JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/13/22

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Ben Clemens

2:21

I think that people will be totally willing to play him at catcher, but that they'll also want to have a rotating DH type spot

so that his bat can be in the lineup even on days where he's not catching

2:22

So Houston is out, for example, even if they want a catcher upgrade

the Giants would be an intriguing fit, actually

Mike M

2:22

Hey Ben, The Dodgers are clearly in a slump. What do you think are the main causes?

Ben Clemens

2:23

Seems like they've just had a few of their good hitters hit a rough patch at once. I wouldn't read too much into it; baseball is up-and-down that way

James

2:23

How long does Bregman slug under .400 before Dusty moves him out of the 3 spot? He still walks plenty, why not lead him off?

Ben Clemens

2:24

Yeah, I like Bregman as a leadoff hitter quite a bit. I don' think the slugging is the end of the world, but his standout skill has always been getting on base. Seems like a 1 or 2 hitter to me

to be clear, it doesn't matter much at all which spot he's in if he's in the top 5. But I wouldn't be against shaking things up, and if you wanted to be perfectly optimal, you'd probably lead him off

Ozzie Smallbies

2:24

If the Cardinals did a D&D campaign, who would join and what would their role be?

Ben Clemens

2:25

I'm not a D&D player, so I only konw the stereotypes

but let's see: Adam Wainwright would be the most into character

Molina would be the DM and really chastise people for not playing the game the right way (read: role playing)

2:26

Yeah.... okay fine, I don't know enough about D&D to answer

Jay

2:26

Tommy Edman fascinates me. I had been thinking of him as a classic Cardinals "devil magic" guy who might be a tad underrated but is ultimately mostly average. However, he currently has the 7th most WAR in baseball and ZiPS ROS projections are placing him alongside guys like Harper, Acuña and Arenado in value. Is he... a star?

Ben Clemens

2:26

I think that Edman is more All Star than Harper/Acuna/Arenado territory, but I've been low on him since his debut

He's a standout defender, that much is obious

2:28

But I thought he was more 90-100 wRC+ with the bat. him being not embarrassing as a lefty hitter is a HUGE boost. I still think he's not a standout bat, but he's filled the Kolten Wong role really nicely, and perhaps with better offense

Spared No Expense

2:28

Re: Yordan - if the K% is here to stay then is he the best hitter in the league? Top 3?

Ben Clemens

2:28

Top 3 for sure; I think I'd probably take Trout and Soto over him by a hair still, but it's definitely getting close

Joshua

2:28

Can you mock what a fair and realistic trade return for Josh Bell and Nelson Cruz (individual separate deals) would actually look like? Thanks.

Ben Clemens

2:29

Cruz would be for a flyer. He seems to have righted the ship after just an abysmal start, but a DH-only bat who still isn't hitting for power and is owed a decent amount of money is just not a big trade chip these days

2:30

the team I foresee being most active at the trade deadline on the hitter side is the Giants (and maybe the Brewers?), so maybe he's a fit there, but I just don't buy them giving up a ton for a 41-year-old with okay numbers

2:31

For Bell, I dunno, something in the 40+ range? Would the Nats take, say, Blaze Jordan, to pick a random Boston name? Probably, and I think the Sox might be willing to surrender him

RTJ

2:32

Any thoughts on Kyle Martin's potential impact with SD later this year? Small sample size but already 2 HRs at AAA following a breakout in Mexico

Ben Clemens

2:32

It is 19 PA stateside; let's let him get to 50 before passing judgment

2:33

I don't know a ton about him, to be honest, but the Padres could use some 1b help, so I think that an above-average two months in AAA will earn him some major league time

Hurts him a bit that he's a lefty, since Hosmer is monopolizing that PT, but Hosmer is fading quickly

Derek

2:33

Related to the Bregman question: when will Jeremy Pena be allowed to hit higher in the order than 7th!?

Ben Clemens

2:34

it was big of Dusty to switch Kyle Tucker from 6th to 5th

I think that Pena to 6th will come next

The Astros are just not a switch-up-batting-order team. It's not a huge EV problem, fractions of runs at best, and so I am mostly okay with it. But yeah, Pena should hit higher. It's like when Tucker kept hitting 6th last year while being the best hitter on the team

Derek

2:35

Is there an appropriate way to handle a situation like in KC, where Carlos Santana is effectively blocking two top prospects (Pratto and Pasquantino), or does it just end up awkward no matter what? Is abruptly cutting him loose like the Angels (eventually) did with Pujols the cleanest way out?

Ben Clemens

2:35

There really isn't. You have to just pull the plug at some point

Dr. Grant

2:35

A month or so ago you predicted Jose Miranda to be "really, really good." He's shown since returning. Has your mind changed any on him since then?

Ben Clemens

2:37

I'm a bit worried by his approach; he's just swinging so early and often that it's hard for him to draw walks. But his carrying tool is that he sprays hard line drives, and I feel pretty good about that part so far

2:38

I think he's gonna be a high-babip guy long term. even off to a lackluster start, I think the tools look to be there. But yeah - more walks please

Joe Don

2:38

If you’re the Rangers front office, what do you do at the trade deadline?

Ben Clemens

2:39

I think it matters where they are in a month. Right now, they're right on the periphery of the WC race, but can't win the division more or less

2:40

If they're still here in a month, I think they'll try to get some rental pitching, and maybe one more outfielder. Eli White has been lackluster and is also hurt

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