Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 6/17/13

Dan Szymborski: Rule of Acquisition #286: Latinum is forever, but so is Jeff Francoeur sucking.

Comment From Northsider
Carlos Marmol doesn’t appear to have any upside, but the Cubs keep giving him opportunities. Is the Cub’s FO just being stubborn by not releasing him at this point? I can’t imagine another organization willing to risk any potential success by adding this mess to their roster.

Dan Szymborski: He’s been good enough in the past that it can sometimes be hard to let go. He’s a reclamation project at this point.

Comment From JT
I foolishly dealt for Moustakas in a 12 team keeper. Do I carry him ’til he breaks out, or do I cut my losses now?

Dan Szymborski: If you have the roster spot, he’s probably still worth stashing

Comment From Northsider
Hey Dan! Let’s assume the next year’s draft is deeper than the current year’s. What keeps a team from low-balling a first round draftee in the hopes that they don’t sign netting them a 2nd first round pick in the stronger draft? Are they only awarded a compensation pick if they offer a set amount to the player? Also, would that team receive a larger draft budget seeing they have 2 first round picks?

Dan Szymborski: The pool is based on draft position and how many picks they have.

Dan Szymborski: And nothing, really, unless there’s a clause I missed (that particular situation hasn’t popped up eyt)

Comment From Bird Man
Is Anthony Rendon top 10 2B ROS?

Dan Szymborski: I think he is, though at the bottom. And keep in mind there’s no rule that states he has to stay healthy now

Comment From Ryan Seacrest
What is your take on Justin Upton? He hasn’t been very good since the start of May. I need 1B in my h2h league, would you trade him for any of Freeman, Craig, or Butler?

Dan Szymborski: I’d probalby hang onto him. He’s not as good as he was in APril nor as bad as he’s been the last month

Dan Szymborski: Honestly, I think fantasy players would make fewer bad impulse decisions if they didn’t even look at the stats until the start of summer.

Comment From Bret
Hey Dan! Quick question. Um, Adam Lind… WTF?!

Dan Szymborski: That’s about my reaction.

Comment From SlidingBilly
Any thoughts on Wil Myers ROS with regular playing time?

Dan Szymborski: 320/450ish or so

Comment From Mark
Is Kelly Johnson just going through a prolonged slump, or is it time to start considering replacements at 2B?

Dan Szymborski: He’s useful enough that his continued 2B qualifications give him value. YOu should never bet on BA from him

Comment From mike wants wins
Kyle Gibson, still in the minors….is there any good explanation for this?

Dan Szymborski: The Twins actually believe they don’t have the room for him right now.

Dan Szymborski: Which is kind of cute, like your 400-pound, bald friend that think he’s a ladies man.

Dan Szymborski: My theory is that the Twins are worried that if Gibson strikes out batters, it could confuse the rest of the pitching staff.

Comment From Rambo
Gerrit Cole has 3 k’s in his 2 starts… What’s the deal, and do you think he will struggle since he is not missing bats?

Dan Szymborski: I think he’s going to have ups and downs – I don’t think he’s going to be Matt Harvey this year. And now you know, the rest of the story.

Comment From Eminor3rd
What are your hobbies other than el beisbol and vidya games?

Dan Szymborski: football, classical music, nerdy indie pop, chess, pro wrestling, military history, playing mean pranks on my sister

Dan Szymborski: on 9/11/02, by fiddling with the electricity and sending her a fake CNN breaking news email right beforehand, I made her think we had gone to war with Turkey for a whole hour.

Comment From Padres Jagoff
Do the Padres have a real chance? Any ideas on how they can improve the starting pitching? Wait for Wieland or call up Burch Smith again, or try for a trade?

Dan Szymborski: They have a chance, but I suspect that they’re weaker than the other teams on a fundamental level right now. The rotation is not very good and patching it would probably cost more than the 2013 window of opportunity is open

Comment From LarryA
Yes! I knew I wasnt holding Ollie Perez since 2004 for nothing!

Dan Szymborski: All the people that took Scott Rice over Ben Sheets 14 years ago are laughing too! And then crying when they look at Rice’s walk rate.

Comment From Joe
ROS Kluber or Porcello?

Dan Szymborski: Kluber’s more interesting than he was a few months ago, but I’ll still take Bacon.

Comment From Aaron
Worst team in MLB? Mets, Marlins, Angels, Astros, White Sox?

Dan Szymborski: Marlins. Most depressing too.

Dan Szymborski: Mets may be better than Astros, but Mets are more depressing.

Dan Szymborski: Angels don’t belong here and the White Sox are more ordinarily mediocre than downright bad.

Comment From Andres
Do you think Colby Rasmus’ production is sustainable? What AVG and HRs do you see him hitting ROS? Thank you.

Dan Szymborski: He’s always had power potential. He’s going to hit 310/450 or thereabouts, while alternating months of awesomeness with months of you cursing his name and wanting to wipe his seed off the earth

Comment From juan pierres mustache
what is the appropriate response to someone playing “don’t stop believing” at volumes audible to the whole office at 1030 AM? I set fire to the guy’s desk, now I’m just trying to make sure that was a proportionate response

Dan Szymborski: Tell him that it’s time to stop believing and then a good garroting.

Comment From Guest
Iwakuma sounds like he can outpitch his peripherals…think he’s worth a Dom Brown or Jason Kipnis type in a trade?

Dan Szymborski: I would actually. He’s quite underrated and his park only helps him.

Dan Szymborski: Let me check something on iwakuma

Dan Szymborski: Iwakuma, last 365 days: 15-7, 2.51, 171 K in 201 IP

Comment From George
How often does a team let its relationship with a given agent affect their decisions? For instance, being more willing to consider a certain free agent or trade target because you want to be able to draft and sign another client of the same agent. Thanks for the chat, Dan.

Dan Szymborski: It does happen – teams do have to interact with these guys behind the scenes. Generally speaking, it’s counterproductive.

Comment From ChickenLittle
What’s wrong with Starling Marte? Or was his April just unsustainable?

Dan Szymborski: Winner winner, chicken dinner. He’s a good player, but people got too excited.

Comment From Bo
What do you make of Hinske’s comments re: Puig? Is he being childish, or does he have a point that Torre and Bud may be playing favorites?

Dan Szymborski: While he may have a point, it’s hard to get that upset about being treated unfairly when it stems from you gtting involved in a brawl

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, i would’ve suspended Puig too, but I would’ve wanted *much* stiffer penalties.

Dan Szymborski: Brawls are visceral fun for the fans, but I still prefer MMA.

Dan Szymborski: There’s no good reason for MLB to put up with this crap.

Dan Szymborski: Headhunting, collarbones breaking – the comparison between 5-10 games for offenses like this and 50 games for being caught using HGH, the magnetic bracelets of the PED world, is firetrucking stupid.

Dan Szymborski: It’s like the judge sentencing you to probation for a murder until he gets wind that you didn’t pay the parking meter and then throws the book at you.

Comment From DLOWE
With Lind being so hot for over a month now, I put him in for Butler – what do you think of the move? Also, would you put in Leonys Martin for Cain? HR, RBI, AVG and SB count in our league. Thanks

Dan Szymborski: I’d still hold out hope for Cain.

Dan Szymborski: Martin doesn’t get all the starts to himself and you get no credit for him being a CFer.

Comment From gouis
Rule if acquisition #345. Never let a potential source of profit out of your torture basement without first signing a contract.

Comment From fats
so, the jays season wasn’t completely murdered in the first month it seems

Dan Szymborski: people are prone to exaggeration.

Comment From sea salt
Profar has been good so far but no pop or steals. Are they coming this year?

Dan Szymborski: He’s got 2 HR in the majors and, IIRC, 5 in the minors. Nothing wrong with that. If you were expecting more than 10-15 HRs at a MLB lvel in 2013, you were getting ahead of yourself

Comment From Joe
Better catcher option ROS Grandal Castro Zunino?

Dan Szymborski: Zunino, though possibly not if you need BA

Comment From TJ
Hey Danny. I have Tulo and my team and he got injured…did you hear that? I picked up Alcides Escobar and just received a trade offer: I give Ryu I get Andrus. Do the deal or are Andrus & Escobar pretty even?

Dan Szymborski: Andrus is better in real life than in fantasy, so I wouldn’t be inclined.

Comment From Big Dave
Thoughts on Starlin Castro?

Dan Szymborski: He’ll be fine. If you have him in fantasy, you’ve almost certainly already absorbed the worst of his performance.

Comment From Mark
Any word on Castellanos joining Detroit soon? Wasn’t he moved to the OF?

Dan Szymborski: Tigers have generally been quiet. At this point, letting him him hit in Toledo is kind of wasting his time

Comment From Tyler
Someone in my league dropped Wilin Rosario so I scooped him up b/c V-Mart has been pretty weak so far in 2013. Drop Mr Martinez or just let him ride the pine until he shows a little more consistency?

Dan Szymborski: I’d probably keep him on the roster as he’s shown some signs of life. I’m still not overly optimistic, so it is a gamble

Comment From Shark Mapiro
What are your thoughts on Jason Kipnis ROS?

Dan Szymborski: 330/430

Comment From Chicago Mark
Hey Dan, What’s with Justin Morneau? He said during spring training it was the first time since the concussion that he was able to work out physically. More ST noise? But still…..17 HR to 2?

Dan Szymborski: He’ll hit more HRs, but he’s not a good bet at this point.

Comment From TJ
What are the chances Anthony Rizzo hits another homer this year? 5%? 10%? This guy is KILLING me. Thought he was a power guy…he’s going 0/3 with 2 BB every damn game.

Dan Szymborski: Fantasy is a game of patience.

Dan Szymborski: Fantasy baseball is, at least.

Comment From Timbo
When you see a prospect putting up pedestrian numbers at AAA, how do you know when he is “bored” or is just “working on things” instead of simply struggling? Is this something that is solely dependent on scouts?

Dan Szymborski: That’s something that’s hard to see at the stats.

Dan Szymborski: in the stats.

Dan Szymborski: But I think it happens less than one might think, though.

Comment From tehzachatak
when are NFL ZiPS projections coming out?

Dan Szymborski: Heh, that’s a long-term project.

Comment From juan pierres mustache
you really ought to specify that your hobby is WATCHING pro wrestling. If you just say pro wrestling people will get the wrong idea

Dan Szymborski: I think people would be more disturbed by my quote of military history as a hobby as they might think I’m going back in time to change the outcome of the Battle of Myriokephalon.

Dan Szymborski: That would be a cool hobby though, I guess.

Dan Szymborski: The NSA would show up my house. MR SZYMBORSKI WHY DID MANUEL I HAVE A GATLING GUN?

Comment From Dan
Rendon Walker or Rutlidge to replace Gyorko?

Dan Szymborski: Rendon

Comment From lowercase jeff
come on jagoff, robbie erlin’s a better option than either of those, uh, jagoffs.

Comment From BudBlack
Trade or drop one of the following – Cahill or Cashner?

Dan Szymborski: Depends on how risk averse you are. Cahill’s a safer keep but Cashner has upside and a better park.

Comment From juan pierres mustache
Can we give Kluber a Klobb-themed nickname? Klobber? i dunno, i’m not creative

Comment From Tomcat
What does Zips think of Oswalt at Coors?

Dan Szymborski: Haven’t checked. ZiPS is more forgiving of 2012 than most people.

Comment From Bob
Miguel Sano – higher (power/otherwise) ceiling than Giancarlo Stanton?

Dan Szymborski: I wouldn’t say that. A healthy stanton has amazing power

Comment From El Tiante
I have Reddick, Aoki and Bourn. Can’t keep them all. Bourn’s been terrible so far, Reddick’s been hurt, but seems to be coming around. How would you rank them ROS?

Dan Szymborski: I’d probably drop Reddick

Comment From Navalanche
By ZiPS, Jose Iglesias will have the AL’s best rookie season for 2013, even with mountains of regression. As a Sox fan, I so badly want that to happen if anything just as a slap in the face to the Murphy’s Law nightmare of the past couple years. Do the Sox have another scrappy, vertically challenged ROY on their hands or do your instincts/projections tell you someone will overtake him? This isn’t really so much a baseball question as a catharsis question.

Dan Szymborski: Projections actually liked Eckstein

Dan Szymborski: At the very least, you can be more confident that Iglesias can maintain that .600 OPS or so he needs to be interesting.

Comment From Chicago Mark
What would your chats look like if us fantasy geeks didn’t look at stats in April, May and June. That’s much of the fun of all of it. By the way, what’s wrong with Ryan Zimmerman? Ha!

Dan Szymborski: Presumably, we’d probably talk about more video games.

Comment From TB
Thoughts on Span? He is currently 0-16. Can the Nats keep him in the leadoff spot for much longer?

Dan Szymborski: They shoudln’t.

Dan Szymborski: Batting order doesn’t mean a whole bunch, but might as well not have that OBP get the most ABs

Comment From ChickenLittle
ROS Pirates or Reds?

Dan Szymborski: Reds

Comment From Guest
What do you see the Brewers doing with Aramis Rameriz moving forward? Payroll for next season is already projected to be 73.5 million without (Cory Hart/ signing FA 1b), or 57.5 without him. What type of value do you think he will be able to bring in in terms of Prospects? A #3 youngerish SP maybe?

Dan Szymborski: I don’t think he’ll bring in that much – teams are less reluctant to give up younger, salary controlled starting pitchers.

Dan Szymborski: He’ll get a couple decent prospects, but nobody that blows your mind or has anywhere near a gaurantee

Comment From Jon Sanos Sweet Sword
Three things: 1) I’m on an airplane right now, 2) it’s my birthday, 3) Carlos Gonzalez MVP?

Dan Szymborski: Probably still Gomez, but Cargo’s making a case.

Dan Szymborski: I’d hate to spend my birthday in an airplane.

Comment From saskatunes
I would like to share some nerdy indie electro-pop from my band: http://wolfblitzer.bandcamp.com/track/p-nditz

Comment From Dan
Projected NL playoff teams?

Dan Szymborski: My gut’s telling me ATL/ARI/STL/CIN/WAS

Comment From saskatunes
not necessarily for the chat, just you

Dan Szymborski: Oh. Well the chat has it now, too.

Comment From Chicago Mark
But don’t the Marlins have the second best player of Mets, LAA, Stros and CWS?

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but they also have a lot of terrible ones.

Dan Szymborski: And those extra depression points.

Comment From Bird Man
Which is your favorite MLB stadium to watch a game?

Dan Szymborski: Camden Yards but it’s hard not to be biased.

Comment From Andrew
Your own name is misspelled on this header. Fyi.

Dan Szymborski: As long as they’re a z and some consonants and a ski at the end, it all works out.

Dan Szymborski: Looks right to me.

Dan Szymborski: My name is Szymborski, right? After 35 years, I still need to check sometimes.

Comment From Wood
For some reason I feel like you’d be an Apples in Stereo fan. Am I right?

Dan Szymborski: Let’s check the media library.

:

Comment From Big Dave
I disagree about the Marlins being the most depressing. I think its much more depressing to watch the Phillies tread water with their old, overpriced lineup. Honestly, I’d rather the Phils became a Marlins-like team.

Dan Szymborski: But at least the Phils are trying to be competitive and just suck at it.

Dan Szymborski: Watching the Marlins, you have the knowledge that anything good that happens doesn’t mean anything in the long run. And you may have to watch Greg Dobbs try to hit.

Comment From Tomcat
What do you think of the Cards strategy of breaking SP in at the MLB level in the Pen? Wainwright, Lynn, Garcia, Miller, Wacha all got time there, Rosenthal and Martinez may end up in the rotation by 2014.

Dan Szymborski: It’s not a bad strategy – Earl Weaver did that too. The key is to not get excited about the guy succeeding in the pen and not give him a chance to start.

Comment From Metsamorphosis
Corbin for Holliday. is it anywhere near fair?

Dan Szymborski: Not unreasonable.

Comment From CJ
Would you play Carp or W.Myers tomorrow over Cargo, Trout or Bruce since Carp and Myers have doubleheaders?

Dan Szymborski: Are you ahead of your max PA pace, assuming your league has one?

Dan Szymborski: If it doesn’t, I usually like to take the doubleheader.

Comment From Chicago Mark
I know sss but isn’t it possible/probable some players start slower for whatever reason? Maybe some players don’t play well in cold weather. Something to study? Thoughts?

Dan Szymborski: It’s possible, but the noise destroys the signal.

Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV
Rule of Acquisition #286 is Quark’s Rule: When Morn leaves, it’s all over.

Dan Szymborski: Except that rule is 350 years away. I got in there first.

Comment From Chicago Mark
Kendrys Morales isn’t hitting many home runs. Is it Safeco? Is 2009 his career year? Thoughts?

Dan Szymborski: Safeco certainly isn’t helping. You should not have banked on a high HR count going into Safeco

Dan Szymborski: It’s still an excellent pitchers’ park – people banked too heavily on the fence moves changing things

Comment From Rated Rookie
What your thoughts on Matt Moore’s recent unraveling? Other than prior perceptions of his skills, what reasons are there to hope for different outcomes with him?

Dan Szymborski: As I said, i had him lower htan some other guys because he still has occasional lapses in command.

Comment From Guest
I was never on the Hellickson bandwagon, but this is absurd right?

Dan Szymborski: The FIP Gods are cruel and uncaring. Joe Maddon should sacrifice a goat and maybe Glendon Rusch.

Comment From Guest
Im a Hamilton owner that doesn’t get to watch many Angels games. Is he showing any signs that don’t show up in the box score of turning it around?

Dan Szymborski: His contact numbers have gotten better, or at least a little less dreadful lately

Dan Szymborski: At least he’s about 0 WAR now!

Comment From TJ
When do you think Erasmo Ramirez gets called up? Guys lights out…

Comment From Chicago Mark
Sorry Dan but don’t remember. Do you DO fantasy? Do you play fantasy bb or fb?

Dan Szymborski: I do play fantasy, both baseball and football.

Dan Szymborski: I’m not going to please people, but I actually enjoy fantasy football a little more as you don’t have that daily grind

Comment From TJ
Tulo was essentially my entire offense…his injury has Team Me scrambling! I picked up Alcides Escobar…think I can roll with him for the next 6 weeks or should I trade Ryu for Andrus? This is the most important question you’ll field today.

Dan Szymborski: Giving up Ryu isn’t worth the diff between the two.

Comment From JP
What’s your take on Singleton? Would he be a better option at this point than Pena?

Dan Szymborski: Cecil Cooper might be a better option no than Pena.

Dan Szymborski: But SIngleton hasn’t played much this season for reasons I won’t remind you of and I don’t thin kther’es anything wrong with giving him some time at AAA.

Comment From Froglegs Jackson
Does ZIPS account for things like swinging strike rate & contact% when projecting future K%?

Dan Szymborski: Year-to-year, yes.

Dan Szymborski: Moved it from the beta to the main for the 2013 season.

Comment From BassmanUW
Regarding Marmol, what do the Cubs have to lose by allowing him to pitch the ninth if Gregg is unavailable? While the difference between the Cubs’ regular record and pythagorean record is frustrating, the regular record is what controls, and the Cubs aren’t going to make the sort of win 30 out of 35 games run that would be necessary to get them back in it. I don’t think there’s any value anymore in Marmol on a trade market, but the Cubs really have no reason to not take a shot on him getting really got through July 31 and magically becoming tradeable, no matter how unlikely that may become.

Dan Szymborski: Marmol’s continually deteriorating command has gotten to the point that I don’t think that he’ll help his trade value pitchin gin the ninth.

Dan Szymborski: Better to have people trade for someone who *could* pitch in the 9th rather than someone they have more reason to believe can’t be counted on.

Comment From Adam L
What’s more sickening, the fact that the Dodgers jumped payroll by 113 million in a year, or that with a 216 million payroll they are still the 3rd best team in their division?

Dan Szymborski: Well, technically, neither of us have to pay that.

Dan Szymborski: Though I should probably check my statement to make sure that the Dodgers didn’t debit me for Ethier or something.

Comment From Will
thoughts on Alfredo Figaro?

Dan Szymborski: Best pitcher since Steve Almaviva

Dan Szymborski: (don’t look it up, I made up the name)

Dan Szymborski: He was actually pretty good in Japan. I have to admit to being intrigued. Did he pitch that fast in his first sting?

Dan Szymborski: sting

Dan Szymborski: stint

Dan Szymborski: I can’t type today.

Comment From Froglegs Jackson
Is there any reason for optimism as a White Sox fan? With the combination of an awful farm system + bad/old major league roster, they’re going to be pretty awful these next few years, right?

Dan Szymborski: Pretty much, yes.

Comment From Doug
Can Joey Gallo make enough adjustments to become a successful MLB player? What does Zips look like for someone like him?

Dan Szymborski: Guys like him are pretty hit and miss in the low minors. He’s hacking away in the Sally League, but it may not serve him quite as well when he’s promoted.

Comment From BassmanUW
Regarding brawls in baseball, it seems like the MLB main office is scared of being considered the “boring” sport, so they won’t do anything on that front. Look at how much vitriol the NFL is getting over attempts to limit head injuries, and the NFL has the advantage of only being on once a week and being an easier game to gamble on.

Dan Szymborski: I guarantee you, if a linebacker actually charged Peyton Manning while Manning was in the huddle, yards away, and broke his collar bone, the NFL would give him more than a 1-game suspension.

Comment From Didi
Why doesn’t the MLB have harsher penalties for players who are convicted of DUI’s? Seems like it’d be a no-brainer for them, not to mention a PR win for both MLB and the PA.

Dan Szymborski: Probably be a PR win, but MLBPA has good reason to be suspicious of letting owners get involved too much in punishment for off-field conduct

Dan Szymborski: We already have punishment in society for DUI. And in the case of baseball, there’s no argument tha getting caught with a DUI will pressure other players to DUI

Comment From JP
Any chance Chien-Ming Wang can be serviceable for the rest of the year?

Dan Szymborski: There’s a chance, but if you’re in a position in which that’s a chance worth taking for the rest of the year, you’re probably in a very bad position.

Comment From RG
What’s up with Anibal Sanchez? DL stint coming?

Dan Szymborski: HI speed is down, his shoulder’s sore. I’d be panicking.

Comment From JP
Will Vmart ever resume being a .300 hitter, or are those days long gone?

Dan Szymborski: Wouldn’t bank on it.

Comment From Tim
People are lumping Machado in with Harper and Trout. Is there anything to the idea that the league has not had a chance to adapt to Machado? Also would you put the three in the same category?

Dan Szymborski: I’d put him in that group, thanks to his defense. He should be at a certain other position, but I’ve not only beaten the dead horse, I’ve sold it for sloppy joes to elementary schools.

Comment From JP
Is Albert Pujols on one leg better than Justin Smoak on a tripod?

Dan Szymborski: I’d make fun of Smoak here, but then I’ll remember how much I love Hosmer.

Comment From JP
Do you think this Pirates team is for real?

Dan Szymborski: Oops, I’m answering a lot of JP questions (I don’t check the names before posting)

Dan Szymborski: Real in that they’re a decent team above .500, but not so much that they’re a .600 team.

Dan Szymborski: Like one of those dreams in which you’re simply dreaming of a mundane task like going to the grocery store and buying corn and some lamb chops and you’re wiating in line and everything’s boring and then all of a sudden, Steve McQueen shows up in a hovercraft and tells you that he needs your help to stop Sephiroth from blowing up the Baskin Robbins.

Comment From Dionysus
Rule of Acquisition #437: Treat Bad GMs like family, exploit them in trades.

Comment From JOE
Should I trade Grienke now before its too late or does he get it together?

Dan Szymborski: Always depends on the haul.

Comment From Tom
SS on our waiver wire is a veritable wasteland in my league, but who would you pick ROS: A. Ramirez, Drew or Yunel Escobar? What about stashing Espinosa until he’s healthy? Thanks.

Dan Szymborski: First, I don’t think I’d stash espinosa at this point

Dan Szymborski: given the meh choices, I’d probably go with drew

Comment From Tom
Besides Detroit who would likely be interested in trading for Papelbon?

Dan Szymborski: Someone casting a reality show based on Flowers for Algernon?

Dan Szymborski: He’s quite pricey.

Comment From Tom
Is it time to buy low on Kennedy? I’ve been able to snag him off waivers in a couple of leagues.

Dan Szymborski: Depends how low. If you’re comfortable wiht a #3 starter, that’s about what kennedy will be.

Comment From Tom
Thoughts on the new PS and XBox?

Dan Szymborski: Microsoft continually emphasizes things that make me want to have no part of the next XBox.

Dan Szymborski: I have zero interest in a de facto always on box.

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, I have internet and always on isn’t a problem in the short-term, but long-term there’s serious drawback.

Dan Szymborski: Ever play an old game? You won’t play an old XBox One game because they’re not going to support authentication of all your games forever.

Dan Szymborski: Never buy anything with DRM you can’t break that’s tethered to the whims of a single manufcatureer.

Comment From saskatunes
Fantasy is also a game of patience. Always need to stop to roll oversized dice. Really slows down the pace.

Comment From Chicago Mark
How man y rings does David Eckstein have?

Dan Szymborski: Two, if memory serves. But he can only wear one at a time or it will outweigh him.

Comment From Brooklyn Burro
Top 3 video games by hours played – GO!

Dan Szymborski: Lifetime? I would guess Team Fortress 2, Final Fantasy XI, and Goldeneye.

Comment From Chicago Mark
Carlos Gonzo always gets A. injured B. good bad half seasons

Comment From Mark
Great American Ballpark is both the best stadium to enjoy a game and best-named.

Dan Szymborski: Great American doesn’t count since it’s not named for the concept being a Great American

Comment From Maxamuz
Someone just really tried to tell me that Phillip Humber was a GREAT pitcher.

Dan Szymborski: I’d believe in the need to help the nigerian prince with my email address before that.

Comment From Trashman
Tuna or chicken salad?

Dan Szymborski: Chicken. I’m not actually a fan of the x + mayonnaise genre. Except egg salad. I find canned tuna inedible, though.

Comment From Northsider
If you have a PS3, you need to check out The Last of Us. Such an amazing game.

Dan Szymborski: I’ve heard lots of good things, it’s just that I don’t really care for the survival/horror genre.

Comment From Sadwick
The most depressing thing about the Marlins is knowing that most of the money they make doesn’t go anywhere near the team, the stadium, or the fans.

Comment From Chicago Mark
How many people in the chat Dan? You’ve answered about 6 of my questions. Are they that good today? Thanks!

Dan Szymborski: 562 right now. You’ve been fortunate. Now someone will post in a blog FUCKIGN SZYMBORKSI WONT ANSWER MY QUESTION~!

Comment From Dan
What are some of your favorite bizarre/random stats of the season so far?

Dan Szymborski: Still Westbrook with the ERA and peripherals.

Dan Szymborski: A few then it’s time to go.

Comment From Tacoby Bellsbury
Wait, did you just say Carlos Gomez is the NL MVP? Say hey?

Dan Szymborski: It’s a strange world we’ve gone into.

Comment From Chicago Mark
Mark Teahan signs with the Atlantic Independent league. What do they pay those guys? Is that a means to an end for him or just continuing to play ball.

Dan Szymborski: It’s a strange world we’ve gone into.

Dan Szymborski: Players have come back, but I expect we’ve seen the last of Teahen in the majors

Dan Szymborski: Weird double post – my window’s acting aup

Dan Szymborski: 1500-2000 a month is average.

Comment From Bkgeneral
Is there anything to Greinke being involved in 2 big brawls?

Dan Szymborski: Probably not. Though he can’t play innocent in #2, obviously

Comment From Walt Jockettys Better Instincts
Look, Dusty’s a nice guy and, just this once, I want a nice guy to finish someplace other than last. As in, second. Right behind the Cardinals.

Comment From Your Boss Shitty Kid
In video games like The Show when you hit a fly ball they put that little shaded area to indicate where the ball will land. Why can’t they do that on TV games. “We have the technology” right? There should be also be a box that tells me speed off the bat, swing speed, ball elevation, angle, apex. I want all that stuff live in game.

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but in a video game, you can’t really track the ball in the sky. It would be kind of weird.

Dan Szymborski: I’m all up for crazy experiments, but most people aren’t.

Dan Szymborski: When Spiderman web appeared on first base, people acted like Bud Selig started a new Holocaust or something.

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, I thought it was kind of lame, but people react to changes in baseball’s presentation very seriously

Comment From Big Dave
Completely agree about fantasy baseball being a grind… and football is better for that reason. I suggest stratomatic for your baseball GM fix. No daily grind, AND it actually places reasonable value on quality defense. But yeah… its dorky to admit you play startomatic. LOL

Comment From Marcus Aurelius
4 in a row from Tom now. WHAT ABOUT MARCUS AURELIUS? I’m only one of the greatest Roman Emperors EVER.

Dan Szymborski: You also put an end to the practice of adopting a future emperor and instead leaving the empire to your dumbass son.

Dan Szymborski: Though I guess you get credit for not offing Lucius Verus, as most emperors would have.

Comment From The other Kyle
Top 3 guesses for who Nolasco is pitching for in August

Dan Szymborski: Miami, San Francisco, San Diego

Comment From Das Otter
Do the microsoft exclusive games (Halo, Gears, etc..) outweigh the ridiculous DRM restrictions for xbox? If you had to pick today and couldn’t change, what would you pick? I’d go PS4, it seems safer.

Dan Szymborski: No.

Dan Szymborski: PS4.

Dan Szymborski: I don’t like playing FPS on consoles.

Comment From Jp
If you were able to get a two piece royal farms meal, would you ask for cheese on the side for your western fries?

Dan Szymborski: Royal Farms!

Dan Szymborski: Those fries are ridiculous.

Comment From saskatunes
Good god, I must have spent over 200 hours on FFXI before I realize I was spending $10/mo to grind and have no plot advancement. And all the walking…

Dan Szymborski: FFXI was fun back then, but I couldn’t play the same game again with some of the crazy grinding and inconveniences

Dan Szymborski: But god, did I love manipulating that auction house.

Comment From Danger Dan
Has Jose Iglesias convinced you at all with his bat yet?

Dan Szymborski: He hasn’t convinced me, but I’m at the point where I think he could be useful.

Comment From Chocobo
Loved FFXI. Too bad they botched the launch of FFXIV.

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, that was a frigging nightmare. That weird auction house system where you had to physically talk to individual merchants was the worst idea since fish sauce flavored ice cream.

Comment From Das Otter
Ever get frustrated/angry with “old-school” baseball guys/gals who judge a player based off of wins and RBI and look at nothing else? I run into this constantly and IT DRIVES ME NUTS!

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but luckily it doesn’t happen as much anymore.

Dan Szymborski: Try being a stathead in the mid-90s.

Dan Szymborski: And yes, it used to drive me absolutely nuts.

Dan Szymborski: Now, the strangest thing about being a stathead in the mid-90s was that, for many of us, being sarcastic internet wankers actually turned out to be an effective career path.

Comment From Bird
How can you not like playing Halo. Greatest fps series of all time

Dan Szymborski: If I can’t use a mouse and keyboard and it’ snot Goldeneye, I’m not interested.

Dan Szymborski: OK, thanks for coming guys! Hope to see you all next week.

Dan Szymborski: As a reminder, you can find most of my writing at ESPN (tomorrow, Kershaw contract projections!), chats and projections at FanGraphs, DSzymborski on Twitter and Steam, and wherever fat, lazy guys are worshiped as gods by scantily-clad natives.

Comment From Dr. Met
PC FPS > console FPS. Mouse always wins.

Dan Szymborski: Quoted for truth.