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Chat with MLBTR's Steve Adams: 5/23/23
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Steve Adams
1:00
Greetings all! Let's begin
Escape Clase
1:00
Is 2023 Clase pitching different than 2021-2022 Clase? He just seems off more than he seems on (hit rate up, K rate down, FIP up). Should fantasy owners and Guardians fans be concerned?
Steve Adams
1:02
His pitches are down about a mile per hour and he's throwing his slider slightly less often, but I think it's more an issue of command. A 5% walk rate is still excellent, but he's throwing a first-pitch strike around 58% of the time compared to last year's 65%, and he's already thrown three wild pitches after only throwing four all of last year (and three in 2021). I'd still expect him to have a good year overall, but probably not to his 2021-22 levels if he can't regain some of that location
BTinVT
1:02
What is the ceiling for Corbin Carroll?
Steve Adams
1:02
Perennial All-Star OF who works his way into some MVP talks here and there?
Duffy Scliff
1:02
Thoughts on Esteury Ruiz’s first season in Oakland?
Steve Adams
1:03
He's getting on base more than I thought he would, which is good! Because it's fun to watch him run. Would still like to see him walk more, but he's been better than I thought he'd be.
Charlotte 49ers
1:03
Are the Mariners going to release Wong soon?
Steve Adams
1:04
I feel like they can't go too much longer with Wong and Pollock on this roster. Pollock isn't hitting lefties at all, and that was kind of the whole point of signing him.
kurt the hurt
1:04
Is J. Schoop with 0 homers and 0 rbi's still worth a roster spot in Det. ?
Steve Adams
1:06
He's hitting LHP well, despite the lack of HR/RBI. .324/.378/.412.

He's on the roster to platoon with McKinstry at this point, and if he keeps hitting lefties like that, some RBIs and a few odd homers will pile up.

Could you allocate the roster spot better? Perhaps, but it's not the most simple thing to find someone who can hit lefties that well, and they're paying him one way or another so I don't think it's egregious to keep carrying him in that limited role.
Nick
1:07
True or False: Any team from the AL East would win the AL Central and Every team from the AL Central would finish last in the AL East
Steve Adams
1:08
I think the Twins are better than their record, so they might give a run to the fifth-place team in the East, ha, but yeah, generally speaking, the AL East is just better
Brotherly Love
1:09
Read that Cron will soon be moving to Philly...True? If so at what cost?
Steve Adams
1:10
The same CJ Cron who's on the injured list and hasn't begun baseball activities yet? I don't think the Phillies are trading for yet another injured first baseman "soon"
Ohtani
1:10
What are odds I test FA?
Steve Adams
1:10
I'd be stunned if he doesn't.
Some Fan
1:11
Michael Harris II is really slumping this season after his sterling ROY 2022. Sophomore slump, injuries or have pitchers figured him out?
Steve Adams
1:13
Some level of regression was always likely, as it's just not all that realistic to expect someone to maintain a .360+ BABIP, even if they're as fast as Harris.

He's striking out less, walking more, hard-hit and exit velo are right in line with last year. Little drop in the line-drive rate and his launch angle's up, so maybe he's trying to elevate the ball more than is ideal for his skill set/approach/swing mechanics, but in general I expect that he'll be fine.
1:14
At this point we have 140 games of Harris. 536 plate appearances. He's overperformed last year, is underperforming this year. Collectively, it's a .274/.321/.468 slash with a more sustainable .331 BABIP and decent batted-ball metrics.

I'd argue that cumulative line is closer to who he truly is, and that's still a very good player.
Tyler Oneil
1:15
Do I have a future in St Louis?
Steve Adams
1:16
I don't think they're going to trade him in the next couple weeks, so... kind of!

I do think there's a decent chance he's shopped around at the deadline, but the return on him probably won't be all that high with the recent injuries, rising salary, dwindling club control, etc. He just hasn't hit much outside that outstanding 2021 season.
Alex Cobb
1:17
Will I be suiting up for a new team in the next coming months
Steve Adams
1:19
I think there's a pretty decent chance of a Cobb trade, yeah. I know the Giants are around .500 and currently only two back in the Wild Card, but I don't think they have a viable path to the NL West title and think that Wild Card gap will grow. Plus Cobb's 36 in October, the pitching market will be thin... lot of things combining to make that seem feasible.
Gavin Williams
1:20
When do I make my debut?
Steve Adams
1:20
McKenzie and Civale are both on rehab assignments, so probably going to be awhile -- especially with Bibee and Allen pitching well.
Big 88
1:20
Torkelson has a lot of favorable looking metrics but he has no results.  Is there something about him that just doesn't translate or do Tigers fans need to wait . . . and wait . . . and . . .
Steve Adams
1:22
Tork still barely has 1000 professional PAs -- minors and MLB combined. The bat has shown signs of life this month, and as you said, there's so much to like. Tons of hard contact, strikeouts are down, contact rate way up. Still think he needs to be more aggressive in the strike zone, but I'm a Tork believer.
Lance Archer
1:23
Brewers seem to need immediate rotation help. Any easy and available solutions to that?
Steve Adams
1:24
Quite a few teams need immediate rotation help. No, there are no obvious, ready-to-go upgrades they can just plug in. Could roll the dice on a Julio Teheran type -- he just opted out of his minors deal with the Padres -- but in general, ready-made rotation upgrades in May aren't really a thing unless they come from within.
Lol
1:25
Jon Heyman reported 2 seconds after I sent that that the Brewers are signing Teheran to a big league deal
Okey dokey then
JP
1:25
When do you think Royce Lewis is called up?
Steve Adams
1:29
Can't even be brought up until June 1, since he's on the 60-day IL, and he has an 8-to-1 K/BB ratio in 24 PAs on his rehab stint so far. Kyle Farmer's mashing at third base since he came off the injured list, too.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's sometime in June for Lewis still, but the plate discipline is rough right now
Angel Fool
1:29
Buy or sell Moniak as a .300 hitter? (I know he's not staying above 400)
Steve Adams
1:30
It's 29 plate appearances and he has 11 strikeouts with a .643 average on balls in play. That doesn't scream ".300 hitter"
Jose Caballero
1:31
My .375 BABIP says THIS won't continue...but do you see some other signs that I might stick around for a few years as a utility guy?
Steve Adams
1:31
He's at .333 not .375, but regardless, I do think Caballero looks like a viable big league utility guy at the least.
Jill
1:31
If Cleveland falls out of contention will they retool or rebuild?
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