You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Craig Edwards FanGraphs Chat--10/31/2019
powered byJotCast
Craig Edwards
3:03
Going to let the queue get going for a few more minutes before I jump in.
Here's my piece today on the Astros' pitching decisions in the seventh inning. https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/strategic-slip-in-seventh-stunts-stros...
3:04
and here's my piece on the Turner interference call. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/a-dumb-rule-almost-ruined-the-world-series...
John
3:06
What did we learn from the Nats? Things about player age? Chemistry? Scouting? Nothing?
Craig Edwards
3:09
It generally takes a lot of talent to win the World Series and there are a lot of ways to acquire that talent. Having a massive payroll helps. Given the only really high draft pick on the team still under control was Rendon, this also wasn't a team that benefited a ton from losing a lot, which makes two champs in a row that have gone the spend big without tanking route.
Also, apologies if the answers come a bit slow. Trying to get a baby down for her nap.
Howie Kendrick
3:10
What does my market look like for next year?
Craig Edwards
3:10
I would think a two-year deal to some AL team seems fair. If the Red Sox lost Martinez to FA, I could see Kendrick sliding in there.
Derek
3:11
Man the "welcome to the offseason" sub-header really bummed me out... Super fun Games 6 & 7 though!
Craig Edwards
3:13
It is weird that the fun games were the ones the Nationals won, but those were just more competitive games and given their underdog status and that they lost 3-5 handily, it felt like all of there wins were kind of a surprise.
Nate
3:13
So, you're not the only guy I've seen wonder today if there were any non-baseball reasons Cole wasn't in the game earlier than he was yesterday. Coupled with his noticeably quick ability to move on, declare himself unemployed and don a Boras Corp hat after the game...do you think he just straight up said he didn't want to come into the game? Or do you think Boras could have even directed him to not do it? Or do you think maybe he just couldn't get loose when he was warming up? Or what?
Craig Edwards
3:14
Those weren't the non-baseball reasons I was thinking of. I thought it might have something to do with not wanting Osuna to get the final out. I think Cole was just really upset that his team lost and that he didn't pitch, which is pretty understandable.
Mark
3:14
The Cubs sound serious about shopping Bryant. Is Fried and Kyle Wright a fair offer from Atlanta?
Craig Edwards
3:16
Kind of hard to trade a player who we don't know for sure when he'll be a free agent. I don't think that trade is necessarily unfair, but if I were going to trade Bryant, there's no way I would accept that if I were trying to contend in 2020. It just doesn't help enough.
Guest
3:16
Free Agent Predictions? Time of signing, size of deals etc. Especially likelihood of White Sox intentionally finishing in second place for one of them.
Craig Edwards
3:18
I think you'll like what we have rolling out next week. It wouldn't surprise me if the market moved a little faster this year. Starting pitching moved pretty quickly last season and this year, the strength of the FA market is starting pitching, There's always the potential for holdups, though.
Mrs Lincoln
3:18
Cubs want to go below luxury tax, have escalating arbitration dollars, & dont really have good prospects to trade.  How do you see them fixing their offense, adding relievers, and shore up a front of the rotation?
Craig Edwards
3:23
I don't see any way they go below the tax level and fix their problems. There aren't really easy fixes, either. You mostly have to hope the team plays better and the bullpen isn't as bad.
Al Gone Quinn
3:23
What did you think of Bregman's bat carry to 1st and Soto's response? I thought Soto's response was perfect. Beats the hell out of an Astros hitter getting beaned in retaliation.
Craig Edwards
3:27
I had no problem with what Bregman did, though he lost some style points on the handoff. Soto doing it back was great. That's one of those things where looking at Soto responding in the same fashion tells me he's really aware of what is going on and paying attention. While that was just a silly celebration, that kind of thing can carry over to other aspects of the game and is a good sign for his future, not that he needed more good signs for his future.
White Sox
3:27
They have to make moves that aren't just roster fillers, right? Give me some hope, Craig.
Craig Edwards
3:30
I assume so. The Twins are losing most of their rotation and we just don't know what Cleveland's situation is so there's a real opportunity for the White Sox. If you look at where they can add, it is the rotation and an outfield spot. If Robert can play center, Ozuna/Castellanos/Puig would be ideal bats in the corner. You'd think they would want to bring Abreu back. Signing two good starting pitchers should put them in contention.
Sirras
3:30
Any thoughts on the commotion this week at Deadspin?
Craig Edwards
3:32
I don't like seeing good writers without homes for their work. It's unfortunate the owners didn't make more of an effort to understand the site, or that they did such a poor job attempting to change the site into what they wanted it to be given they clearly wanted something different.
RAGBRAI
3:33
Does winning the WS help, hinder or no effect with Nats retaining Straus and/or Rendon?
Craig Edwards
3:34
It definitely provides a lot more revenue this season as well as next year so that would presumably help.
Al Gone Quinn
3:34
For agument's sake, let's say Cole and Rendon were due for $200 million contracts and Strasburg $120 million prior to the playoffs. What's the additional amount they can bank on this morning?
Craig Edwards
3:36
It's hard to put a dollar figure on it because they aren't going to be worth any more money, but if it helps one or two more GMs go to ownership and say this is the guy we need, one more suitor could be worth an extra year on a contract and that might mean $30 million for those guys.
HappyFunBall
3:36
If you had to lay odds, do the Nats try to keep the band together? Or is everyone (Rendon, Stras, half a dozen older guys...) going their separate ways?
Craig Edwards
3:38
I would be surprised if they didn't bring back one of Strasburg/Rendon. Not sure if Zimmerman will retire or come back, but I could see a small one-year deal there. Cabrera, too. Not so sure about everybody else.
Nate
3:38
I mean...didn't the Nats still have Strasburg too?
Craig Edwards
3:39
re: former picks, yes, but he just finished his 10th season and is in the middle (likely end) of a 7-year, $175 million deal signed six months before free agency.
Hot Take
3:39
What's your take on announcers giving so much airtime during the World Series to speculation about free agents to be?  To me, it reduces the moment significantly.  We can't even enjoy Game 7 of the World Series, the culmination of a marathon season for the team-iest of team sports without discussing where one particular player may or may not play next year and for how much money.   It really puts a damper on the moment and risks having us lose sight of what is being played for - a team championship in the here and now.
Craig Edwards
3:41
I think in this World Series, it is hard to ignore given the three best free agents this winter are all playing. It can be too much at times, but I think it is fine to engage in it a little.
Cole
3:41
Am I going to help Mike Trout win a postseason series finally?
Craig Edwards
3:43
Have to think the Angels are going to go big this offseason and nobody bigger than Cole. He would certainly help the Angels, but the Astros are still going to be good, Oakland might be, too, and Texas could swoop in and go after some big-time free agents if they wanted to.
Benji
3:43
Do any trades typically happen in November?
Craig Edwards
3:45
Welington Castillo was just traded from the White Sox to the Rangers so it does happen. We will also seem some deals as teams prepare for the Rule 5 draft as the deadline for protecting players is in November. As for big trades, that might be more early December like Goldschmidt last year and Stanton the year before that.
Raja
3:46
How many weeks into Spring Training will it be before Cole signs?  Seems to be the new thing with free agency.
Load More Messages
Connecting…