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Dave Cameron FanGraphs Chat
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v2micca
12:33
I'm willing to bet $100 that by midway through the 2018 season, if there is even a discussion regarding the intentional walk, it will be along the lines of "why did we waste so many years making the pitcher lob four balls?"
Dave Cameron
12:33
I have literally never heard anyone say they were really interested in watching four-ball walks until the idea of it going away was raised. It's such a non-issue.
v2micca
12:34
Phillips over/under wRC+ in 2017 with the Braves: 95
Dave Cameron
12:34
Under.
RMR
12:34
On pace of play, you don't think that the drastic shift toward "three true outcomes" is a crucial part of the perceived problem? I agree time between pitches is important, but decreased frequency of batted balls strikes me as the bigger aesthetic difference.
Dave Cameron
12:35
They're all issues. Baseball needs more balls in play, less time between pitches, and if they can get the average length of game down (especially in the postseason), then that's good as well.
Mike
12:35
What did you make of the Thomas Boswell column in the Washington Post in which Daniel Murphy talks about how he studies FanGraphs to figure out how to hit better? Is this a surprise to you? Or just another day in the life of Dave Cameron?

“I read FanGraphs a lot. I’m kind of a geek,” he said. “It’s cool because with all the data we’ve been given now, we’ve kind of been given some of the answers to the test.”
Dave Cameron
12:36
It's always fun to hear players are reading this stuff, but it's stopped being a surprise. The incentives for players to understand how they're being evaluated are real, and even if they don't buy into everything, you want to know what your owners and GM are looking at.
Dan
12:36
Has MLB even considered making RPs face 2 batters unless an inning ends, and being ready to throw when they come in mid-inning? Those are the two things that slow down the game the most in my opinion. And they've only gotten worse with endless pitching changes (especially in September).
Dave Cameron
12:37
The problem with all the suggestions about limiting pitching changes is that you run into an issue where you're potentially endangering pitcher's health, and thus the PA will never (and should never) go for it.
You can't have pitchers blowing out their arms because they weren't allowed to be removed.
Dave
12:37
The first game you attend this season will be _____
Dave Cameron
12:38
Probably a Nationals game at the end of April. I'm tentatively in for the Pitch Talks events in KC on April 27th and DC on May 1st, and I'll likely take in a Nats game in between those.
DTH
12:38
Over/Under: 2.5 Top 20 prospects traded between now and August 1st
Dave Cameron
12:38
Under.
Teams hate moving guys like that.
TKDC
12:39
Do teams control what they do in Spring Training? Could a team just decide that playing games is mostly stupid and reduce its schedule to maybe 7 games or so?
Dave Cameron
12:40
Nope. Spring Training is a cash cow for the cities that host the Cactus/Grapefruit Leagues, and the teams don't get to just opt out of that.
Pinstripe Wizard
12:41
Do you think the Yankees will be somewhat forced to trade Betances after Levine's comments? I can't imagine that he's not going to be a little bit sour all year long which could have a negative effect on the entire clubhouse.
Dave Cameron
12:41
I wouldn't think they'll be forced to, but if they're sellers at the deadline, he's their most obvious trade chip.
JWR
12:41
True or false: if you are a ML outfielder and are really fast, you are probably a good defensive OF?
Dave Cameron
12:41
It's not a guarantee, but most fast OFs are good defensively. Most.
Colin
12:42
Is wRC+ position adjusted? Basically, is 100 average for the league, or for the league at a players given position?
Dave Cameron
12:42
It's position agnostic.
DTH
12:42
which of the presumptive 2017 free agent SP's has the best walk year: Arrieta, Cueto, Tanaka, Darvish? And which would you be most likely to give a 200 million dollar contract to after the season?
Dave Cameron
12:42
Of that group, probably Darvish to both answers.
Roy
12:42
Which young player is the most likely to become the face of MLB -- in other words, a player recognizable even to non-baseball fans a la Jeter?
Dave Cameron
12:43
Kris Bryant. Good looking superstar on an historic franchise bringing them back to winning ways.
Von Schloss
12:43
What does it take for MLB to declare Capps's delivery as illegal and keep him from doing it? Seems like that should have been a no-brainer.
Dave Cameron
12:43
I would imagine if it starts to catch on, and it's not just one guy, they'll be forced to deal with it.
12:44
Right now, it's easier to just be like "well, whatever, he'll get hurt anyway."
BC
12:45
I have another pace of play idea. Instead of allowing managers to call replay/review booths for advice on a call, you give them only 20 secs to determine whether they want to challenge or not. Managers have to use their judgement; tens of minutes of games aren't wasted. What do you think?
Dave Cameron
12:45
I'd just junk the whole challenge system. Have a replay ump who makes those calls.
v2micca
12:46
It seems like the SOP for developing a starting pitcher is to give him a changeup to deal with opposite handed hitters. But, it seems like a cutter would be ever bit as effective and I rarely hear about it being taught to prospects.
Dave Cameron
12:47
Cutters can be effective against opposite handed hitters, but some guys who just throw "baby sliders" instead, and those get crushed if they're not located well. And there's still some thought within the game that cutters mess with your breaking ball.
Andrew
12:47
Hey Dave, thanks for the chat. Any chance of you and Sullivan and whoever else doing a PNW meetup this summer?
Dave Cameron
12:47
Yup! We'll both be at the Pitch Talks show in Seattle on June 5th, and at the EclipseFest game in Salem-Keiser on August 21st.
Jack
12:48
McCullough over/under WHIP of 1.3
Dave Cameron
12:48
Andy? Over.
Greg
12:48
You mentioned the Braves thinking the rebuild is almost over and keeping core pieces. Do you agree or disagree?
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