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Connor Byrne
1:59
Hello, everybody. Give me a minute and we'll get going.
Hits like Rays
2:00
Are the Rays likely to call up Wander Franco to play 3B after the service time cutoff date in April?  How has Brent Honeywell looked this spring?
Connor Byrne
2:02
I don't think Franco will be up that early. He has never taken an at-bat above the High-A level, and I read something from the Rays' hitting coach (I think) saying calling a prospect up too soon could ruin him. As for Honeywell, all indications are he looks really good, though I don't know of a timeline for when he could debut.
Dave
2:02
What kind of numbers do you think Anthony Rizzo is going to put up in 2021?  Will his performance be closer to Freeman, or will it be closer to the middle of the road for first basemen.
Connor Byrne
2:03
Most projection systems have him in the 120-125 wRC+ range, which I find reasonable. The average first baseman was at 108 last year.
David Flander
2:03
I know there’s a stat for pitchers  that is  his team win-loss for games he startsbut it’s very difficult to find it and I wonder why it’s not a more predominant stat since the traditional win loss doesn’t seem to have as much importance as it used to
Connor Byrne
2:04
I'm not sure if there's a site that lists team win-loss record for pitchers, but you could always go to his ESPN player page or whatever and do the math there
for example...
2:05
the Reds went 6-5 in Bauer starts last year
he won the Cy Young, so that's an indictment on their offense and maybe the bullpen
Philly A's
2:06
In your opinion what has been the biggest surprise in Spring Training?
Connor Byrne
2:07
I'll give you a player: the D-backs' Josh Rojas. He took 227 plate appearances from 2019-20 and batted .206/.295/.271. He's hitting .381/.435/.643 in 42 AB this spring.
2:08
three HRs, two doubles. Not saying he'll be good, but he raked in the minors and could be a breakout candidate
Dino
2:08
As a Red Sox fan , I am not expecting much out of them or next year. But I would like to know what you think of the yankee starting pitching , I feel it’s Cole and pray someone doesn’t get hurt or for rain.
Connor Byrne
2:10
I wrote a bullish piece on Jordan Montgomery that you subscribers may have seen last night or today. He was a lot better than his ERA indicated last year, and he was effective before TJS took him down. I'm optimistic about Kluber and Taillon if their health holds up, but that's obviously a big if in both cases. German should be a decent enough 5. They also have some interesting young guys, including Garcia. Having said all of that, it is indeed a risky group behind Cole.
James
2:11
This is a fantasy baseball question. It seems that Randy Arozarena is quite a lightning rod. People love him or they're out. In a 11 Team AL only Roto Auction league. I have him for 5$ because he was in my Farm team. But there is such a wide array of opinion here I was just wanting to hear your thoughts. I will be keeping him at 5$ regardless because of the low risk and possible high reward. Thank you.
Connor Byrne
2:11
I'd keep him for that, as I'm a longtime fan. All he has done is hit.
Lee Harvey Oddball
2:12
Mets bullpen: Good, Bad or Ugly
Connor Byrne
2:13
Average, I suppose. I'd have liked to see them do more than add May and Loup
Claire Standish
2:13
Gotta be a lot of pressure on the remaining FAs to sign soon. Any ideas where Porcello, Hamels, and Greene end up?
Connor Byrne
2:15
No word on where any of them could go. Porcello could at least help a rebuilding team as a mentor/innings eater, and if he's decent enough, maybe they could flip him at the deadline for something. I don't know if Hamels is even healthy yet. Greene should go to a contender for a couple-few mill, but your guess is as good as mine on a landing spot.
Monsieur Moncada
2:15
It's that time of year when people start making their "bold predictions" for the 2021 season.  Do you have any?
Connor Byrne
2:16
the Tony La Russa-led White Sox win the pennant
Feury
2:16
Have we as fans (and writers nationally) of baseball discounted the Brewers because we are bored with them? They rarely make massive or splashy FA signings, Wong and JBJ were somehow both applauded but scarcely talked about after 24 hours, they always have 2-3 guys in the bullpen who no one has even heard of, and they just keep winning (or at the very least vastly outperforming "expectations"). Are we just bored because they don't create, well LASTING, headlines, and thus we undervalue/underrate them year after year?
Connor Byrne
2:18
I think you're right about that. They've made three straight playoff appearances and had an 86-win year before that, and they're well-run, but they don't get much attention as a small-market team. FWIW, though, PECOTA does have them winning the division
Jack
2:19
Hi Connor. Keeper question: I'm keeping A. Chapman at 18 and need to choose between Jordan Romano and Devin Williams, both at 3, to also keep. Do you feel one is more favorable for saves in '21, and which one may be the better bet as a potential full time closer in '22? Tough choice, imo. Thanks.
Connor Byrne
2:20
Williams is the better of the two, but Romano has the easier path to saves this season because it's unknown if Yates will hold up. If you're willing to wait a year, Williams may be in line for saves, as Hader could be traded by then.
GangGreen23
2:21
Why are the A’s bothering with Jed Lowrie?  Do they really want a 36-year old with bad knees playing out at 2nd Base?  Just platoon Chad Pinder with Tony Kemp.  Nuff’ said.
Connor Byrne
2:23
I don't think there's much harm in seeing if Lowrie has anything left when there aren't any world-beaters blocking him.
Guest
2:23
i accidentally clicked the unsubscribe link to the email for this chat and I just wanted to give Kudos to tim and connor and the whole staff for resubscribing me already after just becoming a member yesterday. Great job you guys. Now for a baseball question. As many questions as the red sox have in thier rotation i see as many questions in the other teams of the AL east. Do they stand a chance of making the playoffs?
Connor Byrne
2:25
Thanks for subscribing! Regarding the Red Sox, stranger things have happened, but they look like a fourth-place team to me right now. Interestingly, FanGraphs actually has their playoff odds higher than the Rays'.
John Bender
2:26
So, defending champs LAD clearly has the best lineup and the best rotation in the NL. How do their BP and bench stack up?
Connor Byrne
2:27
They're so deep that it's hard to find a weakness, and if there is one, they could just fix it around the trade deadline
Yanks fan since 66
2:28
What odds do you give of jay Bruce making the yankees opening day roster?That left handed power will play.
Connor Byrne
2:29
I'd keep Tauchman over Bruce, but it seems as if Bruce is going to get a spot. Bruce + short porch at Yankee Stadium is intriguing.
Wayneroo
2:30
Do you see the Mariners shocking people and actually competing this year, or do they make moves in the next off-season and set up for 2022 (barring labor issues)?
Connor Byrne
2:31
I'm expecting 75ish wins this year and then an offseason push to become a playoff team in 2022. The playoff drought is ugly, but I like what they're building right now.
Travis
2:32
Why do you think that PECOTA projects the Braves with just 82 wins? Feels like an annual tradition at this point.
Connor Byrne
2:33
Probably some concerns over the sustainability of last year's performances by Ozuna, d'Arnaud, Fried, whether Morton and Smyly will hold up, the bullpen, etc.
but I would certainly take the over on that win total
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