JotCast | Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat 7/30/26

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Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat 7/30/26

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Dan Szymborski

12:03

And awaaaay we go

Baseball Learner

12:04

Crazy baseball rule change question. ESPN ran an article about the rise of hit batters relative to the past. The next day Curtis Mead broke his wrist on an errant pitch. What if hit batters got two bases? Do you think pitchers would be more careful? How about combining that with 3 ball walks? I think it would juice offense and balls in play by making pitchers have to aim more.

Dan Szymborski

12:04

Seems a little too niche to be worth such a major change?

And in that, you also greatly incentivize a player to try and get hit very strongly

CT9

12:05

Is vegan chili still chili?

Dan Szymborski

12:05

No.

Is a meatloaf made to look like chocolate cake a cake? No

JCCfromDC

12:07

What do you think of the new management /coaching staff of the Nationals? How would you handle the trade deadline if you were in Toboni's chair (cats optional)?

Dan Szymborski

12:08

I think they've done well so far. I would be suggest they look at buying *or* selling depending on how things work out. They shouldn't make short-term moves for 2026, but they should look to be opportunistic

12:10

Be chesslike. Against great players, you typically don't win with grand moves, but through the accumulation of incremental gains, like trying your awkwardly placed knight for their strong bishop or a pawn swap that leaves you with better structure

I think Mead-Early was one of those types of things

Early is more useful to the Nats than Mead is

but the focus should be on guys who can help in 2027-2029

12:11

Like if you see a team that wants to get out of a veteran contract and you like that player, go for it

eandy

12:11

If you are AJ Preller, are you buying or selling?

Dan Szymborski

12:12

Buying. I'm not sure there's a lot left in this era of the Padres. The shoestrings holding together the rotation have already fallen apart, and they have some BIG commitments on players who will no longer provide big value

Broken Bat

12:13

McGonigle is so impressive as a rookie with his batting skills- decision making. Is there any past 21 year old he reminds you of?

Dan Szymborski

12:13

Nick the Stick Johnson

Big Fan

12:14

How much money would the Mets need to eat to move Lindor?

Dan Szymborski

12:14

I don't necessarily think they'd have to. 5/160, if you really believe in Lindor, isn't that bad

Baseball Learner

12:14

Yankees almost matching their own record for injured payroll at 130 million dollars. Yikes! They have 3 pitchers and 3 hitters that each make 27 million plus and all of them have been on the IL for significant time.

captainjameshook

12:14

I beseech thee, gaze into your crystal ball and tell us. Is Kody Clemens on the move and, if so, to where?

Dan Szymborski

12:14

I think the Twins hang onto him

Baseball Learner

12:14

If you were the Yankees, and the catcher options are too expensive, would you trade for a right handed outfielder who is going to the bench by the end of September just to keep pace with the Rays

Dan Szymborski

12:16

I'd very strongly consider it (which is why I included Dane Myers in the fantasy trade piece). There's no certainty on the timetable of Judge/Bellinger returns and if they have setbacks that push them farther, you can't go back in September and acquire an otufielder

Person

12:16

so if you're trying to avoid HBP injuries, the trick is to disincentivize pitchers plunking batters without incentivizing batters getting themselves plunked. what are 3 jokey creative ideas to do this

Dan Szymborski

12:16

Let's see

12:17

pitcher has to swap with one defensive player in the field for one batter

pitcher has to throw with his other hand for the next batter

12:18

Nickelodeon green slime drop from above on pitcher

uncreativeusername

12:18

Is vegan chili just ratatouille with cumin and chili powder?

Dan Szymborski

12:18

if it's made with summer vegetables!

Person

12:18

have you and brendan ever played chess against each other?

Dan Szymborski

12:18

and I'm so out of practice that I would probably get my ass kicked

jwise224

12:19

Hey Dan, thanks for this! The D-backs are in a tough spot. Their record is better than one might expect and they are in need or reinforcements to do anything meaningful. A SP or two, a leverage relief arm, and probably a bat. Do you think they'll be ambitious enough to patch their holes?

Dan Szymborski

12:20

I think they'll make some incremental improvements but no splashes

julius

12:20

You're the Pirates, you have a pretty great offense, but you can't hit LHP and the bullpen is a _mess_. How aggressively do you attack the problem in-season? Does the potential lockout change decision making knowing you loose a season of Skenes in the worst case, making this season more meaningful?

Dan Szymborski

12:20

I would be aggressive, but I'm not sure the Piraets actually will be

drplantwrench

12:21

what do you/ZIPS think of the angels/rangers trade? i'd assume ZIPS has gone way down on logan, but Silseth seems to be projected for just 1 fWAR in the next few seasons

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