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Klawchat 10/25/18
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Keith Law
1:01
Like a slow divorce ... it's Klawchat.
Joe
1:01
Keith, how bad does the Gausman trade look now the Orioles are very unlikely to be able to sign a top international player with the money they acquired?
Keith Law
1:01
As bad as it looked at the time they made the deal. They mishandled Gausman for years, and he's already looked a little better since they traded him.
Nick
1:02
Matt Strahm - your thoughts? Starter? Long RP?
Keith Law
1:02
I still think he can start.
addoeh
1:02
Top Chef is in Kentucky this season, so expect plenty of bourbon and maybe a burgoo.  I know you said you were out last year due to time, but will you come back this season even without the recaps?
Keith Law
1:02
I think so, although it'll depend on how much time I find I have during prospect season + the glut of movies I'm already finding myself facing. It seems like we're in for an extraordinary three months of very good movies coming out.
Aaron
1:02
Absolutely stunned that the reds didn't choose a retread for their manager position (please don't be Ausmus, please don't be Ausmus.)  What was his rep as a minor league coach?
Keith Law
1:03
Bell has a great reputation from when he managed and his work in player development. I know Giants people had nothing but great things to say about him. I don't know how he'll be as a tactical manager, or how well he'll work with analytics, but I like that he has a lot of relevant experience.
John
1:04
Dear Dave Dombrowski,  I'm sorry about all the things I said about you when you acquired Eovaldi instead of a bullpen arm.   Sincerely, Johnny from Burger King
Keith Law
1:04
Turned out Eovaldi was both a floor wax and a bullpen arm!
Rob
1:04
Did you get to see Taylor Trammel while in Arizona?
Keith Law
1:04
Yep. I saw every position player who played other than a few taxi squad guys (they only play two days a week) and guys who were hurt (Luis Robert, of course).
John
1:05
Assuming that the DEA story has been fully debunked, does it make sense that no one ever picked up Hanley Ramirez for the league minimum?
Keith Law
1:05
He really has no position; it's hard to find a spot for a guy like that, basically impossible in the NL.
Bill
1:05
I am opening a bookstore/cafe in Worcester, MA soon. Besides good brew, what sorts of things do you enjoy in such places (besides Smart Baseball!)?
Keith Law
1:06
The appeal of indie bookstores for me is the curation of the collection. You're not selling all books, and really, if people want the latest James Patterson tripe, they can get that anywhere. I like to walk into a small bookstore and see that someone has taken the time to choose which books to sell and which books to highlight. Staffers who can talk books with me and help me discover new titles are always a bonus too. Also, donuts.
James
1:06
As a Royals fan, when should I realistically expect them to compete again? 2021?
Keith Law
1:06
That seems too soon given the state of the system.
Sam
1:06
Thoughts on Brodie Van Wagenen being a finalist for the Mets GM job? Do you feel the same way about GM jobs that you do manager jobs with respect to needing some level of experience?
Keith Law
1:07
In this case, I do. I don't think hiring an agent who's never worked in baseball ops to run the entire baseball ops department makes a lot of sense. The entire Mets GM search process seems badly flawed to me.
wearingwhitesoxinboston
1:07
Thoughts on the Baldelli hire? Like Cora and Roberts, he was an average player with bench coaching but no managerial experience. Is this a copy-cat move by the Twins or was he the best option? I am skeptical.
Keith Law
1:07
Cora had managerial experience.
Ron
1:07
Thoughts o n the Baldelli hire?  Sounds analytical, young, has coaching and instructing experience and worked in the front office.  Bad hire, good hire or "Meh"?  But hasn't managed.
Keith Law
1:09
I discussed this on the BBTN podcast this morning - I know Rocco well, and think very highly of him. He's very bright and curious. He's more than just open to new ideas and will work well with the stats guys. I believe he'll be a good developmental manager. But as you said, he hasn't managed, and that's a negative regardless of who the candidate is. I hope he finds someone for his staff who has plenty of in-game experience and can help him learn that part of the game quickly; the track record of no-experience managers is poor.
Moe Mentum
1:10
Who starts at 1b for the Phillies on Opening Day 2019 - Santana, Hoskins, or other?
Keith Law
1:10
If it's Hoskins, who'd be the ideal candidate in a vacuum, where does Santana play?
ScottyG
1:10
I keep hearing the Cardinals might trade Carlos Martinez this winter - I don't get it......I know that everybody is available, but what would it take for you to deal him?
Keith Law
1:11
I don't understand trading him now, coming off his worst year, where he didn't stay healthy and ended up in the bullpen.
Hank
1:11
What kind of contribution do you see Eloy JIminez having next season? Is he on the level of Acuna and Soto (and potentially Vlad Jr)?
Keith Law
1:11
I think he's a great prospect but is not on the level of those other three names.
Coarsegold
1:11
Thoughts on Manny Ramirez Hall of Fame credentials?  B.S. Steroid nonsense aside.
Keith Law
1:12
He did test positive for PEDs/masking agents twice, so I'm not sure that's just "B.S." His case rests entirely on what you think of his defensive value; his bat clearly belongs. I don't think he'll be in my top ten this winter.
barbeach
1:12
Thanks for doing this chat.  Is there anything that better reflects the Mets incredible dysfunction than the fact they apparently are seriously considering hiring an agent--an agent who reps some of their stars to boot--with no front office experience to run the organization?
Keith Law
1:13
Like I said above, it's clearly a bad process. I get the strong sense they simply wanted to hire Melvin all along - perhaps because Bud Selig recommended him - and the rest was a charade.
Ben
1:13
Any chance Price opts out?
Keith Law
1:13
With known damage in his elbow? I don't think so.
Aaron C.
1:13
The narrative seems to be that the A’s future is bright…but, is it? Relief pitching effectiveness is notoriously fluid from year-to-year. Question marks at C, 2B and OF. Regression from some A’s in your 2018 top ten team prospects list. And, not one identifiable starting pitcher for 2019 – outside of MAYBE unproven Jesus Luzardo. Weird for a 97-win team, no?
Keith Law
1:14
I agree - their system is just middle of the road, and the major league team benefited from a lot of performances that won't be repeated, plus the likely departure of Lowrie's production.
Danny
1:14
Hey Keith, you've previously mentioned that you are not as high on Brandon Nimmo as others because he is ineffective (I don't remember your exact word choice) vs. lefties (I agreed with you). Though, someone pointed out to me that he actually posted a 112 wRC+ against LHP in 150 PAs this season. Does this change anything for you?
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