JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 3/11/24

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Key Flaw

3:06

As a fan of both Stardew Valley and board games, I am here to tell you that the board game is really bad, both as a board game and as a simulation of Stardew Valley.

Ben Clemens

3:06

but it's so preeeeeettty

Princess Leia

3:06

Ben, old friend... Jedi master... buddy, ol pal. What's Full House?

And yeah, I'm serious. Never seen it.

Star Full House Wars

3:06

The younglings to Anakin, "Have Mercy"

Colton

3:06

I don't like the guy, but I feel like Bauer is more likely to end up with the Yankees than Snell right now because of the salary/luxury tax aspect. Am I crazy?

Ben Clemens

3:06

I think you are, I don't think it's happening without some more contrition on Bauer's part and I mean......

Broken Bat

3:06

Cole’s’ injury.. suddenly Boston looks very competitive don’t they? Is Rafaela going to make their pitching that much better because of his glove? Bet they wish they had Sale now…

Ben Clemens

3:06

I'm about as interested in the Sox as I was yesterday

3:07

which is to say, I thought that they were in it before Giolito got hurt, and now I think they're only in it if they get some great outcomes on the pitching side

It'd be one thing if the Yankees were the only team ahead of them in the ALE pecking order but it's legit everyone

the Yankees finished fourth in the division last year! Their ace getting hurt suddenly boosts the SOx?

3:07

Fantasy Q: 5x5 13-team mixed. Would you keep Ragans in the 9th round (FAAB pickup) or Esteury Ruiz in the 13th? Can have one other keeper, will be Elly in the 25th.

Ben Clemens

3:07

Ragans by a mile

3:08

I get it, those steals are amazing, but I think you have to worry about playing time with Ruiz at least a little

Jared

3:08

Any pitchers you are excited about who added new pitches this offseason?

Ben Clemens

3:08

I'm holding off judgment on the Strider curveball b/c I don't quite get it

So how about this: Erick Fedde's sweeper

Guest

3:09

Would you say the Dodgers or the Braves have a higher ceiling? Purely hypothetical

Ben Clemens

3:09

Braves I think. I think that they have more players who I look at and go 'oh he could be a superstar and isn't yet'

I think the Dodgers have a higher floor htough

Broken Bat

3:09

Love your insights. Why do so many pitchers report arm soreness as ST begins and endures? Dont they throw away from ST like in Jan. To get ready? Seems like they wait until ST and then the injuries occur?

Ben Clemens

3:09

Sure does seem that way. I don't have any specific dirt on this though

diadem

3:09

Tyler Black's numbers seem so much better than Ortiz. What are Black's chances for impactful PT this year?

Ben Clemens

3:10

I mean, his offensive numbers are better but he's a bad defender instead of a stellar one

that said, I'm higher on him than Eric is

It seems like pretty much everyone is? He made most other top 100's

3:11

I like Ortiz more b/c I think that infield defense is a great carrying tool, while Black doesn't have an obvious defensive home. BUt I think they're at least somewhat close, particularly since the Brewers will likely need some help at first base

Marshall

3:12

I think last season you said in a chat that you thought Mookie would be the best SS in baseball if he played there full time. Now that he's permanently (for now) a SS, do you still think he'll be the best?

Ben Clemens

3:12

No, I think that was if he'd been doing it for a long time. He's also 31 now, and defense tends to peak a bit earlier. That said, I think he'll be a comfortably plus defender at short

Michael

3:12

Would JD Davis fix the Blue Jays offseason?

Ben Clemens

3:13

no but they should absolutely add him if they can

Insert Witty Name Here

3:13

Just passed along the working vacation recommendation to the wife and she loved it. Thank you!

Ben Clemens

3:13

Oh yeah I cannot recommend this highly enough

We like to go places that are in the woods, because it's just hard to feel stressed out about work if you look outside your house and it's just all nature around

But whatever your happy place is generally works

3:14

We're actually looking into buying a place so we can do it more frequently, I am just a much happier person when I'm out in the woods (and I'm already a happy person in general)

Key Flaw

3:14

You have 80 points to put into both hit tool and power for a prospect, how do you distribute them? 20/60, 30/50, 40/40?

Ben Clemens

3:14

so let's say I have 80 points to add from the 20 baseline

I think I'd go 65/55 hit/power

3:15

b/c both 70/50 and 60/60 sounded okay to me so I split the difference

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