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Klawchat 6/21/19
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Keith Law
1:00
So if you're tired of the same old story ... it's Klawchat.
addoeh
1:00
I watching Tanner Anderson's wind-up and I didn't realize your alma mater teaches the "Ministry of Silly Walks" delivery.
Keith Law
1:01
Hey, us Harvard guys are just a bunch of plucky underdogs. No one gave us any advantages. We're all self-made like that.
Nick
1:02
What's the best fried chicken you've had?
Keith Law
1:02
The Crack Shack in San Diego, probably because they use the best chicken.
Robert
1:02
How would CJ Abrams compare to Royce Lewis as amateurs? They seem quite similar.
Keith Law
1:02
I don't see them as similar at all other than their speed. Lewis had more impact with the bat. Abrams is a better shortstop right now than Lewis at the same age.
Mike
1:02
I keep reading good reports on Kelenic this year. Is he looking more and more like a top 20 prospect?
Keith Law
1:02
No question.
Mike in Seattle
1:02
Hi Keith - love your work and was wondering if you planned on doing an mid-season updated prospect ranking this year?
Keith Law
1:03
Yes, I do this every year on the Thursday of All-Star Week. This year that will be July 11th.
Alex
1:03
As a Braves fan, I hate thinking that the Braves "did the right thing" in refusing to hand out multiyear free agent deals and waiting to sign Keuchel to a one-year deal two months into the season — this boring bean-counter baseball is appalling labor economics and it sucks to watch. But it's not poor strategy.We all know the MLBPA has a tough row to hoe in the next CBA. Is there anything that journalists and writers can do in writing about free agents to
Keith Law
1:04
It's not poor strategy if you get the player, right? What if you could have had Keuchel on Opening Day and got 30 starts from him ... but instead, you didn't sign him, and you miss the playoffs by a game?
Alex
1:04
We know the next CBA is going to be tough for players, as owners have (somehow) decided upon collective stinginess as a strategy. Are there any best practices for journalists and writers, when writing about free agents and free agency, to make the guaranteed dollar amount less of a focus than the actual human player?
Keith Law
1:05
Sorry, this looks like the second part of your question. A good start would be for writers to stop acting as if players who earn eight figures aren't deserving - this money exists in the sport because MLB teams are highly profitable. If the players aren't paid, the excess goes to owners.
Tom B
1:05
Phillies moving Alec Bohm at the right speed?  What do you see as his ceiling?
Keith Law
1:06
No. Starting him in low-A was a colossal waste of everyone's time. He was the third pick in the draft out of college. If he wasn't ready for high-A on Opening Day this year at age 22, he was the wrong pick.
M
1:06
Adbert Alzolay had a really nice debut last night.  Can he stick around with the big league team this year?
Keith Law
1:06
Yes. The bigger question is whether his improved FB command and better CB are enough to let him get lefties out three times through an order. If not, he's still a valuable bullpen piece. But if they can, he can start now.
Kyle KS
1:06
Does the juiced ball benefit pitch speed and spin rate? If it has reduced drag while in the air when it's hit, does it do the same for pitchers or is the distance and time from the mound to the catcher too short to have effect?
Keith Law
1:07
The altered baseball changes everything - spin rate, drag, carry - although I don't think it affects pitch speed. Better question for a physicist.
Ben
1:07
Is this the Max Kepler you were expecting?
Keith Law
1:07
Yes but I was a year early, again.
Ben
1:07
Odds we see Bo Bichette this year?
Keith Law
1:07
Very good if healthy.
Steve
1:07
I believe in a past chat you said WRC+ is not a great way to evaluate minor league players but I cannot recall why.   If that's your sentiment, could you elaborate?
Keith Law
1:09
It only measures production, but we don't necessarily care about production with prospects - how you get to the production is just as important, and sometimes we're happy with prospects who don't produce a ton but aren't overmatched, such as teenagers in full season leagues. Chase Vallot is my go-to example: He posted a 136 wRC+ in high-A two years ago, and wasn't old for the level, but he really couldn't hit. He saw enough bad pitching, since it was A-ball, that he could beat up on that enough for a good wRC+ despite getting blown away by even average major league stuff. Last I checked he was back in low-A and still not hitting.
Felix
1:10
Do you happen to know when we will see Eric Pardinho toe the rubber this year?
Keith Law
1:10
I haven't asked anyone but I assume now that short-season has begun we'll see him.
Kevin
1:10
Given how the Mets have played this year, and how Diaz has been relatively average this year plus Cano is hurt. And Kelenic has been great this year. Was that the dumbest trade in the past 2 years?
Keith Law
1:10
This trade is going to haunt them for a long time. Dunn has also been excellent for Seattle in AA.
Dave
1:11
Do you like the Bulls taking White at 7? Seems like a good fit & you might miss some of the injury risk that comes with Garland.
Keith Law
1:11
Jon Garland?
Bill
1:11
Keith, no question.  Just wanted to thank you for the book recommendation on The Master and Margarita (via your top-100 novels list).  Such a terrific read.  There are so many wonderful layers to that book - I couldn’t put it down.  Keep up the great work!
Keith Law
1:11
You're welcome. I've read well over a thousand novels now and that is still my favorite. It's one of the only books I have ever read twice, and it holds up.
Janey
1:12
Do you feel stress over the border situation and how the US now are the bad guys? 40+ people in rooms meant for 8, kids taking care of kids, separated families.  Any advice on what can be done before we get the chance to vote people out?
Keith Law
1:12
I'm afraid that I'm getting desensitized because there is so much bad news (if you care about human rights, or just feel empathy at all). If you live in a red district, though, you should be all over your elected reps to voice your displeasure - and if you live in a blue one, as I do, make sure your reps know where you stand.
Matt
1:12
Aside from a couple starts Alex Faedo has been impressive in AA this year. Jason Beck said scouts had him sitting 94-95 in his last start. If his velo is back to that is he a legit prospect?
Keith Law
1:13
He's not sitting 94-95. I've spoken to multiple scouts who've seen him and nobody reported that.
He's probably a reliever but could be a back-end starter.
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