JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/19/22

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Ben Clemens

3:02

I'll take the Mets but it's really close

3:03

I trust Megill and Carrasco a bit more than Cobb/DeSclafani

(very debatable obviously)

I'd take the Giants' top two over the Mets for now

it's just realllly close

Morbo

3:03

"Dodgers and Braves are rivals" this reminds me how Royals fans have told me that the Cardinals and the Royals are rivals. They aren't Cardinals fans don't even think about the Royals unless it to laugh at the fact that Mike Matheny is their coach for some reason. Now the Cubs on the other hand. They live rent free in our heads

Ben Clemens

3:03

Rent free!

why? Oh why

3:03

Do we see the same 8-9 people with multiple questions and some with none?

Ben Clemens

3:03

Probably because they're asking 8000000 questions, haha

Farhandrew Zaidman

3:03

Do you think we're going to start seeing more starting pitchers throw 50%+ breaking balls a la Kershaw? Seems like the conventional wisdom these days is throw your best pitch the most, setup be damned.

Ben Clemens

3:04

Oh yes, for sure

I really like the idea, too

It doesn't work for everyone, obviously

If your best pitch is a splitter you bounce, you can't throw it 60% of the time

But I think that pitchers with secondaries they can locate for strikes at least some of the time should be more willing to do so

chilly

3:04

what should the panic level be on a guy like sano. i was hoping to hear best shape of his life articles in spring but alas that wasnt the case. but he did a base somehow

Ben Clemens

3:05

Panic level for me on Sano is like a 3 out of 10

he has a .053 BABIP which is just unbelievable

3:06

still hitting the ball hard; I'm worried by how often he's been under the ball and popping up but encouraged that he's showing improving selectiveness at the plate

Boston Yellow Sox

3:06

Relatedly: Favorite City Connect design so far? I'm a huge fan of the Astros design that just came out

Ben Clemens

3:06

The Astros one is good, I also like the Cherry Blossom Nats one

3:07

that said I've been to the cherry blossom festival countless times so I'm predisposed to like it

Buttcheex

3:07

Any worry about Votto or will he fix himself again like 2021 2nd half?

Ben Clemens

3:07

I'm worried, unfortunately

3:08

Not b/c of his line, per se

But b/c he's old and that's scary by itself

he had a super hot spring, which I didn't put much stock into

and I'm not putting too much stock into this early slump

But I'm just always going to be worrie

at his age and with his skillset, if he started making less contact it could be tough

Owen H

3:09

Can the Cubs make Hoerner and Madrigal work in the middle infield long term?

Ben Clemens

3:09

Nah, I don't thikn so. I don't buy Hoerner as a real long-term shortstop

And I definitely don't buy Madrigal there long-term

Hoerner as kind of a super-utility guy maybe? I'm also kinda down on Wisdom so he could get plenty of time at third

Morbo

3:09

Re Votto I feel like the most concerning sign is his sub 10% walk rate

Ben Clemens

3:10

Yeah; I think that contact rate has a lot to say about that

Votto's two strike approach is very defensive; if he's coming up empty on those swings it's harder for him to walk

Let go mets baby!

3:10

Nester Cortes will clearly sustain his 16 K per 9

Ben Clemens

3:10

Another candidate for most fun delivery

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