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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 7/28/17
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Jeff Sullivan
9:10
Hello friends
Welcome to Friday baseball chat
Sorry for the hiccup -- had to amend some behind-the-scenes team depth charts
Owen
9:10
Should the Nats trade for a SP like Gray/Darvish, or focus on the bullpen?
Jeff Sullivan
9:11
Bullpen, for me. Just build that thing out. They have enough starters and if you feel like Roark or Gonzalez might not be so reliable in October, just limit them to five or so innings
Jack
9:11
Thoughts on Ramirez for Cishek? Seems like a pointless trade. Was Jerry just scratching his trade itch here? Did the Rays just feel they had to do something, anything about the bullpen after yet another failure last night?
Jeff Sullivan
9:12
The Rays are quietly overhauling their bullpen and they've been picking up a *lot* of sliders. It's becoming a bullpen full of specialists, which is an interesting approach. Going to be an awful lot of mound visits
9:13
As far as the Mariners are concerned, I'm sure they like Ramirez's cost control and flexibility. Their pitching depth has been tested and there's not very much in the upper levels, as rotation insurance goes. So this somewhat weakens their present-day bullpen but Ramirez is a useful No. 5 for a few more years
Jack
9:13
Doesn't it seem weird that someone as strong as Khris Davis would have such a weak throwing arm? I know there's a lot more than arm strength when it comes to hitting home runs, but one would still think most guys that have the strength to hit the ball hard would also have the strength to throw the ball hard, or am I off base here?
Jeff Sullivan
9:14
I think the understanding is that Davis sustained some kind of shoulder injury, in college I believe. Arm hasn't recovered. The problem might be mechanical, or he might just have a weaker right shoulder, but my guess is that for a righty hitter, a lot of the power comes from the left shoulder and the lower body
Pie
9:14
How long would you say you typically spend on the titles of your articles? I very much enjoy them
Jeff Sullivan
9:14
I usually go with the first thing that comes to mind. Never more than a few minutes. Headlines have been a historical problem of mine :(
Brandon M
9:15
I have one day left in Portland before I catch a flight tomorrow home. Any good hikes/restaurants/activities worth doing?
Jeff Sullivan
9:15
Go hike somewhere on Mt Hood -- Cooper Spur trail if you're feeling ambitious. Have dinner and beer at Breakside (northeast) or Great Notion
Matt
9:16
If the price for Gray proves too high, who would the Yanks be best to move onto? Any of Darvish, Lynn, or Straily a good fit?
Jeff Sullivan
9:16
I'm not strongly of the opinion the Yankees even need a starter right now. In a way you can kind of think of them having "added" a starter by the Red Sox losing David Price to the DL
DMoney
9:18
Derek Fisher, will be remain an everyday starter in the future?  How does the future OF picture look with Springer as a mainstay, Marwin excelling, Reddick not too far behind, and Kyle Tucker in the mix?  Assume Aoki is gone.
Jeff Sullivan
9:18
Don't forget the weirdly extreme Jake Marisnick!
9:19
The Astros don't have too many long-term problems at the moment. The outfield is definitely among their non-problems. It does feel a little weird to see them still having Aoki, but that won't go on much longer than it needs to if Fisher takes off
LAA
9:20
Who's going to win the AL MVP?  (Regardless of who "should.")
Jeff Sullivan
9:20
I bet Sale has a great chance if the Red Sox manage to make it into the playoffs
Altuve will be deserving but he might lose votes because of how easy it's been for the Astros to get way ahead
9:21
Sale will face the pitcher bias. Altuve will face the way-too-good-of-a-team bias. Judge has a chance if he finishes well and the Yankees make the postseason
Jared
9:21
As high of a return as the A's are said to have for Gray (ie Frazier, Brinson). Who do you think folds first Beane or a contending team?
Jeff Sullivan
9:22
The A's will ultimately settle for a less-shiny centerpiece
Rumors are always outrageous before a trade is agreed to. It's why a trade hasn't been agreed to
TJ
9:24
Can Tanaka finish the year with his stats like this and still opt out? What would a FA contract look like?
Jeff Sullivan
9:25
I don't think Tanaka would opt out if he were coming off such an insane home-run rate. Granted, I don't expect that to keep up. Tanaka should be pretty good between now and the end of the season, and if he's good enough, he could do better than 3y/$67m. A fourth year could be out there somewhere
sadtrombone
9:26
Jeff: I was thinking of the MVP races this morning, and everyone seems to be thinking about Altuve or Judge in the AL. Why not Chris Sale? He's having one of the most incredible pitching seasons of the last 20 years and is substantially higher in WAR than anyone else. Can I persuade you to take up the case?
Jeff Sullivan
9:26
I would barely need persuading. He's incredible
One of the problems is the nature of our leaderboards. You have to do a little work to see hitters and pitchers on the same page
Owen
9:28
How many runs per year are lost by the nationals batting Goodwin/Difo/Drew/Raburn 1-2 in the lineup, and batting the 4 best hitters 3-4-5-6?
Jeff Sullivan
9:28
A few. Not very many. It's not optimal, but in fairness, Goodwin has been pretty good
e.o.g.
9:29
could jerry dipoto possibly get any more jerry dipoto than jerry dipoto has been at this deadline?
Jeff Sullivan
9:30
Let's see if he trades a couple teenagers for, like, Kirby Yates
Presently at 8 or 9 out of 10 Dipoto level
Coner
9:30
I like the idea of the Jays selling off pending FAs for whatever they can get and trying to retool for next year, but is the core strong enough to have one last run in the AL East next year?
Jeff Sullivan
9:30
Yeah, the Jays are still good enough to give it a go next season. The problem with selling the pending free agents is that they have been bad
Erik
9:31
Who finishes with more career WAR, Yoan Moncada or Rafael Devers?
Jeff Sullivan
9:32
Moncada, but they'll both be really good
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