB and vice versa

12:13
Comment From Bruce Bochte
Mariners should be at least a little concerned they went 2-4 at home when they really needed to dig into division rivals. Yet they’re only a game out of the 2nd wildcard, so it’s not over. If you are a Mariners fan, are you a) gleeful because your team exceeded expectations, b) dreadful because you think, despite being good, they could really lose to anyone or c) concerned but optimistic because they’re at least as good as any of the other teams vying for the 2nd wildcard spot?

12:13
Dan Szymborski: The Mariners should be very concerned, simply becuase they’ve got a tough schedule.

12:13
Comment From Jake
The other day, it occurred to me that Mike Trout’s first two seasons, in which he accrued 20+ wins, was worth about 2 weeks of A-Rod’s 2013 DL stint. I get that these are outliers of outliers and all, but it’s still funny to me, the difference between draft picks and free agents

12:14
Comment From Gila Monster
Apparently they are making Surge again. I miss the 90’s Dan. It was a simpler, yet better time.

12:14
Dan Szymborski: You didn’t even know the 90s Dan!

12:14
Dan Szymborski: WTF CiL?

12:15
Dan Szymborski: Now it’s eating comments grrrr

12:15
Dan Szymborski: I couldn’t even buy alcohol through most of hte 90s!

12:15
Dan Szymborski: Oh, there’s a comma there. Honestly, I thought Surge was awful.

12:15
Dan Szymborski: Not Mountain Dew awful, but pretty bad.

12:16
Dan Szymborski: In the citrus-y soda category, I really only like 7-Up. Cleaner than the other ones.

12:17
Comment From Joe
Please fill in the blanks:

Chris Sale *should* win the AL Cy Young if his WAR ends up within __ of Hernandez and Kluber.

Chris Sale *will* win the Cy Young if his ERA is below __.

12:17
Dan Szymborski: fart nugget, scrotum

12:17
Comment From LarryA
Are you aware the the NLCS is on Fox sports 1? I have 200 channels and FS! isnt one of them

12:17
Dan Szymborski: Shoot, I better check and see if I have it. I honestly don’t know!

12:17
Comment From Pennsy
Using Chief Wahoo as a baseline of 100% racist, how racist is the Tomahawk Chop by comparison??

12:17
Dan Szymborski: 88%

12:18
Comment From Jake
HW Bush was actually captain of Yale’s Baseball/soccer teams, so he’s got that going for him.

12:18
Comment From Tammy
Would you stream Stroman @ BAL (Chen) over Minor vNYM (Niese)?

12:18
Dan Szymborski: I believe I would.

12:20
Dan Szymborski: I think so. Even assuming Shoemaker keeps pitching as he has (well, before last couple of less inspiring starts) it’s likely the weakest playoff rotation. Definitely in the AL.

12:20
Dan Szymborski: Oh goody, my answer goes up before CiL feels like making the post

12:20
Comment From Robert
Do you think Scioscia will have the shortest leash on his starters in the postseason?

12:21
Comment From Jake
Yankees 2015 rotation without Lester/Shields/Scherzer/League Average pickup or two: Yankees 2015 rotation without signing Lester/Shields/Scherzer/League Average starter or two: Tanaka, Nova, Pineda, Greene, Sabathia. Would Signing McCarthy and one of the above make them the best in baseball? I get that people said that about the 2014 rotation, but lightning tends not to strike twice, right? Right? Right?

12:21
Dan Szymborski: I don’t think adding one of any available pitcher and McCarthy makes the Yankee rotation the best in baseball.

12:22
Dan Szymborski: All of tanaka/Nova/Pineda/Green/Sabathia have big question marks.

12:22
Dan Szymborski: Even Tanaka – we don’t really *know* if he’ll actually avoid TJ surgery

12:23
Dan Szymborski: 4/5 of that named non-FA rotation has major injury question marks.

12:23
Comment From Rated Rookie

Nectar of the gods.

12:23
Dan Szymborski: I dislike Mountain Dew.

12:24
Comment From Bruce Bochte
Is Kendrys bad or, being a middling athlete to start with, he just wasn’t able to overcome sustained inactivity this free agent season?

12:24
Dan Szymborski: I think he’s just having a bad year. Even coming back injured players aren’t even that bad usually

12:25
Comment From Gila Monster
I see Micheal “Almost Mike Trout” Brantley is back towards the top of the leaderboards now.

12:25
Comment From Dylan
Real Sugar in any non-Coke soda is pretty awful. Mountain Dew is suppose to be syrupy and sweet

12:26
Dan Szymborski: Again, yuck. I like soda that goes down clean, Mountain Dew, after you drink it, you’re unsure if that’s phlegm in your throat or not

12:26
Dan Szymborski: If you took Slimer from Ghostbusters and blend him and drink him, that’s Mountain Dew

12:27
Comment From Alex
Without checking, guess where the Jays rotation ranks in fWAR?

12:28
Dan Szymborski: Middle of the pack? An upgrade would have still been awesome, but they weren’t really as dreadful as some thought

12:28
Comment From Grand Admiral Braun
Mountain Dew or Crab Juice?

12:28
Dan Szymborski: I’m from Baltimore, so crab juice obviously

12:28
Comment From Rated Rookie
If you keep up this Mountain Dew talk, you will need to rename this the Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Slander.

12:28
Dan Szymborski: Also, I think something’s wrong with CiL becuase my question volume is 10% of what it normally is

12:29
Comment From Gary
maybe nobody likes you anymore

12:29
Dan Szymborski: I would think that would be a slow slope of declining like, rather than all of a sudden.

12:30
Dan Szymborski: I’ve been an internet baseball jerk for more than 15 years, so I don’t think there’s a particular reason to stop liking me now.

12:30
Comment From jocephus

12:30
Dan Szymborski: I remember that! I always got Hi-C boxes because I hated the Capri Sun pouches. I just could not get into the pouch without the straw going straight through the back of the pouch

12:30
Comment From Guest
What happens to Daniel Nava next year in Boston?

12:31
Dan Szymborski: I think he hangs around a sa role player

12:31
Comment From Gary
Does ZiPS use UZR or DRS (or some combination) for defense projections?

12:31
Dan Szymborski: Combination, plus for minor leaguers, I have a total zone-ish system that I combine with scouting report parsing.

12:31
Dan Szymborski: A few years ago, I did research on the predictive defensive value of adjectives in scouting reports.

12:32
Comment From Jake
Nevermind if, should Roger Goodell stay on as Commish? Who has more investigative resources, a multi-billion dollar entertainment corporation, or TMZ?

12:32
Dan Szymborski: Of course, it’s not so much a question of resources, but the willingness to use it

12:33
Dan Szymborski: Not saying excusable, but I think the NFL likes to be a little ignorant until they’re forced to pay attention

12:34
Comment From Jake
In the coming Fangraphs stage production of The Wire, who are you going to play, Avon or String?

12:34
Dan Szymborski: Dunno, Bunk Moreland?

12:34
Dan Szymborski: Or maybe Prop Joe?

12:35
Dan Szymborski: Though I’d probably end up being Frank Sobotka as I’m balding, white, and part polish

12:35
Dan Szymborski: Though my bald situation is better than Chris Bauer’s

12:35
Comment From Shawn
Start Strasburg tonight? He hasn’t been great on the road, particularly against ATL?

12:35
Dan Szymborski: I’d still start him

12:35
Comment From Cave Dameron
Would it surprise you at all if Trout changed his approach again for next year?

12:35
Dan Szymborski: No, some players tinker more than others

12:36
Comment From Chef Jim
The Orioles will have Wieters and Machado back next year, but they have been doing this with retreads and an average-at-best rotation. Are they the division winner most likely to regress next year?

12:36
Dan Szymborski: I think they’ll regress a bit – probably somehwat of an 85-win team.

12:36
Dan Szymborski: A good team, but without a lot of megastar power, so they need to have really good secondary contributions, which aren’t always a given

12:37
Comment From CuriousGeorge
the nfl turns a bline eye to PEDS, except for 1 or 2 players per year in order to avoid people taking notice

12:37
Dan Szymborski: Pretty much. MLB can’t get away with a tenth the rap that NFL does

12:38
Comment From mtsw
Any truth to the idea that improvement in O’s pitching has been due to switch from Wieters at C to Joseph/Hundley? Joseph, at least, seems like a much better pitch framer.

12:38
Dan Szymborski: I’d want data before I’d make any kind of statement like that

12:38
Dan Szymborski: Too easy to look at results and find a storyline that fits them

12:38
Comment From Jake
The NFL turns a blind eye to PEDS because the human body cannot reasonably do what a modern linebacker does without taking PEDS in some form at some point.

12:38
Dan Szymborski: Pretty much

12:39
Comment From Vincent
Would you dare start AJ Burnett (@SD & @Oak) two starts this week, or would you rather Morton at home versus BoSox & Brewers?

12:39
Dan Szymborski: Think I’d go with Morton

12:39
Comment From THE average sports fan
With success of Joseph, and unlikeliness of resigning Weiters, think they put him on the market?

12:39
Dan Szymborski: They should at least attempt to, see what he can get

12:39
Comment From Alex
Could use a little support Dan. Arguing with some folks that the only way Ben Cherington got Joe Kelly was by taking on Craig’s contract. I think they’re nuts, right?

12:40
Dan Szymborski: I dunno, Kelly does have some upside left.

12:41
Dan Szymborski: Kelly’s wierd in that he has the stats of a mediocre nibbler, not a guy with a nasty, lively fastball and little command

12:41
Dan Szymborski: Usually, those guys will at least strike out batters while walking a ton

12:41
Comment From mtsw
Steve Pearce: diamond in the rough or flukey-good?

12:42
Dan Szymborski: Probably a good role player having his best season

12:42
Comment From Jake
My take is, Goodell is never going to have the capital he had before Rice. I don’t know that Goodell really can go 180 degrees and ban anyone remotely accused of domestic violence without taking piss from the union, he’s going to go light on someone who ends up being guilty at some point, and he’s going to take more flack. In the next five to ten years, when the data on concussions gets firmed up, the NFL is going to look like the aigrette companies, turning a blind eye or worse to clear evidence of severe danger. Goodell is not going to have the capital he needs to weather that.

12:42
Comment From Don
Is ervin santana out of gas?

12:42
Dan Szymborski: He’s been very erratic – he’s really more or less a #3 type when it comes down to it

12:43
Comment From Joe
Start Ervin tonight? facing WAS and got crushed last start against them.

12:43
Dan Szymborski: Depends what the alternate is. I’d probably avoid it if I could

12:43
Comment From Mooking for Love
Does Stanton garner sympathy votes due to his current broken face situation, or is Kershaw the runaway MVP?

12:44
Dan Szymborski: Pitcher MVPs are really weird in that there’s little objective data that points to which pitchers will get MVP votes and which won’t. Pitchers have to get buzz to get MVP votes.

12:44
Dan Szymborski: Based on the ESPN panelist (about half of us picked him for MVP), I think Kershaw will get significant support and is possibly the favorite.

12:44
Dan Szymborski: I think any Stanton sympathy vote would be canceled out by the reduced numbers when they sit down and vote on him

12:44
Comment From Guest
Couldn’t the NFL end all of it’s woes if it just said “We’ll allow the legal system and teams to take care of these types of problems”? Josh Leuke is hated, but still plays baseball. Matt Bush bounced around several teams after beating a high school kid with a golf club(on video),assaulting a woman at a party,..several DUIs before he end up in prison. Nobody blamed Selig.

12:44
Dan Szymborski: That’s what they should have done from the start.

12:45
Dan Szymborski: Then they’d have an excuse to not get involved every time something like this happens.

12:45
Dan Szymborski: But once you wade in, people expect you to not be arbitrary and not lie.

12:45
Comment From Ben
Have you noticed the trend of people on Twitter angrily tweeting at sports writers for tweeting about baseball during football season?

12:45
Dan Szymborski: I have not, I’ve actually seen more of the reverse.

12:46
Comment From Matheny
Any news on Wacha and the Cards’ plans for him?

12:46
Dan Szymborski: They’re being careful and taking a wait-and-see approach as Wacha’s still not feeling comfortable

12:46
Comment From Pirates Hurdles
Why were people concluding that Stanton would win the MVP? Sure he has HRs but Cutch had the better wRC+ and wOBA on a playoff team. Is it the bad team surprising isn’t awful story line?

12:47
Comment From THE average sports fan
NO Goodell supporter here. But the reason he is doing player discipline, is that his bosses wanted him to do it. That way they are not forced to take unpopular stances against their own players.

12:47
Dan Szymborski: Dammit, more eaten replies.

12:47
Dan Szymborski: Shorter version: HRs win MVPs.

12:48
Comment From mtsw
Do you think arbitrary nature of NFL’s personal conduct policy was more a result of PR considerations of “fuck the players’ union” considerations?

12:48
Dan Szymborski: This chat’s slowing down and I think a lot of comments/questions are being eating in the aether.

12:49
Dan Szymborski: So feel free to chime in with non-baseball Qs as I’m running out actual baseball Qs. Don’t know why, I usually can only answer about 20% of questions

12:49
Dan Szymborski: Typically by this point, I’m still answer questions from 1215-1220 or so!

12:49
Comment From Jake
While we’re ranting about PEDS, can I mention that we’ve had synthetic Testosterone longer than we’ve had a viable synthesized form of penicillin, that steroids in sports started with the 1950’s Olympic weightlifting team, and that anyone who thinks Bonds, Bash Brothers and Co. started the influence of steroids in sports is being totally irrational?

12:49
Dan Szymborski: And of course Tom House admitted taking steroids and said his teammates did when he was with the Braves in the early 70s.

12:50
Comment From Sean
Do you think AJ Pollock’s bat is real? He looks the same before and after injury and I don’t see anything that screams regression.

12:50
Comment From Sean
Do you buy AJ Pollock’s bat this year? Potential all-star next few years?

12:50
Dan Szymborski: i think he’s made improvement, but some is likely to come off the BABIP

12:51
Dan Szymborski: Triples are also a young man’s game – they steeply decline through the 20s

12:51
Comment From Jake
Who’s gonna play McNulty?

12:51
Dan Szymborski: I would initially think one of the Daves as McNulty’s kinda the center-most character

12:52
Dan Szymborski: But Cameron doesn’t drink and Appelman doesn’t seem the McNulty tipe

12:52
Dan Szymborski: Did I just write tipe instead of type?

12:53
Dan Szymborski: Cistulli or Sullivan maybe?

12:53
Comment From Andrew
Eno is McNulty no doubt

12:53
Dan Szymborski: Eno may be the best choice.

12:53
Comment From Jake
By the by, thanks as always for your time Dan. These chats are always awesome, and we know your time is valuable

12:53
Dan Szymborski: Not *that* valuable considering how much time I spend doing goofy things.

12:53
Comment From Guest
Have you played Spelunky?

12:53
Dan Szymborski: Haven’t yet

12:53
Comment From Sean
Can we request more Hearthstone cards? I know you feel the joke was beating down, but we could use a resurgence!

12:53
Dan Szymborski: At some point, maybe as they reach next expansion.

12:54
Dan Szymborski: I still play a lot of Hearthstone, but as you note, I feel the joke had run its course for the time being

12:54
Comment From Jake
Rank the seasons in order of intro:

12:54
Comment From Jake
My list: 1, 3, 5, 2, 4

12:54
Dan Szymborski: I actually dont’ have all the renditions memorized!

12:54
Comment From Gila Monster
I can be McNulty. I am talented arrogant alcoholic who loves to hate authority.

12:54
Comment From mtsw
Who’s the worst team in the majors, record-wise, next season?

12:54
Dan Szymborski: Phillies

12:54
Comment From Chef Jim
Bryce Harper = Adam Dunn. Discuss.

12:55
Dan Szymborski: That’s a little premature considering how Harper is still extremely young. Though I should note Adam Dunn was a really solid player for awhile

12:55
Comment From dogbone
Next year josh Harrison is up for arbitration. Would you give a long term deal or not? Sure he can’t keep this up but…?

12:55
Dan Szymborski: I’d hold off on offering a deal

12:55
Comment From Rated Rookie
What does Matheny gain and lose with the insert-Grichuk-for-Taveras-after-the-7th inning tactic? Is this a case of overmanaging? Or do the numbers support this shenanigan?

12:55
Dan Szymborski: Matheny is a classic overmanager, I think

12:55
Comment From Guest
Speaking of the NFL, Why is the MLBPA so strong compared to other sports unions? I imagine a player strike in the NFL would cause literal riots in the streets and billions of dollars of lost business.

12:56
Dan Szymborski: They had good organization. Miller was an excellent leader.

12:56
Dan Szymborski: As we get farther from Miller/Fehr, we’ve seen the MLBPA’s resolve decline.

12:56
Comment From Guest
the correct answer is season 4.

12:56
Comment From Bruce
Can the Astros get to 500 next year?

12:57
Dan Szymborski: It’s a possibility, but I expect that their next step is to the mid-70s or so. They’re a couple years behind the Cubs

12:57
Dan Szymborski: The Cubs got to start their rebuilding in a better place than the Astros did

12:58
Dan Szymborski: When Epstein looked over, the Cubs looked like a convenience store cleared out before a snowstorm. The Astros, when Luhnow took over, looked like that convenience store that was hit by a tactical nuke.

12:58
Comment From Mike C.
have you ever played the Sima? Excited for Sims 4 or Destiny?

12:58
Dan Szymborski: Sims 4 shoudl be fun. While I’m interested in Destiny and it looks cool, I’m not playing a FPS on a console, period.

12:58
Dan Szymborski: Unless it’s Goldeneye.

12:58
Comment From Mooking for Love
The Phillies!?!?!? B-b-b-b-butttt Uncle Amaro said he thinks we can compete next year!!! Wahhhh!!!!

12:58
Dan Szymborski: Uncle Ruben says a lot of things.

12:59
Comment From Jimmy
How come you don’t have a vote for the Fangraphs Player of the Year Award?

12:59
Dan Szymborski: I’m not a member of the FanGraphs staff.

12:59
Comment From Alex
You’re not a member of the Fangraphs staff!?!?!

1:01
Dan Szymborski: My contract is with ESPN. They’ve been super cool giving me some leeway to do chats and store projections at FG.

1:02
Dan Szymborski: And the Davids have been cool too, not even asking anything that would put me in an awkward spot.

1:02
Comment From Steve
Got offered Josh Harrison for Aaron Sanchez in my dynasty league, should I do it?

1:02
Dan Szymborski: I wouldn’t

1:02
Comment From Alex
What do you think the Jays need to do to compete next year?

1:02
Dan Szymborski: Punch everybody at Rogers

1:02
Comment From Gila Monster
Are you excited for Civ:Beyond Earth? I’m afraid it will just be a Civ 5 mod that costs $60.

1:03
Dan Szymborski: I’m intrigued, though I don’t generally care for space settings as much. I enjoyed Alpha Centauri, but I didn’t play the hell out of Alpha Centauri like I did the Civilization games.

1:03
Dan Szymborski: And of *course* it’s an Alpha Centauri sequel. Don’t insult our intelligence, publisher.

1:03
Comment From Mooking for Love
I got drunk and took the over bet on a George Springer HR line of 39.5 next year. My fantasy team loyalties are getting the best of me.

1:03
Dan Szymborski: For over/under/ You’re crazy.

1:04
Comment From Jake
Can Carson play Marlo? Please?

1:04
Dan Szymborski: I had tiny speck of something and I thought at first that was “Can Carson play Mario.” Which would be amusing

1:04
Comment From Just a bit outside
Baez’s zone contact rate is not awful, not good, but not awful (on par with jd martinez and corey dickerson). His o-contact and o-swing are awful. Can players learn how to pickup pitches and improve those numbers while in the show or is he destined for 40% K% forever.

1:04
Dan Szymborski: Players can make some progress in strikeouts, but drastic changes are fairly unusual

1:05
Comment From mtsw
Besides Oakland/Tampa (the only two absolute dumps left), what MLB team gets a new stadium next?

1:05
Dan Szymborski: Atlanta 🙂

1:05
Comment From ar
what’s your take on how defense should be counted in WAR? regressed? some given to play, some put into an “other” bucket? average UZR and DRS?

1:05
Dan Szymborski: I would regress it. I believe, like one-year park factors, that the noise is significant enough that we should be skeptical about the short-term magnitude

1:05
Comment From Steve
Are you aware that your last name makes you sound super cool?

1:06
Dan Szymborski: Szymborski sounds cool? Never heard that before.

1:06
Dan Szymborski: Maybe if I was like Dan Steel or something.

1:06
Comment From You Cant Spell Dan Szymborki Without Mike Trout
What % does username have to do with whether a question is selected?

1:06
Dan Szymborski: None, I try to not even look at the name.

1:06
Comment From Guest #2
Last week, you streamed chat on Twitch. Which video games do you watch on twitch?

1:06
Dan Szymborski: Hearthstone, some other random ones

1:06
Comment From Guest
fyi, 40% k rate forever at MLB level is unprecedented. Cubs fans should be worried.

1:06
Dan Szymborski: It probably won’t be *that* extreme.

1:07
Dan Szymborski: But he’ll stay a high strikeout player I’m sure

1:07
Comment From Mike C.
Rank this year’s Brewer’s collapse all time. Detroit or As if they miss the POs. Worse than Pittsburgh’s collapse of 2011,2012?

1:08
Dan Szymborski: Detroit or A’s worse.

1:08
Dan Szymborski: The thing about the Brewers is that projections *always* though they were a slightly below .500 roster, even after the second week of the season

1:08
Dan Szymborski: And that’s how they’ve played more or less. They peaked at what, 6 game lead in June? Losing that isn’t terrible horrific

1:09
Comment From john
Re: Fantasty vs. reality. Chris Carter is an awful baseball player in real life, but in fantasy, 35 bombs is god-like nowadays

1:09
Comment From mtsw
DotA or LoL?

1:10
Dan Szymborski: I’m not really into that genre.

1:10
Dan Szymborski: There’s too much not doing anything and powering up by timing attacks on creeps.

1:11
Comment From Mike
Dan – is your printed ligament idea something folks are working on or theoretical at this point?

1:11
Dan Szymborski: Well, they’re working on organs and stuff, but I do expect it to happen

1:11
Dan Szymborski: In 30 years, I expect a significant percentage of pitchers to have artificial UCLs

1:12
Comment From Steve
Green or Red?

1:12
Dan Szymborski: Apples? No preference. Food? I prefer red meat to greens.

1:12
Comment From Guest
Which teams stand to be the most improved next year? Red Sox? Rangers? Also, which teams are close to heading off a cliff? I think the Tigers.

1:13
Dan Szymborski: Rangers should have a good comeback even if they have a lousy season.

1:13
Dan Szymborski: Had a piece on it on ESPN. If ZiPS knew the exact composition of playing time, ZiPS would have projected Texas to go 65-97 rather than the 88-74 it did predict.

1:13
Comment From CuriousGeorge
in terms of collapge… has every forgot about the sox a few years ago…

1:13
Dan Szymborski: Now *that* was a quality collapse.

1:13
Comment From Guest
What position do you expect Franco to land at for 2015? Is he an opening day starter?

1:13
Dan Szymborski: I don’t think he’s an opening day starter and I doubt the Phillies have an idea what they’re going to do with him

1:14
Dan Szymborski: On that note, we’ll end this for the week.

1:15
Dan Szymborski: As usual, you can find my work on ESPN.com, chats and projections here at FanGraphs, and DSzymborski on Twitter and other places.

1:15
Dan Szymborski: Hopefully the interface will be more cooperative next week – I had to refresh it about a dozen times when comments got stuck.





Dave is the Managing Editor of FanGraphs.

3 Comments
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BrooksRob
9 years ago

oh god, not the O’s are due to regress silliness again…

bookbook
9 years ago
Reply to  BrooksRob

When a team plays better than its talent level, those “due to regress” comments are certain to come. And the odds are they’re right.

3d-printed bone and spine spacers and hips have been implanted (and 1 bladder, I believe). Livers and Kidneys are under intensive development–though approval to implant will probably be a several year process. ligaments? Ought to be much easier than kidneys and livers, though not as lucrative/essential so not top priority right now.