In case you missed them, all of my GenCon wrap-up pieces for Paste are now up, including the top ten new games I saw, the summary of every other interesting title, and an essay on the experience of attending for the first time.
Klaw: It’s a helping hand that makes you feel wonderfully bland. It’s Klawchat.
Mike: Keith, do you feel like the Yankees would be best served by calling up BOTH Judge and Austin and giving them significant ABs?
Klaw: I do, in Austin’s case to see what they’ve got since he’s repeating AAA, in Judge’s case because I think he’s going to need some time in the majors to work on keeping the swing and miss to a manageable level.
Mike: Tim Tebow? Really? Any chance in hell that any MLB general manager gives him the time of day?
Klaw: This was an absolute non-story and I want no part of it.
Bindu: Do you think Brandon Woodruff can be a quality MLB starter?
Klaw: Sure. Less sure of precisely what quality, but I do think he’s a future MLB starter.
Jim: Alec Hansen has been great so far. Have you heard anything about what the White Sox have done that Oklahoma could never figure out? I know it’s a small sample but his walks are way down.
Klaw: He’s also facing some pretty weak competition up there. I’m thrilled to see what he’s doing – I thought he was a potential 1-1 pick coming out of the fall – but tempering my enthusiasm until we see him in a full-season league.
Justin: If you had an AL Cy Young vote, would JA Happ be your choice at the moment?
Klaw: He wouldn’t be on my ballot at all.
Scott: Can we go back to Monday for a second? You tweeted that Al Trautwig was wrong for stating that Simone Biles’s adoptive parents were not really her parents. It’s a fact that Biles was adopted by her grandparents; she considers them her parents and calls them Mom and Dad. Yet objectively, Trautwig was correct. He stated a biological truth. (You typically stand on the side of science.) Why do you believe Trautwig did something wrong?
Klaw: Because he absolutely did something wrong. This is like confusing sex and gender. And it was not his place to say that the people Biles and the law regard as her parents are not her parents. I am related by marriage to someone who was adopted at birth. He does not know and has never known any parents but the ones who raised him. Are you going to tell him that those are not his parents? Furthermore, I thought Trautwig’s comments were indirectly racist, given the higher percentage of African-American kids raised in non-traditional households. He was way out of his lane, and doubling down on Twitter like he did was unacceptable.
John: What’s the best option for an undrafted player still trying to make it in baseball?
Klaw: Indy ball or, if possible, an open tryout with an actual MLB scout (not a part-timer or ‘associate’ who may not have any power to sign a player).
andy: Thoughts on Yankees’ handling of A-Rod farewell tour and Girardi’s comments on “winning”?
Klaw: Embarrassing for Girardi in particular, since he had no problem playing the corpse of Jeter in all of the Cap’n’s final season and batting him second.
Marshall: what are your thoughts on Dustin Peterson? Is he an everyday ML outfielder or a good 4th?
Klaw: Chance for an everyday corner OF because he can hit. Limited upside unless there’s power in there I don’t foresee.
Theo: Is Hendricks really a #1? What did you miss on him? He’s the only Cubs prospect you said wouldn’t be great who has been awesome. 19/20 ain’t bad.
Klaw: Hendricks isn’t close to a 1 – he’s been extraordinarily lucky/helped by his defense this year. But he also became a much better groundball guy with the Cubs too, which is where I was too light on him.
Fred: Seems like the 2017 draft class is loaded with arms. What college or HS bats do you see that could be in the 1-1 conversation?
Klaw: I think the best prospects in the class are Vandy OF Jeren Kendall and SoCal two-way HS guy Hunter Greene, better on the mound but also a prospect as a SS.
Jack Conness: Hey Keith, I am going to do my first freelance scouting trip next Monday to a Cedar Rapids Kernels vs. Peoria Chiefs game. Any tips for a first timer? Where to sit? What to analyze? How difficult is it to scout defense? I plan on bringing out the iPad and recording the guys I plan on scouting too. I’ve done all the reading and research available on the world wide web, but would love a helpful hit or two from someone with your pedigree. Thank you very much.
Klaw: You should just watch the game. So much of evaluating players via observation is about comparing them to players you’ve seen before over years of doing it. So this time, just focus on what you see, rather than trying to convert those into fast opinions on players. Also, I hate seeing iPads used as cameras, FWIW. There’s no way you’re filming anything without blocking someone’s view.
Chris: Was the Herrera/Wotell return for Bruce a little light?
Klaw: No, I thought it was great for the Reds.
Paul: I know you’ve been a big fan of Coppy and the Atlanta rebuild, but is there any justification for the Kemp trade? Locking him into LF for three years seems like the last thing a young team needs.
Klaw: If he’s terrible, they can just release him. I don’t think there’s much there, although there’s at least some reason to hope he’ll play a little better in a new environment, and there’s so little power on the market I guess I could talk myself into seeing him as having a little value … eh, whatever, he’s still pretty awful, but better him than Olivera.
ken: Klaw, please help me understand what the Rays are doing. I can’t seem to understand their moves the past couple of years. It looks like one bad move after another. They say they are building young talent, are making bad trades / not developing correctly? Thx
Klaw: “Bad” move is a little strong here, but I do think they’ve allowed their analytical side to weigh in too heavily on certain moves, like taking Souza rather than holding on to Turner/Ross. I liked the return for Moore on its face, but I don’t know what his actual market value was – could they have gotten more for him, rather than taking a package of players they had previously liked, even though that return is sufficient for what they gave up?
Reeve: Heard any updates on the Twins GM search?
Klaw: That’s not going to go anywhere till September. Anything you hear before then – oh, this guy’s high on their list – is BS.
Max Kellerman: I’m a huge fantasy nerd and am looking to make a couple pickups… I seem to be higher on these five guys than most publications: SP Reid-Foley (TOR), 3B Andujar (NYY), SP Weaver (STL), SP Paddock (SD), 1B Tellez (TOR)… Are you a believer in these guys? Your light being shed would be much appreciated. Thank you.
Klaw: I like Paddack but he’s out with TJ. Reid-Foley is a starter, maybe like a 4th starter in the end. Andujar’s interesting but I don’t think he ends up starting for the Yanks. Weaver still doesn’t have an average breaking ball and Tellez is a DH who can’t hit good velocity.
Darren: Hi Keith, I’m curious if you grill vegetables, do you prefer to put them in aluminum foil to grill and steam or just put them directly on the grill? What is your favorite seasoning for veggies besides salt and pepper? basil? rosemary? a curry mix?
Klaw: Right on the grill, just rub with oil and season with salt and pepper. If the vegetables are good quality they don’t need much seasoning afterwards.
Jeff G.: As the father of 13 year old pitcher, I am very interested to see what your opinion is on the following question. What is the number one red flag for you when scouting high school pitchers? I would assume some something to do with mechanics, but I could be wrong.
Klaw: Bad mechanics, yes, especially for guys who are throwing hard and appear to be expending max effort on their fastballs. That seems to be the worst combination of variables for predicting future injury. If your hat is falling off on every pitch, then you have a problem.
Ya’akov: Curious if you think SF’s Shaw has enough hit tool to be an everyday 1b? Thank you for all the content you create, your work on espn.com is what I miss most since cancelling my insider subscription.
Klaw: I don’t. I think he’s power over hit and a mediocre enough defender that he may max out as a 4A guy. Even with that special Giants woo.
Greg P: KLaw – Texas’ Eric Jenkins didn’t make your pre-season Top 10 for the Rangers, but he’s pretty young. Is there anything here that makes you think he’s anything more than a pinch-runner?
Klaw: That’s a little harsh but I don’t think there’s going to be enough hit tool there for him to be a regular.
Kevin w: Ever been to Jamaica?
Klaw: Never been to Jamaica or played the boardgame but I have enjoyed plenty of Appleton rum.
Casey: I know you weren’t high on Harrison Bader when the Cardinals drafted him but he is now up to AAA with success at each level. Do you see him as an average regular or more of at 4th outfielder?
Klaw: Might be an average regular if he’s really got a plus hit tool; he’s had a great pro career so far but he doesn’t have power (or project to have it) or walk that much. I’m still inclined to think he’s an extra guy, but that doesn’t fairly credit him with how well he’s hit so far even with aggressive (and prescient) assignments.
Kevin w: Best player not in the hall but should be (the steroids guys do not count)?
Klaw: Tim Raines’ absence is a joke. Top 100 player of all time.
Andy: Madison Bumgarner is widely recognized as one of the best hitting pitchers. He’s 180/271/328 this season, which is better than his career norms. Prince Fielder, having neck pain and widely being seen as one of the worst hitters in the majors this season, hit 212/294/334. Tell me again why anyone likes seeing pitchers “hit”?
Klaw: The worst part of the Bumgarner mythology is that the Giants are now using him as a pinch hitter when he’s worse than pretty much anyone they could pull off their bench or out of their AAA lineup. Having Bumgarner, a good hitter FOR A PITCHER, is not a substitute for carrying another capable bat on your bench.
Joe: How do you project Rhys Hoskins versus Dylan Cozens moving forward? Hoskins’ splits are exponentially better, so do you see him having a major league career?
Klaw: I also think Hoskins has a better swing, and I’ve said before I was not a fan of Cozens’ character when he was in the draft, so I would rank Hoskins higher … unless you were asking me just about power. I think Cozens has far more raw power than Hoskins does.
Terrence: How much power does Ronald Guzmán have in him? Seems like a 20 HR guy to me, but I’m only scouting the stat line.
Klaw: Potential would be more like 25-30 IMO.
Adam: How do you evaluate a player’s initial return from Tommy John Surgery? Cal Quantrill and Brady Aiken had theirs at essentially the same time but Quantrill’s stuff seems to be coming back much quicker.
Klaw: I don’t. Anything that first year back is a bonus. And a lot of guys don’t get all their velocity or command back right away, so panicking out of the gate would sell them short.
Zach: Between Steven Brault, Chad Kuhl, and Trevor Williams, which one of them has the best chance of making it as a starter and why?
Klaw: I’ll answer with this: if he doesn’t find a pitch to get LHB out I don’t see how Kuhl can be a starter.
Greg: Hi Keith, I have twins turning 5 today, and I was wondering if you have some suggestions for children’s books that start to read like adult books. What age should we start to give them advanced reading and what are some of the better choices to give a child this young that can already read well enough to be challenged. Thanks.
Klaw: Happy birthday to your kids! At that age, my daughter was reading chapter books aimed at early readers, a lot of which were … well, garbage. The two Winnie-the-Pooh books might be appropriate. She’d also reread stuff I’d read with her; Berkeley Breathed’s Mars Needs Moms was a big favorite.
Eric D.: Keith, your thoughts on Benintendi’s promotion and results thus far? Can he develop 25 hr power?
Klaw: I think he has 25 HR power, yes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did that next year, given 150 starts.
Tim: Was TJ Friedl on your radar at all this year? Does he have MLB potential or is he a bit too small to project in the major leagues?
Klaw: No, he wasn’t even a top 5 rounds candidate in the spring; he had no prior track record and Nevada-Reno’s ballpark is about 4000 feet above sea level. He had his coming-out party with Team USA, using the wood bat, showing some speed, and because he was a free agent he ended up getting something like third-round money, which is probably about right. I don’t think he’s too small; I think he’s about the right risk/reward profile for a third rounder, which is to say if I could redo my draft top 100 now he might just sneak on to the back end of it.
Karl: Willy Adames is having a very solid season at AA as a 20 year old. Do you think he’s a top 20 prospect?
Klaw: I do not.
Aaron: What do you make of the Tommy La Stella ordeal. As a Cubs fan, it does seem to me like he has reason to be mad. However, he had options and Chris Coughlan didnt. At the end of the day its a business and this seems like a very bad business decision for La Stella and puts the Cubs in an awkward spot welcoming him back.
Klaw: I really have no idea. It’s not really a baseball topic.
All of NY: What is Terry Collins doing and why
Klaw: The wrong thing, because reasons.
Dave: Will Matt Thaiss get a chance to play catcher or is he strictly a 1b-only guy?
Klaw: Not a catcher.
Nick: Please tell me Collins hasn’t already ruined Conforto…
Klaw: Ruined is awfully strong. Ruined his season, perhaps, but not his career.
Bobby: Noticed that you’ve previously referred to a player as “just a guy” and “GUY.” What’s the difference? This question is really difficult to Google. Thanks for all of your work!
Klaw: If you say them out loud it makes a little more sense. He’s just a guy (sad trombone) vs he’s a *GUY* (bold italics underline).
zak: I know you always been a huge Giolito fan but would you still say he is the best pitcher in the minors despite his struggles as of late?
Klaw: I would still say he is the best pitching prospect in the minors. You’re being far too recentist, in addition to overweighting the stat line.
Jameson Taillon: Can I be better than Gerrit Cole? My combined minor league and MLB line this year is 104 Ks vs 12 BBs….
Klaw: Better than Peak Cole is awfully good. But I think you can be a top 15-20 pitcher in the NL.
Michael Conforto: What did I do to deserve this?!?
Klaw: I don’t know how you’re gonna get through.
Buck: Should Britton get Cy Young votes?
Klaw: No. It’s stupid season, where people forget that a closer who might not see 70 innings can’t be as good or valuable as even the tenth-best starter in the league who throws 160-plus.
Pramit: SSS and recency bias aside, have you seen anything from Devon Travis that would indicate he’ll be a better player than what you initially projected?
Klaw: Swing is improved and he’s got really good hand-eye coordination.
Mark: Ridiculous sample size aside. The ball seems to bounce off gary sanchezs bat, was his defense behind the plate the only reason he wasn’t a more highly touted prospect?
Klaw: Defense (receiving specifically) and concerns about his work ethic. The latter seems to be over now.
Ryan: In a previous chat you mentioned that if Travis Demeritte were to drastically reduce his K rate, he could be an impact player in the majors. How likely is this, and do any other players come to mind that accomplished that?
Klaw: It’s not THAT likely but he’s athletic with great bat speed and doesn’t have a ton of reps in the minors to date, so it’s a better chance there than with, say, a slow 1b-only type who swings and misses too much.
Tim: Keith – I enjoyed your review of Anomalisa, I only wish I had enjoyed the movie half as much. Without firsthand knowledge of depression, it was hard not to see that character as solipsistic and kind of a bully given the power dynamic between he and everyone else in the film, which he seemingly exploits at every turn. I guess my questions are two: 1) does the film have an obligation to be explicit about his depression (giving your interpretation the benefit of the doubt); and 2) does the character have an obligation to be a decent human despite his malady?
Klaw: I think that’s part of the point. People with depression, anxiety, or other mental illnesses can be very difficult to be around, to work with, to be married to, etc., because of the way those conditions alter your behavior – which is yet another reason to seek treatment, or to get your loved one to seek treatment, whether that’s individual or family therapy, medication, or more.
Jim: Hi Keith, anything new on Kapreilian? Surgery or no surgery?
Klaw: Good luck getting an answer on an injured Yankees prospect. Russian hackers couldn’t even get you that info.
Mark: Apologies in advance if you answered this and I did not see it but I wanted to get your thoughts on the Jays 6-man rotation re: Aaron Sanchez. Do you agree with this approach? Why or why not?
Klaw: I like that better than simply shutting him down or sending him to a bullpen role that probably doesn’t do anything to reduce the odds of him getting hurt. The idea is to never have him throw a pitch while fatigued, knowing that at this point in the year, fatigue is probably inevitable at some point. A 6-man rotation reduces those odds while still serving the greater goal of winning the division.
Jason: Question about who has to pass through waivers to be traded now (since you didn’t chat last week). Let’s say the Braves claimed Chris Sale and agreed to trade the Shelby Miller package (please ignore the merits; I doubt that would be enough) – Inciarte (in the majors), Blair (in the minors but on the 40-man roster), and Swanson (not on the 40-man roster). I know Inciarte would have to pass through waivers and I believe Swanson would not. What about Blair?
Klaw: Blair’s on the 40-man roster so I’m about 99% certain he would.
Wade: Will you alter your scouting plans because of Zika?
Klaw: It hasn’t come up. I’m not having any more kids so it’s not a huge concern for me. If I were 28, that’d be a different story.
Ted: I keep reading that Matt Chapman as a plus glove and plus power, is his hit tool so poor that it prevents him from being a top 100 prospect? Is he under consideration for the top 100 in your opinion?
Klaw: That’s correct. His hit tool is below-average AND he’s not hitting for average or contact as a 23-year-old in AA.
Patrick: Any interest in the new Dinosaur Jr album? Reviews have been positive
Klaw: I liked the one song I heard.
JD: David Dahl has shown the ability to play at the big league level. Seems like he could be a plus-CF’er in the bigs. Agree?
Klaw: I agree. Have had him rated pretty high ever since he got into pro ball, even just after that first stint in short season. Poor guy just hasn’t been able to stay healthy but the ability has always been there.
Lou: Does Hicks have anything left? Coming into the season I had high hopes. His swing just looks all over the place.
Klaw: I did too. Wouldn’t give up on him but his year is inexcusable – he didn’t hit when he was playing irregularly, then he started playing more and didn’t hit then either. The weird thing is that he’s making plenty of contact, it’s just weak contact, which wasn’t really a thing with him before.
James: How’s the book coming along?
Klaw: It’s coming along, slower than I wanted, but it’ll get done eventually.
Gunnarthor: Can you comment on this. There seems to be some ire in Twins land b/c it was revealed that Dave St. Peter, the team president, doesn’t have an answer for why Jorge Polanco didn’t play short this year in the minors. He said that would be a question better suited for the baseball department. I think that makes sense. The President of the team has a lot of duties and delegates more. He probably shouldn’t have input on something like that. Correct?
Klaw: Right. That’s not his job. If he were a president like Epstein or Friedman, that’d be a different story.
Jim: Hey Keith, I’m looking to buy my wife a sous vide machine for her birthday. Any idea what model I should look at, any tips for using sous vide and any foods in particular that you think come out great using sous vide? Thanks!
Klaw: I have this Anova model and can vouch that it works great.
addoeh: So is Hendricks more of a middle of the rotation guy than a back of the rotation guy?
Klaw: Yep, that’s probably about right.
Alex: Do you actually believe that if she’s President, Hillary will appoint judges who will try to eliminate rulings like Citizens United? Hasn’t she benefited most of all from that ruling with her thirst for pay-to-play schemes and $360k per plate fundraisers?
Klaw: Where have I ever discussed Citizens United or even said much in favor of Hillary? My interest in this election is pretty much about defeating Trump.
Dan: I have a six year old son. I am his adopted dad, my wife is his biological mother. This was always going to be a hard situation, but now I have to worry when watching TV with him that someone will tell him that I am not his “real” father and his “real” father is the asshole that ditched him before he was born. That is why this NBC shit is important to me and other people.
Klaw: Exactly. Thank you.
Ray Grace: Thanks for the recommendation of The Third Plate – really fascinating read. Is Rob Segeden a legit player that got lost because of injury or a 4a type guy?
Klaw: Four A type of guy.
Matthias: Any Baltimore eating recommendations (aside from all of the crab cakes) for me? I’m here for a month for work.
Klaw: I haven’t been but I’ve heard Woodberry Kitchen is fantastic.
Michael: Why do pitchers need to put on jackets when they reach base or run slow if they will likely make an out? These are grown men. Is running hard to first really going to stop you from throwing well in ten minutes?
Klaw: I don’t know the answer to that. I suppose the belief is that it keeps the pitcher’s arm from cooling off too much?
Ryan: Other than the Qualifying Offer, because let’s face it -it’s awful – what is the one other thing you would like to see changed in the new CBA?
Klaw: I think the draft is broken, personally. Severing it from free agents would be step one. I’d also like to see minor leaguers get some rights in this process, like better pay (hah!) or earlier free agency if they’re not put on a 40-man roster.
JEFF: Not much of a question, but more of a comment- Went to Crack Shack in San Diego. Man, that’s some good fried chicken
Klaw: I would not lead you astray. On Kyle Hendricks, maybe, but not on food.
JR: Can Managers regress? IIRC, last year you believed that Collins was an average manager (apologies if I’m not remembering correctly). However, the past couple of weeks, you’ve been very critical of him on twitter (and I agree with you 100%). Do you think he has regressed and is now a horrible manager, or was he a bad manager last year too and the team talent was good enough to out perform his stupidity?
Klaw: Oh he had some moments in the postseason. I don’t remember praising him or criticizing him much at all last year.
John: Hi Keith, regarding the resurgence of Dylan Bundy, he seemed to struggle mightily out of the bullpen earlier this season. Do you think his performance is due to finally being healthier than he has in years or possibly also due to some mechanical adjustments?
Klaw: His arm action is different now, less loose and fluid, and the curveball isn’t what it used to be. But the velocity is good and if he can repeat this delivery without pain then I say go with it. I don’t like seeing him go 90-odd pitches, though, given that he has or had calcification in his shoulder before the season and just a few months ago couldn’t miss bats even out of the pen.
Josh C: Would you try to get value out of Michael Kopech by moving him to reliever and getting him up quickly before he suffers any injury?
Klaw: Need other pitches beyond the fastball for that.
JG: Berrios getting rocked again today. What needs to change?
Klaw: Notice how many pitching prospects – highly ranked ones – have struggled right out of the gate this year? (Michael Fulmer, you may be excused from this discussion.) The ball was already different from the minor league ball anyway; perhaps the juiced ball this year (hat tip, 538) has exacerbated this issue.
Anonymous: any idea about the PTBNL the brewers will be getting from the rangers? Sure would love to see a guy like Guzman or Jurado
Klaw: I don’t think it’s close to that.
Nick: Do you believe Sanchez could be an All Star catcher? 25 Hr’s a year?
Klaw: Yes, I do.
Jay: Mitch Keller or Luke Weaver?
Klaw: Keller, for sure.
Troy: Keith – thoughts on the slow start for Corey Ray? What do you think of the problems Brett Phillips is having?
Klaw: Ray went from college right to high-A, an unusually aggressive assignment especially for a guy who already had some contact issues. I’m not concerned about the performance, but I don’t know that he was ready for the level and then wonder what we’re accomplishing by sending him there.
Jack: Do you believe Will Craig can hit? Above average regular?
Klaw: Can hit a little. Didn’t hit with wood last summer, played in a bandbox this spring. Not an above average regular.
Jason: Thoughts on Patrick Weigel? Big strikeout numbers and a big arm, but he’s 22 in Rome.
Klaw: Yep, can’t take the numbers too seriously. Good arm, but way too old for the level.
Ricky: Has Luiz Gohara turned a corner this yr?
Klaw: Yes, and I’m particularly glad to see it given how much I’ve talked him up in the last four years.
Chris: Bigger boxes like Whole Foods that cater to the non-GMO, organic shopper seem to be fairly polarizing. My friends heap a ton of insults at me because I do most of my shopping there. To be sure, the prices are higher. But I figure that if I can afford to control what goes into my kids’ bodies (right or wrong), that’s not a bad thing. Am I wrong or are my friends?
Klaw: I’d say you’re right in that what food you buy is pretty much your call – and to some extent, shopping at places like WF allows you to reduce the impact of your diet on the environment and to opt out of the Big Ag-driven processed food pyramid. It’s far from perfect, but unless you’re rotating crops in your backyard it’s one of your best bets.
John: Speaking of ruined, what are the M’s doing with Taijuan Walker?
Klaw: Has not been the same since he shortened his stride a few years ago. The breaking ball never came back.
Jacob: Why only one child?
Klaw: Why not?
Scherzer’s Blue Eye: Your ESPN colleague ripped the Nationals for not going all-in on Chapman or Miller. I contend, and as we know I am usually right, that the Nats did much better by getting Melancon for much, much less. Miller and Chapman are better, but the Nats were much smarter. Am I right, as per usual?
Klaw: You are right, this time. I won’t ask who the colleague was because I don’t think I have to.
Nathan: Have you ever read the Lemony Snicket A Series of Unfortunate Events with your daughter? If so, thoughts?
Klaw: I read the first three ages ago and found them bleak and far less funny than I expected, so I haven’t suggested them.
Gus: How does Terry Collins still have a job after saying he didn’t know if Brandon Nimmo was faster than Jay Bruce? These are basic fundamental things about his players that he doesn’t even know!
Klaw: The front office seems completely disinclined to do anything with Collins, even telling him to play Conforto already, until after the season.
Nick: Heyman reported today that the Braves turned down an offer of McCann for Folty and Inciarte. Would you have done that?
Klaw: Hell no.
Marshall: Re: Hillary and Citizens United, the person that posted that comment does not understand what that ruling allowed. Expensive fund raisers were allowed before and after the CU ruling.
Klaw: And since I could not reasonably explain to you what Citizens United really did and did not do, I can’t share an opinion on it.
Jasp: Why is Bellinger a top 100 guy but Willie Calhoun isn’t? They both can hit for power and have about the same avg, is it because Bellinger has a better glove?
Klaw: Bellinger is a year younger, has more power, a way better body, and is a 7 defender at first. You are just looking at the stat lines. Calhoun’s a prospect, yes, but he’s my height, which would put him in the bottom 1% of big leaguers.
JD: Comment on Carlos Gomez. Bat speed diminished or poor approach at the plate. It appears that there has been a decline as even balls that he barrels have stayed in the ball park. Does not appear to have much left in the tank. He can still run, but at 30 years of age, that tool has to be diminishing soon.
Klaw: I think the approach is the biggest issue. If he could corral himself, he’d have some value. The problem for him now is a noncontender has no real incentive to pick him up, since they wouldn’t have any time to flip him anyway, and would a contender see enough value to claim/sign him now and play him?
Dan: Related to adoptions, I also have two kids down the street from me with their grandma because their parents ditched them (they’re cousins, two separate sets of dipshit parents). They still see their parents around the city and know they have other kids that they kept. You can see on their faces how it weighs them down. It’s easy not to think of this stuff when you don’t have to.
Klaw: Exactly. So when this becomes a public issue and Loutwig makes an ass of himself by de facto telling a teenaged girl that she doesn’t know who her parents are, we should stand up for her and all adopted kids and parents and say no, that’s not right.
Rick: I know you were not big on the AJ Minter pick. If he ends up a dominant reliever, was it worth it? Or are you just completely opposed to drafting a pitcher that high with no intent to try them as a starter?
Klaw: I wouldn’t take a pure reliever in the first round, but he wasn’t taken that high (around 75th?), so that’s fine. He was hurt at the time, though, with TJ, and I thought Atlanta paid him way more than they needed to.
Elton: Is Jose Peraza looking like a backup infielder now?
Klaw: Yes, which is why I didn’t have him on my top 100 this past winter.
Tom: Sort of stunning to think about how, at age 26, Ichiro had 0 MLB hits. Makes you wonder what number he’d be sitting at now if he’d debuted in MLB at 19 or 20.
Klaw: Well, it made me think of how nice it would be if MLB’s all-time hits leader was someone we’d actually like to have all over our record books.
Joe: How much coffee do you drink daily? And does the caffeine have any ill effects regarding anxiety?
Klaw: One cup of coffee or a double shot of espresso. That’s it.
Gary: Keith, I’m about a month into trying to lose weight by working out way more and eating better. I’m a total novice with healthy eating though. Where would you recommend I start to learn?
Klaw: Ask your doctor. I don’t know you or your metabolism and what is right for me might be wrong for you. I shouldn’t eat a super-high protein diet because I have an inborn error of metabolism. That might work for you. About the only universal advice I would have on eating is to eat more plants.
Marty: Do you think Addison Russell still becomes a star?
Klaw: Yes, I do. Remember he came up very young, probably a year before he was ready.
Rick: Seriously people – “why one child?” and “when is the second child coming?” questions are rude and intrusive. Don’t ask them. I used to get so tired of them, that I replied to someone out of frustration, “we’d like another, but we can’t afford it” – the look on their face was priceless
Klaw: Incredibly rude. I know someone very well who had her second child in April. You want to ask her why she isn’t planning to have a third and have her tell you, well, I nearly bled to death on the table while my son was being born?
Brent: I saw your write ups on GenCon games. Was that your first time at the event? I’m curious how your overall experience was? (I also live in Indy and enjoy people watching downtown).
Klaw: First time and I had a great two days. Hoping I get to do it again next year for longer.
Joe: Whats so great about Folty and Inciarte that you wouldn’t give them up for an above avg catcher? Two below avg big leaguers for on good one that can handle a young pitching staff and help sell tickets to your new stadium.
Klaw: This is not a good question. Please try again.
Mike: re: TJ Friedl. Was he not on your pre-draft top 100 because he was not highly ranked or because you weren’t aware he was draft eligible?
Klaw: He was not highly rated by scouts. I did not see him. I don’t think Eric did either but you would have to ask him.
Adam: At what point do the Braves pull the plug on Davidson and Riley as hitters and put them on the mound?
Klaw: Little hasty there, Adam.
mcgive_it_to_me: With Ben Cherington being a top candidate for the Twins VP/GM role I hear a lot of about how the good of his Red Sox tenure (developing their system) comes with the bad (free agent signings like Panda). Wouldn’t a lot of that pressure be taken off Cherington in Minnesota where ownership would never mandate him to make splashy free agent signings each winter?
Klaw: He’s not “a top candidate” because I don’t believe they have any candidates lined up.
Jasp: So is Calhoun going to be a Howie Kendrick, Dozier, Kolten Wong, or none of the above?
Klaw: He’s not like any of those guys, really.
Marshall: The JAWS rating system has Utley as a borderline top 10 all time 2b – despite him having a great career I can’t see him smelling the HOF because of voter ignorance, but I think of him as one of the defining players that separates statistically centered analysis versus traditional guys.
Klaw: He was one of the 2 or 3 best players in baseball at one point and I’d be fine with putting him on my ballot if I had the space.
Rick: Did the Dodgers make a mistake by drafting Gavin Lux instead of Delvin Perez?
Klaw: That’s unfair, especially two months out, but really just to call it a “mistake” when Perez’s positive PED test had just come out – and it cast some doubt on the stuff he’d done so well that spring to launch himself into top 5 status.
Jason: Here’s Citizens United in a nutshell. An independent group (Citizens United) produced an anti-Hillary movie in 2008 that they wanted to make available on-demand. The law at the time prevented “electioneering communications” by corporations and unions 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election. The Supreme Court held that, as long as the communication was independent (i.e., not coordinated with a campaign), that restriction violated the First Amendment. Because it was independent, there could not be quid pro quo corruption or appearance thereof (which is basically the only justification for campaign finance laws under Supreme Court jurisprudence)
Klaw: Yeah, campaign finance laws are one of those topics I probably just shouldn’t talk about because I don’t know anything about it. (Cue people asking why I talk about baseball, then!)
Andrew: Any Astros position prospects have a decent chance of helping the club in 2017 – Teoscar, Fisher, someone else?
Klaw: In a significant way? It’s Bregman and Reed. Not sure who else or where such a player might play.
Junior: Have you heard anything on Cal Quantrill? Looks like he’s had a couple impressive starts in Tri city.
Klaw: Everything I’ve heard has been very positive. Stuff, delivery, athleticism. Could end up being the best guy from the draft, which was what he was supposed to be before he got hurt.
Byron: I’m back in Rochester cuz I stink. Everybody else has given me advice so what say you?
Klaw: Stay there and hope either Molitor & staff are replaced or that you’re traded to an organization better equipped to develop you as a hitter.
Klaw: That’s all for this week’s chat – thank you all for reading and for all of the questions! I’ll be back next Thursday at the regular time.