JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 3/29/21

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Ben Clemens

2:16

But surely the nickname industrial complex can do better

Hingle McCringleberry

2:16

If you were the Pirates' GM, and the draft were tomorrow, who are you taking at 1.1?

Ben Clemens

2:16

I'm not a draft watching type, but I think I'd go with Kumar Rocker

Megaladong

2:17

Could you give me your thoughts on a couple young pitchers putting together awesome springs, and their outlooks for the season? I took a chance at the end of my dynasty bench draft on Logan Allen and Daulton Jefferies. Thanks!

Ben Clemens

2:19

I'm much higher on Jefferies, because he's been such a solid control guy and Oakland's park rewards that

It also feels like it's easier to break into their rotation, there are just a lot of innings to eat and not a lot of locks to take them

2:20

Cleveland has that too to some extent, but I worry about Allen's command, and I think he'll have to miss more bats to make it work

Basically I think Jefferies is closer to a finished product and also has the better opportunity

Re: Kirk Nicknames

2:20

I vote for AK 3 Hundy

Ben Clemens

2:21

AK 47 homers, etc etc

Re: Kirk Nicknames

2:21

Jigglypuff?

Ben Clemens

2:21

Too harsh I think

2:21

It appears your "Free Freddy!" (Peralta) plea in the starting rotation positional power rankings worked because he's now slated to be the Brewers 5th starter to begin the year!

Ben Clemens

2:21

I almost rewrote that section when they announced that

I was a little grumpy that they did it over the weekend instead of today!

But after looking at our projections, which still have him under 100 IP, I decided it was worth keeping

I'm reallllly hyped for the Brewers' rotation this year

Moonlight Graham

2:22

I think Kirk should get a nickname that's yin to La Tortuga's yang or vice versa

Cambodian Creamsicle

2:22

The reports are that over 200 players showed up to camp in the best shape of their life this year. All 200 will have career years. Am I wrong?

Ben Clemens

2:22

Hard to argue with logic like that

Joe

2:22

Can we expect the same production from Cronenworth we saw last season?

Ben Clemens

2:22

Basically, no

2:23

Can you hope for it? sure

But I don't think that it's a reasonable median expectation -- he was awesome in 2020 in a way that his previous numbers didn't quite show

2:24

I like him quite a bit as a prospect, and I'd take the over on his Depth Chart projection (96 wRC+), but expecting him to keep posting the highest ISO of his career, plus a walk rate that didn't even jump from the minors to the bigs, seems excessive

Bucos

2:25

What would the ideal system be to replace service time? 6 (really 7) years is way too long for these guys to get a bite at the FA apple. Chances real change makes it into the next CBA?

Ben Clemens

2:25

I like some of the ideas around age-based limits that have been floated around

2:26

Keep the current system, but everyone becomes a free agent at 28

Off the Rails

2:27

Did you read Szymborski's last chat? It was about chili and cats.

Ben Clemens

2:27

I'm not even sure you need the word 'last' in there

CBA Idea

2:29

The first year that a player plays in the majors should count as a full year of service time, no matter when they get called up. No more service time manipulation.

Ben Clemens

2:29

That would be fine, might result in teams not calling up players for an extra year but it's better than the current system

Age-based system

2:29

But then the Nats get Soto for 9 years

Ben Clemens

2:29

Well no, the current system still works too

It's a first-of

So 6 years of time or 28

Ben Cherington

2:29

People seem broadly supportive of what I've done thus far in trades, but can you comment on what I've done on the drafting and development side in terms of hires and such? I keep hearing my predecessor wasted some of his best prospects and I don't want to make the same mistakes.

Ben Clemens

2:31

I can tell you t hat to be honest, I'm not really sure.

That's the kind of thing that is hard to view from the outside, particularly if you don't have connections with the team

2:31

Do you see Pete Fairbanks getting the bulk of the save chances in TB?

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