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Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 3/15/18
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THE Average Sports Fan
2:00
How would you feel about getting rid of extra innings and just having 9 inning ties?
Meg Rowley
2:01
Hi and welcome to the chat. Yes, I jumped the gun with a question, but to answer it: If the idea is to prevent injury in the minors, then I'd prefer a tie rather than the weird theater of a runner on second.
Sadly, I don't think that is the purpose here. I think the purpose is as a laboratory for the majors, and boy would that be a dumb bummer.
2:02
I've been with Manfred on mound visits and pitch clocks and automatic intentional walks, but this feels like a fundamental misunderstanding of his product. Extras are exciting!
Uncle Charlie
2:02
Hi Meg! Do you do fantasy questions?
Meg Rowley
2:03
Never very well! But this is a great chance to encourage you read Fantasy Preview Week over at The Hardball Times! Those guys actually know what they are talking about.
Brian Carper
2:03
Hi Meg -- what are your favorite essays from the BP annual this year?
Meg Rowley
2:04
I thought the whole crop was pretty strong this year. I really liked the Reds essay-- it was a cool approach to considering that team.
2:05
Travis' essay was excellent (unsurprisingly). I liked Emma Baccellieri's a lot. It was a good year.
Snoopy
2:05
what are the specific reasons many players don’t want to play for the Oakland A’s these days? Is it the faciltiites? that they trade players so frequently? Seems to me the A’s - yea I’m biased - more often than not field
competitive teams, tho not for a few years now. The grass at the coliseum is beautiful, Oakland weather rocks, and white shoes!! what’s the beef?
Meg Rowley
2:07
I think part of it is competitiveness. That ballpark is the sort of place I would be weirdly protective of if I were an A's fan (great vibe and good beer selection), but it can't be the first place guys want to play. A lot of things motivate free agents, and some of them aren't money, but also, some of them are. Oakland isn't in a great spot there either.
Billy Beane
2:07
...If I stay here are you going to engage in pleasantries with me ('Chat', if you will) or pull my hamstrings?
Meg Rowley
2:07
I think we should always try to be kind to one another. Your hamstrings are safe.
Sharp
2:07
There's gonna be a guy who makes a MLB roster this spring and blindside people.  Who will that guy be?
Meg Rowley
2:08
I think the real answer to this is a weird bullpen guy. The other real answer may be whichever Mariners have working bodies.
Abner Doubleday
2:09
Favorite Mariners *backup* catcher of the past 15 years?
Meg Rowley
2:09
Jesus Sucre. There was a weird day where he sorta ruined Cole Hamels and it was fun and surprising.
Travels
2:09
Mike Zunino was born in 1991, almost the exact halfway point between the release of Major League and Major League II. Is it possible his birth inspired the character Jack Parkman, or was Zunino born as a manifestation of the writer's visions of Parkman?
Meg Rowley
2:10
I like the part of this that assumes Zunino is a star, but not the part that assumes he's a jerk. He is, by all accounts, a very nice young man.
Dennis
2:10
Thank you for the chat, Meg. Where do you think Greg Holland eventually signs, and for how much? The fact that the Rockies made him a qualifying offer must be killing his market. Do you think the Angels might sign him?
Meg Rowley
2:12
It is weird how quiet the chatter about him has been, especially with so many of the other FA's coming off the board. I could see LA. He's also be an interesting fit for the Rangers, even though I like Claudio and am intrigued by whatever Lincecum ends up being.
Help
2:12
Back to back chats from Jay and you means that my Thursday is not very productive. I'm sure my boss isn't too thrilled.
Meg Rowley
2:12
We are very appreciative though, and promise not to rat you out.
Jared
2:12
If Cotton is on the fast track to TJ surgery wouldn't it be of better interest to the A's to spend on Cobb rather than rush Puk?
Meg Rowley
2:13
This makes a lot of sense to me and I don't think it will happen. But then again, Cobb makes sense for a lot of teams, so shruggie emoji guy.
Sonny
2:13
How much influence do high end FA's wield? If Kershaw opts out and demands whatever org signs him must agree to pay a living wage to their entire MiLB system would the org say no?
Meg Rowley
2:14
I mean, some for sure, but there is no way an org ever concedes that kind of labor shift in the course of contract negotiations. Imagine the calls they'd get from other clubs. But if he did ask for that, I'd sure think Kershaw was a cool guy for trying.
Billy Beane
2:15
Have you had a chance to watch any of Dee Gordon in CF? sounds like the experiment is going well.
Meg Rowley
2:16
TV can make this stuff tricky to judge, but he sure has looked comfortable out there. The dude is just so dang fast, and we knew that, but the routes he's taking to the ball and how he plays the wall have looked good, too.
2:17
I'd encourage folks to check out Travis' piece on Gordon: https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/perhaps-dee-gordon-was-out-of-position...
All the good Dee Gordon stuff.
Sonny
2:17
Spring Training is good because it's actual baseball while it's still snowing. Spring Training is great because some times outfielders play catch with kids in between innings.
Meg Rowley
2:18
Agreed although both of those things sometimes happen in the regular season when it really counts. Cleveland and Minneapolis in April aren't not snowy.
Charles Finley
2:18
Do the Rays trade away any more players before Opening Day?
Meg Rowley
2:19
I doubt it. Gosh, poor Rays. Poor Rays fans.
Uncle Charlie
2:19
How do you think the Brewrs outfield glut shakes out? Over/under 500 PA's for Domingo, Braun, and Thames?
Meg Rowley
2:20
I was talking about this with a Brewers buddy, and I'd say Over/Under/Under, with Braun's under being mostly about injury
Pale Hoser
2:20
What are your thoughts on Tim Anderson? He sure has no plate patience however he is an interesting mix of middle infield pop and speed. What kind of numbers do you think he puts up this year?
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