JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/9/25

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/9/25

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Ben Clemens

2:37

I think he HAS to opt out after this season

like, do you think Pete Alonso is at risk of being a below average first baseman in the next few years? I do not anymore

2:38

So he should try to get multiple years, and someone will give it to him. I assume it'll still be the Mets, honestly. He and hte team are a great fit

Money is clearly not a limiting constraint for them, and he is an important part of the offense who also surely helps with marketing and whatnot

Ben (DC)

2:38

CJ Abrams seems to run hot or cold at the dish, never in the middle. Is he someone you'd attempt to extend long-term, or still need to see more consistency and find a more suitable defensive position?

Ben Clemens

2:38

I have to say, CJ Abrams frustrates me to no end even as a fan

2:39

like, I just envision him putting it all together, going on the baseball equivalent of an all-night gambling heater where you stay up until 6 a.m. just stacking chips up

laughing

1

but something, I can't say quite what, keeps him from ever really ascending to that level

I'd have moved him off of short by now FOR SURE, but maybe that's just the frustration talking

appa yip yip

2:39

Lots of catcher talk, but does Alejandro Kirk not get the respect he deserves because he's short and fat?

Ben Clemens

2:39

Yes

2:40

Presumably as a long-time reader you'd consider me a Kirk truther, I've certainly always been higher than consensus on him

Kevin Goldstein told me the 'if you didn't know what Kirk looked like you'd like him much more' thing in the year where we did the trade value list together, and that really opened my e yes

2:41

has me liking Moises Ballesteros too!

Catch

2:42

There seems to be a glut of young offensive focused hitters emerging this year - Baldwin, Narvaez, Teel, Rushing, A Ramirez, Dingler and so on, while some aging stalwarts like Realmuto, Murphy, Perez, are floundering a little - any thoughts or favs for you moving forward?

Ben Clemens

2:42

I talked myself into Luis Torrens after writing about him last week. Narvaez looks GREAT to me

I'm not ready to buy in on Baldwin yet, but Dingler is pretty good I think

yeah it's fun! I want new blood in catching

HappyFunBall

2:43

Using a gambling analogy for CJ Abrams is just cruel...

SPArn

2:43

A late night casino gambling analogy for Abrams?! Bold! (And potentially on purpose?)

Ben Clemens

2:43

Pure coincidence, I assure you

crying

1

Serious Question

2:43

Why aren't RBI groundouts to the right side considered a sacrifice, when a moderately deep fly ball, or a well placed bunt are? Doesn't it take just as much skill to direct a grounder? Is it because, without the force at home, you can't assume the fielder wouldn't go home? Couldn't the same be said for a bunt? I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

Ben Clemens

2:43

It's because they made the rules a long time ago and just kinda did it this way

I completely agree with you

It's really arbitrary, and doesn't make that much sense

2:44

that's why I largely prefer statistics that treat sacrifice flies and RBI groundouts the same. So wRC+ is one. if you want a win probability type stat, RE24 and WPA would both treat those events as equivalent

Matt Damon

2:44

MATT. DAMON.

Nico Hoerner

2:44

Its F***ing BS that RBI groundouts to the right side arent considered a sacrifice

Ben Clemens

2:45

well see, I know this isn't Nico Hoerner b/c I just saw Nico Hoerner get so heated he got ejected

and what he said was "you're having a bad game so far"

TugMcGrawFan1996

2:45

Do you believe the Braves have any chance of turning things around before the deadline, or are they completely sunk?

Ben Clemens

2:45

you know, I am still a believer, but I have to caveat that with the fact that I was veyr high on them coming into the year and am starting to be very worried about Strider

Jeff Zimmerman the meanie

2:46

Yankees no longer looking for a 3b w/Jazz there now? Actually will be happy with Lemehiehoohoo at 2b?

Ben Clemens

2:47

I think that 2b is the upgrade spot. If DJLM doesn't start hitting for power, or getting on base a lot more, that's a tough spot. I don't really want to rely on his defense and health there if he's not bringing something truly exceptional at the plate

Steve O

2:47

After several years of the 6th wildcard.. any general thoughts? Are you in favor of it now? Would you like to go back to the old format, etc?

6th playoff spot, not WC spot

Ben Clemens

2:48

man, I guess I'm into it? I like it more than the 5 playoff team setup, at least

I would have more games on consecutive days in the divisional round to make those WC games hurt more

like, what about five games in a row with no days off for the DS?

2:49

but I think rewarding the top two teams with a bye has at least given a bit of meaning back to winning the regular season

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