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Klawchat 5/4/17
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Keith Law
1:56
Have you ever seen him play? Or even seen him walk around?
Samuel
1:56
I remember in a previous Klawchat you discussed Alex Jackson and how he looked awful at the plate. Any news on that?
Keith Law
1:57
Tommy Rancel, who does some fantasy writing for us, just saw him the other day and sent me a little video - it looked like Jackson's getting that lead elbow down so he's not pulling off everything. That's good. Three walks in 100+ PA ... that's bad.
Tyler
1:57
Do you do any player rankings? You talk a lot how to accurately value players but it seems most of your work is with prospects. I think giving a top 5/10 at each position with a brief explanation would be very interesting.
Keith Law
1:57
I will do a top 25 MLB players under 25 in a few weeks. I don't rank MLB players overall and frankly don't find that interesting enough to write.
Patty O'Furniture
1:58
Should the Braves go after Mackenzie Gore if he's still there at 5?
Keith Law
1:58
That's about right.
Brett
1:58
Noticed you have Calvin Mitchell as a 1B. Why can't he handle a corner OF spot?
Keith Law
1:58
I have yet to find a single scout who thinks he's anything but a 1b in pro ball.
Johnny O
1:58
Is the ability to make adjustments a skill? You never got off the bandwagon because he has that ability, but what exactly is it? Something mental? Do you need elite athleticism to have 80 Adjustment Tool (ok i made that up).
Keith Law
1:59
I think the ability to make adjustments is a combination of mental acumen, athleticism and/or flexibility, and confidence. It's hard to spot unless you either 1) see a player a lot or 2) get some very fortunate looks.
Johnny
1:59
When will your first mock go up?
Keith Law
1:59
I think two weeks.
Chris
1:59
How do you see the Diamondbacks closer situation playing out? Could Archie Bradley work there?
Keith Law
1:59
I'm hoping they leave Archie in relief all year and let him have more success rather than running him into the rotation to replace Miller.
Ron
1:59
When Sano connects, things go boom. Will have to live with the strikeouts, but it isn't that he doesn't have a good eye, just seems to swing through some good pitches. 35-40 HRS, 260/375/550 seem out of line for the next few years? Thanks
Keith Law
2:00
That's probably a little high on the AVG component but the rest seems reasonable. Dude's a star.
Chris
2:00
I know it's a sss for this year, but perhaps not over the last 12 months or so. And Jake Arrieta demanding so many years on a new deal last year at this time and the Cubs opting to forgo talks should be a cautionary tale against such long-term deals for 30yo+ power-armed pitchers, no? Yet presumably some team will still venture down the rabbit hole.
Keith Law
2:00
I think we're past SSS for Arrieta not looking like the Cy version. He's lost something. Maybe 2015 was just the outlier.
Jeremy
2:00
Yanks off to a hot start and assuming they maintain this level of play, I'd rather them stay put and keep their prospects, rather than go out and trade for a "proven" starter, like Quintana. Obviously it depends on what'd it'd cost to give up, but what would be your philosophy if you were running the team?
Keith Law
2:01
If I could get a single high-impact, multi-year guy like Quintana, I would be willing to part with prospects. I wouldn't even entertain any rentals if I had to trade even a top 20 prospect from my own system.
Andrew
2:01
Hey Keith, I love these chats as I have them marked in my phone for every Thursday. I have a question about public speaking. As a guy that has battled anxiety, how do you public speak and is it something you were always able to do? If not, what did you do to combat the fear/anxiety?
Keith Law
2:01
I'm much better speaking to a crowd than walking into a party of strangers. Go figure.
Jett
2:01
Thoughts on Eduardo Rodriguez's start? Is he a #2 this year in that division?
Keith Law
2:03
Could be. Is not a #2 right now. Gotta stop walking guys, and there are still outings where the SL is just a fringe offering.
Danny
2:03
Keith, I know its only been 3 weeks in the minor league season but Jorge Mateo, statistically, has been awful for about a year now- has the quality of his contact changed from last year?
Keith Law
2:03
He's never made quality contact. That was always an issue.
Chris
2:03
Are you happier if 1M people buy the Kindle version or the hardcover - environment aside?
Keith Law
2:03
One million people? I'd be too happy to worry about how you bought it.
Clement Davies
2:03
Is there anything in the collective bargaining agreement to prohibit a team such as the Phillies from frontloading a contract to a Harper or Machado in the first few seasons of a deal when they will likely have relatively low payroll otherwise? Thank You.
Keith Law
2:04
Nothing in CBA but agents tend to dislike such deals. Historically, they would screw with post-contract arb offers, which would be based on the final year's salary rather than the AAV.
Oren
2:04
It's obviously early, but are there any particularly strong draft team/player connections you're hearing?
Keith Law
2:05
If I had to do a mock today, I'd go McKay, Greene, Lewis, Wright, Gore 1-5. Have heard Baz a lot to Phils at 8. I think the Padres would try almost anything to get Greene to them, but right now i don't think he gets by two teams.
Tristan Beck
2:05
Do I have a deal with a team or am I coming back to school as an old junior?
Keith Law
2:06
Heard the former rumor too, but I don't really know either way. Sometimes that's true but we don't know until after the draft.
Larry
2:06
I've read that Royce Lewis is having a down spring. Any truth to it and where could he fall to?
Keith Law
2:07
He hasn't performed that well, but he's probably still going top 10, likely top 5. I saw him Tuesday night - smoked the first pitch he saw, ran well, body is good, bat speed is real. It's a little weird to say but his body language wasn't very good - I should have liked what I was seeing more than I did, and I think the body language is the reason I didn't.
Tom
2:07
Not a question, just a comment. I finished Smart Baseball and gave it to a co-worker who still thinks batting average and RBI matter. He's just started reading but so far he's enjoying it. I'd say that's mission accomplished, Keith.
Keith Law
2:07
Excellent! Thanks for spreading the gospel.
Chris
2:07
Is B. Rooker a real prospect or just a corner guy with some power? He seems like someone who could make his way to the sandwich round maybe even higher if he keep this up. What do you think about him?
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