JotCast | Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat

Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 1/8/19

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Meg Rowley

2:44

So many hats. Just so many.

Some dude

2:44

Re: Mets- it makes sense for a new FO to not trade away too many prospects that they may not have a good feel for. At the same time, for a new regime that wants to give MLB fans quicker results with guys like deGrom (who may only be around for a few more years), could one argue that it's a gamble worth taking? I was excited about Luis Santana, but what are the odds that he's Dilson Herrera instead of Jose Altuve?

Meg Rowley

2:44

I'd have more sympathy for this argument if they couldn't just improve their roster by spending money.

2:45

They could just spend some money

Juli

2:45

For all the talk about how Machado and Harper are holding up the market because of the teams in on them, is it possible that players are waiting for those guys sign to then market themselves accordingly? So could someone like Pollock be waiting for Harper to sign so then he can have the rest of the league to himself?

Meg Rowley

2:45

I'd imagine it is more a team-driven issue than a Pollack driven issue.

Sepia

2:46

Who finishes with more losses next year. Cubs or Red Sox

Meg Rowley

2:46

Cubs imo.

Casual fan

2:46

What is more likely, Angels extend Simmons or trade him?

Meg Rowley

2:47

I don't think they'll do either.

EricStephenIsGod

2:47

What's worse? College Football's "playoff" or MLB's salary structure.

Meg Rowley

2:47

Multiple things can be bad at once, though I will say, I enjoyed the game last night. Not the part where the players aren't paid. But the game.

Heap of Consternation

2:48

Did you make any New Years resolutions.

Meg Rowley

2:48

Be kind and don't make anything worse.

2:49

What is it about the Mariners that causes such a concentration of "high"-profile internet baseball people to come through their ranks? You, Geoff Sillyman, Dave Cameron, etc.

Meg Rowley

2:50

I think it is useful to have to write about bad teams. I think it forces a creativity that helps you produce regular content.

2:51

Like, I wrote 3-5 times a week about the 2015 Mariners. That team was so bad and unappealing. And I am grateful for it every single day.

Ryan

2:51

I know that she is a super busy leagl type person, but any plans on having Sheryl on Fangraphs Audio? I really enjoy her work.

Meg Rowley

2:52

Sheryl doesn't know this, but yes, she is on my list for the near future!

Dave

2:52

How to anticipate the middle reliever market shaking out with the signings of Herrera and Robertson? Seems like they did quite well for themselves. Do you see that as overpay for relievers or the going rate? Ottavino is next one off board?

Meg Rowley

2:53

As Craig outlined yesterday, there weren't a ton of really attractive options. I'd expect Kimbrel next, and Ottavino shortly after.

Soup for thought

2:53

Could your New Year's kindness ever warm your feelings towards the Mets?

Meg Rowley

2:53

I mean, I like sad things. I am a Mariners fan.

Tom

2:54

Will the Cardinals get back to the playoffs this year?

Meg Rowley

2:54

I like their chances considerably more now than I did, especially if the Cubs stand pat.

2:54

Any big/new plans for FG in 2019?

Meg Rowley

2:54

Sometime in the next few days, we'll have a contributor posting going up.

2:55

I'm also really excited about Sean's plans for The Board.

Also, Some Other Stuff.

Ryan

2:55

Never met him, but Sean Doolittle seems like a pretty nice guy, eh?

Meg Rowley

2:56

Seems like a cool human, and he has a really smart perspective on the game and its dynamics. His would be a voice I'd center in the coming years if I were the MLBPA. He's not the only one, but he's one of 'em.

Split Infinitive

2:56

Is it just me or does there seem to be an abundance of grammatical errors in sports articles lately. It bugs me

Meg Rowley

2:56

Editor hot take: the split infinitive rule is goofy.

Doug

2:57

When you say the Padres aren’t contending next year, do you mean 2019 or 2020?

Meg Rowley

2:57

I mean 2019. Apologies, this time of year is goofy when it comes to that.

DC in DC

2:57

WRT Machado and Harper, why wouldn't a team offer a shorter deal (say 4 or 5 years) at a higher annual salary (say $35M to $40M) to get the deal done? And shouldn't Machado or Harper jump at such a deal as it gives them another mega contract cycle?

Meg Rowley

2:58

Teams are often reticent to tie up a huge part of payroll in one player.

Grasping 4 Straws

2:58

If you respond to one of my questions does that mean I'm published?

Meg Rowley

2:58

Congrats!

Lunar verLander

2:59

Do you think that, in general, GMs want to pay minor leaguers more, and that it's mostly ownership that's against it?