JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 10/25/21

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Ben Clemens

2:55

And when he turned out to be good, all anyone could hear is 'The Greek God of Walks'

Didace

2:56

The problem with scifi/fantasy names transitioning from page to screen is that when reading a book I don't really pronounce the name in my head. It just kind of translates into "that guy". Hearing the name spoken is jarring.

Ben Clemens

2:57

Yeah, same type of problem

There's no problem with the names not sounding right b/c you just abbreviate them in your head

John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt

2:58

If you’re the A’s, do you run it back out there next year or is this the off-season the Matts go on the trading block?

Ben Clemens

2:58

Oh boy, this is a tough call

2:59

I have a hard time figuring the A's out, because they're always working in two directions at once

It's a very impressive balancing act, and I won't pretend I could approximate it

TomBruno23

3:00

OK Mr. Cardinal Fan...how should this BFIB feel about the Oli Marmol hire?

Ben Clemens

3:00

I have no idea, to be honest with you

I think I'm slightly happy with it overall

But with a big 'contingent on the players being happy'

3:01

If the players are happy, I'm into it for sure

Tad

3:01

You think Preller gets reassigned within the Padres if 2022 lines up with how his teams have typically performed? Or will he to go entirely? Do you see him staying in baseball? Would other teams want him?

Ben Clemens

3:02

Uh, I don't think he would accept a demotion, he'd just leave

Would other teams want him? Maybe running scouting or something, I don't thikn he'd get another GM job right away but his scouting acumen remains excellent

Alex Anthopoulos

3:03

Prediction for Freeman's FA contract?

Ben Clemens

3:03

I'll leave that up to the crowdsourcing. I've been so-so on predictions on salaries and I'm still trying to get a handle on this offseason

Cole

3:03

There only seems to be a handful of teams that wont be pushing in chips to win in 2022: BAL, WSH, PIT, ARI (Could argue CHC but they've talked about about spending this winter). Do we have a lot more teams 'going for it' right now than usual?

Ben Clemens

3:03

Eh, no

3:04

You're just leaving out a ton of teams who don't necessarily say they're trying to suck but are

Are the Rockies trying to win in 2022?

I don' think so

Are the Cubs? Absolutely not

Cleveland ran a payroll that was shockingly low this year and traded players for literally nothing for salary relief, they're not gonna start jamming salary to try to win next year

3:05

Plenty of teams want to win *on their own terms*

But lots of those terms are 'via accruing long-term bargain contracts and avoiding free agency'

Stephen Coelho

3:05

Yes or No: The Red Sox spend > $80M on a single free agent this offseason?

Ben Clemens

3:06

a) hey Stephen b) I think yes, I think they'll pay that much for some pitcher

Gonna be close though

Todd

3:06

It’s hard for me believe some of those older baseball guys when some claim players threw 110+ mph

Ben Clemens

3:06

Well right, I don't believe that at all

3:07

That's the kind of thing 'oh Bob Feller was throwing 108 in the 9th inning' that makes me think eh okay I don't need to take this person at their word every time

TomBruno23

3:07

Without a CBA it is impossible to forecast how this winter is going to go.

Ben Clemens

3:07

100%

3:08

I'm super happy that I got the lead role on doing our free agent predictions, it's a fun exercise

And an honor, etc. etc.

I'm also a little annoyed that it's in one of the hardest ex-ante years for predicting contracts

Todd

3:08