JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/28/21

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Ben Clemens

2:51

And scouts like Turang's defense more

(I myself have not watched enough of either to know)

Jacques Pederson

2:51

When a team seems as lost as the Cardinals do, what can you do? I don't see how they can go into games right now feeling like they can win.

Ben Clemens

2:51

Fire their hitting coach?

2:52

I think that the team should do something to change the mindset

Like, mathematically I'm not sure it matters

But just make your employees happier, make them believe in themselves more, etc

Heck, maybe announce a partnership with Wainwright (who has been donating money to minor leaguers) where you up the minor league compensation, make a big deal out of it, try to rally the team around that

Just do something

Appa Yip Yip

2:53

Why is shifting against righties less effective than shifting against lefties?

Ben Clemens

2:53

The obvious reason is b/c batters run the bases counter-clockwise

So you can't use the same types of shifts

Also, having that short fielder is meaningless in left

I don't care how good your arm is, you're not throwing someone out at first

Frank

2:53

Oh good, it only took until the very first question for you to begin an answer with "I mean"

Ben Clemens

2:54

I mean, at some point it is what it is

One of my favorite meaningless sports-isms

Guest

2:54

Does "change of scenery" apply to coaching as well? Say the hitting coaches of like, the Brewers, Cardinals, Yankees, and Mets all switched teams (just to pick a few teams with offense issues). Would they suddenly be better?

Ben Clemens

2:54

I think so

Just think of your own job

When I worked for a big company, I had bosses I tuned out from time to time

Not b/c I hated them or anything

Just b/c the idiosyncracies of their management style worked better when they were novel

2:55

And over time I just stopped listening as much b/c they generally gave the same guidance

Also, sometimes I just didn't like a given boss, or they weren't effective at communicating with me

Regardless of their overall talent level at the job

I think hitting coaches are the same

ralphd627

2:55

Who do the Mets acquire 1st at the deadline?

Ben Clemens

2:56

A back-end starter, b/c their rotation needs help until Carrasco and Thor return

Preferably one who can also pitch out of the bullpen when they DO return

(if, etc)

So, Merrill Kelly maybe?

Kwang-Hyun Kim if the Cards are dealing

Joshua