You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 8/13/19
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Meg Rowley
2:25
You don't seem like a jerk at all
2:27
And thank you -- the timing could have been worse. I could have been sick over the deadline!
Fredo
2:28
Would you fire any FanGraph staffers who talked about unionizing?
Meg Rowley
2:28
No.
Cholly
2:28
Phillies fans have been wanting their hitting coach out for most of the season because hitters have been underperforming. How important do you think Hitting and Pitching coaches are at the major league level? Do you think their importance is in actual coaching or in organizational philosophy?
Meg Rowley
2:31
I think it really, really depends. That none of these guys seem to be able to maintain a reputation as gurus is interesting, and suggests that a lot of this has to do with the players they coach, their receptiveness to instruction, and the kind of tweaks they need. And of course, the coaches aren't the ones in the org who are giving players suggestions for improvement.
sussing out what bit of improvement or decline belongs to whom isn't something we're super well equipped for
BarryBondsJuicedForOurSins
2:31
On a scale of one to poopy pants, how scared should the Twins feel?
Meg Rowley
2:33
They have an easier road ahead schedule wise than Cleveland does, so that has to be reassuring, and it sounds like the Cruz injury news is good, but that Cleveland team is better and still has good pitching coming back. So Nervous. Not that you'll miss the playoffs entirely, but that it might be as a Wild Card.
question
2:34
is it generally a good idea for teams with disappointing records but solid differentials like the diamondbacks and reds to run it back with the same group of guys for another season?
Meg Rowley
2:36
I think you still angle to improve, but the avenue and the degree of improvement might be more modest than if your internal assessment is that you have a genuinely bad team.
It's too early for a definitive opinion on any of this of course, but I really liked this draft and this deadline period for AZ.
2:37
Cinci's farm has a ways to go yet, but I liked their deadline, and honestly, this team has just had the most rotten sequencing luck.
Jake
2:37
Do the Red Sox have any chance of making the playoffs
Meg Rowley
2:38
Any? Sure! But I have a hard time seeing them jumping ahead of the teams in front of them for the Wild Card, and the margins just seem to be growing.
What
2:39
The highest OPS on the Yankees: Urshela, Tauchman, Maybin, LeMahieu. SSS for some, but still, WHAT. (And they're going to win their division that way...)
Meg Rowley
2:39
It is truly very strange.
2:40
Not all of those things are equally strange, mind you, but they are very strange.
jkim
2:40
No love for Ryu and his 1.45 ERA? I get that his fWAR is behind Scherzer but that kind of run prevention is just.. absurd. I mean the Dodger defense, especially for someone who induces a lot of grounders hasn't actually been that great for the past couple months especially when Joc was at 1B for Ryu.
Meg Rowley
2:43
Not no love, but were I voting for the Cy Young, I'd still go with Scherzer -- who, I'd note, has a better FIP, too. His K% leads the NL; his BB% rate is fifth (Ryu's walk rate remains one of my fave stats of the year). Could always shift around if the injury really jams things up, but he'd be my vote right now.
(not that) James
2:44
IMPORTANT UPDATE!  The Angels are playing in Atlanta next July and I might actually get to see Trout play in person.  This has been an important update.
Meg Rowley
2:44
It is a great good time.
mamsk
2:45
lynn and minor gotta go down as two of the best FA signings of the last decade at this point, unreal the value they've each brought at 3/$30m
Meg Rowley
2:46
Not sure about the last decade but they certainly have a case this year -- Brantley and Grandal look great, too.
Also, the other very good ones. Those ones. That you're about to name! What guys!
Wheelie
2:47
Do you think Julio should be promoted?
Meg Rowley
2:48
Think the assignment was appropriately aggressive and they don't have to rush him or anything.
Scherzer DeGrom
2:48
That's gonna be a hell of a WC matchup.
Meg Rowley
2:48
I would not be remotely mad about it.
I would, in fact, be very happy.
Cove Dweller
2:49
If you're taking requests for site additions, might I suggest PunGraphs where all puns from commentators, players, coaches, et al. are curated?
Meg Rowley
2:49
If I do more puns, Appelman might fire me. Also, I have a friend whose wedding I might get disinvited from. And I already bought a dress, so.
Aquino!
2:50
How have we not had an article on Aquino yet!?
Meg Rowley
2:50
Literally on deck for this week!
Ryan
2:51
The Red Sox only significant loss to free agency this off-season will be Rick Porcello (and even he is not a terrible loss, given the way he's pitched this year).  With that in mind, should they spend this off-season retooling for 2020?  Or do you foresee a rebuild of some degree, in which they might trade Betts and/or Bradley?
Meg Rowley
2:51
They will have some really interesting payroll decisions to make and I can't imagine one single one of them resulting in them trading Mookie.
2:52
Like, not a-one of 'em.
Angels
2:52
If you don't think it's Brad's fault, you aren't watching Angel games. twice he has used his challenge in the first inning on the first batter. Once to challenge a HR (which was clearly fair), and to challenge a hit by pitch (which was literally the first batter of the game). The team has speed but doesn't steal bases. They don't strike out much, but never hit and run which in turn causes them to lead the league in GIDP.
Meg Rowley
2:53
I do not necessarily think that Ausmus is a good manager. I do think that the issues on that team, some of which we were able to anticipate going into the season, and some of which we couldn't, are his sole responsibility.
Ryan
2:53
If you're Theo Epstien and you can magically guarantee that one player will play the rest of their careers with the Cubs, who do you choose? I think my heart says Rizzo, but my brain says Bryant.
Connecting…