JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 11/7/22

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Ben Clemens

2:29

I thought he'd get 1/12, so, whoops!

2:30

So this year I have backed off projecting catcher contracts going higher than expected thanks to scarcity. Was that a one-year blip, and this year all the catchers will cash in? I'm not sure, but that's the background on my thinking

Hello

2:30

Do you tend to meal prep for the week or cook every day?

Ben Clemens

2:31

A mixture of the two, but more towards cook for two-ish days at a time

I'm not a great cook, to be fair. My wife is better. I just get enthusiastic about it and try projects that are over my head

Hello

2:31

Do you think Walker gets a QO?

Ben Clemens

2:31

I don't, but it wouldn't be inconceivable or anything

Rick Poundstone

2:31

Your Cardinals have to get a catcher. Do you see them going for Contreras, Narvaez or Vazquez? They seem to want to get a Buschemi that is reliable rather than take chances on unproven SPs

Ben Clemens

2:31

I see them blowing up Billy Beane's phone trying to trade for Sean Murphy

2:32

That's the solution that makes the most sense to me. Contreras to the Cardinals just feels unnatural somehow

RTJ

2:32

What bonkers-insane thing will the Rockies pull off this winter?

Ben Clemens

2:33

Zach Eflin: 6 years, $17M per, headed to the bullpen as a closer

Mark

2:33

Seems like a lot of corner OF LHH bats (Benny, Profar, Joc, Gallo, Conforto, Peralta, Grossman, most likely Bellinger) are on the open market along with Verdugo on the trade block. Does this negatively impact the players at the top of this group? Would you put Nimmo in here as well?

Ben Clemens

2:33

I think it doesn't affect Nimmo much, because he's a cut above the rest of them, who are all more on the average side of things

2:34

But it definitely affects those guys, and that is not great, because they're already in a dangerous class of average-ish bat-first players at defensively mediocre positions

I popped Benintendi relative to the rest of them because he's younger and conceivably has more defensive value, but it's definitely a risk

Mike Rizzo

2:34

are there some likely short-year corner outfield types who you think will sign a pillow-contract, or a reliable innings eater types available without too many years commitment? Asking for a friend.

Ben Clemens

2:34

Michael Conforto, National

You heard it here first

Jax

2:35

With increased base sizes, limited pick-offs, do you imagine a significant increase in Terrance Gore types taking up roster spots?

Ben Clemens

2:35

Nah. Maybe in September and the playoffs, but I think it's going to be much more on the 'existing runners steal more' side of things than teams going to pinch runners

John

2:35

I recently read that a few years ago the maximum allowed bat diameter was reduced from 2.75 inches to 2.61 inches, or about 1/7 of an inch. Might this play some small part in the increase in strikeout rates? Might increasing the allowable bat diameter be a way to reduce strikeouts and increase balls in play at least a little?

Ben Clemens

2:35

It definitely could, but I won't pretend to be an expert on that

Insert Witty Name Here

2:35

Have you made seitan yet? Super easy but does take time to make. Highly recommend for a chicken wing replacement.

Ben Clemens

2:36

I've made seitan once, I'm just a lot more comfortable with tofu. I like how many different things I can do with it. Also I just use chickpeas for protein a lot (I don't eat a ton of meat)

Romorr

2:36

If I never hear "innings eater" again, I'll be happy. Lots of Orioles fans turn to that to bring Lyles back on his 1/11(1 million buyout). FA market is good for mid tier starters, should picking up his option really be a question?

Ben Clemens

2:36

In my opinion, the Orioles should not pick up his option

2:37

I think they can make a similar commitment and get a pitcher I'm more interested in

And they're also at a point competitively where they can sign a guy for 2-3 years and think that helps them in each year, which broadens their market considerably

Dr. Bjron Masterson

2:37

I've looked into the diameter of balls a lot in Japan vs. MLB. Do you feel teams will factor this in with Senga?

Ben Clemens

2:37

Yes

2:38

Eric Longenhagen has thought about this a lot, and pointed out to me that it's probably a good thing (for Senga certainty) that his best secondary is a splitter. NPB transplants have at times struggled with the different seams, but that's more of an issue for pitches that you need to spin

Dan

2:38

If a team that's already expecting to be good next year goes to Degrom and Verlander and says we plan to sign both of you have a 6 man rotation and liberal use of the IL to keep your innings low and ramp up in September and so we roll into the playoffs with 3 fresh aces does this make them more or less likely to sign? Yes I'm assuming the team already has at least one ace.

Ben Clemens

2:38

Less likely to sign in my opinion. I think that both of them are just wildly competitive people who think they can pitch a ton and win Cy Youngs and also dominate in the playoffs

2:39

I wanted to do basically this with Rodon last year, and I'd be tempted to this year. But it would definitely make me less likely to sign if I were Rodon

O's n' Boh's

2:39

Could you see the Orioles signing Rizzo? Existing relationship with Brandon Hyde, great clubhouse guy/mentor type of dude, relatively short right field porch?

Ben Clemens

2:39

For sure

I think a first baseman makes a lot of sense for them, personally

Dr. Bjorn Masterson

2:40

do you think Michael Brantley's world series ring helps his value in the market?

Ben Clemens

2:40

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