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Klawchat 5/31/18.
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Russ
1:26
Tirso Ornelas is acquitting  himself nicely at for age 18 in High-A.  Is he a potential top 50 type prospect down the line?
Keith Law
1:26
I think so although as a RF he has a high offensive bar to clear. I believe in the swing.
Erwin
1:26
What do you think of Dennis Santana?  SP long term?
Keith Law
1:27
I haven't seen him since March 2017, and the only scouts I know who've seen him didn't see him in Tulsa, but we all had him as a reliever coming out of last season. Two pitch guy with lower slot. He is, however, a converted SS and relatively new to pitching, so maybe he's something very different this year. I'm hoping his debut comes soon and not on Monday night so I can see it.
JR
1:27
Who do you predict makes it the MLB first from this years draft?
Keith Law
1:27
I have to do a column on 'superlatives' and that will be one of them. Mize isn't a bad bet, though.
TJ
1:27
Do you think there is ANYthing suspicious about the resurgence of all of these Astros pitchers at the same time?
Keith Law
1:27
No, Trevor, I don't.
Russ
1:27
Cavan Biggio's breakout reminds me of Kingery adding HR pop out of nowhere last year.  Do you buy Biggio as a regular in the bigs?
Keith Law
1:28
Where does he play? Kingery is a 7 runner and 7 defender at second. Biggio is none of those things.
Aaron C.
1:28
I'm sure there are much better examples, but can you help me understand why teams draft/acquire players (ex. Casey Meisner when Oakland got him) and then immediately tweak/change what's ostensibly been working?
Keith Law
1:28
Nope, I don't get it. I understand changing what hasn't been working, and that's a great way to find hidden value.
JT
1:28
The rumour or speculation was spread on Twitter that Meadows is seeing the ball better in the better light MLB parks. That sounds, well, like BS. How do you think the Pirates accommodate their OF?
Keith Law
1:29
That is ... baseball pseudoscience? I am fine giving Meadows an opportunity but still don't think they should give up on Polanco.
addoeh
1:29
How long before the draft would potential draftees and teams start exchanging dollar figures?
Keith Law
1:29
That's already sort of started with asks from players/advisers but the serious stuff starts Monday.
Gavin
1:29
I know you don’t follow other sports, but how many current NBA players could you name? More than 10?
Keith Law
1:31
Lebron. Curry. Durant. Kevin Love. Westbrook. Isaiah Thomas (that's almost unfair, isn't it?). Irving. um ... that Kristaps guy on the Knicks, because wasn't SAS horribly wrong about him and I keep seeing it on Twitter?
1:32
oh, Carmelo Anthony.
I think I'm tapped out there.
Max
1:32
Weird situation with Vasil and thanks for your article on him.  Makes no sense for him to opt out.  Wouldn't the concern of future injury lead him to believe that if he can get life changing money with an overslot end of 1st round deal, it might be worth more than going to college now?  Also, what is preventing a team from trying to do this? Should every team be calling him to see what he says on draft day, in case he changes his mind and will accept such a deal?
Keith Law
1:33
UVA had another player, Brandon Neeck, withdraw from the draft too. Maybe the coaching staff has something to do with this? And maybe MLB needs to step into this process.
Stan
1:33
If you drafted Tanner Dodson, would you send him out as a pitcher, a hitter, or let him do both and see what works best?
Keith Law
1:33
Sounds like pitcher is the belief. No reason not to let him hit a little this summer, since all college pitchers are on restricted schedules their first pro seasons anyway, and see what happens.
Tony
1:33
When will Forest Whitely be ready for the MLB?
Keith Law
1:34
Later this year. Just came off suspension and still hasn't pitched in a game.
Dave
1:34
Hi Keith thanks for the chats, I look forward to them every week. Thanks too for Smart Baseball, really enjoying it. He's getting 13.4k's per 9, giving up 2.6 walks per nine and has an ERA of 2.76 in AAA, all improvements from 2017. He's also scrapped his slider and introduced a cutter. At the risk of scouting the stat line and relying on a relatively SSS, is Jalen Beeks more than just a guy?
Keith Law
1:35
He had the cutter last year too. His results are great, but all scouts I've asked have him as a reliever.
Juan Soto
1:35
Am I exceeding your expectations?
Keith Law
1:35
It's been ten games. There are no expectations for a sample that small.
Jim
1:35
Keith, thanks as always for the chats. According to the Transactions page on ESPN, Minnesota "Traded RHP Phil Hughes, cash and the 74th overall draft pick in 2018 to San Diego for C Janigson Villalobos".  How is that draft piece in there?
Keith Law
1:35
That draft pick is the only reason the trade happened. The Padres just got an extra $800K in pool money.
Pat
1:36
Hoe much does spin rate RPM matter?   Ie a 95 mph fastball, but one has greater spin rate.  Does it matter more on breaking pitches?
Keith Law
1:36
Very high or very low spin rate on a FB makes it more effective. Dead-average spin rate and average velocity is a hitter's favorite kind of fastball.
Ray
1:36
Is your position on Heimlich and other offenders that you don't want them to be in a job that has influence over others or just that they should never have a meaningful job? I'm speaking more from the standpoint of what to do with rehabbed offenders that aren't high profile.
Keith Law
1:36
I cover baseball. My position is that no baseball team should employ someone who did what he admitted he did.
1:39
(It's also worth mentioning that the idea that every offender can be "rehabbed" isn't well supported by science. I think it comes more from theology - there's certainly a strong strain in Christianity arguing for forgiveness and second chances, but there are some paraphilias that just can't be fixed, and that should play into our views on how the justice system and society should handle people who've committed such crimes. But for me to go from there to say that such a person should never be employed anywhere would be beyond the scope of what I know on the topic.)
addoeh
1:39
I'll guess your NHL player list.  "Crosby, Ovechkin, and, umm..., is Jagr is playing?"
Keith Law
1:40
Bossy, Potvin, Goring, Tonelli, Bill Smith, Trottier, Gillies, Sutter, Chico Resch!
Thomas
1:41
Your prospect work is second to none, but I'm curious if there are any MLB guys you've enjoyed watching develop this year?  Anyone who has been a pleasant surprise for you? You must at least be happy to see Jurickson Profar getting some ABs.
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