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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 5/4/18
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Jeff Sullivan
9:05
Hello friends
Welcome to Friday baseball chat
john
9:05
Hello, Jeff. Thank you for chatting.
Jeff Sullivan
9:06
Hello john. Thank you for chatting, because without any of you, this would be pathetic
Put me in coach
9:06
You have to tell me what is going on with Nick Markakis. He has the third highest WAR in the NL.
Jeff Sullivan
9:06
You can never really dig too deep on these things in a live-chat format, but Markakis has such a fun profile right now
9:07
Strikeouts? He's halved them! Grounders? He doesn't hit them! Walks? He's got more of them!
9:08
I'm not sure there's been a true approach change -- his discipline numbers look similar to how they always have. But the Braves overall have an easy lead in the majors in team wRC+. They're eight points above the Yankees, while having to bat a pitcher
9:09
The Braves have become something fierce. All that attention people paid to the organization's young pitchers, and it's the lineup that's driving this early success
Ben
9:10
What would be a realistic Machado trade that would leave both the Dodgers and O's equally pleased? Or in the very least, equally miserable?
Jeff Sullivan
9:10
So the first thing I'll say is that a Machado trade is almost *too* obvious. The Dodgers don't really do the obvious things
9:11
And if they're content with Taylor at shortstop, that opens up other options. Maybe they don't need to make a move at all. Maybe they prefer to add an outfielder
9:12
It wouldn't surprise me if we got to midseason and the Dodgers decided they'd rather have a new starting pitcher, after making more use of guys like Verdugo and Toles
But this isn't directly addressing your question. And just last year, the Dodgers paid for a quality rental in Yu Darvish. That cost them Willie Calhoun and change
9:15
Mitchell White just re-joined an affiliate from extended spring training. He's a name to watch
Same with Yadier Alvarez, who is potentially kind of stuck
9:16
Keibert Ruiz could be of real interest, although the Orioles are also folding in Chance Sisco more and more
If I were the Orioles I'd think about demanding Breyvic Valera. Deserves more of a chance than he's likely to get in LA
Jack
9:17
Which team has your opinion/expectations of changed the most since the start of the season?
Jeff Sullivan
9:18
Even after gaining two games in two days, I have more concern than I expected to have about the Dodgers. Obviously, there's the Seager news, but I'm also still a little troubled by Kenley Jansen
9:19
And of course I didn't think the Braves would look this good. That's a team with real staying power
stever20
9:19
are we going to look back at these last 2 days as when the Dodgers turned the corner for this season?
Jeff Sullivan
9:19
It's probably going to have more to do with whenever Justin Turner returns
john
9:20
Hello, Jeff.  Thank you for chatting with us.  Should the Mets DFA Harvey?  At this point, is there anything to gain or hope for by having him on the roster?
Jeff Sullivan
9:21
It's very hard, because the Mets of all teams know that they shouldn't deplete their starting pitching depth
And since Harvey is in his contract year it's not like he's a guy you can trade to some other team that wants to try to rebuild him
9:22
I think you're looking at another five months of this roller coaster ride
Guest
9:23
What happens to Profar when Andrus and Odor come back?  What should happen?
Jeff Sullivan
9:23
He plays less frequently until the Rangers trade Adrian Beltre to a contender in July
9:24
I'm really encouraged by what I've seen from Profar. He's back on my radar
Matt
9:24
(Pre-typed question - did I get first?!?) What are your thoughts on Newcomb? He's up above a K per inning - he going to stay that way? I'm debating a relatively drastic fantasy move that doesn't really require him to provide anything but Ks...
Jeff Sullivan
9:25
Never been a question about his ability to miss bats. It's always been a matter of his control. If you only care about strikeouts, then, good news!
9:26
In the majors, Newcomb has maintained a roughly average strike rate. Not sure he'll ever get much better in that regard, but even this is playable
Matt
9:26
Lunch: Mediterranean or Cuban?
Jeff Sullivan
9:26
Who do you trust to make this decision: yourself, or someone who doesn't know you?
9:27
Have some self-confidence
Unless you're Matt from El Cajon who I know from middle school
In which case you want Cuban
Ross
9:28
So what should the Dodgers do now? Trust their outfield depth enough to just move Taylor back to short for the rest of the season, or look to trade for a shortstop? Obviously, Machado is the name that comes to everyone’s mind. If they find the price for a Machado rental too steep, the Rays were always going to trade Hechavarria and call up Adames at some point this season. Of course, Taylor also hasn’t looked much like his 2017 self so far this year
Jeff Sullivan
9:29
In a sense it's "easy" for the Dodgers right now, because you almost never see any trades of real consequence in April or May. There was like Mark Trumbo to the Mariners early that one June
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