Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat – 4/8/25

Ben Clemens: Hey all people, welcome to the chat.

Ben Clemens: I didn’t watch a lot baseball over the weekend as a result of I used to be at a household wedding ceremony, however I spent yesterday force-feeding myself the whole lot I may, so hopefully I’m again to full pace takes

Ben Clemens: Hey Davy, or Davy imposter

Chip: Was taking a look at Jacob Wilson’s Savant web page, and he seems like idiot’s gold. 1% bat pace, 0 BBs in 41 PAs. Shifting on, then.

Ben Clemens: That is the Jacob Wilson expertise, although

Ben Clemens: His minor league Statcast stuff is mainly the identical. He doesn’t strike out and doesn’t hit the ball onerous, so he will get all his energy in doubles. I don’t imagine the projection programs right here – however they’ve entry to minor league batted ball information, the type of batted ball information {that a} 30 recreation energy grade implies, and so they nonetheless assume he’s a very good hitter

Ben Clemens: This profile is one which analytical fashions would possibly barely overrate within the mixture — however hitters like this work out within the majors on a regular basis. To not the tune of a 167 wRC+ however like, we knew that

Chip: Ought to we be involved that Willson Contreras is placing out 41% of the time, up from 27% final yr?

Ben Clemens: Principally no

Ben Clemens: He had two interval of strikeout charge this excessive in 2024 and two in 2023

Ben Clemens: If there’s one thing to be fearful about, it’s his chase charge, however the reality is, he has a ton of swing and miss in his recreation. He has a profession 14.2% swinging strike charge, greater than that on the Cardinals. He’s solely plyaed 44 video games this yr. If he retains chasing 40% of pitches outdoors the strike zone, it’ll be onerous for him to provide. So…. don’t swing a lot, Willson?

Ben Clemens: However that’s a loud statistic, and one which he can management extra simply than something atomic about him, like his exit velocity or contact charge, and I anticipate it to return down

War2d2: After Vlad bought $500m (nonetheless not sure if that’s USD or CAD), do you assume Tucker will get one thing like 12/$430m? Principally Vlad’s cope with a pair years chopped off to make up for the age distinction

Ben Clemens: Vlad’s is in USD, I’m certain. Blue Jays offers get reported in USD

Ben Clemens: And yeah, I feel there’s a ton of vary in outcomes for Tucker as a result of he hasn’t performed this season but, and final season was a promising degree however a worrying harm

Ben Clemens: However median expectations for me are one thing like that. A deal that retains him round for a decade or extra, and with an AAV within the higher 30’s

seth: would you attempt to do extensions for any of the younger redlegs to kind a core subsequent to H Greene? Elly is the apparent one (although he appears unlikely to interact as a Boras consumer), McLain, CES, Steer, Ty Steve, Friedl, Lodolo, Lowder all have various yellow/orange/pink flags…

Ben Clemens: As a GM, I’d offer extensions to a ton of gamers

Ben Clemens: However that’s true for basically any staff I get to GM

Ben Clemens: homeowners, name me! I’m free

Redbull 44: Will Marcus Semien flip it round? Or is it a state of affairs of  a declining participant hitting all-time low and extra to return? Thanks

Ben Clemens: Yeah, it’s April 8, I’m gonna give myself some extra time earlier than I get fearful. He’s had some uncharacteristic swing and miss in his recreation and that looks as if an unlikely place for a decline. If we’re nonetheless taking a look at this greater than 11 video games into the season, I’ll preserve re-evaluating, however I take a look at his statistics and don’t see a ton to fret about apart from saying that he’s most likely not a 130 wrC+ participant anymore. Our projections had him down for round 110 earlier than the season and that feels about proper to me

Some kinda Mook: I’ve ceased worrying an excessive amount of about Devers. Honest?

Ben Clemens: I heard somebody use him for example of a participant who merely couldn’t hit in the event that they didn’t play the sphere

Ben Clemens: and since his depressing five-game begin, he’s hitting .455/.536/.727 with twice as many walks as strikeouts

Ben Clemens: is that good?

Mike Lommler: What’s for lunch, and if you must make a participant comp to your lunch who would it not be?

Ben Clemens: Leftovers from final evening, we ordered Chinese language b/c no groceries after being gone for the marriage

Ben Clemens: I feel my comp can be Mookie Betts. Is the Chinese language meals full power? Nope. It’s been within the fridge in a single day, which is type of like taking part in beneath full weight

Ben Clemens: however is it nonetheless efficient? Completely

SPArn: Any ~actual~ takeaways from Crews and Woods small samples to start out the yr? Personally inspired they’re each smoking the ball and Crews protection, fearful in regards to the floor ball charges, overly selective natures, and wooden persevering with to seem like a child deer in left greater than any counting stats

Ben Clemens: Yeah I’m with you just about throughout the board

Ben Clemens: the primary factor that I’m fearful about with Crews is that he simply doesn’t swing sufficient

Ben Clemens: use these instruments!

Ben Clemens: and yeah, I’m anticipating Wooden to take a very long time to determine it out on protection however he’s actually testing my endurance in the mean time

Redbull 44: It seems Povich will preserve his job within the Oriole rotation with a couple of key accidents. Do you see something that means an enchancment is coming, or is that this who he’s? Thanks

Ben Clemens: I watched considered one of his begins in full, the opposite solely partially. I don’t purchase the strikeout charge even slightly. Simply bought fortunate to get Devers when he was a pumpkin for a couple of days at random, his swinging strike charge is meaningfully down and he’s not getting further first strikes or something

Ben Clemens: He’s gonna want plus command to make this work, and I simply don’t have sufficient information on that entrance

DBC: Ideas on the Giants scorching begin? Are they actually contenders or too early to inform?

Ben Clemens: I feel it kinda depends upon what ‘contenders’ means. Are they playoff hopefuls? 100%

Ben Clemens: Are they taking a look at a 100-win season? I don’t assume so

Ben Clemens: Jung Hoo Lee seems like he’s wholesome, which is an enormous deal, and hey would you take a look at that, Logan Webb is without doubt one of the finest pitchers in baseball, similar to he’s yearly

Ben Clemens: However the offense is simply not there for a 100-win staff, imo

Ben Clemens: or perhaps a true-talent 95 win staff

Poppy: You guys are messing with my circadian rhythm right here.  Justin on Monday, Jay on Tuesday….what’s subsequent?  Dan consuming skyline chili?

Ben Clemens: Don’t go making loopy statements like that

Mr. Fister: What’s the long-term outlook for Ben Rice?  Stanton underneath contract for one more yr.  Wells at catcher.  Does Rice have sufficient juice to be the full-time 1B after Goldy leaves?

Ben Clemens: I feel so. I’ve been a believer for some time, and I didn’t downgrade my expectations an excessive amount of after final yr’s tough call-up

Ben Clemens: It’s not like he’s assured to hit, however how would you not guess on somebody together with his minor league stats?

Ben Clemens: It’d be one factor in case your various had been Vlad, and possibly it was for the Yankees earlier than he signed his extension. However I’ll take Rice over the ‘veteran searching for a hoop’ class of free brokers, and I don’t see an apparent various on the NY roster

Mr. Fister: In dynasty, would you commerce considered one of Roupp/Birdsong for Ben Rice?  All salaries are $1.  All are depth.  So actually simply who would you like going ahead?

Ben Clemens: I feel it’d rely on my roster building, however actually within the realm of chance

BC26: The place do you anticipate Sandy to be taking part in this August? Dodgers make most sense to me proper now

Ben Clemens: I’d be stunned if he goes to the Dodgers. I feel he doesn’t match the best way they like to make use of their pitching employees all that properly

Ben Clemens: That’s to not say they wouldn’t take him, however they’ve expended quite a lot of sources to make the pitching employees deep quite than have a couple of innings consuming aces

Ben Clemens: it’d be bizarre to pivot in opposition to that and restrict begins to, say, Might and Ohtani to take action

Ben Clemens: with everybody wholesome, they appear like a six-man rotation of Snell, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Sasaki, Ohtani, and Might. Utilizing Alcantara in a six-man rotation appears foolish. So does axing two of these guys’ begins to commerce for him

Ben Clemens: How about San Diego? They commerce Stop after which do the basic Padres factor of reloading

Ben Clemens: I’ll begin with the second

Ben Clemens: To hit dwelling runs, you must hit the ball within the air. That’s as a result of there are fences which can be too tall for a floor ball to bounce over. Additionally, floor balls don’t go as far as a result of they hit the bottom a bunch.

Ben Clemens: It’s onerous to be an incredible hitter in baseball in case you don’t hit dwelling runs. That’s as a result of the opposite staff is stuffed with excellent gamers making an attempt to get you out, and the best option to cease them from doing that’s by hitting it to a spot the place they aren’t allowed to go get it

Ben Clemens: as as to whether this could proceed; I imply, most likely not. I do assume that getting the ball within the air goes to be a long-term battle for Caminero, and that pitchers are going to assault him low within the zone till he adapts. However his capability to hit for significant energy even with a bunch of grounders within the minors speaks to that bat pace, and the Rays have typically performed a very good job with gamers like that

Mother: What do you concentrate on the Nats this yr?

Ben Clemens: I feel that the largest query for them is how Dylan Crews and James Wooden fare. Realistically, a lot of the starters on offense aren’t going to be starters on the following Nats playoff staff; how those who we anticipate to stay round do is far more vital than whether or not Paul DeJong has a throwback season

Ben Clemens: I’m additionally holding out hope that Mitchell Parker is real-ish

Ben Clemens: however mainly, if the younger gamers are good this yr, it’s been a profitable yr. And in the event that they win 70+ video games with the younger gamers taking part in properly, you must begin desirous about them as a playoff eager for ’26. That’s actually potential

RH: Do you may have any new season resolutions? Mine is to not take a look at the MLB standings till the Faculty World Sequence is over. It’s not going to assist me to consider it earlier than then so I’m making an attempt it out.

Ben Clemens: This time I’m not going to overreact to single video games

Ben Clemens: I’ve already failed that one, after all

Ben Clemens: However I like studying Dan’s chats early within the season to remind myself to not overreact

Oaktown Blues: It actually appears like Soderstrom heard Kurtz’s footsteps and determined “I higher escape now”

Ben Clemens: I used to be fairly excessive on Soderstrom coming into the yr

Ben Clemens: I hope that got here by way of in my first base writeup of the A’s

Ben Clemens: however like…. not this excessive?

Ben Clemens: He has plus plus energy and regarded good in 2024. Certain, not an incredible spring coaching, but in addition, spring coaching

Ben Clemens: He’s most likely not gonna preserve completely nuking the ball like he’s proper now however apart from the truth that he’s turning half his fly balls into homers and that received’t proceed, the Statcast numbers look spectacular and in addition much like final yr, when he was a very good hitter who possibly bought slightly unfortunate

Calvin: Re: Kurtz/Soderstrom….por que no los dos?

Ben Clemens: I thikn that they’ve a excessive bar to do this as a result of they need Rooker to play DH as a lot as potential

Ben Clemens: If Kurtz forces their hand, I feel they’ll use all three, however at this level, he’s performed 13 video games above A ball in his profession

Ben Clemens: so I doubt there’s a rush to power him to the majors nowrightnow. However yeah, Miguel Andujar is a a lot simpler individual to bench than Tyler Soderstrom. That’s Kurtz’s new competitors for large league taking part in time

Calvin: Additionally, most of Soderstrom’s homers have been wallscrapers in a minor league ballpark.

Ben Clemens: Nicely certain, however not a stadium with minor league dimensions

Ben Clemens: And in addition, not a stadium that I anticipate to play small till it will get scorching

Ben Clemens: the excessive in Sacramento over the previous couple of weeks is 75

Ben Clemens: In July, the typical excessive is within the mid 90s. There’s most likely going to be some Wrigley to the park

Larry: With Vladdy getting the bag, how a lot do you assume this improves Pete Alonso’s subsequent contract if he does determine to decide out?

Ben Clemens: Not a ton, actually

Ben Clemens: That’s about what I had Vlad down for

Kyle: Will we see Roman Anthony in Boston anytime quickly?

Ben Clemens: To reply this query, ask your self the place the taking part in time would come from

Ben Clemens: Rafaela? Appears not less than plausible. He’s hitting fairly poorly and Duran can play middle

Ben Clemens: However that’s mainly it, so if the Sox like Rafaela’s protection an excessive amount of to bench him, Anthony is down till there’s an injury-related opening

Ben Clemens: I actually don’t wish to see him get known as up after which not play

Nate: Maikel Garcia breaking out?

Ben Clemens: Ah, an annual ceremony of spring

Ben Clemens: by which I imply, show it Maikel

Ben Clemens: I don’t purchase it

Pitch Please: Are we taking a look at breakouts for Tylor Megill and Kris Bubic or is it only a case of a very good two-start pattern measurement?

Ben Clemens: I’m extra constructive on Bubic after he regarded wonderful final yr

Ben Clemens: With Megill, we’ve seen this primary act earlier than

Ben Clemens: I feel he’s a pleasant swingman however most likely not far more

Bullock: Glad to see Toronto pay as much as preserve their younger star, I all the time like that.  However how are the Jays going to win with him?  They’re outdated, very costly, not adequate proper now, with out apparent affect expertise prepared on the farm, and in a division stuffed with ascendant groups.  If not for Vlad Jr, this may be an apparent time for a rebuild cycle.

Ben Clemens: I feel you may need stated that in regards to the Royals, the Tigers, the Guardians with Ramirez, a couple of different groups. The concept is that it’s onerous to search out nice gamers, however groups develop affect expertise on a regular basis. Perhaps Alek Manoah comes again and appears good. Perhaps Alejandro Kirk is sweet on protection and offense on the identical time. Are we so certain Will Wagner isn’t the following Brandon Lowe? superstars are the toughest factor in baseball to accumulate. Groups wiht time and money can get a lot of the different issues

ButHe’s23: Tovar is simply going to hit .270 w/.295 obp and a few accumulating stats his complete profession… isn’t he?

Ben Clemens: and so long as he performs a gold glove shortstop, it’s gonna be completely tremendous

Ben Clemens: folks need Omar Vizquel and his profession 83 wRC+ within the corridor of fame

Ben Clemens: the swing at the whole lot no energy strategy limits Tovar’s upside however I feel it additionally type of provides him a flooring, which is okay so long as the vast majority of his contributions include a glove on

Edf that: Bombs child!  Put Rooker in CF for all I care.

Ben Clemens: To come back again to an earlier subject…. lol

Mr. Fister: Why do the Rockies?

Ben Clemens: Sorry, I don’t have the time to reply this one

Bullock: Colt Keith has dropped his swing% by 16 factors and is operating a BB% of 30%.  How a lot can he preserve that up?  Might plenty of gamers simply determine to cease swinging and run a .400 OBP for a pair weeks?

Ben Clemens: not even the funniest model of this — that’d be marcell ozuna

Ben Clemens: he’s swinging at pitches IN THE ZONE much less incessantly than his swing charge on all pitches in any earlier season

Ben Clemens: however mainly, sure. I feel that quite a lot of highly effective and swing-happy hitters may run an enormous OBP for a couple of weeks simply by not swinging

Ben Clemens: nevertheless it wouldn’t be sustainable. Pitchers don’t exist in a vacuum

Ben Clemens: How may they breathe?!?

millville meltdown: how noodly does a bat should be to take a gold glove out of the lineup

millville meltdown: (lookin at you, hedges, and bo naylor, quickly to be hedges 2.0

Ben Clemens: Bo Naylor ought to be miffed by that remark, haha

Ben Clemens: though to be honest, Hedges did pinch hit for him in final yr’s playoffs

Ben Clemens: as for the asnwer to this query, I feel it’s clear. When Hedges was hitting for round a 70 wRC+ with elite protection, he was a full-time rotational catcher and a priceless, tradeable man

Ben Clemens: then he began hitting for a 40 wRC+ and have become a backup

Ben Clemens: then he began hitting for a 20 wRC+ and his taking part in time went down much more

Eff that: A pitcher may survive in a vacuum in the event that they wore a pressurized go well with.  The extra you recognize

Ben Clemens: that’s true, but in addition if the pitcher had been in a vacuum, their pitches would all fly straight as a result of there’d be no air resistance

Ben Clemens: it might be a bizarre experiment. And I imply, if some staff desires to strive, I’m all ears, however I’m guessing their R&D priorities run in different instructions

War2d2: I punted on 2b in my draft and wound up panic-drafting Luis Garcia jr. He’s rewarded me by hitting .206 and being benched in opposition to each lefty. Any strategies for potential waiver guys or call-up candidates? Cronenworth, IKF, and Kyren Paris are all obtainable and hitting greater than Garcia (for now), however track-record-wise I’d anticipate quite a lot of regression.

Ben Clemens: I’m most into Paris out of that group. Not as a result of he’s the very best projection (Croney), however b/c he’s 23 and on an terrible staff, so if he hits, he’ll play

Stephen: Given it’s extraordinarily early and staff information don’t imply a lot and plenty of stats are too small pattern to remove a lot, however are there any groups which can be beating your expectations (optimistic or destructive) that you just assume will stick with it primarily based

Ben Clemens: the Purple Sox look good to me. i’m undecided I’d say beating expectations however I feel they’re WS contenders for certain and seeing htem early within the season has cemented my view. Additionally I feel the Dodgers could be good

Visitor: There’s no actual cause to really feel sorry for ATL or their followers if the season continues to go badly, proper? For one, they’ve had loads of success. And, B, they completely cheaped out throughout the offseason. Plus, the Chop.

Ben Clemens: Talking of! I’m a tiny bit fearful about MHII, that chase charge, yikes. He seems fully misplaced

Ben Clemens: Yeah, nobody feels sorry for Braves followers, it’s been an excellent century

Matt: Jays beginning employees is comprised of veteran pitchers who aren’t lacking many bats, how for much longer can they survive with this profile? Hoffman seems nice within the pen, however any likelihood they struggle utilizing him as a starter? I used to be slightly stunned that wasn’t their plan when signing him.

Ben Clemens: I feel that Hoffman most likely didn’t wish to begin

Ben Clemens: if he did, he would have discovered a option to, given how scorching reduction conversions are proper now

Ben Clemens: I feel if he desires to, they need to strive it

Barves: Truthfully, are the Braves actually that good? I really feel like lots of people are going, “Nicely, it’s the Braves” and ignoring all their flaws. Like they’re batting Bryan De La Cruz sixth. That’s actually a Pirates transfer. I do know they’ve a few key items getting back from accidents however I’m actually undecided about this one

Ben Clemens: Nicely, I’m truly writing up the depth chart technique we use to approximate staff power after accidents, ought to go up tomorrow

Ben Clemens: and, yeah, the Braves are good. They’re batting Bryan De La Cruz sixth. The most effective offense in baseball final yr performed Kevin Newman at first base for a good portion of the yr and gave Geraldo Perdomo about 100 PA within the first or second spot within the lineup

Ben Clemens: A part of the explanation the Braves are good is as a result of they’ve a bunch of excellent hitters. However another excuse is that they’ve a bunch of excellent pitchers, and a very good protection

Bob: Brett Baty looks as if a AAAA participant. What number of extra ABs does he get with the Mets and is he a man who wants a change of surroundings?

Ben Clemens: Yeah that’s my learn at this level too

Ben Clemens: I feel they need to give him a change of surroundings commerce, actually. He doesn’t have a spot on the staff with Alonso again and Vientos able to dealing with third

George: Am I fallacious to be fearful about Crews? He hasn’t been as electrical, even within the minors, as he was at LSU.

Ben Clemens: I’m not fearful in regards to the instruments but however like I stated, I would like him to alter the strategy

Ben Clemens: I don’t care that he’s placing out loads, he was in faculty not way back

Ben Clemens: however I do care that he’s not making an attempt to maximise his instruments by swinging at strikes

dads: Looks as if Canha together with his sturdy efficiency is preventing his manner into common at-bats on the expense of Melendez & Renfroe, ya?

Ben Clemens: sure, and good riddance

Ben Clemens: we went by way of the Royals 2024 lineups final week within the chat and it was GRIM

Ben Clemens: Melendez batted 4th or fifth for 54 video games!

Oaktown Blues: I’ll all the time root for Mark Canha. Standup man

Ben Clemens: Oh man, couldn’t agree extra

Ben Clemens: one of many true good guys in baseball, I’ve by no means heard something however nice issues about him and he does an incredible job of becoming in with the group all over the place he performs

Dan’l: How a lot remorse (1-10) will the Playing cards have for not promoting each veteran or short-contract participant w/o commerce clauses?

Ben Clemens: Like 4? For essentially the most half, they weren’t going to get a ton again for them anyway

Ben Clemens: and it appears fairly clear to me that being not less than acceptable issues in St. Louis

Ben Clemens: you’ll be able to’t simply blow all of it up for funsies with no penalties in a market htat is so used to successful

Kyle: Are we fearful about Clase?

Ben Clemens: wait are we imagined to be?

Ben Clemens: I should have missed this story

Ben Clemens: Yeah, no. He’s thrown 4 innings. He’s lacking extra bats, hasn’t issued a stroll, barely permitting any hard-hit balls similar to regular

Ben Clemens: simply getting victimized by a 20% HR/FB and a wild 25% infield hit charge

Paulie_Eff: Head-to-head league, day by day lineups, 7 Off cats, AVG/HR/R/RBI/SB/OPS + Batter Ok’s (neg catagory)  Have to drop both Stott or Tovar, as J Jung is off the IL.  Having a tough time deciding who to drop…

Ben Clemens: ooh, this can be a powerful one as a result of I like each of those guys extra in day by day codecs

Ben Clemens: for the Coors platoon (dwelling/away) and the handedness platoon components

Ben Clemens: I feel I’d preserve Stott in case you’re treating this spot as greater than a platoon, b/c Tovar on the highway isn’t actually enjoyable

Ben Clemens: and if it’s extra of a pure platoon kind spot, or the place you don’t want a full complement, I’d take Tovar and the park

Larry: What are your ideas on Roki Sasaki after seeing him for a few begins? I learn a scouting report saying that he was thought of a greater prospect than Paul Skenes however up to now he hasn’t even come near that.

Ben Clemens: Nicely I feel that Skenes has hit the 99th percentile or so for outcomes of a pitching prospect

Ben Clemens: so evaluating him to Skenes within the majors, certain, not matching up

Ben Clemens: I feel that it’s clear he has the stuff to succeed, however his command with the MLB ball has been atrocious

Ben Clemens: not everybody adjusts to the majors as seamlessly as maybe one of many prime draft picks of the century

Lord Thunder: Who finally ends up with essentially the most profession WAR, Ezekiel Tovar or Masyn Winn?

Ben Clemens: Ooh, good one. However I’ve Winn on this one by a bit

Ben Clemens: I don’t assume he’s nearly as good as Tovar defensively, and I feel the chances are in opposition to him ever getting that good. However I like his offensive potential far more

Ben Clemens: and in addition, that feels safer to me. Tovar however slightly worse on protection would possibly simply notn work

Kyle: Outlook for the Orioles?

Ben Clemens: Good! Like to see Westburg choosing up the place he left off, and Adley wanting like he has recovered from an harm that he claims by no means impacted him

Ben Clemens: the pitching isn’t nice, however we knew that was going to be the case

Ben Clemens: I’m not fearful that Morton is cooked, although I feel he’s extra okay than plus at this level in his profession. Sugano’s lack of bat lacking stuff is worrisome but in addition like…. I anticipated it to be worrisome

Ben Clemens: I feel that they’re going to wish to win slugfests all yr and hope that Grayson Rodriguez turns into an ace

Ben Clemens: however properly… I believed that earlier than the season and in addition fearful about Adley and Westburg, so we’re shifting in the precise path

Mr. Redlegs: What number of Reds hitters play for a legitimately good staff? Elly, Mclain and possibly Stephenson? Only a disappointingly put collectively line as much as pair with such nice pitching.

Ben Clemens: Yeah, De La Cruz and McLain are each wonderful, after all

Ben Clemens: they’d play for completely all people

Ben Clemens: I feel Spencer Steer would simply have an on a regular basis function even on good groups. He’s defensively versatile and the Dodgers have Andy Pages of their lineup day by day and hvae already given Enrique Hernandez and Miguel Rojas about 60 PA

Ben Clemens: I’m not saying he’s a star, however guys like that who can nearly actually hit and who can stand many locations all the time discover a manner to slot in

Ben Clemens: however sure, it’s very shallow

Ben Clemens: Friedl depends upon his protection, I feel, however you would make an argument for him too possibly

Davy Andrews: (It’s the actual Davy. Simply being pleasant.)

Matt: Can Alek Thomas please simply play on a regular basis in CF? I get he swings and dangerous pitches and pulls at a excessive charge however is McCarthy’s profile actually that a lot better? (clearly he received’t go hitless perpetually however the pop doesn’t appear to be there)

Ben Clemens: Yeah I’m with you

Ben Clemens: I like Thomas’s protection a ton, sufficient to play him even when he can’t hit a lot. This staff isn’t precisely quick on offense, and having a defender like that basically issues

Ohtani: Is my deal wanting higher with each $500 million+ LF/DH/1B signing?

Ben Clemens: It felt like an underpay even on the time

Ben Clemens: however now it feels much more s

Kyle: Logan Gilbert CY Younger?

Ben Clemens: It woudl be very humorous if after years of Kirby because the hipster candidate, Gilbert received as an alternative

Mike Lommler: Are you able to consider a baseball comp to the Denver Nuggets firing their coach and GM this near the playoffs?

Ben Clemens: That was surprising

millville meltdown: who’s going to rack up essentially the most destructive warfare this yr

Ben Clemens: that is truly kinda enjoyable

Ben Clemens: final yr’s winners had been Brandon Drury and Eddie Rosario, which ought to offer you an concept of the type of participant who can do that

Ben Clemens: confirmed veterans who at the moment are dangerous however who play on groups which can be skinny at their place

Ben Clemens: Okya, Hunter Renfroe is a reputation that type of suits that vibe this yr

Ben Clemens: Jake Fraley? Like we talked about, the Reds appear to be in some bother with regards to discovering sufficient hitters

Ben Clemens: how about Gio Urshela

Mr. Fister: I used to be about to say …destructive warfare chief needs to be on a staff that received’t sit/ship down stated participant.  It’s bought to be a Royal or a Rockie

Ben Clemens: It might be a Courageous although

Ben Clemens: Bryan De La Cruz was third-worst final yr, so I feel that really makes it much less possible that he does it b/c if he’s terrible once more he’ll simply vanish

Ben Clemens: however the Braves don’t thoughts operating out an terrible choice for a very long time if the remainder of the staff performs properly

Rob S: Logan didn’t even get a QS final evening

Ben Clemens: True! Irrelevant!

J: What on this planet is occurring with William Contreras?

Ben Clemens: a worm offended him deeply, and he’s declared warfare on all worms because of this

Ben Clemens: his timing simply seems terrible, tbh

Ben Clemens: looks as if a factor you simply should work by way of

Ben Clemens: however a 73% groundball charge and 9% line drive charge is simply not going to get it performed

Dave: Most consequential harm for the reason that season began?

Ben Clemens: Most likely Reynaldo Lopez, however I’m wanting by way of the whole lot to ensure I didn’t neglect somebody

Mr. Fister: Ketel….re: harm

Ben Clemens: I’ll replace if he’s damage worse than expecdted

Ben Clemens: however I’m anticipating a minimal keep for him

Ben Clemens: yeah identical deal

Ben Clemens: or properly… it’s a bit totally different in that for Snell, the explanation it’s much less impactful is b/c he’s on the Dodgers

Ben: Brewers fired Ned Yost on the finish of the season they made the playoffs.

Ben: I feel there was 10 video games left

Ben Clemens: ah, the Ben Cinematic Universe delivers once more

Tyle Kucker: Do you assume famous person gamers ought to signal extensions this yr, with the financial system wanting actually dangerous? Like Mookie throughout Covid

Ben Clemens: eh, I feel it’s most likely not significant except we even have a bib recession

Ben Clemens: a bib recession can be tough for child clothes producers however I feel MLB would survive

Ben Clemens: Like, the inventory market is down 4% from final yr’s ranges

Ben Clemens: GDP is gross this yr up to now, however eh, ask me once more in six months

Ben Clemens: I don’t see this affecting baseball contracts except issues go actually sideways

Dave: Greater inflation and rates of interest actually make the long run offers extra enticing to possession

Ben Clemens: what greater rates of interest, although? 10y yield is round 4, round 4.25 lats yr

Ben Clemens: once more, like, issues may change meaningfully from right here

Ben Clemens: however the actual financial impacts up to now wouldn’t benefit ‘nobody can signal a long-term deal in baseball’

Ben Clemens: you may be upset about what’s occurring within the financial system with out pondering that the whole lot has already crashed past fixing, you recognize?

J: What are the Rangers doing trotting out Patrick Corbin tonight? (And equally, why is Carlos Carrasco making common begins for the Yankees?) I do know good pitching is tough to return by, however are these actually affordable choices for a contender?

Ben Clemens: properly….. in the event that they pitch, say, 100 innings

Ben Clemens: but when it’s placing in these guys for spot begins, and hoping it’s not less than acceptable? I feel it’s tremendous

Ben Clemens: if Corbin is cooked, he received’t final lengthy

Dwight Howard’s Boyfriend: Will Trout nonetheless make the HOF?  Please say he’ll

Ben Clemens: oh yeah, I don’t even assume it’s shut

Ben Clemens: he’s been value 86 WAR!

Ben Clemens: his profession batting line is .298/.410/.580 and he’s performed plus centerfield for many of that point

Kyle: Anxious about Corbin Burnes?

Ben Clemens: as a lot as I used to be earlier than the season, mainly

Ben Clemens: he was considered one of my ‘massive questions for the yr’

Ben Clemens: not taking a lot out of his first two begins, although

Nats fan: Dejong regarded like an actual good Ss yesterday.  Will CJ be moved to third within the close to future?

Ben Clemens: Oh, I forgot to reply an Abrams query earlier about whether or not he might be a part of hte subsequent core. I’d like to see this alteration, or to strive him in middle, or SOMETHING

Ben Clemens: like, this man can not play shortstop. That’s okay. There are many good main league gamers who don’t play shortstop

Ben Clemens: what you actually need him for is the bat, anyway. Attempt him out some other place

Jesse: Is Walker Buehler cooked?

Ben Clemens: magic 8 ball says ask once more when he’s not giving up homers on 30% of his fly balls

Bencle Mens: With the caveat that I’ve not look into this in any respect, however studying that Clase has a excessive infield hit charge, would pitchers of his ilk be extra vulnerable than others? Protection reads an enormous swing nevertheless it generates softer contact than anticipated in order that they aren’t ready to cost, and many others

Ben Clemens: I imply, that sounds plausible? However over his profession he has a 7.8% infield hit charge

Ben Clemens: which is unremarkable

Prong: Talking of people that can’t play protection, I predict that that is lastly the yr that individuals notice Luis Arraez is nothing however an empty batting common.  He’s toast

Ben Clemens: possibly this’ll be the yr the place he swings round from overrated to undrrated

Ben Clemens: he’s not a nasty participant. He simply occurs to be a strong participant in a manner that makes folks assume he’s an incredible participant

Ben Clemens: if folks change round to pondering he’s toast, that may be a humorous reversal to me

Dave: Will the Marlins be keen to commerce Sandy to the Mets?

Ben Clemens: Alright, two minute lightning spherical after which it’s lunchtime

Dickneck: What’s was for lunch?

Ben Clemens: Chinese language leftovers

dads: Mlodzinki, Harrington, Dobbins ROS?

Mr. Fister: Is one White Sox participant known as a White Sox or a White Sock

Ben Clemens: I attempt to keep away from utilizing it simply to be secure

Profargate: After Profar, do you assume mediocre gamers that randomly escape after they’re outdated will discover a fair tougher time getting massive contracts?

Brendan Donovan: How a lot of a commerce haul will I deliver again on the deadline?

Ben Clemens: I feel you’re unlikely to be dealt b/c your presence makes team-building a lot simpler sooner or later

Ben Clemens: but when dealt, loads!

Ben Clemens: I feel Fedde and Grey are much more possible commerce candidates

Bubbles: Ideas on Liberatore? Outcomes aren’t good ER clever, however strategy seems a lot better and command appears improved.

Ben Clemens: Too quickly to say

Kasbo: Who do like finest from an upside standpoint ….Bido, Roupp, Birdsong, or D. Festa?

Ben Clemens: Birdsong for me. I’m undecided whether or not that is logical or whether or not i give him a slight edge b/c of the title however… right here we’re

Creepy Child: I like turtles!

Ben Clemens: I might completely like to know what this was in reference to

Nate: Is Hunter Goodman…good? Or assume he’ll simply be a flash within the pan that may’t hit his weight?

Ben Clemens: Leaning the second however and not using a ton of confidence

Dave: Mets recreation time was moved up as a result of chilly.  That’s a primary for me

Ben Clemens: snow baseball in DET, what a time to be alive

Kyle: Do you see the Orioles bringing in any notables at pitching on the deadline

Ben Clemens: sure, too quickly to guess who although

Ben Clemens: Alright, t hanks once more for chatting with me in the present day, everybody

Ben Clemens: Might your enemies negotiate favorable commerce offers with you and your accidents be minor and nagging quite than catastrophic, till subsequent Monday not less than