JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/17/23

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Ben Clemens

2:47

Oh yeah that was awful and dumb, I'm thinking about throwing it in my 5 things article this week

2:48

like, c'mon ump, use some discretion

Chris

2:48

Nolan Gorman will finish the year with higher WAR than any other Cardinal

Ben Clemens

2:48

I'm not a believer to that extent

but my fantasy team would definitely be happy

Oaktown Blues

2:48

3 of those Ruiz HBP came with 3 balls already, they were effectively walks

O's 'n Bohs

2:48

Is Felix Bautista's splitter the best pitch in baseball? 92% whiff rate, just 2/46 put in play, 15 Ks, and impeccable location. Combined with 100+ heat at the top of the zone.

Ben Clemens

2:49

I don't quite understand where the whiff rate is coming from, looks like pitch info has it at 80%, but yes, it's one of the best pitches in baseball

43.5% swinging strike rate, is that good?

2:49

Wait just saw that E Ruiz got hit 27 times last year in the minors. That's impressive

Ben Clemens

2:50

He's going to get hit a lot. He's not Locastro or anything but it's definitely a part of his skillset, just like Kolten Wong, to bring up AL West guys who need to get some OBP to make their games work

ENVB

2:50

I know that elbows and shoulders aren't exactly brains, but is there any reckoning for what being an MLB pitcher does to a guy's arm for the rest of their life, in the way that at least some people are finding fault with the NFL for damaging their players' health?

Ben Clemens

2:50

I dunno, I hestiate to say 'no we won't care about the damage we do to people' because that's a pretty dumb default stance to have, but these injuries feel categorically different to em

me*

JaysFanInLondon

2:51

Is Yusei Kikuchi a breakout or about to turn back into a pumpkin?

Ben Clemens

2:51

I'm sorry to say it, Jays fans, but I'm on 'turn back into a pumpkin'

nice fifth starter, probably not a ton more than that

2:51

What team has your opinion changed most on this year vs. preseason?

Ben Clemens

2:52

It's a cop out but the Rays

they're 14-2, it'd be silly for me not to have changed my opinion

They have looked really good, in both small sample and quick-stabilizing ways

and if Franco is breaking out this year, wow

that'd be fun

Runner up: the Pirates

2:53

loving the Cutch resurgence, I don't think they're a playoff team but they're a lot more fun than I expected

Andrew Vaughn

2:53

Vaughn's launch angle keeps going down despite his alleged efforts to raise it. Do you think it's a matter of velocity and just getting bat to ball? Why explanations exist for his angle going in the wrong direction?

Ben Clemens

2:53

I truly do not know

2:54

I do think that it's early to reach any sweeping conclusions, but obviously you don't come to a baseball chat at an analytical website to get 'ignore the data' as an answer

bosoxforlife

2:54

Ben, you need to look up Ron Hunt. He dove in front of Drysdale fastballs to get hit. 7 straight seasons leading the league including 50 one year.

Ben Clemens

2:55

wow that 50 hbp year is really something

nice .279/.402/.358 line with a 9% walk rate

2:56

that said, Drysdale is not famous for NOT hitting batters

so I would imagine that some of those fastballs Hunt wore would have hit anyone

I have a complicated relationship with high-HBP guys. There's a fine line between neat and unheralded skill and exploit

Jake S

2:56

Is there any science behind what part of the ball is best to hit? Assuming all things are equal (EV, LA, etc.), does it matter if you hit a seam, the horseshoe leather, some other part? There's no way you could actually impact that, of course, but still would be interesting (maybe just to me alone).

Ben Clemens

2:57

I've never seen any, but if I do I'll try to mention it in the chat, because I also find that very interesting

2:58

Alright, gotta go get some lunch going, and hopefully finish watching this darn red sox angels game