JotCast | Klawchat 9/20/18

Klawchat 9/20/18

View Full Chat Next Page

Keith Law

1:01

I can feel no sense of measure. Klawchat.

Nick

1:01

Are you at all worried about Machado's career splits at Camden Yards and away? He's been league-average outside of Baltimore.

Keith Law

1:01

No. Camden Yards is not a hitter's park despite its reputation as such.

Nick

1:01

If you're the Rangers, do you look to trade Profar or is he a guy that could be a part of the next good Rangers team?

Keith Law

1:02

I'd hate to give up on a guy who was my #1 overall prospect before the shoulder injury cost him two years, and who now seems to be getting back on track to at least above-average regular status (and I'm stubborn, I still expect more).

squeeze bunt

1:02

A lot of writers are saying Preller is going to do something big to acquire a starting pitcher. What kind of move can you see this taking shape as? Thor or something similar?

Keith Law

1:02

I don't see why he'd do that with all the pitching coming - and some of it quite close to ready.

Chris

1:02

As Edwin Diaz continues to accumulate saves, the Mariners message boards are actively rooting for teams to score runs when the Mariners are ahead to bring the margin within three. I get not having anything else to look forward to as they're not going to make the playoffs, but is there any better example of saves being so arbitrary and non-substantive and of a stat where game strategy might change just to fit a specific situation that may or may not occur? There's even advocating for him to start the 7th to get a 3 inning save up 10-0.

Keith Law

1:02

Fuck the save stat.

Nick

1:03

Does Puig still have a star ceiling or is he settled in as a regular that fluctuates between average and above?

Keith Law

1:03

He has the tools to be a star but I don't think it's reasonable to speak of ceiling for a player whose listed age is 27 (he'll play all of next year at 28) and hasn't had a star-level performance in any of the last five seasons.

Dan the Mets Fan

1:03

I'm calling it now: Jeff McNeil headlining "Players I Was Wrong About" next year.

Keith Law

1:04

If McNeil posts a .360 BABIP in a full season next year, sure. At least you seem like you read the intro, though.

Dan the Mets Fan

1:05

Who would you pursue at C if you had no real solution there... Ramos or Grandal?

Keith Law

1:05

I'd prefer Ramos.

Kevin

1:05

Oriole OF Diaz- does he start next year as your opening day outfielder or does he stay on the farm and

Keith Law

1:07

If they want to play service time games, then he starts on the farm, but I'd just give him a regular job next year (and not re-sign Jones) and let him develop.

David

1:07

We're just going to keep doing this stupid Tebow thing, aren't we?

Keith Law

1:07

Yep, and we're going to make it some weird referendum on America or Christianity or the flag, too.

John

1:07

Does major league baseball do anything about the Major disparity among payrolls. I love baseball but it just doesn’t seem fair. Are you amazed at the A’s and Rays have done so well ? It’s also about how much you spend on your scouting and not just payroll

Keith Law

1:08

"Fair" is an arbitrary concept, and probably not a great argument for trying to equalize payrolls - which, by the way, won't do anything but shift money from players to the billionaire owners.

Washington nationals fan

1:08

If you were the GM of the Nats does Dave Martinez return as your manager for 2019 ?

Keith Law

1:09

Yes. I don't think he's any of the problem this year. That's not saying I think he's great, or clearly the long-term answer, but evaluating him on this year's won/lost record would probably not yield meaningful information.

Stanley

1:09

Do you agree that the powers that be in D.C. should be pushing Keith Ellison for information about the accusations against him just as much as they are pushing Kavanaugh? The allegations against Ellison are very recent and specific, with photographs and police reports. The fact that someone so high in his party seems to be getting an Osuna-like free pass just proves the hypocrisy that is so prevalent among our national leaders.

Keith Law

1:09

I do. I've been surprised he's skated on the accusations - and Democrats who were furious he didn't get the DNC chair have to be relieved at this point.

Archie

1:09

This season will have the most games ever where a team used at least 7 pitchers. Do you see this as a good thing for the game?

Keith Law

1:10

I don't, but I'm loath to make too many changes that might force some pitchers to work more than is safe for their arms. Reducing mid-inning pitching changes - that is, forcing managers to make more changes between innings - would help pace of play, although it probably would increase run-scoring.

1:10

Are you able to turn your guitar volume to 11?

Keith Law

1:10

Of course. I bought a special amplifier for that very reason.

Meeee

1:10

I know you'd probably think it would be too self-congratulatory, but would you ever write a "Guys I got RIGHT (that nobody else did)" column? I'd find it interesting.

Keith Law

1:11

I wouldn't for that reason. Readers are generally quite kind about pointing those out anyway.

Oh, also, how about that Jack Flaherty fella?

Rhys

1:11

Daz Cameron spanned 3 levels this year at age 21 - was this surprising to you? He seemed to struggle in AAA (although in only 57 ABs). Do you see him as anything more than a marginal MLB regular someday?

Keith Law

1:11

57 AB is barely worth acknowledging, and I think he's an above-average regular. I'm totally flummoxed at why you think he's just a marginal regular.

Dr. Bob

1:12

The Cardinals' Tyler O'Neil was considered the better OF prospect but Harrison Bader was more major league ready so he got the first call-up this year. Now he's become the everyday center fielder. Safe to say no one else saw this coming either. Great defense and he is lightning quick. We'll see what kind of hitter he becomes.

Keith Law

1:12

Did I rank O'Neill higher? I've always been skeptical of his swing and miss, his pull-heavy approach, and his lack of defensive value. Bader, of course, has gotten way better since they drafted him - I find the improvement in his speed, which is extremely rare especially among college draftees, totally fascinating.

The Ghost of Bobby Thigpen

1:12

It's looking more and more like the Mets poor record won't cost deGrom the Cy Young...but isn't it marginally disappointing that he probably could have won the MVP if the Mets didn't suck?

Keith Law

1:13

There's such a strong bias in MVP voting against pitchers I don't think he would have won it. I think it goes to Yelich or Baez at this point.

Joe

1:13

Keith, did you ever write up the Cutch trade? What kind of players are Avelino and DePaula?

Keith Law

1:13

I didn't, and you can infer my answer from that.

Connecting…