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Kevin Goldstein FanGraphs Chat - 10/4/2021
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Kevin Goldstein
11:00
Hi everybody. Like many of you, I am sad that there is no game 163 today. let's brighten it a bit with some chat fun. Also . . . Eric Longenhagen and I will be going on Twitch at 5:30 ET to watch some fresh prospect video and talk about . . . . stuff, so we're trying to fill the void. Let's get to it....
Cakes&Kakes
11:00
I know comps are lazy, but I'm going to ask anyways. Is Ryan Mountcastle the second coming of Mark Trumbo?
Kevin Goldstein
11:01
I don't hate this at all, which is about the strongest compliment I can give a comp.
Inaccessible Rail
11:01
Am I crazy for thinking that we will have a new CBA and no lockout? It just seems to me that the $$$ to be made are too big for either side to let this happen.
Kevin Goldstein
11:02
I mean, I'm old enough to remember people saying the exact same thing before the last work stoppages. I think the best bet for your scenario would be both sides agreeing to just kick the can down the road for a year and get a 'normal' year in the books before sitting down at the table.
Blue Days
11:02
Four 91+ win teams in the same division and a 106 win Dodgers team plays a 1 game series to start the playoffs. Is this not enough evidence that the divisions structure needs to be looked at and updated?
Kevin Goldstein
11:03
That's correct, it's not enough evidence. This stuff is going to happen, and the only solution is a playoff structure that allows too many teams in.
Cakes&Kakes
11:03
Are the 'yips' just a blanket statement for something a team cannot define or fix regarding a pitcher's delivery? have teams invested more heavily in doing both mental health research and assistance for players in this case?
Kevin Goldstein
11:03
No. Control problems are one thing, the yips are another. The yips tend to have much more of a psychological aspect than a physical ones, and yes, teams have invested MUCH more over the past decade on that side of things.
Travis
11:03
Is this the real Austin Riley? Obviously the BABIP won’t stay that high, but do you see him as a 4 WAR player going forward?
Kevin Goldstein
11:04
At least a three...
Enlightening Round
11:04
JJ Bleday struggled this year, how's his prospect status in your eyes?
Kevin Goldstein
11:04
Down significantly. The questions on the bat are MASSIVE.
pakkap
11:04
just getting this out of the way at the top of the chat:

the one game wild card is an abomination for a sport without a clock and where the season is a marathon, not a sprint.
Kevin Goldstein
11:05
I mean, you could argue that for 5 and 7 game series as well, but we only have so much time. Like I wrote today, how many games would you really need to know which team is better? 15? 30? It's not feasible.
Dodger Fan
11:05
Kershaw's postgame press conference a few nights ago was so, so saddening.  Have you seen him in person since ST 2014 (as mentioned in your article)?
Kevin Goldstein
11:05
Last in person was actually the 2017 World Series...
Marc
11:05
If the Orioles make the highest bid on a SP, how likely is he to decline due to losing/strength of schedule/small park factors? Or do most FAs just care about the highest bid?
Kevin Goldstein
11:06
Yeah, it's tough to go from 0 to 60 that quick. Big FAs want to win or think that they can. First step for BAL would be signing a good FA as opposed to an elite one.
Vince L.
11:06
How soon after a regular season ends do GMs of non-playoff teams start talking trades?
Kevin Goldstein
11:07
Really not until after the World Series, and then pretty darn quick.
Zim
11:07
In the midst of the potential chaos, did you get any eyes on Joan Adon? Unheralded prospect but seemed interesting?
Kevin Goldstein
11:07
The slider was just flat out excellent yesterday.
Angelus Novus
11:07
How sold are you on Hays as maybe a second division regular? Any upside there?
Kevin Goldstein
11:08
Yes; not really.
Marc
11:08
How do teams reach out to FAs they like but not as their first choice or only if their price comes down? Are they up front about that?
Kevin Goldstein
11:08
I'll be writing about that in the off-season!
Your Name
11:08
How many of the 10 best teams in baseball made the playoffs?
Kevin Goldstein
11:09
I think Toronto is the only one you can argue for.
Marc
11:09
Do owners give specific ML payroll budgets? A range? How do GMs figure out much they can spend?
Kevin Goldstein
11:09
They do. Usually it's a hard number, and usually you try to argue for more at certain points.
Inaccessible Rail
11:09
When you had Meg on Chin Music after yourself appearing on Effectively Wild, it was kind of like those crossover episodes that old TV shows used to have.
Kevin Goldstein
11:09
I am the Fonzie of podcasts.
Doug
11:11
How should you feel as a Mariners fan or Blue Jays fan? Mariners fans still have to feel good but feels a little more sour in Toronto I bet?
Kevin Goldstein
11:12
I think both fans should at least be optimistic that this is the beginning of something and they'll be back next year. I worry that Seattle could be way better next year, but it not showing up in the standings as they SO outplayed their pythag this year.
Roger
11:12
How replicable do you think the Giants' innovations around matchups are?  Do you think that's their key innovation, or do you think they did substantially more?
Kevin Goldstein
11:12
They did substantially more, and other teams will figure it out and catch up. It's how it works.
Chris
11:12
I’m a depressed Rockies fan…is there any reason for optimism with Bill Schmidt
Kevin Goldstein
11:12
He's a great evaluator of talent.
TJ177
11:13
This comes up every year with seemingly no resolution  - what is the size of first inning lead that you would need to feel comfortable pulling your WC game starter to save for LDS?
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