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Front Office Chat: 5/19/23
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Chip
3:29
You responded to my question by saying that you did not see an umpire mixing in some colorful language as being a proble. How does a parent explain to their young child the meaning of some of these words (ie: F-Boms ) ?
Anthony Franco
3:31
I get where you’re coming from but that’s not unique to umpires. We get hot mics picking up that kind of language from players and coaches all the time. It’s just how MLB (and basically every other sport) operates
Guest
3:31
Although Chaim Bloom of the Red Sox may indeed turn out to have made some good acquisitions over this past off season,  he chose, I feel, to go into this 2023 campaign with 7 potential starters none of whom had had solid 2022 campaigns as solid starting  pitchers.  Despite some terrific hitting, this club is still low in the standings, and as several recent games show, without the great hitting the starting pitching isn’t handling the job.
Anthony Franco
3:33
Fair critique, I mostly agree. There's upside with virtually everyone involved but it's a low-certainty staff. Kluber felt like the one guy they were targeting for stability and he's been awful so far
Brewers
3:33
This might sound crazy. I think the Brewers would be better off trading their players (especially Yelich if he continues to hit) then keeping them.
Anthony Franco
3:35
Moving Yelich isn't tenable, especially not midseason. Teams almost never take on that kind of long-term money at the deadline and while he's been solid, he's nowhere near peak level
3:36
As for trading guys like Burnes, Woodruff and Adames, I disagree and would rather make a run while the division's at its lowest point if I were in their shoes. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and the Cubs should all get better in the future. This is probably the worst the competition will be for Milwaukee from here on out, especially with the Cards struggling
Mets fan
3:36
Ny media having a field day on Showalter these days, questioning the lineup now on a daily basis and pushing for the rookies to play.  (Not that I disagree).  My question, if the Mets miss the playoffs, is Showalter on the hot seat?  I know they have been hit by injuries, but heck, is he on the hot seat now?  (I personally blame Eppler for the construction of this roster) Thank you.
Anthony Franco
3:37
If they miss the playoffs entirely, I could them shaking up both the manager and front office, sure. Don't think we're anywhere close to that point right now
Dano
3:37
Looks like Jose Altuve will be in the lineup tonight.  How much will his injury affect his power for the rest of the season?
Anthony Franco
3:38
Certainly could. Hand injuries have that effect a lot of times. Tough to say until we see him play but it's worth keeping an eye on
Will in Westport
3:38
The Tigers are in second place only 3.5 games behind Minnesota, and the season is 1/4 over.  Will Mize, Manning, and Skubal be back in time to help E-Rod and (maybe) Lorenzen get the team into contention for the division championship??  (yeah, I know, what is that stuff that I am smoking??)
Anthony Franco
3:40
Ha, I'd like to see it happen but I don't think it's all that likely. It was the worst offense in the league last year and they've only really added around the margins on the position player side. They're again last in runs and OBP and only above the Guardians in slugging
3:41
Just can't see how they score enough to threaten for a playoff berth this year
Chris
3:41
Are you surprised about Texas?  I know it's early ... but I never imagined they'd be in first place if I knew deGrom wasn't playing.
Anthony Franco
3:42
I didn't see this coming but I buy it and think we at MLBTR (and many others) were just too light on them before the start of the season. The offense has looked so good. Semien's back to peak level, Adolis García is great, Josh Jung and Ezequiel Durán have stepped up, Jonah Heim carried over last year's breakout
3:43
There's a lot more talent in this lineup (even with Corey Seager missing a month) than I gave them credit for six weeks ago
Young Giants
3:43
Hi Anthony, I know it is only a 10 games or so.  What do you think of Casey Schmitt?  He seems to be on fire.  I think the "D" will always be there.  Maybe chasing a bit much?
Anthony Franco
3:45
Yeah I'm with you on everything you said. He's going to have to dial in the approach at some point. He's swinging at 64% of pitches so far; no qualified hitter last year swung more than 57% of the time. Unless he gets a little more discerning, pitchers will adjust and start picking him apart
3:46
But the physical tools are really exciting. He's been a great athlete and defensive infielder since college, no reason to think that's going anywhere. There's clearly power in there and an ability to make contact on pitches within the zone. The approach is the long-term question but he could be a very good all-around player
5th outfielder NL only
3:46
Corey Dickerson or Avisail Garcia?  I am thinking Garcia has sunk so low that Dickerson may be the better option.
Anthony Franco
3:47
I'd probably ride with Dickerson for as long as he's healthy. More consistent hitter than Avi if he can avoid the IL
Anita
3:47
Good afternoon, I try not to complain about managers as we do not always know the full story but the one thing John Scheinder does that drives me crazy is his constant support of Cavan Biggio which is common knowledge.  Biggio is a great guy but the numbers (for the past many years) do not support how often he plays and starts.  Espinal has a more recent track record of better at bats/defence and should return to that given more playing time than Biggio getting the bigger piece of the pie.  Blue Jays need to trade (sooner than later), send Lukes to AAA and Biggio take Lukes's role... someone like Brent Rooker (A's), JD Davis (Giants), Nick Senzel (Reds) or ironically get Lourdes Gurriel Jr back...  Thanks Anita
Anthony Franco
3:48
Touched on Biggio earlier but I agree that he shouldn't  be in the lineup frequently and I'd send him back to Triple-A
3:49
As far as the trade candidates you mentioned, only Senzel strikes me as having a decent chance to move. The A's are under no pressure to trade Rooker, might as well see if he can keep up anything resembling this pace. Diamondbacks are playing too well to trade Gurriel (and probably wouldn't send him back to Toronto anyways). Giants could trade Davis near the deadline but they'll take as long as possible to see if they can compete
3:50
I like Senzel as a fit for Toronto and think the Reds probably move him this summer, although it's not likely to be before July
Drew
3:50
What's the Cardinals most valuable, realistic trade asset?
Anthony Franco
3:52
Probably some scenario in which they'd consider someone like Masyn Winn. If you're talking just off the big league roster, maybe Brendan Donovan?
3:54
Don't think there's any chance they trade Nootbaar at this point; ditto for Jordan Walker. I'd say Donovan has more trade value than Alec Burleson, Dylan Carlson or Ivan Herrera at this point. Jordan Montgomery's their most appealing short-term asset but he's a rental so he'd only be of interest to about half the league
Mauricio
3:54
Do you think Ronny Mauricio makes the Mets this season?  I get his defense is new to 2B, but man he hits a ton.
Anthony Franco
3:55
Already on the 40-man roster, hitting well in Triple-A. The approach is still a concern but if he keeps this up for too much longer, I agree that he just forces his way into the MLB picture
tigersFan
3:55
Will the tigers option maton or will they let him try to fight through its current struggles?
Anthony Franco
3:56
They don't have a ton else at third base but the swing-and-miss has gotten to a point where I imagine they have to seriously consider sending him down for a reset
3:57
Still like the player but you can only live with a .254 on-base percentage for so long
Will in Westport
3:57
But the Tigers do have Justin-Henry Malloy at Toledo … he is hitting well.
Anthony Franco
3:59
Yeah that's fair. Doesn't seem like most prospect evaluators think he sticks at third base but the Tigers have played him there in Toledo and the bat looks major league ready. Not sure how Detroit feels about the glove but there's an argument for bringing him up
Warren
3:59
Who are some players who are doing extremely worse than expected so far and extremely better than you expected so far?
Anthony Franco
4:01
Better: Jonah Heim, Brent Rooker, Mitch Keller
Worse: Manny Machado, Aaron Nola, George Springer
Ralph Echtinaw
4:01
Any predictions for how Gary Sanchez will do with the Mets?
Anthony Franco
4:02
Last year's numbers with Minnesota feel like a reasonable baseline: sub-.300 OBP with double-digit HR power and near-average defensive grades
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