JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 8/8/22

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The Great Giambino

2:12

I know defense is volatile year-over-year and varies drastically depending on which metric you use. At what point are you generally comfortable determining a player is above/below average?

Ben Clemens

2:12

This is probably going to be an unsatisfying answer, but I'm willing to believe pretty quickly if they look the part. The more I watch and go "really, him?", the more I need a long track record to believe

So I was immediately willing to believe that Luis Robert is one of the best center fielders in baseball, because wow, have you seen him run?

2:13

Whereas I needed years to believe that Paul DeJong could play shortstop

Angelus Novus

2:13

Do we see Gunnar Henderson in the majors this year?

Ben Clemens

2:13

Given his injury, I don't think so

davealden53

2:13

Thoughts on the Zaidi/Kapler regime in San Francisco? I think that the Giants were remarkably lucky last year and almost equally unlucky this year, two blips that confuse the long-term picture, but I still trust the approach.

Ben Clemens

2:13

I agree with that

2:14

Trying to figure out if they're equal is tough, but I think they ran extremely hot last year and have had a ton of bad breaks this year

I believe in the approach, Zaidi also has a track record long enough that I'd believe in the approach even if things were going a bit worse

Pittsburgh Pirates Rally Train

2:14

Design-wise, of the past or current MLB ballparks what is your least favorite ballpark?

Ben Clemens

2:15

This is going to be an extremely unpopular take, but new Yankee Stadium. I went to my fair share of games there when I lived in New York and it was always just so disappointingly boring and corridor-y

You could get lost in the outfield concourses, the food is kinda hard to find, and it just feels like the way a bank would build a stadium

Boring, boring, boring

2:16

I love Citi Field, though, so maybe I'm just biased

Drury’s Leaky Glove

2:16

Was surprised to see Drury get a start at 3B to let Machado DH Friday. Drury committed an error and failed to make a play on a double that the eye test says Machado would have snagged. Where do you think Drury plays most for the Padres from here on out?

Ben Clemens

2:17

I think he's going to be a DH/fill-in all across the diamond

It's a luxury piece to have a guy who can give your 3b, 2b, 1b, or even occasionally corner outfielder a DH day

I don't think he'll really have a 'primary' position per se

2:18

And maybe he'll move off of backing up second when Tatis returns and makes Kim more of a floating infielder

But for now, he's their best backup in a lot of spots

ClassicO

2:18

A well known publication just ranked Tink Hance the Cards 3rd best prospect, #63 overall right behind Winn at #62. Have you seen him pitch and if so, what’s your take? (I have on MiLB and he’s lights out.)

Ben Clemens

2:19

I've watched a few of his starts. I'm holding off on judgment for now because he just doesn't throw very deep into games

That's by design, it's nothing negative about him, but his longest start this year is four innings (14 BF). I don't really have a feel for how he'll do in starter innings. The curveball is super fun though.

Vin

2:20

did the nats get enough in the Soto trade? Seems like they got a couple guys that can be decent mlb players but nothing really exciting. Would they have been better off trading Soto to the Mets for alvarez and co?

Ben Clemens

2:20

I'm not really sure whether I'd prefer the Padres' breadth or the Mets' top end talent. A question I've been asking people recently is whether you'd prefer the White Sox return on the Chris Sale trade, knowing you'd get the exact career arcs that happened, or the current Padres return

2:22

That'd be Yoan Moncada, who has alternated between All Star and bad and is a 3 WAR/600 player making basically 15 mil a year, plus Michael Kopech (talented but inconsistent) and two guys who didn't pan out

2:23

Big, highly-regarded prospect package, one of them was the best prospect in baseball and turned into an all star worth a contract extension

Let's take a poll

Which group would you prefer?

Moncada, Kopech, et al (actual careers) (33.5% | 55 votes)

Gore, Abrams, Hassell et al (66.5% | 109 votes)

Total Votes: 164

2:24

I don't think it's obvious either way, is my point

Vin

2:24

What I should’ve said is Degrom the most dominant pitcher you have ever seen? I can’t think of anyone that comes close and I’m in my 40s. His stuff is second to none.

Ben Clemens

2:24

Oh yeah. I've never watched someone who blows me away more. I used to try to go to as many deGrom starts in person as I could when I lived in NY

Kvn

2:24

Does Fangraphs fielding for WAR incorporate OAA now? Or is it still just UZR?

Ben Clemens

2:24

OAA

Joe

2:24

Gunnar Henderson isn't injured.

Ben Clemens

2:25

Ohhhh man sorry I thought it said Grayson, not Gunnar

I do think Henderson will get a September cup of coffee. I was mixing up great Orioles G prospects, a common mistake

Warrior Jar

2:25

Since you listed him as #13 in trade value, Adley has been scorching hot. Has his trade value increased (because he's making it clearer how good he is) or decreased (more likely to lose the extra year of service time due to ROY voting)?

Ben Clemens

2:26

I'd say neither, tbh. Those are countervailing forces, but for me, I'd bump him up slightly just b/c his major league track record has increased substantially

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