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Klawchat 3/26/21
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Keith Law
1:00
Pay attention, it's not hard to decipher. Klawchat.
Ifickey
1:00
Did you get a chance to scout Nick Bitsko? If he wouldn't have reclassified, where would he rank in this upcoming draft?
Keith Law
1:00
Never seen him. His season hadn't started last spring when the world ended. He'd be in the same range, late first round, this year, but given the shoulder surgery he should be very glad he reclassified and signed when he did.
TomBruno23
1:01
Jack Leiter, 124 pitches...managerial malfeasance?
Keith Law
1:02
No, but pointless. He's got a $6-8 million payday in less than four months. There's no good reason to push him just so in 20 years he can say he threw a no-hitter in a mid-season SEC game.
Guest
1:02
Any hope for Luis Urias or has that ship sailed? Looks like neither the bat or OBP skills have shown up with him thus far in Milwaukee.
Keith Law
1:02
I don't give up on guys with a history of hitting in the minors that quickly.
Jon
1:02
Is Corbin Martin a top-60 (give or take) pitcher this season? Is that expecting too much too soon?
Keith Law
1:02
I'm a big fan but since he is still just coming back from TJ that feels like a very optimistic projection.
Bryan
1:02
Dylan Cease's BB problems have never seen to go anywhere. Can he be a competent starter at 4.5-5 BB/9? What is the ceiling if he gets it to 3 or so?
Keith Law
1:03
Potential #2 starter if he gets to average control, but can he get there when hitters hit his fastball as well and as hard as they do?
Pete
1:03
With the glutton of Braves pitching, do you see Bryse Wilson or Touki Toussaint making an impact this season or beyond, starting or out of the pen? Or will it have to be with another team if Atlanta won't give them some run?
Keith Law
1:04
I assumed after they optioned Wright that Wilson would be in the rotation. Touki really has to work out of the pen for now and earn a rotation spot by throwing more strikes. It's premium stuff, maybe ace stuff, but he has to be able to get it in the zone consistently.
Scott
1:06
Any good plan for Taylor Trammell this season? Just stick him in LF and see how it goes?
Keith Law
1:07
I'd start him in AAA. It's become clear in the last year or so that his bat just isn't as advanced as we (me, analysts, some scouts) thought it was. I do know one pro scout who was always a skeptic, though. Thought he was too passive in A-ball and wouldn't hit better pitching.
Kevin
1:07
Could Brandon Marsh go .275/.350/.450 with 500 ABs this year? 15+ HR/SB?
Keith Law
1:07
I might take the under on the OBP for his rookie season.
Rod
1:07
I know to not read into ST stats too much but the Pirates look.....good? And Keller, the supposed ace, is the worst performing pitcher thus far. 1) What are the expectations for him - will he eventually be pushed into a relief role? 2) Obviously Adam Frazier and Kevin Newman aren't going to hit .500 but the bat-to-ball skills seem elite. Frazier worth anything in a trade? Would you look to move Newman with a hot start or is he one of the guys you can start building around with Hayes, maybe Reynolds too?
Keith Law
1:08
The Pirates are not good. Let me disabuse you of that notion up front. They're one of the two worst teams in the NL, even with some interesting guys. Keller has to find a weapon to get lefties out. He can kill RHB with the FB/CB but without a viable option for LHP he'll never get close to his potential - I would argue his arsenal right now does not keep him in the rotation. I've long been a Newman fan, but he and Frazier may have too similar skill sets to both have roles here going forward.
Dan
1:08
I know you listed Gregory Polanco in the breakouts section...but what is a breakout for him? Is it All-Star level? A 2 win season? The tools are just gross if he could do the health thing.
Keith Law
1:09
I'm saying a 4-5 win season. 2 WAR would not be a breakout for him, or really anyone. If I think a player is going to break out, I am definitely hoping for more than 2 WAR.
Dan
1:09
The starts have been unreal for both Paxton and Robbie Ray - are they reclamation projects that you believe will be reclaimed for lack of a better word?
Keith Law
1:10
Both are good gambles, but spring training isn't telling us anything.
Leo
1:10
Are velocities something that we can look for in Spring Training to be useful? It seems like Charlie Morton and Patrick Corbin both have regained a bit on the fastball, should that point towards better success than last year for both?
Keith Law
1:11
Yes, that's one thing I think is potentially useful - a significant change in velocity in either direction. Corey Kluber struggling to hit 90 is a real problem. Dellin Betances did that two years ago and it was a sign he was hurt.
Greg
1:11
Any legitimate plan for Garrett Richards this year? Just throw him 'til his arm falls off?
Keith Law
1:11
I'm fairly sure the Red Sox have a plan, and that that's not it.
Adam
1:11
I know you're not a fantasy player, but each year it seems there is a guy drafted in 10th round or later that returns 1st round value. Nick Senzel a qualifier for you? He looks sharp already. Anyone else that you think could fit the profile?
Keith Law
1:12
He was a breakout candidate for me in 2020 but then came down with COVID-19 and wasn't the same when he came back. I'm a believer, though.
Harrisburg Hal
1:12
As a fan, what is the best way to pressure MLB to move ASG in light of GA voting restrictions?
Keith Law
1:13
I doubt fans can move the needle in any way here, but I had a thought this morning: What if Black MLB players all declined invitations to play in the All-Star Game? Or announced now that they would boycott? The last thing MLB wants is that kind of publicity, not this year, not when they're supposedly making a big push for DEI across the game.
Andy
1:13
Are the Reds kidding themselves trying Suarez at SS?
Keith Law
1:14
I mean, he was a shortstop once, and was actually a decent one. It might be a better option than anything else they have on hand.
Rick
1:14
Thanks Keith for all your work outside of baseball. Do have a baseball question though. Do you think Chisholm and/or Rodgers will eventually make it to allstar caliber players or just too many warts?
Keith Law
1:14
I'm all in on Jazz. Rodgers has two main obstacles: He can't stay healthy, and he's not selective enough at the plate. The latter could be improved. The former, though ... well, he's hurt again, and now losing more playing time he needs.
Michael
1:15
Hey Keith - not a prospect question, but we are hearing a lot from local media here in Philly about this being a huge Zach Eflin breakout season.  Should I buy the hype?  Have you seen anything that would indicate he is anything more that a potentially solid #3?
Keith Law
1:15
I think a solid #3 is about what he can be. The Phillies messed with his repertoire a bit, but I don't think he ever had a higher ceiling than that, not without some significant change in his arsenal.
Kevin
1:15
Blink twice if you need help from someone forcing you to read the "mushroom coffee" ads on your podcast. I thought you pushed back at ESPN about an ad read (many moons ago), and figured fake coffee would have fit that same criteria. Either way, love the pod and thanks for the chats!
Keith Law
1:16
I have declined a couple of ads, and I often omit words from copy if I think they're untrue or too pseudosciencey. That mushroom coffee is actually real coffee with some mushroom powder mixed in. They sent me a bag. I don't like it.
Isaac
1:16
No one was "low" on Bobby Witt, but may we be underrating his potential? Only see his highlights, that swing gets through the zone awfully fast and mixed with that angle, it looks an awful lot like the man in Anaheim. Could Witt be a generational talent type?
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