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August Fagerstrom FanGraphs Chat -- 10/21/16
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august fagerstrom
12:23
I hate to root for/against any outcome, but man would it be a buzzkill to see the Giants back in the WS given all the exciting, fresh options that still exist as possibilities
Then again, the Giants are, in a way, exciting on their own, just because of how ridiculous the story would become if they got back
JT
12:24
SHAPIRO BOWL 2016
august fagerstrom
12:24
This is a pretty cool and underrated part of the Indians-Blue Jays ALCS
2-D
12:24
If Salazar can go in the ALCS do you think he jumps up into Shaw's role?
august fagerstrom
12:24
Depends entirely on how good they think his arm feels
12:25
I sort of doubt it. If he's on the roster he'd strike me as more of a bridge guy between the starters and back end of the pen if necessary
But if they think his arm is close to full strength, just not with the durability to be stretched back out to start, then that changes thing
Tim
12:26
So I've forever found it incredible that pitchers usually get a free strike in a 3-0 count, and have been wondering if there's some sort of strategy to employ around that. I'm thinking a guy throws junk to get to 3-0 (and if he gets someone to chase then all the better), then takes his free strike down the pipe. At that point he just needs two (admittedly great) pitches, and on the first one he could take advantage of a batter who's probably over-swinging. Obviously a huge margin for error here, and it'd require a dude with stellar control for those 3-1 and 3-2 counts, but do you think there's anything to employing this in certain scenarios?
august fagerstrom
12:26
No, it's shockingly difficult to just put the ball over the plate
Tim
12:26
Also, does it annoy you when a broadcaster says a pitcher "evens the count at 2-2"? That's not really even, right?
august fagerstrom
12:27
I guess technically you're right, but it's inconsequential enough for me to have never even thought of it
Matt
12:28
On a scale of Crippling Depression to Elated, how happy are you that the Cubs did not sweep? Living in Chicago and being an out-of-towner, I'm kinda pumped. These fans got big heads real quick.
august fagerstrom
12:28
I'm just happy to have seen (the first 12 innings of) an incredible baseball game
Momus
12:29
So Toronto and Cleveland - one of them will be representing the AL in the World Series. That's pretty cool either way. Who's your pick?
august fagerstrom
12:29
Toronto I think pretty clearly has the better team. But so did the Red Sox! That's the thing about playoff baseball
Dan
12:30
Please calm my nerves. --Cubs fan
august fagerstrom
12:31
The Cubs are up 2-1 and have the best team in baseball
Tess of the D'Arnouds
12:31
Just a reminder that while David Ortiz was very good (140 wRC+, 50.5 fWAR, 55.4 bWAR), Edgar Martinez was better (147 wRC+, 65.5 fWAR, 68.3 bWAR).
august fagerstrom
12:31
necessary reminder
not to shit on Ortiz but to highlight how freaking good Edgar was
Minty
12:31
Since they have to win twice, what're your thought on Kershaw on short rest over Urias+ today and Kershaw in 5?
august fagerstrom
12:32
I'm not huge on pitching guys on short rest, particularly when the other option is a pitcher as good as Urias
I think it's one thing with the Indians, whose alternative is someone like Mike Clevinger or Cody Anderson
Urias is another story
Then again, so is Clayton Kershaw
12:33
IDK. From where I'm sitting, I probably start Urias, but it's also hard for me to argue with the guys who have literally more relevant information on Kershaw and Urias than anyone else in the world
The Lure of the Animal
12:33
Given the state of the Indians' rotation, how do you expect Tito to use Miller in a 7-game series?
august fagerstrom
12:33
The same way he did in a 5-game series
Whatever is necessary to win the game being played
Jordan
12:34
Would Toronto still have the better starting pitching if everyone in Clevelands rotation was healthy?
august fagerstrom
12:34
No
Erik
12:34
Do the Indians or Blue Jays look like World Series winning teams? Obviously, upsets are common in the playoffs, but do they look as good as your typical World Series winner?
august fagerstrom
12:35
Blue Jays have a "legitimate World Series" roster, whatever that means, in my opinion. Indians as currently constructed look no worse than the last two WS winners
Jordan
12:36
August; what is your position on steroids/HOF, level playing field and all of that? Personally I loved the steroid Era, all those HR's, it got me back into baseball, Sosa and Mcgwire, watching Bonds turn into something even more out of this world. Basically I couldn't care less, this isn't amature or Olympic baseball, this is professional.
august fagerstrom
12:39
I couldn't give a shit less. For one, we have no way to say definitively say who was or wasn't using, so it's irresponsible to play judge jury and executioner subjectively without any evidence. Two, the guys who were juicing were playing against other juicers, so their accomplishments honestly aren't much diminished in my mind. Third, and most importantly to me but also most subjectively, I view the Hall of Fame as a historical museum more than anything else, and what happened during the steroid era cannot be erased by the history books. That's the baseball of my childhood, and what upsets me the most is the thought of taking a potential child of mine to the Hall of Fame one day and not being able to show him the plaques of guys like McGwire and Bonds and share with them the baseball experiences of my childhood that helped me fall in love with the sport that turned into my career
CamdenWarehouse
12:40
2004 is kinda lost on me, but it seems like a lot of people give the championship credit to Ortiz even though Ramirez may have been more valuable to them.
august fagerstrom
12:40
2014 postseason

Ortiz: 222 wRC+, +1.98 WPA
Ramirez: 141 wRC+, +0.49 WPA
E
12:40
do you think Ortiz follows through and stays retired?
august fagerstrom
12:41
Would be real tough to pull a takeback after a year's worth of gift baskets and retirement tour-celebrations
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