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Craig Edwards FanGraphs Chat--1/30/2020
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Christian
2:58
If Babe Ruth were born today and had access to modern training techniques, etc., would he be the greatest HR hitter in history?  Or would he just end up playing football or basketball because that's what great young athletes do these days?
Craig Edwards
3:00
His quick-twitch skills would probably still best apply to baseball and his size wouldn't be enormous enough to go to other sports. Mike Trout has 20 pounds on Ruth's listed weight. My guess is that if Ruth was able to adapt to the speed of the modern game, he'd be more of an all-around hitter than a slugger.
Kevin
3:00
Corey Kluber: Worried about him this year? Feels like everyone is sour on him to fit their narrative (Indians sold low, he was awful last year ignoring the SSS, and his fastball is terrible) blah blah blah. You on that train or do we see a top line starter, in line with a Strasburg?
Craig Edwards
3:01
I don't see that, though (and I feel like I am saying this about all the pitchers in this chat), a four-win season seems within reach. Kluber's skills were on the decline before he had the injury-riddled season, but that doesn't mean a healthy Kluber can't still be good. Great is unlikely.
Kurupt FM
3:03
The jays have essentially no plus defenders besides their catchers. Is that sustainable? How would you go about addressing this issue considering their trio of prodigious sons generally project to be bad to average fielders.
Craig Edwards
3:04
There are a lot of ways to win. If the pitching is strikeout heavy and the offensive is powerful, it's something that can be overcome. Of course, the Jays in 2020 aren't the next Jays team that will contend so it is something that could fix itself in the next couple years.
Alex
3:04
More games played for the Yankees this season: Clint Frazier or Aaron Hicks?
Craig Edwards
3:04
Hicks.
pumpsie
3:04
Would you prefer a compensation system based on service time or age? I'd go league minimum up to age 23 and FA at age 29 for hitters and skew a little higher for pitchers.
Craig Edwards
3:06
I still think service time makes the most sense, though how it accrues could maybe use some modification. There are some players who play their first season of pro ball at 23 and there shouldn't be any more reason to ignore those players than there already is.
Kevin
3:07
Any non-baseball subjects you like to chat about?
Craig Edwards
3:08
I try to keep myself somewhat well rounded, watching tv and movies, listening to music, reading books, etc., but most of my non-family time is devoted to thinking about baseball.
pumpsie
3:09
Different types of players, but same position: would Heyward get Ozuna's or Castellanos' contract if he were a FA?
Craig Edwards
3:09
Today? Ozuna's.
Alex
3:09
Do you expect the Red Sox impending punishment to be the last of this electronic sign-stealing scandal or do you expect more to follow over the next year or so?
Craig Edwards
3:10
There will probably be more trickling out at some point, but this is likely to be the last of the major punishments.
A few plugs and maybe a few more questions before I get going.
I wrote about a potential Mookie Betts trade. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/walking-through-a-potential-mookie-betts-t...
3:13
I will be in Arizona in March if you are interested. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/fangraphs-phoenix-meetup-march...
diadem
3:14
You in on the Villar regression wagon? How bad is it? Same same Pham?
Craig Edwards
3:14
Miami is not the park I'd want to go to if homers were a big part of why I put up a career year.
3:15
The same is true for Pham somewhat but another three-win seasons seems more reasonable.
Scott
3:15
Is juiced ball in AAA going to decrease emphasis placed on stats there? For instance,  Varsho hit very well at AA; will anything be learned about bat and baserunning in AAA? Or should players lIke him just consider skipping? Lux might be a counter point.
Craig Edwards
3:16
You can discount the stats there and still learn about a player's performance. Walks and strikeouts and solid contact. Teams have the Statcast data so they can go off that without worrying too much about the ball.
That's going to do it for me today. Thanks for all the questions.
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