JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 3/29/21

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Ben Clemens

2:31

Depending on what bulk means, yes

2:32

I think he'll get more than anyone else. I think they'll be extremely mix-match-y though

Bucos

2:33

If service time weren't a consideration, would teams end up playing their pitching prospects in the majors more often? Limited # of pitches in a guy's arm, prospect have better stuff than ever, etc. Let's call it the Chris Sale development path.

Ben Clemens

2:34

Yes, for sure

I think that even given service time considerations more teams should be doing that with all but hte most elite arms

Derek

2:34

REGULAR SEASON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS BACK THIS WEEK

Ben Clemens

2:34

Big if true

2:35

I'm so happy that baseball is back

2:36

The background sound of the NCAA tournament has been therapeutic to me of late, and the background sound of baseball will be SO much better

Whisper Song Inspiration

2:38

Having left a wake of ruined arms behind him (Wood, Prior, Zito, Hudson, etc....), has Dusty Baker finally met his match in Zack Greinke, the arm he can't destroy? Maybe he could have him throw 300 innings this year?

Ben Clemens

2:38

I think that the Dusty destroys pitchers narrative has outlived the reality on the ground

2:39

That was the case when he was in Chicago, but not so much in DC or Houston

2:40

That said, yes Greinke is comically durable

Re: Dusty Baker

2:41

Add Verlander to that list....

Ben Clemens

2:42

I don't think anyone would say that Dusty destroyed Verlander? Verlander hasn't even thrown a pitch with Dusty as manager

Game 2

2:42

If you had to guess based on your expectations of health and performance (and ignoring the possibility Cole is needed in game 162), who would end up starting game 2 for NYY in October?

Ben Clemens

2:42

Kluber

But realllly close to saying Jordan Montgomery

Re: Dusty Baker

2:42

He almost destroyed Strasburg too!

Ben Clemens

2:44

I don't think this is true. If you m ean the 2014 season when Stras threw 215 innings (I don't know what else you could mean, given how kid-gloves-y they were with him), then eh. He threw 114 pitches in a game exactly once that year, his highest total

Went 100 in less than half of his starts

And I'm an idiot, Dusty wasn't managing him then

2:45

SO that leaves 2016 and 2017, and if you're telling me that 147 and 175 innings almost destroyed Strasburg, I'm gonna have to disagree

Dan Smith BYU

2:45

Over/Under on how many times Trevor Bauer does the Conor McGregor noodle arm waggle on his way back to the dugout this season....set at 26. What you got?

Ben Clemens

2:45

Easy over

I love Yu

2:45

Still a chance for the DH this season?

Ben Clemens

2:45

I don't think so

It would have happened by now

Re: Verlander

2:45

He made one start in 2020 with Dusty as his manager, and that's all it took. Baker just has to look at arms the wrong way, and they implode.

Ben Clemens

2:45

Honestly, I totally blanked on the fact that Verlander pitched a game in 2020

2:46

I'm surprised that he did, but I guess not that surprised. He seems like the kind of guy who would try to play through injury

Derek

2:46

I think pitching is just inherently an unhealthy (for the arm) activity and trying to attribute any specific ability to cause or prevent/avoid pitcher injuries is generally foolish! Excepting particularly egregious cases, of course...

Ben Clemens

2:46

Right, and to the previous question's credit, I do think that Dusty's usage patterns with Wood and Pryor weren't great

2:47

Just seems like he isn't doing that anymre, which is great!

And after you stop doin the egregious stuff, it just comes down to the fact that like you said, pitching is bad for your arm

Game 2

2:47

My own opinion re: NYY playoffs is I think Montgomery will end up second most valuable (in terms of WAR/innings) but that one of the injury risk flyers will be strong in September and take that slot.

Ben Clemens

2:48

Yeah, that's why I picked Kluber in the end. I think that the odds of Montgomery just being the best starter, full stop, are higher than he's getting credit for though

Ben

2:48

Who are you most surprised is starting in the minors this year? Hoerner? Kingery? Kieboom? Camargo? Kirilloff? Someone else?

Ben Clemens

2:48

Kieboom

The Nats want him to take that job so badly

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