JotCast | Opening Day 2020 Chat Part II: Even More Chat

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Craig Edwards

5:38

His strikeouts have gone way up in the pen. He'd need ot be able to take those back with him and then be able to go six innings to be a 2 or a 3. I think if he were capable of that, the Mets would have made him a starter.

Trent

5:39

How sad is it for the Rockies that they can't even make the list of options despite have Story and Arendo?

Craig Edwards

5:39

I could have included them, I suppose, with Blackmon, but Coors inflates their non-wRC+ stats which are more in the good than great column.

NakedMoleGaetti

5:40

Lugo would be the Opening Day starter for Baltimore......along with most other MLB pitchers (who're able to start.)

Craig Edwards

5:40

low bar

Logan

5:40

If we're going with wRC+, then the Astros probably come out best, given that they had the 2nd, 4th, and 7th highest wRC+ values in all of MLB in 2019.

Craig Edwards

5:40

but what would we expect for this year?

Pat

5:41

Honestly looking at the Dodgers and Angels trios I'm embarrassed to have suggested the Braves at the outset. Although I think I'd feel comfortable arguing the Braves at three or four.

Craig Edwards

5:41

No need to be embarassed. Being a fan is fun.

Molina Mo Problems

5:42

Given recent outcry with Washington football team and Indians, do you think there will ever be pressure to change the name of Texas Rangers? What they are named after doesn't have the best history...

Craig Edwards

5:43

I don't think it will happen anytime soon given the name and logos aren't immediately and obviously offensive.

5:44

It's worth examining, but it just isn't on the same level.

Molina Mo Problems

5:44

Alvarez over Altuve for the poll?

Craig Edwards

5:44

the projection was better for Alvarez

Tony Wolfe

5:44

We've got a ways to go before people take the Rangers' name issue seriously, but I agree that it's absolutely worth scrutiny

Logan

5:45

Steamer gives the 2020 projections for wRC+ as 2nd, 8th, and 14th for the Astros; still seems better than the top 3 for any other team.

Craig Edwards

5:45

but when number one is more than 20 points higher than number two, that makes up for a lot.

Russ

5:45

What's the quick background on the Rangers name? I didn't know about that one.

Jon

5:46

Infact, the Astros trio of Altuve, Brantley and Correa probably is a top five trio in baseball

Craig Edwards

5:48

you can google it. there have been a bunch of op-eds in prominent papers. Here's the Rangers' statement. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/red-fever/despite-calls-to-change-n....

Tony Wolfe

5:48

Basically, the Texas Rangers were established to protect the interests of white colonists and were instrumental in driving Mexican and indigenous people out of Texas

Joshua

5:49

What type of deal would it take to bring Josh Bell to the Nats? Even with Soto, the Nats lineup is a big bat short.

Craig Edwards

5:50

The Nats basically chose Strasburg over Rendon so they opted for this type of lineup. They need Kieboom to develop quickly. The farm is pretty dry right now so I don't know that a Bell deal is a real possibility.

Tony Wolfe

5:51

I imagine the price would be more than Washington is willing to pay. I don't think Pittsburgh is all that motivated to forfeit the next three years of control they have over Bell without getting a significant haul

Jon

5:51

Would you rather have Strasburg or Wheeler?

Tony Wolfe

5:52

Stras for sure

Logan

5:52

When the Angels' third number is 20 points below Bregman's, that makes up for a lot.

Craig Edwards

5:52

Just averaging Steamer, the Angels end up five points higher.

BatBoy

5:54

The. Angels are always underestimated

Tony Wolfe

5:54

they've made the playoffs once in the last 11 years

Stanton

5:54

A-Rod said Stanton might have a strong year without the fans booing him. Now, not that A-Rod is super sharp.... but he has been through that. I don't believe in, like, "can't handle NYC" stuff, but it does have to get to you. (He's also not the Target anymore with Cole there.)

Craig Edwards

5:55

I suppose it is possible, but I would think if he has a good run of 60 games, it's probably just because he's healthy and in good shape.

5:56

Seventh inning stretch time.

still no score.

5:57

Two really good pitching performances, obviously, and it might take a bit to figure out if the pitchers are ahead of the hitters or if these pitchers are just really good.

foot

5:58

First game with the funky extra inning rules?

Craig Edwards

5:58

i'm on the edge of my seat, which has already been moved to second base.

Topper Bottoms

5:58

I think announcers are going to have to get used to conveying the tension of high-leverage moments a little more without crowd noise to help

Like, that was a huge two at-bats (go-ahead runner on third, one out) and it seemed like they hardly noticed

5:59

do we know how ERA is affected by the guy starting on 2nd in extras?

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