JotCast | Klawchat 10/8/20

Klawchat 10/8/20

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Keith Law

1:19

May gets a shit-ton of ground balls. Graterol's stuff is hard but I don't think it's "filthy" the way you might mean.

That Guy in Detroit

1:19

I guess the first shots of the civil war have been fired in Michigan. Sigh

Keith Law

1:19

I would have guessed Alabama, but it was inevitable.

Jon

1:19

After watching Alex Reyes, Genesis Cabrera, and Austin Gomber this year I’m really excited about the cardinals future rotation. Do you think all 3 can be starters in the future?

Keith Law

1:20

No, maybe, probably, in order. Reyes hasn't stayed healthy, ever, and the delivery doesn't give me reason to think he will.

DRB

1:20

Could you share your thoughts on Klentaks tenure? How much blame for you give him for the Phillies awfulness the last few years?

Keith Law

1:20

Meghan Montemurro has a huge piece coming Friday on this, with contributions from me on their drafts and player development. It's complicated, and some of the problems predate Klentak, too.

Paul

1:20

At this point I feel "undecided" is code for "I'm probably going to vote for Trump, I'm just waiting for some minor Biden gaff to give me an excuse to do so"

Keith Law

1:20

Agreed. Or, I suppose, a Biden voter who is surrounded by Trump voters, and similarly feels unwilling to say so publicly.

1:21

Is there a chance Ke'Bryan Hayes actually gets ROY votes? I was happy to see you picked him, but figured his short(er) stay in the majors would cost him votes.

Keith Law

1:21

I bet he gets a lot of 2nd/3rd place votes but maybe nobody except for Pittsburgh voters puts him first, because of what I wrote about voting early or just because they dismissed him on playing time.

Jimbo

1:21

Thoughts on Zac Gallen going fwd ? I know you were very high on Jazz but I don’t think the marlins would do that deal today do you ?

Keith Law

1:22

I think both teams are still extremely happy with the deal. Gallen is almost certainly going to be on my next "players i was wrong about" column, probably next September. He's much better than I realized, even after scouting him live when he was still with STL.

bighen

1:22

I still know quite a few bright people that are undecided. I find it shocking but they are almost all wealthier people that are worried that a Biden win will deeply hurt their finances. It sounds selfish and seemingly has no basis in fact but that is the repeated mantra I hear

Keith Law

1:23

I think that view is objectively unsustainable, though. Nothing Biden could do on tax or economic policy will do as much damage as our government's inadequate response to the pandemic has. (That's without even arguing that your long-term financial health depends on some sort of climate policy other than "sweep the forest floors.")

Louie

1:23

You’re Theo Epstein. If it is time to break up the band, who do you keep on offense besides Happ, Heyward and Contreras? With the FA clocks ticking for KB, Rizzo, Baez and Schwarber?

Keith Law

1:25

Well, if I'm Theo Epstein, I know I have a year left on my deal, and I'm looking at the opportunity in Philly, and rumors that there may be one next year in Seattle, and maybe even talk to the Angels or Mets to see if I can get the autonomy I would need in either spot. But to your question, I'd pay Baez, and try to make Rizzo a Cub for the rest of his career, but Bryant is going to FA no matter what.

Bob (LA)

1:25

Does this series between the Dodgers and Padres make you think Logan White could be a good hire for the Angels or Phillies? Both Teams mention wanting to draft and develop better. Hes partly responsible for building the core of both of these teams.

Keith Law

1:26

Great name, although I think the Angels want an experienced GM who'll try to win right now rather than develop. I've heard Bobby Heck with the Phillies and Mets, at least. Ray Montgomery's and Tony Lacava's names have come up. Those are all names from the scouting world; I'm assuming that there will also be at least as many candidates from the front office/analytics side, but I haven't heard them yet.

Jimbo

1:26

Thoughts on the job Mike Hazen has done in AZ ? Seems like a C- or D job he has done. Also is he handcuffed by poor ownership/CEO ?

Keith Law

1:26

Oh, I think he's done a well above-average job. System is way better than it was.

Jimbo

1:26

how has exercise been going ? Losing weight ? More energy ?

Keith Law

1:27

I lost 8-10 pounds since I started running and now that's just holding steady, which is fine. More energy, but more soreness too since I'm trying to run 5 km each time out.

Mike

1:27

Biggest positive surprise of the teams that did not make the playoffs? Giants, Orioles or Royals?

Keith Law

1:27

I'm floored the Orioles won that many games with that pitching staff.

Nate

1:28

Keith, if you were Rick Hahn, would you be looking to add "big named" free agent starter or would you roll with a rotation rounded out by Dunning, Cease, Kopech, and possibly Stiever after Giolito and Keuchel?

Keith Law

1:28

I think that rotation is more than good enough, but if you can get an established above-average or better starter, you should probably do so, and then see if, say, Cease and Stiever/Dunning can get you another piece you need.

Or those could be the same thing - trade two young starters for a guy who is higher probability for 2021.

Pat

1:29

Your opening remark answers my question. As an 80's child & metal head, I assumed you were a VH fan. Eddie's death effected me more than most of the other 80's icons. Just a singular talent who I was blessed to see 2x in concert (with Hagar, too young for DLR Era). A shame to see he couldn't control his demons.

Keith Law

1:31

I was a huge fan of his fretwork - people call him an innovator, but he didn't invent two-hand tapping or anything else, it is that he did that shit better than almost anyone else in rock history. Just watch his hands - it's like watching peak Stanley Jordan, like they're hypermobile or had fewer bones or something because it seems like no human should be able to move their hands like that. I was never as big a fan of VH's songs as I was of his playing, though, and of course his bizarre belief that a metal guitar pick caused his throat cancer and not several decades of smoking is the sort of denialism that makes me stabby.

Kevin

1:31

Why can't we have some broadcasters who at least understand analytics?

Keith Law

1:31

Because the powers that be are still operating from a 50-year-old playbook that says you have to have ex-players in the booth.

Josh

1:31

While there probably aren't many undecided voters, about 40% of eligible adults will not vote at all. If only the media would frame the election around reaching out to those people (who happen to mostly be marginalized groups, people of color, and/or low-income)with policy designed to benefit them and calling out voter suppression. The myth of the engaged but undecided voter is incredibly damaging to the political process.

Keith Law

1:32

And the challenge of getting more of those people to vote should be more important to everyone who cares about our democracy ... except Sen. Mike Lee, I suppose.

Rod

1:32

Still a small sample, but I'm surprised by how good Ian Anderson's changeup is, despite the lack of spin. It feels like teams will eventually scout it better, but his delivery hides the ball well. Has his ceiling risen or do you still project mid-rotation starter?

Keith Law

1:32

Changeups don't spin, though. His curveball doesn't have great spin, and I think it's a clear third pitch for him, but hitters do not see that changeup at all and I think it's at least a 70 pitch.

1:33

(Which I would not have said in February, BTW.)

Cole

1:33

Do you think Billy Eppler’s firing by the Angels was warranted? And is Dombrowski really the best choice for their GM opening?

Keith Law

1:33

I wouldn't have fired Eppler or Klentak, but those owners wanted scapegoats.

Moises

1:33

Any info on Mackenzie Gore? With the lack ofstarting pitching on Padres, I would have assumed he would’ve been called up. Mechanics? Injury?

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