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VF314 Live Chat - 1/26/2022
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Derek
12:01
Hey everyone, thanks for stopping by. Feels like we finally have a *little* more to talk about with the CBA negotiations yesterday and the HOF news. Let's get to it.
Drew
12:02
Why should I care about the HOF any longer when the writers and MLB basically said the generation of players that I grew up watching and made me fall in love with the game and become a life-long fan don't matter?
Derek
12:03
You certainly don't have to, but keep in mind the plaque room is different from the rest of the museum, so some/all of those guys are still there, I guess. But I understand how you feel - I'm not nearly as passionate about the voting anymore, to the point where it doesn't matter much to me at all.
JonInSTP
12:03
Would a corked-bat scandal have kept David Ortiz out of the Hall of Fame, or is that just Sammy Sosa?
Derek
12:04
It's the steroids that kept Sosa out of the Hall. Double standard of course given Ortiz's alleged positive test in 2003 (I believe that was the year). There was no stopping Ortiz because of his likability among the voters.
Brian
12:05
Ortiz getting into the hall on the first ballot while Bonds, Clemens and A-Rod will not (all objectively better and more valuable players) is an absolute joke, right?
Derek
12:05
In a purely baseball sense, it does seem hypocritical. But if you're invoking the character clause, there are definite concerns about Bonds and Clemens. As for A-Rod, he was suspended while Ortiz never was. There are some differentiators here.
12:06
Granted, there's also the steroids with Bonds/Clemens, but we can't discount the off the field transgressions either.
John
12:06
If Andruw Jones ends up getting elected to the Hall of Fame eventually, does that strengthen Bernie Williams chance to one day get in?  Gut reaction, I would prefer Bernie on my team but that could be Yankees bias.
Derek
12:07
Nah, Jones >>>> Bernie, and I love Bernie.
Iron Mike
12:07
whose the next steroid user likely to get into the hall now that Arod, Bonds, and Clemens seem to be no-gos?
Derek
12:08
Well, A-Rod still has some time on the ballot left, albeit at a steep climb. I'm guessing Robinson Cano's multiple suspensions have killed any chance for him. Nelson Cruz may reach 500 HR, but does have one suspension for PEDs on his name. Seems really well liked though and that could help?
MikeD
12:09
I missed last week's chat, so can I come to the defense of Graig Nettles as a HOFer?  Everyone is pushing for Scott Rolen, and he should get in. Rolen rWAR: 70.1; Nettles, 67.9.  Nettles ranks as the tenth greatest 3B'man in the game's history based on fWAR when going by 3B as primary position, right behind Rolen.
Derek
12:11
Rolen is gonna get in eventually, and if we're going on the WAR and/or JAWS case, Nettles does appear to be right there. I certainly wouldn't argue against Nettles though as I've mentioned, he's way before my time.
J
12:11
I'm not saying this as a Yankee fan, but when a name linked to a steroid scandal gets in, but Roger and Barry can't (none have been suspended for their use), the system needs to be overhauled.  The standards used for all players isn't the same.  Thoughts?
Derek
12:12
HOF voting is a total mess, yes. There does need to be an overhaul - public ballots were agreed upon by BBWA I believe, but the HOF still doesn't publish them as one example. Perhaps some clarity on the character clause because that does apply to Clemens/Bonds.
Rich
12:13
Am I the only one that finds it curious MLB and the MLBPA appear to have thawed the ice immediately following MLB publicly giving the back of its hand to the Rays’ ‘Dual City’ scheme?  Seems more than coincidental.
Derek
12:13
I'm not sure that I follow how these relate - maybe I'm missing something obvious. But that plan always seemed like a pie in the sky thing to me.
Sam
12:14
What do you think Beltran's HOF voting % is next year when he gets on the ballot? So hard to know how the sign stealing scandal will affect his chances...
Derek
12:15
I feel like Beltran may go the Andruw Jones/Kenny Lofton route, which isn't great for his chances although I think he is deserving. I could be wrong.
Eric
12:16
Is it just me or have the Yankees been hugging their prospects more lately?  They did nothing at the deadline in 2019 and 2020.  Passed on giving up Andujar and Frazier for Cole and look at how those two have turned out.
Derek
12:16
I don't know if that's totally fair. They sent a lot out for Gallo last year. The holding on to Andujar/Frazier thing definitely bit them though.
Dansby SwanSong
12:16
Any idea where Roderick Arias would rank in the Yanks prospect list?
Derek
12:17
Someone on Twitter pointed out that FanGraphs added him to their BOARD after the signing was official, and it had him 9th on the team's prospect list.
Jim
12:18
This rotation needs a second ace almost as badly as a 1B and SS for the position player side.  Would Pereira, Schmidt, Waldichuk, and Vargas be enough to land Castillo?
Derek
12:19
Nope, not enough at all. Schmidt's value is low, Waldichuk may be a reliever (albeit a good one), Vargas is so far away. Pereira did break out last year but he's not a top-3 team prospect that I'd expect would have to headline a deal for Castillo.
Dan A.
12:19
I feel like Beltran was a slam dunk prior to the Astros cheating scandal.  How does he not get impacted by that while the BBWAA generally keeps steroid users out?  It'd be more evidence that they're massive hypocrites if he gets in.
Derek
12:19
Oh, it's going to impact him. I don't think there's any doubt he will lose votes because of it.
Yung Lockout
12:20
Became obsessed with the idea of acquiring Ryan McMahon to play third but then the Rockies said they think he could handle short so now I am even more obsessed. What do you think?
Derek
12:21
I know he grades well at third per Statcast but we're talking about another non-natural SS here which I'm not interested in at all.
Michael
12:22
If the Yankees are planning on bringing in a stopgap SS for a year such as Simmons, why not just give Oswald Peraza a shot. The reports say his defense is excellent and MLB ready. Why waste time/money on a Andreltron Simmons type player?
Derek
12:23
That would be a huge gamble. What if his bat isn't playable yet? Look, not saying Simmons is good (he's awful and may actually be worse than Peraza right now, as you imply), but they need to add a major leaguer at this position.
Jeb
12:24
It's opening day in the Bronx; your 1B is Rizzo, your SS is Dejong. Nonetheless, as a Yankees fan, you are happy with the roster. What else happened besides these two moves that kept you happy in this hypothetical situation?
Derek
12:24
Ehhhhh. Probably would need to have Reynolds or Ketel Marte in center, a starter like Castillo, etc.
Dan A.
12:25
I am severely annoyed that Hal is--as I understand it--on of a handful of owners really involved in the negotiation, and they are trying to ratchet up penalties for the luxury tax.  But his media defenders for some reason all scoff at the notion that he's cheap.  If he could maximize profits at a $150 million payroll, you better believe the payroll would be $150 million.
Derek
12:25
Hal was one of the owners who spearheaded the $180M luxury tax threshold, which was just absurd and 100% tells you what his priority is.
$180M threshold proposal, I should say.
Michael
12:26
What percentage chance do you give Luke Voit to (A) stay on the team and (B) be productive again?
Derek
12:26
A: 50/50, but could become more likely if the lockout really drags out. B: 90% sure he'll be very good. He always hits when he's healthy.
Steve
12:27
Freddie or Olsen?  At least Freddie only cost money.
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