Jay Jaffe FanGraphs Chat – 6/13/23

Jay Jaffe: Good afternoon, of us and welcome to a particular version of my Tuesday chat. I’m just a few days into the annual household journey to Wellfleet  — that is the seventh yr in a row that my spouse, my daughter, and my mother-in-law have rented this home — and the wi-fi is a bit dodgier than again in Brooklyn, however I at all times love to do a chat from right here if I can.

Liam: Making it to any CCBL video games whilst you’re on the market?

Jay Jaffe: Sure, we’re planning to get right down to at the very least one Orleans Firebirds video games. I believe now we have 4 to select from by way of their residence video games. Haven’t checked out rosters or absolutely sketched out a calendar but.

mike: The Twins appear to have painted themselves right into a nook right here, and simply have to hope Buxton and CC and Polanco hit…..Kepler hasn’t hit for 3 years, would you progress on?

Jay Jaffe: They’re dedicated to Buxton and Correa long-term, and if you try this, you need to be ready for the occasional lag in manufacturing however hope they finally approximate one thing nearer to their projected functionality. As for Kepler, he’s been a fixture within the lineup since 2016 and nonetheless has simply two seasons of above-average manufacturing to indicate for it, and people got here in 2019-20. It’s previous time to maneuver on, and price seeing what Matt Wallner can do even when he does have some holes in his recreation.

Visitor: Is Joey Bart price something that would improve the Giants roster?

Jay Jaffe: Doubt it, at the very least in the event you’re pondering short-term. As a catcher who’s supposed to have the ability to hit and has 5 years of management remaining, he has some worth however he’s struggled in a number of main league alternatives at this level is extra of a challenge than a prospect. He’d most likely carry again one thing alongside these strains — a lower-level arm or two, or possibly any person for the fringes of the foremost league roster.

Steve: How widespread is it to have a world champion crew (baseball) with no corridor of famers?

Jay Jaffe: not unusual although it could possibly take a very long time to shake out. The 1981 and ’88 Dodgers don’t have one except you rely supervisor Tommy Lasorda (and Don Sutton’s cameo within the latter season, although he was gone properly earlier than the playoffs). The 2002 Angels don’t have one, and the ’06 Cardinals didn’t till Scott Rolen was elected this yr. The 2008 Phillies nonetheless don’t, who is aware of if we’ll ever see one from the 2010, ’12, and ’14 Giants in addition to Bochy, or the ’16 Cubs…

JT: Whereas I agree with the discharge of Bass, ought to I be depressed that had been a star participant (not to mention a politician), the feedback would have skated, proper?

Jay Jaffe: I don’t know that to be true, and I’d favor to assume that the Blue Jays messing up the Bass state of affairs in spectacular vogue is an outlier, with many different groups extra fast to name a participant to the carpet and  maintain him accountable.

catcher hell: there’s no approach Willson Contreras can proceed to be this unhealthy all yr, proper?

Jay Jaffe: It doesn’t look good however a peek at his Statcast anticipated numbers reveals he’s 51 factors wanting his xBA, and 101 wanting his xSLG. He’s had some horrible luck, and the Cardinals actually haven’t helped him settle in. Speak about messing up in spectacular vogue

Bandon Brelt: are you shopping for the Marcell Ozuna resurgence? since 5/1 he’s 4th in wRC+ amongst certified hitters after being backside 5 in April

Jay Jaffe: it can take greater than 6 weeks of fine hitting to persuade {that a} man is previous two full years of completely stinking on ice.

Dan the Man McGRAWWWW: If Arraez is ready to hit .400 for the yr, how a lot would that improve his corridor probabilities? Not that there’s a lot there to start with however I’ve to think about it might stand out as a as soon as in a lifetime achievement

Jay Jaffe: Eh, his Corridor of Fame case and anybody else’s continues to be primarily going to be construct upon profession totals, and we’re speaking a couple of participant with fewer than 600 profession hits and 13 bWAR. .400 may make a distinction if he’s a borderline candidate however gained’t get him there by itself.

Tacoby Bellsbury: The Cardinals have the worst file within the NL. How do you see the remainder of the season going for them?

Jay Jaffe: Sooner or later I believe Mozeliak throws Marmol beneath the bus to guard his personal poor roster development, however I’d additionally count on the commerce of an outfielder for some pitching. If I’m DeWitt I most likely contemplate firing Mozeliak anyway as a result of this can be a spectacular mess.

The Higher Upton: How does Justin Upton examine to the typical HoF outfielder? I recall some glorious years in Atlanta and in Arizona.

Jay Jaffe: At the same time as a participant who reached the majors at 19 and put collectively an awesome season at 23, he by no means actually put collectively a run that urged he was Corridor-bound; he averaged 2.8 WAR within the 5 seasons after that 5.5-WAR marketing campaign, and after 2018, he couldn’t keep on the sector or above alternative degree as a result of accidents.

O’stradamus: Is it simply me or is it odd that the O’s proceed to be hesitant with selling their prime prospects?

Jay Jaffe: Perhaps a bit of however maybe not as a lot as some would counsel, at the very least if we’re speaking simply the previous two seasons. You need your prospects to not be overwhelmed on the main league degree, and for probably the most half, Adley Rutschmann and Gunnar Henderson have been fairly profitable since arriving; the latter had a tough April however the Orioles didn’t farm him out. There was clearly a refrain to advertise Grayson Rodriguez however he’s now again in Triple-A after getting hit for a 7.15 ERA.

Tyler Wells: Is my begin to the season legit?

Cubs: Are the Cubs really constructing in direction of something? The farm is middling with nothing however depth items. The younger guys on the MLB roster don’t appear like key items on an excellent crew. Possession/FO gained’t spend or make trades (except its promoting for 18 yr olds). Concern its again to mediocre however adequate to promote bleacher tickets and beer snakes.

Jay Jaffe: They did simply signal Dansby Swanson for $177 million so I don’t assume you may say the entrance workplace gained’t spend, however the roster is an actual blended bag, and so they appear to be sorting by means of which younger gamers can assist them and which may’t. I don’t assume the large downside is that they’re not getting manufacturing out of Matt Mervis or Hayden Wesneski a lot as it’s that the enjoying time they’re giving to veterans like Mancini, Taillon, and the since-departed Hosmer has been so unproductive. When you’re in a rebuild, you wish to see what the children can do, and that may take time. Watching veterans take their enjoying time does no good, and the deadwood-cutting has to start out there.

Captain ACAB: How do you pronounce your final identify? Is it one syllable or two?

Jay Jaffe: Jaffe, rhymes with taffy.

Bedtime story: Will T. Story be at full power when he comes again? I’m uncertain of the observe file for hitters after UCL restore.

Jay Jaffe: Typically they arrive again fairly near full power, although with Story determining what full power could also be a bit more durable as a result of his different accidents and the Coors impact. I’d count on him to be a greater offensive participant than the final two seasons

Marshall: Tony Gonsolin continues to be nice at stopping runs, however my sense is most individuals within the trade don’t assume he’s “for actual”. I want I knew lookup which starters have had a greater period+ 300 innings into their profession, however no person involves thoughts. How good do you assume he actually is?

Jay Jaffe: Gonsolin is fairly darn good when he’s wholesome, however he’s had a tough time sustaining his well being, and so it’s robust to belief these smaller samples particularly after they produce excessive BABIPS (.177 this yr! 216 profession) and a large ERA-FIP cut up. He appears to be a unique pitcher when his fastball averages 93 or higher in an outing, versus when it slips under, which is liable to occur due to his fragility.

Gil: Following up in your Alonso piece: is performing to anticipated ranges the most effective path to rivalry for the Mets in your eyes? Or do you foresee potential strikes? Truthfully, this looks like we’re headed to 1992 worst crew cash should buy territory however I may be a jaded Mets fan seeing the worst a crew can play and deciding that’s their true expertise degree

Jay Jaffe: I don’t assume this crew is wherever near as unhealthy because it appears to be like, however I don’t know what you do when Verlander, Lindor and McNeil are among the many greatest underproducers. You’re not buying and selling any of them, so the most effective you are able to do is tweak issues across the margins — and I’m unsure how far more cash you may pour into the roster with out beginning to burn by means of the prospects. Is it price buying and selling Ronny Mauricio for a beginning pitcher?

Theoretical: If Francisco Alvarez continues to bat at or beneath .250 however retains hitting residence runs, what number of homers would he have to get to so as to win ROTY?

Jay Jaffe: 32.3

Jay Jaffe: it’s not going to matter as a result of Corbin Carroll might be the NL ROY anyway. Hell, he is likely to be the MVP.

Captain ACAB: Do you take heed to any non-Fangraphs associated baseball podcasts?

Jay Jaffe: as I don’t commute, can’t take heed to a podcast whereas writing, and want music for exercises, I solely take heed to podcasts as soon as in a blue moon. Kevin Goldstein’s was the closest I ever needed to a daily pay attention, and that’s lengthy gone.

Sammy So-so: Do you assume Gary Sanchez carves out a number of extra years of main league service time, even when as a backup? The bar is so low and it doesn’t seem to be all his expertise have fully vanished. Thanks.

Jay Jaffe: Sure, I believe he nonetheless has one thing left within the tank, although I don’t count on him to maintain slugging .592.

Warren: Spending every week in Truro in July, favourite Cape league stadiums to take a look at?

Jay Jaffe: I’ve solely been to some, and Orleans works very properly for us — it’s presupposed to be the most effective of the venues. Brewster, the opposite one I’ve been to, was nice, although.

Captain ACAB: Who’s your favourite not excellent baseball participant out of your youth?

Jay Jaffe: I’ll at all times have a very mushy spot for Mickey Hatcher, whose first main league homer occurred throughout my first encounter with Vin Scully, on a household drive to California whereas listening to Don Sutton’s fiftieth shutout. Hatcher after all got here up big within the 1988 World Sequence, so I’m shopping for the drinks if we’re ever on the similar desk.

Gil: Posey isn’t a HOFer in your eyes? Simply didn’t do it for lengthy sufficient?

Jay Jaffe: Welll, there’s a mind cramp on my half contemplating i’m the man who wrote this:

Visitor: What likelihood do the Pirates have of profitable their division?

Jay Jaffe: I don’t see how any of the 5 NL Central groups can presumably win the division.

Jay Jaffe: But when any person has to, possibly it’s the Pirates, who’re an entire lot extra enjoyable than they’ve been in awhile.

Jay Jaffe: If the Brewers may preserve their rotation wholesome and efficient I’d favor them, however Corbin Burnes has been fairly atypical, Brandon Woodruff, Wade Miley and Eric Lauer are all damage, and that lineup hardly appears to be like imposing.

Captain ACAB: What participant do you are feeling is JAWS “most wrongest” about by way of their worth or HOF worthiness?

Jay Jaffe: Lou Brock, maybe. 3,000+ hits, and had the single-season and profession stolen base data. Dynamic, good participant who served an enormous position on 3 pennant winners and two champions, however simply thirty seventh in JAWS in LF, two spots above the bottom-scraping Chick Hafey.

Yankees Fan: Why don’t the Yankees, given their roster development and harm issues, do a greater job of enjoying their prospects elsewhere? Peraza in middle, Wells in LF/1B, and so forth. It labored properly for the Cubs within the late 2010’s to have guys in a position to play a number of positions and the Yankees simply sit there with their fingers up within the air when their hitters are injured.

Jay Jaffe: They did transfer Cabrera off the infield final yr and it labored properly, however he stopped hitting this yr. Peraza has his fingers full dealing with main league pitching, so i don’t see the place having him take up the outfield goes to assist, and likewise, transferring Wells, a catching prospect to the outfield in midseason isn’t going to occur in the event that they nonetheless consider in his capability as a receiver (I do know our prospect crew has soured on him, however he has but to log an inning within the outfield this yr).

Jay Jaffe: LeMahieu has multiposition capability nevertheless it’s not so attractive when he’s not hitting. It could be nice if they might abruptly mint Ben Zobrists on demand however that’s more durable to do than you counsel.

Castellanos: Will the Phillies be okay with out my geopolitical experience?

Jay Jaffe: I hear that they consider Schwarber is a greater candidate for secretary of state.

ADHD+: What can the Cardinals count on from Jordan Walker for the remainder of the yr? Does he keep up within the majors?

Jay Jaffe: the man’s hitting, which is greater than I can say for the opposite outfielders in addition to Nootbar, who’s injured, so I believe he has to remain up. I don’t assume he’ll keep the
.314/.385/.514 line and 10% strikeout charge he’s had since coming again nevertheless it wouldn’t shock me if he winds up with the very best wRC+ of their outfielders.

Doug: Tatis retains doing his factor, would MLB balk at having him on the all-star recreation if he’s not voted in?

Jay Jaffe: If Bartolo Colon could make an All-Star crew post-suspension [and, as a reader reminded me post-chat, Jorge Polanco as well], I don’t see why Tatis couldn’t, assuming the efficiency merited it.

Vermonty: When will the Yankees clever up and commerce away (and cease buying) harm susceptible gamers?

Jay Jaffe: Tomorrow.

Jay Jaffe: They’ll commerce each single participant on the roster, introduce the Wells-Peraza-Cabrera outfield, begin Deivi Garcia like he’s Outdated Hoss Radbourn, and storm to a pennant.

Phil: Following from Ben Clemens’s piece on low BAs right now–would a man with a BA under 200 however an above common OBP and, say, 550 HRs have a shot on the Corridor? Assuming no scandals and competent however unstellar protection.

Jay Jaffe: Corridor voters have traditionally overvalued batting common, and penalized gamers with decrease marks; that’s why it took Harmon Killebrew, along with his .256 AVG and 573 homers, 4 years to get in. Even right now,  have a tough time imagining a participant with a sub-.250 AVG getting elected, nevertheless it’s not like now we have anyone who’s a risk to achieve 550 homers with a low AVG ready within the wings

Steve E.: You could possibly even have stated, “Rhymes with daffy.”

Jay Jaffe: True, and I used to take pleasure in studying in regards to the “Daffy Dodgers” of the Babe Herman period.

Phil: Thanks for chatting in your trip!

Jay Jaffe: it’s not fairly a trip, at the very least not but. I’m up right here for 2 weeks and put in about one week of labor unfold throughout that point, largely front-loaded

Chichikov: Any former outstanding FG writers who took entrance workplace jobs (Cameron, Fagerstrom, Sullivan, Cistulli, and so forth.) in new/totally different roles than what they wrote of their unique departing articles?

Jay Jaffe: I haven’t saved tabs on all of them however Cameron has moved on from the Padres to the Mariners, within the position of senior director of participant procurement.

Ben: If Arraez somebody hit .400 for the season with 6 WAR and the Marlins miss the playoffs, however Acuna has 9 WAR and the Braves win the East, how shut would the MVP vote be? Wouldn’t it rely on what number of HR and SB Acuna will get?

Jay Jaffe: In a situation like that, my cash is on Acuña because the MVP given the a number of dimensions of his recreation and the tie-in to the Braves success

Jay Jaffe: okay of us, it’s time for me to catch just a few rays on the deck earlier than doing a radio factor. Thanks a lot for stopping by. Keep tuned as as to if I get one other one in every of these in subsequent week. Till then, completely happy baseball!