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Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 1/21/20
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Meg Rowley
2:48
More seriously, I am very excited to see watch the White Sox.
What a cool thing to be able to say!
Adam
2:48
How many teams beyond Houston and Boston do you think ultimately get caught up in the sign stealing thing, to the point of commish-imposed penalties?
Meg Rowley
2:49
I hesitate to put a number on it lest I imply I am privy to some insider scoop, but I think it will be at least one.
LLW
2:49
Phoenix: It's Very Nice This Time of Year(TM)
Meg Rowley
2:49
I. Am. So. Excited.
I renew my pondering: do I like baseball, or just being warm?
Players
2:50
Would all these players be speaking out if they believed their teams were to be sanctioned officially (ie electronic, not just the basic sign stealing stuff)? I suppose no one on the Brewers or Dodgers has been talking.
Meg Rowley
2:51
I think there's room for dudes to be on teams that might have been up to nonsense, but not have participated, been away while it happened, etc etc.
Alex Wood and Kenley Jansen (I think?) and Bellinger have said stuff publicly. Not sure about Milwaukee's guys.
Adam
2:52
More likely in 2020: somebody wins 110 games, or nobody wins 100?
Meg Rowley
2:52
The former, which feels very wild to say, and yet, I think is true?
snid
2:53
Is it known what the physical problem with Carlos Correa's back is?
Meg Rowley
2:53
I don't think in explicit detail, which, that's fine.
L. Scott
2:54
Do you know of any clause in the new 3 batter minimum rule that prevents a pitcher from faking an injury if he feels that he has no command after facing one batter?  If not, this can be a glaring loophole.
Meg Rowley
2:56
So the amended language isn't out yet I don't think (the 2020 rule book hasn't been released) but I remember seeing the word incapacitating used in conjunction with it in press, so I imagine there's something in there - generally if you're caught breaking the rules in-game, it results in ejection or fines, and having seen a lot of ballplayers try to act, I think we'll be alright.
Christian
2:56
The Red Sox reported asking price for Betts is just their way of saying they don't wan to trade him, correct?  *No* team would actually take on all of Price's contract *and* give up excellent prospects in exchange.
Meg Rowley
2:57
Perhaps the number of top prospects is one more than folks expected but there is a reason they were tied to clubs like the Dodgers who both had those and can absorb a deal - didn't strike me as a new ask, just perhaps newly publicly articulated.
Chick Pear
2:57
Banging scheme.
Meg Rowley
2:58
honestly, the best baseball writing we'll see all year
Johnnt5Alive
2:58
What do you make of the recent Cespedes running video?  He looks like Bartolo out there right now.  He's been out of baseball for over a year. If he does come back, it means less playing time for guys on the roster like davis and smith who are probably more valuable at this point?
Meg Rowley
2:59
I enjoyed watching Yo play very much, and think we need to see a lot more before we have to be concerned about the answer to your question.
GSon
2:59
God help the HOF ballot caster who omits Derek Jeter..
Meg Rowley
2:59
Would imagine that person will remain anonymous
HoF Day
2:59
How about once MLB switches to an automated strike zone they also install a screen with a friendly computer smile on it so we have something we can yell at and complain too without making the umpire feel bad about outcomes he doesn't control? Or the Boston Dynamics jumping/running robot so we can yell at it but maybe we dont because were scared about what itll do to us so we just yell and complain less overall?
Meg Rowley
3:00
If Fall League is any indication, it won't matter. We'll just yell. We'll yell, and yell, and yell, and they'll have to sweep up home plate with their little broom, and I'll feel awful.
Joseph
3:00
Where do the Rangers realistically fall in the AL for the next 5 years? Any hope they can get back to serious contenders by 2025?
Meg Rowley
3:00
Think they'll be back before that. Heck, they're fringe contenders now.
AJ
3:01
Re: Cohen. Youre right, “we” could be choosier unfortunately, when you look at the list of people who can afford pro-sports teams, its hard to find people worthy of own them. Most men with that amount of money frequently concern us.
Meg Rowley
3:02
Most people, honestly.
Fun Police
3:02
You know what I DO like? Fangraphs readers know that Fun Police guys like McCann are annoying, but seeing folks who Play The Game The Right Way being part of this hypocrisy is kinda fun (ie if anyone is gonna get caught up). Springer seems like a good dude, on the other hand, so it's still sad overall.
Meg Rowley
3:03
I don't imagine there was a way for the Astros players to answer those questions that would have satisfied everyone. Which isn't to say they couldn't have done better, to be clear. But yes, I mostly find this whole thing to be a massive bummer, delight in "banging scheme" aside.
3:05
So many of the guys in that lineup were and are very fun to watch. I don't want José Altuve and Alex Bregman and Springer ruined. I wonder how I'll feel watching them this year.
Seth Lugo
3:05
What exactly makes you hesitant about Steve Cohen (I generally think it's very hard to predict how good an owner will be until they actually become an owner)? He definitely doesn't seem like a great guy, but by that standard Robert Kraft would be a bad owner and I don't think Pats fans would trade him. It seems to me like the most important qualities of an owner are the willingness to spend a lot of money followed somewhat closely by the ability to hire a competent GM. Steve Cohen has given no reason to believe he can't accomplish either of those tasks.
Meg Rowley
3:07
Hedge fund types of the recent past being famously keen to spend money when they get in to sports... Maybe he'll be fine. Maybe he'll be good! But I don't know how you look at the last decade of baseball ownership or high finance and assume this is a positive.
3:08
Ok pals (comma) I have to get going. I appreciate all of your questions (comma) and hope you have a great rest of your day and week.
Jay will have a reaction piece later today, after the HOF announcement, with more coverage tomorrow.
3:09
Until then, and after, thanks for hanging out.
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