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Kevin Goldstein FanGraphs Chat - 3/7/2022
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GBS42
12:15
Any luck with the house hunting?
Kevin Goldstein
12:16
Gigantic sigh followed by me banging my head on my desk to the point of unconsciousness.
Dave
12:16
If the PA broke off and started their own league, and the owners brought on the next best players as replacements, how long do you think it would take for the PA's league to be equal in popularity to the replacement players' league? I feel like it would be quicker than most people think, I don't think most fans realize exactly how elite MLB players are and would miss the quality.
Kevin Goldstein
12:17
It would be quick, I agree, but the logistics of it in today's world with things like stadiums to play in and TV deals make it impossible.
Bob
12:17
Which on-the-field rule changes do you want to see implemented, if any, and why?
Kevin Goldstein
12:17
I think the pitch clock solves 95% of the pace of play issues.
Shodai
12:17
How many Ozeki do you think we have come May Tournament? With the story of my long covid, and your guy Takakeisho beaten up this could be a rough year.
Kevin Goldstein
12:19
It's weird with two of them being kadoban right now. I bet one doesn't make it, so I'll say two going into May. If you want my crazy prediction, I'll go with Hoshoryu getting to Ozeki by the end of the year. This has been your sumo minute! Next tourney starts next week!
NotAA
12:19
With Jud Fabian showing such an improvement in whiffs/Swing decisions so far do you see him as a 1st Rounder if he keeps it up?
Kevin Goldstein
12:20
If he keeps it up? Yes. Jury is still out on that, and we need to see it in conference play.
Mac
12:20
How would you value these players: SEC 2B good perfomer, JC SS,  HS toolsy athlete?
Kevin Goldstein
12:20
I would say I have about 3.183% of the information I need to answer that question.
JWR
12:21
What would be the best way for MLB to change the rules to reduce K and to increase balls in play?
Kevin Goldstein
12:21
The best way would be not to try to create rules to do that.
Mac
12:21
How much influence do you think Scott Boras really has in these negotiations.
Kevin Goldstein
12:21
Not nearly as much as MLB would like you to think.
Mitch
12:22
Do teams try to quantify the difference between wood and metal bats when evaluating college hitters? Also, have you ever evaluated a hitter who looked completely different when using wood compared to metal?
Kevin Goldstein
12:22
Yes and yes. There's a basic formula for adjusting exit velocities, but the biggest issue is sweet spot contact, as metal bats are basically one giant sweet spot.
Nick
12:23
Who votes on a new CBA for the players?  The whole union or just the exec committee?
Kevin Goldstein
12:23
The exec committee, with constant communication from the players will approve a deal and then the entire union votes to ratify.
Pat Listachio
12:23
i request your opinion of the filmmaker Wes Anderson
Kevin Goldstein
12:23
I really like his movies.
JWR
12:24
How do fans switch back to loving baseball when the owners sure don't care about us and it is hard to see the principle involved when the players will at a minimum be improving on the prior CBA that they played under for five years?
Kevin Goldstein
12:24
I think it's a very personal decision. I love the game and love watching players and can push that stuff to the side while doing it. If you can't, I get it.
Head Banger's Ball
12:25
Stop banging your head, Kevin, that can't be good for you.  Couldn't spring training be reduced to two weeks with the idea that pitchers would be coming out even earlier during the first two weeks of the regular season?  Spring training sucks for most fans anyway.
Kevin Goldstein
12:26
Spring training sucks for teams too. It's too damn long. I think in a normal world it could be four weeks, but I think we'd still need four weeks this year as well.
Guest
12:26
To bring back some movie discussion: Meh/Like/Love the following: High Fidelity/Full Metal Jacket/Chariot of Fire/Blazing Saddles/Three Colors trilogy
Kevin Goldstein
12:26
Like/Love/Like/Like/Need to see.
Head Banger's Ball
12:27
What about the effect be of a rule limiting teams to say 10 pick off moves/game?  Would that be a good way to emphasize speed a bit more?
Kevin Goldstein
12:27
So after ten pick off moves, every walk or single turns into an automatic triple? Is that what you want?
Guest
12:28
Extend the Sumo minute! Do you like Ura? He has become a favorite of mine lately.
Kevin Goldstein
12:28
I absolutely adore Ura. He's just wonderful and nobody looks like they are having more fun that he does. MORE SUMO.
Didace
12:28
"the goal of extended playoffs is not to figure out who the best team is"   The goal of any playoff, from high school state championships to March Madness to the Super Bowl, is not to figure out who the best team is, it's to figure out the champion of the playoffs. Big playoffs are fine, the trick is not to devalue the regular season. I think for MLB 12 teams is fine. 14 is pushing it.
Kevin Goldstein
12:29
If we are talking solely about devaluing the season, I don't see how 12 to 14 is a big issue. You're talking about 40% or 46% of the teams.
171
12:30
Hypothetical: If the Mets continue to wildly spend over the CBT and go on a Yankee's-esc run of several WS wins in a row, do you think that that will result in a couple other owners following suit to replicate it, or most other owners lobbying the league to do something about it? I think I already know what the likely answer is but wanted to see what you thought.
Kevin Goldstein
12:30
Both. I think you'd see a couple other owners following suit to replicate it and most other owners lobbying the league to do something about it.
Guille
12:31
Related to previous question, I'm in Uruguay (across the river from Argentina) and the venezuelan/cuban/dominican influx in the past decade has been huge, so that there's Baseball and Softball being played here regularly. Certainly a thing to keep in mind.
Kevin Goldstein
12:31
Sharing with the group. Baseball continues to grow in Brazil as well.
Kyle B
12:32
Over/under 150.5 games played?
Kevin Goldstein
12:32
Under, but not a huge bet on that.
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