JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/7/21

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/7/21

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Ben Clemens

2:25

Yeah, I'm not particularly surprised that Pham has an above-average line

The way he got there is weird, of course

But I dunno, he makes the best swing decisions in the game more or less

2:26

Jay wrote about him recently:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/amid-bad-luck-and-injuries-tommy-pham-star...

And yeah, he broke a bone in his hand last year, so I wouldn't read too much into that. And he's been a good hitter every other year

The Padres are just so dang deep

Appa Yip Yip

2:26

If you put spider grip on a baseball and tried to throw it, would you be able to throw hard enough that it would leave your hand, or would it stay stuck to your palm? I would simply live the rest of my life with a baseball hand.

Ben Clemens

2:26

I think I could probably get it out of my hand

2:27

I do wonder to what extent the crazy amount of rotational energy I was exerting on the ball would slow its velo

Derek

2:28

Travis Sawchik wrote about pitching with Spider Tack! very fun article (Baseball's dirty little secret is out. We decided to experiment | theScore.com)

Ben Clemens

2:29

Travis is really fun to read, and his stuff on the Score has been an awesome run

MB

2:29

The Mariners have an interesting decision looming on Kikuchi's unique team option. Any thoughts on whether they will and/or should pick it up?

Ben Clemens

2:29

Okay, this is a realllly weird one, so let me jog my memory on it quickly

2:30

Okay: if they pick it up, it's 4/66

If they don't, he can either become a free agent or take 13 million for next year

That is indeed wild

2:32

Hm, I don't think they should pick it up

I do think he'd take 1/13 after this year, because it's going to be a tough offseason for free agent signings

So it's really a question of whether you want to pay him 53 million for 3 years ('23-'25)

I probably wouldn't?

2:33

For all the 'oh this could work out' stories around his SwSt% and velo uptick and increasaed reliance on a cutter

Like, he's only been fine?

I think you could get a Kikuchi replacement for 3/53

Jay T

2:33

Upon Springer's return to the lineup, should the Jays move Semien out of the leadoff spot to insert Springer? Or should Springer be batting in a run producing spot?

Ben Clemens

2:34

I'm sure you won't like this answer, but I don't think it matters all that much

Really comes down to where the players are happier

2:35

I think I'd probably rather have Springer first given his OBP skills

Which is a sentence that would BAFFLE someone in 2015

or 2014, or whatever, when he was still developing patience

But it's going to be a matter of a few runs, so whatever makes the players more comfortable imo

Matt Damon

2:36

MATT. DAMON.

Ben Clemens

2:36

Good to hear from you as always, Matt

Greg

2:36

Has there been any research done on whether hitters perform better when facing a relief pitcher for the second time (different game) in a series? What about in a season series?

Ben Clemens

2:36

Not quite the same but kinda

https://www.theringer.com/2016/10/21/16043096/mlb-playoff-familiarity-...

Felix Pie

2:36

So Jonathan India and Nick Madrigal are both sitting at 118 wRC+. They went back to back on the 2018 FYPD. Both guys not known for hitting the ball hard. Looking at their Statcast data, they draw some similarities. If you're given the role of having to trade for one of the two? Which one are you vying for, and why?

Ben Clemens

2:37

Wow, A+ linking

2:38

I think I'd rather have Madrigal, but I think he'll be a worse hitter than India

His lack of power is a totally different deal than India's

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