JotCast | Live Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/2/17

Live Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/2/17

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Sabermatrix

3:35

Didn't the Rockies try a 8 (4x2) man rotation where each "Starter" got 2 times through the order and the next "Starter" would come in. Then they alternated who got the actual starter. Who many games did that experiment last?

Steve Adams

3:36

I think their cap was something like 75 pitches per starter and no more than five innings. It was when Jim Tracy was managing and didn't go on that long -- few months? It didn't work well, but they also weren't working with the most talented bunch in the first place. Kudos to them, though, for at least trying a unique approach to solving Coors Field.

Alek

3:36

Bigger surprise: Eric Thams and Ryan Zimmerman tied for lead in HR or Aaron Judge tied April rookie HR record?

Steve Adams

3:36

The former by a long shot.

Nats

3:37

Are they regretting not getting mccutchen now? Would they still try to trade for him with Adam out?

Steve Adams

3:37

They got the better player and the better contract. I don't think they regret not getting McCutchen simply because Eaton suffered a freak injury. The same thing could've happened to McCutchen, and then they'd only have had one expensive year of control left, which they'd spend hoping that he'd bounce back from a serious injury in his 30s.

rob

3:38

Interesting - think the Angels trade Trout for a haul if a team would take Pujols (and his entire contract) ?

Steve Adams

3:38

I do not.

3:39

I can't really see the Angels entertaining any kind of Trout offers this summer, and diminishing the return by forcing a team to take on Pujols would be a waste of his value as well as a really tough sell to the fan base.

"Hey we're sorry we moved the best player of the generation, but we got these three really good young guys. It'd have been six really good young guys, but we needed the buyer to save us from the disastrous Pujols mistake we made" isn't a great message.

Alek

3:40

Do you think Puig for Braun will finally happen this year?

Steve Adams

3:40

Puig's improved play makes that a lot less likely to me.

Pirates

3:40

Are we ever going to have a player spend their whole career here and be an impact player?

Steve Adams

3:41

It's possible -- they'd need to follow the Evan Longoria model in Tampa Bay... sign him cheap very early and then give him a nice contract that still falls shy of open market value a few years before the initial extension is up.

Maybe not likely, but it sure looks like the Rays could hang onto Longo for the bulk of his career, and they're worse off financially than the Buccos.

Tcostant

3:42

Can the Nationals get Cain from the Royals? Great fit with Eaton out for the year and Cain only signed though October.

Steve Adams

3:44

Sure, once the Royals become more open to listening on their players. They're not there yet, but I can't see that team recovering, either. Cain+Herrera to the Nats makes a lot of sense. Nationals won't want to give up Victor Robles, but they have lots of MLB-ready starting pitching -- Cole, Voth, maybe even Joe Ross -- plus, of course, other prospects beyond Robles.

Suntrust No-Park

3:44

Time to bail on Swanson?

Steve Adams

3:45

He's 23 and has fewer plate appearances this season than he did at the end of last season, when Atlanta fans were touting him as a Messiah-like figure. Swanson will be fine, and the Braves are going to stick with him in the Majors beyond one struggle-filled month.

James paxton

3:46

Am I for real, or am I a mirage?

Steve Adams

3:46

Talent is real. So are the injury risks. Paxton's never been able to hold up over a full season. Maybe he does this year, but it'll take a few years of making 30+ starts to shed the injury-prone label.

Todd Jeffrey

3:47

If the M's continue to play below expectations do you see them dangling Paxton in July? What kind of return could you see them getting?

Steve Adams

3:48

Nah -- he's controlled three seasons beyond this year. Even if they're struggling, I doubt they part with someone they want to be part of the future so badly. Especially having already traded Taijuan Walker.

Bryan

3:49

Speaking of the Royals, Who are some good minor leaguers to stash, O'Hearn? Anyone else? Soria to take over?

Steve Adams

3:50

Fantasy-wise? Josh Staumont strikes out like a bazillion hitters per nine innings. Granted he walks about a half-bazillion per nine as well. But he's already in AAA and could eventually get a look in '17. I dunno that I'd be stashing Royals guys, though. For one their farm isn't one of the game's best, and secondly they probably won't move anyone until this summer.

Louiebaumgartner60

3:50

Any rumors about pirates aquring another outfielder

Steve Adams

3:51

Similar spot to the one the Mets are in with the rotation: they have a need, but no one's selling any sort of meaningful piece in early May, and the free-agent market is mostly barren.

Curly_W

3:52

Every year Buck Showalter seems to turn lemons into lemonade. He he the best manager in the MLB?

Steve Adams

3:54

Tough sell after last year's Wild Card/Britton debacle.

I do think Showalter is good in terms of his rapport with the players and his managing of a clubhouse, but I also don't think you can simply give him all the credit for the fact that the Orioles have somehow stayed afloat on a raft made entirely of fourth starters for the better part of a half-decade. Their infield defense, their ridiculous bullpen in many of those seasons, a high-scoring offense mitigating many of those five- and six-run meltdowns from the rotation -- there are lots of factors.

Choking up with two strikes

3:54

Where did I go?

Steve Adams

3:55

The same place that sacrifice bunts and other older trends are going. It's a three-true-outcome environment in the game... dingers rule all.

Steven

3:56

Could you see the Nats calling up Andrew Stevenson to play CF if he hits well in AAA

Steve Adams

3:56

Yeah Stevenson's a real option if Taylor struggles for a month or so while Stevenson hits well in Syracuse.

3:58

Ellsbury to the Mets for the Grandy man and 10 million per year. Who hangs up first?

Steve Adams

3:59

Granderson's a free agent at season's end... Mets aren't taking on Ellsbury at what would effectively be four years and $45MM for his age 33-36 seasons.

4:00

They'll let Grandy go and clear up some room for Conforto to play right with Cespedes in left and who knows what in center field. Lagares some, and then perhaps a trade or free agent addition.

chris

4:00

How long should I wait for bregman to turn it around before I drop him?

Steve Adams

4:01

Awhile. Bregman is really, really good. And he's striking out less this season while walking more and making the same amount of hard contact. His numbers will turn around.

Ryan

4:01

Who's the most valuable trade piece the royals have this season? Will Vargy's hot start make him sexy to other teams?

Steve Adams

4:02

Yeah Vargas will hold value, but I think Cain, Moose and Herrera are their best trade chips

Can of Corn

4:02

Charlie Blackmon to the mets for one of their starting SP's?

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