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Paul Swydan

9:33

You spelled "Low End Theory" by A Tribe Called Quest wrong.

Jaime

9:34

What would you say has been the storyline of baseball so far? The dominance of the Astros? Judge and the Yankees? More and more dingers? Basically every pitcher alive being hurt?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:35

Home runs and injuries.

Paul Swydan

9:35

It's hard to beat Judge and the Yankees. The Astros are a good storyline. The Rockies and Dbacks have been good fun. Chris Sale in Boston. Sano and the Twins.

Cam

9:36

A-Gon to the DL. His bat had already disappeared, so it's not a huge loss for the Dodgers - Bellinger can play his natural position without fuss. Has A-Gon's career been underappreciated? The guy was a great hitter for a good length of time. I feel like his time in BOS dampers opinions on him too much.

Paul Swydan

9:37

I feel like it's been properly appreciated. When he came to Boston, it was as a conquering hero. And he's had plenty of attention in LA.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:37

He's been good but not great. I feel he may hover around 30% in HOF voting based on the length of his career.

Paul Swydan

9:37

Nah, I doubt he even gets that much.

Skipple

9:37

I was reading a quote from Buck Showalter where he said relievers are only good every other year due to their work loads on those previous years. Is there any evidence to support this theory?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:38

off to the WAR graphs for Agon

Paul Swydan

9:38

Not that I'm aware of, and you would think he'd know better considering Darren O'Day is great every year.

Jim Lonborg

9:38

I will always vote for Mystery SP if given the option.

Paul Swydan

9:39

Haha.

Justin M

9:39

Rafael Devers with Red Sox within next week?

Paul Swydan

9:40

IMO you give Sandoval a couple of weeks before you DFA him, because he may have been rushed back following his knee injury. But if Sandoval hasn't shown some ray of hope by the All-Star break, I'd have Devers up then.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:40

By ASG sounds right

Gonzalez with total career WAR near Mattingley: http://www.fangraphs.com/graphsw.aspx?players=1908,1008261,432

9:41

Probably short but some consideration

Paul Swydan

9:41

Some, but IMO Mattingly wasn't a Hall of Famer either. And I think Helton has an uphill battle because of all the people who will shout "COORS"

Rick

9:42

What are the odds for Robbie Ray as NL Cy Young winner?

Paul Swydan

9:42

I think he'd have to demonstrably better than Kershaw to win. RIght now they're neck and neck, so I'd say the favorite is Kershaw.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:43

10%. Good season, but I think Scherzer with get it.

will get it

Paul Swydan

9:43

He may *also* have to be demonstrably better than his much-more-famous teammate Greinke.

Wright

9:43

With the NHL and NBA now done, are there any sports other than baseball you're following?

Paul Swydan

9:44

Well, I'm still following the NBA because my Celtics have the No. 1 pick, and can go in many different directions in free agency. But no, not really.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:44

No, but following more baseball, my kids, CWS, summer league

Paul Swydan

9:44

I'd love to follow soccer, but I don't really have any specific team to follow.

Nor the time to pick one.

Wright

9:45

Why would the Sox have rushed Pablo back? They can't possibly have been eager to get his bat or his glove back out there?

Paul Swydan

9:45

He was supposed to have another few days-week on his rehab, but then Pedroia went on the DL and Sandoval was magically called up to take his roster spot.

9:46

I'm not saying definitively Sandoval was rushed, but he *may* have been.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:46

I think they wanted to know what they had

Paul Swydan

9:46

Only the Sox know for sure.

9:46

Starting to hate Gerrit Cole. How do I know when to start him these days?

Paul Swydan

9:46

If he's pitching, then you start him.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:47

You just have to roll with him, kind of like Pineda. No idea when the good and the bad is coming.

Tom

9:47

Re: soccer: follow Arsenal if you want fascinating off-pitch drama.

Paul Swydan

9:47

That's literally the last thing I want.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:48

Unless they have their own Freeze.

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