JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/20/20

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Out of shape?

2:45

Who wants a season more, the owners or the players?

Ben Clemens

2:45

Hm. Probably owners?

But I don't feel all that certain of that. Depends on what discussions they've had with their TV partners.

Friar Fatness

2:46

Which position players should the Padres most aggressively target this offseason? Betts? Springer? Trade for Jose Ramirez?

Ben Clemens

2:46

I'm not really sure if they have the financial muscle to go after Betts, but he'd be my pick for sure.

Hosmer again!

Curses

2:47

If J Ram is available, yeah, I wouldn't mind consolidating some prospects to trade for him. But I like the Betts plan more -- so maybe just grow some financial flexibility and sign Betts

There's an argument to be made that $/WAR is going to be way lower next year.

Recession and all

But then the team could afford less.

Not exactly sure what the net of all that is.

Derek

2:48

It is seeming increasingly unlikely that we have a season... It would be a massive undertaking and yeah, the leaving families behind thing would be absolutely brutal. Doesn't help that we have such a... erm... lack of direction? sure, a "lack of direction" from important political figures that should be a vital part in any decision to reopen anything.

Ben Clemens

2:48

Yeah, that's increasingly my view as well.

I'm not happy about it.

But golf needs a million tests to reopen

And like, golf!

And that's for 14 tournaments in 4 months

2:50

Baseball would need so many multliples of that it's hard to think about

Sammi from a Brooklyn park bench

2:50

More futile attempt at a baseball career Michael Jordan or Tim Tebow?

Ben Clemens

2:50

I'd say Jordan, though not because he was worse or anything.

It's because basketball was always going to call him back

Tebow's ceiling in football was midrange starter, not best ever.

2:51

I will say that I saw Jordan play (he played for the Birmingham Barons in the Southern League, and the Knoxville Smokies were my local team)

And it was hilarious to watch how fast he was in contrast with how bad he was at hte plate.

Treatment

2:53

A treatment that works is the only way I think we have a chance at not suffering under this foolishness for as long as we could. (And then they'll say it wasn't that bad!) There are some options that might work. Making it nondeadly would honestly be bmy best hope anyway, because not everyone takes vaccines...

Ben Clemens

2:54

Yeah, a treatment feels very far off though. And ugh, anti-vaxxers, just ugh.

I am going to leave it at that.

This chat keeps flirting with me doing social commentary :/

Pepper

2:55

Pablo Lopez. I watch him pitch and think I really like the cut of his jib. Then I see his middling numbers. Any real hope he can make a jump into top 35 of starters?

Ben Clemens

2:55

Yeah, for sure

2:56

I think that he's got the stuff to do it.

So it comes down to just mixing it up a little better.

I wouldn't hate fewer fastballs, even though his is great.

2:57

Good fastball good changeup is just such a nice building block for a starter.

Sammi from a Brooklyn park bench

2:57

Better shot at making #5 SP...Dobnak(Min), Kwang Kim (StL) or Sandoval (LAA)?