JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/17/21

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/17/21

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Ben Clemens

3:06

I'd say yes. I'm not really sure why the Reds would make that trade given that India is already contributing-ish on the ML roster

Trea Turner

3:06

I'm just stuffing cash into bags every time I step up to the plate this season right? Feels like I should be getting top market as a legit superstar on an extension.

Ben Clemens

3:06

Oh yes

3:07

The biggest issue is that this is a crappy year for extensions, what team wants to sign that before this looming CBA

As an aside, a friend of mine and I made a bet on Trea Turner's WAR vs. Tommy Pham's WAR in 2018

This was after Pham's breakout 2017 and Turner having a down year

3:08

Pham was awwwwwful in STL so I gave up on it, then he put up 2.6 WAR in 39 games in Tampa and almost won it for me

So I probably still overrate Turner b/c of the sting of losing that one

The stakes? A night of drinks in New York, so colossally high

Derek

3:08

The Rays have like, 14 long term options at SS, which I think means they have at a long term option at 3B by default!

Ben Clemens

3:09

Yeah, if the Rays are trying to call up Franco and Brujan this year, one of them is probably playing third

3:10

If you think that Brandon Lowe is going to get converted into parts, b/c Tampa, then I suppose you could say that they don't have an obvious third baseman after this year

But I like Kevin Padlo quite a bit, and I also like the way they manufacture 3B in general

Ben Cherington

3:10

I see Golf Digest did a piece on the Machado slide.

Ben Clemens

3:11

I can't tell if this is a joke I'm not getting, but I sure hope it's not and they're just covering it unironically

Ryan Zimmerman

3:11

What position player do you think would be a reasonable add for the Nats? Doesn't feel like they have any huge holes if Bell rebounds to acceptable, but also they don't really have anyone GOOD besides Soto and Turner.

Ben Clemens

3:12

The Nats have a specific problem: they have a huge pile of blah hitters

3:13

Also they're limited defensively in a lot of cases

Makes it hard to upgrade and also the pieces don't work that well together

3:14

I'm down on the Nats this year, in case you couldn't tell by that answer

jj

3:14

You don't think Yandi can move back to 3B?

Ben Clemens

3:15

I do think he can, which is why I don't consider 3B a hole. I think they consider him more of a platoon guy there, the defense isn't stellar, but there's nothing wrong with that

Derek

3:15

lol it's real Manny Machado, now sliding into guys 20 feet from base, officially confirmed as dirty player | This is the Loop | GolfDigest.com

Ben Clemens

3:15

lol

what

jj

3:16

Ohtani and Al Reyes, both getting by with lots of walks, Ks and somehow very few hits. John Gant trying to be them without as good of stuff and you can see it coming off the rails for him. Do you think Ohtani and/or Reyes will figure out how not to walk batters and still be able to keep hits down and Ks up?

Ben Clemens

3:17

Yeah, Ohtani and Reyes are making it work b/c they're unhittable

If John Gant can become unhittable, he should strongly consider doing it ASAP

Incidentally, John Gant is the subject of my favorite article I've ever written

3:18

https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2018/7/30/17628794/john-gants-descent-int...

3:19

But I do think that Reyes and Ohtani will lower their walk rates. Reyes in particular is doing a bit of a Driveline short-arm now and I can imagine it taking a while to re-calibrate

Ben Cherington

3:19

Ben Cherington knows Golf Digest.

Aaron

3:19

The Machado stuff is a little gross. Chase Utley was admired for his tough, gritty play that contributed to team's success, even though his actions on slides fairly often crossed the line and could be considered against the rules (using forearms to hit fielders trying to complete the DP turn at the bad). Machado didn't break any rules and was at worst doing an Utley impression. No one says tough for Machado. They say dirty. Ridiculous.

Ben Clemens

3:19

I kind of agree with this point, with limits

3:20

I think that Chase Utley was pretty widely recognized to be right on the border of dirty

I don' think he would show his face at Citi Field, for example

There's literally a rule named after his dirty slide

Machado has gotten a worse rap than he deserves, I have no argument with that part of it

BringBackDeSpanielHair

3:21

Machado didn't have anywhere to go on that play, and he didn't want to take a throw to the face. Give him a break I say.

Ben Clemens

3:21

Yeah if this wasn't specifically Manny Machado I don't think it be a point of discussion ,but the play just LOOKED jarring

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