The dish

Klaw:Started with a pow, and I’m gonna end it with a bang. Klawchat.

Ray Michael: As a Giants Fan this Eddy Julio Martinez thing is just so strange. What is the latest you are hearing? Who has the edge the Cubs or the Giants?
Klaw: He has an agreement with the Cubs that should be binding, as he didn’t sign the term sheet with the Giants … and I know there’s a disagreement over whether the Giants’ term sheet reflected their initial financial offer to the player.

A Canadian: Have you ever seen anything less Canadian (or generally unedifying) than Toronto fans raining debris and abuse onto the field?
Klaw: Idiots are idiots regardless of nationality, unfortunately.

Jim (on the ledge): Okay, Keith. Washington’s first managerial interview is with Dusty Baker. I’m hoping it’s just a “courtesy” interview, although saying he’s “better than Williams” doesn’t reassure me. Granted the Prior/Wood issues were over 10 years ago, and lineup construction can be overrated, but still, how worried should I be?
Klaw: He’s absolutely not worth hiring. It would be a dumb PR-oriented move that would be more likely to set the franchise back rather than forward, and with the Mets ascendant and only likely to improve from here – it’s pretty easy to forecast them as a 95-win team in 2016 with only marginal changes – the Nats would be shooting themselves in the face by hiring someone so regressive.

Nick: Hi Keith…was Matt Arnold a good choice as Asst. GM for the Brewers? Does his background and/or strengths and weaknesses compliment David Stearns’ in your opinion?
Klaw: Nice guy, extremely well-regarded by his colleagues and the scouts who worked for him in Tampa, but the last part of your question does address one of my questions too – are they too similar in background and philosophy?

Will: Now that Corey Seager has graduated, is JP Crawford the best prospect in baseball?
Klaw: Seager has not graduated; I use rookie eligibility on my lists, so players like Seager and I believe Steven Matz remain eligible despite having some major-league service.

George: Which player would you say most inexplicably barrels-up baseballs (hits the ball hard), in spite of poor plate discipline and/or swing mechanics?
Klaw: Have you seen Hunter Pence hit?

Johnny (Billerica, MA): Would you say that Anderson Espinoza is the most highly touted pitching prospect after Urias?
Klaw: Highly touted is a subjective term; he’s certainly receiving tremendous praise and publicity for a 17-year-old, but neither of those guys is the top pitching prospect in the minors right now.

Derek: What’s your favorite wintertime braise?
Klaw: Favorite is short ribs with red wine and dried figs, but that’s a once or twice a winter thing because they are so unhealthful (and I need to at least pay attention to that stuff).

Derek: True or False: Trea Turner should be on the Nats opening day 25 man roster.
Klaw: True.

Kingpin: I know you wrote an Insider piece on Eddy Julio Martinez, but I don’t have Insider access. (I’m a single dad with 3 teenage sons, so I have incredibly limited disposable income. Thanks for continuing the chats for those of us who can’t afford Insider but really love your work.) Any way, how refined is Eddy Julio’s game? What is his MLB ETA?
Klaw: I appreciate your honesty … I’ve had folks come to me at games and openly mock Insider, saying they could pay for it but refuse to on philosophical grounds, which strikes me as a rather bizarre place to make an ethical stand. Anyway, I don’t have any idea of his plate discipline, but I love his swing, body, and athleticism, and would probably start him in low-A with an eye toward a quick promotion if he shows his approach is advanced.

Dana: Should the Yankees go all in on Jason Heyward even though they have Gardner/Ellsbury/Beltran in the OF next year?
Klaw: Beltran can barely move in RF; you could argue they have Judge almost ready for that spot, but of course you’d rather have Heyward out there. I think it depends more on what they intend to do with Ellsbury; if he’s really this bad a player now, does he become a contract to dump, in which case they could put Gardner in CF and Judge in LF?

Robert: Was Matheny ignoring Siegrist’s reverse splits against lefties the worst managing decision of the Divisional Round?
Klaw: This has been such a huge debate – whether there’s such a thing as a LHP with a reverse split – but from a scouting POV it’s pretty evident that a lefty who has a good changeup/split and almost never throws breaking balls is going to have a reverse or neutral split. Matheny treating him like a lefty specialist is the mistake, because all available evidence, statistical and scouting, says that Siegrest is NOT that.

Jock Thompson: Glad you’re over here and restriction-free on your opinions. And thanks for reminding us of these chats and transcripts over on Facebook. Though we don’t always agree, yours is one of the more valuable on-line voices in informing my baseball opinions.
Klaw: I wouldn’t expect anyone to “always agree” with me, but if readers think I make good arguments then I’m happy.

Christopher: What is the greatest threat to the future of humanity? Climate change, or bat flips?
Klaw: Democrats say … nope, wait, not going there.

John: Why do you so easily want to give away your second amendment right? There are already thousands of gun laws. It’s a slippery slope when citizens give away rights.
Klaw: The slippery slope fallacy is a fun one. Anyway, your bigger error is assuming that your interpretation of that right mirrors mine or everyone else’s. Haven’t we all spent 200 years arguing over what exactly that right entails – whether the “well-regulated militia” part matters, and whether it proscribes any restrictions on the types of guns citizens may own?

Dan: Do the Cubs have another step forward ahead of them? As a Pirates fan I’m afraid they are going to get squeezed between some good (and somewhat lucky) Cards teams and a potential dynasty Cubs.
Klaw: Yes, I think they do. I think they’ll go after a top starting pitcher FA this winter, and there are still a few prospects on the farm who haven’t reached the point where they’re widely known yet.

Alan: Three of four series go to game five. Homeruns that still haven’t landed. Awesome pitchers being awesome. Yet, i haven’t heard a “fyeahbaseball” in forever. C’mon Keith! it’s for the children! (Provided the children are 35 year old men who absolutely should be paying more attention in this meeting they’re in right now)
Klaw: To be honest, and I know this won’t be a terribly popular opinion, I thought the Jays/Rangers’ game sucked. The Rangers took the lead on a freak play – correctly adjudicated by the umps, by the way – that led to idiot fans throwing garbage. Then the Jays tie the game on three errors before Bautista does that thing he does so well. The whole inning took something like 40 minutes and it wasn’t 40 minutes of baseball, but like 15 minutes of talking and arguing and cleaning up. It’s just an aesthetic opinion, but that’s not the kind of game I’m hoping to see in the playoffs.

Adam: Question the world has been debating, unless you are party-killer Sam Dyson: Better bat flip – Yo or Joey Bats?
Klaw: Bautista. There was some serious fuck-you in that flip.

Brint: What is the likelihood that Aaron Altherr becomes an above average regular in OF? Is his defense athleticism enough to overcome his potential shortcomings as a hitter?
Klaw: Very low.

J: Hey now! Do you think Arcia and Crawford break camp with the Brewers and Phils? Or start @ AAA?
Klaw: Both AAA. No reason for either team to promote those players too soon.

Michael: Would you say that fouling off a tough pitch rather than putting it in play softly is a skill or just luck?
Klaw: It’s a skill, IMO.

aaron, houston texas: With astros bullpen being terrible, does that change your thinking on “pay for relievers”?
Klaw: No – they paid for two of those key guys, Neshek and Gregerson. The problem was that they didn’t get guys who miss bats, not in the free agents nor from their own system. They need to figure out which of the hard-throwing prospects is better suited to the bullpen – Feliz, Velazquez, McCullers, etc.

Donnie: Who do you have winning the LAD-NYM series. Your response in last week’s chat conflicted with your ESPN article. Thanks.
Klaw: OH MY GOD I CHANGED MY MIND ON SOMETHING HOW DARE I DO THAT

Nicholas: Thoughts on the Jerry Dipoto hire?
Klaw: Strong choice. Surprised he hasn’t made more changes below him, though.

Kent: Was rangers 7th inning collapse in your opinion the biggest “choke” in post season history?
Klaw: One, no, and two, I hate using that word for the way it implies some kind of character failure. It’s baseball. One team will lose and there will probably be a mistake or two along the way.

KC: Can you explain why you were ok with the bunt in the Toronto game?
Klaw: I’m not exactly sure which bunt you mean. Didn’t Goins bunt vs a LHP at some point? He’s an automatic out vs lefties anyway.

Jim Boden: Hi keith. Khris davis for Aiken and Bobby bradley. Fair enough for both brewers and indians? Indians need a cheap right-handed slugger(empty DH slot) and brewers need high ceiling prospecrs. What do you think?
Klaw: Good grief that’s a stupid trade for Cleveland.

JR: I know I shouldn’t be, but I’m still shocked at the lack of urgency managers will show in important playoff games. For example, it was obvious Mchugh didn’t have his best stuff last night. No way he should’ve started the 5th (and bringing in Fiers to start the 5th would’ve probably been much more comfortable for him). Same thing in Cubs/Cards game 3. It was obvious Wacha was ineffective. Matheny had the opportunity to pinch hit for him in 4th and turn it over to bullpen but sent him out to hit and he got hit hard in the 5th.
Klaw: The Wacha situation was worse because of that AB and because that game was still very much in reach. Had Hinch pulled McHugh after 4 for Walter Johnson they would still have lost that game.

Chris G.: I know you work for a cable network, but it seems really stupid to me that I can’t stream the play-offs live online because I don’t have cable and blackout rules apply in my area. Why won’t the MLB take my money?
Klaw: I agree completely. MLB has to adjust to the increasing number of households who are ditching cable/satellite. I may be joining that number this winter.

Corey: Boston seems to have a group of almost-but-not-quite players who are blocked at AAA – Cecchini, Brentz, Coyle, Marrero, Brian Johnson, etc Do you retain as taxi squad insurance or do any of them have any trade value?
Klaw: I think you shop all of those guys who have value – that’s Marrero, Cecchini, Johnson (if healthy), Holt, JBJ – particularly targeting high-end arms.

Ben: Between the Mets and Dodgers, which team would you say the Cubs have a better shot against?
Klaw: Probably Dodgers. BTW, I didn’t clarify my answer above – when I actually sat down to write my real predictions (which aren’t worth much anyway), I thought the matchup favored the Mets much more than it did at first glance, which is why I picked them to win the series in four. Those odds change a bit now with Greinke pitching again and the game in LA, but I’d still give a very slight edge to NY.

Ethan: RE: last night’s freak play – time to revisit the rules around live balls now that the batter can’t leave the batter’s box? Doesn’t it seem like a return ball hitting the batter will happen a lot more now?
Klaw: I think we’d need to see it happening a lot, or batters trying to sneak the bat out there a little bit to make something like this happen, before we change the rules. It was weird, but it is extremely rare, and the umps got the call right. I do wish Dale Scott hadn’t confused the issue by calling time, but oh well.

Cody: Do you think Javy Baez has raised his stock enough that he can return something interesting this off-season or would the Cubs still be selling low? More likely Baez or Castro is moved or neither?
Klaw: I don’t have a great sense for the market for Castro, but I think I’d rather move him and roll the dice on Baez pulling a Chris Davis. I doubt Castro becomes a star, but he’s very valuable because of his contract. Baez has a higher bust probability but he could become a star much more easily.

Hugo Z: Why DFA Gattis if you can find a trade partner in the AL?
Klaw: What kind of trade value would he have? There wasn’t much of a market last winter, and now it’s even more evident how limited a player he is. I think I said this elsewhere, but he would have been valued more highly and more valuable in fact twenty years ago, when teams had larger benches (and didn’t care about OBP).

TJ: Looking at the number of effective relievers in the majors who failed as starters (both setup guys and closers like Britton, Andrew Miller, etc), is investing in failed starters as bullpen arms be a better strategy than paying big money for “proven” relievers? Any help my beloved Detroit Tigers can get in building a decent bullpen would be appreciated…
Klaw: No question. How many guys drafted and developed as relievers turn out to be great relievers in the majors, at least as a percentage of the guys who were drafted and developed as relievers? The failure rate there is incredibly high, I think in large part because those guys were already relievers (in college, usually) for a really good (that is, bad) reason.

Corey: Do you not trust in JBJ to be a starter compensating for dry spells with an A+ glove or Boston has enough OF options that he’s expendable ?
Klaw: More that they have so many other options.

Gavin: Would you give a QO to Span or Wieters? I assume both teams would hope that neither would accept, regardless, correct?
Klaw: Span, if our medicals said he was OK, then yes. Wieters, probably yes because I doubt Boras would want him to take it, but also a healthy 2016 from him is probably worth something close to that $15.8 million anyway.

KC: Would you take Schwarber 1-1 in hindsight or still too early to tell?
Klaw: Way too early to even suggest that.

ds: RE: Relievers – Which is why the Twins strategy of drafting RP’s and trying to turn them in SP’s makes me cringe.
Klaw: Well it just hasn’t worked. They took Nick Burdi, who legitimately throws 100 mph, last June, and he stunk this year. They took another guy who threw 100 with awful mechanics (Cederoth) and are trying to make him a starter. Then a round or two later they took a more unheralded college reliever in Jake Reed and he’s the best of the lot.

Sal: Keith – thoughts on the mets turning degrom and thor into 3-4 inning pitchers for this game? Let them go all out for those 3-4 innings each and only have them face the lineup 1-2 times through. Both of them threw a lot of pitches in their first start and a shorter outing could maximize their effectiveness…
Klaw: Oh I’m all in on that. Yes, I understand it will cost you one start from Thor in the NLCS, but 1) you have to get there first and 2) it’s not like Matz is Derek Holland. He’s a hell of a fourth option.

JQ: What is your overall strategy for camel acquisition/dealing in Jaipur? Beyond clearing the market when my opponent has a full hand so that they cannot steal all the high-value goods, I am not sure I know when to go after them. For dealing them, is it worth a turn/resources to exchange them for multiple low-value goods or do you stick to dealing them only for silver/gold/diamonds? Thanks K-Law
Klaw: I love that game but I don’t know that I have a clear strategy for that. I try to focus more on the three higher-value goods, both acquiring them and preventing my opponent from doing so.

Chris: If you’re the Dodgers, do you resign Kendrick this offseason or give the job to Peraza? I assume they’re keeping Seager at SS and Turner at 3B.
Klaw: Peraza is the best SS of the group, but doing that would probably require Turner to go back to 2b, where he wasn’t very good in limited MLB time. I’d like to at least see what that looks like before committing to Seager at SS, as I don’t think he’s an average defender there in the long run.

Justin (DC): May I make a plug for Acquire? It has become our go to game for new gamers, and its been very popular. I don’t know if it is because everyone we introduce it to has (fake) fond memories of monopoly or we’re all lawyers (and thus megalomaniacs), but its been a popular go to for us.
Klaw: One of the only classics that holds up well. It’s been on my annual game rankings every year.

Justin (DC): What are your thoughts on the valuation of draft picks and international money? For example, at what price point does a trade or free agent become worth the lost draft pick/international slot?
Klaw: Two thoughts. One, if MLB tries to combine these two, or even create an international draft, they’re going to have a hellish PR issue on the gap between the values of drafted kids (US/Canada/PR) and Latin American kids from everywhere but PR. Two, it depends on two factors that prevent a generalization here – where that lost pick is (pick 11 is worth a lot more than pick 25 in expected return) and where that team is in the success cycle (win now vs still building). In conclusion, don’t give up a pick for Michael Cuddyer.

nb: Keith – I’ll be in Phoenix the weekend of the AFL All Star Game. Will you be there?
Klaw: Nope, going Monday the 19th through Friday the 23rd.

Mike: It appears we are seeing a lot more starters who throw 95+ for 100+ pitches than ever before. What is this attributable to? Is it possible to teach velocity?
Klaw: Pitchers have been getting bigger and stronger for a while now, and I think we select them for velocity and then develop them to do just what you said. The results may include the spike in elbow injuries, of course.

John: Thought on Bogar as favorite for M’s job
Klaw: I don’t know if he’s the favorite – there really isn’t a favorite in these things, right? Someone gets the job and there’s no second place – but I like that he has substantial managerial experience in the minors. We’re seeing more candidates with that experience now – him, Nevin, and Alex Cora, whom I know well and recommend highly.

Fredo in Tahoe: Hi Keith, an ambitious three questions. 1. Any insight into the Dodgers jettisoning Engle and the International Staff? Thought they were well regarded. 2. Have you ever read Metropole by Kermode? 3. Pour over coffee? Aeropress?
Klaw: 1. Yes, limited insight, but I’ve heard they felt they were paying too much for international talent and not getting anywhere near the return outside of Puig and Urias. 2. No, sorry. 3. Pour-over although I’m still an espress guy at heart.

Nicholas: DIpoto has made it clear that the M’s need to get more athletic (which is obvious). The biggest need that I see is CF. Who can you see them targeting to fill CF? JBJ?
Klaw: He’d fit, although I think his defensive ability is more routes and reads rather than athleticism – he’s not a plus runner or anything. By the way, you know why they need to get more athletic? Because they haven’t drafted athletes in years. It’s been more polished, lower-upside guys, which can certainly work out but has not been at all fruitful for them. They need a new draft strategy.

Noah: Who is your guy to go first overall in the draft?
Klaw: Nobody has separated himself for 2016 yet. There are a half-dozen guys who could do so in the spring, and I’m sure we’ll get one or two names out of nowhere the way Jonathan Gray burst on the scene in February of 2013.

Geoff: Who is Kiley McDaniel and why are Braves fans so excited that he’s been hired to their front office?
Klaw: Used to work for me before moving on to other sites, including leading Fangraphs’ prospect coverage this past year. I’m a big believer in his evaluation skills. (Fans are excited because they know who he is, as opposed to someone less well-known like, say, Matt Arnold.)

Corey: Clay Buchholz – pick up the option and trade or keep and consider Owens/Wright as his replacement when he gets hurt ?
Klaw: Pick it up and keep him.

mike: 2-3-2 format in CS, favours Toronto doesn’t it? Steal one of two in KC then you can close out at home.
Klaw: Sure, if you assume you’re never going to lose a home game, even though you lost two of three in the last round.

Steve: After his season will Acevedo end up on your nyy list or are cheching his AFL results before?
Klaw: He’s in their top ten for sure.

Alex in Austin: Any reason why former Cavaliers Papi and Howard struggled in their debuts?
Klaw: Papi was coming off a hand injury and was a zero for two months before playing better (but not as well as he should have) after that. I thought Howard starting was a mistake; I don’t know if that was at all related to his complete loss of control even after he returned to the bullpen. Guys who put up lines like that are often hurt.

Ben: Despite his rather lackluster season, is Raul Mondesi still KC’s top prospect in your opinion?
Klaw: I don’t know. He’s super young and has the most ability of any of their prospects, but they’ve promoted him too quickly, and having him work so much on bunting has retarded his growth as a hitter. It’s probably still him but this isn’t the future I envisioned for him two years ago.

Bret: There is been some speculation in the Toronto media that the Jays feel David Price is “gassed” and/or tipping pitches. Have you seen anything scouting-wise that would indicate that?
Klaw: Doesn’t look gassed. I couldn’t tell you if he was tipping unless I was watching him from behind the plate (and even then I might not catch it). If he were gassed, using him in relief in game 4 would have been an even worse idea.

KC: I wish all kids could sign for whatever they can get, but what is the argument for not putting Latin American kids in the draft? I don’t get why everyone doesn’t have the same rules.
Klaw: Two different scouting staffs, operating on two very different calendars, evaluating 18- to 22-year-old players for the draft and 15- and 16-year-old players for July 2nd. I saw some 14-year-olds take BP in Santo Domingo last week. They were impressive, but I kept thinking, “what the hell am I even looking at?” I’ve seen exactly one U.S.-born prospect that young before – Bryce Harper at 15, who was already Superman – and this is a totally different world of evaluation.

Mike: Of all the possible FA pitchers this offseason, assuming Grienke opts out, who would you be most comfortable giving a long term big money deal to?
Klaw: Greinke and Price. I’m still a big fan of Price’s and I think his skill set will age pretty well.

Wally: Would Rendon and maybe a prospect for Carrasco and Frazier be roughly comparable value? Would that make sense for Nats to supplement the lack of any upper level OF prospects (and a statue in LF)
Klaw: That seems to create one hole to maybe fill another. Even if you rate Frazier more highly than I do, you’re making the 2016-17 Nats worse while you wait for him.

Jim Boden: How about Khris davis and Will smith for Aiken and Bobby bradley? Gattis for Folty and Ruiz. Tumbo for Skaggs and Eaton(Arizona gave two for Trumbo). Are those two trades also stupid?
Klaw: Those trades were stupid, yes, and I said so at the time.

Pat: The difference between the cheapest cable package that includes ESPN and the biggest one that doesn’t include ESPN is $25. Therefore, ESPN costs me $25 per month, regardless of what ESPN charges the cable company. That’s a lot of money.
Klaw: I assume that gets you ESPN plus our other channels plus some others, but yes, I hear you. We watch fewer than a dozen channels frequently. Why are we paying so much for them? More channels with substantial archives need to go the HBO route. If the BBC created an app with their entire archive of video plus new shows, is that not a huge value at $10/month?

JF: Other than AJ Reed, what other prospects in the Astros system could help their offense as early as next year?
Klaw: Don’t sleep on Tyler White. Bad body but ridiculous track record of performance.

Pat: How was the coffee in the Dominican?
Klaw: I didn’t get to explore at all, which was probably for the best as I was an anxious wreck for two days before the trip and much of the time I was there.

Jim: Keith, could you clarify Cora’s experience? My understanding was he has the GM position in the winter league, and can’t find any reference to him working as a manager anywhere (which may be me). Thanks!
Klaw: He manages Caguas.

Mike: Should the Mets give Murphy a QO for $16mm, or let him walk given cheaper and probably better internal options (Flores, Herrera)?
Klaw: Let him walk. Despite the 2 HR this series I don’t think you want him to take that offer at all.

John: I think the Braves did the right thing by getting the rookies into the rotation this season, but the results were less-than-ideal. Should they just keep the same guys next year and bank on improvement, or would they benefit from signing a mid-tier FA starter for some stability? Looking toward 2017, obviously?
Klaw: You can’t bank on improvement but you should have learned something about each of those kids, who’s learned something from the experience, who’s working well with coaches, who might be destined for the bullpen. None of that is a reason to stay out of free agency this winter, though – there’s value in adding a guy who can give you 200 innings and avoid blowing out what is already a not that good bullpen.

KC: Some of these kids get 100k, spend it all in the States, get injured or don’t make it and then go home with nothing. That’s not a service.
Klaw: Better that they stay desperately poor? It’s not like they’re going to school there. They might even learn English in a few years in the US, which is an actual skill.

Anonymous: Speaking of relievers who were starters, is Joe Kelly destined to be a closer? he seems to have the right stuff for the gig
Klaw: I think so. Tough to repeat that arm action 100 times a game enough for fastball command.

TJ: Stephen Piscotti in the playoffs- SSS or a glimpse of what we might see in the future power-wise?
Klaw: Obvious SSS but he can really hit and will hit for more power in the majors than the consensus was for him out of the draft or in the minors.

Ridley: I’m gutted to see my Rangers out of the playoffs, but the future looks pretty bright. Darvish is back next year, and Joey Gallo is going to be fun to watch. How would you work Gallo in to the team? Are there any other youngsters likely to make it to Arlington?
Klaw: Gallo should start in AAA to continue to work on making contact in the zone, and I haven’t given up on him as a 3b long-term. You’ll see Mazara in the majors at some point too.

KC: By that logic, poor kids in the US should also be able to get drafted/sign at 16.
Klaw: Poverty in the DR is a whole different kind of poverty than what we consider poor in the US.

Dan: Do front offices ever reach out to local media to run interference for (give cover to) non-mainstream managerial decisions? I’m imagining Alderson reaching out to Francesca and other NY-area loudmouths prior to tonight’s game to preemptively defend Terry if he decides to piggyback deGrom and Syndergaard (irrespective of how well deGrom is pitching).
Klaw: Don’t know. I haven’t run into that before the fact, but I do hear from folks afterwards to discuss questionable decisions, which I find helpful because often there’s a variable I didn’t know (e.g., Joey Bagodonuts woke up with a sore shoulder and wasn’t available) or consider (e.g., something in batted-ball data that we don’t have) before.

Chris: Assuming the Dodgers get past the Mets (big assumption) and they don’t use Kershaw on three days’ rest again, would you start Brett Anderson or Alex Wood in Game 1 of the NLCS?
Klaw: Anderson. But maybe get Ellis behind the plate because Grandal’s pitch-calling has left a bit to be desired so far.

Dave: Love the questions about SP moving to RP — the Reds have about 4000 young-ish guys who are nominally SPs. If you are the Reds, who do you abandon as SPs?
Klaw: I think Lorenzen and Finnegan are relievers for sure. Howard is already in the pen. Give Garrett, Mella, and Travieso more time to start; Mella may end up in the pen too. Reed can start.

Chris: Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Clarkin, Austin, and Sanchez after your visit to the AFL. All have something to prove. Clarkin unspecified injury, Austin generally disintegrating and Sanchez supposedly improving behind the plate.
Klaw: Saw Austin (no bueno) and Sanchez (same maddening combination of skills and disinterest) this year. Sanchez just isn’t that much better behind the plate, but I also never thought he was as bad as reported online either. He came out of the womb a better receiver than Montero.

Alex (CA): Who is more likely to reach his ceiling, Hedges, Sanchez, or Alfaro?
Klaw: Hedges … if they ever let him play.

Ridley Kemp: I’m gutted to see my Rangers out of the playoffs, but the future looks pretty bright. Darvish is back next year, and Joey Gallo is going to be fun to watch. How would you work Gallo in to the team? First base? DH? Third base? Left field? Are there any other youngsters likely to make it to Arlington?
Klaw: Gallo should start in AAA to continue to work on making contact in the zone, and I haven’t given up on him as a 3b long-term. You’ll see Mazara in the majors at some point too.

Klaw: That’s all for the chat this week – thank you all for joining me, as always. I’ll be in Arizona next week, where I hope to see many of you in person. I’ll try to do a chat one morning local time near the end of the week once I’ve seen everyone take BP. Keep an eye on Twitter and my Facebook page for details.

Señores y señoras, nosotros tenemos más influencia con sus hijos que tu tiene. Peros los queremos. Creado y regalo de Nueva York … Klawchat.

Jaypers413: Do you think Cal Ripken could do a competent job of managing the Nationals?
Klaw: I don’t see any reason to think he could. He has zero experience managing anywhere, and we’ve seen that those hires have a very high failure rate. Meanwhile, AJ Hinch, who was not good as a first-time manager with Arizona, has been one of the best in the game the second time around. Experience needs to trump the interview, or, in Cal’s case, the name value.

Jason: So are you not chatting on ESPN anymore? If not what is the point of insider anymore?
Klaw: Well, since my articles are all Insider, and my chats were not Insider, nothing has changed.

Mark: Did Manny Machado have one of the quietest ~7 WAR age 22 seasons ever? Seems like he was constantly overlooked due to the usual suspects of Harper/Trout (deservedly so) and a massive graduation of top prospects to the majors.
Klaw: Yep, I was even shocked when I looked at his stats in early September and saw how good his year was; the Orioles’ disappointing year dampened coverage of how good he was. He’s no longer a future star – he is a star, a top 5 player in the AL. And if he goes back to shortstop full-time … whoa.

Bob: Fun game last night (except for Pirate fans). On Twitter, you seemed uncomfortable with Arrieta facing the lineup a third and fourth time. In this game, the results were no worse the third and fourth time. Can elite pitchers be trusted to go longer into games or do you think this was the wrong move that just happened to work out? Also, do we factor in that Maddon may not trust his bullpen?
Klaw: Calling it the “wrong move” might be a little strong; going to a fresh reliever vs letting the starter go through a lineup the fourth time is the higher-probability move. You’re playing the odds here. If you’re betting on the roll of a regular (fair) die, and I tell you that you can bet on 1-2 or 3-6 with equal payout on both, which bet do you take? If the roll comes up 1 or 2 and you lose, did you make the wrong move?

Double Stuf Oreos: Heyyyyyy buddy where you been? We miss you.
Klaw: Go away. You are an abomination.

Alan: The Washington post ran a column titled the “7 decisions that got Matt Williams fired” – I think 6 of the 7 were pitching changes. I don’t get it. Aren’t the countless runs he lost during the season through bunting and intentional walks more important than getting some 50/50 pitching changes wrong?
Klaw: I actually think what got him fired was the team missing the playoffs. Had they taken 5 of 6 from the Mets in those two key series instead of losing all six, even with all his awful tactical management, they might have made the playoffs and saved his job.

Drew: Is Bud Black the best fit for the Nationals’ Manager gig?
Klaw: I think he’s a good fit. I think Alex Cora (whom I know personally, which isn’t true of many of the top candidates) would be a better fit.

Bill (Thpftt): How did you mange to score MeadowParty as your domain? You must have been an early adopter of this www thing. Can I get it back for my campaign?
Klaw: I’ve had the domain since 2000. And I’m happy to run some campaign ads for you and Opus.

Jeff: Is there any defense for Cuddyer over Conforto against Kershaw? Better yet, any reason for Cuddyer over Lagares?
Klaw: Can you give me a reason for Cuddyer? That would be a good start.

Charlie: Kyle Schwarber or Addison Russell for the 2015 postseason. Who do you take?
Klaw: I have a few of these questions in the queue but I’m not sure what exactly you’re asking for. Bat? Schwarber. total value? I mean, give me the shortstop with the plus glove.

Derek: Keith, do you think Wilmer Difo has a future as an MLB regular? How big a setback is the hand injury?
Klaw: Yes, at least an everday 2b for me. Broken hand sucks, can sap power for up to a year, but players who have hand/wrist injuries do recover fine in time.

Chris: Clint Frazier turn a corner in the second half?
Klaw: Saw him in the playoffs, looked exactly the same – swing and miss in the zone, not recognizing offspeed. You should expect any minor league player to play better in the second half if he’s not promoted because of promotions of other prospects – so for example, Frazier didn’t have to face Giolito, Lopez, Pivetta for Potomac in the second half because they were all in AA.

Dave: How dumb do you have to be to intentionally hit a batter and put a man on base when you are down 4-0 in a winner take all game? Not even getting to the “unwritten rule” aspect or the fact that the guy you hit is a friggin’ pitcher.
Klaw: I heard it on radio – was driving home from the airport – and Boog and Chris both expressed no doubt it was deliberate. Going off their opinion, yeah, that was pretty stupid. I hope that was just Watson being an idiot.

Ken: By the way, this is just a thank you for continuing to do these chats. You and Buster Olney are the main reasons that I continue to pay for Insider. You are able to explain the analytic stats in a way that older fans like myself can understand and I always learn something new from your chats and columns. Keep up the great work!
Klaw: You’re welcome, but really, I continued them because of you guys. No readers, no chats, no Klaw (well, no writer Klaw … I think I’d continue to exist).

Anonymous: What did you think of Archer and Mendoza in the booth? I thought they were both fantastic.
Klaw: I didn’t hear any of it (travel) but Archer did show plus-plus hair.

Mike Charlotte,NC: What kind of ceiling to you project for Lindor? Is a Barry Larkin type career out of the question or am I just an over excited Indians fan here. Thanks.
Klaw: Hall of Fame comps are kind of tough, no? High average/OBP, modest power, plus-plus defense and baserunning, great instincts, fans will adore him. I think that’s good.

Dan: Thoughts Dave Martinez as manager?
Klaw: His reputation within the game is strong, and players love him. I have two questions: One, why has he interviewed for six different gigs, including one with the club that employed him for six years, and never gotten a managing job? Two, is seven years’ experience as a bench coach for a great manager equivalent to actual managing experience? I’d like to think it is.

Adam: Wait, if you like Oreos, how do you not like Double Stuff Oreos?
Klaw: It’s the ratio, man. It’s all wrong.

Nick: What are your expectations for Carson Fulmer in 2016? Is it reasonable for him to be called up midseason, and will it be as a reliever or starter?
Klaw: I think he ends up a reliever. I don’t know of a big-league starter with a delivery that violent. It makes Alex Wood’s look clean and simple.

David: Does Cora have managerial experience? Isn’t that your #1 criteria?
Klaw: Yes, he does. He manages los Criollos de Caguas in Puerto Rico every winter and handles a lot of the GM-type duties in assembling the roster.

Alex: Are you not doing Periscope anymore? Also, any update on Profar’s rehab? Where does Baez play next year? Mazara top 5 prospect?
Klaw: Maybe try the decaf? Periscopes will return soon but I have been traveling – I was in Santo Domingo Tuesday and Wednesday this week. Profar will DH two days a week in the AFL. I bet Baez is someone’s second baseman next year … but I don’t know if it’s for the Cubs. Mazara was in my top 10 when I did my last update.

Adam Trask: Can we all just stipulate that Jessica Mendoza is very good at what she does and the fact that she is hotter than Ashley Judd is irrelevant?
Klaw: There is no such thing as “hotter than Ashley Judd” for me.

michael: hey klaw – how would you rebuild the SFG rotation? Assuming that bum, heston, and cain will have spots, would you spend your money on leake and another 3rd/4th starter type, or would you rather spend it on an ace (a price type) and a 5th starter?
Klaw: Not sure why Heston would have a guaranteed spot, but I do think Leake is a great fit there and very much in line with what they seem to like in starting pitchers. I think they need quantity as well as quality, and if that means foregoing an “ace” FA to sign two mid-rotation guys, so be it. They have a great defense and the offense should be better if everyone is healthy next year.

Joe: Watching the AL Wild Card game, Tanaka was in trouble in the second with bases loaded, two out, and the 9-hole hitter coming up. All I could think was, “Thank God this isn’t an NL game where Tanaka would basically get a free pass out of the jam.” Isn’t that the perfect argument for the universal DH?
Klaw: It’s not one I’ve made, but it’s a very good one.

Adam D.: Are you hearing anything else about why the agreement between Eddy Martinez and the Giants fell through? Do you think the Giants will still pursue him after this?
Klaw: I have one side of the story, much of it off the record, but I think I can safely say that the two parties do not agree on what the actual agreement was in the first place. He is looking for more than that $2.5 million figure and, having seen him take BP on Tuesday, he is worth it.

Mike P: Thoughts on David Ross admitting to grabbing Sean “Karate Kid” Rodriguez by the throat in the scrum on the field yesterday? Doesn’t that seem like something that MLB almost have to suspend him for (even a meaningless game)?
Klaw: You would think so. There shouldn’t be a ‘good guy’ pass for choking someone.

JP: top candidates for 1st pick in the 2016 draft?
Klaw: Hansen, Ray, Groome, Rutherford, maybe Puk (I think that’s a reach). There isn’t really a clear 1-1 guy right now, just a lot of guys who are easy top 5-10 picks.

Adam Trask: Si quieres credibilidad en español, tienes que aprender usar la ñ (además de los accentos)
Klaw: Yes, but they don’t display easily in HTML because you have to use special codes (usually & + the letter + a few letters indicating which accent); I’ll replace them manually in the transcript afterwards.

Mark: Starling Marte has been pretty consistent for the past few years now as a high 700’s OPS guy with speed and plus defense. Do you think there’s still potential for a Carlos Gomez-type breakout season in there (ie OPS in the high 800’s/low 900’s while retaining his speed and defense) or is this who he is (which is still a great player)?
Klaw: Potential, yes. Probability, low. Never liked his approach at the plate and I haven’t seen a ton of improvement there.

Ridley Kemp: Is Eppler a good hire for the Angels? If so, what’s the outlook?
Klaw: Good hire, but big question is how much autonomy he’ll have. If Scioscia is really going to run player development from Anaheim, it’ll be a big challenge for Eppler.

Michael: And Ausmus managed Team Israel in the WBC, but that didn’t qualify as experience?
Klaw: If you’re trying to claim that’s equivalent to managing a team in a winter league, I am openly laughing at you right now. It’s like telling me you can beat Solitaire on your computer so you’re ready to take on Deep Blue.

JR: RE your Ashley Judd comment, hopefully Mrs. Klaw doesn’t read these chats….
Klaw: She knows the deal.

Jeff: Regarding the bonehead from Atlanta and all of the internet misogynist warriors that claimed there were dozens of “more qualified” people than Jessica Mendoza….I gotta say, that’s a misnomer. You are either qualified or you aren’t. And she is qualified to do the job she has. Period.
Klaw: I agree – and that bonehead made it ten times worse by referring to her by a body part, which is a great trick if you want to dehumanize your target. Her gender is irrelevant to her qualifications, and now that she’s doing the job, even her qualifications are irrelevant. She’s performing her job right in front of us – judge her on that and nothing else.

Michael: Does Tyrell Jenkins start next year in the Braves rotation or because he was shut down for a few weeks at the end of this year, does he start in Gwinnett for a month or so before he gets the call??
Klaw: No rush, still better stuff than command/feel, unsurprising for a guy who missed so much time over the last few years.

Mike: Any chance we’ll ever get meaningful gun regulation in this country? Not no guns, but no guns for citizens that can spray bullets. Limit it to hunting rifles and hand guns.
Klaw: I do not believe there is any chance of that happening.

Dan: Ellsberry worst contract in baseball? Think there is anyway the Yankees could trade him this offseason?
Klaw: Bad contract, not sure I’d go with worst. I don’t think he’s movable except for another really bad contract.

Zach: Who do you have in the World Series?
Klaw: Toronto vs LAD.

Michael: Is there a reason why clubs don’t allocate more money to scouts, executives, and interns. Seems like more bang for the buck than a couple middle relievers.
Klaw: Supply and demand, but I do think that’s starting to change a little bit. Their salaries are creeping up.

Matt: Are your new chats a curse free zone or can we let the expletives fly?
Klaw: Go for it. I won’t say anything goes, but it’s not G-rated here.

Eric. Tampa, Florida: Could you argue that Baseball is just as popular as the NFL? If you took out gambling and fantasy, how many people would watch an NFL game?
Klaw: Bit of an academic point there. Baseball is still popular, and has work to do to grow or maintain its popularity in certain demographics – and to maintain accessibility for people with less disposable income. NFL/NBA are more popular abroad, which is a tougher road for baseball to hoe because it’s so much more complicated than basketball, American football, soccer, or hockey. All other major team sports involve one team trying to move an object straight down a field to put it in a net or a specific area of the field, and the other team tries to stop them. Baseball defies such easy explanation.

Josh: What is Angels Tyler Skaggs ceiling assuming a health comeback for next year?
Klaw: I thought he was headed for #2 starter when he got hurt.

Mike: Did you know that the Orioles traded away Arrieta? As an O’s fan I’ve only been reminded of it 1000 times today. My real question is do you get any sense that the Orioles see they need to change their approach to developing pitchers? Shouldn’t they get the message by now that they need a new philosophy?
Klaw: Really? I hadn’t heard that (in the last five minutes). I get the sense that Buck believes his way is the right way and nothing is changing while he’s there. You can draw your own conclusions as to whether that is the best thing for the Orioles.

Andy: With the current trend in bullpen usage, “damning” someone to a bullpen arm isn’t that bad. Wade Davis is just a bullpen arm, but I bet he makes more money in his career than he would have if he had stayed a mediocre starter. Heck, Joe Blanton has resurrected his career by being a bullpen guy. If you can’t be an above average starter, turning into an ace reliever may be a good personal move.
Klaw: Nope. I try to remind people of that when I say that I think guys like Severino, Reynaldo Lopez, Carson Fulmer, etc are all relievers in the long run. You can be a 3 WAR reliever and make $10 million a year. The game has changed and if anything it’s shifting further in that direction.

James: Which manager are you most surprised kept his job so far – Ausmus, Price or Weiss?
Klaw: Price, although Ausmus keeping his job after the Norris debacle was ridiculous.

Mike P: Do you think any club goes to the GM meetings without having a GM?
Klaw: No, I think the Phillies will wrap theirs up by the end of the month, although MacPhail could certainly handle the GM meetings by himself. They’re just going to be very discreet about their process.

JR: IOW, in the chat we’ve upgraded from #fyeahbaseball to #fuckyeahbaseball?
Klaw: Fine with me. Can’t say that on Twitter though. I don’t swear for its own sake, but you know, if you’ve ever talked to a scout or an exec, you’ve probably heard that such-and-such a pitcher has “good shit.” It’s a technical term.

Steve: I know you’re not a fantasy player but where do you stand on the legality of DFS. Also, do you think MLBs heavy endorsement of it is good/bad for the game?
Klaw: It’s legal gambling, right? If we try to make it illegal it’ll just move offshore, so you might as well regulate and tax it. More transparency is good for the consumer. Then again, I think state lotteries should be illegal because they’re just a wealth transfer from the poor to the middle- and upper-classes, so my views here aren’t simple.

Imre: Who ya got between my beloved Cubs and our arch-enemy Cardinals?
Klaw: If the Cards were totally healthy I’d pick them. Now I’m not sure but I’m leaning slightly toward the Cubs.

Steve: Speaking of Wade Davis, how well do you think he holds up w/ that velocity? He effective for several years?
Klaw: We’re entering a new era with some of these relievers; Kimbrel and Aroldis have held up longer than most top-end closers ever did, so perhaps the paradigm is shifting. Two years ago I would have said “not much longer.” Maybe that’s no longer true.

Steve: Sox will have lots of SP candidates under contract for next year (Buchholz, Eduardo, Kelly, Porcello, Miley, Owens, Brian Johnson, Steven Wright) but no true ace. Think they’ll a) invest $200+ mil in Price, b) sign someone from the text tier (Zimmerman, etc.), c) trade for an ace, or d) go with existing options?
Klaw: My guess is they sign one top-end starter and trade for one. I hope for their sake that they keep Rodriguez, who has ace upside, and try to package some of these major-league ready guys like Marrero, Cecchini, JBJ, etc. who have no obvious places to play in Boston any time soon.

John: How do you scout players with unconventional mechanics, but good results? I’m thinking Johnny Damon’s swing, Jared Weaver’s motion or Hunter Pence’s Hunter Pence.
Klaw: Good question without a simple answer. To some extent, you have to consider whether the player can make the unconventional mechanics work for him – can the hitter with a big hitch in his swing still get the bat head to the zone quickly enough to make hard contact and/or adjust to changing speeds? Can the pitcher repeat that delivery and command the fastball without getting hurt or wearing down? Those guys are the hardest to evaluate because scouting is so much about heuristics – general rules of thumb that, when they break down, often do so spectacularly (e.g., Chris Sale).

Thomas Feeley: Travis Shaw – Small sample size? Can you think of any comparable guys who’ve put up pretty “meh” numbers in the minors only to find their mojo at the major league-level? Should the Sox pencil him into the lineup at 1st next year? I know you’ve had some nice things to say about him in the past, I’m just trying to get a realistic sense of him going forward.
Klaw: Don’t think he’s a star or as good as his MLB line would indicate but he is probably in that group with Marrero and JBJ of guys who could start for someone else, but probably not Boston. It hasn’t hurt his trade value any to have him up and performing, at least.

Evan: What do you think of Moustakas’s season (fluke or real)? His walk rate was the same. His K rate was a bit down but not drastically. He gained 20 points in BABIP, but this also corresponded with a large reduction in his pull rate.
Klaw: He hit LHP well too, if I remember correctly, and if that’s not a one-year fluke, that would tell me more about his evolution as a hitter than anything else. I’m inclined to think it’s real, especially because he’s not trying to pull everything any more, which means a lefty spinning a breaking ball away from him doesn’t get that free rollover to second base.

Jordan: When Smoak was a prospect, did he profile as a true switch hitter?
Klaw: I thought so, but pretty much everything I thought about Smoak turned out to be wrong. At least I know a lot of scouts agreed with me, but, still.

Dave: Where’s Aaron Judge starting the 2016 season: Scranton, or New York?
Klaw: Scranton, working on plate coverage.

Dave: Better long term outlook at shortstop, Gleyber Torres or Orlando Arcia?
Klaw: Arcia but I think both are stars.

James: Do you have any postseason award ballots this year?
Klaw: NL Rookie of the Year. Filed last Friday.

JR: I live in Vegas and a Shake Shack just opened 1 mile from my house. Over/under number of lbs I gain in the next year?
Klaw: That’ll leave a mark. Although I lived close to In-n-Out in Arizona and after a couple of months the novelty wore off. Shake Shack is way better, but still, I can’t eat like that on even a somewhat regular basis.

Chad: I have hated the Ellsbury contract the minute it was signed. Garder is the same (better?) player at 1/3 of the price, and they are redundant. Following on your reply below, what about sending him to SD (needs a real CF) for Shields (terrifies me in Yankee St admittedly) and Gyorko to play 2B? Or maybe to Cubs (Theo conn, will need a CF) for Castro if they even out the money?
Klaw: Why not offer to take Melvin Upton back from the Padres too? Put him in LF, Gardner in CF, evens out the money a bit more. I like the idea of getting Gyorko; I’m not a huge fan, but I think he can be an average regular, while I don’t think Refsnyder’s defense will permit him to do that.

Enad Girondian: I have two good friends who are college baseball head coaches. Both have independently told me that a particular MLB starting catcher who often gets critical praise “calls an awful game.” Is there any objective way to discern this or is it just perception?
Klaw: I don’t know of an objective way to measure that, but some teams might. The problem I can see is that you don’t always know how much the catcher is determining the game plan.

Bill: If you had an NL CYA vote who would you have given it to?
Klaw: Kershaw. I get the arguments for the other guys and I don’t feel that strongly about it, but he missed more bats than anyone in the league and didn’t walk a lot of guys and really we’re talking about some tiny differences between these guys. It comes down to whether you think BABIP and HR differences are all about the pitchers.

Dara: Do you have any amount of Trekkie in you? If so, what percent?
Klaw: I think as a kid I saw the entire original series, and I probably watched 2-3 seasons’ worth of TNG, but then nothing after and none of the films.

James: Are the A’s ever going to get to move, even if it’s not to San Jose?
Klaw: Ever, yes. Soon, no, although I hold out far more hope of Manfred allowing franchise moves than I ever had under Selig. Manfred is going to get some things done that Bud never would have. I hope that means we get the Rays out of St. Pete and a team in Austin.

Jay: Would you have the Mets over the Dodgers if it was a 7-game series? LAD have a better 1-2 combo, but Mets have better pitching depth
Klaw: In that case, though, you’d get an extra start from Greinke too, and I don’t know if Harvey would get that second start.

Frank: Before year’s end, Manfred will decide on Pete Rose. Predict the outcome for us.
Klaw: No change in status.

JR: Thoughts on the one game wild card? I’m OK with it. Don’t need to extend.
Klaw: I don’t particularly like it, but this year it turned out to be a great thing because the Cubs deserved to be in the playoffs (and it was good for fans to have them in the playoffs). I don’t want longer playoffs; this isn’t the NHL or NBA.

Imre: Kershaw also is 1st in fWAR by 2.4 1st in xFIP by .51…………BUT, stats are stupid and I like Jake and his beard and his yoga and his riding home from games in rickshaws while jamming some Beck.
Klaw: I don’t disagree but fWAR assumes BABIP fluctuations are entirely out of the pitcher’s hands, and that may not be true and certainly isn’t something the voter pool is comfortable with yet.

Mike P: In front office thinking, what defines a “successful” draft? I’m talking, 10 years later. Like, hitting on your 1st rounder and another player? Having 3 average regulars out of 1 draft? Just curious as to what the “standard” might be.
Klaw: I think any draft where you either hit on your first rounder or find a star in a later round (a Goldschmidt in the 8th round) is a successful one, although from a process standpoint you should always examine and question why you missed on your first pick. You should get 4-5 big leaguers, including guys who are just up-and-down types, from a typical draft, with one or two of them regulars or more.

Joe: I know the Cy Young is a full season award…but philosophically, do you think it’s okay to give extra weight to Arrieta’s amazing second half? Would that really be any different than considering peak vs. longevity on a Hall of Fame ballot?
Klaw: Yes, it would be very different, like, Shake Shack vs McDonalds’ different.

Jay: Any new TV series that you like?
Klaw: We liked episode 1 of The Muppets. That’s the only new show I’ve seen so far.

Jay: What should the Yankees do with Bird?
Klaw: Full-time DH next year with Teixeira back at 1b.

Bruce: Thoughts on the Brewers new GM?
Klaw: Very sharp, personable guy. Need to see who he hires to fill some key positions and whether he gives that player development staff the overall it needs. Also he needs to stop reminding us how young he looks. Never apologize for something you can’t control!

Jason: How good is Bobby Bradley?
Klaw: Good but not great. He’s a solid prospect but not an elite one. 1B only and I don’t know that he’s going to be much of a power hitter.

Danny: Do you think if Jagielo plays a fringe 3B, he would be an upgrade on Headley?
Klaw: I don’t think he can play a fringe 3b.

Andy: Do you remember when Arizona won the Justin Upton trade because they got to re-sign Martin Prado? Going through old chat archives is fun.
Klaw: Exactly. That trade was so bad on its face and yet we had a lot of people trying to defend it for AZ.

Chris: Does that mean you think they can trade A-Rod?
Klaw: No, but if Bird is better, isn’t that who you play? A-Rod was a cipher in the last two months and looked every bit his age – and I’m a fan of his. His salary should not be a factor at all in determining his playing time.

Tom: Why would Odor not be suspended for that “slide” into Giavotella? Looked like a deliberate and malicious intent to injure to me.
Klaw: Has anyone been suspended for a slide like that? My understanding is that the players themselves are fine with such slides and don’t want to see them curtailed or banned.

Mike S. Carolina: Any thoughts with Cleveland’s front office moves?
Klaw: I think they are mostly paper moves – the reporting structure and responsibilities aren’t changing dramatically. We’ll see how that plays out.

Dan: So do the Mets just let Murphy walk at season’s end and install Herrera as the evryday 2B next year? Will the end of Lucas Duda’s usefulness and the arrival of Dom Smith align nicely?
Klaw: Yes, and probably.

Chris: Cashman said yest that Sanchez can now be a high end major league catcher. Is that just inflating his trade value or was there real improvement this year behind the plate (and between the ears)?
Klaw: Not in what I saw but there is no physical reason why he couldn’t be at least an average receiver. He has a 70 arm and can hit.

Matt: I know you’ve been very vocal with “if you need help, please get it” when it comes to mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, etc. In light of CC’s admission of a problem and action to seek treatment, I can’t stress enough how important getting help is. As someone going through alcohol abuse recovery currently, getting treatment from professionals is critical. If you think you have a problem, be honest and be good to yourself. (steps down from soap box)
Klaw: Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. And I cannot send enough good wishes your way. For whatever it’s worth you have my support.

Andy: That plan would also keep A-Rod and Teixeira fresher. A-Rod getting 300 ABs, Tex, with 400, Bird with 450 doesn’t seem like it would be a terrible plan.
Klaw: A fair point as well. Might sit Bird vs some LHP.

Brian: Can you speak on Travis Shaw’s potential at 3B? I always assumed he was an emergency only option at third, but a quality source cited him as a 55 defender at 3b with growth potential. If so, he seems like the perfect Hanley/Sandoval insurance.
Klaw: First base only for me. Not a 55 defender at third now.

Jay: What are your thoughts about Puerto Rico and the draft?
Klaw: I agree with the industry consensus that putting it in the draft hurt baseball in Puerto Rico, and that even today players drafted from there are unfairly discounted relative to US-born and Canadian players. Next year is a bumper crop in Puerto Rico, the best since 2012 and the best or second-best in the last twenty years or so, and if players there are still getting cheated on their bonuses like that then it’s time for MLB to step in and make it right.

Greg: You’d rather see a team in Austin than back in Montreal?
Klaw: Yes, for a variety of reasons, but the biggest one is that the Expos were just not that well-supported by the population there. MLB needs to go for growth markets, too, and the Austin/San Antonio corridor has over 3 million people and lots of corporations to buy luxury boxes and stadium signage.

Jeff: Is the pocket watch (in the picture above) a reference to game (1 min to make a move)? Or is it because you actually like pocket watches? Or something else?
Klaw: Stopwatch, for timing players’ running speeds or catchers’ throws to second base.

Jay: Do you think there will ever be a MLB team in Mexico?
Klaw: No. All due respect to Manfred, who probably has more info on this than I do, but I don’t think you can possibly guarantee player safety there, and the income gap is enormous. You are more likely IMO to see a team in Havana in the next 25 years than in Mexico – and it would be easier for MLB to effectively subsidize such a move.

Mookie: What possible line of thinking underlies the Rangers’ announcement that Martin Perez will start game 3? An assumed 2-0 lead going back to Arlington?
Klaw: I missed that announcement. I think I like it – betting on stuff rather than veteran presents, perhaps?

Dave: Speaking of the Dominican, when will see your 15 year old rankings? It really boggles my mind the bonuses teams give those young kids. Just joking about the rankings but how can you really tell at that age?
Klaw: I watched three 2017 prospects – fourteen years old – take BP and field a little. It’s insane that we’re even looking at them now, and that they can even look like that taking batting practice.

J: Chat’s going into extras today
Klaw: Yeah, but I have to wrap it up and take care of about a million other things, including making sure my ALDS preview post is OK (I filed before the chat). Thank you all, as always, for all of your questions and for continuing to read these chats every week. I can’t say enough to express my gratitude. I’ll chat again next Thursday ahead of my Arizona Fall League trip.

Klaw: Snarky action at a distance … it’s Klawchat.

MikeyMike: Lindor your choice for AL RoY?
Klaw: Yes, he would be, slightly over Correa, with Sano a distant third after those two.

@outfieldgrass24: Thanks for the chat Keith! When a player makes his stateside debut in Instructs at 18, should that signal that the org sees particular value in him or are they sometimes just getting him extra work?
Klaw: I wouldn’t read into it because, as you just hinted, the club may simply have wanted him to work with a specific coach or get some extra games. But I will say that there’s no negative to it. It means something good, I just don’t know exactly what.

Dan: Ausmus says he doesn’t care what people say about his handling of Norris because they don’t know the game like he does. Can the Tigers hit the reset on their decision?
Klaw: Except that all available evidence is that he doesn’t know the game. That was unconscionable; two AGMs texted me during that first inning to ask what the fuck (their word) Ausmus was doing.

Chris: Our country is petrified by the threat of terrorism, but we’re 1000x more likely to be killed by our own citizens with guns. At this point, what sort of disaster is required to enact any meaningful change to gun regulation?
Klaw: Barring the child of a prominent politican getting killed in such an event, I do not expect to see meaningful gun control laws enacted in my lifetime. Our gun culture is truly the only thing that would cause me to want to leave the U.S. to live in another country.

Jay: What kind of hitter will Andrelton Simmons be in the next couple of years? Is that 22 homerun year a complete aberration or will he find some of that pop again?
Klaw: I don’t think he can hit for that kind of power and simultaneously do much else at the plate. His ideal profile is a very low-K, low-power season where he hits in the high .200s just by putting the ball in play all the time.

Damon: Who’s your NL Cy Young? I don’t remember if you answer these questions or not
Klaw: I’ll answer on any award except NL ROY (which I have – and the form explicitly states DO NOT REVEAL YOUR BALLOT). I’d have Kershaw first, but I don’t think Greinke or Arrieta are a ‘wrong’ choice here.

Bob: Have you seen Jerad Eickhoff, yet? I realize the change up is making lefties hit him, but it looks like a huge mistake for the Rangers to almost let him be a throw in on the Hamels deal. Can he stick in the rotation? Slider is a plus pitch according to Pitch fx and well the amount of strike outs.
Klaw: He wasn’t a throw-in, not according to either side at the time of the deal, but he was not as highly regarded by scouts I talked to who saw him this year. He’s clearly something – maybe a mid-rotation guy if that changeup improves substantially (or he adds a splitter or something along those lines).

Justin: Is evolution going to make your top board games list? I saw your paste article and I’m intrigued.
Klaw: It’s OK, not great; if I take my all-time list to 100 it’s on there. I may not go that deep.

Tim: who should the Twins start in the OF next year? They should let the youngsters out there and let hunter walk right?
Klaw: Yes, Hunter has been terrible (and man he needs to stop saying stupid stuff). If he’s that great a ‘leader’ in the clubhouse, which I find hard to believe given what comes out of his mouth, make him the bench coach.

Walewander: Hi Keith. Thanks for the chat. Do you think Michael Fulmer or Ryan McMahon will make impacts at the big league level next year? Have you read The Heart is a Lonely Hunter?
Klaw: Fulmer yes, McMahon no shot, and I love that book – it’s in my top 50.

Drew: After this utter disaster of a season, what do the Nationals have to do to be competitive next season? Is that just a pipe dream?
Klaw: Fire the manager and probably add one starter while letting the kids play (Turner, Taylor, using their various rookies in the rotation) and firing Papelbon into the heart of the sun.

Anthony: Hey KLaw. Did Beane get 100% hosed on the Donaldson deal? Is Barreto going to be a good pro, in your opinion? Seems like it might be the worst trade of the decade, no?
Klaw: Barreto is going to be a star (he’s already a pro, BTW, if you’ll allow me to be pedantic for just a moment … you’re asking about the big leagues), and I hated the deal at the time for Oakland. I didn’t like the Shark trade either because Semien is not an everyday player, esp not at SS.

Tim: Do you have any issue with people reporting matt Williams is going to be fired before it is official?
Klaw: This isn’t exactly Deep Throat secrecy here.

Haymaker: Arrieta beats Cole in the Wild Card play in game, right? Cubs go on to win the NL, then the World Series? The curse will finally be broken and “Back to the Future 2” writer Bob Gale will be revered as a prophet? Just nod your head and smile, Keith. It will make me feel better.
Klaw: (nods while making ‘crazy’ circular motion around my ear)

Garren: Have you heard anything about “Lazarito”, the latest buzzed about Cuban defector?
Klaw: Only what you’ve heard from folks like MLB’s Jesse Sanchez.

Chris H: At this point I feel bad for Matt Williams, and I’m a Mets fan. That Washington Post article was brutal. Can you remember a Manager-to-be-fired who has been this universally derided?
Klaw: It’s his own fault; I have no sympathy for folks like him and Ausmus who are so obstinate about their way of doing things. You want to succeed in this game, you make adjustments. They haven’t.

Anonymous: I don’t know what to think about Wilson Contreras. Obviously, his stock went up this year, but how does he project at the MLB level?
Klaw: Above average regular behind the plate.

White haired clown: Is fair to be skeptical of coppolella in Atlanta because he worked for clown wren for so long ?
Klaw: Grossly unfair and, frankly, kind of dumb.

addoeh: Not baseball related, but L. Fournette should at least have the option of playing in the NFL now, right?
Klaw: Absolutely. I hope he fights it; it could help baseball players break the NCAA’s three-year BS rule too (which MLB has agreed to, for no good reason at all).

Pat: Bundy, Harvey, now Branden Kline — are arm injuries to O’s prospects just fluky or do they do something wrong?
Klaw: I don’t think it’s entirely coincidental.

Ed: Aren’t Arrieta’s and Greinke’s ERAs within the range of error at this point? I keep hearing Greinke’s ERA as his trump card in the Cy Young race. Seems to be splitting hairs at this point.
Klaw: Yes, although Arrieta has had some absolute joke opponents of late too – that Brewers game where they started a AAA lineup comes to mind. Again, I don’t think either guy is clearly better.

Woodman: Rumor here is that the Giants want to coach up Kelby Tomlinson to be a CFer. While he’s done an admirable job filling in for Panik at 2B, does he have the skill set to be an everyday CFer?
Klaw: I don’t see it – he’s not even as good as the Duffy/Panik group who’ve been better in the majors than they were in the minors.

Ryan: Kyle Zimmer threw over 60 innings after returning from injury this year and was pretty effective. Is that enough for him to jump back up into your top 50 or even top 25 ranking like he was previously?
Klaw: I’d be too leery of his injury history to stuff him like that but he’s definitely a mid-100 guy.

Alex: Joe Musgrove–how much has he grown in your eyes?
Klaw: Not at all.

TedT: Travis Shaw or Greg Bird – expectations and upside?
Klaw: Bird’s the better prospect but Shaw is a legitimate big leaguer with a chance to be a regular at 1b. I don’t see him being able to handle another position.

David Saba: In 2016, can JP Crawford make an impact the way Lindor has this year? Or will the Phillies hold him back no matter what?
Klaw: I think he can and probably will, because he’s going to be ready to do so by midyear.

David Saba: Has the performance spike of Jerad Eickhoff, Nick Williams & Jake Thompson since the Hamels trade altered your view of the haul? Or is it just SSS?
Klaw: For the last two, you’re looking at about a month of playing time, which is SSS for anything we might look at. I liked the trade a lot at the time, though.

Ken (Ann Arbor): Is Tyler Collins a: a) MLB regular corner outfielder
b) A regular till he gets expensive in arbitration
c) 4th outfielder who can play some CF
d) 4th outfielder — corners only
e) 4A

Klaw: Probably d.

Mark: Tyler White is supposedly moving back to catcher, and the last time he played it, he was 50 pounds lighter. What do you think of the Astros’ decision?
Klaw: Worth a try but awfully unlikely to work. Granted, the downside is limited (injury risk?) but the upside is substantial.

Bill: Can Conforto be a .280 30 hr hitter? too much on the power?
Klaw: I think he’s more likely to post a .400 OBP with 20 bombs.

John: Do you think Reynaldo Lopez can be a frontline starter in time?
Klaw: I think he’s a reliever. It’s all arm, no lower half, and his secondary stuff isn’t great.

Michael: I know Kim Ng has very little scouting experience, but do you think she is qualified to be a GM? Is gender a factor in her not getting hired?
Klaw: She’s as qualified as someone like David Stearns, certainly; his background is similar to hers, all office-based/administrative, although I can’t speak to either of their skills in terms of analytics awareness or people management.

Forsyth: Is Conforto a reasonable comp for Benintendi?
Klaw: Benintendi’s a better runner with more power and a chance to play CF. Conforto has the better eye and simpler swing. Both great players but I think Benintendi may have the higher chance to end up a star.

Michael: I know it’s the rule, but I’m not crazy about guys who clearly beat the throw being called out on replay because they lost touch with the base for a split second. Any way to fix this?
Klaw: I agree – it’s the rule, and it’s a bad one that has only come up because of replay. I don’t know a simple fix but I think it’s one to address.

Jeff: Thanks for the insight and wisdom, Keith. Have you seen anything with Corey Seager that indicates that he could remain a shortstop?
Klaw: No, not for the long term. It’s like Severino being a starter – they could hold their present roles for a little while, but when we look back in five or ten years (maybe ten is too long) it’s much more likely IMO that Seager will have spent the bulk of the time at third and Severino will have been in relief.

Andrew: Do you think Tyler White would be more productive in 2016 than Evan Gattis as the Astros primary DH? Team needs upgrades at 1B, 3B, DH…
Klaw: Yes. They should non-tender Gattis and let Reed and White play.

Andy: While you would never actually want a player to get hurt, if Severino goes down next year will you be finding everyone who’s asked the same damn question on Twitter and pestering them about how you could do their job better?
Klaw: It’s one of the most awkward aspects of my job – if I predict a player will get hurt or won’t be able to do something, and I’m right, I can’t say a word without appearing to gloat over injury or failure.

J: Last month NPR did a 9 minute piece on Spandau Ballet and last week USA Today used half the fold on Korn. Does mainstream media have a duty/obligation to give time to new up and coming music instead of that old and tired stuff? Most people think music sucks now (logic fail) because they don’t know what’s out there
Klaw: I didn’t see/hear either of those pieces (Spandau Ballet? Really?) but I do make an extra effort to find more obscure artists for my monthly playlists because does the world really need Pitchfork to review the latest Taylor Swift album?

Michael: If you were commissioner, would you allow any roster expansion in September? A lot of people propose a set 25 man roster for each day in September, but then 4 starting pitches would just be left off.
Klaw: The number would have to be 20-22.

RBI, Saves, & Wins: Our first comment on the new chat! Just give the Cy young to the pitcher with the most wins. It works with RBI for the MVP…
Klaw: Welcome back now please go away.

Derek: Does Dusty manage again in 2016?
Klaw: I would bet against it and I don’t understand the media members who appear to be pushing his candidacy. He got worse at every stop and had enough history of misusing young arms that we shouldn’t want to see him manage – and I say that as someone who has tried to help a few candidates of color get more consideration for managerial openings.

Charlie Lapin: Would you ever be interested in returning to the front office of a Major League club? Why or why not?
Klaw: I’ve answered this before and my response is still the same: I don’t close any doors, but I will only take a job that makes sense for my family. My daughter is 9 now and I don’t regret any of the time I’ve been able to spend with her rather than sitting in an office or an airport.

Nick: Kyle Schwarber appears to have some adjustments to make now that pitchers have exposure to him. Can’t imagine his struggles hold up though. Thoughts?
Klaw: He got to the majors awfully fast – we’re not even having this conversation with other kids from his draft class. I do think he’ll be fine in time, just perhaps not the MVP type that the early hype bestowed upon him.

Jay: Any optimism for Rio Ruiz next year? Is it still likely he is the 3B of the future for the Braves
Klaw: After this year I’m pretty down on him. How does anyone hit for that little power and hope to play a corner in the majors?

John: What are your thoughts on Domingo Santana? Average regular or 4th outfielder or more?
Klaw: Star tools, but fourth outfielder approach.

Anonymous: Between J Parker and Williamson, do the SFGS have a future starting outfielder?
Klaw: I think it’s more likely Williamson than Parker.

Tim: Who is the better prospect going forward G. Torres or Y. Moncada?
Klaw: Moncada has more upside at the plate, but Torres is definitely a shortstop. I’d take Moncada right now because of his age and physical maturity, and I think we know more about his bat than we do about Torres. They’re both studs though.

Matt: If you ever emigrated from the US it would be to (where) and (why)?
Klaw: Either some place warm or some place with great food (Italy, probably, since that’s where my people come from too). But any other country will likely have its own problems as a tradeoff.

Tom: So our big lesson of the week is that Harper needs to learn to play the game the “right way.” But just once, I want to see a guy play the game the “wrong way.” What would he do? Run to third after hitting the ball? Chuck the ball in the stands to stop the clock because his team is out of timeouts? Take a dive at the plate so the ump awards a penalty kick?
Klaw: Barry Svrluga’s piece from the other day covered this well, defending Harper in a way without coming off as unfavorable. Harper’s makeup is not and has never been a concern, except to idiots.

Andy: Cy Young ballot is only 3 deep right? If so, there should only be three people who get votes.
Klaw: It was expanded to five after the whole imbroglio in 2009 that some tiny fraction of Cardinals fans still can’t get over or get right.

Adam Trask: Is Starlin Castro more valuable as a second baseman or as a trade piece for a team that needs a shortstop?
Klaw: I don’t think many teams view him as a shortstop; he just wasn’t very good there defensively. But he might have a lot of trade value to a team that needs a second baseman.

Glen: How good can Kaprielian be?
Klaw: Mid-rotation starter good? It’s not a huge fastball, but there are a lot of quality mid-rotation starters or better who work with average to slightly above-average fastballs because they have at least two of command, life, or secondary weapons.

Tom Christopher: Will Jacob Gatewood ever make enough contact to even sniff the big leagues, or is there way too much swing and miss?
Klaw: My guess is he gets to the majors but doesn’t become a regular for the reason you outlined. He’s like Michael Gettys: if it clicks, you get a star, but the probability that it clicks is low.

Liam: Is Rougned Odor the next breakout 2B in the same way that Cano emerged without great fanfare at first? What do you think is Odor’s ceiling at this point?
Klaw: All-Star ceiling.

Papelboner: I thought you don’t believe in clubhouse chemistry. If true, then why should the Nats get rid of Papelbon?
Klaw: Choking a teammate is not a clubhouse chemistry issue. It’s assault and freaking battery.

Skippy: Thank you for reffering to it as a “tiny fraction”. As a cardinals fan I get sick of being judged as arrogant because there’s a group who always refers to themselves as “the best fans in baseball”. Likely the same group who complains about it. My experience with them is those ones are the worst fans but every fan base has to have black sheep
Klaw: Exactly – every fan base has its clown car. They just come out more when the team is winning. Except for the Cubs’ fan base, where the clown car had “Junior Lake for MVP” bumper stickers on it.

TJ: Which would you rather have going into 2016- Detroit with Ausmus as manager and that bullpen full of gas cans or the Nats with Williams at the helm and a bullpen that still includes Papelbon? Death not an option…
Klaw: Woof. I actually think the Nats could have won in spite of Williams if they’d been healthy all year. They weren’t healthy, so they weren’t good enough to overcome his derpity derp.

Enad: If you could have one of these become a reality tomorrow which would it be: DH in both leagues; Banning the Phantom DP; Banning the 3-0 “Gentleman’s Strike;” Robotic Ball/Strike ump machine?
Klaw: I want them all, of course. I think the DH in the NL is the easiest to implement and does the most to enhance the fan experience.

NICK: What are your thoughts on Jake Bauers?
Klaw: It’s a really tough profile. A prospect, not an elite one. Wish he was a better athlete and/or played another position.

Jim: Do you think the M’s made the right choice with Dipoto over Eppler or Jeff Kingston?
Klaw: I think DiPoto was an excellent choice, but that’s no knock on Kingston or Eppler. They wanted someone with experience, and DiPoto has had to deal with a similar payroll issue (heavily invested in a few players who may not earn their pay) before.

Ridley Kemp: I don’t think “narrative” is a good way to pick a Cy Young or MVP since we can measure the value of players with a reasonable degree of certainty. That doesn’t seem to be true of managers, though. Is “narrative” as good as any way to pick a manager of the year? Just pick the guy whose team overachieved and give him or her credit for it? Is there a better way to go about it?
Klaw: There is no good way to pick MOY in my opinion. Honestly if someone told me they voted for the guy who called for the fewest non-pitcher sac bunts regardless of team record I’d shake his hand.

Rick: Coppolella seems like a smart guy, but needs a whole lot of work on public speaking.
Klaw: I don’t think public speaking is a critical part of being a GM. People often confuse eloquence with intelligence. I can think of at least one former GM who is highly articulate but is an empty suit, and I feel very strongly that Latino candidates for GM spots are at a huge disadvantage because they interview in their second language and their interviewers subconsciously downgrade the candidates’ acumen.

Wade: We know your love of CHVRCHES and other synch-pop type music, but have I missed your thoughts on Purity Ring’s newest album?
Klaw: You may have since I wrote about it in the spring. I liked a few singles but the deeper tracks were very disappointing, and I hate the production through which they put her voice.

El Chapo Jr: Roasted Cheese filled squash blossoms? Yes or no?
Klaw: Deep fry them suckers.

Scott of Lincolnshire: For all of these questions on “can prospect xyz hit 30 home runs in the MLB?”, note that Rizzo just barely got past 30 home runs and Bryant isn’t going to get there this year. And those are two guys who have legit power. Bottom line: 30 home runs are hard to hit in a single season.
Klaw: They are now, but I’ll forgive fans who got very used to 30 HR during the first decade of the century.

Derek: Hey Keith, love your chats. See that you like metal–my 15yr old son and I recently got to watch Metallica FROM THE STAGE. Pretty amazing deal–my kid has no clue how lucky is is.
Klaw: That’s amazing because as far as I’m concerned Metallica vanished from the face of the earth before the end of the first track on the black album.

Enad: If you were a GM would you offer Rich Hill a guaranteed, incentive-filled, $2M MLB contract with a top end of, say $12M based on starts or or $5M based on appearances?
Klaw: I like your thinking. But i bet someone guarantees him more than that. I truly don’t know what to make of his September. It has to be fool’s gold, right? Right? Who’s with me here?

Brian G.: Has your music taste changed over the years? If so how? Obligatory thanks for continuing to host these chats!
Klaw: Absolutely it has. I’ve become much more open-minded as I’ve aged, and I also tend to steer away from more derivative stuff because I’ve been an avid music fan for more than 30 years now and it’s easy for me to hear something and think “I’ve heard this before.”

Theodore Williams: Confusing eloquence with intelligence….sounds like you were talking about the POTUS.
Klaw: That’s a different fallacy: confusing someone holding differing political or economic views from yours as a sign of a lack of intelligence. You may dislike Obama’s policies, but I think he’s one of the most intelligent Presidents we’ve had in my lifetime. Jimmy Carter is pretty bright and many of his policies ran from bad to disastrous.

JF: What’s the ceiling on Erick Fedde, and how do you think he has looked so far?
Klaw: Third starter, maybe fourth. Slider hasn’t come all the way back yet. More volatile than most because we don’t know if there’s more to come as he works his way back.

Matt: Do you have a recommended source to discover new music?
Klaw: Me! Seriously, I don’t have a single source, but part of why I spend time hunting is to curate these lists so readers don’t have to do it.

Adam Trask: Even smart, analytical GMs choose “leader of men” managers over strategists. Could it be we underrate the Mathenys of the world?
Klaw: I’d say we don’t know how to rate them. There is absolutely a black box aspect to the job that can’t be measured or even fairly discussed by outsiders, so we focus on we can see, which is OH MY GOD STOP BUNTING.

Aaron: Anything to get excited about for the Phillies next year?
Klaw: A lot, right? Nola, Eickhoff, Franco, maybe Crawford, possibly Thompson and Williams, maybe Knapp – there’s a lot on its way. They do need some impact starting pitching, but this is a great free agent market for that and it would make sense to look at grabbing one of those guys.

Khal Drogo: Do you ever play any of the longer-form board games (that aren’t really meant to be played in one sitting)? Do you enjoy that kind of experience?
Klaw: I’m not sure what games you mean; I haven’t played anything longer than Agricola, which is two hours or so and I would consider very long.

Jason: Hi Keith. Thanks for hosting all of us. Do you think the Tigers have enough in place to bounce back into contention next year?
Klaw: I don’t, and I don’t think that’s the right strategy at the moment. The division should be very tough, with Cleveland not far off, KC still strong, and the Twins maybe one good starter away from a possible 90 win ceiling with full seasons from Sano and Buxton. Plus the Tigers have too many holes to fill in one winter.

Stinky Rodney: Is there a type of prospect that is the most “fun” to scout? Insane power? Nasty breaking ball? Incredible fielding?
Klaw: I love seeing guys who do anything that seems superhuman like that. Jose Iglesias fielding, Andrelton Simmons throwing, Bryce Harper’s power, Billy Hamilton running. Part of why I love JP Crawford as a prospect is that he does everything so freaking easily.

El Chapo Jr: How soon until your FA rankings come out?
Klaw: After the World series, I think. I do have to write those soon.

Rick: Is Lucas Sims’ stock back up for you at all? They aggressively promoted him after he returned from the bus crash, and he held his own. He’s gotten his strikeouts back.
Klaw: He’s been better, yes, although I may have rated him too highly after that first year.

Derek: Do you think Michael Reed can handle CF?
Klaw: I’d try it. He’s a pretty good athlete and that’s a hell of a player (with those OBP skills) if he can even be average.

Stan: Pretty amazing season NOBODY is talking about: Abreu joined Pujols as the ONLY person in MLB history with 30HR/100RBI. I know Donaldson/Trout will win MVP, but Abreu 3rd?
Klaw: It wasn’t an amazing season at all; he’s a DH with a .348 OBP and a .506 SLG playing half his games in a good HR park. He wouldn’t make my top 20 if I had an AL MVP ballot.

Greg P: Do you think Miguel Almonte helps the Royals anytime soon? Reliever or Starter?
Klaw: I think he ends up a starter. Maybe a reliever in the short term.

Jason: How does traffic on this chat compare with the old ESPN chats?
Klaw: I don’t know, but these are much easier for me to handle, and when I need to reschedule I can just do it myself.

Andy: When did you start HP with your daughter? I’m worried about starting too soon because of the darker later books.
Klaw: Three months before she turned 8. We finished seven months later. She did fine.

Matt in Portland: The Astros could potentially play sunday in Arizona, Monday in Minnesota, Tuesday in Anaheim and Wednesday in New York. Can we take a vote to make this happen?
Klaw: I’m only a member of Team Entropy – Jay Jaffe is President for Life – but sign me up.

El Chapo Jr: Why havent more franchises taken over minor league franchises from a ownership point of view? It seems like the development process could be streamlined even more.
Klaw: It is the inevitable outcome. I also think it’s high time MLB leans on the Carolina League to add two more teams; owners there have resisted it because they are propping up their own franchise values, but we don’t need teams in Bakersfield or High Desert, and there are plenty of towns in the VA-NC-SC corridor that can support A-ball clubs.

Alex in Austin: The move of the year was the kid writing his thesis on how GM’s are undervalued. Guaranteed internship. It’s like winning an Oscar for a movie making heroes out of Hollywood.
Klaw: And that happens only … oh, every year, actually. That’s all for this week. I believe I’ll be able to chat on Thursday next week and the week after that as well. No Periscope this week due to Bristol travel. Sorry about that, but thank you as always for reading and for all of your questions!