JotCast | Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat

Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 1/28/2020

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Meg Rowley

2:01

Hi all, and welcome to the chat.

Couple of things from the site to highlight. First, Eric and Kiley released the Tigers' prospects list today: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-38-prospects-detroit-tigers/

2:02

Jay wrote about yesterday's D-backs/Pirates trade: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/diamondbacks-add-a-full-time-center-fielde...

Dan has the Mariners' ZiPS for 2020. Woof: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2020-zips-projections-seattle-mariners/

2:03

And Ben wrote about just how much baseball there was last year that didn't end up meaning a whole lot: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2019-had-a-lot-of-meaningless-baseball/

Also, if you're going to be in AZ for spring training on March 13, we're having a reader meetup, so come hang out with us: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/fangraphs-phoenix-meetup-march...

2:04

The venue is not 21+, so feel free to come by and hang even if you can't purchase a beer (a word to parents: I can't think of much that would be less fun for kiddos and while our events are usually host to very nice people, they are adults who swear, so...)

Chris

2:04

Is there an approximate date for the top 100 release from you guys? I am excited for it!

Meg Rowley

2:05

Prospects Week kicks off Feb 10, with the Top 100 slated to go midweek.

Jason N

2:05

Meg - I think salary caps are great for MLB. Before the salary cap, only the richest teams could afford the good free agents. It felt almost hopeless being a fan of a small- or mid-market team. I want players to get rich playing baseball, but I don’t want to go back to a system where Only the richest 20% of teams have a shot at a world title. What do you think about a slightly higher spending cap and a meaningful salary floor (Closer to $100m perhaps?) to solve the economics problem in baseball?

Meg Rowley

2:07

I think the CBT effectively functions as a salary cap, and as we've seen, teams don't need much of an excuse not to spend. I don't think the answer to baseball's economic issues (which largely involve young players not making enough, and profit and quality of on-field product getting decoupled) is to codify the thriftiness of some teams further.

Dongo Lewis

2:07

Can you talk to the Diamondbacks and make sure they use K. Marte and S. Marte on the backs of jerseys?

Meg Rowley

2:07

I... I think it'll be pretty easy to tell them apart on the field? If nothing else, there's a number right on the jersey.

Sodo Mojo

2:08

What are reasonable expectations of Evan White in 2020? Is a league average hitter with elite first base defense realistic in his first year or should the bar be lower.

Meg Rowley

2:11

ZiPS is more pessimistic than that, which isn't surprising given how short White's track record is, but the bat has definitely improved - White adjusted his swing, and he posted some very impressive exit velos last year (second highest in the system on average) - so if that sticks, it, coupled with the defense, might make those projections seem low.

2:12

Also just... look, I know it sounds weird to be super amped for first base defense but White is a lot of fun to watch. Plus, he's a backwards guy - bats right/throws left - so it all adds up to a fun, weird-ass profile.

2-D

2:12

Where do you think is the best for Puig? Where do you think he ends up?

Meg Rowley

2:13

Boy does Pittsburgh make a lot of sense, which, given the brawls, would be amazing on its own.

Trevor

2:13

The Rangers have been sneaky getting Minor and Lynn, both putting up monster seasons. Now with Jordan Lyles and Kyle Gibson coming on much the same sneakiness, do you see a pattern in what talent they are evaluating, or do you see Minor/Lynn's 2019 as more of an outlier?

Meg Rowley

2:14

My irritating answer to this is that we won't know for a little while - I don't expect their 2020's to be as wildly good as 2019 but Texas does seem to have helped make some meaningful adjustments.

TomBruno23

2:15

Meg, are the Cardinals going to go in-house to replace Ozuna in LF and middle of the order? I guess so...

Meg Rowley

2:16

They have a fair amount of depth, and I think we're currently projecting Edman out there a fair bit so yes.

slockwood

2:16

Do you think people are overrating the Reds? People seem to think they have a good chance at the NL Central, and I think that they could win, but I still feel like there are some glaring holes.

Meg Rowley

2:17

I think that most people see them as a team that got a lot better, and has the potential to win an even but not especially good division, which feels about right to me.

Kegs & Megs

2:17

Will Fangraphs be hiring any writers or contributors for the upcoming season?

Meg Rowley

2:18

We don't have an open call planned as of now, but that can always shift around.

RIP

2:18

Fangraphs Audio

Meg Rowley

2:19

I've done two episodes already this month! Took last week off because I have a terrible cold and was coughing to a degree that made podcasting untenable, but will record this week. Consistency of posting is a goal, though, don't fret.

Doctor Parrot

2:20

Which stadiums have a way worse in-game experience than they should?

Meg Rowley

2:21

In my personal experience, which does not encompass all of the parks, and which is specific to me, and with which you can disagree, and about which, you shouldn't feel compelled to yell - I've always felt like New Yankee should feel more closely tied to the team's past than it does. It feels like a mall to me. To me personally. A nice mall, but a mall. That is a personal opinion of mine.

Ben

2:21

How much of this year's more robust free agent market is because of the 26th roster spot?

Meg Rowley

2:22

Roster flexibility certainly helps but was never going to really affect the dudes up top anyhow, so some, but not a lot.

Doctor Parrot

2:22

What do you think Haniger has left in him?

Meg Rowley

2:22

A fair amount, but jeez, the poor guy.

Chris

2:22

Hi Meg! I'm having a hard time enjoying myself at baseball games. The constant bombardment of advertising, between-inning promotions, requests to get your selfie on the scoreboard...it's all a bit overstimulating. I just want to watch Tatis Jr. make his warm-up throws.

Meg Rowley

2:23

Yeah, it can be a lot. I don't have a great suggestion to make - I know some folks who knit during games and the tactile experience helps them concentrate. Others listen to the radio broadcast to toon out some of it.

Doctor Parrot

2:23

Do you see MLB expansion happening within the next 5 or 10 years?

Meg Rowley

2:24

Yes, and closer to 5 than 10.

Tommy

2:24

Would the Dodgers or Padres benefit more from acquiring Mookie?

Meg Rowley

2:24

the Padres