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Front Office Chat: 9/16/22
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Baseball fan
3:48
What do you think about the new rule changes. I hate the no shift and limited number of pickoff throws to first base
Anthony Franco
3:48
I've talked about how I expect the shift to eventually backfire by encouraging teams to just commit more to the high-strikeout sluggers who sell out to pull the ball
3:49
I'm not emotionally attached to the shift but I think baking it will have the opposite effect of the intention, which is to get more action and balls in play
3:50
I actually like the pickoff limitation, which people seem to hate. They're trying to encourage more base-stealing. I get that this is kind of an artificial way of doing that, but it's one I expect will work and probably lead to a less static running game
3:51
You also just kind of need some limit on step-offs if you're going to have a pitch clock. Otherwise pitchers will just constantly step off to reset the clock if they're feeling rushed
viper
3:51
who will be impacted more by the 15/20 second rule? I think almost all (not all) the pitchers can adjust but batter want to spend lots of time readjusting things and walking around the box area  before stepping back in.
Anthony Franco
3:51
I think it's an initial adjustment for both (particularly for pitchers who take 25-30 seconds right now) that everyone will get used to by the start of May
Dave Roberts
3:51
Should I be concerned about my pitching staff. Will I have Tony Gonsolin back and will I have to rely on my bullpen more
Anthony Franco
3:52
Moderately concerned about Gonsolin, since it seems like he'll have to work in shorter stints even when he is cleared to come back
3:53
Still have plenty of depth though. Even relying on the bullpen more isn't that bad an outcome. The Dodgers bullpen is very good
Sandy G
3:53
Hey Anthony, Any idea what software the ballplayers are looking at in the dugout? Is it a proprietary app?  Thanks!
Anthony Franco
3:54
Interesting question, I don't know. I'm sure it's some sort of proprietary video app that Apple has equipped specifically for MLB teams, but I don't know any of the specifics on it
thughes9302
3:54
Seeing reports that pitcher's spin rates are climbing back up. Any explanations that you have seen (beyond the  pitchers are cheating)?
Anthony Franco
3:55
Nope and I don't think there really are alternative plausible explanations. I've never seen any evidence that guys can consistently generate increased spin in any way other than enhancing the grip
3:56
I'm sure there are individual pitchers who can make changes to the way they hold the ball and improve spin rate/efficiency, but for an en masse uptick in spin, I think it has to be some kind of substance
3:57
To be clear, while spin rates are going up, it's not back to the extreme Spider-Tack levels. Whatever pitchers are using now isn't quite so powerful and whiffs are down from where they were in the first half of 2021, so I wouldn't say the crackdown was a complete failure
Eno Sarris looked at this in more detail this week. Worthwhile read if you subscribe to The Athletic
SteveM
3:57
Do you believe the Orioles can continue to contend beyond this season? Was 2022 an outlier? 5 teams in one division beating up on each other is great for baseball, I think. How about you?
Anthony Franco
3:58
I think the shape of production in 2022 was an outlier, yeah. I doubt they get an elite defensive season from Jorge Mateo again, and they probably won't replicate a top 5 bullpen. If they just ran back this same roster next year, they'd likely go below .500
3:59
But I also expect them to start supplementing the internal core via free agency a little bit. They'll bring up Grayson Rodriguez at some point soon
So yeah, I buy that they can continue to be competitive beyond this year, assuming they start to build around the guys who've developed into pretty good players over the past two seasons. The position player core is legit
4:00
As for the idea of five good teams in the same division, I'm fully on-board. It's fun
RAGBRAI
4:00
Who grabs the final NL WC spot and do the Brewers still have time to be the one?
Anthony Franco
4:02
There's definitely time but at this stage of the season, I'd probably lean towards any team that has a 1.5 game in the standings. San Diego just has a bit more margin for error than Milwaukee at this point
RAGBRAI
4:02
Did Tellez hit/play well enough to be the Brewers 1B next year or will he fall into a platoon or do they look to upgrade via trade (Phi) or a FA?
Anthony Franco
4:03
Played well enough it's not a must-fix but not so well I wouldn't rule out alternatives. I expect they'll look into a Hoskins trade, as you suggest. Maybe linger on the periphery of the Rizzo market, even if he's probably ultimately too expensive
SteveM
4:05
Coors or Bud?
Anthony Franco
4:06
I don't drink actually (family reasons)
Astros fan
4:06
Which Astros FA’s do you think the Astros will sign? Verlander? Brantley? Diaz? Gurriel? Montero? Vasquez? Mancini?
Anthony Franco
4:07
I'm sure they'll try to bring back JV, maybe Aledmys. Kind of expect everyone else goes
4:08
Vázquez and Mancini should get more playing time elsewhere. Montero feels like he's pitched his way into a better price range with a team more desperate for bullpen help. Probably time to let Brantley/Yuli walk
Rangers13
4:08
Do you believe Dodgers non-tender Bellinger? If they do will a change of scenery perhaps return him to near rookie form?
Anthony Franco
4:08
I do expect him to be non-tendered and think peak Bellinger is just behind us at this point. Seems like the shoulder injury sapped the explosiveness he used to have
4:09
He's still a serviceable player because of the glove and baserunning but no longer an MVP or even All-Star type
Dano
4:09
Will Daniel Lynch (KC) develop into a #2 starter, or is this his ceiling?
Anthony Franco
4:10
There's definitely more potential in there but I wonder if they need a coaching overhaul to tap into it. The stuff is too good for Lynch to have a 5.15 ERA and a 21% strikeout rate
Paul
4:12
what do you know about the young Japanese star who is challenging the home run records. I think he was an infield er. Will he be posted and who might be able to get him.
Anthony Franco
4:13
Essentially nothing, I only first heard about his home run chase a few days ago
4:14
He's not close to being posted though. He's in his fifth season. Usually, if a team is going to post a player, it's in Year 8. NPB players get international free agency after nine seasons, so teams usually wait until one year before then to post them (assuming the player expresses a desire to come to the US) to ensure they receive compensation for his departure
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