JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/16/22

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Ben Clemens

2:51

Couldn't agree more. I think that's what was so fun about it. They really didn't need the best there, they needed an inning. And I'm sure Pujols badly wanted to do it

WHy not let him?

The Great Giambino

2:51

How is it possible for Ernie Clement to have 0.1 WAR despite collectively being worth -1.5 runs combining baserunning, offense, and defense? Am I interpreting those incorrectly?

Ben Clemens

2:52

Those numbers are relative to average. WAR is relative to replacement level, which is a good bit below average

In a 600-PA season, an average player will be, give or take, 18 runs better than replacement level

Gallo

2:53

After all the complaining about gallo he’s back to a 114 WRC+. I think he’s just streaky and get to that WRC+ in a not very convincing way

Ben Clemens

2:53

It is a REALLY unconvincing way of getting to it. I totally agree with that. It doesn't feel like he's an above average hitter even when he's hitting above average

Morbo

2:54

I think my favorite part of Pujols pitching was Evan Longoria asking for the ball after he got the first hit ever off of Pujols. (I watched the replay)

Ben Clemens

2:54

Great right??

I really like that everyone was having fun with it. The Giants didn't feel disrespected, they were just excited to get to hit against Albert Pujols

The Great Giambino

2:54

Ah, relative to average makes sense, thanks! Still wild that somebody with a 65 wRC+ can be better than replacement level, but defense is the great equalizer

Ben Clemens

2:55

Yeah exactly. I"m not sure if he'll keep being above replacement level. You have to be pretty good with the glove to make up for hitting that poorly. But for now, he's treading water

Insert Witty Name Here

2:55

With the dead ball, is Trea Turner now a 10-15 HR guy?

Ben Clemens

2:56

I would assume so. He popped 19 homers in 2019, 19 in 2018, both in fairly full seasons with a livelier ball

He's not really hitting the ball harder now than he did then, and not really elevating more consistently or anything

2:57

I don't think he'll continue with this year's 3.2% HR/FB, but 10-15 sounds like a reasonable landing place to me. Maybe 15-20 at the high end

Pitchingstan

2:57

Brett Phillips has a 46 wRC+ and is worth .3 war. Baseball is fun.

Some Guy

2:57

Who is the player you most want to see break out?

Ben Clemens

2:58

Brendan Rodgers

I don't think it's going to happen! It pretty much looks like it's not going to happen

But man do I want it to. Loud tools, seems like he could hit for really high average, great fit for Coors.... and yeah it just keeps not happening

Skubal

2:59

Who is the best starter on the Tigers going forward? Mize and Manning just look so bad

Ben Clemens

2:59

Oh, E Rod for me

Stache

2:59

I love Nestor Cortes, that is all

Ben Clemens

2:59

As should we all

Nestor is just really great fun to watch in addition to being wildly effective so far this year

Curtis

3:00

Is being relegated to DH giving a significant boost to Harper's hitting? Seems like he's been on a heater... If accurate, what does this mean for his future, health and all?

Ben Clemens

3:01

I don't think that being relegated to DH has improved his hitting, per se, but I do think that not playing the field while banged up is really helping him. Harper has a long reputation (aside from his walk year in DC) as playing too hard and endangering his health as a result. I think that the option to plug him into DH when he's banged up is realllly helpful. He's just a guy who will get nagging injuries based on style of play, in my opinion

Now, does it hurt that Philly already has 3 DH's who aren't Harper? Yeah, it's not great! But I think the option to plug him in at DH when necessary to preserve his body while getting access to his bat is a big tailwind to his career numbers

Armadillofury

3:01

More of an observation than a question - Moncada looks jacked this year and looks like he's trying to hit it 450 ft on every swing

Ben Clemens

3:02

love it. He's HUGE right now. Must have spent his entire time on the IL lifting 8 hours a day or something. Moncada has always been physically imposing but WOW

Tork

3:02

Why not send Torkelson down? This is brutal to watch

Ben Clemens

3:03

He's hitting the ball really hard, they're not exactly in a playoff race, and I dunno, are you just dying to see Harold Castro at second and Schoop at first? What's gained by sending him down instead of letting him hit big league pitching?

3:04

Imagine being sad your team's best prospect is up, not really how I'd feel about it if my team were trying to turn things around after a while in the wilderness

Mike

3:04

Which big name player are you most worried about?

Ben Clemens

3:04

Walker Buehler

3:05

I'm pretty worried about his fastball, it comes up in pretty much every chat at this point. His numbers haven't suffered overly much, but it feels to me like a situation where he's gotten a ton better at the art of pitching, which is helping to compensate for a big dip in stuff

So if the ball starts to carry more, or he just gets a little wild, he could be in for a dip. Now, if the stuff comes back, then it's all gravy. But I'm definitely in worry mode

namiki

3:05

Is a hitter like Daniel Vogelbach, who doesn't swing even with Heart, undesirable as an approach?

Ben Clemens

3:06

I think so. It's rare that you get a hitter who is too passive - swings in general lose value - but Vogelbach I think goes too far

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