JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 3/16/20

Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page

Masaya

3:18

And the bean recipes actually help enforce the 6ft social distancing

Matt

3:18

Has there been any analysis done for prior work stoppages (strikes, WWII, etc.) and how that impacted the play when it restarted? Is a work stoppage likely to hurt certain players differently based on age? Position? How does this stunt minor leaguer growth?

Ben Clemens

3:19

I haven't seen any. That said, the type of work stoppage probably matters, and we don't have any previous ones like this. Using WWII as an example wouldn't make that much sense because of the sheer number of people fighting in the war. And the strike is maybe closer, but it was both shorter and at the end of a season. I don't really know how to think about it, but we've got time to consider it now.

Dave

3:19

I’m not a board game player to speak of. Do you and other board game players prefer playing your favorite games over and over, or trying tons of games a time or two for great variety? Or perhaps it’s a combination of the two?

Ben Clemens

3:19

I'm definitely a mix of the two.

I find that most games are fun at first

3:20

Maybe not the first game ever, because you have to learn the rules.

But after that, they're ufn.

But maybe the 8th or 10th playthrough isn't

Then, there are a few games that I'd play a lot

So I try a ton of games just a few times, but then have a few standbys (Seven Wonders, Sherlock Holmes, a few others) that I have played a ton.

3:21

One thing that distinguishes me is that my wife and I are my usual board game play group

3:22

So we play a lot of two player and co-op games

When we have a bunch of people over, we just pick up something random.

Masaya

3:23

What I think is lost in this is the workers in the stadiums that bust their asses selling beer and hot dogs that now have no source of income and no union working to help them. Gotta love Bauer for what he's trying to do https://www.gofundme.com/f/mlb-gameday-staff-coronavirus-relief?utm_me...

Ben Clemens

3:23

Yeah, Trevor Bauer is controversial in a lot of ways, and I often disagree with him heavily.

But this is a great thing he did

3:24

I hope that more teams follow the Tigers' suit and guarantee wages for stadium workers.

Because teams have more money than players, even though players have a lot.

You can't just rely on every team having a Zion Williamson

But yes, stadium workers and minor leaguers are severely affected by this.

3:25

There's a reason you're hearing more about UBI in the last week than you probably have in your life before today.

3:26

The owners and the players aren't really the victims here, they're inconvenienced, but they'll live. It's the people who are living week to week and working in baseball, of which there are many

3:27

Luckily I got my Ty Kelly 'pimping home runs doesn't matter the planet is dying' shirt already

Because it feels very apropos at the moment.

Seat Painter

3:27

Ever played Terraforming Mars? Has a ton of replayability imo.

Ben Clemens

3:27

I was supposed to play this week!

A new expansion came out apparently.

One guy in my gaming group loves it.

3:28

That is on hold at the moment.

Dan

3:30

I am thinking baseball should eliminate extra innings and play six inning games with double headers at least every week. I imagine people would be against it but I bet it would be more exciting and allow all the games to be played. Final details to be pending actual start day.

Ben Clemens

3:30

Never heard that one before. But that's kind of interesting!

I don't think they'll do it

Why more six-inning games instead of fewer nine-inning ones?

There's the historical record to consdier.

But maybe that'd be fun.

Shane

3:30

Are you excited for the new Out of the Park Baseball game?

Ben Clemens

3:31