JotCast | Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat

Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat - 8/27/19

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Cat Latos

2:30

I like cats as much as I like a reliable bullpen. How come some competitive teams don't like having a reliable bullpen?

Meg Rowley

2:31

Maybe feeling alive only comes under very specific circumstances for them.

Ryan

2:31

In honor of college football starting, which do you think happens first: The Astros miss the playoffs or Alabama misses the playoffs?

Meg Rowley

2:31

Astros -- they have to pay people.

Ryan

2:31

Who wins the Centrals?

Meg Rowley

2:31

Cards and Twins, imo.

Dave

2:32

If you could pick any player in baseball, besides Trout, to join your Mariners, who would it be?

Meg Rowley

2:32

Oh sure, now they're *my* Mariners.

Hmmmm.

2:33

Position player? Lindor. Pitcher? Shane Bieber.

Anthony

2:33

Sooooo is Tauchman a rookie or not

Meg Rowley

2:33

He is not.

ThickTanPretzel

2:34

Hi Meg, I've been fascinated by what's going on at Deadspin over the past month or so - the investigative reporting about new management, and EIC Megan Greenwell's decision to leave. It seems like Deadspin is corporate-owned but their writers are union protected, so not sure how relevant their situation is to FanGraphs, but I'd be curious to hear your thoughts about how vulnerable you and others in your profession feel to monied overlords coming in and telling you how to do journalism. Thanks!

Meg Rowley

2:35

FanGraphs is a very weird, special, unicorn of a place -- the only overlord we recognize is Appelman, and he's a great boss (not just saying that, I swear). But in the industry more generally? It's a big, big problem, and a pressure that we should all be worried about in every sort of digital media.

2:36

It isn't altering the shape of coverage everywhere or impeding good work (the folks at Deadspin are still trudging on) but it a disconcerting, if not alarming, time.

Jubilee

2:37

Do you think Felix showed enough for a team to take a chance on more then a minor league deal next season? Also do you think he would ever embrace the possibility of ever being a reliever or even closer?

Meg Rowley

2:37

I think he is likely to get a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, though a team like Miami might take a flier.

2:38

And I'm not sure -- it wasn't well received in Seattle but I think that had more to do (or at least, a lot to do) with org politics and slights than anything else.

I have one more Felix column in me but I've been saving it because lately I haven't felt sad, and I have been enjoying that.

Thomas

2:39

Can you just tell me one redeeming, rewarding, warming (any positive adjective really) analytical stat about the cubs? I feel like every very involved person in baseball just says how overrated we are and it makes me sad :(

Meg Rowley

2:40

I swear I ask this in a nice way: are they saying the Cubs are overrated, or are they saying there are aspects of their roster that just aren't very good?

Those aren't the same thing.

Kris Bryant is having a nice lil bounce back. That's good.

Javy Baez? Also good!

2:41

That's two whole good things!

Guest

2:41

Do you think the yankees will try to resign Didi or Betances?

Meg Rowley

2:42

Don't have inside info but Didi yes, Dellin no.

Hunter

2:42

What if age never comes for Justin Verlander, and he just kind of stays like this forever, fueled by petty grudges with local sportswriters who reveal his love of space against his will?

Meg Rowley

2:43

Time comes for us all, no matter how keen our grudges.

Silver Lining Showdown

2:43

Who has the better career: Josh Bell or Daniel Vogelbach?

Meg Rowley

2:43

Josh Bell.

Lance Lynn

2:44

Cy Young because of WAR? #'s are mediocre across the board to be one of the favorites

Meg Rowley

2:44

Tied for the second-best FIP in the AL.

Lunar verLander

2:45

re. AL Cy Young: No love for Verlander or Cole?

Meg Rowley

2:45

Of course in the convo, but that wasn't the question.

2-D

2:46

Are you going to relish or bid good riddance to the last season of 40 man September baseball?

Meg Rowley

2:48

I know it makes games longer, but I'm bummed they are getting trimmed. It's nice to get a look at guys, and the callups mean a lot to some fringe roster dudes.

Derek

2:49

Are there any broadcast teams you particularly like (or dislike)?

Meg Rowley

2:50

this is not an exhaustive list by any means, but I enjoy the Padres, D-backs, and Dodgers booths

btrams

2:51

re, NL Cy Young: Ryu?

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