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Craig Edwards FanGraphs Chat--1/14/2021
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The Ghost of Wade Boggs
2:50
If you were to go back in time to grab the best player from that time and put them on a team today, how far back do you think could you go before that player is no longer an above average one by today's standards?
Craig Edwards
2:54
Did the best player come up in the same minors as today. I think once you get past Barry Bonds-era, hitters who saw an average fastball in the upper-80s would have trouble adapting to today's velocity without experience against it. If you are talking Cal Ripken Jr. or Mike Schmidt or Rickey Henderson, they probably manage to be above-average. Joe Morgan, probably. Hank Aaron, probably, but Mantle, Musial, Williams, that's tough. For reference, here's the post I was just looking at to see about best players. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mike-trout-and-the-greatest-offensive-deca...
Guest
2:55
I know we haven't really heard a lot about La Stella but whats the deal? 125 wRC+ and 3 wins over about 150 games last two years isn't bad for a guy who can play 3 IF positions.
Craig Edwards
2:57
He's a fine player, but he's just not in the upper tier. He's hurt a little because he isn't an everyday guy, you probably want to platoon him. I assume there will be a decent market for him once the top tier shakes out.
Guest
2:57
Do you think we will see a huge Armageddon of signings the week or so before spring training because by then we'll have an idea of the season start time? Or will this drag out Kimbrel/ Keuchel style into the season even?
Craig Edwards
3:00
I think in the next month, things will pick up. The arb deadline is tomorrow so there might be more trade activity and general team focus there on getting more certainty regarding payrolls. I don't think we'll see much Kimbrel/Keuchel situations particularly given the lack of QOs to guys in the middle tier of free agency. The QO guys are at the very top.
Kyle
3:00
Do you expect the slow free agent market to lead to more or fewer long-term extensions for players under team control?
Craig Edwards
3:03
I'm not sure it will have a big effect either way. In past years, the bigger names have not signed extensions unless it was close to free agent prices with a few notable (Atlanta) exceptions and teams approached the good, not great players for extensions. I'm not sure if there will be a match on extensions as much this season, but teams will certainly try to take advantage of uncertainty if they can.
Sam
3:04
Who is your projected player to have the biggest bounce back season?
Craig Edwards
3:05
There are a ton of good candidates, Javy Baez, Nolan Arenado, Joey Gallo, but I'll say Christian Yelich returns to form.
Mo’s bow tie
3:06
Bader and Johan Oviedo for Nimmo. Fair? Mets desperately need CF defense.
Craig Edwards
3:07
I don't see the Mets going into the season with only Bader in center field. They need a Bader-type to pair with Nimmo, not replace him.
Paul
3:07
Any chance the Cardinals let John Gant have a shot at starting this year? And if not who do you think is their #4 and #5 Starters?
Craig Edwards
3:08
I doubt it, as it seems like there are other players ahead of him preference-wise. For 4th and 5th starters, I'll say Adam Wainwright and Carlos Martinez.
Sam
3:09
If you could only bring 3 movies to a desert island, what would they be? And why would they be Angels in the outfield, a league of their own, and Rookie of the year?
Craig Edwards
3:09
I'll say Groundhog Day, Big Lebowski, and I Heart Huckabees.
Thanks for all the questions everyone. That's going to do it for today.
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