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Kevin Goldstein FanGraphs Chat - 4/20/2021
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Kevin Goldstein
12:00
Hi everyone. Sorry for missing yesterday's chat window but I hope to make it up to you today. You keep asking questions, and I'll keep answering them, so let's get going.
Royal Flush
12:01
Hey KG - how bout them Royals!? Tell me that Soler and Benny are just small sample sizes and that I shouldn't be worried about them long term?
Kevin Goldstein
12:03
Royals are a fun team to watch right now. Not a good team necessarily, but not a bad one either. As for your two players of concern. I feel ok about Soler as long as you see 2019 as an outlier and reasonably expect a .240-.250 hitter with a .475 SLG. Benintendi I'm less optimistic on. Something is very wrong here and I don't know how he gets back to what he once was.
Jackson
12:03
Does Hiura never recover his stellar minor league hit tool?
Kevin Goldstein
12:04
Another one I'm really concerned about. I think in some ways last year's power surge was the worst thing to happen for him. It's a slugger approach and he's stopped being a hitter.
Dave
12:04
In the instance of a player being out of options and both player and team agreeing that the player needs more time in the minors, is there any way to restructure the contract to keep the player within the organization without the player first going through waivers?
Kevin Goldstein
12:05
If he's out of options, he's out of options. If he doesn't get claimed (and the rest of the league therefore agrees he needs more time in the minors) he can always re-sign with his original team, which happens quite often.
Lucas
12:05
Are you seeing anything more in Luis Garcia on HOU that makes you think there’s mid rotation upside there?
Kevin Goldstein
12:06
I think it's more 4-5 starter than 2-3 starter, but 4-5 starters are incredibly valuable pieces than get eight-figure deals in free agency....
Dave
12:06
Similar question to what I just asked, can an additional option year be included when signing a free agent to a contract, whether that's a major league or minor league deal?
Kevin Goldstein
12:06
You don't have to do an option even, you can just flat out sign a guy to a multi-year minor league contract.
45 blows billygoats
12:06
You have a one hour and twenty minute drive today. What Podcast are you listening to?
Kevin Goldstein
12:07
Q Anon Anonymous, Giant Bomb, The Boogie Monster, No Cartridge and Bad Faith all in the rotation.
Chris
12:08
Thoughts on george kirby's velo spike?
Kevin Goldstein
12:08
Be excited if he's throwing that hard and maintaining his plus command....
Chris
12:08
You ready for the mariners vs dodgers round 2 today?
Kevin Goldstein
12:08
I am. The Mariners are a sneaky good team. Like not title ready, but could stick around in the AL West for a while.
Scotty
12:08
When analyzing pitchers, how do you weigh FIP vs xFIP? I sometimes struggle to find a balance there
Kevin Goldstein
12:09
I don't? Not trying to be a jerk here, but I'm looking at other things. I do glance at both to see if he's above or below his skis, but I want to look at pitch data to figure out why.
Leites
12:10
Hi Kevin!  Does Joe Ross have enough left to survive as a starter?  Last night was hard to watch . . .
Kevin Goldstein
12:10
I mean, he threw 11 shutout innings in his first two starts, so of course he can survive. the truth is somewhere in between the first two starts and the third and he's a fine back-end starter.
BringBackDeSpanielHair
12:11
Lucas Giolito got LIT yesterday, but his velo was fine. Guys were just all over his changeup. What's the internal reaction of a team when that happens to their ace? Is it something to worry about psychologically? Or just kinda shrug and move on?
Kevin Goldstein
12:12
I don't know any front office that just shrugs over . . . . well, anything. I'm sure they are digging through video and pitch data to see if there is anything there. Sometimes AFTER doing that it's time to shrug and move on, but you gotta make sure.
Leites
12:12
Thoughts on the upside of rookie relievers Camilo Doval and Joely Rodriguez?
Kevin Goldstein
12:12
Both are very interesting. I liked Rodriguez since his time in Japan and thought he was an excellent signing. I thought he'd be better than he has been and still haven't given up there.
Dave
12:13
Asking the questions about the possibility of additional options because it seems like there's a certain level of player who's value to a team is greatly increased by the ability to move up and down, and I'm curious if there's ways to make that a possibility for more than just 3 years of a player's career
Kevin Goldstein
12:13
Sure, but that player also earns the right to see if there is a team that sees him as more than that, no?
The Ghost of Bobby Thigpen
12:13
The White Sox have/will graduate almost all of their top prospects. While this obviously strengthens the Major League roster, how do they rebuild the farm system while competing and (most likely) not having high draft picks in the coming years? The Dodgers seem to have mastered this, but most teams fall off a cliff once their initial competitive window closes.
Kevin Goldstein
12:14
It's the biggest challenge in baseball. Staying good while keeping a consistent pipeline of young talent flowing. Takes great scouting, great drafting, great international work and great player development. The Dodgers are very good at all of these things.
Guest
12:14
Anderson piece was great. Braves have an issue developing pitchers and refuse to use any applicable tech. I've broken down Toussaint and Wright's struggles and how they can right the ship.
Kevin Goldstein
12:15
The Braves use an INCREDIBLE amount of technology. They are on the forefront of it, actually.....
Dante Bichette
12:15
Sell Justin Turner while he’s healthy and at his peak? Looking at a return like Kyle Tucker.
Kevin Goldstein
12:15
I don't understand this thinking . . . why the hell would the Dodgers want to jettison Turner?
Daniel
12:16
Curious for your thoughts on Shane Bieber's swing/miss and k-rates. It's consistent with last year's shortened season. Do you buy that these numbers are his floor?
Kevin Goldstein
12:16
I mean, the rates are insane and you're hoping for improvement? Just enjoy the show. That breaker is RIDICULOUS.
CardsOps
12:16
Who is the NL ROTY frontrunner and why is it Justin Williams?
Kevin Goldstein
12:16
The guy with the .718 OPS?
Adam
12:18
So is Jake Cronenworth basically Jeff McNeil?
Kevin Goldstein
12:18
Underrated 'fun to watch' guy. Such a good HITTER.
CardsOps
12:18
As of now what teams do you see making the NL Playoffs?
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