JotCast | Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat

Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat - 8/6/20

Dan Szymborski

12:06

And begun, the chat has!

Once it starts, it can't stop.

Until 1 PM!

Well I guess it could.

If I have a stroke or something, I'm calling 911, not chilling with you guys.

Chris

12:06

Kyle Lewis is awesome still!!

Dan Szymborski

12:06

August.

Enlightening Round

12:07

What's the deal with Benintendi?

Dan Szymborski

12:07

It's reallyworrying that his contact numbers haven't gotten back up to 2018 levels and in fact, seem to be getting worse in a small sample size.

Ben

12:07

Buying or selling the back of the cubs rotation of Chatwood, Lester & Mills.

Dan Szymborski

12:08

Optimistic about chatwood, cautiously so with the other two

Guest

12:08

How did the best rotations end up in Ohio?

Dan Szymborski

12:08

Maybe the secret to good pitching was always bad chili?

Thank you for the chat!

12:08

Is there additional player compensation tied to the expanded playoffs? Could this be a consideration as an incentive in trying to keep players from opting out through the season if their team remains competitive?

Dan Szymborski

12:09

That's why the playoffs expanded! Owners made a new revenue agreement for the players.

They'll now get a $50 million pool.

Hopefully -- and not because I hate the format -- players are less willing if offered a similar deal next year.

12:10

Making 85 wins the target win total --- which it is, the advantages of winning more in this playoff system are miniscule -- will be a further drag on player salaries in the market.

12:11

The less valuable being a good team is, the less valuable are added wins.

And I firmly believe that more playoff spots has been a long-term drag on salaries.

caesar_solid

12:11

Between 2019 and 2020, the two top bullpens according to fWAR are the Rays and the A's - is it a coincidence these are also two of the smallest budget teams, or is this the result of a strategy to maximize value in a place where they still can?

Dan Szymborski

12:12

I don't think it's a coincidence. Bullpens tend to give heartburn and big spending teams like spending big on bullpens, even many large market ones.

Bauer

12:12

Does WAR take into account strength of opponent?

Dan Szymborski

12:12

It does not.

I've looked at the issue with an adjustment for team before and found little value.

12:13

The difference of strength of opponents is just too small in baseball for players playing a full slate of games.

And the WAR magnitude is just too small in players with only a few games.

Grizzly Man

12:13

Is this it for Josh James as a starter? Is there any hope he'll develop enough control to be more than a 1- or 2-inning power guy?

Dan Szymborski

12:13

It feels that way, though I still think that's short-stighted

o's

12:13

Alex Cobb had another strong start, if the Orioles were willing to eat the majority of Alex Cobb's contract would they be able to get anything exciting back either at the deadline or in the winter

Dan Szymborski

12:13

I believe so.

Swing and Miss DoubleStuf

12:13

What would one do with a $50 million pool if the Olympics were to be cancelled?

Dan Szymborski

12:14

I'm sure the Japanese can think up a wonderfully horrifying game show

Panda Sandoval

12:14

Is it possible to evaluate a batter’s swing during TV broadcasts? I feel like I can evaluate pitching (velocity, movement, command), but, other than results/reputation, I have no idea if a hitter is good by watching them on TV. People talk about bat head speed and long/short strokes, leaving the barrel in the zone, but I have no idea how to identify that on TV.

Dan Szymborski

12:15

It's even hard to evaluate on TV because all camera angles are slightly misleading.

(Pitching)

I'd say no generally, unless something's extreme

Jon

12:15

Does wRC+ reflect the poor offense to start the season? I see that Acuna's wRC+ is 120 despite his pretty rocky start.

Dan Szymborski

12:15

wRC+ has a neutral league context

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