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Klawchat 6/5/25
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Keith Law
2:04
No phone in the phone booth. Klawchat.
Mike
2:04
With the reduced size of the minors, what do teams do when they have a situation like the Dodgers outfield in A+, where they have three guys who could all move up and Quintero behind them who also could? In this case it seems like their AA OF isn't that amazing and maybe it's okay to push them aside, but in general what happens when there's a traffic jam at a particular position?
Keith Law
2:05
In their case, it's easy - move Sirota up. He's looked like the player he was in 2023 again; I learned recently that he lost a lot of weight before the 2024 spring began and the loss of strength led him to overcompensate at the plate, which wrecked his spring. He's 22 and belongs in AA by now. In general, though, you move guys around - 1b, DH, wherever someone will fit - and maybe you have to work in some days off here and there.
Boston
2:06
You are all over Franklin Arias. His hard hit and exit velocities aren't very good, and there is little physical projection, as he's small and stocky and not a fast runner. I get that not whiffing is great, but isn't this a dink and dunk hitter that's not explosive?
Keith Law
2:06
I've been puzzling over this question since you sent it two+ hours ago, and my only conclusion is that you are thinking of someone else. His batted-ball data is good (he's hit 110 mph), he has some physical projection, and as you can see in this video he is not small or stocky. You're right that he's not a runner, but that's it. Otherwise you are describing another player.
Aaron C.
2:07
Considering all the traveling you do, have you ever had a really good meal (even grading on a curve) in an American airport?
Keith Law
2:08
Yes - big fan of airports that have local restaurants come establish outposts there. Tortas Frontera in ORD. Matt's Big Breakfast in PHX (probably the best airport for local food). Bud & Marilyn's here in PHL, although I wish their menu were a little broader. Silver Diner at BWI.
James
2:08
Thoughts on Cade Horton so far?
Keith Law
2:08
Too soon.
Chris
2:08
If you had to bet on Zyhir Hope or Josue De Paula becoming an MLB All-Star, who are you picking?
Keith Law
2:09
Hope. More defensive value there. Not a CF but RF should work, maybe even above-average there. De Paula has more offensive potential but it might be 1B.
Alex
2:09
What is wrong with Atlanta's offense? The offense is underperforming for the second year in a row but is mostly locked into long-term extensions, and the farm is thin. I'm concerned that the team has fallen behind in its analytics, and its players are getting overmatched by savvier organizations. What can they do, short of cleaning house?
Keith Law
2:09
Well one thing would be to improve their drafting - I don't think they've drafted well at all of late, and they've gone so heavily for HS arms that it's depleted the system.
Eddie V.
2:09
You've mentioned before you lost interest in Pearl Jam after the Vitalogy record. What was it in the change between Vs. to Vitalogy that soured you on the band?
Keith Law
2:10
That's a hard question to answer because it's a subjective thing. I thought they became less of a grunge band after Vs., and the Neil Young influence became much more pronounced. But the bottom line is Vitalogy had fewer memorable hooks, and the album after that had almost none for me.
James
2:10
Although it would be a PR nightmare, wouldn't it make sense for the Pirates to sell high on Skenes now? If they could get Rushing, De Paula, Freeland and Ferris or Anthony, Mayer, Fitts or some similar combo, wouldn't that be a better long term plan?
Dana
2:10
Should the Pirates trade Skenes now for 4-5 pieces that could reasonably become the core of their next playoff team?
Keith Law
2:11
I really wonder if they could get enough to make up for both the PR disaster they'd have and for the fact that Skenes is almost irreplaceable in their rotation. Nutting should have let the front office spend this winter to boost the offense, and he didn't. Trading Skenes is going to turn them into the 2024 White Sox.
Chris
2:11
Has Ian Happ become the player you expected?
Keith Law
2:12
Over the course of his career, yes, although I thought he'd end up at 3b.
Aaron C.
2:12
I don't want you to name names because that's all that anyone will focus on, but in all the years you've been doing this, has there ever been the son of an MLB player drafted in, say, the top 5 rounds who might otherwise not even be a top 10 round guy is not for his last name?
Keith Law
2:12
Oh yes. Tony Gwynn Jr. comes to mind. Kenny Williams' son might be the most egregious case.
Tom Walter
2:12
Are you as surprised as I am that I still have a job?
Keith Law
2:13
Surprised, no. Dismayed, yes. That's a firing offense - you can not lead a team if that word is in your vocabulary because of what the use of that word says about your feelings. How could any queer player or staffer ever feel comfortable in that clubhouse?
I promise you there will be no consequences here. My conversations with the NCAA have strongly implied that they want this to go away.
Dave
2:13
Lots of speculation that MLB is down to Apple TV and NBC for Sunday Night Baseball rights starting next year. It seems like even if Apple is offering more money, that hiding the marquee game of the week on Apple rather than making it very accessible on NBC would be a marketing disaster for MLB. So of course I fully expect the owners to take the short term cash over the long term health of the game.
Keith Law
2:13
I completely agree that they will take the most money, period.
ck
2:13
If Skenes is available for trade, would you not give your top 5 prospects to get him?
Keith Law
2:14
Depends on who those five are. You have to factor in the chance that Skenes gets hurt and misses some significant time in the next four years - not that I ever want this, but that is simply the nature of pitching today (which is a byproduct of our industry attitude that they are disposable assets).
Caleb
2:14
Was Jordan Walker rushed to the big leagues too soon? Or is there another reason to explain his struggles the past couple years?
Keith Law
2:15
He's needed swing help and hasn't gotten it. I'm hopeful that as they add to their major and minor league staffs that it won't be too late to help him. They've seen some upticks on the pitching side already.
Matt
2:15
Am I crazy for thinking Judge is the best hitter in history? Dude is on pace for 13.7 WAR. The only player to do that was Babe Ruth and he was playing against farmers and plumbers.
Keith Law
2:15
No, that's not crazy. He's in Bonds territory.
Will
2:15
Do you have a feel for how the House settlement (assuming it’s approved or schools just use state laws to provide the benefits) will affect which draftees will choose to enroll/return to school over signing? Will more scholarship dollars plus NIL and revenue sharing make enrolling a more attractive option than it currently is?
Keith Law
2:15
I truly don't have a feel for this, sorry.
Ryan
2:15
I know you've said that in the past the best way for young players is through the draft, because even if they flunk out in the minors MLB (?) will pay for them to get their degree after, and get developed by big league coaches is way better than being told to throw 120 pitches one night and then 40 more less than 48 hours later... but with the changing landscape of NIL and possibility -depending on which side you ask owners/players - about a worldwide draft ... is it possible college is becoming a better option?
Keith Law
2:16
College has always been a better option for certain players. It's not the better option for, say, the kid throwing 95 now who has a $2 million offer from pro ball, because the odds of him still throwing 95 and being healthy in 3 years aren't that high. It's the better option for the projectable kid throwing 90 now, or someone like Hagen Smith, who had TJ and missed his senior year of HS, then saw his velocity increase every year at Arkansas.
Ryan
2:16
One thing I never get about the draft is why can a JUCO freshman be drafted and not an NCAA freshman? Why hasn't someone sued the NCAA for that yet (or is that an MLB rule)?
Keith Law
2:17
A longstanding agreement between MLB and the NCAA, enshrined in the MLB rules. It's anti-player and I would hope it would lose a challenge in a labor court (well, not right now).
Matt K
2:17
Thanks for doing this, Keith - always love your takes and information.  Question about Brock Wilken.  My feel is that he is mostly back, or at least back to what he is going to be.  That is a good sign for him, so happy about that.  He does not seem to be at the level I personally had anticipated, though. Tons of walks, good power. The Ks are still higher, it seems.  Is he a guy the Crew could rely on to play 3B/1B for a few seasons at this level?  I had some early hope he showed some Jeff Bagwell signs, but have given up on that - am I wrong?
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