You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 12/8/17
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Jeff Sullivan
10:04
knock it off
Toshi
10:06
RE: 大谷翔平's fastball movement

HI Jeff,
Thank you for the chat. On many videos I watched, NPB players seemed to have made a lot more contacts on Ohtani's fastballs than I would expect for 100 mph pitches.  This seems consistent with the report that his fastballs are straight.  My question is how difficult is it for him or any pitchers at the MLB level to make fastball move?  Is it too much of injury risk, as he has to change delivery?  Thanks.
Jeff Sullivan
10:06
In 2016, Ohtani allowed a contact rate of 68%. The next-best mark in the NPB was 74%
Ohtani also led in contact rate allowed in 2015
10:07
So, I don't think there are any concerns that Ohtani is too hittable. But as for your actual question -- it's not easy to increase your movement. It's easy enough to go between a four-seamer and a two-seamer, but I don't think pitchers know how to give themselves more spin
Ben
10:10
Do you think a player who is primarily a catcher will ever have 3,000 hits or 500 home runs?
Jeff Sullivan
10:10
Ivan Rodriguez appears to be the all-time leader in hits, at 2,844
Second place is at 2,472
10:11
Meanwhile, Mike Piazza leads in homers, with 427
I could see a catcher getting to 500 home runs, potentially. I don't think 3,000 hits will happen, unless something is done about the league-wide strikeout rate
LAA
10:11
Hello!  Okay.  So, where does Stanton go
Jeff Sullivan
10:11
I'm going to keep saying Dodgers until or unless he goes somewhere else
Rick James
10:11
Hi, happy holidays!  Who has a more productive year in 2018?  David Price or Aaron Nola?
Jeff Sullivan
10:12
Nola
Silly Beane
10:12
Stanton is not moving until at least the end of the winter meetings, right?
Jeff Sullivan
10:12
I could actually see this moving quickly. If the Dodgers decide to make the Marlins a sufficiently strong offer, it's done right there
Alex
10:13
What would you suggest as the Giants back up plan if they don't get Stanton or Ohtani?
Jeff Sullivan
10:13
Lorenzo Cain and another outfielder
or I guess Lorenzo Cain and a third baseman. I'm not picky. Both positions suck
Gavin
10:13
Does Dee Gordon move the needle any other than the extra bonus money?
Jeff Sullivan
10:13
According to Steamer, no. But there's a very compelling argument to be made that Steamer is way too low on Gordon
Lou
10:14
How secretly happy are the smart baseball guys in the Giants FO that they dodged the Stanton contract?
Jeff Sullivan
10:14
Probably not that happy. They want Stanton
Natsfan
10:15
Lets say both Ohtani and Stanton go to the same division and face each other often. Will each at bat between them trigger flashbacks for you to this snoozefest of an offseason?
Jeff Sullivan
10:15
no
Slamboni
10:15
If the Reds made Joey Votto available, would he bring more back than Stanton? Contract isn't much better
Jeff Sullivan
10:16
Votto is at $157m over 6 years, with no opt-out clause
10:17
Obviously, Stanton is 28 while Votto is 34. But Votto remains preternaturally talented. I think he'd bring a lot back
Mordechai
10:17
If the team that signs Ohtani then trades him, could the receiving team immediately sign him to a lucrative extension?
Jeff Sullivan
10:17
Manfred would sniff this out
Josh
10:17
Can you rank the Ohtani contenders by your best guess?
Jeff Sullivan
10:18
My hunch is Mariners, then Giants, then field. But I don't know Shohei Ohtani. I hardly know anyone
Perplexed
10:18
Who gets Ohtani?
Jeff Sullivan
10:19
ok we're done with this now
Jason
10:19
Is it more likely the Rangers trade Mazara for a young arm or Choo for salary relief?
Jeff Sullivan
10:19
Choo, midway through the year, if the Rangers decide it's time to rebuild
Adam
10:19
Do you see the Reds making any moves over the Winter Meetings? Moving Duvall, Hamilton, Gennett or Schebler?
Jeff Sullivan
10:20
Hamilton feels like the most likely piece to go. I wouldn't be shocked if the Reds re-sign Zack Cozart sometime soon
Jay
10:20
Now that the Marlins are clearly starting their fire sale.  What do the Braves need to do to have either Yelich or Ozuna in their outfield in 2018?
Jeff Sullivan
10:20
No reason for the Braves to outbid teams who are currently competitive
Connecting…