JotCast | FanGraphs After Dark Chat

Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page

Paul Swydan

9:40

Again, I'm personally less interested to watch this style of play, but it's where the industry is headed, and Dipoto is right to be on the front end of that curve.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:41

Heading their fast with the average start only lasing 5.5 IP. I do think bullpens will get taxed over the regular season.

stever20

9:41

What did you guys think of the group that is up for the (whatever they are calling the veterans committee) ballot this year? Does the WS and the way the starters were used help Jack Morris out at all?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:42

Probably not and I hope Miller finally gets voted in

Paul Swydan

9:42

No, I don't think so. Starters not going as long doesn't mean Morris should get extra credit for pitching in a different era. If Jack Morris pitched today, he'd be a 15-18 out pitcher too. If he tried to pitch the way he did in the 80s today, he'd get hammered. He'd need to adjust his strategy to succeed.

Stevil

9:43

What do the Yankees do with their surplus of infielders? Try to move Castro or Headley (or both). I've been curious about the fate of Tyler Wade.

Paul Swydan

9:43

I'd try to trade Headley. Or just dump him.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:44

Headley's gone

Paul Swydan

9:44

Maybe Castro has more value, but I also like him more, and you could potentially make Castro a utility player in the way you can't with Headley.

stever20

9:44

Is there anything that can stop the trending of bullpenning? Or is that just inevitable now?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:45

Limit the pitchers allowed on the roster?

Nothing really though. It's here to stay

Paul Swydan

9:45

I don't think of anything as inevitable. The bullpenning trend will falter if the MLBPA wakes up and realizes that the bullpenning trend is going to cost its members money.

Stevil

9:45

A little off topic, but what kind of food is missing from MLB stadiums?

Paul Swydan

9:46

Pasta? I don't think much. If you have the time to cruise around the concourse at your ballpark, you can find just about any food you'd like to eat, which is kind of cool. Though the coolest ballparks are the ones that let you bring in food.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:47

Just regular sandwiches.

Dingus

9:47

Any Gold Gloves that stick out to y'all so far? I'm a little surprised Hosmer got another

Paul Swydan

9:47

Here's the list - http://m.mlb.com/news/article/260891924/2017-mlb-gold-glove-award-winn...

Jeff Zimmerman

9:48

Gordon

AL LF is rough though

Paul Swydan

9:48

Brian Dozier was a negative at 2B this year by both DRS and UZR.

9:49

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=2b&stats=fld&lg=al&qual=y&ty...

stever20

9:49

Paul, what could the MLBPA really do about the bullpenning trend now though? How could they realistically force any change in the way pitchers were used?

Paul Swydan

9:50

They have to try to start pushing up the value of premium RP contracts. Not just of closers, but of set-up men. If you have to start paying $20M for set-up relievers, then that might put a dent in the trend.

I'm not holding my breath.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:50

I don't know. Smaller rosters?

Paul Swydan

9:51

But then that would be fewer people in the union, so that's two steps forward, two steps back.

otis

9:52

As a Phillies fan who got hooked on baseball as a child during their streak of 5 straight division titles from 2007-2011, Halladay will always have a place in my mind as one of the more memorable players from my childhood. I was 12 years old in 2011, playing travel ball in the Philly area, and nearly every single kid on my team attempted to mimic his windup and mannerisms on the mound. If I had to use one word to describe Roy Halladay on a baseball field, it would be mechanical. At times he seemed flawless, like a perfectly designed robot. I don't think I ever fully appreciated how great he was on the hill. An absolute joy to watch.

Paul Swydan

9:52

Well said, Otis.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:52

Thanks for sharing.

Jeremy

9:53

Looking at these Gold Glove winners makes me sad to see that the voting strongly favors those who have won previous awards. This is why we really need one Wild Card winner in both the AL and NL where players without any previous Gold Gloves would be given a chance to win one. A special Wild Card round would be voted on by the BBWAA to choose a winner for the AL and NL.

Paul Swydan

9:53

That's certainly an interesting idea, but interesting ideas and baseball history rarely mix.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:54

Sorry, my kids are acting up

Paul Swydan

9:55

Test

Ok sorry, my computer acted up there for a minute.

Eric Weinstein

9:55

Agree or Disagree: It's stupid MLB switched it back to LF,CF,RF gold glove rather than just OF? I find it ridiculous that guys like Kole Calhoun and Yoenis Cespedes win gold gloves with guys like Kevin Pillar, Lorenzo Cain, and Jackie Bradley Jr. coming up short

Paul Swydan

9:56

I'm indifferent on this, I think. I think Jeremy's wild card solution would help alleviate some of this.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:57

I'm fine either way. If we change the OF, why not the IF and elect four shortstops. They're better than any 1B

Lance Biggerstaff

9:57

How do you log into these chats as an admin? Is there a password? And if someone happens to steal it could we impersonate, say, Travis Sawchick for a day?

Connecting…