Eno Sarris Baseball Chat — 6/8/17

Eno Sarris: you know him from that hairdresser ‘fantastic man’ commercial maybe, but I like this guy’s music

Eno Sarris: heyo

Tony: What are you seeing from Brad Peacock? Think he sticks all year?

Eno Sarris: The slider is different. Much more horizontal. Getting a ton more whiffs. I think he’s having some trouble commanding it, but he’s ahead of Fiers for me, and he’s definitely interesting with this new pitch.

AJP: In light of Mike Schmidt’s comments, I was wondering what percentage of US-born players learn Spanish to better communicate with their Latino teammates?

Eno Sarris: I see it enough to know it’s not real small. A.J. Griffin is super fluent! There are others speaking broken Spanish all the time. I’ll say the percentage in bullpens, where they have time to kill, is probably approaching 50%! Lower team-wide.

hscer: if you’re selling in a keeper league, how important are ROS projections?

Eno Sarris: For the player you’re acquiring? Eh. I’d acquire Bird and Franco and like them better than their RoS, so it’d just be something to look at. Players have steps forward and steps back, improvement is not linear.

Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: Any takes on Jacob Faria after a strong debut last night? Showed adequate command coupled with a fastball with plenty of rise, good changeup, and slider (cutter?), I’m not sure if an Odorizzi comp is lazy or well-deserved.

Eno Sarris: Such a Ray. So much ride on a straight four-seamer, with a great changeup. Decent looking slider. He’ll strike more guys out, the question is the walk rate.

Mark: Eno! How would you rank Shark, Nola and Jimmy Nelson ROS?

Eno Sarris: Shark and Nola are close. Nelson lower down.

Kenta Maeda: Whats happening to me 🙁

Eno Sarris: Too many four-seamers. He should really only use that as a surprise pitch.

joe: Chad Kuhl 100 mph 2 seamers last night??

Eno Sarris: In-game velo readings and the like are poop. Washed numbers, using better algorithms, may revise that downward. Also, his changeup is still not great. and he didn’t get a single whiff on 13 curves, though slider/curve might be his way forward.

Lucky: Gerrit Cole: start or sit vs. MIA tonight amidst his scuffles?

Eno Sarris: No.

Jerj Clooners: One might think green peppers, banana peppers, and pickled jalapeno peppers is too many peppers on a sandwich. One would also be incorrect.

Eno Sarris: Jalapeno burps.

Mel: Chris Owings still worth owning in 10-team?

Eno Sarris: Gonna finish at .285+, 15+, 30+ at shortstop, and can play all over so yeah.

Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: What is the process by which the league “adjusts” to a hitter? Do individual pitchers need to see a guy more than once, or will the league collectively start to find and exploit weaknesses and holes?

Eno Sarris: It’s way quicker than that. I’d say two to four weeks you’ll start seeing something spread if you’re not doing well against it. Brandon Crawford didn’t get any fastballs for three weeks early one season and said that was just the amount of time to think “do I need to do something about this or is it just this team’s approach.”

The Sarris Wheel: looking through my wife’s browsing history…looks like she REALLY has a thing for Lasting Millege’s derrierre…should I confront her about this???

Eno Sarris: When was the last time you thought about Lastings Milledge.

Big Tuna: Salazar sent to double-A to work with a specific pitching coach. Do you think this could be a quick mechanics fix?

Eno Sarris: Yeah but holy crap they did it by using the disabled list. Am I taking crazy pills?

Lars: Should we begin to be worried about Eric Thames?

Eno Sarris: xStats has him at .237 batting average, so maybe there. But .492 slugging on that BA is still really nice.

Eno Sarris: I’d have to look further into pitch selection to see if they’ve ‘figured him out’ but he’s still valuable if he’s just hitting mistakes, because he can HIT IT FAR.

Big Tuna: Can Addy even be rostered in 12 tm keeper leagues?

Eno Sarris: I’m willing to call this a lost year, but if he’s dropped in my 12-teamer and I have a roster slot, I’m picking it up. I think he’ll iron out his personal poop, and I like his plate discipline improvements.

linus: Samardzija: hold or stream in 10-team?

Eno Sarris: Hold.

Moltar: I’ve been very, very patient with Bregman, one of my six keepers going in to the year. With injuries taking a toll and a need for more starters, I’m just not sure I can keep him on my bench much longer. Will I regret cutting him in a 12 team points league? Do you think he can be a top-12 3B ROS?

Eno Sarris: His expected slash line is virtually identical to last year’s. At this point his upside (which isn’t necessarily going to be hit this year) is .260/.320/400+ and what 20/10? Is okay but not waht we wanted.

Big Tuna: Domingo Santana has been on fire recently. What type of upside do you think he has?

Eno Sarris: Finally lifting the ball a little more and making better contact, shoulder is in good shape, I believe everything he’s doing right now.

Lucroy: What’s up with me this year? Want to blame BABIP, but HardHit% is way down … and both BB% and K% are both way below career norms. What’s happening? Injury?

Eno Sarris: Better listen back to my interview with him, but he didn’t really reveal any big thing that he was working on. Catchers’ offense is like the third thing they think about mostly so… dunno.

LegallyEagle: What could Bud Norris fetch in a trade? Is he more valuable than David Robertson trade wise?

Eno Sarris: Fantasy? Maybe about the same, both have decent risk of losing jobs to trade/personnel movements. Real life? less than Robertson, probably. Track record matters with relievers.

Bork: Dr. Eno what happened to Devon Travis? He apparently took off in a plane feeling fine but by the time they landed his leg was messed up.

Eno Sarris: I don’t know but it was a super sad situation in that clubhouse. Lots of hushed tones and hugs. Lots of ‘when I had my knee surgery’ talk. I’d guess he’s going to have a surgery, from how sad he looked.

sn4k3rjaker: Minnesota is still… not terrible? Think they can hang around the wild card discussion? I’m having a hard time keeping my expectations down

Eno Sarris: 6th in batting, worst pitching staff by WAR in majors though… mostly driven by a turrible pen.

Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: Since you’re the best person to ask…how does the clubhouse handle situations like what’s happening with Derek Norris?

Eno Sarris: I’ve been asking players to anonymously tell me how many players they can talk to about baseball stuff, and how many players they can talk to about personal stuff. Based on a Pizza Cutter piece. Sample is not high because it’s an awkward thing to ask, but of the six or seven I’ve asked, the average is around 7-10 for baseball stuff… and like 1-3 for personal. So the clubhouse in this situation? About the same.

Big Tuna: What kind of value will Motter have while Segura is out?

Eno Sarris: I think he’s a true talent .250/.320/.425 20/20 guy. I think the projections are missing something about his injury and swing history.

Cheese: Hey Eno! Who would you take- Nelson or Velasquez in a dynasty?

Eno Sarris: At this point… Nelson. VV might be headed to the lights out reliever role that the Astros thought was his future.

Ned: I know it’s been said before, but Cone and O’Neill are just delightful in the booth together. That’s all.

Eno Sarris: It’s a really good mix of old and new school. Kudos to Cone for being open to it. (Pitchers are the best)

Blackburn: Has McCutchen figured something out? Over the last 12-14 games he is batting pretty well actually.

Eno Sarris: I think the hate has gone too far. I still see above average patience, contact, power, speed, and corner glove. Do we all hate Max Kepler suddenly?

OH GOD MY PITCHING IT HURTS: So my pitching is basically Fulmer and some warm bodies. Trade my Justin Turner for his Arrieta? Or Turner and Reed for Degrom?

Eno Sarris: Hate trading for pitching, but the Arrieta one is okay for me.

Sim: Nola finally with a great start! Yay!

Eno Sarris: inoright

Thomas: Greg Bird coming back soon. Thoughts in a 10-teamer? Would you rather him, or a guy like Schoop, Zimmer or Ian Happ ROS? Trying to find a baseline.

Eno Sarris: Probably Schoop, but Bird over the rest. I still think he can .250 with 25-30 power this year, and there’s even a little beyond that when he’s peaking and healthy.

Ethan Hunt: With one or no out and a speedy runner on third, why don’t we see more suicide squeeze plays? Are baseball managers the most conservative play callers in all of sports?

Eno Sarris: CYA is real strong in baseball. COVER YOUR ASS

Justin Smoak’s Bat: How good am I?

Eno Sarris: Some of this I don’t believe. There’s an improvement in a line drive angles that’s very noisy and not so sticky. Some of this, the power stuff, I believe, and the new contact rate could mean a better BA.

Alex: With Catcher so shallow, what do you think about picking up Ramos to stash on DL?

Eno Sarris: At least he didn’t hurt his hands/wrists? I’ve got him in a couple places.

Matt: I have McCann, who is performing well, but I need more power and more playing time. Debating between Ramos and Murphy coming back – had Murphy ranked higher due to Ramos’ knees, but both have been bid up where I’m not sure they’re worth it. Can Murphy (or Ramos) be an upgrade from McCann?

Eno Sarris: McCann is underrated even though he’s on team

Nelson : RIP Double Jack. The first beer I bought as a result of one of your chats (and hated because it was too strong)

Eno Sarris: Man it’s WAY too strong. Funny how we change? I’m all over the 4-6%.

Merv Throneberry: Capps or Devensky next month and next year?

Eno Sarris: Devenski. Concerned that this longer recovery time for Capps is related to the new rule and him having to rejigger his delivery, or that his crazy delivery is hurting his recovery.

martin: Not sure if you heard about David price and his the relationship with the media that is going downhill. The shouting match he had with a beat reporter filled with expletives seems just weird… As both a Red Sox and baseball fan, I’m pretty worried about this situation and how it could escalate. Eno, your thoughts?

Eno Sarris: It’s harder for a beat that has to talk to the same players every day, but I just saw a player who is not pleased with me, and hasn’t been for a while, and just said hi and let him walk by. Time heals wounds. Not all, that’s totally untrue, but a ton of problems can be solved by letting people alone for a while.

connor: who do you think will be promoted this summer of the following: albies, verdugo, nick williams and christian arroyo?

Eno Sarris: Arroyo a lock, he showed he was capable. Verdugo seems stuck behind a group. Maybe Williams for a Saunders injury. Not sure where Phillips goes, but Albies is ready.

BruceB: Care to offer a compromised hot take on VX acquiring Rate Beer?

Eno Sarris: I’m compromised! Thanks for putting it that way. I think they should have disclosed it right away. I like Joe Tucker, and have found RB’s interface and in/out of style ranking superior to other sites in the past.

5 Run Homer: Scooter Gennett is literally the last guy I would have ever chosen to hit four homers in a game. That’s like Mike Bolsinger throwing a perfect game

Eno Sarris: Amazing.

Twoseamers: it seems way too soon for the astros to promote francis martes. desperation and temporary due to last night’s bullpen game? or might this be a permanent thing?

Eno Sarris: Temporary due to the bullpen game is my guess. He’s on 40 man and can throw in the pen.

RotoLando: I’m trying to justify eating a donut today. I’m going to eat the donut, but I’d like to feel good about it. Make me feel good, Eno.

Eno Sarris: You will take that donut on a walk and all will be well.

Tim: Can we get an update on your favorite save spec dudes?

Eno Sarris: We’ll do it on the cast today but it’s pretty mellow right now. Felipe River and then maybe Will Harris but only maybe.

Jack Perconte: As you’ve probably heard, Safeco sells dried salted grasshoppers. Any urge to use them on a sandwich – like Fritos on tuna?

Eno Sarris: Fried, and man if I had em around I’d do something with them. They crunch!

Pop: Lackey droppable for Nola or Sanchez? standard mixed

Eno Sarris: Yes. Finally lost that velo, was always a two-pitch guy.

Tim: Are you selling high on Ozuna?

Eno Sarris: No. Underreported in his second half fade last year was the role of injury.

Smoovie: I regard 3 fruit smoothies as 3 pitch pitchers. Much, much better than their 2-part counterpart, even if the 3rd is only sprinkled in

Pop: Anything else going on today?

LudeBurger: Welcome to LudeBurger, home of the LudeBurger, may I take your order?

Eno Sarris: phew

Larry A: Am I the only one that watches Durant and thinks he can easily score 60 every game if he wanted to?

Eno Sarris: Easy is the key word, yes.

Jeff: What are you seeing from Randall Delgado? On the surface – velo bump, plus whiffs from slider and change – do you think he could stick around? Not getting the buzz that Peacock or Biagini are getting…

Eno Sarris: I’ve always thought he had the repertoire. Command is an issue, but it isn’t really right now. I’d buy.

Steve: Based on what you’ve seen so far, which player were you most wrong about heading into 2017?

Eno Sarris: Bregman? I’ll give you Cotton for this year, but I’m not giving up on his career. I still like Franco. I don’t give up on my guys that easy.

Dudas Luca: Would you rather have the pitcher with just barely the best FB spin rate and exactly average velocity, or just barely the best velocity and an exactly average spin rate?

Eno Sarris: Is that like healthy Andrew Bailey vs healthy Thor? Just on fastballs? I’ll take the Thor.

Brett: What is Yonder Alonso’s trade value right now? (In real life.)

Eno Sarris: Who needs a first baseman?

El Duderino: How awesome would the HR derby be with Judge, Gallo, Sano, Stanton and (who cares else)?

Eno Sarris: And a certain announcer no longer doing his thing. I sat in the stands for the HR Derby and really enjoyed it in SD.

Eldridge Cleaver: Correa or Machado in a basic keeper league?

Eno Sarris: Correa be still my beating heart

Bert: Gregory Polanco, did he reach his ceiling last year? 22 HR, 17 SB, .330 OBP? That’s a good player and all, but not Superstar level.

Eno Sarris: Injuries have a role in what’s happening right now, but there’s at least the whiff of an injury risk here.

Beasy Bee: Any stouts you highly recommend? Not really looking for the $30-40 bombers, but don’t mind shelling out for a good one, especially barrel aged. Hope you’re doing well!

Eno Sarris: Best readily available everywhere is Old Rasputin, and the BA one is usually around too, though a little overpriced for the size. Best for dollar when it’s out is Lagunitas High Westified, IMO. I’m a Deschutes Abyss fan.

I do think so, Tim: Just took over a rebuilding dynasty team (20 tm league). I just traded Giolito and Lopez for Amed Rosario and Justus Sheffield. Hated to give up Giolito but had no top tier position prospects. Am I going to regret this?

Eno Sarris: oh good god now that was a robbery

ccd: a) i’ve heard coaches say that a pitcher is reducing velo on purpose to improve control. what % of the time do you suppose this is true?

Eno Sarris: There is some evidence that throwing further away from your max is good for health outcomes, but I hear more often the opposite: I’d rather ‘execute aggressively’ and miss the spot than baby it in there.

Troutmageddon: What fantasy starter range do you see Montgomery settling into long term? 3-4?

Eno Sarris: I’m still on the three plus train.

ccd: b) what’s your favorite beer at Petco?

Eno Sarris: Speedway, where else but at the coffee cart. Also, the spot behind home plate is my favorite, and they rotate through. I’ll be down there late June to early July and will report back again.

coach: u still in on tai walker or nah?

Eno Sarris: Just think he’s fine. No ace for me.

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: What’s your take on Kakie Bryan?

Eno Sarris: Superstar.

Troutmageddon: Have you ever talked to Charles Nagy, Angels pitching coach? Anecdotally he seems to be doing good things with JC and Meyer. Also Mark Langston, Angels broadcaster is an avid Fangraphs guy.

Eno Sarris: JC is definitely a win for him. Heaney pulled me aside one time and asked for a rundown on spin, though, so I feel like Nagy might be pretty old-school.

Pop: Speaking of Shark

Donnie Sadler: Recently picked up Lamet, Jaime Garcia and Junior Guerra for their 2-start weeks. Anyone worth holding onto in a 12-team league?

Eno Sarris: Guerra

Robbotis: Will Joc Pederson ever be the guy his minor league numbers suggested he could be?

Eno Sarris: yeah I think he’s in the middle of a lost year but is a decent acquisition in keeper leagues

Barcus Manks: Who’s the best pitcher in NYC these days?

Eno Sarris: Luis Severino?

Asher: Given that the Yankees are generally winning games, do they keep running Tanaka out there hoping he works it out, or do you think they need to skip a start or two with him?

Eno Sarris: He’ll keep throwing until they put him on the DL, phantom or no. I think he keeps throwing.

Andrew: I’ve got an open SP slot now that salazar is in the pen, and Wheeler and McCarthy are available. Who should i grab (10tm)?

Eno Sarris: Wheeler

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: Why should you never make a pepper angry?

BECAUSE IT WILL GET JALAPENO FACE!

Eno Sarris: Ray.

My name: Why is everyone so high on happ? His numbers so far don’t scream MLB regular. Is it the versatility?

Eno Sarris: I’m not that high on Happ.

Miketron: Do you think it is more likely we see another pitcher with less fingers(3-finger Brown) or more fingers(Antonio Alfonseca) than a traditional pitcher?

Eno Sarris: Considering one takes a kitchen accident and the other takes mutation, and the likelihood of either, I’ll take the fewer fingered situation.

Mark: Is the velocity adjustment still 0.7 MPH?

Eno Sarris: Depends on where you looking. Here on PFX, yes.

Moltar: my wife is borderline obsessed with the rap song Lastings Milledge recorded for Reyes’ walk-up music in the mid 00’s.

Eno Sarris: dammit can’t find it fast

roger: What is Brian Kenny like in person?

Eno Sarris: About the same, but not always yelling about xFIP or anything.

Justin: Can you let us know which players have read fangraphs in the off-season so we can include that in our player evaluations?

Eno Sarris: I know for a fact Pillar and Yonder did it so I guess

Jansen: Dyson or Peraza? Need SB

Eno Sarris: Peraza

Jay: RE: Salazar being sent to Double-A via DL – is this any different than what the Dodgers are doing other than that Salazar does need a refresher?

Eno Sarris: It actually seems more brazen.

Lommy TaSorda: Eno, have you tried any of the Monkish cans that they periodically put out? I recently got my hands on the Swap Meets and Jeans Hands and they are both some tasty juice bombs. Thoughts?

Eno Sarris: Thinking of stopping by Monkish when I drive to LA for the Junior Boys show June 30 SEE IM ALWAYS PIMPING

Justin: Smoak ’em if you got ’em

Moonlight Graham: When was the last time you thought about “Officer” Ron Karkovice?

Eno Sarris: When you asked last week. I looked because I thought it was that guy with the big coke bottle glasses but it wasn’t.

Andres: Is there a reasonable explanation to what is happening to Rick Porcello that goes beyond ‘luck from last season is turning around’? What is his outlook for ROS?

Eno Sarris: Last year was a peak year?

Zunino: Which out of these out of nowhere 1B is most likely to keep pace and hit 40 HR’s this year: Zim, Alonso, Smoak, Bour, or Morrison?

Eno Sarris: Zim or Alonso. Bour hurt and Zim and Alonso have really easy to see swing changes that suggest they are different then they were.

Rodòn King Jesus: Eno! Just had a gluten reduced Uinta west coast IPA. Fared better than other gluten free/reduced beers I’ve had in the past. They just don’t bloat me the next day. Can you recommend any others?

Eno Sarris: Stone Delicious?

Rodòn King Jesus: What should I watch for with Doolittle to know he’s right?

Eno Sarris: Velo?

Eno Sarris: He also mentioned that his arm slot was going too high (for deception) and that’s what caused the latest hiccup. So maybe track his arm slot.

Snarfle: Here’s a cartoon I came up with over a decade ago that I’ve never drawn because I can’t draw other than shapes and balloons: a mechanic is looking under the hood of a car, and there are wolves chasing each other inside the car. He’s saying to the owner: “that’s your problem right there. Your car is full of wolves.”

Dallas Keuchel’s Digestive Syste: I AM UPSET!

Rodòn King Jesus: Eno, I’m going to San Diego for a month in July. Any new yummy smallish breweries to target? I only know of the biggies…Stone, Alesmith, Ballast, Alpine, etc.

Eno Sarris: Half Door downtown makes some good hazy beers. You know Modern Times right? they have a tasting room in North Park now. Monkey Paw and Bottlecraft have good selections, one a bar, one a bar and bottle shop.

#superbowlweek: Why is the FG world so down on Ray? I know he threw some stink bombs at home, but i look at the periphs and there’s not much i don’t like.

Eno Sarris: I’m not sure the curve and slider are different pitches.

Ian: How far could Profar throw far if Profar could throw far?

Eno Sarris: Well he IS playing shortstop now.

Snarfle: Alright, who is Healy at this point? He’s been mostly uninspiring, but the wire is Yangervis, Reyes, Drury, Wilmer, etc. (OBP)

Eno Sarris: .280/30?

David Appelman: Eno’s boys: Mazara, deGrom and Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes. Got it.

Eno Sarris: People, he showed up early and posted interesting questions and I answered.

Tim: Drop Kendrys Morales for Alonso? …I loved Kendrys preseason due to the ballpark change and the better lineup, but Alonso is putting every ball in the air…

Eno Sarris: I think so yes. Morales’ grounders are no bueno.

Greg: Smoak has substantially improved against lefties. That’s gotta be noise

Eno Sarris: yeah I couldn’t find any corresponding change other than maybe going up the middle a bit more against them.

Chicken Hawk: why are the Phillies waiting to call up Hoskins? he’s got a decent walk/K ratio, is he ready? What do they have to lose?

Eno Sarris: A year of control!

Anthony: Sean Manaea’s good, right?

Eno Sarris: Yes, finally gave up on trying to make the slider harder and is using like a backfoot curve, which pairs really nicely with his outside changeup.

Ethan Hunt: More prudent stash for this season – Devers, Hoskins, Barreto, Frazier, Meadows

Eno Sarris: Devers hoskins

HGH: where are you on moncada for this year and long term?

Eno Sarris: High K prospects make me super nervous, but he could be second base version of Sano with speed so you have to take part. MiLB power hasn’t looked like Sano’s yet, though. I’m probably lower on YM than consensus.

X curious: Looking at the Projecting X 2.0 ad. I’d say that I am above average on my advanced stats, but still concerned it could be over my head. Thoughts?

Eno Sarris: Nah, Podhorzer basically runs through the stuff he looks at when he projects a player, it’s not that hard of a read, I wouldn’t say.

Hello: From what I’ve read, Price really really hates Boston. I don’t think time will heal these wounds…

Eno Sarris: What if an enterprising reporter allowed him to vent about that in a way that was cathartic and not coopted to make the reporter’s point? Or if the city itself surprised with some sort of moment of support? You could be right, of course.

mario mendoza: Ketel Marte has been on a tear all year, and he’s been in PCL before but never hit like this. He’s young enough to think this may be growth… do you think he’ll take over SS in ARI soon?

Eno Sarris: I’m not a huge Ahmed fan, so that job is attainable, yes. I wonder how much of Marte’s power is real.

Mac: Do you have any book recs for people looking to get into the numbers side of baseball more?

Eno Sarris: Baseball Hacks if you want to create a DB and do that sort of thing. Tango’s book Playing the Numbers is a msut.

Scuba Steve: You are sandwhich artist! Ever do anything awesome with tuna?

Eno Sarris: Only when I make tuna salad with my seared sweet soy sriracha tuna from the night before and add it to pickled ginger on a sesame bagel.

Justin: Just bought a buddy Brooklyn brewery black ops and local 2. Solid gift or too much?

Eno Sarris: Solid gift.

rustydude: Started drinking craft beer back in the early Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada, Red Hook Brewery days. Was pretty faithful in trying just about any craft beer as I moved all around the country for 30 yrs. And yet, a few years ago I started drinking Mike’s Hd Lemonade and now that’s 90% of what I drink. Is this weird?

Eno Sarris: nah. I used to be a vodka tonic guy in my late 20s in NYC.

Jimbo McGee: Why didn’t Aaron Judge do as well in the minors as he has in the majors, by wRC+ ?

Eno Sarris: Something people miss about the Yankees’ minor league parks is that they are often pitcher-friendly.

RotoLando: You should give everything in your fridge a baseball player code-name, then assemble a sandwich based on players mentioned in your chats.

Eno Sarris: That would be even more random than what I do.

E: Worst sandwich you’ve had/made?

Eno Sarris: Just recently I had coppa, soppress salamis, an over easy egg, on a brioche, and I put nectarines in. That was a 3/10, but I took them out and it was magically good.

chadwick: if you’re into low abv beer, check out Rodenbach Fruitage. remember when radlers were a thing a couple summers ago? This is better.

Eno Sarris: Nice. They’re solid and underrated, generally.

Justin: In a dynasty would you rather have benintendi or conforto? Thanks Eno

Eno Sarris: Conforto.

Big Joe Mufferaw: Lots of questions?? I was asking very pertinent and riveting questions, and none are being answered…

Eno Sarris: I’m sure they were riveting. I bet I even got to one. This was posted at 12:49, meaning I’m still scrolling to the rest. And I skipped like 50 at one point.

bombsquad rabbi: Every time I see someone misspell “Braves” as “Barves”, I immediately think of that as multiple barfings. I’ll leave you to your own devices in tying that in with the Barves baseballing play this year.

Andrew: Is it safe to say that whatever is going on between A. Russell and his wife is effecting his performance on the field?

Eno Sarris: Remember when Segura had that awful situation with losing a baby? Players are people, too!

bombsquad rabbi: Science-y baseball question: I know the Rays (and possibly other teams) are experimenting with VR as a training method. My question is, do you know of any team taking a more analog, electro-mechanical approach to training? Such as using robotics to replicate pitch motion and pitch types? Possibly utilizing statcast data to do so? I ask as an engineer, because that realm super-fascinates me from both a technical and baseball standpoint, and I think we’re reaching the point technology-wise that the payoff could be much more cost effective than in the past.

Eno Sarris: I know for sure there are ‘slider’ pitching machines, and I think Driveline has a pitching machine that can approximate some different pitches, and I’ve seen pictures of pitching machines throwing from behind a video wall (so you can synch it with video of a pitcher’s delivery). So yeah I think they’re working on this.

Motorboatin’ Robbie Ray: Prrrrrrrbrrprbrrrrrr HIYAH!

Eno Sarris: lol

jake: porcello dropable?

Eno Sarris: no (maybe in ten-teamer) otherwise you’re just

Nat: How long does it take a pitcher to “learn” a pitch? I’m realizing that in the season, starters throw twice every 5 days (in a game and a bullpen on the 3rd day, right?) and they don’t throw at max effort in the offseason, and during spring training, they do some bullpen sessions that might only last 7 minutes each, and then they throw in games. That doesn’t seem to add up to a lot of time to learn a whole new pitch! Is there a lot of experimenting in games?

Eno Sarris: Spring training and the offseason, and I think even then it’ll take two or three springs to really take. Scherzer has been throwing this power slider some over the years, and it’s his fourth pitch, and he’s only now really getting it.

Dankey Kang: Which of your legs enters your pants first? Go ahead and take them off to put them back on to verify. I’ll wait.

Eno Sarris: Always right. I’m right-handed, too.

Clarence Carter: Schimpf in HR derby? That dude be strokin!

Eno Sarris: Taking our sexual home run chatter to another level.

Understanding Weighted Values: I’m always stuck any time I see drastic changes in weighted values on certain pitches for hitters. For example over the last 3 years Andrew McCutchen has accrued +25.0 wFB in 2015, +5.8 last year, and an even 0.0 this year. I understand it’s far from a good predictive tool but it’s pretty apparent McCutchen’s success (or lack of) on fastballs is a huge portion of his decline no?

Eno Sarris: There is something there. Pierzynski was talking about him not making contact out in front of the plate, which is where the good stuff is, and that could be ‘going and getting’ the fastball. Not good for a good hitter to be average on the fastball.

Bud: Is it officially safe to drop Bedrosian / Do I have the job for the rest of the season (barring I get traded)?

Eno Sarris: It’s just a groin! What is going on? Maybe.

johnny5alive: I know harvey is what he is, but why are they not considering bullpen/demotion for him? he is easily their worst current pitcher.

Eno Sarris: Phantom DL time.

Gub Gub: I ate a potato and now I feel bloated. Stupid potato.

Gub Gub: No, I’m sorry potato. It’s my fault. I can’t quit you.

Dodger Dan: Thoughts on Yasiel Puig? Seemed to start off well, but lately looks like back to a lot of lost at bats, taking fastball strikes and chasing bad breaking balls. Does he turn a corner or at this point is he just this guy?

Eno Sarris: Could be this guy. Gets pitched inside a ton. Maybe hasn’t figured that out. Also: this guy is not terrible.

Porcho Villa: Rich Hill isn’t really getting hit hard but also has absolutely no control (suggesting ongoing blister issues). Any hope for a bounce back or is he going to be all over the place all season?

Eno Sarris: He has minus minus fastball command, always had. Doesn’t seem droppable, but ‘not swinging’ is also a viable strategy against him right now.

yojiveself: what do the 1B and the hitter who just singled usually talk about?

Eno Sarris: I’ve asked and they don’t even know. I assume some of them know each other and otherwise it’s like ‘oh man got lucky on that one’ or some benign game-related chatter.

Villar: What’s wrong with me?

Eno Sarris: Some of the step forward last year was just some good luck v RHP.

Tony: Read your article on Pillar – what kind of hitter do you think he is now? Something like 280/340/440?

Eno Sarris: Might take .270/.330/.420 but that’s better than RoS projections and I’d take it.

canofcorn66: Jesse Hahn pitched well this week right after coming off of the DL. How rosterable is he (i.e. where do you rank him)?

Eno Sarris: Probably 60s.

Frostilicus: Can you identify any player that has embraced the flyball revolution but has not seen favorable results yet?

Eno Sarris: Jaso, Story have been aggressive and it’s hurt them a bit. Maybe Cron.

JC: No question, just want to say my wife and I loved Half Door Brewing in SD (recommended in your book). I’m still fully in on NE IPAs, and #buzzwords was outstanding. We will be using your book to shape all future trips in and around ballparks

Eno Sarris: Nice! #plug

HappyFunBall: Let’s move beyond “reads Fangraphs” … how many MLB players do you think are members, and would any even consider living in the comments threads?

Eno Sarris: Some minor leaguers maybe.

Moltar: My wife has scoured the internet, there is seemingly no record of the Reyes walk-up rap 🙁

Eno Sarris: Man I thought I saw something on Amazin Avenue one time.

2-D: Salazar has options left and his shoulder hurts.

Eno Sarris: Still weird to say “we’ve put him on the DL for this shoulder thing and to work with this guy in Double-A”

Eno Sarris: And, he has options left? That’s surprising to me.

Murse Wigwam: Are you interested in getting in on the ground floor of my Sabermetrics-themed line of Zubaz?

Eno Sarris: um

Sean: Moral Dilemma to contend with. I started to like Elysian beers visiting family out in California. Now they are owned by inbev, and I can get them in NY pretty easily Am I bad person for buying them now?

Eno Sarris: I don’t care what people say, I’ll buy Elysian in the Safeway if I don’t have time to go to a brewery or a bottle shop. I don’t even feel that bad about it, it’s a frigging beer.

Murse Wigwam: The same wife who bought the vintage door is allergic to gluten, and I’ve tried New Belgium’s Glutiny, Two Brothers’ Prairie Path, and Green’s line of Belgian GF beers. Those are good starts

Eno Sarris: Oh man I got so much to do today…

Tim in PHL: I think the guy with the big coke bottle glasses was Ron Kittle.

Eno Sarris: That’s him!

Billy Boy: What is it that you like about Franco?

Eno Sarris: Hits the ball hard, which is a great place to start. Has good bat to ball skills, even if the discipline isn’t amazing.

Fake Name #75: That’s why I constantly change my name between questions. To throw them off my scent.

Eno Sarris: okayokayokay gotta go. thanks for hanging out!