JotCast | Klawchat 5/21/20

Klawchat 5/21/20

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Guest

1:48

Also I loved Smart Baseball and reading your work. Just as I joined ESPN as a PA you left. :/ I am reading you now in the Athletic!!

Keith Law

1:48

Well, thank you. I did try to hint that I might not stay at ESPN last year, but I didn't decide for certain until late November.

Mike

1:48

Since you missed out on in game scouting are you watching film or cross checking for players you haven't seen in person?

Keith Law

1:49

I watch video where I can, but this year I'll rely more on calls to scouts than I typically do.

Jason Amico

1:49

What are your thoughts on how Joey Bart's defensive ability behind the plate will translate at the big league level? I was curious if his hand injuries and setbacks last season would have any impact

Keith Law

1:49

I don't see any reason it would hurt his defense in the long run. If he keeps getting hurt, maybe it's a sign he can't stay at catcher, but we aren't at that point.

1:49

Oakland has gone with high ceiling, up the middle tools players in recent 1st rounds (Beck, Murray, Davidson), are there names that fit this bill at the end of the first round this year?

Keith Law

1:50

Yes ... but Beck hasn't panned out, Murray didn't sign, and Davidson is still a big question mark. Not sure they'd stick with that approach in a weird draft year anyway.

Mike

1:50

Do you think teams are prepared for this draft or is it a bigger crap shoot than normal? Can't wait to read the redraft article in 2030

Keith Law

1:50

Let's just hope we're all here to read it in 2030. I do think teams could draft today if they had to. There isn't that much to discuss at this point without games to watch.

TomBruno23

1:50

I want to try OOTP 21, but I'm scared I'll full go Universal Baseball Association and even more insane than I already am. Thoughts?

Keith Law

1:51

I have played OOTP, maybe 20 years ago (?), and I just can't do it now because I'd get sucked into it and lose so much time.

Dr. Bob

1:51

I have always been opposed to the DH for reasons you already know. However, an article by a former sportswriter a couple of years ago detailed how no team (even in the NL) works with their pitchers to hit at any level. That's when I was converted. Now Covid-19, of all things, might bring it to the NL.

Keith Law

1:51

Yep, I don't really even see how you could work with pitchers enough on their hitting to make a difference. This should have happened years ago - the game will be better off for it.

Mike

1:52

How hard has it been to put together mock drafts this year? Has there still been a lack of info tying players to teams or have you been starting to hear more rumblings?

Keith Law

1:52

I had less info for last week's mock than I would for a normal mock one month before a draft. We'll see if that changes now that we're close to the draft date and everyone is doing mocks so information is flowing more.

Mike Trout

1:52

Barring injury, when it’s all said and done am I the consensus GOAT?

Keith Law

1:52

There will be contrarians who argue against it, but I think that's where we're headed.

Regan

1:52

Braxton Garrett or Trevor Rogers, who has the higher upside?

Keith Law

1:52

I think Garrett.

Guest

1:54

We all understand Twitter is a cesspool but have you been following this hitting guru stuff? It’s pure gold.

Keith Law

1:54

I haven't ... and now I'm scared.

Mike-Y

1:54

How excited are you about Michael Bay making a movie about the pandemic?

Keith Law

1:54

Is he ... is he going to just blow up the virus?

1:54

what happens to Kyler Murray if he wants to play baseball sometime in the future? free agent? re-enters the draft?

Keith Law

1:55

Pretty sure he's on Oakland's restricted list and they'd hold his rights.

Guest

1:55

If he didn't have TJ surgery, would Kevin Abel be a top draft pick this year?

Keith Law

1:55

A pick, yes, a top one, probably not.

Johnny

1:55

Will Plesac be an above avg starter in the bigs?

Keith Law

1:55

I think he can be.

Johnny

1:55

Shouldn't Jacob Degrom be #2?

Keith Law

1:55

He's a 31-year-old starter who's already had TJ. His long-term projection isn't great, even though in the short term there are few pitchers I'd rather have.

Ben

1:55

Favorite film of the 7Os?

Keith Law

1:57

I'd take The Sting over Chinatown and Star Wars - but really, the kids of today should defend themselves against the '70s.

Oh, I finally saw Taxi Driver and Midnight Cowboy for the first time in the last week. We've been catching up on all-time great films one or both of us hasn't seen.

Mark in Santa Monica

1:58

If there is a short season, are there any teams you think it helps more to get to the postseason?

Keith Law

2:00

It increases the odds of a team having a really fluky season and getting into the playoffs. For example, the White Sox were a good-not-great team for 162 games. If they play 70 games, could they get an outlier performance or two that makes them a 42-28 team that wins the division? Absolutely. More likely than a 98-64 season.

Pat

2:00

Did you ever watch The Wire? The pandemic finally gave me the the time to do so. Great show. maybe favorite of all time.

Keith Law

2:01

Yep, reviewed all five seasons here.

Sam

2:01

Favorite "I know it isn't a good movie but I really enjoy it any way" movie?

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