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Mark P
8:02
It's chat time!  Let's check out the question queue and see what's up.....
ROY
8:05
Carroll or Outman?
Mark P
8:05
Carroll is the likelier of the two, as Outman has already been cooling off.
Northside
8:06
Should the Cubs start looking for bullpen help? Can't win the close ones.
Mark P
8:07
I'd expect the Cubs to look for relievers by the deadline if they're in the race, but it's odd, since their bullpen numbers are overall pretty solid.  Just a few ill-timed meltdowns at the worst possible moment.  It might also help if the Cubs had a set closer, rather than their committee approach
Timmy Oriole
8:08
How long until Gunnar is demoted to Norfolk?  He looks totally lost at the plate.
Mark P
8:10
It is worth noting that Henderson had only 241 career PA entering today, and he's only 21.  So while everyone was riding the hype train (myself included, since I think I picked him for AL ROY), some early struggles aren't all that surprising.

Henderson isn't really "overmatched," since while a 90 wRC+ is below average, it's not drastically terrible.  That said, the O's might indeed opt to give him a bit more time in the minors to get on a hot streak and get his confidence back before a second run in the majors
Jayson
8:10
can the rangers acquire a closer this early?
Mark P
8:10
They can try, but the asking prices are huge at this point in the season.
Mark
8:11
What happened to Cliff Lee and Ian Desmond?
Mark P
8:11
They both retired
Concerned fan
8:11
Can the Red Sox sustain this with the pitching being ranked, what something like 26 and the offense ranked what top 5? Is it really enough to get into a playoff spot out of the A.L.East?
Mark P
8:12
If the Red Sox were in any other division, I'd like their chances, but the AL East leaves so little margin for error.  The Sox need to get everyone healthy and at least a couple of starters throwing well to give themselves a chance, since the lineup looks like it can slug with anyone
Ken
8:12
Brent Rooker and Ryan Noda have been doing very well, but have absurdly high BABIPs. Once they've regressed to the mean, what kind of production do you think each can provide?
Mark P
8:14
Rooker and Noda are pretty similar in that they're making a lot of hard contact, which is helping keep those BABIPs inflated.  I'd favor Rooker in having the better chance to keep it up (to some extent) over the course of a full season, just because his minor league numbers have always been good, and Noda's strikeout numbers are more glaring
Guest
8:15
Does your WS prediction change at this point of the season?
Mark P
8:15
Well, my prediction was Astros vs. Cardinals, so it's not looking great
Craig
8:15
Do you have more faith in the cardinals or white Sox to turn their season around?
Mark P
8:16
Who has the better chance of turning around their season?
Cardinals (80.6% | 641 votes)
 
White Sox (19.4% | 154 votes)
 
Total Votes: 795
Sloan Kettering
8:17
Eury Perez ETA to the show?
Mark P
8:17
I'd guess he's in Triple-A by midseason, and if all things go well, a late-season MLB debut might be in the cards
TheCards?
8:18
I have to hear your take on Willson Contreras and the Cards! What is going on in St Louis? It’s annoying to read about
Mark P
8:20
It's a bizarre situation, and as much as Mozeliak and Marmol are insisting that they're not trying to single Contreras out....well, moving a long-time catcher from his position after five weeks really stands out.
Chris
8:20
Can the Cardinals trade Contreras? They are going to have to move 2 good players aren't they to clear up that logjam?
Mark P
8:22
As wild as it sounds, a trade might not be out of the question, if things have already soured this badly right out of the gate.  Contreras has a full no-trade clause, but I have to imagine he'd be open to waiving it to join a team that will let him, you know, play catcher.

While it's still early, things have gone so awry in St. Louis that we have to start to at least think about the Cards as deadline sellers, as unlikely as that would've sounded on Opening Day.
Halos
8:22
If the Angels want to contend, why do they keep putting Suarez out there? might as well put him in the bullpen and give the young guys in AAA a look. It’s not like they are moving a high priced starter to the bullpen but this dude is getting lit up everytime he takes the mound. Really hope they make some moves to turn us from borderline contenders into a sure thing
Mark P
8:22
Suarez left today's game with a shoulder injury, so he might be out of the rotation anyway
Guest
8:23
I believe Aroldis Chapman, will be a Texas Ranger soon. You agree?
Mark P
8:24
"Soon" may be up for interpretation given what I mentioned earlier about high asking prices in trade talks.  But sure, on paper Chapman to a team that needs bullpen help definitely makes sense.

There's also the twist of Dayton Moore working as an advisor to the Rangers, which would make a big trade with KC extra fun
Ed
8:25
What was the asking price for Murphy that the Cards balked at?
Mark P
8:27
Reports indicated that the A's wanted Nootbaar, Donovan, and Graceffo.  Those were the only three names mentioned, but it could be that Oakland might've also wanted a fourth player since they ultimately ended up with five players in the deal with Atlanta and Milwaukee
Needless to say, there is already a lot of "what if" talk in St. Louis about Murphy and the Blue Jays' catchers, given how things seem to have already gone haywire with Contreras
Guest
8:28
I wanted to get a Liam Hendricks comment in.   He could be pitching for the White Sox in a couple of weeks.  Welcome back!!
Mark P
8:28
Hendriks back on the mound will be one of the true highlights of the season.  It's great to see him healthy first and foremost, and as an added bonus, able to make a relatively quick return to pitching
Guest
8:30
Should the pirates trade one of their 2 top catcher prospects for an elite rental at the deadline?
Mark P
8:30
Maybe pump the breaks on the Pirates being deadline buyers just yet
Sean
8:30
The Rangers have a +85 run differential. Heim and Duran have been lights out, and Josh Jung is continuing his rookie of the year pace. Eovaldi is locked in. They need to solve their back of the bullpen issues, but this team looks like a true contender. Are you buying this Rangers team or are they due for regression?
Guest
8:31
When Corey Seager returns (maybe by next weekend) why not move Duran to LF and leave him there?
Mark P
8:32
Texas certainly looks good in my view, even with Seager and deGrom on the IL.  Duran has absolutely earned more playing time, and I would expect that the Rangers would indeed give him at-bats in LF or DH once Seager is back
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