Klawchat 2/6/19.

My prospect rankings package continues its rollout this week for ESPN+ subscribers with the AL Central and AL East team-by-team reports. My ranking of all 30 farm systems went up Monday, and the top 100 went up last week.

I also have a new review up at Paste, looking at the light engine-builder Gizmos, a family-friendly game that mimics the mechanics of longer and more complex titles

Keith Law: That’s my story and I am stuck with it. Klawchat.

Trevor: KLaw – Are you at all interested in the arbitration hearings? Seems hard to believe the highest paid AAV this offseason might end up being Arenado at $26M
Keith Law: Not really interested. The clubs have plenty of money, and most players in the process are underpaid relative to their on-field worth.

Dr. Bob: You voted for Fred McGriff. He’s a ways down the list in bWAR or JAWS. Since that’s only a starting point for the discussion, what tipped it for you?
Keith Law: I didn’t vote for McGriff. I would have considered him on an unlimited ballot, but he didn’t make my 10.

addoeh: Anyone have a worse off-season than the Cubs? One of their owners is clueless and also a racist. They handled the Russell situation about as poorly as possible. They claim to have to have no budget to sign anyone. And you ranked them as having the 29th ranked farm system.
Keith Law: Other than that, it’s been a great winter on the north side.

Tyler: Hey Keith! What do you see in Taylor Trammell that puts him in your top 15 prospects in baseball? Thanks
Keith Law: I wrote an entire capsule on him, and each of the top 100 prospects, and then 14 more in the just missed column.

Anik Patel: There have been a lot of disgruntled fans when it comes to the blue jays management since AA has left. Do you feel the fans are justified or are they not looking at the big picture
Keith Law: That’s too broad a question. What are their issues? The club operating on a mid-market payroll? That’s on ownership.

Bmosc: When do you ultimately think Machado & Harper sign? Think they’res starting to sweat it out a bit at this point?
Keith Law: I would guess one or both sign in the next two weeks. Some team has to blink and realize the calendar is working against them. If the Phillies get to Opening Day with all that payroll room, the hope of contention, some bad press right now around Kapler, and neither of those two free agents, that’s a failure.

@BleedCubBlue311: Is it actually possible this late in the off-season to implement the DH in the NL?
Keith Law: I don’t think so. If I were an NL GM without an existing in-house candidate and they changed the rules now, I’d be a little miffed.

JP: has your opinion on Curt Schilling’s HOF candidacy changes over the past few years (for obvious reasons)?
Keith Law: I had said in the past I thought I would vote for him, and then when I considered his case in total this winter, I chose not to vote for him, so yes, it has changed.

Adam: Other reputable prospect outlets have more than one person working on the team and overall lists. This allows them an opportunity to compare notes and, theoretically, shrinks their error margins. Being a one man crew, how do you go about managing the workload to make sure you have the most available information and process all that feedback as accurately as possible? Do you share your list with noted friends Longenhagen and Mayo for feedback before publishing?
Keith Law: I talk to a broad range of scouts and executives and share my list with many people across baseball front offices, going through multiple iterations to get feedback before publishing. I don’t think having more people would improve the process or that it shrinks anyone’s error margins; I’ve seen lists on ‘reputable’ sites with obvious mistakes in rankings.

Michael : hey keith. really nice job on the prospect stuff over the past couple of weeks. wanted to ask you a question in re: to the team farm rankings. you’ve got miami at the bottom, but wondering how much that ranking could shift if they picked up the #50 and #100 prospects on your list for JTR. do two propects like that push them up one spot or like ten spots? thanks!
Keith Law: Maybe one or two spots, not ten spots for sure.

kc: Why do you always seem down on A’s farm? They had some guys in top 100 but you still don’t like overall.. Thx
Keith Law: Because a farm system is a lot more than guys in the top 100. Their top ten and org report will run tomorrow, and even the end of their top ten fails off very quickly, and that’s with a couple of pitchers in that top ten still on the mend from TJ.

RubenaLowe: Hey Keith, love the chats……….are the mariners prospects so bad outside of the ‘big 3’ that it couldn’t propel them to the upper half? Gilbert anything more than a backend starter?
Keith Law: I’d like to see what Gilbert looks like this year, now that he’s fully recovered from mono and in a pro system. In 2017 he looked more like a future above-average starter. But yes, the rest of the system was among the worst in baseball before those trades.

Luigi: Now that you’ve had a few months to play with it, how are you liking your Uuni pizza oven? Does its outer surface get ungodly hot?
Keith Law: I love it but haven’t used it in a few weeks because it’s just too cold outside to run in and out while cooking. The outside is way too hot to touch (yes, I’ve nicked it, and it hurts).

Jimbo: Is it fair to be down on AA as a Braves fan? Donaldson has been his most exciting move with Gausman being bumped aside in the playoffs & the Kemp deal being a creative/boring money shuffle. The prospects that are drawing praise came from previous regimes, his team couldn’t/didn’t sign Stewart. I get that the offseason has been slow for the whole league but isn’t that more reason for a mid level team like the Braves to pounce? Please tell me I’m crazy for being disappointed with it all
Keith Law: OK, you’re crazy for being disappointed with it all.

CH: Any chance Machado or Harper sit out this year? I think we’re getting there.
Keith Law: Zero.

Anthony: What do you view the likelihood that someone like George Valera ends up in the top 100 next year? Possible candidate for a Kirilloff-esque jump?
Keith Law: You could say that about many seven-figure July 2nd signings who haven’t played yet.

JR: is crappy cheap beer fighting with crappy cheap corn syrup on social media the most American thing ever?
Keith Law: Yep. I thought those ads were so very dumb. I don’t avoid Miller Lite or Coors Lite or whatever beers they were after because of their ingredients. I avoid them because they taste terrible.

Kevin: Thoughts on the news about Gabe Kapler’s time in LA with the Dodgers?
Keith Law: Not sure we actually learned anything new here – the victim didn’t report the sexual assault to the team, so while I assume she told the truth, you can’t fault the team for failing to act on information they didn’t have. What was a mistake, and deserves scrutiny, was the failure to punish the players who furnished alcohol to an underage girl (to the point that she became ill). That alone should have triggered a suspension and a police report.

Geoff: What do you make of the Reds reportedly trying to move India?
Keith Law: I had a front office executive from another team tell me flat-out they were trying to move India, and then another source told me this week they aren’t trying to move him, but that he’s the best prospect the Reds will discuss in a major deal like a Kluber trade. Senzel, Trammell, and Greene are off the table, so if you’re looking to do something big with Cincinnati, India is the best prospect remaining.

Keith: Based on yours and the other prospect lists, Nick Madrigal is one of the most divergent prospects with ranges from 15 – ~113. Is it just a disagreement over power potential or is more going on here? What should we be paying attention to as an indicator to track which way his development is going?
Keith Law: No reputable list has him top 20; the highest I’ve seen is 41. He’s a very small second baseman without power projection. Tough to profile that guy as an above-average regular.

Claus: Does Luis Garcia (Nationals) have the tools and upside to jump into your top 100 list in 2020? If so, what would he need to improve on?
Keith Law: No, probably not.

Teddy Ballgame: how would you resolve the reliever parade problem in baseball? Do you even see it as a problem? Shoukd MLB be trying to get away from one out relievers because it’s a bad viewer experience? Do you miss pinch hitters like I
Keith Law: My issue with one-batter relievers is less aesthetics and more practical: If every pitching change means a commercial break, and MLB won’t shrink commercial breaks, then we need fewer pitching changes.

Troy: Dubon anything more than utility guy?
Keith Law: Could be a regular at 2b. I wouldn’t count him out.

Anik Patel: Why is Cleveland not going for another run into the playoffs? I understand the payroll is an issue but they have subtracted quite a bit from their lineup when they are clearly the strongest team in the AL central
Keith Law: I think they view the division as winnable without upgrades. I’m not sure I agree, and they should certainly be trying to upgrade their OF.

Mike: Given his injury history is it time to consider Jonathon Loaisiga a full time reliever or is it best to still try and develop him has a starter?
Keith Law: Still has the stuff to start, and they could use him in that role.

Allan: The Rockies have baffled me by not allowing McMahon or Tapia to consistently play in the majors. What is going on in the FO?
Keith Law: I’m afraid they’ll block Rodgers too. I don’t know what their philosophy is on these players.

JP: is Clint Frazier an everyday LF for a contending club? he can still fake CF?
Keith Law: He’s never been able to play CF.

javier: who needs harper/machado more: a team in a championship window now like the cubs, phillies or a team multiple pieces away like wsox/padres who normally dont have a shot for top FA competing with yankees/boston/etc
Keith Law: I think the Phillies have to get one of those two guys. Otherwise, what’s the point of clearing all that payroll?

FiveForFighting: If you are a team like the White Sox whose window of contention probably isn’t open yet, do you pursue a Harper or a Machado even if signing them to a long-term deal includes an opt-out after, say, Year 2 or Year 3?
Keith Law: If the AAV is low enough, sure. And they could contend this year with one of those guys, maybe adding a starter, and then one hopes some big leaps from young guys already in place. I said before they’re not that far off from contention.

Pat D: As a diehard Yankees fan, I keep an interest in prospects who they trade or lose. Luis Torrens’ situation fascinates me. Can he ever be a viable major leaguer? If not, what would you say ruined him more, the shoulder injury or being stashed on San Diego’s roster the whole season?
Keith Law: The shoulder injury. I’ve heard positive things from last year, to the point where he might resurface as at least a quality backup.

AGirlHasNoName: All that off-season stuff about the Cubs being true, would you still bet against them winning a tough division this year?
Keith Law: Are you asking me Cubs vs the NL Central field? I’ll take the field.

Nathan: You’re invited to a friend’s house. While there, they suggest a game of Monopoly while listening to Bruce Springsteen’s entire collection. Do you A) grit your teeth and bear it B) politely decline C) offer a different suggestion D) find a new friend
Keith Law: D.

Willie Dewit: Is it possible for you to hate a TV show, band, or movie but at the same time realize you are the minority and it’s probably pretty good? Game of Thones, U2 and Dances w Wolves for me.
Keith Law: Sure. Much of what we think of art is subjective. People whose opinions I respect think Breaking Bad is one of the greatest TV shows of all time. I don’t see the appeal.

Anik Patel: Thoughts on Auston Matthews signing a 5 year extension?
Keith Law: I had to look to see if the Rays had given Austin Meadows a five-year extension. Apparently this person plays hockey.

Santiago: Hey Keith, Orioles fan here. What are your thoughts on Grayson Rodriguez?
Keith Law: Orioles team report went up Tuesday and he is mentioned at lenght.

Jerry: Do you see Alvarez as another potential 1B bust for the Astros along the lines of Singleton and AJ Reed?
Keith Law: Singleton is in his own category of bust, for largely non-baseball reasons. Could Alvarez fail to hit MLB pitching like Reed has (in limited trials)? Sure. He’s not very athletic, 1b only and not good there, and I do have concerns about his future hit tool.

Erik: what’s the ETA on Wander Franco with the caveat the Rays will probably want him to “work on his defense”
Keith Law: I said in his capsule he could see the majors before he’s 20.

Mike: You read Ken Rosenthal’s latest on rule changes? Are you a fan of universal DH? Pitch clock? What about forcing pitchers to face 3 batters?
Keith Law: Yes on universal DH. Hard no on pitch clock. A two-batter minimum would probably serve the same purpose.

Geoff: T/F: Spending money is the new market inefficiency.
Keith Law: Kind of true. I believe too many teams are concerned with getting a “good deal” rather than considering whether a contract could provide sufficient ROI by the player getting you to the postseason, which gives a large revenue bump.

John: Tyler O’Neill and Dakota Hudson for Corey Kluber? Fair or Indians need more?
Keith Law: Cleveland would laugh at that.

Ben : Why is the HOF ballot limited to 10 votes? If you think a person is a HOF’er should it matter if there are 10 more qualified candidates?
Keith Law: Ask* the Hall of Fame. Their call, not the writers’. (*Typo fixed!)

EuanDewar: Do you enjoy Cormac McCarthy’s work and are there any authors in that vein you’d suggest to check out next?
Keith Law: Yes, I liked Blood Meridian and the Road (well, ‘liked’ might be the wrong word there) quite a bit. If you like his settings, you might read Lonesome Dove, but I think McCarthy’s gift is in exploring the darkest sides of human nature, which would point to noir writers like James Cain or Jim Thompson.

xxx(yyy): do you have a go to polenta recipe?
Keith Law: I use Alton Brown’s basic recipe – start with a diced onion sweated in some olive oil, add 4 parts liquid to 1 part polenta, cook in a 350 oven for 35 minutes, stirring a few times, and then finish with 2-3 Tbsp butter and up to 1 cup grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano.

Bmosc: As a fellow coffee aficionado, do you buy your beans locally or online, and if online, who is your go-to vendor?
Keith Law: I get a lot of coffee locally from Royal Mile and Re-Animator, and also buy coffee when I travel.

Ben : I’m surprised the Red Sox farm system isn’t competing with the Orioles for the worst in the league!!
Keith Law: I see more upside of guys already in that system than I do of guys in the O’s system.

Chip Dipson: What are your thoughts on Willie Calhoun? Might he still be a useful major leaguer, even without a defensive home?
Keith Law: Useful, yes, definitely. Not sure he’s a regular, and very low chance he’s more than that. That’s why he didn’t make the top 100 before 2018.

Phil: Who has the higher upside between Dustin May, Mitchell White and Dennis Santana?
Keith Law: Only one of them made my top 100…

Chris: Didn’t find Yordan Alvarez any of your lists. What’s your thoughts on him? Too risky of a hitting profile given he’s not a great defender?
Keith Law: See above. “Not a great defender” is kind. Might be a DH. Not an elite hitter, either.

Jamison: Why wouldn’t the Cubs be in on Harper or Machado?
Keith Law: Because they have no mo…. no mone… sorry, i just can’t say it without laughing.

Keone Kela: Odds of Taylor Hearn being able to stick in the rotation long-term?
Keith Law: Nonzero, but low, maybe 20%.

Dr. Bob: Key line from Michael Baumann in Ringer RE: Kapler: “Despite MLB’s efforts to combat domestic violence and sexual assault within the sport, its response to stories that involve violence against women tends to concern the player first. What can the player learn? Is he sorry? When can he return to the field? Perhaps there’s a suspension, maybe an apology, but the needs of the survivor usually take a back seat to the need of the sport to put the matter behind it.” I think you have been beating this drum as well. We all need to.
Keith Law: I agree with all of that. It’s the wrong way to think about crimes against women. And the fact that one of the players involved in the underage drinking incident was a significant prospect should have no impact on how the team or league handles such a matter, but in this case it is indisputable that it did.

Jason: Do you think Carson Fulmer could become a late-inning reliever? Feel like he could use a change of scenery.
Keith Law: Only been saying that since he was in high school.

Jerry: BR Pythagorean says 2018 Astros underachieved by 6 games. Only Astros regular who may have had a career year was Bregman. Assuming nothing catastrophic, is anything less than 100 wins a disappointing 2019?
Keith Law: You should never bank on 100+ wins as a threshold for success; it takes some good fortune to get there. If they win the division, and they should, then be happy.

Lester: Do you think Ronny Mauricio has a greater than 50 percent chance of sticking at SS in a vacuum? Not sure how that changes in a system with Amed and Gimenez.
Keith Law: Yes.

AGirlHasNoName: No, I am asking if you had to pick one team to win that division, would you pick the Cubs? Maybe a 35% chance, but still better than Brewers or Cardinals.
Keith Law: Yes, right now I’d give the Cubs the highest odds of the five teams, but certainly under 50%.

Pat D: My mother told me she was having a back and forth discussion with a friend over last night’s SOTU and her friend said it was much better to listen to Trump than “the traitor Obama.” I told her to unfriend that person, even without asking her to defend that statement because that person is clearly delusional. Agree?
Keith Law: Yes. You can’t reason with the irrational.

JG: Thank you for the write up on the AL Central prospects. For the Twins, you like Enlow as a potential #2 or #3 if he develops??
Keith Law: Yes, either.

Macey: You just had your first typo I’ve ever seen.
Keith Law: Well now I have to go find and fix it.

Rick Sanchez: Adell appears to be in a similar spot to Moncada a few years back as an uber-athlete with contact and pitch recognition issues. Do you see Adell overcoming those issues and reaching star status?
Keith Law: Not similar at all. Adell’s issues are a function of youth and inexperience.

Brad: Could Cionel Perez factor into the Astros rotation this year?
Keith Law: In theory, yes, but I think he’s behind too many other guys – maybe 8th or 9th on the depth chart right now.

Dan: Are there any foods you just won’t make because their too time-consuming/not worth the effort? I’m about to give up making sourdough bread from starter because it never turns out well and it takes days from start to finish with the slow proofing and starter feeding.
Keith Law: Sure. Even things I love making, like fresh pasta, are once in a blue moon items because of the time required (and the mess … oh god, there is flour everywhere).

Bill: Not a ?
Keith Law: Not an answer.

77Sticks: There seems to be a growing critique that writers shouldn’t analyze free agent signings as good or bad — that doing so takes a pro-management view, and thus is inherently anti-labor, and ignores the fact that owners are billionaires who can afford these contracts. Do you plan on dialing back your criticism or analysis in that regard?
Keith Law: No, because I don’t think that criticism has merit.

Nolan: Let’s say the Padres sign Harper. What would you do then about the *checks notes* 7 outfielders projected to be on the opening day roster? (those seven, as a refresher: Harper, Myers, Margot, Cordero, Reyes, Renfroe, Jankowski)
Keith Law: Of that group, only Margot really has to be there, because he can play centerfield (and does it well), and Harper’s presence isn’t related to that. None of the rest matter if you think you can sign Harper.

Bill: Just wanted you to hear i pay for espn bc of your content exclusively….also have purchased quite a few board games based on your reviews. Please keep doing what you are doing.
Keith Law: Thank you. That’s very kind of you.

Chris: Have you played any gloomhaven?
Keith Law: No, I don’t play role-playing games.

Mike : How do you feel about the DH being in the National League as quick as this year ?
Keith Law: Again, I favor it, but this year is going to be too soon.

Pierre: Pete Alonso 30 hrs over under?
Keith Law: He could do it. I’d guess under, but hardly shocked if he gets to 30.

Dave: Not sure if you can/want to talk about it but I have seen writers I respect sing the praises of Idelson. I know part of the problem is dealing with the Board, etc. but allowing a Board member to use company e-mail for statement is a big no-no. Committee stacking for the Baines vote. I really think the HOF needs someone who can lead in the future.
Keith Law: I have gotten along well with Jeff when we’ve interacted, but I’m glad to see the potential for a change here, for the reasons you identified. If the writers are going to choose the Hall of Famers, then let the writers choose the Hall of Famers. Don’t game ballot rules to try to prevent Bonds and Clemens from getting in. Don’t stack committees to get certain players in.

CH: Do you think MIA is getting weak-ish offers for Realmuto bc they said yes to nothing for Yelich? Can Brinson recover at all from LY?
Keith Law: I think they’re getting lower offers than they expected because teams value framing now and Realmuto is not a good framer.

Pierre: Justin Dunn in mariners rotation 2nd half ?
Keith Law: Unlikely. Maybe a September callup.

Doug: Padre fans are in love with Franmil Reyes? Can he repeat his success with the bat from last year? Any possible growth? Or a regression candidate? Thanks!
Keith Law: With his approach I don’t think there’s growth ahead.

Macey: Why do you think the Trump scandals don’t really stick? His family was proven to have cheated on hundreds of millions in taxes and it’s probably something 98% of people haven’t even heard of. Is everyone just waiting on Mueller or is it a bed of needles situation? It’s really the most amazing thing about him, how he gets away with so much.
Keith Law: It’s clear that maybe 30% of voters wouldn’t care what he did, because they favor policies he and the modern GOP support (which I think veer from many GOP platforms of previous generations).

JR: I understand teams looking for a deal, but are you surprised by the complete lack of discussion on some guys? Have you heard Keuchel or Adam Jones names associated with any team? MLBtraderumors twitter account used to be a must pay attention too everyday for chatter, but there is almost no talk on some guys. It’s weird.
Keith Law: Jones wasn’t on my top 50 free agents – he hasn’t been a productive regular in several years. Lack of a market for him disappoints me, as I like Jones the person quite a bit, but I am not surprised. Keuchel’s lack of a market surprises me since he was one of the best starters available. Even if there are durability questions, he’d help a lot of contenders right now.

Doug: Michael Baez a reliever for you? Assuming I will find out the answer in 4 days.
Keith Law: There’s a much higher belief across the industry this year that he’s a reliever than there was a year ago.

laney adams: Brandon Lowe seems like a very good and underrated prospect. Do you think he wins the 2b job or splits time in OF?
Keith Law: I want him to win the 2b job. He’s their best internal option.

Roberto Kelly: Do you see these old posts from millennials who called everything “gay” in the early 2000s coming back to ruin their careers? And what is being done in the present day that we might deem problematic 30 years from now?
Keith Law: The cases I’ve seen have gone past people just using the word “gay;” those same people have used a slur against gays that starts with f (which, helpfully, comes in three- and six-letter variations!). That word was never okay, in any context. If that’s on your twitter feed, even from ten years ago, delete it. Just search your own name and those words and delete all such posts.

lurs darkvert: How do the Reds eventually solve the PT with Winker and Kemp? Logically wouldn’t you want to give the most PT to the younger and much more talented player
Keith Law: I’d play Winker and bench Kemp until there’s a need for him. Seemed to me like they added his contract to make the deal happen and so the Dodgers would take Bailey back.

Mark: Do you think what Josh Bell has shown so far is what he is?
Keith Law: There is raw power in there he has yet to show in games.

Chris J: Just for the sake of context and comparisons – if you expected Kieboom to be at least passable defensively at SS, what sort of a range might he have fallen in your top 100? Thanks, Keith!
Keith Law: Higher, but where depends on what kind of defensive SS I thought he was. As it is, I see zero chance he’s a regular at short in the majors.

John: Did you see Bill DeWitt’s comment to the STL PD regarding players not being signed? “It’s not like people are hoarding money and making a lot of money in this business” That’s an exact quote. That’s so insulting to us fans.
Keith Law: It’s just plain false. I hope the paper pointed out the inaccuracy of the claim.

Darren: If you were just hired to be GM of the Rockies and were stuck with D Murphy at 1B, whom would you want to get the every day at bats at 2B. Hampson or McMahon?
Keith Law: I don’t think McMahon’s going to be a very good defender at second, or even an adequate one. I’d probably play Hampson there and find a way to get McMahon more AB at first.

Oscar Proud: Should Northam resign?
Keith Law: Absolutely.

Ben: What do you think of Schultz not wanting to be called a “billionaire” but rather a “person of means”? Do you think the wealthy should pay more taxes in this country?
Keith Law: Taxing wealth is complicated – you can move wealth, and you can hide it. Taxing income is more straightforward and easier to police.

Josh: Not a question, just really love seeing you dunk on Twitter folks that try to drag you over things that they clearly can’t comprehend and resort to petty insults (that are usually inaccurate). Keep it up!
Keith Law: Just another free service I offer.

Chris J: On Adam Jones – do you think there is any hesitation from some teams based on Jones’s willingness to speak out on certain topics?
Keith Law: Not at all.

xxx(yyy): where do you go to find good longform articles? right now i use some combo of The Sunday Longread (Don Van Natta Jr) and digg.com (reinvented from what it used to be)
Keith Law: I get them from lots of sources. You’ll notice I often link to longreads published in the Guardian, and some from longreads.com.

Mark: I recently re-watched Eddie Murphy Raw (might have been Delirious) and couldn’t believe how many times he dropped the 6 letter version of the F word. And he became a star of children’s movies, now his career would be over before it started.
Keith Law: Yeah, Delirious was, at its time, a seminal comedy album, one that helped make him a superstar and I think defined comic sensibilities for a large swath of listeners. (I knew much of that set by heart from listening to it so many times.) It is absolutely beyond the pale today – the gay-bashing is intolerable, both the use of the f-word as a slur and the entire attitude towards gays as freaks or deviants or simply objects of derision.

Matt: Do you think the Phillies should fire Kapler given the recent news from his time in L.A.?
Keith Law: No, not based on what I know about the situation.

Andy: Should capital gains be taxed at the same rate as income? I have an econ degree and I really don’t know the correct answer to this.
Keith Law: I don’t think there is a correct answer. Lowering the rate was supposed to spur investment and thus economic growth. I think it spurred investment but drove wealth (via cap gains) for a small percentage of the population, rather than growing the larger economy in a way that would benefit all strata.

Matt: I think a big issue that people miss with regards to wealth is that billionaires don’t actually have cash. Like Schultz doesn’t have billions sitting in a bank. It’s all in stock. So it’s harder to tax that unless he cashes the stock out.
Keith Law: Also true. If he cashes it out and spends it, there should be tax revenue from whatever he purchases.

Ridley Kemp: The New Yorker’s review of Roma dinged the film because Cuarón didn’t provide enough context for American viewers. Is that a legit complaint, or should the reviewer have perhaps taken their own lack of knowledge as a cue to pick up an effing book and learn a thing or two? (not that I have strong opinions on this or anything)
Keith Law: That’s a bad take. I’m surprised the New Yorker of all publications would run that.

Darren: Keith, I have a request. I know you are tough on ranking 1B due to defense and replacement level, but they provide a lot of offensive value. Would you be willing to add a top 10 1B/DH list of prospects based on offensive capability alone. It would be a golden nugget of an article for your fans that play fantasy baseball. Much Appreciated.
Keith Law: I appreciate the request, but I’m done writing for now. As far as ESPN is concerned, I’m on vacation for the next week.

Pat: Not hating, just curious. You had Diaz top 50 midseason and then dropped him 70+ spots. What could have possibly changed so much from July until now? Or am I thinking about this in the wrong way?
Keith Law: You are thinking about this the wrong way. The lists are not sequential; they are organic, and I build them from scratch each winter.

Lyle: Your board games list is for 2-hour or less games (and I understand your reasoning) but do you have any favorite games that are in the 4-hour (or more) range?
Keith Law: No. A four hour game is work.

Blackface was common in the 80s: I lived in the south, but am from the north. I had colleagues and friends who were reporters, attorneys and in one case a social worker who wore blackface to parties. I would never have done so … but I’m not fast to judge them now, 35 years later.
Keith Law: I am. I’ve said this before, but I remember an episode of a bad TV sitcom, Gimme a Break!, that explained why blackface was wrong – the youngest daughter dressed up Joey Lawrence’s character with blackface, and the late Nell Harper (an African-American actress) dressed her down for it by saying (paraphrasing) “I never thought I’d see the day when I heard you say the word n—–.” That had to be around 1985, on a major American television network. So don’t fucking tell me you didn’t know it was wrong, because I am not here for that bullshit.

DR: Why build annual lists from scratch each year rather than look at them as (shudders) “living” lists? Is this a conscious decision? I see each having pros/cons
Keith Law: They’re not living lists. Do you really want me to skew a list because I don’t want to drop a player by more than X spots, even if in my view and the industry’s the player’s value has changed by far more than that?
Keith Law: The point is to give you the most accurate list I can compile, using my own evaluations and those of industry sources I trust, that represents the players as they stand right now.

Greg: Ever been to Buffalo ? Any place to eat you really liked?
Keith Law: Yes, one spot I remember – a diner, maybe the Lake Effect Diner? Really good.

Adam: Hey man. No question here, just thanks for doing this. It’s clear you appreciate the people who read your work.
Keith Law: I do, thank you. I understand some people choose not to pay for my work, and that is their right, but I want to try to honor people who do make that choice and enable me to do this for a living. I appreciate all of you who shell out some of your cash to read my words and hear my thoughts. That is why this prospect rankings package gets longer and more detailed every year – the more I can deliver to readers, the better the chance you’ll believe you got your money’s worth.
Keith Law: That’s all for this week, but before I sign off, some quick administrative notes. I’m doing a Reddit AMA tomorrow on r/baseball at 1 pm ET. I may sneak in a Periscope as well, as long as I get a few things done before then. The team-by-team reports will run one division a day through Sunday. I’m taking a trip to visit friends in LA, so I will be less available on Twitter than normal, and may skip this week’s links roundup as well, although I expect to post other content to the dish. (I’ll still be posting nonsense on Instagram, as usual). Thank you all, as always, for your questions and for reading.