Eno Sarris Baseball Chat — 11/30/17

Eno Sarris: dedicated to Giancarlo Stanton, this is how much I got on his contract

Xolo: Please tell me why signing Hosmer isn’t a terrible idea for the Padres.

Eno Sarris: Can’t imagine why it *would* be a good idea.

Hannah Hochevar: At this point I’d be sad if the O’s resign Chris Tillman but also sad if they don’t resign Chris Tillman. What’s a fan to do?

Eno Sarris: Be sad, I guess.

CubFan: With the Cubs saying they are willing to use Ohtani in the OF as well as pitching how much have they improved their chances of landing him?

Eno Sarris: Giants have said the same. I think the NL teams have to say that. He can play the OF. The question is *should* he play often in the field, considering he’s maybe not a top 100 prospect as a hitter.

Hannah Hochevar: Was Fister’s cheap contract just a reaction to his age or will these mediocre FA arms be cheaper this offseason than predicted?

Eno Sarris: There are a poop tonne of back end pitchers on the market actually.

Mike: How does the Ohtani sweepstake change if it comes out he needs Tommy John Surgery this year? Are teams still all in on him?

Eno Sarris: Still a ton of years of control, so yes.

Big Joey: Do you value Turner more than Lindor in a keep forever league that counts OBP and SLG as extra offensive categories?

Eno Sarris: Yes. With the paucity of steals, he’s ahead anyway.

Big Joey: How do you feel about Conforto now that he received some great news about his recovery? Top 50 player overall?

Eno Sarris: Great news is just normal, status quo. Bad news is the rarity that you have to look out for. But, sure, it’s decent, and he’s a great player.

Brandon M: The Rangers just signed Anthony Gose, the former outfielder turned pitcher. With Ohtani coming over, and at the least very least, players like Gose and James Jones floating around, could we see two players actually becoming a thing?

Eno Sarris: Maybe on the edges of rosters, 26th men type guys that can relieve and be a fifth outfielder. That would be a good use of the back end roster spot. Pitching and hitting are very hard, and the people that focus on one will always be ahead. Ask catchers.

Stumped in Texas: ever heard of BeBop Deluxe?  

Eno Sarris: Fun. Had only heard of Cowboy Bebop.

Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: I am skeptical of your methodology on team health–I’m concerned about selection bias. E.g. the Rays are notorious for taking injured players on two-year bounceback deals (Eovaldi, Ramos), but it doesn’t reflect badly on their traning staff. If anything, it looks good that they believe they can fix them! I might also make an argument about signing injury risks for less money. Maybe other teams are more risk averse.

Eno Sarris: It was just a few different ways to look at it, and of course, you’re right about these concerns. Like the Dodgers have the same concerns about it. I have no idea how to account for this selection bias though. It’s there under every DL-based analysis.

Alec Asher Wojciechowski: Which team is the most likely to accidentally sign Cosart thinking he was Cozart, and just run him out there at SS anyways?

Eno Sarris: 80 arm, can’t hit the first baseman.

wooooston: the young top prospect to target this offseason in dynasty leagues is…

Eno Sarris: Don’t spend like they’re top ten guys, but I came away from the AFL very impressed with Michael Chavis and Austin Riley, and they won’t cost like Acuna et al.

Dear: Eno, our keeper deadline is in the middle of February. Last choice comes down to Fulmer, Ray, and Wood. Fulmer costs $2 more than either. Which one? Is Fulmers injury big enough that he isn’t an easy choice. FWIW, I’ve got him in my top 15 if healthy.

Eno Sarris: Eliminate Wood. I suppose Ray is healthy and could become a top 15 guy himself.

Hannah Hochevar: Giancarlo Stanton is basically Harry in the Piggery

Hannah Hochevar: Eyes are the windows to the soul, but windows are the windows to the house

Nelson: Whats worse: Pumpkin Beers, Christmas beers, a colonoscopy?

Eno Sarris: A well done interlude.

Scott: Who do you think has more trade value right now: Samardzjia or Cueto?

Eno Sarris: Jeff is a healthy quantity guy, him.

Larry Biggersby: Byron Buxton: Steamer/Depth have 20/20 and 315 OBP. Over/Under?

Eno Sarris: I’ll go with under, over…. over.

Larry: Wow, you really have the market cornered on Stanton articles. Does he need a restraining order?

Eno Sarris: This offseason has sucked so far.

Larry: Does Domingo Santana still have room to grow beyond last year’s 30/15? if not, can he match it even?

Eno Sarris: He still doesn’t hit a ton of fly balls! I think he could hit for more power if he could lift it more. I think he can mostly repeat if health is there.

Scott: I can’t stop reading every single article about Ohtani, everywhere. Is there a point where there is too much Ohtani content, and will we ever reach it?

Eno Sarris: Eventually he’ll sign. And then, if he doesn’t impress, we’ll have a bunch of depressed pieces. And if he does impress in both things, he’ll be like Mike Trout plus Corey Kluber rolled into one so you’ll have all the content you’ll ever need.

Bill: On a recent Effectively Wild, Tony Blengino talked about how the big/bold/visionary thing to do with Ohtani is to make him a SP/RF. Our hosts seemed a bit taken aback. Have we settled too quickly into the assumption that Ohtani won’t play outfield? Do you think there are GMs out there who are making a moonshot pitch for a true two-way Ohtani?

Eno Sarris: Every NL team is putting him in the outfield. He has 80 speed, he can play there. The question is, what can a body handle?

Stumped in Texas: must admit–De Lux track is pretty hip

Eno Sarris:

Chim Richolds: I’ve come across a handful of pitchers during my fantasy prep who have approximately constant 4-seam velo, but declining sinker velo but increasing usage of the sinker. JA Happ is an illustrative example, but there are more. Is this pattern a result of aging, strategy, or something else? What do I take away from such a divergence? What’s the next step in that analysis?

Eno Sarris: I think that might be a ‘can’t be a terrible sign’ thing. The study that showed that not throwing at your maximum is healthier is probably winding its way through the league.

Big Joey: Keep-forever, 7×7 (OBP/SLG/L/Hld are the extra categories) I’m keeping Judge, G Sanchez, Lindor, Hoskins and Bellinger already…and need to decide between Miggy and Conforto as my last keeper. FYI if I take Miggy he will be my UTIL spot.

Eno Sarris: Here I take Conforto. Miggy, back, age… it didn’t look good.

Hooha: would you rather grab 5 cat offensive pieces early or get a stud starter to anchor your staff?

Eno Sarris: I’m moving my stud starter up slowly in drafts but not into the first round because I’m a fuddy duddy. But second, third round… way higher than I ever did before… I’m considering again.

Andrew: Dave Cameron’s article about how the Cardinals should be favoring Josh Donaldson over Giancarlo Stanton got me looking into their stats and projected stats.  It seemed projections had Stanton fairing somewhat poorly in the coming years despite him being younger than Donaldson. Are there solid reasons I’m missing for these projections?

Eno Sarris: Mostly just defensive value. Stanton projected to be a better bat, and has been. But doesn’t play third.

Ben: If Joe Mauer, Victor Martinez, Carlos Santana, Josh Donaldson, Mike Napoli, or John Jaso had to actually work behind the plate in 2018, which (if any) could still do so competently? How much better are they now as catchers than your average middle infielder “emergency” catcher?

Eno Sarris: I bet Mauer could be good. Injury forced him out, and he has one of the better body types on here. I’m sure Donaldson could be good, but would be hurt way more often.

Nick Morris: best Athens,GA beers? or atlanta if you’re not too familiar

Eno Sarris: Creature Comfort Tropicalia and others.

Dever-ting Our Attention?: Do you agree with Steamer on Devers’ .283 19/6 line (65 R 72 RBI)?  Seems a bit light to me on HR and counting stats by about 10 homers and 20 R and RBI . . .  I get the sense that Devers is going to go under the radar next year (and that’s coming from me, a yankee fan!).  Even if he makes no improvements in 2018, he seems like an early AL ROY favorite.

Eno Sarris: I’ll give him more homers because I love him as well, but not a ton more, unless he lifts the ball more. I don’t think he can be ROY though, he had 240 PA last year. Not sure he’ll be super under radar either, the radar right now is busted by two players sitting on it.

Brad: I’m seeing a lot of backlash to Joe Morgan by saying steroids was just one factor (not major factor) in the increase in offense during the “steroid” era.  Do you agree with that?

Eno Sarris: There were changes to the strike zone, new ballparks, league expansion, yes, and the evidence from the ball thing going on now suggests that this could have happened before in the past.

Michael: What should I get my beer nerd brother-in-law for Christmas? I live in Boston so I was thinking some Tree House or Trillium beers. thoughts?

Eno Sarris: He’ll love it.

ryan: is there an industry standard discount rate for assessing prospect future value/production in trade packages? any sense of what it might be?

Eno Sarris: The piece by Pirates Prospects on their surplus value by ranking is the current standard on the subject, I think.

Art Vandelay: that Archer interview about Ohtani was interesting. Archer was suggesting he could maybe start in the field one day a week. Contrasted with the people saying maybe he’d be put on a Japanese-style pitching schedule of pitching only once a week. What do you think is more likely (provided he actually ends up doing both)

Eno Sarris: It’s going to be very difficult for him to play a lot in the field, and he needs the most work there. An honest pitch would be: you’re a starter for us, but we’ll give you the opportunity to train with hitters, and we’ll promise you 30 starts in the field over the course of the year, more as you earn it.

Jeff: Are there people out there on the internet who really believe the Mets when they say Conforto (or any player really) received great news about his recovery?

Eno Sarris: Good point, it’s also the Mets. He’s likely on his deathbed.

Ken: You like Ryon Healy. What do you think is a (reasonable-ish) best case scenario/comp for him?

Eno Sarris: .280/.330/.500 with mediocre defense at first. Like what Trey Mancini did last year. Requires a bit of growth in discipline.

Corey: What do you think about 2018 Tyler Chatwood? Dominated outside of Coors.

Eno Sarris: Buying, but his K-BB wasn’t amazing outside of Coors. More buying like on that Petit deal, 2/10 or something.

Eno Sarris: Then he can be your 80-100 IP reliever swing guy too.

ballsandgutters: Your brother Cameron talks about 2B defense being less important due to shifts.   Is either SS or 3B defense less important as well?   Thanks.

Eno Sarris: It’s harder to shift righties because you have to leave the first baseman over there. So the third baseman and shortstop still have to cover a lot of ground.

LogDawg: Who would be the better option to hang on to in my keepers league – Hosmer or Moustakas?

Eno Sarris: Moose.

Sandy Ravage: Can Delino Deshields be a good lead off hitter AND a decent defender next year? Feel like he had a low key good year last year but defense needs work.

Eno Sarris: He has and has always had the tools. The work ethic has been the question, and I’ve seen it in action myself. But with a job within reach… I think he could do it.

bosox: How do you think fantasy sites (NFBC, ESPN, Yahoo, CBS, etc.) will account for two-way players moving forward?

Eno Sarris: LABR — weekly lineups on a platform that allows for a lot of tweaking — has announced that he will be one player but you have to decide to play him as a pitcher or hitter. That seems possible for many platforms. Getting both every day is going to be impossible without opening that up for every hitter and pitcher I think. Imagine getting innings from your Jon Jay.

Zigs: I may have missed your thoughts on Luiz Gohara, but would love to know what you think. Hardest throwing lefty and a 41.9 percent whiff rate on that slider. Watching his games he looked better than the overall numbers show

Eno Sarris: One thing that happens when you watch him is remember the good changeups. The bad changeups are bad. Fastball slider and that command, could be an NL Michael Pineda. The change is what will make him a star if he can harness it.

Jimmy: Can Felix turn things around? What needs to happen for him to see success moving forward?

Eno Sarris: HE’S ONLY FIVE YEARS OLD OKAY

Eno Sarris: Oh wait you’re not talking about my son.

Eno Sarris: Hernandez? I dunno. With this stuff in particular, he’s pretty close to a league average pitcher. Can he bring some velo back?

<Demonic Wail>: What would you do with Kluber in dynasty this year? Sell maybe a couple years early while his stock is through the roof for a hitter?

Eno Sarris: If you’re winning, then I guess you have to hold. Decent time to sell though.

Jstodola : If the Brewers sign Arrieta, would he become their #1 starter or would Nelson be #1?

Eno Sarris: Nelson has shoulder issues. He’s number two until he’s healthy and dominating again.

Currently on 31BX: Derrick Goold says the Stanton delay is on the Marlins not Stanton. Think they’re trying to extract Helios from SFG or still trying to lure LAD?

Eno Sarris: Yeah and SF really wants to keep that young guy, he’s the only prospect they really have.

Hannah Hochevar: So which among the poop tonne (not counting Chatwood, who is hyping up) of starters should my O’s sign?

Eno Sarris: Obviously money matters, but I like Lynn more than many people do. Chatwood. Henderson Alvarez on a real small deal. Jaime Garcia? Pineda? CC.

LegallyEagle: Do you think Maeda would speak (to Ohtani) highly, neutrally, or negatively about the way the Dodgers have tried to keep Maeda’s arm fresh? I imagine it would greatly affect (if not completely dictate) how Ohtani perceives the Dodgers as a suitor.

Eno Sarris: I think he would speak positively, but I won’t go with highly considering he threw like 75 pitches over a two day period in the world series.

Eno Sarris:

Stumped in Texas: Have always like Taillon’s control. stuff and makeup. Think he’ll round back into form?

Eno Sarris: Was surprised to see DRA say he deserved his numbers last year, and that, combined with my disbelief in his changeup, and his injuries, makes me nervous. Bright young guy with good command, but right now he’s like an Alex Cobb.

Stevil: There’s a flood of 1B options this offseason, one of them should be Christian Walker, who’s seemingly blocked in Arizona (yet he’s on their 40). Could be a steal for a team needing a first sacker?

Eno Sarris: Who needs a first baseman though? The Royals, Red Sox, and maybe Mets? Everyone seems to be punting the position.

He Hate Me: How much of the Ohtani two-way talk is Kool-Aid? Longenhagen has him at 40/45 hit, 60 raw. That might do as a NL pinchhitter who saves you from burning a position player but it’s hardly starting OF/DH. Does he at least have a platoon split?

Eno Sarris: I’ve seen some put him at 50+ hit, 70 raw power, which makes him more interesting. But yes, the hitting part is the real question mark here.

Ryan: Thoughts on the Yusmeiro Petit signing?

Eno Sarris: Love the invisiball, love the role.

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: What happens first: Ohtani signs, Stanton [or the entire rest of the Marlins’ roster] is traded, Bret Boone tweets something stupid.

Eno Sarris: Bret Boone going to drop a whopper any second in response I’m sure

Currently on 31BX: In this post PED era, players who are 28+ just aren’t worth a lot of FA money. Teams are smarter to invest in scouting international market etc. does this presage the Union moving to shorten the length of team control or revamping arb?

Eno Sarris: The union is not good at what they do. It’s always been about arbitration and arbitration sucks.

Speedy: How good would you feel about running a Matt Olson/Random RH bat platoon at 1B next year? Think he’s good enough to carry most of that load?

Eno Sarris: Yes.

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: Brad Boxberger to the Diamondbacks.

Eno Sarris: I wonder if this means Colome is staying.

Big Cheese: What are your best predictions for where Ohtani and Sanchez end up?

Eno Sarris: Dodgers. Sanchez? Stanton? SF.

Wardo: Should I actually care about the Founders CBS release tomorrow?  I know it was always a whale because they hadn’t bottled it in years, but if I’m being honest i never really loved KBS that much.

Eno Sarris: KBS so hot. I can’t do lines any more.

.: Ohtani is going to bust pitching and become a decent, 110 WRC+ type corner outfielder.

Eno Sarris: At the very least he can relieve with that 80 fastball.

Mookie Cookie: What does Cotton need to add or adjust to make a leap to top 30 SP this season?

Eno Sarris: Throw high in the zone on the fastball, 33/33/33 at all times on the cutter change and fourseam. High spin high ride fastballs low in the zone are NOT GOOD.

Colin: Assuming you were being facetious with the Trout/ Kluber comment and you don’t actually think there’s a chance he turns into an 18 win player, in reality, who are the two best case scenario matches for what Ohtani turns into?

Eno Sarris: I’ve been saying Yu Darvish and Shawn Green.

LegallyEagle: Could you clarify Ohtani’s 80 speed? I imagine we’re not talking like Billy Hamilton-80. Comparison?

Eno Sarris: Keith Law said he’d been timed to an 80 speed to first. I think Hamilton is like a scale breaker.

Dimpledore: Hi Eno. Why are high spin rates so confounding?  Does it make it harder to detect the pitch type?

Eno Sarris: Seems like it’s really only on the fastball, and yeah I think it works in tandem on some pitches. I think it’s part of the genius of sequencing.

Poop Tonne: Poop ton?

Eno Sarris: Canadian tonne.

Eno Sarris: Name your band after a font.

Wes: Did your article earlier today take into account people on the 60-day all year? Profar, Fielder, Harrison, come to mind for the Rangers within the timeframe you reviewed.

Eno Sarris: It’s all forms of DL, so yeah that’s probably why they ended up on the bottom. It was over five years though.

CB: If the Cardinals don’t land Stanton, they should __________.

Eno Sarris: perform hare kiri.

Eno Sarris: Just kidding, they have a great no holes team like always and will be a wild card contender.

Sterling Malory Chris Archer: How’d you do in your fantasy leagues this year?

Eno Sarris: Won two, top four in in like four more, averaged like a 5th/15 type finish, so pretty good.

Smith: Jay Jaffe’s JAWS piece on Chipper Jones mentioned that the 2001 Braves didn’t have a single infielder with an OPS+ over 94 and still won 101 games. Is that as mindblowing as I think it is?

Eno Sarris: I mean what was that infield? Jeff Blauser, Mark Lemke and Sid Bream? I want to look now.

Eno Sarris: Oh Furcal was there… bit of a down year for him on offense but he was a great defender for a while. Marcus Giles had a 102 wRC+? But yeah the flotsam was out at first base: Julio Franco, BJ Surhoff… You might have heard of their pitchers though.

Birddog: If the Orioles were to attempt to aquire Mike Fiers from the Astros before tomorrow, what would a deal look like?

Eno Sarris: Wouldn’t take much. nontender candidate.

John Wick: I’m taking part in a beer advent calendar this year. “Case” of 24 different beers, the guy who organized this did all the shopping and ordering, all I had to do was give him some money and pick up a bunch of beer.

Eno Sarris: Awesome idea.

John Wick: What are the odds I go all Bad Santa on the beer after a wild Saturday night?

Eno Sarris: DON”T DO IT. (My son started his early and we’ve been trying to get him back on track)

Dimpledore: Oh, high spin fastballs drop less.   Driveline has a really good visualisation of trends here: https://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2016/11/spin-rate-what-we-know-now/

Eno Sarris: Yes, this much is very true. But is there an effect beyond ride? Because we knew about ride.

Dimpledore: Do forkball/splitfingers/offspeed pitches necessarily have low spin?  How easy is it to detect spin rate as a hitter?

Eno Sarris: Read my piece on what hitters can see out of the hand. TLDR: I think they can see general spin axis and rate but not nuance. So a high spin curve and fastball would look about the same (vertical axis, high spin).

Zach: I think that the idea of having two Ohtani’s in a league, one hitter and one pitcher is a terrible compromise.  Should be one player and follow the rules of position eligibility for each respective league, especially in dynasty.  Then you get the stats wherever you start him for the week (or day).  What say you?

Eno Sarris: That’s what LABR is doing. I’m into it.

ATL: Scofflaw, orpheus, three taverns for atlanta if interested

Eno Sarris: Orpheus would be my pick yes.

Dave: Which question would you rather answer: 1. Where does Abreu play next year? or 2. Is Jon Lester a top 50 SP next year?

Eno Sarris: Guessing 1) White Sox and 2) No.

toki: What do you see the Yankees doing about 3rd, dh, and a backup 1b?  3rd: Headley /Adujar, 1st Bird/Headley, and DH Elsbury?  Or do they sign another piece to help with that?  If so who?

Eno Sarris: I think they’ll give the kids a chance at third and backup first.

Aaron: I’m going to start referring to Andrelton Simmons as SS/DH until a reasonable argument is laid out that J.D. Martinez can’t learn to play 1B.

Eno Sarris: Ron Washington aside, I would absolutely try him at first.

Mike: Theres an extensive essay from Jay Jaffe from 2012 that details actual documented changes to the manufacture of the ball during the 90s and discusses the same information that we have recently about how much flight distance is available within the ‘official tolerances’

the 90s is when the ball was transitioned from hand-wound yarn to tighter, machine-wound yarn around the core.

Eno Sarris: Boom. I was referencing Rob Arthur’s contention that, since this ball is within specifications and has affected the game so much, this has probably happened before, but that’s a great find.

Dimpledore: As the Mariners, would you rather have Jarrod Dyson for 3/27 or Cain 4/48?

Eno Sarris: Cain? They have some good defenders, could use a little more offense.

Mike: Something people should keep in mind with projection systems is that they don’t actually project component stats, pretty much every projection system projects the actual predictable stat: wOBA or the like, computes a war value via estimated number of PAs, and then produces a slash line from that.   Devers isn’t projected to hit 20 HR, he’s projected to have a .342 wOBA over 560 PAs.   The counting stats are reverse engineered and aren’t a major part of any projection system.

EL: Who’s going to be starting in CF for Giants opening day?

Eno Sarris: If they get Stanton, Gorkys. If not, Cutch.

Dave: I plan on getting excited about, and then disappointed by, Danny Salazar this year. Just because I feel like it’s my turn.

Aaron: AL or NL, Ohtani is never going to hit his hitting projections without regular exposure to MLB pitching.  Personally I wouldn’t want my favorite team getting involved with that fiasco if it’s going to take a massive side deal that has the potential to cripple the org.

Dimpledore: How meaningful are Bauer units (spin rate/velocity) in predicting K%?  Low velo high spin pitchers are better than high velo high spin?

Eno Sarris: Spin rate is tied to velocity, but tying spin to outcomes divorced from movement is proving to be difficult.

Hooha: Boxberger to Arizona, finally somethign to talk about

Eno Sarris: annnnnnd done.

Psychic: I never had strong feelings about Derek Jeter, but I find myself really beginning to dislike him. I guess that’s not a question?

BEN GAMEL GRADE 80 HAIR: Which occurs first? Ohtani signs, Stanton trade, or Darvish signing?

Eno Sarris: Once Ohtani posts, we won’t know who signed him for a month. I’m guessing… Stanton trade.

E: I’m trying to lose a few pounds, get a bit healthier, unfortunately one of the easiest ways would be to cut back on beer, especially the high ABV IPAs i love so much.

How do you stay healthy while drinking the delicious beer?

Eno Sarris: I’m not that healthy, but I guess 6’2″ 190 is okay. I try not to eat snacks. I try to control my portions. I work out as much as I can. I cook at home as much as I can. No chips.

Jay: Somehow people aren’t mentioning that Ohtani could throw to the best catcher in the world if he chose Giants.

Jesse: Do you think Mccutchen in LF + Duggar is a viable Stanton backup plan for the Giants?

Eno Sarris: It’s a one year thing so hopefully they don’t give up much to get Cutch. And I don’t think much of Beede.

Dimpledore: Who is the best “super utility” player in MLB today, and who is the best available player in this mold?

Eno Sarris: Jose Ramirez. Eduardo Nunez?

botchatheny: HOW WERE THE FRIED PICKLES, HMMM?!?!?!

Eno Sarris: f’in delicious. The Urquell was good, the movie decent, the Fieldwork Galaxy Juice in the lobby best in show. Go to your Alamo Drafthouse. It’s a fun experience.

B: Would the Giants be better off going after Kiermaier and Longoria than Stanton?

Eno Sarris: They don’t have the assets to pry away a cheap young good player.

HappyFunBall: re: LABR/Ohtani: What’s wrong with making all hitter/pitchers available as both?  The hitters would never earn pitcher eligibility, and the pitchers would generally stink on ice as hitters.

Eno Sarris: Being available is different than counting both sides. Also, sorting through waiver wires already sucks in some leagues, wouldn’t want even more players on both sides.

The Ghost of Wade Boggs: We don’t have to take our clothes off to have a lude-time

Frumpkin: Can players vary their upper spin rates?  If you are Felix Hernandez and your velo is declining, how much can you keep your edge by increasing spin?

Eno Sarris: As far as I’ve seen, spin is mostly inherent and whatever manipulation you can make can not be modified on the mound easily.

E5: Listening to Sleeper and the Bust and reading an Eno chat. I feel like there are 2 Enos. For better or worse

Eno Sarris: way worse

STiVo: I realize this is a long shot… but what if Ohtani ends up as an amazing hitter on an AL team.  Should they use him as everyday DH and as ace reliever?  I would love it if he hit 2 bombs then came in to shut ‘er down in relief.

Eno Sarris: This is actually my most fun outcome. I think most likely is a Bumgarner type. But this one is more fun. Imagine how you could take advantage of him for leverage situations, too. He’s in RF, hits bomb. Comes in to strike out the side with bases loaded in seventh, goes back to RF. Wins game with walkoff bomb.

E: What is your son’s favorite sandwich?

Eno Sarris: Easing him in, but I think it’s ham and swiss and apple slices.

Eno Sarris: hey you could say the hot stove has sucked or you could say

Matt: Every time people refer to foreigners in the US, I try to imagine the flip situation. If I were going to Japan, sure – it would make sense that I might want a fellow countryman to pal around with – if for no reason other than language commonality. But aren’t these takes of “Ohtani should go here because they have a Japanese pitcher” kinda ignorant at best, and mildly racist at worst?

Eno Sarris: I’ve pointed out in every piece that these guys are individuals and that we should remember Yu making fun of Tanaka’s contract before we think signing Yu helps you land Ohtani. Weird random thing that happened to me in Japan, without me wanting to do it, as a reflex: I nodded at westerners I saw. What the hell. So weird. Not sure if it’s relevant, but it was weird. I think this is how it’s relevant: you want to create a support structure, and some elements of home (stuff to nod at) but another star will mix just as any starts on team mix: poorly or well, but not because of one aspect of their background in particular necessarily.

Hank: I feel like the Angels should go hard after Mike Moustakas to play 3B and be the power lefty they need in their lineup. Do you think he’s a good fit for them, or should they focus solely on pitching?

Eno Sarris: Great fit for them. They kinda need him. But do they have the money? And can they buy some pitching depth after that and then hope their pitchers stay healthy? Is that enough? Yu and Moose would be amazing but they have to run out of money at some point.

Oddball Herrera: Dynasty league, I can go with a bunch of reliable but not awesome options or guys like Acuna, Calhoun, Hoskins, Albies. Am I wrong in thinking that I can go full youth with these guys AND compete for 2018?

Eno Sarris: Those are high enough upside and floor that yeah I love the group.

ManBearPuig: Tell me I’m pretty

Aaron Judge: Is my adorable, gap-tooth smile more or less charming than Michael Strahan’s?

Eno Sarris: More because you add youth.

Zigs: I love the changeup, grew up watching Hoffman and his glorious circle change. But why do teams try and force it on pitchers who obviously cant control it. At what point does a team give up because the kid doesnt have a feel for it, and move to a curve that can be effective against opposite handed batters

Eno Sarris: Robert Stephenson says what’s up. I think that’s the timing too. You come up to the bigs throwing the change, get a few chances, if it doesn’t work, here comes the curve. Jimmy Nelson.

Time to move on?: Any hope left for Skaggs, Bailey, VV or Broxton?

Eno Sarris: Skaggs I guess.

misterbagels: why are you guys projecting hunter renfroe for 100ab? he hits 25hr in 400ab. No love for an improvement on his k% and thus more like 600ab?

Eno Sarris: I’ll move that depth chart around then. It’s probably just a late season depth chart quirk, when he was down, or not playing much.

RhysesSmashestoPieces: How depressed should I be about Jp Crawford?

Eno Sarris: It’s not over for him!

Jesse: Do you think the Giants have a legitimate path to contention without Stanton or Ohtani?

Eno Sarris: Probably not because they can’t sign free agents without tanking their payroll situation. Have like $14m before major penalties come in.

Desperate, confused Marlins fan: Can you explain spin rate a little more? I know you are big on it. Ive heard you say before that Flaherty, Ellington and Alcantara throw too straight. What is that?

Eno Sarris: Side to side movement usually related to ground ball and homer rates. You can have a straight pitch if it’s like Marco Estrada’s straight, rising pitch. But if it’s straight side to side and doesn’t have ride… that means fewer whiffs and grounders than you’d expect given the velocity.

Oddball Herrera: Font name for a band – can’t beat wingdings

AA: How about a Martin prado trade for the braves for cash and a low level minor leaguer? Would fill the hole at 3b until auston Riley is ready and provide veteran leadership to guys like dansby, Ozzie, and Acuña when he is brought up.

Eno Sarris: Could totally happen. Return to team. He’s been referenced to me as a great leader before too. Someone has to offset kemp.

Anon: Which player of the last 10 years have you been the most wrongest on?

Eno Sarris: Allen Webster.

Me: I loved Shawn Green

Eno Sarris: Me too.

toki: 01 braves was Andres Galarraga at 1b, 2b was Marcus Giles, and SS was Furcal…

Eno Sarris: Big Cat musta been hurt, didn’t show up on FG when I sorted for 1B.

Eno Sarris: Was that his cancer year?

DVR: Sid Bream sliding into home during Game 7 of the 92 NLCS is my first baseball memory. Better mustache: Bream or Keith Hernandez?

Eno Sarris: Mine too! Although not really, just my first most vivid I guess.

Sam: Sid Bream in 2001?!

Eno Sarris: Yeah I put the 90s teams into the 00’s my bad. was thinking more 1991 with my whole answer, didn’t you see Jeff Blauser in there too? haha

Desperate, confused Marlins fan: Marlins would trade Stanton for Panik and two prospects, MLB network reports

Eno Sarris: I ran the numbers and thought it would be fine. But I had Dee Gordon in the trade, and he has negative trade value by projections so I guess this works too.

E: There is a group of people in my town that have a “Christmas Ale Club” where you have to drink a Christmas Ale every day between Thanksgiving and Christmas. You must either be in the presence of another member when drinking or post a picture to the Facebook page. If you go a day with drinking/posting you are ‘fined’ and all the fines go to various charities. They apparently raised several thousand last year, kind of fun (if you like Christmas Ale)

Eno Sarris: But I don’t

Joe:

Eno Sarris: It’s not about forward or backward looking, it’s about assigning the value to the right people, he screamed out of his window

Hank: Is Yasmani Grandal on the Dodgers roster to start the year? Austin Barnes is just so much better overall than Grandal.

Eno Sarris: I think the problem is that it’s hard to find a win-now team that needs to upgrade at catcher.

Furcal: Rafael Furcal a sleeper this year?

Eno Sarris: He does probably sleep well at night.

B: Will Nick Castellanos move off of 3B to the OF to make room for Candelario?

Eno Sarris: That’s the plan, right?

Giants: Gorkys in Center? Shoot me now, I’d rather rule-5 Tocci (or someone like that) and throw him and Duggar out there at least there’s some long-term potential.

Eno Sarris: Duggar has to play at least half a healthy year in high minors I think.

Eno Sarris: This song alone inspired me to want do do a holiday spotify list with no store-style holiday songs on it

vivalajeter: Is there a particular player you want the Giants/A’s to trade for, simply so that you can interview them more often?

Eno Sarris: I don’t think I’m getting Votto or Greinke… so Dan Straily?

Tugs: How do you think Josh Hader fares as a starter this year?

Eno Sarris: I really like him. LE. GIT.

B: It drives me nuts that everyone thinks the Angels are Mike Trout and a bunch of scrubs. Andrelton Simmons is a F’ing star. He’s one of the most talented players in the game today, and not just on defense. He had 38 doubles, 14HR and 19 SB’s while playing all world defense. Can I get some SIMMONS LOVE!!

Eno Sarris: yes

Desperate, confused Marlins fan: How is Ohtani more like Bumgarner, he can clearly hit better than Bumgarner even if you adjust for the NPB to the MLB?

Eno Sarris: More like a good hitting pitcher than a true two-way player was my point.

Frumpkin: Do you like Alameda or DeGarde better for a sour?

Eno Sarris: DeGarde all the way.

Ryan: Thoughts on where Bautista signs? Do you think the Braves are a fit given the AA connection? He could play corner OF and corner IF as a utility role and power bat off the bench.

Eno Sarris: Think he’ll be a late sign on a short deal in the AL to be an OF/DH.

Harold: What do you expect from Chad Green with his move to starting? Is his cutter good enough to be an effective 3rd pitch as a starter?

Eno Sarris: I’m not sure. I’ve always liked him, but fastball/cutter/slider is not something that has worked for like any starter in the past.

Matthew: The Astros signed Pettitte back in 2004 and a lot of people claimed that’s what lured Clemens into signing later that offseason as well. So clearly having a “countryman” and playing somewhere that feels more like home or is closer to home is a real factor for at least some people, we just don’t know if Ohtani is that type of person

Eno Sarris: And then depending on it seems like folly. Im sure the Astros just signed Pettitte to get Pettitte and got a bonus later.

Bobby Evans: Rumors are Marlins would accept Beede, Shaw, Panik for Stanton if Giants took on $250m. If that is the case, what do you think the giants offered that is considered “less than that” do you think they left Panik out of original offer?

Eno Sarris: They’ve been signaling that Panik might be on the table, Tim Kawakami wrote about that. Who knows what the original deal was.

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: Is it shocking to you that ARod is currently more popular than Jeter?

Eno Sarris: I always liked ARod more than Jeter from a fan standpoint.

Eno Sarris: Was an amazing heel, said funny things, took funny pictures, was the better player I thought. Jeter was more squeaky clean, hard worker, boring interviews.

Phil: It just hit me – is a good Ohtani comp Rick Ankiel minus the yips.  Marginal OF with power and strong arm, and before the yips came, the buzz around Ankiel the pitcher feels about like what we have now.

Eno Sarris: Hey check that out, not bad at all.

Eno Sarris: And a good comp to remind that a) he could still bust and b) he could be a good player that plays well for a while and still not be a super star.

Birddog: I have Sarrischat and Klawchat up side-by-side, would like to see who comments on this first

Eno Sarris: Sucks I have to go up against Keith. Like him and he’s a star haha.

Desperate, confused Marlins fan: Re: wasnt Dee projected to go to the Royals or the Jays?

Eno Sarris: Could be the second part of the move. So then the Giants play Stanton in LF, go Stanton/Duggar&Gorkys/Pence with Parker as backup, Rider/Crawford/Arroyo/Belt in the infield? Maybe they can sign an infielder for $10+ million a year…

I’ve Made a Hughes Mistake: Ohtani asked teams how they would use him: does a team go contrarian and say they won’t let him hit in order to help develop him into a top tier pitcher?

Eno Sarris: That’s what occurred to me while putting together the Giants’ plan.

Eno Sarris: But he wants to hit, has always said that, so it’s super risky. I think a borderline team could try that.

JStine: Looking for a couple of the best beers from the Philly area to get my brother for Christmas. He’s a bit of a craft beer expert. Suggestions?

Eno Sarris: Can you make it to Tired Hands? Pizza Boy? They have growlers and crowlers and would excite people.

Birddog: why won’t Dipoto target Grandal?  Definitely an upgrade over the lingering problem…

Eno Sarris: ZUNINO IS THE ANSWER he yelled with his fingers in his ears

Sonny: Why would MLB allow a new franchisee who, if we only judge by their intentions, cannot afford to run the team they just bought?

Eno Sarris: It’s so weird. These are all long-term acquisitions. You buy the team and sit on it for years and it doubles. No matter what you do. You’d think you want a new ownership group to come in and make a splash but guess not.

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: With the first pick in my fantasy draft, you know I have to get that Angels star with the fishy name…Tim Salmon.

Pedantic A-hole: What would it take to pry Votto away from the Reds? Shouldn’t they be thinking rebuild? Do they keep him around even when they are rebuilding?

Eno Sarris: They talking like they think they’re getting closer. Certainly finding Castillo was a big lurch forward.

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: With the first pick in my fantasy draft, you know I have to get that star outfielder with the fishy name…A.J. Pollock.

Jon Bon Jovi: Where would you place Ohtani in a top 100 prospects list? What about if he was only a pitcher? Only a hitter?

Eno Sarris: Would have to be top 3 together, similar as pitcher, but maybe back end of top 100 as hitter.

JStine: Saw Furcal in a bar in St. Louis one time when the Cards were in the playoffs and he was injured. He sat there by himself for about an hour, talked to no one, had a couple of beers and then left.

Eno Sarris: Yeah man, I didn’t blame Adrian Gonzalez for wanting to leave the country at all.

Steve O: Best catcher in the world? Giants acquire Gary Sanchez and we didn’t hear about it? Odd.

Eno Sarris: You talking framing and game calling here or

Estevao: Cosart to the SFG to play 3B, if he`d do it`s a good fit right?  contenders who should go after Grandal include BOS, CLE, WAS, ARZ, MIN and several others in between teams

Eno Sarris: Might even cost that $10-12m they have. Not bad. Cleveland won’t do it, they have two catchers signed and just moved their top catching prospect to third. Boston likes their guys I think. Arizona and Washington and Minny are good ideas, but not sure what the prospect type fit would look like in those trades.

Eno Sarris: Crap, it’s late! Gotta write! Thanks for hanging out !