JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 10/25/21

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 10/25/21

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Ben Clemens

2:43

They're kind of in a bind, too

You can't change the words, because oh boy would fans riot

But those words have never sounded THAT good out loud

In almost every fantasy/sci fi book

LOTR managed it but only barely

Derek

2:44

How far up the bottom of the standings would have to go, combining teams, to have a playoff caliber roster? I'd say at least 5 - D-Backs + Orioles + Rangers + Pirates + Nationals - and probably 6 to grab the Marlins pitching. 8 gives you the Cubs and Twins and likely seals it...

Ben Clemens

2:45

I think that you'd make it just at 5. You can cobble together a few interesting pitchers, and Ketel Marte + Cedric Mullins + Soto + Reynolds + Hayes is a pretty nice position player core

If you add the Marlins, I think you're all the way there

Guest2

2:45

What do the Jays even do in offseason? Doubt they'll pay Robbie Ray and Semien. With such a stacked AL East do they just blow it up and tank?

vomit

3

Ben Clemens

2:45

Presumably this is a joke

2:46

If not, this is the kind of thinking that makes me dislike sabermetrics

cool

2

2:47

This kind of team giving up would mean that 28 of 30 teams (give or take) should always be giving up

And, ew

Appa Yip Yip

2:47

I love Sci Fi and Fantasy it's 80% of what I read but as soon as you start explaining that stuff out loud to a normie...

Ben Clemens

2:47

Haha right? It's much better in writing

My wife was VERY out on reading the Name of the Wind series when I described it to her, but when she just read it, she loved it

Justin

2:48

The record for most games without a hit (minimum one at-bat) in a single season is held by Mario Mendoza with 86 games. Brad Miller and Matt Carpenter had 80 games without a hit in 2021. So close to the record! No question but fascinating.

Gabe

2:49

Ben, thoughts on the Marlins you hitters Jazz, Jesus Sanchez & Lewin Diaz, in particular?

Ben Clemens

2:49

Love Jazz

2:50

I'm kinda unsure on Lewin

2:51

He's looked the part in several minor league seasons, but he needs to keep mashing to be good, b/c the approach is scary

He swings SO much

I think he has a future as a role player type

2:52

I'm not in on Sanchez, though

I think he's probably an average hitter, which is below what you want for a 1b/corner of type

StuShea

2:52

Really? Trade Rogers for Dejong? The Twins couldn't find a shortstop who hits better than that who wouldn't cost a good pitcher?

Ben Clemens

2:52

I'm not saying the Twins would make that trade, but DeJong definitely has value

2:53

average-ish shortstop bat with fine defense on a cheap contract

Teams value cheap contracts for average players quite highly

And Rogers is only under contract for next year

I don't think it's far-fetched at all

Don

2:53

What do you make of some longtime baseball people saying players aren’t necessarily throwing harder, the technology/radar guns, etc. are just different (whether more accurate now, calibrated differently or other reasons)? Maybe they agree about there being more hard throwers, but not that they throw harder than flamethrowers of the past

Ben Clemens

2:53

So, I kind of buy that?

But also, not completely

2:54

I buy that there were dudes popping 100 at times in the past

Not everyone, and certainly FAR fewer than do today, but the occasional guy

But I don't think there's ever been a Brusdar Graterol before

T

2:55

Just a random aside, but I never realized how good Kevin Youkilis was

Ben Clemens

2:55

Yeah secretly great

I feel like he just became a meme because of Moneyball

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