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Klawchat 5/4/18.
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Jacob
2:37
How close is the talent gap between Jarred Kelenic and Connor Scott? Is the difference the lengthy track record that Kelenic possess?
Keith Law
2:37
I think Kelenic has shown a lot more at the plate, hitting and especially power.
Josh
2:37
What are your thoughts on Matt Klentak? It seems like he's really struggled with his first two drafts
Keith Law
2:40
He doesn't run the draft; that's Johnny Almaraz, their scouting director. This is a bit like that tweet I responded to a week ago, where Frank Wren was trying to take credit for Ronald Acuña - no GM sees the $100K kid his international director signs in Venezuela. That's absurd. I think the Phils' rebuild is very much on track, and I think it's fair to say the Phillies have struggled badly with their last few first round picks, even predating Klentak - Cornelius Randolph doesn't appear like he'll ever justify going 10th overall, and Moniak and Haseley have been an unnatural disaster in Clearwater (Moniak .218/.231/.257, Haseley .271/.284/.355, a combined 4 walks and 46 K for the two of them).
Gary
2:40
Team needs or drafting philosophies notwithstanding, would it be a bad choice to take Madrigal 2nd after Mize? Reading through your mock, it seems like he has the best chance to be a productive big leaguer from the rest of the pool.
Keith Law
2:41
I think that's a high floor and very limited ceiling pick. If you do that, you had better save enough to go well over slot in the second round.
Dave
2:41
What position do you think Mountcastle ends up at for Baltimore?
Keith Law
2:41
Most likely left field, but I'd keep trying to work on the throwing motion and see if he can stay at third. Dude's gonna hit, though.
RSO
2:41
Is it possible for pitchers to boost their spin rate as much as some of the Astros starters have since coming to Houston, or do you think there is something fishy going on as Trevor Bauer alluded to?
Keith Law
2:43
I didn't like when Bauer appeared to be accusing the Astros without directly saying so. His longer comments - no character limits! - were excellent, though: It is true that adhering something like pine tar to the ball can raise its spin rate, and that it is technically prohibited but scarcely if ever enforced. My understanding is that there are players doing this stuff now, but I don't know anything at all about team-wide efforts like he implied.
Jax
2:43
Has Norris reached the point when a conversion to the bullpen needs to be discussed? Poor guy cannot stay healthy.
Keith Law
2:43
Almost none of this has been related to his arm.
Nick
2:43
Jonathan India has put up some sexy numbers this season.  I'm intrigued by him after you mocked him to the Mets at 6.  Do you think that would be a solid pick at 6 and what type of player do you see him becoming?
Keith Law
2:44
Very solid pick. Everyday player. I'd send him out as a shortstop, knowing you could always restore him to third or slide him to second.
Jax
2:44
I don't expect Basabe to continue to put up these massive numbers but do you think he's doing so because he's repeating High-A? Or because he's fully healthy now? Or a bit of both?
Keith Law
2:44
Almost certainly both.
Matt
2:44
Patrick Corbin's fastball was down 3 MPH last night from his season average. He and Lovullo brushed it off as nothing, but that's concerning right? How often does a guy lose velocity like that so dramatically and bounce right back to where he was? I honestly don't know if this is something that happens or if this is an imminent sign of injury.
Keith Law
2:44
It's concerning because it's happened before. Corbin looks like a #2 at times, but has he ever held that for a full season?
Joe
2:44
Hey Keith, love the chats. If you could choose to have the Chapman or Andrew Miller return that the Yanks got back which would you take moving forward?
Keith Law
2:45
I think at the time I said I preferred the Miller return. That's probably still true, but less clear.
Jax
2:45
Eric Longenhagen said that Christian Arroyo could possibly have a Solarte type of role and play all over the diamond while hitting fairly well? Would you agree with that assessment?
Keith Law
2:45
I'm not sure he's going to be as good defensively anywhere, but that seems more likely an outcome to me than everyday player at one spot.
Dan
2:46
Walker Buehler seemingly has a rotation spot that's his to lose with the Ryu injury. How has Buehler looked so far this season? Where do you think they'll cap his innings if he's pitching well and the team is contending?
Keith Law
2:46
Didn't they give a number before the season, as a rough target? I may be misremembering. Anyway, I would expect them to have him skip a start here or there because he's never really had a full, healthy season.
Chaya
2:47
I know he's young and it's still early, but are you concerned at all about Heliot Ramos?
Keith Law
2:47
Not just young - he's 18, younger than some guys in this draft class, and in full-season ball. I didn't think the huge summer was indicative of stardom, but I also am not jumping off the Golden Gate now after a bad month. This is a big leap for a kid that young who was already a little raw at the plate.
Brett
2:47
What do you see as Yordan Alvarez's ceiling?  Does he have all-star upside?
Keith Law
2:48
Above-average regular.
Jax
2:48
Your Astros sleeper Arauz has more walks than Ks and is hitting for far more power than he ever has while being a teenager in full season ball. Trajectory is certainly pointing way up, no?
Keith Law
2:48
Yes it is ... as long as he stays off the juice.
Gray
2:48
Still no Juan Soto questions? Has Cooperstown started working on his plaque yet? Kid rakes.
Keith Law
2:49
Answered a half hour ago. Scroll back.
nelson
2:49
What do you think about other sports' draft coverage? For me, I find stuff like NFL draft coverage to be extremely dull, full of "woo", and totally mindless. Enjoy your coverage bc it's based on knowledge you glean from conversations and not just 40 times.
Keith Law
2:49
I can't imagine covering a draft with 15 minutes between picks. I do love that they have trades - our draft would be so much better with that. The NBA's draft is the best on TV, IMO, because it's only a few minutes between picks, the players are all there (in their sartorial splendor), and there can still be trades.
RSO
2:49
If Gleyber Torres was still in the Cubs organization would Addison Russell or Javier Baez be in danger of losing their jobs?
Keith Law
2:50
Yes, Russell more so. He seems to have stalled at the plate.
2:51
I'm most concerned with how he isn't making hard contact like he used to.
Luke (Statesboro, Ga.)
2:52
Is this the year Jorge Soler figures it out?
Keith Law
2:53
It sure looks like he has. He lost a lot of time to injuries, and although I always rated him highly I don't think I ever projected him to be an OBP monster.
Pat
2:53
Hypothetical- If something happened to Mize (injury, bad medicals, whatever), who do you think Detroit would go with at 1-1.
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