JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 3/30/26

Ben Clemens

2:00

Hey everyone, welcome to the chat

2:01

let's get going now that there's a season going on

War2D2

2:01

Every time this chat starts this is where my head goes:

Ben Clemens

2:01

I mean, amazing

2:02

i sure hope to be compared to Old Ben (or to have Luke call for me)

didace

2:02

After one weekend of play, it is obvious Joey Wiemer is the best hitter in baseball. Small sample size/schmall sample size. Yes?

Ben Clemens

2:02

probabl

he's certainly the most flowing-locked hitter having an incredible year

2:02

Hi Ben, what do you make of teams' challenge strategies thus far? I think it's felt quite different from spring now that there are real stakes to each game. Some players seem really scared to be the guy to burn a challenge, and I wonder how teams are addressing that culturally to make sure guys are comfortable challenging when it matters, particularly late in games.

Ben Clemens

2:02

I'm going to be writing about challenges for tomorrow

2:03

the truth is that I'm still really struggling to wrap my head around the data. there's a lot of it. it's really hard to think about optimal strategy. it's really hard to even describe what a good or bad challenge is

2:04

so I'd say, throw a ton of questions at me about challenges if you'd like. I'm curious to know what people are wondering about. But for now, what I can say is that I am interested in seeing whether people are doing a good job of challenging but I don't feel that I know

Sailor Mune

2:04

how long does Murakami need to mash before white sox fans can take a victory lap on the rest of the league (& baumann)

Ben Clemens

2:05

i mean, for me, 0 days. I think the validity of the experiment has already been proven. If he was completely overmatched/unable to play in the majors, which I feel like was some of the basic reasoning in the 'this was not a great signing' camp, we'd know

if he's capable of doing what he did over the first three days, it was clearly at least worth taking a chance on him

War2D2

2:05

Small-sample theater, but I think it’s fun that Trout leads all batters in ABS challenges and, crucially, correct ABS challenges.

Naylor Sailor

2:05

First series takeaway: Brendan Donovan is awesome.

Judge

2:05

How washed am I? My career is even more over than it was after April of 2024, right?

Ben Clemens

2:06

love one-series-in takes. and like... the second one is just a true thing, regardless of sample size

Phil

2:06

I know it's three games, I really do, and obviously Contreras and Durbin aren't this bad, but it's sure looks like the Sox could be exactly what we all feared, with most of the offense concentrated in too many outfielders. Are they stuck this way until July? They moved fast last year, granting that Yoshida is no Devers and is not going to have the same demand, even if he's hitting on the rare occasions that he plays.

Ben Clemens

2:06

I mean.... they could move Yoshida tomorrow. All it takes is eating his entire contract and not asking for anything in return

I guess I'd say that I'm not quite sure what else they'd do. Like, they're not trading Yoshida for a contributing infielder

2:07

they could free up some roster space by moving him, and maybe they'll do that. but I think they built the roster this way and are just going to see what happens with it

Oaktown Blues

2:07

The A's struck out 50 times in 3 games. Jacob Wilson already has 13% of his 2025 K total. Pretty demoralizing opening weekend

Ben Clemens

2:07

rough weekend for northern california

Ben from DC

2:07

It's been three games and he did homer, but talk me off the ledge for James Wood strikeout concerns?

Ben Clemens

2:07

it's been three games and he did homer

bndj88

2:07

I'll join what I'm assuming to be a chorus in your chat saying I can't wait for leaderboards related to ABS usage, and more tactical discussions, all of it. I've liked it so far!

Oaktown Blues

2:08

I'm pretty shocked how much I dislike the ABS challenge system so far. Now when a bad call goes against my team, I'm not only annoyed with the umpire, I'm also annoyed with the player who didn't challenge. I expected to like this system but it's just frustrating me instead

Ben Clemens

2:09

well that's kind of amazing

I'm into it so far but I do understand that feeling

bndj88

2:09

A Gunnar extension is completely impossible, don't even think about it? Is there anything you think could get it done?

Ben Clemens

2:09

I mean, basically no

Sirras

2:09

Ben, was the Lindor send overly aggressive or in line with the "stop being so conservative, third base coaches!" thinking that is gaining momentum in analytical circles?

It certainly looked ugly

Ben Clemens

2:09

I thought it was bad

But because of a lack of consideration of game state, basically

2:10

I can't tell you how likely he was to succeed there. But I don't really see the profit in it

Kwanbelievable

2:10

CHASE. DELAUTER.

Ben Clemens

2:10