JotCast | 2018 Opening Day Very Long Chat

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EbenezerBatflip

3:00

Which boston kid hits more HRs, Benintendi or Devers?

Meg Rowley

3:00

$10/hour.

Craig Edwards

3:00

i will say Benintendi

Fred Gladding’s Third Helping

3:01

I am sad Acuna JUNIOR is not playing in Atlanta today. That is all.

Craig Edwards

3:01

It is unfortunate, yes.

Meg Rowley

3:01

Agreed.

pinstripe

3:01

What is Eno up to nowadays?

Meg Rowley

3:01

Writing for the Athletic, probably still drinking beer.

bonnie

3:01

batt mowman

Craig Edwards

3:02

He's not doing himself any favors when it comes to staying on the team when Holland joins.

Moltar

3:03

Eno was just on the Rotographs podcast today!

Meg Rowley

3:03

See, alive and thriving.

Ryan

3:03

Who needs competent left field defense when you can mash dingers like that?

Craig Edwards

3:03

That's why we have WAR.

tyler

3:05

by wrc+ Dwight Evans has 7 seasons better than any of Ichiro

Craig Edwards

3:06

another reason we have WAR, Ichiro has six seasons above 5 WAR, Evans, has 3.

EbenezerBatflip

3:07

Expectations for Rick Porcello? Does he ever regain any of his 2016 form? Or is it all stinkers and dingers from here on out?

Craig Edwards

3:07

I think he'll be fine, but 2016 was a bit of a perfect storm for HR and BABIP that isn't likely to happen again.

JJJones

3:08

I know that the players agreed to the CBA (it's right there in the name) and are stuck with it for the next few years, but don't you think that the owners almost HAVE to do something before it is up in order to improve the relationship? Saying 'too bad, you all signed' doesn't seem like a smart play, even if it is true.

Craig Edwards

3:09

They don't have to do anything. In a year, we have the two biggest contracts in baseball history signed and they will say, see, everything is fine. That might not be totally true, but they don't have to do anything.

Ham Bone

3:09

Have there been any studies on the effects of large pitch totals in an inning? Would a pitch count of 40 equally stress the arm if the pitches were 30/5/5 or 15/15/10?

Craig Edwards

3:10

I know pitching tired is bad, so I would assume 30/5/5 is going to be worse. Don't know about studies.

Pat

3:10

Can you explain the logic of a pitcher batting 8th? Mets doing it today with Cespedes batting 2nd and it makes no sense to me.

Meg Rowley

3:10

re: the union. Teams don't have to do anything. I think we should remember that they are making active decisions to do this. The CBA allows them to, but they are still making choices.

Craig Edwards

3:11

It makes it more likely to have runners on when Cespedes bats, which is what they want.

Ken

3:11

Still bummed about A.J. Puk. What good news is there for an A's fan these days?

Meg Rowley

3:11

You're getting a new ballpark! You have several fun Matts.

Ozzie

3:11

Twins game starting shortly, what are your favorite reasons to watch this team in 2018??

Craig Edwards

3:12

Seeing if Buxton can be a superstar, and I want to see if Lance Lynn's gamble on himself works.

Tim

3:12

Do you think if they raised all minor league salaries to $47500 teams would eliminate some of the lower minors' organizations?

Meg Rowley

3:13

No.

Craig Edwards

3:13

also a no.

Erik

3:13

Would Ichiro be a Hall of Famer if you ignored his cultural impact and the fact that he came over late from Japan? 58.2 WAR is borderline at best, but he has the hits milestone which could make him a no-doubter despite the fringe WAR total.

Craig Edwards

3:14

Vladimir Guerrero is in the HOF with less WAR. Having people watch you and think you are amazing is important, regardless of any cultural impact. He is a special, unique player like Vlad and that resonates with voters.

Meg Rowley

3:15

Ichiro's peak was pretty special

Hit bull, win steak

3:15

FG staff seems low on the Rockies despite their WC berth last year and improvements to the bullpen this offseason. Is this because a) other Wild Card teams got better, b) Rockies got worse, c) both, or d) neither

Meg Rowley

3:16

Both for me. I remain confused by their refusal to get better on offense.

Craig Edwards

3:16

Rockies did well last year in part because the bullpen was very good and they are trying to double down on that approach, but having a good bullpen is something that's hard to repeat. They have some holes.

Taylor

3:16

Where do you think Acuna will hit when he comes up? Markakis is hitting 4th today. Surely that can't last

Craig Edwards

3:17

probably low in the order until he hits well, then higher as the season goes on.

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