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Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 1/21/20
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Meg Rowley
2:01
Hi everyone, and welcome to the chat.
2:02
Happy HOF announcement day. Jay has the results of our crowdsourced ballot here: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-envelope-please-our-2020-hall-of-fame-...
And Anthony Calamis, who is part of Ryan Thibodaux’s ballot tracker crew, has a piece special to FanGraphs on ballot trends: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/walking-through-the-2020-hall-of-fame-ball...
2:03
Meanwhile, on BravesGraphs, Dan has Atlanta's ZiPS: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2020-zips-projections-atlanta-braves/
2:04
And the prospects dudes put out their list: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-27-prospects-atlanta-braves/
Lunar verLander
2:05
With all this talk on other players hating on the Astros' players, I wonder what their interactions on the basepaths will be like. No more friendly banter at first? More cleats-up slides into second? Will it extend to players who've been traded (Jake Marisnick, Marwin Gonzalez, etc.)? Will they hate on the pitchers as well, who presumably had some inkling what was going on but didn't directly benefit from it?
Meg Rowley
2:06
I am fascinated to watch this. I worry about them getting buzzed (Altuve and Bregman in particular), and wonder if it the league shouldn't offer proactive guidance on it.
Gosh, imagine the fan signs we're gonna get.
2:07
So many!
And so creatively done!
Pat's Bat
2:07
Did you fill out a fake HoF ballot for Jay?  Who was on it?
Meg Rowley
2:07
I have an embarrassing confession: I meant to, but got a very, very bad head cold just before New Years and... forgot.
2:08
But as such, my ballot is identical to Jay's and you can't prove I made any goofy, bad choices.
snid
2:08
Would you please rank the following for Dynasty league:  Woodruff, Soroka, Paddack
Meg Rowley
2:09
Been a minute since we've done this but, please ask one of our very good and smart fantasy writers because I don't know and care about you personally.
Vslyke
2:09
Do you think the Braves will replace Donaldson's bat or roll out the current lineup and aim to improve at the deadline?
Meg Rowley
2:10
I think they roll with Riley and Camargo for now and then perhaps contemplate a trade at the deadline if that duo proves wanting.
2:11
I know that he had the down year and then the injury, and his club option converts to a player option if he's traded, but man, Seager the Elder might make a lot of sense for them if things get dicey.
L. Scott
2:12
Considering they are less than 1 year apart in age,  how is Zach Wheeler worth $33MIL more than Madison Bumgarner over their 5 year contracts?  I understand Wheeler had a good 2nd half last season, but $33MIL??  Bumgarner has a much better track record including postseason greatness.  Why would Bumgarner leave so much money on the table?
Meg Rowley
2:15
They're less than a year apart, but Bumgarner has a lottttt more innings, plus Wheeler has that velo. The difference is reflected in their projections, and their contracts
2:16
Jay did a really nice job with the contrast if you want the full length article version: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/madison-bumgarner-saddles-up-for-arizona/
DJ Tanner
2:16
Is sign stealing technically illegal in baseball? If everyone does it in simple terms, just seems like MLB put the the players/coaches in a position to try to get more and more creative. It's fine to steal the sign if you're a runner on 2B and get info to the batter, but not if you make it more complex. MLB should ban it completely or you will always have guys trying to find a competitive advantage this way.
Meg Rowley
2:17
There isn't ambiguity here. The memos clubs were sent put what the Astros did (and what we know of what the Red Sox did) on the other side of the legal line.
The game's flirtation with some amount of cheating might make the general moral posture a complex one, but this was very clearly against the rules.
2:19
The idea that systems of rules cannot address nuance, or that, faced with a strong desire to win, individuals and teams simply can't help themselves sounds like a pretty bad way to organize a league and a civilization
2:20
put another way, I remain unimpressed with the idea that the presence of incentives neuters the capacity to control oneself.
bartleby
2:22
Felix going to Atlanta- he is finished- right?
Meg Rowley
2:23
Not sure about finished. We'll see. If I recall correctly, ZiPS is projecting him for a FIP in the 5.00's, which is... bad. But we'll see.
2:24
This was exactly the sort of the deal we expected he'd get.
Jon G
2:24
What's the most exhausting part of baseball twitter?
Meg Rowley
2:24
Yes
Patrick
2:24
What jersey is Kris Bryant wearing on Opening Day?
Meg Rowley
2:25
Cubs. Even with the Arenado market souring, I still think the grievance being up in the air makes the whole thing too tricky.
Matt
2:25
Baseball (of the college variety) is less than 4 weeks away, and MLB spring training starts in a month! My question is, when is Prospect Week?
Meg Rowley
2:26
It'll kick off February 10.
College Baseball opening day is that Friday.
Valentine's Day! D'awwwww.
Inaccessible Rail
2:26
Is there somewhere one can find out which players still have options?
Meg Rowley
2:26
It's at the top of every player page, and on the RosteResource depth charts: https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/indians
Bighen
2:27
Best bet for mets manager ? The are apparently afraid to look bad in front of Steve Cohen which is why he should probably have taken over control immediately
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