JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 3/15/21

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Ben Clemens

2:00

Hey everyone, and welcome to the chat.

2:01

I had a nice week off, which means that in addition to the normal baseball fare, if you want some hot takes on Lake Tahoe ski resorts, I've got up-to-date info

Let's start off topic, b/c that's the best way to do things

BringBackDeSpanielHair

2:01

Please tell us you have a better movie appreciation tool than Kevin. Chat consensus was that he grades out as a 20.

Ben Clemens

2:01

Even an optimistic rating of myself would come in at about a 40

2:02

I'm the Vlad Guerrero Sr. of movies; I've pretty much never seen one I didn't like

The only movie I've seen in the past year that I'd tell you not to watch was Uncut Gems, and people liked that one!

DeGenZGZ

2:02

Good afternoon (from where I'm at). Do you think it's possible MLB will consider limiting the amount of pitchers a team can carry on its roster in order to combat the flood of relievers we're currently seeing? I'm not sure if they're aware that the decline of the starting pitcher is a massive issue for the game right now.

Ben Clemens

2:03

For sure. They already implemented a maximum for 2020

Now, they had to roll it back b/c of the Covid-shortened schedule

But I thikn they'll do it again starting in 2022

Eric

2:04

When I see examples cited of players having underperformed their xWOBA, it always seems like the players in question are left-handed hitters. Happy to be set straight on this, but is there any chance this stat is sort of biased in favor of lefties (especially those who continue to insist on banging one hoppers into the shift)?

Ben Clemens

2:04

I totally agree with you on this

I think that xwOBA is cool, but I'm pretty sure it doesn't do what you want it to if you're using it as an underperform/overperform thing

Because it tries to figure out what would have happened given a complete lack of context

2:05

And context does exist

Shifts definitely play a role

Guest

2:05

How many aces would you say there are in baseball right now? Not a number one starter, but an actual ace?

Ben Clemens

2:06

First, I'd definitely say I agree with you

Aces aren't #1 starters

They're aces

2:07

deGrom, Cole, Bieber, Scherzer, Darvish (for me), Bauer (fiiiiiiine), Giolito, maybe Walker Buehler?

BringBackDeSpanielHair

2:08

Hot take! Darvish will be a top 5 pitcher this season.

Ben Clemens

2:08

I hope you're right, he's so fun to watch

Jeff

2:09

Kyle Hendricks isn't an ace? As a Cubs fans who has only recently come to appreciate his body of work, maybe the most underrated pitcher in baseball

Ben Clemens

2:09

He's very likely the most underrated pitcher in baseball

And he's not an ace

Guest

2:09

Nola is close.

Ben Clemens

2:09

Yeah, I'm not sure what to make of Nola but per our projections he's close

Fan

2:09

With Britton hurt, do you think Greene makes sense for the Yankees?

Ben Clemens

2:10

Eh, maybe? I think they're going to run with a lot of the young guys, and given the cost-cutting stuff they did witih Ottavino, they're clearly trying to save money

2:11

So I think they'll try not to sign anyone unless they absolutely have to

Nittanychris

2:11

Is Andres Gimenez being undervalued now that it appears he’s the starter at SS? Salary cap price in an AL only standard 5x5 Roto league? Thanks?

Ben Clemens

2:11

So I'm going to say yes, and then promptly totally ignore the numerical part of your question b/c that's a niche fantasy format I'ven ever played

salary cap + AL only

Ben Clemens Replacement

2:11

Hey everyone, and welcome to a Monday chat. Now that Spring Training games are on TV, it really feels like baseball again to me.