JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 1/13/20

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Ben Clemens

3:14

I think Hinch yes Luhnow no

But I want to think about this more.

Jonesy

3:15

If you're an aspiring baseball writer, how do you promote your writing without being too pushy or annoying?

Ben Clemens

3:15

Wonderful question. I'll give you some stream of consciousness answers, but also drop me a DM on Twitter some time and let's talk.

I think that it's useful, as annoying as it is, to be associated with a brand.

3:16

So submit to THT. Submit to the community blog (which is awesome!).

Generally write a lot, and heck, if you don't feel like writing for a place (I started at SB Nation, but there are several), just write your own stuff on blogspot or something.

3:17

One of my favorite people to read about the Cardinals literally just publishes his own articles on blogspot (https://onthecardinals.blogspot.com/)

I'm not sure how to go about building up a following, because I basically just wrote, a lot, and fell backwards into this job. But write. A lot.

Derek

3:18

Clerical question (been a while since I've caught a chat so this is the first of yours I've participated in): Are you officially in the chat rotation now and is this time set for each week or is it still up in the air?

Ben Clemens

3:18

This is my first chat! And I'm now in the rotation for good, every Monday 2pm ET

Don't be a jerk?

3:18

How much of this is because they also taunted the other teams so much?

Ben Clemens

3:18

A lot! They cheated the most, but they were also the most jerkish about it.

Trent

3:19

Silver Lining's loophole won't work: "The Astros will also lose their first- and second-round picks in each of the next two seasons and be fined the maximum $5MM that is allowable under the league’s constitution. If the team does not have a first- or second-round selection in either draft — due to draft forfeitures for signing a free agent, for instance — they’ll lose that pick in the subsequent year’s draft."

Ben Clemens

3:19

Thanks Trent. There you go.

Phil

3:19

Just bought Azul and love it. Good thinking/strategy game that is easyish to explain and doesn't take forever to play (also decent for kids/smart 8 yr olds and up)...Do you have any favorites in that vain?

Ben Clemens

3:20

Ooh Azul is amazing. I've only played Splendour a few times but people also like that a lot, and it's a similarly abstract concept, though more of a deckbuilder than whatever you'd call Azul. Clank, which I suggested earlier, is also really fun, and I think kids 8+ would love the theme. Also, if you want a fast game, Sushi Go! is so so fun, and you can teach it in a few minutes.

Dogs, etc.

3:21

If like Azul, try Sagrada.

Bob

3:21

I can't imagine Lunhow not working in baseball again based on his reputation, alone. I think a suffering franchise will take the gamble. He doesn't deserve it based on how he runs his departments, but it would shock me to see him gone.

Ben Clemens

3:21

So this is interesting. I'm generally skeptical of the great man theory of baseball teams, and I wonder what owners think. One thing that I might think, if I were an owner, is "I care about my baseball team winning somewhat, but I care about losing $45 million worth of value somewhat more. This guy seems risky."

3:22

I'd feel more certain about that if the punishment were all in fine,r ather than in draft picks.

But if we want to call owners jerks for not trying to win enough, we should acknowledge that they can be led by the wallet.

And hiring Luhnow seems financially risky. He's a known cheating risk at this point. I imagine any hiring would have to come with extensive commitment on his part to be above-board.

Derek

3:23

Machi Koro is kinda different and I've generally had a great time with it!

Ben Clemens

3:23

Don't buy the Harbor expansion, that ruined it for me. But great game, feels like playing craps at home!

(we have a lot of games)

Arkon

3:23

Hey Ben - thanks for your time and I loved your piece on Austin Hedges a few weeks ago. For someone who is interested in analytics and is working with Python currently, do you have any recommendations on resources/further reading?

Ben Clemens

3:24

I am probably worse at Python than you are. I have done a lot of learning on code academy, and I look up a ton of stuff on stackoverflow, but mainly what I'd say is come up with something that interests you and try to code it. And then you'll fail, because things won't work the way you think.

So do it a different way.

And that will probably fail too, but then you've learned two things that don't work.

And so on.

3:25

When I write an article using Python, I'm often spending 5-6 hours failing to do what I want in the background before I write anything. It's tough but satisfying.

Nate

3:25

Any thoughts on who the top GM candidates will be now to take over in Houston? Feels like Espada should be close to a slam dunk to take over as the new manager

Ben Clemens

3:25

I'll be honest with you, I have no idea.

I don't know a ton about the inner workings of their front office.

3:26

I think it will almost certainly stay in-house, though.

One thing I've learned from working at a variety of places is that when it seems like there's one brilliant mind controlling somethin from the top

It means that the people working for them are great.

On the shoulders of giants, etc.

segiddins

3:26

What do you think are the odds we look back on this cheating scandal with the same rose-colored glasses we apply to other scandals that happened 50+ years ago?

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