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Klawchat 1/24/19
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Keith Law
1:09
Yeah, that's the wrong choice.
Kip
1:09
Arenado or Machado?
Keith Law
1:09
Machado.
Trevor
1:09
The D-backs have announced they’re switching their field surface from grass to turf next year and the Rangers may install it in their new stadium. Are you a purist and prefer the natural surface or ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ about it? Does it affect the grading of defensive skills in anyway?
Keith Law
1:09
Doesn't affect the grading. Prefer grass from the aesthetic perspective but it's still baseball on good turf.
Mike
1:09
Klaw, thanks for the chat. Who do we see first in MLB, a lefty catcher or lefty middle infielder. I read where Mets prospect Carlos Cortes learned how to throw with right hand so he can still play the infield. That’s crazy,
Keith Law
1:10
How could a lefty thrower play short or second?
Marshall MN
1:10
KLaw, I was just perusing the Baseball Prospectus Top 100, just curious do you ever look at those lists?  Not necessarily as a check on your work but just to see how other writers/analysts rank prospects?
Keith Law
1:11
I look at BA's (came out yesterday), MLB's (comes out Saturday), and Fangraphs' (comes out after the Super Bowl, date TBD). Those are the only lists I find credible, and I believe that is the industry sentiment. Jonathan Mayo and I generally compare our lists once they're published, too. It's fun to see what we heard that lined up and what we heard that widely differed.
Alex
1:11
As an author, how do you feel about people who can afford to buy your book, or any book, borrowing from the library instead? Is it a material drain on earnings? As background, my wife and I are trying to reduce our "new" purchases, but I don't want to hurt authors.
Keith Law
1:11
Read my book however you like. I use the library myself. I buy new and used books. I buy ebooks when I see they're on sale. read 104 books last year - that's a lot of money if I buy them all new.
Kody
1:12
Dodgers sign Pollock for 4-5 years depending on who you believe.  Doesn't even a 10 year deal for Harper taking him through about the same age as Pollock's deal make more sense? Nobody is concerned about Harper's 26-31 seasons, right?
Keith Law
1:12
Well it's not the same annual cost, not close.
Marshall MN
1:12
KLaw is it too early to put in a preemptive "you hate my team" complaint prior to the release of your Top 100 list next week?
Keith Law
1:12
Never too early.
David Stearns
1:12
I am high on my guy Hirua, how much of his minor league hit prowess translates, and do we have a 2B for the next 10 years who is at the top f his game?
Keith Law
1:12
He's a solid player, very very likely to hit enough to be a regular. Star potential is limited.
Matt
1:12
There had to be a handful of writers that didn't want to vote Rivera but were also worried they'd be the *only* one that didn't vote for him right?
Keith Law
1:13
I never considered omitting him, but it occurred to me that doing so could make me the only one, and then I'd have to go into hiding.
Sack
1:13
When do you expect Harper and Machado to sign?
Keith Law
1:13
In February.
Mike
1:13
When a prospect returns bonus money, as Murray in theory might, how does that actually work? Presumably he's spent some of it, so does the team give him time to repay? And what about taxes--he presumably paid a huge tax bill in the year he got his big bonus...can he claim a huge refund in the year he gives it back?
Keith Law
1:13
If Murray has to return the money it means he just got a much larger check from the NFL. He'll be fine.
B Mand
1:13
Do you think the current Red Sox bullpen is as big of a weakness as most make it out to be?  With the year to year fluctuation of relief pitchers, I'm fine with them saving their money for in-season trades if they end up needing help.
Keith Law
1:14
Same. And I wouldn't overpay for Kimbrel just to try to patch it.
J
1:14
With another mystifying off-season for the Rockies coming to a close, what do you see them doing with McMahon and Rodgers, at least in 2019? And, Twins' handling of outfield prospects aside, has a top prospect been more oddly dealt with than McMahon in recent years?
Keith Law
1:14
I feel like Rodgers is blocked for the moment, although I'm not a big Hampson fan (it's 30 power) and Rodgers might bash enough in Albuquerque (huge hitter's park) to force the issue by June. Their reluctance to let McMahon play regularly is befuddling. High pick, touted by the team, athletic, still has growth left. Play him.
Aaron C.
1:15
Has the *official* official schedule for the daily(?) prospects postings been released or is that still in the hands of your benevolent editor?
Keith Law
1:15
I mentioned it at the top of this post.
Ryan
1:15
Keith - do you think the removal of one year of team control - or even a change in the number of years of arbitration rights a team holds over a player - could help the stagnant free agency period and/or help to re-establish the player middle class. As is, I see the league devolving into a split between the well paid superstars and the entry level/roughly minimum wage players. In fairness, baseball isn't the only sport going this route, but it certainly feels as wrong as the shrinking middle class in America. Thank you
Keith Law
1:16
I think the best solution would be to boost the minimum salary to $1 million or more. But that has some unintended consequences too.
Tom
1:17
Al Avila said today he doesn't foresee the Tigers spending again until 2021, and that that's the soonest they can compete. Does 2021 seem like a realistic goal for them in terms of being relevant?
Keith Law
1:17
I probably would have said 2022. The system has improved but still has a ways to go.
Mike
1:17
Thoughts on Dodgers trading away Puig (and friends) and replacing him with older and injury prone AJ Pollock?
Keith Law
1:18
Puig was a free agent after the year, so your question is leading, omitting a critical detail - and Pollock may be older but he's a better all-around player right now.
Shane
1:18
Have you heard any whispers about what type of punishment the Dodgers face for their international issues and if that is playing a hand in their offseason moves?
Keith Law
1:18
I haven't heard a word about it nor have I asked. Not really my department.
Anthony
1:18
Would you support a rule that shrinks MiLB option years from 3 to 1? It seems teams cycle through pre-arb guys with options while eschewing mid-level free agents, and this could open up opportunities for players blocked in their current orgs by spurring trades or waiver claims (albeit with maybe some adverse effects on player development)?
Keith Law
1:19
I feel like owners would absolutely lose their shit over that. They love their control.
Zirinsky
1:19
Hi Keith.  What should MLB and the union consider implementing: earlier free agency, scrapping amateur bonus limits...what else?
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