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Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 10/4/18
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Palka Palka Palka
3:54
Why not Daniel Palka in ROY vote?
Steve Adams
3:54
He had a .290 OBP and only played 500ish innings (of poor defense) in the field.
Manny
3:56
Will I stay with the Dodgers with Seager moving to 2nd base?
Steve Adams
3:56
Doubt it. We haven't seen the Dodgers top the market on any free agent under Friedman & Co. If they do it for one free agent, I'd bet on Kershaw over Machado or Harper.
Jeff Bridich
3:58
Who should my top target be this offseason? Grandal?
Steve Adams
3:59
That'd be my pick, yeah. Or Ramos. Or a massive haul to land Realmuto. Really, they just need a solid everyday option back there -- much as they did last offseason.
Guy Jackson
3:59
Could Nelson Cruz be an option for the Rockies at 1st base?
Rays
3:59
We have $30 mil in payroll for next year, you sure we won’t sign Cruz?
Steve Adams
4:00
I cannot see the Rays shelling out $17MMish for one free agent's salary, no. I also don't see any reason to believe Cruz could be a competent first base option for the Rox (or anyone else)
Thames
4:01
How about I go to Colorado?  Probably wouldn't cost too much right?
Steve Adams
4:01
That fit makes more sense, and I can see the Brewers moving him on the heels of Aguilar's breakout (plus with ample options in the OF)
Yys
4:01
Why is girardi not the top option for every team in search of a manager?
Steve Adams
4:03
Same reason he wasn't the Yankees' top choice probably. Not every team is going to view even a successful manager in terms of wins/losses as a fit for their organization. I don't think front offices associate wins/losses with the manager anywhere near as much as most fans do; it's more about the strength of their relationship and communication with that manager, plus that manager's ability to build relationships with players and get them to buy into the vision of the front office (which, increasingly, is the implementation of data)
Cards fan
4:04
Ozuna was worth it?
Steve Adams
4:04
I don't think so -- especially since they apparently knew his shoulder was bad and made the deal anyway.
Ed
4:05
Reds will probably try to sign one starter. Who is it? Lance Lynn? Maybe 3yr-36M?
Steve Adams
4:08
I cannot imagine how quickly Lance Lynn's camp would accept $36MM guaranteed after the season he had. That's more than 3x what I'd expect him to get.

They'll probably push to bring Harvey back and maybe look at some upside plays ... Pomeranz? Buchholz? I doubt they'll spend on top or even second-tier guys.
Rocco Rox
4:08
Jon Gray for Sonny Gray-thoughts?
Steve Adams
4:08
If Bridich trades three years of Jon for one of Sonny, he should be committed.
Bill Statman
4:09
Do you think most fans care about launch angles, exit velocities wRC+, etc?  Or do you think most prefer the good ol' batting average, HR and RBI and oh, by the way, actually watching the game instead of just looking at a computer with stats?
Steve Adams
4:13
I think your question exposes a lot of misconceptions about stats and more analytically inclined folks. Namely, the idea that those who are into newer stats don't even watch the game. That's a total myth that people try to use to undermine newer ways of looking at the game.

To your actual question, I bet more fans care more about traditional stats, but only because the talking heads on TV spend inordinate amounts of the broadcast lamenting that the game isn't played the way it used to be and suggesting that newer metrics are silly. I must have heard RBIs referenced 50 times during the Wild Card broadcast last night.

If you want to focus on traditional stats, that's great. Enjoy the game the way you want to enjoy it. But treating newer stats like they're some kind of alien concept that is "ruining" the game, as many broadcasters do, does a disservice to listeners. It's not a fad, it's not a trend. It's not going away. And front offices don't give a crap how many runs someone knocked in for the most part
4:14
Trumpeting that as the be-all, end-all of player value only creates a disconnect between the way fans value players and the way they're actually valued in the market, which creates tons of resentment from fans toward front offices. Let's balance out some of that new-school/old school dichotomy and do so in a respectful way that presents newer metrics and theories in a manner other than a novelty or some trend that'll eventually fade away.
4:15
Alright -- I'm getting off my soap box and wrapping up for the week. Jeff will be back next week. I'll chat again Tuesday at 2pm CT. I'm on Twitter @Adams_Steve.

Thanks for chatting everyone!
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