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Craig Edwards FanGraphs Chat -- 3/14/2019
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Craig Edwards
1:59
Hope everyone is well.
Big Fan
2:00
No question, just a comment that I can't wait to start reading the work of all of your new writers, and it's AMAZING what a diverse group you've managed to put together!
Craig Edwards
2:01
It is a great group, and I think they will do a great job providing important (to me) analysis about baseball.
Mac
2:01
Would teams be willing to pay the risk of injury for the 2-way player if Ohtani instead had the position player profile of Kiermaier, where most of that value comes from playing the field, and can’t really DH?
Craig Edwards
2:03
Depends on how much value. If it Ohtani-level pitching expectations, then probably not. If the player were middle-reliever level, then yes. If Kevin Kiemaier profiled as an average pitcher, they would probably do the reverse-Ohtani, and limit innings exposure while providing the time in the field.
Mac
2:03
With MLB’s commitment to making as much money as possible, how did shortened commercial breaks get passed or are we just getting more in-game commercials to make up for it?
Craig Edwards
2:04
don't be surprised if games start like 3 minutes later to make up for the missed commercials. We aren't exactly talking about a ton of time.
Cove Dweller
2:04
Outside of the ASG/HR Derby bonuses, I'm having a hard time understanding why the MLBPA would agree to these changes. Are the players getting something I'm missing? Did the MLBPA play its hand poorly?
Craig Edwards
2:06
Some of the changes can be imposed without player consent and players didn't want a pitch clock. If that was important for the players, it is probably a mistake to give up something for it. What the players are really getting is one more full-time player, which would presumably help a bunch of vets looking for jobs as well as a few more minor leaguers getting earlier exposure to the majors.
brad
2:06
Craig,  Could/Should the Yankees trade betances for a prospect but mostly to clear cap and sign Kimbrel?
Craig Edwards
2:07
Wouldn't it have been easier to not sign the other relievers and then sign Kimbrel? Trading Betances isn't out of the question, but doing it to add Kimbrel doesn't make them way better given the guys they already have in the pen.
Dave
2:08
If they're going to have one trade deadline, shouldn't it atleast be moved back a couple of weeks?  End of July is pretty early
Craig Edwards
2:09
I think a lot of people wanted August 15, and that would have made sense. It's pretty arbitrary regardless. You don't want to have it too late because you have more teams drop out and give up. Keeping more teams in contention or apparent contention is better.
John
2:09
With cable/satellite customers declining, when is the day of reckoning for Regional Sports Networks, since they are the most expensive channels with the lowest actual viewership?
Craig Edwards
2:11
They also have the most loyal viewers, which is why they are so expensive. We see a lot of surveys that show a bunch of people would happily drop sports for a reduction in their bill, but fewer about how many would drop a subscription completely if the sports were removed. Most skinny bundles without sports haven't been that popular. I think teams are going to have a difficult choice to make at some point when the number of subscribers declines to the point where they aren't reaching a large enough audience, but choosing to reach that larger audience will mean less guaranteed money.
Matt W
2:12
I hate the three batter minimum rule for the same reason I hate banning shifts: Don't make a rule that impacts actual, on field gameplay. I want a team to align its fielders in such a way that makes it most likely they will get the big out when they need to. I want a manager to be able to bring in whatever pitcher they feel is most necessary to get a big out. Full stop.
Craig Edwards
2:13
I'm not a fan of the rule change, but it isn't that more arbitrary than saying a pitcher has to pitch to one batter when batters can come right out without hitting. It is a matter of degree. I don't think this really solves any issues that baseball should be worried about, but that's only because pitching is so good right now. If baseball were to expand and pitching thinned out a bit, the three batter rule might end up with a decline in quality of relievers which is going to make the sport look bad.
RR
2:14
Brandon Nimmo = Christian Yelich 2.0. True or false?
Craig Edwards
2:14
False
Cathedral_of_Beisbol
2:14
At what point can we get our pitchforks regarding Manfred?  Unilaterally making a change as big as the "3-batter minimum" is some BS.  I hope the PA strikes and slaps Manfred down from his high horse.  I've got plenty of research projects to catch up on anyways.
Craig Edwards
2:14
If you don't already have them, you are behind the curve.
2:15
Manfred is employed by the owners and he is doing a generally good job, though some of the recent movements are a bit shortsighted.
smendrick
2:15
Any chance we're underrating the Yankees? They won 100 games last year and it seems like they have a lot of potential from Sanchez, Voit, Judge, and Stanton to see even greater improvements.
Craig Edwards
2:16
I don't think anyone is underrating the Yankees. Most thought they would win the division last year and many probably will again.
LPFan
2:17
What if Nationals add Kimbrel?
Craig Edwards
2:17
They would distance themselves from the rest of the division a bit more. They are already favorites and remade their pen a bit, and Kimbrel would presumably help them even more.
Brian
2:18
Who do you like more in 2019, Eovaldi or Eduardo?
Craig Edwards
2:18
Floor: Eovaldi, Ceiling: Eduardo
Tyler
2:19
Who would you be ok being the better player over the next five years: Juan Soto or Ronald Acuna? Why?
Craig Edwards
2:20
Between the two, I'm taking Acuna. More complete player.
stormin' norman gorman
2:20
as a chicago resident, do you have any reliable sources on the cubs' finances, or know anybody who does?
Craig Edwards
2:20
They are rich and have a lot of money. Will work to confirm.
brad
2:20
Everyone keeps saying  Jose Martinez would be a great player with playing time, but if he is that good, don't they have to play him?
Craig Edwards
2:21
I think he will play, but he's not going to be great. He's limited defensively, and his power is going to have to play a little better than it did last season.
Guille
2:21
July 28th. Angels out of it. Whitley, Bukauskas (or Josh James), Reddick (maybe) and Tucker for Trout. Who says no? kinda in the ballpark?
Craig Edwards
2:21
The Angels say no. I just can't see them trading Trout.
bruwin blue
2:22
Why is julio urias’ soft innings limit 70-100 IP? Seems like a waste of a season, even considering injury history
Craig Edwards
2:23
It helps lower expectations, for one, and maybe lower his usage earlier on in the season so that they don't waste a postseason, which might be worse given the dodgers' chances. If Strasburg had a soft cap of 120 however many years ago, maybe the Nationals would have made it to the NLCS or beyond.
Tom
2:23
Thoughts on Carlos Martinez as a closer?
Craig Edwards
2:24
I'm sure he would be a good closer, though if his arm can take it, he'd be much more valuable as a starter.
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