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Klawchat 10/17/19
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Keith Law
1:00
Say goodbye to conventional ways. It's Klawchat.
Trevor
1:01
Cole to the Angels sounds like a broken record. Last I checked there’s another team in LA, that wins, with more payroll flexibility
Keith Law
1:01
That doesn't change the fact that Cole is an ideal fit for the Angels. Perhaps the Angels are not an ideal fit for him, or would choose not to outbid other suitors, but he is exactly what they need (actually, they need two of him).
Mike
1:01
Hi Keith, what’s your take on the Sox trading Mookie?
Keith Law
1:02
They should explore the market for him.
addoeh
1:02
Other than the upcoming Italy and Japan maps, what other countries/locations would like to see released for Ticket To Ride?  Canada, Australia/New Zealand, Russia, South America?
Keith Law
1:04
It's funny, I'm reading Paul Theroux's The Great Railway Bazaar and have been thinking about how much train travel itself has changed, and how the Ticket to Ride games (which I love) really have nothing to do with the experience of travelers. Seems like that could be a new avenue for expansions. Anyway, South America seems like the least covered region for the maps so far - perhaps an Old Patagonian Express map is in order.
Trevor
1:04
Better California legislation: NCAA Fair Pay Act or prep schooling starting no earlier than 8-8:30am?
Keith Law
1:04
Why not both? High schools should all start later, as teenagers' circadian rhythms run later than those of younger children or adults.
Bruce
1:04
Will Dustin May be in the Dodgers rotation next season?
Keith Law
1:04
At some point, yes.
Lyle
1:05
Could Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez both be on the opening day 2021 roster?
Keith Law
1:05
Possible but unlikely. Kelenic is further along.
Bruce
1:05
Will Yordan Alvarez continue to be a middle of the order bat next year or do you see him regressing next year?
Keith Law
1:05
I think there's some regression coming, but he'll still be an above-average hitter.
Mike
1:05
Has what Royce Lewis done in the AFL given you more optimism that the swing adjustments are progressing and the talent is still intact?  Kiley at Fangraphs said in his chat yesterday he's still bullish.
Keith Law
1:06
What swing adjustments? He looked exactly the same - huge leg kick, big hitch - and did not hit at all during the regular season. Nothing is wrong with him physically, but I don't think there's a big leaguer who hits for average with a noisy approach like Lewis's.
The Bilmo
1:06
Why not play the better defender, Dom Smith, at first, and see if Alonso can play left?
Keith Law
1:06
Alonso can't play left.
Brian
1:06
Could you provide an assessment of the Toronto front office?  Has Shapiro/Atkins really  done anything above average in the past 4 years?  Bo/Pearson appear to be great draft hits...Lots of what appear to be bad decisions.  Thanks for the chat!
Keith Law
1:08
The 'model' didn't want Bichette; the scouts had to fight to get him. The model wanted JB Woodman, whom the Jays took a few picks later and who is now completely out of baseball. Pearson was a great pick, for sure, and the early (brief) returns on Groshans are also strong. But overall I don't think this front office has built up their farm system nearly as well as other teams have in the same time frame, and they haven't maximized returns well enough in trades.
Greg P
1:08
Keith - what's your opinion on the baseball being used for the playoffs?
Keith Law
1:08
The evidence says the baseball is different from the one used in the regular season. Ignore the vaporing coming from the Commissioner's Office and go with the data.
Matt
1:08
Tim Kurkjian mentioned that he liked the Maddon hire because the Angels "went too far" into the analytics, and that Maddon can bring them back the other way. Do you agree with that assessment? Is that something that's really even possible?
Keith Law
1:10
I did not hear Tim say that, and it doesn't really sound like him, but I'll respond to the general argument and say it's balderdash. Scioscia was hostile to analytics; Ausmus simply didn't implement them well at all. Maddon is more open to integrating analytics than either of those two guys, and that's good. It won't matter without more pitching, though.
Ken
1:10
With the Harold Baines induction in the HOF and Nick Markakis at 2355 hits at age 35, is there better than a non-zero chance that he is able to hang around long to collect his 3,000 hits.  As a die hard O's fan my wife would be ecstatic (I am a Yankee fan and once lovingly called my wife's team a cute little franchise :) ) but good god Markakis in the hall?  I might never hear the end of it!!!!!!!!!!
Keith Law
1:10
I think if Markakis gets to 3000 hits, he'll be the first non-PED-assumed player to reach that mark and not get in through the BBWAA vote.
Dan
1:10
Hi Keith - thanks for your insights!  Was wondering if you thought 2020 would be a realistic expectation for the White Sox to challenge for a division title with what they currently have?  I know free agent additions could change this outlook.  I also know they have a lot of question marks, especially on players coming back from injuries, but I'm not sure the Twins' run this year is sustainable.
Keith Law
1:11
Not as currently constituted, but they should be very aggressive this winter. I do think the Twins' run is sustainable, but the White Sox can match them with improvements from internal options plus two pieces added this winter.
Bob
1:11
No question. Just wanted to say I had a chance to check out the Crack Shack on a recent work trip to SD and it exceeded my expectations. Thanks for the recommendation!
Keith Law
1:11
Can't wait to head there for the winter meetings. I've grown to like those meetings less and less over the years, especially with the last two years such duds for actual baseball news, but San Diego is the best city for them.
Brian
1:11
Are you bothered at all by the coexistence of wild cards and an unbalanced schedule?  Teams are competing for playoff spots while playing vastly different schedules.  For example, the Mets played 102 games against teams over .500, while the Brewers played 88, the Cubs 84 and the Diamondbacks 75.  I've never seen anyone talk about this, but it seems like a pretty fundamentally unfair structural problem.  (And it's not necessarily something that will vary from year to year; the Mets always play 4 to 6 games against the powerful Yankees, for example.)
Keith Law
1:12
Playing more teams in your division - which is probably the right schedule when division titles matter so much - will always lead to an unbalanced schedule, and there's no real fix for that.
Dan
1:12
The Cubs have 4 “top 100” prospects. Change my mind.
Keith Law
1:12
They do not. And since I make the list, I think that settles it.
Sarah
1:12
I saw your write up from the AFL. Do you buy Julio Rodriguez as a potential super star?
Keith Law
1:12
Offensively, yes.
edward
1:12
hey keith: longtime reader (advocated for you to read anything by gaddis) and i am headed to wilmington tomorrow for an opening at the delaware art museum. i have the afternoon free - any suggestions as to how best to spend my time? thank you!
Keith Law
1:12
Uh ... maybe go walk around Longwood Gardens?
Jon
1:13
Is Gabe Kapler the next manager to ride the AJ Hinch "2nd time around he's a genius" train?
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