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Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 2/5/19
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Meg Rowley
2:38
Probably not.
I am sure it has an effect but I'm not convinced it is a very big one, especially for guys who are 26.
2:39
Could be wrong but I don't think it factors into their decision either way.
Roger
2:39
Setting aside geographical and climatic considerations, would you prefer to be the GM of the White Sox, the Padres, or the Rays?
Meg Rowley
2:39
Padres, Rays, White Sox
Bill
2:39
Would you wager to say that both Chicago and Philadelphia have probably offered acceptable deals to Harper and/or Machado, but the fact of the matter is neither location is really desirable to live in (south side for Chicago), neither locations seem to be a match for their lifestyles/personalities, and both players are (justifiably) disappointed there isn't more interest from better locations? I can't imagine either telling themselves "I can't wait to play for the White Sox" after finally earning free agency status after being criminally underpaid for so long.
Meg Rowley
2:39
I would not wager to say.
2:40
Those lifestyle considerations matter, but this is their big shot to make big money.
Sid Bream
2:40
Acuna: Regress or impress?
Meg Rowley
2:40
Impress.
2:41
He's a special player.
Hot Take: Meg Thinks Acuña Is Good, Shocks Nation
Ted
2:41
To be clear, Harper and Machado didn’t have to wait either.  Machado has known offers over $200m.  Harper turned down a huge deal from the Nats (which looks incredibly foolish right now).   They could have signed by now
Meg Rowley
2:43
We don't really know what they were specifically offered. We know what was reportedly offered, but don't know terms, the seriousness of the offer, etc. They don't have to wait, but why would they rush to take a less good option.
Thanks for the Chat!
2:43
What are some crazy promotional ideas that teams should consider deploying late in the season when they are out of the playoff hunt? Like sign a fan to a one day contract and let them pitch hit or play center field (against other non playoff teams), play on a little league dimension field,...
Meg Rowley
2:43
Make games free for kids. Make games cheap for everyone else. Have value deals on food and drinks.
Mystery Chatter
2:44
Expecting more OF shifts this year?
Meg Rowley
2:44
Assuming they aren't banned (I don't think they will be), sure.
Cody
2:45
In your opinion, what is the likelihood that baseball implements a major league pitch clock along with bringing back the 15-day DL in 2019? Both feel like inevitabilities at this point, but I am curious about the timing and how the players' union would initially react.
Meg Rowley
2:46
I think a pitch clock is very likely. I think the DL change depends a lot on how annoyed other teams are with the Dodgers, but I don't think there is a huge constituency for it right now.
I know that the pitch clock change the league can just do.
I'd imagine the DL stuff would matter more between the two to the union.
Turp
2:46
Seems the best way to resolve the "cash-only" crowd would be to institute system that allows them to use cash to load a card somewhere in the stadium. It would keep the concession lines moving and not exclude them.
Meg Rowley
2:47
They are able to purchase gift cards for that purpose but it still feels like an unnecessary change.
Also, have you ever been to a sporting event where the card readers go down? I have. It isn't the best.
Pie
2:48
It seems like every writer knows each other across platforms. How do y'all all meet? Is it just at games, or are there conferences, or is there a secret club we don't know about?
Meg Rowley
2:49
I think it is mostly a testament to us all being very silly and sitting around on twitter too much. I know when I first started, twitter was how I met folks. Over time, as you travel for baseball stuff, you get to know people through industry events, or finding time to grab a drink or coffee at spring training or what have you.
2:50
It is really nice to get to meet people in person. Baseball twitter has been known to devolve into picayune squabbles between folks who mostly agree with each other. It's nice to have the foundation of having met one another in person. I think it helps to remember there's a real human at the other end of the twitter.
2:51
Plus, I've met great friends that way. My high school pals are a lot less willing to listen to me talk about James Paxton for an hour than say, Jeff is. And just try explaining Willians Astudillo, or why Mallex Smith being the return for Mike Zunino was so funny. Just try.
questioner
2:53
Meg, if we laid it out in terms of value, wouldnt a 300 million contract be difficult for either Harper or Machado to live up to?  And thats not even considering that in a ten year period, any team will have years of non contention, and so the added WAR will have little to no value to the team.
Meg Rowley
Big League Choo
2:53
What is your favorite slang for home runs?
Tater? Dong? Dinger? Other?
Meg Rowley
2:53
I like Dinger and Tater personally.
2:54
The baseball internet has proven it cannot be trusted with Dong. It's very sad, but very true.
Mandy Is Still 91% Fresh
2:54
Maybe another way to ask this is to assume you were Trout and only baseball-related issues matter to you (not closer to home, or market size, or anything like that).  Do you have enough confidence in the Angels' future and management to take the guaranteed money now rather than risk waiting for the same money in free agency?
Meg Rowley
2:55
If I were Mike Trout, I would be willing to risk another team paying me in free agency. If Mike Trout struggles in free agency, I ... boy, we are not prepared for that winter on twitter.
NA
2:55
Have you considered living in a place other than Washington in order to avoid your current predicament?
Meg Rowley
2:55
Washington winters are generally pretty mild, and this wouldn't be a problem if it weren't very poorly timed with the furnace being broken and the furnace repair guys being closed due to snow.
2:56
I have a lot of family and friends here, all of whom I like very much. But I'd think about it for a compelling reason. I like Denver very much. The baseball in the Phoenix area is rad. I don't own a home, so I am delightfully unencumbered in that respect.
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