Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat – 8/21/23

Farhandrew Zaidman: Is it an oversimplification to say the addition of the cutter saved Julio Urias’ season?

Ben Clemens: I hadn’t appeared into this very a lot, to be sincere, and I’m doing so now

Ben Clemens: Pretty attention-grabbing

Ben Clemens: Seems like an article ready to occur, nevertheless it’s fairly intersting how significantly better he’s gotten since including this pitch

Ben Clemens: I suppose the counterpoint is that he added it early within the 12 months

Ben Clemens: and he hasn’t actually popped till just lately

Jadon: Has Corey Seager’s 2023 success been sufficient to solidify him because the primary shortstop in baseball?

Ben Clemens: Oh man, solidify is hard. But yeah, if I’m selecting a man for simply this 12 months, I’d take Seager narrowly over Lindor

Ben Clemens: Lindor is quietly having an unimaginable season

Tacoby Bellsbury: If you needed to get a statue of a participant who disillusioned and flamed out to maintain in your desk, which bust of a bust would you go along with and why?

Ben Clemens: Ooh, so my one hit marvel bust can be Bo Hart

Ben Clemens: b/c that 2003 season was superb

Ben Clemens: But when it comes to a disappointment, I believe I’d go along with Alex Reyes. He was my favourite prospect for SO a few years

Historically Mid: Andrew Benintendi (previous to this 12 months) at all times struck me as probably the most common participant in baseball. His 2019 season must be up there as most middling season ever

Ben Clemens: He’s an excellent reply as nicely

Corey Seager: I AM A GOD!!!

Paul Skenes: Over hyped or the following Stephen Strasburg/Gerrit Cole??

Ben Clemens: Mmmm, I’m on the overhyped aspect of this debate as a result of these guys have been simply slam dunk sort prospects

Ben Clemens: I believe he’s good, I’d not have taken him with the primary decide within the draft

Guy Who Asks The Multiple Choice Question: Which Jackson is probably to be on the duvet of MLB The Show 2027?

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

Ben Clemens: I’m gonna go along with Holliday, because the probably to be a star on an excellent group

John Angelos is a Man Child: Curious your tackle John Angelos’ revelatory feedback within the New York Times in the present day. It can’t presumably be true that the group can’t afford to increase younger gamers, proper? Seems like he’s utilizing the “I can’t afford to extend my young stars” fib as leverage to try to get extra state funding so he can construct a Braves-esque improvement surrounding the stadium – and in flip, after all, make more cash. Quite a distinction from the shockingly good on-field product seemingly starting a 4-6+ 12 months stretch the place they need to be constant title contenders…

Ben Clemens: I can’t say a lot past the truth that John Angelos likes to place his foot in his mouth, and ‘we can’t afford to increase younger gamers’ is solely in step with the best way he’s been operating this group since assuming operational management

Ben Clemens: Like, he doesn’t like spending cash on the group, we get it

Guest: How a lot ought to we care about fielding when evaluating pitching prospects?  What about in evaluating MLB pitchers?

Ben Clemens: Prospects, I believe mainly zero

Ben Clemens: I need my pitchers working full-time on getting higher at pitching

Ben Clemens: In the majors, I believe it’s barely underrated, significantly for groundball heavy pitchers

Guest: Looks like Mets have about $130m coming off the books subsequent 12 months (together with the $20m they’re nonetheless paying Robbie Cano!).  What’s a practical guess as to how a lot of that Cohen reinvests within the 2024 group?

Ben Clemens: Like….. 50-110 million?

Ben Clemens: This free agent class is just not significantly appetizing outdoors of Ohtani

Ben Clemens: But clearly the Mets are gonna roll out a bag for him

Jeremy: If the Phillies make the playoffs, ought to Aaron Nola get a begin?

Ben Clemens: I imply, yeah

Ben Clemens: I perceive that he’s been kinda homer-prone this 12 months and has a blah ERA, however I don’t suppose there’s any argument that he’s outdoors their prime 3 pitchers

Jesse Pinkman: How does AJ Preller nonetheless  have the highest job in San Diego? He can’t preserve getting away with it, proper?

Ben Clemens: I imply, this window that ends after 2024 (and possibly after this 12 months) is what he has

Ben Clemens: if there’s no WS in that timeframe, I can’t see them conserving him

Jon Daniels: Will Rangers fan hate me eternally or will they warmup again as much as me over time?

Ben Clemens: Warm again up over time nearly actually

Ben Clemens: This 12 months’s group is fairly closely constructed by you

Wrights Back: Another, decidedly fan centric query,Ben:  when ought to I be shopping for season tickets for the Mets?   Was 2022 a mirage?  Statistically it doesnIs their underperformance (on all counts) a failure of teaching or of gamers who have been ideally suited to the sport earlier than the rule adjustments?

Ben Clemens: I had a 20-game season ticket package deal with the Mets all through the unhealthy occasions

Ben Clemens: 2016-2018 (2016 was an excellent time however the others weren’t)

Ben Clemens: I’d say that you shouldn’t get them based mostly on whether or not you suppose the group goes to win a world collection

Ben Clemens: it is best to get them based mostly on whether or not you need to have enjoyable going to baseball video games

Ben Clemens: I believe that failure of gamers ideally suited to the outdated sport is unlikely as a solution, personally

Princess Leia: Help us Obi-wan Clemon-obi! You’re our solely hope!

Ben Clemens: on loop in my head for an hour now

Justin: Pete Alonso has a 135 wrc+ whereas solely having a .199 babip. I believe that is unimaginable, and he’s not getting sufficient credit score for a way good he’s been this 12 months unhealthy luck apart.

Ben Clemens: He’s had a extremely good season someway

Nervous Flyball Pitcher: Lots of people (e.g., Leo Morgenstern) foresaw Lance Lynn regressing positively due to his unsustainably unhealthy HR/FB fee. Turning from a present Dodger to a former Dodger prospect, Dean Kremer has regressed negatively in that his HR/FB has greater than doubled (7.3% to fifteen.2%), whereas he’s putting out extra guys and doing completely high quality on BABIP. By RV alone, his cutter has gone from good to unhealthy and his sinker has gone from unhealthy to good, however his secondaries are in any other case the identical. I do know it’s plenty of blue on his Statcast web page, however what offers?

Ben Clemens: These fly ball pitchers are at all times going to be a bit inclined to homer blowups imo, significantly in the event that they don’t have a wonderful contact administration plan

Ben Clemens: like, sinker/sweeper to same-handed batters with a cutter and one thing else to cope with reverse handed guys kinda works

Ben Clemens: however when you’re placing the ball within the air, the hitters provide the ability, so that you’re gonna be susceptible to blowups

SvenClemens: Are we on the level we’re actually beginning to see the consequences of the Astros lack of draft picks? Or has it been a difficulty already?  The again half of their lineup is struggling and I ponder how a lot it’s as a result of it’s more durable for them to search out low-cost, in home expertise proper now.

Ben Clemens: Yeah, slightly bit. Of course, they’re additionally delivery out expertise to get gamers, which provides up

Ben Clemens: however I bear in mind when these penalties have been levied, individuals equated them to financial as a result of the Astros would want to spend additional to switch these holes

Ben Clemens: and eh, they haven’t actually? and so yeah, that hurts

Ethan: Very a lot loved your WPA article from final week. I used to be curious when you suppose that WPA/LI or RE24/boLI align with the MVP voting standards. Personally I believe they hit the candy spot on the context dependent-context impartial spectrum however I’d have an interest to listen to your ideas.

Ben Clemens: I don’t actually, due to the bizarre “actual value” phrasing

Ben Clemens: each of these modify the worth, on objective, and so they’re good stats due to that

Ben: I’m certain that I’m lacking one thing right here, however how can 7 AL groups be 60% or higher to make the playoffs when there are solely 6 spots?

Ben Clemens: Well, when you had three groups for 2 spots, and every was 2/3 prone to make it, you’d have 6/3 or 2 groups make it ultimately

Ben Clemens: so, kinda that

Ben Clemens: that’s kinda what’s taking place right here, tbh

Ben Clemens: so the Rangers and Astros are every 80% or so, that’s 1.6 groups

Ben Clemens: the Jays and Mariners are every name it 60%, 1.2 groups, so 2.8 groups

Ben Clemens: then 3 groups are roughly 100%, 5.8 groups

Ben Clemens: and eh, scraps make up the following

Appa Yip Yip: On a scale of 1 to 10 how foolish is it that baseball, within the 12 months 2023, remains to be rubbing balls up with the paranormal mud from the key river?

Ben Clemens: Truly, it’s a ten

C’mon Son!: Why doesn’t Adolis Garcia get extra recognition?

Ben Clemens: I believe it’s as a result of he broke out when the Rangers weren’t good, after which the group supplemented itself with a bunch of stars everybody is aware of, who are actually getting the credit score for enchancment

Ben Clemens: however he’s been superior this 12 months

Ben Clemens: And actually, he’s been fairly good since 2021

Eh?: Why did we have to add the “Sweeper” pitch this 12 months? Isn’t it only a sure form of slider? If we’re including a pitch for that, shouldn’t we additionally add one for 12-6 curveball vs regular curveball? Or an? overhand vs 3/4 vs sidearm vs submarine launch level fastball?

Ben Clemens: I’m kinda with you, to be sincere, however I believe it comes right down to this

Ben Clemens: sufficient pitchers have been throwing a pointy slider and a sweeping slider that the aggregates couldn’t deal with them

Ben Clemens: plenty of methods simply referred to as the sharp one a cutter, that’s what I’d have carried out

Ben Clemens: But I’ve been researching pitchers as a result of their sliders appeared bizarre, solely to search out that it was two sliders

Ben Clemens: And it’s helpful to have these cut up out, for my part

Ben Clemens: even when the title is a bit tacky

Liam: My early guess for the (hopefully) upcoming mid pitcher article: braxton garrett

Ben Clemens: That article will come up as quickly as I have to fill an empty day, haha

Nervous Flyball Pitcher: Re: Urias cutter, are you able to describe the method of pitchers including a pitch? Sometimes it looks as if guys add a sinker or sweeper on the drop of a hat, however I seldom hear about somebody including a changeup or curveball.

Ben Clemens: So, right here’s my psychological hierarchy, with the caveat that I’m not in improvement or something

Ben Clemens: The best pitches so as to add, it appears, are fastballs

Ben Clemens: so including a 4-seamer or sinker when you predominantly throw the opposite one is basically a matter of seam orientation

Ben Clemens: after which some intent as nicely

Ben Clemens: however these are fairly straightforward issues to show. Same grip, similar end

Ben Clemens: the cutter that they’re instructing loads lately is analogous; appears to have a really comparable grip, simply totally different end

Ben Clemens: So with these, you’ll be able to take a factor the participant has carried out loads over a few years, not change a lot, and let him work with it

Ben Clemens: I get the sense that sweepers are comparable in that it’s a comparatively easy grip/intent modification

Ben Clemens: changeups are HEAVILY based mostly on really feel and arm velocity and plenty of stuff that isn’t “oh just move the ball this way and do this with your finger”

Ben Clemens: so these are more durable

Ben Clemens: I believe curves are comparable

Ranch Flowerbed: Aren’t the Mets nonetheless in a stable place to signal Ohtani regardless of their current sell-off?

Appa Yip Yip: Just appeared up Corey Seager’s numbers after seeing him proclaim himself a god and thought, dang he may win MVP then instantly remembered Shohei Ohtani exists

Ben Clemens: Haha yeah, Ohtani is simply wild

JRod: Am I again to being a celebrity?

Ben Clemens: I imply, I by no means thought you weren’t to be truthful

knuckle_49: What is the best swing choice?
I don’t suppose Z-OSwing% is ample.

Ben Clemens: I wrote an article on this final 12 months, let me dig it up

Ben Clemens: I believed this was a fairly great way of doing it

Ben Clemens: Basically take a look at how vital it’s to swing vs. not swing in every zone, and modify for that

Ben Clemens: Also Alex Eisert expanded on that basic concept final week

Jadon: What are your basic ideas on Evan Carter. I’ve heard some individuals criticizing his swing, what are your ideas on that?

Ben Clemens: I’m a Carter believer

Ben Clemens: I positively underrate swing issues on the whole

Ben Clemens: however…. I don’t suppose it’s that a lot of a priority!

EnglishMariner: Long time listener, first time caller – J.P Crawford will get spoke about as a protection first SS who makes eye catching prime quality gamers, however his UZR is amongst the more severe within the league

Ben Clemens: yeah, these statistics are actually noisy on the whole however statcast has not appreciated his protection in any respect of late

Ben Clemens: additionally, don’t use UZR

Ben Clemens: it’s kinda deprecated at this level; I a lot choose OAA

Jake Marogersnik: Re: Spencer Torkelson’s current scorching streak, is it simply an ordinary scorching streak or an indication of issues to return? Not a lot adjustments I can see in batted ball knowledge and he was underperforming his anticipated stats all season

Ben Clemens: My learn is that it’s only a scorching streak

Ben Clemens: Like you mentioned, it doesn’t seem like the method has modified all that a lot

Appa Yip Yip: I would love Bo Bichette to be a Blue Jay for all times. What contract makes that occur? 12/350?

Ben Clemens: yeah, I believe that may do it

Ben Clemens: seager-esque deal

EnglishMariner: Accidently submitted my query with out the query bit – primarily is JP Crawford really a foul fielder and the Mariners commentators are mendacity to me? UZR suggests he’s stunning, however the eye check suggests he makes performs others wouldn’t be able to.

Ben Clemens: Ah yeah; I’d say that he’s a under common defender, maybe largely due to vary, however that he has dazzling hand-eye coordination

Ben Clemens: Ooh, appears like this might be enjoyable to dive into later

Did Chewbacca use TP?: What adjustments has Cody Bellinger made this 12 months to regain this success?  How what do you suppose he’ll get within the open market? would you be shopping for?

Ben Clemens: I appreciated this text by Esteban Rivera

Ben Clemens: I…. don’t suppose I’d be shopping for on Bellinger

Ben Clemens: I believe he’s gonna get the largest non-Ohtani FA deal for a hitter this 12 months

Ben Clemens: And I simply want a couple of 12 months’s proof, although this 12 months has been actually good

Ben Clemens: That’s type of all I’ve to say about it…. I get that he’s been higher however I simply can’t lock it in as totally modified but

Sporter’s Five Horses: I used to be fairly bullish on the Nats heading into this season as a mid 70s wins type of group (and boy did I face plenty of in all probability nicely warranted mockery for my views), however now it appears my religion is being rewarded.

Ben Clemens: They’ve outperformed their underlying stuff a bit, however who cares? I believe the Nats have carried out an excellent job of making an attempt out some new guys, getting one thing for his or her leases, giving younger gamers PT, there’s only a lot to love right here

Oaktown Blues: Looking on the A’s trades of the previous couple years, it strikes me that the worst outcomes got here in trades the place the participant traded was due some huge cash (by A’s requirements) the following 12 months (Olson, Chapman, Murphy, Bassitt, Manaea), versus the comparatively profitable Irvin and Montas trades. Do you suppose it was an open secret that the A’s weren’t going to pay these gamers, resulting in a scarcity of leverage and underwhelming returns?

Ben Clemens: Yes, and I believe they didn’t perceive their leverage significantly nicely provided that

Ben Clemens: Like, sure, the A’s weren’t going to pay Sean Murphy however somebody was going to

Ben Clemens: I believe that impatience round taking part in groups off towards one another hurts them extra due to that identified market

Ben Clemens: however look, the A’s may have had a greater return for Murphy in the event that they didn’t contain the Brewers in that commerce

Ben Clemens: so it’s arduous to say that was about leverage. There have been a number of groups trying round for catchers

Ben Clemens: The Cardinals have been confirmed to have been

Ben Clemens: and so they splashed out for Contreras as an alternative

Eh?: Have you ever heard of individuals trying into how one can quantify deception in a pitcher’s supply? Obviously the straightforward method can be to level to career-long traits in stats vs anticipated stats, however I imply REALLY dig into it. Look at which deliveries, launch factors, and many others. yield the very best outcomes.

Ben Clemens: I’ve, and groups are doing this for SURE

Ben Clemens: It’s actually arduous to dig into from the general public aspect simply because we don’t have granular information

Bob: Umpires this weekend we’re horrible with the strike zone…will this velocity up implementation of automated Kzone?

Ben Clemens: Angel Hernandez had the worst zone I’ve seen this 12 months over the weekend

Ben Clemens: hitters have been simply chuckling

Curious: Word is Nats are extending their GM and supervisor. Safe to say Rizzo is within the prime half of the league? Maybe prime 10?

Didace: The Nationals are actually an attention-grabbing group.

Ben Clemens: It’s Nats day

Ben Clemens: I believe that Rizzo is a extremely good dealer

Ben Clemens: And actually understands the macro image nicely

Ben Clemens: He is aware of when he wants so as to add outdoors expertise, is aware of when he wants to surrender, that type of stuff

Ben Clemens: I’ve not been impressed with the Nats’ inside improvement, both of hitters or pitchers

Ben Clemens: so I believe there’s room for enchancment on the scouting finish

Ben Clemens: But he’s positively fairly sharp on the huge image stuff and that’s actually vital, I believe plenty of GM’s mess that stuff up

J: Any concept if pitcher stuff metrics or pitch motion profiles account for when a pitcher has a number of variations on a pitch? Thinking of pitchers having a sweeping and extra conventional slider, or of Kyle Hendricks having a slicing and tailing changeup. Feels like these are seemingly wildly off in the event that they’re not explicitly accounted for, as a result of the 2 motion profiles will common out to horrible.

Ben Clemens: Yeah that’s what I used to be speaking about with separate labeling earlier

Ben Clemens: They simply depend on whichever labeling system they use, I do know PitchingBot makes use of Statcast

v2micca: So, this previous week I imagine, the movie Oppenheimer has the excellence of turning into probably the most commercially profitable movie of all time with out ever spending a single week as no 1 on the field workplace.  In that vein, I suggest referring to corridor of fame greats like Mike Mussina who at all times gave the impression to be overshadowed by somebody in a given season as Oppenheimers.

Ben Clemens: Also, I cherished Oppenheimer

D: Will you increase a bit in your ideas concerning the Brewers dealing Urias? To paraphrase, you wrote that it was a smart transfer for them to save cash (~$1 million) on a man who they’d seemingly nontender and to amass a pitcher who was extraordinarily scorching just lately. Urias’s current heroics apart, shouldn’t the Brewers have been keen to shell out $1 million to certain up their 2b/3b scenario?

Ben Clemens: I imply…. I’d have been, however I don’t run the price range that the Brewers do

Ben Clemens: It appeared fairly clear to me that they weren’t contemplating him as a serious league possibility this 12 months

Ben Clemens: You don’t possibility a man making $5 million to the minors if you wish to use him as a depth piece

Ben Clemens: And he wasn’t even hitting nicely in Triple-A

Ben Clemens: So if he’s going to be in your minors, and so they already most well-liked Monasterio et al over him, I don’t know what worth they have been getting out of conserving him round

John: What worth does Maldonado add to the Astros at this level? Just veteran management? he nonetheless can’t hit and his defensive metrics are terrible this 12 months.

Ben Clemens: Yeah, I actually don’t get it

Ben Clemens: I’d have reduce bait

Ben Clemens: They simply love him

Guest: If Mookie Betts have been transformed to a full-time shortstop, the place would he rank in your checklist of the very best?

Jadon: This is extra of a private query for you Ben. Do you might have a favourite baseball youtuber/content material creator?

Ben Clemens: I’ll be sincere, I don’t devour plenty of baseball content material

Ben Clemens: I do plenty of baseball stuff myself, ?

Ben Clemens: I watch hours of video games a day and likewise spend hours writing and excited about it, I’m type of maxed out on my baseball

Ben Clemens: that mentioned: Effectively Wild and Foolish are two that I try

Didace: Swing choices needs to be cut up into two classes – <2 strikes and two strikes. With lower than two strikes it does no good to swing at a pitch you’ll be able to’t do a lot with simply because it’s a strike. If you’ll be able to’t hit a back-door curve that’s within the higher nook, why swing when you don’t have to.

Ben Clemens: Totally. I stripped out the 2 strike stuff in taking a look at it, however splitting them out is sensible too

Sandwich: Is baseball probably the most possession dependent sport in North America? It feels prefer it ought to as a result of lack of wage cap and lengthy timelines between acquisition from non-professional ranks into the most important league, however on the similar time there are groups in Football/Hockey that appear to be caught in a virtually countless loop of sucking

Ben Clemens: I believe the truth that groups in wage cap sports are caught in perpetual tanking loops says loads about how a lot possession and entrance workplace management matter

Ben Clemens: when you can’t get that stuff collectively, the cash is simply not going to repair it

Vlad’s Dad: Maybe extra up Jay’s alley, however questioning what odds you’d placed on a HOF profession out of Pete Alonso?

Obviously acquired a late begin however already trying like he ought to put up a giant HR complete and has some nice early seasons below his belt.

Ben Clemens: 65%? I believe that he’ll make it if he continues at this tempo for certain regardless of the late begin

Ed Luvah: Has Mitch Garver carried out sufficient to warrant a 3-4 12 months deal? 3/30?

Ben Clemens: I imply, I’d not provide him that!

Ben Clemens: that doesn’t imply nobody else will

Ben Clemens: or like, I’m not even a group

Ben Clemens: But absolutely the shortage of sturdiness is worrisome

Dan: If the Orioles spend 100 million in free company are they going to be good for the following 5 years and thus get a brand new technology of followers and make far excess of 100 million additional {dollars} over these followers lifetimes?

Ben Clemens: Mmmmmmm, it is a actually attention-grabbing query and I don’t know the fitting reply however I believe it’s asking one thing actually vital

Ben Clemens: Should the Orioles be growing payroll with the particular purpose of supplementing their younger core?

Ben Clemens: the reply is clearly sure

Ben Clemens: Investments like which have multipliers, such as you mentioned

Ben Clemens: now could be the time to strike when you’re the O’s, being good is new and scorching, and you’ve got plenty of price management sooner or later

Farhandrew Zaidman: Are minor league promotions getting extra aggressive, or am I going loopy?

Ben Clemens: They most definiltey are

Ben Clemens: the Angels are making it slightly complicated simply because they’re throwing every thing on the wall, however even with out that, I believe groups are reacting higher than I anticipated to the incentives to name guys up

Ben Clemens: and significantly, I believe the O’s expertise with Rutschman final 12 months raised some eyebrows

Ben Clemens: It actually stings to not get a primary spherical select of that, to antagonize your participant (possibly not Adley, he simply appears imperturbable, however most gamers), and likewise to have the identical service time

Not shopping for?: You suppose Belling reverts  to who he was a couple of years in the past?

Ben Clemens: I don’t know!

Ben Clemens: It’s a troublesome query

Ben Clemens: I wouldn’t pay as much as discover out although

Ben Clemens: Lots of the way to have a look at it

Trout: Where ought to the Angels go from right here? It’s not typically that I believe a group ought to blow it up and do a full rebuild, nevertheless it looks as if that’s the place the Angels are. (White Sox too, however that’s one other story.) They do have loads of cash to spend. But what are they going to do, signal a bunch of men to do patchwork throughout the roster for the following two years?

Ben Clemens: i imply, whether or not they blow it up or not, it’s getting ugly

Ben Clemens: no farm, the present group isn’t even that good

Tom: Given the adjustments within the standings, do you suppose the Mariners want to undo the Sewald commerce?  Or has Canzone filling in for Kelenic and Rojas for Wong really made a bigger affect and helped drive the turnaround?

Ben Clemens: I really suppose that they’d not undo it

Ben Clemens: they only wanted hitters badly sufficient that it labored out

Ben Clemens: and as meg has typically identified, they’ve an actual talent for creating relievers

Phil: What is or needs to be a more in-depth, these days? Thinking of the Red Sox, for whom Chris Martin is fairly clearly the very best reliever, even when they’ve one other man who bears a putting resemblance to somebody who used to dominate for the Dodgers. But would there be an considerable profit to swapping these roles, sufficient to beat no matter clubhouse impact comes from, I don’t know, disrespecting a veteran? Does it matter?

Ben Clemens: I don’t suppose there’s sufficient profit to offset any potential prices

Ben Clemens: Though, I’d wish to see the Red Sox use Martin a biiiiiit extra in huge spots

Ben Clemens: however like, these two guys get crucial alternatives persistently

Ben Clemens: that’s the important thing for me

abhi: do you might have any suggestions on baseball books to learn and whatnot?

Ben Clemens: my favourite baseball e-book of all time is The Only Rule is it Has to Work

Ben Clemens: Ball Four can be excellent

D: Thanks to your solutions on the Urias commerce. Lots of your reply comes right down to how the Brewers seen him, which is okay for what it’s. But if we’re evaluating the commerce, I believe we’ve to incorporate evaluating how they view him.

Ben Clemens: Ah yeah. I don’t agree with their analysis in any respect

Ben Clemens: however I believe that the commerce was constant, which is vital

Ben Clemens: I believe that inside consistency is at the least as vital as participant analysis

Ben Clemens: or like, adjusting for a way good you will be relative to the gang at participant analysis

Phil: Can’t look forward to robozone, not satisfied by those that are nostalgic for framing. Give me an elite athlete like Connor Wong (did you see the play on the popped-up bunt?) over any individual who simply sits there and nuances the glove a bit.

Ben Clemens: I actually love the problem system

Ben Clemens: as a result of it’s the very best of all worlds

Air Horn: BWOW WAH WOW WOW OWWWWWW

Ben Clemens: glorious level

Farhandrew Zaidman: Matt Olson or Pete Alonso, the remainder of their careers?

Ben Clemens: Gimme Alonso however with out a lot conviction

ryan: Is there any participant that has ever pandered as nicely to a metropolis as Bryce Harper does with Philly?

Ben Clemens: Philadelphians, earmuffs: I believe that Philly is among the cities that it’s best to pander to

Ben Clemens: simply due to their robust identification

Ben Clemens: that’s not a foul factor, to be clear

Ben Clemens: But Carlos Correa tried that stuff with Minneapolis and like, it simply doesn’t hit the identical

Trout: A sweeper is mostly a new phrase for a slurve.

Ben Clemens: I don’t 100% agree with this

Ben Clemens: it’s like some slurves?

Ben Clemens: however some slurves are closely two-plane

Appa Yip Yip: Wasn’t one of many justifications the Orioles used for his or her miniscule payrolls through the tank years that they have been saving cash to spend later? Lmao.

Ben Clemens: Ah, inside inconsistency!

Appa Yip Yip: Do the angels even have anybody of worth to commerce off in the event that they have been going to blow it up?

Adam: Wondering in case you have any perception into why the ATC RoS Projection for Eury Pérez went from unhealthy to worse after his final superb begin. ATC has such an excellent repute for pitching, i’m a bit confused.

Ben Clemens: I don’t. ATC is an aggregator of different projections

Ben Clemens: So, I’d look to the projections it aggregates

Ben Clemens: however yeah, I disagree

Ben Clemens: Eury seems to be dominant

Ben Clemens: That begin goes to be one of many issues I appreciated this week, as a preview of kinds

Rick: Is getting persistently higher stick with it balls a talent? I see excessive EVs generally with distances that appear low and vice versa. Wondering if there’s extra to it than hitting circumstances

v2micca: I used to be studying just lately that the human eye is able to seeing between 30 to 60 frames per second.  Your mind then takes this knowledge and fills within the gaps between every body so it seems that the world is shifting in easy steady type to our eyes.  If they might discover a approach to positively measure it, do you suppose the baseball gamers with actually good command of the strikezone can be these people whose eyes are capturing knowledge on the excessive 60 to 70 frames per second finish of the common?

Ben Clemens: Some of these, some individuals with extraordinarily good kinesthesia, some individuals with actually fast psychological processing and sample recognition

Ben Clemens: it’s not JUST eyes, however that’s clearly a giant half

ryan: I’d think about {that a} non-zero quantity of their considering comes from watching what occurred with the Cardinals pitching workers when Yadi retired (although Maldonado hasn’t been round almost as lengthy and by no means graded out as nicely)

Ben Clemens: Oh, that is about Maldy and I forgot to put up it earlier

Ben Clemens: I imply… that reveals a misunderstanding of what occurred to the Cardinals (their pitching was unhealthy as a result of that they had unhealthy pitchers) and likewise little or no religion within the pitching workers and coaches

Ben Clemens: so if that’s what occurred, that’s a unfavourable in my eyes on their entrance workplace’s potential to course of data

Liam: does skenes throw a pitch for the buccos this season?

Ben Clemens: I don’t suppose so

Ben Clemens: I’d really feel in another way in the event that they have been nonetheless within the race in any respect

Ben Clemens: But I’d be anxious about workload sufficient that I’d say hm, he would possibly get prettttty amped to pitch int he huge leagues, possibly we let him construct as much as it with a standard offseason as an alternative

Ben Clemens: that mentioned, I’ll be shocked if he’s not of their huge league rotation subsequent May

Cito: What is up with Buxton, and what are the Twins going to do with him?  Is he washed?  Can’t appear to hit.  Won’t let him play the sphere

Ben Clemens: Man…. he kinda appears washed

Ben Clemens: I ponder if he ought to have simply missed this season to recuperate from no matter damage he has

Ben Clemens: as a result of what they’re getting is just not *higher* than that

Ben Clemens: nevertheless it’s clearly been method worse for his well being

Seamus: What is your favourite social deduction sport?

Ben Clemens: any variation of mafia/werewolf

Ben Clemens: Among Us was a enjoyable distraction however I like ones that get performed 100% in particular person, personally

MLB: Riley Greene and Torkelson will mix to provide how a lot WAR subsequent 12 months?

Ben Clemens: 3.9 (3.7 Greene, 0.2 Tork, for the recent take)

Ben Clemens: however no, let’s name it 5, 3.7/1.3

Ben Clemens: Riley Greene was one in all my dudes coming into this 12 months and whie he’s not gonna preserve babiping like htis, possibly he’ll play some extra video games for as soon as

Jadon: Do you suppose the Tigers made the fitting transfer going with Clark as an alternative of Langford? If so, why?

Ben Clemens: Eh, I’m not adequate at that type of prospect analysis to provide you an inexpensive reply

Re: baseball books: The baseball subreddit used to do an annual winter e-book checklist that has plenty of nice picks, each retro/romantic and trendy/nerdy.  I’ve discovered plenty of nice picks through the years, most just lately The Glory of Their Times.

Doug: Has the sport and gamers handed Bob Melvin by? Seemed like he used to get every thing out of his gamers. Now he can’t do something to assist flip the group round. I perceive they made the NLCS final gesr

Ben Clemens: Wasn’t this like…. hailed as a genius managerial rent very just lately?

Ben Clemens: I don’t suppose he deserved as a lot credit score as he obtained for being nice, or as a lot blame as he’s getting for being unhealthy

Ben Clemens: however yeah, that clubhouse does NOT seem to be it’s in an excellent place

Bmore Orioles: Bradish and Grayson have been lights out for two months. Our offense comes and goes, however will be fairly robust. Good D. Good bullpen, with assistance on the best way. Are we WS contenders?

punter therefore: Looking at Baltimore’s starters, relievers and place gamers, only one of three (RP) is actually standout and even solidly above common by fWAR. Does this concern you in any respect when it comes to being an actual risk within the playoffs? I believe there’s loads to be excited for this core, however possibly not anticipating a deep run this 12 months

Ben Clemens: This is enjoyable!

Ben Clemens: I consider Baltimore as a legit playoff risk, largely as a result of I don’t suppose the AL has anybody clearly higher

Ben Clemens: for my cash, the Dodgers and Braves are the category of baseball by a large margin this 12 months

Ben Clemens: however all the AL contenders have flaws

Tom: What occurred to all of the FA SS’s this 12 months?  It simply doesn’t make sense that they’d all have down years straight away?

Ben Clemens: No concept nevertheless it actually is bizarre

Wrights Back: OMG, if  you name ’16-18 the ‘bad times’ for the Mets, I counsel you root for the Yankees.   Too consequence centered!

Ben Clemens: haha nicely 2017 was fairly unhealthy; they went from being an excellent group to shedding 92 video games and so they have been making an attempt SO arduous to fill the stadium by the top

Ben Clemens: I went to 2 ‘fan appreciation have a luxury suite with other fans’ video games that 12 months haha

Jadon: Who do you suppose is the very best  American born black participant within the league at present? Guy sitting subsequent to me desires to know lol.

Ben Clemens: hmmm… nicely my extraordinarily biased self desires to say Masyn Winn

Ben Clemens: he’s so enjoyable already

Ben Clemens: however clearly it’s Mookie

Ben Clemens: and like…. I don’t suppose it’s significantly near being shut

Appa Yip Yip: I forgot about Milwaukee inserting themselves into the Murphy commerce just like the dude on the occasion who didn’t pay for something and left with a field of donuts and half a case of beer.

Ben Clemens: Good method of placing it

Guest: Here’s to hoping Trout made some changes and comes again because the 170 wRC+ hitter he’s at all times been tomorrow

Did Chewbacca use TP?: Yelich and Bellinger are having comparable 2019 revivals after some down years (the lows are clearly decrease for Cody)…who would you like to have for the following 3 years?

Ben Clemens: Bellinger, for the protection

Appa Yip Yip: Have you performed Baldur’s Gate 3?

Ben Clemens: Yeah, and it’s superb

Ben Clemens: (we’re going to a velocity spherical right here earlier than I am going make lunch, I ought to have talked about)

Mr Redlegs: If you’d have instructed me earlier than the season that all the Reds prospects have been within the majors and considerably thriving and we’d be inside shouting distance of a playoff spot in late August I’d have been thrilled! Now I’m simply kinda bummed. Expectations are bizarre

Ben Clemens: yeah path dependency is lame

Ben Clemens: the Reds acquired too scorching!

abhi: what are your ideas on the giants rotation going ahead with kyle harrison?

Ben Clemens: I’m extraordinarily excited to observe his debut

Guest: Still looking a playoff berth this 12 months, however clearly the Reds are nicely forward of schedule, so trying forward, the Castellinis are raking in $ this 12 months, and should be shocked by this flip of fortune. The FO can seemingly work an excellent commerce or two for pitching this offseason, however they need to even be lively within the FA market, IMO. Tell me there’s hope! And if not, any approach to estimate how way more the franchise is likely to be price in a sale now than we might have thought in April?

Ben Clemens: I want there was a method to do this, however I don’t realize it. I believe they need to be lively within the FA market, however they haven’t actually made robust indications to that impact that I’ve seen

Greg: It appears like we’re watching Julio turning into the very best Non-Ohtani in baseball proper now, doesn’t it? Never in my complete life  have I seen a  hitter look so assured.

Ben Clemens: That’s fairly robust on Mookie and Acuna

Ben Clemens: however sure, I used to be by no means anxious about rating Julio within the prime 3 of commerce worth although he was struggling on the time

Ben Clemens: similar to, yeah, watch the dude

Ben Clemens: you’ll get it

John Mozeliak: do you imagine me when i say 3 outdoors SP for 2024?

Ben Clemens: Yeah, it’s not like they’re gonna play in a dome

Ben Clemens: For certain, and at all times a fan of shouting out Ben Lindbergh

Sanford: Re: the deception query, unsure if it’s what you’re searching for however Ben Lindbergh wrote a wonderful piece for the Ringer a pair years in the past about Yusmeiro Petit and the way groups have been excited about deception

J: Mookie positively is the very best black American-born participant, however I believe you’re forgetting Judge.

Ben Clemens: Ah yeah truthful, I suppose it’s near being shut

Appa Yip Yip: Well what class are you taking part in? Who’s in your occasion? Isn’t Karlach the very best?

Ben Clemens: I’m not that far into it however sorcerer, and since I don’t know D&D even slightly i did githyanki sorcerer, my associates have instructed me that’s unhealthy. I’ve Karlach/Shadowheart/Wyll however I would combine it up a bit

Nick: Who is your AL ROY decide, provided that Jung is harm and Brown is struggling?

Farhandrew Zaidman: SPEED ROUND: Are Michael Busch and/or Miguel Vargas a part of LA’s long run plan?

Ethan: Is this Joey Votto’s final season?

Ben Clemens: I hope not, however sure

Guest: Have you been watching any of the LLWS?

Sandy: Assuming Gray & Lopez are locks to begin the primary two video games of a wild card collection, who do you might have pitch sport three, Ober, Maeda, Ryan or Keuchel?

Dan: I bear in mind studying about a physician who gave eye assessments to all of the dodgers minor leaguers after which mentioned who can be good based mostly on that. And it was two future rookies of the 12 months.I additionally instructed Mike Piazza would turn into good. Not a big sufficient pattern to make sure it wasn’t luck but in addition lengthy sufficient in the past the attention science has superior a ton since then

Guest: As you mentioned, Lindor is quietly having an incredible season. Why is it so quiet? His first three years within the NY market, no all-star video games, no gold gloves, not completely handled by media and non-Mets followers like an thrilling celebrity in his prime, and but he’s put up 15+ WAR. Why?

Ben Clemens: no concept, it’s baffling

Nolan: Battle of the Colors: Hunter Greene or Hunter Brown, when you can solely have one for a profession.

Ben Clemens: Brown by a nostril

Ben Clemens: alright, have an incredible day everybody, I’ve to go make lunch after which purchase a brand new cellphone

Ben Clemens: speak to you subsequent week