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MLBTR Chat: 3/4/2023
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Simon Hampton
5:22
Good evening all, covering Mark's evening shift tonight so taking this chat now rather than my Saturday morning spot. Will get this going in a few minutes but feel free to submit questions in the meantime.
TxDude
5:30
James Paxton unlikely to make the Opening Day roster… does Bello take his spot?
Simon Hampton
5:31
Bello is also in doubt for opening day. I think it'll be someone like Kutter Crawford getting the final spot in the rotation to begin
Brett
5:31
Simon do you see the Giants being competitive this year?
Simon Hampton
5:32
Sure. Not on the level of the Dodgers and Padres, but I do see them and the Diamondbacks sitting around .500 this season. It should make for a pretty competitive NL West... apart from the Rockies
John
5:32
Which Orioles end up in the rotation?
Simon Hampton
5:33
Gibson and Irvin are locks bar an injury. Think it'll be Bradish, Kremer and (hopefully) Rodriguez to round it out. Rodriguez' chances got a boost with the news DL Hall probably won't be ready to work as a starter by opening day
Walter
5:34
Can the halos make the postseason? The rotation looks good. They have depth. And ohtani and trout. I think they will
Simon Hampton
5:35
Absolutely. I'm a big fan of their rotation. Plenty of star power in their lineup as you say. It'll be tough with the Astros, Mariners and Rangers all there too but I like the moves they've made and think they're a good chance to make the playoffs
DB
5:35
Had to laugh today in NYY game...4 or 5 players going LF spot hit homers...Hicks, Cabrera, Ortega and Calhoun...wonder what Florial thought?  Any thoughts on who gets the final LF nod?
Simon Hampton
5:38
The competition is certainly healthy. I've maintained all winter that Hicks should, and will, be the opening day left fielder. That's not to say I'm a huge fan of Hicks as a player, but the only massive upgrade in left available is Reynolds, and the price there is sky high as we all know. I say they start the season with Hicks there on a short leash, if he's bad they can turn to one of the other options or go external, but their lineup is good enough to absorb him for the first month or so
New Blood
5:40
Cubs, Baltimore, White Sox, Brewers, Angels. Of these teams, who do you think might get into the playoffs?
Simon Hampton
5:41
In order of most likely to make it, I'd rank them Angels, Brewers, White Sox, Cubs, Orioles. I actually like the Orioles more than the Cubs this year, but that pick is purely based on the strength of the division they each play in
Sal
5:43
Will Gunnar win AL ROY?
Simon Hampton
5:43
The combination of his immense talent and the fact that he'll probably play the full season make him the firm favorite for me
Dodger Hubs
5:46
Are Dodgers favorite to land Ohtani if he becomes free agent?
Simon Hampton
5:47
Expecting the Dodgers to be pretty heavily involved in the Ohtani sweepstakes next winter. The expected contract will presumably make it a pretty small field, but I'd also imagine the Giants will be pretty aggressive after whiffing on a few high profile deals this year
Unhappy Fan
5:48
The game keeps changing...these news rules are absurd. Pretty soon the game won't even resemble actual baseball. Is there a silent majority that is unhappy with the direction the game is heading? A poll maybe?
Simon Hampton
5:48
Let me see if I can work out how to enter a poll here
5:49
But first - I love the pitch clock. Speeding the game up a bit is great. I'm on board with the shift rules as well.
5:50
Are you happy with how the new rules have changed baseball?
Yes (62.1% | 569 votes)
 
No (37.9% | 347 votes)
 
Total Votes: 916
There we go, that worked
5:51
Trevor Rosenthal lands with the Tigers on a minor league deal. Will just chuck that up on the site and be back in a tick. Grab yourself a drink while you wait
Jordan Walker
5:53
Am I playing LF on opening day?
Simon Hampton
5:54
It's fun watching him make a strong case to be! He's been fantastic thus far. I really hope he keeps this up and the Cardinals do call him up to start the season
Irate Nate
5:55
Any chance for 70+ wins for the Reds this year?
Simon Hampton
5:55
No, not in my view sorry. Think they'll be fifth in that division
CHISOX FAN
5:56
Pitch clock, no shifts OK. Limit on pickoffs and the Manfred Man in extra innings STUPID>
Simon Hampton
5:57
Yeah I don't like the extra runner at all. How many games a year actually extend deep into extra innings beyond the 12th, 13th etc?
Tristan
5:57
Who will have a better record this year? Rangers or angels
Simon Hampton
5:57
Angels
Sue Shi
5:59
Ghost runner seems unnecessary with pitch clock.  Agree?
Simon Hampton
5:59
Seems unnecessary to me fullstop. But yeah, the addition of the pitch clock would seem to lessen that need
Mike Hampton
6:02
Are you related to me?
Simon Hampton
6:02
Hi, son
Wire Fan
6:02
Over under 200 ABs each for Isaiah kiner Falefa and Josh Donaldson this year? (just with the Yankees)
Simon Hampton
6:03
Over on both. Donaldson will get plenty of opportunities, and I think IKF does too as a utility option.
Appa Yip Yip
6:03
Is Yusei Kikuchi making meaningful starts for the Jays in September, or will they have tried to upgrade the 5th starter spot?
Simon Hampton
6:04
I reckon Toronto will be in the mix and will seek starting pitching at the deadline. Unless Kikuchi rebounds significantly this year, he'd be the one bumped out in that scenario, although obviously there's a lot that can change between now and then
BlueJayMatt
6:04
Do you play fantasy baseball and what is your team name?
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