JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 9/1/26

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 9/1/26

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Ben Clemens

2:00

Hey everybody, welcome to the chat

2:02

I'm taking Brendan's chat slot while he's on vacation, but I don't really know that much about prospects, so if you ask me a Brendan question, I'll probably reply with some silly and generally under-informed answer

but if you want to know about my normal nonsense? I've totally got you

nathand33

2:02

Hey Ben, what’s your take on using Aroldis Chapman in a tie game in the 9th? With the extra-inning runner rule in play, is there an analytical argument for holding your best swing-and-miss arm for the 10th inning instead of deploying him in a clean 9th, or does win probability still favor ensuring regulation stays tied?

Ben Clemens

2:02

you'll never believe this, but I wrote about this specific situation

2:03

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/save-your-closer-terms-and-conditions-may-...

basically yes, there is an analytical argument

but it's pretty marginal

that's never stopped me before, of course

small e

2:03

After two years in a row of the AL's 3 best(2026) / 3 of the 4 best(2025) teams being cornered in one half of the bracket due to the AL East division, would you change the playoff format and do you think the commissioner's office will try to? As a Red Sox fan I find it very annoying to have to hope and pray for the possibility of any playoff home games while a possibly under-.500 AL West winner is guaranteed them.

Ben Clemens

2:04

oh, I would definitely change the format

not even a question

I'm not quite sure how I would

but I'd definitely want to change it

2:05

don't worry, we'll surely be writing about new playoff ideas this winter

SPArn

2:06

Did you catch the Nats ninth inning meltdown Sunday? In a season filled with them, it was still a special one. For another example of a bewildered pitcher, I really encourage you going back and watching Tom Cosgrove on the Joe Mack sac fly, if you haven’t seen it already.

Ben Clemens

2:06

I didn't, but oh man, what a week for collapses

2:07

the Giants one was also amazing

Nathaniel

2:07

Just hope you saw that Dave Flemming and Jon Miller were geeking out over the Trent Harris curveball article last week!

Ben Clemens

2:08

I did, quite the thrill

Justin Krupp

2:08

Am I being overly optimistic based on half a minor league season and a few good at bats, or do the Giants have something with Jonah Cox?

Ben Clemens

2:08

i mean, could it be something? yes. is it 100% something? nothing is

but would I be excited too? totally

opifijikl

2:09

Are you going to watch Jedixson Paez' start tonight and see some 80 control? What do you think about control over stuff pitchers, like he seems to be?

Ben Clemens

2:11

I probably will not, but I'll probably watch some clips of it afterwards. I'm a big proponent of control-over-stuff pitchers in general, especially because stuff feels easier to add

2:12

I'm a sucker for the guys who are dotting corners and getting it done with fastball shape instead of raw velo

opifijikl

2:12

Are there any ways to quantify the time from start of swing (bat on shoulder) to contact with the ball? What stands out to me every time I watch Roman Anthony hit is how his bat goes from his shoulder to the strike zone especially quickly, like a rattlesnake striking. Is there anything to this? Is it correlated with good/bad things?

Ben Clemens

2:12

you could do something like bat speed divided by swing length

there was a good presentation at saber seminar talking about how this specific input, basically rotational acceleration, is useful and not measured directly

Swings Low

2:13

What's your favorite storyline of the 2026 season

Ben Clemens

2:13

has to be the White Sox

like, they're on track for a bye

not to make the playoffs as the last wild card, to be one of the two best division winners. how wild

maximus74

2:13

can i get a silly and uninformed answer about which prospect has you most excited?

Ben Clemens

2:13

well you definitely can

2:14

I'm most excited to see Eli Willits. Because man, he's hyped, and man, I have very very little idea how he'll turn out

2:15

his batting lines are wild in a good way, he could grow into almost anything, and he's a switch-hitting shortstop walking more than he strikes out at high-a at 18. Also, he's batting .223

hayz11

2:15

Cam Schlittler is undoubtably great, but having watched a bunch of his games I still find it hard to understand how he does it. Basically just throws fastballs at the top of the zone with ok command and bad breaking balls. And then no one can touch him. Remarkable that it works, especially as a starter!

Ben Clemens

2:15

very good fastballs, though

2:16

also the cutter is kind of a pseudo-breaking-ball, which helps

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