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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 3/24/17
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Evil Goatee Jeff
10:36
When is the last time you thought about Robert Person?
Jeff Sullivan
10:37
I guessed his name in response to something a couple weeks ago
Hot Dogs are Sandwiches
10:37
Who will post a higher fWAR this year - Manny Machado or Josh Donaldson?
Jeff Sullivan
10:37
Donaldson by a hair
walker
10:38
Thoughts on Blake Snell? Erratic control. Think he can take the next step this year?
Jeff Sullivan
10:39
Hasn't shown any kind of spring-training improvement in that regard. Aaron Sanchez did a year ago, and that worked out
Shouldbeworking
10:39
I don't understand how pitchers use spin rate to get better and I'm having trouble finding an article explaining how. Most I find merely say they do. I still don't get the how/why. Any things I should read?
Jeff Sullivan
10:40
I think it's probably an oversimplification. But I think teams and pitchers are better understanding how spin-rate fastballs can be utilized. High-spin fastballs up, lower-spin fastballs down. Trust in the spin, if it's there
Dylan
10:40
Griffey was near unanimous hof based on the first half of his career. Is Pujols unanimous based on his first 11?
Jeff Sullivan
10:40
Pujols wasn't the icon that Griffey was, so, no
______________
10:40
How long does it take Spring Training to become uninteresting for you typically?
Jeff Sullivan
10:41
Zero days. I hate spring training
Choo's on first
10:41
The Met's project to be the ninth best team by fWAR in the majors, fifth best in the NL, that put them on the WC bubble before the season even starts. If Amed Rosario is tearing it up in AAA, would A-Cab or Walker really keep him blocked if the Mets need to make a push?
Jeff Sullivan
10:42
Rosario has a half-season of playing in Double-A. Walker has been a steady 2.5 - 3 win player, and Cabrera's coming off a 3-win season. If there's a decline that happens, well, sure, maybe you shake things up, but the Mets aren't in a desperate spot today
English Bob
10:42
Blake Snell seems like he still has a lot to be working on, judging from all the walks this Spring. Do you think he's still a lock for TB's rotation, regardless?
Jeff Sullivan
10:42
I figure he makes it, and De Leon goes to the minors so they can keep track of his service time
Al
10:43
Is there a fun fact to be found in pitch framing data when a runner attempts a stolen base? I feel like some of the most egregious non-called-strikes happen when the catcher comes out of his crouch to make a throw. Is it too small of an effect to game plan around or should teams be running in 3 ball counts more often?
Jeff Sullivan
10:43
You're absolutely right. I don't know enough to speak to your last point, but the zone is definitely worse and smaller when the catcher tries to throw down to second
10:44
Just too much going on for the umpire to give the catcher the same benefit of the doubt
RK
10:44
who keeps the Fangraphs depth charts up to date/who should we let know if something is off?
Jeff Sullivan
10:44
A handful of us authors/part-timers. You could tweet any one of us or send an email to the FanGraphs contact address
Greg
10:44
What players have impressed you most in ST/WBC with improvements/changes?
Jeff Sullivan
10:44
Drew Smyly
Craig
10:45
What's a generalized player comp for De Leon? Seems to be very deceptive with good stuff but not overwhelming. Like good command, can pinpoint. Is he kinda like Jon lester
Jeff Sullivan
10:46
The pretty good and healthy version of Michael Wacha
Changeup-heavy righty starter
Sterling Mallory Chris Archer
10:46
So I'm definitely the high man on Stroman this year. I get that 5'8" pitchers so rarely succeed. But how many 5'8" pitchers have had his arsenal? I still remember the FG piece from right before he blew his knee out that showed his pitches looked like a Halliday, Johan, etc. Curb my enthusiasm a bit please.
Jeff Sullivan
10:46
Nah, he's awesome
10:47
If he figures out how to get whiffs *and* grounders at the same time -- that's upper-echelon-ace kind of stuff
Auto Man
10:48
Why isnt Oh considered top tier with Britton, Chapman, and Jansen? Short mlb sample size?
Jeff Sullivan
10:49
He's not unhittable like Chapman and Jansen, and he's not un-hit-hardable like Britton. He is extremely good, but one tier shy
Dustin
10:49
No question from me. Just want you to know I enjoy listening to you and Ben every day.
Jeff Sullivan
10:49
That's very kind of you, but considering we have three podcasts a week, and not seven, I'm not sure why you choose to listen to certain podcasts on repeat
CamdenWarehouse
10:50
After looking through the fairly mediocre outfield power rankings, it occurred to me that we don't have nearly the number of young top end talent in the outfield that I remember. Could this be another impact of the increasing shifting and MIs that used to move to the OF to make their bats play now are staying put?
Jeff Sullivan
10:50
I don't have evidence to prove it, but I have enough of a gut feeling to support it
Zach
10:51
Doesn't it seem as though we might be over-reacting a bit to great years from Bryant and Seager? Great years in which they still were less valuable than Trout? Didn't we just do the same dumb thing with Bryce Harper? Mike Trout is the best baseball player since at least Bonds and probably Mays, and the thought that the Angels would trade him straight up for any player on the planet (besides that one Cuban dude) is insane with him under team control for four years still. Every team in baseball could easily afford Trout, so it's not even that his salary is onerous. Feels like Jonah and everyone else is overthinking this.
Jeff Sullivan
10:51
Bryant was also extremely good in 2015 so he feels more legit. With Seager, there is a bit more downside, since I suspect his most recent WAR overrated the actual quality of his defense
Robbie
10:51
Is there much statcast data for spring training? David Peralta hasn't put up the best line, but is he at least still stinging the ball when he makes hits?
Jeff Sullivan
10:51
There's basically nothing. I think it exists in like one ballpark complex
10:52
Granted, that happens to be David Peralta's home ballpark complex
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