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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 4/13/18
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Jeff Sullivan
9:06
Hello friends
Welcome to Friday baseball chat
Shohei Ohtani tripled yesterday
It was good
TF Fredrik
9:07
What the hell is with Giolito’s start to season? His velo was up in spring and his curve was back but now he’s throwing 91 and his curve only 5%?
Jeff Sullivan
9:08
Yeah, this has been really disappointing. Especially since it's clear he's followed through on his mechanical adjustment, lowering his arm slot significantly
9:09
He's thrown only 55% strikes, which is terrible. His velocity hasn't rebounded. The curve isn't there. Maybe Giolito just...isn't...good. But I will say this: his three game-time temperatures have been 45, 32, and 47. He hasn't yet been able to pitch comfortably, which *might* be a factor
On the other hand, pitching under the same conditions yesterday, Jose Berrios was fantastic
9:10
I really, really liked spring Giolito, but now I'm running out of patience
Craig
9:11
What should the Mets do with catcher?
Jeff Sullivan
9:12
For now, I don't think there's anything to do. Nido and Lobaton are going to have to hold it down, and thankfully it seems like Plawecki will only be out 2-3 weeks. That's not so bad, and he's deserving of more playing time when he's healthy, anyway
Clearly, though, the depth has been challenged. It's too early in the season for any team to be thinking about trades, but after the draft has passed, it wouldn't be a shock to see the Mets get, say, A.J. Ellis or someone
9:14
Ellis would fill that role of respected veteran backup, and it's not like the Padres are going to have any real use for him
Freddie Freeman
9:14
Last 2 calendar years, wRC+ leaders go Trout, Votto and Freeman (which includes post broken wrist 2017). Freddie needs to be thought of as one of the best hitters in baseball.
Jeff Sullivan
9:14
Is he not?
9:15
If he's not, well, he should be, absolutely. He is amazing
Freeman also hasn't hit a pop-up since 9/7/16
9:16
More and more like Votto by the day
jhg
9:16
KEON BROXTON is too good for AAA. The Brewers need to promote this man.
Jeff Sullivan
9:18
Victim of circumstances. At this point he probably needs a trade or for someone to sustain a major injury. There's no outfield in baseball with more talent and depth
9:19
I'm, let's say, 40% surprised he never wound up dealt to the Giants
9:20
Maybe the Brewers and Royals could work something out
Not that the Royals have very much pitching to dangle
Brian
9:21
I know the Giants will never trade them but who would say no to MadBum and Posey to the Nats for Robles and Turner?
Jeff Sullivan
9:22
MadBum and Posey
BJOGC
9:22
Pitchers who don't wear sleeves in cold weather, yet they still put on a warm up jacket when they reach base?
Jeff Sullivan
9:22
When you're on the mound, you know you're going to remain very active. When you're a baserunner, you don't know that
9:23
On the mound, you're doing something every 20 seconds or so. On the bases, you might be standing there for 12 minutes
Steve Nebraska
9:23
How concerned are you about JD Martinez's K rate?
Jeff Sullivan
9:23
0%
Mac Gwire
9:24
Do you care at all about schedule at this point in the season? The Yankees play 12 straight games against Angels/Astros/Indians/Red Sox soon, which is a worry for them given how they've been playing.
Jeff Sullivan
9:25
I'll notice schedules sometimes, but I never think much about them since eventually things mostly balance out. And I don't think there's too much predictive power in the fact that the Yankees are 6-7
9:26
Even despite some struggles, the Yankees have a top-10 wRC+, and while the team ERA is lousy, the team FIP- ranks fifth
The Yankees are great, no matter what's happened the last two weeks
9:27
The one schedule I feel bad about is Tampa Bay's. They started 1-8, because they played their first nine games against the Yankees and Red Sox. That does mean they have fewer such games remaining, but what a horrible way to begin
Panik Button
9:27
Is Josh Hader going to be for the Brewers what Chris Devenski was last year for the Astros?
Jeff Sullivan
9:28
That's the idea, basically. He's really super good
And Hader, unlike Devenski, hopefully won't melt down down the stretch
Hader figured out strikes somewhere last August or whenever. He's been untouchable since
Guest
9:29
Are you watching playoff hockey with the Senators not participating? Playoff hockey is the best. You should still watch
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