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Klawchat 8/30/18
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Chad
2:54
It seems like the Padres are confident that Mejia can stick at C - supposedly his receiving has improved. With a lineup of Tatis, Urias, Mejia, Myers, Renfroe, and whoever else sticks, is it really that improbable that the Padres have an elite offense as early as next year?
Keith Law
2:56
Renfroe isn't part of an elite offense, not with a career-best .309 OBP this year (and dropping). Myers hasn't been consistently good enough for that either. And they're going to play that replacement-level first baseman for whom two years and $20 million would have been an overpay. So it's not terribly likely just yet.
Josh in DC
2:56
What are your feelings about expanded September rosters? As a fan, I hate them (too many pitching changes, for example). What's your opinion?
Keith Law
2:57
I hate that part. I don't hate seeing young guys get some service time, and exposure to the big league environment and coaching staff. I don't hate seeing teams have more pitchers in total to spread out workloads. But having, say, only X pitchers available per game would go a long way towards keeping September games from running four hours and September box scores look like Russian novels.
Mac
2:57
Do you think Nick Solak will get serious consideration for your top 100 list?  I get the draw backs.  He's not physical and doesn't have tools that jump out at you but he does have an innate feel and approach to hitting that lets him play above his tools.  He's very much like Paul DeJong in that way.  I think he's going to be  very good hitter for a long time.
Keith Law
2:57
No, definitely not a top 100 guy.
Pramit
2:57
If you were working in a front office for a team and the President/GM and/or owner didn't want to call up a top prospect for service time reasons, what argument would you make in favor of calling up the player?  How would you present it?
Keith Law
2:58
That he needs the development time in the majors. Vlad Jr is not progressing as a hitter in AAA right now (or as a fielder, but that's another story). If you want him to get better, you promote him.
DanB Greenwich
2:58
hey Klaw...brWAR has Nola at 8.9 and DeGrom at 8.2.  fWAR has DeGrom at 7.3 and Nola at 5.7.  What causes that kind of discrepancy?
Keith Law
2:58
They don't calculate pitcher WAR the same way. Fangraphs' version relies on the pitchers' peripherals and assumes league-average BABIP. Baseball-Reference's version relies on actual runs allowed.
Andrew
2:59
My wifeis a big fan of Takenoko, Catan, and Lanterns, but tends to get turned off by overly complicated/complex games.  Would you recommend Everdell for her?
Keith Law
2:59
This would be a half-step upgrade in complexity - but it doesn't feel or play complex. It's really a masterful design. And the components are stunning.
Jo-Nathan
2:59
Stetson Allie is sooo close to being a major leaguer and you just have to feel good for the guy; However there is no way this happens living off $1,100 a month over the past 8 years unless you have something like a $2.25 million bonus to supplement your income.  What is the solution here, unionize?
Keith Law
3:00
I don't think they can unionize, can they? If the MLBPA found a way to include them, that would be the best solution. Also, maybe more people should have called their Representatives over the rider MLB had the recipients of campaign contributions slip into the GOP tax bill.
Jim
3:00
Mark Vientos looks like one of the most exciting pieces in the Mets system. Do you think he can be an impact player at the big  league level, or is it too soon to tell?
Keith Law
3:00
I do - I'm a buyer. I forgot to mention him earlier. Kelenic has looked so good early that he's overshadowed Vientos through no fault of the latter.
Andrew
3:01
Hey Keith. I'm considering getting my MBA, and had Tepper on my short list of schools. How was your experience there? I'm looking at things from a challenge/knowledge standpoint rather than networking, for the most part.
Keith Law
3:01
I enjoyed my two years there and learned a lot. It's a very quantitative program, which was unusual then and probably much more relevant today to more jobs. I will say Pittsburgh in the winter is the grayest place I've ever spent any time.
Wes
3:01
Is Austin Meadows' performance in Durham anything other than SSS noise?
Keith Law
3:02
It is a SSS. 27 games, I believe.
Donald
3:02
If you worked in the Astros front office, how would you have handled the Osuna trade?
Keith Law
3:02
I would have opposed it, and if they'd made it anyway, I would have found another job.
Kevin w
3:02
Why are people so resistant to science?  It’s what literally makes everybody’s life better/easier
Keith Law
3:04
Much of science denial is tied to a strain of religiosity that holds that what is written in holy texts is literally or at least primarily true, and thus adherents feel that science, by proving some of these beliefs to be false (like creationism), undermines religion. Of course, there are many people on both sides of the religion/science divide who argue that the conflict is not real or essential - that you can be a person of faith and still believe in science. Math is the fundamental language of the universe; you may simply choose to believe that a higher power created math.
Dylan Garner
3:05
Is Kolby Allard's future in the MLB solely tied to him adding velocity/quality to his fastball? It seems impossible for him to succeed against major league hitters with 89-90 as his main pitch.
Keith Law
3:05
Not impossible, just an added challenge. His CB can be plus or better. He just has to get to it.
John
3:05
A few years ago, we couldn't quantify much that catchers do defensively.  Now there are data on framing.  But it seems like there's some other quality that goes to the relationship with the pitchers, which is very hard for statistics to capture.  Is that accurate, or is that characteristic akin to clubhouse chemistry?
Keith Law
3:06
I think that we have a decent idea of the value of framing but not as strong an idea about where that value is generated or how sustainable changes in framing value or skill are. I'm loath to consider it too heavily in matters like awards voting or especially the Hall of Fame.
Kevin
3:06
If you could only watch one decade of baseball, as a fan what would you choose?
Keith Law
3:06
This one. Game's never been better, folks.
3:08
Thank you all for reading this week and for all of your questions - I'm sorry I didn't get to more but for whatever reason I'm a little slow on the draw today. I should be back again next week for another chat and will try to keep to a regular chat schedule through the rest of the regular season. Have a great Labor Day weekend, to those of you here in the U.S., and please be safe on the roads. Labor Day and Memorial Day are the two most dangerous weekends of the year on American roadways. If you've had even a little too much to drink, don't get behind the wheel. I'd rather have you get home later, but safe, and here for the next Klawchat.
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