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Keith Law

  (5:03 PM)

I heard Ted Kennedy died yesterday ... and the Mets put him on the 15-day DL.

jay (co)

why the late chat?

Keith Law

  (5:04 PM)

It's my West Coast Bias. Or I was in the car all day.

Pete (St. Louis)

Unusual to you that the Cardinals are giving Shelby Miller two starts at Quad Cities to end the year? Seems awfully aggressive to me.

Keith Law

  (5:06 PM)

Unusual, and I love it. He's going to start there next year unless he gets hurt, so why not give him a quick tuneup? Beats the heck out of sending him to the Appy League.

fred (south jersey)

how does philly 2009 draft class rank? Did they replace what they traded away?

Keith Law

  (5:06 PM)

They've got a few shots at upside, but on the whole I don't think it's likely they've replaced what they traded, given the lack of a first-round pick.

Jon (UK)

Is Arbitration for free agents likely to be down this year? It would seem that almost any good player offered will accept as they would suffer a hefty strike if they do not as a type A. The clubs will be seeing a likely one year deal but possibly well above market rate.

Keith Law

  (5:08 PM)

It was down last winter and I expect more of the same this winter. Premium guys will be offered, and guys coming off low salaries will be offered, but the middle class probably won't.

Logan (CA)

Eric Hosmer's performance this year is obviously disappointing. The trend of HS 1st basemen succeeding in the long term is actually quite dismal. Do you think he can turn things around? Also, it seems that this is now the 3rd "uber" hitting prospect the Royals have regressed,; could there be Player Development issues out in KC?

Keith Law

  (5:09 PM)

Really, the issue was the pointless promotion to high-A the moment he started hitting better in low-A. Oh, and the fact that they had his new prescription glasses shipped ground.

Glen L (nyc)

Keith - I read a scout saying he thinks it would be defensible to take Taillon over Harper with the number 1 pick ... ignoring the PR backlash a team might face over such a decision, is it a wise or defensible baseball decision?

Keith Law

  (5:11 PM)

You know, I'm generally a pro-prep-pitcher guy, but even I think that's irresponsible. The fail rate of HS pitchers, even if I'm correct that it's lower than it was 5-10 years ago, is still higher than the fail rate for HS bats.

Brian (Brooklyn NY)

Actually the Mets said that Teddy is day to day. He may be able to pinch hit this weekend.

Keith Law

  (5:12 PM)

I heard that Omar was talking about Kennedy in a press conference and forgot that Teddy died because it "was a long time ago."

Mike (St. Louis)

Despite grabbing Miller with the 19th pick you seem down on rest of the Cards draft. Stock has played nicely at JC with a OPS of .924 can he stick a C because I feel his bat will play? Thanks!

Keith Law

  (5:13 PM)

When I saw Stock in college he was bad at everything - bad swing, bad approach, bad receiving, bad throwing mechanics. Some of that can be fixed, of course, especially the defense, but I wouldn't bet on it. Very dangerous to read much into short-season stats for college guys.

John (Dallas)

Borbon or Austin Jackson?

Keith Law

  (5:14 PM)

Borbon.

Todd (Chico, California)

Klaw, are the Giants really as naive as the seem to be by not calling up bumgarner and posey? why do you think they are relcutant to call up either player? posey is easily their best offensive catcher at this point and bumgarner can help at minimum with couple innings out of bullpen

Keith Law

  (5:15 PM)

Posey is the biggest no-brainer callup in the game right now. Molina is horrible, positively yuniesque in every aspect of the game. Bumgarner I get, want to be careful with the arm, and the K rate is off this year.

John (Dallas)

Is the difference in VORP between Beckham and Andrus made up for by Andrus' defense and games played? If so, does that make Andrus the ROY?

Keith Law

  (5:16 PM)

I'd probably lean Beckham right now, but it's close. Beckham's playing out of position and using his defensive #s penalizes him unfairly.

Tim (Chicago)

I know you were down on Brett Jackson when he was drafted. Has his strong performance caused you to reconsider?

Keith Law

  (5:16 PM)

No.

Dan (Chicago)

Does Jim Hendry deserve to be pink-slipped? I think so - a top-5 payroll, combined with a perpetually mediocre farm system, the bulk of major league talent on the wrong side of 30, and several questionable deals, not to mention consecutive playoff drubbings.

Keith Law

  (5:20 PM)

Here's the Hendry defense: He was told repeatedly by ownership to spend money and field a winner, and he did. That strategy gutted the farm system (through trades and lost draft picks) and saddled the club with bad long-term deals, but that's part and parcel of buying a winner in most situations. The playoff losses are more rotten luck than anything. So I don't think a pink-slip is guaranteed or even obligatory.

Dan (Chicago)

Mike MacDougal now has a 14 saves and a 1.98 ERA. Does that tell you pretty much all you need to know about the National League?

Keith Law

  (5:22 PM)

I might have cited Everth Cabrera, coming from low-A to the majors, but Macdougal works too. Heck, Brad Penny could go to Colorado and throw up a sub-2 ERA in that division for a month.

Nick (Milwaukee)

Regarding Harper - now that he will be playing in a wood bat league, does that factor at all into the evaluation for him, ie, less doubt about the ability to hit with wood? What kind of things are scouts looking for him to showcase next year?

Keith Law

  (5:23 PM)

That's a major benefit for him and for scouts - so much easier to evaluate a guy using wood bats, with more confidence in your evaluation, and he'll be one of the only top prospects in the draft using wood in the spring.

Brian (Brooklyn NY)

Do you provide your opinion on the Wagner trade? It seems to me like the Mets would have been better of offering him arb and getting a draft pick

Keith Law

  (5:24 PM)

Why would he turn down arbitration to take half as much money in the market? Yeah, he "wants to close," whatever, he ain't leaving $4 million on the table to make the ghost of Jerome Holtzmann happy.

Jake (Easton, PA)

Does it seem to you that Billy Wagner's concerns that he will be offered arbitration are a little out of touch? Isn't he a guy you don't offer arbitration to for fear that he might accept it and get a one year salary totally out of line with what his market value is?

Keith Law

  (5:25 PM)

Give the blue ribbon to Jake.

Michael Taylor (Philly)

K-law, what do you see my upside being? Corner OF, 20-25 HR?

Keith Law

  (5:25 PM)

Yes, with a good enough average/OBP to make you an above-average regular but probably not a star.

Pete (St. Louis)

Any particular players you're interested in in the AFL this fall? From the Cardinals I'm really interested to see how Tyler Henley fares. He's been in the shadow of a hobbled Daryl Jones but has really done quite well to put himself into the prospect discussion.

Keith Law

  (5:26 PM)

I'm looking forward to a fresh look at Ike Davis, who has definitely exceeded my expectations in a full season, getting to AA and hitting well in every way.

Paul (Tucson)

Actually, as FanGraphs pointed out today, Penny is still rocking a 4.5 FIP ERA. Nothing astounding, of course, but serviceable for a team that needs it.

Keith Law

  (5:27 PM)

4.96 xFIP. Although "serviceable" is probably a good work. He is, however, excruciating to watch no matter what the results.

jay (co)

carlos gonzalez seems to finally be living up to the hype. Are you a believer?

Keith Law

  (5:28 PM)

Tiny sample. I was hoping to see him last weekend but he failed his knife skills class.

Maxwell (Springfield, OH)

What is Todd Frazier's future with the Reds? He has played everywhere from SS, to 3b, to LF, and now at 2B. He seems to do everything well, but nothing great. MLB comparison?

Keith Law

  (5:29 PM)

Has to play LF. Don't see the bat making him more than an average player there.

PWHjort (phjort@gatech.edu)

If a player is on the 15-day DL and activated on September 1 is he eligible for the post-season?

Keith Law

  (5:29 PM)

Yes.

Beanie (Cold Water Falls, ID)

What if Penny actually, like, threw a few breaking pitches per game so they are just sitting on fastball-fastball-fastball? Or is this type of thinking too advanced for him?

Keith Law

  (5:30 PM)

Brad throw hard. Brad like radar gun. Brad throw harder now!

Ken (Tremen)

I dont see how people can say Mauer is the MVP. Where would the Twins be without Mauer? Exactly where they are right now, not in the race. Without Tex, the Yankees probably would be in 3rd place. Plus Tex is a better fielder than Mauer.

Keith Law

  (5:30 PM)

$50 fine.

Dan (Chicago)

ChiSox are slipping big time right now, but do the additions of Peavy and Rios along with an entire year of Beckham at least make them contenders in a bad division next year?

Keith Law

  (5:31 PM)

Yes, obviously pending what else goes on, but it's hard to see Cleveland or KC becoming contenders.

Hal (Melbourne, FL)

Josh Bell has killed the ball since coming over from LA. Is this another Carlos Sanatana deal?

Keith Law

  (5:31 PM)

It's the Lite version.

Kevin (San Diego)

Klaw, you seemed sorta lukewarm on Jaff Decker in the past. Was that because of his lack of physical projection or something else? His numbers as a 19-year old in the toughest hitting league in the minors have been quite impressive. Leads league in OPS by 50 pts and OBP by 40 pts (and no one in that league in the last 5 years comes within 20). Is his bat good enough to dispell the Matt Stairs-type comps?...BTW just got back from Boston and the Mexican Meatball Sub at Parish Cafe alone might make me fly back soon.

Keith Law

  (5:34 PM)

Parish Cafe is very underrated - most of the menu comes from fancypants chefs in town, but you're paying half or less because it's a sandwich instead of pan-seared something served on a bed of wilted something else with a reduction of this that and the other. Decker's body really pins him in RF or to the right on the defensive spectrum. He's a top-50 prospect for me now, which is a big jump from last winter, but I'd still keep in mind that his ceiling is determined almost entirely by his bat. (By the way, can we rearrange the defensive spectrum to read up-down instead of left-right? Doesn't that make more sense - to move DOWN the defensive spectrum?)

Rod (Chicago)

Definition of insanity is doing the same wrong thing over and over. This chat software defines insanity. It truly rubs!

Keith Law

  (5:35 PM)

It actually ate the best Blue Jays snark by any reader last week (who, if he's here, should repost - it referred to Cormac McCarthy's "The Road).

Robert (MI)

Read any Michael Chricton? Or are you not into those type of books?

Keith Law

  (5:35 PM)

Read two of them in college, and then none since (15 years).

Mustard (Toronto)

I know he is only in A ball, but what are your thoughts on Christian Friedrich. When do you see his arrival, and do you see him being a top end #1/2 guy 2011 ?

Keith Law

  (5:37 PM)

More of a 2/3 for me. If they'd started him in high-A, which is standard for college products drafted that high, he would be in AA now and a potential callup (keeping the innings jump in mind) to fill Cook's spot. I really like him.

Dan (Chicago)

Peavy won't make a start in Yankee stadium this weekend, but Daniel Hudson might. His numbers across the board are awfully impressive (14-5 2.37 ERA with 161 Ks 33 BBs in just 141 IP). Is he a reasonable back end starter in the next year or two? Any hope for higher ceiling?

Keith Law

  (5:38 PM)

I'm headed to the Bronx for the series, weather permitting, so if he pitches, ask me again next week. I'd be fired up to see him.

Brian (NYC)

Keith, is Casey Kelly the Red Sox #1 Prospect now? Also, will Jonathan Strange be #1 in the next Klaw100?

Keith Law

  (5:39 PM)

Has to be, right? I think the way people are hurting themselves to jump off the Lars bandwagon is comical, but if you offered me one or the other now I'd take Kelly. JS will be in the top 20-25, but not #1.

Sam (Fayetteville, Arkansas)

Would you expose Astros' prospects Jordan Lyles and Ross Seaton to Lancaster next season?

Keith Law

  (5:40 PM)

No, I'd jump them to AA, even if it meant starting them in the pen in long relief. Lancaster is teh suck for player development.

ScoobyDude (Dallas)

Why do some HS pitchers seem to lose velocity as they progress through the minor leagues? Is it poor scouting/never had a great fastball to begin with, is it deteriorating form, is it just body changes as they grow, is it something else entirely, or a combination of those things? And when this happens to a minor leaguer, do they usually recover those lost MPH eventually, or not?

Keith Law

  (5:40 PM)

Pitching more frequently (every 5 days instead of every 7) and more throughout the season are the two main reasons. And it is true that some guys throwing hard at age 18 are peaking already.

Keith Law

  (5:42 PM)

Man, I need to make peach pie more often.

Eric (Denver)

Would you ever consider doing some sort of online book club? Pick a book, take a week to read it and hold a chat discussing it on your personal blog?

Keith Law

  (5:44 PM)

I always announce what book I'm reading next so readers can read along if they want. I've debated doing an offseason book club for something like Ulysses, something you probably can't read alone.

Stadium Mustard (Cleveland)

Chisenhall or Weglarz? Rondon or Carrasco? Knapp or Hagadone?

Keith Law

  (5:45 PM)

Chisenhall, Rondon, Hagadone.

Grant (Atl GA)

Peach pie might be a 2/3, but Strawberry Rhubarb is a #1

Keith Law

  (5:46 PM)

No way, peach pie brings ace performance every time out. Fruit-pie rotation would be peach, strawberry/rhubarb, blackberry (or marionberry from Caffe Ladro in Seattle), blueberry, apple.

Jon (San Francisco)

James Loney is barely a replacement level hitter as a 1B, and he's not all that young either. The swing is flat, he doesn't have great discipline, at what point do you give up on him given that 1B should be the easiest position for a large market team to fill

Keith Law

  (5:48 PM)

He is in a two-year slump ... which probably exceeds the limits of the term "slump." I agree on the flat swing, but at 25 he's still young enough to improve ... He makes a lot of contact and he's not weak, the lack of power is (as you say) from the swing plane. I'd hate to give up on him, but I agree that if you're Colletti you have to think about a replacement.

Cory (PA)

If Peach pie is the ace of the staff, Pecan bats cleanup, he's got a bit more upside with plus speed over Shoo-fly.

Keith Law

  (5:49 PM)

Apple pan dowdy > shoo-fly pie. I can't get enough of that wonderful stuff.

rod (wausau wi)

The orioles 2nr round pick Givens a shortstop or pitcher?

Keith Law

  (5:49 PM)

Pitcher for me.

Ernie (RVA)

es that make lemon meringue the set-up man and Key Lime the closer?

Keith Law

  (5:49 PM)

Non-fruit pie rotation: Key lime, chocolate cream, pumpkin (Baking Illustrated recipe - best I've ever had), coconut cream, pecan.

Matt (Denver)

A baseball chat and cherry pie does not make your rotation?

Keith Law

  (5:50 PM)

Never was a big Warrant fan.

CC (Atlanta)

With the Braves out of it, is there any reason NOT to bring up Heyward on 9/1? And please don't cite the service time issue... we might be 3-4 games better had Hanson been up since opening day.

Keith Law

  (5:51 PM)

The service time issue is overblown anyway. One month of service time this year only matters if 1) player X is getting 5 months of service next year but not the full season or 2) player X is going to get about 100 days of service next year, so the month this year makes him super-two eligible. For a player who's 80% or better to make your Opening Day roster, the service time issue is a red herring. Yes, call him up, use him judiciously, so that he's seen some major league pitching before April.

Pete (Westminster, MD)

Harper, Pomeranz, Taillon,Ranaudo, Yordy Cabrera? Best to worst.

Keith Law

  (5:52 PM)

To draft next June? Harper, Ranaudo, Taillon, Yordy, Pomeranz. I'm not a huge Pomeranz guy, though.

Cory (PA)

When you were growing up, did you ever think you'd have the chance to get paid to rank pies in real time with people from all across the country/globe?

Keith Law

  (5:52 PM)

Thank God Al Gore invented the Internet for us.

Johnny (Boston)

The 20-80 scale fascinates me. What do you rate Buchholz's slider? 55? 60? Can it be a plus pitch?

Keith Law

  (5:52 PM)

It's not a 55 now. It could be down the road.

Keith Law

  (5:52 PM)

...but I wonder if his arm is still a little too high for that to happen.

Dan (Chicago)

one thing is for sure....pie = AL, cake = NL

Keith Law

  (5:53 PM)

Pie:cake::AL:NL. I like it.

Spencer (Washington D.C)

Blessed with a high metabolism?

Keith Law

  (5:53 PM)

I had soup for dinner last night so I could have extra pie for dessert. It's all about long-term planning, people.

Mike (San Diego)

I think you should at least make Banana Cream be the goofy left handed specialist in the bullpen.

Keith Law

  (5:54 PM)

My cousin (pastry chef at City Limits in Yonkers and Stamford) makes a banana cream pie with a layer of chocolate under the cream. To die for.

Jim (Atlanta)

Freddie Freeman or Eric Hosmer?

Keith Law

  (5:54 PM)

Hosmer. I'm the low man on Freeman.

mymrbig (New Orleans)

If Jameson Taillon attends Rice instead of signing after the 2010 draft, will you send his right arm a get well soon card? (I kid, according to Boyd's World, Coach Graham has been much better about this over the last 3-4 years)

Keith Law

  (5:55 PM)

The problem with Rice isn't just workloads but their insane throwing and weightlifting regimen. They work their pitchers hard all the time.

Bo (TX)

What did you think about the Buck Showalter realignment plan on the ESPN website this week? Pretty absurd if you ask me.

Keith Law

  (5:56 PM)

Didn't see it - fill me in.

Neftali Feliz (NY)

Am I as good as I seem?

Keith Law

  (5:56 PM)

Yes, with a chance to be better.

Tom (Boston)

Is Zack Cox the best college hitter in the draft next year? Who would be your -- very early -- top five?

Keith Law

  (5:58 PM)

Bryce Brentz is pretty good too. Top five college hitters? Do I have to? It's not a great class. After Brentz and Cox and probably Grandal, I'm not sure there's a slam-dunk first-round college bat. Leon Landry's a sleeper there - big-time athlete who's not clueless on the field and plays for arguably the best baseball program in D1 right now (LSU).

Alex (Florida)

Why are you low on Freddie Freeman? I've seen you say he is a 55. Pretty good, no?

Keith Law

  (6:00 PM)

More of a 50/55, but I wouldn't argue with 55. I get the sense there's an expectation that he's more than that, that he should be mentioned as the sidekick to Heyward. I don't see Freeman having the power required for his position.

steve (Jacksonville)

Your pie crust, do you use butter or crisco? I use both, makes it flaking and moist.

Keith Law

  (6:00 PM)

Yes, both.

Mike (MO)

Freeman or Ike Davis?

Keith Law

  (6:01 PM)

That's a good one. I'm still leaning Freeman, but like I said, I need a fresh look at Davis.

Spencer (Washington D.C)

Is Buchholz faster than Ellsbury?

Keith Law

  (6:01 PM)

That's the story - he outran Jacoby in the 60 in minicamp or at Lowell right after they were drafted.

Liam (Pleasanton, CA)

Is Molina that bad? He hit the 3 run jack last night. How much do you think he contributes to the success of SF's pitching staff? Would they be as good with Posey?

Keith Law

  (6:05 PM)

.283 OBP. Bad receiver. Slow at life. I still have yet to see any evidence that a catcher makes a significant (detectable) difference in pitcher performance.

Andrew (Burbank, CA)

You're starting a franchise today and only have the shortstop position left to fill. Hanley or Tulo?

Keith Law

  (6:05 PM)

Probably Hanley, although I suppose it does depend a little bit on the pitching staff and whether I might value the glove more than the bat.

Eric (SF)

Molina's defense rates at plus correct? Im sure his power from that position does also

Keith Law

  (6:06 PM)

The defense isn't plus for me.

Chuck (MPLS)

Showalter plan, concise version - contract 2 teams. Consolidate to four 7-team divisions. AL/NL dissolve to single league, DH universal. Everyone plays everyone else 6 times, 3 home, 3 away. 4 division winners enter the final tournament. I think it's too sterile and takes the "familiarity-breeds-contempt" aspect of a divisional rivalry. Thoughts?

Keith Law

  (6:09 PM)

Piece by piece: Contraction - the worst part, we should be expanding, not contracting, saying baseball should contract after the bull run the industry just had is ... not good. Four divisions - absolutely, avoids the situation of bad team sneaking into playoffs by virtue of bad division. Single league - don't see the benefit. DH universal - hell yes. Balanced schedule - no, among other things it's financially impractical. Playoffs - I can't see putting fewer teams into the playoffs than we do now.

Jack (Malibu)

Keith, you probably don't watch molina enough. Some people watch him every day. They know best. Because eye witnesses are the most reliable evidence in court for a reason./end sarcasm

Keith Law

  (6:11 PM)

I actually had a fan try to drop that on me in Denver about Helton's defense. He said he was the best in the majors. I rattled off a few who were at least arguably better. He said, "Do you watch him every day?" I asked him when the last time he saw Teixeira or Pena was. He said, "Well, Helton's really good."

Mike (Chicago)

You had time to read for pleasure in college? I guess that was before online chats with baseball writers.

Keith Law

  (6:11 PM)

I wasn't the most dedicated student.

Clayton (Dallas)

Michael Main struck out the side on Tuesday in Arizona. Welcome back, did the illness slide him out of your top 100?

Keith Law

  (6:12 PM)

If that's really the explanation for the lost season, then no. I slide guys like that down, but not off the list, unless the injury (or illness) is a chronic issue.

Lincoln (Dallas)

Christian Colon not a first rounder at this point? Because he goes to the Molina School for Running? But everyone loves to reach for college SS's (see Green, Grant)

Keith Law

  (6:12 PM)

Not a guaranteed first rounder. And I think I like him more than the industry consensus. I don't care if a SS can't run. Colon makes the plays.

Mike (St. Louis)

Can you help make sense of this....from MLBTRNewsday's Ken Davidoff points us to an interesting wrinkle in the rulebook. Teams that offer their free agents arbitration don't have to offer them anything close to the salary they made the previous season. So if the Red Sox decide they want to offer Billy Wagner less than $8MM next year, they can do so. "

Keith Law

  (6:13 PM)

Sure, and Wagner can file at $8 or $9 million and win. It's final-offer arbitration. Do you feel lucky?

Ruben (CA)

If Tanner Sheppers does not sighn this year with the Rangers; what happens to him next year does he go back to the draft or does he become a free agent?

Keith Law

  (6:15 PM)

Back in the draft, ad infinitum. At this point, why would he sign before February?

Shaun (Boston)

Is it me or do the Braves have nothing left in their system after Jason Heyward is promoted?

Keith Law

  (6:18 PM)

Teheran?

mendel (fl)

what says klaw on chris coghlans future? servicable utility man or bright future?

Keith Law

  (6:18 PM)

Isn't there something in between? Like solid-average regular at second if he's given the chance to play there? I'd probably call him more of a 45/50, but he could be a solid 50.

Mike (MO)

Who is the Indians C of the future? C Santana or Marson?

Keith Law

  (6:18 PM)

Santana.

Mike (Akron)

Am I the only one who believes SF traded for Garko to insure they retain the title of "Fattest Team" in 2009 label?

Keith Law

  (6:19 PM)

I know he homered twice while I was there ... but boy, Garko is horrible.

Tim (Chicago)

Which LF gets the bigger contract this off-season: Bay or Holliday?

Keith Law

  (6:19 PM)

I'll say Holliday. Boras client. Isn't that the way to bet?

Clayton (Dallas)

Seriously this chat software is worse than health care reform talk...

Keith Law

  (6:20 PM)

I tried to tell the programmers that I was sending them to a Death Panel if they didn't fix the bugs.

Patrick (City of Angels and Smog)

RE Showalter plan: If everyone plays everyone an equal number of times, wouldn't the logical thing be to take the 4 best records regardless of division? What's the point of even having divisions? Why am I even posting on this knowing it will never happen?

Keith Law

  (6:20 PM)

Good point.

Jared (San Jose)

What is your take on Alex Liddi? I know he's playing in High Desert, but good heavens the numbers he's put up are ridiculous. .357/.420/.621 - !!! That can't be all inflation, right?

Keith Law

  (6:22 PM)

Good swing, good body, some raw power, has been a little better at laying off the breaking ball away. Probably ends up at first.

Scott (San Antonio)

Does Chris Davis turn the corner and become an all star after his demotion and re-premotion?

Keith Law

  (6:23 PM)

No.

Patrick (Houston, TX)

After being labeled an overdraft in the 08 draft, do you think Castro projects as an above average/fringe star or still just a average starter in the big leagues?

Keith Law

  (6:24 PM)

Pretty rough behind the plate. If he can stay there, he's an above-average regular.

Keith Law

  (6:26 PM)

Software is flaking for me now, screen isn't updating when I submit an answer, hence the emphatic "no" on Davis. Sorry about that.

Ruben (CA)

Thoughts on Tommy Mendonca will he be the 3rd basemen of the future for the Rangers?

Keith Law

  (6:26 PM)

No, don't like the swing, doesn't make enough contact, and has horrible plate discipline. Good glove, though.

Andy MacPhail (Bloomsburg)

After seeing Wieters in the majors what are your projections for the future? Please say they havent changed since last year

Keith Law

  (6:26 PM)

They haven't changed.

Peter (Denver CO)

who is the odd man out in Colorado next year with EY Jr up? Barmes? What can they do with Atkins?

Keith Law

  (6:27 PM)

Barmes as utility guy, no? Atkins is a non-tender for me, unless the Royals call.

Logan (CA)

Are we going to see a reverse-hyperbole in the scouting world the next 5 years? After Strasburg and Harper will the media find a player to hype as the "Lebron James" of baseball or will we regress to a analysis that consists of whining that players "just aren't good this year?" Which will it be?

Keith Law

  (6:28 PM)

The media are always looking for a next-big-thing player, even if the last-big-thing hasn't gotten big yet.

Scott Johnson (Richlands, VA)

Hi Keith, Love the chats on baseball and everything else. I would like your opinion on a book related subject. Which Hemingway novel would you recommend the most or is he not one of your favorites. I read A Farewell To Arms and would like to try another one of his books that you would recommend. Thank you!

Keith Law

  (6:29 PM)

I've read four of his novels and I am pretty sure that I just plain don't like him.

Chuck (MPLS)

Since you don't like contraction, would you be in favor of expansion? Where to? Align 4x8, 8x4, other jumble?

Keith Law

  (6:30 PM)

Four divisions of eight. Expansion is really about a potential ownership group and public funding for a boondoggle^H^H^H stadium, but I've thought for a while that Austin and Charlotte were good potential expansion spots, and of course Portland has the population.

Matt (Boston)

Reyes from Oregon State looked dominant at times this summer, just unhittable, what do you project him as?

Keith Law

  (6:32 PM)

Probably a back-end starter. "Dominant" is just inaccurate - he did give up 10 runs in 34 innings and he doesn't have plus stuff.

Keith Law

  (6:33 PM)

OK, I've fought the software enough for one week. Thanks for the questions!