JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 9/15/25

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Ben Clemens

2:20

next JT Realmuto is a high bar

Insert Witty Name Here

2:20

In need of a new sauce for my rice bowls. I make a mean peanut, sesame, and general tso sauce, but need some fresh ideas. No better place than a baseball chat! Whatcha got for me?

Ben Clemens

2:20

ooh

2:21

you know I clicked this one to answer with my peanut sauce recipe but you have that one

okay, here's one for you: make your own chili oil for it. That lets you basically drizzle it on and kick things up a lot

2:22

I got a recipe from a book called Red Hot Kitchen, but I think there are a ton of options. you basically heat oil, drop in ground up peppers plus the other flavors you want (I tend to use bay leaves and sichuan peppers), and then let it cool and infuse

failing that, here's one out of left field: walnut pesto

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/238199/walnut-pesto/

2:23

not sure that's the best recipe but first I pulled up. It'd be more like a mediterranean rice bowl then

Guest

2:24

Might we see LDV debut in 2026? Even a month ago I would've said that was crazy, but it's hard to argue with what he's doing in AA

Ben Clemens

2:24

We might, but I would bet against it

that's really fast for anyone, even a star player

David

2:24

Random MILB advocate. Got to attend the final game of the Northwest League Championship; Everett vs Eugene. Was an absolute blast of a game. Players were super into it, a walk was bat flipped, a pop up caused a player to spike his bat. Everett Players rushed the field to celebrate after. Minor league ball is the best.

Ben Clemens

2:24

I couldn't agree more

Bill

2:26

What do you think of Tolle and Early and the other Sox minor league pitchers in the system?

Ben Clemens

2:26

I liked Dan's article on Early quite a lot, and I haven't really developed my own distinct opinion

2:27

Tolle, I love. I'm not sure he's ready for prime time yet, but I watch him pitch and go 'yeah this will work'

Brian

2:27

Did Skubal's odds of cy young go up or down by being hurt (I know no big issues). It seems like up to me and that is a bad thing both for the game and for potential betting shenanigans?

Ben Clemens

2:27

I think they essentially didn't change

2:28

he's pretty clearly the best pitcher in the AL this year now that Crochet isn't threatening him for the ERA title. Hunter Brown still ils, but c'mon, you're gonna give hunter Brown the Cy over Tarik Skubal? nah

Brian

2:29

Ya thats my point. Sitting out games the system toward higher chances of winning via no blowups...If you had money on him you would want him to get hurt and whatnot.. that seems suboptimal, no???

Ben Clemens

2:29

Oh, I mean, I don't think the odds have changed

2:30

you could imagine a world where it could matter, but I feel like it only works if you're way out in front.... and, uh, Skubal was like a 1:20 favorite already

if you're right in the middle, it won't work, because you're just giving your rivals a chance to pass you

Lock him up

2:30

After settling for Cedric Mullins over Laureano and Bader, missing out on Merrill Kelly, and adding Helsley(unforeseen backfire), can David Stearns do something obviously good? For example, can Nolan McLean soon get a team friendly contract extension covering his arbitration years?

Ben Clemens

2:30

Would you settle for extending Pete Alonso (or re-signing him after he opts out, whatever, not concerned with technicalities)

Victoria

2:31

Is NL ROY the only compelling award race left?

Ben Clemens

2:31

It's the only one that's compelling to me, at least

2:32

I feel like if I had a vote, I would already be quite close to locking in my other votes

but I dunno. Horton and Baldwin, both great. Isaac Collins, underrated