JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 10/3/22

Ben Clemens

2:02

Hey everybody, welcome to the chat

2:04

Let's take a few questions and mostly take it easy in advance of the playoffs, when we'll be all hands on deck all the time with chats and recaps and all that

Randy

2:04

Big blow for the Mets this weekend. That side of the bracket is way less friendly.

Ben Clemens

2:04

Yeah, that one hurt for them. You really want to win the division in this structure, obviously

2:05

I don't know if there's much more to say about it than that. Going 0-3 is just not gonna get it done

Yadi Stan

2:05

Have you ever seen anyone do an indepth look at pitchers when pitching to Yadi vs Pitching to someone else? Seems like his career is long enough that a decent sample could be made. I am enjoying everyone talk about how great Albert has been his whole career, but I am not sure people understand what Yadi has been for the last two decades.

Ben Clemens

2:05

You'd think that but he just catches so much!

2:07

I haven't seen a great study of it but the last few I've seen (and it was a while ago) showed effects in running but not catching

Appa Yip Yip

2:07

Can you say some nice things about Alek Manoah? I just think he's neat. Also he kind of looks like Paddington Bear.

Ben Clemens

2:08

He's a great pitcher and I find his attitude that he is going to need to be dragged off the mound refreshing. He's got some Scherzer to him that way, which is a big copmliment

Air Yordan

2:08

Thoughts on the Morton extension? Seen some backlash from Braves fans but I like it, it’s a 1 year risk and I don’t see Charlie giving up 1.5 HR/9 again next year

Ben Clemens

2:10

I just don't understand it. It's a lot of money for a guy who's been just okay this year. At least wait until after the playoffs or something. I think he's a clubhouse guy and they like his presence, and the Braves value those soft skills, but I'd just try to find someone else for the money

Leland

2:11

Will (should) the Mariners let Robbie Ray start a Wild Card game over Logan Gilbert and George Kirby?

Ben Clemens

2:13

I think they'd go with Gilbert

or like, will go with Gilbert

I'm fine with that. I like Ray to bounce back but Gilbert is on right now

Who's Fabio?

2:14

Hey Ben - is there any news out in the baseball world about where Vladdy's two younger brothers might be signing with on J2?

Ben Clemens

2:14

There might be, but not in the baseball world I live in

Lindor Needs Help

2:14

David Stearns to the Mets 2023? Maybe Cohen will trade a couple million to MIL for a new braintrust...

Ben Clemens

2:15

There's enough smoke around this that I assume there's some fire, so I'll say it's a definite maybe

I know that's a week answer but that's what I've got for you. It's just kinda speculation at this point

O's 2024

2:15

Would you rather build a team around Gunnar or Adley? (love that both of them can go by first name only)

Ben Clemens

2:16

Adley for me

Gunnar is a great prospect, of course. I think Rutschman is on the 'once in a generation catcher' side of things, though, whereas Henderson is a nice hitter with defensive value

Brian

2:17

Guardians need a right handed power bat this off-season. Probably one that can play first base. Anybody off the top of your head you think will be available this winter via trade that fits the mold?

Ben Clemens

2:19

I like that you asked about trade market rather than free agency, because that's the name of the game for them

Luke Voit?

Sir Nerdlington

2:20

Astrophysicists saying Judge would have hit 80+ with the old, juicy ball breaks my brain.

“Judge may have actually eclipsed Barry Bonds single-season record of 73 if MLB was using a baseball similar to previous seasons. Perhaps due to this ‘ball bias,’ we don’t appreciate the magnitude of Judge’s accomplishment…”

What if Aaron Judge was Hitting a 2019 Ball? baseballwithr.wordpress.com/2022/10/03/wha…

Ben Clemens

2:20

Pretty crazy, and I mean, we don't know the juiced ball numbers for various previous seasons, so there are certainly years where this could have been true in the past

Matt VW

2:20

Your thoughts on Casas so far? If you're the Red Sox, do you proceed from the assumption that he'll be a 2023 lineup regular, or do you build the roster with some hedging in case he needs some more developmental time in the minors?

Ben Clemens

2:21

I think I'd be comfortable without much of a hedge

Dalbec is kind of a hedge, of course, but I don't think you need to bring in this year's Mitch Moreland or whatever

2:22

I'm a Casas believer overall and think that the eye gives him a high floor

Mateo

2:22

Any updates on whether non-Oriole Michael Baumann has dragged you into the octagon for forgetting that you talked to him professionally one time before?

Ben Clemens

2:22

Not yet, but there's still time

Jason

2:22

How would you line up starters for the Cardinals WC series? Mikolas/Montgomery/Waino with Flaherty/Quintana in reserve of any poor outings? Thanks for all your chats; brings a smile whenever I see it on the site.

Ben Clemens

2:22

Thanks! And if we're assuming they play the Phillies, I think they'll try to get two lefties in there, so Q and Montgomery

2:23

Wainwright has also been really bad of late

23 ER in 6 starts in September

I don't think you want that in a best-of-3 playoff series

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