JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 8/8/22

Ben Clemens

2:00

Hey everybody, welcome to the chat

2:01

First time since before Trade Value ran that I'm chatting at a regularly scheduled time and not about a million things going on, so I'll probably take it a little slow today

Joe

2:01

NYY 9-16 last 25, lost those 16 games by a combined 32 runs, what do you make of that?

Ben Clemens

2:02

Not a ton, aside from the fact that losing 16 games by 32 runs seems quite unlikely

It's not a great stretch, and it makes sense that Cashman got two relievers to shore up the bullpen at the deadline, but I still think that they and the Astros are alone in the top tier of AL teams

davealden53

2:03

In a chat about a month ago, you made an enthusiastic comment about a produce place in the North Bay. I suspect you were referring to Andy's in Sebastopol but, as a Petaluman, I'm interested to know if you had a different place in mind.

Ben Clemens

2:04

It's actually The Farm Stand at Forest Knolls, it looks like

the name didn't really jump out at me

RTJ

2:04

give us your best overreaction-to-a-small-sample-size-post-trade-deadline headline: for example: "Joey Gallo Instrumental to Yankees Success"

Ben Clemens

2:04

Jordan Montgomery knows New York's Every Weakness, Told Cardinals All

Sharps

2:05

I can't remember if you like Spirit Island or not, but New Horizons is a lower cost, slightly lower complexity version Target is releasing in October. For folks who like Co-op games it doesn't get any better!

Ben Clemens

2:05

amazing

Loved Spirit Island the few times I've played, I'm really looking forward to trying this out

Guest

2:05

If Franmil Reyes makes it to the Rockies on waiver order, should Colorado go get him? He'd be fun in Coors!

Ben Clemens

2:05

oh 100%

2:06

He's a great guy to take a shot on, because there's no question his top end is a great MLB hitter

Andrew

2:06

Going back to the trade deadline, it is reasonable to both understand that someone like Soto is worth a team's top 4 or 5 prospects but also think giving up that much talent in one acquisition is a lot? Especially if your farm system isn't so deep, like the Mets, is it prospect hugging to know Soto is worth it but also not want to make that kind of trade?

Ben Clemens

2:06

I think it kind of misconstrues how likely prospects are to work out, basically

If the Nats get two average players out of that group (not counting Voit obv), they did well

2:07

prospects fail a lot

er, sorry, two above-average players

If they get a single perennial All Star they did extremely well

charliewindow

2:07

Any reason why the Angels gave up on Brandon Marsh so quickly? Max Stassi is, at least (at most?) reliable. Is O'Hoppe worth the O'hyppe?

Ben Clemens

2:08

I have truly no idea. I know a decent number of public-side prospect analysts prefer O'Hoppe to Marsh, but I'm completely in the other camp. Marsh's defense is just such a strong floor. I'm especially surprised the Angels didn't wanna do it to lessen the strain on Trout, who has a degenerative back condition

charliewindow

2:08

Barring an Ohtani trade, how many years before the Angels are relevant again?

Ben Clemens

2:09

I don't really see the Ohtani trade moving the needle much either way

They're relevant right now. Trout and Ohtani play there

They'll be relevant as long as Trout is on the team. But they really don't have a lot of talent at the major league level aside from the few stars at the top

Marc

2:09

I seem to recall a Fangraphs headline from this past offseason, maybe written by Eric, I believe it was titled something along the lines of “How Transactions Actually Happen.” With the deadline having just passed, I would have liked to read an overview of how teams evaluate other teams’ prospects and submit offers for MLBers, and what goes into making counteroffers, but my google skills are failing me. Does such an article exist, either at Fangraphs or elsewhere?

Ben Clemens

2:09

Yeah, it was by Kevin Goldstein, let me look it up

2:10

maybe it was this?

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-time-for-reach-out-calls-has-begun/

Vin

2:10

Taking longevity out of the equation, is degrom the most dominant pitcher of all time?

Ben Clemens

2:10

Sandy Koufax might have a thing or two to say about that

this stretch is pretty impressive though

Jeff

2:10

Cubs SP is bottom of the league in velo for the second year in a row. What impact could bringing in velocity, particularly impact velocity like a Rodon or Verlander or both, have on the staff as a whole?

Ben Clemens

2:11

I'd guess not a ton, aside from saying that those pitchers you named are very good and so would make the staff good. I don't think upgrading, let's call it, a 4.00 ERA pitcher who throws 89 to Verlander

Is any different than upgrading a 4.00 ERA pitcher who throws 94 to Verlander

Mike M

2:11

The Dodgers sweeping the Padres: small sample outcome or something greater? If the latter, what did we learn?

Ben Clemens

2:11

With four-game series, I'm always gonna lean small sample. That said, if I learned anything, it's that the Dodgers are good

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