JotCast | Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat

Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat - 5/28/2020

Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page

Joel

12:36

Speak to questions of contraction and what will happen to MILB’s infrastructure.

Dan Szymborski

12:37

I think MLB is going to wait until the smoke clears and see which minor league teams are still in business.

Because realistically, I think the idea of a 2020 season is dead.

Billy G

12:37

It's kinda hard to think these owners actually care about baseball. It feels almost like it's been corporatized to a point where they're ignoring the long term prospects of the sport (oh great we're falling further behind NFL and NBA!) just to make sure they protect their precious long term valuation.

Dan Szymborski

12:38

I really preferred to have Bud Selig.

Bud Selig could be a douchelord as much as any commish, but at his core, I never had any doubt that Selig actually liked baseball.

Billy G

12:38

And yes, I am a bitter A's fan who absolutely hates what they did

Vroom Vroom Guy

12:38

Twitter is fun to laugh at. But I really wish it didn’t exist

Dan Szymborski

12:38

I both love and abhor twitter.

Narvain

12:38

As much as MLB's offer is a list of what they want, I've never heard anyone refute MLB's statement that the March deal was structured that they would not start unless playing with fans. If that's the case then the players insistence on sticking to the march deal is really just them giving a list of what they want as well. I don't see how I can really side with either party at this point. Is there something I'm missing?

Dan Szymborski

12:39

I think the owners have been more bullshitty in public negotiations, but I prefer to not take sides. I can't speak for all journalists and am not qualified to pass judgement on anyone but myself, but I feel my analysis is most effective when I am a neutral party.

12:40

If I didn't have a favorite team long before I became a writer, I probably would not have a personal rooting interest right now.

And I disclose I'm an Oriole fan for the purpose of unconscious bias.

Dave

12:40

Was that photo of you used in these chats taken after eating some bad chili?

Dan Szymborski

12:40

Someone asked me at one point to update Twitter avatar with a representation of how I feel about everything right now.

Isolated Thinker

12:40

That right there is another source of division among players. Some take the pandemic seriously, wear a mask, and feel the safety protocols are not enough, and some do not take it seriously, never wear a mask, and think the protocols are way too much. Internal clashes will happen! Some players could just decide not to play if they don't feel it is safe after a game or two. Agree?

Dan Szymborski

12:41

I think owners are cognizant of this which is partially the reason for the sliding scale proposal, too.

Owners did an amazing job splitting the MLBPA against itself in drug testing negotiations, going on 20 years ago.

Players interests are wider and there are 1200 of them or so.

Sir Nerdlington

12:41

Was the 170M an advance that needs to be repaid or pay for April and may akin to the pay the milb players received? If the former, seems like a big giveaway not to die for full salaries.

Dan Szymborski

12:42

It does not need to be repaid, I believe, unless there's a season.

Jack

12:42

Do you suspect Beltran was such a great basestealer and runne because he stole signs? That's like the hugest crime

Dan Szymborski

12:42

That seems a harder argument to make.

Sir Nerdlington

12:42

Think the Oakland sentiment affects the stadium negotiations? The local pols can't be happy.

Dan Szymborski

12:42

Honestly, I would hope so.

BarryBondsJuicedForOurSins

12:42

Would you have one or two sentences to say to the people defending the owners' progressive pay cut scale?

Dan Szymborski

12:43

Not really. I don't care to lecture.

Jack

12:43

Do you do ZiPs projections for draft prospects? Is NCAA data a few years off?

Dan Szymborski

12:43

I do translations of college players when I *have* to. Not when I don't!

Sir Nerdlington

12:43

Will anyone sign with Oakland if they have literally any other offer?

Dan Szymborski

12:43

I would hope not!

hscer

12:43

potato chops and pork chips

Dan Szymborski

12:43

Joe

12:43

Is there somewhere that does a championships added formula, that accounts for things like how War needs to be clustered and 3 war in 2 positions is not as valuable as 6 war in 1 position? Anywhere you can direct me to read up on it would be appreciated

Dan Szymborski

12:44

I dont' think any such thing exists. Though it may; it's not like 1995 and it's hard to know everything sabermetric that texists.

Jack

12:45

Will people start supporting paying NCAA athletes now? It's hilarious that the minors existed for a century and peopleonly gave a shit about wages at the vey end under a crushing CBA

Dan Szymborski

12:45

People won't support it.

Jack

12:45

I'm going to be sad if the Cubs dump their Eugene affiliate. OTOH Eugene is tied to the Oregon Ducks and use their baseball field. Does this make them safer than most MiL teams?

Dan Szymborski

12:45

I don't think anyone's safe.

hscer

12:45

If we held a commissioner lottery to redistribute the current 4 around the leagues, what would be the ideal result?

Connecting…