JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 2/5/24

Ben Clemens

2:00

Hey everybody, welcome to the chat

2:01

I've been pretty bad about these this year thanks to a combination of technical difficulties on my end and then just getting out of the habit of it, but let's kick things back off with a good one

David

2:01

Hi Ben - could you share your thoughts on the current state of the Red Sox?

Ben Clemens

2:01

I'm confused about what their plans are, but I think in general they're playing for the future and I think that's reasonable

2:02

It's not *fun* to do that as a team like the Red Sox, but I think the way theyr'e doing it is smart

They will be competitive this year for sure, but with that rotation, they need a good number of things to go right to make the playoffs

2:03

I think that's okay, particularly since they're trying out several interesting new lineup additions and have an impressive farm system that's starting to trickle up to the major league level

I think that if they didn't sign one of the few big ticket pitching options this year, punting their free agency moves until next year made sense

K DOT

2:03

Am I crazy to think the Cubs have a nonzero chance at signing both Belli and Chapman? One on a longer deal, one on a higher AAV short deal a la Correa's first Twins contract?

Ben Clemens

2:04

Nonzero, for sure. I don't think it's THAT high, though, just because I don't see them spending that much

2:05

I think it would make sense given that the Brewers are basically betting that the Central won't be tough this year

they've already downgraded on purpose to improve future years, it's not like they can un-trade Burnes now

seems like it'd be a good time to pivot as the Cubs but it's one of those I'll believe it when I see it kinda deals

the person who asks the lunch question

2:05

What's for lunch?

Ben Clemens

2:05

oh man, it's a good one this time. Homemade broccoli melt on focaccia

Rick Manning

2:06

Dynasty Keeper League Correa or Neto (looking primairly at the next couple seasons)

Ben Clemens

2:06

I'd keep Correa but not by a ton

Ben from DC

2:06

Can you give me any reason for hope for my Nationals? Every time I read news about the team it's about the owners not selling, MASN dispute, Strasburg/owner conflict, or even prospects like Hassell and Green flaming out. If you squint is there any hope with Abrams/Gore/Gray/Wood/Crews?

Ben Clemens

2:07

Yeah I think the hope is basically: Abrams has been better than expected. Crews seems awesome. Wood looked pretty good in AA as a 20 year old

maybe this big group of prospects will pan out spectacularly

I do think that the team needs to get sold, seems like the Lerners have moved on mentally

2:08

And maybe all the Alexandria arena stuff is creating the kind of distraction that keeps other DC area business types away from bidding on the Nats which slows things down? Not really sure if that's the case or not

But the upside case here is that just as all the talent from their farm system hits the majors, there's new ownership in place that can't wait to spend

2:08

Since they already have Brent Rooker, I think the A's should just get as many Mississippi State guys as they can and play in Starkville until Vegas is ready. At least it would be fun.

Ben Clemens

2:08

Seems about as palatable as most of their options.

2:09

I wonder if they'd consider playing at the rec league softball field where I play

it's not THAT much worse of a playing surface than the Coliseum

oh, except for if you forget to get the city to turn off the nighttime sprinkler schedule, then the third baseman might get soaked

Tex Fan

2:09

IN 2 years Max Scherzer is ?

Ben Clemens

2:09

announcing

K DOT

2:09

If Kyle Hendricks has a decent (~150 innings, slightly above average era) season, would you give him the QO?

Ben Clemens

2:09

I would not

But I could see it either way

v2micca

2:10

Am I crazy in thinking that if a few things break right for the Reds this year, Cincinnati could legit take the division? They have a solid core in place, and there isn't a dominant team in the NL Central.

Ben Clemens

2:10

100% agreed

I mean, are they favorites? No

But theyr'e in the mix for sure

The Other David

2:11

How do you feel about Ben Lindbergh and your editor Meg Rowley referring to you as "The Other Ben" on my favorite podcast, Effectively Wild?

Ben Clemens

2:11

Haha I think it's very reasonable

I listened to EW for a long time before I started writing about baseball so it's still kinda surreal hearing my name come up at all