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Klawchat 1/25/18
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Keith Law
1:04
You are a witness to the movement. Klawchat.
Frank
1:05
Why did Harrison Bader miss your rankings? He's raked at every level, can run, has pop and can play a good CF. What contributed to his missing out?
Keith Law
1:06
Let me start with my annual disclaimer: There are many prospects who didn't make the top 100 who still project as big-leaguers, or have above-average upside, or who I otherwise like as prospects. Bader is one of them - I think he's a solid-average regular as a CF, maybe below that in a corner because he doesn't project to get on base at an average rate or have above-average power.
Bill G
1:06
Thanks as always for the top prospect lists.  Max Kepler and Nomar Mazara.  Is there still upside or what we see is what we get.  Thanks!
Keith Law
1:06
Still upside on both. I'm in.
Minnie
1:06
Virtu Honest Craft or Citizen Public House for an anniversary dinner? We're more fun than fancy.
Keith Law
1:06
CPH is more fun, Virtu has better food but a shorter menu. CPH has a great cocktail menu too. They make my favorite negroni.
Tim
1:06
Any Jays pitching prospects worth talking about after Pearson? Also recommend "Samurai Spirit" board game.
Keith Law
1:07
All 30 org reports will run next week, one division a day, Monday through Saturday, I believe starting with the NL East. I had Borucki and Pardinho as the next two pitchers in the Jays' system.
Kevin S.
1:07
Re: your Estevan Florial write-up - what are the chances you see him having an Alfonso Soriano-type career, where he has just enough plate recognition that his immense raw skills make him a good player, but is always frustrationg because it feels like he could be a superstar if he laid off a slider in the dirt?
Keith Law
1:08
Soriano was a hacker too, but I don't think Florial is even that advanced in terms of approach, pitch recognition, or overall instincts. Plus Soriano did play the middle infield for a while, not well, but that gave him some extra value. Again, Florial isn't a bad prospect by any means; he just has a long way to go.
Jon
1:08
Finally the top 100+. Thank you. Look forward to it every year. I always ask (as does everyone) for a couple of lower minors breakouts. I have Larry Ernesto as one, and Kristian Robinson. Would you mind adding a couple of your own? Thanks again for the lists.
Keith Law
1:10
I do a sleeper prospect for every team, and those will run in the org reports. Robinson > Ernesto, as much as we can say something like that on 16-year-olds.
Johnny
1:10
Alec Hansen had a 3.2 BB/9 last year which is not great, obviously. Where do you think it needs to be for you and scouts to believe in his #2 upside?
Keith Law
1:11
Think he can succeed with 45 control because he could have two swing and miss pitches. I'm also bullish because the White Sox have done so much to clean him up and get him to this point from where he was at Oklahoma, falling out of the first round completely after being a top 5 possibility to start the spring.
Nick
1:11
What's your definition of a scout? I know you've said before that you didn't consider yourself one.
Keith Law
1:13
I am not a scout. A scout is employed by an MLB team to cover an area for the draft (area scouts), to cover the top tier of guys in a region or country for the draft (supervisors and crosscheckers), to cover specific minor leagues or organizations from the majors down to A-ball (pro scouts), to cover the international amateur market (int'l scouts), or to cover a little of everything as needed (special assignment scouts). I am a writer who knows a little about how to scout. That's very different. Nobody is using my reports to decide whether to acquire a player or how much to pay one.
TC
1:13
Did Jesse Winkler's lack of power production in the minors along with his defensive limitations keep him from top 100 consideration?
Keith Law
1:13
He's not rookie eligible, and thus not eligible for the rankings.
Nate (Seattle)
1:13
Hey Keith, wondering where Amed Rosario would rank if he was still eligible?
Keith Law
1:14
I don't rank guys who've exhausted their eligibility; we have major-league data on these guys that we don't on most other prospects, making the comparison a bit unfair.
Pirate Boi
1:14
You ranked Mitch Keller 18th overall which is great, but the blurb about him being a 4th starter at the moment may have some Pirates fans worried. Where do you think he eventually falls and does Ray Searage's ability to get the most out of pitchers factor in at all?
Keith Law
1:15
Lots of guys are top prospects without being at their ceilings right now; I have all these teenagers atop the list who probably wouldn't hit much or hit for any power if you put them right in the majors. Keller is a top prospect with a high ceiling, but he has to find a better third pitch to get there.
Also, I say in the intro that all rankings are team agnostic. Keller could be traded tomorrow, so I don't consider his org at all.
Joe
1:15
Triston McKenzie -- how likely is it that he adds velocity since he still has so much projection? What does 2 MPH added mean for his ceiling?
Keith Law
1:15
His ranking assumes he'll at least get to 90-94. He could get more than that; he's projectable, but I don't think he has a huge frame to end up at 240-250.
Brian
1:16
Keith, a random TV question for you.  I know you are a big fan of the Wire.  I was curious if you watched Treme and what your thoughts were on it.  Thanks.
Keith Law
1:16
I did not. I watch almost no TV at this point because of time limitations. I read, I play games, I see movies, that doesn't leave a whole lot of other time.
Tim
1:16
Corbin Burnes made the top 25 which was a pleasant surprise. If you were the Brewers, would you get him reps at AA this season and then skip the AAA call up all together?
Keith Law
1:16
Yes. I wouldn't send any pitching prospects to Colorado Springs unless I wanted them to get high.
Mason
1:16
What are your thoughts on Kyle Lewis? I predicted he'd fall out of the top 100.
Keith Law
1:16
Didn't appear to be 100% recovered from the knee injury. We'll check in again in March and see how he's moving.
DCS Foyle
1:17
A humble request for a random book to read. (It can't be The Eyre Affair, which I loved and am grateful to you for!)
Keith Law
1:17
Best book I read in 2017, any genre, was either I Contain Multitudes or Evicted (Pulitzer winner for non-fiction).
twins fan
1:17
Could you give us some thoughts on Brusdar Graterol and Akill Badoo?
Keith Law
1:17
In the Twins report next week. I believe both are in their top ten (I haven't written the AL Central yet).
Grant
1:17
If you managed the Cardinals, how would you handle playing time at catcher? It doesn't seem like Molina is too keen on taking more days off, but they have to get Kelly playing time if he is to be the heir apparent behind the plate.
Keith Law
1:19
Yes; I understand the desire to keep Molina happy, and Kelly does have to work on getting the ball in the air more, but ideally you're getting close to a 50/50 split and have Yadi working with Carson on the stuff he's supposed to do so well, like handling pitchers. You can also make Yadi the late-game replacement when it's close and Kelly started.
One Klawwy Boi
1:19
Which player in the 51-100 range do you give the best chance at being an absolute superstar?
Keith Law
1:19
Adell. Also has a fair chance of not panning out, but I think he has the most upside of anyone in the latter half.
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