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Craig Edwards FanGraphs Chat--5/14/2020
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Bob Loblaw's Knoblauch
3:00
Thanks for all the writing that you've been doing, Craig. Who's your favorite player who was picked after the first five rounds?
Craig Edwards
3:00
Thanks. Albert Pujols comes to mind first.
J
3:00
In WAR models do utility players get value added for playing a lot of innings at different positions? Should they? Or put another way, would Chris Taylor (for example) get more WAR if he exclusively played SS (assuming he got the same amount of PA’s)?
Craig Edwards
3:03
They do not, save for the added playing time that nets them more PA, opportunities and runs over replacement. It's great that Chris Taylor can play shortstop, but wouldn't he be a better player if he were the best shortstop on the team and was good enough to play there everyday. By being a utility player, it is a bit of an admission that he isn't as good, whether offensively or defensively. He's good enough to keep playing at other positions, which has value, but I don't see how it is as valuable as being the best shortstop on the team for a full season.
Woody
3:04
Is the proposed 20 man "taxi squad" just a substitute for AAA since it doesn't look like there will be a minor league season? Is the assumption that those players don't earn service time on the taxi squad correct? Will teams man the taxi squad with their "real prospects" (even some with no chance to reach the majors in 2020 e.g. Julio Rodriguez) and leave out the roster fillers or will the taxi squad be more like AAA depth?
Craig Edwards
3:06
That sort of depends on what the team wants. They might want a mix of ready talent like a Triple-A club mixed with a couple really good younger prospects to keep them close and help accelerate their development. I suspect it will mostly be players who can jump right in and contribute but it is possible that a few players who might not be completely ready get a chance this season.
John
3:06
Hey Craig, just wanted to say your articles have been a breath of fresh air. I’ve cited them frequently with friends and family, who are more casual observers and don’t fully comprehend the scale of a lot of these things. If my job/your jobs didn’t depend on baseball returning, I’d honestly be okay with the players union sticking it to owners and not playing this year. This whole ordeal from Manfred and owners has been truly sickening.
Craig Edwards
3:07
Thanks for risking family harmony to speak truth, John. I agree that baseball owners are doing the sport a disservice with the way they've handled things, but I'm still hopeful nobody will need to stick it to anybody when all is said and done and there's a safe and fair resumption of the sport.
Bob Loblaw's Knoblauch
3:07
Hot take: the baseball season is too long anyway.
Craig Edwards
3:08
I love the long baseball season. It's part of what make the sport great. Plus it actually matters because playoff spots are still somewhat hard to come by.
Hank
3:08
How can MLB possibly handle the possibility of a fight breaking out on the field?
Craig Edwards
3:08
I'd really hope that the players wouldn't do that. Really hope.
Farhandrew Zaidman
3:09
In retrospect, was Grienke's 6 year $206.5 mil contract an overpay for the Diamondbacks, or actual market value?
Craig Edwards
3:10
Pretty close to market value, I'd say. And given that they got a decent prospect package for him in exchange for paying a little bit of the money owed says the same. It isn't a contract I necessarily would have bet on given other alternatives, but it worked out fine.
Farhandrew Zaidman
3:10
What's the best core of young players to never win it all? My hometown bias wants to say Kemp/Kershaw/Ethier/Martin/Loney but that can't be the best.
Craig Edwards
3:11
I also agree that can't be the best.
3:13
I don't know what the answer is off the top of my head, but outside of Kershaw, there's not another Hall of Famer in the bunch, maybe Martin, but Loney wasn't ever really good and Ethier was only slightly above average.
Farhandrew Zaidman
3:14
Say the MLB and MLBPA inexplicably agree to a fantasy draft of all MLB and MiLB players for the 2020 season only. Rosters revert to normal for 2021. Who is the second pick after Trout? Who is the first MiLB player taken and in which round?
Craig Edwards
3:14
In a shortened season, I'm guessing it would be a pitcher with Cole most likely. Bellinger most likely position player to go second.
Jack
3:15
So wtfork happens to the already historically underrated C position once they add the automated strike zone?
Craig Edwards
3:15
We continue to have trouble evaluating and quantifying the production of catchers just like we have for decades.
Jack
3:15
90s Indians
Craig Edwards
3:17
that's a good one. Belle, Thome, Manny, Lofton.
Jack
3:17
Ian Happ: breakout big bat CFer to be?
Craig Edwards
3:17
I doubt it but possible, I suppose.
Travis
3:19
If you could develop an analytics related skill during quarantine, where would you focus?  What's stopping you from getting there right now?
Craig Edwards
3:20
For me personally, I'd probably just dig deeper into pitch movement, spin rate stuff like that. What's stopping me is just the lack of time.
v2micca
3:20
It looks like the discussion surrounding the concessions for the upcoming MLB season is the first time in a while that the MLBPA has had some serious leverage vs the owners.  But, to me at least, it doesn't seem like they are using it to try to address some long term issues.
Craig Edwards
3:21
Players have a lot of leverage with the owners every time a CBA is up. They just didn't get the deal they could have last time around. I don't know if this is the time to try and seek a better long term deal when the current contract is up after 2021.
3:22
That's going to do it for today. Thanks for all your questions.
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