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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 2/2/18
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HappyFunBall
9:21
So this is basically SullivanGraphs now right? If you decide to go Seattle Mariners all day every day, who's left to stop you? Carson?
Jeff Sullivan
9:21
I'd like to see him try
But I also have zero desire to actually write about the Mariners very much. One can only write so much about James Paxton
9:22
I will say that new hire decisions will be announced in the nearer-term future. The FG staff will be filled out, and I'm pretty excited about the names I've been told
CamdenWarehouse
9:22
Jeff, I think I speak for many of us when I tell you I really want to give you a hug and say “Please don’t leave us.”
Jeff Sullivan
9:23
Dave was never going to leave until the Padres offered him an opportunity no one knew existed. I don't think there's going to be a second one of those
Tom
9:24
How is Buster Posey slated to have a career high DRS according to Steamer (at age 31 nonetheless)
Jeff Sullivan
9:24
I'm guessing our depth charts don't give him enough time at first base, relatively to his history. Can adjust
Bud Black
9:24
Am I imagining things, or do I actually have like 8 legit MLB starting pitchers available to me?
Jeff Sullivan
9:25
You had eight last season, and only Chatwood left
9:26
The bigger issue for the Rockies is that only Gray is particularly good
But then, he is kind of super good
GP
9:27
What's the best proposal you've heard for a system that pays young players reasonably but doesn't screw small market teams?
Jeff Sullivan
9:27
Pretty sure you basically have to increase revenue sharing. Don't know what the alternative would be
Zock Jr.
9:27
Hey, Jeff! You weren't interviewing to go work for the Mariners, right? Right? We can't lose you too. Please comfort us!
Jeff Sullivan
9:27
They already turned me down a decade ago. Not going to try that one again
Brett W
9:28
Among starting pitchers still available, Steamer says Lance Lynn's expected 2018 WAR is behind not only Darvish, Arrieta, and Cobb but also Garcia, Anderson, Nolasco, Lackey, and Jimenez. Is Lance Lynn being overrated by analysts, or is Steamer missing something?
Jeff Sullivan
9:29
Lynn has always maintained low ERAs, and despite the missing 2016, he did just make 33 starts. Steamer is far from perfect
9:30
That being said, Lynn is also coming off a career-worst K-BB%, and his ERA was a function of a .244 BABIP. He had a lousy second half and he can't pitch to lefties. I wouldn't be interested in him at his rumored prices
Sterling Malory Chris Archer
9:31
So during the next CBA, player salary’s are going to change somehow. Should they just shorten the amount of years of control? 2 club years then 2 club years seem more fair than the 3/3 they have going.
Jeff Sullivan
9:31
Lots of different things to try to change, but of course it all comes down to offsetting concessions. Less service time for FA would be an achievement. Higher minimum wages would be an achievement. Re-worked arbitration, or changes to the definition of a service year, would also be helpful
9:32
But the union has dug itself into a hole. The owners aren't going to give money back for nothing
steeev
9:32
Hi Jeff.  Any chance you guys will interview Tommy Pham for print or podcast before the start of the season?  Given his interest in analytics--including incorporating them into his training--he seems like an ideal interview for FG.
Jeff Sullivan
9:32
Kind of surprised we haven't tried yet. I'm going to make a note
Tim
9:34
In your opinion what is the best and worst team name in baseball? I’d say Oakland Athletics is the worst. No one ever even calls them the Athletics because it just doesn’t sound good, they’re just the A’s. And I’d say Pittsburgh Pirates is the best.
Jeff Sullivan
9:35
No matter what I do here this is probably going to get me in trouble
9:36
Frankly, I hate having teams named after socks
It's ridiculous when you think about it
9:37
Meanwhile, I'm fond of the Marlins
Ari
9:38
How and when will Franchy Cordero find playing time at Petco Park?
Jeff Sullivan
9:38
It's not the hardest thing in the world to manage a four-man outfield rotation. And someone could get hurt, or Renfroe could underperform
If Cordero deserves playing time, he'll get it
Scott
9:39
I'm getting pretty annoyed at the lack of free agent signings. Should I be blaming the owners/front offices for being greedy, or the players for negotiating a bad CBA? Also, the NBA guarantees the players a certain % of revenue (I think close to a 50-50 split). The players should really bargain hard for something similar.
Jeff Sullivan
9:39
There's blame to go all around, and don't let the agents out of your sights. Agents haven't kept up, by and large, with the changing game
9:40
They're just not very good at negotiating realistically with teams, how they're presently operating
I'd blame front offices the least -- every single one of them wants the team to get better. Owners have far more to do with it
9:41
It's not the Dodgers' front office's fault they're trying to stay under the threshold. That's on ownership
MD
9:42
What's your outlook on Sonny Gray for 2018? Any underlying numbers for homer suppression? That seemed to be his biggest struggle after coming to NY
Jeff Sullivan
9:42
He's a fundamentally different pitcher than he used to be, when he was known for his dynamite curveball. I like him fine as a No. 2 starter. I wouldn't expect him to be an ace
Natsfan
9:44
Who is the most average player who gets regular playing time in your mind?
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