Dan Szymborski FanGraphs Chat – 2/17/14

Dan Szymborski: And boom goes the dynamite.

Dan Szymborski: Programming note: I’m not answering any ZiPS spreadsheet release date info. I’m working on getting everyone on the right team, but am not going to commit to which day this week first go will be ready.

Comment From LaLoosh
My girlfriend wants me to unfollow you on Twitter because you are a pompous ass (her words not mine). Should I break up with her?

Dan Szymborski: Wait, she wants to control your unfollows? She needs to have some serious hotness to put up with that.

Dan Szymborski: Teller you followed me because I’m a pompous ass.

Comment From jocephus
how will you remember the jim hoey era?

Dan Szymborski: A time of recession and discord in Venezuela. We’ve had just about enough of Hoeynomics and need to start the healing.

Comment From Swing and a Miss Puiggy
leauge where value = wOBA*PA Do you want Profar at $15 escalating $2 per year or Baez at $10 escalating $2 per year? ($260 cap)

Dan Szymborski: Baez probably due to price.

Comment From Guest
Do you use FIP, RA9, or something else entirely to calculate zWar?

Dan Szymborski: FIP is a huge part of the ERA calculation, which is what I use for the zWAR estimates.

Comment From dgrussel
MMMMM beer and Szymborski chats. Hooray for whatever holiday today is.

Dan Szymborski: PRESIDENTS DAY

Dan Szymborski: Couldn’t you tell from my avatar?

:

Comment From Guest
David Lough or Nate McClouth, who produces more WAR in 2014? Also, any general thoughts on Lough?

Dan Szymborski: Lough because I think he’ll have more playing time. Both are 4th outfield types, nothing special.

Comment From Matthew E
I think the Blue Jays’ efforts would be much better spent in getting a real second baseman than in picking through the starting pitching bargain bin. (Not that it looks like they’re going to do either.) Your thoughts?

Dan Szymborski: Well, the big problem is that there aren’t a lot of real second basemen easily available right now. Weren’t many before the winter and sure fewer now. I’d rather they do a patchwork job at 2nd and sign Jimenez.

Comment From dgrussel
Do you think Manny Machado will ever exceed last seasons WAR total? 6.2 fWAR based on his ridiculous defense that is sure to regress

Dan Szymborski: He *could* but I think we’ll see those defensive numbers go down. Dangerous to go *too* crazy over what is a 1-year defensive performance

Dan Szymborski: 30 runs is a *lot* on defense. Takes awhile to truly establish that as a level of ability and defense is more a slope than a curve.

Comment From Tag
Given that the Rangers are looking for a RH hitter to platoon with Moreland at DH and currently have the inconsistent-at-best JP Arencibia backing up Soto, how much sense does Kelly Shoppach make in Arlington?

Dan Szymborski: Meh. Shoppach has a good career split vs. lefties, but it mostly stems from when he was a younger, better player. Given the Rangers roster construction, don’t really see the point

Comment From Jordan
what are your thoughts on Verlander going into next season? would you rather have him or stanton and samardjiza? Keeper league.

Dan Szymborski: If I get Stanton *and* Samard, rather have them.

Comment From Scott
H2H Keeper league. Starlin Castro in the 14th round or Kimbrel in the 6th round. Leaning towards Castro believing he will rebound?

Comment From dgrussel
DEAR GOD I SEE IT NOW! TAKE IT AWAY! TAKE IT AWAY!

Dan Szymborski: Yes

Dan Szymborski: that was for previosu question

Comment From Spencer
Doesn’t pretty much every scouting report for batters say they have trouble hitting breaking pitches? And don’t most batters actually have trouble hitting breaking pitches? Could pitchers just start throwing breaking pitches as their primary, then use a fastball as the “change”? How long would it take hitters to adapt? I understand there may be injury concerns with a kid throwing a bunch of breaking pitches, but let’s just pretend that’s not a thing.

Dan Szymborski: Hitters will adapt fairly quickly in most cases. These guys are good at pattern recognition unless it’s a pitch like Mo’s cutter, they’ll adjust.

Comment From dgrussel
If you were a shortstop heading towards free agency next season, is there anyway you’d accept an extension before seeing how much money the NYY would throw at you? I’m thinking about Hardy/Orioles potential extension talks.

Dan Szymborski: Depends on how good I am and what my offers are.

Comment From Jeff
Khris Davis: 11 home runs in 136 at bats. Will he break the single season record this year?

Dan Szymborski: He will not.

Comment From GK
Hey Dan, thanks for chatting. What statistics are best for evaluating past performance of relievers? Would you use the same statistics for projecting future performance?

Dan Szymborski: FIP components work quite well for relievers – the issue is that relievers are going to more volatile generally, not that those numbers don’t work the best.

Comment From David
Marlon Byrd or Ryan Howard for this season?

Dan Szymborski: Byrd in real life, probably Byrd in fantasy, though Howard at least has some shot at a good fantasy season that ends up as a 1 WAR year.

Comment From Matt
Ryan Sweeney quietly had a nice season last yr with extended playing time.

Comment From Matt
Dan, Cubs bank on being able to acquire SP when offensive core is ready. Problem: high-end guys keep getting extended – see H Bailey. Solution?

Dan Szymborski: *Someone* will get to free agency.

Comment From toot toot
what are the chances the kimbrel deal ends up being a disaster?

Dan Szymborski: Not too much – it’s not crazy money as closers go

Comment From Jackson
Who does Drew sign with?

Dan Szymborski: I think in the end, he drops the opt-out option and ends up with Mets, despite Alderson saying that they wouldn’t sign him before Opening Day

Comment From steve
is there a better prospect for prospect trade fit than the cubs(offense) and Mets(pitching)? They both need what the other has!

Dan Szymborski: There are some opportunities there.

Comment From Dan
Can you shed some insight into why Juan Perez only got a +2 on D or Kiermaier got a 0? Is the minor league data meh?

Dan Szymborski: Minor league data sucks, so I use it very conservatively. Kiermaier’s minor league defensive data are rather mixed while Polanco’s are almost unanimously excellent

Comment From steve
Why hasnt Nick Franklin been traded yet? Isnt he out of a position? How about to the Mets to play SS???

Dan Szymborski: I would have traded him buy now. Get another team to pay for the performance you’re not using instead of letting it rot

Comment From LaLoosh
If I break up with her, will you hold a special 3-hour chat in my honor? And yes, she is hot.

Dan Szymborski: Now what makes me curious is how your girlfriend would care enough about me being a pompous ass to make this a relationship point.

Dan Szymborski: Is there a particular thing I said?

Dan Szymborski: And why does your girlfriend know who you’re following on Twitter anyway?

Dan Szymborski: Mine doesn’t even know who Gammons is, let alone makes my specific follows a relationship issue.

Comment From Bill
I am trying to get started in fantasy baseball. How do I go about this? My overall knowledge of the game, players, Fangraphs is pretty solid. Can I do a few mock drafts before joining a league to get the hang of it? How do I join a league?

Dan Szymborski: Read read read. And have a few teams. Not sure who’s doing practice mocks, might be a better Q for Eno.

Comment From Brian
Odds that Andrelton Simmons is a top-5 SS this season? He stole 26 bases in A+ ball in 2011, so the speed seems to be there to go with the HRs. Add in a BABIP closer to .280 than .247, and he looks like a potential sleeper.

Dan Szymborski: Simmons actually has the #2 WAR projection among shortstops.

Comment From Vic
Brad Miller a 20 HR 20 SB threat this year or maybe in 2015?

Dan Szymborski: Park’s tough, more of a 15/15 guy

Comment From saskatunes
In my keeper lg draft, I will likely have the dubious distinction of picking either Werth or Hamilton OF for my OF. The #s tell me Werth has a more consistent track record, but my gut says Hamilton will have the better year. Thoughts?

Dan Szymborski: Werth’s not all *that* consistent either (and consistency isn’t really a predictive thing). I’d personally take Werth.

Comment From Chhicago Mark
What do you think of the Cubs signings of Hammel and McDonald this winter? Chances they get a decent prospect out of either come June?

Dan Szymborski: Pretty decent. League-average pitchers are useful, and bad things happen to teams during the season. No super great prospects of course

Comment From dgrussel
do you even enjoy doing these chats? or is this something you do to keep the populace on your side in case of potential revolution?

Dan Szymborski: I think encouraging people to listen to my thoughts would be the opposite of getting them on my side.

Comment From zack
Who sucks more in 2014: Uggla or Upton?

Dan Szymborski: Uggla

Comment From Vic
Do you think Storen becomes a closer again? How soon?

Dan Szymborski: I think he does. How soon depends on whether he gets a trade.

Comment From George S.
It takes a pompous ass to know one, Dan… and you are NOT a pompous ass. Anyway, what are your favorite Spring Training sites? Do you miss Vero?

Dan Szymborski: I’ve only gone down to a couple spring trainings, mostly because I’m really bad about plannign things and March sneaks up on me.

Dan Szymborski: So I don’t have enough of a sample size to have favorites.

Comment From Vic
In 2012, I read a tidbit about SD reliever Frieri and how he could become a closer. I scooped him up real late in the 33rd round. Who should I target in 2014 as a RP lying in the reeds?

Dan Szymborski: Just how deep do you want to go?

Dan Szymborski: Does Boxberger still count as a sleeper?

Comment From huh
Would Dave Cameron let his puppy go on a play date with Mike Vick’s?

Dan Szymborski: Well, presumably Vick’s extra careful to avoid dogfighting now

Comment From dgrussel
Alfredo Aceves showed up to ST late and has already renamed the team “Asked why he signed with the Orioles, Aceves paused and said, “To contribute to a championship. And it’s not the Orioles from now on, in my view. It’s Orioles. Not the Orioles. It’s Orioles, from my point of view. It’s a good feeling.” which of the biblical plagues is he most similar to? http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2014/02/gonzalez-will-skip-bullpen-session.html

Dan Szymborski: Delusion? Was that one? Old Testament God did all sorts of weird things to get Israelites to circumsize random peoples.

Comment From Dave
Spoiler alert: LaLoosh is lying for attention.

Comment From Guest
i just traded Aroldis Ch

Dan Szymborski: OH MY GOD SOMEONE DIED BEFORE TYPING HIS QUESTION AND THE MURDERER HIT ENTER ANYWAY

Dan Szymborski: CALL 911 AND TELL THEM THERE’S NEFARIOUS DOINGS AFOOT AT GUEST’S HOUSE

Comment From Brian
So which SS do you like more in 2014 – Andrelton Simmons or Brad Miller?

Dan Szymborski: Simmons.

Comment From jb
You said: ” I would have traded him buy now.” regarding Franklin. Sublim message from you????

Comment From Swing and a Miss Puiggy
I am currently running the same macro on 100 excel sheets while doing this chat. I am doing the ___th nerdiest thing while in this chat?

Dan Szymborski: It’s hard to top reading this chat on a list of nerdy things.

Comment From me
Travis d’Arnaud – over/under 3 WAR if he stays healthy? Is .260/.350/.420 with 15HR likely?

Dan Szymborski: Under. Gotta set your sights lower on a ugy that’s missed a lot of development time lately

Comment From Sox Nation
Could Workman win the starting gig over Felix in Boston after Dempster’s departure?

Dan Szymborski: He could, but I expect Doubstep to win the battle.

Comment From Tyler B
Y! has added another huge crop of MiLB and I’m trying to figure out how they fit into a draft plan when teams usually keep ~75% of their players. Is Buxton a 6th rounder? (no inflation to keep in the league)

Dan Szymborski: That’s kind of a hard question. A mistake in fantasy, however, is overvaluing centerfielders – remember you don’t get credit for defensive contribution or the indirect value you get from the ability to play CF.

Comment From Vic
Thanks for answering so many of my questions! You’re my new favorite! GF wouldn’t ever say anything negative

Dan Szymborski: Yeah, but someone else will answer a number of your questions and they’ll be your new favorite then!

Comment From David
If not traded, is Storen the Nats’ closer in 2015?

Comment From Yaz
With Dempster choosing to sit out the year who moves to the “next in line” position of the impressive young Red Sox hurlers? You gotta figure that between Lackey and Buchholz there will be the need for another starter at some point in time during the year.

Dan Szymborski: I think it very likely.

Dan Szymborski: Workman’s probably in the swingman role.

Comment From Guest
Does Mark Teixeira have some sort of a bounceback? Maybe top 15 firstbaseman?

Dan Szymborski: He could, but there are a lot of uncertainties – he was already declining steadyily before issues.

Comment From dgrussel
I’m drinking beer and eating bacon while reading this chat, take that nerd!

Comment From Pmac
To take a shower or to watch the chat? HMMMMMM

Dan Szymborski: How bad do you smell? That’s information I would need to give you a fair evaluation.

Dan Szymborski: From 0 to Charles Dickens.

Dan Szymborski: (I once stopped by Mom’s after playing golf and she told me I smelled like the dickens. And since then, if I or something smells, I say it smells like Charles Dickens)

Comment From Sean
Should the Sox spend the money that Dempster freed up? Or does saving it for a trade deadline scenario seem more astute? It seems as though the team does not have a glaring hole right now.

Dan Szymborski: At this point, save it, because teh good stuff is gone.

Dan Szymborski: The free agent market at this late date looks like gag canned foods from the Simpsons. Cream of Toast! Wadded Beef!

Dan Szymborski: Except Jimenez.

Comment From Nolan Ryan
is josh reddick more 2012 or 2013?

Dan Szymborski: I think he’ll be league-averageish

Comment From Guest
how soon do you think Dylan Bundy makes it back to the majors? I read earlier that Buck said he could be pitching competitively again in June, exactly one year after the surgery.

Dan Szymborski: O’s have actually floated he could be pitching in the minors in May. Not sure how much of that is just happy spring talk.

Dan Szymborski: Though it would *so* be the O’s to be over-aggressive in pushing Bundy to make up for their under-aggression at doing just about anything else

Comment From dbet
Why is that guys GF reading his Twitter? She must be scouting to make sure there isn’t any porn.

Comment From David
So do you just chalk 2013 up to fluke for Storen?

Dan Szymborski: Mostly.

Dan Szymborski: He never was really *as* good as 2012, but he’s still solid. Too easy to get excited about an ERA spike (good or bad) in a reliever

Comment From Justin
Due to my schedule, I always show up to Fangraphs chats around 12:30, and all the good questions are asked (“Hey Szymbo, do you think Kimbrel’s contra…crap.”). So here comes another generic Dodger question: does ZIPS see a bounceback for A.J. Ellis in 2014?

Dan Szymborski: You should reserve the questions. Call the concierge.

Comment From GK
I asked my wife if she cared that I was follwigin this chat, she was fine with it so long as I didn’t interrupt her Law and Order:SVU. Clearly this is classier…

Dan Szymborski: When it came on the first season, I initially though that SVU meant that it covered crimes involving the developmentally disabled (then the announcer guy said sex crimes)

Comment From dgrussel
Jim Hoey era? What about the Paul Shuey era? remember that game the Orioles lost 30-3 and Paul Shuey threw like a 100 pitches in relief?

Dan Szymborski: Paul Shuey’s prime coincided with prosperity, at home or abroad.

Comment From LaLoosh
It was your submissions to the Whitehouse.

Dan Szymborski: Oh god, is she an ultra-political person upset that I destroyed the sanctity of the whitehouse.gov internet petition process?

Dan Szymborski: Being ultra-political, no matter the persuasion, is easy grounds for dumping.

Dan Szymborski: I’m a libertarian, but I think I’d shoot myself before dating a libertarian that was “on” 24-7

Comment From Nick
Any ZiPs spreadsheet updates honorable Dan?

Dan Szymborski: Read the top of the chat.

Comment From Jake
If the Yankees had signed Cano to the deal he got in SEA, would it had made sense?

Dan Szymborski: Yes

Comment From Vic
Am I foolish to keep Trout @ 52 greenbacks for the 2nd year of a 5 yr AL only 5 x 5 10 teamer?

Dan Szymborski: Shoot, $52? That’s really tough.

Dan Szymborski: Remember, as noted in the Buxton question, some of the things thatm akes Trout Trout in real-life, you’re not really getting full value on in fantasy

Dan Szymborski: That you gets runs make it a *real* close call for me while it would be no in a 4×4

Dan Szymborski: I think it comes down to the reality of who you would be replacing him with and at what cost.

Comment From Jake
How did Jeremie Guthrie beat his peripherals so much for so long?

Dan Szymborski: At this point, it’s at least a mild ability.

Comment From Alan
The reported 6yrs/$100M for Bailey about right or is it overspending?

Dan Szymborski: It’s solid. ZiPS prices the value at 117.

Comment From John
Other than write for ESPN, what do you do for a living?

Dan Szymborski: Well, I take in sustenance made of plants and animals and take in enough hydration to keep my body’s chemical composition copacetic. I also have a shelter to protect my life from the elements.

Dan Szymborski: Occupation-wise, nothing else.

Comment From Swing and a Miss Puiggy
Dan Szymborski: Gracious enough to chat without interrupting your binge SVU watching

Dan Szymborski: I’m still going through Simpsons. Up to season 14 now, so the worst stretch is behind me.

Comment From Sub-Mariner
Franklin and Miller will compete for SS? Is McLendon crazy?

Dan Szymborski: I think it’s just spring talk.

Comment From puppet
There’s a difference between making sense and being smart, right?

Dan Szymborski: Clearly, as i believe I am smarter than I am coherent.

Comment From Sadwick
I generally stay out of politics, getting kicked out of both the Republican and Democrat clubs at my high school for being an officer in both left me apathetic.

Comment From Justin
I had to cancel my Twitter account because my ex-wife was stalking me on it. So, y’know. Could be worse.

Dan Szymborski: Couldn’t you block her?

Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV
You’re on season 14 of the Simpsons and you think the worst is behind you? For shame Szymborski. The road ahead will be tough and boring.

Dan Szymborski: This isn’t exactly my first run-through.

Dan Szymborski: Season 11 was the nadir of the Simpsons. 12 was a little bitter with a few good episodes scattered in and in later years, I feel the Simpsons plateaued at a B- level clearly below the peak years, of inoffensive adequacy.

Comment From Sub-Mariner
I have teenage daughters, I’m not allowed on Twitter because that would be so “Eww”

Dan Szymborski: I sometimes interfere in the conversations of high school kids bitching about some English teacher named Ms Szymborski.

Dan Szymborski: I have no idea how I’m related, but I like confusing people.

Comment From BassmanUW
My presumption with the Bailey deal, if it gets completed, is it means that Latos is gone after 2015. I don’t see how they can really afford both with the other contracts they have on the books, especially since Latos is likely to be more expensive. Would that be the general consensus?

Dan Szymborski: I expect they won’t sign Latos *and* Bailey, so I think your suspiciouns have merit.

Comment From zack
If Lebron played baseball would he dethrone King Felix?

Dan Szymborski: You can only dethrone king the title, not king the nickname.

Dan Szymborski: It’s not like anyone can overthrow the Burger King, execute him, and make his relative the Burger Earl.

Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV
I put the best Simpsons somewhere between seasons 8 and 9, but the point is well taken. After season 15 or 16, I always felt like we’d either seen the joke before or they were really going out of their way to make a meh pun.

Dan Szymborski: While that has merit, season 11 was almost gratuitously bad.

Dan Szymborski: Saddlesore Galactica, Kill the Alligator and Run, etc.

Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV
Best King: LeBron, Felix, or Burger?

Dan Szymborski: Probably in that order.

Comment From j6takish
seasons 4-7 or GTFO

Comment From Yordano Ventura
I will finish the 2014 season having pitched ___ innings, with ___ Ks and a _______ ERA.

Dan Szymborski: I will finish the 2014 season having pitched a number of innings, with multiple Ks and a single-digit ERA.

Dan Szymborski: Trying to shoehorn me into Mad Libs!

Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV
Yeah, those were bad, but season 11 did give us a Mark McGwire cameo

Comment From dgrussel
Most likely Orioles prospect to make his debut in 2014?

Dan Szymborski: Schoop. I also hope that he has a pet monkey that Baltimore takes away so I can make references to the Schoop’s Monkey Trial.

Dan Szymborski: (Gausman and Bundy have already debuted and Schoop’s closer than Rodriguez)

Comment From Mind Zapped
Really struggling which way to go with the 5th pick in a 15 team, H2H points league. Any general suggestions? I’ve been leaning towards to stop worrying about which hitter to take and just go with Kershaw.

Dan Szymborski: I hate taking pitchers in the first round, to be honest, but if you’re going to take one, Kershaw’s the rare guy who’s so good (and in such a good situation) that there’s some justification

Comment From Chhicago Mark
Soooo, how many readers are you losing while talking about the Simpsons and Kings? Me soon I’m afraid. Back on point Dan. You choose the questions after all.

Dan Szymborski: My weirder chats are the ones that get the most views. Music Contest was one of my highest non-event ones!

Comment From Sadwick
The best king is Bjerger King. I am comfortable with the fact that, very likely, no one will understand this reference.

Dan Szymborski: LoL

Comment From bob
So a preacher in Kentucky died after being bit by a snake. He refused treatment becuase he believed poisonous snakes cannot harm those annointed by God. I feel like Ruben Amaro Jr. has the same belief regarding old players.

Dan Szymborski: Well, technically, Ruben Amaro has *already* been burned repeatedly by old players. To be comparable, this preacher has to have come back from the dead several times and *still* thinks poisonous snakes won’t kill him.

Comment From dgrussel
Schoop debuted last year Dan, he even hit a homerun, get with the program!

Dan Szymborski: Holy hell, I completely forgot about his cup of coffee

Comment From Robert
Will this horrible, relentless winter be over by opening day?

Dan Szymborski: Yes. Winter ends on March 20th.

Comment From Kole Calhoun
Provided I can stay healthy, do I finish 2014 as the Angels’ leadoff man?

Dan Szymborski: No.

Comment From gareth
Had an interesting debate with some bloggers today. I recently joined an expert league and have reservations as we all pool out info from the same source (razzbal) come draft day we will all be going after the same players. Do I change my strategy? )l

Dan Szymborski: That’s tricky, because you also don’t know how many people are also thinking the same thing.

Dan Szymborski: Best approach is to have a gameplan that changes based on who’s drafted and what your team looks like and not be too rigid.

Comment From Andy5
Thoughts on Kole Calhoun? Is he pretty much what we saw last year? Likely to regress? Possible upside? Anything?

Dan Szymborski: He’s a league-averageish centerfielder most likely, on a team that least really needs that.

Comment From dgrussel
Dissension in the ranks! Assert your iron fist of dominance with much vengeance Dan, or you will lose the masses.

Dan Szymborski: Man, I’m going to have to start killing people to keep my respect.

Dan Szymborski: OK, here’s the plan. Next week, I’m going to run a random number generator after each question.

Dan Szymborski: Anybody below 0.2 gets EXECUTED for the length of the chat. Totally ignored.

Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV
Dan Szymborski chats need a Dayn Perry podcast type disclaimer. If you’re looking for 100% baseball content feel free to participate in Dave Cameron’s chat.

Comment From jb
Have you read “Things that Matter”?

Dan Szymborski: I have not.

Comment From dgrussel
Here’s the 30-3 boxscore, I look at it every Spring Training in order to reset my level of optimism for the season ahead. http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=270822201

Dan Szymborski: Ah, memories of Daniel Cabrera

Dan Szymborski: Remember when he was a flame throwing that struck out a million guys and walked a million?

Dan Szymborski: And then the O’s tried to coach him into letting up.

Dan Szymborski: Which turned him into a guy that struck out a few guys and walked a million?

Comment From Chhicago Mark
Grey and Razball are great writers. But not great at fantasy baseball. And, AND I’m pretty certain anyone joining an “experts” league would have their own opinions. I think I’ll start an experts league. Ha!

Comment From gareth
As a fellow dan, do you see yourself as more dan uggla or dan harem?

Dan Szymborski: A harem sounds nice, but there’s a lot of infrastructure costs involved in keeping a harem.

Dan Szymborski: I don’t even have enough space to have a Greek-columned indoor pool, so I’d need to build an extension and have it installed

Dan Szymborski: Not to mention all the lotions and perfumes and spices from the orient I need to keep my harem running.

Dan Szymborski: I don’t even have A BOAT? How am I going to import the necessary amount of black pepper?

Comment From kevinthecomic
My baloney has a first name, it’s F-r-i-t-z. My baloney has a second name, it’s S-c-h-n-a-c-k-e-n-p-f-e-f-f-e-r-h-a-u-s-e-n…………

Comment From Gila Monster
When does the point of diminishing returns set in on the defense of a team?

Dan Szymborski: It’s really hard to accumulate many guys that are better than +10 at their position. At that point, you end up chasing one-year flukes.

Dan Szymborski: Generally speaking, it tdepends where on the RS/RA spectrum you are.

Comment From Guest
Did you hear about the kidnapping?

Dan Szymborski: *The* kidnapping? Can’t say that I have.

Comment From gareth
Would a dan harem be a haren full of guys called dan and not a harem full of veiled women? Im visualising the stoning scene from monty python and the life of Brian in this scenario.

Dan Szymborski: OH god, I didn’t think of that.

Dan Szymborski: I thought it meant a harem, exclusively designed for Dan. That really changes things.

Comment From Mind Zapped
Assuming the top four are Miggy, Trout, Goldy and Cutch (not a given by any means)… do I dare go Braun?

Dan Szymborski: I would.

Comment From Kid Napping
He woke up, Dan. He woke up.

Comment From gareth
They kidnapped Josh Hamilton’s batting average?

Comment From JT
I’ve been trying but failing to follow the Yankees and their avoiding of the $185 million threshold. Did they accomplish something in scaling back last year? Is the threshold already passed with Tanaka?

Dan Szymborski: The Yankees and the tax threshold are like Bartolo Colon and a 30 BMI. It’s in the rear view mirror.

Comment From Phil
Best player on the Astros next year?

Dan Szymborski: Hope Springers Eternal.

Comment From Jake
Dan, over/under on Albert Pujols hitting 30 HRs this season?

Dan Szymborski: Under.

Comment From Jon
Pirates a playoff team without Burnett?

Dan Szymborski: I think they would have been better, but Burnett’s not good enough and Pirates not desperate enough for it to be a serious issue.

Dan Szymborski: If anything, I simply think it changes the calendar date they call up Taillon.

Comment From gareth
I swear to god my phone is mocking me. Today its dan harem. Last week I typed matt crapenter.

Comment From dgrussel
The best part about the 30-3 game is that the Rangers relief pitcher got a save because he pitched the last 3 innings of the game. I will now stop in regards to that game. Unless you want to talk about Tike Redman, I’ll always talk about Tike Redman.

Comment From gareth
Pujols or Freeman?

Dan Szymborski: Freeman

Comment From Jake
Are the Rockies a playoff team this year? Can they do it with their pitching staff?

Dan Szymborski: *Could* but it’s an uphill climb.

Comment From Chhicago Mark
Jiminez, why is he still out there? Is he asking for way too much $$$?

Dan Szymborski: He’s coming down on his price. Unlike some of the other free agents, there’s actually a price threshold where it’s both reasonable to sign him and he’ll take the deal.

Comment From Chhicago Mark
How many of the Cub prospects are called up this year? Do you think Olt is one of them?

Dan Szymborski: I’m pretty soured on Olt, but he’ll get *some* ABS in the majors I expect. I don’t think the Cubs are going to frantically rush anybody

Dan Szymborski: On that note, time to sign off for another week. Come back next week for EXECUTION DAY chat.