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CamdenWarehouse
12:01
How has the response to the Ad Free Membership been?
Dave Cameron
12:03
Really good. We continue to be really happy with how the community has responded, both to our basic membership and our ad-free option. We look forward to being around for a long time, and you guys are helping make that possible. A sincere thank you to everyone who has joined.
NatsFan
12:04
Two questions:

1) Are the Nats the best possible fit for Chris Coghlan? (Lefthanded insurance for Werth and Zimmerman while also being middle infield depth)

2) Is this the first time you've thought about Chris Coghlan this offseason?
Dave Cameron
12:04
I think Seth Smith was the best fit, but Brandon Moss would work too. Not sure you want Coghlan playing 2B much anymore.
And yes, I had forgotten he existed until 15 seconds ago.
The Average Sports Fan
12:04
If the Rockies are really a contender. Don't they make the most sense for Archer? Missing bats seems like the best way to survive in Coors.
Dave Cameron
12:05
He throws a lot of breaking balls, and breaking balls don't break as well at altitude.
Charlie
12:05
At this point, do you think the Mets picking up Jay Bruce's option was a mistake?
Dave Cameron
12:05
Yes.
But, they didn't know for a fact they were going to get Cespedes back when they had to make the choice. So, to be fair to them, we have new information that they didn't have.
CamdenWarehouse
12:06
Do you think the BBWAA will take away Chass's vote?
Dave Cameron
12:06
No, of course not.
Zach
12:06
If a team is using taxpayer money to fund a stadium, do you think they should be required to open the entirity of their financial records to the public?
Dave Cameron
12:06
I'd rather taxpayer's just not fund stadiums.
Brendon
12:07
Do you have a HOF vote? If not, when will you get one?
Dave Cameron
12:07
I do not. I think I'm on year four of my BBWAA membership, so I would theoretically get one in six more years. I wouldn't be surprised if the rules for HOF voting were changed before I got a vote, though.
Ned Ghost
12:07
Does Greg Holland's 2 yr with opt out make sense for any team?
Dave Cameron
12:08
Depends on the price. If he wants $10M per year or something, no; you're betting $20 million on the hope you get one good year. If he'll take $5 million for the first year and $8M for the second year or something, then okay, at least there's upside there.
Harry
12:10
Agree or Disagree? Pirates should deal McCutcheon at the deadline to clear a spot for Meadows.
Dave Cameron
12:10
Depends entirely on variables unknown at this point. If they're in the race, no way. If they're not in the race, is Cutch actually playing well?
Ed in Iowa
12:10
Sportin' my fancy new ad-free membership, woot-woot! Two questions, 1) Favorite Elephant and Piggie Book? I'll go with, You Have A Bird On Your Head, and 2) If we add up all the WAR at the end of the year how close does it actually come to 990? And if it doesn't does that mean you reassess what constitutes replacement level? Whoops, that was three questions.
Dave Cameron
12:12
We don't have any Elephant and Piggie books; should I check them out? Our current favorite is How I Became a Pirate.

WAR is set at 1,000 WAR per 2,430 games, so in any full season, there will be 1,000 WAR. If there is a strike-shortened year or something, there will be fewer, but other than that, replacement level is fixed.
Harry
12:12
Does Nathan Karns have the ability to be a high leverage reliever?
Dave Cameron
12:12
It sure looks like it, but there are questions about whether he's interesting in making the conversion.
Harry
12:13
Mariners have made a lot of moves this offseason, will they be better than the Stros and the Rangers?
Dave Cameron
12:13
They're well behind Houston heading into the season, about even with Texas.
Q-Ball
12:13
Great article yesterday Dave on the slugger market! In that context, is the Monty for Vogelbach trade regrettable for Seattle? Assuming Smith could take Vogelbach's role, wouldn't a Monty/Smith combo be much better than Gallardo/Vogelbach?
Dave Cameron
12:13
I'm not sold on Montgomery as a starter.
Erik
12:14
Is the supposed collapse of the slugger market really just the collapse of the not-very-good-player market? It seems as though teams would rather try to find players internally who might put up 0-1 WAR while making the league minimum (and who have a chance to break out and be better than that) rather than pay someone even $5 million to put up 0-1 WAR.
Dave Cameron
12:15
Except lots of +0 to +1 WAR players have gotten exactly the kinds of contracts they've always gotten, because those useful role players aren't nearly as easy to find as people think. The only guys who aren't getting paid for being above replacement level are corner sluggers.
ryan
12:15
current WAR models use average, but is it possible to define replacement level defense at each position?
Dave Cameron
12:16
There's no such thing as replacement level offense or replacement level defense. The amount of offense or defense required to meet replacement level depends on the amount of the other part of the game you're contributing at.
Ned Yost
12:16
One of your arguments against the Astros trading Quintana was that someone like Bautista would be a bigger upgrade over Aoki than Quintana would be over Musgrove, which is understandable. Quintana is projected for 4.2 WAR currently, however, last year he played in front of a bottom 5 defense and pitch framing battery, and likely will do so again on the White Sox if he stays in Chicago. The Astros, on the other hand, feature what likely will be an excellent defense (2nd last year in DRS) and a veteran, effective framer and game manager with McCann. Couldn't 4.2 WAR be underselling his potential with a change of scenery?
Dave Cameron
12:17
Because our WAR is based on FIP, the quality of the defenders behind him has no impact on that number. The change in catchers could help his numbers, but realistically, it's the same boost that any other pitcher would get, and you shouldn't give that credit to Quintana.
Jaysfan
12:18
Who says no Stroman for Cargo?
Dave Cameron
12:18
Well, considering that CarGo has basically no real trade value as an average-ish player making $20M on a one year deal, I'd think the Jays would say no even if they had to give up just a Stroman jersey without Stroman in it.
Erik
12:19
Should the Phillies' inability to move Jeremy Hellickson cast any doubt on their ability to move Clay Buchholz, if he rebounds enough to be worth selling? It almost seems as though they might actually want Clay Buchholz, which is worrisome.
Dave Cameron
12:19
There are industry rumors that they had a deal for Hellickson that got scuttled at the last minute. That's probably not the kind of thing that we should count on happening every year.
Zonk
12:20
I wanted to wait and see what other moves happened, but so far I don't get the Rockies. Instead of Ian Desmond, why not spend $5 mil on Chris Carter for 1B, who would hit like 50 bombs in Coors, and spend the other $65 mil or so on some pitching? Help me out, Dave.
Dave Cameron
12:20
No one understands the Desmond signing.
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