JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 8/12/24

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Ben Clemens

2:13

after that, though, there are some good ones. I guess I'd put NL West/NLWC as the co-favorites, there's a lot of overlap there

Derek

2:13

Would you take the Dodgers or the field for the NL West?

Ben Clemens

2:13

I'll take the Dodgers, but by less than our model would (we have them at 75%)

Royal with cheese

2:13

Bobby Witt Jr. is suddenly the favorite for AL MVP. Stellar SS defense has his WAR right there with Judge, and having a co-MVP candidate in Soto will only hurt the 2 headed Yankee monster in voting. Do the Royals have to make the postseason for this to be true, and would you agree? Thanks.

Ben Clemens

2:13

mmm.... no he's not

2:14

I just perused the gambling markets, he's +600 Judge is -1400

i mean, Judge could get worse

there's no rule against that

but he's hitting .328/.462/.699

like, he's just winning MVP, stop it

no need to dney how outrageous this season is, this is an MVP season

EnglishM

2:15

Cal 'Big Dumper' Rayleigh - hitting bombs, decisively calling games and a great record of catching stealers. Is hitting for average such a big deal that's he's still not recognised as one of the game's best? No all-star nods, no golden gloves and not even in the top 50 of Fangraphs Trade Values

Ben Clemens

2:15

I think it's less hitting for average than the fact that he's pretty good at a bunch of things without being great at any

2:16

but I agree he's underrated, perhaps even by me

EnglishM

2:16

Also with Scott Boras as his agent, where do we see Cal when his current deal expires? Doubtful it'll be with the M's from my vantage point

Ben Clemens

2:16

I think he actually has a good chance of staying with the Marinres

Boras is a rational guy and if you look at the deals catchers have been getting on the open market, holding out for three more years doesn't sound amazing

bosoxforlife

2:16

The Red Sox illusion is coming to an end but my summer is a success. I harvested my first cantaloupe and it was perfect. 8 more still growing, yummmmmmmmmm!

Ben Clemens

2:17

that is not a fruit I've ever grown, or even had my parents grow

sounds great though

Cole

2:17

Cole had 10 k and 1 er Saturday. Cole will be fine.

Ben Clemens

2:17

no he's busted

we have to do fast takes

no time for measured takes

Victor Robles for Cole with the Yankees eating all of Cole's deal, obv the Mariners still say no

did you guys see how good Robles has been in the last 13 days? and Cole is cooked, I saw it here already today!

Kwanbelievable

2:18

Re: Witt's case for MVP, would he be running away with it if he were in the NL? I have to believe he'd be the favorite over Ohtani at this point, right?

Ben Clemens

2:18

I think so, yeah

he's having an absolutely incredible season. He just has the poor fortune of being in the same league as Aaron Judge when Judge is going full Bonds

AL Central Casting

2:18

The Guardians can't keep getting away with this, right? I mean, they have been getting away with it, but at some point the bloopers have to stop dropping in, the bullpen has to start blowing leads, and the rotation has to just collapse, right? Right?

Ben Clemens

2:18

That kinda implies the rotation hasn't already collapsed

it's so impressive to me that they're doing this with NOTHING from their starters

2:19

They're 27th in RA9-WAR

and that's the BETTER of the two metrics

ALC race should be fun down the line, I agree

Maddoning

2:19

Cooked, or NOT cooked: Goldschmidt, Javy Baez, Mitch Haniger, Mitch Garver, Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Polanco

Ben Clemens