JotCast | FanGraphs After Dark Chat

Paul Swydan

4:54

What is tonight's best matchup?

CLE (Bauer) vs. WAS (Scherzer) (50.4% | 69 votes)

NYY (Severino) vs. BOS (Porcello) (5.1% | 7 votes)

SF (Moore) vs. MIA (Koehler) (2.9% | 4 votes)

DET (Norris) vs. SEA (LeBlanc) (4.4% | 6 votes)

PHI (Velasquez) vs. LAD (Maeda) (32.1% | 44 votes)

Other (5.1% | 7 votes)

Total Votes: 137

4:55

Which recently announced retiree would you have most wanted on your team in his prime?

Alex Rodriguez (56.5% | 87 votes)

Mark Teixeira (5.8% | 9 votes)

Prince Fielder (3.2% | 5 votes)

This is a stupid question (34.4% | 53 votes)

Total Votes: 154

4:58

Which team currently on the outside looking in do you think will make the postseason?

Seattle (11% | 18 votes)

Houston (30.1% | 49 votes)

NY Yankees (1.8% | 3 votes)

NY Mets (12.9% | 21 votes)

Pittsburgh (3.7% | 6 votes)

Colorado (6.7% | 11 votes)

None of them (32.5% | 53 votes)

More than one of them (1.2% | 2 votes)

Total Votes: 163

9:01

Hi everybody!

M.O.

9:01

People don't talk about Josh Donaldson enough. He's awesome. Any reason for lack of coverage?

Paul Swydan

9:02

I mean, he's been tagged in four FanGraphs posts since May 11. How much more coverage should he receive?

Jeff Zimmerman

9:02

I don't know. Sometimes the best player are the least interesting ... at least for me.

Paul Swydan

9:03

In the general media world, people aren't going to talk about mid-market teams that aren't awesome, and the Jays are mehhhhhh this year.

mike

9:03

i'm concerned about cleveland. are you concerned about cleveland? what is going on in cleveland?

Paul Swydan

9:03

I wouldn't say I'm concerned because they've already exceeded my expectations for this season. If they come back a little bit that wouldn't surprise me too much. Especially with Brantley's latest setback.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:04

Not really, but the race has got a little more interesting.

M.O.

9:04

Not specific to fangraphs (re: Donaldson) obviously

Paul Swydan

9:04

Ah. Well thank you for that.

Grole

9:04

How could the Rockies make the postseason?

Paul Swydan

9:05

Releasing Scott Oberg would be a good start.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:06

Play better baseball than the best of league?

Paul Swydan

9:06

But realistically, 2 of the 4 teams ahead of them for the wild card -- the Mets and Pirates -- seem to be trending down. If they can pass them, then they'd really be in the hunt. It's not inconceivable. Unlikely, but not inconceivable.

JD15

9:06

Should pitches per at bat be more important stat? The more pitches a player makes the pitcher throw no matter the result makes that result more valuable, right? Is this counted in any more overarching stats like WAR?

Paul Swydan

9:06

Intuitively, you'd think so. But any time I've actually looked to test it out, it hasn't measured up as anything important.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:07

Also, it really depends on the bullpen. I used to like to see Royals' starters at 100 pitches in the 5th because I trusted the bullpen more than the starters.

Carlo

9:07

Arenado, Story, CarGo, Dahl, Blackmon plus SP and full yr of Ottavino...Rockies are NL West favorite 2017?

Paul Swydan

9:08

Favorite is a stretch, given the resources available to the teams in LA and SF, but the Rockies are definitely going to garner a little more respect next year, especially if Gray and Anderson finish the year strong.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:09

First they need more than Otta in the bullpen to make it Colorado. And they need more than couple above average starters

Name^3

9:09

Will the DBacks end up in last, or is it still the Braves, and when the DBacks do get last how long until they trade the #1 overall pick to the Braves?

Paul Swydan

9:09

Burn.

Jim Lonborg

9:10

Do you see anything in Bryce Brentz? I don't like the approach, and I feel like on a team that's been great at developing young outfielders quickly, he's the obvious negative outlier.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:10

The D-Backs are just horribly run.

I don't know a lot about him, sorry

Paul Swydan

9:11

I think he's a good replacement level bat. Capable of an 80-85 wRC+. That can be valuable when a rash of injuries hits, as it did when Chris Young and Blake Swihart went down. But he should never stand in the way of a better player, like Benintendi, for instance. Fortunately it seems like he won't.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:11

He should be a Royal with that K/BB rate

WM11

9:12

I read alot of these chats and the consensus seems to be about 1/5 of submitted questions are answered. I don't really have a question but submitting this has to increase my odds.

Paul Swydan

9:12

It did indeed!

TengoPreguntas

9:12

What's your take on Tommy LaStella's failure to report to Iowa?

Paul Swydan

9:13

I think he's probably trying to force them to trade or release him, and I can't say that I blame him, to be honest.

Jeff Zimmerman

9:13

Smart if he wants to watch any baseball. Too many blacked out games.

Paul Swydan

9:13

He's hitting too well to be sent down.

9:14

On the other hand, the Cubs have a lot of good players. I'm sure they would prefer to keep him as an emergency option, but La Stella's 27 and probably deserves to go somewhere where he can play more regularly.

9:14

In a 16-Team OBP league, should I use my #1 waiver spot on Alex Reyes, or should I save it for Gurriel?

Paul Swydan

9:15

Ooohhh, well I guess it depends on what your pitching needs are. I believe Craig Edwards said the Cardinals are going to use Reyes in relief, which should strike fear in the heart of every baseball fan, since Mike Matheny just might be the most incompetent successful manager ever.

It doesn't sound like it'll be too long for Gurriel though. He made his Double-A debut tonight.

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