JotCast | Klawchat 9/20/18

Klawchat 9/20/18

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Keith Law

1:29

Given his workload this year I'd try not to do that to him next spring.

1:30

Luke Voit, a blip, a useful future backup, a starter, something else?

Keith Law

1:30

Nice backup.

Michael

1:30

White Sox GM Hahn hinted at a big prospect-for-prospect deal this winter. Reds seem set at 3B/SS and ChiSox have lots of OF prospects. Who says no to Senzel for Madrigal and Luis Gonzalez?

Keith Law

1:30

Reds are set at SS? I wouldn't say so.

Tired

1:30

Is there such a thing as "catching up on sleep"?

Keith Law

1:31

According to Matthew Walker & his book Why We Sleep, no, there isn't.

Gus Johnson

1:31

Aside from Kershaw (who will probably resign with the Dodgers?), Patrick Corbin looks like the only high-impact FA pitcher. Would you give him a Yu Darvish-type contract (6 yr/126M)?

Keith Law

1:31

I would. I agree on Kershaw, and that Corbin is the best 'real' FA pitcher on the market.

Lilith

1:31

Do you think Senzel could play CF? How well?

Keith Law

1:31

I'd be very, very surprised.

Andrew

1:31

Phillies are carrying 40 on their active roster, which many are calling bad for baseball. I think the concerns about pitching changes and substitutions are overblown - I doubt the casual fan really cares about pitching changes, and it really only irks those who have to cover 162 games. What are your thoughts?

Keith Law

1:31

Carrying 40 isn't the problem. Using 33 guys a game would be a problem.

Kevin

1:32

with arm issues always a big deal why do prospects continue to pitch through the end of summer and into the fall? If they are that good shouldn’t April - August be enough?

Keith Law

1:32

Most guys who pitch in the fall are doing so because either 1) they missed time earlier in the year due to injury or suspension, or 2) the parent club is trying to make a decision on whether to protect them from rule 5 or trying to stir up trade interest.

Kace

1:32

Are guys like Chapman, Merrifield and previously Bautista unicorns or can hard work and a change of approach fix a lot of so-so players?

Keith Law

1:33

We hear about the players who do all of this and get results; we don't hear about the dozens more who try these things and don't improve. It's always worth trying, but if you're a GM or a Director of Player Development, you have to understand many attempts will fail.

Sean

1:33

Is it best the Blue Jays just do a full-on rebuild or try to rebuild on the fly? I ask simply because the attendance has taken the largest dive this year from what I've read, not sure how much doing a full rebuild would hurt the fanbase.

Keith Law

1:34

I thought they should rebuild last winter - trade Donaldson, at least explore the markets for Stroman and Sanchez, etc. They could still do some of that although they may have missed their prime opportunity.

Robbie

1:35

The great AL ROY debate: Does Ohtani's innings pitched and superior bat outweigh andujar's full season of at bats?

Keith Law

1:36

Ohtani has outproduced Andujar and Gleyber. I don't think this is really a debate.

1:36

You've regularly been asked about Jeff McNeil over the past few weeks, and have always rightly cautioned this is SSS. Having said that, how does an organization evaluate his time at the big leagues to date? They clearly have an opening at 2B and he's played well (in a short time frame). Do they pencil him in for the role next season, or do they still look to add a 2B in the offseason?

Keith Law

1:37

No harm in letting a player like that - already on the roster, making no money - fill that spot next year when you're unlikely to contend. If they were a potential playoff team, my answer would differ. At that point you don't want to bet on a tiny sample or a fluky performance.

Ryan

1:37

There have been a bunch of articles recently regarding fixes to the service time manipulation. What would be your fix to teams keeping down clearly ready prospects?

Keith Law

1:38

One fix I proposed a few years ago, when Kris Bryant was held back to delay free agency, was to give teams a sort of right of first refusal for players who reached FA with exactly six years of service - that is, a player who made an Opening Day roster and never went back down.

Lee_Keybum

1:38

On your next periscope chat, can you do it without a shirt?

Keith Law

1:38

I'm sorry, I believe you're looking for Alex Jones, and he is currently banned from everywhere.

Guest

1:38

Does Frankie Montas have the secondary stuff to remain as a starter?

Keith Law

1:39

I do not think so.

Phil

1:39

I am reading your book and I was wondering about pitch framing as a learned skill. Do some organizations focus on teaching it or do they just try to identify the best and acquire them?

Keith Law

1:39

Several do try to teach it.

Alex

1:39

RE: Ellison v. Kavanaugh- I agree that Ellison's actions appear to have been repugnant and should be disqualifying from a career in public life, but as a candidate for public office (Minnesota AG) the voters have an opportunity to make their own decision on his suitability for the position he seeks (and, yes, the DNC should turf him out). DC Republicans are doing everything in their power to confirm Kavanaugh before the midterms, and he isn't even personally on the ballot anywhere.

Keith Law

1:39

Yes, that's a separate question, and of course I think Kavanaugh should be rejected.

Chris

1:39

Thanks for your review of Florida. I had gotten up to Above and Below when I saw in your newsletter you were reading the book. I had to put it down for a while after A and B, but I did not know the last story sees the return of the character from the first.

Keith Law

1:40

I was surprised how much the stories affected me when Groff's voice is somewhat distant from her own characters.

Moe Mentum

1:40

Odubel Herrera 2019 : Phillies starter, Phillies bench player, or new team? We’ve seen flashes of talent, but his 2018 performance doesn’t seem commensurate with his salary. And he might not fit the Kapler vision. Should (can?) Klentak do something? Is Roman Quinn being groomed to start in CF next season?

Keith Law

1:41

He's making $5 million next year. If he literally shows up to Citizens Bank Park on time on game days, he'll be worth more than that. And Quinn has zero history of staying healthy - I wouldn't bet on him for any regular role.

Nat

1:41

Who is the one hitter and one pitcher you are most looking forward to seeing in the AFL?

Keith Law

1:41

Luis Robert and Nate Pearson.

Anthony

1:41

If Colorado misses the playoffs, should they buy, sell or hold this offseason?

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