FanGraphs 2021 NL Wild Card Chat

by
October 6, 2021
8:00
Kevin Goldstein: Hi everyone! Thanks so much for joining us for another Wild Card chat. We hope you had fun yesterday and we can’t believe you came back tonight.
8:01
Kevin Goldstein: I’m here with Nickalus Gaut, and Eric Longenhagen will be here soon as he’s stuck in traffic.
8:02
Kevin Goldstein:

Who are you rooting for?
Cardinals (34.9% | 73 votes)
 
Dodgers (29.6% | 62 votes)
 
Good Baseball (28.2% | 59 votes)
 
I’m just here to see Steven Souza play (7.1% | 15 votes)
 
Total Votes: 209
8:03
Farhandrew Zaidman: With the benefit of hindsight, Pollock seems like a good contract, yeah? Dodger fans were decidedly split on him pre-2020.
8:03
Kevin Goldstein: Hard to say no.
8:04
Nicklaus Gaut: Thanks for coming by everyone! I’m coming live to you from the epicenter of Cardinals devil magic…David Eckstein has sacrificed a rooster and I’ve sacrificed my body by eating Imo’s Pizza and White Castle all day, so the CDM is cooking. Here’s to a great game!

8:04
Belowreplacementaccountname: Happy Juan Yepez Day!
8:04
Nicklaus Gaut: And to you!
8:05
Mr. 954: Oh wow, big fan. Just wandering in here. I’m virtually watching bears play in the Katami Brooks while “structures from silence” plays over it. What’s your favorite music to put on over a ball game while the announcers are muted for their very speakable crimes?
8:05
Kevin Goldstein: I’ve always found Kraftwerk to be excellent music for watching a game to.
8:06
Yo-Yo: What do you know about the young guys that STL has traveling with the team? I’m namely curious about Yepez, who was added to the roster, and Donovan, who had an amazing season but doesn’t have a writeup anywhere on the site. Thanks!
8:07
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m sure Eric will be able to speak more on him later but Yepez was one of the brightest spots in the Cardinals system this season. 29 HR in 227 PA, mostly Triple-A. Big power and improved his contact rate.
8:07
Dave: So the Cards calling up Juan Yepez for this game, the player they got in return for Matt Adams, is a direct attempt at whipping up some Cardinal devil magic, right?
8:07
Nicklaus Gaut: This is 100% an attempt at whipping up some CDM.
8:08
MM`: Is it a mistake starting Bellinger in CF tonight?
8:08
Kevin Goldstein: I think it’s tough to figure that out or even measure it over just one damn game. Anything could happen.
8:08
Kevin Goldstein: I get it. I don’t love it, but I get it.
8:08
Derek: Are we in for a closer game than last night’s?
8:08
Nicklaus Gaut: If we do, it’ll be because Wainwright pitched a gem.
8:09
Kevin Goldstein:

Will this game be closer than last night?
Yes (58.0% | 87 votes)
 
No (10.6% | 16 votes)
 
The concept is ‘close’ is real just a abstract creation by humanity relative to their perceived experience (31.3% | 47 votes)
 
Total Votes: 150
8:09
Nicklaus Gaut: I have a hard time believing the Cardinals can win a high-scoring game unless Scherzer goes full gas can like he did in his last two games.
8:09
How Bobby Grich Stole Christmas: If Scherzer is off, will the Dodgers pull him quicker than the Yankees with Cole?
8:10
Kevin Goldstein: I don’t know man, two innings felt pretty quick.
8:10
Nicklaus Gaut: Really quick
8:10
Nicklaus Gaut: I don’t see it happening with Scherzer.
8:10
Wallace: No Twitch tonight? or is the likely lag just irritating
8:10
Kevin Goldstein: We still might do a live watch on Twitch at some point.
8:10
L. Rod Hendricks: Love Scherzer, but over/under on dingers allowed: 3?
8:10
Nicklaus Gaut: I’ll take the under.
8:10
Benjy M: Chances that this will be known in baseball history as the “Nootbaar Game”?
8:11
Nicklaus Gaut: If the Cardinals somehow win the World Series, Lars Nootbaar will absolutely be the MVP.
8:11
Kevin Goldstein:

How Many Innings Will Wainright and Scherzer combine for
Less than 10 (14.9% | 23 votes)
 
10-12 (60.3% | 93 votes)
 
12-14 (20.1% | 31 votes)
 
14-18 (0.6% | 1 vote)
 
18+ (0.6% | 1 vote)
 
More than 1000 (3.2% | 5 votes)
 
Total Votes: 154
8:12
Wallace: glad Ron Darling is doing the tbs feed
8:12
Kevin Goldstein: He’s just wonderful. The Mets crew is the best part of that franchise.
8:12
raanan: i have midterms this week its like professors dont realize its wildcard week
8:12
Nicklaus Gaut: More than 1000. Easy.
8:12
Kevin Goldstein: Drop out.
8:12
Nicklaus Gaut: I bet either one could throw a ball over that mountain.
8:13
Jay: If the Dodgers lose tonight, do you believe MLB will feel any pressure to change the Wild Card rules? Not that they should, but given the Dodgers are a big market/money franchise, I wonder if MLB would take a look at it.
8:13
Kevin Goldstein: No.
8:13
The 6ix: Muncy timeline? Dislocated elbow sounds bad.
8:14
Kevin Goldstein: These are the rules. I do think MLB wants expanded playoffs for $$$ purposes, but that’s TBD with the next CBA.
8:14
Nicklaus Gaut: Dave Roberts said there is a glimmer of hope he could play by the end.
8:15
Doug G.: Oh no, Nicklaus, you poor soul. Or, more accurate, your poor digestive system. Good luck, buddy.
8:15
Deathstar Graterol: Chances that the game will be delayed because the feds storm in to arrest that fugitive spotted behind the plate?
8:15
Kevin Goldstein: Mary Hart is a fugitive?
8:15
Nicklaus Gaut: It won’t be great. I’ll just be yelling “Pro-velll!!!” like Kirk screaming Khan.
8:16
Nicklaus Gaut: Great jump. No chance.
8:16
J: Starting Beaty at 1B and leaving Taylor on the bench (not going Taylor in CF/Bellinger at 1B) seems a bit odd, doesn’t it?
8:16
Kevin Goldstein: Beaty had a great second half, but I thought Taylor would play . . . somewhere.
8:16
J: Scherzer’s next start is for the _____
8:16
Nicklaus Gaut: I was very surprised at no Taylor.
8:16
Kevin Goldstein: I think the Dodgers are the favorite.
8:17
Nicklaus Gaut: ‘
8:17
Kevin Goldstein: Well this has gotten very interesting very quickly….
8:17
Derek: I know this is somewhat controversial, but I LOVE the current playoff format. It heavily incentivizes winning the division, which is good, and also guarantees a couple high stakes, high pressure games right out of the gate in the postseason. And like, who really gives a shit about the Dodgers-Giants race if not for the one-game wildcard game?? It’s great
8:17
Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, it really doesn’t bug me.
8:17
Nicklaus Gaut: Given what is available in free agency and the state of the 2022 staff, I think the Dodgers have to be the favorite.
8:18
Peter: does anyone have bigger guns than O’Neill
8:18
Kevin Goldstein: His dad (I’m serious, his dad is RIPPED).
8:18
Nicklaus Gaut: 100!
8:18
Nicklaus Gaut: Dad was a former bodybuilder. Looks ridiculous.
8:19
5 Run Homer: Canadian bobybuilding champ!
8:19
Kevin Goldstein: Meaningless aside, but Jonathan India’s father also has bigger guns. Sat next to him at a college game in Gainesville.
8:19
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m unfamiliar with the current exchange rate.
8:19
Well-Beered Englishman: OK so what’s the win probability tradeoff of Betts making that foul ball catch and letting a runner advance?
8:19
Kevin Goldstein: TAKE THE OUT.
8:19
Kevin Goldstein: If both runners tagged and made it 2nd and 3rd, the math would be better.
8:19
Kevin Goldstein: Wow. This is NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
8:21
bosoxforlife: How worried should the Dodgers be that Scherzer seems to have lost his best form? 2 straight starts well below his norm and a key moment right away!
8:21
Kevin Goldstein: So many players are gassed right now. Hard to know exactly what’s going on.
8:21
Nicklaus Gaut: I wasn’t worried until I saw Scherzer’s control this inning.
8:22
5 Run Homer: Cardinal Devil Magic has arrived
8:22
Nicklaus Gaut: Always lurking.
8:22
Nicklaus Gaut: wow
8:22
Kevin Goldstein: Oh, Kyle. Somebody asked me why I thought Correa was going to get more than Seager and that’s why. Seager is a 40-45 defensive SS.
8:23
Kevin Goldstein: Good news for LA: That could have been WAY worse and it was only 18 pitches.
8:23
Lzfreak: Corey?
8:23
Kevin Goldstein: I’ll make 183 more errors like that before the night is through.
8:23
Cam: Max not looking too sharp early on. Will be happy to get out with just a run on the board, I think
8:24
Nicklaus Gaut: That could have been worse.
8:24
Nicklaus Gaut: Only one run and now Max has some new hate to fuel his performance going forward.
8:24
asinwreck: Did the early mention of Imo’s galvanize this first-inning rally?
8:24
Nicklaus Gaut: 100%
8:26
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m saving it for if some devil magic is really needed…but there is Ted Drewes in the freezer.
8:26
Lzfreak: What in the world happened to Cody Bellinger?
8:26
Kevin Goldstein: I’m not convinced he’s not healthy, but he simply can’t catch up to good velocity right now. Maybe playing him vs. Wainwright isn’t such a bad idea all of a sudden…
8:27
Bob: this is Carp v. Halladay all over again.  Cards will win 1-0, both starters go 8
8:27
Kevin Goldstein: Nearly 100 ev on the Mookie GB.
8:27
Nicklaus Gaut: I’d take it! One of my all-time favorite games between two of my all-time favorite pitchers.
8:28
Alf: Counterpoint re playoff format: The playoffs may not in fact crown the best team, but fans want to believe it does, and more importantly, MLB wants fans to believe it does. If you have favorites getting bounced out after one game, it starts to look like a dice roll.
8:28
Kevin Goldstein: It is a dice roll . . . you’d need 30 game series to keep it from being so.
8:28
Marlin Child: Who goes longer, Scherzer or Waino
8:28
Nicklaus Gaut: Even with the first inning stumbles, I’d still take Max.
8:29
Kevin Goldstein:

Who goes longer
Scherzer (29.8% | 40 votes)
 
Wainwright (50.0% | 67 votes)
 
The Eveready Bunny (20.1% | 27 votes)
 
Total Votes: 134
8:29
Tyler: General thoughts on how Mozeliak has run the Cards the last 5 years? They’ve stayed competitive but not truly threatening in recent years
8:29
Nicklaus Gaut: I feel like this is one of my friends trying to poke the bear.
8:29
The 6ix: Kevin, error two with the double negative.
8:29
Kevin Goldstein: It’s a feature, not a bug.
8:30
The 6ix: Error three, it’s the Energizer bunny.
8:30
Kevin Goldstein: See?
8:30
5 Run Homer: Is someone wearing the moon helmet from Outer Worlds behind the plate
8:30
Kevin Goldstein: Nice pull! Did you like that game? I finished it, but only sorta kinda liked it……
8:31
Nicklaus Gaut: I do not love how the Cardinals have been from an organizational standpoint under Mozeliak.
8:31
Kevin Goldstein: Why not?
8:31
Kevin Goldstein: Hard to say a team that’s been in the playoffs 8 of the last 11 years isn’t doing a good job.
8:32
Nicklaus Gaut: It is hard to say.
8:32
Nicklaus Gaut: But I feel that has been a big product of playing in a substandard division
8:33
asinwreck: I’m still amazed the Nationals didn’t sign Trea Turner to a megadeal. Does this bode ill for them keeping Soto?
8:33
Kevin Goldstein: Two different players. Hard to say really. It’s quite possible that Turner already told them that he has every intention of getting to FA. Some players are like that (and that’s fine!)
8:33
Nicklaus Gaut: And that we are consistently built to be an excellent contender in the NL central. But consistently lack the firepower to compete with the best in the NL.
8:33
Kevin Goldstein: 40 year old reflexes!
8:34
Kevin Goldstein: 100.5 mph off the bat.
8:34
Appa Yip Yip: My big takeaway from Outer Worlds was that it was Fallout in space. The Outer game you want is Outer Wilds which is also in space but way better.
8:34
Kevin Goldstein: I liked that too, but eventually lost patience with it.
8:34
Nicklaus Gaut: Also, I’m mostly just bitter dreaming about an alternative history where Luhnow gets the reins.
8:35
Nicklaus Gaut: What a laser. What a snag.
8:35
Deathstar Graterol: Cardinals should do whatever the Giants did to make a juggernaut out of old dudes and spare parts
8:35
Minimus: Do you ever know when your analytics have had an immediate impact on an in-game decision? Does Cashman have FanGraphs open on his iPad?
8:35
Kevin Goldstein: Teams (most teams) have internal websites that have game tracking tools.
8:35
Eric A Longenhagen: howdy howdy
8:35
Nicklaus Gaut: Turning Matt Carpenter into Brandon Crawford would be nice.
8:35
itsme: who the hell is Juan Yepez
8:35
Eric A Longenhagen: (leaves immediately)
8:36
Pinstripe Perry: The WC game is much more fun when your team isn’t playing! (But you all made it fun last night regardless so thanks for these awesome & engaging chats)
8:36
Kevin Goldstein: Thanks for coming back!
8:36
Kevin Goldstein: ERIC IS HERE.
8:36
Eric A Longenhagen: sorry I’m late, was driving back from instructs in the west valley
8:37
Cam: I still have no idea how the Giants did what they did. It doesn’t make sense. They should be good, but they kept winning. I just don’t get it.
8:37
Kevin Goldstein: Best player usage in the game is a big part of it.
8:37
SammySosasCork: Where is Ben Clemons? I refuse to put this Imos pizza in the oven until he gets in here
8:37
Kevin Goldstein: Ben is on game story duty.
8:38
Nicklaus Gaut: Lineout to Wainwright was 100.5. Old man reflexes, forever.
8:38
Derek: WAINO
8:38
Aadik: Kevin, would love for you to unpack that “best player usage” comment at some point in the off-season – seems like theres’ a deeper story there!
8:38
Kevin Goldstein: I’ve been trying. There are some big big secrets going on over there.
8:39
Nicklaus Gaut: I second this unpacking.
8:39
Yo-Yo: Bunch of weak contact off of Scherzer, bunch of hard off of Waino. Could be a harbinger
8:39
Kevin Goldstein: Good eye.
8:40
Floyd: How is a medium-ish market team like St. Louis able to afford two mega contracts? Seems like other teams in similar markets (Minnesota, Cleveland) aren’t able to do it. Or do those other teams choose not to?
8:40
Kevin Goldstein: THERE ARE NO SMALL OR MEDIUM MARKETS. All baseball markets are big markets.
8:40
Baseball Fan: Hey,  completely unrelated to the game tonight… but when might FG prospect lists be updated to reflect 2021 stock?
8:40
Nicklaus Gaut: Speak the truth!
8:40
Eric A Longenhagen: throughout the offseason
8:40
SammySosasCork: I sent an email to chin music along the same lines as Aadik’s question. Do you mean you’re trying to figure it out yourself?
8:40
Kevin Goldstein: Listen to Friday’s episode. Your email was selected!
8:40
Deathstar Graterol: Even Tampa Bay?
8:41
Kevin Goldstein: Even Tampa Bay.
8:42
Nicklaus Gaut: Here comes that Wainwright home run everyone was hoping for.
8:43
Kevin Goldstein: What a weird two days. Cole with shitty command, same for Max so far.
8:44
Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: The best thing about the Rays being in the postseason is that the Trop has the dead-on camera. So hard to appreciate Scherzer from off to the side.
8:44
Nicklaus Gaut: It’s a crime against baseball that every stadium doesn’t have a dead-on camera.
8:44
Shodai: Speaking of Tampa Bay, who owns the rights to the Expos name? Could the Nationals keep a team from reusing it?
8:44
Kevin Goldstein: That’s a great question and a great username. I THINK they do.
8:45
Guest: Do teams still book their own travel during the playoffs, or does MLB reserve the hotel rooms and stuff for the winning team?
8:45
Kevin Goldstein: Teams book their own. It’s incredible. I’ve travelled with a team about five times in my career and it’s surreal.
8:46
Nate: When considering pitch counts, does the quality or type of pitches factor in? Or is it pretty much a set number?
8:46
Kevin Goldstein: Quality and type tend not to matter, but stress pitches do VERY much. 100 over eight innings is VERY DIFFERENT than 100 over five.
8:47
Pablito: Anyone else very happy that TBS doesn’t have a K-zone in their broadcast? Besides being a distraction I think it angers fans and distorts the perception of what the strike zone is
8:47
JD: I like that tbs doesn’t have that stupid one demensional box
8:47
J: Maybe just me but I am enjoying not having the K zone. Makes it easier to yell at my TV and feel at least momentarily justified.
8:47
Eric A Longenhagen: ^I’m indifferent but I hear ya, besides I like to call them from the couch
8:48
5 Run Homer: Wainwright is really aging into that scowl
8:48
Nicklaus Gaut: 80-grade scowl. Passed down to him by Chris Carpenter by way of Roy Halladay.
8:49
WhoIsZorbist: The vaccination mandate in MiLB ball going to have any affect? Obviously, some guys with 12 ERAs will retire, but American baseball players often come from middle-upper class white families…the exact demographic that recently has decided to oppose vaccination. If you have 2 kids rated the same, and one is from California, and the other from Florida…you take the one more likely to not have beliefs that might preclude them, right?
8:49
Kevin Goldstein: First off California has a big anti-vaxx movement. Second, I think the effect will mostly be more people getting vaccinated, so in the end it’s very much a net positive. Hoping they do it with the big leaguers….
8:50
Kevin Goldstein:

Max Scherzer will pitch . . .
Less than five innings (30.0% | 46 votes)
 
Exactly five innings (47.0% | 72 votes)
 
More than five innings. (22.8% | 35 votes)
 
Total Votes: 153
8:50
Guest: Over/under on game altering blown calls by country Joe tonight: 1.5
8:50
Nicklaus Gaut: Over/Under for West trying to make a game-altering call: 4.5
8:51
5 Run Homer: Why mandate it in the minors and not the majors? Is it a player’s association thing?
8:51
Kevin Goldstein: Yup.
8:51
Kyle Kishimoto: in the low minors are bad HP umps bad enough to distort minor league stats and make FOs make some adjustment for them?
8:51
Kevin Goldstein: 100%. I wrote about this on Monday re: Clayton Kershaw in the minors.
8:51
Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, I think the hawkeye/trackman stuff is helpful in this regard tho
8:52
Eric A Longenhagen: like umpires are training during instructs and they’re sometimes getting live feedback about their calls from the unit now
8:52
Eric A Longenhagen: they don’t enjoy it
8:53
KM: keep or trade Gallo if you’re Cashman?
8:53
Kevin Goldstein: Who wouldn’t want to keep a 3-4 win player at pre-FA prices?
8:53
Eric A Longenhagen: they’d be selling low, too
8:53
Eric A Longenhagen: the optics of it would be bad
8:53
WhoIsZorbist: Wait, so the Sawx had to book 75 or so rooms in St Pete on 1 days notice? Likelyhood somebody screws up and Chris Sale rolls up to a Grand Hilton Total Landscaping?
8:53
Kevin Goldstein: You have them on hold.
8:54
Correan WAR: Anyone else very annoyed by the lack of velocity readings on the broadcast?
8:54
Eric A Longenhagen: i gotchu Cardinals vs. Dodgers – 10/6/2021 – Savant Gamefeed (mlb.com)
8:54
Dr. Fauci: The milb vax mandate can still result in a class action discrimination lawsuit no?
8:54
Kevin Goldstein: No. Vaccination mandates have legal precident.
8:55
Kevin Goldstein: Um . . . WOW Tommy Edman.
8:55
Nicklaus Gaut: what a play
8:55
Quarantino Martinez: Seeing Kershaw ads between innings makes me sad. Or is it proof that his spirit is present?
8:55
Nicklaus Gaut: I will be eternally mystified about which ad wizards convinced Kershaw that it was a good idea to do a commercial where the premise revolves around someone hitting one of his pitches so hard that he needs a variety of vehicles to track it down.
8:56
Pablito: We were spoiled by ESPN 2 displaying pitch sequences and ev’s .. should be standard but alas
8:56
Nicklaus Gaut: I love the Statcast broadcasts. Hopefully, they increase in 2022.
8:57
K: Just started getting back into baseball across the league – is Sosa like a classic speedy, great glove @ SS kinda guy
8:57
Kevin Goldstein: He’s found some sneaky pop over the last couple of years.
8:57
YankeeFan: I haven’t watched a Cardinals game since I went to a spring training game 2007 (my grandmother lived near their spring training facility) – I remember the stars I was looking to see back then were Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright, and Yadier Molina
8:57
Nicklaus Gaut: Evergreen, baby!
8:57
Mac: Do you think Abreu will be healthy enough to give it a go tomorrow?
8:57
Kevin Goldstein: Either way, Chicago teams have a very good record when superstars have the flu…..
8:57
Mac: Was it a mistake to not start DeJong?
8:57
Nicklaus Gaut: Did he remember how to hit?
8:58
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Does it frustrate anyone else that the Kershaw commercial says he’s throwing a CB but the pitch spins like a FB. I’ll never buy their tires.
8:58
Eric A Longenhagen: yep!
8:58
Quarantino Martinez: When do the Dodgers use Pujols? Is it if they need him for the win or if they’re losing by enough that they want him to face STL?
8:58
Kevin Goldstein: He’ll get a lefty.
8:58
John Bowker Burner Account: Happy for this Pollock/Goldy reunion
8:58
Eric A Longenhagen: that plus Robbie Ray’s season, not a great look for the Dbacks
8:58
Nicklaus Gaut: Pujols will still crush LHP ten years after he retires.
8:59
Cam: Beaty going deep here
8:59
Kevin Goldstein: Deep F9
8:59
Kiermaier’s Piercing Green Eyes: Surely MiLB already requires other fully approved vaccines.
8:59
Kevin Goldstein: Exactly.
8:59
Guest: Where did Edmuno Sosa come from, and where do the Cards keep finding these obscure but bizarrely good shortstops (like DeJong and Diaz before Sosa)?
8:59
Eric A Longenhagen: he’s been around, and pretty good, for a while. contact and glove have long been there
8:59
Dan Dan Dan: Lotta empty seats. LA traffic remains undefeated
8:59
Nicklaus Gaut: And their apathy.
9:00
Kevin Goldstein: Nah, they’ll fill that place up.
9:00
5 Run Homer: Which player who has been retired for at least a year would be the best major leaguer today?
9:00
Nicklaus Gaut: The answer is Ichiro for at least 20 more years.
9:00
Kevin Goldstein: We talked about best stadiums at night yesterday and Dodger Stadium is right there with anywhere.
9:01
Cam: So close. I was nearly Nostradamus, instead I’m a fool
9:01
Nicklaus Gaut: More like Closetradamus.
9:01
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: What’s most important when building a championship team? Amateur draft, international signings, or pro trades/rule 5 picks?
9:01
Kevin Goldstein: D. All of the above.
9:01
J: Playoff games at Dodger Stadium are always some of the least rowdy
9:01
Nicklaus Gaut: They don’t really start beating up opposing fans until the 7th.
9:02
Guest: Eric, are AFL tickets still absurdly expensive?
9:02
Eric A Longenhagen: $9 for adults, think that’s $2 or $3 more than before
9:02
Cut slurve: How’s Puig doing these days?
9:02
Kevin Goldstein: Hit .312/.409/.517 in Mexico this year….
9:02
Nicklaus Gaut: Location just seems off. hasn’t got much better since the first.
9:03
KM: What’s the most overrated aspect of the big league manager position
9:03
Kevin Goldstein: In-game strategy.
9:03
Kyle Kishimoto: i looked on the AFL website the other day, i think they had a season pass for $100
9:03
Eric A Longenhagen: that’s a good deal if you’re hitting three games per week or more
9:03
Nicklaus Gaut: Most underrated: still wearing full uniforms
9:04
Dan: Did anyone else think that Juan Soto and Kevin Long were wearing their own jerseys in the stands…
9:04
Nicklaus Gaut: Soto is good enough that I’d allow him to do it.
9:04
Guest: Will Molina and Wainwright set the record for most starts by a batter?  (They’re at 304, and would need 325 to break the record.)
9:04
Kevin Goldstein: Should happen next year, no?
9:04
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Scherzer doesn’t have the command tonight. Think we’ll see Urias in relief?
9:04
Nicklaus Gaut: I think Gonsolin would be first.
9:05
Kevin Goldstein: Slider on the K there among Max’s best of the night.
9:05
Guest: I once saw an NBA all star at a putt putt with his family, wearing his own all star jersey
9:05
Nicklaus Gaut: woof. nasty.
9:05
Eric A Longenhagen: oh my god please tell me who it was
9:05
Eric A Longenhagen: I’ll guess donyell marshall
9:05
Guest: No mention of Boras sitting next to Soto
9:05
Kevin Goldstein: Yup, that was Scott.
9:06
Kevin Goldstein: Fun fact: I have four different phone numbers for Scott. I have no idea why he has four phones.
9:06
Eric A Longenhagen: One of the guys who works for Boras, Salvador Sanchez, is a former minor league pitcher who now finds him players to represent. He lives in AZ, nice guy.
9:06
Eric A Longenhagen: one phone just for nudes
9:07
Kevin Goldstein: Hah.
9:07
Guest: I guess it doesn’t hurt, it was Jermaine O’Neal. Really nice guy
9:07
Eric A Longenhagen: Awesome, folks should check out the Malice in the Palace doc
9:07
Kevin Goldstein: He was great in that Malice At The Palace doc on Netflix.
9:07
Eric A Longenhagen: poor Jermaine
9:07
Kevin Goldstein: jinx.
9:07
Nicklaus Gaut: good watch.
9:08
Two Dads Playing Catch: Has O’Neill’s approach changed to compliment his hit/power tools in a meaningful way or has he had a significant boost to his overall hit tool?
9:08
Kevin Goldstein: It’s mostly approach, which improved significantly in the second half this year.
9:10
Tyler “SLAB” O’Neill: Any chance Carlson grows into some more power? I think he’s a solid regular without it and a star with it
9:10
Wallace: what are y’all drinking tonight?
9:10
Eric A Longenhagen: great question. despite his age, he’s never been very physically projectable
9:10
Nicklaus Gaut: It was expresso but I’m about to make a move.
9:10
5 Run Homer: Who is the best position player in this postseason? Mookie? Trea?
9:11
Eric A Longenhagen: Correa?
9:10
Kevin Goldstein: No Steven Souza?
9:10
Desmond: Do most of you expect kris Bryant fo stay with giants ?
9:10
Kevin Goldstein: I would call them the favorite. Not an overwhelming one, but a favorite.
9:11
Kyle Kishimoto: when scouts from teams watch games at full season milb stadiums do they/their employer have to buy tickets to get in
9:11
Eric A Longenhagen: Yes, most milb teams have a few rows set aside for scouts
9:11
Eric A Longenhagen: but the tickets are bought
9:12
Kevin Goldstein: Scout tickets are complimentary. They are also complimentary in MLB parks during the regular season. They have to buy them for the playoffs, but not like normies, they get access to purchase scout seats for playoffs games up to 48 hours before the game, then they are release to the public.
9:13
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Would Trea Turner get the biggest deal of all the SS if he was in this year’s FA class?
9:13
Nicklaus Gaut: I think so. Seager, Correa, and Story will make bank but I think Turner would trump them.
9:14
Jack: Whew, just home on best coast & caught up to chat. Thx for doing these!
9:14
Nicklaus Gaut: Thanks for coming by!
9:14
Kevin Goldstein: Let’s say it. Good AB by Bellinger.
9:14
Nate: Why don’t more hitters swing 3-0?
9:14
Kevin Goldstein: THEY SHOULD.
9:15
Nicklaus Gaut: Seconded!
9:16
Kevin Goldstein: Scherzer hit .243 three years ago!
9:16
Eric A Longenhagen: I’m exporting and then uploading Ricky Vanasco video from instructs today.
9:17
Tyler “SLAB” O’Neill: Is a Sosa/Dejong pairing enough to keep the Cardinals out of the SS market this offseason?
9:17
Nicklaus Gaut: Probably. Especially with DeJong already locked up.
9:18
Farhandrew Zaidman: Let’s take a moment to reflect the fact that this is likely the last post-season where pitchers will hit.
9:18
Kevin Goldstein: Bah, I’m fine if that’s the case.
9:18
Mac: How much will Story’s throwing issues affect his free agency?
9:18
Nicklaus Gaut: Not much, imo
9:19
Jeremy: The Phillies should be shopping at the top of the SS market this offseason, right? Will they?
9:19
Kevin Goldstein: They’re paying Didi $15.25m next year…..
9:19
Nicklaus Gaut: Bad timing by Sosa but that 75 mph “laser” had an .830 xBA.
9:21
Guest: Bellinger can’t possibly be perma broken, right?
9:21
Nicklaus Gaut: It’s hard to say that about a 26-year-old with elite skills…but boy, what a lost season
9:21
Kevin Goldstein: Impossible to say. Nobody here really knows his health status.
9:22
Eric A Longenhagen: cross up on that 2-2?
9:22
Eric A Longenhagen: definitely
9:22
Kevin Goldstein: Looked like it.
9:22
Nicklaus Gaut: will he go to the bread and butter?
9:23
Kevin Goldstein:

Will the 3-2 pitch be a curveball?
Yes (75.2% | 64 votes)
 
No (24.7% | 21 votes)
 
Total Votes: 85
9:23
Kevin Goldstein: Oh boy.
9:23
Nicklaus Gaut: Here we go
9:24
Kevin Goldstein:

The Dodgers will have how many runs after this Turner AB?
0 (31.4% | 38 votes)
 
1 (16.5% | 20 votes)
 
2 (26.4% | 32 votes)
 
3 (2.4% | 3 votes)
 
4 (4.9% | 6 votes)
 
Somehow, 5 (18.1% | 22 votes)
 
Total Votes: 121
9:25
Nicklaus Gaut: last four curves have been off.
9:25
Kevin Goldstein: 2021 Postseason is the Aces With Bad Command post-season. It’s not catchy, but it’s true.
9:26
Peter: can anyone think of past examples of active players showing up to support a former teammate like Soto here?
9:27
Nicklaus Gaut: curve not working. not great.
9:27
Geebs: Luckily I don’t consider wild card games playoffs, just a brief extension of the regular season
9:27
Kevin Goldstein: Quick note: MLB might agree with you. Both the press and the teams use regular season credentials for WC games….
9:27
Kevin Goldstein: I was sure Turner would beat that out.
9:27
Nicklaus Gaut: wow
9:27
Eric A Longenhagen: KG, did you get Turner down the line there?
9:27
Nicklaus Gaut: thought he’d beat it for sure
9:27
Kevin Goldstein: I was typing, but it felt slow.
9:28
Kevin Goldstein: 23.1% voted 0 runs after the Turner at-bat. Please collect your prizes at the door on your way out.
9:30
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Will there be live chat for tomorrow’s games?
9:30
Roach: Boy, Waino’s going to be in a rough one if he can’t figure out his curve soon because the Dodgers are definitely going to be sitting cutter/sinker.
9:30
Eric A Longenhagen: Yes, David Laurila the only confirmed chatter
9:30
Nicklaus Gaut: Regardless of how the last inning ended, you’re right. The curve is off.
9:31
Kevin Goldstein: I’m on game story duty tomorrow: BOS/TB
9:33
Normie: Is it time for the parade of 10,000 relievers yet?
9:33
Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, I wanna see Genesis, is it time yet?
9:33
Quarantino Martinez: Are you all used to a bullet up the middle being a routine groundout?
9:33
Kevin Goldstein: Been there for years.
9:33
Nate: If Scherzer gets knocked out here, they go Gonsolin/Urias possibly. How much does that affect the NLDS should they advance? Or do they not care?
9:33
Kevin Goldstein: Gotta win this one. Can’t think about the next series. Cross that bridge when you get to it.
9:35
Pablito: I think managers wearing their teams uniform is neat tbh
9:35
Nicklaus Gaut: I love it.
9:35
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Then why isn’t Buehler on the WC roster?
9:35
Kevin Goldstein: He started a game three days ago.
9:35
Kevin Goldstein: Eric: Is Will Smith a fringy receiver?
9:35
Brad: JJ Cooper had Turner down the line at 3.96
9:35
Kevin Goldstein: There you go.
9:36
Lunar verLander: better than the NBA; why do they have to wear suits?!?
9:36
Nicklaus Gaut: I move that all sports move to the baseball rule.
9:36
bb: True or false: Firing Boone after a 92-win season would be absurd, unless there’s something we don’t know about (clubhouse issues, etc.).
9:36
Nicklaus Gaut: Bader battle
9:36
Eric A Longenhagen: True. I generally think continuity/stability is underrated with regard to field personnel.
9:37
Millionaire Stickball: What’s a fast time to first?
9:37
Kevin Goldstein: 50 speed (and most players are NOT even 50s) is 4.3 from the right side, 4.2 from the left.
9:37
Nicklaus Gaut: so much for improved control
9:38
Kevin Goldstein: Waino swinging for San Fernando.
9:38
Millionaire Stickball: Football coaches have to wear the helmets then
9:38
The 6ix: Hockey disagrees with you.
9:38
Nicklaus Gaut: Both sports would be made remarkably better by putting coaches in full uniform.
9:39
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Bellichik in a full uni with pads and helmet would be a scene
9:39
Kevin Goldstein: Connie Mack wore a suit.
9:39
Nicklaus Gaut: He came to mind first.
9:39
Bunk: Thoughts on Padres firing Tingler?
9:39
Kevin Goldstein: Kinda inevitable.
9:39
Nicklaus Gaut: Well, him and Stan Van Gundy in short shorts.
9:40
Eric A Longenhagen:

9:40
Millionaire Stickball: What is Pujols’s current time I wonder
9:40
Kevin Goldstein: 5-5.1
9:40
barrust: Eric, when Genisis was traded from Tampa to STL I thought he was a SP; what changed / why did he get moved to the BP?
9:40
Eric A Longenhagen: control, and it look slike other procedural stuff
9:40
Peter: nick saban in full pads would be fantastic
9:41
Tyler “SLAB” O’Neill: Andy Reid in a helmet with the single bar across it…think about it people
9:41
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m telling you, people. This is what we all deserve.
9:41
Eric A Longenhagen: just better for him to come in and let it rip
9:41
Mr.954: kevin, you love music, yes? When was the last time you tried to make it?
9:41
Kevin Goldstein: I play guitar, poorly.
9:42
Phil: Football coaches should definitely have to wear a uniform and helmet appropriate to when they would have played based on their age.
9:42
Nicklaus Gaut: Over 60 =’s leather helmet
9:43
Kevin Goldstein: This one is feeling more and more like it’s going to come down to the pens.
9:43
RIch: I’m not sure I want to see a hockey coach sporting hockey pants. Nevermind the unnecessary shoulder pads and shin gards, unless we want to seem in poor fitting socks and jersey.
9:43
Nicklaus Gaut: yeah, but have you even considered Barry Trotz on ice skates?
9:44
Kevin Goldstein: Cardinals currently at right around 60% win probability.
9:45
Eric A Longenhagen: Bap!
9:45
Kevin Goldstein: Cardinals currently at a much lower win probability.
9:45
Nicklaus Gaut: Gone-zo
9:45
Nicklaus Gaut: 401 ft, 105.6 mph
9:45
Kevin Goldstein: Justin Turner is such an amazing story. Wasn’t even really good until he was 29.
9:46
Quarantino Martinez: Will Roberts trust Kenley if the time comes?
9:46
Kevin Goldstein: Absolutely.
9:46
5 Run Homer: Which manager would be the best player today?
9:46
Kevin Goldstein: Gabe Kapler is first reaction.
9:47
Kevin Goldstein: Dodgers now at 55% to win.
9:47
Eric A Longenhagen: Gimme Counsell
9:47
Kevin Goldstein: Also a good call.
9:47
Knuckleballer Fan: Patrick wisdom the next Turner?
9:47
Nicklaus Gaut: He’ll need to do something about that 40% K%
9:48
Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, incredibly dis-similar players.
9:48
Johnathan Herrera: Alex Cora
9:48
Kevin Goldstein: Another good call.
9:48
Kate: Will prospect lists start rolling out during the postseason or not til after the world series?
9:49
Eric A Longenhagen: Should start churning out before the end of the month
9:49
Kevin Goldstein: He didn’t go, and again, I hate the swing rule.
9:49
Peter: TBS is noticeably behind Gameday
9:49
Nicklaus Gaut: Like three pitches
9:50
Steve Biko: What possible solutions exist to more accurately call check swings?
9:50
Kevin Goldstein: Honestly, just clarify the rule. The rule is exceptionally vague.
9:51
Angus: Better sprint speed, Tony LaRussa or Dusty Baker?
9:51
Nicklaus Gaut: Baker.
9:51
Guest: What’s your preference: bat flip or bat drop?
9:51
Nicklaus Gaut: Depends on the situation.
9:51
barrust: How would you fix the check swing rule?
9:51
Kevin Goldstein: Define what a swing is. Somehow. Bat crossing some point of the plate or something.
9:51
Kevin Goldstein: Bat flip. All the time. Have some damn fun.
9:52
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Bigger loss; Kershaw or Muncy?
9:52
Nicklaus Gaut: Muncy.
9:52
Nicklaus Gaut: K, K, popout. Can’t ask for a better post-HR shutdown.
9:53
Nate: Which manager would dominate Jeopardy?
9:53
Kevin Goldstein: Hinch comes to mind.
9:53
Nate: La Russa only sprints to yell at pitchers and buy liquor. I’d trust his speed there.
9:53
Nicklaus Gaut: More of a penguin walk nowadays, though.
9:54
Roach: How does Waino keep getting in 0-2 counts and then lose any ability to throw a strike?
9:54
Nicklaus Gaut: CB’s been unreliable.
9:54
WhoIsZorbist: McClanahan, Baz, Rasmussin has potential to shock and be best rotation now that Kershaw is out, right?
9:54
Kevin Goldstein: Kershaw was their 4 starter at best anyway.
9:55
Millionaire Stickball: I prefer bat carry down to first
9:55
Nicklaus Gaut: In the right moment, I really like a nice carry to first followed by an oh so gentle drop.
9:55
Eric A Longenhagen: Okay, so Rangers prospect Ricky Vanasco: Ricky Vanasco – Stats – Pitching | FanGraphs Baseball
9:55
Eric A Longenhagen: TJ late in 2020, has basically missed two seasons
9:55
Eric A Longenhagen: first outing back from rehab today:
9:55
Eric A Longenhagen: Ricky Vanasco, RHP, Texas Rangers – YouTube
9:55
Cam: Is Counsell under-the-radar awesome? Every Manager seems to have very public detractors – whether fair or not. But no one knocks Counsell, ever.
9:55
Kevin Goldstein: He’s one of the best managers in baseball. I can’t imagine any argument against that.
9:56
Eric A Longenhagen: 95-98, needs to be added to the Texas 40-man or is exposed to the Rule 5
9:56
Derek: Maddon seems like someone who likes trivia
9:56
Nicklaus Gaut: But he seems like he would like playing trivia more than actually know the answers..Would just be shouting out anything, just happy that the group is having fun together.
9:56
Dan: Apparently that’s the first Postseason HR Wainwright has given up on his curveball in his career
9:57
Kevin Goldstein: Joe Kelly warming….
9:57
BillR: Which manager wins Survivor?
9:57
Nicklaus Gaut: I don’t know but David Samson would definitely get last.
9:58
Jeremy: Shifting Goldschmidt–good idea or no?
9:58
Kevin Goldstein: They do it for a reason. It’s not just a hunch.
9:59
John Bowker Burner Account: My roommate still shudders every time Wainwright drops the hammer (Mets fan)
9:59
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m confident that someday science will advance enough to unfreeze Carlos Beltran.
9:59
Guest: Where do Tingler and Rojas end up this off-season?
9:59
Kevin Goldstein: I could see Rojas getting a bench coach gig somewhere. Still very well respected.
10:00
Nicklaus Gaut: Only one run but the mechanical issues that Scherzer said he was dealing with in his last two starts don’t appear to be fixed.
10:01
Nicklaus Gaut: Just can’t locate the fastball.
10:02
Jeremy: I know it’s not just a hunch! FG has an article questioning whether shifting righties is ever a good idea! Teams seem to vary a *lot* in their willingness to shift on righties, which suggests that it’s not *obvious* whether it’s a good idea. I’m sure the Dodgers have their reasons–but are they good reasons?
10:02
Kevin Goldstein: I’m going to trust the Dodgers’ data here. I’d trust their data more than most teams….
10:02
Eric A Longenhagen: Joe Kelly groundball rates up around 60% last three years, really need one of those right now
10:03
Kyle: do you think there are teams whose in-game strategy decisions (shifting, subs, etc.) would be *worse* than, say, the FG staff acting as a manager?  my guess is heck no but idk
10:03
Eric A Longenhagen: depends which of us is managing
10:04
Nicklaus Gaut: Four walks are his highest since May 19.
10:05
Nicklaus Gaut: But located that gas!
10:05
Kevin Goldstein:

Do you agree with the decision to remove Max Scherzer here
I do! (62.0% | 144 votes)
 
I do NOT! (37.9% | 88 votes)
 
Total Votes: 232
10:06
Aadik: Kevin / Eric – would you pull Max Scherzer here?
10:06
Kevin Goldstein: I’m leaning yes, but I don’t think I’d be going to Joe Kelly….
10:06
Nicklaus Gaut: 4 1/3 with 4 K and 4 BB. Did not see that coming.
10:06
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m with Kevin. Ok with the pull but not Kelly..
10:07
Eric A Longenhagen: Yes I think I’d be more inclined to bring in Kelly than KG
10:07
Kevin Goldstein: STL at 55% to win right now.
10:09
Furcal: Is that a decision Roberts made unilaterally or was the front office involved in some way?
10:09
Kevin Goldstein: Roberts.
10:10
Wander to 2B: I mean it’s his decision but he’s given some sort of matrix right?
10:10
Kevin Goldstein: Absolutely.
10:11
Roach: That ump scorecard is not going to be kind to Joe West this game
10:11
Nicklaus Gaut: doubtful
10:12
Eric A Longenhagen: Carlson’s take on 1-0 was great
10:13
Jeremy: What do other players think of pitchers on their own team who never want to come out of the game and complain about being pulled? Seen positively–a sign of competitiveness? Seen negatively–a sign of being a prima donna? Depends on how good the pitcher is? (fine if Scherzer complains, not if some random rookie complains) Or what?
10:13
Kevin Goldstein: Totally fine. Most professional athletes are intense competitors. They might not wear it on their sleeve like Max. Totally understandable. Zero issue.
10:14
Eric A Longenhagen: They tend to nestle between the catcher and hitter and crouch down to the level that represents the top of the zone.
10:14
Marlin Child: Was under the impression umpires usually like to pick one side of the plate to sit on the whole game, but I notice that West seems to be shifting back and forth – first time focusing more on the umpire, is that normal?
10:14
Furcal: Kevin, what does the rest of your game look like if your roberts as far as bullpen management goes?
10:14
Kevin Goldstein: I’d be assuming 9 outs from Bickford, Treinen, Jansen, so just have to find four more….
10:15
Nicklaus Gaut: gutsy curve there
10:16
Nicklaus Gaut: another one coming?
10:16
Kevin Goldstein: that was fun and Eric was right.
10:16
Eric A Longenhagen: Joe Kelly looks like Steve Guttenberg
10:16
Nicklaus Gaut: eat those hooks
10:17
Nicklaus Gaut: Party with the Gute!
10:20
Nate: I typically have zero issue with branding/marketing in sports. I’m used to it. But am I the only one who hates the mound graphic? It looks gawdy.
10:20
Kevin Goldstein: I didn’t even notice it until I read this question.
10:21
Floyd: Who pitches the 6th then if it’s Bickford/Treinen/Jansen 7/8/9? Knebel? Graterol?
10:21
Kevin Goldstein: Graterol warming.
10:22
Eric A Longenhagen: Warming Bernabel – Stats – Batting | FanGraphs Baseball
10:21
SammySosasCork: party with the Gaut
10:21
Nicklaus Gaut: That’s right.
10:22
Roach: Looks like Waino figured out his curve
10:22
Nicklaus Gaut: Looking great this inning.
10:23
Nicklaus Gaut: five curves, five strikes
10:23
Eric A Longenhagen: Raley has tools, super stiff, can’t get to that pitch at the top of the zone
10:23
Nicklaus Gaut: six
10:23
Eric A Longenhagen: great feet by Arenado
10:24
Kevin Goldstein: He’s the best.
10:24
Kevin hire me: How do yall feel about the mlb welcoming gambling? I feel it just invites another Pete Rose
10:24
Kevin Goldstein: I know a lot of people get worked up about this subject, but i’m just not one of them.
10:24
Nicklaus Gaut: It was always inevitable.
10:24
Eric A Longenhagen: I worry focus will shift from baseball to betting on baseball
10:24
Eric A Longenhagen: and that that will have consequences for the players
10:25
Eric A Longenhagen: and other parts of the game’s economic ecosystem
10:25
Nicklaus Gaut: I can’t wait for everyone to find out how hard it is to bet on baseball, generally speaking.
10:25
Kevin Goldstein: Win probability at exactly 50%!
10:25
WhoIsZorbist: Why everyone assuming 7/8/9 is the end of the game?
10:26
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m not.
10:26
5 Run Homer: that curve to Betts was insane
10:26
Eric A Longenhagen:

Are you Roman Ready?
Y (32.0% | 25 votes)
 
N (67.9% | 53 votes)
 
Total Votes: 78
10:26
Kevin Goldstein: Actually, what are the real odds that we get extra innings at this point?
10:26
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Waino gotta come out for the 6th right?
10:27
Nicklaus Gaut: Depends if anyone gets on
10:27
Farhandrew Zaidman: Can any of you confirm my theory that Graterol has terrible extension, which is why his 101 never seems to play like it should?
10:27
Eric A Longenhagen: Sinker shape, not likely to miss as many bats
10:28
Kevin Goldstein: Blake Treinen and Alex Reyes warming up in the sixth inning was not on my bingo card.
10:28
Eric A Longenhagen: Clayton Kershaw Pitch Mix – YouTube
10:28
Eric A Longenhagen: you want that backspin
10:28
Eric A Longenhagen: ideally
10:28
Shodai: MLB Network has already added a daily betting show in addition to all the betting talk IN programs. Keeps growing every year.
10:28
Nicklaus Gaut: Eventually, we’ll see kiosks at stadiums.
10:28
Nicklaus Gaut: Definately for DFS
10:29
Andy: Who’s the first hitter to square up Graterol’s 100+ gas?
10:29
Eric A Longenhagen: I’ll say Goldy yanks one into the LF corner
10:29
Kevin Goldstein:

Do you gamble on baseball?
Yes, frequently (3.7% | 7 votes)
 
Yes, occasionally (14.9% | 28 votes)
 
No, but I’m not against it (33.1% | 62 votes)
 
Never have, never will (48.1% | 90 votes)
 
Total Votes: 187
10:29
Kevin Goldstein: Pretty sweet inning there.
10:30
Kevin Goldstein:

Would you have let Wainright hit there?
Yup (36.1% | 65 votes)
 
Nope (63.8% | 115 votes)
 
Total Votes: 180
10:31
Nate: I have no problem with first-pitch swinging, but how do teams balance aggressiveness with also getting to see if a pitcher is on his A-game?
10:31
Quarantino Martinez: Isn’t fantasy baseball a form of gambling on baseball?
10:31
Kevin Goldstein: Nah. Hitting is hard enough. If you think you can drive something, try to drive it.
10:31
Eric A Longenhagen: sure, but i think it’s reasonable to grant me that there’s a big difference between the slow burn of the fantasy season and you having access to a daily sportsbook in your pocket.
10:31
Clemonade: Hey guys, long time listener, first time caller. Is Harrison Bader the best player who is considered bad by his team’s fans?
10:32
Eric A Longenhagen: philly people thought bobby abreu was bad
10:32
Kevin Goldstein: Plenty of Cubs fans hate Sammy Sosa.
10:32
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: someday you’ll be able to bet on whether the next pitch is a ball or strike while in your seat
10:32
Nicklaus Gaut: Yep. Another reason that robot umps are also inevitable.
10:32
Kevin Goldstein: White Sox fans used to complain about Frank Thomas walking a lot.
10:33
Marlin Child: How long until we get a player opening up about fans harassing them after a bad game because of gambling implications
10:33
Nicklaus Gaut: How often do we see it in football?
10:33
Lucy: On gambling, it should be legal, but advertsing it really really shouldn’t be. There’s massive push back in my country to ban advertsing gambling during sports due to how many younger people are being pulled into it. And by young I mean children.
10:33
Kevin Goldstein: Similar things happening with in-game purchases (that are lottery like) in video games.
10:34
Monty: phillies fans with pat burrell
10:34
Nicklaus Gaut: Bader’s luxurious curls aren’t the only things magnetic about him.
10:34
Jeremy: Phillies fan here. We thought Scott Rolen was bad too.
10:34
Doug: Any chance we see Urias or Buehler in this game?
10:34
Kevin Goldstein: Urias yes, Walker not on roster.
10:36
Shodai: On another gambling note- with the proliferation of sports betting aren’t we just counting the days until the next Pete Rose betting on baseball scandal? Just seems inevitable and MLB’s horse isn’t as highs as Fay Vincent’s.
10:36
Eric A Longenhagen: Yes but I’ll “bet” it’ll be a media member embroiled in scandal, not a player.
10:36
Wander to 2B: Talking advertising of vices in America? The SuperBowl is sponsored by Bud Light
10:36
Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, much of my attitude towards gambling revolves around a much stronger belief that vices and the legal system should not mix.
10:36
Shodai: Seems like Gambling is the next Cash Cow for MLB once the RSN bubble pops. Forget Kiosks, they’re putting a sports book at Wrigley.
10:36
Nicklaus Gaut: Gambling, whether traditionally or in fantasy (whether season-long or DFS) is a significant driver of football’s popularity and constant presence in the national sports conversation. We should all be rooting for gambling in baseball.
10:38
Eric A Longenhagen: nah
10:39
Kevin Goldstein: Ok, THAT time you’re not getting to Turner.
10:39
Marlin Child: I don’t know if I’d go as far as rooting for something addictive and destructive gaining popularity, even if it’s “good for the sport”. Perhaps grudging acceptance.
10:39
Nicklaus Gaut: I’ve believed for a while that it’s been inevitable and therefore not worth stressing about. I’d rather focus on what positives can come from. it.
10:40
Eric A Longenhagen: former hairdresser luis garcia
10:41
Eric A Longenhagen: How Luis Garcia went from working in a N.J. barber shop to pitching for the Phillies – nj.com
10:40
Jeremy: Did Wainwright used to throw 98, as the announcers just claimed? I feel like I’d remember that…
10:40
Kevin Goldstein: I saw him touch 96 in the Futures Game (Yes, I’m old).
10:41
Joe: are players ever glad to lose in the playoffs? Like, are they just tired and ready to get to the off-season?
10:41
Kevin Goldstein: No.
10:41
Kevin Goldstein:

Do you agree with pulling Wainright here?
Yup (76.2% | 122 votes)
 
Nope (23.7% | 38 votes)
 
Total Votes: 160
10:42
RTJ: Does Waino not making it the full inning mean that having him hit was a bad call?
10:42
David (formerly Sonoma State): Okay I just got here but the earlier question of good player that fanbase thinks is bad? EASILY Brandon Belt.
10:42
Kevin Goldstein: It’s worth a discussion…..
10:42
Nicklaus Gaut: Good call.
10:42
John Bowker Burner Account: This just makes their decision not to PH look way worse imo. If they’re gonna pull him after an infield single why not just pull him before the inning?
10:42
Eric A Longenhagen: ^
10:42
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: IMO sports gambling only affects you if you want it to. If you don’t want to gamble, it doesn’t make that much of a difference.
10:42
Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, that’s pretty much where I am.
10:43
Kevin Goldstein: Speaking of 98 . . . here come 98-99 mph sinkers.
10:44
Eric A Longenhagen: luis garcia playerid 6984
10:44
Eric A Longenhagen: I’m way way way in the minority on the gambling stuff based on peoples’ responses, btw.
10:44
Atom: Who says no?  Luis Garcia (HOU) for Luis Garcia (STL)?
10:44
Nicklaus Gaut: Houston
10:45
Kevin Goldstein: They hang up before the question is finished.
10:45
Marqueef Grissom: Shoutout to the Dodger Stadium organist for playing a 311 riff when the count is 3-1 with 1 out
10:46
Andy: Garcia did not get results like this like this in Philly, LA and tex. What was the adjustment?
10:46
Eric A Longenhagen: Throwing harder than ever before at age 34?
10:46
Eric A Longenhagen: Luis García – Stats – Pitching | FanGraphs Baseball
10:46
Guest: Have bad trade offers that teams have deemed insulting impacted said their willingness to negotiate future trades with that team?
10:46
Kevin Goldstein: Not really. You take every call….
10:47
Nicklaus Gaut: But how many are from Jerry DiPoto?
10:47
Lzfreak: Do actual trade negotiations ever end with one side hanging up dramatically?
10:47
Kevin Goldstein: Nah. Mean no = “I don’t think that’s something we would consider.” Nice no = “I don’t think we’d do that, but I’ll take it to the group.”
10:48
Nicklaus Gaut: Are offers ever so bad that you can’t even manage the mean no?
10:48
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Do you guys think super-UTL guys like Kike Hernandez are undervalued by the industry?
10:48
Kevin Goldstein: I think they’re undervalued by fans….
10:49
Two Dads Playing Catch: Have you ever got a trade offer that just makes you groan at how dumb it seemed
10:49
Kevin Goldstein: Oh yeah.
10:49
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m a sucker for a good super-UTL
10:49
Guest: Do catchers get checked for spider tack?
10:50
Eric A Longenhagen: hmmmmmm
10:50
Shodai: Since I assume you wouldn’t out the team that made the offer- what was the “ask” in the worst deal you were ever pitched?
10:51
Kevin Goldstein: A future star at Triple-A for a damn good player entering his walk year.
10:51
Eric A Longenhagen: I put a 4 on Carlson’s arm as a prospect fwiw
10:51
Dev: Houston > Washington > St. Louis in the Luis Garcia trade value power rankings?
10:51
Nicklaus Gaut: This is correct. But I’m not counting out Washington’s Luis Garcia because he’s still just 21 even though he seems like he should be 25.
10:53
Eric A Longenhagen: Sweat really flowing out of Garcia’s freshly-shaven head. shoulda been Yadi’s ball but w/e they got it done
10:53
Kevin Goldstein: I was absolutely positive that they were going to screw that play up.
10:54
SD: “No one hits high velocity better than Will Smith” – can’t be true
10:54
Nicklaus Gaut: “No one fights giant, metal spiders better than Will Smith.” – definately is
10:54
Guest: What are the chances the guy in the seats with the white beret and circle glasses is in the music, film or entertainment industry?
10:54
Nicklaus Gaut: You had me at beret.
10:54
Kevin Goldstein: To be fair, Will Smith crushes fastballs….
10:55
Belowreplacementaccountname: Do you view Carlson’s arm as better now or are the OA numbers deceiving?
10:56
Eric A Longenhagen: It’s possible for it to be both. I do think players with worse arms are more likely to be run on and therefore have more opportunities to throw someone out.
10:55
Kevin Goldstein: Double Switch here. Pollock out, Taylor in.
10:56
DBRuns: When can we ditch OPS in place of wOBA on mlb broadcasts?
10:56
Nicklaus Gaut: Tango burner?
10:56
Nicklaus Gaut: But also, yes please.
10:58
Jeremy: Dodgers hoping for 6 outs from Treinen?
10:58
Kevin Goldstein: If he earns it this inning, I think so.
10:58
Jeremy: Now I want a Will Smith/Will Smith joke contest.
10:58
Eric A Longenhagen: Treinen’s slider is the nastiest-looking pitch in baseball
10:58
Nicklaus Gaut: Or a Will Smith/Luis Garcia Survivor Series match.
10:59
Marlin Child: My understanding is that OAA doesn’t include arm ratings, right?
10:59
Nicklaus Gaut: correct
10:59
Nicklaus Gaut: I believe Tango recently said they are working on something to account for it.
10:59
Kevin Goldstein: There were seven hits off of Treinen sliders all year, every one of them a single.
11:00
Nicklaus Gaut: It’s so nasty
11:01
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: In what year will batting average not be displayed when a player comes up to bat?
11:01
Nicklaus Gaut: The year after the triple crown stops being a thing?
11:01
David (formerly Sonoma State): Fangraphs is given the opportunity to have someone share the broadcast with ARod. Who do you guys nominate for the seat?
11:01
Kevin Goldstein: Can I just say I’d LIKE to do it.
11:02
David (formerly Sonoma State): Would you be cordial?
11:02
Kevin Goldstein: Absolutely. I think he’s CAPABLE of being interesting, but ESPN just let’s him ramble.
11:02
Nicklaus Gaut: The hardest thing would be trying to concentrate without being overwhelmed by his effervescence.
11:03
Shodai: We are technically still living in The Willenium.
11:03
Nicklaus Gaut: may all your years be jiggy.
11:04
Andy: Re: Guy with white beret, Lou Adler “record and film producer and the co-owner of the Roxy Theatre” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Adler
11:04
Kevin Goldstein: The more you know . . . .
11:04
Eric A Longenhagen: Would still 40 it (2) Eric Longenhagen on Twitter: “@genericaccountc https://t.co/Uz8sMF2aKe” / Twitter
11:04
Kevin Goldstein: Hit and run action!
11:05
Lavin: Chances Arenado’s really not opting out because “he loves St. Louis so much,” as the broadcast just said?
11:06
Nicklaus Gaut: 0%
11:06
Anthony: Catching Treinen seems like a real chore
11:06
WhoIsZorbist: Braves or Dodger Will Smith more likely to really wiggity wiggity wiggity wiggity tell ya wassup?
11:06
Kevin Goldstein: THIS IS A VERY FUN BASEBALL GAME
11:07
Nicklaus Gaut: LAD WS in a walk.
11:09
Jeremy: That was a pretty good inning from Treinen even with the walk. He comes back out for the next inning, right?
11:09
Kevin Goldstein: 21 pitches.
11:10
Rich M: In the event that CBA stuff drags on and we lose games next year, are salaries impacted?
11:10
Kevin Goldstein: I mean, players don’t get paid, but the union does store up union dues to distribute for just such an occasion….
11:10
Eric A Longenhagen: Not sure I get Garcia coming back out with all the other horses they have in the bullpen
11:10
Jeff Sagely: Ice cream on deck?
11:10
Eric A Longenhagen: I have none, we’re like 4 hours away rom that tho.
11:11
Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, we ain’t getting to ice cream.
11:11
RTJ: Is there an official percentage projection for the chance of games missed next year?
11:11
Kevin Goldstein: 25%? I think a 12/1 lockout is about 99.4381%. A delayed to spring training around 50/50.
11:12
Adam: would be pretty fun if Bellinger did something good
11:12
Kevin Goldstein: And it was.
11:13
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: A Pujols walk off homer off STL would be something
11:13
Nicklaus Gaut: So help me, if they let him face a lefty.
11:14
The 6ix: Thanks for coming out Taylor.
11:14
Guest: Does Treinen hit?
11:14
Kevin Goldstein: He’s still five batters away, so maybe if they take a big lead.
11:14
Furcal: Send bellinger?
11:14
Kevin Goldstein: Not with Mookie up.
11:15
Kevin Goldstein: Good night everyone!
11:15
Kevin Goldstein: Should I just close my laptop now?
11:15
Kevin Goldstein:

Should I just leave the chat after that Bellinger SB?
Yes, absolutely. (29.4% | 40 votes)
 
Nah. (70.5% | 96 votes)
 
Total Votes: 136
11:16
Grand Admiral Braun: How many in this chat right now?
11:16
Kevin Goldstein: Many hundreds.
11:16
Eric A Longenhagen: i’d def have been in for an 0-2 or 1-2 send of Belli. Likely to get a slider in the dirt in those counts and if you’re hosed then Mookie leads off with fresh count the next inning.
11:17
Kevin Goldstein: Pretty good night for Luis Garcia (this one).
11:18
Nicklaus Gaut: Really big two innings
11:18
Eric A Longenhagen: We’re gonna need more espresso chunks
11:19
Belowreplacementaccountname: How did scouts seemingly “miss” on Bader’s defense?
11:19
Kevin Goldstein: Did they? A saw him in college and turned him in as a very real CF, and I’m pretty harsh on CF defense. I missed on the bat more.
11:20
CJ: Is the regular season Extra Inning rule in effect?
11:20
Kevin Goldstein: No it is not.
11:20
Derek: McKinney at 1B? That the better move than putting him in the OF and moving Bellinger to first?
11:20
Kevin Goldstein: CF more important than 1B, and Belli barely played 1B this year.
11:21
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: Are you hoping for extras?
11:21
Kevin Goldstein: Oh absolutely.
11:21
Nicklaus Gaut: Yeah, I’d take more of this.
11:21
Guest: How often do both teams use guys multiple innings in relief? Seems odd
11:21
Kevin Goldstein: Far more often in the playoffs.
11:21
Lavin: Eric, are you more in on Eddys Leonard or Juan Yepez?
11:22
Eric A Longenhagen: Leonard
11:22
Eric A Longenhagen: Leonard plays all over, he’s not tooled out but he’s a really versatile, skilled player.
11:22
Eric A Longenhagen: I do think Yepez has big league utility tho
11:22
Eric A Longenhagen: Like if he turned into CJ Cron i wouldn’t be surprised
11:22
How Bobby Grich Stole Christmas: What specific item in the CBA negotiations is most likely to be the last thing agreed upon?
11:22
Kevin Goldstein: The draft. ALWAYS the draft. A couple of CBAs ago, the two sides had their press conference saying they had come to an agreement and then went back to figure out draft stuff.
11:24
WhoIsZorbist: I think it comes down to Luplow or Margot. If that’s the case, who would you go with in TB?
11:24
Eric A Longenhagen: Manny
11:25
Kevin Goldstein: Oh boy, this might be some crazy fun.
11:25
Mac: Didn’t Bader play mostly LF in college?
11:26
Eric A Longenhagen: buddy reed tho
11:26
Kevin Goldstein: Played CF the weekend I saw him.
11:26
Kevin Goldstein: I don’t know if he touched it or not, so might be a tough overturn.
11:26
Kevin Goldstein: Man, Buddy Reed could GO GET IT
11:28
Kevin Goldstein: Gallesgos warming for STL
11:29
David (formerly Sonoma State): Informing as to who is warming up is actually super helpful. No snark.
11:29
Nicklaus Gaut: agreed
11:29
Kevin Goldstein: If you like relievers with stuff, this is the game for you.
11:29
Guest: looks like Dustin Harris TX did breakout as you thought he might.
11:30
Eric A Longenhagen: looked awesome all spring, glad he kept going during the summer
11:30
Kyle W: How is there not a single camera angle that could catch that tag play?
11:31
Kevin Goldstein: Replays folks in NY have more angles that TV gets
11:32
Wil: Will be decided by one big fly???
11:32
Nicklaus Gaut: Paging Lars Nootbaar
11:32
Belowreplacementaccountname: Bader’s FG prospects page has him at Field 45/50 (granted from a few years ago)
11:32
Eric A Longenhagen: Yeah, that was light
11:32
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: who’s on deck?
11:32
Kevin Goldstein: I think Nootbar
11:33
Nat: You think Bader wants that take back?
11:33
Kevin Goldstein: I don’t think that was a take as much as it was a freeze.
11:34
Unrelated: Does Jairo Pomares skill level match his insane stat line?
11:35
Eric A Longenhagen: Eh, he’s definitely talented but the approach piece will catch up to him at upper levels I think
11:35
Eric A Longenhagen: Jairo Pomares – Stats – Batting | FanGraphs Baseball
11:35
Eric A Longenhagen: it’s not as bad as Sandro Fabian but I have learned from getting tricked by those guys, mostly
11:35
Two Dads Playing Catch: damn knebel is chucking rn
11:35
Kevin Goldstein: 97-98 so far.
11:35
Eric A Longenhagen: And yet I slam dunked Elly De La Cruz into the middle of the 100
11:36
Kevin Goldstein: I mean, there’s tools and then there are TOOLS.
11:37
Eric A Longenhagen: FanGraphs Prospects on Twitter: “De La Crushed https://t.co/bisxDAK2kr” / Twitter
11:36
Guest: Which player are you most surprised to see on a post-season roster this year?  Got to be Nootbaar for me.
11:36
Kevin Goldstein: Again, Steven Souza is on the Dodgers bench.
11:37
Kevin Goldstein: Well, that was a breaking ball…..
11:37
Yo-Yo: It should be Yepez, maybe? He hasn’t even debuted yet
11:37
Eric A Longenhagen: i’m saving yepez for mcfarland
11:38
Eric A Longenhagen: lars should hit vs a righty
11:38
Lavin: When all’s said and done with this winter’s top 100, is De La Cruz a better prospect than the top DSL guys from the most recent international class like Wilman Diaz, Cristian Hernandez, and Carlos Colmenarez?
11:38
Kevin Goldstein: 2915 rpm on that strike 3
11:38
Eric A Longenhagen: he’s better than WIlman
11:38
Eric A Longenhagen: Hernandez hasn’t seen action here yet, COlmenarez may also be a 50 right no
11:39
Eric A Longenhagen: now*
11:39
Nicklaus Gaut: fun game
11:39
Kevin Goldstein: Gallegos has the 8th, Dejong in a SS in the 2x switch.
11:39
Jeff Sagely: Yowza.  You could hear that last pitch hissing here in TX.
11:39
Kevin Goldstein: losing some defense here.
11:39
Kevin Goldstein: Also, this is a crazy great game.
11:40
Nicklaus Gaut: giving up the defense for DeJong, hoping for the big shot
11:40
Belowreplacementaccountname: Do the Dodgers have a Mcfarland too?
11:40
Eric A Longenhagen: brain fart, vesia vesia
11:41
David (formerly Sonoma State): Like how insane is 2915?
11:41
Kevin Goldstein: It’s a big number. Elite is 3000+
11:43
Nicklaus Gaut: Coming out with the filthy slidepiece!
11:43
Kevin Goldstein: That was disgusting. 86 mph, huge break.
11:44
Mac: Do we really think that’s a slider?
11:44
Kevin Goldstein: I do.
11:44
Kevin Goldstein:

Should Trea Turner run here?
Indeed (65.3% | 83 votes)
 
Oh, you silly goose (34.6% | 44 votes)
 
Total Votes: 127
11:45
Eric A Longenhagen: what’s gallegos’ time home?
11:45
Peter: now do you send Turner?
11:45
Kevin Goldstein: I feel unqualified to answer that.
11:45
Fletcher: Are we really saying slidepiece now?
11:45
Nicklaus Gaut: Since I was but a lad
11:45
Eric A Longenhagen: more apt to send with two outs
11:45
Shodai: Just do what Juan Soto says is solid life advice.
11:46
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: hit and run!
11:46
Kevin Goldstein: Turner a good guy for that.
11:46
David (formerly Sonoma State): What are RPM benchmarks?
11:47
Eric A Longenhagen: from page 217 of Future Value
11:47
Kevin Goldstein: Everyone should buy that book. Go open a new browser tab and do it now.
11:48
Nicklaus Gaut: **yes**
11:49
Andy: When is the Future Value book tour happening?
11:49
Eric A Longenhagen: pandemic fucked it up
11:49
Eric A Longenhagen: maybe we’ll do a signing if Kiley comes for Fall league?
11:49
Eric A Longenhagen: i wanna screen either Pelotero or The Zen of Bobby V and sign at the movie theater near my house
11:49
Dude: I can’t tell if that’s Jerry Springer or Barbara Bush in the white hair sitting behind home plate
11:49
Nicklaus Gaut: It’s Ashley Schaeffer
11:50
Nicklaus Gaut: what an out
11:51
RTJ: wow that slider is nasty tonight
11:51
Kevin Goldstein: Yup, they lose some defense….
11:51
Andy: Fall league fangraphs meetup / booksigning event?
11:51
Eric A Longenhagen: I might do a signing but no FG hangout.
11:51
Nicklaus Gaut: They sure did lose some defense!
11:52
Dan: Defensive downgrade, eh?
11:52
Jk: Wow. That’s 8 innings of 1-1 ball in 3 hours 40 minutes? Not complaining but man time flies.
11:53
Nicklaus Gaut: I know some people hate long games but this one sure hasn’t felt long. Flying
11:54
Nicklaus Gaut: Just to be clear, Cardinal devil magic definitely says this will be a home run by DeJong off of Kenley.
11:55
Jeremy: Wait, how is this game at 3:40 already? Are the pitchers just working slow?
11:55
Kevin Goldstein: There’s been a decent amount of traffic and 3 ball counts.
11:56
Shodai: 11PM me loves it, 7AM me not so much.
11:56
Eric A Longenhagen: Right? It used to have to be 2am for my decisions to be bad, now I’m eating bread over the kitchen counter at midnight.
11:56
Kevin Goldstein: ooooh. I want a piece of bread now.
11:56
Two Dads Playing Catch: I was thinking the exact same thing nicklaus I just hope it doesn’t happen
11:57
Nicklaus Gaut: You’re safe.
11:57
Paul: Am I crazy for wishing that they had the man on second in extras rule in the playoffs so I can go to bed sooner?
11:57
Nicklaus Gaut: Yes.
11:57
Shodai: Just like you guys said, giving up some offense for defense! 😀
11:57
Kevin Goldstein:

Is this game going to extras?
Yes (60.8% | 76 votes)
 
No (39.2% | 49 votes)
 
Total Votes: 125
11:58
Nicklaus Gaut: We nailed that DeJong analysis.
11:58
Bob: lol.  why was Paul DeJong allowed to hit there?
11:58
Kevin Goldstein: I mean, they gotta have a shortstop in the bottom half….
11:58
Aadik: De Jong looked like he had no idea what was coming
11:58
Nicklaus Gaut: evergreen
11:59
Quarantino Martinez: Game flying by for sure. Though night games have gotten much easier since I moved to the West coast.
11:59
Nicklaus Gaut: best argument for a west coast move.
11:59
Lucy: I’m in Europe, so long games are only ok if they are the early day games. It’s getting too close to breakfast atm…
11:59
Eric A Longenhagen: What’s a typical London breakfast like?
11:59
Kevin Goldstein: English Brekky!
12:00
Jeff Sagely: Ooohhhh,  Scotch eggs!
12:00
Dude: Beans!
12:00
Kevin Goldstein: Happy October 7 everyone on the East Coast.
12:01
Nicklaus Gaut: what a K
12:01
Kevin Goldstein:

What time zone are you in?
Eastern (28.5% | 61 votes)
 
Central (27.1% | 58 votes)
 
Mountain (7.4% | 16 votes)
 
Pacific (31.3% | 67 votes)
 
East of the 48 (Europe, etc) (2.3% | 5 votes)
 
West of the 48 (Hawaii, Asia, etc) (3.2% | 7 votes)
 
Total Votes: 214
12:02
Phil: I’ve never seen that day announcement thing in the chat software before. Very exciting.
12:02
Jeremy: Why is Edman wearing a sliding glove if he’s going to slide feet first?
12:03
Nicklaus Gaut: It’s all the rage right now in Milan.
12:03
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: got a 1.92 pop there
12:03
Kevin Goldstein: Caught it way in front of the bag….
12:04
Kevin Goldstein: The 3-1 pitch was nothing short of perfect.
12:04
Unrelated: O’Neill oppo single here
12:04
Kevin Goldstein: Almost!
12:05
Peter: high drama with the camera pointed into the corner just waiting for the ball to land
12:05
Eric A Longenhagen: indeed, cool shot
12:05
Nicklaus Gaut: another one!
12:06
Nicklaus Gaut: big time pitching
12:06
Kevin Goldstein: That was a good good good time.
12:06
Kevin Goldstein: Dodgers going PH (Lux?), McKinney, Bellinger in the 9th.
12:06
RTJ: Urias or Bickford for the 10th (assuming we get there)? Or more Kenley?
12:07
Kevin Goldstein: Kenley due up, so he’s 1 and done.
12:07
Kevin Goldstein: Cards 0-for-11 with RISP
12:07
Rich M: What does devil magic prescribe here?
12:07
Nicklaus Gaut: whiffs, aparently.
12:08
Dan: It has been stated often, but I don’t think it can be overstated. This is some really good baseball
12:08
Nicklaus Gaut: So good.
12:08
Appa Yip Yip: When this game was in the 2nd inning I stabbed myself in the hand cutting a potato, went to emerge, got some stitches, grabbed some McDonald’s, and have just gotten home and the game is *still* going? Wtf are these people doing?
12:08
Kevin Goldstein: I don’t think I’ve had McDonalds in three years.
12:09
Kevin Goldstein: Lux announced as PH, Shildt switches to McFarlnd, Roberts switches to Pujols.
12:09
Kevin Goldstein: DRAMA
12:09
Nicklaus Gaut: And yet there is likely still some McDonalds transversing your system.
12:09
Guest: do they do the man on second rule in the playofffs?
12:09
Nicklaus Gaut: nope
12:10
Yo-Yo: Ew I don’t like Ron saying mad respect
12:10
Nicklaus Gaut: I want to frame it.
12:10
Guest: I see Kevin grasped the most important part of Appa Yip Yip’s comment.
12:10
Kevin Goldstein: I mean, it didn’t sound that serious if dude got McDonald’s after….
12:10
Peter: I guess you take pujols vs a lefty but burning Lux feels bad
12:10
Eric A Longenhagen: agreed
12:11
Jeremy: Yeah, if this game goes to extras, I think the Dodgers will regret burning Lux.
12:11
Kevin Goldstein:

Albert will…
Make an out (54.9% | 72 votes)
 
Not make an out (11.4% | 15 votes)
 
END THIS GAME (33.5% | 44 votes)
 
Total Votes: 131
12:12
Dude: Is Lux burned because they announced him even though he didn’t take an AB?
12:12
Kevin Goldstein: He was announced and then the pitching change, so YES.
12:12
Kevin Goldstein: Yeah, some big wishcasting (Hi Christina Kahrl) in the poll.
12:12
Eric A Longenhagen: Bader too good
12:12
Evan: Somehow I don’t think there’s a 50% chance that the game ends here
12:12
Nicklaus Gaut: wheeewww
12:13
Shodai: Has anyone checked in on Brad Lidge recently?
12:13
Nicklaus Gaut: Not since Pujols ate his soul.
12:13
Kevin Goldstein: Honestly, a Souza home run would be just as dramatic.
12:14
Nicklaus Gaut: tried to end it there
12:14
Dude: How long is Urias’ leash if the game goes really long?
12:14
Kevin Goldstein: Until it’s his turn to bat?
12:15
Eric A Longenhagen: Alden González on Twitter: “Julio Urias is warming up in the bullpen.” / Twitter
12:17
Fred: If it goes 18 innings are you guys gonna chat the whole time?
12:17
Nicklaus Gaut: I’m not leaving.
12:17
Eric A Longenhagen: idk my battery is already getting down there
12:17
Eric A Longenhagen: 18%
12:18
Kevin Goldstein: You don’t have a plug?
12:18
Eric A Longenhagen: you know i do
12:18
Chungus Khan: somebody find eric an outlet!
12:18
Eric A Longenhagen: couch and outlet so far from one another
12:18
Nicklaus Gaut: Crowd: activate.
12:18
Kevin Goldstein: You don’t have an extension cord?
12:19
Tyler “SLAB” O’Neill: Its ok Eric, it is almost 9:30 local, reasonable bed time
12:19
Eric A Longenhagen: oh i’m not gonna stop watching the game
12:19
Quarantino Martinez: Fangraphs After Dark
12:19
Nicklaus Gaut: It’s just me going through the Statcast glossary and saying everything all sultry-like.
12:20
Kevin Goldstein: If this goes to extras, I’m gonna disappear for ten minutes for a quick podcast recording thing, but then I’ll be back until the end.
12:20
Dan: 106.6 off the bat from Pujols. He really almost did it
12:20
Kevin Goldstein: He really did. It was a weird knuckleball….
12:20
Chungus Khan: KG is the midnight podcaster
12:20
Eric A Longenhagen: Wanna see Reyes and Bickford tonight
12:21
Eric A Longenhagen: after the game, hanging out
12:21
Kevin Goldstein: It’s a show with 8 guests. Special DS preview for ya. Regular show on Friday like always.
12:22
Nicklaus Gaut: I will also disappear for 10 minutes but it will be to pray to my framed photo of Nelson Cruz’s alligator arms in 2011.
12:22
Pat: KG tha podcasting MACHINE
12:22
Kevin Goldstein: Play to your strengths.
12:22
Eric A Longenhagen: We’re still roughly the runtime for 2001: A Space Odyssey away from ice cream
12:22
Kevin Goldstein: I almost started that the other night….
12:23
Jk: Alex Reyes? All of STL just yelled “noooooo” at their tv. 3 batters means you can’t take him out before he walks in the winning run.
12:23
Nicklaus Gaut: That’s actually true. I heard it
12:23
Nicklaus Gaut: Or that was my echo. Who knows?
12:24
Dude: Guess they’re not taking until they get a strike
12:24
Kevin Goldstein: Guess again.
12:25
Kevin Goldstein: HOLY SHIT
12:26
Nicklaus Gaut: brass
12:26
segiddins: HOLY SHIT
12:26
Millionaire stickball: CT3
12:26
Joe: I don’t believe!
12:26
Yo-Yo: I hate my life
12:26
Dude: Wowowowowowowow
12:26
5 Run Homer: WOW
12:26
Guest: OH MY GOSH
12:26
Andy: WOOOOOOOOOOOOO
12:26
Ultimate Jake Cave Fan: giants dodgers!!!!
12:26
Pat: Guess they didn’t sacrifice enough goats in St. Louis.
12:27
Pablito: WOW! That was fun and so was following all with this chat for the first time. Appreciate all the answers to the questions asked here. Night everyone!
12:27
Nicklaus Gaut: Holy fork
12:27
Nicklaus Gaut: What a game
12:27
Nicklaus Gaut: What an ending
12:27
Eric A Longenhagen: Congrats to Joe West on a long career, that’s it for him.
12:27
Nicklaus Gaut: What a ballsy steal even though it didn’t ultimately matter
12:27
Eric A Longenhagen: Condolences to Cards fans and personnel, the shit you took at the deadline for inaction was obviously wrong.
12:27
Nicklaus Gaut: Of course Reyes served it up
12:27
Kevin Goldstein: Thanks for coming everyone! There will be a chat tomorrow with, well, I’m not sure, but not me! Come anyway for better insight on whether or not someone should run!
12:28
Nicklaus Gaut: I’ll be back for game 1 of the NLDS. Thanks for coming out everyone!
12:28
Eric A Longenhagen: good night everyone, thanks for coming!
12:28
Nicklaus Gaut: wow. seriously. just wow
12:28
Nicklaus Gaut: thats how I want to spend four+ hours





 

Meg is the managing editor of FanGraphs and the co-host of Effectively Wild. Prior to joining FanGraphs, her work appeared at Baseball Prospectus, Lookout Landing, and Just A Bit Outside. You can follow her on twitter @megrowler.

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