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Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 6/11/19
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Meg Rowley
2:24
The current makeup of front offices concerns me greatly, though I think "people who have historically been typecast as bad at math" isn't quite how I'd characterize that issue. But I think we talk about the potential consequences a lot? In some ways, moving the typical baseball ops person away from being a former player opens up a lot of opportunity, and I do know teams that really do take seriously the idea of diversifying the talent pool. But it is slow, and even worse on the scouting side.
Disgruntled Dodger Fan
2:24
How can I get the FO's attention and let them know how terrible their RP corp is? Baez on the mound is a blown hold waiting to happen and Joe Kelly apparently idolizes Joe Blanton. The bullpen is LAD's weakest link. It has been for some time. Shore it up!
Meg Rowley
2:25
I think they probably know it is bad. They're pretty smart over there. It is a testament to how good the rest of the roster is that it hasn't been an issue that has shown up in the win/loss column yet, but I imagine they will be players at the deadline.
Blackbeard
2:25
Would it be couth to roll stag to the Fangraphs Cleveland event?
Meg Rowley
2:26
As far as we're concerned? Of course! Folks are very friendly at these events, and lots of people roll in solo. Now, how comfortable you personally are with crowds of strangers, I won't speculate.
Billiam Burton
2:26
The season has officially began, Mike Trout is atop the WAR leaderboard
Meg Rowley
2:27
By a hair, meaning the difference between him and Bellinger isn't really that significant, but hey, that was true when Bellinger was slightly ahead of Trout, too.
Yelwor Gem
2:28
What are your thoughts on Dipoto's partial rebuild of the Mariners so far? Do you think they'll be competitive any time in the next few years?
Meg Rowley
2:30
I am excited about Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez; I am Very Concerned about Justus Sheffield. I think there is a strong possibility that at most one guy from their regular line up now is relevant when they are again. I think there can't be many franchises that are more annoyed by all these extensions than the Mariners. I think they could be competitive in say 2021. I'm not sure Jerry's around when they are.
Lunar verLander
2:31
I think last week you said you didn't think that BOTH Kimbrel & Keuchel would sign before your next chat (today). Are you surprised by how quickly they both signed?
Meg Rowley
2:32
I guess I am because I said that, though honestly, I shouldn't have been. Of course teams really waited til right after the draft. Of course they did.
Tom
2:35
Can the Cardinals still win the NL Central?
Meg Rowley
2:35
I think it will be difficult but I don't think a Wild Card is out of the question.
DH
2:36
is the game "better" with me?
Meg Rowley
2:36
I think it is fine to not like the DH, but I like the DH, because I grew up watching the best DH.
Morbo
2:36
How did you decide to leave the world of finance and political science and become a full time baseball writer? More importantly, how did you make the transition?
Meg Rowley
2:38
I left finance because I was stressed and bored at the same time, and I figured out it wasn't really consistent with my values. I left political science because while I really liked it, the sports part of my work (it was there, don't worry about it, just trust me) was way more interesting than the political theory part, and the academic job market terrified me. And I wrote a lot for not a lot of money, worked full-time, and was pretty depressed and close to giving up before I got super, super lucky.
Dylan
2:39
As I'm typing this, Luke Voit just hit another home run. Don't the Cardinals deserve heavy criticism for jettisoning him away while trading for and extending Goldschmidt who may be on the decline?
Meg Rowley
2:40
I think the Cards have had plenty of player dev successes, I think Goldy will be fine, and that you can't win 'em all. I think they probably want the trade back, but remember, we didn't know what Voit was going to be over a longer period. Heck we're still sorting that out.
David Kelton
2:40
Do you prefer ice cream in a mini plastic helmet or nachos in a large plastic helmet?
Meg Rowley
2:41
Ice cream in a mini plastic helmet because it is tasty and I don't enjoy feeling over-full.
Bob
2:42
Mike trout is inevitable
Meg Rowley
2:42
Like the sun or stepping on a lego if there are remotely any legos nearby.
Bo
2:42
Would you rather see the Home Run Derby field be comprised of players based on: (1) season HR totals; (2) raw power and majestic moon shots; or (3) "lifetime achievement" home run hitters?
Meg Rowley
2:42
A mix of all three to the extent that I have thought about it at all.
Loons
2:43
Who would you say has been the most valuable piece of the Twins season thus far?
Meg Rowley
2:44
the general answer is probably an annoying getting much more from everyone than they expected, but if I had to pick one person, I guess I'd go with Odorizzi being this good because I was very skeptical he would be
Pretty rad to see Buxton and Polanco having these years so far though
Braden
2:45
I noticed last week you mentioned DiPoto's tenure would end sooner than later also. I was under the impression ownership was bought into the long-term plan he has?
Meg Rowley
2:47
I think they are bought in to Dipoto (Dipoto, not DiPoto, but FanGraphs, not Fangraphs), but he still has to pull it off. I think there are a lot of smart people who work for that org, and Jerry sells a vision well, but I'm not totally persuaded he can pull it off.
Bing
2:48
Does The BOARD have info on draftee signings?
Meg Rowley
2:50
THE BOARD is updated with draft slot and team, as well as reports.
2:51
From the guys' wrap up: Because we are maniacs [Meg in her chat note: can confirm, they slept very little while they did very good work and it made their editor Fret], we’re already midway through a clean sweep of all of our rankings. Since the signing deadline for the draft is July 15, we won’t know who is going back to school and who is joining a pro club for sure until then, but we have a way around this. Any player drafted in the top 10 rounds, as well as any college draftees, are assumed to be signing, while any high school player drafted outside the top 10 rounds is assumed to be going to the school to which he’s committed. There will likely be a handful of unsigned top 10 round prospects, who are often impossible to handicap at this point since post-draft physicals are usually the reason, and some college players will head back for their senior season, but we’ll just adjust those as we learn their fates.
2:52
They're going to add all the top 10 round guys, and any 11th round or later dudes with confirmed deals and 35+ or better FV to team prospects lists this week and into next. Soon (vague soon!) they'll take the graduated prospects off those lists and re-do the top 100.
H.H.
2:52
The Astros have 3 All-Star caliber OF'ers (Springer, Brantley, and sorta Reddick). They just promoted Alvarez who could be that caliber, and have Tucker (another top prospect waiting in the wings) - not to mention Straw, Fisher, Kemp etc ... What will they do?
Meg Rowley
2:52
keep a bunch for depth, and perhaps consolidate some
Pokemon Sword
2:53
Odds that we see a motivating hospital bed video of David Ortiz for game 7 of the Stanley Cup? I kind of just want them to let him recover in peace.
Meg Rowley
2:54
I think everyone appreciates the seriousness of what happened and will prioritize his health and recover over anything so gauche as that.
Bing
2:54
Who is the more pleasant surprise as a Mariner fan: Vogelbach, Kelenic, Fraley, Julio, or Gilbert?
Meg Rowley
2:55
Gilbert for me, just because we weren't sure if the velo would come back like we were hoping/expecting.
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