JotCast | Klawchat 6/4/20

Klawchat 6/4/20

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Keith Law

1:01

Sorry, brief delay here as I have a radio hit I didn't have written on my calendar. Feel free to leave questions and I'll get to them as soon as I get back.

1:24

It's a helping hand that makes you feel wonderfully bland. Klawchat.

Brad

1:24

How would compare Jordan Westburg to Logan Davidson, they’re both big SS with some questions about their hit tool?

Keith Law

1:25

Pretty different guys - I think Davidson is the better shortstop, better pure athlete, both guys with real questions about the bat though.

Andrew

1:25

What grade would you put on Austin Martin’s power and speed tools?

Keith Law

1:25

He's a 55 runner, maybe 60 underway. I think he gets to 60 power in time given how hard he hits the ball.

UK Nick

1:25

Klaw, love your stuff and thanks so much for bringing the chats back... they fill a need at the moment. Have you ever read any of Bill Bryson’s books? Thoughts?

Keith Law

1:25

I haven't, not for any particular reason though.

Raymond

1:26

Is there any chance that Lacy is available to the Jays at 5? Thinking maybe if the O's take Gonzalez below slot, the Marlins take Martin or Veen and the Royals take whoever the Marlins don't?

Keith Law

1:26

No.

Ben

1:26

I was planning on buying the Inside Game for my dad as a father's day gift as a sort of low-stakes intro to bigger conversations about opening your mind and evidence-based thinking. Then, the last week happened, and we went from low-stakes intro conversations to high-stakes advanced conversations. He'll still get that gift though, and I could still see the Inside Game as a helpful, low-stakes way to talk about bigger issues. Thanks for your stellar work on the book!

Keith Law

1:26

You're welcome - thank you for buying it. I wish the stakes were lower than they are now.

Mike

1:26

Do you think the Red Sox are also in on the prep pitchers or do you think their focusing on prep position players only?

Keith Law

1:27

Zero chance they take a HS arm in the first round.

John

1:27

Where does Austin Martin fit best long-term defensively? Second?

Keith Law

1:27

I still think third base, assuming his throwing issue this February is resolved.

Geoff

1:28

How much money would owners really save by playing 50 games at a prorated salary as opposed to 82? What is really the point of this proposal other than not giving the union something close to what it wants?

Keith Law

1:28

I don't know exactly how their TV/streaming revenue formula works, but I'd be shocked if they actually were better off financially with fewer games.

As in, I think the owners are lying.

Alan

1:28

Morning. Curious about Crochet not being present in your first round mock. Is the lack of track record causing the slide?

Keith Law

1:29

He only pitched once this spring, throwing an unannounced relief appearance on the final weekend that I was told only six scouts saw. He also got lit up by RHB last year. If he's just a reliever, which is a real probability, then he's not a first rounder.

1:30

Oh, also, he missed the first three weekends of the year for undisclosed reasons.

Guest

1:30

what is your take on top HS. players like Crews announcing that they are skipping the draft? What is the advantage to that rather than staying in and just turning down a deal if he doesn’t like it. Is there any benefit of just pulling your name from it?

Keith Law

1:30

No, not really. I find it a bit showy.

Dave

1:30

What's your favourite foreign film (excluding well known ones, such as Parasite or Life is Beautiful)?

Keith Law

1:31

Amelie.

Burning is up there too.

Eric

1:31

I’m just so sad. I have upped my donations to senate and congressional candidates across the country, but even if we get trump and the gop out of power, it will not even come close to fixing the systemic issues of racism and oppression throughout the country. We all need to be better. Every single day.

Keith Law

1:32

I agree, especially that simply voting in better leaders will not solve systemic problems with roots that are 200+ years deep.

Ben

1:32

Klaw, thanks as always. Haven't really kept up to date with draft talk, just this week started reading some things you've put out, mock-wise, to familiarize myself. Just curious, how do you think the abbreviated draft will affect team's approach this year? Would it be silly to get away from best talent available over system needs?

Keith Law

1:33

Always BPA. Never draft for need. Now this year some teams may choose to be more conservative and rank college talent over HS, or hitting over pitching, which is understandable given the state of the game and the economy, but I still wouldn't draft for need.

Noah

1:33

Do you think we are tracking for next year will be more “normal” like full minor league season with fans? Or could this extend? It seems like other leagues are figuring it out so would we be able to progress that far by next February/March?

Keith Law

1:33

I don't think there will be fans at games until there's a vaccine. It simply won't be safe to gather that many people with that kind of proximity.

Paul

1:33

No question here. Just hope we are all managing our anxiety levels in this escalating 2020.

Keith Law

1:33

Amen.

Chris

1:34

Hey Keith, in your latest mock, you had Boston taking a high-upside, higher risk HS player, whereas you previously had them taking maybe a lower-risk "safer" college arm that could end up in the bullpen. With a farm system as barren as theirs, shouldn't they try to target a lot of these high-upside lottery tickets rather than going a safe route on players? Or do you think an organization can rebuild their farm by drafting safer college kids?

Keith Law

1:34

No, I don't think rolling the dice on high-risk players is necessarily the right way to rebuild a system, because you could also easily end up with a lot of nothing. I prefer the mixed approach, like managing a portfolio, which also means you'll get some players who move more quickly to the high minors and some who take more time.

Jamal

1:35

This years pitching, college in particular, seems much deeper than in the recent past. How would you compare this class to others?

Keith Law

1:35

I think it's the best college draft class since 2011.

Jeremy

1:35

Thank you for the chat. In your first mock you had Canadian David Calabrese in the first. Where do you think he goes now.

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