JotCast | Klawchat 5/25/18

Klawchat 5/25/18

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Mac

12:35

Who’s the guy moving up draft boards that surprised you the most?

Keith Law

12:36

Schnell. Power is real, good athlete for sure. Not a CF, big arm bar at the plate. Curious whether his above-average speed lasts - his body type seems more likely to settle in as average speed as he gets bigger & stronger.

Dan

12:36

Chances that Schwarber wins the Gold Glove? His #s are looking pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Keith Law

12:37

Defensive numbers in ~50 games are really not meaningful.

Greg

12:37

Any concern about Kyle Wright this year? Numbers are extremely mediocre for a college arm who was in consideration at 1.1.

Keith Law

12:37

No they're not. He's in AA - most college players are in high-A less than 12 months out of the draft.

Dylan Bundy

12:38

Why do the Orioles trot me out for the 9th inning of a 9-3 game??

Keith Law

12:39

I have no idea. Letting him go 8 at just over 100 pitches seemed fine. I'm sure they had at least one reliever who could get three outs without giving up six runs. Given Bundy's history of elbow and shoulder problems, plus the way he faded last year after a few weeks when he was very good and worked harder, they should be extremely cautious.

Joe

12:39

Your Kepler vs. lefties prediction looks good so far, but do you think his numbers vs righties will improve?

Keith Law

12:39

Yes.

Aaron C.

12:39

So...of all the players you've ever scouted -- who actually became successful major leaguers -- who had the worst swing as an amateur/minor leaguer?

Keith Law

12:39

Pedroia comes to mind. Max effort, kind of straight uphill.

Marc

12:39

Listened to the rest of the CHVRCHES album? Overall thoughts?

Keith Law

12:40

I've heard five songs and none are good.

addoeh

12:40

Are the people who defend Heimlich that say "I hope I'm not judged on the worst thing I ever did" subtlely admitting the worst thing they ever did approaches molesting a six year old? I hope not.

Keith Law

12:40

It's amazing how people will tie themselves in knots to defend the kid with nary a thought for the victim.

12:40

Hi Keith. A few years ago I made your Guiness Stout Cupcakes and everyone agreed that they were some of the best we've ever had. Recently, when I asked my wife what kind of birthday cake she'd like me to make this year (we have a tradition of making each other's cakes from scratch), she said the best, moistest chocolate cake possible. After thinking about it, it crossed my mind to use the guiness recipe, but for a traditional 2 layer cake instead of cupcakes. 2 Question for you - any reservations about doing this? And if you did it, what changes would you make to the temp, baking time, recipe, etc. Thank you so much!

Keith Law

12:41

Drop the temp 50 degrees. Line the cake pans with parchment circles and then butter them. I think everything else would be fine. Cupcakes really are just mini cakes; the recipes tend to work the same way.

Joe

12:41

Heard anything about David Fletcher? The numbers are outstanding

Keith Law

12:41

The numbers are in Salt Lake, a great hitters' park. He had a .316 OBP and .339 SLG last year.

Nate

12:42

Will Dwight Smith Jr. hit enough to be a passable everyday OF?

Keith Law

12:42

I would bet against it.

Kevin

12:42

Good move in your opinion DFA'ing Hanley to make room for Pedroia? Probably means playing time for Moreland and Swihart.

Keith Law

12:42

If Swihart plays more, yes. Hanley might be done. After a hot start he fell back to earth with a thud.

Aaron

12:42

If kershaw were to opt out after this year what kind of contract would you be comfortable offering him?

Keith Law

12:43

That's more a question about his medical outlook than performance. I'd be fine going $30 million a year if the doctors told me they expected him to stay healthy.

Rob

12:43

Based on early season results, which farm system seems to have taken the biggest step forward and which has taken the biggest step back?

Keith Law

12:43

I don't like using early season results to draw broad conclusions.

Adam Trask

12:43

It's not the ball, so can we now blame climate change for the increase in home runs?

Keith Law

12:43

It is the ball, right? But MLB says they don't know why. The drag coefficient dropped. If it's not the ball, then what is it?

Walker

12:43

Any new food recommendations for your trip to Durham?

Keith Law

12:44

Had great meals at M Kokko and Luna.

Dr. Bob

12:44

The Luke Heimlich story just gets worse. Last year he said he took "responsibility for my conduct as a teenager." But earlier this month said that absolutely nothing happened and they took the plea deal for reasons. If nothing happened, there was nothing to apologize for a year ago. If something happened, then he's lying now. An even bigger red flag to me.

Keith Law

12:44

Agreed. This all feels like a publicity campaign orchestrated by a lawyer. Another team reached out to me in the last hour to say he's off their board, so that's at least two (with Texas, per Gerry Fraley).

Billiam

12:45

What was your assessment of Ryan McMahon coming up? Seems like the Rockies have yo-yo'd him around and not given him a fair shot to succeed.

Keith Law

12:45

I think he's an above-average regular, but they won't play him every day or close to it.

Tony

12:45

I know all the SSS caveats still apply, but has something philosophically shifted in Nick Pivetta that has turned him into a throw-in in the Papelbon dump to an actual bona fide mid-rotation or better starter?

Keith Law

12:45

He's not a mid-rotation or better starter given his trouble with LHB.

Joshua

12:45

Does H. Ramirez contract vest if he accumulates his at bats with another team?

Keith Law

12:46

If someone trades for him or claims him, yes. If he's released and signs a new deal, no.

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