JotCast | Ben Clemens KBO Opening Day Chat

Ben Clemens KBO Opening Day Chat

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Ben Clemens

1:35

Altherr gave that one a charge

1:36

Can't be super happy if you're Baek -- these guys aren't missing by much

Brian CashGod

1:36

Also had one of the coolest debuts in MLB history:

Kyle Schwerin

1:36

Is there a limit to how many "foreign" players a KBO team can have, like overseas basketball teams sometimes have?

Ben Clemens

1:36

Indeed there is. Each team can have three foreign-born players, and only two of them can be pitchers

stever20

1:37

is it me or did it not seem like much catcher framing there?

Ben Clemens

1:37

I haven't really been able to tell

Baek seems to be 'pitching to contact' if you'll forgive that platitude

Guest

1:38

Here's all 30 foreign-born players currently in the KBO

Brian CashGod

1:38

Yup, Marcus is pronounced "tems" like the river too

Ben Clemens

1:38

kbofancystats.com and statiz.co.kr

Brian CashGod

1:38

already have a web gem and a base coach diving out of the way, this is fun

Ben Clemens

1:39

That first catch was exactly what I needed

to get me excited about baseball again

Waffles

1:39

Those field level seats with no barrier look awesome. I hope US stadiums embrace these with more netting coming about.

Ben Clemens

1:40

Yeah I'd sign up for it. I think it's like a party area if I remember correctly

David

1:40

I wish American fans getting first exposure to this league could see what the KBO would be like with fans in the stands. It's a totally different environment. Almost like a party / cook-out atmosphere. BBQs are allowed IN THE STADIUM. Legit cook on the spot BBQ outdoors in the outfield. Chants, beers flowing. It's like a soccer environment in baseball.

Ben Clemens

1:40

I mentioned this earlier today, but I was planning on attending a KBO game next year on the way to a wedding in Thailand

I don't know if the wedding is still happening, or how the season will work next year, but I'm dying to go

Kyle Schwerin

1:40

I feel like KT with Rojas, Despaigne, and Cuevas is definitely the best trio of foreign guys in this league.

Ben Clemens

1:41

They're up there. I think that the Giants are high-volatility but their trio is pretty solid as well

Adrian Sampson was kind of good last year!

1:42

The Wyverns are up there too

Jamie Romak can smash

And Ricardo Pinto throws harrrrrrd

Gallo Dongs

1:42

as a rangers fan was def surprised sampson just signed in kbo. he was a mediocre innings eater but theres value in that.

Ben Clemens

1:42

Yeah and I mean, yeah, Straily was bad last year

1:43

But he's also Dan Straily

And Dixon Machado was thisclose to putting it all together

David

1:43

Ben, you'll have an amazing time. I think you'll come back and say to yourself, "Why do MLB parks not do these things?" More fan interaction, more festive atmospheres......

Ben Clemens

1:43

I thought that after going to an NPB game, but I've heard that KBO is another level above that.

LG Twins fan

1:43

Following the league for more than 10 years, would never have imagined a KBO opening day live chat here at fangraphs!

Ben Clemens

1:43

It's strange times, and it's nice to know that in strange times there's still baseball

Rucinksi's breaking stuff looks wild btw

1:44

Wild in a 'hard to believe' kind of way, not in a way where he can't control it