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Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/8/23

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stevietheshu

2:22

What are your thoughts about Seika Suzuki ROS?

Ben Clemens

2:22

So, here's a big grain of salt: I didn't realize how bad he'd been so far

but uh, I still like him! I think he's a really good hitter

Oaktown Blues

2:23

Kinda crazy the number of former A's having career years: Murphy, Chapman, Heim, Mateo, Luzardo, Muncy, even Sonny Gray! maybe someone should see if Khris Davis has anything left in the tank...

Ben Clemens

2:23

William Contreras, almost

The A's are awesome, depending on how you define 'The A's'

LeBeef

2:23

Michael Conforto - what's up with him? Do you have confidence in a return to form?

Ben Clemens

2:23

Here, my worry-meter is HIGH HIGH HIGH

2:24

missing this much time and then looking really strikeout-prone when you come back is understandable, but it does not give me hope that he's going to quickly improve this year

2:25

I think he'll be fine eventually, I don't see any fatal flaws and the bat speed looks to mostly be back from the Giants games I've watched (many), but yeah, turns out taking that much time off might not be great

Good for him that he signed a contract with a player option, he can double down on pillow contracts if need be

Sharp

2:25

Marcell Ozuna is back. Props to the Braves for sticking with him. That is a scary good team.

Ben Clemens

2:26

Marcell Ozuna has a 70 wRC+ this year. It's true that he's been good in his last six games, but let's wait for sliiiiiightly longer to declare victory, shall we?

asnbrv

2:26

Luis Garcia has taken massive steps in swing decisions, but so far nothing to show for in the production. Do you think there is any thing there?

Ben Clemens

2:26

Yeah I'm in

2:27

Assuming we're talking about the Nats 2b

I'm still waiting on the power to show up, but I think it's going to

Liz

2:28

Does Oli Marmol have a communication problem and/or is he on the hot seat in STL? I was less than impressed with his comments about Tyler O'Neill a few weeks ago, and this whole Contreras situation looks like a trainwreck.

Ben Clemens

2:28

I would have said no before this whole Contreras thing

Now, I think it's an easy yes

2:29

I agree that I don't think the O'Neill thing was handled well, but I was willing to chalk that up to a team that really has no experience with losing

But now I feel like things have transitioned into flailing

Does he have a communication problem? I'm guessing from the outside, but I mean, it doesn't seem GREAT that the team keeps throwing players under the bus

John

2:30

I'm confused... Is the fangraphs audio podcast over? Will it ever come back? I really enjoyed it

Ben Clemens

2:30

Due to Dylan Higgins's departure, we're between editors for it. But it'll be coming back

I still want to finish the backstories series, I was really enjoying it

Carlos Rodon

2:30

Am I back in the rotation before July?

Ben Clemens

2:30

before July? looking unlikely at this point

Guest

2:30

Favorite HR team celebration? The big hat to me was a bit lamer than the Mariners’ trident.

Ben Clemens

2:31

I think these have gone a little bit too far. Like, I love a good fun celebration but these are starting to feel contrived, like teams feel they have to do them because other teams also do

My favorite right now is probably the Arozarena pose

It still feels organic and joyful in a way that 'hey let's get out a samurai helmet' does not

tortycraig

2:32

o/u 6 weeks before Steven Matz gets Mike Leaked in return for a low-A reliever prospect?

Ben Clemens

2:32

Heresy, I'm sure, but I'm still a Matz believer

2:33

Has he looked great? Not even a little

But uh, you want to use the pitchers BEHIND matz?

He didnt' walk anyone in his last start, and his sudden inability to pitch in the zone without getting clobbered is what had worried me the most

2:34

So I'm gonna say, provisionally, that he should try to face the Tigers more often, but also that he might have turned the corner

Oaktown Blues

2:34

Do you think JJ Bleday figured something out? Tore up AAA and is hitting in the majors in the tiniest of samples

Ben Clemens

2:34

I see we're asking a lot of questions about guys on my Ottoneu team today

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