Klawchat 10/17/19.

For ESPN+ subscribers, I had a long piece covering all the players I saw in the Arizona Fall League plus some other notes from instructs and games I saw in September.

Over at Ars Technica, I ranked all 18 Ticket to Ride maps available on tabletop. I also reviewed the new strategy game Tapestry, from the designer of Scythe and Charterstone, over at Paste.

Keith Law: Say goodbye to conventional ways. It’s Klawchat.

Trevor: Cole to the Angels sounds like a broken record. Last I checked there’s another team in LA, that wins, with more payroll flexibility
Keith Law: That doesn’t change the fact that Cole is an ideal fit for the Angels. Perhaps the Angels are not an ideal fit for him, or would choose not to outbid other suitors, but he is exactly what they need (actually, they need two of him).

Mike: Hi Keith, what’s your take on the Sox trading Mookie?
Keith Law: They should explore the market for him.

addoeh: Other than the upcoming Italy and Japan maps, what other countries/locations would like to see released for Ticket To Ride? Canada, Australia/New Zealand, Russia, South America?
Keith Law: It’s funny, I’m reading Paul Theroux’s The Great Railway Bazaar and have been thinking about how much train travel itself has changed, and how the Ticket to Ride games (which I love) really have nothing to do with the experience of travelers. Seems like that could be a new avenue for expansions. Anyway, South America seems like the least covered region for the maps so far – perhaps an Old Patagonian Express map is in order.

Trevor: Better California legislation: NCAA Fair Pay Act or prep schooling starting no earlier than 8-8:30am?
Keith Law: Why not both? High schools should all start later, as teenagers’ circadian rhythms run later than those of younger children or adults.

Bruce: Will Dustin May be in the Dodgers rotation next season?
Keith Law: At some point, yes.

Lyle: Could Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez both be on the opening day 2021 roster?
Keith Law: Possible but unlikely. Kelenic is further along.

Bruce: Will Yordan Alvarez continue to be a middle of the order bat next year or do you see him regressing next year?
Keith Law: I think there’s some regression coming, but he’ll still be an above-average hitter.

Mike: Has what Royce Lewis done in the AFL given you more optimism that the swing adjustments are progressing and the talent is still intact? Kiley at Fangraphs said in his chat yesterday he’s still bullish.
Keith Law: What swing adjustments? He looked exactly the same – huge leg kick, big hitch – and did not hit at all during the regular season. Nothing is wrong with him physically, but I don’t think there’s a big leaguer who hits for average with a noisy approach like Lewis’s.

The Bilmo: Why not play the better defender, Dom Smith, at first, and see if Alonso can play left?
Keith Law: Alonso can’t play left.

Brian: Could you provide an assessment of the Toronto front office? Has Shapiro/Atkins really done anything above average in the past 4 years? Bo/Pearson appear to be great draft hits…Lots of what appear to be bad decisions. Thanks for the chat!
Keith Law: The ‘model’ didn’t want Bichette; the scouts had to fight to get him. The model wanted JB Woodman, whom the Jays took a few picks later and who is now completely out of baseball. Pearson was a great pick, for sure, and the early (brief) returns on Groshans are also strong. But overall I don’t think this front office has built up their farm system nearly as well as other teams have in the same time frame, and they haven’t maximized returns well enough in trades.

Greg P: Keith – what’s your opinion on the baseball being used for the playoffs?
Keith Law: The evidence says the baseball is different from the one used in the regular season. Ignore the vaporing coming from the Commissioner’s Office and go with the data.

Matt: Tim Kurkjian mentioned that he liked the Maddon hire because the Angels “went too far” into the analytics, and that Maddon can bring them back the other way. Do you agree with that assessment? Is that something that’s really even possible?
Keith Law: I did not hear Tim say that, and it doesn’t really sound like him, but I’ll respond to the general argument and say it’s balderdash. Scioscia was hostile to analytics; Ausmus simply didn’t implement them well at all. Maddon is more open to integrating analytics than either of those two guys, and that’s good. It won’t matter without more pitching, though.

Ken: With the Harold Baines induction in the HOF and Nick Markakis at 2355 hits at age 35, is there better than a non-zero chance that he is able to hang around long to collect his 3,000 hits. As a die hard O’s fan my wife would be ecstatic (I am a Yankee fan and once lovingly called my wife’s team a cute little franchise 🙂 ) but good god Markakis in the hall? I might never hear the end of it!!!!!!!!!!
Keith Law: I think if Markakis gets to 3000 hits, he’ll be the first non-PED-assumed player to reach that mark and not get in through the BBWAA vote.

Dan: Hi Keith – thanks for your insights! Was wondering if you thought 2020 would be a realistic expectation for the White Sox to challenge for a division title with what they currently have? I know free agent additions could change this outlook. I also know they have a lot of question marks, especially on players coming back from injuries, but I’m not sure the Twins’ run this year is sustainable.
Keith Law: Not as currently constituted, but they should be very aggressive this winter. I do think the Twins’ run is sustainable, but the White Sox can match them with improvements from internal options plus two pieces added this winter.

Bob: No question. Just wanted to say I had a chance to check out the Crack Shack on a recent work trip to SD and it exceeded my expectations. Thanks for the recommendation!
Keith Law: Can’t wait to head there for the winter meetings. I’ve grown to like those meetings less and less over the years, especially with the last two years such duds for actual baseball news, but San Diego is the best city for them.

Brian: Are you bothered at all by the coexistence of wild cards and an unbalanced schedule? Teams are competing for playoff spots while playing vastly different schedules. For example, the Mets played 102 games against teams over .500, while the Brewers played 88, the Cubs 84 and the Diamondbacks 75. I’ve never seen anyone talk about this, but it seems like a pretty fundamentally unfair structural problem. (And it’s not necessarily something that will vary from year to year; the Mets always play 4 to 6 games against the powerful Yankees, for example.)
Keith Law: Playing more teams in your division – which is probably the right schedule when division titles matter so much – will always lead to an unbalanced schedule, and there’s no real fix for that.

Dan: The Cubs have 4 “top 100” prospects. Change my mind.
Keith Law: They do not. And since I make the list, I think that settles it.

Sarah: I saw your write up from the AFL. Do you buy Julio Rodriguez as a potential super star?
Keith Law: Offensively, yes.

edward: hey keith: longtime reader (advocated for you to read anything by gaddis) and i am headed to wilmington tomorrow for an opening at the delaware art museum. i have the afternoon free – any suggestions as to how best to spend my time? thank you!
Keith Law: Uh … maybe go walk around Longwood Gardens?

Jon: Is Gabe Kapler the next manager to ride the AJ Hinch “2nd time around he’s a genius” train?
Keith Law: I think he’ll do very well at his next stop. I don’t think he was in any way the problem in Philadelphia, regardless of what the fans or some of the local media tell you. Their bullpen imploded early, and their rotation crumbled late. None of that is on him.

Jones: What are your thoughts around the managing skills of Dave Martinez. Obviously managerial skills are often soft and hard to quantify but in my mind he definitely deserves credit for keeping the team together, setting the right tone and atmosphere and enabling them to get the most out of their talent and win games. I don’t think he does a good job with the bullpen, but looking back on Trevor Rosenthal, Tony Sipp and the rest of that cast of characters, who could do a good job?
Keith Law: I think he’s been harmless, but this team is doing what they’re doing because they are ridiculously talented. It’s a very deep, strong lineup, and their top three starters rival any top three in the game.

Brandon: Do you eat concessions at the games you attend? If so, what would be your ideal menu throughout the game?
Keith Law: Almost never.

Sedona: Hey Keith! Do you project any player from the 2018 J2 class to become All-Stars?
Keith Law: I think Cartaya is on that path right now. Others have a chance but are still pretty low-probability, like Luciano or Orelvis.

Luke: Is Wingspan the best new board game of 2019? (This could also be asked “What new board game should I get the family for the holidays?”)
Keith Law: Yes, I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by saying so. It’s the only perfect score I’ve given a game since I started reviewing over at Paste.

Ron: Is this off season a good time for the Twins to trade Rosario? Would he bring any decent pitching? Your thoughts. Thanks as always for the chats!
Keith Law: A low-OBP corner outfielder who’s not a great defender and has two years remaining probably doesn’t bring back much pitching, especially if his power spike this year was more the baseball than anything new with him.

David: Any thoughts on Ron Washington vs. Jayce Tingler as the Padres’ new manager?
Keith Law: I’m more familiar with Tingler, and didn’t love what I saw from Washington the first time around in Texas, so I would lean towards the former … but recognize that Wash might be better the second time around.

BD: Besides Luis Garcia, do you have any notes on Sterling Sharp, Jacob Condra, Jakson Reetz, or Cole Freeman?
Keith Law: All my AFL notes were in that column. I didn’t see Sharp pitch at all.

Moe Mentum: What were Gabe Kapler’s primary weaknesses as Phillies manager, and who should they hire as a replacement to address these weaknesses?
Keith Law: His handling of the media was probably his downfall, which is dumb but that’s the world in which we live. They should hire the best available replacement, not someone who is the anti-Kapler.

Beni-getbettah?: The atmospheric pressure isn’t the only thing dropping in Boston, as the next bomb might be Mookie’s departure. The silver lining, if that forecast is true, may be a solid pair of young players remaining in Bogaerts and Devers. Outside of that duo, there appears to be a drought of controlled and productive young talent. I wonder what your barometer reads on Benintendi’s season? It wasn’t a disaster, but the lack of pop in a season of juiced balls raises concerns that this may be more than a blip on the radar.
Keith Law: I’m truly surprised his power has never come on, but at this point you’re probably asking for a swing overhaul to try to find it.

Chris: Thoughts on Dave Roberts’ handling of the bullpen in Game 5 of the NLDS?
Keith Law: I thought using Kershaw for Eaton was fine, leaving him in past an inning break to face one of the best RHB in the game was questionable, and not going to Kolarek for Soto was even more questionable. Roberts managed as if Kershaw were still the 2016 model, but we have a full season of pitch data that says he’s not. Using Joe Kelly in the 10th was a white flag.

Chris: Any buy-low free agents you like this offseason?
Keith Law: I’ll do that ranking right after the WS ends.

Michael: Is there a tangible reason why Cole is so much better now than two years ago?
Keith Law: Yes, with the trade to Houston he changed his approach and went with more four-seamers up.

Adam: If you’re into high-ceiling but risky prospects, are Brailyn Marquez and Brennan Davis — and not Nico Hoerner — the best Cubs’ prospects?
Keith Law: Hoerner does seem lower upside, and he didn’t perform well after an aggressive assignment to AA this year. If you think Marquez is a likely starter, he’s their best guy. If not, it’s probably Davis.

Jesse B : Can Christian Javier be a successful back end starter if he tightens up the command or is he a reliever?
Keith Law: More likely reliever for me.

JR: While I love seeing top talent perform in the postseason, I’m also a sucker for a great story. Seeing a guy like Anibal Sanchez throwing quality postseason innings or Zimmerman having some huge postseason moments and his Nats finally having postseason success after all his years with the team – fyeahbaseball
Keith Law: Agreed – the Nats are a series of great stories, from a fan base that hadn’t seen their team win a playoff series to a city that hasn’t hosted a WS game in 86 years to all the players on that roster who’d never seen an NLCS let alone a World Series.

Michael: What should the penalty be for the Angels if it is proven that team employees knew of Skaggs drug abuse and if a team employee is found to have been procuring the drugs for him?
Keith Law: That’s a legal question, no? Seems like one for the lawyers.

BD: With a salary cap (excuse me luxory tax), shouldnt MLBPA push for a salary floor as well?
Keith Law: Yes, probably. I don’t think it solves much at the macro level but it would funnel more money to players.

Jerry: I’m an Astros fan. I’m in awe of what Cole is doing. That being said, a SP only plays in 20% of the games. Is it really worth it to blow up the salary structure (whether you agree with it or not) to pay Cole what he is going to demand and potentially lose future FAs like Correa, Springer, Brantley whose every day production would be, presumably, harder to replace?
Keith Law: A SP only plays in 20% of their team’s games, but has undue influence on those 30-odd games, so one great SP is as valuable as a great position player. I’d be more concerned with the question of how durable any great starter is versus any great position player.

Pat: Billy Squier? Nice!
Keith Law: I do it for fun.

Jason : Everyone in Philly is blasting the Phillies right now about how bad their farm system is and they “only” have 3 top 100 prospects. What is you opinion of the Phillies system?
Keith Law: They’ve flubbed a lot of first-round picks, especially top-ten picks, and it’s hurting them. I also think several very good prospects – their Luis Garcia and Daniel Brito among them – have failed to develop so far, and that’s got to lead Klentak et al to examine their development processes.

Matt: Is Juan Soto now the most valuable (hypothetical) trade asset in baseball?
Keith Law: Is he more valuable than Acuna, who is signed to a team-friendly deal? I don’t think so.

Jack: Have you heard about any issues with Kelenic’s makeup? I have heard from someone that has played with him at multiple levels that at least part of the reason why New York moved on from him was that he has character issues.
Keith Law: That is some serious ass-covering bullshit right there.

Larry Legend: With every pitcher seemingly throwing 95+ what separator are teams deeming most important? Secondaries, command, arm action or effort level?
Keith Law: All of those are factors. The first two are variables around effectiveness; the latter two speak more to potential durability or role.

Bruce: Are you still high on Dom Smith? Will the Mets deal him this winter to a team where he can play 1B?
Keith Law: Yes, and I think so.

Jeff: Any truth to the notion that the long layoff the Nats have right now will have them out of rhythm?
Keith Law: Nope.

Jack: How have teams not pushed back against a 5 game Division Series? Baseball is too random over a 5 game stretch and really good teams get eliminated at this level of the playoffs.
Keith Law: Players are not asking for more games. Also, plenty of randomness in 7-game series too.

James: What were your impressions of the Robot Umpire in the AFL? Did you see Jacob Heyward get tossed after that questionable call?
Keith Law: I was gone before that, but I thought it worked fine, and saw just one pitch called by the automated strike zone that I thought looked wrong (which isn’t saying it was wrong, just that I thought it was).

JL: Pardon my ignorance, but can you explain generally how age impacts a player’s performance, particularly at the plate? Reduced bat speed? Quicker fatigue? Lower ability to recover from fatigue? I’m curious why players start to decline at the plate due to age. Thanks!
Keith Law: I think reduced bat speed is the #1 issue.

Joe: I’m a suffering Reds fan. I see no path to contending for them anytime soon, but I’m sick of losing and feel like their best play is to see what they can get for Castillo, Gray, and even Suarez. They’ll never unload Votto though, so a total Houston-style fire sale is impossible. Never mind, I’m just gonna go bang my head against the wall for a bit.
Keith Law: They shouldn’t have traded three of their top six prospects (Trammell, Downs, Josiah Gray) for short-term help, but they did, and I’m not really sure how they move forward from this netherworld in which they’ve placed themselves.

Justi: Do you see Dylan Carlson having a chance to be on the Opening Day roster next season, especially if Ozuna walks?
Keith Law: Not likely.

Anthony: Jazz Chisholm: Did he right the ship in the second half?
Keith Law: Sure sounds like it.

Jerry: Barring injury, Whitley is the number ? starter in the opening day rotation, working out of the BP, or refining his stuff/delivery at AAA?
Keith Law: In AAA. Just didn’t pitch all that much this year, didn’t look right until the AFL.

Christopher: Is Jordan Humphreys on the Mets any good? As in what is you projection? Pounding the strike zone is nice. Future starter? Releiver? Thanks
Keith Law: Yes, he’s good, wrote him up in the AFL post.

Robert: Did you have a chance to see Micker Adolfo in Arizona? Do you think he can still unlock his massive tools if he stays healthy?
Keith Law: Yep, can still hit, with power, going to swing and miss but will walk some and hit enough HR to profile as a regular.

Bill: What do you think about the Astros starting Greinke and Verlander over the next two days? It almost forces Houston to win both games, otherwise you’re looking at Cole on three days’ rest and the rookie or a bullpen brigade in a winner-take-all game 7.
Keith Law: Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but why wouldn’t Cole pitch on full rest in game 7?

Kevin: who would you want for the next 10 years? Devers or Torres?
Keith Law: Love both. Probably Torres for position/defense.

Colin: The Padres are screwed with Myers & Hosmer, is the best course of action to run a platoon with them and see what you can salvage? i get the feeling Hosmer would ruin the clubhouse if he were to be platooned.
Keith Law: I think Myers is a release candidate at this point. I doubt it happens, but he’s not even worth the roster spot.

Tom: Trying to lose 15 pounds by year end. Do you recommend any specific low-calorie meals/snacks that’ll tide a normal sized person over for several hours?
Keith Law: Not a nutritionist, but I know from my own perspective, as someone who doesn’t need to lose weight but doesn’t want to gain and also has some minor blood-sugar issues, I do much better when I eat more fiber from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and nuts/seeds. I also eat yogurt with homemade granola almost every day for lunch.

jk: Keith, who is best positioned to trade for Lindor this offseason and what kind of package would you expect Cleveland to obtain?
Keith Law: Supposedly they’re not going to shop him. I don’t buy that, but that’s the rumor.

Jerry: The Astros don’t seem to be missing any of the bushel full of prospects they gave up for either Verlander or Cole. Why do I get the feeling the Greinke trade may come back to bite them at some point?
Keith Law: They gave up the least for Cole and I think the most for Greinke, but in no deal did they give up more than they should have, IMO.

Ben: Any rooting interest in the World Series? I like when cities that haven’t won in a while get to celebrate.
Keith Law: Same. I don’t care that much either way, but new WS winners are definitely fun.

JR: On twitter (I know, I know) seeing lots of “how does Bryce Harper feel right now?” Honestly, I bet he feels great having $330MM guaranteed and is probably happy and rooting for his former teammates.
Keith Law: Yep. And the Phillies love him, so what’s the problem?

pakkap: pollack, gonsolin, and keibert for mookie make sense? rids LA of an extraneous contract, deltas what they’re going to have to pay mookie to extend him, and gives boston a bottom staff SP/potential closer and a starting catcher. figure betts + cole and LA is set for the offseason.
Keith Law: it makes sense for the Dodgers. It’s a terrible deal for the Sox.

Drew: In his latest column, Boz posits that the Nats are so good because they were willing to buck sabermetric orthodoxy and found market inefficiencies by fielding older players like Sanchez, Cabrera, Zimmerman, Kendrick, and Dozier and focusing on hitting to all parts of the field instead of being so homer reliant. Do you think he’s on to something?
Keith Law: No, since those players were really just a small part of their success, if they were part of it at all. And Kendrick’s season was more of a stone fluke than anything else – he’s 36 and just posted the lowest K% and best average of his career.

Tyler: Does Daulton Varsho have a chance to stick at Catcher?
Keith Law: Probably not.

Dr. Bob: Did you see that Nancy Pelosi took the picture that Trump tweeted of her standing and pointing at him (which he thought would embarrass her) and make it her Twitter cover photo? Serious trolling there.
Keith Law: Yep. Looks like she’s lecturing him in the photo.

Sedona: is KeByran Hayes the future 3B for PIT? Will he develop enough power to start?
Keith Law: Yes, yes.

Bruce: Are you buying Tyler Glasnow long term?
Keith Law: Yes, perhaps not “best pitcher per IP in the majors” good, but good.

Stu: Is there any reason to believe that Buck Showalter can be successful?
Keith Law: With the right personnel, sure. I don’t think Philly is it, though.

Bob: Padres go out and sign Strasburg, and deal for Bryant or Starling Marte, do they make a wild card run?
Keith Law: If they did those things, yes.

Henry: Would Farhan Zaidi not taken the S.F. job if he didn’t have full control? Still surprised he didn’t sell before trade deadline.
Keith Law: Maybe he didn’t like the offers he got?

Ryan: Dillon Tate still a prospect of any kind?
Keith Law: Not really.

Jack: After a disastrous playoffs and nearly 2 decade series winless streak, this offseason is a very important one for AA and the Braves. What should their top priorities be this winter and do you see any of their current prospects playing a large role on the 2020 team? Thanks!
Keith Law: Why is this offseason so important? Because they lost a five-game series they were a few outs away from winning at one point? I don’t agree at all. I think Pache plays quite a bit in the majors in 2020 and at least one of their remaining top arms – Wright more likely than Anderson – does the same.

Eor: Are there any Blue Jays pitching prospects that excite you other than Manaok and Pearson?
Keith Law: Anthony Kay. Patrick Murphy, if healthy.

Michael: Nutritionists generally say that sugar is poison for our bodies, especially in excess. I have a sweet tooth like you. Have you cut back on your sugar consumption (guessing with the granola it’s a no) or do you have any replacements you like?
Keith Law: I don’t think any nutritionists say anything like that. My granola has some sugar but less than just about any commercial brand.

Chris: What are some things that you have recently cooked/baked for the first time that you would do again/never do again? Anything come to mind that you have been meaning to try but just haven’t gotten around to it yet?
Keith Law: Made a genoise layer cake for my girlfriend’s birthday, first time I’d tried that in at least 15 years, and I’m amped to do another one but with a different recipe to try to get a little more body to the cake.
Keith Law: I blame the Great British Baking Show, by the way.

Pat: Fan wanting to watch some actual MLB players here: Is it wrong to want the O’s to sign some competent MLB pitchers to make the 2020 season more watchable? They don’t need to have a $60M payroll, rebuild or not. They still want fans to pay to watch a big league product.
Keith Law: Not wrong at all – and I think having some competent innings guys can help you develop the young pitchers who matter because you’re not overtaxing the rest of the staff.

Trey Harris: Did you see me play at all in the AFL and do you believe that I can hit enough to be serviceable in the majors eventually (even as a bench bat)
Keith Law: There’s a chance, but offspeed recognition remains an open question.

Tracy: Keith, I am looking into reading some science fiction classics, particularly Dune and some of Asimovs earlier works such as Foundation. Have you read any of these? Recommendations?
Keith Law: The first Dune book is great; don’t bother with sequels. Loved the Foundation series, particularly the original trilogy. Other classics I recommend: Stranger in a Strange Land, The Dispossessed, the Left Hand of Darkness, Hyperion, Flow My Tears the Policeman Said or Time Out of Joint.

addoeh: Isn’t every Thomas Boswell article about how someone is going against sabermetric orthodoxy? It’s like he’s constantly mad at math.
Keith Law: Yep, it’s been a crusade of sorts.
Keith Law: It’s a shame as Boswell was once among the most progressive sportswriters in the country.

Sage: Is it still true a bad manager can lose a team many games but a good manager can only win a few games over a season?
Keith Law: Yes, I’d say so.

Steve: Coming in to the 2016 draft was it perceived as weak? Where was Moniak on your rankings and who did you have at the top?
Keith Law: Very weak and it’s been weaker in hindsight. I had Moniak somewhere in the 5-8 range and Corey Ray at the top. Senzel and Puk have been the two best players from the class. The guy I was WAY too high on was Blake Rutherford, whose power with metal bats has been totally absent in pro ball.

Courtney: Jeter Downs potential star? How do dodgers sort out Lux Downs and Seager?
Keith Law: At least a potential above-average regular. I think you let it sort itself out, see how Seager looks his second year back from surgery, and if he has to move you put Lux at short.

Brent: Are you a fan of the Great British Baking Show? I really like how the show displays good competition where everyone wants everyone to do their best. Less about the contestants and more about the competition.
Keith Law: I am now, and I completely agree.

Michael: Nutritionists do say that unfortunately (link removed)
Keith Law: Come on – you have to be more discerning with your sources than that. Some random television station from a developing country isn’t a reliable source on a subject like this.

Bill: Did you ever read A Confederacy of Dunces? I found to be a wildly entertaining book, and am stunned it took a decade after his death to get published.
Keith Law: Yep, a top 20 all-time novel for me.

Sedona: Do you still see Brenden McKay having #2 upside potential? Or will his low velocity FB push him down a nothch?
Keith Law: Yes, and he doesn’t have a low velocity FB.

Todd: Other than Garcia, Yankees have any upside starter prospects?
Keith Law: Schmidt maybe. Yoendrys Gomez and Roansy Contreras could be too.

Matt: Since the Mets (stupidly) went all in for 2019 with the Cano/Diaz deal and later the Stroman deal, shouldn’t they just double down on 2020 and make a strong offer for Betts? Sure, it will deplete their system even further but they’re pretty effed beyond the short term anyway and maybe they raise a flag before the dark days come back.
Keith Law: Sure. I do think at this point the best option is to just empty the cupboard, as much as I hate that they got to this point in the first place.

Walton: What’s your opinion of Josh Lowe as a prospect? Do you think that he’s made key adjustments recently that have improved his approach or is his recent success too SSS to take into consideration?
Keith Law: Read the AFL post to which I linked at the top of this page. I think he’s the first guy I discussed.

Benji: Klaw, what’s the name of the coffee press or thingy you use again? I’m trying to wean off kurigs
Keith Law: A Hario V25 pour-over cone. Uses paper filters.

Matt: The concept of the Phillies flubbing on their first round picks has come up a bunch in chats this year, and while I won’t deny that none of them look like the type of star you hope to get from a top 10 pick, all of the players (with the exception of Randolph) were taken at least close to where you had them ranked. Is this just a development issue? Or do you consider being unable to develop players, even when drafting properly, part of screwing up the draft?
Keith Law: Moniak wasn’t taken close to where I ranked him either. I do think Bohm is good and will justify being taken 3rd overall. But they have definitely failed to develop some key guys from the draft and international.

PD: Blake Rutherford was a very old HS prospect, right? Will this apply to Witt as well, where he was a lot older and looked much better due to his physical differences?
Keith Law: Rutherford turned 19 a month before the draft; Witt did so a week after his draft. I think it’s always a variable to consider, but not definitive. JT Realmuto was 19 a few months before the draft. I’m very curious to see how Brett Baty, who was about 19.5 at the draft, develops – and how fast the Mets move him.

Barry: I eat yogurt with fruit almost everyday for breakfast. If you’re having yogurt for lunch what do you eat for breakfast? Thanks!
Keith Law: At home, usually a cereal that has at least 3 g of fiber per bowl.

HeHateMeTeam: Are the Cubs one of the teams most affected negatively by the juiced ball? Seems like they already had power and none of those guys took it to the next level. Also didn’t have any pop up power hitters.
Keith Law: Their power has backed up when most teams saw their power increase. Poor timing, to say the least.

Bruce: What are your thoughts on AJ Puk and Jesus Luzardo? Will both be top end starters?
Keith Law: Puk looks like a #2, Luzardo has that upside but still has yet to have a healthy season in pro ball.

RE: Sci-fi books: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Keith Law: Book is good, not one of my favorite PKDs.

addoeh: Super Colon Blow?
Keith Law: I’m convinced!

Nick: Is it just me or does the term “analytics” mean next to nothing now? I see it used a lot in the local media (I’m in Philly) as almost a pejorative term, and the people using it don’t seem to have any clue what they’re actually mad about.
Keith Law: I think that’s absolutely right. If you hear someone using it as a derogatory term, they don’t know what it means. The best concise explanation I could give is that it means using all available information to make better decisions on and off the field. Who in their right mind doesn’t want their favorite team to do that?
Keith Law: That’s all for this week. Thanks as always for reading and for all of your questions. I’ll be making a formal announcement of my next book in the next week or so, and will also have some fun board gaming pieces for Paste and Ars Technica later this month too. Enjoy your weekends!