Eno Sarris Baseball Chat – 7/6/17

Eno Sarris: Saw these guys along with Andrew Bird, Weezer, Mumford… and they were clearly the best in show

Tumbler, Whiskey: #VoteHos

Eno Sarris: #LoveHos

Biden the Dog: More like Dellin Becanthitthestrikezone am I right?

Eno Sarris: It was the reason he didn’t start, right?

Asdrubal: Fister, Gossett, Lively, Butler – I dare you to rank them.

Eno Sarris: The Chuck and Ducks are my favorite! Lively’s deception, then Gossett’s breaking balls.

Matty P: do you think JA Happ would be a good fit for the Cleveland rotation that is currently all righties?

Eno Sarris: I suppose so, might end up being useful for one of their postseason series, more than getting there.

Bored: What’s up with Donaldson? Would my Lamb, Inciarte, and Salazar for his Donaldson and Nola be a fair deal?

Eno Sarris: Fair is if they accept. I would offer that deal.

CamdenWarehouse: Not to subtract from the real world issues going on, but do you think the Hernandez suit will make public more information about how MLB judges umps than we’ve seen to date?

Eno Sarris: Players *definitely* want more transparency about umps. They said umps should have leaderboards on FanGraphs to me at one point.

Joe: How important is the “high leverage” split for relievers?

Eno Sarris: You’re splitting a tiny sample. I wouldn’t look at it too hard.

Kyle : How are you feeling about Luis Castillo? Pick up in dynasty?

Eno Sarris: 100%. Currently like a top 80 guy, but upside of top 20, seriously, with that collection of pitches and velocity.

DB: What are your thoughts on Luke Weaver do you think he’ll be in the Cards rotation this year?

Eno Sarris: I asked Eric Longenhagen once if there was a Kyle Hendricks out there and he thought maybe Luke Weaver. So I think he might be better than his minor league stats suggest, once he gets expert framers and umpires.

Asdrubal: Who is your favorite buy low pitcher?

Eno Sarris: Tough question to answer but I see Chris Archer with a near-four ERA and I don’t believe that. Jeff Samardzija also in line for better luck. I don’t think anything is wrong with Jon Lester. Sonny Gray. I might buy low on Cole if it was p cheap. I actually still like Justin Verlander.

Moltar: What’s wrong with Kershaw?

Eno Sarris: Nothing that’s not wrong with the whole league.

Brad: I’m seeing Machado and donaldson in many outlets as top 15 rest of season.  That seems high to me.  What do you think of them ros?  Thanks.

Eno Sarris: I have Machado in the top 15, I think he just needs to make a tweak. Donaldson’s health concerns have me dropping him down to 20 or so.

Nihilist Eno: Is this a lude? Who cares when life is just a meaningless interlude before the inevitable end of death.

Moonlight Graham: I am a twelve year old girl. Who’s the dreamiest fangraphs writer that I should posterize for my bedroom wall?

Nelson: Want to feel old? Eric Thames’ big April was 12 years ago already.

Eno Sarris: Well done!

led: twitter people were not happy with your “empty BA” comment on Justin Turner the other day… care to expand on your argument, double-down, or rescind?

Eno Sarris: I’ll do all three. I’m wrong, generally, because it happened and the ASG is about what happened. We don’t need to worry about BABIP, really when it comes to the ASG. Expanding: There’s a lot of BABIP in his OBP. His .170 ISO is below average for his position! That’s how nuts baseball is. When I talked to him, I asked him where the homers were, and he thought it was a fair question, but thought the results were okay and he wasn’t going to change his approach. Double-down: I think wRC+ hurts Colorado players more than it should and I think Arenado is clearly the best third baseman in the NL. But… to circle back to being wrong… the numbers as they are now don’t bear it out. Turner has a comfortable lead over all third basemen in the NL over the last year, and that surprises me. So. Wrong generally.

Bay Jruce: I have Jay Bruce as my RF but Domingo Santana is sitting on my wire. Its a 10 team league. Is it worth trading Bruce for pitching and picking up Santana?

Eno Sarris: Yes.

v2micca: Freeman’s debut at 3rd generated the highest attendance yet at Suntrust field.  I guess that makes it kind of a success?

Eno Sarris: Weird, was there any other thing going on that day like fireworks or something? Because the data says that single player events like that don’t drive attendance.

50 Shades of Gray: For us Jon Gray owners who waited out his recovery from the broken foot (in 12 team mixed roto leagues), do we just plug and play from here on in, hoping he will amass Ks (like his start in Arizona) and wins (like he eked out at home last night (vs. Cinci) or should we examine the match-ups before inserting him into our weekly line-ups?  A penny for your thoughts, Eno?

Eno Sarris: I’d always play him away from home. Not sure how I’d navigate home.

Nelson: Any reason to worry about Lindors ice coldness being more than just a bad streak?

Eno Sarris: He was hitting too many fly balls, but I think there’s a little evidence he’s ironed that out. I’d buy.

Bruce: I like getting October updates on Twitter, but I dont need tweets 2x daily for 2 weeks promoting the same article.

Eno Sarris: I’m sensitive to this, but I don’t tweet October tweets twice a day. Are you referring to following both me and the main account? Dunno what I’m supposed to do about it, since I have more followers and I’m trying to do something fun over there.

Greg: What does Alex Verdugo have to do to get called up?  He’s batting .350 at age 20 in AAA.

Eno Sarris: Get himself traded? That outfield isn’t a problem for the Dodgers.

BT: On the whole Eickhoff’s 2017 seems to be attributable to increased walks, perhaps due to the pitch mix…. think he can get it together ROS or is this who he is?

Eno Sarris: He doesn’t actually have great command, maybe those low walk totals were the surprise.

Me: Should the Indians target Stroman? Cobb? Archer? Gray? Cole? None of the above and let Salazar return?

Eno Sarris: If they use Salazar and get someone with years of control left, maybe just fewer than Danny, then it might make sense to improve during their current window.

Tumbler, Whiskey: If Kanye West’s career resembled that of a baseball player’s, who would he be?

Eno Sarris: Matt Kemp? Wild oscillations between being over and under rated?

Jeries: Carlos Rodon’s offspeed stuff was terrific in his last start.  Control will always be an issue, but is a 3-pitch Rodon a legit ace?

Eno Sarris: Yeah that changeup was nasty. If people don’t swing at it, he’ll have some walk rate issues, but that’s why we all love him.

klof: Stone’s Ghost Hammer… are breweries running out of names for new beers and just combining random words now?

Eno Sarris: Didn’t want to buy it because of the name. Literally got the next thing.

Nelson: I know youve been talking about selling Kluber before its too late, but hes pretty much pitching at his best ever right now. Still think its wise to sell this offseason?

Eno Sarris: I mean, he’s basically got an average fastball by velocity, and though his sinker has good sink and run, it only gets average ground balls and well below average whiffs. What happens when he’s throwing 91 on average? 90? Don’t necessarily sell if you’re going to be competitive next year, but if not…

Eno Sarris: and I love Kluber’s breaking balls, don’t at me.

Heyo: Should Reddick be rostered in every league, regardless of format?

Eno Sarris: Yes.

Gub Gub: Why are there so many options for dealing with a drunken sailor, but only one or two for a drunken cube jockey?

TeamNameRedacted: What’s the take on Hunter Renfroe’s future? Is this who he is or is there growth down the road?

Eno Sarris: I see occasional bouts of walks that give me some hope than he can be a .250/.350/.500 guy some day.

botchatheny: when you get a crappy question…

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: Andrew Bird is way better than the Shins.

Eno Sarris: I think generally, yes, but at that show, Bird was trying to rock out to stay up with the festival, and that was more natural for the Shins.

Jack: Kershaw has made three straight starts that point to him becoming the destroyer of worlds once again, Wood had another dominating start last night, and Hill has looked like the pitcher from last year this month outside of a rough start in cleveland.  Can a rotation of Kershaw/Wood/Hill get the job done in the postseason?

Eno Sarris: Of course.

Eno Sarris: You win the Kershaw starts and then you go 50/50 on the rest.

Houzer: Is Jimmy Nelson turning into a Top 20 SP right before our eyes?

Eno Sarris: The slider and curve are finally distinctive, and since that happened, he’s had a 2.50 ERA….

Nelson: I know lineup yadda yadda yadda, but just because Wilmer Difo is replacing Trea in the field doesn mean he and his career .288 OBA should be batting in front of Harper

Eno Sarris: SECOND BASEMAN BATS SECOND

Eno Sarris: (I know it doesn’t work all the way but whatever)

Murse Wigwam: Don’t you hate it when you take a chance on a beer that only comes in six-packs, and get stuck with 5 beers you don’t like?  Why dont they have craft 3-packs yet?

Eno Sarris: Buy the four!

botchatheny: i’m drinking tecate…deal with it eno!

Eno Sarris: Lawnmower beer!

Jeries: What are your least favorite things about Chicago?

Eno Sarris: when you’re in one of those spots with no train, the bus is late, you decide to walk, and it’s mid July.

Funkhouser: Hi Eno! On 6/27 Luis Severino threw a gem, and his game log recorded his FIP for the outing as NEGATIVE .28. Respectfully: what? how?

Eno Sarris: You can even have a negative FIP for a while because of the league adjustment. But on a one-game level, it’s just a quirk of the stats.

My name is Judge…: Before the season started if i boldly stated that Avi Garcia would be an all-star and 100% deserved to be an all-star, not just a token rep from a rebuilding team, would you:
a.)  laughed at an idiot
b.)  posted it as a joke
c.)  posted it as an example of the terrible questions you get every chat

Eno Sarris: If you posted it at the right time, I would have agreed with you so let’s laugh at ourselves.

RotoLando: Is it possible to read Parker Bridwell, and not call him Parker Birdwell?   I can’t seem to do it.

Eno Sarris: Agreed.

Stoop Kid: What madness were your kids up to last week when they were going “batpoop”?

Eno Sarris: The two year old took a glass figurine and threw it on the ground and the five year old was crying about something his cousin did and my wife was yelling at me to pick a frigging child.

Eno Sarris: so… typical crap maybe.

Nelson: Remember when we all lost our collective cool when the Nationals ripped off the tigers by getting Doug Fister for Robbie Ray?

Eno Sarris: He still doesn’t have a changeup! But yeah hah, silly us.

The Wonder Dog: Hey Eno, thanks for chatting. Just wanted to get your thoughts on the Royals. Considering the exodus of their core coming this winter, and the lack of anything worth mentioning in the farm system, is it possible that a potential wild card birth could be fools gold setting the franchise back for the coming years?

Eno Sarris: I don’t think they’ll buy. Not selling could hurt them but will it set them back tons of years to not sell Kelvin Herrera?

Frank: Can you expand a bit on why you think wRC+ is not great right now? Changes by the new ball/park factors might not be evenly distributed?

Eno Sarris: I do think that yes, other than the Coors problems. Every park is a delicate balance between temperature, altitude, and dimensions. Add five feet of distance to the ball, and it won’t act the same in each place.

Greg: What’s your take on Freeman moving to 3rd? Is this a short term move to keep Adams in lineup until they trade em at deadline? Or could this be the setup for 2018?

Eno Sarris: I think it’s worth seeing if he can do it. I haven’t hated Adams as much as most.

Al B. Tross: Who are some good twitter follows for craft beer discussion?

Eno Sarris: Will Gordon, Jeremy Danner, Josh Noel, Jason Notteham…

Eno Sarris: BeeronmyShirt is fun for beer and baseball

Gest: If you were Jameson Taillon, how much money would you pay per year to borrow Felix’s changeup?

Eno Sarris: Man, give it two to five million a year, I think it could really extend Taillon’s career.

Chucky: Godley weaseling his way into a set and forget guy?

Eno Sarris: Yes, definitely top 40 or so.

Logan: Is tanaka back?

Eno Sarris: High threes ERA, top 50 or so. Sorta!

Moltar: Epistemological question for you: How real is God(ley)?

Eno Sarris: Shoulda taken this one for the setup.

Hedo: Have you ever noticed that neither Ian Happ or JA Happ ever smile?  With a few more unhappy Happs you could legitimately redefine the word happy.  What a happenstance that would be…

JD15: What is the yankees plan with Clint Frazier? Is he up for good or just a placeholder?

Eno Sarris: Make their way to getting their center fielders healthy I guess.

Jeries: Do any hitters sneak a look at the catcher’s positioning during a windup like A-Rod?

Eno Sarris: There was always the rumor that Tony Gwynn did. Seems like a risky play, though, you have to pick up that pitch quickly.

Ryan: I’ll follow-up: Who is your favorite buy low hitter?

Eno Sarris: Miguel Cabrera? Way way lower, I have some love for Alex Gordon. I think he was hurt and is getting healthy. And in dynasty, still some Maikel Franco love. He hits the ball hard, just not high enough, and I think that’s a tweak he can make some time.

Luke: If the White Sox knew in December what they know now about Lopez and Giolito, do they still make that trade? It’s looking like they gave away years of Adam Eaton for a couple decent relievers.

Eno Sarris: They had to know it was possible. I thought it was probable.

Ted: Loved the Freeman piece! And will now be trying to apply to my slow-pitch softball league.

Eno Sarris: It’s so hard to stay up the middle in softball, it might actually help a little.

Luis Castillo: every time I see this name all I can think of is “HE DROPPED THE BALL!”

Eno Sarris: I should think this, but I’m such a dork I think, “that dude never swung!”

Jeries: Did you know that Eric Thames was not Marcus Thames?

Eno Sarris: Man I make this mistake a lot.

Dave: I’ve found that in my keeper league it’s easier to get young guys who haven’t broken out yet but have major league experience (someone like Nomar Mazara) than it is to get prospects who have never played. Who are some guys you might target in that scenario? Like an Eduardo Rodriguez type?

Eno Sarris: This is true, which is why I’m trying to get Franco in a couple places. Schwarber now might be a good get. I think he can .250/30 at least. Nick Castellanos still interesting in this way. Alex Bregman, minutes after he was BREATHLESS MUST HAVE Alex Bregman.

Chaotic Neutral Eno: Ludes. Ludes. Ludes.

CamdenWarehouse: I don’t care if you’re a 12 year old girl or a 30 year old man; Carson belongs on a poster on your wall!

bombsquad rabbi: I mean, all power corrupts, but we need electricity

Gest: What is your level of confidence in Joe Ross currently? He’s been throwing his change up more in this recent good stretch.

Eno Sarris: I do like that he’s doing that. It’s still below average in every way, and he’s still injury prone, but I’m sad I sold him low in one league.

Harsh: So Judge has an xBA of .303 (launch angels, exit velo, BBs, Ks). When is it time to think of him as a true talent .280-.290 guy?

Eno Sarris: Very interesting. I see .293 on his newest spreadsheet, with a .357 BABIP. I thought that BABIP was possible, but that it wouldn’t lead to that batting average. I guess it wouldn’t be crazy if he had the best batting average relative to his strikeout rate of all time, considering he looks pretty singular.

E: How should we be looking at the steals category next year? It seems like you need one of the top guys to compete but of the top guys on only like 3 of them don’t kill you other categories. What do you think?

Eno Sarris: I’ll definitely buy some speed-only guys in the future.

Eno Sarris:

Bruce: Im a yankees fan.Give me a reason for hope.

Eno Sarris: Huh? Other than all the great young players?

David S: Best Fantasy baseball book you have read?  (My vote is FantasyLand)

Eno Sarris: Considering it’s the only one I’ve read… That one!

E: I have the opportunity to trade for Dallas Keuchel, how do you feel about him coming off the DL?

Eno Sarris: Should be fine I guess. Neck injury, flying a little blind for comps.

NYTT: Enjoyed your article about Newcomb and Montgomery. How much help do you think Flowers and ML umps have been to Newcomb’s ability to throw strikes versus just a SSS? Do you like him long term as a #3

Eno Sarris: Did you see Newcomb’s quotes? They left me cold. He’s doing better because he’s trying harder? I mean I know that it worked for Lindor, but Lindor was doing fine. Newcomb was walking every other batter, and thought, yeah, that’s just because minor leagues or whatever?

Piggy: Would you trade Mallex Smith for A Beltre ?  Don’t need his SB.

Eno Sarris: Yes.

SandyAldy-Y-soSalty: *Correction on previous post*
Alderson needs to throw the training staff out with the ice-bath water. The pitching is getting all the news, but Sandy isnt getting any credit for the really good lineup hes put together in NY. The Mets should be trotting out a lineup with all above average and several elite bats. Injuries to Duda/Walker/Conforto/Yoenis have killed them. Is this going to cost him his job?

Eno Sarris: He hasn’t fired a manager yet. This might free of us Terry finally though.

Hannah Hochevar: Was wondering if Alex Meyer was going to make your late-blooming tall pitchers list. Was looking ok, even with walks, except vs. BOS and a MIN team that walks particularly well. Thoughts?

Eno Sarris: Yeah and it’s command as a reason for his delay and has always had good stuff. I’ll cautiously move him into the top 100.

GoM’s: What’s the best course of action for the Mariners at the deadline? Feels like they aren’t going to make a WC and selling the meager farm for a small shot at making a play-in game seems like a poor decision.

Eno Sarris: Who do they have to sell that’s not nailed down? They still seem like they in a window, just need to find some pitching and their big free agents are… Steve Cishek and Danny Valencia. Ah, Jarrod Dyson and Carlos Ruiz. I doubt they’re getting much back there. I think they play it out with minor moves.

Hedo: Jon Gray career: 4.84/1.32 home, 4.53/1.39 away. So … plug and play and pray.

Eno Sarris: He’s not quite the same pitcher he was early on.

Bruce: I have literally received at least 10 October tweets about the beatles beer article. The same about the trump voters one.

Eno Sarris: New social media person. Will pass on that feedback.

bombsquad rabbi: I don’t give too much credence to the Cards rumored interest in Donaldson; I see, at the absolute most, them doing something for someone like Ozuna (but likely something much smaller). What do you think the odds are they go for something Big like that? 15% maybe, if the price is right? Division seems potentially winnable, and they’re never one to punt a season…

Eno Sarris: I’m surprised to see a 23% playoff odds. I don’t think it’s their kind of move, but maybe their signaling to teams that they are buyers with that rumor. Every sourced rumor like that has a backstory like this.

Santino: Dynasty roster crunch.  How would you rank these arms: F. Martes, L. Castillo, B. Snell.

Eno Sarris: The Walk the Lineup crew! That order, though the first two are a little closer than the third.

Jim: What evidence is there that park factors are hurting Rockies’ hitters?

Eno Sarris: It’s that the park hurts them in ways that are not obvious. I’m not saying I’ve nailed it, but I see some smoke here: http://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/13227274/does-coors-field-m… and here: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/that-other-thing-thats-tough-about-play… and others have tried to poke that bear too

Trent: Are the Phillies making any progress in their rebuild?  Seems like their young players, and in particular their pitches, haven’t quite lived up to expectations.

Eno Sarris: Still some good ones coming, and I like Nola still. That Vince and Eickhoff both look worse now is a little sad, but I’m not sure it’s over for them in the long view.

Arachnaphobia: It makes me very uncomfortable that my phone corrects Sporer to Spider. Its also uncanny that Paul Spider has the same proportions as an arachnid

Danny Chaidez: If Paul Spider were a spider what would you feed him?

Eno Sarris: This person is peppering me with strange Sporer questions!

NYTT: Braves have been rumored to go after a TOR arm for a couple of years now it seems. Would it make more sense to get a guy like Gausman and try and fix what the Orioles broke?

Eno Sarris: Spend less, get someone who’s in the bigs now, bring a guy from a bad park to a more fair one… this is what the Pirates do.

Danny Chaidez: What is your ideal beer fest?  Few elite breweries with great depth?  A ton of breweries of varying qualities?  Outside/inside?

Eno Sarris: Take OctFest and increase the depth, and you’ve got me: great music, inside, hard to get beers at the top and then that depth. Still, I can get behind our Freshman effort.

Slapshot: Did you like Jon Gray’s Sammy Sosa style hop after his moonshot last night?  What a thing of beauty that was all around.

Eno Sarris: It was restrained for a hop, and that’s a reflection of his character, so yes, it was amazing.

Cody: Is Junior Guerra bad?

Eno Sarris: I liked him at 94.

Tim Tebow’s Thunder Thighs: After reading Jeff’s article on JV, how confident are you that he can get back to last year’s performance level?  Velocity is there, location and results aren’t, perhaps due to a lower release point.  Have you heard anything indicating he’s changed his release point on purpose?

Eno Sarris: He’s aware of his release point, I know that, so maybe he’s trying to get it back up.

Eno Sarris: TWSS

Baryolo Cologne: What is going on with Carp daddy?

Eno Sarris: A little unlucky by xwOBA. Probably should cool it on the fly balls a tiny bit.

Boberto: What’s wrong with Oh? Seems to give up a HR every time out

Eno Sarris: Strikeout rate down, ground-ball rate down. Maybe he’s just pitching too far up in the zone.

Dylan: Should I risk starting Faria tonight against Boston tonight or keep him on the bench?

Eno Sarris: This is actually one I want to wait on. Faria has bouts of wildness and I could see Boston forcing one of those on him.

PD: Matt Kemp isn’t a good comp for Kanye as Kanye can get very defensive.

Eno Sarris: HEYO

Stephen G Buckets: Beer, and all other alcohol, is trash. Defend yourself.

Eno Sarris: No.

Ben: Best breweries in Maine? Going this weekend.

Eno Sarris: Bissell Brothers and Maine Beer co.

Discretion: This has been bothering me.  What are the other parts of valor?

Eno Sarris: Seems like you want some bravery? And is discretion really >> bravery for valor?

Eno Sarris:

Alex: You starting Cueto today at DET, 1pm start?

Eno Sarris: yes.

Eno Sarris: oh too late haha

Eno Sarris: sent at 12:30 so I’m actually doing beter than average.

Sanchez, Gary: As I the second best catcher in baseball? Top 3?

Eno Sarris: Second best bat, top three or four overall, will be best bat next year or year after. A new Jorge Posada in terms of bat/glove interaction.

The Old Buccaneer: If the Pirates trade Cutch donyou think they call up Meadows or stick with Frazier as a starter?

Eno Sarris: Probably give them both some time.

Joe Schmoe: Which backup catcher(s) really should be primary ones?

Eno Sarris: Chirinos?

Pedro De Pacas: Eno…I’m in Rome n the last day of my vacation.  It’s been a trip to wake up at 7am and catch the final innings of west coast games….now answer my question…Colome….poopy…is the guy hurt?

Eno Sarris: easiest way to look for injury is velocity (not down), zone% (not down), and release point (same). So dunno what it is.

Otis P. Jivefunk: Damn kids with your Pac-man vidya-games, and your hoola hoops, and your goddamn Ingrid Bergman

Jeff Sullivan: Don’t those cave spelunkers really grind your gears?!?!? #Volcanoesforlyfe

Anon: Did you ever meet Barry Bonds?

Eno Sarris: Asked him for a quote on my choking up story. “Do you have a check for me?” That’s how I met the best player of my lifetime.

Nick S: BP has Albies all the way down to #40 in their mid-season update. Does that seem crazy to you?

Eno Sarris: Give me their shares.

Murse Wigwam: F that!  I’m sick of the tyranny of even numbers. I want a 3-pack of beer, dadgummit!  And if I’m feeling greedy, I’ll get a tallboy of King Cobra to round it out

Steve: lol what do you mean by “lawnmower beer”?

Eno Sarris: I’ll drink a Tecate while doing yard work.

CamdenWarehouse: “Not selling could hurt them but will it set them back tons of years”  – The same could be said for the Orioles, but they are most definitely not going to sell. <sigh>

Eno Sarris: Well, they’ve been hurt by years of mid-level buying, right?

Steve: Avi Garcia is *not* a deserving all star. Mostly mirage.

Eno Sarris: .292/.336/.486 expected numbers based on launch and exit velo, slimmed down body… I dunno man, he might be okay.

Eno Sarris: Speaking of slimmed down bodies, Melky Cabrera jeez.

Trout on my DL: I recently discovered two boxes of Donruss ’91 cards. I think it has to be the worst set of cards I’ve ever had. Anyone you remember that’d be worth anything from then?

Eno Sarris: Might be a Jeff Bagwell rookie card in there…

ChicagoCardinal: The Marlboro Man’s real name was Dick Hammer

Oddball Herrera: Scott Schebler is tied for 3rd in the NL for home runs, on pace for 40+, yet is owned in about 60% of ESPN leagues.  I don’t think there’s a better example that power isn’t worth what it used to be ( I have no question, I am just ruminating ).

dave in slc: in al and nl only leagues, who are your best guess as most likely guys to be traded from one league to another? i know thats tough to predict but attempt it!

Eno Sarris: Sonny Gray maybe? I guess there’s some JA Happ rumoring. PAT. NESHEK. Zack Cozart?

Steve: I work for Elysian Brewing and we just started brewing pumpkin beer yesterday. Did you just salivate, or throw up?

Eno Sarris: Throw up. Though! When it’s in a stout, I get it more. I had a sour pumpkin stout and I think I genuinely liked it. You have to run with that ‘spice packet’ flavor.

PD: Predict Harrison Bader’s future…

Eno Sarris: Dude I like this guy. I wonder if the ‘fire hydrant’ types like him and Frazier will have strikeout rates that are about the same in bigs and minors. From body type, seems like he could cover zone well, has quick bat, not real patient, but he’s also not a top-ten prospect type.

ChicagoCardinal: Wu-Tang Clan playing all of 36 chambers at RiotFest this year. My Wife is 5 months pregnant with our first. Babymoon in SD or Wu Tang?

Eno Sarris: Man most of those spots in SD are okay with kids…

DB: I know you’re still optimistic on Verlander. I recently bought him for my stretch run hoping for a turn around.  What are your reasons for optimism?  I’m in first and I need arms for this season, trying to figure out how long I can wait around for him.

Eno Sarris: Decent Ks and velo basically.

Gub Gub: Have you ever considered starting a blog to trash talk players, with the purpose of driving their fantasy value down?  “I know you like Arenado, but GubGubBaseball says he’s ‘ten pounds of overrated stuffed in a non-biodegradable plastic bag of sell now!'”

Eno Sarris: Beats having your own content sent back to you in a trade discussion.

Dr. Funk: Tell Paul with Evening Attraction that while in STL at Foam they should check out STL HopShop and EarthBound Brewery both are on Cherokee St and if he is hungry to do Vista Ramen or Bryd n Barrel.

Eno Sarris: Scribbles in a notebook.

Dave: How many more games does Michael Fulmer need to pitch before we get an article about his fancy new curveball?

Eno Sarris: I’m a big fan of this cat, maybe you’ve heard.

Jordan: do you think it is possible the changes in the seams are leading to increased blisters?

Eno Sarris: Yes. Easier to grip a higher seam.

Parker: Just got offered Judge for Robbie Ray. I’m crazy to say no, right?

Eno Sarris: Take it, even at .260 or .280 or .290 or whatever, take it.

Biscuit: Name a waiver wire reliever who could come out of nowhere to collect 15 saves in the second half

Eno Sarris: Tommy Kahnle, Brad Boxberger, Keone Kela, David Phelps

Don: Reynaldo Lopez’s last 2 starts: 12.2 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 17 K

Also Giolito is 22.  Maybe we shouldn’t give up on them?

Eno Sarris: We shouldn’t. I don’t love their fastballs, for straightness and spin reasons. These things can co-exist in my brain.

Paul Spider: Do you like Pilsners?

Eno Sarris: Pinkus Ur-Pils was the beer that got me back into craft beer.

Jordan: Is Carson evil?

Eno Sarris: Never. Dude is Genuinely Good.

PF: What’s your prospect threshold for the Jays to trade someone like Donaldson, Osuna or Stroman?

Eno Sarris: At least one top-ten bat?

bombsquad rabbi: What do you think of MLB’s player expression weekend in August (the one where they can put something other than their names on the back of their jerseys)? Not to bias your answer, but I actually think that it’s totally rad as all hell. As a side note, my dad loathes this entirely

Eno Sarris: I consider baseball entertainment, so that should answer your question.

Eno Sarris: Man what would I put back there. “It’s a Perm!” or just “Eno,” wouldn’t have the balls for “He Hate Me” that seems like Donaldson thing.

Jordan: It is not my fault that I never learned to accept responsibility

Dave Kingman: Have my finger on the button to drop M Pineda after another crap outing. Anything positive in his underlying numbers to say I shouldn’t?

Eno Sarris: Throwing the changeup more than ever and still all his balls in play are MURDERED. I can’t tell you he’s any better than a low fours guy, and now with fewer strikeouts!

Nick: I was also at Arroyo Seco. Can concur The Shins were the best.

Eno Sarris: Virtual historical high five across thousands.

Carter: Do you know who Shintaro Fujinami is?

Eno Sarris: Oh man he threw one of the nastiest pitches I’ve ever seen, a low 90s splitter that dropped like 12 inches. I just don’t know when he’ll come over and think Takahiro Norimoto will come over before him.

Sonny: Best lawnmower beer is St Arnold Lawnmower. I’ll hear no rebuttals

Lawful Neutral Eno: I abide by the ludes, but express no view on the ludes.

Mark: Kevin Gausman has had better results the last couple of starts. Orioles announcers have been talking about him moving over on the rubber to better target certain parts of the zone. Horizontal release point data (pre 6/16 vs 6/16-present) seems to bare this out. Can this type of adjustment really have a lasting impact on effectiveness, or is it more of a bandaid for flawed mechanics that will be re-exposed soon?

Eno Sarris: You can absolutely take advantage of the natural angle on your arm and pitches better in different places. As for how long it takes batters to adjust, dunno.

CT: Hey Eno. In Seattle visiting until Saturday. Taking in the M’s game tonight, but went to Elysian in Capital Hill yesterday. I have a few others on the docket, but any recommendations here? Thanks as always.

Eno Sarris: Cloudburst by Pike’s Place, good combo of tourism and beer, and then you have to go to Holy Mountain, that’s best in city.

Anthony: Eno, it feels anecdotally like there are a few examples of guys dropping arm slots and seeing improved results, but no examples of guys doing it the other way around. Am I wrong with this premise? Is there any relationship between arm slot and command, or is that completely variable per pitcher?

Eno Sarris: Hill went up from sidearm to get better. High spin / curve guys should probably go up top to take advantage of the spin.

Dave: Is Gregory Polanco going to be alright?

Eno Sarris: Not this year, for whatever reason, health or approach, he’s hitting too many ground balls and not hitting them hard enough. But decent buy low next year for .275/25/15 upside, still only 25.

Snarfle: Trade Peraza for Shark? I have Nunez coming back.

Eno Sarris: Sure.

yo knows: Are Dodgers a match for someone like Addison Reed?

Eno Sarris: Yeah the Mets should find a taker for Reed.

Leon: I was assessing the trade market last night. Is the best true rental starter out there really about to be Trevor Cahill? Scott Feldman?

Eno Sarris: There’s the tantalizing Sonny Gray, too? Blue Jays? Man if the Tigers traded Verlander…

Jerj Clooners: Pretty sure Freeman’s first game was also the 4th of July… so that would explain the attendance

Eno Sarris: right? I thought so.

ba: Any explanation for Josh Bell’s spike in K% and drop in BB% this season?  I mean…other than he’s striking out more often and walking less often?

Eno Sarris: Reaching a little more on pitches outside the zone, perhaps because he had some good power outcomes on pitches outside the zone.

Eno Sarris: DIXON MACHADO

Sonny: More than anything what stood out in your Freeman article is how he significantly alters his posture in BP vs his gamer swing. That’s crazy!!! Players are taught to hammer in the muscle memory and warned any deviation will screw with mechanics. Results have been unbelievable maybe it’s something for instructors to consider.

Eno Sarris: yeah but pitchers won’t throw certain pitches in BP — Haren talked about not throwing the splitter much between starts — and I think this is similar. Your back may have a certain amount of bullets.

Poseidon’s Beard: The Mariners cannot outrun, outhit, or compensate in any way their pitching collapse this year.  Are they mostly doomed to wait out the year and hope for a free agent signing in the offseason?  What do you do to right the ship, Eno?

Eno Sarris: And they are locked into the core, mostly, too. I’d just keep looking for pitching, yeah.

Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe: ALLAGASH?!

Eno Sarris: Maine? Third for me.

Bleh: How much of a travesty is it that a dude I work with eats the same plain turkey sandwich on wheat bread every day?

Eno Sarris: Slap it out of his hand and give him a better sando some day, and walk away.

Wade boggs’ head: Are the brewers buyers yet?

Eno Sarris: What a world we live in. We have them at 25% playoff odds, behind the Cubs’ 70% numbers, and expected to go 82 and 80. but they’ve banked 47… I’d do it this way: buy if there are years of control, like a Jose Quintana, but not a true rental.

Rockie Dangerfield: New rule proposal: home runs only count if they go out in a particular area (foul otherwise), and that area randomly changes each PA.

Eno Sarris: Like there’s a disco light that highlights the area haha.

Mark: No love for Allagash in Maine? Not all their stuff is great but man do they make some great sours!

Eno Sarris: Their sours are great!

Eno Sarris: I usually wait to rec something like that till they say they like sours.

Barry Bonds: You can Venmo me if easier.

Poseidon’s Beard: Also, Fort George 3-Way is really passionfruity and great this year.

Eno Sarris: Someone was supposed to send that to me.

Big Joe Mufferaw: Will Tim Tebow get an MLB at bat this season. How about ever?

Eno Sarris: I’m fine with him getting a chance in the minors but he should not get one in the majors. Not now, and I doubt not ever.

Eno Sarris: I mean, yes I think baseball is entertainment, but there are only 25 major league roster spots and there has to be some sense of meritocracy to this thing.

sufjan stevens: where do you find xWOBA, xBAIP, xtripleslash etc?

Eno Sarris: xStats.org

Southi: What did you mean by “give me their shares” in relation to BP and Albies?

Eno Sarris: I’m still buying Albies, despite the K% jump I think he can make above-average contact, have something like a .120-.150 ISO, and steal a ton of bases at a premium defensive position.

Hedo: Can I have your permission to just ignore Dinelson Lamet’s two bad starts? Thanks!

Eno Sarris: Can’t ignore completely because he doesn’t trust the change, but I do like his stuff.

fangraphs man: are we getting a fangraphs meetup in chicago this year? where will it be?

Eno Sarris: July 13, Local Option, 7-10, announcement up tomorrow

Moltar: I saw Wu-tang perform Chambers at Rock the Bells a number of years ago, with ODB’s son doing his verses. It was… okay. Go if you’re desperate for some nostalgia, but not worth upsetting the wife over.

ThinkBlech: Re: backup catchers who should be regulars – Austin Barnes

Eno Sarris: Not necessarily on his team, but good point.

THE PREDICTOR: Austin Jackson will end up with higher career earnings than Bryce Harper, after opening a chain of lucrative clam chowder restaurants in Phoenix and Glendale, AZ

Moonlight Graham:

Eno Sarris: Just a few nibbles.

Rivers: Weezer was better at Arroyo Seco

Eno Sarris: Oh man I thought they were pretty bad. That Hey Ya cover? yeesh.

Phils: Lively and Lieter Jr have both been pretty solid for the phillies while Eickhoff, Vinny, Eflin and company have been hurt. Are they winning spots in the starting 5 assuming a fully healthy squad?

Eno Sarris: They might be up and down types. Leiter seems like a kitchen sinker with a meh fastball, and Lively has deception but not Ks.

Parker: How do you feel about Alex Wood’s long term value? Got a few offers for him, not sure what to think going forward in a dynasty.

Eno Sarris: I think he’ll always be close to injury, as much as I like his stuff.

Yuli: We are living in a material world, and I am a material Gurriel.

Dan B.: Are you buying this contact as a new skill for Smoak? Its now 6 months in.  Everything else doesn’t seem much different.

Eno Sarris: Maybe buying the contact but having a hard time giving him all that power just on contact. Possible, maybe.

ThickTanPretzel: Kanye West = Manny Ramirez.

Carter: you got me.. who is Takahiro Norimoto?

Eno Sarris: Some of the best velo in NPB, improving splitter.

led: fangraphs meetup in Denver? maybe around the time of GABF?!?

Eno Sarris: Oh yeah we could probably do that.

Jared: Does Frankie Montas ever make it as a starter or is his best chance bullpen now?

Eno Sarris: Seems where he is. Asked Kiley about that once, and he just said those mechanics were so funky he seemed like a reliever.

Eno Sarris: Okay, gotta go measure a microwave. Thanks for hanging out!