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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 11/4/16
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Santa Monica
9:46
Do teams have internal metrics to measure fatigue?
Jeff Sullivan
9:46
Almost certainly
9:47
Now, I can't promise they're *good*
GSon
9:47
Can the "hybrid" use of a closer be applied to other spots.. example: relievers playing outfield.. Utility IF'ers as set up guys, etc.. I'm sure MadBum would approve..
Jeff Sullivan
9:47
I saw the other day that Christian Bethancourt was clocked around 97 miles per hour
9:48
A reliever/third catcher could be pretty useful
I definitely want to see more of pitchers playing in the outfield. Such a neat way around platoon problems. Can't learn a changeup? Learn to play a corner!
Dom
9:49
If Otani put up the same numbers here as he has in Japan (hypothetically) playing two positions, would he be the best player of all time? I imagine the WAR accumulation would be ridiculous
Jeff Sullivan
9:50
Let's try some sloppy math
Full season as, say, Noah Syndergaard on the mound. 7 WAR
9:51
But also a great hitter for a pitcher. 2 WAR
9:52
Rest of the time as a David Ortiz-level DH. 4 WAR
9:53
So that's a 13-win player. Which is absurd! Now, I did screw up there, because he can't be a DH *and* a great hitter for a pitcher. That doesn't make sense in either league
9:54
If he DH'd in the American League, he wouldn't get the bonus for being a good-hitting pitcher. If he were in the National League, he'd have to learn a position. But keep him around 4 WAR for that and, yeah
9:55
The worst thing about Otani is that, when he does eventually come over, there's no way he's going to be what we imagine
He could be an absolute superstar and still he won't revolutionize the game or be something we haven't seen
That's our own fault, not his
Joe, Esq.
9:56
Do you know the Mystery Team for August? Will he divulge said team? Will he ever be heard from again? Why is a pair of pants called a pair of pants, sure it has two holes for your legs, but you don't call a skirt a sole pant.
Jeff Sullivan
9:56
Yeah, we know where he's going. I'm not actually sure why it's private -- we know where most people have gone. It's no secret where Kiley is.
9:57
August might find his way back into the public sphere. Depends on his experience! But he has loved being a writer. It tore him up to make this decision
HappyFunBall
10:00
Greetings Jeff, enjoyed "watching" the game with you wednesday night! Question: Which team current hold the futility belt? Everyone seems to say Cleveland, from 1948, but I'd like to propose the Washington Nationals. As a corporate entity they've never even been (Expos began in 1969), but as a "Washington baseball club", the old Senators last won the World Series in 1924. As far as droughts go that's not as bad as the Cubs, but is more than what Boston endured. The fact that there wasn't even a team in DC for 30 years in the middle of it only makes it worse!
Jeff Sullivan
10:01
I'm counting, what is it, 50 years of MLB in Washington without winning a pennant? Spanning three separate organizations
Plus, yeah, all that time without a team to root for at all
10:02
The Mariners are up next at 40 years without a pennant -- never been to the World Series in their history
10:03
So it depends on how you value being in the World Series against winning the World Series. And also how you account for teams coming and going through DC over the decades
The Indians drought is the easiest to identify. DC makes it all annoying and complicated
Dustin
10:03
Let's get to the real, important issues, Jeff. Best kind of M&M's ... whatcha got?
Jeff Sullivan
10:03
peanut butter
10:04
somehow they manage to beat Reese's Pieces at their own game
Outside Animals
10:04
Ruiz a good fit for the Mariners?
Jeff Sullivan
10:04
Yeah, probably, although they do like Sucre. But Ruiz is better than him
DTH
10:05
Theo's Red Sox core won 3 WS in 10 years, will this Cubs core beat that mark?
Jeff Sullivan
10:06
Ehh, probably not. We had their preseason odds at 18%. That would work out to two championships over 10 repeat seasons. I know they just won one but competition is going to be stiff. It's harder than ever to build something consistently great
Pessimistic White Sox Fan
10:07
I feel like a POW behind enemy lines. Give me a reason to be excited about the White Sox in 4 years. Sale/Quintana won't be as good probably. No decent young position players outside of Anderson. I need a drink.
Jeff Sullivan
10:07
Four years ago, two of the very worst teams in baseball were the Astros and the Cubs
10:08
The Astros' best players were Jason Castro, Jarred Cosart, and Matt Dominguez. The Cubs' best player was Travis Wood
Tacos
10:09
Who get the bigger contract: Jansen or Chapman?
Jeff Sullivan
10:09
Probably Chapman, because no QO
db
10:09
Chapman was obviously gassed, yes. But with other G7 pitchers (Kluber, Miller, Lester, Allen, Shaw), we've also got the added familiarity of 3rd+ time seen, along with fatigue right? Is that less important in why they struggled more?
Jeff Sullivan
10:09
No evidence out there to show that familiarity matters within a series
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