Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 9/9/13

Dan Szymborski: Is party time.

Dan Szymborski: One week, I’m going to do a very angry chat with no explanation, just to confuse people. But not today.

Comment From Chris
Dan, Dan, he’s our man. If he can’t do it, someone else probably could with a lot less snark….

Dan Szymborski: Me snarky? I’m a regular Huell Howser. I love everything and everybody.

Dan Szymborski: And everything farts sunshine rainbows and magical leprechauns with hats of love and mutual respect all the time.

Comment From Dan
As a heads-up I’ll be asking lots of q’s about fringy guys this week. Hope that’s cool.

Dan Szymborski: You mean Bashar al-Assad fringy?

Dan Szymborski: TACTICAL MISSILE STRIKE DAYTON MOORE’S HOUSE

Comment From Chris
ROC – Rizzo or Goldy?

Dan Szymborski: Goldschmidt, simply because he’s safer

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Dan old buddy

Dan Szymborski: Old, I’m 35! And I’m not your buddy, pal

Comment From HTT
do you answer fantasy questions

Comment From Dan
Eyeballing it, Yusmeiro Petit had about a 93ish FIP+ coming in. Has his current season translated well or too many homers in the PCL? SF seems like a great D/park for him to carve out a niche.

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but not too many as they’re very specific to the person

Dan Szymborski: Don’ thave it off hand and I’m multi-tasking, can you ask me on twitter

Comment From Dan
Nah, Meir Kahane fringe-y. Thoughts on the American Nazi Party? What Prison gang would you be most likely to join?

Dan Szymborski: I’m kind of aryan

Comment From Mike
Why have BIS plate discipline numbers changed so much relative to the Pitch F/X numbers over the past few years?

Dan Szymborski: You have different algorithms – I haven’t actually checked to see the differences

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Going to have to bite the bullet and drop someone I don’t want to. Drop Asbrubal, Headley or McCann. Keeping in mind that the guy I’m playing against has a black hole at C and would pick up McCann.

Dan Szymborski: Ouch

Dan Szymborski: Sorry, phone call from editor

Dan Szymborski: Honestly, in a redraft, it might be Headley that has to go

Dan Szymborski: Asdrubal’s expectation going forward is still higher than his season stats and his defense doesn’t hurt you

Comment From bob
I’m not your pal guy…

Dan Szymborski: I’m not your pal friend!

Comment From Jills Nipple
Switching to Dynasty and get to take 2. Trout is a no-brainer, but which stud rookie is the better 2nd, Jose Fernandez (QS) or Puig? More importantly, better real career?

Dan Szymborski: I’d probably take Fernandez, but Puig is safer as a htiter.

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
I’m not your pal, friend

Comment From kevinthecomic
how long after starting baseball activities do players typically return to game action?

Dan Szymborski: Depends on the exact injury and the circumstances.

Dan Szymborski: Don’t take too much into the “resumed baseball activities” announcement.

Comment From howlingwolf
Going to need a 1B in a deep pts. keeper league next year. These guys (gulp!) might be available: Belt, Smoak, Alonso, Duda. Awful selection but…

Dan Szymborski: Belt’s the best of the group, even in a terrible park.

Comment From Jeff
What LCS matchups would you like to see?

Dan Szymborski: I’d love to see the Detroit vs. Boston showdown

Comment From Tim
Mike Trout’s WAR is totally gonna be on the scoreboard once he reaches 10.0, right?

Dan Szymborski: You wish

Comment From Morose Royals Fans
Why you gotta harsh my mellow like that, man? Also, what would a sweep of Cleveland do for KC’s playoff odds? Or does it depend too much on what everyone else does?

Dan Szymborski: Well, it would help obviously, but the problem with a lot of moving parts is that 1 team’s misfortune helps the other guys, not just you

Dan Szymborski: If you’r ereading my ESPN piece today, there’s a little graph that shows KC vs. each possible component and you can see quickly how adding up guys that are just barely ahead to KC knocks down the odds

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
I’m in a lecture hall and the only power outlets are in the back of the room. My eyesight is bad so I can’t see the board. Do I sacrifice education for Fangraphs chats?

Dan Szymborski: I slept through most of my classes and I ended up OK…uh…maybe you should sit closer and pay attention

Comment From LarryA
If a pitcher, say Ivan Nova for example, has owned the Orioles over 3 starts this season, but gotten destroyed by the Jays over 3 starts, can we expect a continuation of similar results in his 4th start vs both teams?

Dan Szymborski: Don’t expect that to continue. Noise crushes the signal

Comment From Dan
Related to Petit (since he made a great grab the inning he came in as a D sub), Juan Perez has 8.3 fangraph fielding runs in 134 OF innings. Odds he’s an elite fielder with little bat? (Not asking for a specific zips, these types just fascinate me.)

Dan Szymborski: He’s not atrocious offensively – yeah, his minor league numbers are kind of blecch with the PCL knocking ’em down

Dan Szymborski: But yeah, ti’s evidence he’s a really good fielder, but don’t draw too much into limitedstats

Comment From zack
The Rays have been using Delmon Young as a clean up hitter. Ummm WTF?

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, I’ve been less than pleased by that an analyst, but more than pleased as an O’s fan

Dan Szymborski: At least he’s DHing.

Comment From Hal
“Microsoft doing a smack talk surface vs. ipad commercial really reeks of sadness. Like a Blue Jays fan talking smack in 2013′ is definitely your best tweet ever.

Dan Szymborski: I’m still generally annoyed by Windows 8, so even though I’m a PC guy, my MS love is at a very low level right now

Dan Szymborski: At its nadir so to speak.

Dan Szymborski: Replaced my old laptop. New one has Windows 8 and it’s just as obnoxious as the preview.

Dan Szymborski: Start8 got installed very quickly and I had to get windows 7 drivers for my touchpad because every damn movement had some kind of stupid gesture that did something I did not want.

Dan Szymborski: DO NOT WANT

Comment From RSquared
Does Victorino finish his career as RHH only?Or do the split police arrest him and put him back in LHH purgatory?

Dan Szymborski: He’s actually always had big platoon splits – people forget that switch-hitters frequently still have huge platoon splits

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
What prison gang would the ZiPS machine join?

Dan Szymborski: protective custody I hope. 3930k CPU is expensive to replace.

Comment From HTT
Cashner starting @Phi and @Atl or Uehara (w/ Red Sox playing Rays and Yankees) ?

Dan Szymborski: Depends on what you need!

Comment From Jeremy
I was talking with a friend about Edgar’s case for the HoF when we saw that Todd Helton was vying for 2500 hits. My friend said that Helton had a great career but not HoF worthy and we compared their statistics. I found that Helton had less WAR than Edgar despite playing for a year longer and having superior offensive numbers. Could you explain this difference to me? Thanks

Dan Szymborski: I’d actually put them both in. Helton has more defensive value, but when you take into account the environments, Edgar Martinez has a 147 OPS+ in 8700 PA vs. Helton’s 133 in an extra year

Dan Szymborski: And remember, Martinez was a 3B for awhile and wasn’t really as dreadful as advertised – just couldn’t stay healthy playing defense

Comment From Eminor3rd
Overall, what is the best use of time?

Dan Szymborski: The best use of time is to measure the duration of events and the interval between them.

Comment From Dan
Do online editors have porkpie hat JPEG’s?

Dan Szymborski: I have a porkpie hat!

Comment From zack
Fact or Fiction: Jay Bruce will hit .270/.330/.500 until the end of time?

Dan Szymborski: Well, until he declines.

Dan Szymborski: Bruce breaks probability. He could hit .540 for half a season and then go hitless the rest of the way just to get back to .270

Comment From Dan
Can Will Smith be decent enough against righties to be an elite swingman type? His numbers v. lefties are video-game-y. (Feel free to make Will Smith jokes. I’m lazy.)

Dan Szymborski: It’s kind of a new thing for Smith – he had the same splits in the minors this year but before 2013, not much in the way of splits

Dan Szymborski: A Will Smith joke is too easy

Dan Szymborski: I would instead make a reference to William Smith, the lawyer who attempted to seize power over Hawaii in the 19th century

Comment From Hal
The Red Sox could be just as good next year if their only FA move is McCann, with Nava/Carp/Gomes patrolling left and first, JBJ in center, Middlebrooks/Bogaerts in the infield, 6+ starters, and plenty of arms in the bullpen that just need to be utilized correctly.

Dan Szymborski: True.

Comment From Doyle Alexander
2013 Pirates: Done?

Dan Szymborski: No.

Comment From Eminor3rd
How come no one ever updates the positional adjustments for WAR? That feels like something that needs updated every year.

Dan Szymborski: You want to do it against long-term trends – it shouldn’t fluctuate drasticallys eason-to-season

Comment From Jeremy
Dan, 35 is old. It’s at least post-prime.

Dan Szymborski: But not for a writer

Dan Szymborski: If I’m in MLB, there has probably been some serious decimation of mankind by a super virus

Comment From Hank?!
Last player to produce back to back 10 WAR seasons, go!

Dan Szymborski: Did Yaz do it? If not, I’m positive Mays did

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Its ok Dan if I have any questions about the course material I’ll just ask you instead of the professor.

Dan Szymborski: Remember, I did a lot of drinking and sleeping in college.

Comment From Guest
Does it burn anyone else’s ass that Castellanos is sitting in favor of Matt Tuiasusopo, who proved Voros’ Law in April/May and then went back to being Matt Tuiasusopo?

Dan Szymborski: It annoys the hell out of me, though if it causes physical pain to your anus, you should visit a physician.

Dan Szymborski: You don’t want to confuse an enlarged prostate with Tuiasosopo.

Dan Szymborski: Bad players aren’t metastatic unless Dayton Moore has money to spend.

Dan Szymborski: (or Ruben Amaro)

Comment From DansEditorsMom
Have you seen Scooter Gennett, if so, what do you think…so far his numbers are great?

Dan Szymborski: I first saw him in 2010. I was kind of disappointed that he was larger than someone nicknamed Scooter should be.

Dan Szymborski: I was expecting him to be much smaller, like David Eckstein who sleeps in an empty box of matches at night

Dan Szymborski: He’s not *this* good though. I think he’s more likely to be a role player in the long tern

Comment From Jills Nipple
Safe to say that most would highly debate individual awards, so who do you think has actually had the best rookie season?

Dan Szymborski: I’d go with Jose Fernandez over Puig, Puig’s made it a fight, but Fernandez has been just too good and has benefit of more time

Dan Szymborski: Now, AL, that’s more itneresting

Dan Szymborski: No super obvious selection. Leonys Martin doesn’t have eyepopping numbers (but a good case). Might get to Wil Myers

Comment From Ryan
Nate McClouth or Rajai Davis better fantasy options than Josh Hamilton RoS?

Dan Szymborski: I’d still take Hamilton.

Dan Szymborski: Unless you need the SB

Comment From fats
can you tell me more cool things about mike trout please

Dan Szymborski: Hitler actually won WWII, but Mike Trout uppercut him through time and we’re now on the good timeline, like that episode of Yesterday’s Enterprise with Christopher McDonald

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Is Kershaw’s peak going to be higher than Verlander’s?

Dan Szymborski: Possibly. You could argue it already is.

Comment From John
I had to activate Roy Halladay today. Did I just ruin my season?

Dan Szymborski: It’s worth a test. If you activated him, you’re probably not dominating.

Comment From Greg
Has Junior Lake at least earned a chance to prove he’s not an everyday major leaguer?

Dan Szymborski: Yes

Comment From Mike
What is Trout’s prime going to look like and could he actually average at least 9.0 WAR a year for his career?

Dan Szymborski: It’s dangerous to assume growth – the thing about superstars is that once they flourish, they don’t just keep getting better or anythign

Comment From Jills Nipple
Any thoughts on Hurdle actually thinking that Garret Jones is a decent DH in Texas?

Dan Szymborski: It’s not like they have David Ortiz hanging around.

Comment From zack
How many home runs would Mark McGwire have hit if he played his home games in pre humidor coors?

Dan Szymborski: That’s what the baseball-reference player neutralizer thingy is for!

Comment From Brad Wesley
With 3b covered and Murphy under contract through 2014, what do you think the mets ultimate plan with flores is/should be?

Dan Szymborski: If they’re comfortable enough with him playing 2B, Murphy won’t stop them.

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Helton is going to get the Larry Walker treatment and be punished because Coors. Not that I necessarily think he’s deserving anyway.

Dan Szymborski: I think he is. Problem is, Walker was an even better candidate.

Dan Szymborski: Let’s be honest, the BBWAA voting is fucking awful.

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, I’m supposed to watch the language, but there’s just no other word to describe how awful they are.

Dan Szymborski: Last year’s vote is like having a buffet of wonderful dishes from chefs with Michelin stars, and isntead you consider taking the play-doh topped with gravy (Morris) and decide in the end to eat nothing and starve.

Comment From zack
If AROD helps power the yankees into a playoff spot Bud Selig will…..?

Dan Szymborski: I’m hoping stamp his feet like Rumplestiltskin and split in two

Comment From LarryA
If you lived in Oakland/Texas and could only buy 1 playoff ticket, would go to the Wildcard game, or game X of the divisional series?

Dan Szymborski: Wildcard game. It’s the only game you know ahead of time will be an elimination game.

Comment From Andrew
What do you have to say for yourself on declaring V-Mart done?

Dan Szymborski: I’m glad he’s not!

Dan Szymborski: He’s been crushing.

Dan Szymborski: Let’s be honest, he looked like warmed over feces early on.

Comment From zack
How come more people aren’t talking about HOmer Bailey’s breakout year? Not enough wins?

Dan Szymborski: It’s been excellent but not crazy-awesome. And a lot of people remember Homer Bailey, Eternal Pitching Prospect

Dan Szymborski: Gregg Jefferies actually became a pretty good player, but nobody cared

Comment From Tom
I don’t think he can ever live up to his contract, but how much would you anticipate Werth dropping off offensively? How much of his value, strictly in terms of this season, can be attributed to his above-average HR/FB percentage?

Dan Szymborski: He’ll still drop off, though the outlook has improved. Still have the oldest years in his contract to go and even with his 2013, he’s actually slightly behind his contract so far

Comment From Brad Wesley
Whats the deal with patrick corbin lately? Just a streak of bad luck or was he pitching way above bis head to begin with?

Dan Szymborski: The boring answer here – the middle.

Comment From zack
Will Yu Darvish ever fix his issues with the long ball?

Dan Szymborski: Probably not. But lots of great pitchers give up a few more HR than you’d like

Dan Szymborski: Could the Rangers start scoring some damn runs for him? His start against Oakland sucked, but Texas didn’t score anything against some pretty awful teams before that

Dan Szymborski: And now he’s not getting his 14.5 wins, so I lose that bet.

Comment From Mike
Are Harper’s injuries to his knee and hip concerning that he might end up shorting his potential?

Dan Szymborski: Not that degree. Yet.

Comment From Vince
Is there an “elite swingman type?” Isn’t that like Hall-of-Fame backup catcher?”

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Those Blue Jays fans were probably bragging about them being the linear World Series Champions, if you assuming baseball was like boxing.

Comment From Eminor3rd
There’s a player named Kevin Pillar, lol. Is that some made up publicity stunt for Intentional Talk?

Comment From Tom
Do you think the current Cardinals rotation will be the starting 5 next year (Wainwright, Miller, Lynn, Kelly, Wacha)?

Dan Szymborski: Not a bad guess.

Dan Szymborski: Trying to remember Westbrook’s option terms off-hand and I can’t

Dan Szymborski: Luckily, I think it’s finally dawned on them that he sort of sucks.

Dan Szymborski: ($1m buyout if team declines)

Dan Szymborski: So that’s not worth worrying about

Comment From marjinwalker
Please remind Buck Showalter that Morse cannot play the field and shouldn’t be used there ever. He’s played Left and Right field almost exclusively since he was acquired, while DHing only once. Thank you.

Dan Szymborski: How much does a full page ad cost? If not too much, I could buy a few in the Baltimore Sun every year bitchily snarking about things that are annoying me.

Dan Szymborski: Of course, it’s too much, I’m sure.

Comment From Guest
What are the NL Central standings at the end of the season?

Dan Szymborski: St. Louis, Pitt, Cin

Comment From Jills Nipple
Dan, one could argue that you haven’t even hit the typical writer’s prime

Dan Szymborski: Bingo. I have so much untapped anger and my liver is still functional

Comment From Guest
What are the odds of the Pirates finishing tied for the second wild card at 81 wins and losing game 163 to continue the streak?

Dan Szymborski: Next to none. They have an 8 game lead on the Nats.

Dan Szymborski: Wild card game most likely Pit vs. Cin

Dan Szymborski: And almost certainly between the 2 non-division-winning NL Central teams

Comment From Guest
10+ WAR seasons…. Bonds 01-04

Dan Szymborski: My memory of bWAR is better than fWAR. Though I’m goign to get into trouble for that.

Comment From Nick
Does ZiPS run career projections as well? If yes, who has been the most interesting to you that you have seen?

Dan Szymborski: ZiPS does. Stanton’s projections are always interesting becuase of the younger crowd, he has so much pure power and got to use it at a young age

Comment From Mike
The Fangraphs standings page has the Red Sox at 30% chance of WS champions. That seems high. Does ZIPS really love them or something?

Dan Szymborski: Those aren’t ZiPS odds.

Dan Szymborski: I do my own thing.

Dan Szymborski: I have a world series feature in an upcoming ESPN mag, assuming it survives the final cuts.

Comment From Tom
Is Yadier Molina a HOFer?

Dan Szymborski: A little premature, especially because the voting is full of dumb at the moment.

Comment From Gila Monster
Come on Dan. Bonds produced a 4 season streak of 12.5,12.4,10.1,11.7 WAR season from 2001-2004

Dan Szymborski: Sorry, had remembered off-hand that defensive numbers hated him at that point more than they did

Comment From Jeff
which players have earned their huge contracts?

Dan Szymborski: A-Rod’s first contract was actually right on

Dan Szymborski: Of course, the Yankees screwed it up with the extension

Comment From Dan
I hope when you get into the BBWAA you get that made into a pin for meet-ups “let’s be honest, the BBWAA voting is fucking awful.” “Hello, Mr. Chass.”

Dan Szymborski: I’m probably not doing myself any favors by continually blasting the BBWAA.

Dan Szymborski: But I have trouble not commenting on the dumb things I see.

Dan Szymborski: And I’ve already given explicit permission on Twitter that if I ever become an angry old crank like Chass, I may be smashed in the head with a shovel.

Comment From BookWorm
McGwire comes out with 737 HRs through the B-R “2000 Coors” tool.

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Would a poll of the general public produce a better HOF than the BBWAA. Has it gotten that bad?

Dan Szymborski: It’s quite possible. Lot of silliness in casual fans, of course.

Dan Szymborski: I though the ESPN all-time vote we did last year came out pretty well.

Comment From Dan
Also, wouldn’t the BBWAA illustrate the modern philosophical problem you could then call “Journalist’s ass.”

Comment From saskatunes
Finally dropped Derek Jeter. It felt good. Now my opponent in 2nd round of playoffs is starting him. Can’t wait to win FPCT

Dan Szymborski: If your categories include awkward jumping throws, you’re dead.

Comment From Mike
What is your favorite drawing that you have made.

Dan Szymborski: I’ll have to find it.

Dan Szymborski: Two candidates.

Dan Szymborski: First

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Comment From Mike
Is Jurickson Profar going to end up like Homer Bailey or Gregg Jefferies?

Dan Szymborski: Too soon to say that

Comment From Jills Nipple
Did you see the infield bloop single Ichiro had where Drew dove and still couldn’t get to it? Total craziness

Dan Szymborski: I actually did not see tha tplay

Comment From Marcus A.
How would Shin Soo Choo’s value change if he was a -5 defender in right rather than a -15.6 in center?

Dan Szymborski: He’s more valuable in right – he’s a pretty bad CF. He actually may be better than that in right.

Comment From Gila Monster
Are we still expected Bryce Harper to be better than Mike Trout? I mean he is 20, but his platoon splits are vomit inducing….guy can’t hit lefties.

Dan Szymborski: I’m not.

Dan Szymborski: Nothing should be projected to be better than Trout.

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Have you played any EUIV yet? If so what do you think. I think its incredible.

Dan Szymborski: It’s fun, but I haven’t had time to play a ton yet!

Comment From Greg
Who’s your NL ROY?

Dan Szymborski: Fernandez

Comment From TJ
Once Hicks figures it out will the Twins OF be Hicks, Presley, Arcia? Willingham is looking pretty washed up.

Dan Szymborski: I still think teh Twins don’t fully realize how much they suck.

Comment From Jay
Back to the D. Young thing batting cleanup for the Rays. Almost any other team would be skewered by the analytical community but the Rays seem to mostly get a pass. It’s bad enough that they even signed him for the organization but now the brilliant J. Madden is putting him in the lineup> How do you explain their moronic move that could contribute to their missing the postseason?

Dan Szymborski: It’s a small enough difference, but it’s a really bad move.

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Why do you need to buy adspace your job is literally to write things that people read. But if not you could always start a kickstarter.

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but an obnoxious newspaper ad really gives me the opportunity to troll.

Comment From Joe
Help this Royals fan cling to hope: Where can I look up Colorado’s playoff probability on this date in 2007?

Dan Szymborski: I could actually run that, but you’ll have to remind me.

Dan Szymborski: I have a gigantic headache and have to get off PC in a few minutes

Comment From Steve
Whats your go to beer style?

Dan Szymborski: Wheat or a nice pale ale.

Dan Szymborski: Though I drink a wide variety of beer.

Dan Szymborski: I really don’t like smoked beers.

Comment From Guest
Joe Morgan had mutliple 10+ WAR seasons in the 70s

Dan Szymborski: But not bWAR!

Comment From Razor
Are plate discipline stats available anywhere for minor leaguers? I mean, available to us plebes?

Dan Szymborski: Minorleaguecentral.com has some of that stuff.

Dan Szymborski: I mine my own for myself.

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Don’t you just hate those people who laugh at every single mildly amusing thing a professor says. I just want to punch them.

Dan Szymborski: I think I had a love/hate relationship with every professor/teacher I ever had.

Dan Szymborski: I’m really obnoxious and argumentative.

Comment From Andrew
The NL Central has gotta be one of the oddest looking division standings we’ve seen.

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
Can it be assumed that the answer to “Who was the last person to perform impressive offensive feat X” is more likely than not going to be Barry Bonds.

Comment From saskatunes
Less informed electorate: BBWAA or the American public?

Dan Szymborski: I don’t know. The American public isn’t keen on bombing Syria

Dan Szymborski: But if you asked BBWAA members, I wouldn’t be surprised if they got confused and voted yes on a missile strike on Suriname.

Comment From Gila Monster
I’m curious on your thoughts….Why do we believe PED are bad? I mean I believe it is unfair of elite players like Bonds or A-Rod to use PEDs to move from Hall of Fame players to being top 5 all time players. But for you average player/person, wouldn’t using science,intelligence, and will to conquer natural genetic difference? In fact, most agree PED use just allows your to train harder and longer, Why are we frowning on people for trying harder? Especially for AAAA players trying to break into the big leagues to make a living. Shouldn’t be ban player’s children from playing? Seems like a much more unfair advantage….

Dan Szymborski: It depends. If PEDs have negative side effects, it makes sense for players to restrict what players can use, by agreement.

Dan Szymborski: Otherwise, I don’t have many qualms. I don’t care if it’s illegal, for instance.

Comment From JustMe
Smyly – Doomed to a life in the bullpen?

Dan Szymborski: I think so at this point

Comment From Guest
so who are your mvps this year?

Dan Szymborski: Trout/McCutchen or Kershaw

Comment From Sgt. Pepper
If you could had to pick a pseudonym what would it be?

Dan Szymborski: Demosthenes Jones. Any multiple syllable word before Jones is awesome.

Dan Szymborski: if I have to keep my name, something ridiculous, like Szap Szymborski.

Comment From Dave
Do the Pirates win more games in 2014 or 2013?

Dan Szymborski: Probably 2013.

Comment From Dr. Met
im impressed you knew christopher mcdonald (the real actor’s name) for that episode of STTNG

Dan Szymborski: He’s a well-known character actor.

Comment From Andres
Ted Williams: 3 straight 11 WAR season and 4 straight 10 WAR seasons in 42, 42, 46 and 47 (didn’t play in 43, 44, 45) damn Hitler. Mays had 4 straight 10 WAR seasons from 62 – 65. WOW, just WOW

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but I figured Mays did it and Mantle earlier, so no need to go that far back

Dan Szymborski: I really though that Bonds was in the 9s most of those years off-hand.

Dan Szymborski: And on that note, time to go for the week! Sorry for the abbreviated chat

Dan Szymborski: But I’ve got a bigger headache than the volume of air displaced by Jeff Francoeur swinging at a slider.

Dan Szymborski: See you guys next week!

Comment From Spencer
I just moved in with a roommate that is apparently the best player on his DOTA team, which is currently in a N. America/Europe tournament, and they are in the finals playing against the European team. How impressed should I be? I keep telling him it’s not fair that they excluded Koreans, but he seems to shrug this off.

Dan Szymborski: There’ ssome high level dota playing, you should be impressed

Dan Szymborski: Of course, if this is a subdural hematoma or something, I may in fact be dead for next week and someone will have to fill in with nerdy snark.

Dan Szymborski: But it’s probably not.

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