JotCast | FanGraphs After Dark Chat

Paul Swydan

9:37

Who will win the ALCS?

Astros (22.7% | 56 votes)

Yankees (77.3% | 191 votes)

Total Votes: 247

Who will win the NLCS?

Cubs (5.1% | 12 votes)

Dodgers (94.9% | 223 votes)

Total Votes: 235

Will the Dodgers sweep tonight?

Yes (52.1% | 124 votes)

No (29.8% | 71 votes)

Maybe! (18.1% | 43 votes)

Total Votes: 238

9:01

Hi everybody!

Mike

9:01

The single-season record for pitcher appearances is Mike Marshall with 106. That's pretty impressive, but do you think Carl Edwards Jr. will break it in August or in September next year?

Paul Swydan

9:02

I don't think that Toothpick Edwards' appendages will stay together for that many appearances in such a short timespan.

But certainly it seems that Joe Maddon is gonna try!

Brian

9:02

So the next step for the Cubs is to find elite arms for the late innings right?

Paul Swydan

9:03

I think that's gotta go hand in hand with teaching Joe Maddon some lessons about recency bias and things of that nature, but he's determined not take to take lessons from anyone, so not sure how that'll go.

9:04

That was a weird catch by Almora to start the game tonight.

Brian

9:04

Can we appreciate the best Cub run any living person has ever seen? Don’t let recent results obscure the big picture. Relevant for foreseeable future

Paul Swydan

9:05

Yes. Three straight trips to the NLCS. They hadn't made the postseason in three straight years since 1906-08.

Brian

9:05

I have all the young keepers and need to leave one off: Bregman, Rhys, Bellinger, Benintemdi, Devers. Machado is my 3b. Who is it?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:05

Bregman

9:06

And Hi everyone. Sorry for the delay. I was changing out a light switch

Paul Swydan

9:07

Positionality would seem to dictate that you have to move either Bregman or Devers, unless Bregman qualifies at shortstop in your league. He played 30 games at SS, and started 21. That should be enough to get him to qualify there. In that case, the question becomes do you have room to play Devers at UTIL? If so, I'd get rid of Benintendi. If not, then get rid of Devers, I guess. But I wouldn't be real happy about that.

Schilling and Pence

9:07

Yuli Gurriel performed nicely this year--solid late round value pick for me, and I'd do it again next year a few rounds earlier. He's 33--do you think he holds steady/builds on his momentum and comfort level, or do you think he regresses?

Paul Swydan

9:08

I don't think his regular season numbers were anything special, and I don't think his playoff numbers this year will mean anything at all next year. I wouldn't expect him to build on his numbers from this year. If anything, just to maintain them, which as you said, is a nice season.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:08

I guess. I worry a bit about limited playing time with Houston's deep roster

Doodus

9:09

How boned are the Yankees if they make it to the WS in seven?

Paul Swydan

9:09

Not at all? Most people didn't expect the Yankees to even make the playoffs. They'll be ecstatic to make the World Series no matter how many games it takes.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:10

They'll be fine. Any other team would want to be in their cleats

Doodus

9:10

Is the "too much rest" argument BS? This is being made for the Dodgers by casual fans right now.

Paul Swydan

9:11

I wouldn't say it's BS necessarily, just that there's no data to support that it is a proven detriment. Maybe it would be for the Dodgers, but nothing that has happened in the past proves that it will be.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:11

They have to have an excuse ready if the team loses.

Oddball Herrera

9:11

Given what you know about Fangraph's readership, who are the people who voted that the Cubs would win...simply contrarians or Cubs superfans?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:12

Super fans and clicked the wrong button

Paul Swydan

9:13

The latter. Every team has its superfans, and much of our readership is filled with such fans. Hey, you're talking to a guy who felt confident when the Red Sox trailed the Yankees 3-0, and the Rockies trailed the Padres by 2 runs in the 13th. I like fans who stick to their guns, even when statistically, they shouldn't.

Someone

9:13

When the closest thing to an underdog is the Yankees, who do you root for?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:13

Still not the Yankees

Paul Swydan

9:14

Well, it'd be nice if Carlos Beltran got a ring. I'd certainly like to see Dave Roberts get another ring. And if the Yankees win, then the Yankees win. Not like it'd be the first time, and I do like Brett Gardner.

Hannah Hochevar

9:14

What is happening to the Astros bats v New York?

Paul Swydan

9:15

That's a great question. I think Dave is looking into this for tomorrow. I'm tempted to just say small-sample size, but I'll admit I haven't really dove in on it to be sure.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:15

Who really knows for sure. Teams go through dry spells and the Astros are on one now.

Dave

9:16

Is Austin Barnes the starting catcher in LA next year? Do the Dodgers trade Grandal?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:16

I think LA keeps both. They can afford it and catchers get hurt all the time.

Paul Swydan

9:17

I'll say no and no. I think they stick with both catchers. If the Dodgers have proven anything the last couple of years, it's that they are certainly a team that understands the value of depth.

Go Yankees!!!!

9:17

If the WS matchup ends up being NYY/LAD, what is the probability of the Yankees winning?

Paul Swydan

9:17

44% ???

Jeff Zimmerman

9:17

40%

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