JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 3/23/20

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 3/23/20

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Ben Clemens

2:16

Huh, interesting question.

I have some scorecards, but I just bought whatever the best option seemed like on Amazon.

So I'm not really sure that's helpful.

Quarantini, Shaken Not Stirred

2:16

What sort of coffee set-up do you have at home? Do you need any recommendations for local roasteries to order beans from and support during these hard times?

Ben Clemens

2:17

I'm boring and generic and have a Keurig. My wife got it for me as a birthday present one year, and my coffee game isn't so fancy that I feel the need to go fancy-schmancy Aeropress or whatever.

That said, we also have a drip pot and grinder, and will buy local roastery beans from time to time.

Supporting local businesses matters more now than it probably ever has.

Aceman

2:18

You down with this trade? Dynasty. Gave up Muncy,Giles,JA Happ got K Tucker,Solak

Ben Clemens

2:18

Yeah, I'm okay with that. I dunno what you'll get in Solak but I'm really high on Tucker.

2:19

I'm not sure how much of it is how enjoyable it is to see a little skinny dude generate so much power, but I am just a huge fan of everything he's doing.

Marshall

2:19

What's the greatest baserunning season of all time (e.g., most baserunning contribution to WAR)?

Ben Clemens

2:19

FanGraphs leaderboards have you covered!

In 1986, Vince Coleman was worth 15.7 runs above average on the bases.

1986 was a pretty normal season run scoring wise, 9.6 runs to a win.

2:20

After that, 1962 Maury Wills, 2012 Mike Trout, 2008 Willy Taveras (!!!), 2003 Carlos Beltran, and 1983 Ricky Henderson are the other people with 14 or more runs above average value.

P

2:20

I just lost my job in baseball and basically have nowhere to turn idk

Ben Clemens

2:20

I'm really sorry to hear that.

2:21

This whole shelter in place thing has made me realize that I'm just not in tune enough with how fragile people's livelihoods and lives are.

Like, you always hear that people are paycheck-to-paycheck, or that if x company was closed for a week its fixed costs would overwhelm it.

2:22

But I kind of live in a bubble, and I don't notice those things most of the time.

I don' really know what the answer is, here. Help out people who you can help. Make sure your friends are doing okay. Universal Basic Income? Maybe!

2:23

But yeah it sucks. I've never felt so helpless to stop something. I've definitely been as helpless or more helpless about other things! But this one really is right in my face.

Goats and Soda

2:23

Did I get my new fantasy baseball chat name 100% correct?

John Oleruds Helmet

2:23

Mr Ben!! May your wisdom echo throughout the cosmos!! Are you a believer in Dylan Cease??

Ben Clemens

2:24

I'm going to have to say 98% correct, because I like John Olerud's Helmet more as a name.

As to your question, Mr. Helmet.

2:25

I'm not really in on Cease as an ace. I think that he's probably best used as a starter, he's just good enough that you don't want to jam him into relief.

But I want him to have a better third pitch or at least to knock the walk rate down.

I could see him being Carlos Martinez or Kenta Maeda -- nice rotation piece who is maybe better in the bullpen come playoffs.

Stevil

2:26

Are you familiar with the game "Torres"? I have it in German, and it's fun with 4 or 5 people, but it's hard to cheat.

Ben Clemens

2:26

I am not, but I'm gonna go look it up now.

I've actually been playing more group games during shelter in place, which sounds weird.

But we've started setting up Zoom calls and Google Hangouts with friends and family.

2:27

My family is scattered across the Southeast and my wife's family is from Wisconsin, so we'd rarely see them otherwise.

But we've played a lot of online codenames (horsepaste.com), we played some Just One (all you need is one person with the game and everyone else to have some sheets of paper), and we're looking at playing Decrypto online as well.

2:28

It's definitely a little weird to sit on your couch while playing a party game with people who are nowhere near you.

And video chat feels way more asynchronous and awkward than real life

2:29

But it beats sitting around doing nothing!

BASEBALL SZN

2:29

Is building your fantasy league in OOTP and simulating games day by day to fill the void in your heart (1) a great idea or (2) the best idea?

Ben Clemens

2:29

Yeah I'm super into it. Brad Johnson came up with the idea to simulate an entire actual season, with 30 managers, and that's really cool.

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