Klawchat 6/5/18.

Day one of the draft is in the books and day two has just begun. My thoughts on day one are now up for Insiders. You can also see my last mock for posterity’s sake; I had nine picks on the dot, and flipped Arizona’s two picks from 25 & 39.

Over at Paste my wrapup from PDXCon, where Paradox Interactive announced four new board games based on their popular video game titles, went up yesterday too.

Keith Law: It’s almost over now. Klawchat.

Adam: Thoughts on Greyson Jenista?
Keith Law: A reach at that spot for a player with serious position questions and poor offspeed recognition. He’s on my Big Board.

Chris: As a Giants fan, is my overall attitude of “meh” justified? While they got two players who will contribute (and Bart will likely contribute a lot), it just doesn’t feel like much upside considering they had the number two overall pick and a high second round pick.
Keith Law: It feels very safe, and they have taken four players so far who should contribute sooner rather than later, but you are right that they forewent upside in favor of probability and proximity.

K. Williams: What do you think of Konnor Pilkington? He looks like he has good size and he repeats his delivery well.
Keith Law: Velocity was down much of the spring, especially at this past weekend’s regional. Command guy at the back of a rotation in a best case scenario.

Gabe: In your write-up of Casas, you questioned his power. In other write ups I’ve seen him given as high as a 70 grade on his power. Are you questioning his potential for in-game power or did you get some really bad looks at him?
Keith Law: I don’t care what “other write ups” might say; I’ve seen Casas a few times and talked to plenty of scouts about him. To get him to 70 future power, someone is going to have to work with him on rotating more and getting more loft in his finish.

addoeh: I figure the undrafted high schoolers remaining in your top 100 probably won’t be drafted because of money. But what about the college players that still remain? Is the reason for them down to money? Is it injury concerns?
Keith Law: Could be medicals, yes, or some off-field/makeup thing I don’t know about.

Timothy: After day one which team(s) are most at the mercy of their pool money? Which ones have the most room to splurge?
Keith Law: I don’t track that, sorry.
Keith Law: BTW, college players who don’t get taken high may also be draft-eligible sophomores (Mulholland) or have otherwise told teams they want to finish their degrees.

El Perezoso: Texas has made another one of their high risk / high upside arms, Speas, a reliever / closer and he seems to have found “a little” command (if 20BB in 24IP can be considered “progress”). Thoughts on his potential as a high leverage bullpen arm?
Keith Law: You still have to throw strikes even to pitch in the sixth inning. He’s not close.

John: You commented yesterday that “cold weather bats” are hard to project, or something like that. How far south do you get where that is still a problem? Obviously the Sun Belt guys have an advantage. But is it still an issue in, say, Virginia? Jersey? Is there a clear line, or is it a sliding scale?
Keith Law: It’s a function of how many games those kids play each spring. The further north you go, the shorter the schedule, and the more games lost to weather.

Dan: Thanks for all your work on the draft Keith – I’m sure most people don’t realize how much time and effort you put into this. What are your thoughts concerning Madrigal staying at SS? If he can, would you have concerns over moving Anderson to CF/LF eventually?
Keith Law: Madrigal isn’t a SS now; he’s a 2b.

Tristan: Jays nab two high school teammates in their first three picks. Think an under-slot deal with the first one makes the second one signable? Do you see Kloffenstein as a worthwhile investment if the money is big?
Keith Law: I preferred other prep arms in that spot but I understand what they were trying to do.

Scott of Lincolnshire: KLAW! I know ~100% of 1st rounders will sign, but how many of these round 2/comp picks will sign? Wondering specifically if the Cubs can overpay for their 2nd round pick Davis.
Keith Law: Yes, you should assume they have all already agreed to terms. Now it’s just about passing their physicals.

Arnold: Pretty good job with your mock Keith. Who are you most surprised did not get selected on Day 1 of the MLB draft?
Keith Law: I had heard actual chatter about Wilcox going in the late first round and thought he’d be a pick somewhere before 40; maybe his price went up late. Floored Isbel didn’t go – that’s my favorite pick relative to its spot of all those Royals guys.

Ryan: Feltman 15 innings in the minors then to Boston?
Keith Law: Awfully optimistic there. How many college relievers have actually done that and not sucked?

Ben: Does Siani sign with Cincy?
Keith Law: Teams do not take players this high without deals in place. If you take a kid in the 4th round and he doesn’t sign, your draft pool is *fucked*.

Matt: More surprising – Murray at 9 or Stowers in the 50s?
Keith Law: Stowers was a real reach for me there. Maybe a money-saver.

Alan: The Cards grabbing Gorman at 19 seemed to be a surprise. Any idea why he fell that far?
Keith Law: Could be concerns about swing and miss.

JC: Tristan Beck, just taken, did not make your top 100 – all medical related (including the Stanford pitching problem) or stuff related as well?
Keith Law: Missed all of last spring with a back issue, stuff and results up and down this spring. Really didn’t miss many bats.

WarBiscuit: Any Auburn players/commits that could get drafted in Day 2 like Garrett Wade and Brendan Venter ?
Keith Law: Pretty sure Wade is going to school at this point.

Allan: How much do the Dodgers like pitchers coming off injuries ie Michael Grove?
Keith Law: Grove was up to 96 pre-surgery, but that may also be a below-slot deal to sign Ginn and maybe someone else later.

Dan: Did Blaine Knight slide to the O’s at 87 because of sign-ability concerns?
Keith Law: No, he doesn’t have a ton of leverage.

AGirlHasNoName: What is your opinion on the Cubs draft so far? Seem to be taking guys ahead of where you ranked them down the line.
Keith Law: Yeah, definitely surprised by several of these. Davis I liked, but a round after that, not a 7-figure guy.

Ben: Luis Robert assigned to Kannapolis, rather than W-S. Surprised at all?
Keith Law: I’m 90% certain that’s where I predicted he’d be assigned back in March.

Newt: How much harder was it to complete the final mock with the knowledge that you housed a three-legged predator with murder in its heart?
Keith Law: I live with this fear all the time.

Mike: Thoughts on Yanks taking two catchers with top 2 picks despite a young established catcher in Sanchez
Keith Law: Well catching is hardly Sanchez’s strong suit, and the two they took may both be better catchers in the end. Plus there is so much value in having good catching prospects.

HH: Cleveland has gone HS have the past two drafts, including multiple high picks of 17-year olds. Does that tell you anything about where they see their system, or am I overthinking this?
Keith Law: Tells me more that their draft model weighs age more heavily than other teams’ do.

Mat Ji: What I have read on Triston Casas indicates that he has an OK approach and a fair amount of raw power but has some holes in his swing. Assuming this is true, is this typically a fairly correctable issue?
Keith Law: That’s not what I’ve seen at all. I think he can really hit, but the power projects to maybe 60, not 70-80.

Brian: You had Carter Stewart #2 on your big board – given the high risk associated with prep pitchers is it safe to say that he is the most talented player in the class but was discounted to #2 because of the risk?
Keith Law: No, he was #2 because he was not as good as Mize.

Cooper: What do you think of the Royals grabbing 5 straight college pitchers with their 5 of top 58 picks… and Singer falling to them at 18?
Keith Law: Singer “falling” is relative; I don’t think Singer was worth a top 15 pick. I thought they got a lot of probability with those arms, and given their trouble with prep arms taken with high picks recently, it may be a worthy correction to their strategy.

AJ: Jose Suarez has been promoted twice already with absolutely huge SO numbers (also big BB numbers). Is he a legit frontline SP prospect?
Keith Law: I like him a lot – wrote him up in March – but he’s not a frontline (1 or 2) guy.

Nick: What happened to Nander de Sedas? He was projected to be a top 15 pick preseason, but then I stopped hearing anything about him.
Keith Law: He had a terrible spring at the plate, and I had more than one scout say he looked disinterested. I guess he’ll end up at FSU now.

Steve: Having been picked by the Rays, McClanahan seems like he’s going to end up as Jake McGee 2.0. Fair projection or can he make it as a starter?
Keith Law: I’d consider that an excellent outcome.

Brandon: Has there been anyone drafted that you just don’t know yet? What round does that normally start?
Keith Law: Grove (Dodgers’ last pick yesterday) was the first one.

Noah: It feels like in both the draft and in trades, the Phillies target safe but low upside players that project as back of the rotation players or utilitymen. It seems to be that you’d be better off devoting high draft picks and trade returns on lottery tickets with higher ceilings and find depth players elsewhere. Would love to hear your thoughts on this approach.
Keith Law: I don’t think that’s a fair assessment. Randolph was a high-ceiling bat who hasn’t panned out yet. JoJo Romero was a big gamble that’s paying off already.

Nick: Thoughts on Colton Eastman?
Keith Law: I like him, even though it’s a tough profile. Hitters don’t see the ball out of his hand at all.

Dr. Bob: Sometimes football and basketball players are better off not being drafted in a late round. Much less money and at the mercy of the team with no mobility. Is that true in baseball? Or is being drafted late still better than not being drafted at all?
Keith Law: In baseball, what matters most is what you’re paid, not where you’re taken.

ar: how much do you think about/are you concerned about recency bias and small sample size when looking at draft prospects? it makes sense that evaluations for growing kids be heavily weighted to recent events, but at the same time, the draft board has changed a ton since before the season.
Keith Law: Well, guys do get hurt, they change physically, they have to respond to the extra stresses of the draft season, and more than anything else we scout them more heavily. I saw a few 2019 guys over the course of this spring – Logan Davidson with Clemson comes to mind – but I didn’t focus on him because I was watching other players and chatting with scouts & advisers too. The next time I see Davidson, I’ll be bearing down on him.

Saman: Thoughts on the last two Dodgers’ picks? (Michael Grove and John Rooney)
Keith Law: I’m not really clear where their money is going now, unless they’re going way over on Ginn.

Zach: How much do you think Trackman stuff and makeup contribute to whether or not someone gets drafted? Ie how much stuff does the public not know about that influences where/when a player is drafted.
Keith Law: There are teams that weigh Trackman extremely heavily – Astros and Yankees for sure.

Sergio Q: Padres scouts mentioned that Weathers was hitting 94-95 in his final inning of his last start? Hype or real info?
Keith Law: He did that in a few starts – first outing back in March, at least his final two starts of the spring.

Not Chris: What player has the highest ceiling?
Keith Law: If Mize stays healthy he’s a #1 starter.

Pete: Have you seen Simeon Woods Richardson, the Mets 2nd rounder? Thoughts on him?
Keith Law: Video only. Up to 93, can show great depth on the breaking ball, lands both for strikes, has shown a CH, good athlete and competitor, physically maxed out, long arm swing.

Brian: Does your daughter ever walk by while you are doing a Periscope and wonder what in the world her dad is talking about? I would think that the lack of context around what you are saying would seem really strange for a child.
Keith Law: She’s used to my baseball-speak.

Rally Goose: How much of a reach was Clemens at 3.1?
Keith Law: Was not even a consideration for my top 100, so at least a full round.

Greg: Percentage chance the Reds sign Siani?
Keith Law: 100%. The answer isn’t going to change.

Joe: Do you think anyone takes Kumar Rocker at this point?
Keith Law: Round 11 or later, yes.

Josh: I’ve seen several Orioles fans who are skeptical of the Rodriguez pick make comparisons to Matt Hobgood; be it because of his size, jump in velo, or the fact that he went higher than expected. Is that a fair comparison?
Keith Law: Bad comparison. Really not similar other than both HS RHP.

Allan: Does Jonathan Ornelas have the potential pop to stick at third if/when he’s moved off ss?
Keith Law: Yes.

Jason: What did you think of the brewers’ first two picks? Can Gray make more contact? Was the first rounder SS a reach or a nice pick?
Keith Law: I think Turang gets to the majors on his defense for sure. If I told you today he’s going to have Adam Everett’s career, are you happy with that? You actually should be, based on the pick #, but I would guess most fans would say “no” because Everett doesn’t feel like a first-rounder in hindsight (he was one, 12th overall, and did have a career to justify going in the top 30).

Lilith: Many Reds fans were bummed last night that they weren’t able to get a “Taylor Trammell” or a “Jeter Downs” type player at the top of the 2nd round. Did they just get one with Siani in the 4th? Is my genuine excitement justified?
Keith Law: Yes, based on my rankings that’s exactly what they did.

Bret: Obviously one can’t ignore the past season when evaluating him, but what was Griffin Conine’s scouting report a year ago at this time? What are the odds the Jays can get him back to that?
Keith Law: Clear top 10 pick coming out of the Cape. Then he punched out 70 times this spring.
Keith Law: Someone asked about Stiever at IU in chat yesterday – he just went in the fifth round.

THE Average Sports Fan: India an under slot selection? How many 3b do the Reds actually need\
Keith Law: Fans get fairly stuck on a player’s listed position on draft day; India could end up at 3b, 2b, and I would send him out as a shortstop and see how he fares.

Greyson: Are there any examples of players requiring teams with a poor player-development track record to pay a premium? So, a player requiring an extra 500k to sign with Baltimore, for example?
Keith Law: No.

Brandon: I assume you know your top 100 better than me going back and forth name for name so … who was the first non-ranked player drafted?
Keith Law: Mets took Simeon Woods-Richardson at 48, and the Pirates took Braxton Ashcraft at 51. Both were players I knew but didn’t put on the top 100. Grove was the first player taken I didn’t know, because he missed the whole spring after TJ.

Logan: Opinion on Nick Decker?
Keith Law: I drove up to see him and saw all of one swing in the game. Has power, good arm for a corner, strong kid, seems to know a ball from a strike, but we’ll see when he faces real pitching this summer.

Kev: Hi keith, you’re really effeminate. Love your work.
Keith Law: I suppose this is some sort of insult? You’ll have to try harder than that, bud. You’re talking to a guy who’s worn makeup for TV and done Periscope chats while wearing an apron.

Clint: Would the risk of Kyler Murray playing another full season of football have kept you from picking him in the top 20 of this draft?
Keith Law: I would have insisted on him giving up CTE-ball if I was paying him first round money.

Craig: With Turang, how much of his fall was him being a known quantity for so long that familiarity bred contempt and how much was that his ceiling just isn’t as high as ppl thought it was last yr?
Keith Law: He didn’t perform well at the plate over the last 12 months. When scouts started bearing down, the conclusion was that he’s not the hitter he’d been hyped to be.

Gregory: How would you change the draft to make it more appealing to casual fans?
Keith Law: Trade picks and get more players to the draft.

Jeff Ala: Did the Braves just get a steal in the 4th round with Beck?
Keith Law: No.

Clay, Rutherford : Should I be concerned that the Cubs took Hoerner in the first round, since Stanford has a reputation for messing with hitters’ swings? The recent track record of Cardinal hitters is lackluster.
Keith Law: I had him ranked just a shade below that, more because I don’t see the secondary skills at the plate (patience or power). High contact guy with high baseball IQ too and chance to stay at short.

Trevor : All the 1st round guys got talked up big time. The Dodgers kid not so much. Was that a huge reach in your mind?
Keith Law: Yeah, this is the other issue I have with the coverage – every first round pick was a future all-star, plus tools left and right, ready for the majors in a month, etc. It’s not possible that every pick was a good one. Ginn might have two pitches that grade out as 7s, but there’s disagreement about the delivery – I see violence that might make him a reliever, I know good scouts (not with LAD) who think it’s not a problem and he was maybe the best prep arm in the draft.

Mike: I know this is mostly draft, but you’ve always been a Derek Hill fan. He’s been great offensively since coming back from his latest injury. Have you heard/seen anything about him possibly figuring something out finally? Or should I give up that dream?
Keith Law: Had great reports from last August too, when he was healthy and started raking.
Keith Law: My last look at him this March wasn’t great, for whatever that’s worth.

Brian: Thanks Keith! Only reason I have insider. This may seem like a softball question but how does the draft pool work? Do teams get a certain amount of $ to spend? I’m a tiger fan and there were discussion about maybe signing someone other then Mize so they could do more with their pool? Could be way off but genuinely wanted to know how it works.
Keith Law: Right. You add up your slot values for all of your picks in the top ten rounds. If you don’t exceed that by more than 4.9%, you face no penalty. If you exceed it by more than that, penalties kick in, including potential loss of draft picks.

Jeff Ala: Mize or Kyle Wright higher upside and who would you take right now?
Keith Law: Mize.

Boston: Why do you think Weathers won’t be underslot?
Keith Law: Why would he be when he wasn’t falling very far if the Padres passed on him?

Chris: Will the London MLB games mean a possible visit to London for you?
Keith Law: Hoping so, yes.

Mark: What’s going on with Kumar? Any reason as to why he’s dropped
Keith Law: Vandy commit with big price tag and finished the season poorly, with some loss of velocity and a bad showing in his team’s final doubleheader.

Jason: What do you think of the brewers strategy to draft guys up the middle of the field? CFs, SS all day
Keith Law: That’s where the biggest positional value is.

Dave: On MLB network, they said Seth Beer has had trouble with wood bats. What are some reasons behind this?
Keith Law: Specifically, he hasn’t performed well in wood bat leagues/environments the last two years. (It’s not like, say, the wood bats and he don’t get along.) It’s a great approach with real power, but he doesn’t have exceptional bat speed.

Pat D: Think the Yankees stick to college players between now and Round 10 in order to offer overslot to Green?
Keith Law: I’d expect a college senior or three mixed in from here forward. I wonder if they still try to grab one more over-slot guy, maybe in round 11.

Todd: How rare is it for a player not even on the radar in high school to develop into a viable draft pick in college?
Keith Law: Not that rare. Strasburg went from undrafted out of HS to 1-1 out of college. Mize did the same. Rendon was undrafted out of HS too.

michael: hi keith, how much of a reach is Joey Bart to you? Is there a huge gap between your #2 prospect and Bart who I believe was ~#10?
Keith Law: A modest one. The big gap in my rankings was between Mize and everyone else.

Josh: How close was Kaiser to your top 100? (Don’t kill me if he was on it, I am chatting/reading while in a meeting!)
Keith Law: Wasn’t on it or that close.

Adam D.: How far down that bottle of rum did you get last night?
Keith Law: I stopped after the Periscope. I did have to be alert enough to write up that reaction piece.

Joe: Is it time for Tigers fans to be concerned about Matt Manning? I know he’s young and only in low-A ball, but his command seems to be going in the wrong direction year to year.
Keith Law: You can be concerned, but not to the point of giving up or calling him a bust. Still 20, lots of time to turn it around.

Mike: Is there a Forrest Whitley in this draft? A pitcher taken in the teens who could end up a stud?
Keith Law: Liberatore and Winn would be my guesses.

Allan: How much money did leaving Colorado make Cole Winn?
Keith Law: Maybe a million bucks? Getting away from the altitude, and also moving to somewhere scouts would see him more often.
Keith Law: I’ve still yet to go to Colorado to see an amateur player in 12 years of doing this. Saw Gausman at showcases, and then he went to school. Saw Bird at showcases too (he was Gausman’s catcher in HS). Winn would have been the first, but he moved.

Po: Was reading through your big board of the top of 100 and once again I am concerned about the A’s decision making. It seems they avoid Boras guys and expensive upside guys and take risky and cheap? Am I misreading that?
Keith Law: That isn’t accurate. And I certainly haven’t identified Boras guys anywhere so I’m not sure how anyone would know who they all are.

xxx(yyy): Is there a reason a player should withdraw from the draft? I assume that 99.99999% of the time it is a terrible move but is that wrong?
Keith Law: If a player withdrew for something like religious reasons, or a personal/family matter, then money shouldn’t be a factor anyway and the process could be an unwelcome distraction.

Robbie: As a UGA fan, I watched Keegan Mcgovern hit the ball hard all year, why is he not considered a draft prospect whatsoever anywhere i have read?
Keith Law: He didn’t have that great a year overall, and he’s a corner bat. Might be someone’s senior sign later today.

Slick Rick Hahn: Better OF Prospect, Luis Gonzalez (CWS) or Steele Walker?
Keith Law: Gonzalez, I think. Better tools. Walker had the performance but I knew some scouts who thought he was beating up on lesser competition.

Sean : No surprise that the Nats have focused on pitching in this draft. Any thoughts on the arms the Nats have drafted so far?
Keith Law: Really like their draft through round 4. Schaller is super intriguing – has the frame, body, fastball you want, just hadn’t pitched in two-plus years after TJ.

Kevin: What is your take on the Cape League? Time well spent for prospects and scouts ?
Keith Law: Absolutely.

Chris : I know some Oakland fans are freaking out about the Murray pick, but isn’t the point that he’s one of the very few players in the draft to have actual superstar potential, even if those odds are low and there is some bust potential attached?
Keith Law: I would say that is precisely the point.

Nathaniel: Whats the best/worst outcome for the Mets 1st round pick?
Keith Law: Best outcome is all-star CF. Worst, of course, is that he doesn’t reach the majors.
Keith Law: Cole Sands left his last start of the year with an injury, but the Twins just took him in the 5th round. That’s a mild surprise to me – maybe the injury turned out to be nothing.

Andy: In your last chat, you mentioned some first round guys who weren’t on your thought list for first rounders, and none of them turned out. Has there been a guy that you can recall, that you thought a team way overdrafted someone, that’s worked out well? I don’t mean having Mike Trout not ranked #1, but like a guy who you had 60, went 15, and has been an All Star/top prospect.
Keith Law: Oh all the time. Chris Sale is probably the most stark example; I killed the delivery, he went 13th, probably should have gone top 3. A lesser example is Joe Panik; I had him in the third round by my ranking, he went 29th, has 7 career WAR.

Rob: Not a draft related question, but long term who do you like more, Newcomb or Folty? And do you see the paces they’re both at dropping off pretty hard or are they both close to this good.
Keith Law: Folty. If you asked me to ‘buy’ one right now it’d be him.

Pete: Does Justin Dunn see AA by the end of the year?
Keith Law: I’m guessing so, but I don’t think he *has* to get there for the year to be a success.

Scott: Quick analysis on Beer was that he couldn’t hit w/ wooden bats and projects only as a 1B. Do you agree w/ that assessment?
Keith Law: DH for me. Not a 1b.

Adam: Is Carter Stewarts Curveball of the Adam Wainwright variety?
Keith Law: Literally the highest spin rate ever recorded on a CB.

Turner Watts: Has a relatively high draft pick ever been drafted in June and dealt at the trade deadline of that same year?
Keith Law: Can’t do that. First time these guys can be traded is November.

Doug: Are the Padres saving their money for late picks? Or is Xavier Edwards good enough to justify Weathers over Liberatore?
Keith Law: The gap between Weathers and Liberatore in my mind is just not that big, and I’m sure there are guys who had Weathers higher due to present command.

Andy: Scouting the stat line only, McKay looks ready for AA as a P, but not as a hitter. Now the Rays sound like they’re doing the two way thing with another guy. How does it work that they will inevitably progress differently with the different skills?
Keith Law: I think these situations will resolve themselves because the player will buy in to dropping one or the other.

Rick C: The Braves drafted Rendon out of HS. He didn’t sign.
Keith Law: You’re right – 27th round. I must be thinking of someone else.

David: What are the odds that someone outside of day 1 would be the #1 pick in your with hindsight draft on 2028?
Keith Law: Maybe 1 in 3? It’s happened a few times.
Keith Law: Oh, god, am I still doing this in 2028?

Kyle: Would Royce Lewis have been your top position player in this draft?
Keith Law: No.

BK: Who is Christopher Bec???
Keith Law: Senior sign. I’m guessing way under slot. I prefer his brother Mal.

Tim: I think I know the answer – but is there any reason to be concerned that players in A-ball are hitting Greene too hard? He’s getting Ks but that BABIP makes me worried his fastball is playing down this year. (yes I’m scouting stat line a bit).
Keith Law: I posted his season stats split into first five starts and last five. His BABIP has come way down.

Mark: Hi Keith, non-draft Q here. With the “can’t scout stat lines” caveat understood, anything about apparent improvement from Ryan McKenna at High-A to excite an O’s fan?
Keith Law: I’m hearing very good things about the bat. I’m pissed I couldn’t get out to see him last week in Wilmington because I was working on the mock etc. I’ll try to get him next time.

Craig: I have a good friend whose son is a HS freshman pitcher who is already getting noticed (85-87 MPH, still growing into his body). What’s the #1 piece of advice you would give him to ensure he has a great day 3 years from now?
Keith Law: Take at least 100 days off from throwing every year – not just pitching, but no throwing. And follow the MLB PitchSmart guidelines. even if it means saying ‘no’ to a coach.

Jon: Keith, did you ever play any wargames as a youth, like Avalon Hill produced?
Keith Law: No, board games are my thing but not the longer wargames.

Danny: Have you heard the Yankees have a deal with Hackenberg and do you think they could save enough from their top 3 picks to offer him around $1M?
Keith Law: If they had a deal with him they would probably have taken him already.

Kevin: Let’s say you have seen a player 3 or 4 times….wouldn’t that be considered SSS?
Keith Law: No.

Marsh: Rangers drafted a kid who weighs less than me (but not my much ;)) Is he that good? Easley?
Keith Law: Damion’s kid. He’s actually a good little player. Maybe not a ton of upside but tremendous instincts in the field. Made some money just by playing next to Gorman all spring.

Ted: Experience with a dutch oven? thinking of getting one but not sure how often will use
Keith Law: Love mine, use it all the time for braises and it is the best vessel for deep frying.

Dan: With guys like Singer and Liberatore still available the Orioles reached for Rodriguez at 11. Defensible, or completely mystifying?
Keith Law: I would have taken Liberatore, but not Singer. Don’t understand fans’ abject hate of this pick. Rodriguez may not have been the best guy available but he’s up to 97-98 with a hammer.

Will: What is your comp for Bren Spillane? First guy to OPS over 900 in D1 since Pat Burrell.
Keith Law: That can’t be right about his OPS. And Spillane is 1b only who did his damage in a bad conference. I had him more in the 4th-5th round.

TK: I know he was high on your big board, but should Swaggerty’s lack of production in a bad conference this year scare me as a Pirates fan?
Keith Law: It’s a concern, but if he performs as expected he never gets to pick 10.

Notice me Law-senpai: Is it just me or, apart from the Stewart pick, are all the Atlanta picks after really, really underwhelming?
Keith Law: It’s 3 picks after that. Beck was fine for that spot. I thought Jenista was a reach by half a round, and just don’t love him for an NL squad because of DH risk.

Dave: Parenting question: better for taking a kid to his/her first pro ball game, major league park or minor league park?
Keith Law: Minors, easily, but please get yourself behind the netting.

Jamie: Could you have handled the money, bus rides, culture shock and living on your own at 18?
Keith Law: I was on my own at college at 17 (17.25, to be baseball precise). I survived. But college would have been a way better experience had I been older. I would have made better choices about classes, applied myself more, and gotten way more out of it academically and socially had I been 21 or so.
Keith Law: OK, still got some stuff to do and then I have to start writing up every team’s draft results. Thanks so much for all your questions and for reading all my draft drivel the last few months. All 30 draft recaps will be up by the end of the week!