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Jay Jaffe FanGraphs Chat - 1/9/23
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AvatarJay Jaffe
3:25
while I would welcome the power to tweak some aspects along the lines you name, the one I want most is a separate recurring ballot devoted only to Negro Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues Black baseball, evaluated by historians with specific expertise in that area. As it is, they're part of the Classic Baseball pool along with anyone else — players and execs — who made their biggest impact before 1980.
KC Pain
3:25
How do you feel about the pitch clock tweaking?
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:25
I don't think it's necesary.
Yeah Well Hiura Towel
3:25
Maybe I'm just disappointed because I think Utley is an obvious HOFer and 45ish% seems kinda pathetic.
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:26
He was never going to get in on the first ballot given the shape of his career.
Craig Breslow
3:26
Am I going to regret taking this job?
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:27
I just saw that Chaim Bloom was hired by the Cardinals in a front office advisory role. Pick which team you want to do that for in 3-4 years.
Grandpaboy
3:28
Let’s assume that (a) the Cubs have roughly $60m to spend, and (b) they’ll eventually sign Bellinger for an AAV of around $25m. How  should they spread out the other $35m…and how do you think they will?
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:32
They definitely need starting pitching (they're 22nd in projected WAR) so a reunion with Stroman makes sense. Or signing Snell. Probably need a stronger 1B option than Mash Mervis, and maybe another 3B option. Justin Turner would be a good fit.
Ty
3:33
On a similar note to Marshall's question, what the likelihood that Corey Seager ends up in the Hall?
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:35
he's a couple beats behind Lindor, Correa, and Semien, so I didn't include him in the midsummer update, but he's now got two huge postseasons and a second top-three finish in the MVP voting. If he can stay on the field, he's got a decent shot but he's averaged just 96 games over the past six seasons.
HoF
3:35
What are the criteria for being a HoF voter?  Can a voter be expelled forom this group and has it ever happened?
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:37
You need 10 consecutive years with a BBWAA-affiliated organization to be eligible as a voter. I'm sure there have been members expelled but the only one for whom it was a big public show (at least that I can recall) was when Dan LeBatard was suspended a year and barred from future HOF voting for giving his ballot to Deadspin in 2014. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/10269700/dan-le-batard-barred-futu...
JB
3:39
MLB had an article asking who the best player in MLB right now.  Who are your top 5?
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:41
In some order: Ohtani, Acuña, Betts and Judge... and then I'm not so sure who I'd put in there. Seager, Freeman, Soto, Semien, Julio Rodriguez, Gunnar Henderson? I could name at least half a dozen others but probably not be as convinced any of them belongs as I am of the first four names.
Ben
3:42
With increased attention on short-career/high peak with Utley, Wright, and (soon) Buster, what do you think about JR Richard and Doc Gooden?
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:46
The two pitchers aren't in the class of Utley and Buster (Wright is a couple beats behind). Richard had 4 1/2 really good seasons before his stroke but accumulated just 22 WAR. Gooden had 53 WAR but just three seasons worth more than 3.7. He's just below Pettitte and above Roy Oswalt in S-JAWS, a more plausible candidate but that 12.2-WAR season is the only reason he'd be considered.
CB
3:46
Any takeaways from Beltran's performance so far?  Do you think he gets in a bit quicker than you originally predicted last winter?  Are you concerned that there's enough moralizing that there's a firm cap on his level of support (like we're seeing with Manny and A-Rod)?
AvatarJay Jaffe
3:48
I am encouraged that he's added a net of 12 votes, the most of any candidate, and is polling arount 65%, but I think the possibility of firm resistance is still there. Some % is never going to vote for him.
OK folks, it's been great to get back to this . Thanks so much for some great questions.
3:50
Oh, and particularly as it's the sixth anniversary of my own job interview, I should call attention to our job posting. We're looking to hire an associate editor to replace Jon Tayler, who has left the fold. Come edit my 4,000-word pieces! Come drink beer at the Winter Meetings! https://blogs.fangraphs.com/fangraphs-is-hiring-seeking-a-full-time-as...
And with that.. I'm off.
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