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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 3/24/17
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Jeff Sullivan
10:03
I mean, our depth chart playing-time estimates are set manually, so those are judgment calls. Injury history plays a role in those judgments. But that's the best I can say
The Average Sports Fan
10:04
Is the Earth as good at spinning as Seth Lugo?
Jeff Sullivan
10:04
One day we might even figure out what Seth Lugo's spin rates mean
Connie Mac N' Cheese
10:05
How do you see the Diamondbacks SS position playing out?
Jeff Sullivan
10:05
Feels like Owings is presently in the lead
Very much up in the air
Walt
10:05
Do you write about anything other than Baseball? If so, where can someone find it?
Jeff Sullivan
10:06
Every few weeks I exchange handwritten cards with cousins of mine in Golden, CO, so you could presumably find that writing in their mailbox
botchatheny
10:06
did you ever own a Big Mouth Billy Bass?
Jeff Sullivan
10:06
No, but I knew someone who did
Max
10:06
Thoughts on Devenski this year? What role does he occupy? Long-relief? Set-up?
Jeff Sullivan
10:06
Long relief. Between him and Feliz, the Astros are well-equipped to reduce the innings burden on their starters
10:07
Important, given Keuchel's shoulder problem, McCullers' problems, McHugh's current dead arm, Morton's injury history, etc
PL
10:07
What is Oakland doing?
Jeff Sullivan
10:07
Playing for .500 and hoping for luck
The Average Sports Fan
10:07
Have any of the Positional Power Rankings surprised you?
Jeff Sullivan
10:08
The truthful answer is no because I look at the data behind the PPRs every day or so for writing-related reasons
10:09
But certain things are kind of weird, like Ian Desmond the 1-win player, or Ian Kinsler losing 30 points off his wOBA
Bork
10:09
Kiermaier...think he's really going to have that shiny +18 field rating this year?
Jeff Sullivan
10:09
There's nobody better than he is. I'm also bracing myself for a hopeful offensive breakout
Ghost of Greg Maddux Past
10:09
Would you like Ozzie Albies better/worse/the same as a prospect if he were 6'4" but had put up the exact same numbers to date in his career?
Jeff Sullivan
10:09
No difference to me. Maybe that's a mistake on my part, but I pretty much never look at a player's size when evaluating them
Old timer
10:11
Your thoughts on the possible 4/5 starters for the A's: Hahn, Alcantara, Triggs. Will any of these 3 be any good? Thanks.
Jeff Sullivan
10:11
I've always been a big fan of Triggs. I think they found something there. Hahn, I like, if he's feeling 100% for the first time in a year and a half or whatever. Alcantara is interesting because of how often he throws strikes, but he seems too hittable to me
Not Jeff Sullivan
10:12
So the US has a youth participation problem and Team USA is going around judging people for the way they play the game. Why would anyone want to play a sport where people feel superior based on how players show emotion?
Jeff Sullivan
10:13
People feel superior to other people in every sport and every field of work. It doesn't matter. The culture is shifting -- expressiveness is present in baseball now, maybe more than ever, and it's only going to increase. People want to have fun, and the old guard is retiring
NatsFan
10:14
How do you think the Derek Norris trade/subsequent release affects the perception of the Nats front office/culture. My impression is that the team is already looking inhospitable to free agents, both because of deferrals and culture. Does this exacerbate that trend?
Jeff Sullivan
10:14
I think it demonstrates once again that, when the Lerners become convinced of something, they'll just do it, over the front office's head. It's a weird and unpredictable hierarchy
Sterling Mallory Chris Archer
10:14
What's the weirdest chat question you've gotten that you couldn't publish?
Jeff Sullivan
10:15
Why would I choose to publish it now?
Dipoto
10:15
Thoughts on Vogelbach going to AAA to start the season? Seems to me this might be the safer call, letting Valencia have a chance to play full time.
Jeff Sullivan
10:15
Danny Valencia is already good at hitting. Daniel Vogelbach might become good at hitting
Wes
10:16
Talk to me about James Paxton. Whisper sweet nothings into my ears that he'll stay healthy all year and his arm slot change is real.
Jeff Sullivan
10:16
He just threw strikes for the first time in his life, he gained multiple ticks on his average fastball, and his injuries were because a batted ball hit him, and because a fingernail broke
10:17
The year before that, he had a strained finger tendon. It's not like Paxton has Rich Harden's medical record
Michelle
10:19
Why did Familia stop throwing his filthy splitter from second half of 2015?
Jeff Sullivan
10:20
He didn't need it. Last year he was still dominant on the strength of his impossible-to-lift sinker.
Choo's on first
10:20
Tim Bekcham has been having a good spring and the injury to Duffy could open up some playing time. Is there any reason to think that Beckham could take a step forward and make good on some of the potential he had as a prospect?
Jeff Sullivan
10:20
Some reason, sure, but no reason that's real particular to him
Kyrie Irving
10:20
How can the Earth spin if it is flat?
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