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Meg Rowley FanGraphs Chat 12/2/2020
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Ralph
4:30
hey meg, do you think teams will focus even more on homegrown talent given the pandemic situation as teams are looking to cut payroll and avoiding big contracts?
Meg Rowley
4:31
Yes, to the extent possible, but also, if every team doesn't want to spend money, it could create some bargains out there, even if the players are exceedingly (and rightly) grumpy about it.
Neal
4:31
Hi Meg! That's all.
Meg Rowley
4:31
Hello.
Nick
4:32
How about a Kris Bryant-Gary Sanchez challenge trade?  The Yankees get a versatile hitter who can fill in at OF or IF depending on which half-dozen Yankees get hurt this year; the Cubs fill the DH position they'll likely need to fill this year; and the players get the chance to leave behind toxic relationships with their current teams for the opportunity to forge new relationships in new cities.
Meg Rowley
4:34
The salary gap might be appealing there but Chicago also has Willson Contreras and Anthony Rizzo, so that makes Sánchez's playing time tricky, and suddenly he's blocked at first if he has to stop catching... again.
Bb
4:34
Favorite baseball moment of 2020?
Meg Rowley
4:34
Selfishly, that there was baseball - I like having a job very much!
4:36
On the field, I greatly enjoyed Yu Darvish's season, the Padres and White Sox were fun, and also Kyle Lewis' year was a good time.
Jack
4:36
When can we expect the next EW episode? We’ve missed hearing your voice the past week!
Meg Rowley
4:36
We did three episodes last week and I was in all of them!
Ben and I are recording twice tomorrow, how about that?
Cat Latos
4:37
Yay Meg is back!
Meg Rowley
4:37
Thank you kindly.
Guest
4:38
In the era of wokeness, how does one reconcile one's love of a sports team, with the fact that owner of said sports team is a billionaire who makes political donations one finds abhorrent. Can't figure out how to give them my money when I know that some small portion of that money is going to end up somewhere awful.
Meg Rowley
4:40
"Era of wokeness" is perhaps a suboptimal way to refer to the idea of trying to spend one's money carefully, but also, ethical consumption under capitalism is really hard! Some would argue almost impossible! I don't think you're obligated to stop rooting for teams because their owners are billionaires, but I'd also say you don't have to root for teams you find odious. Does that split the difference?
Guest
4:40
Evening, Meg. How do you see the international stuff developing? More games in the UK etc similar to the NFL route or any different challenges with MLB? Ps. thanks for the podcasts :)
Meg Rowley
4:42
I continue to be puzzled by the appeal of putting games in the UK rather than trying to more meaningfully partner with countries in Asia/LatAm with vibrant, established baseball cultures. But also, I think any international expansion is probably on hold until a vaccine is more widely available.
Dayton Moore Talking Head
4:43
Happy December Meg! Does the Mike Minor deal suggest a better than expected pitching free agent market or was this just Dayton Moore doing Dayton Moore things?
Meg Rowley
4:45
I think it's the most player friendly part of the market, and is a good sign of where team priorities are, but it isn't so wildly above expectation that I think it means we're in a stronger market than we thought going in.
Pete
4:46
Is the new MLB Draft League going to get higher quality players than the Cape Cod League?
Meg Rowley
4:46
I don't think so, no.
4:47
I'm not sure the timing lends itself to the best amateur talent, and the drafted dudes are just going to go to the complexes, I'd imagine.
Appa Yip Yip
4:48
Completely ignoring the Netherlands and the Honkball Hoofdklasse is a crime.
Didi Gregorious is a straight up knight of the order of Orange-Nassau for doing well in the WBC. Sir Didi is not just a fun nickname. The queen of the Netherlands knighted him.
Meg Rowley
4:48
Not saying there aren't other places that play baseball, but if there is interest in marquee international events, seems like there are better options.
Michael scott
4:48
Meg what was your “ Ive been living under a rock all this time” moment in your life?
Meg Rowley
4:49
When I went to college on the East Coast after growing up in Seattle and realizing how obsessed East Coasters are with American cheese.
4:50
Indeed, I might assert it is the single most underreported difference between the PNW and the East Coast. Eat more cheddar, imo.
Guest
4:50
What are some things MLB should be doing to level the playing field for women in baseball? Would a Rooney-rule type requirement be a start?
Meg Rowley
4:53
I think directives aimed at ensuring a robust, meaningful hiring process is important to building an executive body that better reflects the people who play and enjoy baseball. I think improving mentorship and mobility for more junior folks from underrepresented groups is how you get middle management who makes sense to interview for those roles, and is really important, too.
Dave
4:54
Do you think Realmuto goes to whoever offers the most $? He's played on some awful teams already so it would make sense for him to choose a destination where winning is a priority. At the same time, he is the best FA position player so does he have a responsibility to his fellow players to take the largest possible deal?
Meg Rowley
4:55
I don't think he'll have to choose. He's the best free agent on the market, and at a position that is hilariously thin league-wide.
Kiermaier's Piercing Green Eyes
4:56
...are you dissing the best melting cheese?
Meg Rowley
4:57
I think people should eat what they like. I was just surprised that people liked it so much. Wasn't part of my experience.
jamesdakrn
4:58
Which team has the bleakest future? i.e. stuck in the no-man's land between contending and rebuilding with a bad farm & mediocre on-field product?

It *has* to be the Rockies right? Even the Pirates have built a decent farm, whereas the Rockies... idk what Bridich is doing
Meg Rowley
4:59
Yeeesh, yes. I think so. There are smart folks who work for the org but they're pretty directionless, give out weird contracts, have alienated their franchise player, and still have to play baseball on the moon.
5:00
Ok pals, I have to get rolling, but I'll be back same time next week. Meg chat!
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