Klawchat 7/14/16.

My midseason ranking of the top 50 prospects in baseball is now up for Insiders.

Klaw: It’s the school exam and the kids have run away. Klawchat.

Dan: Bobby Bradley (Cle) did not earn a mention on your list. Has your opinion of him altered during this season, or is he progressing as you expected/hoped and is just a sub-57 prospect?
Klaw: Nothing new. He’s a 1b only guy with questions about his ability to make contact and hit for average.

Dan: Glad to see that Hunter Harvey (Bal) is still worth a mention (honorable) on your list. Did you see either of his Aberdeen starts? If not, have you heard anything to suggest that he is still (post injuries), or can become, the prospect that you had previously projected?
Klaw: I have not seen him yet, but I’ve heard the stuff is fully returned. He just has to show he can stay healthy, which he hasn’t done since his first full year in pro ball was cut short by injury.

Ken Naylor: With reports Jason Groome is in Boston taking his physical, if he signs, where does he rank on your Red Sox list?
Klaw: He’s going to sign – I’ve said that all along – and would be 5th in the system.

Marty: Would you include Eloy Jimenez in a deal for Andrew Miller? Or do you think the Cubs have enough other parts to get it done with the Yanks?
Klaw: I would not, not for what is likely to be about 20 innings + the playoffs of value this year. He has more time on his contract, of course, but you’re doing it primarily to win this year, and I think relievers in general are volatile commodites and he in particular could go at any moment.

Will: Are you alarmed by Javier Guerra’s K rate and overall offensive non-performance this season? Seems like a lost year for him.
Klaw: I’ve heard that he’s played like his head is not in the game at all. It’s a lost year so far and he needs to pull his head out.

Nick: By no means did I expect to see him in the top 50, but what are your thoughts on Jake Thompson? At this point, no reason for Philly to delay giving him a cup of coffee, right? (Trying not to just scout the stats though)
Klaw: I agree, he could come up at any time. Solid back-end starter, durable, lacking a real out pitch or a big fastball to make him more than that. But I like him for what he is and see him outperforming his stuff a little bit.

Pat: I am driving across the country next week. I’m not usually a books-on-tape guy, but do you have any recommendations for something that might be a good listen (from Audible, e.g.)?
Klaw: I do 5-10 audiobooks a year. The best one I’ve ever listened to is The Ballad of the Whiskey Robber. I also would recommend The Sixth Extinction, which won the 2014 Pulitzer for Non-fiction. (Post-chat addendum: Undeniable, written and read by Bill Nye, is also a fantastic listen.)

JD: Did I hear correctly that Dylan Cease touched 103? Could that be right?
Klaw: Yes. And last night Michael Kopech hit 105.

Brian: Keith, I don’t want to scout the stat line but have you heard any news about Nolan Watson for Lexington in the Royals system. Numbers have been pretty poor all season and wondering if there is something to explain it. Thanks.
Klaw: Watson, Ashe Russell, Scott Blewett, and Foster Griffin have all struggled this season, not just in performance but in stuff. Russell was mid-80s in the spring and I haven’t heard anything better than 87-91.

JD: Any sense of *why* Mateo isn’t performing as well this year? Effort, instincts, position change, something else?
Klaw: He doesn’t make hard contact. I seriously debated whether to put him on the list at all.

Richard: With Josh Bell likely back down in Indy this time next week, where would he have ranked on your list? 30-40 range?
Klaw: Yep, that’s about right. Also, this is really stupid – they should just play him at 1b already.

Philip: In what range would you put Morejon amongst prospects? Top 150?
Klaw: Probably, since he’s 17 and won’t pitch anywhere in the US this year. Same for Maitan, who’s 16.

Brian: Do you think the Rangers have a plan for Joey Gallo, and if so, what is it? I have been confused this year by the way they have handled him.
Klaw: So have I. I don’t know the answer.

Frank: Rob Whalen currently leads the Southern League in Ks and just got promoted to Triple A. Seems like he’s mostly viewed as a pitchability guy, but have you heard anything about him? Can he start in the big leagues?
Klaw: I don’t think so – more likely a reliever.

Jon V: I believe this is the first time you’ve moved Frazier significantly ahead of Zimmer. Driven more by Frazier’s progress or Zimmer’s decline?
Klaw: Zimmer needs to make more contact, especially vs lefties (K/PA of 33%). I think Frazier is clearly ahead of Zimmer in everyone’s eyes at this point.

MIke: Hi Keith. Thanks for the chat!! Do you have any thoughts on Giants AA reliever Ray Black? He’s my wife’s cousin and I was wondering if you think he has a chance to make it to the majors this year or ever? Thanks again!
Klaw: He’s 98-102 without a second pitch and with poor control. I’m sure someone will give him a chance in the majors but until he develops something else I don’t know what use he’ll be.

Jack: Doesn’t the player you described that alfaro can become an allstar? Or really close to it?
Klaw: Possibly. If he’s posting a .280-290 OBP, then probably not. I see a wide range around his potential performances, though.

Frank: I opened this link to ask you a Sean Newcomb question, but I’m not even sure what to ask. Is there any hope? The walks continue.
Klaw: Like I said in the writeup I don’t know what the fix is. He’s there on stuff and lefthandedness.

Nick: Watched some of the PG All-American selection show yesterday. They mentioned there was more high-end prep talent for 2017 than in recent years. True (to date)?
Klaw: I think that’s accurate. It’s also looking like the best college class since 2011. (Notice that it’s two three-year cycles after that: HS kids who didn’t sign in 2011 became top picks in 2014, pushing the 2014 HS crop to college to become top picks in 2017.)

Jojo: Do you think Willie Calhoun is good enough to get serious time in the bigs in 2017?
Klaw: I think he can hit but needs a position and may end up with contact issues too.

Michael: You can obviously disagree, but I am not sure it is helpful to label All Lives Matter as racist. People who say that may be misguided and missing the point, but are they necessarily racist? That sort of rhetoric (calling them racist) exacerbates the problem in my opinion.
Klaw: If someone says to you “Black Lives Matter” and your first response is to say something that defends white lives, yeah, that’s racist in my opinion. All lives matter, but all lives are not in equal danger. No one says White Lives Matter because, duh, when has the opposite ever been true in our nation’s history>

Chris J: (Will be in work meeting at 1, so posting early.) In the past, you’ve supported the idea of a team keeping good pitching prospects in a starting role through the minors until they show they’re better off as a reliever (your thoughts on Alex Meyer comes to mind, for example). Recognizing his basic 2 strong pitch arsenal and potential height issues, but with continued good performance through the minors (one start in AAA not withstanding), what would be the moment where you’d definitively conclude he’s a reliever? (Reworded – I know you’ve stated repeatedly that you believe he’s most likely a dominant reliever in waiting. But when would you make that switch, and why?) Thanks Keith!
Klaw: Depends on what the issue is with the pitcher. If fatigue in starts is the issue, or inability to turn a lineup over a third time, I’d switch him early. If development of a third pitch is an issue, however, I’d let him start as long as I could so he could try to develop that additional weapon.

Nick: After an awful (bad luck-fueled?) start in AAA, JP Crawford is hitting well again. Is it time for him to replace Galvis?
Klaw: If they trade Galvis, yes. Otherwise, let him finish the AAA season and then call him up.

Nic: Noticed you had Kohl Stewart as an honorable mention in the top 50 piece. With him being in Double-A what kind of ceiling do you currently project for him?
Klaw: I think he projects as a 3 or 4 starter. If you want ceiling, he’s going to have to miss some more bats, which he has the stuff to do but has not done, instead generating a lot of groundballs (which is still a good thing).

Eugene: Do you agree with the notion that the best way to assemble a bullpen is to just collect a huge number of arms? If so, is that strategy because very few relievers actually have differentiated skill?
Klaw: I think it’s better to do that than to go out and buy relievers who’ve had great performance, because predicting relievers is way too difficult. But you do want certain things in relievers too, and you might look for, say, right-handed pitchers with good changeups who could become effective relievers without platoon splits.

Michael: Any reaction to Justice Ginsburg’s comments on Trump? You’ve mentioned before that you think Scalia let his religious beliefs affect his jurisprudence–I don’t agree and I think you would have a hard time providing evidence of that. However, Ginsburg made it pretty clear that politics dictate her decisions. Isn’t that way worse?
Klaw: Don’t all justices’ politics tend to dictate their leanings on certain issues? Isn’t strict constructionalism vs loose a matter of politics? Anyway, I thought Ginsburg dissented, along with Justice Thomas, on the ruling about criminals with past domestic violence convictions having access to guns, citing a technical matter – which would appear to me to go directly against what we know about her political leanings. As for her comments on Trump, I have no issue with that, nor would I have an issue with another justice coming out in support of Trump or in opposition to Clinton.

Justin: Trout for Betts, Benetendi and Kopech…who says no?
Klaw: Angels have made it very clear they have no intention of trading Trout.

Adam: John Coppolella came out and flatly said the Braves won’t trade Julio Teheran. Do you think he is just playing hard to get, or is he being truthful?
Klaw: I think he’s being truthful. Why would they trade Teheran? He’s good, improving, under control cheaply through 2020 (I think), and is their Opening Day starter at the Big Con next April.

Steve: How is your book coming along? Can you give us any details?
Klaw: I’m behind where I’d like to be on it. I expect there to be a release about it in the next few weeks.

Adam G.: What do you make of this Michael Kopech situation? By situation I mean…. first, 105? really? second, how much are Boston fans over reacting when we’re putting him in the same conversation with Espinoza (and hopefully Groom).
Klaw: He’s on my top 50, and that was before he hit 105 (but he had hit 103). I don’t really know what to do with him – has any starter had this kind of velocity without blowing out in the short term? Relievers have, starters haven’t. Is he the great exception?

Millie from Philly: Everyone in Philly is going gaga over Hoskins and Cozens. Even with the hitter-friendly environment, it’s hard to ignore the gaudy #s. Anything to see here? You prefer one over the other (or neither) to have any real MLB impact? Thanks!
Klaw: Prefer Hoskins because I think he has better feel to hit, whereas Cozens is less polished with more brute strength. Both will play in the big leagues. Doubt either gets to this kind of power again.

Nick: You put Hunter Harvey in your honorable mentions. His talent has never been the issue. Does his high propensity for injury not concern you? Is it because largely speaking they aren’t related to his arm?
Klaw: If he had never had those injuries, he’d have been in the top 10.

Matt: It seems like Atlanta’s strategy is to trade from its young pitching depth to acquire bats. Is that strategy too simplistic? Would teams give up ML bats for pitchers that are a few years away and could easily not pan out? Thanks.
Klaw: Those pitchers who are a few years away now will be close to the majors at some point, which is when I think you’ll see some of them traded for bats.

Sean: After a horrendous start, Carson Fulmer seems to have turned a corner in AA. Do you think his new cutter can help him succeed in an MLB rotation?
Klaw: If you saw the Futures game, you can see why I don’t think he’ll ever last as a starter. He has a violent delivery with big stuff and poor command.

Jason: The Mets actually seem to have interesting pitchers now with Dunn, Kay, Wotell and Szapucki…..in what order would you rank that group and can you see any of them junping into your top 100 any time soon?
Klaw: Dunn, Szapucki, Kay, Wotell. I did not rank 100 players this time, so I couldn’t tell you who’ll be on that list other than the handful of guys I considered for the top 50 who didn’t make the final cut.

Kimchi Dad: What are your thoughts on GMOs? Do you avoid them when cooking/eating if possible, or are you okay with them?
Klaw: I have no objection to GMOs on my plate or in the world in general, but since I prefer organic produce I don’t think I eat much in the way of genetically modified foods.

FireDrayton: Thoughts on AJ Reed’s rough start to life in the bigs?
Klaw: The big leagues aren’t easy.

Fly high: Wu-Cheng Chang a possible top 100 guy for you next season?
Klaw: I assume you mean Yu-Cheng Chang. I hope to see him this weekend when Lynchburg is here. The power is kind of out of nowhere but if it’s legit it makes him a much more intriguing prospect.

Jay: Sergio Romo after watching Bickford in high-A felt that he had room to get stronger and throw harder as a result. Agree?
Klaw: i do not. Also, Bickford used to throw harder, and now he doesn’t. That’s a concern given his injury history.

Adam G.: I’ve been trying to rack my brain for a historical comparable body type to Moncada. 6’1″ 210 at 20 is huge. Can you think of any baseball players were that size and fit?
Klaw: Bo Jackson. A football body in a baseball uniform.

JT: Michael Conforto’s recent struggles – a blip on the radar or something more serious?
Klaw: I think the wrist issue plus TC benching him against lefties all the time are likely both factors.

Anonymous: In one of you draft follow ups you had Corey Ray as the #2 prospect for the Brewers ahead of Trent Clark. In today’s Top 50 you have Clark slightly ahead of Ray. Has something changed between the two?
Klaw: Yes, my opinion changed.

Bob A: Are you worried about Dillon Tate? A 21 y/o struggling in single A has to worry you
Klaw: More worried that his velocity has been down much of the year.

Ben: No Josh Hader on your list? Is it his delivery?
Klaw: His delivery and his command. He’s like Fulmer and …

CVD: I know you profile Reynaldo Lopez as a reliever, but was he given any consideration to the top 50?
Klaw: …Reynaldo Lopez. All three look like relievers. You don’t see starters hold up with those deliveries. Maybe one will be an exception; maybe they all will. Chris Sale looked for all the world like a reliever (and I was far from the only one saying so), and he’s turned into a Cy Young contender. But he is an extreme outlier.

George: Folty and Manaea both had really good starts to end the 1st half. Which one do you think has more career upside and which one do you think has more upside this season?
Klaw: Foltynewicz has more upside. If he can keep the ball in the park (11 HR in 49 IP this year) he’s got #1-2 potential.

Ben: Psyched to see 3 Cubs still in the top 50. Is there any hope for pitching in the farm system? Are the Cubs bad at developing pitchers, or is the lack of P prospects a result of the draft philosophy?
Klaw: There’s pitching coming and Dylan Cease was a consideration for the end of this list. I do think they’re going to end up trading a couple of bats for major-league ready arms, though, because all of the pitching they have is in A-ball and below.

Jordan: Can Chance Sisco hit enough to be an elite catcher?
Klaw: Yes. Did you see that HR he hit Sunday? That’s some serious hand/wrist strength. If he even hits 12 HR/year with his other skills he’s going to make some All-Star teams.

Scott: How close was Jose DeLeon to making the list? Are there injury concerns based on the past few months or is the upside not as high as the others on the list?
Klaw: Just don’t see the upside. Great makeup, good feel to pitch, but there’s a lack of a swing-and-miss weapon there.

Anonymous: With the performance of several of the Brewers top prospects this year, David Stearn’s first order of business has to be to clean house in the minor leagues doesn’t it?
Klaw: I truly thought that would be his first order of business last September. They’ve had far too many prospects enter the system and fail to develop or regress over the last 5+ years.

Ben: Will you be attending either the PG or Under Armour games?
Klaw: Under Armour. Chris Crawford will attend the PG game for us. I love that event, and San Diego is one of my favorite cities, but I can’t take another cross-country flight for just one or two nights out there, not with other stuff I need to be doing.

ray: It seems like the rest of the scouting community seems to be catching up to you with Kevin Newman’s prospect status – what was it that made him a top 25 prospect for you right off the bat that you don’t think others were seeing?
Klaw: He’s done great so far and I’m thrilled to see it, but obviously he’s still got to reach the majors and continue this performance before we can really talk about it like that. I saw a true SS with a 6 or better hit tool and plenty of strength despite the lack of game power in college. I like those guys.

Adam: How much interest is Melvin Upton Jr garnering on the trade market?
Klaw: That’s a better question for Buster. I don’t monitor the trade market.

Keith: You’re higher than most on Dom Smith; I’m not sure what the issue is – he’s not dominating, but he’s showing good contact, good defense, starting show power, all at a pretty young age. Why the doom and gloom about him as a prospect? Is it a 1B only thing? Not much else to go on so the bat has to be outstanding?
Klaw: Yes, I think it’s the 1B issue and that’s a fair one. Also, he should he hitting for a higher average; he’s making contact but not always the right (hard) kind.

Ben: What’s the holdup on Brax Garrett? His Vandy committment that strong?
Klaw: Yes and bear in mind that the Marlins are the same team that lowballed Heaney a few years ago. Ownership there doesn’t seem to like to pay players.

Mike: You would have Groome ahead of Kopech? 105 mph
Klaw: Velocity ain’t everything, sparky.

Jonah: Do you believe Harold Ramirez has declined as a prospect?
Klaw: No, i don’t think anything has changed there. LF only who has to hit.

Stephen: My wife and I are always looking for new two-player games… where would you rank 7 Wonders Duel? I love the base game, but Duel looks very interesting for 2 players. Also, any expansions to the base game you recommend?
Klaw: It’s great and I highly recommend it. I just bought the Babel expansion on Prime Day; we haven’t played any of the others.

Tom: We all know the D-Backs got jobbed in the Shelby Miller Trade, but I don’t think anyone expected him to be bad this year, much less terrible. Have you seen him pitch? What’s he doing (or not doing) to pitch so ineffectively? Is there any hope for a rebound?
Klaw: His mechanics went to shit. I don’t know who bears responsibility for that.

Dan: Profar and Cordell for Pomeranz and Hedges, who says no?
Klaw: Padres because Cordell is not much of a prospect at all.

Marcus: Don’t know if you’ve had a chance to see him since he returned, but is Tim Lincecum done as a starting pitcher? And if so, could he become an effective relief pitcher? I admit that I’ve been a fan of his since his Cy Young days, but it is hard to watch him now.
Klaw: He’s not a starter. I don’t know if relief would help but I’d try it.

A: Re: the guns SCOTUS case, Sotomayor was the one who broke with the lib wing
Klaw: Thank you. I knew it was one of the women on the Court but forgot which one. So there’s a case of a judge clearly voting against her politics because of a question of law.

Peppa Pig: With Matt Bush changing his life and now breaking into the bigs, do you have any idea what happened to Donovan Tate?
Klaw: He’s playing for Rancho in the Dodgers’ system. The biggest problem with Tate is that he was never that good. I thought he was a reach at 3 overall and never had him on a top 100 list.

mark: You said last week that you had heard $20-22 million for Morejon…that was including the 100% penalty?
Klaw: Correct.

Drew: Thanks for recommending / ranking White Teeth. It’s kind of amazing the historical perspective and insight Zadie Smith had when she was 15, huh?
Klaw: That book made me jealous of how gifted a writer and thinker she is. If you liked that, I definitely recommend In the Light of What We Know and you’d probably enjoy The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.

Anonymous: What’s your opinion on bringing up Reyes to the Cards bullpen? I’m worried about his walk rate getting even worse versus MLB batters.
Klaw: I agree. Also I’d like to see some kind of improvement on the breaking ball, although with his delivery that may be impossible.

B. Cohen: You have Benintendi above Moncada among Sox prospects when those two are reversed almost universally elsewhere. Are you just super high on Beni, or do you have reservations about Moncada?
Klaw: I don’t care what “elsewhere” says. I think Benintendi’s the better prospect.

Paul: What position does Moncada end up … 3rd?
Klaw: Third or perhaps the outfield.

mark: How would you rate your personaly experience at the ASG?
Klaw: I have never attended an All-Star Game in person.

Trevor: I always love to get your political takes. Do you agree that we have almost circled back to what led to this country’s founding? The non-indictment of Clinton, even with the FBI director admitting she broke many laws, as well as the secret meeting between the AG and Bill….we now have a society where those in government (along with their close allies) are above the law. Our founding fathers fought a revolution and tried to devise a system to prevent that, yet here we are. What are your thoughts?
Klaw: I worry that we’re headed back towards a sort of oligarchic democracy because of the issue I mentioned last week – we keep drawing top candidates from the same tiny pool of people – and because the amount of money required to run for high office further restricts the pool.

Philip: Any new eats you have in SD?
Klaw: Bracero was fantastic, and I had coffee at Copa Vida and James as well as at my usual Bird Rock.

Dustin: Has Stephen Gonsalves done enough to see him as a potential high-end pitching prospect? He has made continuous progress in the Twins system.
Klaw: Not high-end. Good changeup but lefty without a breaking ball and with average-ish command? I see back end.

Dustin: Does Bregman eventually move Correa off of SS?
Klaw: I think so – he’s a better defender there right now.

Tom: How much consideration, if any, did you give Chris Paddack for the top 50? What held him back?
Klaw: No consideration. Let’s not overrate him just because he’s been in the news.

Dustin: What’s your favorite IPA?
Klaw: Evolution Lot #3.

Joe: I travel occasionally for work, and I always feel weird eating by myself in a non-fast food restaurant. Every experience that?
Klaw: No because I bring a book and/or sit by the kitchen and chat with the cooks. No one should ever feel bad for eating alone, though.

Richard: I’ll be in KC next weekend for Royals/Rangers. Any “must eats” while in town, particularly BBQ? Thanks.
Klaw: KC Joe’s in the gas station, SLAPs (Squeal Like a Pig), and Bluestem Cafe for not BBQ.

Alex: As a Braves fan worried about the future, Swanson seems like a solid player at the big leagues but nothing more. What am I missing?
Klaw: High floor. Not huge ceiling. I preferred Rodgers and Newman on draft day and while Swanson is a tick ahead of Newman right now obviously I’ve got Bregman ahead of all of them.

Ryan: Have you tried Pokemon Go? Do you think there are ways ESPN could make use of AR?
Klaw: I have not. This does not appeal to me.

Jon V: How would you rank McKenzie, Hillman, Aiken, Sheffield in terms of long term potential?
Klaw: Aiken still has the most upside if the stuff returns 100%. Probably McKenzie, Sheffield, Hillman behind him just in terms of potential upside, but Hillman is sneaky good and going to be pitch in the big leagues.

Nate: Keith, Tim Anderson has been a valuable player so far in the majors, however his ceiling obviously is limited by his walk rate. Do you think he can ever have an at least manageable approach?
Klaw: I think rushing him to the majors is going to severely retard his ability to improve his plate discipline.

Bryan: Rowdy Tellez is tearing up AA of late as a 21 year old. Can he possibly become a league average 1b/DH in MLB? I believe I recall you saying he has a “long swing”–will that prevent him from reaching the big leagues?
Klaw: No. Can’t hit quality pitching.

Bernie: There have been new rumors if a Gallo/Miller trade. Is that close to the framework (main pieces) of an equitable swap?
Klaw: There’s no way I’d give up Gallo for a reliever unless I’d decided Gallo was simply never going to hit.

Randy: Frances Martes still a top 75 guy for you? Only 20 in AA and has reall turned it around last 1.5 months. Bonus question–buy or sell Musgrove as a possible #3 starter?
Klaw: Need to see better offspeed from Musgrove. I see strikes and a sinker, but not the full repertoire. Martes is somewhere in there, yes.

Chad: How close was Mitch Keller to your new top 50?
Klaw: He wasn’t a consideration.

Aaron: If Kyle Lewis shows any semblance of reaching his potential in the minors…how far can he go up on the prospect list?
Klaw: Depends on what you believe his potential to be. I think he ends up a low-average guy (due to strikeouts) with power. That’s probably not a top 25 prospect at any point.

Alex: Why doesn’t MLB use the same draft model as the NHL, where you draft an 18 year old, who can then go to college if he so chooses, with the team that drafted him retaining his rights, while he plays at the college level? Seems like a win-win all around.
Klaw: How is that a win for the player? Or for the team, really, if the kid goes to Arizona and takes a bunch of naps while throwing 138 pitches on three days’ rest?

Philip: Do you believe Wil Myers comment on Mexican food is worthy of trading him?
Klaw: I think he needs someone to take him to Bracero. Or any place that isn’t Taco Bell.

Corey: Could Moncada be ready by early next season ? If so, should Sox consider moving him to 3B soon since that’s where he likely ends up ? Side note – do they just eat the Panda contract ?
Klaw: That’s reasonable all around – the timeline and the position idea.

Tripp: Saw Alex Young has been having a nice season this year for ARI. What are your thoughts on him?
Klaw: Fringe prospect. Was 22 in low-A and didn’t miss any bats. Stuff is nothing special.

JB: When scouting a pitcher, how much weight is given to the movement of a fastball as opposed to just pure velocity? As an example, Hunter Strickland throws in the high 90’s but it’s dead straight and it seems good hitters just kill a guy like that.
Klaw: It matters a ton. Jeff Hoffman isn’t on my top 50 because he throws hard but it’s straight and hitters see it well (no deception).

Joe: Given your love for Schoop, how much room for growth do you think he has? He’s not treating walks like the plague anymore.
Klaw: And he was never a hacker in the minors. Anderson has never walked, ever, so we’re saying he’d need to add a skill he has never displayed. Schoop had some patience before he was rushed up the ladder, and now it’s coming back, likely because he’s having success in general and not just trying to survive his at bats. I buy it and think there’s even more growth to come. He’ll be a top 3 2b in the league at some point.

Rob: Have you had a chance to see Ian Clarkin this season after his missed year? Curious how it compares pre injury, whatever it was that cost him a season.
Klaw: Saw him in the AFL, not this year, and he was all the way back. Mid-rotation starter. CB is a hammer.

Anonymous: I’m thinking Vizcaino and Erick Aybar to the Mariners for Alex Jackson or Tyler O’Neil + prospect. Thoughts?
Klaw: Did you drug Jerry DiPoto or tie him up and throw him in a closet?

Ken Naylor: Your thoughts on Byron Buxton and his development?
Klaw: Two thoughts. One, be patient. People want to write off any prospect who doesn’t succeed right away. Two, I think Molitor & company are the wrong staff for this job, and their trouble with Buxton would be exhibit A. They were on him to be more aggressive early in the season, and look where that got him.

Tom: Do you think that IQ tests have any scientific value? If so, what?
Klaw: I don’t think they have any at all.

Chris: Can Ryne Stanek be a late inning reliever with that heat, or is the FB just too flat?
Klaw: The guy we saw on Sunday is not a big league reliever. I’ve never seen hitters rushing to the bat rack to face a guy throwing 99 before.

RM: So regarding your position on the value of relievers, there really is no reason for the Yankees to trade Miller. It doesn’t appear they’d get much back so they might as well take what he delivers to them on the field.
Klaw: You’re conflating my view of relievers with what the market might provide. Of course they should shop him.

Josh: Is Krilloff a future major leaguer?
Klaw: Yes, of course. Most first-round picks reach the big leagues at some point. The question is what kind; I think he ends up an above-average regular in RF.

Chris: Chase Vallot is having a pretty strong season so far, and I’ve heard the defense will keep him behind hte plate. Can he move into your top 100 next year if he keeps it up and even moves up to HiA?
Klaw: I’ve heard the defense will NOT keep him behind the plate. I do think he can hit and has above-average power, but he’s repeating the level (at 19, so age-appropriate) and I don’t want to overrate the performance. It’s a good sign overall that he’ll be able to profile somewhere else.

Ron: It’s great to see Kepler in right and getting the experience in a lost season. Also Buxton playing every day if he is not hurt. The Sano experiment in RF is done, isn’t it? If not, they need their heads examined. He’s not any worse at 3rd than Plouffe. What are your thoughts?
Klaw: I think Sano is a 1b/dh and unfortunately they’ve blocked him there. But yes, Kepler and Buxton should be playing every day.

Chris: Does Eddy Julio Martinez make the Top 100 by the end of the year?
Klaw: Probably not, even though I do like his ability quite a bit. I’m glad to see the performance catching up to the tools a little bit lately.

Tom: I know that there is no such thing as clutch hitting, but every year the collective batting average with runners in scoring position league wide is less than the average with no one on base. Is it possible that there is not clutch hitting, but there is choking?
Klaw: It’s also possible that teams start to play matchups more with RISP late in games.

John: Were any of these remotely in consideration for the top 50? – Luke Weaver, D.Paulino, D.Acevedo, W.Calhoun, Reid-Foley, J.Flaherty, Soroka?
Klaw: No, no, no, no, no, no, and no. Good talk.

Klaw: That’s all for this week. I’ll be back next Thursday for another chat before I head out for the UA game on the 23rd. Thanks for all the questions this week and, as always, for reading my work.