You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
MLBTR Live Chat
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Jeffrey Todd
4:04
He's right. It was another crude attempt to capture something that has now been improved upon. wRC+ does the same essential thing but better.
4:05
And I think wRC+ is the single best indicator of value with the bat. Obviously you have to look at other stuff for true talent and to arrive at expectations for a player moving forward.
Yordan Alvarez
4:06
What is the first day I can be called up this year in order for the Astros to secure an extra year of service time?
Jeffrey Todd
4:06
That's already passed. Astros just don't need to rush it. They'd rather preserve depth, for one thing. And they just don't really need the help. Sure, they could reshuffle things and push out Gurriel and/or Kemp. But this club is awesome regardless and why rush into something?
4:07
I imagine they will want to give him time to get up and comfy in time for the stretch run and postseason, though. So it'll happen at some point.
Pat Sajak
4:08
Do you think James Holzhauer (the baseball loving Jeopardy champ) reads the site?
Jeffrey Todd
4:08
He seems rather perceptive so I can only assume so. ; )
Big Show
4:08
Odds Kendrys is DFA'd during this chat?
Jeffrey Todd
4:08
Not too bad. This is the time of day we see a lot of those moves announced.
Alex Avila
4:09
What should my ask for Boyd look like? Is Nolan Gorman/Florial/Bohm +lower tier be enough?
Jeffrey Todd
4:10
The Tigers will ask the moon. It'll be really interesting to see if they can get it. I mean, Boyd had a nice, solid 2018. But he's a totally different guy right now. If teams believe in it then they should be willing to offer up those kinds of highly rated position prospects. I suspect the Tigers will pretty well know which headliners they like well enough to structure a deal.
Rob S
4:11
With Bader's defense, Fowler's contract/rebound, Jose Martinez's production, and prospect Tyler O'Neill.... what kind of value can you see in return for Marcell Ozuna for the Cards at the trade deadline?
Jeffrey Todd
4:11
Do you expect the Cardinals to collapse and become sellers?
Why else would they move Ozuna? This is exactly why they acquired him in the first place.
Mike
4:12
Another Cubs/Yankees/Red Sox chat
Jeffrey Todd
4:13
Go back and read my chat transcripts and tell me if this is really a valid critique. I may be guilty of NL East focus but not that.
Nick Leyva
4:13
Do you own any pieces of sports memorabilia?
Jeffrey Todd
4:14
I collected autographs through the mail as a kid and when I was in high school I bought some sweet old, beat up baseball cards on ebay. I love the aesthetics of the stuff. Would rather a smashed and beaten up '53 Jackie Robinson than a pristine graded one with an ugly holder from some grading company.
4:15
I have also snagged some rad old-time hats on eBay over the years ... like, vintage stadium souvenir stuff. One of them I think may actually be a real New York Giants hat from the fifties. And I have a Crosley Field seat! (Which is like the least rare of the seats from the old parks but is still really awesome.)
Javy
4:16
What would my extension look like?
Jeffrey Todd
4:17
Hmm ... now that he's doubling down on the breakout, he'd have a strong case for 150+ even with two arb years left.
RMR
4:18
Is Hiura up for a meaningful amount of time this year?  Or just a cup of coffee later in the year?
Jeffrey Todd
4:19
Another situation where there's no rush to bump aside established guys. But I think he'll be a substantial factor.
Nats just optioned down Kieboom.
Danimal
4:20
Is WRC+ what MLBTR used to make its contract predictions?  Because if so, then I think it's pretty problematic
Jeffrey Todd
4:20
Hey-oh!!!
4:21
There is really nothing particularly controversial about wRC+ as a reflection of productivity (which, as I said and you ignored, is different from assessing future production).
4:23
Old-school types like batting average because it shows that you are able to get on base with your bat, right? And they like RBI because it reflects things done with the bat that make runs score, right? wRC+ just takes a deeper look at how various things done at the plate actually impact the likelihood of scoring a run.
Old stats were created to gauge skill. New stats have the same aim but are more finely honed.
4:24
There are a whole variety of different stats and measurements, of course. But saying you prefer wRC+ to batting average or whatever is not even getting into the weeds of launch angle and exit velo and all the other stuff.
West Coast Mets Fan
4:25
Is the heat on Callaway's seat going up at this point? Two years in a row get off to a fine start and then........
Jeffrey Todd
4:26
Putting it that way -- two-straight years in which they started hot and faded -- is just narrative. The team should and will assess the actual job he did. BUT there's always a non-zero chance that a manager is used as a fall guy. In this case, he wasn't hired by Brodie Van Wagenen. But Brodie set sky-high expectations. So something will have to change if the season ends up a disappointment. I think Callaway would be quite likely to be on the chopping block if the season ends poorly.
WesTex
4:27
I would hate to say goodbye to Minor, but what kind of prospects would you think JD would pull the trigger on from say the Braves, Red Sox or Braves? I would love to see Chavis or Riley in a Rangers uniform.
Jeffrey Todd
4:27
Not getting those players for Minor.
4:31
Sorry had to chat briefly with my wife ... logistics with kids are fun!
Going to take a few more here but I won't be able to hang for too much longer.
Dallas Shields
4:32
Would you rather have Keuchel and give up a draft pick or Shields straight up?  Is this the year the compensatory draft pick goes away?
Jeffrey Todd
4:32
There's not really much to compare between them. Keuchel is a strong mid-rotation starter ... much like Shields used to be and no longer is. The latter can eat innings or maybe do like a Jeremy Hellickson sort of semi-starter role?
4:33
Not sure what the comp pick question is, but at this point I expect both Keuchel and Kimbrel to sign after the draft, at which point there won't be any draft compensation. That has happened before (Kendrys Morales).
Injuries
4:33
Any idea why there are so many pitcher arm/elbow/shoulder injuries that require a month or more on the IL?
Connecting…