Eno Sarris Baseball Chat — 5/28/15

Eno Sarris: Doing a thing today. My parents’ music that I remember, and then stuff I listen to today that is somehow related.

Eno Sarris:

Comment From RK
Remember when I took issue with you calling Polonco’s rookie year “outstanding” and you doubled down saying you wanted all my (imaginary) shares?

Eno Sarris: I’ll still take your shares! I still see above average speed, patience and contact and I think the power will develop.

Comment From Maxamuz

I paid $18 for Harper. Trout went for $42.

Eno Sarris: He was surprisingly interesting to interview. Maybe I shouldn’t say surprising, but Trout’s so terrible, so I figured some of the very top just wouldn’t tell me anything.

Comment From Jill
Read your great article on K-BB. You’ve said K-BB is ONE of best in season predictors (with the caveats stated above). What are some other good in season predictors FOR SP’s & when do they become stable?

Eno Sarris: Well the link says it’s THE best. But it was tested against SIERA, which includes GB%, and xFIP and FIP.

Comment From Maxamuz

DUDA DUDA DUDA

Eno Sarris: Remember when I said Lucas Duda had an outstanding year and I’d take everyone’s shares and then people laughed at me a year later and now they’re getting their comeuppance?

Comment From Guest
Luis Severino promoted to AAA. Aggressive move by Yanks? Has his 63 IP at AA proved he’s ready?

Eno Sarris: More like his pitches and stuff and command have proved it.

Comment From Mark
I defended my Ph. D. thesis yesterday! My push to the top of my league starts today!

Comment From Mark
Additionally, it felt ironic celebrating with sour beers.

Eno Sarris: Sweet AND sour.

Eno Sarris: Congratulations.

Comment From Nolan
Will Strasburg turn it around soon, or is this what he is?

Eno Sarris: I can’t figure it out. They swinging and connecting at his changeup more than ever, but it looks the same as usual. No change in movement or velocity, but swinging strikes down. In a similar way, Alex Wood’s stuff hasn’t changed, so maybe it’s a location thing like with Wood. Either way, the stuff is still there, since it hasn’t changed. Call this a tepid buy, but I’d want the odds stacked in my favor. Definitely a hold.

Comment From hscer
Given the exponential proliferation of sources for material on nearly anything, how are there still constant complaints about coverage biases?

Eno Sarris: The comments on the Joe Kelly piece made absolutely no sense to me. I write about pitchers most often, and then I write about people I find interesting second often. Joe Kelly is both of those things. I didn’t once think about the fact that he was a Red Sock.

Comment From griffsterb
I’ve been thinking about this for a few days after seeing Felix Hernandez so low on the WAR charts – why is FIP used in WAR rather than xFIP? The xFIP page states “When discussing a pitcher’s past value, those home runs should count against them, but if you want to evaluate their underlying performance, knowing their fly ball rate is more useful.” Yet FIP doesn’t “count” any BIPs, so the reasoning seems inconsistent to me. Use xFIP.

Eno Sarris: In some size of sample, HR/FB becomes a skill. It’s more than one season, so you have a point, but it does become a skill at some point, so if you wanted to use fWAR for pitchers for a career, you’d miss your Tom Glavines. I like to look at RA/9 WAR as well as fWAR, because the truth is in the middle.

Comment From Ringtone Composer
Duda’s dingers delight ‘dis dude

Comment From hscer
Ian Desmond is clawing his way back to average, up to a 96 wRC+. Maybe he’ll get the contract he wants after all.

Comment From Grammarian
I think what Digital Underground meant to say was “both how I’m living and my nose *are* large.”

Eno Sarris: Maybe today will be epic.

Comment From STiVo
Please rank the following in order of importance for the heightened offense of the mid-90s through early-00s: (1) Smaller strike zone; (2) Composition of baseballs; (3) Use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Eno Sarris: 3), 1), 2). I know it helped the pitchers, too, but the distance you get on batted balls with an increase in muscle mass is significant.

Comment From Shawn
Weekly check-in on the Tulo panic meter? What number (1-10) you at?

Eno Sarris: 4. I mean, he’s in the lineup. And yeah, he’s being aggressive, but he has a long track record of excellence.

Comment From Guest
Now that Untappd has given us “quarter stars,” do you think that will have a more pronounced effect on some styles’ BAR than others? Seems like DIPAs and the like will have more variation than they currently do.

Eno Sarris: I’m excited to see it, but I think a lot of people are still working in half stars, from looking at the data. But yes, there are a million 3.5s and 4s on DIPAs, so now we get to spread it out a bit more.

Comment From Tony G.
Excited about Eduardo Rodriguez’s start tonight? Odds he sticks in the rotation?

Eno Sarris: Will definitely be watching. Maybe most interested in the command, since Kiley’s number (45 I think) doesn’t quite match up with his walk rates. Of course walk rates don’t always measure command, so that’s what I’ll be watching. And his secondary stuff of course because baby likes the bends.

Comment From Saves Vulture
Who gets the next save opportunity in Seattle?

Eno Sarris: Rodney, he sighed. (I like Carson Smith, and he’s a decent spec, but don’t drop a real closer for him.)

Comment From Jim
Trying to move cano was offered my Cano/ Tehran for his Wong/ Strasburg- should I pull the trigger? 10 team H2H keep 6, 6×6 OBP/SLG/HLDs

Eno Sarris: Do you know that nobody in baseball pulls the ball in the air as much as Kolten Wong? Pretty amazing. I actually think this is enough of a lateral move to pull the trigger. I think Cano will .290/12+ the rest of the way, but that’s attainable, and Stras has more upside than Teheran, who’s had some struggles of his own.

Comment From Shawn
Saw on twitter that you like McCullers and Hahn over RDLR tomorrow? Any particular reason why? You seem to be one of the high guys on RDLR and he’s got a matchup against MIL

Eno Sarris: Homers, I guess. Hahn was the easy pick. McCullers against a White Sox team, but he’s home too. Sort of a pick em. I like RDLR, but we have to wait on the homer issue. He might still be hanging sliders.

Comment From Shawn
Did you see Jeff Passan’s article on spin rates? What are your thoughts? Jesse Hahn’s name kept popping up which I thought was interesting

Eno Sarris: I took that as a sign that the whiffs will come back on Hahn’s curve. I’ve written before about spin rates, and used it to recommend Maurer use his curve more, and to recommend Hahn. http://www.fangraphs.com/fa…

Comment From adam
Eno! Help! I’m ‘retooling’ in my otto league. Standard rules (fangraph points). Would you trade a $3 Odorizzi for a $3 Cory Seager? Who wins, why? Also replace Odorizzi with Hutch, any difference? My heart says no but my mind says yes!

Eno Sarris: I’d take Seager over either pitcher. If he was more expensive, no, but you’ll know about Seager before he costs $5. Odorizzi has shown me enough that I don’t care too much which pitcher, since we’re talking about next year. This year, rather have Odorizzi.

Comment From Natitude Adjuster
Whose playing time gets cut more when Rendon returns: Yunel Escober or Danny Espinosa?

Eno Sarris: Espinosa, but one of our commenters will have a strong opinion on this.

Comment From Jackson
Should I be jumping ship on Cano? Everything is pointing to hitting an age wall. What could I get for him? Standard Roto

Eno Sarris: Everything? He’s still got the same hard hit rate as ever.

Comment From Patrick
Will you rank these pitchers ROS: Hutch, McCullers, Greene, Rubby, Hahn, and DeSclafani. Thanks Eno

Eno Sarris: Desclafani, Greene, Hutch, Hahn, Rubby, McCullers. Last two obviously pretty close. DeScla comfortably first.

Comment From Shawn
Thoughts on Josh Hamilton ROS? Need to drop 1 of him, Choo, Rusney, and Heyward. Leaning towards Hamilton

Eno Sarris: He’s the dropper there.

Eno Sarris: Had to add my video to the Harper piece.

Comment From John Farrell
If Uehara slipped on a banana peel at lunch today, would Tazawa or Ogando get the next save chance in Boston?

Eno Sarris: Tazawa for me.

Comment From Alex
brb sending a thank you letter to Beane for Donaldson

Comment From Sam
There will BE NO trouble now that ENO is here

Comment From Lenard
Help, I’m a rock.

Eno Sarris: not THE rock

Comment From John
Talk to me about Preston Tucker. I like what I see so far, and he has a clear path to playing time if he keeps performing. What kind of ceiling could he have if he played regularly the rest of the year?

Eno Sarris: Strikeout rate and power will regress, IMO, and so will his batting average. Looks more like a .260 hitter with 18 homer type power to me.

Comment From Shawn
Think Anibal Sanchez will be ok if he can just tighten up his command a bit?

Eno Sarris: K-BB says yes, and he hasn’t had homer issues in the past.

Eno Sarris: The modern Zappa(s)

Eno Sarris:

Comment From ZAPPA!
Hey Eno. What 2 guys would you rather have in a keeper for the next 4 years? Rusney, Seager or Oliveria?

Eno Sarris: Seager is the clear get for me. Olivera has health issues, is old, and is in a crowd for third base in Los Angeles… but he plays on the infield. Would still take Rusney over him.

Comment From Dan
What do you think about the mets 6man rotation?

Eno Sarris: Had an interesting back and forth on twitter about this. I like that it helps get young guys innings without making them sit for long stretches. Seems a good way to stretch an old guy, too. Everyone likes the extra day of rest. Of course, the bad stuff is limiting Harvey starts (if that’s bad), and also it hurts your bench a bit. I like it overall though.

Comment From Coach
How deep of leagues should Polanco be rostered?

Eno Sarris: 15 team 5 OF

Comment From Billy Beane
Worried at all about Sean Doolittle’s decreased velocity, or should we feel much better after his first inning back last night?

Eno Sarris: Very much worried. It was nice to see a little more bend on his secondary pitches, and he used them a lot, but at 89/90, I’m worried he’s going to be a situational lefty. Velocity usually takes three appearances for a starter, so we can give him a little leash, but he’s been at this velocity since he came back.

Comment From Rube
Got guys coming off the DL and need roster spots. Who is droppable in a mixed 12 teamer: Moss, Russell, Revere, Ethier, Inciarte, Eaton

Eno Sarris: The last three are droppable depending on your needs. Puig will be back, and neither Inciarte or Eaton are going to hit seven bombs or steal more than 25, I’d guess. so Eaton or Ethier.

Comment From Tony
Encarnacion for Price in Scoresheet? A little worried about Price’s dwindling GB% (not taking advantage of Iglesias/Kinsler).

Eno Sarris: A bit of a pitch mix thing, I think. Surprising that so many more changeups has led to fewer ground balls, but it’s probably because he’s getting more whiffs. Still think of Price as an absolute ace. Edwin is more a second or third round bat with these strikeouts, but still a stud. Scoresheet, pitching is maybe a little more important than other formats, so it’s an okay deal.

Comment From Bobby Blownilla
Someone complained a couple weeks ago about people who sign on, ask their question, then leave and recheck hours from now. Is this truly an issue? As a medical professional I sometimes only get a 5 minute window to ask my question. If so I’ll back off asking. Thank you for taking time for us each week and congrats on your ESPN article!

Eno Sarris: People do this but I have such a hard time keeping up that we have fits of live interaction. I might skip ahead to real time and then scroll down for questions, that keeps it more snappy.

Comment From Eddie Brock
Usually about once a week there will be a crossword clue like “ambient music composer Brian” and thanks to you, I can now answer that.

Comment From Bae
hi bae

Comment From jocephus
did you see how kang likes american girls, er, he means the food

Eno Sarris: no i missed that interlude

Comment From Mahvelous Throneberry
Tommy Milone is crushing AAA now…any chance we see him soon?

Eno Sarris: I’d rather see Berrios and Meyer myself.

Comment From jocephus
i thought phish was the new grateful dead

Eno Sarris: Well now that you mention it

Eno Sarris:

Eno Sarris: I’ve got a different band for the Dead.

Comment From STiVo
Mike Wright… what the dealio?

Eno Sarris: Increased velocity making the whole thing hum better. Up two ticks.

Comment From hscer
I hate the Mets’ 6-man rotation because it gives us less Bartolo Colon to enjoy.

Eno Sarris: See?

Comment From SF Dave
Buck Farmer gets the ball tonight. I, for one, picked him up on name alone. Helps he was solid in AAA this year as well. But BUCK FARMER? Yes please.

Eno Sarris: Good stuff too

Comment From The Big Dipper
I can’t see the harper video in the chat. Can you post a link?

Eno Sarris: It’s on the piece now.

Comment From adam
Where does Kiermaier’s ceiling stand at this point?

Eno Sarris: I still think he can .270/.330 with 15 homers, which plays awesomely in real life with that defense. But it’s a bit of a Lagares package.

Comment From SF Dave

I made it! (huff, puff) I'm here!

Comment From Ray Pool
A speculation question: we know both hitters and pitchers took steroids and HGH. Do we assume these benefitted hitters disproportionately?

Eno Sarris: We could analyze muscle mass to velocity and then compare that to existing muscle mass to batted ball distance. I haven’t seen muscle to velocity though.

Comment From don
Thoughts on Yelich? Been hitting recently, but what should we expect ROS?

Eno Sarris: All of the ground balls.

Comment From STiVo
re FIP vs. xFIP for WAR calcuation—isn’t Dave’s answer always that we don’t use regressed numbers for WAR, because WAR is a measure of what happened? Maybe I’m being imprecise.

Eno Sarris: Ah better answer, although I do believe we have some park and league adjustments in there.

Comment From Ron Swanson

Seager or Moose ROS?

Eno Sarris: Seager

Comment From hscer
Me? I’d *want* them to at least give Espinosa some PT, but I realize they’re gonna go with Escobar, especially giving Rendon all the reps they are at 2nd.

Eno Sarris: Yes you. See?

Comment From RISP In Peace
Are you a believer in Carlos Martinez, meaning, do you see him ever figuring it out fully? I live about 10 minutes from Busch and have seen him a lot from the pen to starter, at times, he looks amazing and almost ace like or a 1B, and others he looks so….BLEH. Do you see him ever figuring out the last step it seems he’s stuck on?

Eno Sarris: I think the essence is that he’s a two-pitch starter with iffy command. So the days the command is off, he has to rely on velocity to keep the lefties from smacking him, and it doesn’t always work. The change looks great some days, iffy other days. I’m still hanging on, but Joe Kelly has great days too.

Comment From Eno for Prez 16
Sell Kipnis high, or is he finally healthy in peak years?

Eno Sarris: Happy about this season, I’m keeping him.

Comment From jocephus
how about that old fart holliday huh?

Eno Sarris: Man he was so cheap in drafts I ended up with two or three shares and I’m happy about it.

Comment From Guest
Hi Eno, recently I borrowed my dad’s baseball that was signed by a VERY famous player. Anyway I hit it over a fence where this dog got it. What should I do? I’m 12, BTW.

Eno Sarris: Oh no. This is a classic Dennis the Menace scenario. Fess up and promise to pimp your young self on the signature line the next time that player’s team comes to town. (Might get a ticket out of it lol)

Comment From Guest
Eno, I recently broke my arm and the tendons have healed tightly. I found that I can throw 100 miles per hour. What should I do? Also, I’m 12.

Eno Sarris: Rookie of the Year?

Comment From Guest
Eno, my grandfather recently passed and he willed me to take over his MLB franchise. There are no other suitable managerial candidates that know the team like I do. What should I do? Also I’m 12.

Eno Sarris: Ah crap, is the first one Sandlot? I have a terrible memory.

Comment From Natitude Adjuster
What was Bryce Harper like?

Eno Sarris: Cocky but in a way where you were like, sure, you’re right, you do rake in September and October.

Comment From jon
You see better things ahead for Alex Guerrero? Seems like LAD is trying to accommodate him. Or will he just platoon against lefties?

Eno Sarris: What a great start for him. It’s tough when an old guy beats up on younger guys in good environments in the minors, but was old for reasons other than baseball. Think of Evan Gattis. He’s been good despite similar reasons to look askew at his minor league numbers. I tend to think that Guerrero is best used against lefties for power, but his glove makes him hard to play anywhere in particular.

Comment From hscer
I think I’ll start a fantasy league that uses just AVG and RBI for hitters and wins and saves for pitchers.

Eno Sarris: oof

Comment From Pop
Inter-dudas today, not interludes

Comment From The Big Dipper
Mike Trout will never be a better baseball player than Bryce Harper again.

Eno Sarris: More D and speed, but there’s a non-zero chance this is true.

Eno Sarris: For some reason, these guys make me think of the dead sometimes

Eno Sarris:

Eno Sarris: And there was another band that seemed dead like, but I think they have a different old school partner.

Comment From Pop
Anything in Cody Allen’s profile resulting pointing towards his awful start?

Eno Sarris: Innings pitched?

Comment From Northsider
About a month ago, I traded Cargo and Devon Travis for Harper. The league vetoed the trade because they felt I was giving up too much. Does this justify a Kill Bill-style revenge?

Eno Sarris: GNAR

Comment From jon
Friend and I were debating: I say Maine Beer Co belongs in the “small” brewery Pantheon alongside Russian River, Hill Farmstead, Lawson’s, etc. Everything they do is remarkable. I went there this weekend and also had some Dinner, both experiences only reaffirmed by belief.

Eno Sarris: Yes, they nail it every single time.

Comment From Blue Book Family Values
Hate to ask these sorts of things, but I like your pitcher thoughts and was curious about your Kelly article yesterday. (Sorry about all the nonsense vitriol in the comments.) Could you rank some AL arms for me going forward? Buch, CC, Kelly, Tillman, Karns, Elias

Eno Sarris: Tillman Buchholz Karns Elias Kelly CC

Comment From jocephus

can you do this?

Eno Sarris: I wish don’t wish

Comment From Eno for Prez 16
Better flyer…Tucker or Geerrrrrrchuk?

Eno Sarris: Actually decent comps. Both hitting the ball hard, both K a bit much for current batting averages. Tucker more PT though, right?

Comment From Pat
Would you move JD or Joc for Salazar straight up? 10tm H2H lg

Eno Sarris: No. And I love Salazar.

Comment From Mark
Now that I have zero responsibilities I am visiting friends in Boston in a few weeks. Sitting on the Monster: Over-priced gimmick or worthwhile?

Eno Sarris: Decently far away, but at least you have a shot at a ball.

Comment From Art Vandelay
Do you think Joey Votto gives out tips to anyone who talks to him about hitting, or do you think Harper was a special case?

Eno Sarris: He loves to talk hitting. He told me the same things he told Harper. I don’t know if he talks to everyone, but anyone that will listen and likes to talk hitting, I doubt he holds back.

Comment From The Big Dipper
Cavs or GSW?

Eno Sarris: As long as the Warriors are healthy, Dubs.

Comment From James
How do you interpret swinging %’s? For example, what do you make of a players O-Swing% remaining similar to years past but Z-Swing% increasing substantially? Or vise-versa, O-Swing% decreasing vs. Z-Swing% remaining the same?

Eno Sarris: Generally I think z-swing going up is good, o-swing going down is good.

Eno Sarris:

Comment From Mark
How many starts after Morrow’s return would it take to consider adding him? “Shoulder pain” always scares me, particularly with Morrow’s injury history.

Eno Sarris: The way he described it was a general weakening, that his shoulder just didn’t recover as well after each start. Sounds like a long-term thing, so I’d treat him as a really good streamer.

Comment From Eno for Prez 16
Should LaRoche officially be put out to pasture?

Eno Sarris: DHing is a skill.

Comment From Bojack+Horseman
Eno, have you had any of the Anderson Valley goses? I can’t get enough of any of them. Especially the blood orange one.

Eno Sarris: Yeah have had them all. I like having them around. They fit a certain need.

Comment From juan pierres mustache
guys let’s take a nap at our offices at the same time. if we all do it they can’t fire everyone

Eno Sarris: BEST IDEA

Comment From Guest
Feistier Eno here lately. LOVE IT

Eno Sarris: Tuesday night my baby kept me up crying for two hours in the middle of the night, so I wasn’t having it.

Comment From Bojack+Horseman
Drop Leonys Martin?

Comment From Tommy
The people giving up on Polanco will be mad in a few years. He is struggling vs. lefties but is still doing well vs righties, and is going to be a good player soon IMO

Eno Sarris: If he’s not going to play every day, he’s not going to hit the benchmarks that make him useful.

Eno Sarris: that last one was for Martin. I agree on Polanco!

Eno Sarris: Pretty weird connection here, but Beefheart was pretty weird:

Eno Sarris:

Comment From Pat the Bat
Hold onto Fiers? It’s getting tougher and tougher…

Eno Sarris: Hey that was a good start. Eight hits and one homer and no walks… That’s about the best you can expect.

Comment From LARS
do you like it when players go oppo like taco?

Eno Sarris: Only if they have as much power doing that as when they pull like a bull.

Comment From Keeping it Real
When you kept harping on DH being a skill in the lead up to the season, I didn’t give it much credence. It appears I owe you a tip of the hat, and I will be weary of new DH’s going forward. Well done, good sir!

Eno Sarris: Just passing on what players seemed to think, plus I knew what Zimmerman was working on haha.

Comment From Maxamuz
Why where you up crying for two hours?

Eno Sarris: Because my baby was crying.

Comment From Pat the Bat
Why can’t Ubaldo finish with a 3.00 ERA and 1.15 WHIP?

Eno Sarris: Walks and command?

Comment From STiVo
Is Grapefruit Sculpin a limited-release beer? Haven’t seen it here (DC area) in over a month.

Eno Sarris: Dunno, they can it too. Semi limited, but I bought some a couple weeks ago.

Comment From Beef Face
Kyle Hendricks had some pretty impressive minor league numbers over 400 IP+. Any chance he’s for real?

Eno Sarris: Two changeups, the breaker is improving, iffy fastball. The command and grounders make him for real, but he’ll need a little bit of batted ball luck to be excellent.

Comment From Goat
Hey Eno! Bolsinger or Wada catching your eye right now? Clearly both have unsustainable strand rates etc but they are missing bats so any chance either could end up being a top 60 pitcher with upside?

Eno Sarris: Bolsinger a little more. Always liked that curve.

Eno Sarris: Friend suggested this as a Beefheart comp and it’s pretty dead on

Eno Sarris:

Comment From rustydude
On Votto advice giving… you think he makes a good MLB manager or gm someday?

Eno Sarris: Only if he cares enough to hang around. Probably too new school to be a manager, but maybe the game will change around him.

Comment From Pat the Bat
How far can we expect Salazar’s HR/FB to drop? He can’t stay at 19 all year and looks like a stud outside of that

Eno Sarris: He has command issues and throws high in the zone. But in a nice park. It’ll come down. maybe 12 the rest of the way

Comment From LARS
Where to you think Kang will end up stats wise this season? He doesn’t seem over-matched. I wonder if his power will start to show a bit more if he stays comfortable at the plate?

Eno Sarris: Preseason I had him down for .270 and 18-22 type power, and I like what he’s doing in terms of plate discipline, so I’ll stick on that with the over on the batting average. Obviously don’t think he can get to 22 because of playing time issues, but that Peralta-esque, maybe better, power.

Comment From Maxamuz
Eno, there is no far away in Fenway. Even the top of the bleachers I can call balls and strikes better than the ump.

Eno Sarris: It has been since high school since I went regularly. That seems fair.

Comment From Maxamuz
If you’ve never sat atop the monster, or been to Fenway, it’s a nice treat.

Comment From Ray Pool
I partly ask the steroid and creative cheater question because I’m not sure PEDs all boil down to “I got stronger”. Many people argued that your recovery time was faster “on drugs”- I know not which. Which makes me wonder, for pitchers, being stronger might be only a slight advantage or no advantage at all. Not being tired, that would be great at game 140.

Eno Sarris: Yes but recovery is huge for pitchers. Remember Andy Pettite.

Comment From Ringtone Composer
Stanton has 3 of the 5 furthest-hit HRs this year, per HittrackerOnline. Dat dude.

Eno Sarris: Highest Hard% in baseball too.

Comment From Pax
Does Schwarber get called up to play LF this year? If not, when does he appear as a catcher?

Eno Sarris: He’s playing almost exclusively catcher, and that usually slows your timetable. We’ll have to see how his D looks.

Comment From JT
Polanco a drop in redrafts with guys like Maybin, DeShields and Revere on the wire?

Eno Sarris: Revere is interesting if steals only goal. Maybin is a tease IMO, and DeShields has PT issues.

Comment From pen15…ish
Pineda for Kang fair? or Dozier? Loaded at Pitcher (Price/Sale/Harvey/Pineda/Hammel/Arrieta). 12 team 7×7 hth with only 35 innings min

Eno Sarris: Rather have Dozier because you know he’ll start when he can.

Comment From Gum
Any thoughts on Kendall Graveman going forward? He had a nice start the other day, and I know he was a sleeper for some prior to getting bombed and demoted in the beginning of the year.

Eno Sarris: Tons of movement on his pitches, and he showed way better command last time. I think he could be a ground-ball guy.

Comment From JohnnyFive
Help out poor Jimmy who seems to be having a conversation with himself in the comment section. He seems so lonely.

Eno Sarris: Well he wanted me to talk about Tulo, if I remember right.

Comment From Scott
wow, and that is why you never play in a league where the GM’s would actually use the veto

Eno Sarris: Every league I commish has auto trades basically.

Comment From Hanley
You mentioned Berrios and Meyer above. Meyer, as a starter, doesn’t appear in the cards. What is a realistic timetable for Berrios though?

Eno Sarris: Man I’d be calling them for Meyer if they think he’s a reliever. I think Berrios could be up now.

Eno Sarris: And maybe he should be. Pelfrey is a ticking time bomb and that team banked some wins.

Comment From Pop
To me White Strips always sounded like The Who

Comment From Maxamuz
You know who always reminded me of the Dead? Furthur. It was uncanny.

Comment From Ringtone Composer
Apparently somebody is making a movie production of Bill Bryson’s “A Walk in the Woods,” which will star Nick Nolte and Robert Redford. Awesome.

Comment From jocephus
is there a new sly stone?

Eno Sarris: no but maybe this

Eno Sarris:

Comment From Ray Pool
If you could have Sale, Hernandez, Kluber, Keuchel, Price, or Archer right now, who do you prefer?

Eno Sarris: Felix.

Comment From Chewy
Yo Eno – Collin McHugh’s strikeout rate and walk rate are both down, and his underlying metrics show regression from last year. Right now he seems like a bit of a middling type of guy. Any reason to think his FIP/xFIP and K numbers will return to what they were last year, or is this is true baseline? THanks!

Eno Sarris: Same swinging strike rate, arm still attached. I think K rate will rise.

Comment From Albert Pujols
Any chance I sniff a .280 average this year?

Eno Sarris: No, you’re hitting the ball softer while pulling it more, bad combo.

Comment From Hanley
Is Patrick Corbin a great stash?

Eno Sarris: Decent.

Comment From Zwibi
Who has the greater impact for this year. Aaron Nola, Dylan Bundy, Luis Severino. Who would you prefer long term?

Eno Sarris: Long term is harder to figure. I think Nola is underrated, but the other two have great stuff. This year, it’s more obvious how Nola gets the most IP.

Comment From Natitude Adjuster
I thought it was cool that Harper referenced a conversation that he had with Votto “4 or 5 years ago.” He was like 7.

Comment From Hanley
Please talk Justin Bour. The man rakes.

Eno Sarris: Built like a brick poop house, a square one. But not quite the power you’d expect when you scan his numbers with an eye for age at level. Deeper league asset.

Comment From Maxamuz
I wonder why he didn’t ask you about why he sees Angels in left field sometimes and if he should seek medical help.

Eno Sarris: PS I’m 12

Comment From Jack Elliott
How did you miss The Sandlot!?!?!?!?!

Eno Sarris: I honestly thought he was being serious for a half second. I’m pretty gullible!

Comment From Rags
You’re killin me Smalls!

Comment From Maxamuz

Sugar Magnolia

Comment From Scott
have you ever done Standings Gain Points analysis of your long-running fantasy leagues? I started using it this year in my 7th year dynasty and am floored at how much more useful it is than Z-scores to measure overall player values.

Eno Sarris: I’ve always thought that SGP has more use in keeper/dynasty leagues. If the managers are acting a certain way, it’s better to know how they value stats than how all leagues everywhere value stats.

Eno Sarris:

Comment From Trout Fister
Gio Gonzalez. Do the career high GB rate and xFIP portend to a top 30 pitcher?

Eno Sarris: Maybe the increased use of sinkers is hiding his curve less well and that’s leading to lower swinging strike and strikeout rates? Anyway, look at K, BB, GB, and he looks fine. I bought a share.

Comment From Scott
Velocity in the game is still increasing year by year. Homers dropped off the table a while ago. velocity did not spike in the “steroid era” like HR/XBH/run scoring in general did.

Eno Sarris: Well we don’t really have that data — velocity during height of steroid era — available on our site.

Comment From neal
the answer for not using xFIP for war has been that you don’t want to punish guys for NOT giving up home runs

Comment From Dougie Baseball
just read craig edwards piece on yasmany tomas. which happens first: tomas flashes plus power or his babip luck dries up?

Eno Sarris: The plate discipline stats (oswing and zswing) make me think that the babip luck dries first.

Comment From STiVo
Speaking of music evolution… Check it: http://www.sciencedaily.com… “The study found that 1986 was the least diverse year for the charts, a fact the researchers attribute to the sudden popularization of drum machines and samplers at the time. Diversity recovered after that, and while it was declining again by 2010 the scientists reject pessimistic views of chart diversity: there is no evidence for a general trend towards homogenization in the charts.”

Comment From Tom
Is there a way you can separate the feeds for Sleeper and the Bust and Field of Streams? I don’t play daily fantasy and won’t listen to that podcast but because I subscribe via RSS my phone burns data downloading it unless I am able to stop it.

Eno Sarris: Should happen soon.

Comment From neal
buck farmer: great name, better spoonerism

Comment From Hmmm….
Best speculative add in an AL-only: Eduardo Rodriguez, Mike Wright, Buck Farmer?

Eno Sarris: Eduardo for upside. Farmer or Wright a little more solid on innings, probably Farmer for innings.

Comment From Ace of Bases
Meyer sent to pen for the time being

Eno Sarris: I sad. I like his change.

Comment From Curtis
Phish was the new Grateful Dead 15 years ago….

Eno Sarris: Yeah plus my dad listens to Phish so I can’t use it for the modern version of the dead.

Eno Sarris: Modern Roxy Music

Eno Sarris:

Comment From Ace of Bases
How bout that Anthony Rizzo guy playing with a real lineup around him? MVP?

Eno Sarris: Love love love

Comment From rustydude
Best LOOGY for holds? Scrabble? Loup? Aaron Thompson? Xavier Cedeno?

Eno Sarris: Scrabble or Loup, don’t like Thompson’s K rate.

Comment From SardinasHappAbadOdor
Thor looks like the real deal as expected. Please rank ROS: Thor, Salazar, Carrasco, Ross, Cashner, Tanaka

Eno Sarris: Carrasco, Salazar, Ross, Cashner, Thor. Just because there’s always an adjustment, and the group you highlighted are all good. Plus, Cashner is back to throwing two-seamers with Hedges catching him.

Comment From Forgotten Boardwalk
Do you see a power surge coming from Soler at some point this season?

Eno Sarris: Yes. He’s a man beast, and he’s hitting the ball hard and up the middle.

Comment From Curtis
Who is your favorite surge candidate…a “slow start” batter you think will dominate June?

Eno Sarris: Soler’s not bad.

Comment From Cason Jolette
What am I missing with Desclafani? Looks like a below average K/BB rate, below average GB%, and average to below average plate discpline against

Eno Sarris: Above average swinging strike rate and career of much better command, good pitches.

Comment From Walt
Would you say Soler is so good that you’d deal off Pujols for him now?

Eno Sarris: In a keeper league I wouldn’t hesitate. In a redraft I might hesitate and then do it. I think Pujols lucky to push average up to .250 and hit 28 homers this year.

Comment From hscer
Is anybody concerned by Bryant’s 67 Contact%?

Eno Sarris: Yes, a bit.

Comment From Jack Glasscocks Cup
request: jimmy cliff’s one more

Eno Sarris: I’ll use that for the ‘before’ reggae clip then.

Eno Sarris:

Comment From Houzer
Yelich or Josh Harrison for my 3rd OF?

Eno Sarris: I’ll take Yelich

Comment From Pop
My Morning JAcket = Allman Brothers

Comment From neal
i always thought one of the reasons for offense exploding during the “steroid era” was due to expansion, which seemingly gets overlooked by everyone

Eno Sarris: strike zone change came then too, I had it ranked second, but it was important.

Comment From SF Dave

"She's a Brick (shit) House. Mighty mighty, she's letting it all hang out"

Comment From Jack Glasscocks Cup
Free Lindor! . . . mmmm, truuuffffles

Comment From Bier Herr
Does TJ House make himself relevant at all this year?

Eno Sarris: At 87 mph I feel like he’s their spot starter.

Comment From Cason Jolette
RE desclafani: Fangraphs has him at 9.2 swk%, lg average at 9.6

Eno Sarris: click “SP”

Comment From Bart
Donaldson or T Frazier/Baez?

Eno Sarris: Donaldson

Comment From Mike
Rank Correa in a dynasty league.

Eno Sarris: Ranked

Comment From SardinasHappAbadOdor
Where is the guy that turns into a werewolf? Great bit

Eno Sarris: Let’s not encourage him.

Comment From Mouse
porcello or hahn?

Eno Sarris: Hahn. The four-seamer thing, I’m not sure it’s working for Porcello. Would need a bigger K% increase to cover for added HR.

Comment From Shawn
Reggae now is…Vybz Kartel?

Eno Sarris: Well I had this queued, but it’s not super modern or anything

Eno Sarris:

Eno Sarris: but sure

Eno Sarris:

Comment From SF Dave
Carlos Frias got BOMBED last time out. Without a second pitch can he survive in a big league rotation?

Eno Sarris: It’s all so hard. I think he needs to throw the slow slider or change more. They get good results in small samples, but will they if he throws them more? The changeups are probably just slow two-seamers, but the real slider goes 81, that could help. Some pieces there, but I wouldn’t count on him.

Comment From hscer
Rank rank in a rank rank

Eno Sarris: spank

Comment From Phillies113
How long have you been interviewing players, Eno?

Eno Sarris: My first interview was Lucas Duda, I think I did it for Amazin Avenue, in 2010. Second was R.A. Dickey later that year, after I moved to California.

Eno Sarris: If I remember right.

Comment From Shawn
How many cured meats are in the Sarris household at a given time?

Eno Sarris: Salami, Soppresata, Cappicola right now.

Comment From SB
you a believer in Bolsinger? how deep a league do you consider rostering him?

Eno Sarris: With the slider, he’s becoming more attractive. 15+ teams.

Comment From Dallas
Deep league stuff:: Should we jump off the Haren train before it crashes or can he do this all year. Seems to be a different pitcher now.

Eno Sarris: He’s playing out the string. That’s the impression I got last time I talked to him. I’d be nervous.

Comment From Mike
why is Hahn only 28% in yahoo leagues? Am I missing something?

Eno Sarris: K rate isn’t exciting, but I think the curve will get more whiffs soon, and that’s what he told me.

Eno Sarris: new reggae, less mainstream

Eno Sarris:

Comment From MarinerDan
Chris Colabello: All that fool does is mash!

Eno Sarris: Another year older, and look what his final line looked like last year when his BABIP was two hundred points lower.

Comment From SF Dave
I picked up Bolsinger in a deeeeeeeeeeep keeper league because I liked his SSS K-BB, now he’s making me look like really good. With a FIP of under 3, could this be for real? Not 0.71 real, but you know, top 30 SP real?

Eno Sarris: The new slider makes it three pitches. Sure, it’s cutter/slider/curve, but there’s a left in SF that has made that work. True story: the Dodgers cited my piece on What Makes A Curve Great in JABO as a reason they were looking at Bolsinger.

Comment From Jim
in MA- need a beer recommendation for a friend. He is not a fan of IPA’s. Whatcha got?

Eno Sarris: Try Hoponius Union from Jack’s Abbey because it’s listed as a lager and might give him a fresh look at IPAs. Night Shift has a really good Berliner Weisse too.

Comment From Salasaga
Reggae >> 10 Ft. Ganja Plant, Kevin Kinsella, Stand High Patrol and Stick Figure !

Eno Sarris: Will check em out

Comment From Shawn
Speaking of SwStr %, RDLR is 12.3%. In the words of Borat and Eno that’s sexy time

Eno Sarris: The new / improved slider is working for him.

Comment From Reginald Denton III
You hate Archie Bradley, right? Can you refresh my memory on why?

Eno Sarris: Two pitches, no history of grounders in minors.

Comment From SardinasHappAbadOdor
Is Denard Span underrated in fantasy circles? He only does 3 things but he does them pretty damn well.

Eno Sarris: yes!

Eno Sarris:

Comment From MMMBop
Pls rank in terms of value for next 3 years – starlin catro, kang, w. flores, andrus

Eno Sarris: You got it.

Eno Sarris: Still worried that Flores is not a shortstop, I am.

Comment From Jolly Roger
Hi Eno. What numbers do you look at when trying to determine the most favorable matchups for your SPs?

Eno Sarris: Park most of all. Then maybe strength of opposition team. Then maybe handedness of opposing team.

Comment From Hank
Have you seen The Shins live? They were absolutely terrible when I saw them, therefore they are nothing like the Dead. …

Eno Sarris: Seen em three times, had a great time each time. One might not count though, it was with 500 people in Paris, of course we were going to have a great time.

Comment From SF Dave
Nate Karns get any better than this or is this him?

Eno Sarris: Change fails two of three tests actually. So I doubt he gets a lot better. He should learn the splitter.

Comment From Pat the Bat
Can Trevor Bauer keep it up?

Eno Sarris: Yes!

Comment From Hank
ODells Peach Imperial IPA is amazing! I usually don’t enjoy the “fruity” IPA’s, but this one was incredibly delicious.

Comment From Walt
Does Billy Hamilton need a page from the Dee Gordon book of hitting?

Eno Sarris: Softer! Maybe.

Comment From SF Dave
Headed to the park tonight with 14 PE teachers. It’s going to get rowdy. $100 bounty for a foul ball. $100 penalty for having one hit you and not catching it. We’re 16 rows up from the SF Pen so it’s prime territory. Bring it on!

Eno Sarris: So here’s my Miles comp. It’s weird, but these guys did as much innovating as Miles, maybe.

Eno Sarris:

Comment From Rob
talk about Hosmer for a few lines. in the rotographs May 1B update he’s 10th. in dynasty leagues, where do you have him?

Eno Sarris: I *think* the power will slow down because he’s hitting two grounders for every fly ball and this is a big increase for him. He’s athletic, and I’ve seen em go deep on balls he was fooled on. He’ll hit 20 this year for sure, but will he hit 25? Maybe not.

Comment From deezy
trade span for duda or arod in a deep 12 team roto league?

Eno Sarris: Duda

Comment From Trainman
Eno, how high are you on McCullers? I just picked him up in an AL only, 10 team. Future value looks pretty decent, very strong fastball and of course those awesome batman cleats.

Eno Sarris: Had a pretty big number on him in AL LABR (23 I think), but lost out. Tons of movement on all of his pitches, including his change. Just the command piece isn’t great. In your settings, you have to give him a little leash.

Comment From SF Dave
Strickland picked up a CH. I know Casilla’s been really good, is this one of the better 8th/9th inning combos out there?

Eno Sarris: Yes, he has a future. Can really locate it, has gas, and is throwing the splitter more now.

Comment From Pat the Bat
What’s wrong with Chase Anderson? Why does he get no love?

Eno Sarris: Swinging strikes are down, but GBs are up, and I like his pitches. Great back end of any rotation guy, IMO.

Comment From Whirling Darvish
Sandwich status – Neuske’s bacon, thinly sliced red cabbage, avacado, mayo, whole wheat.

Comment From John
you are the mets, dont you become immediately better by just moving gee and niese for any bullpen arm or bench bat you can get, promote matz?

Eno Sarris: Yes, probably. Not a huge fan of Gee’s. Niese might get a better return though.

Comment From don
Saw The Shins at the Ryman in Nashville and it was epic.

Comment From Joe
Rick Porcello is making me sad. Should I just cut him, even in AL only?

Eno Sarris: Not in that setting.

Comment From Trainman
Drew Hutchison.. we back on the good vibes train with him?

Eno Sarris: Watch the fastball velocity. Needs to be at higher end of his range, I guess. Craig made a good case.

Comment From Jimmie Jam
Joc Pederson and Starling Marte for Scherzer? 7×7, redraft.

Eno Sarris: That’s a lot of bat. I’d prefer if you gave him your second best pitcher with Joc.

Comment From Mike
H2H points. Shoemaker or Hughes ROS?

Eno Sarris: Good one. I like Shoemaker’s K-BB this year better, and I like his splitter better than Hughes’ breaking ball, and home parks about equal. Him.

Comment From Maguro
How is Bauer able to beat his FIP and xFIP while the other Indians starters are struggling to do so?

Eno Sarris: I think you’d find your answer in fastball/all location.

Comment From Marty
to Mark: get standing room tickets on the monster. Far cheaper, just as fun and yeah…not a great view because you can’t see half the outfield or the main video/scoreboard.

Eno Sarris: I CAUGHT UP! I HAVE TO GO!

Eno Sarris: Thanks for chatting!

Comment From John
tag in sporer! he wont leave us!

Comment From hscer
bye thanks eno