JotCast | 2019 World Series Game 2 Chat

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Professor Obvious

8:54

Why do pitchers have “personal” catchers? Are they really necessary?

Tony Wolfe

8:55

The more someone catches you, the more familiar they are with your stuff and how to use it. I'd imagine it's preferable for pitchers to go all in on one guy rather than split time between a couple different catchers.

Craig Edwards

8:56

Necessary? Not sure, but if there's an advantage to be had with pitchers working better with catcher because they know their arsenal better and what pitches they like to throw, then it can definitely be worth it. If some pitcher works the corners a ton, then a good framer will help. If a pitcher throws a bunch of balls in the dirt, then a good blocker will help.

Trent

8:56

Two years from now, Verlander, Kershaw, Kluber, Scherzer, and Greinke will all hit free agency. Which would you be most comfortable signing to a new deal?

David Laurila

8:56

Earlier this season I was chatting with Verlander and Peter Gammons before a game at Fenway, and Verlander said he has to pitch differently than in the past because hitters, and the ball, are different. Has to try to miss more bats, and needs to go harder earlier rather than settle in.

Tony Wolfe

8:57

Purely from a prediction standpoint of who's still going to have the most to offer, I might lean Scherzer.

Craig Edwards

8:58

That's a tough one. two years out, you go with the youngest, which would be Kershaw, but he's not pitching at near the level of the other guys. If Kluber were healthy at all...I'm still going to go with Kershaw. Those other guys are going to be 37 and 38 years old.

Tony Wolfe

8:58

I have no numbers to back that up, he just strikes me as someone who could keep it going into his 40s.

Cole's Law

8:58

How does the Stasburg narrative change now....do people still insist he hasn't lived up to the the insane hype?

Craig Edwards

8:58

Are people still insisting that? Crazy.

Hire Joe Morgan?

8:59

How likely do we think it is that Strasburg will put together a Hall of Fame career? I think he has to do that to "live up to the hype".

Tony Wolfe

8:59

I can't imagine anyone looking at Strasburg and seeing a disappointing career.

Craig Edwards

9:00

That shouldn't be on anybody. Juan Soto, Ronald Acuña, anybody. It's way too much to expect.

Cole's Law

9:02

And remember he didn't pitch that first post season b/c his agent didn't want him to get hurt. Fans for some reason take that very personally

Craig Edwards

9:02

That was organizational failure.

Hire Joe Morgan?

9:04

It's easy to hear 'best pitching prospect ever' and think he has to become one of hte best pitchers ever. It's hard to think about the fact that prospects don't pan out, and having a long career is by itself a miracle. I don't think anyone should see Strasburg as a disappointment, but that doesn't mean people will think he's a success, either.

Matt A

9:05

Shout out to Cole’s Law. My roommate from college. Hey dude!

Craig Edwards

9:05

He's got 37 WAR, which is like the midpoint for a top prospect in baseball probably, which basically means he's lived up to the hype of being the best prospect in baseball.

People Watching

9:05

I don't see Marlins-Man behind home plate

David Laurila

9:06

No Marlins Man is a win, no?

bosoxforlife

9:06

Steve Carlton age 37, 295 innings, 286 K's and a Cy Young, age 38, 283 innings and 275 K's and he wasn't soft-tossing it up there either. The game has changed but I find it difficult to understand why today's pitchers can't even approximate this type of performance.

Craig Edwards

9:06

Oh hey, the game. Verlander survives a Soto shot down the line for a double and we head to the bottom of the third still tied.

Cole's Law

9:06

Can you say hi to Matt for me...I just convinced him to sign onto the chat!! HI MATTTTTT

Craig Edwards

9:06

Hi Matt.

Dennis

9:06

speaking of organizational failure... the mets

Craig Edwards

9:07

Heyo

Amoanipupas

9:07

PSA/reminder : if youre looking to go to any WS game in person. Please be very careful about buying tickets from a person or platform you haven't used before or otherwise trust. Houston police arrested people for selling fake, non valid tickets.

David Laurila

9:07

Important info that goes for any city.

Cole's Law

9:07

Not to harp(er) on this narrative thing but him and Harper are held to a standard is not normal all b/c they were super hyped and super young.

Dennis

9:08

David, why do u prefer Pedro Grifol?

Craig Edwards

9:08

I'll give that a C-. But sometimes team success and player success get conflated, which is still happening with Washington.

David Laurila

9:09

Hard to answer Grifol question succinctly, but a few years ago I had more than one person tell me he's a future big-league manager. From my handful of interactions with him, I can see why.

Panda Bare

9:09

Do I need to sign in somehow ?

Craig Edwards

9:09

No.

Jeff

9:10

If we had a WAR for managers, what do you think the range would be?

....

9:10

Do you think the Astro’s regret the Reddick contract?

David Laurila

9:10

Compared to quantifying catcher value, quantifying manager value would be... harder. Much harder.

Craig Edwards

9:11

He had a good season when they won the World Series though didn't play well in the playoffs. I doubt they have huge regrets. It hasn't stopped them from filling any other holes.

Tony Wolfe

9:12

I mean, Reddick isn't exactly breaking the bank. He's put up 5.5 WAR for about $39 million. He's not Chris Davis.

TrentC

9:12

At age 32 do you think the Astros will be able to trade Reddick and his 13 million dollar salary this off-season?

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