JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 8/11/25

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Ben Clemens

2:47

the Rays looked like they were trying to pivot to 2026 so that kinda makes sense

Bosoxforlife

2:48

Is it conceivable that the Yankees, 27-36 in the last 63 games, are really nothing more than a very mediocre team, as opposed to the team that roared through the first 55 games of the year, 35-20?

Ben Clemens

2:48

conceivable? Definitely

I'd just say that the DOdgers peeled off a 3-15 stretch this year, good teams play bad and then get good again all the time

that's kind of why baseball is so fun

2:49

I don't know what to make of the Yankees aside from saying that they really are carrying enough dead weight that they need Judge to pop

Yokozuna

2:49

Both Gore and Rice mentioned....that actually feels like a good foundation for an offseason trade? Nats have the worst catching situation in baseball, Yankees love lefties with the short porch.

Ben Clemens

2:49

oh maybe!

I dunno if the Nats want Rice but if they do, those are good opposing headlinres, the Yankees would presumably have to kick in more

Guest

2:49

Odds Marlins get into the playoffs?

Ben Clemens

2:49

love it

2:50

I also love that they've been on a sneaky little tear of late

we have them at 0.7%

that's way higher than I would have expected, to be honest

Oaktown Blues

2:50

I think you will appreciate this: A's recent callup Carlos Cortes plays IF and OF. In the infield, he throws righty (of course), but in the outfield, he throws lefty! Never seen that before.

Ben Clemens

2:50

oh yeah that's something else I've been considering working into 5 things

I do a few too many NorCal items, and I feel like too many of my features on the A's are "I like this player"

2:51

like I've already done one of those for Clarke, Wilson, and Butler

but yes, it's pretty amazing, and makes up for the fact that Cortes is not that interesting as a prospect otherwise

Guest

2:51

What's up with Eric Lauer? He's getting up to a respectable innings total.

Ben Clemens

2:51

Eric Lauer's fastball is an enduring mystery

how is it so effective?

it's just incredible

Oaktown Blues

2:52

Not the A's fault they have so many likeable players

Ben Clemens

2:52

it's true

I still haven't made it to Sacremento for a game this year, but I'm gonna try to fix that in September

I really like that stadium, too

I wanna see what they've done with it to make it a big league park, but the tap room situation down the left field line is one of my favorite minor league park areas, period

Chicks Dig the Fundamentals

2:53

MacKenzie Gore, recent great start non-withstanding, has really been fading in the second half, the same as he did in 2023 and 2024.

Would you buy that he's just a guy who loses steam as the season goes on and can't sustain performance?

Ben Clemens

2:53

I absolutely would

i'm not saying it's definitely that.... but it definitely might be that

Oaktown Blues

2:53

(I appreciate how much you write about them though! A's coverage is often hard to find on a national level)

Ben Clemens

2:53

maybe more national writers should a)write a weekly observations column b)live in the bay c)watch a lot of baseball at night when the A's or Giants are always on

2:54

b/c trust me, if they did, they'd have a ton of A's games in their head and a lot to write about

Guest

2:54

why isn't Jesus Sanchez better? will he be in the new org?

Ben Clemens

2:54

i truly have no idea

i've kinda given up, and to be fair, that's because he's batted 2000 times and has been dead league average

but man, the guy has power

Steve O

2:54

Part of the Yankees bad luck is Devin Williams blew a ton of games and Aaron Boone never took him out of important spots until like 2 games ago. Had they put in basically anyone else, they'd have a comfy WC spot. The Yankees are cursed. They trade for a top 3 reliever in the sport and he immediately turns into a pumpkin.

Ben Clemens

2:55

i love that they had little old Luke Weaver be historically dominant last year

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