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Klawchat 9/24/21
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Keith Law
1:03
It's that time of year again - I can taste the air. Klawchat.
Steve
1:03
Please rank eventual ceiling of Rays’ pitchers  McClanahan, Baz, and Patino. Thanks.
Keith Law
1:05
One of those guys was top 5 on my midseason prospect ranking. He's the clear answer. I also think McClanahan is limited to a five-and-dive starter - if he stays healthy - because he's always going to have some trouble with right-handers.
Deke
1:05
I've noticed you appear to be fairly adamant about not ending a sentence with a preposition, sometimes (IMO) to the detriment of the sentence's flow. It's a rule that was taken from Latin and has no actual application in English -- essentially a fake rule forced into a rule it doesn't belong. I am basically 100% sure that you know this, so I'm curious -- do you do it because you think the rule SHOULD apply, or just to avoid annoying pedants yelling at you and having to go through the conversation?
Keith Law
1:06
I write the way that sounds right in my head. Prepositions take objects, so a preposition should have an object if possible. The terminal preposition just sounds wrong to me. The Latin thing is a myth though.
David
1:06
Do you have any thoughts on how Preller has kept this job so long? He's certainly acquired considerable minor league talent, but the organization has shown a remarkably poor ability to assess talent at or near the major-league level during his tenure (Myers' extension and the signing of Hosmer being perhaps the most egregious examples, but certainly not the only ones), and none of the managers he's chosen have worked out very well. I can't help thinking that it's time for ownership to clean house and hire someone with a different approach (Jason McLeod?).
Keith Law
1:07
I wonder if Hosmer was him or ownership. It's diametrically opposed to anything else he's done as GM. As you said, they have acquired an absurd amount of talent, through all channels, and I don't think one year of some horrible injury luck should outweigh that. The fire Preller camp is extremely reactionary.
Michael
1:07
Hi Keith - Any thoughts on the NL MVP race?  I know Tatis and Soto have had great years, but watching Harper the last few weeks has been a revelation. I am shocked when opposing managers pitch to him he is so locked in. Thanks for the chat!
Keith Law
1:08
If I had a ballot - I don't, of course, because the powers that be don't want me to vote - I'd have Harper on top. Tatis is the best player in baseball, but he's missed 25+ games, and that's a factor in the MVP award.
Guest
1:09
Would love to see Sam Bachman get some work in the AZFL. He hasn’t pitched since Sept. 1st after COVID protocols in High-A, and then again after his promotion to AA. With only 14IP in pro ball would you send him to AZ or sit him down knowing he’s been throwing on and off since Feb.?
Keith Law
1:10
I'd love to see him, but since he had a shoulder scare in the spring, resting him is probably the better option. Start fresh next year with a single plan for the entire season.
Devon
1:10
What's your outlook on William Contreras? I think he's actually looked really good at the plate (given his age and big defensive responsibilities) but Braves fans have been frustrated by his defense. Do you think he just needs more reps behind the plate or is a move off the position necessary to keep the bat in the lineup?
Keith Law
1:12
I have never thought before that his defense was a problem -  if you read my pre-season capsule on him, you can see I was pretty positive about it - and I also think judging a catcher in his first year in the majors is probably unfair.
Mike
1:12
Keith, I know we can’t scout the stat line, but it seems Mark Vientos had a great year. I read his defense is not great though. What are your thoughts on him?
Keith Law
1:14
He can hit, and the power is legit. I had him as a fringy defender before the season and it sounds like that's about right ... maybe even a tick worse. But they already have more first basemen than they can use, so I wouldn't try to move him just yet.
Trevor
1:14
You’ve touted the Mets and their home grown talent, yet no playoff appearances amongst the group since 2016. Failure fall on the players, the front office, or other?
Keith Law
1:15
You kind of skipped over the part where they hired a completely unqualified person to be GM (when they could have hired Chaim Bloom) and let him trade away their top prospect for nowhere near enough in return.
Troy
1:15
What is the Tigers Ryan Kreidler ceiling?
Keith Law
1:15
I saw him this summer - I think he's an extra guy.
Mac
1:15
Are you feeling better about Jarred Kelenic's long term future?
Keith Law
1:15
Yes. I was never actually worried about him - the gap between the minors and the majors right now appears to be the biggest it's ever been. A lot of good prospects are going to struggle right out of the chute.
Mike
1:16
Keith, you are named POBO of the Mets. What do you do with Stroman, Conforto & Syndergaard? Who do you sign/ offer QO?
Keith Law
1:16
I'd offer all three. Take the picks if they leave. And I'd have interest in bringing all three guys back, too - the first two on long-term deals, Thor maybe a make-good one since he'll be working his way back into next year.
Tim
1:16
Should the winner of the NL West with the best record in baseball have the choice of who they want to play vs. mandating they play the wildcard winner in the Division Series?  This year more than ever it would seem the Brewers are going to have the advantage of facing a much weaker team regardless of who wins the east and who wins the wildcard game.
Keith Law
1:17
Nah, the system is what it is. I have issues with the playoff structure but the #1 seed facing the second-weakest team rather than the weakest team isn't one of them.
Mike
1:17
Klaw, I read some executives say Cohen’s tweets will scare some people away from the Mets. Do you believe this? Big market team/wealthy owner (still feels good to say that), why wouldn’t anyone want the job, especially for top $$$.
Keith Law
1:18
I think it's complete bullshit. And so are these candidate lists that recycle the same white men who've had that job before. I saw one "list" that included a guy who clearly failed in previous stops as a GM. Why would the Mets do that? There are plenty of good candidates out there, some of whom haven't had the opportunity yet, some of whom aren't - gasp - the same white men who've already had that chance!
Billy
1:18
Will you be chatting every week again come this off-season?  These are the highlight of the internet each week.
Keith Law
1:19
I appreciate that, but it'll really depend on what else I have going on.
Trevor
1:19
Kevin Maitan was said to be the greatest international signee since Miguel Sano. What did the scouts miss about his profile?
Keith Law
1:20
I don't believe I ever said that - he was hyped up at age 14 but he was already very physically developed for the age, and at 16/17 he made it clear that those evaluations were in error. He wasn't that good of a hitter and his body had gone the wrong way.
John
1:20
Your thoughts on Austin Martin?  Where does he help the Twins ? CF?   Next year?
Keith Law
1:21
I'd refer you back to my writeup of the trade - I think that all holds true. We'll see how he looks in March after the Twins have had a chance to work with him on his swing, and once he's farther removed from the wrist injury/
John
1:22
Why do you folks think Trump is still presidential material?  Amazing how much loyalty he attracts even with his craziness.
Keith Law
1:22
He exploits his adherents, still they love him.
Luca
1:22
Keibert Ruiz and Joe Ryan...yay or nay?
Keith Law
1:22
They're both prospects, yes. Ruiz was on my top 50 (see above).
Friar Fan
1:22
Meulens, Alomar Jr, Alou, Boch? Have a prediction for a new manager in SD if Ting goes?
Keith Law
1:23
If Preller is picking, it's more likely someone he knows from the Texas system. Those sound like names that reporters throw around.
Chris
1:23
If you had to pick one long term, Kelenic or Julio?
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