JotCast | Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/23/21

Chat With MLBTR's Steve Adams: 2/23/21

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Logan Kowatsch

3:07

Do you think Kolten Wong will have a power increase this year at American Family Field like Christian Yelich did in 2018?

Steve Adams

3:09

No. Yelich's power spike wasn't because of playing his home games at Miller Park. He always had some raw power -- more than Wong -- changed his approach at the dish (swinging early more often) and then made a conscious effort to hit the ball in the air more often with massively successful results.

3:10

Maybe Wong's power numbers go up a slight bit -- I doubt it, especially with the apparent deadening of the ball -- but he's not going to break out on some kind of Yelich-esque level

Doc Roberts

3:10

beuhler or Bauer in must win game?

Steve Adams

3:11

A question like that leaves out so much vital context. What type of rest are both pitchers on? Who is the opponent? What type of breaking/offspeed pitches does their lineup thrive against? The Dodgers themselves would never just make the decision in a vacuum.

Since this is just for fun, I'll say Buehler in a vacuum, but there are plenty of scenarios where I'd say Bauer. Short rest being one of the many.

Timothy

3:12

What is your honest opinion of Joe Ross, Austin Voth and Erick Fedde?

Steve Adams

3:14

I think both Ross and Voth have the tools to be above-average starting pitchers in the Majors. At this point, I'd rather just see what Fedde can do in the 'pen.

The Final Boss

3:14

What is your dishonest opinion of Joe Ross, Austin Voth and Erick Fedde?

Steve Adams

3:14

They're space aliens!

Steve B

3:15

Are The White Sox looking at Porcello and/or Odorizzi as possible additions? If not, why not?

Steve Adams

3:15

Rick Hahn all but said he's done with Major League signings and that any further additions would be minor league deals.

3:16

Possible that an injury or a radical change in asking price changes his mind. Also not impossible that Porcello takes a minor league deal. But I don't see the White Sox as a likely fit for either right now.

Eric T

3:16

Can you see Zach Davies having a better season than Yu Darvish?

Steve Adams

3:17

Darvish could get hurt and be the less-valuable of the two, sure. If they're both healthy, Darvish is the better pitcher for me by a fair margin. Doesn't rule out some kind of bizarre collapse or some mammoth breakout from Davies, but I'd pretty confidently bet on Darvish assuming both are healthy

SD Time

3:17

Kim's role in SD? Starting 2B at the break of camp? How do you see him doing?

Steve Adams

3:18

He'll bounce around the diamond and spell all of Machado, Tatis and Cronenworth

Johnny Brewer Fan

3:18

In a vaccum: Burnes or Woodruff?

Steve Adams

3:18

Burnes

Angels fan

3:19

How alphabet the Angels not added more to their bullpen? Iglesias was a good start but then nothing to follow it up. I understand not being able to add an ace but not making your pen into a major strength is an issue in my humble opinion.

Steve Adams

3:20

Yeah -- I quite liked the Iglesias pickup for them at the time. Thought they got Alex Claudio at a perfectly reasonable price, too. But I agree that it's surprising they just didn't do much from that point on. It feels to me like the front office was handcuffed a bit as ownership looks toward Pujols finally being off the books next winter.

Jay Bruce

3:20

Am I making the Yankees 25 man roster right out of camp or will I be on another team on Opening Day?

Steve Adams

3:21

I have a hard time seeing Bruce stick, personally. Especially now with Gardner back.

Richter

3:21

I hear the Cardinals have 'interest' in Odorizzi...Do you see them making a late-spring training push for him or another starter if available?

Steve Adams

3:23

If he's suddenly willing to take one year, sure. But if he pivots and tells teams he's going to take the best one-year offer, that probably isn't going to come from the Cardinals. At that point you're looking Blue Jays, Mets, Brewers -- maybe back to the Twins?

Angels, too, in that scenario

3:23

If a player gets put on the 60 Day IL in February, do they have to wait 60 days after opening day to be eligible to return?

Steve Adams

3:23

IL stints can be backdated three days, so they technically have to wait 57 days.

3:24

But you're correct that it's not based on the date in spring training that they're placed on the IL

Pirates Sufferer

3:24

Any chance the pirates take on a former top prospect I.e Dustin Fowler?

Steve Adams

3:24

Might as well. Their outfield mix is pretty bleak.

I gotta say it

3:24

Adell for Marquez or Castillo. Which teams say no at the mid way point ?

Steve Adams

3:25

Corner outfielders (Adell) are generally valued at a far lesser rate than controllable No. 2 starters (Marquez, Castillo)

3:26

I still like Adell and think Angels fans have soured on him to bizarre levels, but if they could've traded him straight up for Luis Castillo that'd have been done awhile ago.

Braves20

3:27

Maybe I missed it, but it would be neat to have a profile of each of somewhere on the site. But for now what was the 9-5 gig you gave up?

Steve Adams

3:28

There is one! Under the "About" section on the web site:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/03/meet-the-mlbtr-writing-team.htm...

I was an SEO copywriter and proposal writer for custom software companies and also ran my company's Google Ad campaigns.

That feels like a long time ago, ha

Also those bios are probably due for an update

Adam

3:28

Whats the ballpark you've never been to you want to watch a game at the most?

Steve Adams

3:29

PNC in Pittsburgh. I had plans to hit that an Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park in 2020 before chaos descended upon us.

Alejandro Pena

3:30

Braves out of money, even for relievers?

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