JotCast | 2018 Opening Day Very Long Chat

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Mike

2:04

Don't you have to be a decent hitter to be a DH? Would exclude the hopelessly overrated Schwarber

Meg Rowley

2:05

Recall, if you will, that he was a 131 wRC+ hitter just two years ago. Might not be that guy, but I think he's closer to that than what he (and a .244 BABIP) produced last year.

Snood

2:06

how many games would the Marlins win if they played a AAA schedule?

Craig Edwards

2:06

I would guess around 90 or so, keeping in mind Triple-A teams play fewer games.

Ryan

2:06

Do you guys foresee the league setting another record for HRs this year?

Meg Rowley

2:07

Sure do!

Erik

2:08

Do we know what happened to Heyward? He was a legitimately good hitter and is now a legitimately bad one. That doesn't usually happen in your prime. Is there an underreported injury? Did he just forget how to hit? Is that even a thing that happens?

Meg Rowley

2:08

To say more about that, we saw another increase in spring

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-two-major-takeaways-from-this-year...

Mac Gwire

2:09

Besides the game involving your own team, which one are you most excited for today?

Meg Rowley

2:09

[extremely disgruntled voice] I'm going to watch a lot of Angels games this year, huh?

James

2:09

How many games would the Astros win on a AAA schedule? 125?

Meg Rowley

2:09

Might need new math for that.

Craig Edwards

2:09

Heyward was hurt at the beginning of the 2016 season and he was undergoing a swing change at the time (he's long been a tinkerer from year to year), and so never recovered in 2016. Last season, he was a little better. There's still something there if he can get the right swing for him.

ScottyB

2:10

I hate, hate, hate mlb blackout rules!

Craig Edwards

2:10

They could definitely be better implemented, but they make a ton of money for baseball teams so probably not going away anytime soon.

Dookie Howser MD

2:11

Do the Angels have the best team to watch as a baseball fan in general? They have the best overall player (Trout), the best defensive player (Simmons), and all the intrigue around Ohtahni

Craig Edwards

2:12

For sure a team to watch this year, but the Yankees Stanton/Judge is going to get a bit more eyeballs.

Meg Rowley

2:13

I am even more disgruntled by this fact, but Craig is right. The Yankees are going to be awfully fun to watch.

tb.25

2:14

Odds that a comeback win today propels the marlins to an 80 win, projection-breaking season?

Craig Edwards

2:14

/checks projected standings/ the odds are not good.

Ryan

2:14

Aside from one involving your favorite team, what would be your preferred WS matchup? I personally would love LAD-LAA (two best players in the world in Trout and Kershaw; potentially continued Ohtani excitement; young stars like Seager and Bellinger; another chance for all-time great Pujols to play in the post-season; and the extra juice of an intracity rivalry)

Craig Edwards

2:15

Probably Cleveland-Nationals, though angels would be great and your matchup is a good one.

Sonny

2:15

Is there a wider range of outcomes for a position group than the St Louis OF? That group could be top 1-2 in baseball but the floor is pretty low

Meg Rowley

2:16

Nationals would be a lot of fun.

Yeah, going to take some time to get used to González in a Mets uniform.

Craig Edwards

2:16

I think the floor is pretty high for the Cardinals OF. None of those players are likely to be bad, but the possibility of Ozuna and Pham repeating last season gives it huge potential.

Brandon M

2:17

Are the Marlins actually the least interesting team this year? I think you could make an argument for 2 or 3 other teams being less interesting.

Meg Rowley

2:17

Being really, really bad tends to be interesting in its own, sad way.

BillWallace

2:17

0/2 so far on Starters making the 5th inning.

Craig Edwards

2:17

looking like 1/4 seems pretty likely.

Meg Rowley

2:18

I hate to say this, but I think my beloved Mariners could be pretty boring. Just sort of... there a lot of the time. True to the Blue!

David

2:19

Hi, I can't get sabersim projections to load on fangraphs. Am I doing it wrong or is fangraphs no longer going to have those projections?

Meg Rowley

2:19

There were issues today, but they will be back!

Dookie Howser MD

2:19

Does the "Save America's Past Time Act" effectively negate all that MLB was trying to do with Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities? Low minors are basically unpaid internships that these guys can barely afford without family support at this point

Craig Edwards

2:20

I don't think those are related. RBI is a very good program when implemented well and gets players who wouldn't necessarily get a lot of attention more access to scholarships and getting drafted. If you want to argue that paying minor leaguers is a much worse negative than RBI is a positive, that seems a fine argument to make.

Fredrick

2:21

Tommy Pham is not looking great at the plate, how worried are you guys that his vision issues could turn him back into a pumpkin?

Craig Edwards

2:21

that's always going to be some concern, but he's facing Noah Syndergaard today, which seems like the more likely culprit today.

ScottyB

2:22

What stat(s) would point to players just missing HR’s?

Jeries

2:22

Will the Cubs regret not re-signing Arrieta?

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