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MLBTR Live Chat with Steve Adams -- 3/7/17
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Steve Adams
3:23
Greetings all... We get analyst A-Rod on our TVs a lot more beginning this year -- that's a good thing. Let's get this week's chat underway
Joe Kerr
3:24
In your opinion, will James Shields be good enough to get traded at the deadline?
Steve Adams
3:25
I'd bet against it, but he's only one year removed from at least being serviceable, and the Padres are picking up a large portion of the tab, so it's not like it's impossible.
Matt
3:25
Will wheeler have a chance to pitch in the rotation?
Steve Adams
3:25
In 2018 and beyond, sure, but not this season.
Evan B.
3:25
Any surprises make the Minnesota Twins roster to start the year? Park, Stubbs, or Breslow to name a few.
Steve Adams
3:27
I think there's a good chance of Breslow getting a job. Stubbs has a chance, too, but their need for a fourth OF that can play CF is mitigated to some extent by the fact that both of their corner guys, Rosario and Kepler, can handle CF in a pinch. I'd rate them Breslow, Park, Stubbs in order of likelihood, I suppose. I think Park will work his way back to the big leagues at some point midseason
Ted Mosby
3:27
Have the Indians done enough to one better this season?
Steve Adams
3:28
Assuming that means "get one win better" or something. They didn't need to, really. The 2016 World Series could just as easily have gone the other way -- they were matched up pretty well against the Cubs (or any other team). I do think they're better in 2017, though, as Encarnacion is a significant upgrade over Napoli, and they'll have Jose Ramirez at third base for a whole season instead of giving a bunch of playing time to an unproductive (but still awesome always and forever) Juan Uribe
Jim Duggan
3:29
You are a ML pitcher (congrats Steve, you made it) which outfield do you want playing behind you?
Steve Adams
3:29
I always knew I'd get here.
3:30
Off the top of my head -- Mariners, Rays, Red Sox all stand out as pretty great. I'm probably missing a few, but each of those three should be a premium defensive unit in 2017.
Ernie
3:30
Do you think Jorge Soler figures it out and becomes something more than a low avg power hitter ala Khris Davis ?
Steve Adams
3:31
I think Soler will be a better bet in terms of OBP, but I'm not banking on him becoming a 40-homer guy either. I do really love that trade for Kansas City, though, and I"m still in on Soler becoming an above-average big league hitter.
Jacob
3:32
With Street questionable for opening day do they add someone else (most available via trade) or just hope a few arms in the pen breakout?
Steve Adams
3:32
Halos could grab an arm off waivers and plug him into the early mix, but I don't think they're going to give up anything of value in a trade or spend any significant money.
Eric
3:32
Pompey for jays Lf #freepompey
Steve Adams
3:34
Given the fact that the alternative, at present, is the Carrera/Upton platoon I think there's a fairly decent chance that Pompey will get a look in 2017. But, he hasn't displayed any semblance of power in Triple-A, so I wouldn't get my hopes up that he's going to be any sort of breakout star.
Lionel Hutz
3:34
John Lannan signed a minor league deal w Noir Expos. You're welcome.
Steve Adams
3:34
As I signed on, Jeff Todd shot me a G-chat message telling me to brace myself for an onslaught of John Lannan questions. I can only assume that Lionel Hutz is, in fact, Jeff Todd.
Huge Stretch
3:35
Who is your favorite Steve Adams: OKC Thunder Center or bass player for SF band/friends of Jack Johnson, ALO (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Liberation_Orchestra)?
Steve Adams
3:35
There was some guy from Ohio or Kentucky when I was in college that ran for president named Steve Adams, can I pick him?
He had a web site like "PresidentSteveAdams.com" and everything (something along those lines)
Pedro Alvarez
3:36
please someone hire me!!!
Steve Adams
3:36
I mean, I'll see what we can do to arrange a writing position, but I'd imagine you can make more money playing baseball somewhere. I think he'll latch on once some team incurs an injury somewhere.
Scott
3:36
So does Brett Lawrie return north of the border?
Steve Adams
3:37
As former MLBTR great Ben Nicholson-Smith (now of Sportsnet) pointed out this morning, I think there's probably a strong correlation between the interest from Toronto and the slow timeline of Devon Travis. So, let's see how Travis comes along over the next week or so. There's definite potential for a fit.
JP
3:38
Is the ability of Addison Russell overlooked at times because of the other young SS in the game?
Steve Adams
3:39
I think he got plenty of love and attention last year during the playoffs. He's really, really good. But he also hasn't had anything close to an offensive season along the lines of last year's output from Seager, Lindor or Correa, so there's an actual performance gap that leads to him drawing less praise as well
Burke badenhop
3:39
Will there be any other ex-major leaguers writing for MLBTR soon?
Steve Adams
3:40
I think Ryan Dennick is working on something else for us, and we do have a few other "player's perspective" names lined up, yeah. Think we should have some more of that type of content in the next week or two.
Trevor Story
3:41
What kind of year am I going to have?
Steve Adams
3:43
I'd say a good one, but probably not the season most Rox fans are hoping for. After the first week of the 2016 season, when Story went completely bonkers, he was more just "above-average bat / really good-hitting shortstop" than elite slugger. And his strikeout rate stayed comfortably north of 30%, which gives me some pause too.

I still like the guy, but I don't think he's a burgeoning 40-homer hitter like the guy he shares the left side of the infield with.
Vince Velasquez
3:43
What do you think about me throwing 175+ innings with a 3.50 ERA and 3 to 1 to K to BB ratio?
Steve Adams
3:44
Penciling a guy with that type of injury history in for 175+ innings seems overly optimistic.
But in terms of ERA and K/BB ratio, sure, I can see it.
Chris
3:44
U think Baltimore has good chance take the division
Steve Adams
3:45
I don't. Orioles fans must think I hate their team since I sound like a broken record every year, but that rotation is way too ugly for me. Getting a full season of Bundy might help that, but forecasting 180+ innings for a guy like that doesn't strike me as realistic.
Ole perfesser
3:45
Isn't everyone on the Rockies a potential 40 HR guy?
Steve Adams
3:46
Ha.

Story could hit 40, don't get me wrong. I just meant to say I don't think he's going to perennially do so, because I don't think he's going to make enough contact.

And c'mon -- we're not gonna see LeMahieu or Parra put 40 over the fence!
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