JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/11/20

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/11/20

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Ben Clemens

2:00

Hey everyone, and welcome to the chat.

2:01

I'm not exactly sure what my beat counts as anymore -- maybe KBO, maybe our fake Brewers, maybe old World Series? Board games, even? In any case, ask me anything that comes to mind - it feels like a good day for broad generalizations.

Danny Almonte’s fastball

2:01

how sure are we of Babe Ruth’s WAR totals? Obviously bonkers good. His body type seems like it may suffer from more accurate understanding of his UZR/DFS if it existed. The potential adjustment there is super high

Ben Clemens

2:02

Yeah, I'd say the error bars are huge. There are still defensive adjustments back then, based (I believe) on errors and some generalized zone rating, but yeah, for the most part, it's guesswork

I'm not sure it biases his WAR totals down.

So much as just makes them fuzzier.

I might actually be more skeptical of a player with huge defensive value.

2:03

But yeah, WAR is necessarily suuuuuper approximate about defense in the past.

Gashouse Gorilla

2:03

Given how states (and cities) will be reopening under different protocols, are you hearing anything about an adaptive approach to scheduling, such as changing venues, or flipping home and away to defer home games in more affected areas until later in the year?

Ben Clemens

2:04

Yeah, I think this will almost definitely happen. I haven't heard any specifics but every plan I've heard has contingencies for not everywhere being open. Pods in different cities, that kind of thing.

If they aren't taking this into account, there won't be games played. Regions are just going to have different plans.

2:05

But I'm confident that baseball will get *this* part of restarting right. I'm reasonably critical of the way the league has gone about this, but one thing they seem to understand is that they want baseball even if they can't play it everywhere.

Tacoby Bellsbury

2:05

Thanks for suggesting 7 Wonders Duel a couple months back as a great for-two game. I picked it up right before the pandemic closed everything. It's been fantastic. I have one complaint though: You've led me to acquire a game at which my wife routinely beats me. What should I do to regain the upper hand come board game time?

Ben Clemens

2:05

First of all, what a wonderful chat name.

High on my all-time chat name list.

As to the second, I'm not sure I can help you.

2:06

My wife has been on quite the hot streak of late as well.

We have been playing a lot of Can't Stop on boardgamearena

A game I highly suggest, by the way.

And she's been wiping the floor with me

Honestly, though, we tend towards co-op games. Maybe that's the solution. A little Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective makes everyone feel stupid together

Danny Almonte’s fastball

2:07

if you could merge any 2 pitchers together to form a super-pitcher, who would they be?

Ben Clemens

2:07

.Ooh, this is an awesome question.

I think I'll limit it to current players for now.

And I'll also say you can't hybridize a starter and a reliever.

2:08

Like some reliever with the stamina of Max Scherzer would be awesome.

2:09

Okay, starters only: let's say Gerrit Cole with Patrick Corbin's slider (and slow slider). I know it's not an incredibly exciting second player, but I think I'd want a slider to tack onto Cole and Corbin is just so much fun.

Smiling Politely

2:09

Did you see this news out of SK/the KBO? Not good :(

Recent spike in new COVID19 cases are making #KBO officials nervous. 2nd wave might be on its way and CDC/local gov’t officals are scrambling to contain new spread. KBO initially hoped to have the fans at games by early June, but that plan is not looking good now.

NEW: South Korea postpones reopening of schools by one week as health authorities scramble to contain new spike in #COVID19 cases linked to nightclubs in Itaewon

Ben Clemens

2:09

Yeah hoo boy, not a great sign.

2:10

We have our eyes on it, because this would be a real bummer

Sam

2:10

What matchups are on the schedule for this week's MLB the Show stream?

Ben Clemens

2:10

Hm, we usually pick them midweek.

Let's take a look, though, at what might be in the cards.

2:11

Friday has Brewers at Reds, which could be good in the right pitchin matchup.

Nats at DBacks, maybe? Cubs at Padres as well

Oooooh and Yankees at Astros, though we just had a Yankees game last week.

Maybe we'll ESPN it up though and just go full Yankee

Danny Almonte’s fastball

2:11

what do you think has the bigger effects on performance: weather on a given day, recent travel leading up to that day, sleep gotten the nights before, or Number of Cheetos consumed in the last week?

Ben Clemens

2:12

Danny Almonte is absolutely throwing some fastballs today

Loving these questions

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