My first mock draft for 2019 went up on Monday, and I have a blog post up on JJ Bleday and other Vandy/Louisville prospects.

Keith Law: Go and run yourself a million miles. Klawchat.

Trevor: Casey Mize is the best college pitching prospect since __________?
Keith Law: Gerrit Cole.

Bob: Forest Whitley has been mediocre in his short starts and terrible in his relief appearances, so bad he’s not even building up IP. Whatever the Astros plan, it doesn’t seem to be working on any level. What would you suggest?
Keith Law: I don’t draw that conclusion. It’s five appearances, characterized mostly by more home runs – and they’re using the MLB ball in AAA. Unless he’s hurt I’m unconcerned. Steady on.

Mark: In what order would you place these, Shake Shack,5 guys,In N Out ?
Keith Law: I no longer eat beef, so this is based on my memories from beyond two years ago – Shake Shack > In n Out > Five Guys.

Trevor: At what point can an umpire call a balk/ball on a pitcher for stopping mid windup with no one on base? Ryu did it multiple times (4-5) in his last start where it got to the point of annoying. Would the ump call it if Inciarte squared around it bunt and then Ryu stopped?
Keith Law: It’s not a balk if there’s no one on, right?

addoeh: I saw recently that you said weren’t a fan of Moby Dick. I have to say, though, I think that it is some of John Bonham’s best work.
Keith Law: Agreed. Melville got better treatment than he deserved.

Aaron C.: SSS *and* zero gravity home field *and* “scouting the stat line” notwithstanding; I am ALL IN on Jorge Mateo. Am I a crackpot?
Keith Law: Not a crackpot, but 1) the power definitely isn’t real and 2) he’s repeating triple-A, just now in a better ballpark. But he also has long had real ability, especially his speed, that we can’t ignore.

Kyle: People seem to be making a big deal about you taking Yordan out of your top 100 based on the season he is having. Even without much defensive value, the bat seems quite impactful. Do you want a redo yet?
Keith Law: No, I don’t, and that’s really the wrong way to ask that question.

Elton: Is Alejandro Kirk a name to monitor? Bat seems special and particularly intriguing at catcher.
Keith Law: Yes, he was in my Toronto org writeup as a real prospect, and who doesn’t love a fat catcher? I’m all in on the fat catchers.

Nick: Daniel Norris is finally getting regular starts. What are your thoughts on how he’s looked so far? Do you think he can stay in the rotation long-term throwing this many curveballs?
Keith Law: Fangraphs only has him throwing the curveball 6% of the time, the lowest rate of his four pitches, so I’m not sure if you’re just conflating that and the slider or if you mean something else. I do think he has to be offspeed-heavy, maybe more so than he has been, because his secondary stuff is good but his fastball is below-average now. I also think he has the offspeed weapons and the aptitude to be an average or better starter even averaging just 90 mph.

Bookz: Keith, big fan of your fiction recommendations and I wanted to pass one back. Based on your “Swamplandia” recommendation, I looked for similar authors and hit on Amy Bloom’s “Lucky Us.” Strong authorial voice, with a bit less of Russell’s sense of impending dread. Great read!
Keith Law: Thanks! I’ll add it to the endless list.

Manny: If you were KC, would you take Witt Jr, Vaughn, Bleday, or Abrams at 1.2?
Keith Law: When I rank players, that’s my ‘board.’ So my #1, Rutschman, is gone in your scenario, and then I’d take my #2, Vaughn.

Nomah: I know he’s still really young…but is this kind of what Mazara is? Everyone says they see more potential in him. What might it take to bring it out? Different hitting coach/approach? Change of scenery (even though the ball jumps out of his current park)?
Keith Law: He’s still putting the ball on the ground too often, and not getting deep enough into counts. I don’t know what will bring that out but I am positive the Rangers have tried to get him to make adjustments along those lines.

Ben: When young hitters come up, struggle, and then need to “make adjustments,” what does that even mean? It seems like the easy answer for fans to grasp is that they need to be more selective and not swing at sliders down and away. There has to be more going on, but as a fan we rarely hear what those “adjustments” actually are. Are there common things young players need to do, or is it too individualized?
Keith Law: Hah, there’s the phrase in question. It can be as simple as recognizing that pitchers will attack the hitter in a certain way because he’s shown some vulnerability, and then changing his approach so he’s not chasing whatever pitch(es) he’s getting. It can be more significant, like mechanical changes, from adding a trigger to changing the stride or setup to adjusting hand positions. It’s a catch-all term.

Dana: Domingo German seems to have figured out how to throw strikes. Still a reliever for you?
Keith Law: His command/control was never the reason I thought he’d end up in relief.

bryan: Hi Keith – I know that you had projected a college bat to the A’s in your first mock draft. Do you think that they could still look to target high ceiling players like Hampton, Toglia and Paris in the first couple of rounds? Thanks and keep up the great work.
Keith Law: Toglia’s not a high-ceiling guy but I do not believe they’re definitely taking a college bat. They could certainly go after some ceiling; I did not hear them on Hampton at all, FWIW.

Griz: Greatly enjoy your work. Any thoughts on the board game, “Planet”? Just heard of it and wondered if you’ve played it
Keith Law: On my list for the summer. Blue Orange did offer me a review copy in advance of Earth Day but I couldn’t get to it in time for that with other games I’d already lined up to review. Hoping I’ll get to Planet before GenCon.

Tyson: What do you think about Joe Ross? Starter? If so, could he be a trade piece for a solid BP arm to a team that isn’t “win now” and could let him develop as a starter?
Keith Law: Starter if he can stay healthy. That’s been an issue since he signed, though.

Patrick: Keith, are there certain college stadiums you enjoy visiting more than others? Ones that have a great view/ambience/sightlines, etc?
Keith Law: It’s more about the cities than the ballparks. I love going to Nashville, Louisville, Oklahoma City, so any scouting trip that gets me to places like those works for me.

Patrick: Hey Keith, one thought from last week leads to this week’s question. On your dislike for superhero movie violence, does that also extend to horror films? I struggle with both of those tropes, and wonder if you view them through the same lens?
Keith Law: Even more so. I watch almost no horror films, and if there’s gore I’m just out. The idea of finding pleasure in watching even fictional depictions of graphic violence is abhorrent to me. I’ve said this before, but if you just arrested everyone who goes to see torture-porn films like Hostel on opening nights, you’d probably grab half the future serial killers in the country.
Keith Law: (I don’t think the films make people into killers, btw.)

Luke: Does Theo keeping in contact with Russell’s ex-wife do anything for you? If the victim appears to be accepting of Addison returning (meaning, hopefully he’s been sincere and taken steps to better himself), does that make this awful situation any less heavy?
Keith Law: Nothing will matter until Russell takes some actual responsibility here instead of talking about this as a “challenge” for him to overcome.

SGz: What do you see as the biggest benefit of seeing a player live versus tape?
Keith Law: Additional angles, and seeing the ‘small’ things that a player does – setting up before plays, watching him warm up, etc.

Clark: Is people flipping out over the OK sign proof that we do indeed live in clownworld?
Keith Law: Calling it “the OK sign” when it has gone from dumb internet joke to actual symbol used by white nationalists might make you the clown, Clark.

Matty K : Re: Moncada. Last year his strikeouts were in large part due to taking called third strikes on “border line pitches” (I.e. pitches within 1 inch or less of the zone). He led baseball with 60, trout was next with 41. (1) curious if this issue is more “fixable” than pure swing and miss issues (2) also when does the detriment in the drop in walk rate overshadow the benefits of less strikeouts from a more aggressive approach? Thanks as always for the thoughtful insight.
Keith Law: I don’t have a good answer for (2). For (1), it probably depends on the player. Swing choices and pitch recognition are different skills that have different underlying features – visual recognition/decision-making versus hand-eye coordination. I imagine that will differ by player.

Danny: Any reports on Spencer Howard before he got put on the shelf?
Keith Law: Stuff has been very good, again, was told the arm issue was minor.

Julie: Do you see any reason why the Orioles wouldn’t take Rutschman? Seems like a no-brainer, and Mike Elias seems like a reasonable guy. Are there any doubts that he’s the #1 pick?
Keith Law: He’s not the clear 1-1 guy in my mind. He’s the best prospect, but the gap between him and Vaughn is small, and the question for Elias is whether he’d rather have Rutschman + good HS prospect (at pick 42) or Vaughn + better HS prospect because he can cut a better deal with Vaughn at 1.

Brett: Do you believe the top 3 players in the upcoming draft, in whatever order, are Rutschman , Witt, Vaughan? Could Vandy OF Bleday move into the top 3?
Keith Law: I ranked them all here: https://klaw.me/2vrX6tV

Jeff: Sorry buddy, people have a right to refuse vaccines for any reason they choose- personal, private, or religious.
Keith Law: That may be true, pal, but you don’t have a right to refuse vaccines FOR YOUR CHILD, any more than you have a right to deny your child medicine, food, shelter, or other care. Do you want the right to beat your child too?
Keith Law: Also, it’s not even clear you have the right you think you do, except in your own head. Courts have ruled the government can force vaccinations during outbreaks and epidemics.

Fitz: Do you think Vlad Jr. early struggles (ie not seeing anything to hit) could be solved by moving him up from the 5th spot?
Keith Law: I don’t think where a player hits, other than batting in front of the pitcher, has any effect on his performance.

Greg: Any new top 10 buzz since your mock?
Keith Law: Not in the last 72 hours.

Rick: Office door closed with sign that reads “In Webinar – Do Not Disturb”. Actually just my weekly escape aka Klawchat. No question – just a simple thanks!
Keith Law: I’ll write a note to your boss.

Aaron C.: Earlier this year, you wrote that the A’s might have something with Nick Allen if he could get on base more. I *know* it’s silly to get excited about three weeks at Stockton (.356 OBP!), so should I follow up with you in, what, 2020? 2021?
Keith Law: It’s promising but I think double-A is the best test.

Sam: Do you allow your daughter to curse? My younger son has finally learned curse words, and I’m torn on how to react.
Keith Law: I never did much to hide those words from her in songs, but pointed out that some people don’t like those words and she shouldn’t use them (this was years ago). So far, she hasn’t started, but that could change at any time.

Guest: So what are your great American novels? It is tough because we are not talking about best I think but something different
Keith Law: I think Beloved is the best choice – I don’t see how you tell the American story without acknowledging such a massive piece of our history and cultural heritage. I understand why The Great Gatsby is often chosen, but I think it’s too narrow a slice of our past. Absalom, Absalom! does a better job of covering more ground – it’s the history of the American south, told through the rise and fall of one family – although it’s such an arduous read that I think it leaves a lot of people behind. Empire Falls is a dark horse choice for me, and maybe a little too narrow, but the way Russo interweaves the setting of a declining mill town into the lives of his characters makes it a very distinctive American story.

Andrew: What’s the best way to exercise for someone with mental health issues (depression, anxiety)?
Keith Law: There’s no best way. Every doctor or therapist I’ve ever talked to about this has simply said exercise is good. So whatever you can get yourself to do regularly is fine.

Mark: Love the brief guitar shows you do sometimes. I played a bit in high school ages ago and now I’m looking to get back into it. My question is if you’re self-taught, and if so what are some resources online that you’ve used to help yourself learn?
Keith Law: I taught myself in high school with magazines like the old Guitar for the Practicing Musician, then would find tabs on alt.guitar.tab and the like. I use Ultimate-Guitar a lot now (I pay for the pro tabs) but still do a lot by ear.

Eric: What is Sixto Sanchez’ ceiling? When should he be expected to be up; Sept? 2020?
Keith Law: Has to stay healthy for a full season before we think about him coming to the majors. I think it’s #2-3 ceiling in reality despite the huge velocity.

Cade: Austin Riley has been on an insanely hot streak for the past week or two. Have you come around on him as a prospect? What do you think his ultimate upside is?
Keith Law: A hot week or two doesn’t change my opinion of a prospect. He was in the right place on my top 100, with the same strengths (power, defense) and weaknesses (bat speed) today he had two months ago.

John: Does James Karinchak have a chance to be an impact reliever in MLB?
Keith Law: A chance, yes, not a large one. History of wildness and I believe shoulder issues.

Andrew: What’s the difference between Nolan Gorman leading up to the draft last year and Rece Hinds leading up to the draft this year?
Keith Law: Gorman’s power was bigger, and he had hit better the previous summer and fall than Hinds did.

Eric: You subpoenaed me to be here, but I’m just not gonna show up, cause, laws are fake, apparently.
Keith Law: Yep. And an entire party has decided it doesn’t care about laws as long as they can retain power.

Michael: With SSS, it’s amazing how batting averages and ERA’s can change so quickly. Fiers ERA went down by 1.4 in his no hitter. At what point in the season do stats not fluctuate so much off of one start or one week?
Keith Law: It’s gradual, but that is one reason I’ve always said Memorial Day is a good time to start looking at current-season stats in the majors – by then, we can still be in SSS territory, but the daily fluctuations are smaller.

Chris: Cal Quantrill was throwing hard Tuesday but control seemed iffy. Do you see him as a rotation piece long-term?
Keith Law: More interesting as a rotation piece now that he’s 92-96 again. Didn’t think he could start when he was 90-92 like he was last year. Still some concerns – it’s not a high quality FB, breaking ball isn’t great – but now he has a chance.

Joe: Sorry if I missed it, but did you do a write up on Deivi Garcia?
Keith Law: No, that’s in my back pocket till I see some more minor league games. I don’t usually wait this long but I try to avoid blog posts that are too short because of the subscription format.

Eric: Do you understand what Jeter et. al are doing with the Marlins, or are they just destined to last place for the rest of time?
Keith Law: I do understand it, I just don’t entirely agree with it.

Tim: Why was Kyle Hendricks overlooked as a prospect? Purely the radar gun?
Keith Law: That’s a major reason, but it’s not like he had some knockout breaking ball too. He’s an extreme outlier. That’s very fun, but if you figure out a way to identify the next Hendricks among all the minor leaguers throwing in the upper 80s with good control and no plus curveball or slider, please let me know, because I’m not that good.

Chris: I’m sure you’ve answered this before, but do you have a Top 5 for baseball movies? I just saw Major League for the first time and it was…fine? Not even sure it’d be in my Top 5, even though I know so many people love it. Just wondering what yours is!
Keith Law: And it’s aged very poorly. Jake flat-out stalks Lynn, and it’s supposed to be romantic. Sugar is my go-to rec, since so few people have seen it. Pelotero if you’d consider a documentary. I think Eight Men Out is solid. I enjoy Field of Dreams but it’s not much of a baseball movie, and neither is Bull Durham. Most baseball movies get the baseball very wrong, and/or rely on baseball to paper over bad plots.

randplaty: Is Paddack really a #1 or #2 starter? Or is he pitching over his head?
Keith Law: At least a #2.

Matt W: Any recommendations for a good vacation read? Something with a fairly engrossing plot rather than something meandering.
Keith Law: Eh, depends on your tastes, but one of my absolute favorite recent novels is Anthony Doerr’s All The Light We Cannot See.

Texas Bill: Is there definitive proof that MLB is using a “juiced” ball?
Keith Law: There is proof that changes to the physical characteristics to the baseball have contributed to the rise in home runs, yes. Dr. Meredith Wills has also argued it has contributed to the rise in blisters among pitchers.

Steve : What would you do if you are the Mets with Dom Smith? Have him get everyday ABs in AAA and work out a trade? What do you think they can get for him?
Keith Law: I would think you could get a similar player – a young, ready, potential at another position or a back-end starter. I don’t think sending him to triple-A helps his trade value, though.

Erin: Besides McKenzie Gore, which Padres minor leaguer are you most excited about?
Keith Law: Do I have to choose just one? OK, Luis Patino. Or maybe Tirso Ornelas. Xavier Edwards is really intriguing though.

MikeM: Deivi Garcia went 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K last night. The strikeouts are there but he seems to have some control issues. I know you saw him in his first AA start this year. Do you think he has the athleticism to gain control or will he always be wild? What is a realistic outcome for him? There is ace upside there with the pure stuff but you can say that about a lot of guys.
Keith Law: Definitely not ace upside there – I like Deivi but that is not ace stuff or size. I also don’t think he’ll always be wild; he wasn’t wild last year, certainly.

Jeff: What type talents are Quin Cotton & Braden Shewmake? Rounds 3-5?
Keith Law: Shewmake more comp/second. Cotton you are spot on.

Minong: I really enjoyed Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, do you read his stuff?
Keith Law: I just finished Good Omens yesterday. American Gods is the best of his novels I’ve read.

Noel: Miguel Amaya has had an interesting year, with a 17% walk rate but a .226 BABIP. Has his early season results changed his future outlook at all?
Keith Law: SSS.

Andy: Rutschman is a switch hitting college catcher, who can field, with power. I’ve never seen him, but this screams Wieters, even without the Orioles conncetion.
Keith Law: He’s a much better receiver today than Wieters was, and we have better data to back that up.

Jeff: Will Brett Baty go out as a 3B? Do you think he stays there long term?
Keith Law: Yes. Probably not?

Fishing with E: I think there were 2 first rounders that didn’t sign last year. Do you expect that again this year?
Keith Law: That was a huge surprise to me, although those two players had several things in common that may have contributed to them not signing. I do not expect a repeat of that.
Keith Law: As in, I don’t think those factors are going to become more common, and teams may shy away from certain HS players to avoid that situation.

Andrew: Shouldn’t players in the final year of their contract (ie Z. Wheeler) be begging to be traded? That way they can’t be offered a QO. Which shows how ridiculous the QO system is. Are you in favor of any type of FA c compensation?
Keith Law: I’d eliminate FA compensation entirely. Of course, I’d eliminate or totally overhaul the draft, too.

Jay: Have you read Early Riser yet? Have you enjoyed Fforde’s non Thursday Next novels?
Keith Law: Own it, haven’t read it, enjoyed Shades of Grey in particular.

Chris Paddack: How would you handle my innings this year?
Keith Law: At some point you’re going to have to shut Paddack down, but I wouldn’t put a number on it now; see how the team’s season progresses and if Paddack shows any signs of fatigue at any point you move aggressively to rest him or end his season.

Jim Leyland Palmer: KLaw, if you were running the Tigers during this draft would you prioritize a guy like Belday (safer, closer to contributing) or Greene (More upside, but more risk and further away)? Our current crop of pitching should be due 2020/2021, would it be wise to line this pick up with that window or is that foolish?
Keith Law: Take the guy you like best.

Dave: You seem far less bullish on Rutschman than other people in the industry. What do you see as his limitations?
Keith Law: Don’t know about other people in the industry, but I know plenty of scouts who agree with me that his hit tool isn’t anywhere near what Vaughn’s is.

Matty K : It looks like Lucas Giolito is really starting to throw the ball better. Much improved k/swing and miss rate. I know you have stayed aboard when everyone else has jumped ship. Is this a result of the mechanical reversions you oft-referenced? (I.e, have you seen enough of a change to justify my excitement as a Sox fan?)
Keith Law: I’m in. Changeup is plus now. Velocity is back to where it was. Also he’s fully healthy this year.
Keith Law: Sorry, plumber is here fixing my dryer vent. Previous owners did everything so cheaply that any little problem becomes a large one (in this case, they cut the hole for the exhaust vent in the wrong place, so it was more than half obstructed by part of the wall dropping down into the pipe).

Pat D: I was watching the news yesterday and hearing a 12-year old say about how he was prepared to grab a metal baseball bat and not go down without a fight while some people were shooting up his school. And all I could think to myself was, “How fucking sad is it that a 12-year old kid even has to CONSIDER that?” Am I wrong?
Keith Law: You are not wrong, not at all.

John: Any chance at this point that Abrams makes it to the Reds at 7?
Keith Law: Extremely low, but I could never say zero. What hurts is that I’m not hearing any teams above there exploring under-slot deals – highest team I’ve heard doing that is Texas at 8.

bill wilhelm fan: projection for Logan Davidson to get selected?
Keith Law: Back half of the first round.

Eric: Saying the OK sign isn’t now the white nationalist movement’s symbol is like saying the swastika is just a Hindu symbol.
Keith Law: Good analogy.

Jeff: How much does a pre draft workout with a team mean in the weeks leading up to the draft? Does that mean serious interest? Is there a cutoff of say players we like in top 5 rounds or is it players an area scouts like etc. Thanks!
Keith Law: I wouldn’t read too much into that, but it does help teams narrow decisions.

Andy: Re Cubs contacting writers: How often are you confronted by a parent or club about your opinions?
Keith Law: Parents very rarely. Clubs sure, from time to time, but nobody has threatened me (in any sense of the word) in years.

Dave.: Is Yodan Alvarez similar to AJ Reed?
Keith Law: I think he’s better than Reed, but you have hit on a couple of my concerns – things that held Reed back that may also hold back YA.

Daniel: Would you say its counterproductive to trade relevant prospects for JD Davis and then not play him because you are overpaying the terrible Todd Frazier?
Keith Law: I really didn’t understand their trades this offseason. They created a lot of redundancy they didn’t need. That said, their issue now is playing the right guys – the trades are made, you can’t undo them – so the argument to play Davis isn’t that you gave up value for him but, as you said, that he can’t be worse than Frazier.

Chris J: Keith, clearly every player is an individual and no 2 are perfectly alike. With that said, some Os fans are leery of taking Rutschman first overall due to Weiters never really having hit the ceiling he displayed as a prospect. Is there something in the scouting, skillset, or other component of the process to indicate he could be more Posey and less Weiters? Thank you.
Keith Law: I’ll add to what I said above – not only is Rutschman a better defender, but I think we know he’s a better defender, and the industry also knows him as a person better because (I think) his grandfather played and then helped teach him to be a great defensive catcher from when he was pretty young.

Rick: C Randolph, M Moniak, A Haseley. We’ve gone from “pour bleach in my eyes” to “what were they thinking” to “we’ll he’s not terrible”. At what point do the Phils revamp their Amateur Scouting Dept??
Keith Law: Their double-A outfield is three first-rounders, all top ten picks, all off to brutal starts this year. I don’t like talking about revamping departments – that’s talking about scouts’ jobs – but I do think a different philosophy in the first round is required.

DH: Can Cavan Biggio be an every day 2B in Toronto this year?
Keith Law: No.

Jordan: Outside of a lack of power, what does Corbin Carroll need to improve on the most?
Keith Law: I’m not sure he really has a lack of power – he’s not Nick Madrigal. He’s pretty strong. He’s just 5’10”. So I guess he needs to get taller?

Sunny: How do you stay positive with the constant barrage of “world ending” news (animal extinction, climate change)?
Keith Law: I have always been fortunate in my ability to compartmentalize enough so that I’m aware of that shit but still able to get out of bed in the morning and look forward to good things each day. We could all live in existential dread, all the time, but it’s not exactly the quality of life to which I aspire.

Erin: Any thoughts on Brady McConnell? His numbers look good this year but haven’t heard much about him since he was a projected first rounder a couple years ago
Keith Law: He’s hit enough the last two months or so to put himself into the top two rounds for sure, maybe even late first. I have some questions about the hit tool and ability to stay at short, but he’s a really good athlete and maybe in the second round you roll the dice on that?

Ker Pal: Nate Pearson – a guy, a GUY, or a GUY!!!
Keith Law: Between the latter two. He’s been on my top 100 the last two years because there’s potential for a Syndergaard-like arsenal.

Jonathan: Has Alex Faedo turned a corner? Can’t find current scouting reports on him, but he’s pitching well through six starts in AA.
Keith Law: SSS. Stuff is the same.

Tim: Kris Bubic! SSS and a college guy in the Sally Lg. But has been impressive. Arrow up, or inconclusive till he gets to a more appropriate challenge?
Keith Law: Doesn’t belong there. Nothing negative, just can’t read anything into a Pac 12 guy going to low-A.

Kris: Missed the last chat to say that I’m absolutely pissed that I didn’t get to meet you in Morgantown, considering I currently live there. I’ll tell you now what I would’ve told you then. Thanks for everything. Although politically I’m more conservative, with your chats I’ve became more open minded to new ideas and ways to view policy. I genuinely thank you for that. I also greatly appreciate your baseball coverage. I hope you enjoyed Morgantown and everyone was hospitable.
Keith Law: That’s all very kind of you. Don’t feel too bad, though – I was in Morgantown for all of about four hours, just there for the game and then back to Pittsburgh.

DH: Kelenic or Gorman? It seems like Gorman has a higher ceiling if he can get to that power but Kelenic’s ceiling isn’t far behind and his floor seems so much higher?
Keith Law: Kelenic. Better hit, defense, run tools. May stay in CF.

Tom C: With Addison Russell and Tyreek Hill being the latest DV players in the news, it’s brought the usual assortment of fanboys/fantasy players with their usual “so, are they NOT supposed to be able to work now” takes. Which I always find amazing because if they were Addison the truck driver or Tyreek the CPA, literally none of them would give a crap whether those guys worked again. But hey, don’t ruin my entertainment bro.
Keith Law: Every damn time. Why are they so concerned with that player’s “right” to work? Oh, right, because laundry.

Dallas: White Sox have drafted Walker (18 2nd), Burger (17 1st), Sheets (17 2nd), Gonzalez (17 3rd), and Collins (16 1st) who all seem like potential 1B/DH (though I’m not entirely sure). Is Vaughn such a good bat that they would continue down this same path? Rutschman seems like an obvious selection for them if available but I question Vaughn.
Keith Law: I’ve also heard them with Abrams, because Kenny Williams likes him. (That’s the story, at least.) I’d much rather take Vaughn given his history. Also, although you’re correct on their last bunch of picks, I don’t think Collins and Sheets matter, and Gonzalez is definitely an outfielder.

Joe: Fearless prediction: if/when the banned Cubs fan’s name becomes public, it’ll take less than 20 seconds of viewing his Facebook/Twitter profiles to understand exactly why the Cubs are so sure it was a racist gesture.
Keith Law: Now there’s a story on Twitter (just since I started this chat) that he wasn’t racist, so who the hell knows. Here’s another suggestion, though: maybe don’t be a dumbass on live TV? Like, just wave and smile?

JP: Not a fan of horror or gratuitous violence, but do you avoid historical violence in TV/movies, such as war or slavery?
Keith Law: War, no. Slavery, sometimes. I never saw 12 Years a Slave for that reason.

Jonathan: What’s good on TV/Netflix these days? Looking for a show to watch this summer when I finally grab some free time.
Keith Law: Russian Doll is the last new show I binged.

BK : Does Jordyn Adams become a top 15 by seasons end you think?
Keith Law: Definitely not.

dmitry: BTW, agree with your answer to the exercise question. As a sports physical therapist who deals with anxious NYers, my best answer to which kind is “whatever has the best chance of getting you there”!
Keith Law: Good! Love to hear from experts. I talk mental health stuff because people ask, but ultimately I’m not an expert, just someone who is going through it myself and asks a lot of questions.

Fred: The Yordan take is not a good look for you.
Keith Law: Well, I ain’t good looking, but I’m someone’s child.

wrburgess: When players like Liberatore and Jhon Torres are held back in Spring, does that concern you or is it just a routine process?
Keith Law: No concerns unless we have definite word of something amiss.

Jonathan: Dream retirement spot?
Keith Law: Italy.

Geordy: I’m intrigued by the tools of Maurice Hampton, have you heard any word on his signability with his LSU dual-sport commitment?
Keith Law: I’ve heard he wants to play baseball. After the Murray fiasco, that’s the biggest question of all.

Kirk: I’ve seen you mention overhauling the draft a few places recently now. So…bulletpoints, 10,000 foot view, how would you do that?
Keith Law: I’m going to have to make that a column at some point soon because it’s too long to write anywhere else.

DH: I don’t think Mateo would move Semien off short so is there a path for Mateo? 2B over Profar? OF?
Keith Law: Centerfield.

Dr. Bob: RE: the OK/White Power sign. I had never heard of this when the Wrigley story came out. So I googled it, read a couple of article, and then I knew. Research. With the internet, it’s really easy to do now. Clark should try it sometime.
Keith Law: I don’t know why people are arguing so hard *against* the idea that there could be new ways to express hate.
Keith Law: Like, have we learned nothing the last three years

Mac: I’m sorry but I can’t wrap my head around a power switch hitting plus defensive catcher and an undersized R/R first base only being evaluated that closely. I just can’t see it
Keith Law: What if the first baseman projects to regularly post .400+ OBPs but the catcher might be in the low .300s? There are obviously thresholds where the two are close or even flipped.

Robert: Do you think part of the consternation that built up with Giolito is due to the fact he has been a prospect for so long? Hard to believe he is just 24!
Keith Law: Drafted at 17, very famous even before then, included in a high-profile trade … lot of factors going into people wanting to give up on a player.

Reader from 2015: Have you read “The Three Body Problem” trilogy yet? If you dig existentialism, it re-defines the idea.
Keith Law: Read the first book, enjoyed it but didn’t feel driven to go to book two.

James: Non-zero chance we see Brendan McKay in the majors this season?
Keith Law: Non-zero but below 5%.

Pat: Houston took Correa way below slot in 2012, then took McCullers at like 41. Would Vaughn be the only option for the O’s if they went the underslot route? Could anyone else like Abrams get in the discussion?
Keith Law: Sure. Abrams, Greene. If Carroll were 6’2″ he’d be a candidate.

Iris: I am conflicted….if it is a white nationalist symbol, why does President Obama still flash the okay sign so often?
Keith Law: I know this is very hard to believe, but sometimes words and gestures mean different things depending on who’s using them or in what context.

Cyril: Not a question but your comment in last week’s chat about Marvel characters solving disputes by throwing one another into buildings made me laugh out loud.
Keith Law: It was my #1 complaint about the Spider-verse movie. Like, guys, it’s a cartoon. You can make the characters do literally *anything* … and they just swing from their spidey-silk and throw each other into buildings!

Matt: Have you heard much about the Padres’ decision to convert Javier Guerra to a RP? When was the last time this guy actually pitched!?
Keith Law: I don’t think he had ever pitched before instructs. Eric Longenhagen has seen him twice now – he’s your best source on that.

Eric: My 3-year-old son is starting preschool in a few weeks. Any tips for getting him prepared so it’s a smooth transition?
Keith Law: I wish I did have good advice. My daughter was all in – the day we dropped her off she ran right in to play with the other kids and introduced herself. She is the opposite of me in so many of the best ways.

Will: Thanks for the update on Bleday & the other #VandyBoys prospects. Any thoughts on Phillip Clarke? He’s another draft-eligible sophomore.
Keith Law: Given that he’s a Vandy sophomore, I didn’t think he was good enough to be drafted (and signable) this year. I could be way off but that was my take.

Kirk: when you put Balazovic on your near miss list, you caught a lot of Twins fans off guard. Stat line looks good so far – still see the same ceiling so far?
Keith Law: Yep, no change.

Hufflepuff: Sam Huff is a 21 year old catcher repeating at low-A in the Sally League. He’s also got 15 home runs this year, and is putting up video game numbers for Hickory. Is it premature to start mentally sliding him up a few rungs on the Rangers prospect rankings list?
Keith Law: Yes, too old for the level.

Andy: Wasn’t Brandon McIlwain supposed to be a surefire first round pick this year?
Keith Law: No, definitely not. Just a name to watch now that he was finally supposed to play regularly (before he got hurt).

Jason: Cristian Pache’s slash line is .319/.366/.540; since all I can do is scout the stat line, should I be concerned about his low walk rate, or is his average so high that you wouldn’t expect him to be walking more?
Keith Law: I doubt he’ll ever be a high-walk guy. I think he’ll hit for enough average, with 20+ homer power, and absolutely elite defense.

Debo: Hi Keith. I am relocating to Wilmington for work. Many of my future colleagues are advising against the Delaware public school system. What was your approach when moving to area? Thanks.
Keith Law: It’s a little district-by-district. There are also a lot of charter schools here, some very good (and some terrible), if you don’t have a philosophical objection to them. And there are many private schools with long histories, some of which are focused on specific areas (e.g., I know of one that’s known as a good sportsball school). Feel free to hit me up outside the chat if this looks like it’s happening.

Josh: I have written ESPN my Plus subscription walks the moment you do. Thanks for all of the consistently high quality work.
Keith Law: You’re welcome – and thank you for that, especially since I’m in the last year of my deal.

JJ: Prospects to watch at a Yardgoats game? Is Phil Nevin’s kid a guy?
Keith Law: He is a guy. Also, what a great ballpark.

Josh: Curious what newspaper(s) you subscribe to, if any?
Keith Law: Digital only: Washington Post, New Yorker.

Jeff: Why does Brett Baty’s age come up a lot more than Bobby Witt Jr.? Is the 6 months that big or is it more the level of talent top 5 vs. mid-late 1st?
Keith Law: Sliding scale – your actual age (probably the delta between your age and the average) goes into the formula. The more days away from the mean you are, the more you get dinged.
Keith Law: Or I guess raised if you’re young.
Keith Law: OK, I went long today to make up for the lost time earlier. It’s been a series of house calamities this week but at least now I can do laundry again. Thank you for your patience and for all of your questions this week. I’m sorry I couldn’t get to more. I will chat again next week and hope to resume the Periscope chats very soon since the draft is just around the corner.

My ranking of the top 50 prospects for this year’s draft is up now for ESPN+ subscribers, as is a new scouting notebook covering six prep prospects I saw in April, five of whom are on the top 50.

Keith Law: Sometimes you break a finger on the upper hand. Klawchat.

Randal Grichuk: Tim Anderson is on an insane streak right now, but even though he has made some improvements, a lot of it is BABIP related. Moncada has cut his K-rate by 10% and has been awesome, but also has a high BABIP (although, with his contact profile and high exit velocity/speed, he could honestly be a .350 BABIP guy like Baez/Judge). Which of the two do you think is gonna end the season as better offensively, and do you agree that Moncada’s BABIP doesn’t need to regress *that* much due to his contact profile?
Keith Law: I’d rather bet on Anderson’s long term future.

Ray: I’m a big fan of Samin Nosrat’s show and cookbook , Salt Fat Acid Heat. Curious if you’ve seen/read either and what you thought?
Keith Law: I own the book but haven’t read it yet.

Bob: I hear a lot of complaining about the MLB ball wildly inflating AAA HR rates. If the point of bringing the MLB ball to AAA was to help players make the transition to MLB (I think that’s true?), then is this actually a problem or is this the policy working the way it was supposed to?
Keith Law: The bigger problem is that the MLB ball sucks. The answer to the problem was to un-juice the MLB ball, not bring the bad ball to AAA.

David: Enjoy your game lists. A long time ago you recommended Metro, a tile-laying game that has a similar format as many on your current top 100. Just wondering what happened to it – did you stop playing it because of the flood of new games, is it out of print, or did others just surpass it in your mind? Metro has long been one of our favorites, and it’s faster to play and simpler to set up and score than many of the more current games on the list, which is a plus for us. We just picked up Carcassonne finally (thanks for the link to the one-day sale!) and the game mechanics seem pretty similar so far, so I’m sure we’ll enjoy that one too.
Keith Law: Haven’t played it in years mostly because there are many better games in that vein – Carcassonne of course, but also Cacao, Karuba.

Kyle KS: I’ll eat some crow today on my Dexter Fowler question from a few weeks ago. He’s been a force since then and it has been fun watching him and Martinez get playing time and be all smiles in the outfield. You were right that they should keep giving him playing time. So no question, just a thanks for your work!
Keith Law: It’s still so damn early – everyone wants to react to the tiny samples of a few weeks of games but we have no real way to distinguish signal from noise in this little data.

Bob: Tirso Ornelas is off to a solid start, but not showing much HR power in the CAL. I’ve heard his called a potential middle of the order hitter. Does he have 25 HR/yr pop when he matures or a bit less than that?
Keith Law: He’s 19 in high-A. I don’t think he’s a future 30 HR guy, but please stop stat-scouting teenagers playing that far above their age level.

addoeh: Looks like you were able to see Quinn Priester on one of the few recent nice days in the Chicago area. Do you have any more thoughts on him beyond what you wrote in the top 50 draft piece or was there a draft prospect blog post I missed?
Keith Law: I have a blog post covering him, Barco, Callihan, Nunez, Siani, and Newell that should go up today.

Bob: Daniel Lynch has been extremely hitable in Wilmington. Have you seen him at all? I’m wondering to what extent that’s bad defense, bad luck or perhaps a sign that his stuff is a bit short for a mid-rotation projection.
Keith Law: I saw him. He’s fine.
Keith Law: Again, don’t scout the stat line.

James: Gallen for the Marlins and VanMeter for the Reds have big changes in their stats this year compared to last, are either of them good enough to be a regular going forward?
Keith Law: Gallen’s a back-end starter, still. Van Meter isn’t a shortstop, and obviously not a 50 HR guy, but he can hit and has come into more power even going back into last year, enough that I think he’s a clear big leaguer, maybe not with a set position but someone who can play semi-regularly while moving around.

Mike Greer: Is Devers slow’ish start mostly a product of not barreling the ball & poor launch angle (1.1% Barrel% | 5.6% LA) or is it a product of the skills not being as good as we thought? I know you’re bullish on him, but I wanted to see if your early season assessment has changed at all.
Keith Law: No, my early season assessment has not changed at all.

Frank V: Jesse Winker’s early season power numbers look great, regardless of his low AVG and poor BAIBP luck – do you think we are looking at a star in the making?
Keith Law: Yes, he was on my breakout list for that reason – that I think the power he showed last year was real.

Este: Thots on The hype surrounding Vladdy already. I saw video in the streets of d.r. of people cheering on his routine putouts. I love it
Keith Law: I love it too. I’d love it more if he’d been treated fairly, and if MLB and the Jays hadn’t been promoting him while also suppressing his salary.

Mike: Keith, love the chats. I know you can’t draft for need, but the Mets really have no OF prospects in full season ball. Would you recommend they draft an OF in first 2 rounds or still draft BPA?
Keith Law: Always, always, always draft best player available.
Keith Law: That said, don’t be shocked if they end up with a college bat at 12.

Patrick: Did you do Endgame? If so, had you seen all the movies leading up to it?
Keith Law: Hell no. One, I won’t go sit through any three-hour movie in a theater. But two, time travel is the *laziest* plot device ever. I don’t bother with movies that insult the audience’s intelligence like that.

Joe: Keith, how would you rate Adley compared to other recent top draft prospects? Is he the best prospect since Harper?
Keith Law: No, definitely not “the best since Harper.” He’s fine, not clearly 1-1 in every draft though.

Mike G: Worried about Royce Lewis’s slow start?
Keith Law: About his start, no. About the changes to his mechanics – he’s gotten very noisy, with a hitch now and multiple triggers – yes.

Drew W: Totally SSS, but Nolan Gorman’s power sure is playing up in Peoria. Would you put it as high as 70?
Keith Law: I put it at 80 in 2018 before he was drafted.

JAS: Is it reasonable to expect the Padres to contend when most of their hitters seem allergic to taking walks? They are next to last in OB%, and it seems to be a system wide issue.
Keith Law: Their system as a whole and major-league roster in particular are all very young.

BigDaddeh: Has Gosuke Katoh taken the leap or is this SSS noise?
Keith Law: SSS. He slugged .335 last year.

Dr. Bob: Hey there, Keith. Cardinals, Rays, and Twins are making your preseason predictions looking pretty good right now.
Keith Law: It’s nice to get something right occasionally.

Elizabeth Warren 2020: How depressing is it that we (myself included) feel comfortable writing off Mayor Pete in the primary, largely over a weak position on vaccines, but at the same time would take Richard Nixon’s head in a jar over Trump in the general election? Really shows how far apart the two parties are.
Keith Law: Are those even the same question, though? The former is Buttigieg vs the field of candidates; the latter is Buttigieg vs Trump. Of course I’d take the field in the former and Mayor Pete in the latter. (He did clarify that he opposes nonmedical exemptions.)

Robert: How high are you on Xavier Edwards? I know it’s still early but batting 400 with strong BB skills first year out of HS in the cold MW league is impressive. Even with the lack of power can he be a 55? See any Dee Gordon to his game?
Keith Law: I’m a fan, but he’s nothing like Dee Gordon.

Robert: Would you cut bait on Kinsler and just start Urias if you’re the Padres?
Keith Law: Yes.

Moe Mentum: Nick Pivetta. Should he convert to the bullpen, or can he figure it out to be a mid-rotation starter?
Keith Law: I’ve thought he would go to the pen for a while because he doesn’t have a viable pitch for lefties.

Meeeeeeeeeee: Do you think hitters are getting used to the higher velocity of the past decade, and (if so) could that possibly lead to teams giving more chances to pitchers who rely on guile and pitching knowledge (like a Jamie Moyer type, for example)?
Keith Law: Teams seem to be more concerned with guys who have strong secondary stuff now – Matt Allan is the top prep arm this year because he has the best breaking ball of that group – or who have clean deliveries and athleticism so that they can go into a player development system that works to develop new or refine existing pitches.

KLAU: Where does Shea Langeliers go at this point? Still a 1st rounder?
Keith Law: yes. Somewhere in the 15-30 range.

Meeeeeeeeeee: What is the political atmosphere like in Delaware regarding Biden? Are people excited, or do they have a ‘been there/done that’ attitude about him running?
Keith Law: He’s less popular locally than you might think.

Sage: Is Jon Lester best FA signing by Cubs EVER ?
Keith Law: Dawson in 1987 is tough to beat, but that’s not a fair comparison.

Greg: Hey Keith, Austin Riley’s K rate went from 29% last year to 21% in 100+ PAs this year. Is that enough sample size to believe in, or still small sample size?
Keith Law: Take a guess.

Gene: I miss Jarred Kelenic and I didn’t even like the trade at the time
Keith Law: He’s had a funny/weird season too. He started out 2 for 25 in his first seven games, with 7 BB and 9 K. Since then he’s hit in every game (17) and is at .456/.513/.868 in that stretch.

steve: Keith: Very impressive year plus for Red sox prospect Jarren Duran. Profile seems to be slap hitter with speed/ What are your thoughts here. Also does CJ Chatham have a big league future in him?
Keith Law: Duran is legit, chance to be a regular. Can really hit. Chatham probably a UT.

Jeff: To be clear, you think there is such a thing as a 9 year old “trans” child?
Keith Law: What I think is immaterial. Nine-year-old children can be transgender; that is just a fact. That’s not to say that all children who exhibit gender nonconforming behavior are trans, but a child nine or even younger can identify as a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth. Denying this fact will just do more harm to these children, who already experience sky-high rates of suicide and violence.

Tom: Who’s the best reliever only draft prospect this year, and could they be ready for October in the majors?
Keith Law: I have yet to hear of any relief prospect in this draft who is good enough to get to the majors this year.

Eric: Do you think Pete Alonso is an All-Star caliber player?
Keith Law: I think he’ll make the team this year, almost certainly.

David: Should the Braves bench Ender and play Camargo everyday? Ender hasn’t been good at all offensively and with Acuna shouldn’t he be in CF anyway?
Keith Law: Yes, I’ve been arguing that for a while now.

Steve: With the top 4 probably gone, who should the Tigers target?
Keith Law: I’ll do a mock for Monday but I don’t know that the top 4 will be gone either.

Eric: What is the ceiling for Simeon-Woods ?
Keith Law: #2 starter? Heard very good things back to last summer, have not seen him myself yet.

Zach: Is there an adjusted BABIP stat that accounts for hard-hit and line drive %?
Keith Law: Several, but I don’t think any of them has a high enough predictive value to rely upon.

Chris: Can Chavis play 2nd long term? Or is he strictly a corner infielder?
Keith Law: I’d be surprised if he could play anywhere but first base as a regular. He might hit enough to be a regular at 1b though.

Eric: At what age would starting books with actual stories and chapters be appropriate?
Keith Law: I can only speak to my daughter’s experience but I was reading her simple books like the original Mary Poppins stories and Winnie-the-Pooh when she was 4. There’s so much value in the interaction itself – the time you’re spending with your child as you read to them – that I wouldn’t worry if your kid isn’t grasping every word. It’s just so valuable to be with them one-on-one like that.

Zac: What does Derek Hill have to hit to be a glove first center fielder?
Keith Law: If he keeps doing what he’s done in a tiny sample this year – which is brand new for him, so I’m not saying I buy into it – then he’s going to be at least a quality fourth outfielder for a long time.
Keith Law: He’s that good a defender and runner. He’s also barely getting on base right now, even with much improved power, so maybe it’s nothing.

John: I read an article today saying the Dodgers already won the Puig-Kemp trade because they got back Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray. Do you agree?
Keith Law: I liked the trade more for them at the time, since they acquired two real prospects for guys whose contracts were ending soon anyway.

Beans Mahones: Corbin Carroll with some helium. Anything on fellow WA HS OF Joshua Mears?
Keith Law: Mears maybe 30-60 range in the draft. Someone I considered for the top 50 but just left off.

Raani: You would cease contact with your parents if they hadn’t vaccinated you when you were young? Dude, are you mentally ill?
Keith Law: Technically, yes, I am, as I have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder, but since you’re using “mentally ill” as an insult, kindly go fuck yourself.

Ryan: any good HS prospects in Minneapolis this year?
Keith Law: Not on my top 50 but Drew Gilbert and Will Frisch at Stillwater HS, both committed to Oregon State, are both prospects even though they might end up at school (to be overused like Abel and Rasmussen?).

Jim: Keith, I know it’s SSS and all that, but at what point do you sit someone who’s not hitting and not looking particularly good (I’m looking at you, Brian Dozier & Ryan Zimmerman)? After all, while it’s early, it’s not too early to dig too deep a hole for a team to get out of. Thanks, and welcome back!
Keith Law: Feel like Dozier is someone you’d give up on more than Zimmerman.

Chris P: When you say “non-prospect” that obviously means a guy isn’t going to become a star, but what would you call a guy that wont make your lists but likely can stay in the big leagues for 5-7 years?
Keith Law: Sometimes I would just say “big leaguer,” or extra guy or reserve. I think some readers would view any of those as denigrating the player, but it’s really not – it takes a lot of ability to get to that point.

Stubbs: Julio Rodriguez (SEA-OF) is a Guy?
Keith Law: He’s a prospect – but he’s hurt now, unfortunately.

alex: Who has the bigger upside, DL Hall or Grayson Rodriguez? I think Hall because he is LH, but GRod seems to be doing well and is a big dude. Thanks
Keith Law: Rodriguez has more size and velocity but I’d bet on Hall having the better career.

Troy: What is your favorite protein to cook with?
Keith Law: Duck.

Chris P: I try to remind myself that nothing really matters until the end of June…but I’m definitely enjoying this Buxton comeback so far
Keith Law: He was also pretty good the last five months of 2017, before injuries ruined his 2018. I’m more inclined to buy into a good April when there is preceding performance to support it.

Michael: How much confidence do you have in ranking a player in the top 50 that you’ve never seen but have heard great things about from others you trust?
Keith Law: I do enough work on those players that I feel pretty confident in the 50 guys I listed. I’ve seen 25 of the 50 on my list so far this spring, not counting anyone I saw last summer.

Snowy: Is McKay’s ceiling an ace? Or more of a #2?
Keith Law: More of a #2 due to lack of a clear plus pitch.

Troy: Does Dakota Hudson rate out as a 1 or 2 starter long term?
Keith Law: I don’t think he’s a starter long term.

Tyson: Keith, who is the most talented high schooler outside of Harper you have ever evaluated?
Keith Law: Of course we didn’t know at the time but the accurate answer would be Mike Trout.

Alex: Is Yordan Alvarez a major leaguer given his defense liabilities?
Keith Law: Definitely a major leaguer.

Peter Brand: Thoughts on Caster Semenya ruling?
Keith Law: Gross and scientificially inaccurate. There is no such thing as a “male hormone;” all humans produce testosterone, and calling that a male hormone is just ignorant. Gross because this feels like white women mad they couldn’t beat the black woman so they got a court to rule her some kind of freak.

Chris P: What’s the deal with Quantrill now? I know his 2018 was a disaster, so has something changed?
Keith Law: Yeah, his velocity is mostly back. He was 93-96 last night, which is much closer to his 2016 self. I’m intrigued.

Bynd : What is your impression of Beyond Meat?
Keith Law: I’ve cooked their burgers a few times and they’re great. My biggest complaint is how wasteful the packaging is.

Luke: No question, just wanted to say thank you for all the work you do. My wife’s son and I greatly enjoy it.
Keith Law: You’re quite welcome. I’m glad many of you enjoy it.

John: I’m seeing Cal play next week at USF, do you see Darren Baker as an early round prospect?
Keith Law: No. He can run, not sure there’s much else. Their first baseman is pretty good though…

Troy: When is it a trend instead of a SSS? June1?
Keith Law: There is no concrete date after which all sample sizes are automagically non-small. As the sample sizes grow, our confidence in the signal should gradually increase.

Frank: if you had to chose 1, Waters or Pache? (luckily the braves dont have to make this decision)
Keith Law: Pache. Elite defender with power.

Michael: For those confused on small sample size, Betts went from .239 to .290 in six games. It’s so early.
Keith Law: Perfect example.

Tadd: Josh Bell is…..very good? That boy has been CRUSHING baseballs this year.
Keith Law: He’s always had the ability, but for whatever reason he didn’t seem to try to drive the ball even in AA and certainly not in the majors. The Pirates signaled a whole new hitting approach for this year; maybe he’s the big beneficiary.

Sam: Thoughts on CHVRCHES saying they refuse to work with Marshmello again after he worked with Chris Brown and Tyga?
Keith Law: Good for them.

Jeff: Is there a Dominic Smith solution? He’s been raking when getting AB’s but you can’t really blame NYM for playing Alonso. Has to be a trade in the near future right?
Keith Law: Yep. Can’t bench Alonso, can’t let Smith rot on the vine. Best solution is a trade, once they decide what they most need.

PD: Will we see another draft pick go straight to the majors again?
Keith Law: I can’t say never, but it’s not bloody likely.

Jay: Do you think Cole Tucker has the ability to stick with the Pirates all season or will one of the Seinfeldian Kevin’s push him back to the minors due to service time considerations?
Keith Law: Wouldn’t surprise me if he ended the year as their shortstop or second baseman – his arm has been inconsistent for me post-surgery – but I don’t think they’re gaming his service time.

Frank: Tapia looks like an exciting player in Colorado…i wish they’d release Desmond but its nice to see him sit 3-4 days a week.
Keith Law: Tapia is unconventional but he’s got crazy hand-eye and I think he’ll hit as long as he’s given playing time.

Victoria: Luis Urias showcasing some previously unheard of power. Any thoughts for this to continue this year / into the bigs? A mirage?
Keith Law: Small sample + crazy hitter’s environment + new juiced balls in AAA. (The baseballs are juiced, I mean. Stop that.)

Eric: (can we not refer to josh bell as “boy,” please …)
Keith Law: Sorry, I completely missed that. You are correct.

Uli Jon: It seems you get a lot of response on your philosophy on hiring domestic abusers. I imagine there’s some scenario where you might allow it – the perpetrator is genuinely contrite, accepts their punishment, is open to exploring underlying issues that led them there, engage personally, financially, and in perpetuity with organizations and victims. As far as examples of this…wait, still checking.
Keith Law: Right – can we have one such case of a player expressing actual remorse and acting upon it in a meaningful way first? Trea Turner handled the revelation of his past homophobic tweets extremely well, so the community as a whole forgave him and moved past it. Josh Hader didn’t, and plenty of us still think he got away with something. In the case of (more serious) DV suspensions, every single player has talked his way around what he actually did.

Marco: We have nearly 2 full baseball seasons, including playoffs and World Series, until the next Presidential election. Do you agree that the breathless media coverage of every schmoe that announces their candidacy is bordering on lunacy?
Keith Law: Yes. I’d go further, that I think the ridiculous coverage and the desperate need to rank all these candidates, including the various slapdicks throwing in their hats when we’ve never heard of them before, subverts any semblance of a rational process.

Danny: Is Andrew Dalquist a Yankee target at 30/38 (he’s the only SoCal prep arm on the list)
Keith Law: I haven’t heard them at all with him or any prep arms for them right
now.

Grover: Any chance you think we might see May or Gonsolin called up for LAD this fall?
Keith Law: Doubtful. Again, I don’t like saying never, but it doesn’t make a ton of sense.

Moose: White Sox seem allergic to prep players with 1st round picks. Would they consider Witt if Adley & Vaughn go 1 and 2?
Keith Law: I don’t think Witt gets to them right now, but I don’t think it’s an “allergy” but a preference. They have a good system with a young core in the majors and a few more prospects near the majors, so it makes some sense to focus on guys who’ll move quickly.

Devon: What’s the story with Jamie Westbrook in the DBacks system? He’s hitting well (granted, its in the PCL) but is he a prospect?
Keith Law: I don’t think he is.

Corey: Boston’s slow start has resulted from many things, bullpen not really being one of them despite the media’s off-season worry beads. And there appears to be quite a bit of reliever depth in the system. Can we stick a pin in the Boston needs to sign Kimbrel thing ? Not going to happen given the actual cost after tax penalties. I don’t think the Sox need anything other than just to play better (and a 2b staying healthy)
Keith Law: Agreed. I feel like the bullpen is not near the list of their biggest problems, and also something they could fix more easily.

Danny: Do you think Luke Voit’s success is sustainable and did prospect analysts “miss” on him?
Keith Law: Lindsey Adler has a great piece on him in the Athletic (in the Athletic or on the Athletic?) that talks about the changes in his entire approach since the Yankees acquired him. I think much of it is sustainable because there’s a foundation of tangible changes there.

Dick Hickock & Perry Smith: Have yu ever read In Cold Blood? Thoughts?
Keith Law: I did. Capote falling in love with one of the murderers is problematic, to be kind, but it’s a hell of a read.

Minny: Alex Kirilloff was just activated today at AA. Does his injury to start the season remove any hope (if there ever was any) of seeing him in September? Or does the Twins competitive team and full OF make it a moot point anyway?
Keith Law: Yeah it’ll take an injury to find a spot for him, I think.

Jerry: Astros team offensive numbers looking pretty good. Except for hitting with RISP. Reason for concern or simply wait for regression to the mean?
Keith Law: Batting with RISP is just batting. There’s no such thing as a hitter who only hits without RISP.

Adam D.: I get what you’re saying about time travel being lazy as a plot device. And certainly if you aren’t invested in the characters and stories they’ve built up, Endgame doesn’t make much sense to go see. That said, for those of us who are invested, I did not feel insulted by the use of time travel at all. It’s handled far better than just about any movie besides maybe Looper, and the payoffs are tremendous.
Keith Law: Meh. If you guys like it, great, but my daughter watched Infinity War last week and I couldn’t get through a half hour. I also kind of have an issue with the whole characters throwing each other into buildings, off buildings, into walls, etc. as a means of conflict resolution.

Mark: Chris Sale, there’s obviously something wrong with his arm/shoulder right? You would think the Sox have done countless tests on his arm since last year, especially before signing him to an extension so what the heck is going on?
Keith Law: He doesn’t look healthy at all. I can’t speak to what the Red Sox did before the extension, but he looks (from his stuff and command) like someone who is pitching hurt.

MacDaddy: Thoughts on the possibility of George Valera finishing the year as a top 25 prospect?
Keith Law: No.

Jeff: Thanks for the chats/tweets/content. Are there any college games you are planning to scout in the near future?
Keith Law: I’m planning to hit the ACC tournament and I want to go see Vanderbilt before then. That’s probably it – it’s writing/phone calls/texting time for me, with the draft 32 days away (cue @infinite_scream).

Nate: Why do you spend so much time arguing with random people on Twitter? Wouldnt that time be better spent on your family or on your marriage or some other worthwhile endeavor?
Keith Law: The irony of someone coming to my free chat, which I do on my own time for no direct compensation, to ask this question is really quite something.

Randy: Just started getting into coffee recently, what kind of coffee maker would you recommend starting off?
Keith Law: I got a Hario V60 pour-over setup, which uses paper cone filters, for making myself a cup of coffee. It’s like $25, doesn’t require a fancy grinder, and aside from the fact that it takes about five minutes to make a cup it’s easy and convenient.

Hi: Despite you being Luis Robert’s Kryptonite, what are your thoughts on him? Has his performance warranted a bump up on top prospect lists?
Keith Law: I wrote him up last month, but I don’t move players up my lists after three weeks in the minors, sorry.

Joe: Keith, Blake Rutherford has been bruuuutal so far. Safe to write him off?
Keith Law: Just set him to the side. I really hate the idea of calling a player a bust, or assuming he’ll never turn into anything. Look at Voit, for example. Or, less extreme, Max Kepler, who is having his first good (maybe very good?) MLB season right now (SSS) *ten years* after he signed as an amateur. Guys change, they grow and mature on their timetables, and so they can always surprise us.

Josh: What are your thoughts on how Alex Verdugo has looked so far? Seems even better than I anticipated, especially holding his own against lefties.
Keith Law: He’d earned the opportunity on the field, at least. I feel better about him hitting .300+ going forward than about him slugging .600+.

Troy: I know you’ve mentioned autism is far more likely in older fathers. As a 41 year old having one last child should I be concerned?
Keith Law: Not sure you can do anything about it. Just hope for the best!

Danny: You saw Deivi’s “debut” in AA (he had a spot start in Trenton last year)? How is his changeup coming along and do you think he stays in the rotation?
Keith Law: I’ll write up the start soon, but his changeup was above average for me.

Questioning: What’s the difference between transgender and intersex? I know that the brain can be wired differently to not match genitalia, or there are both or no genitalia. But I’m confused on the specifics and want to understanding.
Keith Law: The Intersex Society of North America has a great answer to this Intersex encompasses a lot of conditions, but the best lay explanation I can think of is that they are born neither clearly male nor clearly female, which includes their genitalia. Many of these theocratic, GOP-pushed laws punishing trans people will also adversely affect intersex people, which is an added layer of injustice.

Mike: What do you think about how the Cubs have/are handling the Addison Russell situation?
Also, when does Kris Bryant start hitting again?
Keith Law: They should have non-tendered Russell in December. That was their biggest mistake.

AGirlHasNoName: If the Cubs were going to extend Baez, what would the numbers look like? Would you try to do it if you were the Cubs?
Keith Law: I would definitely try to extend him. Maybe offer him 6 years $125 million? Covers two arb years, four FA years.

Matthew: SSS of course but has Alec Hansen found a home in the pen? If he keeps the walks down, could he close?
Keith Law: Not sure about closing, but he’s back on the path to the majors. I saw him here a few weeks ago – his delivery is simpler now, just very functional, not great but it helps him throw strikes.

Jerry: RE: Troy. My children were born when I was 42 and 45. Both turned out fine. My nephew was born when my BIL was 31. He’s on the spectrum. Like Keith said, you just hope for the best.
Keith Law: So many of these things are risk factors but far from definitive. I think I mentioned this issue with respect to Robert Deniro, who was 55 when his son, who has autism, was born. Big difference there.

Tim : Heard you were one of the most sought after bachelors in Delaware.
Keith Law: The girls, the girls they love me…
Keith Law: (That’s Heavy D. I know it was recycled into another song more recently, but please, let’s stick with the classics.)

Drew: I just finished the Whiskey Robber book. I have no idea how I wasn’t aware of him, what an incredible story. Great recommendation.
Keith Law: Glad you liked it! One of my five favorite nonfiction books ever. Delightfully bonkers.

Chuck: If I could search all prospect rankings for keywords, would a phrase similar to “great athlete who just needs to make better contact to be a 5 tool stud” have the worst performance relative to ranking?
Keith Law: Agreed. I had this chat with a scout the other day – we can talk tools all we want but you have to hit.

Greg: Do you have any thoughts on the chickenpox vaccine? My kids have all their usual vaccinations, but I do wonder if they even need a chickenpox vaccine. Overkill, or long overdue?
Keith Law: Long overdue and utterly necessary. Varicella can kill adults.

Brett: Do you watch Jeopardy? Have been watching the run James is on? Guy is impressive. Love how he uses his math skills to increase his odds.
Keith Law: I don’t but it’s a great story and apparently he’s a hardcore baseball fan (and stats nerd, a term I use with great endearment).

Justin R: Ever think of doing a juice cleanse?
Keith Law: I don’t believe in pseudoscience, sorry.

Justin R: I know you don’t care about either, but if you’re at a bar and the NHL and NBA playoffs are on, which one are you ignoring less?
Keith Law: More likely to watch hockey.

Ed: You don’t strike me as an overweight lover !!
Keith Law: No, but I am currently in the house.
Keith Law: That’s all for this week – thank you all for your questions and patience with my erratic schedule the last month-plus. It’ll calm down for the foreseeable future as I focus more on draft writing and less on traveling to see players. (I realized I’m also still trying to see Corbin Carroll, as well as Bleday and the ACC guys, then I’m done.) I should be back for a fresh chat next Thursday, and the mock (projected) first round is scheduled to go up Monday for ESPN+ subscribers. Thank you again!