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Travis Sawchik FanGraphs Chat
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Travis Sawchik
12:04
Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good afternoon to you, wherever you may be
12:05
I believe because of user error this post didn't publish earlier ...so this is the day to get your question answered ... The queue is relatively barren
Bret Michaels
12:06
Last chance to buy low on Greg Bird? I have a feeling everyone that panicked will soon have pangs of regret.
Travis Sawchik
12:07
I don't think 25 at-bats is a reason to be too concerned re: Bird. I think he's going to be a nice MLB player ... Not sure about a fantasy star, but a useful corner type
So, yeah, now is a much better time to buy than it was in March
Bryan
12:07
How long do the Nationals keep Treinen in the closer role. The obvious counter is, who else do they have? But man, it's getting rough out there
Travis Sawchik
12:08
I want to see him get a longer look. The sinker is filthy at times. What's going on with everyone's bullpen early this season?
Andy
12:09
Does Adam Frazier kind of strike you as a young Freddy Sanchez? Should he be playing every day over Josh Harrison?
Travis Sawchik
12:10
I really like Frazier. Love the compact swing and bat-to-ball skills. And, yes, I think he should be the everyday 2B with Harrison moved back to a super U role where he excelled in 2014
Bubba
12:10
How worried are you about Britton's health?
Travis Sawchik
12:11
I'm always worried about forearm discomfort. Sunday was a tough day for injuries around the game. I'm concerned with J.A. Happ, too
Monsignor Martinez
12:11
Suppose the league expanded after this year, and each team protects 5 players prior to the expansion draft. What team do you think loses the first player? Any idea of who you think gets drafted first overall?
Travis Sawchik
12:12
One reason I want to see an expansion to 32 teams soon is too get Montreal back in MLB ... And so we can have/watch/analyze an expansion draft
Teams would be allowed to protect a much greater volume of players ...
12:13
Cubs?
Kyle
12:14
How bout dem Astros?
Travis Sawchik
12:16
That's one of two division leaders that I had in our preseason forecasts ... Astros are legit. Not sure about four of the other six division leaders. Rockies were a sleeper entering the season
Bryan
12:16
Are bullpen meltdowns the result of unsustainable BABIP? For instance Treinen at a .412 or Dyson's .545 or are there other factors at play, such as so many players 're-tooling' their swing for improved launch angle?
Travis Sawchik
12:17
Good question. It's really early, but it's weird. I would lean toward the former. ... But Treinen and Dyson are sinker ball guys, and those would be the arms most susceptible to the uppercut swing proliferation
Paul
12:17
Travis - how long do you wait until your inevitable "Let's look for guys who have started to hit the ball in the air more" post? I know a lot of stuff is probably still noise. But after 4 HR since Thursday, we Braves fans are sort of giddy about the idea of Ender Inciarte adding some kind of power to his game.
Travis Sawchik
12:18
Oh there will be a few of those! Maybe a macro-level look later today or tomorrow ;)
Mike, of Mike & the Mechanics
12:18
Blue Jays' playoff odds have gone from 40% to 11% since opening day. Ouch. Does that seem right to you?
Travis Sawchik
12:19
Yeah, it does. It's going to be a tight AL wild card field, potentially, and the Jays are now starting from a hole and we'll have to see about Happ's health
Josh
12:19
How good does that Eric Thames signing look now? The plate discipline improvements look legit, and the power was never the question.
Travis Sawchik
12:20
The translations of stats from the KBO and Cuban professional hitters have been very good for the most part. I think there was a lot of belief in Thames here at FG this offseason. Great signing by the Brewers
Thames has also has bat-speed and raw power ... so it's not as if he did not have gifts.
The Dude
12:21
Think Dylan Bundy can keep it up? I know he has pedigree, but in the division and with his history of injuries and lack of track record, I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Travis Sawchik
12:21
Sure, there's risk. But he's a different pitcher with the cutter/slider back in his portfolio
GERB
12:22
Not sure what the big fuss is over Otani when we've got Michael Martinez running a 2.93 FIP and 773 wRC+
Travis Sawchik
12:22
Nice
RMR
12:22
Why do fans always boo the opposing pitcher for a pickoff attempt or stepping off the rubber? This has bothered me for a long time. Are they really that stupid to boo that (and then not do anything when their own pitcher does it)?
Travis Sawchik
12:23
The same reason people hunk when a driver is not paying attention to a red light turning to green? Let's get this show moving ...
Sam
12:23
Is Eric Thames gonna keep this up all year? because my goodness...
Travis Sawchik
12:23
You mean 'God'
Matt
12:25
Excellent bit of reporting there, Travis, with the Cabrera article
Travis Sawchik
12:25
Omar
12:25
Any reason to worry about Cleveland?
Travis Sawchik
12:26
For the most part, no .... but the CF situation is a bit of an issue (Chisenhall?) ...and Perez might need to become the starting catcher soon ... Those are two up-the-middle positions. I think rotation will be fine
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