JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 1/4/21

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Ben Clemens

2:28

I'd love to have him in the Hall as well

Cube Jockey

2:28

Is Vizquel's HOF candidacy tenuous enough that his recent legal troubles keep him from ever getting to 75%?

Ben Clemens

2:29

I believe so, and 'legal troubles' is one of those niceties that I don't mind ignoring -- his ex-wife has accused him of hitting her on multiple occasions

2:30

I don't quite get the Vizquel HOF case in the first place -- it seems to rely heavily on "He was basically Ozzie Smith with the glove" which is wildly untrue

Kirk

2:30

Outside the box ideas for the Angels to address their rotation? Astros and A's look like they're taking steps back - they need to do more than getting a Paxton or an Odorizzi, right? Short of Bauer, what's an alternative path you see as viable?

Ben Clemens

2:31

Getting both Paxton AND Odorizzi would be a start. I'd also be interested in trading Adell for pitching, because even though he's a very shiny prospect, it's easier to fake an outfield corner than a starting pitcher

Bearry

2:31

So as a big Rays fan, as much as I enjoyed last year, I’m worried. Forget pitching, is that lineup going to be above 20th in the league next year?

Jamie

2:31

What's Randy Arozarena's true talent level? Trying not to let that small sample break my heart in 2021. Can he play a viable center if Kiermaier is traded?

Ben Clemens

2:32

Yeah, the lineup is going to be the Rays' biggest problem this year, I think

2:33

They'll hope to keep platooning their way to adequacy, but they truly don't have the depth that you'd expect for a team who has been so consistently good of late

Mejia improving would be nice, Yandy continuing to excel would be nice, I could see those two things happening

I think that Steamer isn't wildly off on Arozarena

2:34

above-average bat (they have him at 109 wRC+), nothing like the postseason monster he was this year

2:35

I'd have him higher -- maybe 115-120 -- and ZiPS mostly agrees with me there

The guy rakes, but he's not Joe DiMaggio 2.0 sadly

As to whether he can play a viable center -- basically not relaly?

I think he can fake it in a pinch but not as an everyday guy

Margot can do it, though

Christian Colón for Men

2:36

Did Knoxville ever have Wigsphere night?

Ben Clemens

2:36

I don't think so :(

I never did go to the restaurant at the top of the Sunsphere (believe it or not, it didn't store wigs)

2:37

But I always did find it amusing that this humdrum town (it's gotten WAY cooler since I was a kid, but it was decidedly not cool in the 90s) had a World's Fair

Morbo

2:37

Jim Edmonds not making it to a second year on the HOF ballot was a bigger travesty than Delgado

Ben Clemens

2:37

One of my favorite Cardinals!

The HOF voters have done some very good players a disservice

Steve Cohen

2:38

I'm feeling like Springer & Sugano may be a better fit than Bauer, even if I have the money for both Springer and Bauer. I don't know - I don't mind outspoken Twitter presence (see: mine), but I feel like there are options behind Bauer that aren't that bad and would allow us to fill other holes. What say you? I'll hang up my diamond encrusted modem and listen.

Ben Clemens

2:38

Loving the idea of a diamond-encrusted modem

2:39

I wouldn't necessarily call Cohen's Twitter presence outspoken, and I actually think Bauer is a decent fit for them, but getting Springer and Sugano would work as well

I think everything will be a lot clearer after Sugano signs

Mo Jiggles

2:39

Why don't the Mets seem to care about 3b??

Ben Clemens

2:40

Sticking with the Mets for another one -- I'm not sure exactly

It's not like playing J.D. Davis there is a complete sacrifice, but they haven't prioritized infield defense there for quite some time

It's odd because they have a grounder-reliant staff

Lord Shimura

2:40

Ben, you bring dishonor by hiding in the shadows. A real Samurai faces his enemy head-on!