You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 5/20/20
powered byJotCast
Meg Rowley
4:00
Hi all, and welcome to the chat.
Hope that everyone is doing as well as can be expected.
Let us chat!
Cat Latos
4:00 
How do you think one might counter the general sentiment that baseballers are greedy and make too much? It's annoying to hear my coworkers side with ownership.
Meg Rowley
4:05
I actually think there is a really good conversation to be had as a society about how we value and compensate different kinds of work, and whether that aligns with the value it brings to society. But if we have that convo, there's no way that say, how we value Manny Machado's work takes a hit but Ron Fowler's fortunate remains intact. And since that isn't what we're really doing when we have these conversations, the way I've been talking about it with family is that these guys are assuming risk for themselves and their families, aren't asking for hazard pay, and would simply like their bosses to do what they agreed to. There are a lot more zeroes at the end of the check, but the dynamic isn't that different from the companies that are scaling back "hero pay."
Josh
4:06
Do you have any advice on getting into the baseball analysis industry?
Meg Rowley
4:06
Allow me to preface this by saying, this advice might be utterly worthless - a lot is changing in the industry and much of it isn't good!
4:07
It wasn't especially lucrative in the best of times, and now...
4:08
But if that doesn't deter you, my advice is always to write as much as you can to exercise the muscle and accumulate clips to send around, and then to read. Read and read and read. Read current analysis, read the classic works, read non-baseball stuff. You'll want to be well versed in the discourse, and it'll make you a better writer besides.
This assumes a fluency with advanced stats to begin with, btw.
Rob K
4:09
Do you have any gentle TV recommendations? I've been mainlining Bon Appétit videos, which have perfect levels of humor and conflict, but it's been two and a half months so now I'm running out.
Meg Rowley
4:10
I've been watching old Jeopardy. It engages your brain some, but Trebek's voice is very soothing, and he seems likes such a nice man.
huh, that code is weird
yes I did copy Trebek's name from google because I was worried I'd misspell it
4:11
I've also been doing old Iron Chef America
which are on Hulu
ghost of bruce bochte
4:11
Hi Meg. Have you ever been to an AquaSox game? As a long time Mariners fan I went for the first time last year and found much of the experience (traffic, parking, proximity to game action, to name a few) more enjoyable than going to Safeco. The only drawback was lack of name familiarity with the players. There's really not much coverage on how minor league teams will survive this...thoughts?
Meg Rowley
4:11
I'd point you to the very good work that the folks at Baseball America have been doing on the question - things are... not good.
4:12
I think Everett will be fine (I agree, it's a great game experience), but other teams won't survive, either because they've been targeted for contraction or because they can't weather what is likely to be a lost season.
Temporarily
4:13
This whole thing reminds me of the way Americans have been described as "temporarily embarrassed millionaires." I think too many fans are "temporarily not-owning-teams owners." Possibly because it's easier to see oneself as a man in a suit than a (seemingly) superhuman, effortless athlete (and not a laborer). Also the owners have the media to help them by and large (not FG, thankfully, which I'm glad to support). I'm just not hopeful the players will ever win the PR battle (and I think the players know that).
Meg Rowley
4:14
I think the instinct to root for laundry is sadly pretty powerful. I don't think most fans think of themselves as siding with the owners so much as championing their teams. I think sports media has gotten better about asking questions and pushing back on owner statements that are unsupported by evidence, but a lot of fans will always think baseball players are lucky to be paid at all to play the game, and they want the [insert team name] to do well.
Magic Kingdome
4:16
Which current or soon-to-be Mariners jersey should you invest in?
Meg Rowley
4:16
Am in the market for a Connor Sadzeck jersey because I've been told it is important to commit to one's brand.
Cal
4:16
Assuming the season is played, will it feel legitimate? I'm not sure I would even want my team to win the World Series (if it happens), because it would feel like a "tainted" title, if that makes sense.
Meg Rowley
4:17
I think it'll really depend on how the money stuff plays out and how good a job the league's safety measures do in keeping players and the rest of the folks in the baseball ecosystem safe.
4:18
Lot of different ways for it to feel very, very icky! I worry about that, both as someone who loves baseball and runs a baseball site. But I don't think the length of the season or the rule changes do too much to change how I'll think about the WS winner. It'll be different for sure, but also, everything is different!
Billy B
4:20
Who wins the 2B job in Oakland? Can Barretto or Mateo become viable MLB hitters?
Meg Rowley
4:23
I am fairly skeptical of both - pretty sure they'll go with a Barreto/Kemp platoon to start, but I'm not a fan of Barreto's bat, and think the strikeouts could sink him.
Cool Papa Bell
4:23
How do you feel about Alex Bregman leaving his sports agent after LeBron James (associated with the same agency) announced a documentary about the Astros' cheating scandal?  It doesn't speak well to his character, does it?
Meg Rowley
4:24
Of all the things that might undermine his character...
I don't think he's obligated to be excited about that
I don't think that excuses any of his decisions tbc
Nova
4:24
Meg, I finally got a job in my field. Next on the wish list is an exciting baseball season.
Meg Rowley
4:24
Congratulations! That's great.
Lunar verLander
4:26
Did FanGraphs ever consider selling cloth facemasks, or did that seem to cash-grabby / disingenuous?
Meg Rowley
4:27
Feels not great to me? I dunno. I'm willing to be persuaded but that feels, not awesome
But maybe it would inspire people to wear masks? Wear a mask!
Short Spring
4:27
Let's say we do have the miniST in June at some point. What happens if someone needs to miss some of that time? (ex. Gerrit Cole is going to have a baby in June.) Does someone then just start the season late? This is not a huge concern because it would mean baseball exists, of course.
Meg Rowley
4:30
I'm not sure - I think because these guys aren't being asked to baseball biodome, it's less of an issue, but obviously it raises the risk of exposure for those guys.
it is going to be a very delicate ecosystem (also sorry for the delay on some of these, my internet is being a little wonky today)
Load More Messages
Connecting…