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Mark P
11:19
What better way to begin the weekend than some baseball chat?  Let's dive into some questions....
Matt
11:20
Who’s the most legit hot start: Giants, Mariners, or Royals?
Mark P
11:20
Who has the most legit hot start?
Royals (33.7% | 209 votes)
 
Mariners (30.2% | 187 votes)
 
Giants (36.1% | 224 votes)
 
Total Votes: 620
11:23
Just so I'm not being entirely lazy by starting things with a poll, I'll answer myself.

The Giants' ceiling is somewhat capped by the Dodgers and Padres being in their division, so I tend to think of them as third in this discussion if "legit" translates to "has the best chance at the playoffs."

The Royals have a tough go of it in the AL Central as well, but the Twins/ChiSox/Indians have more obvious flaws than the Padres or Dodgers, creating more room for KC to perhaps sneak into the division title race or maybe the wild card race.  

Seattle might have the best chance of the bunch, except for the fact that the A's might never lose again.
Odd Man Out in Toronto
11:24
Who gets the big sit down in the Toronto OF when Springer and Hernandez gets back?  Gourriel or Grichuk?
Mark P
11:25
I don't think either would be relegated to a bench role, since the Jays were adamant that everyone would get their share of at-bats.  Springer might not quite be a full everyday player for the first week or two, just so the team can monitor his health.  Any of the four outfielders could get time at DH in place of Tellez.
Metsfan
11:27
Jake Degoat yet?
Mark P
11:28
This stat made the rounds on Twitter this morning....deGrom's ERA+ is currently 1245.
Guest
11:29
maybe add none of the above to that poll
Mark P
11:29
Also a fair opinion, since the season is still so young.
Pop
11:29
what would it take for the Yankees to get Scherzer at the deadline?
Mark P
11:31
I flash back to 2019, when the first six weeks of the season were filled with "are the Nationals going to rebuild?" types of stories, speculating that Scherzer, Rendon, Strasburg, basically everyone could be a trade chip.

Anyway, we know how 2019 turned out for the Nats, and I'd say it's still very premature to tag them as deadline sellers.
11:32
That being said, if a trade did happen and Scherzer was pitching like his usual self, I can see Washington asking the Yankees (or any team) for a package superior to the one Detroit got for Verlander in 2017
Joe
11:32
The Braves overpaid on a small sample size last year for Ozuna.  Agree?
Mark P
11:33
Time will tell on that front, but Ozuna's 83 plate appearances this season is an even smaller sample size
Matthew Boyd
11:33
So, I finally stopped giving up home runs. Trade or extend if this keeps up into July?
Mark P
11:34
Trade.  I feel the Tigers would try to strike while the iron is hot.
Dodger Dog
11:35
Why haven't the Marlins put Sixto Sanchez on the IL?  I'd assume they could utilize the extra roster spot.
Mark P
11:37
Sixto began the season in the minor leagues, so an IL placement wasn't required.  A move to the 60-day IL could happen if his injury ended up being particularly long-term and Miami needed a 40-man opening, but obviously the team is hoping to have Sanchez on the mound at some point, even if a return doesn't seem imminent

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/latest-on-sixto-sanchez.html
Dodgers
11:38
Is this just a funk or is there legitimate cause for concern?
Mark P
11:38
Just a funk, especially considering the names on the injured list
Karl Farbman
11:39
Will trading draft picks be a topic discussed at the upcoming CBA? Asking for a friend.
Mark P
11:40
I'd be surprised if it didn't.  I don't see what the downside would be for teams trading picks, especially if MLB instituted their version of "Ted Stepien rules" to prevent a team from going overboard (not that any team would, since draft picks are so prized)
Alwaysgo4two
11:41
When are the Pirates and Cardinals going to realize that Polanco and Carpenter are who they are now?
Mark P
11:41
I don't think the teams had much illusion about either player.  St. Louis wouldn't have given Carpenter this many at-bats if it weren't for other injuries on the roster.
Defense only catchers
11:42
I get that pitchers have that preferences for battery mates, but is it really worth the liability of having a catcher in your lineup who can't hit?
Mark P
11:43
Depends on the situation, but if having a particular catcher helps a pitcher relax and (theoretically) perform better, teams will take that tradeoff
OZ
11:44
Jonathan Lucroy or Tyler Flowers seem like better options to back up Travis d’Arnaud than Alex Jackson.  Why is Alex Anthopoulos waiting to pull the trigger on this move?
Mark P
11:45
Flowers' situation is pretty interesting, and it seems like he would be available if the Braves did want to make a move (context: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/latest-on-tyler-flowers-braves....)

But by this point, it would seem like the front office just doesn't feel Flowers or Lucroy would bring much to the table.
I like Baseball
11:46
That Mariners offense looks pretty lacking...if only there was a left fielder they could call up to help
Mark P
11:48
We've already passed the "service time deadline," so unless the M's are keeping up appearances to make it not look too blatant, they must have some baseball-related reasons to be keeping Kelenic at the alternate training site.  Jerry Dipoto recently said that they want him to get more work against southpaw pitchers.
John
11:50
Why do people speculate on who the Rockies might trade Trevor Story, Jon Gray, or even German Marquez to? Don’t people realize the Rockies don’t and won’t trade players?
Mark P
11:51
Troy Tulowitzki would beg to differ, but you're right, the Rockies don't make many trades in general.  They're a tough team to predict since....well, because many of their decisions are so strange.
Strike
11:51
I cant help but notice the elephant in the room whenever I watch baseball. Am i just overly cynical, or it the impending labor lockout inevitable
Mark P
11:52
The two sides recently met to begin CBA talks, which is a promising sign.  My hope is that there's enough common sense on both sides to work out a deal and prevent a work stoppage, though I am very nervous.
Boston
11:54
The Red Sox offense looks really good even with zero power from Dalbec yet and very little from Franchy & Renfroe. They have Duran ready to make the leap too. Could this be the #1 offense in baseball when all’s said and done?
Mark P
11:54
That's very possible, sure.  Offense wasn't at all a problem for the Sox last year, and this season they have a revived JD Martinez, and Arroyo hitting like crazy.
Wander Franco
11:55
Bruh, its lonely down on the farm.
Mark P
11:56
How is that possible?  The Rays have tons of other prospects for you to hang out with down on the farm
Chris
11:58
DeGrom has given up 1 earned run, a HR to Jazz Chisholm. Chisholm has a 1.045 OPS. Still early, but is Chisholm the real deal?
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