JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/15/24

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/15/24

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Ben Clemens

2:32

I mean, I don't think he's as bad as he's looked this year

.350 babip is rough, his command has continued to improve to my eyes

2:33

so I'll say no, I guess. But he was definitely at his best in last year's playoffs

liam

2:33

it's such a bummer that we're in the mindset of oh pitcher a is gonna break soon... as a pirates fan it's hard to be super excited about jones/skenes knowing that one or both will be down for a year plus at some point.

Ben Clemens

2:33

but think about it this way

every pitcher is like that

it's not unique to the Pirates guys

Tom

2:35

How doomed should I be about San Fransisco? Maybe not Snell but Lee (and the bats in general)

Ben Clemens

2:35

I don't think you should be completely out yet

it's early, and hey, they're only a game behind the A's in the standings!

2:36

I watch a lot of Giants games because I live out here, and I'd say this the pitching might be really good

Hicks has been a revelation, like you said it's too early to worry about Snell, Webb rocks

their offense doesn't need to be THAT great

Guest

2:36

Are you more surprised by the excellent start to the season for the Royals' rotation or the Red Sox' rotation? And relatedly, you think the Red Sox have a WC run in them?

Ben Clemens

2:36

hmmmmmmmmmm

2:37

I wrote both blurbs, and i think I said 'the Sox rotation is good but an injury will sink them' and 'the Royals are underrated by this metric by a lot'

but I think I'm still more surprised by the Royals

like, the Red Sox look like they should have a good rotation when everyone's healthy. The Royals have Ragans, but the rest of the guys behind him have all been surprisingly good

bosoxforlife

2:37

The time is coming when the Orioles have to begin to make some moves. Cowser looks like he has made the adjustment and Kierstad and Mayo are screaming with their bats that they belong in the Show but I don't see an easy way for Elias to get any value out of his surplus veterans. How does sending Mountcastle, Hays, Meteo and Santander to the White Sox for Crochet sound?

Ben Clemens

2:37

I mean, it sounds great to me if I'm the Orioles!

What in the world would the White Sox want with those guys though?

2:38

I suppose Mountcastle will still be around for a bit

party

1

Santander is a free agent after this year, Hays and Mateo after next year

2:39

This White Sox team is not going to play a meaningful game in that timeframe

jas

2:39

Is Jordan Walkers future at 1B, assuming Goldschmidt is how he looks right now? He came up a CI, so presumably he can field a ground ball, and I can't imagine the Cardinals will be clamoring to bring Goldschmidt back

Ben Clemens

2:39

Why wouldn't it be in the outfield?

he's improved by a ton

and he has all the physical tools. The reason he was so bad is that he's basically never ever played outfield in his life.... or hadn't before his callup, I mean

2:40

86th percentile sprint speed, huge arm... he should be able to handle right field

Guest

2:40

Is Goldy toast? Or even turning a golden brown?

Ben Clemens

2:41

I'm not all that worried about him yet, he's been such a hot and cold guy throughout his career. the biggest thing that would change my mind on that front is some bat speed data

his plate discipline looks pretty similar to always, he's swinging slightly more like he's pressing but that's about it. contract rate is dowon a smidge but not terrifyingly so. If he's just making less powerful swings, though, I'd flip things around and get very worried

SanDiegoChicken

2:41

No shortage of good rookies named Jackson. Any surprise regarding the least hyped of the bunch -- Jackson Merrill -- and how well his bat has played so far?

Ben Clemens

2:42

He's been compared to Michael Brantley for so long that I suppose I'm not surprised to see him hit like Michael Brantley

I'm SHOCKED by how good he's looked in center though

TomBruno23

2:44

I think Goldschmidt will probably be fine in 2024. Arenado, on the other hand...

Ben Clemens

2:44

Yeah, I hate to say it but I'm in the same boat

I go on Bernie Miklasz's excellent radio show from time to time (come hang out, Jay Jaffe makes periodic appearances too I believe) and he basically asked me this question

I am more worried about Arenado b/c his approach just looks so different

I kind of think he's hurt, tbh

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