JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/21/21

Ben Clemens

2:00

Hey everyone, welcome to the chat.

Hope you're having a great Monday so far

2:01

Let's talk about baseball

MLBTR

2:01

E. Escobar -> WSox thoughts on that trade, who it might entail? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/06/white-sox-discussing-eduardo-es...

Ben Clemens

2:01

I'm not 100% sure who it will entail, but I like the idea a lot for Chicago

When I wrote about possible trades for the Sox, I thought they might try to snag Asdrubal Cabrera too:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/can-the-white-sox-find-a-madrigal-replacem...

2:02

But Escobar for someone in the 10-20 range in the CHW system seems reasonable

Not completely sure who that would be as I haven't followed their farm system overly much this year

Farhandrew Zaidman

2:02

Is there a reasonable explanation why Pujols has been so much more effective for the Dodgers than Angels? Is it a usage issue, a player attitude issue, or just random luck?

Ben Clemens

2:02

Reasonable to say that it's some of each of these

2:03

I mean, player attitude isn't really a fair way to say it, but I can totally believe that changing teams has rejuvenated Pujols's approach somehwat

It can get tiring to do the same thing over and over and keep hearing you're bad

A change of scenery is a good way to jolt the system

2:03

Over his first month since the trade, Willy Adames performance has been almost perfectly in line with his previous road splits. He's repeatedly said he couldn't see the ball well at Tropicana Field. Do you believe there was some legitimate issue with his previous home park, or do you think his extreme reverse splits (.616 OPS at home, .864 OPS on the road) were mostly a fluke?

Ben Clemens

2:04

I think the answer lies somewhere in between

I'm willing to believe that Adames saw the ball worse at the Trop, but not nearly by as much as his splits suggested

2:05

In 2018, he was a better hitter at home than away

And I'm not sure that you can look at his career .391 road BABIP and say 'yep that's what happens when he sees the ball'

But I'll buy some of it. He walks more on the road, which is quite weird

Derek

2:06

What are reasonable expectations for Wander's debut? Possibly related: what are your expectations for Wander's debut?

Ben Clemens

2:06

Unrelated questions, but I'll answer both

What are reasonable expectations? He'll be an above-average regular immediately, with decent on-base skills driven by his feel for contact and acceptable defense

My expectations: I'm going to watch the crpa out of him and I hope he wins ROY

Farhandrew Zaidman

2:06

What is your take on the Glasnow/Cole argument that a decreased feel for the baseball (caused by a firmer pitcher grip) will lead to more injuries?

Ben Clemens

2:07

I believe this, but only to a limited degree

Pitchers might have weird soreness from switching the way they pitch

That happens when you start using muscles you haven't relied on as much before

2:08

Or overuse muscles (the same ones that are used to grip also protect the UCL)

2:09

But they'll adapt

Dalton Wilcox

2:09

Which Brewers’ SP has the most staying power: Woodruff, Peralta, or Burnes?

Ben Clemens

2:09

For me, it's Burnes, though I wouldn't fault you for picking Woodruff. Both are a cut above Freddy, even though I think he's also excellent

2:10

I just have always been high on Burnes, and I think that when you have the ridiculous stuff he boasts, it's less challenging to stay ahead of hitters

I'm also, and perhaps unnecessarily, a little worried about whether Woodruff will look different with the sticky stuff crackdown

He's one of the pitchers who had a big spin spike mid-career

FunFella13

2:11

How confident are we with the park factors for Dunedin and Buffalo's parks given major leaguers have not played very much in them?

Ben Clemens

2:11

Not very!

diadem

2:11

What is ARZ's thinking bringing up Varsho? On the job training? Would him getting steady ab's in the minors be better for his long term?

Ben Clemens

2:12

Yeah, I really don't think they've handled him well

This bouncing between AAA and the majors is going to be really tough

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