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Jeffrey Todd

3:23

I'm sure they'd leap at the chance to lock up either at the right price.

Jake

3:23

What do you make of the struggles of Yu Darivsh? Can he turn it around?

Jeffrey Todd

3:25

You can't look at 4 starts alone for a guy with that track record. But it is concerning that he's not getting swings and misses while handing out the extra walks. Those things are probably related ... is it that he's having to nibble more b/c the stuff is in decline or that he's just not getting as many chases b/c he isn't getting ahead / throwing as many strikes?

3:26

Either way, might just be a matter of making some tweaks. I don't see reason to think he can't make them.

Cards Fireman

3:26

Is Hicks lack of strikeouts concerning? He throws hard, but doesn't have the k's to go with it.

Jeffrey Todd

3:26

Yeah the profile isn't great despite the results ... can't walk more guys than you K.

3:27

WHOA

@RobBiertempfel
18s
Breaking: 3B Jung Ho Kang has been granted US work visa and plans to soon rejoin #Pirates. Details momentarily, only in @TheAthleticPGH

Chew on that for a moment while I put the news on the site ...

Dave Dombrowski

3:30

Do I sign Kimbrel and Pomeranz to extensions before they hit free agency?

Jeffrey Todd

3:30

Both would cost big and require in-season negotiations. I'd expect they'll end up on the open market.

Drew W

3:30

Can the A's upgrade their rotation enough to contend for a wildcard? Thanks for the chat!

Jeffrey Todd

3:32

It'll likely need to be internal improvement. Hard to see them going out and getting a significant piece even if they are in the hunt around the deadline since they will likely be chasing at least one team in the division. But I still think the A's are a fringe WC team, as they were entering the year but with ever-so-slightly boosted odds by the solid start.

Craig

3:33

Why do the Dodgers give me hope and then rip it away? Or is this still in the "too early" category as they are around .500 with bad starts from Kersh, Kenley, Seager and no turner?

Jeffrey Todd

3:34

I think their start is more concerning than the Nats, just b/c you are looking at some questions w/r/t their best pitchers. Now, those may resolve in a positive manner, but that's different than just going a couple months without Justin Turner (or in the Nats' case Murphy/Eaton/Rendon).

Jeffrey Todd Helton

3:34

Is the MLBPA ever going to do anything about service time manipulation? (Bryant, Acuna, etc.)

Jeffrey Todd

3:35

I've yet to see a compelling solution offered up. If you move the service line then it'll just impact a different group of players. Alternative is ... I don't know, a panel that decides if a guy has to be promoted?

3:36

What can the Texas Rangers get in exchange for Cole Hamels?

Jeffrey Todd

3:36

Have to wait and see if the Ks keep coming and if he's able to tamp down on the homers, etc. But generally, he hasn't been great since the start of 2017 and is very expensive. Might end up being an interesting asset but perhaps it'll be mostly for cost savings unless he really turns it on.

Pick ME

3:37

Are your parents disappointed that you didn't become something worth talking about?

Jeffrey Todd

3:37

Probably

Hosmer Overpay?

3:37

Why is my .364 OBP an overpay? Is it my 4 rbis which are totally dependent on the people in front of me? 9 multi-hit games in 22 game isnt horrible either. It is literally 4 weeks into the season, how bout we wait til at least midseason to call things overpays

Jeffrey Todd

3:37

I did not base that assessment on his performance in 2018, least of all his RBI total.

Johnny Bravo

3:38

Thanks for the chats. Some friends are arguing that Albies is in trouble bc he isnt walking. My argument is he has Freeman behind him, thus they are trying to test the young buck. Thoughts?

Jeffrey Todd

3:39

Could be something to your theory. Pitchers will adjust and he'll have to be more selective. He has never walked a ton in the minors but there's no particular reason to think it's a major concern since he has a low K rate and hits for a high average. If he's mashing and they start pitching him more carefully, I expect he'll be able to adjust.

3:40

Now just how that all plays out in terms of where he ends up -- eg, can he be a guy with 10% walk percentage? -- is hard to guess. But I don't see the lack of walks as a big reason for concern. That was known and he was already considered a big talent, before the power showed up.

3:40

Jeff, you listed Andrew Miller as 27 years old on your article before. Please take the time to ensure accuracy. Aspire to be the LAST site with the CORRECT information, rather than the FIRST one with the WRONG information. Tell Tim to take his ad click revenue and.... never mind.

Jeffrey Todd

3:40

It's a typo, my friend. I simply wrote the age of Jack Leathersich into the blurb on Miller. Nobody was dying to click that link anyway.

Inquiring Mind

3:41

Has any team exceeded or attempted to exceed the mound visit limit yet? Any word of a penalty in place if they do?

Jeffrey Todd

3:41

No but this could become a great new way for a manager to show up an umpire. Kicking dirt on home plate 2.0.

"I'm visiting! You see this? What is this, 14 visits? Ha!"

bobby

3:42

I'm guessing you'll only make two or three spelling, grammar, or accuracy errors obsessively trying to get the Kang article up in 30 seconds or less.

Jeffrey Todd

3:42

Can anyone check and let me know? I'm too busy chatting : )

3:43

But really I think our record is pretty good on technical writing given the nature of what we do. If you want obsessively edited writing, you'll have to get it elsewhere ... should be ready next Thursday or so.

Yogurt

3:44

Is there a way for the Braves to shore up their pen for this year without selling top prospects?

Jeffrey Todd

3:44

Well, you can take chances on guys you like that are on the waiver wire or available for less. To an extent they already did that over the winter. Otherwise, you are bidding with the teams that are really trying to do everything to win now.

Hosmer Overpay?

3:45

Really? If we told you are the beginning of the year Hosmer would have 9 mutli-hit games in the first 22, and a .364 OBP, everyone would have signed up for that.

Jeffrey Todd

3:46

He's playing just fine and is a good player. But Hosmer got paid quite a bit more than his actual baseball production warranted in this market environment. And even if you accept the leadership, character, etc points, the idea of buying a FA for his future production is just inherently very risky.

Motown Madness

3:47

Even with the Tigers in a rebuilding phase (and hopefully it's not long) - couldn't they somehow hang around long enough to challenge the Indians for the Central? They're only 3.5 back now

Jeffrey Todd

3:47

Dude, no

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