JotCast | Klawchat 4/1/21

Klawchat 4/1/21

Keith Law

1:02

It hits like a hammer when I'm that to someone else. Klawchat.

HomerSomethingSomething

1:02

Just finished The Inside Game - great work! Jarren Duran looks like he’s made serious strides at the plate since 2019 but his routes and reads have been awful this Spring. Do you think he can stick in CF or does he end up a corner guy?

Keith Law

1:02

I do believe in the swing changes, but wouldn't judge any fielder too much based on spring training. He's certainly athletic and fast enough to handle CF. (I haven't seen any of his fielding misadventures, though.)

Andy

1:02

What are the odds Bo Naylor stays at C for the Indians as he moves up the minor league ladder?

Keith Law

1:03

At this point, probably around even money, with a better chance that they move him to get his bat in the lineup more than that they move him for defensive reasons.

Todd Boss

1:03

Carter Kieboom question; he just had a very public 2021 Spring Training audition failure. He's only 23 ... but something feels like he's at a serious cross roads in his career right now. Does he need a change of scenery?

Keith Law

1:03

He might. Maybe just going to AAA and playing 2b exclusively would help? That said, I was always kind of the low man on his bat. I didn't see this potential 60 hit tool, not in his bat speed and not in his overall approach.

Andy

1:04

If Chris Rodriguez can stay healthy does he have the stuff to be a legit #2 SP down the road?

Keith Law

1:05

Yes, but he's never stayed healthy, and they took my 1000-to-1 bet from a few weeks ago against him appearing in the majors ... which I said would be a stupid move at the time. I stand by that: He's thrown 9 innings in 3 years, nothing above A-ball. How do you manage his workload this year, on a club that wants to contend, while also setting him up to return to starting in 2022? Have they closed the door on him as a starter in the long term?

Will

1:05

Keith, what are your expectations for Pache this year? Is a 250/320/400 slash line crazy?

Keith Law

1:05

I'd expect more like a .250/.290/.440 kind of line, with a lot of HR but that low OBP.

1:05

I know you had Ke'Bryan Hayes as the most deserving player for ROY last year, and he's still eligible this year as he hasn't yet hit his Rookie eligibility requirement. So my question is: Is it possible for a player to win ROY twice?

Keith Law

1:07

It is not. Last year's winners are ineligible this year by rule. I remain a huge Hayes fan but his lack of any voter support last year has further convinced me that there are enough voters who just don't take voting seriously, and that someone like Hayes, who is one of the best defensive 3b in baseball right now, is at a disadvantage in awards voting because he'll produce value in ways lazy voters just don't recognize.

Todd Boss

1:07

Props to CWS for not playing service time games with Vaughn and naming him to opening day. What are his chances of holding his own given limited minor league ABs?

Keith Law

1:07

I wonder if he'll end up a high BB high K guy right now, because he was always dancing on the edge of being passive. That could be a reaction if he's overmatched by big league pitching. I hope that's wrong.

Andy

1:07

Could Lacy open in the Royals rotation in 2022 or is that too optimistic a timeline given the lost development time last year?

Keith Law

1:07

Very reasonable.

Josh

1:07

Is there anything in Vaughn's athletic makeup that suggests he can play LF every day at an acceptable level?

Keith Law

1:08

I don't think so, but I wouldn't rule it out.

Andy

1:08

Does Tanajh Thomas have a future as a starter or does he profile more as a power RP?

Keith Law

1:08

Reliever.

Will

1:08

Keith, thoughts on Sean Newcomb in the bullpen? At 26, is he done as a starter?

Keith Law

1:08

Yes. Can't see how he can improve his delivery to throw more strikes.

Eric

1:08

Overall thoughts on the Lindor extension? I think fair for both sides.

Keith Law

1:09

He would have gotten more on the open market, I think, but I can't criticize him for taking this deal. Of the four SS headed for free agency this winter (including him), I think he might have been the best bet for a long-term deal. Better SS now than Correa or Seager, more likely to stay there, and better hitter than Story.

Andy

1:10

Manoah really opened some eyes this spring. Is it feasible to project a late call up this year if things go well in the minors or is that too aggressive given his lack of minor league IP?

Keith Law

1:10

Reasonable, if they manage his innings to leave something in the tank for August/September.

Champdo

1:10

How good do you think Willi Castro could be at his peak?

Keith Law

1:10

Everyday player.

Andy

1:10

Why do you hate my team? Every national expert must pick my team to be the class of the league. Every player is in the best shape of their life. Every prospect is the next big thing. Clearly, you are the issue for not seeing this.

Keith Law

1:11

What never fails to surprise me is how none of the people whining about purported "bias" against their favorite teams realize that fans of every team say the same thing.

Ted

1:11

Hi Keith - providing that he stays healthy, can AJ Puk become a GUY with less velocity (93-94), but with better command? The reports from spring suggest that his velocity has gone down a bit, while he’s working on his command. Thanks.

Keith Law

1:12

I heard that directly from a scout - Alex Coffey had a great article where she used that quote from me - and I think he can still be a GUY, but he has to show he can stay healthy, which he also has not done.

Todd Boss

1:12

Seth Romero, your favorite Nats malcontent 1st round draftee, is on 40-man and did not log a single pitch in spring training despite no injury report. What can we glean from this information as Nats fans?

Keith Law

1:13

"Undisclosed injury." Uh-huh. Color me shocked.

Jason

1:14

Why is Andrew Cuomo still Governor of NY?

Keith Law

1:14

I'm really not sure. He should have been gone weeks ago.

I also don't know if there's a legal route to removing him right now, though.

Khalid

1:14