JotCast | Klawchat 6/27/19

Klawchat 6/27/19

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Capt. Gore

1:49

"if we haven't scorched the planet by then" he said as he hoped in a plane and flew across the country....again...

Keith Law

1:49

Capt. Gore: "Yet you participate in society. Curious! I am very intelligent."

Jonathan

1:50

Thoughts on Jake Cronenworth. Hitting well and heard he was up to 95 from the mound.

Keith Law

1:51

Interesting. Up to 96 with a plus CB, small mechanical tweaks last year at the plate that let him drive the ball better. Older guy for a prospect, so I'm skeptical as always of how much is just age vs level, but there are tangible skills there.

Trey Anastasio

1:51

Have you ever seen Phish live?

Keith Law

1:51

OK someone's trolling me. I'm seeing them for the first time this weekend and I think you know this.

James

1:52

Do top College pitchers get time to rest their arms? Seems like it is year round pitching with fall ball, summer Ball and then the season?

Keith Law

1:52

More college arms skip the summer than ever before. As much as I would like more chances to see them, this is the right call for the pitchers.

Craig

1:52

Do you think a "deader" ball would reduce the reliance on 3 True Outcomes baseball, mainly because it would quickly become inefficient for average/mediocre players?

Keith Law

1:52

Yes. That said, I don't want a ball that leads to even more strikeouts. I just want a HR rate more in line with historical levels.

Jonathan

1:53

Is Shane Bieber the next James Shields, which is a good thing, or is there more there?

Keith Law

1:53

No, this is it. And it's fine. Back end starter type because he'll always be HR prone.

Kev

1:53

What is your % belief that Vargas actually has legit dirt/excuse for why he was being a gigantic asshole bully to the reporter last week?

Keith Law

1:53

Zero. And frankly, even if he does have it, just apologize in public and deal with this in private.

Jesse B

1:53

Keibert Ruiz has really struggled this year, obviously he's still really young. Meanwhile, Will Smith is thriving in AAA, and done well in his cup of coffee. Is it safe to say that Will Smith will be the starting catcher for the Dodgers next year?

Keith Law

1:53

Yes but that doesn't dim Ruiz's potential, as he's so much younger.

Jeries

1:54

Could Nick Madrigal play shortstop? Tim Anderson has been BAD this year

Keith Law

1:54

I don't think so.

Trey Anastasio

1:54

My take on the Red Sox future is that they would be wise to lock up Devers & Betts (Xander already signed)... and use Benintendi as a trade chip for a young SP. What you be on board fo that strategy?

Keith Law

1:54

Yes but it sounds like Mookie wants to go to free agency, no? Devers I'm sure they could lock up.

Alex

1:54

Hey Keith, I haven't had the chance to write in since the Kumar Rocker 19 K start. I 100% agree that he was left in too long, especially seeing as he hasn't received his baseball millions yet. Still, in the moment, that was the most fun random baseball game I have watched from beginning to end in ages. It's kind of similar to knowing that home runs and fly balls above all is a better strategy than small ball and putting the ball in play. I don't really have a question, except to bemoan that the more we learn, the less exciting baseball can be.

Keith Law

1:55

Sure, I don't disagree. But I will say that this idea that Rocker did something he'll remember forever is a bit much. Maybe in the moment it felt that way, but "threw a no-hitter in a college playoff super regional" is pretty niche. Great personal achievement but hardly worth pushing a kid's arm too far.

Jon

1:55

Never hire off the interview. Is that for all jobs in your opinion or just baseball? If the former, why have interviews? Thanks.

Mat Ji

1:55

"Never hire off the interview. Hire off the CV, and maybe references, but never, ever hire off the interview." Having sat through multiple pointless interviews with candidates this week, I am not sure I could agree more.

Keith Law

1:56

I feel like Mat just answered Jon a bit. Why have interviews? Aren't they 90% eyewash? They likely often deter decision-makers from hiring the better employee because they hire the person they liked more (perhaps for subconscious reasons, perhaps even biased ones) or the person who was more animated or funnier or energetic.

Ben

1:57

This time next year Reilly Greene will be playing at ____ level?

Keith Law

1:57

Low A.

fish

1:57

christian pache will be an elite defender T/F? pache will be a league-average hitter at best T/F?

Keith Law

1:57

He is an elite defender. He will find his way to league average with power.

Sally

1:57

Why have you not be as hard on Dodgers Urias for domestic violence as you have on others? Such as Addison Russell

Keith Law

1:57

Charges were dropped and MLB declined to suspend him. Russell was suspended, so MLB found sufficient cause, and his ex-wife came forward with a very detailed account of the abuse.

Mike

1:58

What do teams do with players and prospects like franklin Perez and Roman Quinn who always seem to be hurt. Do you rush them and hope you can extract value until they are inevitably hurt again or try and move them to a team that thinks they can unlock the potential and cure their injury issues.

Keith Law

1:58

If you have the playing time to give them, you try to hold on to them and give them opportunities until you either have a better option or you need the 40-man spot.

romorr

1:58

I just figured since the Orioles are so far away from being good, that they would be conservative with him. You know, maybe 3 years down instead of 2. Was thinking he was bound for Delmarva from the start, so just trying to understand.

Keith Law

1:59

I would guess he starts next year in Frederick, moves quickly to Bowie, and is in position for a major-league callup by August. They may choose not to do so, as you said, because they're not good, but in terms of his readiness, I'll be shocked if he doesn't blitz his way through the low minors to double-A.

Biff

1:59

What do you make of Alex Reyes' inability to stay healthy?

Keith Law

1:59

I've always disliked his delivery. Maybe that's why. Maybe it's just bad luck.

I mean, maybe he can't stay healthy because of his delivery, not because I don't like the delivery. I'm not that powerful.

2:00

Gerrymandering okay, says US Supreme Court. The 2016 Electron will haunt us for decades.

Keith Law

2:00

Yep. We got what we deserved.