JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/19/22

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Ben Clemens

2:20

They're amazing

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/corey-kluber/2429/pitch-type-splits?...

Here's Kluber's slider

at his peak, it had more than 10 inches of horizontal movement as we calculate it

and very little vertical movement aside from gravity

2:21

So yeah, excellent example

That was a classic 'what the heck do we call this pitch?' pitch too

5 Run Homer

2:21

So far, my under-the-radar favourite Blue Jay this season has been Santiago Espinal. Great 2B defence, hitting the ball way harder than last year, he’s always made lots of contact, feels like the perfect player to lengthen the lineup a bit. What do you see in him?

Ben Clemens

2:22

I'm not sure I buy into the power, but I liked him before the season, so his start is definitely not making me like him less

solid eye, solid contact skills, plus defender

2:23

I don't completely buy into him being a giant power hitter now but he doesn't have to be

That kind of profile is just already decent

Sultan of Seitan

2:24

Gavin Lux. Best Post Hype Sleeper this year?

Ben Clemens

2:24

I think so, but that's a generous definition of sleeper

2:25

He's a really good hitter, to the point where the Dodgers were willing to let him play centerfield with no experience to get his bat in the lineup

and that was last playoffs

I think that rumors of his post-hypeness have been greatly exaggerated

Nate

2:25

What do you think of CJ Abrams? Has been rough so far but still early. Do you think he finds his footing this year?

Ben Clemens

2:25

I'm a bit worried, but mainly on the plyaing time front

2:26

Haven't really had enough observations to opine on anything else. He's too swing-happy so far, and hasn't had great ball/strike recognition, but I think you can attribute some of that to getting this unexpected callup and pressing

2:27

Just not enough data to say anything else. But they have a lot of capable shortstops and Tatis is coming back so it's a tough spot

Inaccessible Rail

2:27

Is anyone going to sign Conforto?

Ben Clemens

2:27

Yeah, but at this point, probably after the June 15 cutoff (I think June 15?) for comp picks

DyNastyGirl

2:27

I'm similarly concerned with CJ Abrams playing time. Any idea what's going on there? Shouldn't he be getting full time ABs either in AAA or MLB?

Ben Clemens

2:28

Yeah I would be playing him full-time in AAA personally. That said, they've gotten better about it

2:29

He played six games in a row before their off day yesterday

5 Run Homer

2:29

Roki Sasaki’s last two outings are the greatest <20 inning stretch in baseball history, right? I know it’s not MLB but it’s so insane

Ben Clemens

2:29

Uh, yes

Guest

2:29

With many folks attributing the true impact of the third time through penalty to the familiarity effect, it seems to me like the next big player dev breakthrough could come in the form of AR/VR Modelling what it looks like to stand in the box against a particular pitcher and see each of their pitches.

Ben Clemens

2:29

I like the idea of this quite a bit

This is a HUGE step down from that but the O's broadcast noted that the Rays take starter arm slot into account in BP

2:30

or in the machines they use?

I forget the exact way they said it, but htey'd just seen it on the field during warmups

Appa Yip Yip

2:30

How do you feel about those umpire scorecards? Useful or needlessly rage inducing for fans?

Ben Clemens

2:30

Closer to the second, though I must admit I look at them too

Benny and the Mets

2:32

Saw some hype for the Lourdes Gurriel Jr. breakout this spring. Let’s just say he DOES go 90th percentile… what’s that stat line look like? Need to decide if I prefer him over Joey Gallo in a points league

Ben Clemens

2:33

Good Lourdes is probably something like good Jorge Polanco

2:34

sneaky power! strikes out less than average, walks a respectable amount, not necessarily a power hitter but someone who still racks up doubles and sneaks homers in

Derek

2:34

Any teams or players emerging as early MLB.tv go-tos so far this year?

Ben Clemens

2:34

I've found myself watching a lot of the Brewers to kind of gawk at how fun their pitchers are and how inept their lineup can be at times

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