David Brown FanGraphs Chat – 1/9/15

Comment From mtsw
Who are you? Kiley too big to do these now that he’s the type of guy who gets named dropped in MLBtraderumors headlines?

Dave Brown: My name is Dave Brown. You might know me from the internet. Kiley is not too big to chat, or to fail, but today you have me!

Comment From Working hard or hardly working?
Would the White Sox be crazy to not platoon LaRoche and Connor Gillaspie?

Dave Brown: Man, I got long thoughts about Gillaspie being good enough to hit either hand of pitcher. LaRoche pretty much has to play daily, no? Unless you’re just dyin’ for Dayan to DH, which actually maybe wouldn’t be the worst?

Comment From Yoan Moncada
When am I most likely to debut in the majors? How good do you expect me to be?

Dave Brown: Why can’t you tell us, Yoan????

Comment From Guest
God I hope you’re better at this than Kiley

Dave Brown: What makes a good chat moderator anyway? I’m sure Kiley is good at everything!

Comment From mtsw
Assuming the Orioles could get him nearly free (i.e. Phillies covering most of his contract) does Ryan Howard make sense as half a DH platoon along with Delmon Young?

Dave Brown: What’s weird about Ryan Howard: He’s become a better hitter against lefties almost!

Comment From Rickey Henderson (Hall of Fame)
David Brown you are great, but Rickey say that James is the greatest Brown of all-time

Dave Brown: Rickey be right.

Comment From GSon
TGIF.. As we enter into the middle portion of January.. still no Scherzer/Shields home.. when does panic begin?..

Dave Brown: No reason to panic! Scherzer is Boras’s guy, which we all know, and we knew that he was going to take his sweet time because he said as much.

Comment From Working hard or hardly working?
Will the White Sox regret trading Marcus Semien?

Dave Brown: So many White Sox questions!

Comment From Working hard or hardly working?
Predicted finish for AL Central right now?

Comment From Crystal Ball
Dave Brown predicts that Scherzer and Shields will end up with which MLB teams?

Dave Brown: Shields will sign with the Yankees, that canny GM Brian Cashman sees him being steady even after all of these years of 200 innings. … I would have said Scherzer signs with the Cardinals, but Boras is his agent and they’re not going to pay him $180 million, and at this point I am stalling on answering.

Comment From adam
Given how cheap he would come, what is keeping teams from signing Beachy?

Dave Brown: Guess: Half of the slower pace on Beachy (is it slow?) is him not being in a hurry. The other half is that he won’t be ready to start in April, so why hurry? The third half is, there are bigger names available. There’s your 150 percent answer.

Comment From Larry Bernandez
Welcome to Fangraphs, David. What’s your favorite team?

Dave Brown: I grew up rooting for the White Sox, but as a grizzled reporter and professional sports analyst … I am now dispassionate! Probably.

Comment From Guest
Invert the chat, newbie.

Dave Brown: Invert the chat. What does this mean?

Dave Brown: I think I inverted it just now.

Comment From BusterBrown
and who is David Brown anyway…?

Dave Brown: Is this a joke left over from Yahoo, because they used it there too….

Comment From Guest
It means turn your laptop/tablet/desktop upside down! 🙂

Dave Brown: Chat inverters on stun!

Comment From Guest
How do you pronounce chipotle? Options are: chip-oat-lay, chip-ole-tee, and chip-oat-ull

Dave Brown: Chuh-poat-lay

Comment From Always Betts on Red
Clearly, the Phillies would have to eat a large portion (if not all) of Ryan Howard’s contract if they trade Howard. What if they bundled Hamels and Howard together? Does Hamels’ contract provide enough surplus value to offset Howard’s contract?

Dave Brown: I can’t see how the Phillies could possibly trade Howard unless they ate like 90 percent of his deal. He’s just so below-average now.

Comment From Snid
Hey Dave, Which young player is the most over-hyped this year?

Comment From adam
what can we expect from Lindor this season?

Dave Brown: (These are older questions but I like them)… The Indians seem… patient with Lindor. Not in a rush with him at all. They also made the trade for Zach Walters, which might not mean anything but might mean they’re hedging? Or it could just be depth. I like Lindor a lot, mostly because we can pun his name. Lindor Truffle Shuffle, or something. Still working on it.

Comment From Guest
Whats your area of expertise?

Dave Brown: You got me there.

Comment From Mookie Betts
I seem to be an obsession with much of the Fangraphs community. Now it’s time you share with us how you feel about me.

Dave Brown: I traded for Mookie Betts in my fantasy league, so maybe it’s a virus over here. He looks like an on-base, speedy, somewhat powerful little dude to me. Be interesting to see how he plays center field in the majors, assuming that’s where he goes.

Comment From Javier Baez
When I am 28 I will be: in Japan; on a California king mattress with Selena Gomez stuffed with money and surrounded by my MVP and Silver Slugger trophies; a lumberjack putting my ability to swing something fast to good use in need of less precision.

Dave Brown: He strikes out too much and he doesn’t walk enough, which will delay his superstardomness, but there’s no reason Baez couldn’t have a fulfilling career like that of Alfonso Soriano or someone.

Comment From Guest
have you ever been to a concert, if so which one

Dave Brown: I saw the Oak Ridge Boys when I was 10. Huey Lewis and the News when I was 13. Billy Corgan when I was 24 and Beck when I was 26. Oh, and Collective Soul last year.

Comment From Guest
Is trout woth $75 in 4×4 no steals and a $400 dollar cap?

Dave Brown: Honestly I have no idea but yes.

Comment From Javier Baez
That wasn’t an option, Dave.

Dave Brown: I was trying to be creative.

Comment From Matt
What is your specialization in baseball?

Dave Brown: I was just told that I “humanize” the players. Like it???

Comment From Ross Childress
Wait, Collective Soul is still performing without me?

Dave Brown: You told them you don’t like the life anymore!

Comment From Roger Dodger
Please choose one: Jose Abreu is a top-3, top-5 or top-10 American League fantasy bat in 2015?

Dave Brown: Top five.

Dave Brown: Maybe top four.

Comment From Guest
in this chat, why does a lowercase i always look like a lowercase l or a capital I?

Dave Brown: I am not a font specialist. Nor a Fonz specialist. Aaaaay. (See, that was terrible.)

Comment From AL Pitching Coach
Many fantasy writers are predicting a monster breakout season for Carlos Carrasco. Are you drinking the Koolaid as well?

Dave Brown: Pitchers are the worst to predict. But I’ll have some Kool-aid on him. Probably be overhyped some places. But Indians pitching coach has a great reputation.

Comment From Guest
You’re doing well Dave! I like you.

Comment From Guest
pew pew

Comment From Guest
How much are the Blue Jays going to spend on July 2 IFA’s? Is it just going to be the 3.2 on Vlad Jr. or is it going to be in for a penny in for a pound.

Dave Brown: (If anybody has some insight on this question, I’m admitting to being over my head on this topic.)

Comment From Guest
I think you should only answer questions with other questions. E.g. “Which young player is most overhyped”->”what can we expect from Lindor” v experimental communication

Dave Brown: I might try this shortly.

Comment From Guest
Where do you live, in whatever level of specificity you prefer.

Dave Brown: I am in Kansas City, Mo. area.

Dave Brown: Royals country, mister!

Comment From mtsw
Please suggest a fake, but realistic, trade that removes Ubaldo Jimenez from the Orioles.

Dave Brown: I’m sorry man. I was telling them he wasn’t worth the money, but they didn’t listen. Mostly because it was just thoughts.

Comment From Guest
Do you drink craft brews?

Dave Brown: Eno, hellllllppppp

Comment From Guest
Are you older than, approximately the same age as, or younger than many of your FG co-contributors?

Dave Brown: I am 26 emotionally. But 42 on the paperwork.

Comment From Guest
A right of passage for fangraphs chatters: do you know what kombucha is, and do you enjoy it?

Dave Brown: /googling

Dave Brown: I am not into … tea. Yes, that’s it.

Comment From mtsw
Do you have a HoF vote? If so, how did you vote? If not, how WOULD you have voted?

Comment From Guest
do you know rani jazayerliayz

Comment From mtsw
Has Kauffman Stadium crossed the line into “so constantly discussed as being underrated that its now overrated?”

Dave Brown: Kauffman Stadium might be a little overrated, because all of the work done has obscured the fountains, the park’s best feature. I have never met Rany J, but I will someday. I do not have a Hall of Fame vote, but I would have voted for 19 or 20 guys if I had the chance. I voted in the BBWAA meeting to expand the ballot. But it’s only been proposed to go to 12, which isn’t even a certainty.

Comment From adam
it is dangerous to google words you dont know

Dave Brown: It is, but there was no obvious nudity, so I came out ahead.

Comment From Guest
can you tell me where Paducah is, is it near KCMO

Dave Brown: Paducah is in the other K state, I think.

Comment From Guest
Do you eat craft pancakes?

Dave Brown: FRONCH toast. Pancakes are overrated, even craft ones.

Comment From Guest
do you know *how to pronounce rani jazayerliayz

Dave Brown: Just like it’s spelled!

Comment From Bryan (Montclair)
Who will have the best fantasy value in 2015, Harvey, Wheeler, or DeGrom?

Dave Brown: Bryan from Montclair writes: “Dear Fangraphs…” Well, Bryan… Wheeler seems like a best bang-for-buck guy if he makes some breakthroughs on K/BB. But I sense that top Mets guys will all be a little overvalued to a degree.

Comment From Crunchy Carl
Kombucha is the best man, good for your body and mind.

Comment From Guest
Should the Orioles trade Bundy? If they aren’t going to let him throw a 70-grade cutter, he is more valuable to any team that actually lets him throw one of his better pitches.

Dave Brown: You have a point about Bundy, but his value would seem to be very low right now, relatively speaking. Let him have some success in the majors, even with a restricted arsenal, and then re-assess.

Comment From Barnett
Is there going to be a Craig Biggio writeup? There has been for all other HOFers, no?

Dave Brown: Haven’t we done one? I have not posted a lot yet at Fangraphs for several reasons, but I’d be happy to do a Biggio appreciation post. Or maybe one comparing him to Jeff Kent, who(m) I also think should be in the Hall, but doesn’t get nearly the support (obviously).

Comment From Guest
What kind of speedy OF can I get in return for Cueto in a dynasty league? Ellsbury? Marte? Yelich?

Dave Brown: You should be able to get Marte or Yelich for Cueto. Probably not Ellsbury. Question is, are either one of those guys enough? I’d try for better.

Comment From Guest
Is this past week of Cistulli running the show the best or worst thing that has happened to Fangraphs?

Dave Brown: Carson is in charge??? I joined just when Notgraphs went dark and it made me unhappy.

Comment From jocephus
whats with the crappy football picture

Dave Brown: Is my picture of football? Where? Where’s the override, the override???

Comment From Larry Bernandez
What do you know about pitchouts? Are they statistically supported?

Dave Brown: Can I steal this question for a story? That’s a great question, Bernie.

Comment From Carson "City" Cistulli
One day you’ll wake up and the whole site will be purple.

:

Why is there rugby or something on the front of this chat???

Comment From Crunchy Carl
Literally kombucha is the best man in my upcoming partnership ceremony, my partner is a beautiful redwood surrounded by hemp fields.

Dave Brown: I still don’t like tea, but I’ll try kombucha if Eno makes me.

Comment From adam
the nationals have the talent but can’t seem to put it together. are they another piece away or will they simply mature into a WS ring?

Dave Brown: Look at all of the titles the 90s Braves didn’t win. You need to good, lucky, mature, and lucky to win the World Series. Really, that’s the best answer to the question.

Comment From mtsw
As someone who watched a ton of Orioles games, Jonathan Schoop’s defense seemed very under appreciated. A lot of difficult plays were made because he has a great sense of positioning and balls would be hit right to him (and only later would you ask ‘wait why was he standing on the OF grass 10 feet away from 2nd base in the first place?) Am I overthinking this or is Schoop potentially a much better defender than even his numbers indicate?

Dave Brown: I think the statcast stuff, as it’s scientifically called, will help us gauge better the defensive abilities of every player in the coming years.

Dave Brown: You also could be overthinking it.

Comment From Jose
How much did the postseason hurt Shield’s value? He wasnt a true ace to begin with. Projected contract?

Dave Brown: Shields value was not hurt by the postseason, probably. Studies have shown that the playoffs have, at best, an inconsistent effect on what happens in the offseason. The biggest effect postseason has on contracts, probably, is adding perceived values to mediocre players because they’ve “been through it”

Comment From GGGGGMen
Are you the former QB of the New York Giants?

Dave Brown: Maybe. Actually, I’ve wanted to do a blog about all of the Dave Browns in sports, and there have been a few. Dave Brown the QB, Dave Brown the cornerback, Dave Brown the Philadelphia Broadway Bully. ETC.

Comment From Guest
what???????? THE NATIONALS ARE EVOLVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, the Nationals have evolved into a WS Ring!!!!!!

Dave Brown: It’s pure science, man.

Comment From Rookie of the Year
The 2015 AL & NL ROY will be?

Dave Brown: Kris Bryant, NL.

Dave Brown: Henry Owens, AL.

Comment From Barnett
I hope you do one (Biggio writeup). ESPN’s cover photo featured the three pitchers to the exclusion of Biggio and he has largely seemed like an afterthought the last few days. Was at least expecting an appreciative Fangraphs article as you guys largely seem to appreciate his career.

Comment From David
Can we get Curt Schilling’s take on the Nationals evolving?

Dave Brown: I NEVER SAID I DIDN’T BELIEVE IN EVOLUTION.

Comment From JasonPennini
There are 19,368 people named David Brown in the U.S. according to howmanyofme.com

Dave Brown: Too many to blog about.

Comment From L. Scott
Besides adding the DH to the NL, what other major changes do you see at the next collective bargaining meeting?

Dave Brown: Not to answer a question with a question, but does the CBA need to be tweaked for an international draft to be put in place? I don’t think it does, which is too bad because that would be an awesome answer.

Comment From mtsw
I’m still angry Biggio didn’t come back for one more year to try and get the all time HBP record. Just left a probably-untouchable record on the table.

Dave Brown: It would have been Minnie Minoso-esque of him to come back.

Comment From Dave
Is Todd Frazier the most underrated player in baseball?

Dave Brown: As soon as we start talking about how this guy is underrated, he becomes rated! It’s a riddle wrapped in an enigma, placed in a burlap bag!

Comment From Guest
Can we get evolution’s take on Curt Schilling

Dave Brown: It’s hard being clever on the spot, as you no doubt have gleaned from this chat.

Comment From Guest
What is a “David Brown?”

Dave Brown: Indeed

Comment From L. Scott
What is the most valuable baseball card you own?

Dave Brown: BASEBALL card… what is the Rickey Henderson rookie going for?

Comment From Jose
About shields, I was talking about the “big game” motto falling on its face, it will probably influence owners as “postseason success” isnt a meme anymore.

Dave Brown: I hear you, Jose. He wasn’t awful-awful though. Here’s another way of looking at it. Had he been lights-out great, yes, I think it would have affected his price some. Maybe given confidence in another team. But the ordinary nature of his postseason, just don’t think it makes a difference later.

Comment From Guest
and what the hell, wrap the burlap bag in bacon

Comment From jca cpa ca
Betances should be a set up man, not a closer… just to keep him cheap through arbritration

Dave Brown: You’re the Yankees, dammit. You eat arbitration for breakfast. Overpay your players. It’s why you’re there.

Comment From kevinthecomic
James Shields NEVER outperformed in Big Games — he only got the nickname BIG GAME JAMES because it rhymed.

Dave Brown: He’s got the only World Series victory in Rays history! You’re right-ish, though.

Comment From Carlos Carrasco
What would you pay for me in an 11-team, $260 budget AL-only league?

Dave Brown: $13 unhappy dollars. $9 happy.

Comment From Guest
Ever use your baseball powers to get cards autographed?

Dave Brown: I got a Harold Baines photo auto’d for my mom once, though channels!

Comment From mtsw
How much of Mussina falling short of HoF about his numbers and how much of it was that he was reportedly kind of a jerk to the media?

Dave Brown: I don’t think he was a jerk, so much as emotionally unavailable. I’ll say this: Maybe he didn’t sell himself well. Maybe it left an impression. I’d hope not. I think the voters just aren’t being curious enough about him. Look at pitchers stats in context of era — he’s obvious HOF.

Comment From Interleague thoughts
It kills me that we separate the league leaders into AL and NL with all the interleague play. It should be like the NBA and NHL, just one leaderboard for each stat.

Dave Brown: Interleague play has totally and obviously, made the league “one.” It makes no sense to have two leagues, other than tradition of doing it.

Comment From Guest
have you ever had kopi luwak, that coffee made from beans eaten and, ah — excreted — by a cat native to indonesia? i have tickets to consume some this weekend.

Dave Brown: I don’t drink coffee either. Coffee or tea. Am I not hipster enough?

Comment From Jose
mussina was always a “mr almost” to the media, almost perfect game, almost cy, almost 20-win season (until his last), it would be a shame if he became almost HoF

Comment From mtsw
The commissioner of baseball grants you the one time right to remove any 3 live-ball era HoFers from Cooperstown. Who, if anyone, do you exile?

Dave Brown: Those guys from the veterans committee, such as Jesse Haines. Purge his ass.

Comment From Guest
what *do* you drink, Brown?

Dave Brown: Lemonade. Ginger ale. Orange pop. Milk. Skim.

Dave Brown: I’m emotionally 26, but I drink like a 79-year-old.

Comment From mtsw
Other than Atlanta and Cleveland, which franchise could benefit the most from a change of logo/name/mascot?

Dave Brown: It’s been at least 20 minutes since the Angels changed their uniforms…

Comment From Guest
You live near KC. Royals fan? Did you grow up there?

Dave Brown: No, wife is from here. We moved back from Chicago a couple of years ago. I like Royals fans. How is that?

Comment From Guest
do you drink craft milk?

Comment From Guest
Did you get recruited to Fangraphs to increase the Dave count at the site?

Dave Brown: This is possible, yes.

Comment From Guest
How much stock should we put in longevity as such? Ppl commenting re: Hoffman put a lot of stock in his throwing 1000 IP, but it’s not as though we are impressed by Baines’ many PAs. And 1000 IP is still substantially less than any starter, which role Hoffman likely would not have handled with anywhere near the same aplomb.

Comment From Conor
If you were a GM and could start a team with any player (not Mike Trout), who would it be?

Dave Brown: Bryce Harper.

Dave Brown: I put stock into longevity for Hoffman, but not as much for, say, Tommy John. Hoffman was greater than just sticking around, though he wasn’t as good as Mariano — who was? So it depends on the guy and how good his longevity was.

Comment From jocephus
i always enjoyed small yield shields to big game james

Dave Brown: Big Shame James, I remember trolling during the playoffs. I kid!

Comment From CoolWinnebago
Hi Dave, any insight on David Wright? His peripherals seem to point to some kind of bounce back, but hearing about his shoulder seems to kill any hope of that.

Dave Brown: His shoulder is the thing. He didn’t even admit to being hurt, which is a mistake many athletes have made. I think he will bounce back if he’s healthy, and he reportedly is getting healthy. It’s still a tough stadium to expect big numbers, even if they’re moving the fences. I’d buy low.

Comment From Guest
Chicago and KC connections. What do you think of the Cardinals?

Dave Brown: They’re in the middle!

Comment From Guest
Do the Cardinals need to make a splash?

Dave Brown: I like John Mozeliak a lot. I have a Q&A coming up with him next week. And the Cardinals do need another big starting pitcher. Shields would be nice. Scherzer is not in their typical price range though. They have plenty of prospects to trade for David Price though.

Comment From Guest
So are you a Cubs fan?

Dave Brown: Grew up a White Sox fan.

Comment From Pedro Martinez
Why did 49 people not vote for me? Did they watch me pitch?!

Dave Brown: You were the best of your generation, my curly haired friend!

Comment From Guest
Missouri connections. What do you think of the Ferguson grand jury ruling?

Dave Brown: Should I answer this?

Dave Brown: Now you sound like Passan.

Comment From Guest
Definitely not. You like shouldn’t have accepted it in the first place.

Dave Brown: (That was related to the previous response)

Comment From Guest
“Grew up a White Sox fan” — so you submitted questions to yourself to start off this chat on an easy foot, I see.

Dave Brown: If only I knew how to submit questions to myself.

Dave Brown: This is Fangraphs, not Fergusongraphs.

Comment From Brown David
Care to name a few under-the-radar AL pitchers you see taking a big step in 2015?

Dave Brown: Brown David.

Dave Brown: Give me a moment on the pitchers.

Comment From mtsw
Why isn’t there more pressure from the league on the Wilpons to sell the Mets? Seems insane for a huge market team like that be financially strapped. Are the owners secretly happy there’s not another financial juggernaut out there bidding up free agents?

Dave Brown: Because Bud Selig is friends with the Wilpons next question.

Comment From Guest
favorite non fg writer?

Dave Brown: Dave Barry, the humor writer. The guys who did Mystery Science Theatre 3000.

Comment From Guest
I think with this chat you should singlehandedly set the Fangraphs chatting record, accepting enshrinment at Fangraphsgraphs, by chatting nonstop until Dan starts on Monday.

Dave Brown: Nope, we’re done in 5 minutes!

Comment From Guest
Have you ever met Dave Appelman? This site is premised on the notion that he exists, but I’m not sure that he does.

Dave Brown: I met a man who purported himself to be David Appelman, and he bought me dinner — but did I really eat?

Comment From Guest
What’s the most interesting place you’ve ever been?

Dave Brown: Space shuttle launch.

Comment From Guest
What’s the least interesting place you’ve ever been?

Dave Brown: Anywhere in Illinois between Springfield and Chicago.

Comment From Joe
What is your favorite spread to use with peanut butter? Jelly? Honey? Anything else exciting?

Dave Brown: Do not like PB&J! Amazing! Am I even American?

Comment From Guest
least favorite fg writer?

Dave Brown: I like all writers!

Comment From mtsw
Cubs purchasing situation also strapped a major franchise in terms of cash flow, to feed the conspiratorial flames.

Dave Brown: Yeah. Sam Zell’s terms of sale (not Chris) have hurt.

Comment From Guest
are you the new friday chat guy?

Dave Brown: Friday, as in today!

Comment From Guest
Appelman makes enough to wine and dine people? Time for me to install adblock.

Dave Brown: It might not have happened, like I said.

Comment From Guest
you gonna get down on fg audio?

Dave Brown: I’d like to.

Comment From Conor
What are the chances that Tanaka makes 30 starts this year?

Dave Brown: 81 percent.

Comment From Guest
We ask the questions, you answer them.

Dave Brown: Why didn’t you warn me earlier?

Comment From Guest
What are the chances Thirtyaka makes 10 starts this year/

Dave Brown: That is the worst pun I’ve ever seen. I mean really.

Comment From Guest
Do you like me? I write “boooo Dave Brown” in the chat box.

Dave Brown: You’re OK.

Dave Brown: Breakthrough guys: Nathan Eovaldi, Drew Hutchison, Ricky Nolasco (jajajajaja). But him.

Comment From Brown David
Your request for a moment has been granted. Hopefully that means you’ll answer me before the last 5 mins of your chat. Thanks, and welcome to the FanGraphs community!!!

Dave Brown: Thank you.

Comment From Conor
What did you major in at college?

Dave Brown: Communication (DePaul)

Comment From Guest
Thanks Dave, great work! Take it easy.

Dave Brown: Good way to end it!

Dave Brown: Thanks, teens!