JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 1/27/20

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Ben Clemens

2:18

I mean, I like Mookie Betts more. But Marte would be a nice fit, and he'd also be around for 2021, when the young core could maybe be better, though the team is already good right now. I like that it's basically further back-filling their weirdo infield.

Because it would push (Ketel) Marte to second base probably?

2:19

Which pushes Escobar to more third base reps, which lets Lamb and Walker platoon a little more at first, etc.

I betts he'll be a padre

2:20

Whats depth charts say for Padres if they add Mookie? West might actually be competitive for a change

Ben Clemens

2:20

This would make it close!

2:21

Depth Charts would have it within 5 or so wins, depending on what you wnat to assume for outfield playing time there.

The Padres some how have 85 outfielders and also a huge hole in the outfield.

Seanto

2:21

Wouldn't Tampa Bay trading for Nolan Arenado or Mookie Betts automatically make the Rays the most fun team in 2020? I mean, weird lineup maneuvers and a massive star to anchor it! How fun!

Ben Clemens

2:22

It would, but it would really not fit their recent MO. I'd love to see it, and despite my sometimes misgivings with their perpetual-motion-salary-suppression machine

I do love watching the Rays.

So yeah, let's root for that, but also remember it isn't so likely.

Craig

2:22

How do you foresee ARI starting rotat shaking out this season? Gallen vs Kelly for the last spot?

Ben Clemens

2:23

That's the word on the street, but a)Gallen is a lot better than Kelly and b)they have plenty of pitchers who might take a step back or get hurt

2:24

I'd probably start with Gallen, but between Gallen, Weaver, Robbie Ray (might get traded!), and Mike Leake, someone's going to be hurt or bad

Reuben

2:24

Meg had a good comment in a recent podcast where she mentioned that the cost of going to the ballpark for families was much more prohibitive to attendance than scoring environment or pace of play. In a world where so much money is made from television contracts, what do you think the best examples are of non-SuperTeams filling the ballpark? How would you go about doing it?

Ben Clemens

2:25

This is a great question, and I really agree with Meg on this front.

One team we are critical of, and I think rightly so, here at FanGraphs is the Rockies.

But they are *great* when it comes to getting people out to the ballpark.

2:26

They finished sixth in attendance last year, in a small-ish city that isn't easy to drive to from many places.

Having been to a few Rockies games, I love what they have going on there. The tickets are reasonably priced, they have turned parts of the stadium into experiences (a party deck, a family area, that kind of stuff)

And uh, it doesn't hurt that it's one of the prettiest ballparks and the weather is great there in the summer.

2:27

It's also in the city center (more or less), which is huge.

So those are the things I would do -- PNC is another example of these things, though they've been undermined by the team just straight up antagonizing fans for the last chunk of years.

Christian

2:28

Is the takeaway from your article on HR/FB rates that xFIP is much superior to FIP for judging the quality of a pitcher?

Ben Clemens

2:28

If you only had one, and were trying to predict how good they'd be next year, I'd prefer xFIP.

There's more stuff, of course. xFIP is too naive -- I've found that hard throwers tend to suppress HR slightly.

2:29

But yeah, if you only had one, I'd always take xFIP.

Logan

2:29

First Steven Souza; now, MLBTR reports the Cubs are interested in Scooter Gennett. Is this just a big-market team trying to troll its fan base by signing terrible players or tiny amounts?

Ben Clemens

2:30

I mean, Souza isn't necessarily *terrible*

He raked in 2017

If you think it's an injury story and he's healthy, he's a nice gamble.

2:31

Brendan looked into this one:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/cubs-actually-make-transaction-sign-steven...

And I think I agree with his view that Souza will be an upgrade and yet that I wish the Cubs would have done more given their competitive position.

Dog mutton

2:31

Ben- do you think enough clicks for the White Sox this year that they are a very dangerous wildcard/playoff team in 2020?

Ben Clemens

2:32

Yes. Haha uh, that's not a super controversial take I know, but I think they're good now. Not as good as the Twins, who really hit the turbo button this offseason, but good enough to stick around. They get to feast on a lot of Tiger and Royal games

Alex

2:32

How do you expect to see the MLB handle pitchers that retaliate against Astros hitters this season? Give a warning with no punishment similiar to the Astros players? It would look fairy hypocritical if Manfred suspended pitchers retaliating more than the Astros players.

Ben Clemens

2:33

Why would that look hypocritical? Don't throw baseballs at people and try to hit them.

That seems reasonably obvious.

Manfred's ruling didn't say "The players were granted immunity, but go ahead and chuck a few at them, we cool."

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