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Chat: Kenny Ducey

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Welcome to Baseball Prospectus' Thursday December 15, 2016 1:00 PM ET chat session with Kenny Ducey.

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Kenny is the Managing Editor at BP Bronx when he's not writing for Sports Illustrated.

Kenny Ducey:

Chuck (New Jersey): What are your thoughts on the Chapman signing and his domestic violence incident? Has he paid his dues?

Kenny Ducey: The man has paid his dues. He may not have fully expressed remorse, but he paid his dues. The signing works for New York quite nicely, I think. You want elite players at every position.

Frank (Massapequa ): What's a reasonable expectation for Gary Sanchez next year?

Kenny Ducey: 25 homers, I think. He is human.

Chris (LA): Hey Kenny, I was curious about your thoughts on Joc Pederson. I know you've been a bit pessimistic about his swing before, but you can't argue with results, right?

Kenny Ducey: I don't like his swing either, it seems like he's trying to be Justin Turner in his approach, to negative results. Last year proved something to me though, I'm willing to take that as a sign that he might be trending in the right direction. He worked his tail off and learned how to make contact.

Chris (LA): Hey Kenny, I was curious about your thoughts on Joc Pederson. I know you've been a bit pessimistic about his swing before, but you can't argue with results, right?

Kenny Ducey: I don't like his swing either, it seems like he's trying to be Justin Turner in his approach, to negative results. Last year proved something to me though, I'm willing to take that as a sign that he might be trending in the right direction. He worked his tail off and learned how to make contact.

Victor (Oakland): Kopech, Gsellman or Devers? Why?

Kenny Ducey: Honestly sort of want to say Gelman based on how well he threw last year, but I love fireballers, so I'll say Kopech.

Jessica (Staten Island): Can you further explain DRA a bit? I'm a bit hazy on how exactly it works.

Kenny Ducey: It It just takes a bunch of factors into account and determines, based on all circumstances, what the player should have given up. Those factors might be defense, weather, ballpark, etc.

Jose (San Antonio): Hi Kenny, thanks for chatting today. Who's your big sleeper in the Yankees system I should invest in for my dynasty team?

Kenny Ducey: You're very welcome Jose. I'm not the resident fantasy guy, but I kind of like Ian Clarkin, if you can consider him under the radar. If you want *really* under the radar, Tyler Wade is a five-tool player who just barely has the tools. Kind of boring, but smells like the kind of guy that will be consistently average. That might be worth something.

A.J. (Phoenix): Bets Yankees prospect no one is talking about?

Kenny Ducey: Honestly, Dillon Tate's velocity is back, which could be scary. There's a guy you dint hear about when it comes to trade deadline acquisitions.

madjockmcferson (Norton, MA): Hi Kenny. I've seen a lot of writers warning about 'crimson flags' re Gerrit Cole. Are we really saying he is a major risk going forward? I know (Pitcher!) but what do you see as the ceiling / floor going forward?

Kenny Ducey: Honestly, I think we've seen the ceiling ready with Cole. He can get back there, but that might be it. I'm getting worried.

Mike Trout's Dad (Not the Bronx, yet): I'm sick of losing and sick of seeing my son playing in meaningless games! Who says no to: Frazier, Judge, Mateo, Montgomery, and Adams for my boy Mikey? Assuming Sanchez is untouchable, what else would need to be added

Kenny Ducey: I think L.A. says no. The Yankees would have to give up Sanchez and basically clear out the farm. I think Yankees fans should stop thinking about Trout and get ready for Bryce Harper.

Josh (Chicago): I catch flack from one of my friends for having two MLB teams I support (one AL, one NL). Am I wrong, or can one support more than one team?

Kenny Ducey: No! I'm actually a huge Dodgers fan. Not great a Yankees fan ever since I started covering them years ago, but I could see liking two. In basketball I like the Knicks and Clippers. You just need to establish one as your side team, and then you're fine. Be honest about your bandwagon support, too.

Rixky (Boston): Travis Shaw or Wilmer Flores

Kenny Ducey: Shaw.

Jonah (Redwood): The direction the Yankees are taking now with getting younger and developing their own talent is a new leaf considering the last decade+ of the opposite. They've done a fine job thus far. Do you see any more moves they make between now and the deadline that would add to their deepening farm system?

Kenny Ducey: I could see them trading Gardner and maybe even Chapman a second time depending on how things work out for them. But that's about it. I don't think Jacoby Ellsbury is very appealing to rival general managers.

Brandi (Oklahoma): Does Francisco Liriano have anything left in the tank to get back to 2014/2015 form?

Kenny Ducey: He was phenomenal to close last season. Why can't he just keep that form? I think that would be possible, but the "Old Liriano" is gone, whoever that was.

Donnie Baker (Penn): Curious to know what you envision Nomar Mazara's peak batting line will be.

Kenny Ducey: No one you need to worry about. Like an advanced metric coke dream.

Max B (NYC): Conforto or Judge?

Kenny Ducey: WOOF. I'll take Conforto, actually. The contact problems are real with Judge.

Curtis (Seattle): Any keeper potential at all for Banuelos, John Lamb, or Marco Gonzales?

Kenny Ducey: I think there is potentially some with Lamb, but this is slim pickings.

ColeWhittier (Pasadena, CA): What do you suppose the odds of Aaron Judge being a bust are? Being an above average regular?

Kenny Ducey: I will tell you what, I think odds of a bust are greater than an above-average regular. He is really struggling to make contact, and I'm a bit concerned.

Andy (San Jose): How excited should I be about Ryon Healy?

Kenny Ducey: Curb your enthusiasm here, but I'm a fan. He could be a regular guy.

Benny (Toronto): Do you think Michael Brantley will be healthy for the start of the season and do you think his stats will return to form for 2017 season?

Kenny Ducey: I think he'll be healthy, with a slight dip. He's still young enough that he can recover from these woes.

Samantha (Dallas): Any hope for Joey Gallo and his contact/K problems?

Kenny Ducey: I think he'll be Chris Davis. So, no.

Greg (NY): What do you think Syndergaard will be like in 2017? Is he the best pitcher not named Clayton?

Kenny Ducey: He will be electric again, but I think Scherzer is the best guy not named Clayton. Thor might get there in a couple years.

Kenny Ducey: Guys, I've got to run now, but thanks for all of these great questions! I had a lot of fun. If I didn't get to yours, shoot me an email at kennyducey@gmail.com or tweet me at @KennyDucey. I'd love to talk ball with you. Thanks for stopping by!


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