JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 8/17/26

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 8/17/26

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Ben Clemens

2:48

Yeah, I think it's fine. I'm not in love with it, like I think I enjoyed the playoff formats with fewer teams more, but I accept that more teams in the playoffs is a net good for hte league, and that this structure isn't a bad way of handling the risk/reward

2:49

I don't have a huge problem with losing-record teams in the playoffs, because for me, the playoffs are just a tournament, albeit a really fun one I watch the entirety of

I can't get too mad about changing how many teams get into the tournament. Even if I would prefer rules that ensure it's the teams with the best records more frequently

Jeremy Fox

2:50

Should MLB send a couple of teams to play a regular season series in South Korea? How about the Dominican Republic? Puerto Rico?

Ben Clemens

2:50

They did the whole PR thing with the Expos/Nats, and generally speaking, yes, I think that more international series like this would be great

tdmoc

2:50

Think Maikel Garcia will come back strong to finish the year?

Ben Clemens

2:51

I'm in the tank for Maikel Garcia, huge fan. That said, he has a hand injury, it's generally not a good idea to expect guys with hurt hands to come back and hit well right away

mr. burrito

2:51

Dumb but honest question: Lots of teams that were frankly so-so during the regular season have won the WS. But those teams generally were overperforming in the playoffs. Can you think of an example of the opposite; of a team that clearly underperformed its expected production during the regular season, only to turn it on in the playoffs and win the WS? Asking as a nervous Dodger fan.

Ben Clemens

2:51

Nats in 2019

2:52

we actually had them favored against the Dodgers in that NLDS, even though they had to play a one-game wild card to get there

clemlibby

2:53

Go Nats! 2019 was an exciting year!

Jeremy Fox

2:53

Are teams with reputations for good pitching development good at teaching the same organization-wide pitching approach to all their pitchers (and maybe also drafting guys who fit that approach)? Or are teams that are good at pitching development taking a different customized approach to developing every pitcher?

Ben Clemens

2:53

i think it varies

and that Eric and Brendan would probably be able to give you a better answer than me here, because the minors are where you see this

2:54

But i think of the Astros being early on the four-seamer train and teaching all their minor leaguers to throw it, or the Guardians clearly having a plan to teach guys velo

for a while the Yankees taught everyone a 'whirly' (sweeper), that kinda thing

but generally speaking the ones who stay good at it for a long time are far more individualized

2:55

because if you can only make one style of change, you're skipping a lot of pitchers who might be very interesting if you could work with them to make a different style of change

Tony Plush

2:55

I'm gonna come clean and admit I like 'Field of Dreams,' just posting b/c it's such an unpopular opinion among FG literati

Ben Clemens

2:55

yeah I mean, I don't think we're in the majority here, haha

2:56

I can't really tell you why. I know lots of people love it. But I watched The Sandlot many m ore times as a kid and I have basically memorized that entire movie, whereas Field of Dreams just doesn't grab me the same way

bosoxforlife

2:56

The projection systems are actually having a very good year. The general consensus was that there would be a melee around the .500 line and that has been like nothing I can remember. It's too bad that there isn't a potential tie breaking playoff system in place any more.

Ben Clemens

2:56

I think that the league would tell you that they wish there were still tiebreaker games

but that the schedule won't allow it because we've already expanded it so much

in any case yes, good year for projections (sorry Mets)

Swings Low

2:57

Outside of the unicorn when he's pitching gems and blasting dingers in the same game, who's the individual you enjoy watching play baseball the most?

Ben Clemens

2:57

so my two favorite players to watch all time are Ozzie Smith and Andrelton Simmons

I guess that will probably tell you the kind of guys I like

2:58

but in terms of modern players? I like Masyn Winn (Simmons vibes) and Ezequiel Tovar (Smith vibes)

just in terms of their style, not their skill level, to be clear: Winn with the big arm and Tovar with the smooth actions

Ceddanne Rafaela is way up there

Juan Soto and Yordan Alvarez at the plate, I like thinking along with the guy

2:59

and then Tyler Rogers as a pitcher, because c'mon, it's hilarious

didace

2:59

"Nats in 2019" After their 19-31 start, they were a dominate team.

Ben Clemens

2:59

maybe I misunderstood the question, but yeah, agreed

they were basically a very good team with a so-so record because of that abysmal start

grandbranyan

3:00

The old adage is something like if you don't hit for power you won't walk much because they'll just throw you strikes then. But the Brewers are at a 9.8 BB% (2nd) and .147 ISO (25th) going all the way back to 2023. Is this more a testament to the Brewers approach or an increasing number of pitchers with terrible command that simply can't throw strikes consistently?

Ben Clemens

3:00

I think it's more a credit to the Brewers than anything else

you know, there are plenty of other teams and hitters that don't have power, and thus don't walk

HVC

3:00

and the opposite to Tucker's start in LA is Pete in Baltimore. My Met fan in-laws lamented him leaving...and to be honest paying $150m for a 1B didn't excite me this past offseason. But dude is going to produce another 4 win season and has immediately become the heart and soul of the team. Plays everyday. Takes accountability above and beyond for what has gone wrong in Baltimore this season. Who knows how the next 4 years go but he is "someone to root for".

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