JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 2/22/21

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Ben Clemens

2:00

Hey everyone, Happy Monday. With prospect week behind us and Spring Training underway, it really feels like baseball is right around the corner, so let's talk baseball and recipes and board games and pizza and whatever piques your interest.

Also terrible Mariners executives, presumably.

2:01

Let's go

sam

2:01

what role do you think Alex Reyes will fill this year? what is his ceiling?

Ben Clemens

2:01

I think he'll be a swingman; some starts, some multi-inning relief work

His ceiling is probably Jacob deGrom? Like, no one is doubting his stuff. It's a matter of health. I don't think it's very likely he reaches that ceiling, but have you seen the dude pitch? It's absurd.

Matt Damon

2:02

MATT. DAMON.

Ben Clemens

2:02

Why hello Matt

Boink

2:02

Realistic expectations for Lourdes Gurriel Jr. this year? Breaks into top 50 overall or falls off?

Ben Clemens

2:02

Presumably this is for fantasy, so I'll answer it that way

2:04

Top 50 overall hitter isn't out of the question, it looks like he's right around the 60 range for hitters in 5x5 per our auction calculator

2:05

So I'll say that breaking into the top 50 is more likely than truly falling off. That's with a projected 107 wRC+ (.270/.313/.484), a step down from last year's line, so if he repeats 2019, I'm calling that a surprise

He just looks like a good hitter in a sustainable way, you know? He's not fluking into things. He doesn't strike out or walk much, and he makes solid contact. Seems like a good profile to me

clemlibby

2:05

Which team is Ruby's favorite?

Ben Clemens

2:06

Definitely the A's. She had a cardboard cutout down the first base line, and they made the playoffs, which means she got to go to three playoff games this year

That's a good way to get a dog to like a team

Also we'll probably get her some A's chew toys this year

Kevin Mather

2:06

Can we get “English language skills” added to your 20-80 rankings? Thanks!

Chris

2:06

The delay in response from the mariners is a good sign right? They won't do the wrong thing like usual will they? Please give mariners fans hope

Ben Clemens

2:07

I think it's a bad sign, personally

They didn't say they've suspended their employee pending an investigation

They didn't ask him to hold off on a statement until they got their ducks in a row

For people who missed it, here's a full transcript: https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2021/2/21/22294212/mariners-president-k...

2:08

Of him straight up explaining how the team purposefully forces players to remain in the minors to artificially depress their salaries

Regardless of whether their talent would help the tema

He at one point says he would have played outfield ahead of Jarred Kelenic last year, because the team doesn't care about winning right now but wants to delay Kelenic's major league debut to save money

That's bad!

2:09

Doesn't even include his racist screed about how foreign players are too lazy to learn English

Bart

2:09

How do you think young players like J Kelenic will react to K Mather's negative remarks? Motivate them?

Ben Clemens

2:09

That's an interesting question

I think the first thing they'll do is file a grievance against the Mariners if they aren't on the Opening Day roster

The president of the team just said that the team is expressly breaking the CBA

So uh

2:10

Probably that

Myfanwy N.

2:10

If every professional baseball player on Earth woke up tomorrow to find themselves exclusively left-handed, what would baseball look like? Assuming this doesn't affect amateurs, how long would it take to return to a normal L/R population?

Ben Clemens

2:10

Groundball hitters who don't strike out would be worth their weight in gold, because fielding would be an absolute disaster

2:11

I think that would probably be the most noticeable effect, a left-handed shortstop would just break your brain to look at

I think that it would take quite a while to return to a normal population, but that you might see amateur defenders break into the majors REALLY quickly for a while

Like, a senior in college with good shortstop defense and an okay bat might just be playable in the majors right away if he's competing with lefties

jamesdakrn

2:12

As a Korean American who came over at age 9, it's honestly infuriating how Mather seems to think Kuma should learn English at age 30 when it's incredibly difficult for someone to pick it up that quickly when you learn a 2nd language as an adult.

Not to mention that hit's not like he's supposed to be taking classes at Bellevue Community College or some shit, he's literally being paid millions to do his job well - pitch.

It took me at least 2 years to be fluent, and that's at age 9 when picking up a 2nd language is much easier via immersion vs. coming over as adults

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