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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams 4/28/21
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Steve Adams
2:37
A lot. I would think the Braves would just give Drew Waters a chance before they deplete the farm to bring in a year and a half of Gallo
BackForMore
2:38
Which unsigned pitcher if any do you see coming back this season?
Steve Adams
2:40
Hamels seems likely -- just needs to get to a point where he feels ready to showcase for other clubs, and it doesn't seem like we're there yet. Anibal will sign somewhere soon. Don't know what's going on with Shane Greene but last indication I received was that he's still likely to pitch in '21.
Mike R.
2:40
If you HAD to choose between banning the shift or moving the mound back to 61'6" which would you choose and which would be better for the sport?
Steve Adams
2:42
I won't notice or care if they move the mound back. I think banning the shift is stupid. There's no defined spots where a fielder is supposed to stand. The reason "traditional" defensive alignment even exists is because they tried to disperse fielders evenly to cover as much ground as possible. Teams were shifting Ted Williams decades ago. We've never batted an eye at bringing the infield in, playing "no doubles" defense, etc. Those are shifts.

Now we just have data that actually informs shifts and makes them more effective.
Melchez
2:43
What order do you see the draft going?  Leiter, Rocker, Lawler?
Steve Adams
2:44
I'm not a draft person, and those decisions can change so much in the course of the next 2.5 months anyway. An injury, dip in velocity, uptick in someone else's performance. One team looks to cut a deal to spend more down the board, etc.
Seems like Marcelo Mayer is forcing himself into the conversation as well though, for what it's worth.
A Vaughn
2:44
Why am I not being used more????
Steve Adams
2:45
I have no idea but it is a failure by Tony La Russa and/or the White Sox org as a whole to do this stop-and-start crap with him. He should be getting regular at-bats rather than sitting on the bench and starting three games a week.
Analytics Schmanalytics
2:46
Hey Steve, let me know when I should expect DeGrom, Cole, and Bieber's walk rates to "regress" to 9%. Greinke too, man, that sub 4% walk rate clearly not sustainable over... checks notes... 1200 batters... nope, definitely random and not a skill.
Steve Adams
2:47
Is this in reference to Plesac? It's not "analytics" to say a pitcher can't sustain a 2.8% walk rate. It's just reality.

Here's the list of qualified pitchers with a 2.8% walk rate or better, dating back to 2016:
Wait, there aren't any.
2:48
Josh Tomlin is at 2.9%. Miles Mikolas is at 3.9%. No one else is under 4
2:49
And Plesac walked 8.4% of hitters his rookie season. Greg Maddux is the poster boy for 80-grade command, and he walked 4.9% of his career hittes at a time when guys walked less than in 2021.

I appreciate the unnecessary aggression and condescending tone though.
Useless knowledge
2:49
Steve Adams and I are happily married.
Steve Adams
2:49
This seems accurate.
BravesandReds
2:50
WINKER!!
Steve Adams
2:51
Jesse Winker rakes. I've been a big fan of the bat for years -- happy to see him breaking out like this. He's obviously not going to hit .390 or whatever he's at, but I'm buying a career year at the plate.
Kate
2:52
Does Kieboom get a shot at the Nats 3B job again at some point this year?
Steve Adams
2:53
Yeah I think so. Guys like him were really hurt by the lack of a minor league season last year. He didn't really have the competitive game setting to go to work out his mechanics and rebuild confidence after failing for basically the first time in his pro career in 2019, so they just stuck him right back out there in the Majors and got clobbered again. He's still only 23 and he's hit at pretty much every minor league stop.
2:54
Get him some work in Triple-A, get him in a good spot mechanically and confidence-wise, and I think he'll get another look.
Guest
2:54
How long of a leash should the twins give colome?? He’s been awful
Steve Adams
2:55
He'll get longer than three weeks or whatever it's been, but he's going to move into low-leverage spots to try to get right. I was pretty surprised Baldelli stuck him back out there in the 8th in a one-run game right after saying yesterday he'd get lower-leverage work, and Colome had maybe his worst outing yet.
Mark Firkus
2:56
Do you think the Diamondbacks record is sustainable?   And Yes/No  MadBum threw a no-hitter on Sunday.
Steve Adams
2:56
Lots of questions about the MadBum no-no. It's not his fault there were no more opportunities for him to get guys out. He went the full, designated length of the game and didn't give up a hit. I say yeah.
Rowland Office
2:58
Soroka pitch this year?  Yes or No
Steve Adams
2:58
No indication he won't.
Kris Bryant
2:58
Are the Cubs planning to make an offer to me or am I going somewhere else, and where?
Steve Adams
2:58
I think this is his last year with the Cubs.
Hank Thompson 1949
2:59
Expecting the Giants to regress some, but how much? Are the playing way beyond their ability, or were we underrating them? Thanks Steve!
Steve Adams
3:01
Some of both. The problem with the Giants -- or at least one of my personal problems with their roster -- was that I really liked all the one-year additions they made to the rotation ... I just don't expect them to stay healthy. They've already had some injuries, and I think the volatility in the starting staff is going to become an issue at some point.

I'll concede they're probably a bit better than I pegged them for prior to the season, but I don't think they're on the Dodgers/Padres level either.
Nicholas
3:02
What's your take on Michael Kopech so far?
Steve Adams
3:02
He's awesome and will probably continue to be awesome so long as he remains healthy.
3:03
Alright, I've got to wrap up for the week. Have a phone call scheduled for like ... now. I'm on Twitter @Adams_Steve and will try to do next week's chat on the actual correct day (Tuesday, 2pm CT).

Have a great week everyone!
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