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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 2/17/17
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Jeff Sullivan
9:06
Hello friends
Welcome to Friday baseball chat
Bork
9:06
Hello, friend!
Jeff Sullivan
9:07
Hello friend
JT
9:07
Jeff, why is MLB literally willing to do anything to speed up games except for the most obvious problem of not enforcing the pitch clock and making batters stay in the box?
Jeff Sullivan
9:08
So, the staying-in-the-box part, yeah, enforcement has gotten pretty relaxed. Batters have gone back to pushing that
9:09
But I think there's a general misunderstanding of the existing rule about pitcher timing. The pitcher is supposed to deliver the ball within 12 seconds after receiving it back from the catcher, but that's only when the bases are empty
9:10
Most pitchers work roughly that fast when the bases are empty. The real problems tend to begin when there's someone on. And then if you start talking about enforcing a pitch clock of sorts, you run into potential running-game implications
Some form of a pitch clock is almost inevitable, and we've heard about the trials. It'll be a while, though, because clocks are traditionally anathema to the sport
Dae-Ho Lee
9:11
While on a deep sea fishing trip, K. Duerr Seager's boat is taken over by Carlos Silva, who is now a pirate. He is implanted with a microscopic doomsday device and is released to swim to shore. If K. Duerr fails to reach at least 3.0 fWAR in 2017, Silva will detonate the device, sending a toxic dose of Xylitol throughout his body. While confident, K. Duerr is responsible, and takes out a three year term life insurance policy on himself.

What are the odds Julie Seager cashes in that policy? Also, K. Duerr caught a
Jeff Sullivan
9:11
I enjoy the premise of this question, even without a proper end to the tale
9:12
Seager's at four straight years of fairly easily eclipsing 3.0 WAR. Steamer projects him for 4. I'd say there's a...1/4 or 1/3 chance he misses the mark, and that would presumably be due to an injury
9:13
Wouldn't be tough to imagine a modest hamstring strain or something that knocks him out for a month and a half
Smokey
9:13
The Phillies' farm system has been getting more middling reviews for this upcoming season, with some good pieces in the majors. How optimistic are you on their outlook for the 2017-2020 seasons?
Jeff Sullivan
9:14
I like that they already have what looks like a good number of core pieces, but arguably the best thing about the Phillies is that they have a ton of resources to throw around. That's opposed to, say, the Brewers, who couldn't compete with the money. So although I don't think the Phillies are knocking on the door as of yet, I think they will be able to sustain their competitiveness when they return to that level
Jaff
9:15
If you could fix a super hyped prospect that failed at the major leagues who would it be? What would you fix?
Jeff Sullivan
9:16
I'd fix Byron Buxton's ability to make contact. If Buxton could show he could hit the ball consistently, it's so easy to see him as another CF superstar
It's weird that it's 2017 and I'm more excited about Keon Broxton
Sam
9:16
Is Yu Darvish a Ranger at the All-Star break?
Jeff Sullivan
9:16
Yes. Big trades seldom happen before the All-Star break, and I expect that the Rangers will be pretty good too
Dae-Ho Lee
9:16
While on a deep sea fishing trip, K. Duerr Seager's boat is taken over by Carlos Silva, who is now a pirate. He is implanted with a microscopic doomsday device and is released to swim to shore. If K. Duerr fails to reach at least 3.0 fWAR in 2017, Silva will detonate the device, sending a toxic dose of Xylitol throughout his body. While confident, K. Duerr is responsible, and takes out a three year term life insurance policy on himself.

What're the odds Julie Seager cashes in that policy?

Also, K. Duerr caught a Ling Cod on the trip.
Jeff Sullivan
9:16
Thank you, I was wondering what he caught
Ronnie
9:17
If you knew your favourite team's top prospect would duplicate the exact same career as Robin Yount, Paul Molitor or Derek Jeter which would you choose & why?
Jeff Sullivan
9:18
Derek Jeter, because he played for five World Series champions
That was an easy one
BC
9:18
Why do you love baseball?
Jeff Sullivan
9:19
I get to be scientific about it, without any of the stakes
I was always going to be some form of scientist. This is probably the most enjoyable way
TooDamnTall
9:20
I read Hyun-Jin Ryu was sitting at 85. How far into spring training do you give a pitcher before you worry that's their new normal?
Jeff Sullivan
9:20
I'd be more concerned if he were sitting 85 in the middle of March, instead of the middle of February. And even then, sometimes it just takes pitchers a while to build up.
9:22
On March 28, 2013, Ryu was clocked around 90mph. So check back in six weeks against that baseline. I expect he'll narrow the gap, although not completely
Outta my way, Gyorkass
9:23
At the 2014 deadline, MIL and ARI conducted a trade of Gerardo Parra for Anthony Banda and Mitch Haniger. 2.5 years later, this trade has spawned several more transactions involving these players...what team got the most out of it? MIL (Z. Davies, whatever value they got from Parra), BAL (lol), COL (lolol), ARI (Banda, whatever part of Walker/Marte they got for Haniger), or SEA (Haniger)?
Jeff Sullivan
9:24
I'd guess history will show it's Seattle, then Milwaukee, then Arizona. Segura was the more important part of that last deal, even though I'm particularly high on Haniger
derewere
9:25
What's your take on Austin Hedges? If any of the power is real, he looks to me like a guy who can approach league average offensively with elite defense. That
Jeff Sullivan
9:26
Like everyone else, I'm still waiting to be convinced, but I definitely do believe that Hedges tapped into something. I think he has a higher offensive level than I used to, and even if he's more like a 80-90 wRC+ guy, he's a fine regular assuming his defense holds up. If he's an average hitter, he's super valuable
Tom
9:26
Will updated 2017 player profiles be added to player pages this year?
Jeff Sullivan
9:26
I would assume so, but that's not my field
PF
9:26
Has Fangraphs ever considered an iPad app? Or expanding into other sports such as hockey?
Jeff Sullivan
9:27
I know we had some sort of an app once, but it wasn't worth it and it shut down. As for the second part, I've never heard any talk about spreading to another sport. We don't know anything about other sports
9:28
Like, I bet in some universe, there could be a FanGraphs for the NBA or the NHL, but I have limited confidence it would be done very well, because FG is founded upon our years of baseball expertise.
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