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Klawchat 8/30/18
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Keith Law
2:24
No, I don't think that's stretching it at all. Probably just about right.
Danny
2:24
Kevin Newman made his debut last week – a guy I know you absolutely loved coming out of the draft. His time in the minors has been a bit of a disappointment, but do you believe that he can still be a starting caliber middle infielder?
Keith Law
2:25
I do, but he has to bring some of the power he'll show in BP into games more. He really hasn't done enough to try to drive the ball. He's going to make a ton of contact, he can play short, he'll add value on the bases, but he needs to be more of a 35 doubles, 10 homers guy.
Ron
2:25
Hi Keith- How many more productive years of being a catcher would have made Mauer a HOFer?  If he could of had 3 or 4 years more behind the plate, could he have knocked on the door?  Too bad he had to move.
Keith Law
2:25
He might still get there. I could see him becoming a cause celebre among the stat crowd, because his career value requires more than a cursory look at the old stats.
Buddy
2:25
Surprised by Cardinals turnaround?
Keith Law
2:25
No.
J.P.
2:25
As we await your writeup on Manning (and the Senators/Wolves), were you pleasantly surprised by how he handled his Double-A debut or no?
Keith Law
2:26
No, I wouldn't say that. He was fine, three average pitches, changeup might have been a 55. What I really liked was how they've gotten his delivery to make better use of his height. He extends way out over his front side now, and he must have some of the best extension in the minors now. That helped the fastball, which was 91-95 without a lot of life, really play up even in the zone. Hitters reacted like they didn't have enough time.
John
2:27
Greg Bird drawing a lot of ire from Yankees fans.  (You hate to see that.)  Justified?
Keith Law
2:27
I think it's been unfair of the org to talk him up as a future first baseman given the state of his defense even before the injuries. Let him DH and hope he hits like he did as a prospect - low average but tons of walks and 25+ homers.
Ted
2:27
How do you feel about the A's strategy to target high-ceiling/high-risk players like Beck and Murray in recent drafts over other players that were generally deemed to be "safer" because they wouldn't be able to afford these high-upside players on the open market? How do you feel about Beck as a prospect? Keep up the great work. Thanks.
Keith Law
2:28
I go back and forth on Beck; he's only 19, and he struck out a lot less this year than I expected, but, damn, Gina, where the heck did the 70 raw power go?
Mike
2:29
Playing Azul with people who primarily work the top rows, how do you maximize your score in what ends up being a quick race to the finish?
Keith Law
2:29
Try to hit the big bonuses - the 10 point bonus for getting the same color in all five rows or the 7 points for finishing a column. I think those exist in the game to balance out the top-rows people (who suck, just play the fucking game right, people).
JR
2:29
Is the Klaw Factory hiring? Does it offer decent pay/benefits?
Keith Law
2:29
There's one employee and he gets worked to death.
Justin
2:30
Shane Bieber's having a respectable rookie season. Do you think his command is advanced enough that he can reduce the hard contact and BABIP issues as he goes around the league/learns hitters?
Keith Law
2:30
I think he can mitigate them enough to be a solid fourth starter. His stuff is marginal enough in today's game that BABIP/hard contact will just be part of his game in most seasons.
Rob
2:30
From your pre-season review of the Mets farm system it seemed you liked the upside in the system assuming bouncebacks from injuries etc.  Any updated thoughts based on how this MiLB season played out?
Keith Law
2:32
Several of those guys did bounce back, right? Dunn and Kay did. Peterson's been very good outside of a dead-arm stretch. Lindsay has been a big disappointment (and got hurt again, I believe). Newton's been a surprise. Kelenic and Woods-Richardson have both looked great in their debuts. Mauricio has made himself a Guy in the GCL. The farm isn't the problem. It's been a combination of bad roster management in the majors, ownership involvement, and for a while a manager who was just not up to the job.
Tristan
2:32
While acknowledging that being consumed by a Rookie of the Year vote is a bit silly, the race in the AL is quite interesting this year. Ohtani, Torres and Andujar all look like guys who'll have good careers. And on a rate basis you can argue Ohtani has outhit the Yankee kids. He hasn't played defense, though. Do voters give him credit for those 9 starts (and for being Amazing)? Would you?
Keith Law
2:33
Of course Ohtani should get credit for those starts. I would seriously object to any voter claiming they would only consider him as a pitcher or a hitter. You add up all the value of everything he's done and compare him to the other candidates.
Oh, I have no ballot this year. How droll.
Paul
2:33
Is this offensive version of Matt Chapman here to stay? If so, what is your long-term projection?
Keith Law
2:33
I'm buying. Way improved approach at the plate. All-Star.
Bob Pollard
2:33
Know you're high on Wander Franco, but am wondering what you think his ceiling is (apologies if you've noted this). Are we looking at a Lindor-type superstar SS?
Keith Law
2:34
Less of a runner, not the same defender, more average and more raw power. (Then again, Lindor is going to hit 30+ again this year, so I no longer know what average power looks like.)
JR
2:34
You buying Zack Wheeler stock? He's on a very impressive streak. Possible he's finally fully recovered from TJ surgery and this is who he can be going forward?
Keith Law
2:34
He's looked as good as I can remember him looking since he was in the low minors.
Bighen
2:35
What’s the Mets 2019 plan if it doesn’t include spending serious money which just isn’t going to happen.  You can squint and see a decent team if a few breaks go their way.  You can also see a full blown disaster if 1 or 2 big things go wrong.   Tough needle to thread
Keith Law
2:35
Agreed. If I were named their GM (that's not happening, this is hypothetical), I'd shop deGrom for sure this winter, as his value will never be higher, and you pretty much have to use him to try to get some more impact into the system. I don't think they're a few breaks away from contention next year; they're a lot of breaks away.
JR
2:36
SSS, but Amed Rosario has looked much better at the plate of late, which is encouraging. It seems like there have been a lot of top prospects that have debuted over the past few years and immediately played well, so when a top prospect takes some time to develop (which is fine), the hot takes come fast and furious. Oh, and it helps when they play you everyday at your normal position cough Dominic Smith cough.
Keith Law
2:37
Your middle point in there is the salient one: Not every great player performed in his first stint in the majors. Josh Donaldson made my top 100 list one year, bounced around via trades, had some injuries, didn't hit that well at first, and became an MVP candidate in his late 20s. Even Mike Trout wasn't Willie Mays in his first month or so in the majors at age 19. Just be patient.
Drew
2:37
If Madson and Gio are still in Washington come Saturday, will Mike Rizzo be guilty of managerial malpractice?
Keith Law
2:37
Too strong. Those guys have some real value to contenders. We're not talking Jose Bautista here.
George
2:37
I feel like people are being way too quick on evaluating the Archer trade. Lots of good pitchers have bad months
Keith Law
2:38
Yes and give the Pirates an offseason to get to know the guy and work with him. I saw most of his last outing vs Milwaukee, and there was some really bad pitch selection in addition to the usual problems with location. You can't get beat like that on sliders to lefties unless you are burying that sucker at his back foot.
Ted
2:38
The Sox have 3 third basemen, Devers, Dalbec and Chavis. Who should be the long term Sox third baseman and where should the others play or should they be traded?
Keith Law
2:40
Devers is the best overall player of the three and I would take him. Dalbec has emerged as a prospect, and can really play third, but he's had a 30%+ K rate at every level of full-season ball, and I can't fully buy into him as a big league caliber bat. Chavis can hit some but I've never liked his defense at third in the past.
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