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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 8/25/17
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Jeff Sullivan
11:15
Well, that'll always happen. Whenever a pitcher moves to prioritize one pitch in particular, then hitters will begin to seek that pitch more often. That's the back-and-forth that'll always be there with anyone and everyone
Jordan
11:15
Arrieta to the Braves 5/125?
Jeff Sullivan
11:16
I think they'll want someone younger
Rockie Dangerfield
11:16
What do the park factors for walks and strikeouts model?  There shouldn't be any difference in the strike zone across parks, and thus, no reason to adjust them, right?
Jeff Sullivan
11:16
It's not a difference in the zone as much as it can capture a difference in strategy
11:17
In some parks, pitchers might have to work more cautiously than they do in others
11:18
Or, take Colorado, for example. It reduces strikeouts, probably for a few reasons. Pitchers are more afraid to throw strikes. Hitters are more incentivized to make contact. And secondary pitches aren't as effective
Then there's also the potential matter, in other parks, of visibility. If it's just a little more difficult to pick the ball up in one park than it is in another, that'll show up in the data
These splits do persist. They're real, even if they're weird
Orchid
11:19
Eric Hosmer's offense turns dramatically after terrible April. I wonder your opinion about his offense turns dramatically too?
Jeff Sullivan
11:19
I know I'm higher on him than, say, Dave has been. He still hits way too many ground balls, but his contact quality is legitimately good
JimmyBallgame
11:19
I would say Yasmany Tomas has the worst contract in baseball, all things considered
Jeff Sullivan
11:19
It's Pujols
Michael
11:19
I'm in love with the information xwOBA has provided us thus far. I've noticed that some players (e.g., Matt Carpenter last time I checked) have mostly been hitting the crap out of the ball but getting unlucky. Are they really just at the extreme end of the luck bell curve, or is a shortcoming of xwOBA defensive shifting?
Jeff Sullivan
11:20
Shifting and speed, yeah
Sean
11:20
Zack Godley has the 5th highest SwStr% among MLB starters... just how good is he??
Jeff Sullivan
11:20
Super good curveball
Like him!
Ziggy
11:20
How concerned are you long term about Alex Wood's ability to stay healthy?
Jeff Sullivan
11:20
It was only a couple years ago that he started 32 games, so it's not like he has this extended history of breaking down. But I doubt he'll ever be a workhorse
Guest
11:21
You get to a ballgame, you get your beer and a hot dog or two. And then the real question hits.. do you put mustard or ketchup on your dog? Or are you a both kinda guy?
Jeff Sullivan
11:21
More mustard, maybe a small amount of ketchup. I'm not a big fan of sweetness in general
Would lean more toward mustard and onions
Babe Lincoln
11:21
Any reasons to doubt Luis Severino as a deGrom-caliber pitcher?
Jeff Sullivan
11:21
No, he's really good
Robbie Canó
11:22
Speaking of Pujols, will my contract look THAT bad in a couple years?
Jeff Sullivan
11:22
I don't think it'll look *that* bad
James
11:22
It seems like the Mariners will benefit far more than most when the rosters expand because they will be able to cobble togrther pitching even more so than they are right now. Am I overlooking anything?
Jeff Sullivan
11:22
What you're overlooking is that the pitching will be bad
There will be additional options, sure, but if any of them were good, they'd be in the majors today
11:23
All right, I need to get rolling
So thank you everybody for hanging out, and I'm sorry for what I didn't or couldn't address. We'll do it again next week at the same time, and until then, be well and have great days
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