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Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 6/25/19
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Meg Rowley
2:00
Hello all, and welcome to the chat.
It is nice to be back after a little vacation break.
Richard L
2:01
Hi Meg,
Billy Beane
2:01
Hi Meg.
Meg Rowley
2:01
Hi there.
Tim I
2:01
Hi Meg, 12 tm 5x5 standard: Moncada for Nola straight up? I can afford to trade offense and need SP. Thanks,
Meg Rowley
2:01
Still not a fantasy chat!
Vogelbach for HR Derby
2:01
Spread the Vogelbach fun to everyone!
Meg Rowley
2:02
I have no issue with this. It is also wild to think, but uhhhh he really ought to be the Mariners All-Star rep. That's more than some about the Mariners, but it isn't entirely about the Mariners.
Bo
2:03
So let me get this straight... Two catchers were arguing over pitch framing?
Meg Rowley
2:04
I have often wondered about the psychology of fans of teams with good-framing catchers. They are no less likely, at least in my experience, to boo the ump when they think a call was wrong.
I suppose that it isn't too different for players. We are all of us inclined to attribute our success to skill and our rivals' successes to luck.
Bo
2:05
Who will be the Braves' biggest threat in the NL East?
Meg Rowley
2:06
I'm still inclined to think the Phillies are likely to be the biggest issue because I, for whatever reason, have more confidence in the likelihood that they add.
Our projections say the Nationals, but only by a few games.
Mike
2:07
This is now 1.5 seasons of the Nationals significantly underperforming their true talent.  In looking at the two seasons together, nothing specific jumps out (injuries, underperformance, etc.).  What is going on?
Meg Rowley
2:09
Some of it has been injuries. Some of it has been bullpens that aren't that good. Some of it has been selling off bullpen pieces for... reasons?
pelkey
2:09
How can this be the Mets' reality year after year?
Meg Rowley
2:10
The Mets are a mess. They are total, weird, could come out of a TV writers room mess. They were also in the World Series so recently! Just very, very recently.
2:12
I mean, the answer is, they have very bad ownership, and it is pretty wild that that ownership has been allowed to persist, and make weird hires, and allow this culture to hang around.
But also, just so recently in the World Series.
They're a mess. Other teams are tragedies.
JayVee
2:13
Are the Padres out of it? if so are they buyers or sellers at this point?
Meg Rowley
2:13
I think San Diego knows when their real window is, and that it isn't necessarily now. I can't imagine them doing anything that jeopardizes the real window, which might well mean selling if there players to be had who will help with that window.
Turd Furgeson
2:14
A few episodes ago on "Wildly Effective", you stated that it was "icky/gross" that the Cubs would spend money saved on Zobrist's absence for Kimbrel. Given this was a voluntary move on Zobrist's end and completely independent from the Cubs, can you explain why you feel this way? The Cubs shouldn't be financially restricted/punished by something out of their control, especially when they can improve the team on-field.  Seems smug.
Meg Rowley
2:16
Because I don't believe that Zobrist's contract in any way restricted their ability to sign Kimbrel earlier, nor do I think his absence is what facilitated the signing. Zobrist is going through some gnarly stuff in his personal life. I'm not saying they can't spend that money, but the justification was icky, particularly because I don't believe it to be true.
2:17
I'm not sure how not wanting a difficult moment in a stranger's life to be talked about that way is smug, but to each their own, Turd.
Trevor
2:18
Setting aside the novelty and logistical issues involved in the Tampa Bay-Montreal proposal, how did MLB decide on Montreal as the Rays' second city?  Isn't it more reasonable to try a *different* city where baseball hasn't *already* failed once before?  Why not try somewhere like Portland that has been building up legitimate interest in a team?
Meg Rowley
2:19
There is demand for a franchise in Montreal. I doubt the group that is looking to bring a team to Portland would be satisfied with a half season of home games. Honestly, I don't thinking that *any* city will be satisfied with that, but...
JP Crawford
2:19
So, am I good now? SSS?
Meg Rowley
2:19
You're good right now. I'm encouraged that you might be good for longer than right now. I am not convinced of that. But I am encouraged.
Rich K
2:20
Who do you think will end up closing for the Cardinals with Hicks out?  Gant had been great before blowing up this weekend, and Carlos Martinez closed successfully at the end of last year but is injury-prone.  They also have Andrew Miller, but he's left-handed and not as dominant as in years past. . . .
Meg Rowley
2:21
I think it'll probably end up being a mix. I'm not sure where they are going to land on the C-Mart starting question, but I imagine he'll get some 9th innings.
TankforTork
2:21
How quickly do the Giants need to start selling in order to be somewhat legitimate #1 overall pick contenders?
Meg Rowley
2:21
No time like the present.
Alonso
2:22
Robbie Ray, Matthew Boyd, Trevor Bauer, Marcus Stroman: which one is the best trade target, and which one has the biggest impact on the post-season race?
Meg Rowley
2:25
Boyd imo. They're all close in age, Boyd has more years of control so it's even less of a for this year sort of an acquisition, he's been the best of the bunch, and you don't have to deal with actively acquiring Trevor Bauer's personality (who hasn't been as effective as a pitcher anyhow).
Grant
2:26
How much credence do you put in Dipoto's suggestion that the Mariners' rebuild (reimagining?) will take only 12-18 months?
Meg Rowley
2:27
I'm very encouraged by the way the farm is trending (just like, pretend Justus Sheffield is fine for the purposes of this answer) but how many guys on the current 25 man are part of the next good team? When I was on vacation, the M's instagram wished Kikushi a happy birthday and look, I hope he had one, but my first thought was that he is already 28.
2:29
I know the org has been talking about their recent trades that have moved salary in 2020 and 2021 as being about having flexibility to spend. And I guess we'll see, but I think we'd be right to wonder, given the rash of extensions uhhh just who they are anticipating signing. There will always be someone, but they aren't snagging Mike Trout. Mike has made his choice. They just still feel very thin.
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