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Travis Sawchik FanGraphs Chat
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Travis Sawchik
12:00
Welcome to Sawchik Chat V
12:01
Let's get started, shall we?
Erik
12:01
Roughly what percentage of MLB hitters would benefit by swinging with more of an uppercut? Are we talking everybody except Billy Hamilton, or more like a quarter to a third of hitters? And what profile of hitter would fit into that group?
Travis Sawchik
12:03
(The swing path was the subject of my Monday morning post, FYI .... http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/can-more-mlb-hitters-get-off-the-ground/) Erik, I would say the majority to vast majority of hitters would benefit form more loft and fly balls. Hamilton is one that probably would not, but he's an exception. Hey, Christian Yelich, get the ball in the air!
Bork
12:03
Are you surprised that Hammel only received $16M? That elbow must be a big question mark.
Travis Sawchik
12:03
There's gotta be something going on with the arm/shoulder/elbow, right?
Pie
12:03
I don't like the Patriots.
Travis Sawchik
12:03
Well, Brady is approaching 40 so this has to end eventually ... right?
Will
12:05
Who do you value more over the next 5 years, Brandon Belt or Eric Hosmer? Both are entering prime years for positional players.
Travis Sawchik
12:05
Hosmer is younger, but I like where Belt's OBP and approach is headed ... I wish he'd play in different home part ...But I'd take Belt
David
12:06
Is there a stat for how well players perform after days off?
Travis Sawchik
12:07
I'm not aware of a public one. I'm sure teams are trying to quantify this effect and are increasingly scheduling off days.
Teams want that video game type energy bar
JimLindeman15
12:08
Cardinals RH Relief depth chart: Oh, Rosenthal, Broxton, Bowman, Tuivailala, Socolovich. Landing spot for Joe Blanton?
Travis Sawchik
12:08
I like Joe Blanton for about every team. Why is he still available? Why are we not bullpening?
ChiSox2020
12:08
Why don't the Sox try trading Quintana to the Cubs for their top 3 prospects? Jimenez/Happ/Candelario seems like the only thing impeding is the in-town rivalry.
Travis Sawchik
12:09
I'm not sure if it's the only thing, but the in-town rivalry shouldn't be much of a consideration if a FO is operating rationally. Plus, these clubs are in different phases (rebuild vs. defend title)
George is Curious
12:09
Does Buxton finally have his breakout season in 2017?
Travis Sawchik
12:10
Mild breakout? I expect him to have his best year and establish himself as a regular. He's too talented not to
James
12:11
Which CF/leadoff hitter do you think will have a better season from a fantasy perspective, Fowler in STL or Eaton in WAS?
Travis Sawchik
12:12
I like both but I'd rather have Eaton's consistently: three straight .360 OBP, 115-119 wRC+ seasons ... And if Harper's back nearer his 2015 self, he should score some runs
Tom
12:13
When does Quintana get dealt and where do you see him landing?
Travis Sawchik
12:13
I'll play. Near the deadline and to a team in the NL Central
Curtis
12:14
Behind Kershaw, how would you rank the Dodgers 10 man rotation?
Travis Sawchik
12:14
I like Hill as a clear No. 2, I love the depth
Babe Lincoln
12:14
Do you think Cutch will be an average defensive CF in 2017? In 2018?
Travis Sawchik
12:15
Pirates announced yesterday - way to bury the news - that McCutchen is moving to RF. More on that later today at FanGraphs
Matt
12:15
If you were a magician, would your grand finale trick be to saw a chick in half? You know - because of your name and all.
Travis Sawchik
12:16
Smoke and mirrors, I will show you some time
Sim
12:16
Name a pitcher who no one is really talking about but will make a big impact this season.
Travis Sawchik
12:17
Aaron Nola might have been the unluckiest pitcher in baseball last season. He's the closest thing we have to a RHP Rich Hill
Dan
12:17
First Travis chat--what topics are on the table? Fantasy? Real baseball? Politics? Oreos? Minor leagues?
Travis Sawchik
12:18
Let's stay away from politics, I think the rest of the world has that covered ... Anything else goes
Sirras
12:18
To what extent do you think Hammel's market was damaged by a perceived signaling effect by the Cubs? That is, other teams thinking "well, the Cubs could use a starter and they let Hammel walk. He must be hurt/injured/at risk."
Travis Sawchik
12:19
Yeah, that's interesting. When you see a big-money club coming of a WS title, a club with pitching depth concerns, it certainly could create pause. We have no idea what the medicals look like, but I don't think the Cubs helped him
Gest
12:20
Can you please approximate how much surplus value Votto has in a trade?
Travis Sawchik
12:21
Tough question given the age and contract length... the end might not be pretty but I like him in the short term. I would have liked to have seen him in Toronto and playing in those AL East ballparks
JD15
12:21
How do you pick the topics you write about? Seems like you wrote 100 articles last month. Do you keep a list or just browse and find something you're interested in once an article is complete?
Travis Sawchik
12:22
I try to have a running list, but be flexible to accommodate newsier items. I find a good question tends to lead to more questions
Erik
12:22
Do you know of any hitters who have increased their launch angle and gotten worse? It seems as though there must at least be some downsides, otherwise everyone would do it, right?
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