JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/1/24

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2:30

Freddy Peralta was very strong during the 2nd half of last season and obviously impressive on Opening Day. Are you buying that he's taking a meaningful step forward?

Ben Clemens

2:30

ehhhh.... no, I think he's going to continue being very good though

2:31

so I think it depends on what you came in thinking

bosoxforlife

2:31

I was thinking that the White Sox and the A's were going to battle it out to see who won't reach 50 wins but do you think the Rockies, in the now very tough NL West, might be even worse?

Ben Clemens

2:31

I don't think the A's are THAT bad

I do think the White Sox might be. And yeah, the Rockies are a disaster. I think Rockies/White Sox will be the race to the bottom this year

Steve O

2:32

Stephan had TJS btw.

Ben Clemens

2:32

You know, I knew this, and I have no idea why I mentioned him in the present tense, but he was a great ratio helper for the lats two years

2:33

and he's a good exmaple of how they do a great job working with relievers to emphasize their strengths

but yeah, he's out! don't pick him up

Steve O

2:33

The reason for keeping Holliday down is clearly service time manipulation.

Ben Clemens

2:33

if that's the case, I think the Orioles are making a poor decision

but yeah, I do think you might be right

Rayray

2:33

Nolan Arenado is taking half swings and can only go oppo—cooked? injured? going thru it?

Ben Clemens

2:33

Injured I think, and bordering on going through it

2:34

but yeah I agree with you that it's a VERY good barometer

he's a pull only guy

when he's going oppo, something is not right

RTJ

2:34

Are the Cubs totally toasted without Steele for a while now?

Ben Clemens

2:34

No way!

I mean, obviously I'd prefer to have Steele

what a goofy injury, by the way

2:35

But I think that their offense is deep and rounded enough that they'll score a lot of runs and win games even when they don't have amazing starting

also, between Horton and Brown, they have some nice reinforcements coming up

Dan

2:35

When a teams playoff percentage goes up or down after a 3-0 or 0-3 start how much it the projection adjusting the teams assumed strength of schedule verse merely they now have only 159 games left and a multi game lead/deficit?

Ben Clemens

2:36

it's like .5% changes in expectation, 99.5% the deficit

it just really matters!

and meanwhile, unless there's an injjury, it's hard to learn that much that should change your long-term view of a player or team in three games

onomatopoeia

2:36

Shohei Ohtani is starting at DH for the Dodgers today. Do you think he is the next player the Dodgers staff helps break out ?