JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 2/2/2026

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 2/2/2026

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Ben Clemens

2:50

but that rarity made the chance of it happening feel more precious

Insert Witty Name Here

2:50

I’m a Sabaleka fan for the same reason. She has that fire and has no problem showing it. On the men’s side, I actually like Zverev because we’re similar. Who would you compare him to in baseball? Really really good but can’t beat the best? Side note re Novak, he’s definitely matured big time and I love it.

Ben Clemens

2:50

Boy, Zverev crosses the 'do I like this dude for his off-field stuff' line for me, by a lot

2:51

my men's side comparison is a worse player, Shopovalov. I was at his US Open match with Sinner last year, and also at his Indian Wells match vs. Alcaraz, and while he got rocked in both, he's SO fun

wears it all on his sleeve

bringbackpologrounds

2:51

Better start to their career: Alcaraz or Trout?

Ben Clemens

2:51

Alcaraz but it's close

cool

1

I actually made a cross-sport comp between Elly and Alcaraz in the year when Alcaraz first broke onto the scene

uh.... might have oversold Elly there

Walker Buehler

2:51

Are my days as an effective MLB pitcher over? Any chance I can catch on as a reliever?

Ben Clemens

2:52

If I'm a GM, I want to try

(as a reliever)

but I can't see a team with postseason hopes coutning on Buehler in the rotation after last year, and I imagine he doesn't want to sign somewhere to be a seventh starter

Guest

2:52

Do you have a recommendation for a good article on the upcoming CBA/ lockout, all 'perts talk about it, but never really get around to explaining the matter in depth.

Ben Clemens

2:52

I don't, but maybe I'll write one in March or when there's some downtime this season

2:53

I wish I had a good one for you, and if I find one I'll mention it in a future chat

Screw ICE

2:53

Sorry Ben, I love your stuff, I just hate Djokovic

Ben Clemens

2:53

buddy, totally understandable. He was the freaking end boss for so long, and often unlikable while doing it. I've rooted against him in a LOT of finals

but I like him more now than I did then, basically

TameImp

2:53

Who would be the most fun player to unretire from a 5 year absence like Phillip Rivers? Wouldn't you like to see Matt Kenp again? Cole Hamels?

Ben Clemens

2:53

oh man

2:54

Julio Franco

oh, five years

an old dude. Let's see Nelson Cruz come back in a few years

and an old hitter

I wouldn't hate seeing some old flamethrower come back in the mid 80s and survive, but a big, slow, burly hitter sounds amazing

Ben

2:54

Could a player theoretically self-insure himself to play in the WBC? Like if I get hurt, I will agreed to not get paid for time missed on the IL from that injury. Otherwise, like you can get hurt in a spring training game, so what is the difference?

Ben Clemens

2:54

I really don't kno wthe legal implications here

and how that'd interact with the CBA

Mas Datos, Por Favor

2:54

Does Kristian Campbell for Donovan make a decent start to a deal? Which side is most unhappy with this?

Ben Clemens

2:55

I think it depends a lot on St. Louis's evaluation of Campbell

I personally would not be into this return because I don't think his deal is an obvious big selling point

2:56

like, sure, lots of controllable years, but the money goes out either wya, and the delta that he's a good MLB player is below 100%

it's one of those things where early career extensions are a good deal for the team b/c even a bad outcome usually leads to a breakeven

but like.... we look like we're headed for a breakeven here

2:57

whereas Donovan is pretty clearly a bonanza of a contract/control/talent situation

Idiotic Failson

2:57

Mariano Rivera could come back out of retirement and still be a top 3 closer in the league.

Booney

2:57

Buster Posing signing himself to a rest of season contract would be pretty fun

Ben Clemens

2:57

two incredible options that I wish I had selected

bosoxforlife

2:57

Tennis needs more top notch players just below the God level. Even while Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were dominating they had to beat Murray, Vavrinka, DelPotro, Cilic and other Grand Slam champions. Alcaraz and Sinner have only almost good players to beat.

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