JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 9/14/26

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Nate

2:23

Re: Bauers, do you think teams tend to be a little more gung-ho about handing out deals/the QO to guys like that if it's at a position that's traditionally/recently been a weakness for the team (Brewers at 1st), or do they tend to still be pretty rational about that stuff

Ben Clemens

2:23

I don't have a strong opinion on this and I do not think that you could measure it with data

I think you'd have to talk to team insiders. and honestly, they might say one thing and unconsciously do another

PC1970

2:23

So, the Tigers have obviously had a bad year (though STILL a better run-differential than TB, despite being 20 games behind them) but, the group of Dingler-McGonigle-Clark-Hao Yu & Melton-Jobe in the rotation feels like a really fun group to have the next 6-7 years (or more).

Ben Clemens

2:24

hard to argue with this, the Tigers have been kinda sneaky fun for years and McGonigle is gonna be awesome for a long time

bosoxforlife

2:24

On the "Tis an ill wind that blows nobody good" theme, the injury to Yoshida forced the Red Sox to bring up Babe Gasper. I can't even think about what next years roster of outfielders and DH's is going to be.

Ben Clemens

2:24

the Red Sox are like a version of the Sisyphus story where the ball is made of bat-first corner outfielders

canderson20

2:24

This is definitely fueled in large part by my personal bias and fandom of the A's, but Lawrence Butler's season turnaround hasn't been talked about enough it feels like. Coming out of the first half he was the 4th worst player in baseball by fWAR and he's almost back to even on the year now. Baseball is definitely a funny sport in the way that happens with guys, but this turnaround is remarkable in comparison to 1st and 2nd half numbers.

Ben Clemens

2:25

I noticed this when I was writing about the A's and was like 'hey butler has only been bad, not awful'

2:26

it's a very remarkable turnaround. I think the reason it's not being talked about more is a)the A's stink

b)he's a career 100 wRC+ player who I wasn't enthused about before teh year, so I'm letting my priors work here

but yeah, he has a 131 wRC+ in the second half

and it's not some babip goof either

2:27

I really don't see a long-term great hitter here, but a nice corner outfielder? sure. He was a trade value honorable mention a few years ago in the tradition of me just throwing a ton of names out to cover my butt from snarky commenters

and I think he's probably fin ein that range for me

nice role player, big error bands on his possible outcomes, even within a season

abyers

2:28

Bryce Eldridge seems to be flying under the radar. Hitting .270 w/ 25 HR pace at 21 in that lineup, in that ballpark - isn’t that a pretty killer debut? Dark red statcast and pedigree all makes it look pretty legit.

Ben Clemens

2:28

perhaps the most underrated player in baseball

(perhaps)

yeah great debut. I considered him for top 50 trade value and had at least one team source say they would definitely have him on there

2:29

or great rookie year I guess, he debuted late last year (I went to his first home game b/c the Cards were in town)

Anon21

2:29

I know you're doing a free agent list later, but...can you remember a worse free agent class than this? No offense to any of the guys hitting the market this year, but the pickings are extremely slim.

Ben Clemens

2:29

nah it's really bad

worst since I've been doing the list for sure

bosoxforlife

2:30

I don't know what to call it, funny, bizarre, perhaps ridiculous but there is a reasonable possibility that 2 of the divisions in the AL have a "champion" with a less than .500 record. I do know that it is embarrassing for the AL.

Ben Clemens

2:30

it's pretty shocking

makes me want to allow extra NL playoff teams and fewer AL ones

SEAN OVERBECK

2:30

What went wrong with the Mariners this year? Almost everyone besides Canzone and Randy regressed!! Pitching staff included!

Ben Clemens

2:30

if I knew, they'd hire me

2:31

they've had decent health, so I wouldn't say it's that

I was a little skeptical of their offense last year, I suppose, but I didn't think THIS would happen

2:32

and as to the pitching, I really can't figure out what went wrong but it really does kinda feel systemic

so many pitchers doing worse all at once

if I had something better, I'd tell you. but I dunno. pretty shocking!

bosoxforlife

2:32

The upcoming series between the White Sox and the Guardians is the Series of the Year but not exactly the teams that were expected to be playing in the most important series. Who do ya' got?

Ben Clemens

2:32

Guardians. The White Sox story is fun but like, I just don't trust them

sprechs

2:33

Certainly not the biggest issue for the (a?) new CBA, but given the disparity in divisions, why should playoff seeding be linked to division finish?

Ben Clemens

2:33

because it was a long time ago

I'm absolutely sure that we'll have enough time for 'how would I make baseball's playoff system different' articdles during the lockout

and that's 100% going to be one of mine

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