Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat – 1/11/21
2:00 |
: Hey everyone, welcome to another Monday baseball chat. |
2:00 |
: The offseason continues to slowly grind along, though I do like the Schwarber deal for both him and the Nats |
2:00 |
: And obviously, Francisco Lindor just got traded! |
2:01 |
: Let’s talk baseball, and also the roast chicken I made and carved last night, not that I’m bragging or anything |
2:01 |
: Can the Mets start the season ? I’m so pumped |
2:01 |
: As a former NY resident, I know plenty of Mets fans. “So pumped” is putting it mildly. We still don’t know how Cohen is going to do long-term as an owner but this is a pretty solid win to bank |
2:02 |
: This Mets team is gonna be a ton of fun. I already thought they were more fun than their record, and Lindor is just the best |
2:02 |
: If you were to create a relief pitcher of average overall talent for you to get the maximum possible enjoyment from watching them, what would you choose? A somewhat wild flamethrower? A screwball specialist barely scraping 90 mph? Someone with a Frisbee slider who struggles to get ahead in the count? A sidearmer with a wicked sinker and a delivery that looks like it hurts? The options are limitless. |
2:02 |
: What a wonderful question |
2:03 |
: I think I’d go for a knuckleballer |
2:03 |
: But the screwball specialist works too |
2:04 |
: The idea of someone coming in and just being bizarre and not very good but also not very bad is just funny to me |
2:04 |
: Like late-career Chris Young |
2:05 |
: Padres about to sign Tatis Jr to a long term extension after acquiring Snell, Darvish, Kim this offseason. Great for baseball! What type of terms do you think they’ll reach? |
2:05 |
: what do you make of the rumored 300/11 year deal for tatis? would that even be a wise decision for the padres, considering that (a) tatis is still under team control for many seasons and (b) we only have a sample size of 143 MLB games to go off? like, what’s even the upside for the padres to be extending tatis so early? why not a deal like acuna’s? |
2:05 |
: I wouldn’t put too much stock into the detail until they announce the exact details |
2:05 |
: I think they’ll end up with something that ends up compensating him at a level higher than Acuna, with team options on the back end |
2:06 |
: Other than possibly signing Molina & Wainwright, do you think the Cardinals will add anybody? Maybe a backup catcher? (That is what this offseason has done to me: Backup Catcher!) |
2:06 |
: They already got Heineman! |
2:06 |
: I think that they will add another middling starter, but yeah: the Cards have been pretty transparent about the fact that they aren’t trying to improve this offseason, solely cut costs |
2:07 |
: I keep reading that trading arenado is difficult because of the opt out. In what world does he give up what he already has negotiated ? His contract is miles underwater. |
2:07 |
: Yeah, I agree that that take is stale |
2:07 |
: It might have been true in late 2019 |
2:07 |
: I certainly don’t think it’s the case now |
2:08 |
: The real problem with trading Arenado is that he’s worth a significantly negative amount of surplus value given his performance and age |
2:09 |
: I think another problem is that trading Arenado AND something to get a random prospect in reeturn |
2:09 |
: is just not very palatable to Rockies ownership |
2:09 |
: I think they’re hoping he’ll opt out and save them the trouble |
2:09 |
: Hi Ben–I have a hypothetical I’m curious about, since it’s interesting to think about the results different pitches get. Let’s say you have Pitcher X, an extreme soft tosser (mid 80s?) with a low strikeout rate. Pitcher X nonetheless manages to be a strong starter by posting elite walk rates and suppressing BABIP at an elite level by generating extreme flyball and popup rates. What sort of pitch mix/stuff profile would you expect Pitcher X to have? |
2:09 |
: I think they’d be Kyle Hendricks, basically? |
2:10 |
: So they’d feature a two-seam with good movement (if we take the low strikeout rate for granted, two-seamers allow better results for the pitcher on batted balls) |
2:10 |
: And probably a changeup/slider combo that play off of those |
2:10 |
: Random but why isn’t there more coverage of the MLB and NCAA courtship last decade and the economics of that relationship? |
2:11 |
: Not to plug another website on this great one, but Baseball America has always been my go-to for reading about the macro structure of those types of relationships |
2:11 |
: They’re great, JJ Cooper is great |
2:11 |
: I’n definitely in the minority here, but I’m really high on Edwin Rios and would prefer the Dodgers to go after depth starting pitching rather than a star 3B/SS. Your thoughts? |
2:11 |
: I like Rios quite a lot. I also like the Dodgers’ starting pitching quite a lot! |
2:12 |
: I think they’d be wise to make a bunch of small bets. They don’t need a star 3B, but I wouldn’t mind a platoon partner for Rios, and if they think that the DH is likely Turner also makes a lot of sense |
2:12 |
: I’d go after reclamation project pitchers too |
2:12 |
: I am getting the sense that baseball in 2021 might be even harder to pull off than baseball in 2020. |
2:12 |
: I’m not sure, to be honest. The owners are acting like they have leverage, but I’m not convinced they do |
2:12 |
: If they’re so dang starved for money, and they’ve all taken out debt, then engaging in a standoff about the season is not going to EASE their cashflow problems |
2:13 |
: And given that it really does seem to be about cash flow, they badly need TV revenue |
2:13 |
: I’m not saying it’s impossible, but i don’t think that the shoe is as firmly on their foot as people have been speculating |
2:13 |
: Are ready to face the wrath of a certain team’s fanbase today? |
2:13 |
: Super curious which fanbase this is! |
2:14 |
: Bauer, Bieber, Clevenger, Kluber, Carrasco would make a decent rotation…. |
2:14 |
: Yeah, but good luck assembling that on a $40 million payroll |
2:14 |
: yo Ben! What are some of your favorite 2-person cooperative board games? |
2:14 |
: I really like Aeon’s End, and they have a legacy version of it as well |
2:15 |
: I also like Codenames Duet quite a bit |
2:15 |
: Those are probably the two my wife and I play most often |
2:15 |
: Honorable mention to Fuse, which only lasts 10 minutes but packs a lot of fun |
2:15 |
: Does Paxton to the Padres on a one-year incentive laden deal seem like a win-win? He needs to re-establish his value while the Padres could use another starter especially with uncertainty around Lamet. |
2:16 |
: I’m skeptical that he’d want to go to a team that’s so stacked already. He’d be in danger of falling out of the rotation there, which is really not something that would help his long-term value |
2:16 |
: If I were him, I’d rather do something like what Schwarber did. Go to a team where you’re likely to have a big role even if you struggle |
2:16 |
: I’m gonna go the Pat Venditte route on the “average but interesting reliever” question |
2:16 |
: Another reasonable option! |
2:16 |
: Do you see the Nats as playoff contenders? |
2:17 |
: For sure! The NL East is stacked, but with pitching health, I think they’re easily in contention for a Wild Card spot, and could win the division with a little luck |
2:18 |
: Do you think Cano’s salary should count toward the CBT this year? The Mets benefit greatly by Cano getting suspended, that’s 24 million they get to take off the books for a year. |
2:18 |
: Eh, gonna have a hard time agreein with this take |
2:18 |
: The CBT is soooooo weak |
2:18 |
: It’s a tiiiiiiny tax |
2:18 |
: Pales in comparison to the fact that they aren’t paying Cano this year |
2:19 |
: Is Kris Bryant going to be dealt, and is the return going to be incredibly mediocre? |
2:19 |
: I actually don’t think he’ll be dealt, in the end. |
2:20 |
: If he is, the return is going to be three shiny pennies, a dull nickel, and maybe a lottery ticket pitcher |
2:20 |
: Mets infield – if they care about defense, would they be better off signing Wong, moving McNeil to 3rd and using JD off the bench (or to trade for depth) or just sticking with the McNeil at 2nd, Davis at third, and signing a utility type (Profar, Hernandez) that you can play almost every day at multiple positions. I guess is the upgrade in defense of Wong enough to compensate for the loss in offense potential from Davis? |
2:22 |
: Personally, I’d sign Wong. Davis would still get his AB’s as a backup in many places, particularly if there’s a DH next year. I also think that the Mets should deal one of Alonso, Smith, or Davis, though, so take this whole take with a grain of salt given that |
2:22 |
: Is it likely that Taijuan Walker resigns with Toronto or another contender and gets a lucrative contract? I’m surprised there isn’t more buzz about him. A 28 year old coming off a solid short season should have many suitors I would think, and he seems to have recovered well from his TJ surgery. The only rumor I heard was that the Tigers were interested. How do you view him compared to the other notable FA starters? |
2:23 |
: I’m not super high on Walker, but I dono’t think he’s bad or anything |
2:23 |
: I’d just say t his |
2:23 |
: He was back-of-rotation caliber in 2020, despite the shiny ERA |
2:24 |
: He doesn’t miss a lot of bats or draw a ton of bad swings even |
2:24 |
: That said, he has acceptable control, and every team needs pitching |
2:25 |
: I don’t think he’s getting huge money, but I’m fine with the fans’ (and Craig’s) projections, which are something like 20 million dollars over two years |
2:26 |
: I have him in the Smyly/Minor tier, which is about what that money would imply |
2:26 |
: After that terrible season, does Javier Báez have any trade value? |
2:26 |
: I think he still does |
2:26 |
: He had a terrible offensive season but it was a short one and this is a case where he’s demonstrated the talent before, you know? |
2:26 |
: Tell us about that chicken. I always botch the thighs/drumsticks during carving. |
2:26 |
: THIS is the kind of content I’m here for |
2:27 |
: So we spatchcocked the chicken, what a fun word |
2:28 |
: If you do that, and roast the breast to around 145, you can literally pull on the drumstick with your hand, jab at the joint with a knife, and just pull it off the chicken |
2:28 |
: Just thinking the word spatchcock, let alone speaking it, feels just a bit naughty. |
2:28 |
: No argument here |
2:28 |
: What kind of b.s. is MLB up to in not letting people know if there will be a DH next year? Is this considered “leverage” in bargaining with the players union, or is it instead called “running your business badly and negotiating in bad faith”? |
2:28 |
: Haha it’s bargaining, but I agree it’s silly |
2:29 |
: what is your best guess at the likelihood of a nl DH |
2:29 |
: 85? |
2:29 |
: percent, that is |
2:29 |
: I think it’s gonna happen, it’s just going to be a slog to get there |
2:29 |
: The Mets! Aren’t they a little hard on you at times? |
2:29 |
: Oh, fair point, fair point |
2:29 |
: I’m not really sure how Mets fans think of me in aggregate |
2:29 |
: A few vocal ones think I’m a troll who hates the Mets |
2:29 |
: I find that…. unconvincing |
2:30 |
: Also my wife is a big Mets fan and I like the Mets and I used to have season tickets |
2:30 |
: I’ve not been much of a board game player, but we recently got Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Splendor, and we love all of them and have played them a lot. What should we try next? |
2:30 |
: Underrated one that we got our friends who are in a similar situation (they recently bought Catan and loved it after playing almost no board games before) |
2:30 |
: Camel Up! |
2:30 |
: It’s a game where you get on racing camels |
2:32 |
: And it’s way more fun than that sounds |
2:32 |
: Braves are stacked and still favored to win the division, which I think right now the projections don’t include a DH. If the DH is added to the NL, does that boost the Mets (in that Nimmo, Alonso, Smith and Davis all get to bat in every game)? What would the Mets need to do to push them over the top? |
2:33 |
: I think that the odds are overestimating the Braves, tbh |
2:33 |
: We know they have more moves to make, but that line surprises me given the recent Mets moves |
2:33 |
: I’m not sure how sharp all the lines are at this point in the offseason, though |
2:33 |
: I’d take the Mets straight up, though |
2:34 |
: Should MLB just allow stick substances, and tell everyone that it is fine? Also, can you tell me how stick grip stuff works differently than vaseline on a ball and offer an opinion as to whether one has merit and others not, etc.? Thanks. |
2:34 |
: I do think that they should just legalize some standardized sticky thing |
2:35 |
: I can’t explain the physics of it, but the key is to make the adhesion between finger and ball stronger so that you can impart more spin on the ball via transfer of momentum |
2:35 |
: The more slipping, the more wasted energy |
2:35 |
: Less slip, more spin, more outs |
2:35 |
: Even with Edman moving to 2B over Wong, do you see Cardinals having best defense in MLB in 2021? |
2:35 |
: I don’t quite see it, to be honest |
2:36 |
: It would help if they gave Bader and O’Neill everyday reps in the outfield (help the defense, I mean) |
2:36 |
: I’m not convinced they will |
2:36 |
: And Edman isn’t as good as Wong, though he’s comfortably plus still |
2:36 |
: Play GM or a moment. Say you’re GM of a SS hungry team. Who would you have targeted – Lindor, Story, Semien, someone else? |
2:36 |
: Depends on if I have money or not |
2:36 |
: If I have money, I’m doing what the Mets did and going after Lindor with an eye towards signing him |
2:36 |
: If I don’t, I’m targeting Story and giving up prospects to get him |
2:37 |
: I’m just down on Semien relative to the other two, tbh |
2:37 |
: Good news! This chat will be extended infinitely. Bring on the questions! |
2:37 |
: Mechanical chat answerer sounds awesome. I’ll see if Appelman can find room for it in the budget |
2:37 |
: Any chance the Cardinals are laying in the grass with their money whining and will eventually end up with an Arenado? |
2:37 |
: I hope so! |
2:37 |
: I still have a good amount of Cards fan in me, even if I can step back from it and be objective |
2:38 |
: I just think that the Rockies are going to have a hard time trading Arenado |
2:38 |
: They seem to think he’s a stud with a ton of value, whereas teams think he’s a contract with an above average but below-cost player attached to it |
2:39 |
: I do think that St. Louis is the kind of place he’d end up going, though |
2:39 |
: On that note, I’m off. Have a great day everyone, and I’ll talk to you next week. |
2:39 |
: Dang robots! |
2:39 |
: Thanks for the answer! Following up though, wouldn’t a two-seam focus be more conducive to a groundball-oriented approach, rather than Pitcher X’s extreme flyball generating profile? |
2:39 |
: Ooh I saw the popup thing but not the extreme flyball |
2:39 |
: My bad |
2:39 |
: Okay, so new plan |
2:40 |
: It’s a guy who has a ton of ride on a four-seamer, but who is a suuuuuuuper long strider, such that he’s releasing the ball at a very flat angle to home plate |
2:40 |
: flat vertical angle |
2:41 |
: this isn’t a new thing, but it’s a new thing in mainstream baseball analysis (pitch design types have been in on it for a while) |
2:41 |
: So we’re talking Yusmeiro Petit at this point |
2:42 |
: What do you expect the price difference (AAV/years) is between LeMahieu, Wong, and Profar? Which of these player puts up the best value (WAR) over next 3 years? |
2:42 |
: I think that they’ll go in the order you said in terms of high to low |
2:42 |
: I think that Wong will probably deliver the best FanGraphs WAR per dollar spent |
2:43 |
: Teams seem to be wliling to pay less for defense-first profiles like that |
2:43 |
: My guess as to why is that because players of that type are under-compensated in arbitration, there are simply more cost-effective substitutes |
2:43 |
: WAR is relative to replacement level, not relative to the players currently on the team, which is why a bias like this can persist without being irrational |
2:44 |
: How do you standardize sticky substances? It’s hard to imagine the rulebook carving out an exception for BullFrog sunscreen. Maybe the league could provide its own sticky substance, but that’s a whole ‘nother can of worms. |
2:44 |
: Oh yeah I think it’d be their own sticky substance |
2:44 |
: I personally would not recommend canned worms |
2:44 |
: They probably wouldn’t give the grip you want |
2:44 |
: They could also just carry on like they’re doing now, though, I suppose |
2:44 |
: Do what you want but don’t be a jerk about it |
2:45 |
: If you were given the choice as GM of the Cardinals, would you rather have Edman or Profar? |
2:45 |
: Oh slam dunk Edman |
2:45 |
: He’s so much cheaper |
2:45 |
: And as a GM, I’d have to care about such things |
2:45 |
: To watch play? Honestly probably Edman too |
2:45 |
: I just like Edman |
2:45 |
: I have decided to only accept questions on baseball, no more silly cooking or games |
2:45 |
: I now won’t answer questions about baseball, just cooking and games. |
2:46 |
: This robot is getting uncomfortably close to replicating the way I chat |
2:46 |
: Does Bauer get $30 mil AAV, assuming he gets a long-term deal? |
2:46 |
: I don’t think so, but I think it’s close |
2:46 |
: I think it’ll be more 28 than 32, but more 30 than 20, if that makes sense |
2:47 |
: Kikuchi 2020 looked much like his 2019 except for a marked improvement in FIP. Do you think he breaks out in 2021 and will the Mariners exercise his option? |
2:47 |
: I would sya that I disagree with the premise here |
2:47 |
: He went from getting swinging strikes on 8.8% of pitches to 12.1% |
2:47 |
: His velo was up more than 2 mph |
2:47 |
: His strikeout and groundball rates spiked |
2:48 |
: I think he looks unfamiliar in every way except ERA |
2:48 |
: And even there, his ERA in 2019 was flattered a little bit b/c he had a bunch of earned runs and also stranded runners at a roughly average rate |
2:49 |
: In 2020 he had a super-low strand rate and also 100% of the runs he allowed were earned |
2:49 |
: Is cribbage a board game or a card game? |
2:49 |
: I think it’s a card game |
2:49 |
: Given that the board is only used for scoring |
2:50 |
: Card game, and how could you even ask that |
2:51 |
: It does have a board |
2:51 |
: But I think it’s stlil squarely a card game |
2:51 |
: Did the Yankees provide a model of the Red Sox to rebuild by flipping players (relievers) even when in the wildcard playoff hunt? if so, shouldn’t overpay a few one year pillow “contracts” for players to flip in June and July? |
2:51 |
: If the Yankees provided that model (and to be fair I’m not sure that any team can duplicate that, the returns for relievers aren’t what they used to be) |
2:51 |
: The Red Sox looked at that manual, laughed, and then threw Mookie Betts out of a speeding car |
2:52 |
: Commish says no to expansion until Oakland and Tampa get better stadiums. That won’t happen. So expansion won’t either. Is his stance going to hurt the game in the long run? |
2:52 |
: I think that this negotiating ploy is generally understood to be a leverage game |
2:53 |
: As in, he doesn’t mean it, but he’ll continue to take that stance publicly to help those teams’ negotiations because this way there are more markets they can threaten to move to |
2:53 |
: I don’t think it does much to change the expansion timetable, because owners as a whole want expansion to give them money |
2:53 |
: Idea to combat tanking: distribute the league’s central revenue proportional to win totals. What do you think? As central revenue grows while attendance stagnates (even pre-pandemic), it seems worthwhile to link central revenue to on-field performance in some way, otherwise there is a continuously reduced incentive to spend. |
2:53 |
: I like the idea of linking money distribution to playoff appearances, but I do think it’s easy to go too far |
2:54 |
: There really are teams that simply don’t have the revenues to run themselves like the Yankees |
2:54 |
: Plenty of them |
2:54 |
: I’d prefer seeing baseball go more the way of basketball, with a cap/floor system and more revenue sharing overall |
2:54 |
: Like, imagine being the Royals and suddenly you’re getting less money unless you make the playoffs |
2:55 |
: Does Cleveland give gimenez and Rosario each 600 PAs this season regardless of performance? I can’t see any better options unless they call up Nolan Jones |
2:55 |
: Very likely so |
2:55 |
: That said, I think a lot of teams would be happy to do that |
2:55 |
: Rosario is still a sleeper pick to turn into a stud for me |
2:56 |
: Maybe I’m just a sucker, I just like what he was doing on offense in 2019, and think that people with his skillset don’t come aorund often |
2:56 |
: Do you have a pick for AL and NL MVP next season? |
2:56 |
: Let’s say Trout and Betts |
2:56 |
: boring! |
2:56 |
: Is selectiveness a trait Rosario can still learn at this point? |
2:56 |
: Uhhhh…. qualified yes |
2:56 |
: I don’t think he’s going to turn into Carlos Santana out there |
2:57 |
: But I think that he has the kind of game that allows you to make gains by doing things like, say, just going up to the plate thinking take every time |
2:57 |
: He’s displayed the ability to be a little patient before |
2:57 |
: Not for any lenght of time, admittedly |
2:57 |
: But I think a chance to play every day will help with that |
2:57 |
: I now have decided to have a chat every day! |
2:57 |
: Hm, good luck Ben Clemens Replacement |
2:57 |
: That sounds like a lot of work |
2:57 |
: Where do you see George Springer ending up now in light of the Mets trade? |
2:58 |
: I’ll go with the Blue Jays |
2:58 |
: Fun landing spot for him |
2:58 |
: They’ll be an exciting team for years to come |
2:58 |
: I now have decided not to have a chat every day! |
2:58 |
: Hope I’m not this fickle in real life |
2:58 |
: Mets now have 4 players who will be free agents after this season – Conforto, Stroman, Syndegaard, and Lindor. How many do they re-sign? |
3:00 |
: Huh |
3:00 |
: Didn’t realize Conforto had been up for so long |
3:00 |
: I expect them to re-sign 2.5 of them |
3:00 |
: Or well, that’s my over under |
3:01 |
: I think Lindor is quite likely, Conforto is quite likely, Syndergaard and Stroman are both marginally unlikely |
3:01 |
: Will Carlos Martinez ever be good again? |
3:02 |
: I sure hope so! |
3:02 |
: One of my favorite players to watch pitch |
3:02 |
: I love that he just throws every pitch |
3:02 |
: If someone were to throw Mookie out of a car Mookie would simply busy out his hitherto unknown acrobatics expertise to land safely on the side of the road. |
3:02 |
: I guarantee you Mookie Betts is better than I am at correctly exiting a moving car |
3:03 |
: That said, I guarantee you he’s better than me at pretty much everything |
3:03 |
: He’s even my equal at being from Tennessee, the one thing I thought I might have on him |
3:03 |
: If you put the Pirates, Royals, Rangers and Tigers into a blender and skimmed the best 25 players off the top, could you win the NL West with that roster? (Providing, of course, that no overly important body parts got caught in the blade.) |
3:03 |
: Ugh, you answered my snarky response before I could even make it |
3:03 |
: Hmmmmm…. no |
3:03 |
: You could not |
3:04 |
: You might be able to win the NL Central |
3:04 |
: There just aren’t any great players on any of those teams, unfortunately |
3:04 |
: If you threw the Rockies in, we could talk, but it’s like |
3:05 |
: KeBryan Hayes, Gallo, some random Tigers, Whit and Mondesi… |
3:05 |
: Who’s the “Blender Team” staff ace? Danny Duffy? Matt Boyd? ugh. |
3:05 |
: Oh I like Pittsburgh’s pitching |
3:05 |
: Musgrove is the ace, I’m interested in Keller in general |
3:05 |
: Marquez is good |
3:05 |
: Duffy and Boyd might not have spots in my rotatoin |
3:06 |
: We project the Pirates for more WAR out of their starters than the Cubs, DBacks, Giants, and Cardinals |
3:06 |
: Just to pick some marginally interesting teams out of a hat |
3:06 |
: If you still have all your hair Mookie is balding a little. Technically he is mortal. |
3:06 |
: Always looking out for me, I appreciate it |
3:07 |
: If the new CBA did away with up front contracts and everyone got paid for their war or wpa or whatever at years’ end, with some base salary for injury time, would the gains to younger players outweigh the losses for older players? Or would the dollars spent just balance out? The players would have less long term certainty as they age but would also get their $$ to invest way sooner. |
3:07 |
: It would depend on what number you put on it, but assuming it evens out, I think it would be a way better system for everyone |
3:07 |
: Er, maybe not better for owners, to be honest |
3:08 |
: Imagine planning a budget and then your team rips off a 100-win season (or worse, you underperform your BaseRuns by a ton but the payouts are based on WAR) |
3:08 |
: How many more bottom-feeders would you have to throw in to get the NL West then? Mariners? Rockies? |
3:08 |
: The NL West is just hard. The Dodgers have three different players who are better than anyone on any of these teams |
3:09 |
: Same with the Padres, I think |
3:09 |
: It seems to me, any system that seeks to properly compensate younger players, at the expense of over-compensating veterans, is gonna screw over a generation of players about to hit free agency. Does that keep it from ever getting done? |
3:09 |
: Yeah this is the big sticking poin |
3:09 |
: t |
3:09 |
: Initial conditions matter |
3:10 |
: I agree with you that that generation would be in the donut hole. I’m not sure if it prevents something from getting done, but I tihnk that the PA would need to provide some concessions to them from other existing players |
3:10 |
: Which might be tricky to work out |
3:11 |
: Okay, today was more of a lightning round chat. I think I hit my normal volume of questions answered in a compressed time, but now I’m off to hvae some leftover roast chicken for lunch and finish an article that makes me sad (more reasons that stolen bases aren’t as good as people think) |
3:11 |
: Have a great day, everyone |
Ben is a writer at FanGraphs. He can be found on Twitter @_Ben_Clemens.