JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 11/15/22

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Guest

2:52

Do you have any sense for how easy it is for hitters to "train" or "prepare" themselves for particular pitchers over the offseason? Like, can a hitter just tell themselves to swing "over" a Cristian Javier fastball -- and practice that a bunch to prepare for the next year?

Ben Clemens

2:52

My sense is that, like first base defense, it's incredibly hard

But that it really does work, at least somewhat

2:53

If you buy a pitching machine that just throws rising four-seamers all day and then spend the offseason trying to hit them and swinging under them, you're going to re-train your hand-eye coordination to picture that ball coming in higher

Adam

2:53

Reporting says the Cards are willing to spend an additional $20M or so this offseason. And that they're shopping for a new starting C, an additional big bat, and arms for the pen. Is there a path for them to get all three of those pieces at that cost, or if something has to give, what do you think will?

Ben Clemens

2:54

Lol yeah, they aren't getting all of that for $20m/year

Let's be real: they're gonna sign Matt Carpenter, drag Brett Cecil out of retirement, and trade for a catcher

Belli Flop

2:54

Wouldn't that training make you a lot worse at hitting "generic" fourseamers and breaking stuff?

Ben Clemens

2:54

Yeah. That's why hitting is so hard!

2:55

I do think that training on a lot of backspinning fastballs is a good move overall though

like, getting on top of high fastballs isn't only useful against Javier

there are other pitchers that would help against

Kelly

2:55

Is Curtis Mead or Taj Bradley on the 2023 opening day roster?

Ben Clemens

2:55

I'll say a qualified yes to Bradley, and a qualified no to Mead, b/c to me the Choi trade is clearing the way for a free agent signing rather than a promotion

2:56

It's nice to have the backup plan of promoting Mead, though

Josh

2:56

Who do you see as the Astros long term center fielder?

Ben Clemens

2:57

I still lean Myers, but McCormick seems to have the favor of the coaching staff, and he's better than I gave him credit for before the season

It's really going to be a close one

Just Fowl

2:57

Is it time for Bloom to move Verdugo before he gets too expensive in ‘24? Maybe Padres or Texas?

Ben Clemens

2:57

I don't think they're going to find a robust market for a corner outfielder nearing free agency with limited defensive flexibility

2:58

Like, maybe they could get a token prospect for him

A guy who could figure into future major league plans

But the time to trade him was when the Dodgers traded him

which is why the Dodgers did it! They're smart

Pat

2:59

So, what do you think of The Giants offering Joc a QO? Seemed like the Twitter-verse was outraged..but, should they have been? If they think he's a good fit, easy to lock him up by killing his FA value, right?

Ben Clemens

3:00

It's slightly more than I would have given him, so I think he'll accept it, but I do think it makes some sense for the Giants. They do a good job of maximizing his talent, he seems to love it here and is a fan favorite, and they have money to spend but really need to add offensive talent

So keeping their best hitter from 2022 is a good first step

Brooklyngail

3:00

What would a Brewers-Braves trade look like with Adames in the mix? This assumes Swanson leaves, of course.

Ben Clemens

3:00

It just wouldn't. Adames isn't getting traded

3:01

The Brewers are always cost-conscious, but from what I've heard and also just based on my read of the situation, Adames is part of their long-term hitting core

Appa Yip Yip

3:01

Late to the squash talk but you can cut an acorn squash in half, make two biga** meatballs, stick the meatballs in the scooped out squash, and roast the whole thing in the oven. Little yogurt sauce on top.

Ben Clemens

3:01

Now that sounds delicious

Anthopolous' burner

3:01

I'm going to have to get creative to find room to get a SS and make other upgrades. How am I going to do it?

Ben Clemens

3:02

Lets be real - you're going to retain Swanson and then just go down the list of free agents for pitchers or outfielders born in Georgia

Appa Yip Yip

3:02

What do you expect it will take to acquire one of the available catchers in trade, either Murphy or one of the heads of Toronto's chimaera. There are 4 good catchers available -2 in FA 2 in trade - and way more than 4 teams who need to upgrade. I'm having a hard time figuring out trade returns.

Ben Clemens

3:02

I think that either Murphy or Kirk would require a package of players headed by an electric prospect, think top half of hte top 100, plus other guys. I am less sure on Jansen, and I don't actually think Kirk will be moved

3:03

What you said is true, but the counterpoint is that most teams "need" to upgrade at catcher and simply don't

Some very good teams will head into next year with a big question mark at catcher and just live with it

Silly Dan McGraw

3:05

Do you think Josh Donaldson bounces back?

Ben Clemens

3:05

In a word: no

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