You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Kevin Goldstein FanGraphs Chat - 2/1/2021
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
David (formerly Sonoma State)
12:46
Did you really think I'd miss your first chat back? Welcome back KG.
Kevin Goldstein
12:46
Oh, HELL yes.
Alistair
12:48
Did your time inside the industry change your view on whether hawks can be jerks?
Kevin Goldstein
12:48
I was thinking about the Hawk Trap Guy last week. What are the chances he's even still with us? 70%?
Hello!
12:48
How often did you watch the Major League Astros play live while working for them? Every single game?
Kevin Goldstein
12:49
I did not live in Houston, so only when I was in town, plus I was traveling a TON on the scouting side. Maybe 15-20 games a year in person, plus all the post-season action.
Daron
12:49
What's the shortest amount of time it took for a trade agreement (i.e. duration from initial inquiry/negotiation to final agreement on the players involved)?
Kevin Goldstein
12:50
Five minutes. Jason Maxwell to the Royals in 2013.
Johnny
12:50
In an ideal world, how would you set up the service time and free agency structure?
Kevin Goldstein
12:51
Lots to take care of from this base idea, but starting some kind of clock from the moment a player is drafted/signed would eliminate the service time manipulation that keeps worthy players in the minors.
Adam
12:52
At what point does Preller look at the roster he’s built and think to himself, “this roster has way too much talent to still be playing Hosmer against Lefties?”
Kevin Goldstein
12:53
I can understand this thinking, but there are all sorts of other factors that say you should play him. These are human beings and it's not Strat-o-Matic and making Hosmer a platoon player would have other, at times immeasurable implications.
Bob
12:56
Kevin, I'll say this. I appreciate your transparency in your first piece back. And while I'm glad you didn't go to DC and denounced Osuna, it feels like sort of the bare minimum given your standing. Could you speak even a little to maybe initiatives within the Astros for diversifying the front office? Especially post-Taubman. More inclusion of Women, POC, anyone without financial privilege to move on their own dime every nine months? Again - I know a lot of that isn't your decision, but as someone who personally rode that horse for as long as I could (which evidently was part of me having no money, no security and an eviction because COVID)...I'd just like some sort of grasp on why teams don't support interns, seasonal analysts, etc - and what efforts there may be to diversify (which feels like a major competitive advantage teams don't think of). Sorry this is a bit all over...just curious for general thoughts.
Kevin Goldstein
12:57
I think you are discussing one of the biggest issues in the industry, and it's a downright embarrassing one. Some teams are doing more than others to address this, and some are doing nothing at all. It's a massive problem.
David A.
12:57
If you're able to say, what other media outlets contacted you (or did you consider) besides FG? What made FG the best choice for you?
Kevin Goldstein
12:58
Probably not my place to discuss the others. What made FanGraphs the best choice for me was A. It's FanGraphs, and they're awesome; B. The freedom to help define the content I create; C. Talking to David and Meg really made me feel like I could fit in here.
GvK
1:00
KG, are certain front-office members "assigned" teams to work with? In other words, would you be assigned to monitor the AL East in transaction talks, or scouting their players specifically?
Kevin Goldstein
1:01
We definitely split things up, mostly based on who had good relationship. I had a set group of teams I was the point person on because I knew the GM or AGM well. Sometimes initial conversations got kicked up the ladder, sometimes I'd see them all the way through.
MikeD
1:01
You viewed Tanaka’s entire MLB career from an Astros’ FO perspective. Care to take a guess as to why he’s pitching in Japan this year when teams are scrambling for starters?
Kevin Goldstein
1:02
I think there's definitely a chance that he just didn't wan't to pitch here anymore for a variety of potential reasons.
Still Casey
1:03
Do you intend to answer follow up questions about the sign stealing scandal while writing for fangraphs?
Kevin Goldstein
1:03
Like I said in the article, I'm not running from it, but I also had nothing to do with it. Happy to try, but can't tell you you'll be satisfied with the answers necessarily.
Justin
1:04
One thing I cant stand about today's reporting is how many rumors we see about how "x team is talking to y team a trade for player z" almost vaguely. Teams listen to offers on every player all the time right? Even when they're not actively looking to move them?
Kevin Goldstein
1:04
Definitely want to write about rumors and reality at some point.
Hecubot
1:05
As an A's fan I'm curious how the Astros saw the A's prospect coming up. Did they see Chapman or Olson as impact players?  Were there regrets about the Laureano trade?
Kevin Goldstein
1:05
Man, all of my mistakes coming to light today. I was having a good day earlier.
Franco
1:07
Are you just working with Eric on prospects or are you taking on a more general role?
Kevin Goldstein
1:07
Both.
Ed
1:07
Will you ever contribute to Rotographs, or strictly Fangraphs?
Kevin Goldstein
1:07
I don't play fantasy baseball, but I'm happy to help the group there in any way they ask.
George
1:08
What is one skill do you think teams continue to overvalue in prospects? Defense? Arm Strength?
Kevin Goldstein
1:08
Metrics without performance.
George
1:09
It was rumored there was a Harper to the Astros trade in the works in his walk year. How close to being done was that trade and do you remember who was involved?
Kevin Goldstein
1:10
It would be in bad taste to talk about the players involved, but I went to bed that night believing Bryce Harper was an Astro.
ANDY
1:10
Is baseball broken, and can it be fixed? The Cubs, Red Sox, etc. are acting like small market teams and seemingly only teams like the Padres and Dodgers are actually trying to win.
Kevin Goldstein
1:10
Many parts are broken. It can be fixed. But it's going to need a coming together moment from the league and the players.
Andy
1:11
The best film you saw released in 2020/2021 is _____________
Kevin Goldstein
1:11
In And Of Itself.
Dan
1:11
Thoughts on Luis Arraez?
Kevin Goldstein
1:11
I don't think there are a lot of players you can stare at and say "that dude is a .300 hitter, period." Luis, for all of his other faults, is one of those players.
Connecting…