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Klawchat 12/18/20
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Keith Law
2:01
It's no place for the old. Klawchat.
KS
2:01
Assuming you're able to attend games in 2021, what prospects are you most looking forward to seeing (both those you have previously seen and that you have not yet seen)?
Keith Law
2:03
I always skew towards players I haven't seen, or whom I haven't seen in a long time. But there are also guys like Mackenzie Gore, who should have debuted this past season but didn't, or Jarren Duran, who's made some substantial swing changes that I'd like to see in person (to see how they play against real pitching), in addition to, say, the major draft guys from 2020 I'd never seen (Max Meyer, Robert Hassell) and any international free agents who hadn't debuted here yet.
Danielectomy
2:03
Which of the top free agents would likely best serve the Blue Jays?
Keith Law
2:04
Would any of them *not* serve the Blue Jays well? They would be better off with just about anyone from the top of my FA rankings who's not a pure 1b/dh type.
Logan
2:04
Is the hype and the SSS of Bohm enough to label him a potential star opposite Harper?
Keith Law
2:04
Hype never made anyone a better player. I don't think he can stay at 3b but I think the hit tool will be more than enough to make him a longtime above-average regular.
Frank
2:05
Honest opinion.  Did teams really lose money last season??  Or just not make as much as they projected??
Keith Law
2:05
I would believe that some teams actually did lose money in 2020, maybe all teams, but far less than they claim (or that gullible fink sportswriters claim on their behalf).
2:06
They did lose more than 1/2 a season of broadcast revenues and corporate sponsorship money, and a full season of attendance, concessions, and ancillary revenues (like parking). Their costs were also reduced, but not by as much. I'm not crying for the owners, who will still get the capital appreciation that made them buy sports teams in the first place, but it is plausible that most teams were cash negative in 2020.
Gerry
2:06
Hey KLaw!!!  The Phillies/Wheeler fiasco a couple weeks ago aside, what would the Phils realistically get from a Nola trade, instead of Wheeler?  I would think they’d get a huge haul for a top of young, top of rotation starter, on a great contract. Shouldn’t Dombrowski at least consider it?
Keith Law
2:07
No, he shouldn't.
That might be the worst possible move for the team right now, given where they are.
Frank
2:07
With so many sports games being cancelled on all levels, professional thru HS, what is the expectation for scouting for the upcoming draft?  And will MLB require all players in minors and majors to get vaccine?
Keith Law
2:08
Sounds like we'll have some sort of spring to scout, which is good since there was so little over the summer. I don't think MLB can flat-out require that without the union's consent - and the vaccine has to be available, not waiting for a petulant lame-duck administration to release it.
Buckner86
2:11
Why did Chris Paddock have such a rough 2020?  Is it fixable?
Keith Law
2:12
I'm going to go on a limb and say it was the 14 homers allowed in 59 innings that did it. And it was almost all on his four-seamer. He still doesn't have an average breaking ball, and even lefties, who should have been more vulnerable with his plus-plus changeup, got to his fastball way too often.
Dan M.
2:12
Do you find that take out from fine dining establishments is justified?  I am debating getting Bardea for a birthday celebration this weekend.
Keith Law
2:13
Yes, we've gotten takeout from Bardea (which I think is the best restaurant in Wilmington right now) several times, and eaten once in their outdoor tent, although I'm not entirely sure that tent is "outdoor" enough. But the food is great and they do a fantastic job prepping and packaging it for takeout.
Drew
2:13
Can Tyler O'Neill get over his strikeout issues?
Keith Law
2:14
I am not a big believer in his bat. He's always been such a dead-pull, ambush a fastball sort of hitter.
section 34
2:14
When does MLB free agency start?

Or, please remove "When" and answer the question without it, if you prefer.
Keith Law
2:14
The Mets have signed a few, including the first four-year deal of the winter. It's been slow the last few winters even without a pandemic.
MK26
2:14
Hi Keith
Do you think It Can’t Happen Here because America is exceptional or that it just didn’t happen here this time because we are exceptionally lucky? We just learned that ~70 million citizens and a large chunk of elected officials are fine living in a dictatorship so long as their guy gets to do the dictating. Isn’t it just chance that our despot is a particularly epic level of imbecile and that his Elite Strike Force assigned to steal power ended up being a 3-person Ocean’s Eleven that ran through the casino floor shouting ‘we’re robbing the casino’ then knocked themselves unconscious in a smear of black hair dye as they smacked headfirst into the locked vault doors? I just worry what happens next time now that we know it’s actually not a very hard vault to break into.
Keith Law
2:15
I share that fear - that this particular wannabe tyrant showed more competent wannabe tyrants how it can be done.
Guest
2:15
White Sox fandom is all of a sudden down on Michael Kopech. Do you have reservations about him being a quality starter in 2021?
Keith Law
2:15
No. Who cares if the fans are down on a guy?
addoeh
2:15
Given how you've said you watch their games now. has your partner taught you the words to "Fly, Eagles Fly" yet?
Keith Law
2:15
Yes, and I've discovered you can pretty much sing them to the tune of "O Canada."
Josh C
2:16
I think I remember you being a big fan of John Le Carre. Have you read any of the books by his son Nick Harkaway? I highly recommend both Angelmaker and Tigerman
Keith Law
2:16
I really enjoyed Le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, but found some of his later work, like The Tailor of Panama, disappointing. Have not read any of his son's books.
ffballmaster
2:16
Do you think Gerrit Crochet has top of the rotation potential or ends up as a high end bullpen arm?  Impressive debut but not sure how you'd rank him among some of the other draftees like Meyer and Lacy.
Keith Law
2:17
Bullpen guy. Basically a one-pitch guy in college, with control issues and trouble staying healthy. That's a lot to fix to make him a starter.
Lorne Volat
2:17
Do you have any recommendations for games (board, etc.) for a 5 1/2 yo?
Keith Law
2:17
Yes - if you look at the links at the top of this chat I included Dragomino, a new game for ages 5+ (really, for 4+) based on Kingdomino, in both year-end roundups.
2:18
I also think Ticket to Ride First Journey is great, as are Friends of a Feather, Outfoxed, and Hoot Owl Hoot.
Sadtigerfan
2:20
Who do you think will be the better overall player Riley Greene or Spencer Torkelson?
Keith Law
2:20
Torkelson will get there first, but unless he ends up playing third base, I might bet on Greene as the better long-term player. He has the higher ceiling, at least, although that's not the same thing.
Terry
2:20
Is there a big-ticket move that you like best for the Mets? Trade for Lindor/Arenado? Sign Springer? Sign the Alt-Righty? Trade for someone else?
Keith Law
2:21
Any of those, really. But if you are one of the only owners willing to spend, the best values should be found in free agency rather than trade.
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