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Klawchat, 5/11/17
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Keith Law
1:44
Answered above - he's 18. He's younger than Conner Uselton. It's really ridiculous to think he's lost any "sheen."
Ken T
1:44
I just wanted to say Thank You for Smart Baseball. I've been waiting a long time for a book that wasn't written for stat geeks to help me understand a lot of the sabermetric stats in use by MLB today. It's also helped me articulate to my friends WHY the stats they still cling to are useless - although I've never had trouble arguing why the save should be sbot at sunrise. Any chance you might do a book signing in the Boston area?
Keith Law
1:45
If I end up there over the summer, I'll try to set something up - or if a bookstore asks, I can try to work a trip around their schedule.
Buck
1:45
You were weirdly dismissive of Luis Urias last week ("Have you...even seen him walk around?"). He won Hi-A MVP at 18, and is now putting up a .944 OPS as the youngest player in the Texas League. He's got more walks than strikeouts for his career, and is said to be a soid defensive 2b. What is it that keeps a guy like this off all the prospect lists?
Keith Law
1:47
I was dismissive of the question, which was merely scouting the stat line. As for Urias, he's not an everyday SS and he's quite small for a regular. And yet I still ranked him in the top 10 for the Padres, who have a top 3 system in all of baseball.
Hugh
1:47
Really enjoying the book. It was the first one I'd preordered since The Deathly Hallows. My only complaint was the lack of a strong female character. Please address in the sequel.
Keith Law
1:47
My book utterly failed the Bechdel test.
HT from Tokyo
1:48
Have you been to Japan to scout players or for vacation? I'm a huge fan of yours and would love to know your reactions and experience in my country!
Keith Law
1:48
Never been. My lone trip to Asia was to Taiwan in 2004.
Mattey
1:49
I'm sure I won't be the only Phillies fan asking for your thoughts on Altherr today..
Keith Law
1:50
It's 85 PA and he has a .413 BABIP with power like he's never shown before at any level. I'm a bit skeptical that he'll keep this up.
Josh
1:50
Outside of one bad start, Dinelson Lamet has been dominant in a hitter-friendly environment. Has the changeup improved enough for him to remain a starter, or is he just relying on the fastball/slider combo still and destined for the pen? Thanks
Keith Law
1:51
LHB still killing him.
JR
1:51
Do you think you will ever read all the books on you list to the point your only options are basically reading new books and/or re-reading favorites?
Keith Law
1:51
Nah, there are way more good books out there than I'll ever get to.
Jean Lazure
1:51
Hi Keith - reading your book, really enjoying it. I just get sad when I go through my old baseball books and see a good many examples of players who didn't cut it under yesterday's stats - BA, RBI, etc. - yet mastered the then-unappreciated skill of getting on base through walks, and thus never got a proper and deserved shot at MLB. Any such favourites you can recall?
Keith Law
1:51
Roberto Petagine had a little fan club among us online statheads back in the 1990s.
Matt in the Bronx
1:51
Keith have you heard anything if the Mets like Brooklyn product Nick storz or Queens product Quentin Holmes? We are very excited around here see if we can get some more hometown guys on the team.
Keith Law
1:51
Neither has been very good this year.
Josh
1:52
So this Cody Bellinger kid is decent, huh?
Keith Law
1:52
I ranked him 6th on my top 100, and actually moved him down after sending my list around to a bunch of scouts/FO guys. He was originally 2nd. Maybe I should have stuck to my guns?
JR
1:53
In your opinion, would there be any downside to holding the MLB draft over All Star break? There is literally no other sporting events going on, so it would be a good way to get the draft more attention. Would pushing it back a month be detrimental in any way?
Keith Law
1:53
It would hurt short-season leagues, which isn't nothing but shouldn't be the primary consideration for MLB. It would mean every player is done playing, though, and could attend the draft.
Sage
1:53
Fav player growing up? I'm guessing you were a Don Mattingly guy
Keith Law
1:54
Willie Randolph.
Josh
1:54
Given the strong start to the season, how long would you wait to move Cal Quantrill up to AA?
Keith Law
1:54
Not long. If he's on a low innings cap, might as well have him throw them somewhere where hitters will challenge him more.
Carl
1:54
IIRC Bubba Starling was considered a great pick for the Royals. What went wrong?
Keith Law
1:55
Never really hit in pro ball. He had lots of tools but the hit tool was questionable, and his competition in HS was atrocious. They wanted one of the four pitchers taken ahead of him and those guys went 1-2-3-4.
Alex
1:56
Who do you think Robert signs with? Think he will have an unofficial deal in place before 20th?
Keith Law
1:56
I've heard Cardinals, and I've heard Astros, but I really don't have any inside info.
NYTT
1:56
Weigel moved up to AAA. What have you heard on him and is he a long-term starter?
Keith Law
1:56
Definitely a long-term starter for me.
Chris
1:56
Jay Bruce has been solid but when Cespedes returns would you consider trading him so Conforto can play full-time NOT in CF? I would.
Keith Law
1:57
I would too. Or benching him. Conforto is one of their top 2 outfield bats; therefore, he must play.
Jon
1:57
Keith, I'm thinking of taking a job with the DE Courts system. Having not eaten at Cocina Lolo, should it's presence play a part in my decision making? Thanks.
Keith Law
1:57
Yes, it's good enough to push you to "yes."
Josh
1:57
Is Calvin Mitchell a possibility at the end of the 1st, or do you see him sliding into the 2nd/3rd because he's 1B only?
Keith Law
1:57
1B only and hasn't hit very well this spring, so I think he slides to the second.
Matt
1:58
Maikel Franco's advanced numbers look pretty different this year, especially in terms of patience. I think you've liked his hands but not his approach in the past, has that changed at all?
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