Eno Sarris Baseball Chat — 10/22/15

10:45
Eno Sarris: be here soon

10:45
Eno Sarris:

12:00
Comment From Jeff Gross
Is it true that the Cubs are going to put a plexiglass case around Schwarber’s glove in left field?

12:01
Eno Sarris: It’s a bit of a quandary, isn’t it? Where do you put him? He’s a first baseman, most likely. I thought Soler was better but there was the faceplant. Otherwise I might consider swapping them from left to right based on handedness of the batter.

12:01
Comment From johnny5alive
i had a whole diatribe planned for you about how awful Lucas Duda was. Can’t go on about that now! Go Mets!

12:01
Eno Sarris: Duda diddat.

12:01
Comment From Guest
HEA-VY IS THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWWWNNN

12:02
Comment From hscer
Hey I actually have a modest chat capability today

12:02
Eno Sarris: Congratulations!

12:02
Comment From Larry Bernandez
I’m surprised that the Dodgers parted ways with Mattingly. Think he might be a good fit for Boston?

12:03
Eno Sarris: After the in-dugout blowups for everyone to see, I think it was inevitable. Would you ask him to clean up a messy clubhouse in Washington? Don’t think so. Boston may be a better fit. Bud Black needs to go to LA or WAS. He’s so calm and everyone loves him.

12:03
Comment From Art Vandelay
I saw Courtney Barnett at the Fillmore last night, it was a great show. That’s all.

12:03
Eno Sarris: Recorded, she puts me to sleep, but I bet a live show I could dig on.

12:04
Comment From Kris
Eno! Can you please choose one between: 9th round Wacha, 16th round Rendon, 24th round Yordano

12:04
Eno Sarris: You know what, at these prices, taking Rendon. I like Wacha but is it what four or five rounds value at most? Yordano is nice, but I bet his round value is about the same as Rendon’s so I take the hitter.

12:04
Comment From Ben
Which Astro do you think is most likely to have a 20/20 season? Springer, Gomez or Correa? Could any have a 30/30 season?

12:05
Eno Sarris: Springer. Stolen bases fall apart quick. Gomez might be breaking down. It’s not just me that’s saying this, it’s the Mets doctors.

12:05
Comment From Guest
I love you Eno, but as a Cubs fan I know this chat will be too painful for me. Much love and go Mets but I’m tender.

12:05
Eno Sarris: I’ll hold you in the warmth created by my love for Jorge Soler.

12:05
Comment From Pale Hose
Have stolen bases drawn close to even with HR in 5×5?

12:06
Eno Sarris: They have been for a while. I bet when we look back at this year, we might even find they pulled ahead.

12:06
Comment From Luke
Do you think postseason stats should be included in regular season and career totals? These are very real games, and it feels a little silly that Daniel Murphy’s fWAR is still at 2.5.

12:07
Eno Sarris: Should at least be a toggle you can switch on the leaderboards for Hall of Fame arguing time. It’s a little unfair because not all players get equal chance to play in the playoffs but life is unfair.

12:07
Comment From Jonathan
What’s Matz’s ceiling? Do you think he’s already at his top velocity or do you think there is more in there like Degrom has shown when he got to the majors?

12:08
Eno Sarris: I think he’s at top velocity, he’s the biggest injury risk in that rotation, and his curve and change may only be okay. I have a tiny bit of worry that he’s the lefty Andrew Cashner, mostly gas with not great secondary stuff and the same injury history. That said, he’s great. He’s exciting. He’s their fourth-best pitcher right now.

12:08
Comment From Guest
It’s weird how the playoffs have a theme song they play all the time now on tv, right? This year is Heavy is the Head, a couple years ago I remember it was Written In the Stars… help me out what have been the other ones?

12:08
Eno Sarris: LIGHT THE MUPS

12:08
Comment From PSA
Daniel Murphy is a homophobe, and we should not respect the accomplishments of bigots. Intolerance will not be tolerated by today’s society.

12:10
Eno Sarris: Hey man, I may be wrong, but I find his particular brand a little less upsetting than the more aggressive version. He was brought up badly. I think he had some interesting exchanges with Billy Bean too. Also, if you worry too much about these players as people, you’re screwed. Barry Bonds gave me practice in this matter.

12:10
Eno Sarris:

12:10
Comment From frenchsoup
Who has the better season next year? Salazar or Carassco?

12:11
Eno Sarris: Great question. Both have iffy command and great stuff. Carrasco has more plus pitches, but I’d bet on Salazar to hold his velocity more next year. And if any takes *another* step forward, it’s Danny. Once you factor in cost, I’ll be owning Salazar more than CC.

12:11
Comment From johnny5alive
im surprised the dodgers let mattingly make that decision on his own rather than firing him outright. he is awful

12:11
Comment From The Ghost Of Stephen Drews Bat
Maybe as the Yankees hitting coach?

12:12
Comment From Slew (Seattle)
I agree with PSA. WE WILL NOT TOLERATE INTOLERANCE!

12:12
Comment From L. Scott
What beer did you have to celebrate the pennant after the game?

12:13
Eno Sarris: I didn’t have one. Wednesdays are pretty sober for me, I’m wrecked after my weekly basketball game. But I will have an Allegash Farm to Face tonight because it’s the only New York beer I’ve got right now.

12:13
Comment From Jeff Gross
Which do you find more embarrassing – Soler’s penchant for laying out on the field while the ball is still live, like an NBA player that got knocked down waiting for his teammate to come pull him up, or Schwarber’s wrist-defense?

12:14
Eno Sarris: Watching Soler face down like that was such a mix of emotions. The negative ones are obvious, but I actually had a positive one! I’ve been touting him for a breakout next year, and that face-plant will probably keep people from talking about him in glowing tones for at least a month. It was… amazing.

12:14
Comment From JNC
Is the risk of a reliever not having ‘it’ on a given night a factor when determining whether to pull a starter? Also, is there some way a bullpen coach can indicate to the manager that a warming reliever doesn’t have ‘it’?

12:15
Eno Sarris: I think having the bullpen guy relay that would be risky because I’ve had plenty of pitchers tell me that they thought they had nothing going in the bullpen and then went out on the field and ripped it up. If you’re the manager, you gotta stick with what happens most of the time, not worry about this exact time too much, I’d think.

12:15
Comment From RotoLando
A manager in my league recommended a friend of his to fill a vacancy. El Friend-O immediately trades his Manny Machado for Christian Yelich and Trevor Rosenthal. Permission to boot both of these a-holes?

12:16
Eno Sarris: Yeesh welcome to the league, so you got yourself a patsy it looks like. That’s… upsetting.

12:16
Comment From Tom
Who among the Cubs phenoms has the highest ceiling? Rizzo, Bryant, Soler,Baez, Schwarber, Russell?

12:17
Eno Sarris: Might be Russell. What if he turns into a .280/.380/.480 guy with 25 bombs and excellent D at short? In pure value that might trump the rest, since Bryant may end up in the outfield. I guess Bryant second. Schwarber as a catcher could trump all of them, but I don’t believe at this point.

12:17
Comment From JBone McGraw
How would you set up the rotation if you were the Mets? Stick with deGrom, Thor, Harvey? Or would you be a little worried about such a long layover between starts for Harvey (practically 2 weeks)

12:17
Eno Sarris: Maybe you start Harvey first? He’s obviously the one most married to his routine. Might just ask him. He thinks he runs things anyway.

12:18
Comment From mapsamountainrange
Holding to a traditional/Biblical view of marriage =/= Being a homophobe

12:18
Eno Sarris: It often leads to statements that sound like homophobia, I’d argue, though, and Murph has said some of those things.

12:18
Eno Sarris: I mean, it’s still thinking, “you’re not good enough for this thing I have.”

12:19
Comment From The Ghost Of Stephen Drews Bat
Do you see Pineda having a strong, complete season?

12:19
Eno Sarris: Like, ever? Anibal Sanchez offers some hope, but if it doesn’t happen next year, he won’t be Anibal Sanchez. And Anibal himself is hurt now.

12:20
Comment From hscer
I guess it’s “acceptable” now that the Nats lost the division to the WS rep? Maybe not that they only won 83 games, though…

12:20
Eno Sarris: You ever root for the team that pushed your team out of the playoffs for this reason? It’s sort of a delightful temptation. But when it’s your divisional rival, it feels dirty, too. I think the Nats are right there again next year, and I bet they’ll act like it.

12:21
Comment From mapsamountainrange
Are you familiar with Pacific Northwest beers? I’m in Portland for a couple months, and I’m looking for some I should check out that could be bought in a store. (I’m not much for bars)

12:23
Eno Sarris: Cascade Blackcap Sour, Sang Noir Sour. Half Hitch Crux. Fremont Abominable. Goergetown pale ales. Anchorage sours. There are a bunch in Bend.

12:23
Comment From MSW
I still can’t believe it. I can’t believe a team I watched John Mayberry Jr. get so many important at bats for just swept the NLCS. Is this real life?

12:23
Eno Sarris: Well this team is a little different than *that* team.

12:23
Comment From Art Vandelay
“Dan-cin’ in the Sweep” that’s one of the worst headlines I’ve ever seen. Forced reference, terrible Daniel Murphy pun, it’s got it all.

12:23
Eno Sarris: Good god.

12:24
Comment From johnny5alive
i know there was plenty of support on this site for maddon’s decision to not start lester yesterday, and yes, everything is always different in hindsight, but come on, you can’t worry about tomorrow if you need to win today, right? i mean i know you guys love maddon, but did he mess up there?

12:24
Eno Sarris: Two guys on short rest is a tough way to win, but yeah I think I woulda fired that bullet. You always had Hammel anyway.

12:24
Comment From RK
match the SS with the team that might be in the market: Desmond, B Miller, Castro, A Cabrera: Rays, Padres, A’s, Marlins, D Backs

12:25
Eno Sarris: Actually, with Semien’s improved D in the second half due to Ron Washington, I think they’ll be looking for a third baseman, probably a platoon guy to match with Valencia. Castro to Padres makes the most sense. Rays re-sign Asdrubal at a small price. Miller may not be a shortstop, so maybe he goes to Athletics LOL

12:26
Eno Sarris: That leaves Desmond for the huh. Padres? Maybe DBacks make a plunge, make Ahmed the D backup.

12:26
Comment From Joe
Who is responsible on CLE for this velocity? Highest % of pitches 95MPH+ since 2008
2015 Mets 22.8%
2009 Tigers 17.6
2014 Royals 16.2
2014 Marlins 14.8
2012 Rays 14.6
2015 Indians 13.4

12:27
Eno Sarris: Yeah I know all the names in New York — Warthen, Romanick, Viola, Regan — but I don’t know them in Cleveland. That’s just me, but I bet it’s an organizational thing. I know they work closely with Driveline baseball, who has had great results using weighted balls and other workout techniques.

12:27
Comment From Joel Youngblood was Luke Skywalker
What is a bigger strength, the Blue Jays offense, or the Royals bullpen?

12:28
Eno Sarris: Uh the offense is there for nine innings, I take them here.

12:28
Comment From Eddie Brock
Will Buxton be relevant in 10 team mixed next year?

12:28
Eno Sarris: At draft day. At the end of the season, who knows.

12:28
Eno Sarris: I mean he has the upside to put it together, or he might be Cameron Maybin.

12:28
Comment From Jon
What’s your updated opinion of Flores defense? He seems to be more comfortable out there. If you take away his first two months of the season, how do the defensive stats like him?

12:29
Eno Sarris: I never thought I’d say this, but there’s an outside chance that he’s a capable shortstop that can stand there and pick the stuff that comes at him and not throw it away. That’s the nicest I can be.

12:29
Comment From Guest
holding on to traditional views of southern agrarian practices =/= being a racist

12:29
Eno Sarris: I giggled

12:29
Comment From Joe
I understand being down on Gomez, but where would you be buying in case of one last great season?

12:30
Eno Sarris: I think the worst case scenario, something like 15/20, .275, still makes him a top four or five rounder when we start running these things.

12:30
Comment From Friendo
Similar to RotoLando, a new guy joined my league this past season and his first order of business was trading a cheap Sale for Brantley and Gattis. Everybody laughed at him, and then he won the championship. So, you never know.

12:30
Comment From John
Seriously, referring to being gay as a “lifestyle” is disgusting. Please don’t try to stick up for him just because he plays for a baseball team you like. You don’t have to like him as a person to enjoy watching him hit dingers, people.

12:32
Eno Sarris: My defense of him is half-hearted at best and not rooted in homerism. It just doesn’t seem as vehement, it seems changeable, and it’s actually the type of homophobia that we should most focus on changing.

As for the second part, I whole-heartedly agree. Especially after getting to know more of these guys personally.

12:32
Comment From Ari
I would start Thor in game 1, deGrom in game 2, and Harvey in game 3 [Matz game 4]. This way Thor pitches in game 5, and is available in the bullpen in game 7 (he’s the best bullpen arm of the starters with 100+ MPH], Harvey with his TJS concerns only pitches 1 game (and at home) unless it goes 7, and deGrom sticks to pitching on the road in games 2 and 6. Thoughts ?

12:32
Eno Sarris: All defensible. Although it casts Thor as the new Bumgarner, which is sort of amazing.

12:32
Comment From L. Scott
Who wins the ADP battle in next year’s drafts, Trout or Harper?

12:33
Eno Sarris: Trout

12:33
Comment From The Ghost Of Stephen Drews Bat
How do you see baseball changing in the 50 years? More rule changes? Scoring changes? How will it change in how we view, analyze baseball?

12:34
Eno Sarris: I wonder if they’ll clean up the rule about the rubber with people jumping off it left and right and gaining gas. I think sliding rules will change, maybe fewer things will be challengeable. Maybe arbitration will change a bit, as FA contracts seem to just be bad deals most of the time. Revenue sharing? Strike zone? None of these things seem so radical that they will change the way we think about ball. I doubt the mound changes.

12:34
Comment From Guest
Eno had a bet with my partner on Cubs/Mets since we were on opposite sides; did not emerge victorious, now must brew a beer named after a Mets player. First thing to come to mind is Juan Lageres but I don’t really brew lagers.

12:35
Eno Sarris: David WrightPA?
Wilmer Floral Saison?
Curtis Granderson Cru?
Noah Synder Bier du Gaard?

12:36
Comment From jtt
In a world where david Eckstein has a worls series MVP trophy why can’t casual fans just accept that sometimes players go on hot steraks without being on PEDs?

12:36
Eno Sarris: Yah we got luck over here too.

12:36
Comment From John
What type of numbers do you think Piscotty can put up in 2016? With his swing changes, he showed more power than expected in the regular season and it continued to the playoffs. Is .285 with homers in the low 20s and good counting stats realistic?

12:36
Eno Sarris: He’s striking out more with this new swing, too. I’ll give him some thing like .275 and 24.

12:36
Comment From Baxter
How much concern should we have for Daniel Norris and this cancer news? Does he still have SP2 upside?

12:37
Eno Sarris: He’s going to miss most of next year, right? And what if it affects his strength, some of the next year? I wasn’t that into him as a prospect before anyway, the command is pretty bad. I will root for him, though.

12:37
Comment From Royce
Is Adam Jones on the downhill slope? All he gives is HRs and is even a drain in OBP leagues.

12:38
Eno Sarris: Yes I think so. Hard to say when a guy who is built on athleticism will fall apart — at least he started with five tools, but the o-swing, that sort of stuff, was never there. The anti-Votto, in a way.

12:38
Comment From Art Vandelay
I mean, despite all this, the Mets will still be in the market for a middle infield, right?

12:39
Eno Sarris: If they in the market at all, you’d think so. Offer Murphy the qualifying offer, let him go, add something to the Flores/Herrera/Tejada mix.

12:39
Eno Sarris:

12:40
Comment From Harold
Does Osuna project to have dominance at the reliever position for the next 5 years?

12:40
Eno Sarris: Yes, but there’s at least a little drumbeat for him to start next year, so wait on that.

12:40
Comment From Rosco
All the chats and articles about Catchers recently; I haven’t seen anything on Mesoraco. What are your thoughts on him recovering and projection moving forward?

12:41
Eno Sarris: It’s a tough injury, and I’ve heard some talk about him playing in the outfield next year. If he plays in the outfield and recovers well (legs are better injuries for power recovery than arms and wrists and shoulders), then he could be a really great sleeper next year, with more PA and less wear and tear.

12:41
Comment From Guest
Problem w Murphy’s statement is that it’s the most insidious form of intolerance, the type that others and marginalizes but does so with ostensible grace. Not so different from the slow shift from out-and-out racism to coded language in political discourse Lee Atwater championed.

12:42
Eno Sarris: It’s true, but it’s also everywhere, and attacking it full frontal seems to lead to more divisiveness. I really recommend listening to how Bean talks about it. He’s really good at it.

12:42
Comment From johnny5alive
as mets fans, do we want to face KC or Toronto? Gotta be KC, right?

12:43
Eno Sarris: Lindbergh had a great piece about how contact hitters do better against power pitchers than power hitters, but the Mets have a cool thing going: their power pitchers also have great command. The Royals swing outside the zone a lot. I think I’d take that skillset as a matchup over the Jays’ middle of the order.

12:44
Comment From RotoLando
Maddon ran out of bullets. Not much else you can do. Good effort by The Cubbies this year though.

12:44
Eno Sarris: Need more pitchers, which is the only reason I wasn’t sure it would happen this year. But if anyone can find pitchers, it’s Theo… in the NL.

12:44
Comment From Hack Wilson
Do keeper leagues usually allow for offseason trading? This is my first offseason so I’m not sure, but seems like they should.

12:44
Eno Sarris: Yes. I’m already talking trades in a few leagues.

12:45
Comment From Will
Does Gausman have success in the Orioles’ seemingly pitcher hindering environment?

12:45
Eno Sarris: I think a cutter could really help him, but the curve is also starting to look better. Curve/split/fastball will work if he has the confidence to hit the zone more. He’s still got a chance.

12:46
Comment From soupman
who’s in the hays rotaysh next yr?

12:48
Eno Sarris: So you got Archer/Odorizzi/Smyly/Erasmo/Moore on our depth charts, but Cobb will come back too. Moore is the closest to free agency but doesn’t have a ton of trade value, I’d guess. Archer is signed at ridiculously low rate for a long time. Karns has proved capable at least, and you’ve got Snell coming. I think a trade is coming but I don’t know who’s getting traded. Maybe Erasmo is a swing man.

12:49
Comment From HandsomeWillieMcGee
is it ok to continue to wait on P next season…or do you need an elite guy 6×6, IP?

12:49
Eno Sarris: I’ll continue to take guys at the back end of each tier, because there’s always a 12-15 guy that jumps into the 1-5, but I won’t wait until my top pitcher is worse than the number of teams in my league, I don’t think. I want one in each tier.

12:49
Comment From Guest
What does a “Cubs luck” future look like: turns out Arrieta needs TJ and never recovers, Bryant and Schwarber exposed for their high-K ways, Russel never becomes much more than a D-first SS, and Lester repeats 2011-13 over the next three years and only goes downhill from there. Let’s put odds on it.

12:50
Eno Sarris: oh please please don’t be true

12:50
Comment From anon
Other than cards, who will be a bidder for Heyward. Cameron said Cubs, but I don’t see them going big for a hitter. Even with the bats going cold in nlcs.

12:51
Eno Sarris: If the number is lower than Cespedes, what if the Mets jump in? He’s a good fit for them, though he’s a lefty I guess. But he can play a better center than Yoenis. Dunno if they going to spend a lot though. I could see a team like the Tigers (again, if no Cespedes) could get in on him. Phillies might actually make a little sense.

12:51
Comment From Zonk
What do you do this offseason if you’re the Cubs?

12:52
Eno Sarris: Just try to build pitching depth. Look into signing a guy like Estrada, maybe Leake, try to find some more relievers, look at your homegrown young guys…

12:53
Eno Sarris:

12:53
Comment From Rated Rookie
What’s your sense of Raisel Iglesias’s ceiling in 2016? What does he need to do in your opinion to make that leap into the top-50 SPs in fantasy?

12:54
Eno Sarris: I have a really high opinion of his upside. Has three really good pitches, you could call them plus. He doesn’t favor any of the three and can change his approach due to opposition. Has three arm slots and is unpredictable. All he needs to do is last longer in the game in terms of velocity, and put up 150+ innings.

12:54
Comment From Ghost Mouse
when drafting for dynasty, which would you rank as being the better asset to own:player already in minors, ie Wilson Contreras, college player, ie JJ Schwartz, or the high school senior.

12:55
Eno Sarris: I own a Japanese high school senior, but only in case he decides to come to America. usually I don’t bother until they are drafted, though sometimes in some leagues, having a guy that will be drafted in the top ten is worth it. So a predictable top-ten draft pick over a boring minor leaguer, I guess.

12:55
Comment From HandsomeWillieMcGee
Eno, are you into any other Fantasy Sports?

12:55
Eno Sarris: Basketball I like but injuries are so hard. I play one football league and hate it.

12:55
Comment From Eddie Brock
How much would be different today if the Mets’ trade for Gomez went through?

12:56
Eno Sarris: Cubs might be in the World Series, I guess. Because the Mets wouldn’t have been in the playoffs, I’d guess.

12:56
Comment From Guest
My beer will have the salty flavor of tears, so maybe I should aim for a gose. Gose-nis Cespedes?

12:56
Eno Sarris: Not bad.

12:56
Comment From Q-Ball
Kyle Schwarber is basically a left-handed version of Mike Napoli. That’s what Cameron said yesterday in chat. Do you agree? I feel like offensively that may be close, though I think Schwarbs is a better athlete….

12:57
Eno Sarris: To be fair, a lefty Mike Napoli would be worth more than Mike Napoli. And Napoli was pretty valuable in his peak. And I’d think Schwarber has more upside if he looks like he could be LHB Nap Nap Wiener right now. That adjustment he made during the deGrom at bat was a little more than I see out of Napoli.

12:57
Comment From Rated Rookie
Just catching up…How do you not think Correa is more likely to have a 20/20 season? 30/20 seems well within reach for him (assuming health).

12:58
Eno Sarris: He stole 14 but I’m not sure you just pace him out based on that. He’s fast but I don’t think he’ll ever steal 30. Never stole more than 20 in the minors.

12:58
Comment From Bork
How is baseball in regards to more females in male dominated positions? For example umps, coaches, front office, etc. I know the NBA has championed this but have not heard anything about the MLB.

12:59
Eno Sarris: It’s pretty bad. I can think of Kim Ng in front offices, and the A’s just hired Justine… forget her last name… to help coach minor leaguers. Meredith Wills is working in the Oakland front office. I’m out of names.

12:59
Comment From frenchsoup
Does Chapman or Kimbrel get moved this offseason like they should?

1:00
Eno Sarris: You know, the Reds debuted so many pitchers and are getting Homer back, I think they keep the gang together. San Diego, I abstain. I have no idea. I didn’t think dude would do what he did, and now I don’t even know what he does going forward. Grabbing the popcorn.

1:00
Comment From Wes
Do you think more teams will start embracing spin rates?

1:01
Eno Sarris: Yah. Not in ‘get your spin up’ way, but how McHugh said about the Astros: dude, your fastball has a ton of spin, you should throw it high in the zone and go for popups.

1:01
Comment From Ceetar
I brewed a Kirk NieuwenWeiss once.

1:01
Comment From MSW
Portolo Colon

1:01
Comment From RotoLando
DUDABRAU!!!

1:02
Comment From johnny5alive
eno you ve been saving those mets beer names for a while havent you? you didnt do that on the spot

1:02
Eno Sarris: Oh you liked them? I made them up on the spot. I thought they were pretty bad honestly.

1:02
Comment From John
Keep it simple. Juan Uribeer

1:02
Comment From Merv+Throneberry=?
Bring back gum in baseball card packs.

1:02
Comment From Guest
Peeing in a cup should be part of every at bat, fans cheer when it comes up clean while banging on the cage of the thunderdome

1:03
Eno Sarris: See? Y’all’s are better. Yes, I wrote ‘Y’all’s’.

1:04
Comment From soupman
Alford was more than holding his own in AA this year. Who is the odd man out Bautista/Pillar/Pompey/Alford?

1:05
Eno Sarris: We have him in A-Ball. I think Pompey has a shot to edge out Revere over the course of the next two years, and Pillar may end up as D replacement too. Alford needs a year in Double-A at least.

1:05
Comment From RoRo
Norris is supposed to be ready for spring training

1:06
Eno Sarris: Amazing, must have read that wrong. Didn’t Rizzo miss more time? I’d still be down on him a bit from strength angle. McCarthy told me that offseason injuries kept him from getting as strong as he could for the season for a few years.

1:06
Comment From hscer
o/u 108 wRC+ for Desmond in 2016? that was his 2014 number

1:07
Eno Sarris: Under, but maybe over Steamer projection (91).

1:07
Comment From Ryan
OMG to the Portland visitor: Hair of the Dog for some Adam (and whatever they have “from the wood” plus a vintage bottle of Matt), then wander a few blocks west for tasters of every sour Cascade is pouring. But first, bus south to Apex, and drink whatever IPAs they have from Boneyard and/or Barley Brown’s while you are eating lengua tacos from next door. NOT THAT I HAVE DONE THIS ALL TOO MANY TIMES

1:07
Comment From Bobby Blownilla
My dad was knocking Duda for the entirety of the playoffs until that homer to which he started chanting his name. I totally called him out on it.

1:07
Comment From Bork
Goins to the Mets for uh…Harvey…yeah…

1:07
Comment From Dallas
I’m just here for the orgy !

1:07
Eno Sarris: nice

1:08
Comment From Q-Ball
With Dexter Fowler likely to leave, the Cubs need a CF. They also have a very strikeout-heavy lineup. Thoughts on what direction they should go?

1:09
Eno Sarris: Re-sign Fowler seems more likely than signing Heyward to play center. Other CF FAs are not great: Span, Austin Jackson, de Aza, Delmon Young.

1:10
Comment From Zonk
Should the Reds trade Joey Votto? Could they find a taker for his contract without a subsidy?

1:10
Eno Sarris: I might give it a short go with this new batch of pitchers, and then trade him later when other FA dollars have caught up with his contract.

1:10
Comment From Will
Going to be a tough offseason for the Astros. I could see them doing basically anything. Elite SP, middle of the order bat, invest heavily in relievers, make a trade, or simply extend the young ore. Those are all legitimate options. It will be interesting to see what Lunhow decides to do. First time in a while Astros fans are excited for FA.

1:11
Eno Sarris: I’d guess SP and reliever in FA. Now they might actually sign with his team. Although, from talking to some guys, not everyone loves how they negotiate.

1:11
Comment From Genghis
Does Estrada get a qualifying offer? 1 year/15.8 million seems like a decent deal for 2+ WAR.

1:11
Eno Sarris: I say yes. I like his skillset. If I’m Toronto, getting him back for one year is fine.

1:12
Comment From Mike Mulligan
How would you rank for 2016: E Rodriguez, Severino, Rodon, Heaney, Norris?

1:13
Eno Sarris: I need to see a little more form Severino’s secondary stuff. Rodon seemed to be getting it together. I like Ed, but he’s been up and down. Rodon, Severino, Ed, Heaney. As much as I like Heaney, his upside lower.

1:13
Comment From Sirras
Duda lude-a doo

1:13
Comment From hscer
Y’all’s is perfectly legitamite! Even if it literally makes me suddenly unable to spell legitimite correctly

1:13
Comment From Dallas
Pilsner Flores

1:13
Comment From Danny
What year did you start playing fantasy baseball and who did you draft first?

1:14
Eno Sarris: 1999 and Chipper Jones if my poor memory serves me right.

1:15
Comment From hscer
higher 2016 wRC+, Zimmerman or Werth?

1:15
Comment From hscer
(in their 100 PA each, lol)

1:15
Eno Sarris: Zimm

1:15
Comment From MikeIsGreat
Is Herrara a possibility for the Mets opening day at second? If so did something go horribly wrong?

1:16
Eno Sarris: If Tejada’s leg is fine, it might be Tejada at short and Flores at second, unless they spend money. But FA on the MI… Asdrubal, Jimmy, Desmond, Kendrick, Murphy, Zobrist… Zobrist, now that’s interesting.

1:17
Comment From Sirras One
What playoff team this year is most likely to NOT be contending next year?

1:18
Eno Sarris: Honestly think the Mets will have to work hard to keep up with Nationals on their rebound. Rangers obviously got in on knife’s edge. Yanks seems to be neither here nor there.

1:18
Comment From Salas
So after watching the game yesterday, I noticed that pitches middle zone, down are getting hit harder than up in the zone. Can you explain?

1:19
Eno Sarris: Hitters have tooled their swings to match up best with where pitchers are throwing pitches most. So most hitters have low-ball swings now. Read the piece with Chris Young (Challenges the Data).

1:20
Comment From Mike T
who wins NL east next year

1:21
Eno Sarris: I really think it could be the Nats again. With the Mets battling the Cardinals and one of Cubs/Pirates for a wild card.

1:21
Comment From MSW
If the Mets don’t spend on Yo, I think Zobrist would look amazing in orange and blue. He’s exactly Sandy’s kind of guy.

1:22
Eno Sarris: Now that I’ve said it, I think it could happen. But I’m not sure it’s enough to replace Yo.

1:22
Comment From Eddie Brock
What preseason prediction are you most proud of this year?

1:22
Comment From Guest
So is a Daniel Murphy jersey a good christmas gift to a die hard cubs fan?

1:24
Eno Sarris: no and no. well I had one preseason prediction that wasn’t easy to do, and that was mets in playoffs, so I guess that one. Fantasy-wise, I nailed Xander Bogaerts. no not that way.

1:24
Eno Sarris:

1:25
Comment From Danny
I have both Jose Berrios and Alex Reyes in my dynasty league. Who is has the higher ceiling out of the two?

1:25
Eno Sarris: Berrios is closer and ceilings close so I take him.

1:25
Comment From Mike
Javy Baez had a steamer projection of 250/300 (avg/obp) with 28 HRs and 170Ks … I feel like people have described his approach as revamped and improved, but his swinging strike rate was still really high 16.4%. Long story short, what’s your perspective on that projection?

1:26
Eno Sarris: I’m not now, nor have I ever been, in on Javier Baez. Just not my kind of player. Maybe he turns into an infield Chris Davis, that could still happen and it would be great and his value will be great. But I’ll only pay Chris Davis to Baltimore prices for him myself, because adjustment to league looks like it will be a doozy.

1:26
Comment From Steveo
Cubs can’t keep running Schwarber to the OF. Him in a package for one of the Indians Carrasco make any sense?

1:27
Eno Sarris: Yeah, but we’ve said the Cubs can’t keep all of these young hitters and they have. They don’t seem inclined to trading their young hitters.

1:27
Comment From Jon Dowd
Mets will have trouble holding onto all this young pitching in a few years. How do they decide who to extend and who to part ways with? Difficult.

1:27
Eno Sarris: This is why Billy Beane said that injury detection and prevention is the next great frontier for baseball.

1:28
Comment From MSW
Watching Schwarber in the field gave me flashbacks to when they tried to get Duda to play OF. Could the Cubs send Bryant to the OF, Rizzo to 3B and Schwarber to 1B?

1:28
Eno Sarris: I don’t *think* Rizzo can play third but it’s worth thinking like this.

1:28
Comment From Lilo
Matz or Severino? Syngergaard or Giolitio?

1:28
Eno Sarris: Mets in both cases.

1:28
Comment From MSW
For my last keeper in a keep 6 h2h points, do I go with a $7 Kipnis or $3 Stroman? Already keeping 3 hitters and 2 pitchers.

1:29
Eno Sarris: Kipnis better in points than other systems, I take him.

1:29
Comment From jack
davis has a better approach than baez. hard to succeed with that low a BB%

1:29
Eno Sarris: Davis used to have that low BB% until pitchers got afraid! I don’t think he has good natural command of the zone.

1:29
Comment From Spirit Animal
Wheeler a 2 or 3 starter next year?

1:29
Eno Sarris: Five, to keep his innings down.

1:30
Comment From jack
yeah but he didn’t chase as much (for the most part)

1:30
Eno Sarris: true, which is why I’m pretty much out.

1:31
Comment From Logic
How many of the mets big 5 are aces? 2 or 3 starters

1:31
Eno Sarris: Three.

1:31
Comment From Jon Dowd
I don’t believe in innings limits. Maybe track number of “stressful pitches” or something? There’s gotta be a better way than saying “180!”

1:31
Eno Sarris: Yes. Two-strike pitches. Breaking pitches. There are better things than innings.

1:32
Eno Sarris: Aight I gotta get writing! It’s already after lunch on the east coast, and there’s no baseball tonight… you feel that depression setting on? Good thing we have the hot stove to keep us warm after that.

1:32
Comment From Will
Sonny Gray for Syndergaard and Flores. Who says no

1:32
Eno Sarris: Mets say no

1:32
Comment From theo
Syndergaard for addison?

1:33
Eno Sarris: Cubs say no?

1:33
Eno Sarris: Maybe the Mets trade lesser arms for Castro…

1:33
Comment From Danny
Harvey for Corey Seager?

1:33
Eno Sarris: Dodgers say no, they can buy a starter, they can’t buy a young shortstop.

1:34
Eno Sarris: Aight guys, later!! thanks for coming, it was fun.

1:34
Comment From Greg
Thanks for chatting Eno. I go to school in greater Boston. What are some good beers to look out for? I’ve tried a few Jack Abbey’s. Also, what are some good non-craft beers you go to?

1:35
Eno Sarris: oh have to answer this: Mystic is pretty good, Night Shift is really good, Cambridge is okay, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOME TRILLIUM. Non-craft? Not much I dig on there. Newcastle, Stella, PIlsner Urquell if I have to.

1:35
Comment From hscer
bye thanks eno

1:35
Eno Sarris: later!





With a phone full of pictures of pitchers' fingers, strange beers, and his two toddler sons, Eno Sarris can be found at the ballpark or a brewery most days. Read him here, writing about the A's or Giants at The Athletic, or about beer at October. Follow him on Twitter @enosarris if you can handle the sandwiches and inanity.

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albertkly
8 years ago

Is Kris Bryant due for a regression next year in obp/avg? He had a huge BABIP this year and that strikeout rate is pretty huge. Who do you like in a 3 year keeper from 2016-2018, Bryant or Donaldson?

Avattoir
8 years ago
Reply to  albertkly

IMO it’d be more accurate to say Bryant’s in for a CHALLENGE. Opposition staffs will have worked up multiple strategies designed to isolae his strengths and exaggerate his weaknesses, which WILL work for at least a while. They’ll stop working when Bryant widens his own skill set to identify and develops approaches to deal with those strategies. Assuming he doesn’t get hurt – almost everyone gets hurt – it’ll be a test of his baseball acumen and his ability to sustain superior effort. If I had to predict, I’d say both he and the Cubs more generally suffer regression next season (They’ll be fine in the longer run, at least insofar as the team’s fates get tied to its position players.), but it won’t result in any big character shift and Bryant will be come back and put up maybe career counting stats in 2017.