You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 3/31/17
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Jeff Sullivan
9:46
Rays, Giants, Cubs
9:47
Spring training feels longer and stupider every single year
Don
9:47
I saw you predicted 3 AL West teams to make the playoffs. Is that more because you think the AL will be bad or that they are really all that good?
Jeff Sullivan
9:48
Lots of teams in the mix for the AL wild card between the ALW and the ALE. I think the ALE is deeper so they're going to beat up on one another. But I made that prediction before the Smyly news so you can bump the Mariners and and replace them with the Jays or something
Zonk
9:50
Do you think we've seen the last of the bad contracts for Cuban veterans? I am thinking of Rusney, Olivera, Arruebarrena, Tomas, that other Dodgers guy, probably others...
Jeff Sullivan
9:51
I never want to predict the last of something, but the exemption age was raised in the CBA from 23 to 25. International spending now has hard caps, so any Cuban player 24 or younger is going to be bound by those, and how many really talented Cubans will remain there until they're 25 or older?
Nick
9:52
As someone whose job it is to write about baseball, are you especially excited for the season to begin so that you have new baseball to discuss? I can't imagine how difficult it would be to come up with ideas for multiple quality articles a day 2.5 months after the baseball season has ended.
Jeff Sullivan
9:52
Yesterday I published articles about Aaron Altherr and Austin Pruitt
Don't get me wrong, I like Aaron Altherr and Austin Pruitt, but those are tough subjects to sell. The season needs to begin a month and a half ago
njs
9:53
my friend's son and (d'backs gm) mike hazen's son are on the same little league team... how creepy is it for me to show up at games just to ask big mike questions (and, if you could ask him a question, what would it be)?
Jeff Sullivan
9:53
"How annoying would it be if I just asked you a bunch of baseball questions?"
9:55
If you want to *really* get in, pretend like you don't know who he is, and try to befriend him via other methods. Don't talk about baseball at all! Everybody tries to talk to him about baseball. Talk about grilling, or yardwork, or mortgate refinancing, or whatever nonsense it is adults like to discuss
9:56
And then when you're actual real-life friends, *then* you begin to pry. Like a secret agent!
JRuby
9:56
It's being reported that, in addition to the $49.5 million dollar value of the contract, the Texas Rangers are also giving Rougned Odor two horses. Roy Oswalt is said to have received a bulldozer from the Astros, and that same organization famously gave Charlie Kerfield his requested 37 boxes of orange Jello as part of his contract. What weird perk would you ask for in Jeff Sullivan contract negotiations?
Jeff Sullivan
9:57
I want to be able to spend time with the penguins and otters at the zoo
So, I would request special access at the zoo
Ben
9:57
How do trades happen? Is it two GMs calling each other and hashing it out over several hours? Is it just emails/texts back and forth? How real time is the offering and refusing/accepting different proposals of players?
Jeff Sullivan
9:58
They can go different ways, of course. Some trades happen in the blink of an eye. Some are kept on the backburner for literally months. Around the deadline, everything happens faster. Calls, texts, emails, everything. Everything gets used, and more people than just the general managers are involved
TotesMcGoats
9:58
Seeing a lot of opinions on Aaron Nola... The velocity is back up at 95 mpb, but he has been getting touched up this spring. What are your thoughts on him? Even if he bounces back, do you see an innings limit being implemented?
Jeff Sullivan
9:59
Healthy Aaron Nola is a borderline ace. If he is healthy, then the Phillies will be thrilled, as they gradually build up his arm strength
LarryA
9:59
What team is the furthest from reaching the playoffs? (My vote is Royals, Reds or Marlins)
Jeff Sullivan
9:59
I think it's the Reds
A year from now, could easily be the Royals
Ross
10:00
What kind of record for the M's first month of 26 games would give you confidence they have a good shot at the postseason? What would doom them?
Jeff Sullivan
10:00
15-11, 8-18
Not going to be a lot of ground to give with the Rangers, Yankees, Rays, Orioles, Tigers, Blue Jays, and everyone else in the same mix
Jimbo
10:01
Opinion on Hunter Renfroe? At what time will Manuel Margot come up for good?
Jeff Sullivan
10:01
Margot should spend most of the year in the majors. I don't usually love players with Renfroe's profile but I'm willing to see if his approach improves this first half
Jankowski and Dickerson are also interesting. Interesting four-man outfield! (When Dickerson is healthy)
Kimball
10:02
Why do you think the ALW is stronger than the ALE?
Jeff Sullivan
10:02
I don't
Brandon Juice Geluso
10:03
Bird finishes this year as a top ____ offensive 1B (offensive WAR or wRC+, etc.).
Jeff Sullivan
10:03
15, with a good shot at 10
Don
10:04
How soon before we see everyday rosters greater than 25 men?
Jeff Sullivan
10:04
I bet we could see 26 in the next CBA. Got fairly close to doing that this time around
Taco
10:05
Hi Jeff- do you think Glasnow is ready for the majors now or would he be better off spending time in AAA to work some more ? He was shaky last season in the majors
Jeff Sullivan
10:05
I'm usually in favor of letting these wild power arms straighten it out in Triple-A, but the Pirates know more about Glasnow's new delivery than I do. I haven't been watching him this spring with my own eyes
Sirras
10:06
As an accountant, I am contractually obligated to remind the US readers out there (most of us) that the tax deadline is coming soon and your accountant is already swamped. Get him/her/them your stuff! Or file your own return!
Jeff Sullivan
10:06
Do your taxes!
It's the law!
Connecting…