The dish

My top 25 MLB players under 25 post is up for Insiders.

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Klaw: Now I know how Joan of Arc felt. Klawchat.

Dana: Do you have any thoughts on the Jorge Mateo suspension? Had you heard of any makeup concerns?
Klaw: My thoughts seem pretty unfair because I don’t think we know exactly what Mateo did, but I will say a two-week suspension seems like a huge penalty. What on earth could he have done that merited that long a suspension and that public a penalty, which also devalues the player in the industry and removes him from the highly-scouted Futures Game?

Jonathan Orr: Was Piscotty close to being an honorable mention in your top 25 list?
Klaw: No, because he’s not under 25 years old.

Pat: Bigmouth Strikes Again. Do Brett Phillips, Corey Ray, and Trent Clark comprise the Brewers’ starting outfield someday?
Klaw: Kind of a best case scenario but I could see it. Big fan of all three.

Ross: Do you believe that either Rhys Hoskins or Dylan Cozens will eventually be a significant contributor to the Phillies?
Klaw: I believe in Hoskins more than Cozens because I think Hoskins is a hitter first, with power. Cozens is huge raw, less of a hitter, and I’ve mentioned before (and will probably stop now, because enough already) I have concerns on his makeup.

Jack: Did Aaron Nola’s last few starts keep him from making the list? If so shouldn’t the astronomically high BABIP show that it is mostly fluky
Klaw: Yes, it did, because from watching him I worried there’s something wrong with his arm. Corinne wrote a good piece at Fangraphs that explained why it’s not all just BABIP variance.

Bryan: Thanks for all the content Keith, really enjoyed reading the top 25 under 25. Question: has Aaron Sanchez improved his mechanics/his stride since last season? I remember that you were concerned that his stride was far too short and I’m wondering whether he has improved somewhat in that area, given his strong results so far this season. Thanks!
Klaw: Not really. It’s all physical development. I’d still like to see the longer stride; short-striders get hurt. Arizona shortened Skaggs’ stride and he blew out. Someone shortened Taijuan Walker’s stride and he started to have shoulder problems and lost his breaking ball. Sanchez doesn’t look as severe as he did two years ago, and the shit is unreal so I understand not wanting to change a thing, but I also want the guy to stay healthy as long as possible.

Steve: Do you think that Greg Maddux signing on at UNLV to be a volunteer pitching coach will entice anyone to come to UNLV that otherwise wouldn’t have?
Klaw: Well, if you’re considering UNLV and one of the greatest pitchers in history calls you and says he’d like to work with you, I think that might help.

Ray A.: Chris Shaw got promoted to AA and has not skipped a beat. Could he be this years A.J. Reed?
Klaw: Slow down. He’s power over hit, and the bat speed is a little light for me. Super strong, but I just saw him again on Sunday and I don’t think that’s going to work against good velocity.

Bob Pollard: In general, why aren’t there any left-handed SS or C? My kid is 9, throws lefty and does occasionally play short, but he’s also had some coaches who won’t put him there because “there are no lefty SS.” Catching is less of an issue. Is there something about the positioning when a lefty fields the ball? Turning the double play? He’s primed for a future of 1B/P/OF (not complaining) but curious to hear an expert’s take.
Klaw: If you can throw hard and are left-handed, you’re probably going to the mound. Shortstop presents some technical difficulties for lefties, but really I think it’s a selection bias issue.

Bob: Jake Bauers is up to 10 HR in ~300 AB this year after hitting 11 in ~500 AB last year. A fluke or is he tapping into some latent power? Worth an uptick in his profile if he keeps it up all year?
Klaw: Not really. There isn’t enough power there for a guy who’s going to be 1b only.

Enzo Amore: Was Conforto considered for your 25 under 25? He looked like an all-star in April before the injury and slump.
Klaw: Not in the majors, so no.

Will: Apart from absolutely everything, what is wrong with Casey Meisner? Injured? Not as good as we thought?
Klaw: Oakland changed his arm slot to try to get more sink on his FB. He wasn’t throwing as hard when I saw him in March.

Al: Does Judge’s recent statistical improvement reflect real improvement as a batter or is it more likely just random SSS noise?
Klaw: Any stretch that small is probably at least part noise, but I am heartened to see that his K% in June was his lowest by month this year. It’s all about contact. If he gets to the majors and is a 25% K rate guy, he’s a star.

Justin: Meat is murder Keith….to my untrained eye Asdrubal has looked fantastic at SS. I know you’ve said he is a below avg SS probably suited for 2b. Am I just used to stonehands Flores or has he improved significantly?
Klaw: I don’t think he’s changed at all. I just looked at dRS and UZR for a second opinion and both have him below average.

Alex in Austin: After experimenting 6 games at 3rd, Bregman’s been exclusively at ss. Any idea why if his fastest path to the majors is 3rd and he seems like he can help that lineup right now?
Klaw: I think Correa is going to have to move to third, so perhaps the Astros are trying to prep Bregman to take over at short at some point.

Bruce: How can you tell how a minor league K-rate (for pitchers) will translate in the Majors
Klaw: I wouldn’t say I can “tell;” I can speculate, based on the quality of the pitcher’s stuff, his command, and whether he has any deception. But I am never sure.

Aus: So no Willson Contreras in the the top 25 under 25? Or was he not eligible? If so, where would he rank if he was because he clearly is up for good.
Klaw: Still rookie eligible. No one ever reads the intro.

Carl: Are police shootings increasing recently or just more highly publicized thanks to cell phone videos?
Klaw: Probably both. You’d expect the number of shootings to increase anyway as population increases and gun ownership increases. But I also bet that when I was a kid, these shootings happened and weren’t even worthy of a news story.

Randy: L. McCullers didn’t even make honorable mention in your article despite racking up 4.2 WAR (per Fangraphs) and having a better FIP than Martinez, Ross and Gray–all while being the youngest of the group (2 years younger than Gray and Martinez). Please explain.
Klaw: Because I have serious concerns about his delivery holding up in the rotation, and he’s already had one bout of shoulder trouble, as well as whether he’ll ever have average command. This was not a statistical ranking of players.

RetNavChief: Keith, thanks for doing these chats…I look forward to them each week. Who is more likely to have a better career as a starting pitcher….Mitch Keller or Luke Weaver?
Klaw: Keller. Not sure Weaver is a long-term starter – breaking ball isn’t good enough, very small frame guy, definitely at the small end of the spectrum of starter builds.

Anonymous: Do players do a worse job of selecting players than fans? Defense disregarded over name recognition. Apparently, even all-star teams need veteran “presence.”
Klaw: Yes. Joe Sheehan identified this years ago – the worst offenses on the rosters nearly always come from player selections.

Pat: There is a lot of buzz in Bawlmer — even reporters are saying it — that Bundy might get thrown into the rotation after the ASG. This is a terrible idea, right? He’s thrown about 100 innings since 2012.
Klaw: Yes, this is a terrible idea. The guy has a real shoulder issue, no history of staying healthy since 2012, a more restricted arm swing than he had prior to TJ, and a reduced curveball. The fact that he’s even doing what he’s doing right now is great, and I like how Buck is using him as a long man. If they really want to try to start him again, wait till next year. Please.

Rick: Why have LaRussa and Stewart been given a free pass with the absolute dumpster fire they’ve created in Arizona? Seems like each has a get-out-of-jail-free card with the national media.
Klaw: TLR has a lot of supporters in the media, yes. But I think overall the tenor of commentary on them has been more towards “dumpster fire.” The Yoan Lopez comments were peak La Russa for me. Either he’s a liar, or their scouts flat-out lied to him, or they have the dumbest pro scouts on the planet. (I doubt it’s #3.) Lopez is closer to non-prospect than he is to “top 3 in any organization.” He’s a mediocre arm without command or feel and with bad makeup. You screwed up signing him. Just admit it, change your process, and move on.

Rick: Seems to be a push in some circles to promote Rhys Hoskins to AAA for the 2nd half of the season. Do you see value in letting him play out the year in Reading where they’re winning at an insane clip and he’s mashing on a near nightly basis?
Klaw: No, I’d promote him. Not young, so let’s go already. Also Reading is a great HR park and I don’t think leaving a hitter there benefits him at all.

BG: There seems to be somewhat of a consensus among national writers that A) the Braves should trade Teheran, and B) they shouldn’t expect an impact bat like Benintendi back.
Klaw: I don’t think they have any reason to trade him. He’s signed cheaply for years and without him they will be scraping for innings this year and next. He’s their Opening Day starter at the Big Con next April.

EC: Did Nats get a steal in Dane Dunning? Underutilized in college it seems, so maybe more miles left on the arm?
Klaw: I thought so. Loved him. Liked their draft overall.

Banksy_: 2 Part Question. T or F. Groome signs for no less than $5M, at the last possible moment. T or F. The Padres had $6M waiting for him at 24/25.
Klaw: False on both.

Nelson Briles: Do you know what the issue is with Joey Gallo? He was great to start the season and got called up to the majors, but then Jeff Banister didn’t play him. Since going back down, his strikeouts are way up, he got benched for what sounds like an attitude issue, and there’s whispers that he’s pouting. This is a guy who supposedly has great makeup — what’s going on there?
Klaw: If he’s pouting, he’s justified. Banister not playing him at all was completely unacceptable, and I’m surprised the front office didn’t come down on him for it. If we give you a player, you play him, or we find someone else to do it.

Harrisburg Hal: How many books do you have going at one time? Are you a ‘one at a time’ reader? I have a couple books depending on where I am – one kindle, one for the pool, one beside my bed, etc.
Klaw: One for me, and one I read with my daughter. That’s usually it.

TJ: Another depressing story with Kang. Understood that the facts have yet to unfold, but any initial thoughts based on the way the Pirates have reacted so far? Seems interesting that Olivera was suspended almost the moment things broke but Kang is still playing, even starting. Would you read anything into this or just an example how individual teams may handle similar situations in completely different ways.
Klaw: Olivera was arrested, wasn’t he? If Kang is charged, my guess is he’ll be removed from the roster somehow. Such accusations, in the abstract, are more likely to be true than not, so while I’m waiting for more information here, this is not good news. And I have no problem with the Pirates waiting too.

Kevin: Based on John Coppolella’s recent comments, it sounds like the Braves are going to be aggressive in the development of Kevin Maitan and try to move him along quickly. Is that the right approach for an advanced hitter or should they try to play it safe with him?
Klaw: I think he’s comparable to Sano, who was in the Appy League at 18. That would imply Maitan in the Appy League too in 2018.

Lance: No Roguned Odor on the Top 25? I know you once viewed him as a potential star, has that changed?
Klaw: He hasn’t progressed at all this year. When he walks more than once a fortnight, we can revisit. He has the ability, but not the skill, if that makes sense.

Jake: Can Kevin Newman be a potential all-star one day?
Klaw: I think so but you’re probably asking his biggest fan outside of the Pirates’ organization and maybe his mom.

DC: You are an intelligent guy and capable amateur lawyer — what do you think of the no indictment for HRC based on Comey saying it would be hard to show “intent”, something that is purposely not written into the government statutes. I cannot imagine ever voting for Trump, but it sincerely feels like we are slipping closer to banana-republic territory looking at the state of our politics and rule of law.
Klaw: I thought of the banana republic analogy just last night because we could very well be looking at the last five Presidents including a father and son as well as a husband and wife. There are African dictatorships with more diversity in leadership.

Bruce: Do you like Josh Bell to be an above average 1B, or just about average?
Klaw: Hitter, well above average. Fielder, well he’s a good hitter.

Larry: Is Coppy serious by saying he’ll only take major league talent in return for Teheran? That seems shortsighted for a team that is years away.
Klaw: Again, they have Teheran signed for cheap for several more years. Trading him for A-ball kids isn’t necessary or advisable.

JR, Hartford: Hey Keith, Nice to see Dom Smith up to 10 HR’s this year. Where do you peg his eventual power numbers? Could he be a 1st division starter with 15 HR/year poer? 20?
Klaw: He has the raw power for 20+.

JR, Hartford: Hey Keith, ever read any Tom Robbins and if so are you a fan?
Klaw: Jitterbug Perfume. Didn’t do much for me. Fast read, a little too pop-philosophical for me.

Drew: Apparently Trea Turner is off to a good start in CF for Syracuse. While I still think he’s still the Nats’ shortstop of the future, is it fair to say they have a more pressing need in CF right now?
Klaw: Yes. I’ve said I support this – yes, I’m not an Espinosa believer despite the big June, but CF is a clear hole and if they’re committed to Espi for the rest of 2016 then use Turner, who is ready, to fill another void.

Tom: Trout’s throwing out his usual MVP caliber season which won’t even get him in the top 3 in MVP voting this year because his team is so lousy. What’s the earliest LAA can reasonably be good (short of Pujols suddenly retiring), or are they just destined to waste their remaining years with him?
Klaw: Can’t see them turning this around within five years. The farm system is so barren; they could still end up without a top 100 guy this winter, their first-round pick from 2015 is terrible, their top remaining pick from 2014 is terrible, their top pick from 2013 quit in the spring. They should try to sell and see if they can restock their upper levels enough to field a better team around Trout in 2018 between some younger players and perhaps new overpaid veterans. Wow, that came out harsh.

Mike: Mickey Moniak hit his professional HR today. Is it realistic to believe he can hit 25 HR’s per year at maturity?
Klaw: I do not believe so.

Hank: Now that it’s just a blister for Max Fried, do you have any reports on him this year? Last few starts have been really good, walks are dropping.
Klaw: Back up to 96, CB good, command improving, really just been rounding back into pre-injury form the last few starts.

Archie: People in the baseball industry who are against throwing the splitter all seem to point to Japanese pitchers, who all seem to throw it, when they break down as evidence. Have any of these guys read Passan’s book and noticed that these Japanese guys have also thrown off of a mound for about 3 hours per day since they were 10?
Klaw: The evidence against the splitter is weak where it exists at all. The evidence against the cutter isn’t exactly any stronger. I’m starting to wonder if all of these scapegoats are to prevent us from staring the obvious in the face: Guys who throw really fucking hard all the time get hurt.

addoeh: Thank you for the cornmeal waffles recommendation at Hell’s Kitchen in MPLS. Bar La Grassa was excellent (scallop app in particular), as was the brick and mortar version of Butcher & The Boar.
Klaw: Awesome. Such a great town. Wish I had more reasons to go there for work.

Jonah: Has Chad Kuhl’s good start as a starter changed your long-term view on him?
Klaw: No, especially since he hasn’t had a “good start” in the majors through two outings, and he still doesn’t have a weapon to get LHB out.

EC: How hard of a bargain can an agent drive for a client that was drafted? How do the guys drafted in rounds 9/10 sign for $10,000? Couldn’t they say “no, I want more or you lose it all?”
Klaw: They don’t lose it all though; they lose just the amount for that slot. It’s not a huge dent in the overall pool. If a player agreed to $10K in the 5th round, he could, in theory, renege on the deal and throw a real dent into a team’s plans. That’ll happen at some point and then we’ll see some real fireworks.

Philip: Would Paddack make the Padres top 10 for you?
Klaw: Yes, no question.

Junior: Why does AJ Preller get so much hate from fans (from other teams primarily) and media? The team is bad (was before he got here), but the trades have actually been pretty good i.e., Wil Myers!
Klaw: SOME trades have been good. Then there’s Matt Kemp.

Lemon: Devers making a big push as of recently… the people who poo’d on your ranking of him can take a chill pill
Klaw: He’s 19 in high-A. Any performance at all is a bonus. And even at his worst he wasn’t getting overmatched.

MP: If you had to choose a guy to be a top of the rotation anchor, you’d place your bet on J. Thompson, J. Hader, J. Hoffman, A. Garrett, or Reynaldo Lopez??
Klaw: None of them, really.

Carlos: Hi Keith, big fan of your work. I’m trying to get behind your perspective for picking all-stars (as a kid I just assumed whoever had the best first half deserved to go). I guess my concern is that the difference breakout and fluke is somewhat subjective. So it feels unfair that someone like Jake Lamb – whom I love and think clearly deserves to go – should have his all-star candidacy determined by whether people think he’s legit or not.
Klaw: Isn’t there always a subjective aspect to it, though? It’s about where you draw the line between the objective parts of the process and the subjective.

Jeremy K: Javy Baez’s K-rate has dropped year over year and is now only slightly below the MLB avg. Do you see him becoming less and less likely to bust?
Klaw: I don’t think he’ll “bust” and don’t think I ever predicted that, but I don’t think he’ll ever be a regular since he remains way too aggressive and hasn’t shown any real progress there.

Jim: Trey Mancini, can we get excited yet? Are you still down on his power?
Klaw: You can get excited, but I don’t see what there is to be excited about. It’s not a good swing and I don’t see above-average power.

Jon: I’m doing a gift exchange and the person I am gifting loves board games. I do not play many, or at all. They have mentioned Pandemic, Small World, Codenames, and Betrayal At House On The Hill as some of their favorites. Is there anything that you would recommend close to that? Or just go straight to your list for Jaipur / Carcassone / Ticket To Ride? Thanks for the help!
Klaw: Castles of Burgundy or 7 Wonders would be good choices.

Jason: Suggestions for a 4 year old interested in board games? He sees us play all the time and loves joining in with some large modifications, so thinking of getting a few games that he can pretty much play completely and are appropriate for his age.
Klaw: Ticket to Ride for sure. It just becomes a color-matching game for a kid that young, and once he can grasp the map a little, you can work in the route cards.

JDFitz: BA wrote about Taylor Ward moving back a few inches and opening his stance slightly while in the box; he’s been hot the past few weeks. Can such a minor change really have that great an effect, or is such a hot streak just a fluke of statistics? (Been a fan for a long time; thanks for being a consistent source of information and amusement. You are very much appreciated.)
Klaw: Those streaks are usually just flukes, yes. He’s 22 in high-A, in a good hitting environment. It’s also easy to get hot when your team takes a road trip to Lake Elsinore and High Desert. The guy to watch on Inland Empire is Kevin Grendell; if he can throw strikes at all he’s got a pretty special arm.

Matt: As a lefty who played some 3b/ss at a young age, it is really hard to make the throws necessary. Have to make a big turn to get any weight behind the ball, so every throw becomes all arm in an awkward direction or takes too much time to turn, set, and throw. Now, catching on the other hand, seems like it should be more possible for a lefty to do.
Klaw: A lefty could absolutely be a catcher, but again, I think if you’re LH and throw hard enough to catch someone will want you on a mound.

TK: Can’t remember if I’ve ever seen you mention one, but have you ever tried a legacy-style board game? My wife and I are currently nearing the end of a Legacy Pandemic game and it has been amazing.
Klaw: I haven’t. I chatted with two readers at the Trenton game on Sunday and they also raved about Pandemic Legacy, but the problem I have is that I really don’t play any one game 12+ times like that. We play different games, we review new ones, but one game that many times in a row? It would take us months.

JC: Do you think David Dahl makes it up in 2016? Would it likely only be a Sept call-up unless CarGo is traded?
Klaw: Yes, and probably yes.

Bartleby: Can you imagine the laser show that backyard wiffle ball must have been like at the Seagers?
Klaw: I got mocked by a few Seattle fans when I said that Corey would be better than Kyle (this was when Corey was drafted). Corey’s at 5.4 fWAR in 113 games in his career. Kyle’s best single-season fWAR is 5.5, in 159 games in 2014.

JB: Any way Arroyo could be called up for the Giants later this year in a utility role? With all the infield injuries, I’m not sure Ramiro Pena and Grant Green will be guys I want to rely on, and I am no fan of Kelby Tomlinson either. Thanks for your work, easily the best thing on ESPN
Klaw: Don’t think Arroyo’s eye is ready for that. Good prospect still, but definitely showing some areas for development now. And thank you.

Caroline: Going to San Diego. Have three dinners. One is Juniper and Ivy. What should the other two be?
Klaw: Cucina Urbana and Searsucker. Also have lunch at the Crack Shack and breakfast at the Mission. Maybe Bottega Americana. I should write this up.

Ed: Hope to see you here in SD for the ASG. Considering the weak FA class and lack of impact arms available does Drew Pomeranz net a significant return from the Red Sox or Rangers in the next month?
Klaw: I will be there at the Futures Game on Sunday and will try to get to the outfield concourse for a fan meetup if there’s interest. I think he’s one of the best SP on the market this year, so yes.

Nick: After reading the reports on both Moniak and Rutherford, it seems like Rutherford has the higher ceiling of the two correct?
Klaw: Higher offensive ceiling for sure. Moniak probably stays in CF while Rutherford probably ends up in LF, so there’s automatically a big gap in their values when you’re looking at them compared to their positions (replacement-level or average), which is why Moniak went 1-1 and Rutherford seemed to be out of the mix in the top ten.

Scott: Glad to see that Amed Rosario has been chosen to replace Mateo in the Futures Game this Sunday. Are you a believer in his bat long term?
Klaw: Absolutely. Kid’s a superstar.

Matt: Why doesn’t Jeff Hoffman get more K’s?
Klaw: Lack of deception in the delivery or fastball life. Don’t think he’s a top 50 prospect – I’ll be doing a top 50 next Thursday so that’s kind of on my mind at the moment.

Dan: What did Dilson Herrera do to piss off the Mets FO? Seems like they’ll try anything except promoting him to address their roster problems. Have you ever heard that there are makeup issues with him or something?
Klaw: Never. But it seems clear they don’t want him. They signed a domestic-abusing has-been instead of promoting him.

NukeLaloosh: ETA on Casey Gillaspie?
Klaw: September or early next year.

Doug: Good chance Benintendi heads to Pawtucket after the Futures game?
Klaw: I don’t believe so, although given what he’s doing in AA, I say now, as I said in the spring, he could help Boston this year.

Elton: I am overwhelmed by the TV options at my disposal. You touted Master Of None in a past chat (and I enjoyed it); anything else striking you recently?
Klaw: I’m going to watch The Night Of, but otherwise, I’ve given up on most TV. I don’t want to make commitments to lots of long story arcs and honestly if I’m not watching baseball I’m happier with the TV off anyway.

Banksy_: Quick and dirty scouting report on Morejon? Sounds like he’s getting a huge bonus, is he worth it in your opinion?
Klaw: He was in our international preview and I’ve heard $20-22 million. Yes, he’s worth it.

James: jason -Boardgames for kids go find some of the HABA brand games. We have four of them and our kids love them. You should be able to find them at your local game shop.
Klaw: Thanks. Jason, there you go.

Carlos: Follow up re: all-star selection… Fair point but isn’t it more objective to base it on statistics rather than future expectations?
Klaw: I haven’t argued we should base it on “future expectations.” We should consider whether the statistics we have are more noise than signal. That’s not the same thing.

Nic: Why do you think Dillon Tate has failed to gain traction in Low-A?
Klaw: He came back from the hamstring injury missing some velocity.

NukeLaloosh: Hosting a 6-person game night with age range of 6-to-40: What game would you recommend? We have Ticket to Ride and Scotland Yard but willing to order something new. Thoughts?
Klaw: That’s a 7 Wonders night if you don’t mind helping the 6-year-old.

NukeLaloosh: Have you played Agricola? Thoughts?
Klaw: Yes, in fact my Paste review of the new edition should go up today.

Joe: Can Chance Adams remain a starter?
Klaw: I think so. Tried to see him last week but rain pushed him back to Bowie rather than at home.

Anonymous: Help decide a debate between friends: Brian Dozier and Kohl Stewart to the Dodgers for Jose De Leon and a low level prospect is fair to both sides.
Klaw: Which friend is the rabid delusional Dodgers fan?

Ryan: Derian Cruz and Cristian Pache off to hot starts of Atlanta in GCL. Are you high on either or both?
Klaw: Both legit.

Jeb: Any chance that we’ll get so see a writeup of your visit to Trenton?
Klaw: No, I am not planning to write that up.

SOL: I recently loaned money to a family member, and I think I may get burned. Do you have a personal policy on it?
Klaw: I’d never loan money to a friend or family member without assuming I might not get it back. If that makes you uncomfortable, then don’t lend it.

Nick: Ok with Diaz getting added to All star game?
Klaw: Cards needed a rep and it had to be a position player, so yes. Not that I need to be “OK” with it but I know what you’re asking.

Eloy Jimenez: Temper the enthusiasm for me? Or get excited to be a Cubs fan for the next decade with with guys like me still coming up?
Klaw: Nope, I refuse to temper the enthusiasm.

Dave: I know he’s well short of Machado and Correa, but does JP Crawford compare at all to Xander or Seager for all-around upside? Side note: we’ve really been spoiled by the uber SS’s the last few years.
Klaw: Different sort of player. I think Crawford may end up the defensive star of the group, with good OBPs, but lighter on the ‘traditional’ stuff like AVG or especially HR.

Tim: Yohander Mendez has had a nice season and even handled himself well in a spot start in AAA earlier this week. What’s his upside?
Klaw: Maybe #2 starter. Three pitch guy, changeup is plus which isn’t ordinarily what you want from a lefty but CB is at least average, still some projection in the body. His 67 innings this year are actually a career high because he’s had some injury history. I think he was in my Rangers org report in February.

Henry: Bo Bichette is tearing up the GCL so far. Is this a harbinger of things to come? Is he going to work his way into being a legit prospect over the next couple of seasons?
Klaw: Someone asked about him last week too, and my answer hasn’t really changed. I in really liked his bat last summer, but this is a tiny sample in pro ball, and remember his brother, who was never half the prospect Bo is, raked in the GCL too.

Greg P: Keith – what’s the timeframe on Bradley Zimmer’s path to the majors? Power/speed combo, but lots of swing and miss – will that hold him back?
Klaw: Gotta hit lefties or he’ll be just a platoon guy.

Lars: Do you see Trevor Bauer or Danny Duffy being able to maintain this for a long period of time?
Klaw: Both have the potential. Probably more a believer in Bauer than Duffy.

Anthony: Franco not in top 25 under 25 or honorable mention. Accident or something else?
Klaw: Accident? Really? No.

Steve: Regarding Ryan Dull…did you ever scout him and/or expect this type of success?
Klaw: I think I saw him in 2013 in the AFL and he wasn’t much, but that’s ages ago and really relievers just come out of nowhere. This is another reason putting Brach in the ASG is silly. It happens all the time.

Ron: I think Max Kepler is going to be fine. Takes some pretty good at bat already. Potential All-Star? Above average player? 18-20 Taters a year?
Klaw: Potential All-Star. Could see 20-25 HR, maybe only .240-260 most years, but with solid OBPs because he’ll walk. I say potential All-Star because if I’m light on the bat, or he has a high BABIP year and hits .280, he’ll be an All-Star.

MF: Boros is making waves about the Brewers sending down Davies until his natural turn is back after the ASB. Does he have a point? It does seem odd, but is it unusually “disrespectful”?
Klaw: My main reaction to this was that I was surprised Davies has Boras.

Dilson Herrera: Why was I selected for the Futures game, seeing as I’m no longer considered a prospect?
Klaw: Probably to get a Colombian player on the roster. Whatever – it’s an exhibition, let’s have fun with it.

Craig: Should the pirates trade meadows for MLB help or trade one of their current OFs?
Klaw: This is a topic for another day, but the hard truth is that it’s time to look at the post-McCutchen era in Pittsburgh. They’re not going to pay to keep him, and there’s at least some chance his most productive years are already behind him.

Klaw: That’s all for this week. I’ll be in San Diego on Sunday and hope to meet many of you there. The next chat will be Thursday, after the top 50 prospects update is posted. Thank you as always for reading.

Our July 2nd international free agent preview piece is now up for Insiders.

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Klaw: My features form with a change in the weather. Klawchat.

Nolan LeMond: With quality arms at every level of the minors, the emergence of Mike Soroka and others, and three more high-upside arms added in the first 2 rounds of the draft, do the Braves currently have the best collection of arms you’ve ever seen in one organization at one time?
Klaw: No, I think we’ve seen other teams do this before, like Kansas City a few years ago. The attrition rate is going to be high, unfortunately, unless they’ve figured out something we haven’t about arm health. But I think overall they’ve got the right idea and have a chance to be an absolute powerhouse MLB team in about 3 years if they deploy these assets the right way.

Brad: Atlanta blowing way over its budget has been expected for a while for July 2, but it seems like the Padres are going to get the better haul. Is the group Atlanta is expected to sign the second best?
Klaw: Atlanta is getting the best overall prospect in Maitan, but I don’t think their group beyond him is any better than those of other teams going all in this weekend, other than San Diego, who appear willing to give $400,000 to any random kid walking down the street in Santo Domingo.

Greg: You’ve been pretty clear that Boston shouldn’t trade Moncada or Benintendi in a deal for Teheran. If that’s the case, am I wrong for thinking there isn’t a match between the two teams? Sure seems like Coppy wants bats in the upper levels of the minors.
Klaw: I would agree, at least in that Teheran’s value is probably more than the Red Sox could provide if they won’t trade any of the big 3 prospect bats.

Nick: Have you seen/when are you planning to see some of the 2017 prep guys? Seems like a lot of good ones so far: Brady McConnell, Jordon Adell, Hunter Greene, etc.
Klaw: Saw Adell last summer, will see others later this summer. Greene has definitely jumped out early.

JV (Cleveland): Any early reports on Triston McKenzie, Brady Aiken or Juan Hillman as their pro careers get underway?
Klaw: Yep. All good. Hillman especially good early. Aiken’s healthy with good velocity so far.

Samwise: How bad is Candelario’s glove on 20-80? I’ve seen you say it’s abysmal while others have said average or even slightly above?
Klaw: Unplayable at third base. No idea why anyone’s called it average or slightly above. I’ve seen him a ton over the years.

Tom: Is Baltimore for real? Can the Orioles win the AL East?
Klaw: Of course they can – in fact I’d say they’re the odds-on favorites by virtue of the standings today. For real is another question; I killed them preseason because their rotation looked terrible, and it has been terrible. They have a starters’ ERA of 4.95, fourth-worst in the AL, and have basically one and a half non-replacement-level starters in their rotation. They could ignore the problem and maybe still win the division, but it’s not a great formula for now or for October.

Joe D: Keith, is Dovydas Neverauskas any kind of RP prospect or just a good marketing ploy by MLB to add him to the futures game? Also, is Europe the next untapped market for MLB?
Klaw: I wrote about him in the preview – he’s a good relief prospect, but of course he’s there because he’s Lithuanian, and I think MLB should always try to include as many countries as possible in the Futures Game. Maybe his inning ends up on Lithuanian TV and a bunch of kids see it and want to pick up a baseball.

Samwise: Could Eloy Jiminez be a GUY?
Klaw: Absolutely.

Anonymous: Thamas Szapucki and Andrew Church have both had very good starts to their seasons (Szapucki with 19 k’s and 9 baserunners in 10.2 innings). Should Mets fans be getting excited about these guys. Are they legit?
Klaw: Szapucki’s been legit, plus FB plus CB so far, throwing strikes. Didn’t offer much projection in the draft but the tradeoff is that it’s now stuff. Church I liked in the past but has no history of health, and now that I look he’s not even pitching that well.

Andy: For me, the biggest issue with all the Mets Rights Asshats, Jose Reyes hit 274/310/378 last year while playing in Toronto and Colorado. This is the guy you want to ignore ethics for and put at 3B? We’re not talking forgetting about in-prime Miguel Cabrera drunk driving. So they’re taking the public relations hit, looking insensitive, and putting someone with zero ML innings at 3b, all because they don’t want to throw some cash for Matt Dominguez, Will Middlebrooks, or someone similar.
Klaw: I chose not to discuss the baseball merits of the move at all in my piece on the signing because I thought it would diminish the core issue of whether teams should take a stance on players who’ve committed an act of domestic violence (in this case, a very serious one). It doesn’t seem to me like a sliding scale, where we’ll accept more violence if the player’s better. For me, at least, I would simply say no, this is not who we are as an organization, regardless of what he can do for our team – and if my bosses said, sign him anyway, that’s when I’d walk away from the job.

Jeremy: What were your thoughts on the Giants allowing Madison Bumgarner to bat instead of using a DH? My general thought was that even if he was a better hitter than the alternative (doubtful) the risks associated with him batting as far as injury, tiring him out unnecessarily, etc, were unnecessary and foolish.
Klaw: I think Bochy probably looked at the lack of any RHB on his bench other than Trevor Brown and figured Bumgarner (a RHB) was a better option anyway than the LHB available. I don’t agree with this at all – Bumgarner, for all the HR he hits, has a .226 career OBP and doesn’t exactly hit any kind of pitcher well, so it’s not even helping the team. Then you get into the injury issues you raised and, well, maybe they should address the bench.

Anonymous: No question. Just wanted to say I really enjoyed being in Omaha for the CWS but OMG THE BUNTING MAKE IT STOP
Klaw: The series ended yesterday and the Chanticleers are still throwing over to first base.

Andy: Can I read anything in to Austin Hedges start? What kind of power potential do you see for him?
Klaw: Repeating AAA in a crazy hitter’s environment. That said, I do think he has 20-25 HR power if he can hit enough to get to it.

Nick: Ever been to Au Cheval in Chicago? Does a better burger exist?
Klaw: Is it just me or is that a bad name for a burger place?

Craig: What is the earliest age that most teams will start to track/scout players? 14? 15?
Klaw: International guys like Maitan, 14. Draft players, summer after junior year of HS, usually.

Alan: You’ve caused quite a stir with Atlanta fans by talking about the Nationals still pushing for Maitan. Is this something we should be worried about?
Klaw: A few months ago, maybe a year, the Nats made Maitan an offer that he (may have) accepted, after which Atlanta (reportedly) upper their offer and recaptured him. I heard the Nats were still trying to get Maitan to accept a $7 million offer – and there is actually nothing preventing any of these players from breaking an agreement with a team prior to the deadline because THESE DEALS ARE ALL ILLEGAL. The whole system is totally, royally fucked up.

Matt Neffer: Keith, in your opinion, should the Red Sox be penalized for their actions in the last international signing period or are they just doing what every other clubs does but on a larger scale?
Klaw: Most clubs do it. Boston got caught. I don’t think the penalty is that big of a deal, though, as they’re going to lose a handful of low-probability 16- and 17-year-old prospects, none of whom projected (yet) as average or better guys. Maybe it will end up hurting them, but this seems more like a message sent to other clubs not to pull the same maneuver … even though the system provides plenty of incentive for everyone to do this. See my previous answer.

Michael: Sorry if this is obvious, but could you explain what happens to a pitcher mechanically when he throws a breaking ball that doesn’t break (a hanging curveball or slider)? Is it a lack of concentration?
Klaw: Usually he either didn’t get enough spin on the ball from the rotation of his wrist or it slipped out of his hand earlier than he’d wanted it to. Better question for someone who actually pitched, though.

Michael: I was at an International League game the other day and saw scouts from a club with the NPB. Is that common? Have you ever seen Japanese scouts?
Klaw: All the time. Fall League too. Looking for tweeners and 4A guys who’ll go all Tuffy Rhodes over there.

Derek: Has recent performance (12+ Ks in 3 of 5 starts) given you a reason to update your prior on Reynaldo Lopez – your prior being that he’ll end up in the pen? Apart from whether he’s a starter going forward, putting him in the bullpen is the best way for the Nats to improve the 2016 pen, right? He may not be Chapman or Miller, but he may be close and he’s free.
Klaw: The bullpen opinion is about his delivery, not his stuff. I’d definitely look at him as a pen upgrade rather than trading for one of those guys.

Michael: I’m far from an economics expert and I go back and forth on a minimum wage and forced overtime pay. While I thought the bill introduced the other day was an abomination, isn’t low minor league pay an unfortunate, ugly consequence of free-market capitalism?
Klaw: The market for minor league players is not free, though. Movement is highly restricted by the draft and the reserve clause.

Derek: Bone spurs: are the Mets being reckless with Syndergaard and Matz?
Klaw: I think I said they were being reckless on Buster’s podcast yesterday, but if I did, then I apologize for a take that was way too hot. There’s so much that I don’t know here, from exactly what’s going on their elbows to what the probability is of further injury – I thought spurs and chips potentially led to damage to the UCLs, but perhaps that impression is out of date – to what these players, highly paid adults with agency, want to do. I shouldn’t have come on that strongly about the Mets’ plans here. I’m sorry.

Jose: How does Trey Griffey get drafted and Andrew Beckwith not get drafted?
Klaw: Griffey, you know the answer. Beckwith isn’t really a pro prospect of any sort.

Dave: Favorite Chvrches song? I’d lean towards Clearest Blue. Saw them with Death Cab for Cutie in Cleveland and they were incredible.
Klaw: Leave a Trace or We Sink.

Adam: Are you concerned about Manuel Margot’s low OPS relative to his playing environment or am I just scouting the box score?
Klaw: Your mistake is looking at OPS, which is a garbage stat. Margot is 21 in AAA with a .353 OBP. His slugging is low, dragging down his OPS, but he’s not a power hitter and will likely never be one. His game is defense, OBP, instincts, but not power.

Ryan: With half a season in the books, has your impression of Rhys Hoskins’ future changed at all? I know you have previously said he is one to watch, but I am not sure how much he should be considered a real prospect based on the history of power hitters at Reading. Thanks!
Klaw: He’s hit away from Reading, while Cozens did most of his damage at home. I’m more inclined to buy into Hoskins’ numbers, plus I have never been a fan of Cozens’ makeup whereas I am of Hoskins’.

Chuck Connors: With the expected arrival of Braves new international signings, I assume Braves remain #1 (by a wide margin) in your farm rankings. How do you compare the Braves long-term rebuild strategy to similar teams (i.e. Astros) at this point?
Klaw: Yes, they’d still be at the top. The Astros managed to grab more college guys in the draft and more near-in prospects in trades, though, so I think Atlanta’s rebuild may take longer. That’s good, because by the time their prospects are ready in 2019 or so, people trying to get to games at The Big Con in 2017 will have found parking.

Adam: You said Adrian Morejon could have been a Top 5 pick in this last draft. Would he immediately become a Top 3 prospect in the Padres system once he signs?
Klaw: Margot, Guerra, Quantrill, Morejon?

Jeff: Shortly after Austin Meadows was promoted to AAA you referred to him on Twitter as a “budding superstar”, is it safe to say he’ll likely be back in your next Top 25?
Klaw: All depends on who else is up and down before then. Next list is in two weeks. Remember he wasn’t healthy last time I did an update, so he was around #26-28.

Anonymous: Any plans on a Cape trip? Any names there you want to see or feel obligated to see?
Klaw: trying to figure out how to get there with other obligations this month (TV stuff) and family matters. Not sure yet.

Adam: Is Chris Paddack legit or just too polished for his competition?
Klaw: Legit. 90-95, plus CH, breaking ball will flash above average, average command now, comes right down at hitters. Great pickup for Padres.

@RationalMLBfan: While Dilson Herrera toils in AAA, the Mets have given playing time to Matt Reynolds, Ty Kelly, Eric Campbell, and Kelly Johnson, have signed Jose Reyes. Why?
Klaw: I don’t know, but I said earlier this year they seem to be down on Dilson for reasons no one seems to understand.

Andy NMB: Hey Keith, who decides on who makes the futures game? On the USA side just a few outfielders. Wondering why Judge although SSS is maybe one of the hottest hitters. I figured he’d be there. Also after signing 1st pick Rutherford, how is the yanks minor league rankings? New rankings coming soon? Thanks for all the hard work…insider, dish & newsletter. Your the best!!
Klaw: Remember that teams get to say no – for example, I believe the Pirates said no on Glasnow, either because they just didn’t want him to pitch (fearing injury) or because they were looking at calling him up before the game. I know MLB puts together wishlists and doesn’t get everyone they want.

Jim: So, Keith, although his June surge is logically unsustainable, is Danny Espinosa now entrenched at SS for 2016? And what does this mean for Trea Turner? Is the CF “experiment” real, or a blip? Thanks!
Klaw: Yep, I think that’s the rest of the season for them, including Turner in CF. He’s probably an 80 runner and has good instincts; I’d be very surprised if he couldn’t become an average defender there, and they could use his OBP skills at the top of the lineup.

EC: Thoughts on Giolito’s first game?
Klaw: Looked good, not his best. CB was ridiculous. FB command was not great, although I liked how he gathered himself after each of the walks to get back into the zone. Was hoping to see more CH, but he got some quick outs on pop-ups and you’ll take those every time. Promising, but in a way I’m glad he was done after four innings because I thought he was going to run into trouble the third time through the order.

EC: I work for a member of Congress and can tell you that Rep. Boustos revoking her support for the America’s Pastime bill is the quickest I’ve ever seen that happen. Her staff must have done an awful job researching for her.
Klaw: I have a feeling she supported it because her dad was a longtime MLB lobbyist and she didn’t look into the bill. Next we need to go after Rep. Guthrie; perhaps he has an opponent this year who supports basic labor rights?

Josh: Keith, as someone who briefly passed through your world (I did the DodgerDivorce thing), I just wanted to say I’m glad you are getting the opportunity to share your views on things like the Reyes signing. While I don’t always agree with you (although I do here), it is refreshing to see reasoned, thoughtful opinion featured and promoted by your monolith employer.
Klaw: Thank you. My editor actually encouraged me to write that piece after seeing me comment on the signing on BBTN on Saturday. I don’t think that would have happened a few years ago, so there are positive things happening in Bristol that you don’t hear about.

Bob: Are the recent reports on Dylan Cease in the NWL similar to the very positive reports from the spring?
Klaw: I heard secondhand that he hit 103 the other day, so, yeah.

Dan L.: Keith I understand not voting for Trump, but how could anyone vote for a person who used all her power and contacts to try and destroy or discredit all of her husbands victims of serial assault or rape? Seems they get a huge pass from people who are always up in arms about other people who do the same. I personally think they are all scum.
Klaw: You have three choices. One, Johnson, is a protest vote with no chance to win. I don’t agree with Trump on matters of science, gender, race, immigration, taxation, regulation, abortion, gun rights, foreign policy, freedom of worship, energy policy, entitlements … and more. So, unless you’re advocating that I abstain, I think my choice here is pretty straightforward.

Brian: I saw Ashe Russell pitched is first inning of the season the other night for the AZL Royals. Have you heard if he was dealing with an injury this season. I just found it curious that Nolan Watson started at Lexington all season but Russell was left back. Thanks.
Klaw: He was 87-91 in extended.

JT: After a slow start, Tyler Beede has had a really strong June in AA, calling out an improved feel for his change up. Do you think he can keep momentum going and be an solid #3? Maybe a #2?
Klaw: More like a #4-5. Doubt he’ll ever have average command.

Jon: Bo Bichette had unbelievable high school stats and in an extreme SSS he has continued those numbers (obp over 500). Any chance he hits his way to A or High A?
Klaw: It’s 19 AB in pro ball … and this year? He’s 18. If he gets to the NYP league that’s enough.

Ian: Why didn’t the Twins ever send Kepler to the Future’s game?
Klaw: He was on the roster two years ago and got hurt.

Angelo: What’s your favorite “cheap” meat to cook? I’ve been doing pork shoulder lately but need to mix it up while being on a budget.
Klaw: That’s probably my best suggestion too. You can often get less popular cuts of steak for less – flap meat, for example, or sometimes skirt steak.

Sean: Remember when all the experts were having to eat so much crow as the phillies ran away with the NL East. Those were some good times, can’t wait until next May for overreaction theater to happen again.
Klaw: What I really remember is fans asking me if the Phillies would add pieces before the trade deadline. Derp.

Larry: Any word on where Lazarito is leaning?
Klaw: No. I looked into it a little this week, just to see if I’d missed something, and no one had any idea. He’s turned down some decent offers though.

Elton: What did you see in Gregory Polanco to allow you to predict (correctly) that his power would improve?
Klaw: I believed in his swing and hand strength.

Rob: Any chance that Aristides Aquino becomes an impact player at the MLB level. Seems to be holding his own at AA this year but has struggled previous years.
Klaw: Great tools but he’s 22 in high-A (not AA) and I think that’s a big part of why he’s playing well. Would really like to see him get to AAA next summer so the Reds can see how much of this improvement is real, not just age.

addoeh: You seemed to thoroughly enjoy Omaha. What cities (MLB, MILB, College) have most exceeded your expectations from a culinary standpoint?
Klaw: Omaha, Nashville, Charleston, Minneapolis, Atlanta, San Diego, Phoenix (cheating, since i lived there), OKC.

Tyler: Several times this year you’ve advocated for TEX to turn the page on Prince Fielder. At the same time, you are always cautious about SSS when a guy is going good. What is a large enough sample size to determine a player has gone bad and is done? Fielder, for example, was solid last year, so it seems like a decision to dump him is based only on this year.
Klaw: He wasn’t solid last year, though; he had a fluky first two months or so but his bat speed was visibly down and he was getting killed on hard stuff in. Sure enough, he was much worse in the second half as teams changed how they pitched him, and it’s gotten worse for him this year. His bat speed is gone. This is why I watch.

Pat: Keith – Bundy is starting to look good, man. Give me a dose of reality so I don’t get too excited
Klaw: He’s been cultivated so carefully this year that it’s creating unrealistic expectations. He’s still got calcification in his shoulder and his arm swing is so much more restricted than it used to be.

Anonymous: Hey Klaw, teacher here…I’m on summer break and can finally make your chats live! Is Verdugo for Vizcaino about right in terms of value?
Klaw: No, massive overpay for Dodgers.

mike: Help Klaw, yesterday my 2 year old was thrown out of “Dance” instead of taking my wife aside to tell them to leave the instructor did so in front of all the other moms and kids. Im pissed. In the meantime she tells my wife clingy kids never change and come back in 5 years. How can she do this
Klaw: did your 2-year-old start chanting “Jet Fuel Can’t Melt Steel Beams!” in the middle of “Baby Beluga?”

Harvey: Will Jason Groome really attend Jr College?
Klaw: This is the threat, but I think it’s a poor bluff. Next year’s draft class is much stronger in college pitching, and Groome will not likely be more valuable in that class than he was in this one. Also, the makeup concerns about him are not going to vanish with a year at junior college. The Red Sox can offer him about $4 million without giving up a pick next year and he’d be ill-advised to turn that down.

Jack Burton: Did Arcia just need a change of scenery?
Klaw: Yes – or more specifically he just needed to be left alone to play.

Harvey: Is E Rod tipping pitches just a cover for a bigger problem?
Klaw: My guess is that his knee is still bothering him. Can’t do much as a pitcher if you can’t plant your leg.

Robes: Alex Bregman, better than expected?
Klaw: No, just the power, which could easily be a half-season fluke. Everyone thought he’d hit, even in HS.

Jeff: I am a firm believer in not voting if a worthy candidate is not on the ballot. People tell me, “you can’t complain if you don’t vote” – the hell I can’t. Record-low voter turnout would be a wonderful statement to make, IMO.
Klaw: It’s also how you get extremist candidates elected.

Rob: Do you think Lucas Giolito should continue to start once strasburg returns from the DL?
Klaw: In whose stead? He might be a better option than Gio Gonzalez, but I wouldn’t guarantee that, and they’re not demoting Gio to the bullpen anyway so that’s a stupid idea, Klaw.

Dale: Can you define what you mean by “makeup” when describing a prospect? Is it like “character”? Pedigree? Bloodlines? Thanks
Klaw: Pedigree and bloodlines are irrelevant. I’m talking about the type of person a player is, particularly the stuff that matters – work ethic, aptitude, communication skills, willingness to learn.

MichaelT: Re: Reyes and Chapman, is it fair to say your position is that once a player is accused and punished for DV that no team should ever employ him, or that he needs to do something else (not sure what that is) before he can return to the field? I believe that’s the part of the question that throws some fans.
Klaw: What throws me is fans caring about that question rather than saying, oh, hey, he beat his wife, so fuck that guy.

JG: Should Buxton just be left to play?
Klaw: Yes. And perhaps there’s an issue with the Twins’ coaching staff and young hitters? I’m speculating here.

TedT: Has Trey Ball pitched well enough this year to justify his high draft pick and does he project as a major league starter? Reliever?
Klaw: Stuff hasn’t really ticked up. So projectable but it’s never come to pass as expected.

Ed: You’re talking about Atlanta maybe being a powerhouse if they handle their assets correctly. Are you referring to trades for bats?
Klaw: Some of that, yes. Pick the ones to keep, flip some for bats.

Trey: I believe the gentleman was suggesting you abstain from voting. They’re all terrible, I won’t vote so I can openly criticize them all. 2017-2021 is going to be awfully interesting with either Clinton or Trump at the helm.
Klaw: I can vote for someone, because I think her opponent is dangerous, and criticize her at the same time. People who are saying they’re abstaining this year despite their disdain for Trump seem a bit disingenous to me; there must be some level at which you’d vote for a candidate you disliked simply to try to defeat a candidate who scares the hell out of you.

Luke: You’ve guided me correctly with Ticket to Ride, Carcassonne and Splendor, what should the next game be for my family with a 7-year old son?
Klaw: You’ve hit the big three for sure. It’s a bit less common but Cacao is a tile-laying game like Carcassonne with simpler scoring and shorter playing times.

addoeh: The folly of the electoral college. Some people, like me, can make a protest vote and it won’t impact the election because they live in an uncompetitive state. If you live in a battleground state, that may not be possible.
Klaw: I’ve actually never voted in a Presidential election while living in a state where my vote might have mattered. Delaware, my current state, hasn’t gone Republican since 1988. Massachusetts, where I voted in five elections, hasn’t since 1984. Arizona, where I voted in 2012, has gone Democrat once (1996) since 1948. So this is all so much talk.

Sedale: Obviously you were as high as anyone on C. Seager, but has his production thus far even surprised you? He’s on pace for a 30 HR/.800+OPS season as a rookie short stop and has been the Dodgers best bat by far.
Klaw: I wasn’t this high on him in the draft – not until he got to pro ball and I saw how advanced the approach was for his age. He also made a really rapid adjustment when the Dodgers saw he was starting to develop a soft front side in high-A; I think players who make adjustments that rapidly are showing you they’re going to be the exceptions going forward too.

Ian: I think you overstate the power Trump would have. He’s an idiot and couldn’t do many of the things he has suggested. But Clinton’s rhetoric on national security should be getting a lot more attention from progressives. This might be a line in the sand moment. Do we want internet privacy to go away? Do we want drones spying on US citizens (or killing them)? Do we want the govt to fight harder against FOIA? I laugh at Trump and his brand of ignorance but Clinton’s more frightening, IMHO.
Klaw: Presenting this for a little balance, since I didn’t address any of what I dislike about HRC’s policies. You nailed some of them; in general, I do not agree with the Democratic Party’s stances on many issues, including many questions of food policy. (Keep the Republicans out of my bedroom and the Democrats out of my kitchen.) On drones, though, isn’t Trump proposing to use them to monitor the border with Mexico? And to step up airstrikes in the Middle East? I’m basically anti-drone, period, but at this point that’s about as politically tenable a position as reinstating the Volstead Act.

James: reyes – I read your article and understand your feelings on those who hit their wives/family members but if reyes would have taken the year off, gotten counseling (not the lip service kind), got a mentor, would you have supported him coming back or is it a zero tolerance policy? Also, how does your opinion change of some hitting their wife vs. someone who beats up a stranger? I am not trying to corner you, just trying to understand a little more.
Klaw: Domestic violence is not equivalent to beating up a stranger. Domestic abuse is an exercise of power and intimidation. I have never said Reyes should be banned; I have said I would not sign him if I were a GM, and I will criticize a GM who does.

Chris: I’m curious about your opinion on redemption for DV and sexual assault perpetrators. Can there be reform for these individuals? Redemption? To be clear, I don’t mean redemption through athletic performance, but perhaps through therapy, and committing oneself to preventing others from committing DV or sexual assault.
Klaw: I don’t think sexual assaulters can be reformed.

Scott: Is the power Marcus Semien showing real? Because with his improvement in defense, oakland might have themselves a player worth keeping.
Klaw: I don’t think he’s a 30 HR guy going forward – if he is, then hell yeah they have something worth keeping – but between the swing changes, the athleticism, and the hints of power he showed in the minors I could see him now being a 20+ HR guy. He’s definitely an asset now.

Munchkin: Besides Amed Rosario, is there any other exciting high ceiling Mets prospect? It seems Dom, Nimmo, etc have mostly been meh and haven’t developed much.
Klaw: Nimmo I agree. Smith is still just 21 in AA, too soon for you to give up on him. I liked Lindsay from last year’s draft quite a bit. Also think they did pretty well with Dunn this year, another very high-ceiling kid, and I mentioned Szapucki earlier as a dude to watch.

Adam: What are your thoughts on Coppy publicly admitting the Olivera deal was a bad one?
Klaw: He’s right, of course, and I applaud him for saying it. It wasn’t just a bad trade, though; it was a bad evaluation of the player, and ultimately, it’s on the evaluators who said Olivera was something more than he actually was as a player to bear responsibility for a bad deal.

Todd: I’m actually very interested in your answer to MichaelT’s question. And I don’t want my curiosity to sound like a judgment of you; I’m trying to figure out how I feel about the subject and why. On one hand, YES, fuck that guy. On the other hand I am wary of the misanthropic implications of essentially blackballing someone (and I have a hard time separating what he did from the professional suspension he already received). While I fully understand the dangerous psychology behind his criminal behavior, I also believe it costs me when I don’t allow other human beings the space to change. In short, I have a theoretical basis for giving Reyes a chance to grow and learn, while I have an emotional basis for wanting him to piss off and die. Maybe if we didn’t have centuries of oppression, marginalization and abuse of women it would be easier to decide what punishment an abuser should get in each realm of his life.
Klaw: Reyes can get on with his life; I just don’t need to see him do it on a major league baseball field. Playing this sport for salaries of six, seven, or eight figures is not a right, but a privilege. You can lose it, and beating up a woman or raping someone is a fairly good reason to lose it. (A better reason, I’d argue, than failing three steroid tests.) He can go find something else to do with his life.

Sean: I think it’s a bit disingenuous to say that every team does what Boston is being punished for doing. The majority of teams have never exceeded their pools, so they could never have been in a position to need to circumvent the restrictions. It’s the attempt to circumvent the punishment that is their “crime.”
Klaw: Most teams arrange deals prior to July 2nd with agents, which in and of itself is illegal. The whole system is screwed up. I’m saying what Boston did is not unique and at worst marginally worse than all these teams cooking up deals before negotiations are even permitted.

Taylor: Has Ronald Guzman turned the corner?
Klaw: Don’t know; he hasn’t sustained the hot start, and doesn’t have much track record of success, but since he won’t turn 22 until October I’m not going to say anything too harsh here. Merely doing what he’s done in total in AA this year is a positive step.

Tony H: Can a player improve makeup? I’m thinking of someone like Carlos Carrasco who some evaluators — including yourself IIRC — dinged for having makeup problems years ago. Did he just become a better person or is his talent just overwhelming his personal flaws.
Klaw: He was immature and grew up. That happens a lot. (And yes, I dinged him AND Gio Gonzalez for it.) Some issues are bigger; some are issues in certain teams’ eyes and not in others (e.g., marijuana use). The ones that bother me the most are players who don’t or won’t work hard, and players who refuse to work with multiple coaches. It’s a hard game when you won’t even listen to help.

Arin, Ca: What happened to Conforto? Did the Mets miss use him?
Klaw: Aside from the wrist issue, benching him vs LHP really seemed to screw up his mechanics at the plate, so he was pulling off the ball more vs RHP and his whole approach went pear-shaped. I really think Collins is the Mets’ #1 problem right now. If he won’t play young players, they need another manager.

Cam: Is Daniel Norris the answer for the Tigers going forward? Is he fully healthy
Klaw: I don’t know about his health but I’d be very happy moving forward with a rotation that has him and Fulmer at the top of it.

Steve: When are you doing your “Best Under 25” column?
Klaw: Next week, probably.

Doug: Was there any thought by you to head up to MSG for the only NA show for Stone Roses last night? Admittedly, pure bucket list in nature for me, but am so glad I made the trek, as they were 10x better than my expectations
Klaw: Had I liked the two new singles more, perhaps. But I haven’t loved them … and by the way, I’ll have a new music post and playlist up in a little bit.

Klaw: That’s all for this week. Thank you as always for reading and for all of your questions. I’ll be back next week, likely Thursday, for another chat.

Questions go in the frame below, NOT in the comments. My draft recaps for all 30 teams are up for Insiders, one file for AL teams’ drafts and another for NL teams’ drafts.

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Klaw: In this journey, you’re the journal, I’m the journalist. Klawchat.

Joel: Re Nimmo: Is it that you’ve heard that nothing much has changed or that simply put, it’s basically impossible to tell if prospects doing well in Vegas and the PCL are for real (sorta a reverse Savannah problem)? Either way, Nimmo had struggled for a while so it’s certainly nice to talk about him tearing the absolute cover off the ball, regardless of where it is happening…..
Klaw: I’m hearing nothing’s really changed, but the latter point is probably the more important one here. Vegas, Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Reno are all such severe hitter’s parks – mostly due to altitude – that it skews the stat lines of lots of players and makes it hard to separate the wheat from the chaff by eyeballing the numbers.

Cedric: I know you’ve always been high on Dom Smith and have said we should just wait till he gets to the normal ballparks in AA…….only he’s been awful this year (at least just by “scouting the statline” standards). have you heard anything regarding him and his struggles?
Klaw: He’s been very disappointing, but he also just turned 21 yesterday and is in AA. And he’s still making lots of contact and is even drawing a few more walks. But yes, to your point, this is below what I expected from him, and no, I haven’t heard of anything like an injury that might explain what’s happened the last few weeks.

John: You mention that moniak will probably never have an average power tool. One of the reasons that’s you say is because of his narrow stance and line drive swing. How often do teams tinker with this? Is it a common thing for teams to change a stance or a swing path?
Klaw: Stance isn’t hard to change, swing path can be very hard to change. Some guys can do it – Ben Zobrist and Jose Bautista are the two best examples I can think of – but far more struggle. Better to take the player based on what he is and will be with his current swing, at least when you’re drafting 1-1.

EC: I haven’t heard much talk about the “inverted W” recently. Was it disproved? Just a silly way to talk about mechanics?
Klaw: A silly way to talk about mechanics. I never liked or used the term and have said that I can make a lot of pitchers appear to do it simply by changing how high I’m standing while I shoot the picture or video. However, the “high elbow” in that position often means the pitcher is pronating pretty late relative to his front foot landing, and that’s generally a bad thing for arm health.

Michael: I love your work and generally agree with your positions, but I am pretty disappointed you have pushed for the judge in the Stanford case to be recalled. While you or I may disagree with the sentence, it is at least defensible given the probation officer’s recommendation and the severity of filing as a sex offender for life. Judicial independence is an important part of the American legal system and for you (or anyone) to advocate the removal of a judge for one decision is unprecedented and dangerous. (Attorneys who have worked with that judge have repeatedly called him impartial) You may have read extensively on the case (actual court documents), but most have not, and to call on the mob is somewhat irresponsible. Judges are independent for a reason: so they purposely do not give in to the whims of public opinion. You have a voice many of us would love to have. Criticize the judge and his decision all you want. But do it through speech, not a recall.
Klaw: He sentenced a man convicted of felony sexual battery to a jail term commensurate with a misdemeanor. The sex offender registration issue is a red herring: California law does not say jail OR registration, it says jail AND registration. If you read the probation officer’s report, it’s a pro-defendant disaster, and the victim has said it misrepresents her wishes for the defendant’s sentence. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to say a judge who treats sexual battery in such a cavalier manner, even in one case, does not belong on the bench.

Eric H.: Realistic ceilings for Christin Stewart and JaCoby Jones, in your opinion?
Klaw: Stewart above average regular, Jones up-and-down guy or AAA player.

Michael: Why did the Rockies wait so long to DFA Reyes? Clearly, that was a PR decision, but they kept him on the club through the winter and let him play in the PCL.
Klaw: I don’t think they would have been allowed to cut him sooner, at least not before MLB or authorities had weighed in on the charges. Also, I’m good with the outcome. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Bruce: I know it’s SSS but do you think Chris Paddack has top of the rotation potential? Did you foresee this when he was drafted in the 8th round?
Klaw: You’re definitely scouting the stat line if you’re taking 18 innings and talking TOR potential. For that to be true, I’d want to see at least two plus or future-plus pitches, a solid third and maybe fourth, a great delivery, size, history of health … a lot that Paddack doesn’t have. He’s 89-94 with an above-average split-change, no real breaking ball, and just missed almost two months with some kind of arm soreness. Good body and delivery. Great pick in the 8th round, but I could not possibly hang an ace ceiling tag on him just yet.

Owen (London): It’s only June and already Dusty is talking about consistency &the importance of being consistent, not to mention clutch hitters hitting clutchly in clutch situations. I live in London and I’m schvitzing.
Klaw: But they’re in first place ergo he must be a good manager!

Fred: How would you rank Thor, Matz, deGrom, Harvey, Wheeler in order must re-sign/not trade?
Klaw: Thor and deGrom at top. Wheeler is an unknown till he’s back. I’m least sanguine about the long-term health and durability of Harvey and Matz.

NickTheStick: If you had an AAA affiliate with an extreme hitters environment, would that change how you move a hitting prospect through the system? Hold him a little longer at AA? Maybe even call him straight up from there?
Klaw: Skip AAA entirely.

TedT: Assuming Jason Groome signs, about where on your list of top Red Sox prospects will he start out?
Klaw: No more than fourth or fifth I’d say. Pretty good system already.

Rick: You had Dylan Cozens as your sleeper for Philly pre-season. He’s roared out to a 19 HR, 13 SB, .967 OPS start with higher walk and strikeout rates than last season. Product of Reading or is this the breakout you imagined?
Klaw: I think it’s a lot of Reading, but also some maturation at the plate. I’ll buy into it more fully when he does it AAA. Hoskins too, whom I like even though he’s not my ‘type’ of player. I think some of it’s legit, but you can’t believe HR totals in Reading.

Adam: You referred to the Padres draft as confusing. Do you generally like the talent they were able to acquire by essentially buyin low or would you have preferred to see them go top heavy like what the Braves did?
Klaw: I would have gone for it at 8, 24, and 25, while the best players were still on the board, and then gone a little cheaper later to overpay those guys if needed.

Nelson: Klaw, do you consider osteopathy a real science or more pseudo? And if so, when would it be better to go to an Osteopath over a MD?
Klaw: There is a lot of pseudoscience within osteopathy. This essay does the best job I’ve seen of breaking it down.

Michael: Jenkins called up by the Braves……in the bullpen now but you still buying him as a starter long term??
Klaw: Yes, but he needs to miss more bats to be a starter, and I’m wondering if he’ll move to the pen and miss more bats straight off so that that becomes his long-term role.

Francis R.: Have you read Sam Harris’ essay “The Riddle of the Gun” His arguments are so reasoned, this should be required reading for all lawmakers and pundits before they start discussing gun control.
Klaw: Yep, it’s outstanding. Highly recommended.

Al: How can the Orioles stay in the race? Is it impossible? Is strong hitting, defense and bullpen work enough? Because they arent going to get quality starting all year….does that hurt the bullpen then?
Klaw: They haven’t been getting quality starting so far, other than Tillman, and are still basically a .500 team since the 7-0 start. If that means they’re heading for 86-76, are they still fringe contenders?

DPF: Could Cutch get 2 top 100 prospects and a MLB regular if traded this offseason?
Klaw: Depends on whether he gets healthy and performs in the second half. I’m sure he’d still fetch something of value even if not, maybe two top-end prospects and that’s it, but teams will be wary of paying up for him if they’re afraid he’s not 100%.

Gary: Do you think Keuchel turns it around? His peripherals seem to suggest he will.
Klaw: Yes. Seems to be way off mechanically. Stuff is fine.

Pete: Hi Keith. Will the Pirates promote Meadows and Keller soon? Would you?
Klaw: No. No rush on either guy. Both young for their levels with minimal experience below.

Joe: Jake Lamb’s power outburst legitimate? Already up to 12 so far this season.
Klaw: Yep. I’m on it.

Pineapple: Are you a Psych fan, Klaw?
Klaw: You know that’s right.

Nate: Does Josh Hader move into your top 50 for the next prospect rankings?
Klaw: No. Delivery issues remain.

Brad Z: Does Beau Burrow’s low K rate concern you?
Klaw: No. He’s 19 with a handful of innings of pro experience.

Brad Z: Matt Hall has pretty good numbers at West Michigan. How do you project him going forward?
Klaw: Non-prospect.

Nelson: How many older guys like Duvall are there in the Minors that can come up and hit 25+Hrs with a .300 OBP immediately. Are there a bunch, or is he really unique?
Klaw: I don’t think he’s that unique. Most teams wouldn’t play a guy with his lack of OBP skills, so we don’t see it happening very often.

Mulechop: Merrifield has looked pretty good so far. Can he be a league average 2B?
Klaw: No. Like, not even sure I’d give him a 1% chance.

I reordered the following two questions for clarity. I have not changed any of the text.

Anonymous: We talked briefly on twitter yesterday about Syndergaard and you said a complete game has no intrinsic value. Taken to the extreme, if pitcher A has 30 starts of 8 IP and player B had 30 complete games and all other stats are equal, nothing differentiates these two guys in your eyes?
Klaw: Well, player B has nine more innings. Whoop de do.

Ben: Keith, Player B would have 30 more innings in that scenario. One more inning for each start X 30 starts=30 innings. That’s a pretty big difference, is it not?
Klaw: Sorry, I totally misread the question and you’re right. Still, the difference is the thirty innings, not the complete games. I guess the better analogy would be Player A makes 20 starts and completes them all, while Player B makes 30 starts and averages six innings in each, so 180 innings each. Is Player A somehow more valuable because he’s completing all of those games? I don’t buy it. How?

Nathan: Logan Shore at #47. Was that a good, safe pick or should the A’s have aimed for a higher ceiling talent?
Klaw: Little safe, but appropriate for the round.

Ray: You believe in science. Are there studies that show one week of pitching too much causes major injuries? I’m against overuse too, but it seems that throwing 250 pitches in 72 hours one time isn’t as big of a risk as pitching itself.
Klaw: ASMI research has consistently shown that pitching while fatigued increases the risk of injury. If you think anyone can throw that much and not end up fatigued, well, we just disagree.

006: Don’t understand why they would activate Willson Contreras at this point….they are 24 games over .500, no? Unless something is wrong with Montero/Ross?
Klaw: I believe Ross got dinged up last night – Ron Coomer apparently floated this on Chicago radio today.

Ben: Is Kendall the best college hitter in the draft next year as of now? What about best overall college prospect?
Klaw: Right now, he’s the best college position player in the class. I don’t know who’s clearly 1-1 if anyone, but I am hopeful this is a 2011 situation where 4-5 players are good enough to go 1-1 and you can’t really go wrong with any of them.

Tom: Josh Bell already has more homers this year than last year, although his K% is up to 17. Is he turning into a power hitter or just a hot streak?
Klaw: Not sure what the “although” is … that’s a comically low K rate for a hitter like Bell. I think he’s pulling the ball more this year, unlocking power he’s always had.

Vin: Why do you think Bryan Reynolds fell so far in the draft? With so much ability, it seems foolish that teams were so scared of his strikeouts, especially considering his awareness of the strike zone.
Klaw: Yeah, the strikeouts, concerns he’ll struggle vs good lefties, better pitching … where the Giants took him, I’d take that toolset eight days a week. I would have taken it 30 picks higher. He’s not hopeless at the plate, but he’ll need to tighten his approach.

Ben: At what point do we become concerned with Judge’s AAA stats, particularly his propensity to strikeout at a high rate?
Klaw: I believe I raised this concern last summer when he was in AA. That said, he’s been cutting the K rate this season – started June 0-8 with 3 Ks, and since then has 9 K in 56 PA, hitting .409/.536/.636 in that 12-game span. Small sample, hardly definitive, but at least pointing in the right direction.

Doug: Are you surprised Cal Quantrill received an above slot deal? Especially considering Pint went well below.
Klaw: Yes. I can’t imagine returning to stanford next year for Marquess to run him into the ground was an appealing alternative to signing.

Ben: Do you think Severino figures out his command issues on his offspeed pitches?
Klaw: I have no way to tell. I think the delivery makes it hard for him to repeat his arm stroke, but that was true last year and his command was better than it was this year.

Andrew: David Paulino has posted impressive numbers in AA, but I don’t know too much about him…is he a potential rotation guy?
Klaw: Bullpen guy. Power arm with delivery/command questions.

BW: You said you were surprised Alex Kirilloff went to the Twins. How good do you think he can be?
Klaw: Only in that I just didn’t have good intel on the Twins this year. That’s my mistake, not theirs. Above-average everyday right fielder with power.

Jack: Why did Groome back out of his Vandy commitment?
Klaw: He was never going to Vandy. I think the ploy was for him to threaten to go back into next year’s draft, but that class is so loaded with college arms that it’s not a credible alternative to signing.

Nate: What do you expect from Tim Anderson this season? 275/300/400?
Klaw: I’d take the under, slightly.

Brett: Keith, are you concerned at all about Rafael Devers season so far in high A? You had him ranked I think #9 in your pre season prospect list. Any concerns long term?
Klaw: None. Again, he’s been much better lately, and he’s only 19 years old.

Scherzer’s Blue Eye: So Bob Davidson tosses Rendon because “he thought he was going to throw the bat at me.” Is there a more ridiculous statement, especially given the player involved. And, why aren’t Umpires held to more public accountability?
Klaw: No idea. That was clear provocation by Davidson, who was confrontational with Rendon immediately after tossing him. MLB should be much more open about umpires who pull this crap.

Rudy: The AZ baseball coach said he’d rather not breathe than lose a game which tells you why he doesn’t give a shit about his players.
Klaw: And adds to the impression that he flunked Anatomy 101.

Tuesday: I’ve got a weakness for mysteries set in another time, if not involving actual people (see Name of the Rose by Eco, Instance of the Fingerpost by Pears, Monaldi & Sorti). Any good ones you can recommend?
Klaw: The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (and his other great novel, The Moonstone) are set in the 1850s because that’s when they were written. TWIW is considered the first major suspense novel.

Michael: Why do the PCL and California League exist then? Is it too expensive to start leagues in better environments?
Klaw: Where would you put them? Especially the PCL, which has teams in good-sized metro areas in the west that can by and large support these clubs. There are a handful of A-ball type markets unserved on the east coast, but not enough to add a half-dozen or so AAA teams.

James: Still think Archie Bradley is a starter?
Klaw: Long term, yes.

Donny Baseball: Is it realistic to ask for Schwarber for Miller?
Klaw: You can ask. The worst that happens is they say no. It’s not insulting to ask for that.

Scherzer’s Blue Eye: Scouting the Stat line: Drew Ward is breaking out. True or False?
Klaw: False. Repeating the level.

Jeremy: Zagunis just moved up to AAA. Can he be a major league contributor? He has a .400 OBP at every level in the minors.
Klaw: And has no position. He’ll play in the majors but I don’t see where he’d be a regular.

Matt: Some see AJ Puk as a bargain at No. 6, but with his recent struggles, was he actually a big risk at 6? Or do you think he will get things sorted out being with professional coaches?
Klaw: Not a bargain. About right. Has work to do on the delivery – lower half in particular is not well synced with upper half.

Santos: Serious question – why can’t you trust HR totals in Reading? You generally don’t hear that in the East.
Klaw: Small park that favors HR dramatically relative to other Eastern League parks.

Ignatius O’Reilly: The Rangers have a comfortable lead in the A.L. West, despite getting very little from Yu Darvish and nothing from Prince Fielder. They have a strong farm system they can use to make deadline deals, but other than bullpen help, is there anything (or anyone) out there they should really be giving up a big package for come July?
Klaw: Nope. And really, they could continue to improve by benching Moreland for Gallo.

Kevin: In what round, or specific player, was the first guy taken that you had no notes on or had not heard of?
Klaw: Travis MacGregor was the only day one guy on whom I had nothing. Not coincidentally, everyone I asked called that the ‘worst’ pick of the day – the subset of teams I asked had him either as a fifth rounder or as someone who should go to college.

Jason: Tyler O’Neill is putting up even better numbers as a 20 year old in the Southern League… is he on the rise?
Klaw: Yes – I’m most impressed that he’s not striking out, actually, as that was a real concern I had about him. Power was absolutely there, Cal League or not, but I didn’t know if he’d hit enough to get to it. He’s doing that and more and is still just 21 in AA.

Colin: I know Grichuk can’t tell a strike from his head, but do you like what the Cardinals are doing with Wong and CF. Do you think he can handle it adequately?
Klaw: I haven’t liked their handling of Wong for a while now, going back to the weird (punitive?) demotion … last April? or was that 2014? Either way, moving him off 2b seemed awfully reactive. He was never great there, never bad.

Kyle: Keith – do you think Mengden and Overton can become #4/5 starters in a solid rotation?
Klaw: Yes. Mengden might be a 4. Odds are both are 5s. Above replacement level, below average. Overton I’d like more if the velocity ever gets all the way back to pre-TJ levels.

NEP: Starting tomorrow how would you split up the playing time between the 3 Cubs catchers with Contreras coming up?
Klaw: Start Contreras 4 days out of 5, let Ross catch the other day, give Montero a fruit basket.

Jimmy: I know Adam Duvall is a first half outlier but can’t there be a ‘well that came out of nowhere’ spot on the All Star team or because home field is wrongly linked we can’t have fun like that?
Klaw: It really goes against the original purpose and main current value of the game: Get the best players all on one field at one time for the mass audience to watch. No one but Mrs. Duvall is turning on the game to watch Adam Duvall play. People will tune in to watch a genuine star having an off half-season, like Giancarlo Stanton. If you want to slip in a few guys who’ve come from nowhere, then make them young players, especially rookies, who will form the next generation of stars.

Justin: What is a realistic line going forward for Aledmys Diaz? .260/.330/.400 with average D at SS?
Klaw: I think he’s a below-average defender at short but the triple-slash line is probably right, maybe a little too low in the batting average.

Tom: I recently blew through a bunch of your restaurant recs found here on this very site. I’ve probably gone to about 15 places you’ve recommended and have always like them. No question – this is just a PSA for everyone chatting.
Klaw: Thanks! Glad they’ve worked out. One of the consolations of heavy travel is that I find some pretty fun places to eat.

Paul: Klaw – I know you’ve been buried in amateur prospect coverage the last month or so, but have you happened to catch any recent reports on Touki? I see that he’s still walking a ton of batter, but his last start was streamed on MILB, and good grief he looked filthy. Guess that’s pretty much the MO, though.
Klaw: Yep, stuff is great, still the same great athlete, just raw. Going to take him a while. I think everyone knew that when the Dbacks drafted him and when they gave him away.

FS: if Dunning is ML ready reliever, should Nationals consider promoting him this season? Their bullpen can use the help.
Klaw: No. He’s a starter long-term and I would transition him into that role.

Bret: I know you weren’t a fan of the Blue Jays draft, though in the past few years they have typically had a lot of success (when signing their picks). Do you attribute it to a change on leadership/philosophy, or just a case of not happening to be on the same page with particular player choices?
Klaw: This looks like a new philosophy in the draft and it certainly doesn’t match mine.

Ian: What have you heard on Brandon Marsh?
Klaw: Nothing really, other than that we’re a month from the signing deadline and anything players say at this point is probably codswallop. Perhaps it’s a ploy on his part or his agent’s – I don’t know that, but it’s possible.

Pete: Does Derek Hill’s defense make him at least a 4th OFer, even if he never figures it out at the plate?
Klaw: Yes, assuming he at least can put the ball in play 75% of the time.

Anonymous: I just read that Harris piece. Measured, but flawed. 100,000 people don’t die every year because doctors fail to wash their hands. 100,000 die every year from infections which live in hospitals and when you are cut open, you are susceptible to them. And protocols are in place to reduce that. In the same vein, we should protocols in place to reduce gun deaths whether mass shootings or singular incidents.
Klaw: I agree and favor much stricter laws on who can buy guns and what guns they can purchase. (I do not own a gun and hope I never have cause to change that.)

Busty Taker: Did Dusty Baker kick your dog?
Klaw: No, but he said my cat wasn’t clutch and needed more AAA seasoning. (Grow up already.)

Aaron: How many guys from next years draft class are you familiar with at this point?
Klaw: Twenty guys, maybe? Not enough to really talk in more than general terms. I try not to use any bandwidth on the year ahead until the draft has passed.

Anonymous: Hi Keith, any scouting report on Gourriel? Does he have a much higher floor than so many of the other Cuban players that have defected, given his age and track record?
Klaw: I saw him very bad last summer, but apparently he played much better over the winter. I highly doubt he can come right to the majors and contribute, given his age and time off, but he could be an everyday player next year for someone. I’d be really concerned about investing too much given how slow and old he looked last July, though.

Dan: What is going on with Ronald Acuna? Reports this season have been great but he hasn’t played in over a month and is on the DL but I haven’t seen any details on his injury. Is it serious?
Klaw: Broke his hand, I think. I know some Atlanta blogger(s) tweeted a picture of him wearing a cast.

Dan: What Toni Morrison work would you recommend someone starting with?
Klaw: Beloved, then Song of Solomon, then stop. It’s all downhill from there.

Dan: Brent Honeywell has been out over a month with an arm issue. I’ve heard it’s not overly serious but there has to be some level of concern with a young guy an elbow issues. Have you heard anything about his status and do you think he’s a big injury risk going forward?
Klaw: I think anyone who misses that much time with an arm injury is a risk going forward.

Ed: What does Tom Hatch project as in the bigs? a 4 or 5? Or bullpen? He seems like a solid pick for a college player in the 3rd round.
Klaw: Could be a 3 if healthy but he’s had some real health issues.

Brewersfan: Brett Phillips is striking out a lot… (32%) Should we worry about that? Maybe lost his status as top100?
Klaw: Completely serious question: Why do so many fans assume players jump in or out of the top 100 after 60 games? Is the skill set the same? The swing, the body, the delivery? Is there an underlying explanation, like an injury (remember when Hosmer played half a year in low-A with a broken metacarpal in his hand), that might explain a poor performance? Phillips is still the same guy he was last year. He might just take a little longer than we’d like.

Nationals Review: A few weeks ago when Espinosa was pretty awful at the plate you and I discussed replacing him with Turner (thanks again!). Now that Espi is hitting, at a clearly unsustainable but incredibly awesome 8 HRs in last 70 PAs… Seems silly to replace him with Turnet today, but How much rope should he get?
Klaw: None. I think that’s pure recency bias – he’s the same guy he was in May and April and 2015. What would you project him to be the rest of this year – the player he’s been the last 70 PA, or the guy you and I discussed him being when we talked a few weeks back?

Tom: O’Hearn, Mancini, Healy – are any of them legitimate breakouts? Which one profiles the best?
Klaw: Most hope for O’Hearn. Not much of a believer in the other two. Mancini’s 24 and hasn’t been anything special in AAA.

RP: Jim Salisbury, a well connected Philly writer, says Moniak is getting $6.5-7M and Gowdy is getting $4.5M. The Gowdy number can’t be true, can it?
Klaw: I doubt those numbers are true, sorry.

Rick: How frustrating it must be to offer an honest opinion on a player (McCullers) only to have him totally miss the point and blast you on Twitter as some “crappy” blogger. It’s not even like you said he’ll never be a starter.
Klaw: Also, I said he’d be a closer, potentially, which is like an $8-12 million a year job. It was a childish comment and I did not respond for that reason.

Bill: How does Moniak’s offensive skillset compare to J.P. Crawford’s when he was drafted?
Klaw: Liked Crawford’s swing more. Better runner underway. Didn’t know Crawford was this disciplined a hitter at the time.

Biff: Keith, newly working in the Wilmington metro area, what are your go-to can’t miss local spots?
Klaw: Cocina Lolo, La Fia, Two Stones are our favorites in the area. The best food is in Philly though.

Clem: Do you have a report on Josh Okimey? Tearing up the lower minors with lots of walks…is he a prospect?
Klaw: Yes, he is. Think I mentioned him last week in chat. Got MUCH stronger this winter, body totally changed.

Rob: Rowdy Tellez and JD Davis were once hS teammates. Is there a better chance they play against each other in the big leagues or that they are once again teammates….on the USA Men’s National Slo Pitch Softball Team.
Klaw: The latter.

Marshall: Name the 3 first rounders from last week that you think have the best chance to become multi-time all stars.
Klaw: Not sure I’d put that on anyone in this draft. It was really weak at the top. My top 3 guys were Ray, Groome, and Garrett, so that would be my answer, but even so I’m not sure they have that kind of potential … Ray because he doesn’t have quite that upside as a probable LF, the other two because they’re high school pitchers.

Adam: I am here every week and a big supporter of you and havent had a question answered in months………have I been black balled or just asking bad questions?
Klaw: I get hundreds of questions every week. The software says I have over 400 this week. Can’t get them all.

Chris: Luis Ortiz is holding his own in AA it looks like, but I’m only looking at stats so it could be way off. Is he a Guy?
Klaw: He’s a GUY, but probably not really ready for AA, more there because the Rangers didn’t want to leave him in the Cal League. Kate Morrison (@unlikelyfanatic) saw his last outing. She’d have more for you.

Brian: Do you agree w/the idea that the Phillies system is very deep but has few really elite talents?
Klaw: That’s fair, other than Crawford.

Anthony: Tyler Austin was a guy you liked awhile ago. Then injuries and lack of production struck. He is playing pretty well this year though. Has he made it back on to your radar yet?
Klaw: Really believed in his swing. Was not the same for two-plus years after the wrist injury … and maybe he was never that good before? Long way to go to reestablish himself, since it’s only 11 games in AAA and he’s played at that level before.

James: Would the Padres really trade Wil Myers? How can that be a good move?
Klaw: What if they get back multiple pieces who can help them?

Ben: Six years later I would like to ask it: what the hell were the Yankees thinking with Cito Culver
Klaw: I did not like the pick – he wasn’t on my top 100 for the draft that year – but I believe a lot of it was that they loved the kid, knew him really well because he’d played on their scout team that summer at East Coast Pro and Area Codes, and perhaps overrated him as a player because of his makeup.

jim: Who is the better pitcher out of allard wentz and Anderson
Klaw: Allard, Anderson, Wentz, in that order.

Jeffrey: I think one could make the argument that in some cases, the best players aren’t really “stars” as far as being widely known off the field throughout the country. I’m as big a Reds fan as their is, and I’m not sure anyone outside of Cincinnati cares a lick about seeing Joey Votto take 2 walks. He’s a wizard, but he has the personality of a loaf of bread. So sure, give the Reds token slot to Duvall. Or Bruce. I doubt anyone will care.
Klaw: Actually I’d advocate Finnegan over those others. Always need more pitching in those games and in one inning he’ll hit 97 a few times with a wipeout slider. And he’s been their best starter.

Pat: The closeness of those PCL cities to the MLB team also adds value when adding AAA guys to the MLB team due to injuries. LAD can call up a guy from Albuquerque & he’s in LA in 3-4 hours. Can’t do that with a guy playing on the East Coast.
Klaw: Very good point. Even helps for the Cal League – you can send Puig to rehab in Rancho Cucamonga and, uh, keep tabs on him while he’s there.

Dan: I just finished The Sympathizer and man, was it good. (pun not intended) I was surprised at how easy it was to read given the structure. I read your review before the chat and saw you enjoyed it as well.
Klaw: Yep, totally see why it won the Pulitzer. Oddly gripping given the subject matter and lack of any traditional narrative element like a mystery or concern over a sympathetic main character.

Mike: I’m a physician (MD). I work with DOs (Doctors of Osteopathy). They’re medical training is largely the same as MDs, and they are held to the same standards for board certifications and medical licensure. While some aspects of their training are questionable, a DO physician should not be considered “inferior” to an allopathic physician. I thought it was worth pointing this out to your readers as there is a lot of unfair bias in the medical community against them.
Klaw: Thank you for that. I think it’s doctor to doctor. That raging crackpot pediatrician in Tennessee who came out as a vaccine-denying quack is an MD, so there are idiots on both sides.

Mike: has your perception on aaron blair changed any from his mlb starts? do you think Flowers would help frame more for him than AJ? Thanks KlAw
Klaw: No change. Isn’t AJP the worst framer or one of the worst in baseball? So an elastic net would be better behind the plate.

Karl: Are Mitch Keller and Kuhl org type guys or do they have potential to be #2 or #3 rotation guys?
Klaw: Big gap between those outcomes. I think Kuhl’s a two-pitch reliever. Keller might be a 2. Good athlete, fresh arm, chance for three pitches.

Ridley Kemp: I have a meta-question: Approximately how many Donald Trump-related questions have been asked of you so far?
Klaw: Almost none. Definitely some selection bias here.

Dan: Hi Keith-saw Tim Anderson in his second game. Not knowing his milb stats, I focused on his plate presence–he seemed like a guy ready to swing, very animated. I cd be totally wrong, of course. But do you eval plate presence like you do mound presence?
Klaw: Not really, unless the body language is terrible, like Donavan Tate’s was in HS – totally disinterested.

Jeff: Tyler Mahler was your Reds sleeper this year, threw a no-no this week. So uh, please pick a bunch more Reds sleepers. Thank you.
Klaw: Um …. Jackson Stephens! Aristides Aquino! Nick Senzel! Wait, that might be cheating.

Mike: The Rockies took mostly arms (probably right due to strength of draft and BPA)….will they ruin a few deliveries by tinkering like Matzek and Gray?
Klaw: I get the sense that’s over with now. I hope so at least.

James: Does Kevin Newman have the best hit tool you’ve ever scouted?
Klaw: No, but I think it’s plus. I got some grief over ranking him as high as I did – not just from readers but from friends within the game. Granted, it’s only high-A, but at least he’s played well out of the chute.

Klaw: That’s all for this week; sorry there were some little software glitches and a brain cramp or two on my end. I’ll be back at some point next week, but with travel to Omaha for BBTN it might not be on Thursday. Thank you as always for reading.