JotCast | Kiley McDaniel Chat

Kiley McDaniel Chat - 9/26/19

Kiley McDaniel

1:16

Hello from ATL! Swapped chats with Craig and am juggling calls scheduled for today that have been shifting a bit.

1:17

this may be slightly abbreviated, but to your questions, as Scout sleeps in the other room:

David

1:17

Assuming the Rays have the money available, who says no: Diego Castillo, Liberatore, and Honeywell for Kris Bryant.

Kiley McDaniel

1:18

for 2 years of Bryant? Cubs turn that down pretty easily

A big dumb idiot

1:18

Is it fair to consider Vladito's rookie season a disappointment? This isn't to say his star has dimmed going forward, just that more was expected in 2019

Kiley McDaniel

1:19

i guess? the projection systems have him as true talent level north of what he's done so far this year...but he's also a college sophomore aged player that's better than league average with the bat, so hard to say it's been more than a slight disappointment

Dan

1:19

What are your thoughts on the Cubs moving McLeod out of the PD and scouting side of the org? Do you expect some big changes to their PD department?

Kiley McDaniel

1:20

It sounds like there will be some notable changes throughout the organization. It's been pretty typical in recent years to move high level guys from the draft to other areas, not as a "this guy isn't good, but let's try to not embarrass him" but more or a "let's get some new blood in this area and try this guy in another role that he's qualified for"

1:21

the draft, PD and pro scouting are really different areas and you can be good at one but be great at another and being great at 2 of them is very hard over a sustained period given all the changes

Josh

1:21

Something I've been wondering--who pays for the tuition when a top prospect transfers into IMG or one of its imitators?

Kiley McDaniel

1:22

Kid has to pay, but I'm sure there's installment plans and scholarships and whatnot like with most private institutions

Bobo

1:22

If you were a GM of a team with lots of highly rated Triple A or Double A talent, that was safer, projection wise. Would you consider trading some of it for lower level minor league talent, maybe guys who are more boom/bust to even out the weight of your system? I.E. Should the Braves send some of their Triple A'ers away for younger talent

Kiley McDaniel

1:23

I can't see why that would be smart when ATL is a contending team that's trying to straddle the line of spending money but also having homegrown guys

Get Two, Brute?

1:23

With the depressing recent news that Pittsburgh are retaining Hurdle (and apparently NH as well), what’s the roadmap for this organization? How do they get back into contention, since they obviously won’t spend a dime on FA?

Kiley McDaniel

1:23

(shrug emoji)

1:25

I mean all of the last 5 years or so, this has been the question. Have to nail scouting/PD to pry open a window then work like hell to keep it open, then sell off parts to keep from being bad for multiple years...it's a high-wire act and it's been the only real way to contend there in the modern era. So even if they're coming off a 100-win season, this is still the question, because they would either be just opening the window or it's about to start closing. Like, how long can it stay open with those resources? You'd have to thread the needle like TB has and OAK does at times, but it hasn't happened yet. I don't get the impression ownership wants to pay 2 people to do any of those high paying jobs and the job itself isn't seen as one that would attract the top candidates for these reasons.

PSM2F

1:26

Braves have a ton of young talent already in the PROs or upper minors but Catcher is still a long term ? for me. Did you have a chance to see Willson Contreras or Shae Langerliers in person this year? Who do you think is most likely to be their Catcher of the future?

Kiley McDaniel

1:27

Slight Contreras lean but it could go either way in 2020. Alex Jackson is in the mix as a power over hit backup and the hope is one of those guys you mentioned takes over in the next few years as Flowers likely heads out. Having two guys of that caliber is better than the vast majority of clubs, though

Christian

1:27

Seeing as you and Eric have Martin and Torkelson as 50FVs, where would they fall into the top 100 if you had to put them on the list? Also thanks for being so insightful on these chats. It's very appreciated

Kiley McDaniel

1:28

Probably 40-75 area

Doug

1:29

There were reports last week of turnover in the Mets pro-scouting dept, including their director. Is this lately to lay blame for some ugly trades, or are they maybe going to reorganize their scouting resources in a more modern way (complex level focus)?

Kiley McDaniel

1:30

Probably a more modern department, I believe these were holdovers, so it makes sense to evaluate them for a year and see who you think fits in the new version of the dept. Pretty standard stuff to make a handful of changes a year after taking over.

Harold

1:31

What stats would you recommend looking at when evaluating pitching prospects?

Kiley McDaniel

1:31

K%, BB%, GB%, xFIP or FIP

velocity

Taylor

1:32

Can Varsho be a catcher long term? Or is he a better fit in center field? Do you know how he looked out there? Thank you!

Kiley McDaniel

1:33

He's passable, but doesn't look like he'll be everyday viable back there. 2B, LF, maybe CF, possibly 3B? Probably 1B as well.

Kyle

1:33

Twelve months from now, the Blue Jays #1 prospect is.

Kiley McDaniel

1:33

it's boring, but I'd say Jordan Groshans

Don

1:34

Does Emerson Hancock have the stuff to make a Casey Mize level jump?

Kiley McDaniel

1:35

yep, I think I made that comp last week or the week before. Probably ahead of Mize at the same stage. Mize made his big jump in the fall/early in the spring after showing the elements. Hancock has been a shutdown guy in the SEC for 2 years, but had some arm soreness and skipped the summer, so he hasn't been seen by everyone yet

Oklahomabrave

1:35

Do the Braves continue their trend of not trading any of their good prospects for talent or are they more aggressive this offseason? Or do they maybe spend more on FA’s?

Kiley McDaniel

1:35

Their approach has rightly been cautious, given that they're a middle market team. I wouldn't expect them to go all Dombrowski now, but I could see moving a few young pitchers in the right deal

mike

1:36

is biggio a bench guy or do you see him as an everyday player? Defence is limited

Kiley McDaniel

1:36

We think valuable platoon bat

Don

1:36

What pitching skill do you think is the best predictor of future success? Control/Command?

Kiley McDaniel

1:36

probably arm speed if I can only pick one?

Matt

1:37

Anyone in Indiana to keep an eye on for the 2020 draft?

Kiley McDaniel

1:37

Cole Kmet and Joe Boyle at ND. Kyle Nicolas at Ball State are all possible round 1-2 guys

1:38

Bo Hofstra at Purdue is a little after that. Charez Butcher was the big prep prospect in the state but he's going to IMG Academy in FL

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