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Klaw

  (1:00 PM)

I know the Twins aren't dead yet, just in serious trouble, but if it turns out that last night effectively ended their season, would it be more accurate to say that they got Magglio'd or Pavano'd?

Drew Levy (New Jersey)

It seems that although Robinson Cano has had a fantastic year, he has gone largely unnoticed and untalked about. Why is that?

Klaw

  (1:01 PM)

Midwest Bias. Seriously, any Yankee fan who complains about insufficient coverage of Yankee-doings should have his computer taken away.

Nico (MPLS)

What is a reasonable expectation for Miguel Sano? Both ceiling-wise and a possible ETA to the big leagues. Does this signal the end of the Nick Punto Era?

Klaw

  (1:03 PM)

You're not getting rid of Punto that easy. I've never seen Sano, but if he's really 16, I wouldn't expect to see him in the majors before 2014.

Greg (CT)

Who do you give the edge to for NL Rookie of the Year?

Klaw

  (1:03 PM)

Andrew McCutchen. Still.

Mark (Philadelphia)

Mr. Law, Who is your NL rookie of the year? Happ or Hanson. Keep hearing people saying its Happ, but I like Hanson over Happ. The Braves have been in love with him since they called him up and he's been money. He's beat the Saux and The Yanks. Any reason why he wont get it?

Klaw

  (1:05 PM)

Happ may very well win it, but it would be a mistake on multiple levels. I'd still vote for McCutchen over Hanson.

Jack (Toronto)

Is there a reason teams fire managers with only a handful of games left in the season, rather than just waiting until the season's done? I don't understand the logic.

Klaw

  (1:05 PM)

I don't know the specifics in Cleveland, but they may have wanted to start their search for a successor a little sooner.

Adam (San Francisco)

I understand that he may not have "closer stuff," but Jamie Moyer seems to be a viable option to close for the Phillies. He pitched well out of the bullpen this year and would allow the Phillies to keep JA Happ and Pedro in their rotation.

Klaw

  (1:06 PM)

Except for the part where he tore 43 muscles the other day and is out for the season.

Seth (SF Bay Area, CA)

KLAW, I'm a huge fan of yours and really appreciate your insight. Is it time to start believing in Garret Jones? His numbers are phenomenal for an "unknown" coming into the season - what do you see in him for next year from a scouting perspective? Purely based on numbers, a .290-30hr-15sb season seems conservative based on full-year projections from this year, but is it a career year?

Klaw

  (1:07 PM)

I think he's mostly a fluke. I feel like I answer this every week.

Geoff (Milwaukee)

You're a big fan of McCutchen for NL ROY. Why the lack of love for Casey McGehee? He's put up better offensive numbers in fewer PAs. Other than McCutchen's future upside and, well, better defense at a more difficult spot, I don't see McCutchen as deserving.

Klaw

  (1:08 PM)

In other words, except for things that really matter, McGehee's been better. I love your logic. Position - defense, plus offense relative to position - matters.

Joe (Mansfield, MA)

As often as Red Sox prospects can get overrated, is Derrik Gibson underrated? 19, .384 OBP in the minors, middle infielder, 6th in the NYPL in 2009 in OBP. Or does he need some power?

Klaw

  (1:10 PM)

I think he's a future star, and he'll add power as he continues to fill out physically. Great approach, quick bat, plus runner, can certainly play 2b and might be able to play ss.

Jeremy (California)

I know you're not going to reveal your Cy Young ballot before the results are announced, but will you reveal it after the fact? I'm really curious. I know how I'd vote, but honestly I would be neither surprised nor angry at any three of Lincecum, Vazquez, Haren, Jimenez, Wainwright, and Carpenter, in any order.

Klaw

  (1:11 PM)

That's pretty much my view. It's not a 3-man race; it's at least a 4-man race (Vazquez) and you could make a serious case for Haren.

Mike (St. Louis)

Keith - Is there any reason to think that the Cardinals aren't going to get swept in the first round? Just seems like any pitching staff can shut down our offense.

Klaw

  (1:12 PM)

I could think of a few reasons. Carpenter, Wainwright, and Pineiro, for starters.

Jason (St Louis)

Where do you get the board games you talk about on the dish? I'd like to check some of them out but I don't know that I've seen them in your typical department store.

Klaw

  (1:12 PM)

All through amazon, except Ticket to Ride, which my wife found in a games store near Harvard Square.

Chris (Fort Wayne, IN)

Love the scouting info. Seems like there's a changing of the guard at catcher. Can you compare some of these up and comers? Buster Posey, Carlos Santana, Miguel Montero, Jesus Montero, Tyler Flowers. thanks!

Klaw

  (1:14 PM)

Posey and Santana are the superstars who contribute on offense and defense. Jesus Montero is all bat, probably ends up at 1b. Flowers can probably stay behind the plate, but he'll never be good or even average there. Miguel Montero's 2009 is a pretty good indication of his skill level.

Chris (Dallas, TX)

Did you by any chance see Mauer tipping pitches for Kubel v. Verlander the other night? Joe Cool loses MVP points for lack of subtlety.

Klaw

  (1:15 PM)

On the contrary, it's to his credit, significantly so.

a.j. (las vegas)

With having Greinke and Soria signed for the next 3 years, would it be worth it for the Royals to trade not yet ready prospects like Hosmer and Moustakas for more immediate help? Something like Hosmer for James Shields?

Klaw

  (1:17 PM)

Ignoring, for the moment, the fact that the Rays would laugh at that offer, that is absolutely the wrong direction for the Royals to head.

Justin (NH)

Keith, While advancing through the minors did Lester profile to be the pitcher he is now? In his first call up he was a 90-92 guy with iffy command where as he is now 93-95 while pitching in and out. Is this simply the case of a young pitcher maturing?

Klaw

  (1:17 PM)

I saw him up to 95 in AA. His command/control have improved, and the cutter has become a plus pitch with time/experience.

Ryan ('Nati)

Dusty Baker continually finds his lowest OBP player and bats them 2nd. I feel as if we are starting every game down 1-0.

Klaw

  (1:18 PM)

That's one of the few franchises that looks like it's clearly headed down now instead of up. Not true of every player, certainly, but at the aggregate level I don't see reasons for optimism there.

John (Lexington, KY)

Is Halladay the best pitcher in baseball? No one else in the discussion has nearly as many starts against the top offensive teams in MLB, yet, he goes out an carves those teams up on a regular basis

Klaw

  (1:19 PM)

I think he's the one pitcher whom a Cy voter could defend choosing over Greinke this year.

Dale (San Francisco)

Why is Cahill's low strikeout rate a big concern when I don't hear anyone raise the same concerns about Porcello? Cahill actually has a very slight edge in strikeouts per 9 innings.

Klaw

  (1:21 PM)

Who's complaining about his low strikeout rate? Cahill has the stuff to miss bats long-term. He'll be fine. If anything, I'm more disappointed that he hasn't gotten more groundballs.

Jeff (Cleveland)

Keith, is there ANY reason for Carlos Santana to not start in Cleveland next year? Pretty clear that this team is not going to contend next year, why not get him in an get his feet wet? Seems like with Brantley, LaPorta, Santana, Cabrera, Sizemore and Choo they have the makings of a decent offensive club over the next few seasons? Thanks.

Klaw

  (1:21 PM)

Well, there was a concern that Wedge would play him once a week like he did with LaPorta, but I guess that's gone.

Eric (Milwaukee)

What would you say to an analyst who said in a chat that innings pitched and win-loss record are the only factors he considers when voting for Cy Young?

Klaw

  (1:21 PM)

I'd say I know what you're up to.

Spencer (Washington DC)

Are you 50/50 on the sox-angels series?

Klaw

  (1:22 PM)

I'll take the Red Sox. Not as clearcut as it was the last two years, but they're still the stronger team.

Dale (San Francisco)

Carlos Gonzales or Brett Wallace?

Klaw

  (1:22 PM)

Wallace.

Richard (RTP)

Is Carlos Gonzalez for real? Or just another high-altitude hallucination?

Klaw

  (1:23 PM)

I don't think he's going to post a .350 BABIP going forward (which is what he's done the last two months during this tear). He's not Matt Kemp.

Klaw

  (1:23 PM)

Yeah, I'm sorry for my bias towards the big-market Pirates.

JR (Vegas)

Speaking of the AL Cy Young, if CC gets win #20 tomorrow, how many voters will be swayed by seeing the big 2-0 in the win column?

Klaw

  (1:23 PM)

Too many.

Sean (Hudson, MA)

Thoughts on Eric Wedge getting canned?

Klaw

  (1:25 PM)

I don't think it's fair to blame the 90-loss season on him, but that said, he wasn't a good tactical manager, and his mishandling of prospects (particularly LaPorta, which was just brain-dead) made him a lousy candidate for the 2010-11 Clevelanders.

Pat (Long Island)

ETA on Smoak, and what kind of numbers can we expect from him next year? peak years???

Klaw

  (1:25 PM)

Early next year, maybe Opening Day. Peak years he's a .300 hitter, high OBP, 35 home runs. Real impact guy.

Jon (Ithaca)

The Mets wise up, fire Omar and hire YOU as their new GM. Inevitably, you will have a long laundry list of things you will want to do over the course of a few years, but what is the first thing you do?

Klaw

  (1:27 PM)

Well, my daughter's grandparents would be thrilled. They need a stronger scouting/player development plan. The farm system isn't (or hasn't been) as bad as alleged, but there's no reason a big-market club like the Mets can't replicate what the Red Sox are doing in the draft and internationally.

John (AZ)

When you are voting for the Cy Young what is one stat that you highly value?

Klaw

  (1:28 PM)

I'm looking at a mix - VORP, FIP, xFIP, etc. At the end of the day, I'm not comfortable rewarding a pitcher for playing in front of a great defense, which ERA and even VORP do to some degree.

Joe (Cinci)

If I had a vote I would vote for the Cy Young I'd vote for CC because when he came to the Yankees, he was under extreme pressure to do three things: 1) win games; 2) be the ace of the staff; 3) beat Boston.

Klaw

  (1:29 PM)

Well thank goodness you don't have a vote, because you don't have a good grasp of how to value pitcher performance.

Ari (Toronto)

Where can one find the collective OPS of the batters a pitcher has faced (not the OPS the pitcher has held the batters to)?

Klaw

  (1:30 PM)

I know BP has it.

Jack (Toronto)

You know why Doc should win the Cy? 1) He was supposed to win games; 2) be the ace of the staff; 3) beat Boston AND New York.

Klaw

  (1:30 PM)

Jack, FTW.

Brian (Brooklyn NY)

At what point does Mark Shapiro take some heat for the Indians issues? On the one hand the projections systems all liked the etam he put together so it seems like a case of good process, bad outcome. On the other hand he had a solid core for a few years and never got consistent results.

Klaw

  (1:33 PM)

The impression I get is that the dissatisfaction with Shapiro is external, not internal. He's a good guy with a sound overall philosophy, and that helps his cause. I'm also not sure how much responsibility to shift to ownership, as they do seem to underspend on the draft.

Klaw

  (1:34 PM)

Played a tougher position. Played his position better than Coghlan has played his. Provided more offensive value relative to his position than Coghlan has provided to his.

Peter (Los Angeles)

Keith, please tell me that the Angels will actually beat the Red Sox this time. This is really becoming disgraceful.

Klaw

  (1:35 PM)

It's not a huge mismatch, so the Angels are probably something like a 45-48% underdog. They could easily win the series. But if the question is "pick one or the other," I'm taking the Red Sox.

Slew (Seattle)

I think Joe was baiting

Klaw

  (1:35 PM)

I didn't just fall off the turnip truck, Slew.

Ryan G (Westford, MA)

Klaw, people in Boston are acting like the sky is falling because of how poorly they have played down the stretch. Do you think it is a cause for concern or do you think it will have no effect on them in the postseason?

Klaw

  (1:37 PM)

It's irrelevant. Tigers/Cardinals 2006. Yankees 2000 finished 3-15 and won the World Series.

Nate (KC)

The Twins got Magglio'd right in their Pavano. That's how I'd say it.

Klaw

  (1:37 PM)

That works.

Tim (Durban South Africa)

I'm a Phillies fan and I hated the Ibanez deal, but in retrospect, it worked out this year. Does it start to look bad next year? Even worse when you consider they could have Michael Taylor out there at $400k and spend some of the $10m to Ibanez on pitching?

Klaw

  (1:40 PM)

I think it's already started to show some cracks - he's been a different guy since early June, much more along the lines of what I expected. They've got Taylor and Brown coming, although Werth is a free agent after 2010.

Joba (New York)

I'm going to end up watching the playoffs from my couch, huh?

Klaw

  (1:40 PM)

It looks that way. The Joba Rules have done you no favors.

Joe (Porter Square )

Hi Keith,Heard on the radio this AM that it seems that John Farrell could be the leading candiate to take over the Indians...talk always was he could be a manager/GM/nobel prize winner/etc.Personally, I hope he goes. I think he is overrated. It's easy to be a pitching coach with guys like Schilling, Beckett, Lester, etc. But the projects such as Pienero, Smoltz, Penny, etc - he has failed - especially when they have been succesful when leaving Boston.What are your thoughts? Am I missing anything?thanks

Klaw

  (1:41 PM)

Lester wasn't a finished product when he reached Boston (and then had to come back from cancer), so I'm not sure why you wouldn't give Farrell any credit with him. That said, the skills required to be a good manager aren't the same as those required to be a good pitching coach.

Keith (NY, NY)

How do you fix the wild card to make it more of a disadvantage to the wild card team? Add a second and make them play an extra series between the two? Make four divisions, with the winner of each playoff teams and eliminte the "wild card"?

Klaw

  (1:42 PM)

Instead, why not make it more likely that we get the four best teams in the playoffs? Go back to two divisions per league.

Ryan (Traverse City MI)

Keith as a Tigers fan how much do you think the Tigers have meant to this city?

Klaw

  (1:43 PM)

I'm not a Tigers fan, so I guess I can't answer your question.

Daniel (Anaheim)

Saw Buster Olney quote someone who said the key to getting Kendry Morales out was to pound him with fastballs. I know he crushes curveballs, but is he that vulnerable to the heat?

Klaw

  (1:43 PM)

That's true for much of the Angels' lineup. Morales' weaknesses are pretty typical for LH power hitters - hard in, soft away (just get it AWAY, CB or SL over the outside corner he can hit).

Ken (Taneytown, MD)

Is Harper as much of a lock as Strasburg was? Is there as much distance between him and Taillon as there was at this point between Strasburg and Matzek?

Klaw

  (1:46 PM)

He's a lock more because there isn't a great 1A behind him. Strasburg's lead over the pack (Ackley, rather than Matzek) was bigger.

Scott (DC)

Breaking News: Chris Carpenter just hit his first career home run. A Grand Slam off Kip Wells. Does that count as half a home run?

Klaw

  (1:46 PM)

I guess BP started early today. What time is the game?

scott (lansdowne)

Klaw, what is Bret Andersons ceiling?

Klaw

  (1:47 PM)

Number one or two starter. He hasn't been the best-performing rookie in the AL this year, but if he won the RoY, it would look good in retrospect.

Josh (Los Angeles, CA)

Ron Washington recently said that they need a veteran pitcher to help the kids along.. am I missing something, or isn't that the responsibility of the manager and his staff? The Rangers shouldn't be hiring 8 figure pitching coaches, right?

Klaw

  (1:49 PM)

Yeah, that's another old baseball saw that should be sent through the wood chipper.

bill (nyc)

if you were omar would you be hesitant to sign a free agent because your higher draft pick this year

Klaw

  (1:50 PM)

Their first pick will be protected next year.

AB (CT)

Victorino has gone from 6 (2008) to -36 (2009) in CF /-, how much stock can one put into that sort of difference?

Klaw

  (1:51 PM)

I think it's good evidence that even a full year may be an insufficient sample for a defensive metric, and that maybe we should look at those numbers as guides rather than gospel.

Brett (Mount Prospect (IL))

What about Andrew Bailey for AL Rookie of the Year? Long term it may not look like a great choice. Will being a reliever hurt his chances? His K's, OBA and HR allowed are very good. He's not Rivera and probably not Papelbon, but what are your long-term expectations of him?

Klaw

  (1:52 PM)

I don't think Bailey's ever going to be better than this, certainly. He's got two biases against him: Hitters win the RoY about twice as often as pitchers, and relievers are always subordinate to starters in postseason awards.

ryan (ns)

speaking of old baseball axioms - what do you think of the one that says you shouldn't trade your best players in the division?

Klaw

  (1:53 PM)

Another one to dismember and bury in the yard. Trade the player to the team that offers the most in return. It's not that complicated.

Zach (CT)

Is Franklin Gutierrez as good as he is going to get? Or can his bat keep improving. Where is ranked as far as CF's go?

Klaw

  (1:56 PM)

I'm not entirely sure what to do with him. He's practically a defensive replacement when there's a RHP on the mound (for the other team, that is). But the glove is excellent. In a perfect world, the Mariners would platoon him with another plus-glove CF who bats left-handed, but how many teams have two plus-glove CFs and are willing to carry both?

Jason (CT)

What is your take on Ellsbury's defense? He makes some spectacular plays, but seems to have trouble seeing the ball off the bat. Will he be an above avg defensive CF for his career?

Klaw

  (1:57 PM)

I think he already is. I'm not sure why the metrics rate him so low.

Brett (Mount Prospect (IL))

What about Joba back to the pen for the playoffs? Any reason to think he cannot excel in that roll again?

Klaw

  (1:57 PM)

Not unless he magically starts throwing strikes again.

John (Toronto)

Long term - Lind or Snider? Has Lind's season changed your outlook?

Klaw

  (1:58 PM)

Snider's going to have more value because he can play a position - but I was never down on Lind. He was one of my breakout guys for 2009.

Justin (Pittsburgh)

So i know the Rolen trade was bad, and they have a lot of money committed to arroyo/harang/cordero... but why can't the reds feel good about their young core of Votto, Bruce, Phillips, and Stubbs, as well as Alonso and Frazier on the way, good young bullpen, and the emergence of Homer Bailey? Seems they could be decent by 2011.

Klaw

  (2:00 PM)

Well, where do you fit Alonso and Votto in the lineup? Hasn't Bailey just been beating the heck out of bad lineups for the last month? Isn't Brandon Phillips one of the most overrated players in the game? And who pitches? They just dealt two good arms (probably both relievers, but the Jays think Stewart an start) for Rolen, but pitching seems to be the issue long-term in Cincinnati.

Bryan (Plano, TX)

Should the Rangers resign Byrd? Also, do you see him as a starter or more of a 4th OF?

Klaw

  (2:02 PM)

More of a fourth outfielder.

Patrick (Toronto)

Hill, Snider, Lind, Wells, Encarnacion, and likely Scutaro/Barajas resigned....Doc/Romero/Marcum/Rzezpynski/Cecil, a cheap and effective pen and some Rios money thrown to a guy like Dye if Lind moves to 1st....is that a playoff contender?

Klaw

  (2:02 PM)

Not in that division.

ben (toronto)

what would be your offseason blue print for the jays?

Klaw

  (2:06 PM)

I don't see how they can become contenders in 2010 without a tremendous amount of luck, which, unfortunately, means shopping Halladay, and really every other veteran. It is actually a pretty good young core, but I don't think it's enough in a division with the Yanks, Red Sox, and Rays. You can win in that division on their payroll, but it'll have to be through a more productive farm system.

Dom (Denver)

Adenhart. Celebration fail?

Klaw

  (2:06 PM)

I had no problem with this. Alcohol did not kill Adenhart. An idiot did.

Mike (LA)

Tell me who you think the Dodgers might target this winter to throw in the mix with Kershaw, Billingsley, Mcdonald, Kuroda? We could use an ace? Lackey via free agency or maybe a trade?

Klaw

  (2:07 PM)

If Kershaw isn't an ace, who is? He'll be a top five starter in the NL next year.

Otto (CA)

Do you know if Boston could have included Michael Bowden in the V-Mart trade instead of Masterson? If so, would that have been the better choice? Thanks.

Klaw

  (2:08 PM)

Bowden has a chance to start. Masterson is going to struggle enough against LHB that I see him as a reliever.

Klaw

  (2:09 PM)

OK, time to get back to writing playoff preview stuff. Thanks for the questions.