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Klawchat 4/24/25
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Keith Law
2:01
Years gone by, I'd say we've kicked some ass. Klawchat.
Aaron C.
2:01
Is there a food or cuisine that you've made a good faith effort to like, ordered different items or prepared different ways and damn it, it's just not for you.
Keith Law
2:02
Lao & northern Thai cuisine. There's something about the spices those cuisines use, particularly in seasoning meat, that comes across as very bitter to my palate. I've just stopped trying to make myself like it - it's not for me, and that's probably my loss in the end.
JJ
2:02
PCA playing like a future MVP. What's a fair contract to get him locked up?
Keith Law
2:02
How many future MVPs have 37% chase rates? Dude's had a good week and a half. He was just as bad the week and a half before that.
Richard
2:02
Just saw that the 2025 Hugo finalists are out, and you have read the Kingfisher entry. Have you read any others worth recommending?
Keith Law
2:03
Haven't read any of the others yet. I did really enjoy Kelly Link's The Book of Love (review coming next week), which was nominated for the Nebula.
Richard
2:03
The Astros are talking about Cam Smith playing Centerfield now.  Right field felt like a stretch, but Center seems nuts, right?
Keith Law
2:03
I think it's especially nuts to ask him to learn an even tougher position than his natural one (3b) in the majors. It speaks to the lack of a plan for the player. He's your best prospect; stop treating him like he's roster fodder.
John O
2:03
Ty Floyd is 4 months shy of 24 and pitching in A. Considering that and no proven pitch beyond his fastball, what should expectations be moving forward...2027+ relief role? found money for any role?
Keith Law
2:04
That's awfully quick for a guy who has made all of four starts since he was drafted. He missed 2024 after shoulder surgery; the fastball appears to be back and he has a functional (but no more than average) changeup. The slider sucks right now, and that's a real concern, but he's pitched so little that I doubt anyone has even considered tinkering with his pitch mix.
Aaron C.
2:04
Should I be more excited for Nick Kurtz's debut or terrified that my A's - already the worst defensive team in baseball! - are accommodating Kurtz by playing Tyler Soderstrom in LF and, like last night, are bringing in SETH BROWN as a defensive replacement?
Keith Law
2:05
Yeah I'm thrilled to see Kurtz up, even though he wasn't great in AAA. There had to be a better way to do that than to put Soderstrom in the outfield, no?
PhillyJake
2:05
Off topic, but something I'm wondering about: Do you prefer ops+ or wRC+ ? Both are used by writers in the context of a person with a score of 110 is 10 percent better than average. I know of you're not liking OPS in general as it takes two distinct stats are treats them equally when they shouldn't be.  I don't know enough about wRC that I should probably read more about it.
Keith Law
2:05
wRC+. I believe the stat on which it is based is much more accurate.
Andy
2:05
Do UCLA and USC still have prestige when it comes to college baseball, or did the move to the Big 10 basically kill any stature that they had?
Keith Law
2:06
USC lost its stature a while ago; they've been bad for more than a decade. Both schools are now getting beat in their own backyard by SEC and ACC schools. That's really where it all starts - they have to recruit better, and if that means they need more NIL money, well, get to it.
foolsgold71
2:06
are we overevaluating prospects from certain teams like the Dodgers? players like Diego Cartaya and Bobby Miller have been a major disappointment
Keith Law
2:06
Cartaya has a serious back problem - chronic for sure, possibly degenerative? Throw that one out the window.
Andy
2:06
How is NIL affecting college baseball? Besides obviously giving top talent more reason to do college, is it trickling down to help lower level schools or are there just more kids getting paid to not play for SEC schools?
Keith Law
2:07
Right now we're getting a huge concentration of talent in the SEC/ACC. Tennessee, LSU, Arkansas - these schools are building super-rosters. I don't think we've reached equilibrium, though, because of what you hinted at: it's often going to be better for real prospects to play somewhere else and get more playing time or a more prominent role than it is to be the Tuesday starter for Clemson.
Andy
2:08
Matt Shaw was given almost 20 games, and whilst he didn't look good, it isn't like the Cubs seem to be hurting from getting nothing at 3b. With signing retreads or utility guys there, what do they have to lose for him to struggle for a bit until he can figure it out?
Keith Law
2:08
No idea why they rushed to demote him. If you're going to be that quick with the hook, you should never have promoted him in the first place.
Aaron C.
2:08
Every year, you write up "guys you got wrong" and thoughtfully explain what you got wrong and why. Who are the dudes who were better/worse than you thought where your explanation is essentially the "shrug" emoji?
Keith Law
2:09
Austin Wells catching is one. I don't know anyone who doesn't wear pinstripes who foresaw him becoming a passable catcher. Even area scouts who loved him as a kid and as a hitter said there was no way he'd catch. I don't think he's very good, but he's adequate.
2:12
If Brett Baty never hits in the majors, he'll be a wtf guy for me. I don't have a real explanation there. Big strong guy with a good swing who hit pretty much everywhere. Also kind of shocked at how quickly Dylan Carlson stalled. Another one everyone liked who just ... stopped hitting.
Corey
2:12
How should the Red Sox handle their imminent roster crunch, how long do they keep Mayer + Anthony in AAA ?  Will a rehab stint be enough to build Yoshida's value for a trade with no slot for him in Boston ?
Keith Law
2:12
Yoshida's dead weight ... a platoon DH? maybe a platoon LF in another park? Tough to see them moving him - at the least, don't make a promotion for Anthony contingent on moving a bad contract.
Corey
2:12
Assuming Alcantara returns to normal, what should Boston's offer be ?  A package starting with Arias + Cespedes ?  Including a pitcher - Valera or Perales ?
Keith Law
2:13
Not my strong suit but gut reaction is that seems like a lot to give up for a guy just back from TJ.
Jay
2:13
This is probably a more nuanced answer than should be in a chat, but what are some of the things that some org's are doing to get their batting prospects to hit their upper end projections more consistently? I'm thinking BOS & BAL and why can't that be replicated for orgs that struggle with that like PIT & COL despite having years of plus draft grades by you and other publications? I'm thinking about the current struggles and or downright misses for guys like Davis, Veen, Gonzalez, Swaggerty, Romo, Montgomery, Beck, and countless others for my two beleaguered teams (PIT fan living in DEN...). Thanks Keith!
Keith Law
2:14
I believe we had a story on Boston's hitter development, and ESPN did as well, and while I don't think that's the ONLY way to develop hitters, it's instructive in the sense that they are doing things other clubs aren't. The Dodgers are too. It's fair to point to Pitt and Colorado and ask why they aren't doing at least some of the same stuff - particularly when we're talking about modest expenditures on people and technology.
JJ
2:14
Top 100 picks for the upcoming draft -- how many will you end up seeing in person before the draft?
Keith Law
2:15
I'll be over 50 ... some guys won't sign in the end, but I'll have 50+ from my own Big Board, at least. Been a good year.
Eric
2:16
Does it make sense for Drake Baldwin to play a few times a week in ATL as opposed to every day in Gwinnett?
Keith Law
2:16
I don't hate it for a catcher. I might for any other position.
PJ
2:16
The Cubs have played 26 games, and 23 of them were against teams over .500 (the Pirates have played 6 such games). It's almost shocking they are 16-10.  How aggressive do you think they should be with Cade Horton?  Put up a 1.07 ERA in April
Keith Law
2:16
That's a health question as much as anything else. Not sure how much they want to manage his innings.
Alek
2:16
Cj Kayfus hitting the snot outta the ball once again. No clue why he’s repeating AA. But could he have an offensive impact for Cle 2nd half of this summer?
Keith Law
2:16
Maybe ... I think he's going to underperform those numbers against better pitching. Solid hitter, not a star.
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