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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 4/13/18
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20longyears
9:52
While some of the Pirates’ start is undoubtedly luck/SSS/April, there’s also at least some evidence that young players have developed well.  When should we start considering them “real”?
Jeff Sullivan
9:52
While the Pirates just played the Cubs pretty tough, they're also being propped up by going 6-1 against the Tigers/Reds. I don't much care about how a team plays against the Tigers and Reds
9:53
Keep watching for another month or so and we'll see how indicators start to settle down. I think the Pirates came into the year kind of underrated, and I'm excited by what I've seen from, say, Polanco and Moran, but for now this still isn't quite a playoff team to me
9:54
I wish Tyler Glasnow would throw some damn strikes :(
Erik
9:54
20 years from now, how many two-way players will be on major-league rosters? Am I crazy to think it'll be at least 15 or so, with more teams having one than not? If Ohtani proves that it can work, more and more guys will be brought up that way in the minors. And with teams wanting as many relievers on the roster as possible, the ability to have effectively two players occupying one roster spot will only get more important.
Jeff Sullivan
9:56
I don't feel this way. I think there are very, very few players with the skills to handle both responsibilities. Now, there might be more position players who are just skilled enough to throw a bunch of mop-up innings -- the Chris Gimenez types. But if anything, 20 years from now, rosters will have expanded, so teams won't need so much flexibility
Father Fry
9:56
Does Bryan Mitchell suck? It seems like Bryan Mitchell sucks.
Jeff Sullivan
9:56
I think that, as a starting pitcher, Bryan Mitchell sucks
9:57
It was a worthwhile attempt, and I thought there was some upside there, but even through three starts, this is pretty conclusive. Three strikeouts and 14 walks? That's almost impossible. So, so bad
He should be moved to the bullpen post-haste, but for the fact that the Padres don't have any other starters
Bored Employee
9:57
How much do you buy into Chase Anderson's finish to last year?
Jeff Sullivan
9:57
He's no ace, but I buy him as somewhere in between a 2 and a 3
9:58
I love that changeup
TF Fredrik
9:59
I saw Ozzy Albies swing at a 3-2 fastball the other day that was pretty much middle middle. He swang right thru it. Have you watched any Ozzie at bats and seen same load and swing? From that one at bat it looked like he’s trying to hit 30 this year.
Jeff Sullivan
9:59
For such a little dude, it more or less requires max effort to hit a ball out of the yard
10:00
Albies, to this point, has shown enough power. But the Braves have to keep watch and make sure he doesn't go the way of Rougned Odor or someone
I'm not too worried. Albies is so young and so good, and he'll find his compromise
Southern Bleacher Bum
10:01
Addison Russell ever hit above .270 for a full season?
Jeff Sullivan
10:01
He'll fluke his way there once or twice
Mac Gwire
10:02
What is your favorite early-season storyline? If it's Ohtani, what's your second-favorite?
Jeff Sullivan
10:03
This is going to sound like a cop-out answer, but: it's everything. I love having baseball just wash over me completely. There's something to investigate everywhere I look. *Everything* is interesting (except the Tigers)
10:04
A month or so from now, certain storylines are going to begin to emerge more prominently. And certain teams are going to fade into the background, rarely to be considered. Not there yet. Still in that honeymoon period where I just love that baseball is back
CamdenWarehouse
10:05
When Max Schrock wins the MVP, will he be the first MVP to have been traded twice before debuting?
Jeff Sullivan
10:06
Not the same thing, but Josh Hamilton was technically employed by the Devil Rays and the Cubs before the Reds
Southern Bleacher Bum
10:07
Did the Padres make a mistake paying such a high price to obtain Bryan Mitchell?
Jeff Sullivan
10:08
I mean, it definitely looks like it now. Mitchell is bad. But it only took the $13 million to cover one year of Chase Headley, and Headley is a useful player on his own. Plus, the Padres were never going to contend this season, so that money might not have been otherwise spent. It clearly didn't prevent them from, say, signing Eric Hosmer...
Not the Maddog
10:09
Think Newcomb will get improve his control? Lots of potential there
Jeff Sullivan
10:10
Already has. As a major leaguer, he's been close to a league-average strike rate, which is a step forward from where he'd been in the minors
I don't think his control will ever be plus, but it's good enough as is for him to remain in the rotation
Mike M
10:11
Do you have thoughts on Jarlin Garcia?
Jeff Sullivan
10:11
Not yet
Let me quickly develop some
10:13
I'm not seeing much
Standard repertoire, seems to let his changeup get away from him. I don't see a pitch I like to generate consistent swings and misses
TF Fredrik
10:14
How worried are you about Ohtani getting worn out from trying to play 162 games as hitter/pitcher? I feel like above any attributes, scouting, skill questions, it's my biggest fear for him.
Jeff Sullivan
10:14
Well, he's not doing that, right? The Angels have played 14 games. Ohtani has pitched in two of them and batted in seven of them
10:15
That's a 104-game pace. Two-thirds of the season, basically
10:16
Ultimately, he'll play more than that, if he stays good. But remember that, as recently as 2016, Ohtani batted 382 times, and threw 140 innings, in a 140-game season
He's *already* made this work for him. This isn't as much of an experiment as it seems like
Southern Bleacher Bum
10:17
Will Sano ever get his strikeout rate below 30%?
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