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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 6/15/18
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Ray Liotta as Shoeless Joe
9:55
If you don't answer this question, my ass will be in the jackpot. What do you think about the declining attendance numbers this season? Weather was a convenient excuse early, but things seem to be adding up...
Jeff Sullivan
9:56
The first thing I'll say is there's a difference between attendance and tickets sold. I'd be interested to know if actual *attendance* is down
The second thing I'll say is this is a lot more complicated than we want it to be and I don't possess nearly enough information to give you a great answer
9:57
But just generally speaking, the in-home experience of watching baseball has gotten better, and the expense of going to the actual ballpark, especially as a family, has gotten worse
Another question worth answering: even though ticket sales are down, is ticket- and concession-related revenue down?
Cespedes U Bum
9:58
Things are looking pretty bleak for the mets huh? Retool around the core or complete rebuild?
Jeff Sullivan
9:59
I think their direction will be dictated by the conversations they have in the coming weeks. There's virtually no excuse for a team in New York to ever give up on competing for multiple years at a time. But since they could conceivably trade both deGrom and Syndergaard -- those are easily the best starters who could become available. So if there are front offices willing to blow them away with prospect packages, that makes it harder to say no
Young Will
10:00
Is Dylan Covey for real? White Sox fans need a surprise like this after watching Giolito and Fulmer struggle. Is this our break, Jeff?
Jeff Sullivan
10:00
I think Covey is much better. I don't yet think he's genuinely good, but I've been poking around this week, and he's easily the most encouraging of any of their young pitchers to this point
Lot of faith in that sinker
Barry G.
10:02
Thoughts on Jeimer Candelario's season so far? The defense at third has looked better than expected.
Jeff Sullivan
10:04
You're right about the defense, and the bat has of course been one of the better ones on the roster
10:05
On the (relative) downside, I'm not sure Candelario's bat has improved from last season, and he's done a lot of his damage against bad pitching. I don't think we're looking at a multiple All-Star, here. But as an everyday player on the team right now, you could do a lot worse. Good return in that trade
GP
10:05
Thoughts on Miguel Sano's demotion to High-A? Should more teams send struggling players to the affiliate that plays at their Spring Training facility instead of Triple-A? The Twins front office cited the resources available to help him work through his struggles there.
Jeff Sullivan
10:06
Depends on the player and depends on the struggles. If you're just like trying to get some pitcher's changeup better, Triple-A is fine. You make him throw it 40% of the time. You see how it does against high-level opponents. If you're doing something more dramatic, however, or attempting to make a mechanical overhaul, then you want to reduce pressure as much as possible
Mike sixel
10:07
Sano to A ball. Buxton can't hit. Kepler? What is going on in Minnesota?
Jeff Sullivan
10:07
Evidence is mounting that Buxton just isn't a good hitter
10:08
Kepler is what he is. He's okay. Rosario and Escobar are the real positive surprises
Rosario has the same wRC+ as Joey Votto! Escobar has the same wRC+ as Jose Altuve!
Guest
10:10
domingo German is 2nd among starters in SwStr% with 50 IP minimum. Is this the kind of thing that sticks?
Jeff Sullivan
10:10
That's a sticky stat, yeah. It is evident that German is very good in the area of generating swinging strikes
10:11
Now, he's gotten somewhat abused when pitching out of the stretch, but I wouldn't worry about that too much long-term
vivalajeter
10:13
I'm listening to your most recent podcast with a discussion about Terry Collins arguing with the umpire.  It sounds like you mentioned several times that it was the second game of the season.  Did I hear that correctly?  Because my recollection is that it was midseason, and it was a Fox game of the week, which is why they had some players/umps mic'd up.
Jeff Sullivan
10:13
No, you're right, I was wrong
10:14
It was the second game of the *series*, not the second game of the season
It was also the second time Utley faced Syndergaard in that game, and not the first
And it was the second Mets series against the Dodgers in the early going
Weird timing all around
Lunch Angle
10:15
At what point does a player signed to a long-term contract but who's getting really really bad at playing baseball consider retiring, just to save some dignity? (cough cough Chris Davis cough cough)

I mean maybe just consider, obviously the players union would never actually let that happen.
Jeff Sullivan
10:16
What's worth more to Chris Davis -- a little bit of dignity, or a hundred million dollars?
10:17
Now you could say, sure, Davis doesn't *need* another hundred million dollars. But it's not like the only option is for him to keep it all. Maybe he's extremely charitable! Maybe that could all go to solve world hunger!
10:18
On the other hand, Gil Meche walked away from $12 million because he didn't think he was earning it https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/27/sports/baseball/27meche.html?_r=1
Ryne Sandberg walked away from $16 million https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/14/sports/baseball-a-slipping-sandberg...
10:19
So there's no zero precedent. I just wouldn't expect it
Kiermaier's Bored
10:20
How do you think the slimmed down Panda will do taking Longoria's place while he is on DL?
Jeff Sullivan
10:20
Evan Longoria has an OBP of .278
I don't think they'll miss much of a beat, to be honest
All Cats Are Beautiful
10:21
If Ohtani is out for long, the Yankees finish 1-2 in ROY voting, right?
Jeff Sullivan
10:21
Seems practically guaranteed
And if Domingo German finishes strong, in theory they could go 1-2-3!
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