JotCast | Klawchat 6/30/17.

Klawchat 6/30/17.

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Andy

5:06

Urias going out with a shoulder issue like this is really bad right?

Keith Law

5:06

With *that* shoulder issue, yes. That's heavy surgery. Definitely bad.

5:07

Is Flaherty for real, or just having a great year? What does he project to be in the majors?

Keith Law

5:07

Been on my top 100 the last two winters. Command/control right-hander, durable, maybe more mid-rotation than top two but still very good.

5:07

Can we stop pretending moderate republicans exist? Can we stop pretending they are going to save us?

Keith Law

5:07

That's not fair. They exist. They're just not anywhere to be found in the federal government right now.

Mark

5:07

What % chance would you give to each Acuna, Allard, and Soroka being September call ups?

Keith Law

5:08

Zero or effectively zero to all three.

David

5:08

Have you read any good nonfiction recently ?

Keith Law

5:09

I just finished a great audiobook, Dancing to the Glory of Monsters by Jason Stearns, right before I pulled into the parking lot here. It's about the series of wars in the DR of the Congo since 1990, and tries to get at why the country is such a disaster. I also loved Ed Yong's I Contain Multitudes, about the microbiome, which I reviewed in March.

Josh

5:09

David Lynch fan? If so, wondering your thoughts if you've seen the Twin Peaks revival

Keith Law

5:09

Not a huge fan. Haven't seen the revival.

MP, San Jose

5:10

Who is the pitcher on the cover of your book, and why that pitcher in particular?

Keith Law

5:10

Stock photo.

Vic

5:10

Does Franklin Perez make it to Houston by 2020?

Keith Law

5:10

I would guess 2019.

Dave

5:10

Can Josh Bell be a top 5 first baseman in the game?

Keith Law

5:11

Probably not? But I had to think about it. I do think he's going to be very good, and if he really unlocks all that raw power in games, then he probably could be.

Tom

5:11

Tyler Glasgow - starter or reliever?

Keith Law

5:12

Ah dinnae ken.

Robert

5:12

What happened to AJ Reed? Does he still have a shot to fulfill last year's promise?

Keith Law

5:12

Zero adjustments in big leagues. They throw offspeed stuff for strikes in the majors. He's going to have to figure out how to adjust to that.

Tom

5:12

Kevin Newman going to hit enough to be an everyday player?

Keith Law

5:13

He's been disappointing this year, especially since he was hit in the head by a pitch about 5-6 weeks ago. I would have said yes without hesitation in March, and he's still making a lot of contact, but scouts have told me it's just not hard enough contact.

Tim

5:13

You've been relatively modest about your long time praise of Judge, but even from the get go during your draft review, you were extremely positive about him. What's more rewarding for you, on guys that you are high on? An immediate breakout like Judge or late bloomers like Hicks and Smoak?

Keith Law

5:14

Smoak is beyond "late," so I can't take credit for that one, but it is gratifying when a guy like Judge or Hicks becomes the player I thought he could be, especially if I was higher than the industry was (e.g., having Judge ranked higher than where he was drafted - same is true for Kingery, whom I had as a late first round talent).

Brian

5:14

Nathan's hot dogs and bud heavy on the menu for the KLAW July 4th cookout?

Keith Law

5:14

I don't really eat beef any more but I do have a sentimental soft spot for Nathan's.

Josh in DC

5:14

It's interesting that you'd judge the Thornburg trade by noting Travis Shaw isn't a "top prospect." The fact is, the Red Sox need a third baseman for THIS season. The Sox already HAVE a top prospect at third base. Aren't you undervaluing the importance of the present season in judging this trade?

Keith Law

5:15

He's a below-average defensive third baseman, so, no, I'm not.

Andy

5:15

Now that we're actually in negotiating season, is there any picks that you're hearing have raised their bonus demands that there is a question about signing before the deadline?

Keith Law

5:15

Nope. Assume everyone in the top ten rounds will sign unless someone fails his physical.

Jason

5:16

Any concerns about Jahmai Jones' struggles this year?

Keith Law

5:16

He's 19 in low A, making plenty of contact, don't think I'd say he's "struggled," just hasn't blown up.

5:17

Tell me that the Cubs aren't trading Jiminez for any rentals this year.

Keith Law

5:18

I think - but have no inside info - that he'll be the one guy they won't deal, unless they were getting some star young pitcher with years of control left. I don't think Stroman is or would be available, but if he were, that's a guy I'd deal Eloy for.

Damien

5:18

In honor of the Buerhle jersey retirement, is he solidly in the "Hall of Very Good"? Could a few more productive years have garnered him serious HOF consideration?

Keith Law

5:18

He never had HoF peak for me. Just longevity, which makes him HoVG.

Jason

5:18

What percent of the increase in home runs this year do you attribute to changes in the baseball?

Keith Law

5:18

I'll leave that to the experts, like Rob Arthur, who's done some great work on the topic.

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