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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 4/27/18
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Jeff Sullivan
9:30
And it's not just families, of course. Also just regular fans who aren't in the upper middle class
Edward
9:32
Have any thoughts on Vince Velasquez? Seems like it's a lot of bad luck so far, but I've also never been as enamored with him as most.
Jeff Sullivan
9:33
Whenever Velasquez comes up, my instinct is always to be skeptical. But it's not grounded in the numbers, because his numbers are fine. Maybe even better than that. You can't strike out that many batters and be a bad pitcher
9:34
My skepticism is all about his ability to remain a healthy starting pitcher, and that's based on his own history. But the Phillies are aware of the history, and they'll treat him with caution. Let's just say he's a good starting pitcher to have in the Gabe Kapler era
Pablo
9:36
Why can't Lucas Giolito strike anybody out? What has changed since spring training?
Jeff Sullivan
9:37
It's probably time for me to revisit this subject, since he looked so damn good a month or whenever ago
In the regular season he's been one of the very worst starting pitchers around
His arm slot is still lowered, although it's gotten a little higher. I think he just had his best velocity of the season, yesterday, against the Royals
9:38
But the arm action doesn't seem right. I kind of hate what Giolito does with his front leg. These are just strange mechanics, and it sure looks to my eye like Giolito is consistently overthrowing
Dokken
9:39
Trevor Story is now a top 3 SS? 250/350/520 5/5 SB and great in defense. Walking more, striking out less and hitting bombs. Will you finally admit he is elite? Oh... And he is as fast as BillyH.
Jeff Sullivan
9:39
Even in this season, Trevor Story is ninth among shortstops in WAR
9:40
And I don't care what his sprint speed is relative to Billy Hamilton, considering Hamilton is a proven elite baserunner, and Story is not
Sprint speed is only one aspect of running the bases
9:41
Story looks like his normal self. Maybe a hair or two better. He's fine
He is elite, in the way that every starter in the major leagues is elite
Fred Pants
9:42
Your take on Ian Happ's outlook this season?  Slow start or cause for concern?
Jeff Sullivan
9:43
Happ is being attacked more often up in the zone, and those aren't pitches he's easily able to handle. It's not a problem that's unique to him, but it's something he'll have to learn to lay off. I think he'll end up an above-average hitter, again, but the strikeouts are going to be there
Edward
9:44
Is Kurt Suzuki a top-ten catcher?
Jeff Sullivan
9:44
Probably not, but you couldn't ask for a better backup
Well, you could, but you'd be hard-pressed to find one
You could ask for anything
Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe
9:45
Next Tuesday is 1 May. What storylines from this season will we be talking about on 31 May?
Jeff Sullivan
9:45
Trading Manny Machado
How the Phillies should balance the present against the future
Shohei Ohtani
9:46
Whether Aaron Judge is seriously almost as valuable as Mike Trout
42
9:46
Are there any long term solutions for the Reds that do not involve multiple top-5 draft picks?
Jeff Sullivan
9:46
Pitching development. They need to be able to develop their pitchers. Their track record to this point is awful
9:47
They have young talent in the majors. They have young talent in the minors. The ingredients, for the most part, are there. They seem to be clueless when it comes to putting them together
45Blows Billygoats
9:48
Didi is having quite the start to the season, but if you look at the splits, he's below average on the road.  Can we now put an asterisk behind Yankee like we do Coors Field?
Jeff Sullivan
9:48
I know you're just trolling, but, 2017 Gregorius: 81 wRC+ at home, 133 wRC+ on the road
Kiner's Disembodied Hands
9:49
If he's able to get back into game shape, how do you see Kang being utilized by the Pirates?
Jeff Sullivan
9:50
This one is actually kind of a mystery to me. I don't think the Pirates expected this, and they're already so deep in half-decent 2B/3B types
I'm sure it's too much to ask for Kang to be able to play much shortstop
9:51
And Kang is only under contract through the end of this season, with a 2019 club option
9:52
He's not a priority. The team wants to play Moran. The team wants to play Harrison (when healthy) and Freese. Maybe Harrison gets dealt but as long as the Pirates are over .500 that won't be happening
Long story short: no idea! Not an easy fit
Palardelphia
9:52
If I told you before the season started, "At the end of April, Rhys Hoskins will be the second best hitter in baseball behind a Yankee", how many guesses would it take before you brought up Didi Gregorius?
Jeff Sullivan
9:52
Six?
Turgid
9:52
How are historical defensive values calculated? How accurate should we consider them to be?
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