JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 8/21/2023

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 8/21/2023

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Ben Clemens

2:00

Chat time

Farhandrew Zaidman

2:00

Is it an oversimplification to say the addition of the cutter saved Julio Urias' season?

Ben Clemens

2:01

I hadn't looked into this very much, to be honest, and I'm doing so now

Pretty interesting

2:02

Seems like an article waiting to happen, but it's pretty intersting how much better he's gotten since adding this pitch

I guess the counterpoint is that he added it early in the year

and he hasn't really popped until recently

but maybe?

Jadon

2:02

Has Corey Seager's 2023 success been enough to solidify him as the number one shortstop in baseball?

Ben Clemens

2:03

Oh man, solidify is tough. But yeah, if I'm picking a guy for just this year, I'd take Seager narrowly over Lindor

Lindor is quietly having an incredible season

Tacoby Bellsbury

2:03

If you had to get a statue of a player who disappointed and flamed out to keep on your desk, which bust of a bust would you go with and why?

Ben Clemens

2:03

Ooh, so my one hit wonder bust would be Bo Hart

2:04

b/c that 2003 season was amazing

But in terms of a disappointment, I think I'd go with Alex Reyes. He was my favorite prospect for SO many years

Historically Mid

2:04

Andrew Benintendi (prior to this year) always struck me as the most average player in baseball. His 2019 season has to be up there as most middling season ever

Ben Clemens

2:04

He's a good answer as well

Corey Seager

2:04

I AM A GOD!!!

Paul Skenes

2:04

Over hyped or the next Stephen Strasburg/Gerrit Cole??

Ben Clemens

2:05

Mmmm, I'm on the overhyped side of this debate because those guys were just slam dunk type prospects

I think he is good, I would not have taken him with the first pick in the draft

Guy Who Asks The Multiple Choice Question

2:05

Which Jackson is most likely to be on the cover of MLB The Show 2027?

a) Merrill
b) Chourio
c) Holliday
d) Another Jackson (please specify)

Ben Clemens

2:05

I'm gonna go with Holliday, as the most likely to be a star on a good team

John Angelos is a Man Child

2:06

Curious your take on John Angelos' revelatory comments in the New York Times today. It can't possibly be true that the team cannot afford to extend young players, right? Seems like he's using the "I can't afford to extend my young stars" fib as leverage to try and get more state funding so he can build a Braves-esque development surrounding the stadium – and in turn, of course, make more money. Quite a contrast from the shockingly good on-field product seemingly beginning a 4-6+ year stretch where they should be consistent title contenders...

Ben Clemens

2:07

I can't say much beyond the fact that John Angelos likes to put his foot in his mouth, and 'we can't afford to extend young players' is entirely in keeping with the way he's been running this team since assuming operational control

Like, he doesn't like spending money on the team, we get it

Guest

2:07

How much should we care about fielding when evaluating pitching prospects? What about in evaluating MLB pitchers?

Ben Clemens

2:07

Prospects, I think basically zero

2:08

I want my pitchers working full-time on getting better at pitching

In the majors, I think it's slightly underrated, particularly for groundball heavy pitchers

Guest

2:08

Looks like Mets have about $130m coming off the books next year (including the $20m they're still paying Robbie Cano!). What's a realistic guess as to how much of that Cohen reinvests in the 2024 team?

Ben Clemens

2:09

Like..... 50-110 million?

This free agent class is not particularly appetizing outside of Ohtani

But obviously the Mets are gonna roll out a bag for him

Jeremy

2:09

If the Phillies make the playoffs, should Aaron Nola get a start?

Ben Clemens

2:09

I mean, yeah

What?\

love

1

2:10

I understand that he's been kinda homer-prone this year and has a blah ERA, but I don't think there's any argument that he's outside their top 3 pitchers

Jesse Pinkman

2:10

How does AJ Preller still have the top job in San Diego? He can't keep getting away with it, right?

Ben Clemens

2:10

I mean, this window that ends after 2024 (and maybe after this year) is what he has

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