My annual look at players I was wrong about is now up for ESPN+ subscribers. (Please read the intro to that column before asking about it here.) I also reviewed the digital version of Scythe, available on Steam, for Ars Technica.

Keith Law: I can feel no sense of measure. Klawchat.

Nick: Are you at all worried about Machado’s career splits at Camden Yards and away? He’s been league-average outside of Baltimore.
Keith Law: No. Camden Yards is not a hitter’s park despite its reputation as such.

Nick: If you’re the Rangers, do you look to trade Profar or is he a guy that could be a part of the next good Rangers team?
Keith Law: I’d hate to give up on a guy who was my #1 overall prospect before the shoulder injury cost him two years, and who now seems to be getting back on track to at least above-average regular status (and I’m stubborn, I still expect more).

squeeze bunt: A lot of writers are saying Preller is going to do something big to acquire a starting pitcher. What kind of move can you see this taking shape as? Thor or something similar?
Keith Law: I don’t see why he’d do that with all the pitching coming – and some of it quite close to ready.

Chris: As Edwin Diaz continues to accumulate saves, the Mariners message boards are actively rooting for teams to score runs when the Mariners are ahead to bring the margin within three. I get not having anything else to look forward to as they’re not going to make the playoffs, but is there any better example of saves being so arbitrary and non-substantive and of a stat where game strategy might change just to fit a specific situation that may or may not occur? There’s even advocating for him to start the 7th to get a 3 inning save up 10-0.
Keith Law: Fuck the save stat.

Nick: Does Puig still have a star ceiling or is he settled in as a regular that fluctuates between average and above?
Keith Law: He has the tools to be a star but I don’t think it’s reasonable to speak of ceiling for a player whose listed age is 27 (he’ll play all of next year at 28) and hasn’t had a star-level performance in any of the last five seasons.

Dan the Mets Fan: I’m calling it now: Jeff McNeil headlining “Players I Was Wrong About” next year.
Keith Law: If McNeil posts a .360 BABIP in a full season next year, sure. At least you seem like you read the intro, though.

Dan the Mets Fan: Who would you pursue at C if you had no real solution there… Ramos or Grandal?
Keith Law: I’d prefer Ramos.

Kevin : Oriole OF Diaz- does he start next year as your opening day outfielder or does he stay on the farm and
Keith Law: If they want to play service time games, then he starts on the farm, but I’d just give him a regular job next year (and not re-sign Jones) and let him develop.

David: We’re just going to keep doing this stupid Tebow thing, aren’t we?
Keith Law: Yep, and we’re going to make it some weird referendum on America or Christianity or the flag, too.

John: Does major league baseball do anything about the Major disparity among payrolls. I love baseball but it just doesn’t seem fair. Are you amazed at the A’s and Rays have done so well ? It’s also about how much you spend on your scouting and not just payroll
Keith Law: “Fair” is an arbitrary concept, and probably not a great argument for trying to equalize payrolls – which, by the way, won’t do anything but shift money from players to the billionaire owners.

Washington nationals fan: If you were the GM of the Nats does Dave Martinez return as your manager for 2019 ?
Keith Law: Yes. I don’t think he’s any of the problem this year. That’s not saying I think he’s great, or clearly the long-term answer, but evaluating him on this year’s won/lost record would probably not yield meaningful information.

Stanley: Do you agree that the powers that be in D.C. should be pushing Keith Ellison for information about the accusations against him just as much as they are pushing Kavanaugh? The allegations against Ellison are very recent and specific, with photographs and police reports. The fact that someone so high in his party seems to be getting an Osuna-like free pass just proves the hypocrisy that is so prevalent among our national leaders.
Keith Law: I do. I’ve been surprised he’s skated on the accusations – and Democrats who were furious he didn’t get the DNC chair have to be relieved at this point.

Archie: This season will have the most games ever where a team used at least 7 pitchers. Do you see this as a good thing for the game?
Keith Law: I don’t, but I’m loath to make too many changes that might force some pitchers to work more than is safe for their arms. Reducing mid-inning pitching changes – that is, forcing managers to make more changes between innings – would help pace of play, although it probably would increase run-scoring.

BE: Are you able to turn your guitar volume to 11?
Keith Law: Of course. I bought a special amplifier for that very reason.

Meeee: I know you’d probably think it would be too self-congratulatory, but would you ever write a “Guys I got RIGHT (that nobody else did)” column? I’d find it interesting.
Keith Law: I wouldn’t for that reason. Readers are generally quite kind about pointing those out anyway.
Keith Law: Oh, also, how about that Jack Flaherty fella?

Rhys: Daz Cameron spanned 3 levels this year at age 21 – was this surprising to you? He seemed to struggle in AAA (although in only 57 ABs). Do you see him as anything more than a marginal MLB regular someday?
Keith Law: 57 AB is barely worth acknowledging, and I think he’s an above-average regular. I’m totally flummoxed at why you think he’s just a marginal regular.

Dr. Bob: The Cardinals’ Tyler O’Neil was considered the better OF prospect but Harrison Bader was more major league ready so he got the first call-up this year. Now he’s become the everyday center fielder. Safe to say no one else saw this coming either. Great defense and he is lightning quick. We’ll see what kind of hitter he becomes.
Keith Law: Did I rank O’Neill higher? I’ve always been skeptical of his swing and miss, his pull-heavy approach, and his lack of defensive value. Bader, of course, has gotten way better since they drafted him – I find the improvement in his speed, which is extremely rare especially among college draftees, totally fascinating.

The Ghost of Bobby Thigpen: It’s looking more and more like the Mets poor record won’t cost deGrom the Cy Young…but isn’t it marginally disappointing that he probably could have won the MVP if the Mets didn’t suck?
Keith Law: There’s such a strong bias in MVP voting against pitchers I don’t think he would have won it. I think it goes to Yelich or Baez at this point.

Joe: Keith, did you ever write up the Cutch trade? What kind of players are Avelino and DePaula?
Keith Law: I didn’t, and you can infer my answer from that.

Robert: Impressions on Jake Bauers . Does he have a starting position in 2019 ?
Keith Law: Still think he has a chance to be a regular, but the lack of power – and he’s even said the Rays’ attempts to improve his launch angle screwed him up as a hitter – is a major limiting factor given his lack of defensive value. Might be a bench guy or tweener for them in 2019.

Nick: Can one of the Phillies low-minors MIF take off next year (Gamboa, Guzman, Brito)?
Keith Law: I think Luis Garcia (the SS, not the P) is going to blow right past those guys. Not a big Gamboa believer; Brito has ability but he’s not strong enough to convert that to production yet.

Patrick: I want to ask about Ryan OHearn. 1.2 war in 38 games. SSS range so what’s real and what’s a mirage about him so far?
Keith Law: It’s not real pretty but he makes very hard contact. The major-league baseball is helping him – the guy never slugged .500 anywhere in full-season ball, and now he’s over .600 in the majors? – but I think he could be a second-division regular with some patience and power despite low batting averages.

Chris: Read today: “I just seem to see modern day players age way quicker than the less-muscular, less Strength and Conditioning coached, no Staff Nutritionist players of days gone by.”

This immediately got support from other commenters, but this struck me as inherently false…it’s purely anecdotal. Am I wrong here?
Keith Law: Yes, anecdotal, and certainly counterintuitive.

Chris: Where do you think Baez lands on the NL MVP list? Like everyone else, I loooove watching him play, but it seems strange to me that he could win with such a pedestrian OBP. Am I nitpicking here, or does this put him in the 2nd tier of NL candidates?
Keith Law: No, he’s clearly in the top group of maybe a half dozen guys, because he plays critical positions and plays them well. I could easily justify putting him ahead of some guys who are a half a win (by WAR) over him because of the value of his positional versatility.

jacos: Do you see Cubs moving Schwarber, Russel and or Almora in off season, especially if they sign Harper?
Keith Law: I have no inside information on this but I get the sense they’re about done with Russell. He’s superfluous anyway.

Zac: Michael Fulmer and Daniel Norris seems to always be battling injuries, who do you feel more confident moving forward?
Keith Law: Fulmer, just because Norris’ velocity hasn’t been there this year. Still holding out hope for both guys; Norris is so athletic and has such great baseball acumen that i feel like he’ll put it together if his body allows it.

Ryan: Is it time for the Cardinals to look to trade Carson Kelly in the offseason? Seems like Knizner is close to passing him on the depth chart, if he hasn’t already, and Kelly seems stuck at AAA with Molina under contract for two more season.
Keith Law: Yes – I think they should have done so already.

Alex: Do you think your phone number or social security number could be in sequential order in the number pi?
Keith Law: Funny question. There are sites that let you search within pi, and the answer is no for mine.

Grant: I see a lot of people predicting Adell could be up by next July. Would that be rushing him in your mind?
Keith Law: Yes but to be fair 1) he’s been so much better this year than I expected, now that he’s made a few small but substantial adjustments and 2) the uberathletes like him tend to move pretty quickly.

JR: Did you consider Nimmo for players you were wrong about? IIRC, the past few years you’ve projected him as a fourth/fifth OF – do you still view him as such, or can he be an everyday guy?
Keith Law: My criticism of him has always been that he doesn’t produce vs LHP, and that is still true. He was a top 100 guy at least once for me.

Drew: The Royals are a ways away from contending. Whit is good and not young…so they should probably trade him. With his cost controlled contract, what’s that worth? Top 100 prospect?
Keith Law: Yes, they should have done so in July. I would think he’d fetch two quality prospects of some sort.

WSox Fan: This rebuild is heading nowhere isn’t it?
Keith Law: That seems rather pessimistic.
Keith Law: Also, I don’t agree.

Baseball loves gross narratives: Lots of Rays catching the A’s for the WC2 spot. I’m trying to tell people to simmer down but they won’t listen. Please talk some sense into them for me, will you?
Keith Law: It’s unlikely, but not entirely impossible.

Guest: What is the most common “missed tool or added skill” when a player over performs their minor league scouting evaluations on the big league level?
Keith Law: Hit tool or fastball command.

Tysen: Do we need to blow up the current MLB/MiLB dynamic? It’s appalling how little those guys make in a season
Keith Law: Too late. The GOP Tax Scam law pretty much ended this discussion. I don’t understand how any minor league player or anyone who is close to one could vote for a Senator or Representative who voted for that bill – voted to take the player’s fundamental rights as a laborer away.

Bobwalktheplank: I what point do the Pirates just say maybe Josh Bell isn’t that good. His hitting numbers might be a tick above average but his defense and baserunning are not good. Is their still upside?
Keith Law: There is still upside – but I think it’s fair to ask why so many Pirates hitters who have raw power haven’t shown it, with Bell at/near the top of that list.

Matt, KY: Consider this Trade: Trout to the Braves for the following: Inciate, Touki, Riley, Wright, and Anderson. Who hangs up first, Angels or Braves?
Keith Law: I saw this, and it was so fucking stupid I ignored it and went on with my life.

Jamal: Do WAR totals change? As in, if I look at a player’s WAR after the 2016 season, would it be different now?
Keith Law: No, not in the way I think you’re asking.

HH: Is Tristan McKenzie still too far away to content for the #5 spot in next year’s rotation? Or do I just think he’s young because he’s SO skinny.
Keith Law: Given his workload this year I’d try not to do that to him next spring.

AC: Luke Voit, a blip, a useful future backup, a starter, something else?
Keith Law: Nice backup.

Michael: White Sox GM Hahn hinted at a big prospect-for-prospect deal this winter. Reds seem set at 3B/SS and ChiSox have lots of OF prospects. Who says no to Senzel for Madrigal and Luis Gonzalez?
Keith Law: Reds are set at SS? I wouldn’t say so.

Tired: Is there such a thing as “catching up on sleep”?
Keith Law: According to Matthew Walker & his book Why We Sleep, no, there isn’t.

Gus Johnson: Aside from Kershaw (who will probably resign with the Dodgers?), Patrick Corbin looks like the only high-impact FA pitcher. Would you give him a Yu Darvish-type contract (6 yr/126M)?
Keith Law: I would. I agree on Kershaw, and that Corbin is the best ‘real’ FA pitcher on the market.

Lilith: Do you think Senzel could play CF? How well?
Keith Law: I’d be very, very surprised.

Andrew: Phillies are carrying 40 on their active roster, which many are calling bad for baseball. I think the concerns about pitching changes and substitutions are overblown – I doubt the casual fan really cares about pitching changes, and it really only irks those who have to cover 162 games. What are your thoughts?
Keith Law: Carrying 40 isn’t the problem. Using 33 guys a game would be a problem.

Kevin: with arm issues always a big deal why do prospects continue to pitch through the end of summer and into the fall? If they are that good shouldn’t April – August be enough?
Keith Law: Most guys who pitch in the fall are doing so because either 1) they missed time earlier in the year due to injury or suspension, or 2) the parent club is trying to make a decision on whether to protect them from rule 5 or trying to stir up trade interest.

Kace: Are guys like Chapman, Merrifield and previously Bautista unicorns or can hard work and a change of approach fix a lot of so-so players?
Keith Law: We hear about the players who do all of this and get results; we don’t hear about the dozens more who try these things and don’t improve. It’s always worth trying, but if you’re a GM or a Director of Player Development, you have to understand many attempts will fail.

Sean: Is it best the Blue Jays just do a full-on rebuild or try to rebuild on the fly? I ask simply because the attendance has taken the largest dive this year from what I’ve read, not sure how much doing a full rebuild would hurt the fanbase.
Keith Law: I thought they should rebuild last winter – trade Donaldson, at least explore the markets for Stroman and Sanchez, etc. They could still do some of that although they may have missed their prime opportunity.

Robbie: The great AL ROY debate: Does Ohtani’s innings pitched and superior bat outweigh andujar’s full season of at bats?
Keith Law: Ohtani has outproduced Andujar and Gleyber. I don’t think this is really a debate.

JR: You’ve regularly been asked about Jeff McNeil over the past few weeks, and have always rightly cautioned this is SSS. Having said that, how does an organization evaluate his time at the big leagues to date? They clearly have an opening at 2B and he’s played well (in a short time frame). Do they pencil him in for the role next season, or do they still look to add a 2B in the offseason?
Keith Law: No harm in letting a player like that – already on the roster, making no money – fill that spot next year when you’re unlikely to contend. If they were a potential playoff team, my answer would differ. At that point you don’t want to bet on a tiny sample or a fluky performance.

Ryan: There have been a bunch of articles recently regarding fixes to the service time manipulation. What would be your fix to teams keeping down clearly ready prospects?
Keith Law: One fix I proposed a few years ago, when Kris Bryant was held back to delay free agency, was to give teams a sort of right of first refusal for players who reached FA with exactly six years of service – that is, a player who made an Opening Day roster and never went back down.

Lee_Keybum: On your next periscope chat, can you do it without a shirt?
Keith Law: I’m sorry, I believe you’re looking for Alex Jones, and he is currently banned from everywhere.

Guest: Does Frankie Montas have the secondary stuff to remain as a starter?
Keith Law: I do not think so.

Phil : I am reading your book and I was wondering about pitch framing as a learned skill. Do some organizations focus on teaching it or do they just try to identify the best and acquire them?
Keith Law: Several do try to teach it.

Alex: RE: Ellison v. Kavanaugh- I agree that Ellison’s actions appear to have been repugnant and should be disqualifying from a career in public life, but as a candidate for public office (Minnesota AG) the voters have an opportunity to make their own decision on his suitability for the position he seeks (and, yes, the DNC should turf him out). DC Republicans are doing everything in their power to confirm Kavanaugh before the midterms, and he isn’t even personally on the ballot anywhere.
Keith Law: Yes, that’s a separate question, and of course I think Kavanaugh should be rejected.

Chris: Thanks for your review of Florida. I had gotten up to Above and Below when I saw in your newsletter you were reading the book. I had to put it down for a while after A and B, but I did not know the last story sees the return of the character from the first.
Keith Law: I was surprised how much the stories affected me when Groff’s voice is somewhat distant from her own characters.

Moe Mentum: Odubel Herrera 2019 : Phillies starter, Phillies bench player, or new team? We’ve seen flashes of talent, but his 2018 performance doesn’t seem commensurate with his salary. And he might not fit the Kapler vision. Should (can?) Klentak do something? Is Roman Quinn being groomed to start in CF next season?
Keith Law: He’s making $5 million next year. If he literally shows up to Citizens Bank Park on time on game days, he’ll be worth more than that. And Quinn has zero history of staying healthy – I wouldn’t bet on him for any regular role.

Nat: Who is the one hitter and one pitcher you are most looking forward to seeing in the AFL?
Keith Law: Luis Robert and Nate Pearson.

Anthony: If Colorado misses the playoffs, should they buy, sell or hold this offseason?
Keith Law: Hold/buy. Unless they make the organizational decision to trade Arenado, which I’m not advocating or opposing here, there’s no point to a rebuild. Either you do it all the way, including him, or you do nothing.

Eric: Do you think the Jays really held Alford down for two weeks at the end of the AAA season for service time reasons? Any thoughts of what he might be for the Jays going forward?
Keith Law: They held Vlad down for service time reasons. Why would we be surprised that they’d do this to another player? Alford has above-average regular upside but 1) his power has never translated into games 2) he gets hurt a lot and 3) he’s failed to perform in two of the last three years. There’s plenty of reason to question his eventual role & upside, even though he has been a top 50 prospect in the past.

Anthony: With the slider instead of the changeup, could Taillon be a 1/2 starter or is he going to have too much trouble with LHH?
Keith Law: It’s rare but not impossible for a pitcher to use a pitch like his slider (which is hard like a cutter) to get opposite-side hitters out. I’m just generally a Taillon fan anyway so I am inclined to think he can do it.

John: If you would the Cardinals how would you approach this off-season? See what Carlos Martinez could fetch and sign a starter? Pursue the big bats? Clear up the 2B/3B logjam and sign a real SS?
Keith Law: I think they have plenty of starters; really I look at their core and see a potential playoff team for 2019, although with Carpenter turning 33 in November they need to plan for a lineup without his production in the near future.

JR: As a Mets fan, I know the smart play is to shop deGrom, Thor and/or Wheeler this offseason, but man, aren’t those the types of starters to build around? Sucks to be a small market team in a big market.
Keith Law: You shop them all and see what you get; I doubt the market will offer huge returns for all three.

Sean: I have heard you say that Vlad Jr could be the next Big Papi in terms of position and ability to consistently hit for average and power. How long of a leash would you give him at 3B if you were the Jays next year?
Keith Law: I’ve seen him twice this year and expect to see him again in the AFL, but at this point, I don’t see any chance that body or lack of range works at third. Just DH him and tell him to go hit .360 with 40 bombs.

Dr. Bob: From an article by Jonah Keri, it appears that the Blue Jays are about to go with a youth movement. Don’t you need a better overall farm system to do that? Or is having a few top prospects enough?
Keith Law: They seem to believe they have a better farm system than they actually do.

Matt: Blake Rutherford seemed to make some progress offensively this season, but finished with an OPS under .800. Do you think he hits for enough power to project as a starting corner OF?
Keith Law: No – there’s no impact there and a corner bat has to have that.

Alex: How would you rate Klentak at this point? Should Phillies fans be optimistic? Seems like he’s been pretty hit/miss on player evaluations.
Keith Law: Think he’s done well everywhere but with first-round picks – although Randolph predates him. They haven’t hit on any of their last three prior to Bohm.

Rising tides: Isn’t service time manipulation really a symptom of MLBPA throwing 1-3yr service time players under the bus creating a huge pay inequality at the MLB level?
Keith Law: The union has long focused on free agency and the trickle-down effect it has on arbitration, but the minimum salary has gone up by nearly 70% in the last few CBAs, so they haven’t ignored 0-3 guys – they just might have undersold them.

Steven: Are we seeing the days of the 4th and 5th starter going by the wayside? Honestly, it seems like a much better strategy to let your 2 or 3 best pitchers go as deep into games as they can, while breaking up the other 2 games among your pen.
Keith Law: Nothing in baseball is permanent, but if you’re asking whether more teams will do bullpen days in 2019-20, I’d say yes, definitely.

Anthony: If you’re Counsell, how do you manage a one game playoff without a true ace? Throw out your best starter and be aggressive about bringing in Hader/Jeffress for possible multiple inning appearances?
Keith Law: Yeah, you plan on using Hader for 9 outs and go from there. Hell, what about starting him, knowing he’s probably out by the 4th? Other than one likely out when he bats, is there a downside I’m not considering?

Jake: Adalberto Mondesi has played very well over the last 50 games, do you see an All-star upside for this guy or will his low OBP always limit what he can be? The tools are there!
Keith Law: Low OBP really limits his ceiling – but Rougned Odor isn’t a dissimilar player and suddenly found religion at the plate this year.

Bench: Angels Luis Rengifo seems to come out of nowhere. Is he in their top 5 next year? Top 20 in MLB as well?
Keith Law: Nice pickup in the Cron deal, but not in their top 5, and I assume top 20 was a typo.

Jake: Thoughts on MJ Melendez, and was he projected to his for this much power?
Keith Law: Still very TBD on the bat. Had power in HS – fairly sure I wrote that about him, and I saw him destroy a ball when I went to his school that March. Would really like to see him catch, as he was very athletic and agile back there but almost too high energy.

Chad: When will you be in Arizona for the Fall League? Who will you be watching? Which new restaurant will you try?
Keith Law: Second week, I watch everybody, and I have a list of new restaurants. I did get to Roland’s over Labor Day weekend and it was excellent.

Jim Nantz: Are their enough pitchers to fill out 2 additional teams, if there’s expansion, without seriously diluting the product?
Keith Law: Yes.

JR: Is there any evidence that all the steps teams are taking to protect pitchers arms is working? Seems like a bunch of pitchers still end up needing TJ surgery, despite all the steps teams take. As awful as this sounds, do you think teams will start to treat pitchers the way NFL does with running backs? Realize most will only have a few good/great years, bring them up to the majors faster and just throw them as much as they can in the 6 years of control they have and hope for the best and then let them go (or trade them in year 4/5 if on a non-contender)?
Keith Law: My understanding is that although we’ve cut excessive workloads, which is probably the reason catastrophic shoulder injuries are way down, pitchers throwing as hard as they can just about all the time is still a big factor in UCL tears, and that hasn’t changed.

Chris: Imagine if the Mets let Dom Smith play 1B all year? Maybe he would have gotten the required ABs for a young player to develop and grow like, say, Amed Rosario! Yeeeeeeeesh. Should Mets just pick one of Smith or Alonso moving fwd?
Keith Law: Yes, they should commit to one and shop the other. If that means giving up on Smith, knowing he could very well go somewhere else and perform, so be it. But this is not how you develop a young player.

Jordan: Where would you rank the Mets farm system going into next season? Mid-tier? Seems like almost all their top-20 guys had terrific seasons.
Keith Law: Above the median. Good chance they’ll be top ten. Most of their big names had great years, they landed a stud in Kelenic, their second-rounder Woods-Richardson looked better in pro ball than in the spring, and they had some pop-up guys like Newton establish themselves as prospects too. I get Mets fans on Twitter telling me how bad they think the farm is, but they’re totally wrong. They’ve drafted well, consistently, and hit on some international guys too.

John: is it just me, or do you think one of the biggest issues facing society today is how little people seem to grasp the concept of nuance? not even related to a single issue. people don’t understand how free speech works, and in the case of kavanaugh, they dont understand this isnt a criminal trial, but a high profile job application. is nuance just too difficult to grasp/teach?
Keith Law: I feel like in any argument there’s a reach for a quick answer – oh, don’t you believe in due process? what about freedom of speech, huh? – that sounds good even if it doesn’t apply to the situation. It’s about winning the debate, or just dunking on someone. I’m sure I fall prey to this too.

Joe: You (and a lot of others) weren’t high on Brandon Lowe going into this year. Has anything changed for him? What kind of future does he have?
Keith Law: I know scouts who NP’d him in 2016. I don’t love the swing – what I’ve seen on TV, which isn’t a great angle – and am curious to see whether he can still hit for power without striking out like crazy.

Ridley Kemp: I get most of my book recommendations from Austin’s robust book store scene (I’m very lucky in that regard), from Warren Ellis, and from, um…you. Where you get your recs from, or what typically makes you decide to select a particular book?
Keith Law: I scan a lot of best-of lists, I get recs all the time from friends and readers, and I like to prowl indie bookstores and see what catches my eye.

Jack: Brayan Rocchio – have you seen him? What are your thoughts
Keith Law: I haven’t yet but all the reports I have are glowing.

Ted: I realize you’re not a big college football fan, but do you have any thoughts on Nick Bofa’s injury?
Keith Law: Yeah, sounds like the damage to his ligma is serious.

Zac: In regards to minor league pay, who owns the minor league teams are most of them owned by the major league owner or are most of them owned by people not related to their parent club
Keith Law: Most are independently owned, and when they sell, their values keep increasing. That wouldn’t happen if these teams were actually losing money as some doofuses tried to tell me on the twitters yesterday.

Mike: Have you been surprised at how quickly Ronald Acuña Jr.’s power has come this year? He’s on a 42 home run pace over 162 games as a 20 year old.
Keith Law: The major league baseball is different than the minor league one – Meredith Wills now has two pieces up on The Athletic, one just went up this week, explaining why. Everyone is hitting for more power in the majors.

Felix: I’ve read your list. My girlfriend and I really enjoy playing Ticket to Ride. What’s your favorite 2 player board game? What should we try next?
Keith Law: Jaipur.

Russell : Do you think Everson Pereira will be ready to start 2019 in Low A ?
Keith Law: Possibly but he barely played this summer due to injuries.

Marco: in your answer about Puig, you referenced his “listed age”. Why the qualifier? Is there evidence he could be older than 27?
Keith Law: Cuban players’ ages are all a little dubious, because (as far as I’ve been told) we have little/no access to records from there. I’ve mentioned that on a few Cuban players before.

Tracy: I’m reading The Castle by Kafka. I’m halfway through but it’s so boring I’m ready to dump it and move on. Can I get your blessing?
Keith Law: Yes. Life is too short to read bad books.

Chris: May we have a short review of Florida…the state?
Keith Law: America’s armpit. No, look at it – it’s rather axillary in shape, right?

Tim: You really don’t think the Mets are at least a *potential* playoff team next year if they can run deGrom-Syndergaard-Wheeler-Matz out there as their front 4?
Keith Law: How many starts you think you’re getting from that quartet?

Chris: Do you think Max Kepler has more to offer or is he what he is at this point?
Keith Law: Still expecting more. Again, maybe I’m just stubborn.

Christopher: With Brandon Morrow out, I keep hearing radio and tv analysts lamenting the lack of “closer” in the Cubs rotation for the playoffs. “Closer” this, and “closer” that. Can’t the Cubs just plug their best-available pitcher in depending on the inning/situation, or am I simplifying this too much? I didn’t realize that “closer” was a separate roster spot or position on the field.
Keith Law: They can and they will, or at least they’ll try to, although I think Maddon’s bullpen management has been questionable.

JT: What’s David Bote’s future? And is it with the Cubs or elsewhere?
Keith Law: If they keep him as a UT he’d be outstanding, but he could probably be a second-division starter at 2b.

MJ: Thoughts on Billy McKinney going forward? He’s been impressive for the Jays since the trade.
Keith Law: Extra OF tops.

Chris Bianco : Why were so many troglodytes upset by Pizzeria Bianco topping your pizza list?
Keith Law: Mostly because they’d never tried it. My favorite troglodyte was the one who asked me, a NY native who regularly writes about going to games in Trenton and Lakewood, if I’d ever BEEN to New Jersey.
Keith Law: I wanted to say “yeah, that’s where we New Yorkers sent our garbage,” but that seemed a little mean.

Steve: Don Welke passed away – you talk to him much?
Keith Law: I didn’t see that till just now, but I did, and I always enjoyed listening to him. He was smart, funny, played the clown a little bit but I always thought he was trying to disarm people. He had something like 50 years in the game, and a wealth of knowledge and memories to share. What a terrible loss for all of us in the sport.
Keith Law: That’s all for this week’s chat – thank you so much for joining me, and for all of your questions, as always. I’ll be back next week to do this again; my next column will be my postseason award picks, and I think it’ll run on Thursday. Thanks again.

My Prospect of the Year column is up for Insiders/ESPN+ subscribers, while my review of the board game Disney’s Villainous is up over at Paste.

Keith Law: I’ve got no time for private consultations. Klawchat.

PhillyJake: Vlad Guerrero, Jr. as your minor league player of the year? Why, he didn’t even warrant a September call up! <>
Keith Law: Exactly. Meanwhile the Blue Jays’ VP is subtweeting me and making up alternative facts about other sites’ rankings to distract everyone from the manipulation of Vlad’s service time. Baseball fever, baby!

Pete Alonso: Obviously I wasn’t going to unseat Vlad, but no mention of me at all in your writeup? First the Wilpons give me the shaft, now you! Explain yourself.
Keith Law: A .355 OBP and not low strikeout rate in an extreme hitters’ park doesn’t get you on the list.

Rowland’s Office: Wouldn’t the Braves be better off deploying Touki as a multi-inning weapon out of the ‘pen than as a 6th starter, his current role? Going forward, does he profile better as starter or reliever? Same Q on Bryse Wilson. Really hoping they dont opt to spend big on Kimbrel instead.
Keith Law: Both absolutely profile as starters. Three-pitch guys with command and good deliveries.

Dan: You have an NL ROY ballet. Soto or Acuna. Go.
Keith Law: I don’t have an NL ROY ballot (or ballet), and won’t give an answer to that until we’re right near the end of the season.

Dave: Are you ok with Lewis and Kirilloff missing the AFL?
Keith Law: They didn’t miss it – they weren’t chosen, probably because both played full seasons already.

Nick L: Crack Shack was…..just ok. Am I crazy?
Keith Law: I’ve never had a meal there (at the original) that was less than outstanding.

Jay: Upside for Anderson Tejeda?
Keith Law: He could be a star if everything clicks – certainly has the tools for it, but isn’t close to that yet.

addoeh: Great job yesterday with Skating Away On The Thin Ice of a New Day! Do you take requests? Maybe Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here?
Keith Law: Thanks! I don’t know if I’ll play again on Periscope but if I do I’ll keep that in mind (certainly one of the first songs I learned on guitar back in the late 80s).

Nick L: Willson Contreras is not slugging at all. Think this is a permanent issue?
Keith Law: I do not.

Bill G: Hi Keith. Thanks for answering my question a couple weeks ago regarding divisional structure when MLB expands to 32 teams. A follow up question – would you prefer radical geographical alignment or a more traditional approach, maintaining historical AL/NL structures? Thanks!
Keith Law: No interest in geographical realignment. This isn’t the NBA.

Eric: What did you think of J.P. Martinez’s campaign with Spokane?
Keith Law: For a 22-year-old, it was not impressive at all. You have to hope this is just rust from not playing for a little while after he defected.

Barbeach: Hope you had a great summer. Are either Bird or Voit the long term answer at 1B for the Yankees? Or should their off season plans include finding the answer?
Keith Law: Neither is the answer there.

Aaron C.: We know Oreos are your “guilty pleasure” food, but in your younger, pre-SABR days, who was your guilty pleasure as a ballplayer? Mine will always be Deion Sanders – a mediocre player who was a joy to watch (for me).
Keith Law: I loved guys who could run. Didn’t matter if they were good. Gary Pettis. Hell, Gary Redus. And the guys who could run and were good, like Rickey, Raines, or healthy Eric Davis – those were my favorites.

Aaron C.: Am I mistaken or is this traditionally the time of year when you write your annual “who I got wrong” column? Not trolling at all, but it one of my faves. (I swear I’m not trolling.)
Keith Law: I think that’s on the calendar for next Thursday.

Mark: At what point does Sandy Leon’s total black hole in the Red Sox lineup, outweigh the love he gets from the pitching staff ?
Keith Law: I feel like he’s a modern example of Nichols’ Law of Catcher Defense: If a catcher can’t hit, people will just assume his defense is tremendous.

Odubel: Can Kopech still be a #1/#2? I thought he looked really great up here, his fastball had a great spin rate. What a shame.
Keith Law: If he comes back 100%, sure.

Jeff: Hi Keith – I saw that you recognized Mike King as a runner up for your prospect of the year but note that he is “probably not a starter in the long run.” He just turned 23, and has made significant improvements in the last year. What would you need to see from him next year to suggest that he could be a 4 or 5 starter?
Keith Law: Given the delivery, I don’t see it at all. His age and those ‘improvements’ (I’m not sure what those would be) are not factors.

Bmosc: Our President is a pathological liar, a narcissist, and more than likely a sociopath. How are so many people ok with that?!
Keith Law: Because he’ll lower their taxes and pack the courts with theocrats.

Jeff: Should the Yankees sign Manny Machado or stick with Didi at SS and Andujar at 3B?
Keith Law: Machado is clearly an upgrade. The question I would have is whether he’s a $30 million upgrade, and I don’t think that he clearly is.

Bob : Do you believe Neidert will be one of the starting pitchers for Miami in 2019?
Keith Law: Yes. Also, so will you.

Wally: Resending: if you are Nats GM and this offseason you can either (1) re-sign Harper or (2) extend Rendon, sign Grandal and sign morton, which would you do?
Keith Law: The latter is the better use of their funds, since they have Robles to fill the vacant OF spot (although I’m not a big Grandal fan).

Jo-Nathan: Should Cleveland think about selling high on Triston McKenzie? He had forearm soreness to start the year then pitched 90 innings and was shut down due to fatigue. If he can’t gain weight (listed at 165 lbs at 6’5) I cant see how he can ever hold up over a full season in the majors.
Keith Law: I don’t know that his weight is necessarily the issue – and isn’t this is first bout of any arm trouble? I could be wrong on the latter but I don’t remember him getting hurt before.

Hank: In light of Alex Bregman’s breakout and his taking the job of Astros’ key offensive piece, do you see this season as an outlier or predictive of his future value? Long term is he a better bet than Correa?
Keith Law: I think he’s entirely for real – although his power spike, like so many, is probably more a function of the baseball than swing changes or strength.

Darin: Why do you disagree with my scouting of minor league stats for my favorite prospect?
Keith Law: Because I hate your favorite team.

Garrett: Did you think Trevor Story would be this good? Also is this his career year or can we expect this from him going forward?
Keith Law: I think this is a career year, and I don’t think he’s close to the same player if he’s not a Rockie. His career K% is *down* to 30.5%, and that’s without facing better breaking stuff or even more movement on fastballs while he’s home.

SeanE: If you are the Pirates what do you do at 2b and SS next year. Can’t see Mercer or Harrison coming back. Do you go with the Seinfeld boys Kramer and Newman. Do you give Frazier a shot at 2b?
Keith Law: I’d go with the Seinfeld tandem.

Doc: Keith, any thoughts on the shake-up in Phils’ minor league department? Jordan out, several hitting coaches fired.
Keith Law: Jordan left – he wasn’t fired.

Nick: When can we expect your early 2019 draft rankings? Who are looking like the top talents?
Keith Law: Probably not until the spring because the summer stuff was so unimpressive, especially on the college side.

Andrew: Is this PR death total comment the worst of all bad DJT comments? Sheesh.
Keith Law: “Very fine people” will be impossible to top, but yes, it’s terrible, and already there are toadies lapping it up on social media.

Jay: He won’t win it, but should Brad Keller be getting some consideration for RoY?
Keith Law: No.

Jordan: Do you see Justin Dunn as a guy who can be a 2-3 starter at the big league level?
Keith Law: I do.

Sandy Kazmir: What broad sweeping changes will we see enacted if the Rays win 90+ games and fail to make the postseason? Same question, but switch Rays to Yankees?
Keith Law: None … and none. GMAFB.

thatssotaguchi: Do you enjoy My Fair Lady or are you Satan?
Keith Law: I love old school musicals, and I’ll watch anything with Audrey Hepburn in it.

Ghost of Guy Fieri: Looking for a good knife sharpener that won’t break the bank, any suggestions?
Keith Law: I recommended one in my gift guide for cooks last November.

17 year old, Wander Franco: How soon until I’m the number one prospect in baseball?
Keith Law: You might be a few graduations away from that.

Gus Johnson: Does JP Crawford need to get away from the Phillies to fulfill his potential?
Keith Law: That is possible, although I couldn’t say for sure.

Craig: Is Mark Shapiro the first executive to (essentially) publicly call you “fake news”?
Keith Law: No, but it never ceases to amaze me when executives do that. I don’t think it works out well for them in the end.

Robbie: Is David Fletcher of the angels a starting 2B? Seems more like a bench guy with the lack of power.
Keith Law: Bench guy due to (wait for it) the lack of power.

SeanE: Are you sold on Musgrove as a starting pitcher? Has had a pretty solid year. What is his ceiling?
Keith Law: Fifth starter, sure. More, I wouldn’t expect.

Marty: Are we allowed to talk to you at the AFL?
Keith Law: Is … is there something I don’t know about? Like a force field around me or something? Yes, of course you can. I’ll nearly always be at each game a little early anyway, which is the best time to catch me.

Chris: Dodgers still win the West?
Keith Law: With the Rockies up 2 and only ~15 games left, you would have to bet on them over any other single team.

Adam: You mentioned Paddack has nothing more to gain from the minors in your newest post. What ceiling do you think he has? #2 starter? Ace if he develops his curve?
Keith Law: #2 starter, but I don’t think he’s developing that curve. That’s very rarely a pitch that gets better with development.

leprekhan: With the extra pick from not signing Carter Stewart, the Braves are at least in a position to make some noise in the 2019 draft. Overall, how deep does the 2019 draft class look and do you think the Braves could get a comparable talent with their compensation pick?
Keith Law: Worse, and no. I had Stewart #2 in the class. This class is worse and the odds are they won’t get the #2 talent picking 9th.

TC: Rosario’s raised his slash line from .230/.274/.346 to .253/.294/.386 since your snark comment to me on Aug. 9. Looks like he’s on the upswing! Thanks for still believing in him!
Keith Law: Players don’t develop on our timetables. Sometimes patience is rewarded. Sometimes patience just ends up looking like obstinacy.

Jd: Love your work. How’s the migraine today? Should the Sox have called up feltman? Will their bullpen and their inability to throw strikes haunt them in the playoffs?
Keith Law: Better today, thank you. Three hour nap yesterday + two Aleve + extra caffeine did it. I think you draft a guy like Feltman high because you intend to call him up, even if it’s just to start in mop-up work.

Michael: Is Daz Cameron a future everyday OF?
Keith Law: For sure.

Danny: Piggybacking on your article, are Deivi or King realistic rotation candidates next year or is the answer these guys are not really starters but they could be reliever options next year?
Keith Law: Deivi is a starter but has one career AA start. Next year is probably optimistic. King is very unlikely to be a starter.

Steve: Keith great chats. Numerous anonymous scouts have comped Jared Kelenic to a young Mike Trout. Your thoughts?
Keith Law: I love Kelenic but at his age Trout was in AA and about 280 days from his major league debut.

Dan: Dylan Cease no mention today, is his fastball overpowering and still lacking secondaries. I’m happy he made it all year.
Keith Law: Today’s column was the best performing prospects, not the best prospects. Two different things.

Shiraz: Hey Keith, would you hold Blake Snell’s innings against him if you were voting for Cy Young? Is 180 IP the new 200?
Keith Law: I wouldn’t vote for Snell over Sale, certainly. The lower IP total matters in that it’s less production – the more you pitch, as long as you’re above replacement-level, the more value you deliver to your team. Snell doesn’t top Sale in either variation of WAR, and I think it’s fair to assume at least some of his low BABIP is good defense/luck.

Doc: Who will get a larger free agent contract, Harper or Machado?
Keith Law: Machado is my guess.

William: Who do you believe is the leader in the NL MVP race?
Keith Law: A pitcher. Nobody wants to hear that, though.

Louis: What’s wrong, if anything, with Adam Duvall?
Keith Law: He was never really good.

Jesse: Will you be able to any book events at changing hands during AFL?
Keith Law: I didn’t ask because the book will be a year and a half old at that point, but if you have a copy at a game I will gladly sign it for you.

Joe: You’re in charge of the Giants. What’s your offseason look like?
Keith Law: That depends on ownership, but I think this is a rebuild situation, and that includes exploring the market for Bumgarner.

Guest: Have you played or seen the board game
Sol: Last Days of a Star? I played it for the first time last night and I’m intrigued by the mechanics, theme, and what seems like high replayability.
Keith Law: I have not. It appears to be out of print at the moment.

Preston : Cubs have right to be upset about 30 days in a row of scheduled games, right? That said, Brewers are better, healthier team.
Keith Law: Cubs have that right, yes. I do not agree the Brewers are a better team.

Will B.: A lot of talk this summer about Jered Kelenic’s successful first pro season. However did you get a chance to see fellow classmate Alek Thomas start as well? Looking like in 10years he might be the best OF from that class…
Keith Law: I was very high on Thomas out of the draft, and said the Dbacks got a first-round talent, but I think you’re reading way too much into short-season stats with that statement.

Matt: Your colleague Michael Wilbon said it would be “Garbage” if Jacob DeGrom won the Cy Young. I think he should be MVP. What do you think?
Keith Law: I think you’re much more on the ball than my colleague, who apparently hasn’t read Smart Baseball.

Rod: Any chance that MacKenzie Gore debuts next season?
Keith Law: I can’t see a scenario where that happens.

John: Do you have a solution for service time manipulation? I see why teams do it what is the best way to fix it.
Keith Law: I’ve suggested a one-year right of first refusal option for players who reach free agency with 6.000 (six years, zero days) of service, to try to encourage teams to call up the Vlad Jr’s and the Bryants for Opening Day, at least. I have seen suggestions of age-based free agency as well, although I think that would primarily help college draftees, not the 19-year-old wunderkinds like Vlad Jr is now or Wander Franco will be in two years.

Bob: Keith – you mention guys that could run – Willie McGee. I am not sure I saw anybody faster on a triple the part from 1st to 3rd. As for the Padres – is Mejia’s bat good for a catcher or all positions – meaning he can find a new spot if Hedges sticks at C and his bat still has value say in OF?
Keith Law: Hedges is just not a good enough hitter to push Mejia off to another position.

Jason : With talk of his possible retirement, is Joe Mayer a HOF player? Is he if he stayed at catcher?
Keith Law: If he retires now, he’s going to be a borderline case who struggles on the ballot because his traditional numbers don’t add up and because he doesn’t ‘feel’ like a HoFer, while folks like me or Jay Jaffe may end up banging the drum for him when he pulls in 21% of the vote in year one.

Jeremy: Following up on Nick L’s question. It’s looking likely that only 1 Cub is going finish the year with 30HRs. Less than you would have predicted right? What do you think is causing the power outage?
Keith Law: Less than I would have predicted, not sure it’s anything other than randomness.

Sam: As an A’s fan, I desperately want to expect Ramon Laureano to keep being this good. I think you pegged him as more of a 4th outfielder when he was traded. Is that still your read?
Keith Law: I really liked him out of AFL 2016, then the Astros changed his swing and he stunk. Fourth OF was a bit of a solomonic answer – I thought he had good tools, but when a guy doesn’t hit for a full year in the high minors, it’s hard to talk about him as a regular. I’d still say fourth OF, but at least now we can have a discussion of whether he’s more, given his tools and now some performance.

Jay: Been playing Small World with my kids. What a fantastic game. Do you recommend any of the expansions?
Keith Law: Yes – we use two, one of which is called (I think) the Ladies of Small World and has some clever new races that really alter the way you play.

Erick Fedde: Am I at least a # 4 starter going forward?
Keith Law: I could buy a #4. I wouldn’t bet on more; still pretty homer-prone, secondary stuff has never been good enough for me to call him league-average.

Andy : With the way the Braves have been aggressive with promotions, do you think there is a chance Pache makes the majors at some point next year? He seemed to make significant improvements in his offense.
Keith Law: That I could see, although if Inciarte is still around there may not be a logical place for him.

Michael: Hi Keith, of the Tigers top pitching prospects (Mize, Manning, Burrows, Perez, Faedo), which, if any, do you see destined for the bullpen?
Keith Law: Faedo and Perez have the highest relief risk of the group. Mize has the least.

Del: Best pumpkin related food or drink?
Keith Law: Pumpkin pie. Obviously.

Andy: Bobby Dalbec possible 50 FV? Or too much chase and swing and miss?
Keith Law: That’s an average regular. I can’t see that with a K rate above 1/3 given his age.

thatssotaguchi: Do you think illegalizing birth control would be enough to get the silent majority to get off their asses and vote in an election? I used to think so but now I’m not sure.
Keith Law: I would hope so, but apparently there are a lot of people in this country who want women they don’t even know to have zero right to control their own reproduction.

Marple: Do you think Griffin Canning can be a part of the Angels rotation next year and what is his long term upside?
Keith Law: I could see that if he’s healthy. Mid-rotation starter?

Tom: When does Yusniel Diaz make it to the majors, and whats his upside looking like?
Keith Law: Thought he might get called up this month. Everyday RF.

Jesse B: Can Myles Straw be an everyday CF who bats .250 with 60sbs?
Keith Law: So little power I don’t see an everyday player.

Michael: Is Alex Faedo’s drop in velocity this season something to worry about?
Keith Law: He wasn’t throwing as hard as reported as a college junior. I think this is just what he is.

TP: Which Padres arms currently in the minors will be in their rotation in 2019?
Keith Law: I assume Nix, Paddack, and Logan Allen are in the 2019 rotation for most/all of the year. Morejon should get there later in the year, as should Baez.

Oren: Jameson Taillon seems like he took a strong step forward this year. Is there anymore ceiling for him or is this right around where you expect him?
Keith Law: This is pretty close. He’s really come a long way given all of the health issues he’s faced. Great guy to root for.

Bob: The John Henry owned Boston Globe wrote an article about how deep the Sox are in the lower levels of the minors. PR move or legit?
Keith Law: I don’t agree with that. I think their system is better than generally claimed (it’s not a bottom 3 or bottom 5 system), but they have had a lot of significant prospects get hurt. Still keeping my eye on Scherff as a breakout candidate.

Andrew: Love the chats (and the periscope yesterday), thanks for doing these. Is Johan Camargo a 3+ WAR/yr. player going forward? If no, why not?
Keith Law: I’d take the under on that too. Add him to the list of guys who had no power until he got to hit with the MLB baseball.

Juan: With hindsight was the Quintana trade a smart one for the Cubs or did they get fleeced?
Keith Law: Smart one. They knew what they were paying, but Q was, at the time, one of the top 5 pitchers in the AL.

Gary : Time to really start talking about Jeff McNeil? Do small sample sizes (3/4 of a season) matter less when you’re talking about guys who made major swing changes/adjustments?
Keith Law: He hasn’t played 3/4 of a season. He’s played about five weeks.

ScottyD in Downingtown: Kiriloff starts 2019 at AA? Would a mid-2020 ETA in Minnesota be accurate?
Keith Law: That’s probably right – although really, he might be ready next September, and we’re all arguing about service time manipulation again.

JP: Thoughts on sites nuking their comment sections (ESPN, RAB). I know they are mostly cesspools, but there are some communties that develop.
Keith Law: Moderation is probably impossible. If you’re not willing to block or ban people fairly quickly, the least common denominator will generally win out.

Ryan: Keith – you were notably not on the Moncada hype train before his debut. At this stage, how much more can he realistically become? Thank you
Keith Law: I said on Periscope yesterday that I think he’ll have above-average years and below-average years, rather than settling in at one level of production.

Adam: I don’t understand the use of the opener. Why not pitch a starter twice through the order then go to the bullpen. What does getting the first three outs with a bullpen arm really add?
Keith Law: Because those first three outs tend to be three of the best hitters in the opponent’s lineup.

Devon: Keith, do you see Eloy as the top offensive prospect in the game now?
Keith Law: No, that would be Vlad.

Oscar: What’s a good boardgame for a large group of people (4-8) that’s relatively easy to pick up?
Keith Law: Citadels, Sushi Go, maybe 7 Wonders. If you want something more party game-ish, One Night Ultimate Werewolf or its offshoot Werewords.

Anthony: Any of Detroit’s pitching prospects beyond Mize you’re confident can start?
Keith Law: Burrows can start but may not have huge upside. Manning can start, with work to do on command and secondaries, but he’s around the plate again and still 91-95.

Franknbeans: Luis Patino sure looked good this year. Do you still have him far down the list in San Diego?
Keith Law: He’s exciting but young and kind of small to start. I don’t know where he is offhand on their list but I wouldn’t put him over Tatis, Gore, Mejia, Paddack, Morejon, Baez.

David: Hi KLaw! Would love to buy you a beer (or just say “hi”) at AFL. When do you plan on heading out there?
Keith Law: Looking at week 2. They’re only playing 4 days of games in week one, which means I get just 8 games rather than 10, because of that stupid (and when I say stupid, I mean STUPID) “hitting challenge” that nobody likes.

JG: Did you have a problem with the Donaldson deal?
Keith Law: Yeah, my problem is that the Jays didn’t get enough back.

Anthony: What do you make of Pivetta? His stuff and strikeouts look really good, but maybe he’s got terrible in-zone command?
Keith Law: LHB kill him, because he has no CH or split to get them out.

BK: I’m struggling with WAR. I get that its a stat that is generally good at approximating but it seems like it’s the answer now to certain questions. where I struggle is defense, I can’t understand for example how Cain is worth nearly 2x Arenado or 3x Baez.
Keith Law: I’m not seeing where Cain’s WAR is twice Arenado’s, or even just his defense is.

Jeff: Has your opinion about Reynaldo Lopez changed this year? Fairly small sample, but he’s looked really good lately.
Keith Law: 4.85 FIP this year sounds about right.

Big Tawn: Does Byron Buxton need a change of scenery for his bat to pan out? Can he realistically be a 50 hitter with 50 power?
Keith Law: I think he can be that guy, but I don’t know if he needs a change of scenery, or just, you know, major league at bats.

Kyle: Which is more likely? Keuchel resigned or Josh James being a fixture in the rotation?
Keith Law: Keuchel re-signing seems more likely. James has a tremendous arm, earned a mention in my piece today, but there’s reliever risk there due to the delivery.

Patrick: Any thoughts on the Lorenzo Cain (non)MVP candidacy?
Keith Law: I must have missed something on Brewers Twitter because I thought Cain was clearly a candidate.

Brent : Not to be that guy, but in your post today you mention Cease as playing for ATL and not CWS.
Keith Law: Probably an editor’s mistake. I just send in the file, man. I don’t post it.

Matt: Are Mauer and McCutchen and David Wright HOF players to you? I heard Buster talk about them on the podcast. Just curious.
Keith Law: Mauer will be close. The others I think are on the outside.

JR: Next time someone argues that holding a top prospect down is smart because you will get an extra year of control in 2025, you should suggest they go look at the opening day roster for their favorite team from seven years ago. At best, they might have 5-6 guys still on the current roster. Between injuries, trades, lack of development, regression, getting better players in your system, etc. rosters just turn over so play to develop top talent and win now and instead of 7 years from now. Also, I would argue calling a top prospect up in Sep and letting them get their feet wet is a better intro to the Show then pushing them back a couple weeks in April because they “aren’t ready” They would be ready if you called them up last Sep.
Keith Law: I think a big problem with the “we have to get that extra year of control!” mentality is that fans don’t adequately discount future production. You know where your team is right now, but you have absolutely no idea where your team will be in seven years. We can talk about windows of contention, but we don’t know how long any one window will last. It’s a delusion to think that we know right now where the team will be 7 or even 5 years down the road, and whether the added cost to retain the player will make sense for the club or not. Meanwhile, that prospect might be worth an extra win or more next year, when maybe you’re contending and could use the boost.

Adam: #PadresTwitter is currently ranking Paddack and Patiño ahead of Mackenzie Gore on their team’s prospect lists. Is there a legitimate argument to be made that this is the case or is this just putting too much emphasis on results?
Keith Law: Way too much emphasis on results.

Bill: JaCoby Jones is a lousy hitter but an excellent fielder. If you are the Tigers, can you look the other way on his bat given the number of runs he’s reportedly saves with his glove?
Keith Law: I think he’s just a bench piece, and not even a great one at that.

Rod: Is it possible the Braves win the World Series?
Keith Law: Sure. Any team that makes the playoffs can win, regardless of whether they’re the best playoff team or the worst.

Dr. Bob: Now that your guitar secret is out, can we add guitars to food, politics, games, and music to the chat? I’ve always thought that Skating Away could be done by fingerpicking, but that was never Ian Anderson’s style.
Keith Law: I almost never play anything by fingerpicking. It’s just never been as comfortable for me. I only do it if the song can’t be played any other way.

Jim: I know you were high on Logan Warmoth during the draft. What kind of upside do you think he has?
Keith Law: I was, and then he slugged .317 in high-A this year. Welp.

Matt: Thoughts on Ross Adolph, outfielder in the Mets system? Named Brooklyn’s MVP, any chance he could carve out a role in the big leagues?
Keith Law: He’s 21 and had a .348 OBP in short-season. Way too old for the level.

Robert: How difficult has it been to assess Luis Robert given his lack of playing time and injuries? I keep hearing that it is difficult to evaluate power when a player has had hand/wrist injuries. Is there anything you could see that would suggest the power would come once he is fully healed?
Keith Law: He might be the AFL guy I most want to see, because I keep missing him and he just hasn’t played that much, period.

Migraine Sufferer: As a fellow migrainee, what would you do if you were allergic to NSAIDs?
Keith Law: Try the so-called ‘daith’ piercing.

Jay: Kowar, Lynch, Del Rosario all have been pitching really well for Lexington. Any of those guys potential top 100 at some point?
Keith Law: Feels like Lynch might have pitched himself into that range, although, again, I don’t keep a constantly updated 100 list, so this is an educated guess on how they’ll line up.

Larry: Other than Mize do you think anyone from the 2018 draft will make your top 100 list?
Keith Law: Typically 12-15 June draftees make my January top 100.

silvpak: mondesi’s pop has been something of a surprise, yet his strike zone judgment is….lacking. thoughts on continued development in 2019?
Keith Law: I’d project a sub-.300 OBP next year.

Chris: Because we all know there are some crazy sports parents out there: has the parent of a prospect ever reached out to you after a negative report?
Keith Law: Yes. I do not engage.

Louis: Thoughts on CJ Abrams and Corbin Carroll? Two of the top prep guys for next year?
Keith Law: Yes to both.

Christopher: My 10-year-old son loves baseball but struggles at playing it because he gets paralyzed with anxiety. Among other things, he is terrified at getting hit, stemming from an incident about 2 years ago. As a dad (and coach), I struggle between encouraging and being honest and telling him only he can work through it. I’m very sensitive to this being a larger issue. This can’t be unique though, can it?
Keith Law: That sounds like something that requires therapy. He could easily be traumatized by whatever happened two years ago, and that won’t just go away with time.

Joey: After his NWL season, has your opinion changed on Joey Bart’s hit tool? Or does he still project as a below-average MLB hitter?
Keith Law: He was way too old for the NWL.

Pat D: Isn’t it great that we’re going to have a Supreme Court justice who has committed perjury?
Keith Law: This is America. Get your money.
Keith Law: That’s all for this week – thank you all, as always, for all of your questions. I’ll be back next week after the ‘players i was wrong about’ column runs for another chat. Enjoy your weekends!