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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 4/23/24
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Steve Adams
8:36
Good morning all! Back at the usual time this week, so I'll get things started at 1pm. Feel free to submit questions ahead of time, as always!
1:02
Good afternoon!
Let's begin
pontiac bandit
1:03
What's wrong with Nolan Jones?
Tom from Philly
1:03
What the heck is up with Nolan Jones in Colorado? He's something like 0 for his last 25.
Steve Adams
1:05
Jones was always a prime regression candidate after last year's debut; his .400 BABIP was never going to hold, and his 30% strikeout rate was a similarly large red flag. Still, even with the K's booming up to 37% this year, he shouldn't be this bad. I expect he'll turn things around to an extent, but last year's offensive production was pretty clearly buoyed by some batted ball luck he wouldn't sustain.

I still think he can hit .225 to .240 with an OBP about 100 points higher than that and some nice power/speed contributions
White Sox Fans Anonymous
1:05
Who would win a five game series: the Norfolk Tide or the Chicago White Sox?
Steve Adams
1:06
Well the O's just called up Kjerstad, so that evens things out a bit. But ... Tides?
John
1:06
Do the White Sox win 50 games? Is Reinsdorf the worst owner in the game?
Steve Adams
1:07
I said early on that I don't think any team's going to lose 120 games this year, but man alive are the White Sox making me rethink that. It is truly an embarrassing product on the field there. I think they'll improve a bit as the season wears on, if only because there'll just be more starts from Nastrini, Cannon, etc. and maybe Colson Montgomery gets on track in the minors and gets a big league call, but it's brutal right now with no hope in sight. Tough time to be a Sox fan.
Chip
1:08
Can you think of a pitcher you wouldn't start against the CWS in terms of fantasy?
Steve Adams
1:08
I can, but they also happen to pitch for the White Sox, so...
John Fisher
1:08
Did I hear someone say worst owner in the game?
Steve Adams
1:08
Yeah no one's taking that crown from Fisher
maxing out
1:09
If the Braves made a competitive offer to Fried that wasn't very far from the highest one, isn't there an advantage to staying with an organization that you know, fit in very well with, and is a consistent contender ? Is the last $ the only thing that matters  to millionaires ?
Steve Adams
1:10
If the Braves made a competitive offer -- say, same length as the highest bidder but like $1MM less per year or something -- then sure, I think Fried would lean there.

But the Braves also tend not to exceed $22MM annually in their long-term deals (Anthopoulos has said it's not a hard-and-fast rule), and they've shied away from long-term deals to guys who are already in their 30s.

I don't think they'll sign Fried, but to your point, the familiarity and everything would quite likely come into play if the offers were neck-and-neck
The Fonz
1:12
Any panic-button pushing for Triston McKenzie?
Steve Adams
1:13
I think it's plenty fair to be concerned. He's acknowledged that his elbow isn't 100% and he wonders whether he should've had surgery. The velo is way down. Command is bad. He's really, really good when he's healthy -- and right now he looks nothing like that version of himself.
Brew Crew
1:13
Gasser to the rescue?
Steve Adams
1:14
He's been on the IL all season with a bone spur in his pitching elbow
Dylan McKay
1:14
Do the Cubs have "too much starting pitching"
Steve Adams
1:15
No team has "too much" anything. The Marlins once had "too many" starters. The Reds once had "too many" infielders. Etc. etc.

Injuries and/or continued struggles from Kyle Hendricks will necessitate the Cubs tapping into that depth.
j-ROD
1:15
I keep telling myself that J-Rod is just a slow starter, but no reason to panic for him, right??
Steve Adams
1:17
Julio's hitting the crap out of the ball (91.3 mph exit velo, 43% hard-hit) with little to show for it. Might be pressing a bit, as he's chasing a lot and not making much contact off the plate ... but he chased a ton last year too. I think he'll be fine. He's freakishly talented.
Guest
1:17
mike trout
Steve Adams
1:17
Good at baseball.
Steve the pirate
1:17
Is Jackson Holliday on the verge of a demotion?
Steve Adams
1:18
Could get to that point, but the O's literally (like, 30 seconds ago) just announced they optioned David Banuelos as the corresponding move for Heston Kjerstad's promotion, so Holliday's not going down yet.
Mustache
1:18
I read that gasser is starting for Nashville on Wednesday
Steve Adams
1:19
Sorry I just meant he's not an immediate option to come up for the Brewers
He's on the cusp of returning, yes, but he's going to need some time to get some innings under him. And the Brewers need arms right now.
Eggs Benedict
1:19
If Fried is gone, and Morton retires, what's a reasonable guess for the Braves' 2025 rotation?  Strider, Sale, Lopez...... ??
Steve Adams
1:20
Elder, Smith-Shawver, Anderson all in the mix, too. Add in a reasonably priced free agent perhaps.
Blue
1:21
The bottom of the order and SP is killing the Dodgers.
Steve Adams
1:21
Yeah, it's really bad. I have these splits handy from my piece for our subscribers I sent out yesterday:
  • No. 7 spot: .156/.232/.222 (36 wRC+, 27th in MLB)
  • No. 8 spot: .134/.237/.279 (48 wRC+, 28th in MLB)
  • No. 9 spot: .174/.237/.244 (41 wRC+, 22nd in MLB)
1:22
I know they had huge concerns about Michael Busch's glove -- and deservedly so -- but I have to imagine they're looking back at that trade and thinking... "Y'know, Muncy/Busch at 2B/3B doesn't sound so bad right now"
Zac
1:23
Who's the next big name prospect to get the call? Woods?
Steve Adams
1:23
James Wood seems like a good guess, yeah
Cardinals
1:23
Could Helsley or Edman be traded if the season goes bad?
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