JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/11/26

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/11/26

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Sid the Astros Kid

2:12

Second question, I am going to Dallas for a trip during the summer months, would you recommend the more personal feel of a milb game with the Frisco RoughRiders (never been to a milb game), or go to a Rangers game?

Ben Clemens

2:12

oh man.... minor league for me if you've never been, and by a lot

I love minor league baseball, it's actually why I got into baseball in the first place

I'd say make sure the weather isn't crazy, but other than that

OW

2:12

I really like DeLauter using Take Me Home, Country Roads and Bazzana using Down Under as their walk up songs. What would be your geographically appropriate walkup song?

Ben Clemens

2:13

ooh, good question

2:14

I think I'd go with some random California song, of which there are many. Maybe the Freichswimmer California Dreamin' remix? That's on my running playlist

2:15

being from Tennessee or Virginia just doesn't come with as many songs that I associate myself strongly with. I wasn't from the Nashville area, and all my favorite Virginia artists are from the Pharrell/Clipse/Missy Elliott/Timbaland Virginia Beach area contingent, which is not where I'm from

bosoxforlife

2:15

One of the intriguing features of the 2026 season has been the remarkable resurgence of the bunt. Both for base hits against the shift and, especially, as a way to get a man in from 3rd with less than 2 outs. I believe it is because teams, the Rays notably, have recognized that excessive swing and miss has made scoring that man much more difficult. How do you see it?

Ben Clemens

2:15

I have been trying to figure out how to write about all the safety squeezes the Rays are doing

it's really noticeable

360 Skubal No Scope

2:15

what the hell is a Skubal Scope

Ben Clemens

2:15

that whole interview, omg

2:16

I was getting Doctor Nik from the Simpsons vibes from Boras

Farhandrew Zaidman

2:16

Are walk up songs more for the player or more for the crowd?

Ben Clemens

2:16

I think it varies a lot by person. But I'd want to try to pick a middle ground

I think the crowd getting into it is a big part, but I'd want it to also hype me up

2:17

For yeras, when people have asked me what my walkup song would be, I've said the beat to Tipsy by J-Kwon (not the Shaboozey version)

because that clap beat start gets me hyped, and I'm pretty sure it would get the crowd going too

bosoxforlife

2:17

I spoke about this last week. Andruw Monasterio continues to look like a major league player. His AB's are solid and absolutely deserves a spot over the unthinkably poor Story. It is shocking to see the Red Sox continue on this path.

Ben Clemens

2:18

yeah, I mean, this is the easiest thing to do for now. They're just using him vL exclusively and giving the off days to Mayer more often than not, but that can change

it's wild to me that Story keeps batting in the middle of the lineup, though

Marquayne

2:19

Who's your favorite obscure cardinal from the early 90s? Gregg Jeffires, Milt Thompson, Rex Hudler, Rheal Cormier, Bob Tewksbury?

Ben Clemens

2:19

Brian Jordan, although maybe he's not obscure enough to qualify

2:20

I also have a strong memory of making the trip to StL to see Ozzie, only it was the transition year and Royce Clayton got the start

so him too?

Farhandrew Zaidman

2:20

Is Mickey Moniak a good player, a Coors merchant, or a little bit of both?

Ben Clemens

2:20

yeah, both

Look At This Sotograph

2:20

Is it possible the Skubal surgery doesn't hurt, or even increases his market value? If they are clearing "loose bodies" out of his elbow, that procedure assumedly won't have to be done again for a while. If he comes back this season and pitches well, might he be in better shape for the next few years than if he hadn't gotten the surgery?

Ben Clemens

2:20

mmmmm.... I mean, I'm not a doctor

So I'm very hesitant to take a strong stand here

2:21

But like.... no? That doesn't sound right to me

MilwaukeeBeerJays

2:21

Good after noon Ben. Hey if you were a Power Ranger, what colour would you be and why? Baseball.

Ben Clemens

2:22

So, I didn't have cable when Power Rangers were big, so my experience with them is mostly watching them at a friend's house (hi Ian, you're definitely not reading this). But uh.... Red Ranger, because red is my favorite color

Matthew

2:22

Orioles are giving Jackson Holliday looks at 3B now in his rehab, presumably because (1) Westburg is toast for 2026; and (2) their current roster construction has a bigger hole at 3B with Mayo's poor play than 2B with Jeremiah Jackson/Blaze Alexander. What do you think about Holliday trying 3B?

Ben Clemens

2:22

Yeah, do it

I mean, they could also just play Jackson at third

Westburg being likely down for the count is such a bummer to me

2:23

He's one of "My Guys" because I've always been pretty aggressive with his trade value ranking, but man, what a bummer. He's in the Lars Nootbaar category for me. The per-game numbers are awesome. Everyone would want a healthy Jordan Westburg. But also yeah, he just doesn't play enough

Tim

2:23

About Braves injury luck… Acuna is hurt, Kim hasn’t played yet, Murphy missed the first month, Strider missed the first month, Waldrep and Schwellenbach are still out… seems like they’ve still been injured just they’ve gotten (unsustainably) good performances from all their depth pieces

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