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Connor Byrne
1:59
Hey everyone. We'll get going in a minute.
Daniel
2:01
So... when does reality hit me about the Giants? They cannot sustain this pace with the current configuration, right?
Connor Byrne
2:03
No, they can't continue to play .640 ball, but I actually do kind of like the team (and I love what Longoria and the starting staff have done). The Giants' biggest problem is that they're stuck in a division with the Dodgers and Padres, who are very likely to make the playoffs. Add in the two other division winners and there's only one spot left. The good news is that most NL teams have been pretty mediocre so far, hovering around the .500 mark. The Giants have a nice head start going, and I could at least see them hanging in contention until late in the year, if not grabbing the last playoff berth.
Ryder
2:04
Love my Braves,but at the end of the season the NL East teams will all be 500
Connor Byrne
2:06
I don't see that happening. I expect the Marlins to finish below .500, and at least two others in the division could do the same. It's been a pretty disappointing month for the NL East as a whole.
Poor Jacob deGrom is 2-2 despite a 0.51 ERA.
Dave
2:07
Understanding that Byron Buxton's start to the 2021 season is not sustainable however, will he be in the conversation of elite players and potential AL MVP by season's end?
Roger Ramjet
2:07
Byron Buxton's OPS 1.408, unsustainable I know but can this guy me a triple crown threat?
Connor Byrne
2:08
No to the Triple Crown question. Yes to the MVP question, if he stays healthy. That's a pretty big "if" based on Buxton's track record, and considering how he plays with such reckless abandon, but I've always seen him as someone who could be at worst a solid regular and at best a superstar if his health holds up. He's absolutely destroying the ball this year & I hope he can stay on the field and keep it up because he's a joy to watch.
Kelly
2:09
what does the departure of Bridich portend, if anything? How much of the Rock’s dysfunction is on him?
Connor Byrne
2:11
Jeff Bridich was a bad GM, and Dick Monfort is a bad owner, so the blame can be divided. At least Bridich is gone, but with Monfort still there, it's tough to be optimistic about the Rockies' chances of landing a good successor to Bridich or returning to contention in the near future.
2:12
There was a report the other day that Twins GM Thad Levine is "the leading candidate" for the Rockies' job, but why would he want it? Yeah, he worked in COL's front office years back, but he's in a better position right now. He also turned down the Phillies' job a few months back. I can't really see him taking the Rockies' position in light of that.
Kelly
2:13
The Rockies have been, strategically, a mysterious mess for years — including this offseason. What are Story, Marquez, et al still on that team? Like a wagon trying to move forward with its oxen pulling in different directions, just wondering how much of this lies with Bridich as opposed to Montfort.
Connor Byrne
2:14
I may as well take your second question, Kelly. It's pretty baffling how the Rockies have handled things (and it's a years-long trend). They're not competing anytime soon, so they should've already moved their best trade chips. For their sake, hopefully Story picks it up before the deadline and increases his value. I can't see him signing an extension there.
Nicholas
2:15
Will Evan White's offense ever equal his defense? Were the Mariners wrong to sign him to the long term deal?
Connor Byrne
2:18
White is a great defender. I doubt he'll ever be a great hitter, so my answer is no. Maybe he can turn into a 110 wRC+ guy or thereabouts (he's a far cry from that so far, granted), which would make him fairly valuable when combined with his defense. And I don't think the Mariners were wrong to sign White to that deal. It was a calculated risk that hasn't worked out to this point, and even if it never does, it's not an albatross contract that will serve as a major hindrance.
Jorge
2:18
All this talk of moving the mound back. Has anyone mentioned LOWERING the mound?
Connor Byrne
2:19
Not that I've seen lately. I wouldn't necessarily object to lowering the mound, but I'd never support moving it back.
Matt
2:21
What's your take on Tony LaRussa's job performance as manager of the White Sox thus far?
Connor Byrne
2:23
They're playing .583 ball, so he hasn't really held them back to a significant extent. However, at the very least, I haven't liked the handling of Andrew Vaughn. He should be playing every day or close to it.
SteveM
2:23
Does Minnesota finally DFA Colome? There is talk Dobnak could be used in late inning high leverage situations. Dobnak has good stuff and can be lights out but hitters figure him out the second time around. Is Shane Greene still out there?
Connor Byrne
2:26
I know they guaranteed Colome over $6MM, but the leash has to be getting shorter and shorter. He has been absolutely dreadful and has played a pretty big role in the Twins' awful start. That wasn't a signing I was fond of during the offseason. Colome had a lot of good fortune over the previous couple seasons & regression was bound to rear its head at some point.
His Statcast page for 2021 is flat-out ugly: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/alex-colome-517008?stats=...
2:27
1-2 percentile in seven categories. Yikes.
john whelan
2:27
  • Connor, how have MLB's tv ratings been this year?  The NFL and the NBA have been so strong.  How is baseball doing in the short time since the season started?
Connor Byrne
2:28
Frank
2:30
In a Friday article regarding the Reds, Steve distinguished between a player sent to a taxi squad, and a player sent to the alternate site. I assume taxi squad players are closer to the team, but is there more of a difference? What happens when the minor league seasons begin? It sounds like some players are being vaccinated, but will Covid restrictions interfere with travel from some minor league teams?
Connor Byrne
2:31
The taxi squad serves its purpose on the road. You have your T-squad (selected players from the alternate site) travel with you in case you need them.
SandyG
2:32
Is Luis Rojas's job in jeopardy if the Mets continue stumbling?
Connor Byrne
2:33
I guess I could see Rojas losing his job during the season if the Mets really fall on their face, but I think they'll at least hang in the NL East hunt all year. Doesn't mean Rojas will be back in 2022, as the Mets could make a change in the offseason if they miss the playoffs again.
Stevie
2:34
Burnes or Woodruff for Cy Young? The Brewers are another team poised to make some real noise this season. Oh and are the Yankees for real? Break up the Orioles?Rebuild the Cubs? Your take (always right on)
Connor Byrne
2:38
Thanks for the compliment, Stevie. Appreciate it. I'd choose Burnes between the two because I'm hopeful he won't be out too long. I'm a lot less bullish on the Yankees than I was a few weeks ago. They went from team I picked to make the World Series to one that I think will win around 90 games. Not sure that'll be enough to make the playoffs. The O's may as well just stay on their current path and trade whichever veterans have value, because they're still a ways from making any real noise. On one hand, the Cubs should rebuild if ownership is going to continue crying poor. On the other, that division's pretty wide open, and that should be the case for at least the next couple years. There's no dominant club in the Central, which could encourage the Cubs to keep building decent enough teams to compete.
SteveM
2:39
How does MLB/MLPA stop tanking?
Connor Byrne
2:40
I've been an advocate for a salary floor, which would help. Somebody the other day (maybe Scott Boras, if memory serves) said that isn't going to happen. I'm inclined to believe him.
Randall Gilmore
2:40
Connor, do you believe Manfred's position is accurate when he recently stated he did not believe a work stoppage would happen? I wish Tony Clark said the same!
Connor Byrne
2:41
I'm taking a pessimistic approach until the two sides can agree on anything at all. They'd probably fight over 2+2=4.
2:43
And Manfred would've looked even more inept had he come out the other day and been publicly pessimistic, so I'm taking his comments with a grain of salt.
Jeff
2:44
When do the red sox give up on garret richards or martin perez. I know and understand they want tanner houk to get more experience, but when do you decide to do what gives the team the best chance of winning.
Connor Byrne
2:45
No time soon. They were good in their most recent outings & were two of the Red Sox's most expensive offseason signings.
James
2:46
Is any info available on how many clubs have reached the 85% inoculation threshold? And which clubs have or have not? Seems like a lot of Covid still popping up on the clubs.
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