JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/12/23

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Ben Clemens

2:50

already*

2:51

I don't think Helsley's injury is going to move the needle that much, but it's June and they're 8 games out, a wild card isn't likely to save them either

M Olson

2:51

Why does he bat 2nd? I know new age lineup configuration has guys hitting in spots they’ve never done before, but he is striking out more than anyone. That’s not a typical 2 hitter. I guess it’s an if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it situation?

Ben Clemens

2:51

oh 100%

2:52

"have your best hitter bat second" is the strategy that gets an analytics seal of approval, but Acuna makes enough sense as a leadoff hitter that "bat your second-best hitter second" is more like what the Braves should be doing

2:53

it seems to me like htey have 4 or 5 guys who could maybe count as that, so it's hard for me to be too upset as long as one of those guys hits second

maybe you could move olson down to 4th and bat riley or murphy 2nd or something? feels like a very marginal upgrade, if it even is one, though

bosoxforlife

2:53

People seem to be surprised that the D'Backs are playing so well. Isn't that what is supposed to happen when you add a ture superstar to the middle of your order and Is Carroll going to become the next Fred Lynn?

Ben Clemens

2:53

Shout out to Meg, who picked them as a big surprise in the NL west before the year

2:54

Carroll is awesome, and Gallen is having a dream season

I will say that I'm surprised by how well they're doing anyway, though

Even with Gallen, this is not a good pitching staff, and I don't really believe a lot of the hitting performances (non-Carroll division, Carroll is great)

Guy Who Asks The Multiple Choice Question

2:55

What is the best type of hog?

a) Hedgehog
b) Groundhog
c) Puck hog

Ben Clemens

2:55

ball hog, I guess, so C?

Didace

2:55

Tactical errors by the manager are only apparent looking back. How many times does the pitcher get through the inning with no runs and save an inning for the bullpen? You can't manage backwards.

Ben Clemens

2:56

I do agree that tactical errors are over-diagnosed. I disagree that they are only apparent looking back

Sad Fan

2:56

Are the Mariners toast? Basically everyone on the offensive side except Kelenic has to varying levels regressed, disappointed, or fell flat on their face.

Ben Clemens

2:57

No, but only because the Astros haven't torn the cover off the ball. Catching one team that's way out in front (Rangers) is easier than catching two

that said, they need to get moving NOW if they're gonna do it

John b

2:57

How do you feel about " openers " and how do you think MLB thinks about openers?

Ben Clemens

2:58

I think that if Rob Manfred could answer you honestly, he'd say he hates openers

whether or not they're good strategy, they're awful theater

Farhandrew Zaidman

2:58

Follow up on Adames - he's an UFA after 2024, and seems primed to get one of those mega SS deals (maybe Javy Baez as the baseline). Is there anything in the Brewers' history that indicates they are even mildly interested in that?

Ben Clemens

2:59

Perhaps not, but I think they'll do their best to extend him, and I think that the same can no longer be said about Burnes after his arbitration debacle

Re: low z-swing hitters

2:59

True or False, Nootbaar is really just a fancy Voegelbach? They’re both near the bottom of the league in z-swing (min 140 PAs to get vogey in there), hitting a ton of grounders. Pitchers are responding to Nootbaar by giving him a huge increase on zone%, while he’s just swinging less. Can we just admit that Nootbaar is passive instead of patient, just like vogelbach?

Ben Clemens

3:02

I'm obviously biased as a big Nootbaar fan, but I don't really see it. Vogelbach hasn't posted a zone swing rate as high as nootbaar's new lower rate in the past 5 years. He's also a much lower contact guy than Nootbaar. Plus, if you're gonna walk because of your approach, I'd rather have Nootbaar on the basepaths than Vogey

and then there's the matter of defensive value

that said, I agree that he could use a bit more aggression in his game

3:03

this year has been hard to judge because he keeps getting injured, and honestly the batted ball data looks pretty good still

but I'd like to see him hunt pitches to drive more frequently

broten

3:03

As great as Brito has looked in the minors, are the Guards going to regret letting Nolan Jones go? He has hit 2/3 of the homers hit by the entire Cleveland OF this season in like 3 weeks.

Ben Clemens

3:03

I think so, if only for positional reasons

John b

3:04

If you are the GM of one of the many teams that could win a wild card (but not a Division) would you go for it or reload? It seems winning the division is the only reason I would buy

Ben Clemens

3:04

I'd go for it but I'm a go for it kind of guy

coors lightyear

3:04

do the red sox have good starting pitching

Ben Clemens

3:04

I don't think so

I don't think they're awful, exactly

3:05

But they don't have anyone I think is excellent (Bello maybe?) and they're also not particularly deep

Hildebeast

3:05

Is Vlad Guerrero Jr really this unlucky? Looking at his stats over the course of his career it's getting trickier to believe he's going to be the next Miguel Cabrera.

Ben Clemens

3:06

I think the argument that Vlad is getting unlucky this year in particular is easy to make

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