JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/27/20

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 4/27/20

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Ben Clemens

3:14

Well, third mainly I guess. I can't think of any dramatic outfield assists to second.

Seems like a baserunner being in play, either safe or out by a narrow margin, is important.

And defense in motion, as well.

Jeff

3:14

Maybe wrong chat but why do people prefer dogs to cats? Is it the need to be needed? My only problem with cars is the same as all animals in that they smell bad

Ben Clemens

3:14

I'm a dog person, but I like cats as well.

3:15

I think that dogs constantly being so happy to see you is a really nice upside.

Like if I'm feeling down, a dog is more likely to cheer me up than a cat.

But cats are also fun for different reasons -- they're just amusing to watch, you know?

I'm just pro-animal

Cliff on baseball

3:16

Did you collect baseball cards growing up and did you have a favorite?

Ben Clemens

3:16

Oh yes. In fact, one of the reasons I've enjoyed OOTP so much is because perfect team really replicates the feeling of cracking open a pack.

3:17

My favorite card as a kid? Probably an Ozzie Smith Padres card (from before I was born) that I got signed by him.

3:18

But second to that, a Carlos Delgado future star card that came out when he was just coming up with the Blue Jays.

He played a season in Double-A Knoxville and I probably went to 30 games.

He picked me up once! I was a little kid, and the players would chill and sign autographs for players before games.

3:19

I knew a little Spanish (took immersion classes), so I asked him for an autograph in crappy Spanish and he thought it was awesome.

I still have both of those cards, actually. The Ozzie card is in my office, the Delgado one is in a protective case at my mom's house.

David

3:20

Do you think there is a 'compromise stat' that traditionalists and advanced metrics types can agree on?

Ben Clemens

3:20

OPS basically

I think OPS is a really good stat

3:21

One of the hard things about coming up with metrics is how to balance accessibility, descriptive power, and reliability.

OPS is just a great blend of the three -- OBP and SLG are easy enough to calculate, and 'hey add up numbers you'd see on a baseball card' is pretty accessible.

3:22

It's not as good as wOBA or wRC+ for descriptive power but it's close, same with predictive.

It's the kind of stat you can show on a screen, and your dad will get it but it will also tell you something.

(no offense dad! just a generic dad)

3:23

I still prefer wOBA for analysis because it's more cleanly doing what I want, but OPS is awesome and I think it should be on every scoreboard.

Steeve

3:23

Why is the value of a stolen base always 0.2 in wSB and previously in wOBA? Shouldnt it change with the run envieonment?

Ben Clemens

3:24

It should! I wasn't aware that it didn't.

I'll talk to Appelman about that at some point; that's weird.

Hey hey we want some Posey

3:25

Sorry but to be a dynasty you actually have to win a championship or two. How can the Dodgers be a dynasty when they had an actual dynasty in their own division just a few years ago?

Ben Clemens

3:26

Eh, we probably disagree on the meaning of dynasty, and in fairness I'd be happy saying that no teams in baseball right now are dynasties.

I'm not even really sure if the Giants count, because I value regular season success really highly.

But if the Giants don't count the Dodgers also don't.

3:27

The last clearly dynastic team in baseball was the late-90s Yankees, in my opinion.

The Cardinals at various points have come close but they were never consistently great.

3:28

I think that you probably need both regular season and postseason success to really be a dynasty.

Sam

3:29

As baseball has gotten more homogeneous from a front office and gameplay perspective, do you think that reduces the likelihood of dynasties?

Ben Clemens

3:29

Yeah, totally.

3:30

I think it also 'helps' that revenue is less coupled to winning than ever before.

Quotes extremely intended.

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