Klaw

  (1:05 PM)

Klawchat. Say yeah if you like it like that.

Jack (Toronto)

Can Montero stick at C with Seattle, even short term?

Klaw

  (1:05 PM)

No, unless they are just too stubborn to move him.

John (Cincinnati, Oh)

Is Zach Cozart good enough to be a starting SS for a playoff team?

Klaw

  (1:05 PM)

No.

Dan (Virginia)

Of the aging vets looking for work (derek lee, manny, magglio, ibanez, pudge, vlad, damon), are any worth taking a 1 year flyer on for 7 million?

Klaw

  (1:06 PM)

No. Off to a roaring start here.

Matt W. (Boston, MA)

Hey Klaw, I am probably (read: almost certainly) biased, but I see the Red Sox farm system as having the potential to near top 5 status as the year progresses provided the younger guys (Cecchini, Coyle, Jacobs, Bogaerts, etc.) and the 2011 draftees develop as hoped. With some luck it appears Boston can look forward to a strong crop of position player prospects nearing the majors in 2014. Does this gel with your general opinions of the system?

Klaw

  (1:06 PM)

We agree on one thing. You're biased.

David (Arlington)

Given the low value of the Cust contract, seems like the Astros could be hoping that he continues to put up a lofty OBP, maybe see some improvement in power going from Oakland/Seattle to Minute Maid and then flip him at the deadline to a team looking for a DH bat in the AL for some potentially useful piece. Maybe a prospect with middle of the rotation ceiling?

Klaw

  (1:06 PM)

I doubt even the Astros are that wildly optimistic.

Doug (Cincy)

I'm not opposed to the Ludwick signing for depth purposes, but knowing that Dusty will start him about 70% of the time over Heisey, I'm not real thrilled about it. Agreed?

Klaw

  (1:07 PM)

Agreed. I think Heisey's better anyway, but he's also cheaper and under team control for five more years, so you want to play him to see if he can continue to develop.

Justin (Chicago, IL)

Have you heard anything about Gavin Floyd being a Blue Jay? I wish there was some kind of website that would let me know.

Klaw

  (1:08 PM)

I'm still waiting for the mondo press conference where they announce they've acquired Felix, Floyd, and Cain, while also winning the auction for Darvish.

Samson Simpson (Cuban B)

Does a Burnett for Bay bad contract swap make sense for the Yankees and Mets, respectively? Yanks need a DH and Mets could use a 200 inning arm, with the added benefit of returning AJ to the NL.

Klaw

  (1:09 PM)

I'd rather have Burnett. After all, he's got the same ERA+ as Jack Morris, whom two-thirds of writers who don't actually cover baseball any more think is a Hall of Famer.

Stefan (Colorado Springs)

Can't wait for your Top 100. Two questions please. 1) Next five years, Belt or Freeman? 2) You have to play one board game for your life. Which game do you choose?

Klaw

  (1:10 PM)

Belt. Dominion, if I get to add at least one of the expansions.

Dave (Chicago)

Can you explain how the defensive WAR for Frank Thomas is significantly lower than for Edgar Martinez? Can playing bad 1b be worse than "playing" DH? It seems to me that if you are a DH, your defensive WAR should be lower than any starting player on the team you play on? Right?

Klaw

  (1:11 PM)

Wrong, because the R, Replacement-level, is relative to the position. A player's defensive value over replacement means a replacement-level player at the same position. Thomas is being compared to other 1b. Edgar was compared to other DHs.

Frank (Denver)

You have commented on Stanford's poor record in developing hitters. What do you think the reason behind that is? I see why pitchers from Rice haven't been successful in the pros, (overuse in college), but I don't understand why hitters from Stanford don't translate to pro success.

Klaw

  (1:15 PM)

That's also why Stanford starters haven't fared well - long list of them have gotten hurt or otherwise failed to pan out, including Reynolds, Hudgins, Karp, Wayne, Young, Austin, Peterson, and Gosling; the one exception in the last decade is Guthrie. Most overrated program in the country. To your question, I don't know of any coaching staff that tinkers with hitters' swings as much as Stanford's does. It's their way or the highway, according to players who've gone through it.

Jim (Doylestown, pa)

Can Jake Stewart break the trend of bad Stanford hitters in next years draft?

Klaw

  (1:16 PM)

If you want a probability bat from Stanford for next year, it's Piscotty. If you want a little more ceiling with more risk, Diekroger.

Robert (Chicago)

This talk we've been hearing over the last week about Cespedes torpedoing his value by playing in the Dominican Winter League is silly, right? No front office would change their evaluation of a player based on such a ridiculous sample, would they?

Klaw

  (1:16 PM)

Maybe one or two would, but yes, in general it's very silly. It's a small sample for a guy who hasn't picked up a bat and faced live pitching in ages.

the_slasher14 (New Mexico)

Love your posts esp. the chats. Except for Garza, who they seem to be getting ready to trade as well, the Cubs seem to be planning to go into the season with an all back-end rotation. Since Epstein / Hoyer / McLeod haven't even had a draft yet, doesn't this mean at least three very lean years?

Klaw

  (1:18 PM)

I think they're going to be creative with the major league roster while they try to boost the farm system (which, sneak preview here, isn't going to rank very high, even with the addition of Rizzo/Cates). If there's a younger free agent, or an upside play, they'd be in on him, but I don't see them going after the John Lackeys of free agency any time soon.

mk (albuquerque)

re: jack morrisin fairness. the flip side is that a lot of the people who are saying he ain't a HOFer are too young to have seen him pitch in his prime. fwiw, a lot of guys who actually played against him have come out and said he's one of the best they ever faced. i'm not against advanced stats but i'll argue that context is still important.

Klaw

  (1:19 PM)

Perhaps, but I saw him in his prime. He was just a guy. Detroit scared me (as a Yankee fan back then) because of the bats, and the two guys in the middle of the infield who seemed to kill us on both sides of the ball. If perception matters, then Morris still isn't a HoFer, because we're pretending the perception of him at the time was different.

Evan (Milton, Ontario)

Carlos Delgado, HOF?

Klaw

  (1:20 PM)

No.

BJ (NY)

Do guys like Warren and Phelps have a lot of trade value?

Klaw

  (1:20 PM)

I would think so, as major-league ready back-end starters who cost nothing.

Jay (Los Angeles, CA)

I am no Paula Deen fan, but it seems that some of the schadenfreude over her illness is a little over the top. What is your opinion?

Klaw

  (1:22 PM)

I think the schadenfreude is over the part where she parlayed her illness into an endorsement deal. It's the modern-day equivalent of Thripshaw's Disease.

Archer (Isis)

Wait. I had something for this. Rabbert Klein.

Klaw

  (1:22 PM)

You're not my supervisor.

Mike (DC)

Will Rendon eventually play 3B or 2B?

Klaw

  (1:23 PM)

3B.

Cas (Orlando)

Any idea when your prospects list will be coming out?

Klaw

  (1:23 PM)

My editors decided to push it back to the week following the Super Bowl.

Kevin (Chicago)

Do you think either Bauer or Hultzen will start the year with the big league club? If they do what are realistic expectations?

Klaw

  (1:24 PM)

No, but both are up by midyear.

Matt (NYC)

Keith,Do you think we'll see an MLB team in Montreal again at some point? It seems to me that the market is large enough, but the Expos' past attendance issues were caused by bad teams and a crummy stadium. Would the Quebecois be too keen to dole out massive subsidies/tax breaks for a new stadium after the moneypit that was The Big Owe?

Klaw

  (1:24 PM)

Never.

Tom (D.C.)

Why doesn't Albert Bell ever get HoF consideration. Other guys who posted inpressive numbers in limited years, have gotten the call.

Klaw

  (1:24 PM)

Because he was a big meanie to the media.

Jon (CT)

Klaw when you were younger and considered yourself a "fan" of a team - did you think like everyone else? Did you think that HR and RBI hitters were automatically the best, and guys who took walks were useless?

Klaw

  (1:25 PM)

As a kid? Absolutely. Didn't have that saber-epiphany until age 20 or so.

Cray (PA)

Out of the packages received for Gio, Latos, and Pineda, which do you like best?

Klaw

  (1:25 PM)

Montero was the single best prospect dealt in those deals. I did think the A's did extremely well for Gio.

Kenny (London)

How would you rank the KC prospects: Starling, Cuthbert, Myers, Montgomery for future value?

Klaw

  (1:26 PM)

I apologize, but I'm not going to answer questions of this ilk until the prospects package runs.

Justin (Redlands, CA)

DiPoto has to find a spot in the lineup for Trout by the ASB, right?

Klaw

  (1:26 PM)

I think Trout will get plenty of ABs this year, much earlier than that. DiPoto knows he has a superstar there.

Matt (NYC)

Keith,In a recent chat, you mentioned that MLB teams require a more affluent market than NFL, NBA & NHL teams do (or something to that effect). Can you explain this discrepancy?

Klaw

  (1:28 PM)

I probably referenced the need for more people and a larger corporate base. You need enough people with enough disposable income to sell at least 1.5 million tickets a year, which is still just an average of about 18,500 per home game. And then sell enough luxury boxes and in-stadium ads to boost the revenues enough to make you competitive with the lowest-revenue clubs. It's a higher bar than in other sports, with just eight home games in the NFL and a huge national TV deal shared equally among all teams, or 40-ish home games a year in arenas half the size of an MLB stadium in the other two sports.

Michael (NY, NY)

You every try cooking with limitations just for the fun...I'd love to see how creative you can get with kosher limitations (mostly so i can selfishly get my wife to start reading your blog and be more into baseball).

Klaw

  (1:29 PM)

I would not give up bacon. Don't ask me any more questions.

E (SF)

SSS aside, is Panik showing you anything to make you think he may have some future value? Seems to be getting pub from others.

Klaw

  (1:30 PM)

Utility infielder. Opinions of "others" don't affect my opinions, or my rankings.

Mark (Tecumseh, MI)

Brian Lahair and Matt Adams, any chance either of them profile as more than a AAAA or bench player? And what would you expect a full seasons in the majors stat line look like?

Klaw

  (1:32 PM)

Adams is more than that, certainly. Not really sold on LaHair, nor do I expect him to get much rope now that Rizzo has been reunited with his baseball guardians.

Chip (NYC)

If the Astros are interested I would be more than happy to strike out for them for half what they paid Cust.

Klaw

  (1:32 PM)

But can you also not play the field like Cust?

Jake (Anywhere but here)

I'm hoping to see a .275 .370 .480 with 25-30 homers out of smoak. I know you still like him, do you think this is reasonable?

Klaw

  (1:33 PM)

Not this year, but eventually.

Raymond C (OH)

What kind of ceiling does Braves prospect Joe Terdoslavich have?

Klaw

  (1:35 PM)

Bench guy.

Craig (Seattle)

Keith, why on god's green earth would any team be willing to take on Soriano for his final 3 years of his deal even if the Cubs pick up 46 of the 54 million remaining on his deal?

Klaw

  (1:36 PM)

Well, so far no one has proven that stupid, so I think that's your answer.

Trader J (Indy)

I will be in Scottsdale next weekend and have time for two meals. Where do you recommend?

Klaw

  (1:36 PM)

It depends on your tastes, your budget, and whether you have a car. Can I just send you to the dish, where I've written up just about every restaurant I've tried in Arizona?

Tom (Santa Barbara)

Does Taijuan Walker have a higher ceiling than Hultzen?

Klaw

  (1:36 PM)

Yes, I don't think that's even close.

E (SF)

Since you obviously have some skill in a kitchen now, are you a "creative" guy, or do you like to work from a recipe? Not that they are mutually exclusive.

Klaw

  (1:39 PM)

I do a lot of both, but I get more satisfaction from making stuff up. On Tuesday I made the slow-cooker "cassoulet" (in scare quotes because it was not a cassoulet in any sense of the word) from the America's Test Kitchen slow-cooker book, and it was very meh - flat flavors, more like a thin stew, not that visually appealing. So last night I reheated some of it, reduced the sauce, strained it out into a white roux, then rolled the meat, beans, and the thickened sauce into some crepes I'd made while the meat was heating. Satisfying because I'd kind of made it up on the fly, and because I didn't have to discard about a gallon of the stew.

Mike (San Diego)

Care to share your take on the whole SOPA/PIPA issue?

Klaw

  (1:39 PM)

Given that my view does not agree with that of my employer, I think it would be inappropriate to discuss it here. I did call my Congressman yesterday, though.

Erich (Todte)

You immediately said no to Delgado being a Hall of famer, but had he beaten out ARod for the MVP award in the early 2000's would there be a better case? I mean the guy had a great career.

Klaw

  (1:40 PM)

No.

Mike (Baltimore)

Saw a lot of best free agent lists this offseason that did not include Wei-yin Chen. But he was inside your top-20. Did Baltimore do well to get him at a very low AAV?

Klaw

  (1:40 PM)

Yes. Best move they've made this offseason. That's a fairly low standard, though.

Tom (San Francisco, CA)

Keith, in your estimation, what has Neal Huntington brought to the Pirates' organization? The general consensus seems to be that he's "on to something", but from their top-heavy drafts to "locking up" Jose Tabata for a number of years to populating their roster with the Nate McLouths of the baseball world, aren't they just conducting business as usual?

Klaw

  (1:41 PM)

Farm system is much better, as they've committed significant resources to it. The big league club, less so, and they're probably two years away from seeing more farm system products get to the big leagues and contribute there.

Mark (Boston)

Thoughts on Kuroda as a #4 starter in the AL East??

Klaw

  (1:42 PM)

More than qualified. Great deal for the Yanks.

Ryan (NYC)

What are your thoughts on Domonic Brown now, after ranking high so highly in last years list? Still has it or not going to happen?

Klaw

  (1:42 PM)

I feel like he's a change-of-scenery guy - has the physical tools, but might be damaged goods after all the tinkering and the big league struggles.

Snakes (Philly)

Tell me why I should give "Archer" a second chance. I tried it once and didnt like it.

Klaw

  (1:43 PM)

Honestly, if you don't like crude humor and a lot of yelling, it's not the show for you. I find that I laugh at the show in spite of myself. It's obnoxious, raunchy, and brilliant.

Mick (Chicago)

Any update on Drew Cumberland? I heard he unretired.

Klaw

  (1:44 PM)

He's been medically cleared to play again, and I would certainly root for him, but as an analyst I'd say his odds are very long.

Mike (CA)

Do you think Heyward could follow in the footsteps of Bruce, Upon, Kemp? Meaning big time prospects that came into the league and took a few years to reach their potential?

Klaw

  (1:44 PM)

Yes.

JP (Columbus, OH)

Schoenfield recommended the Reds go after one more arm for the next two years, and offered up an Edwin Jackson at 2 years/20 million sorta deal. Seeing as how the Reds are "going for it" in 2012-13, this seems like rational thinking to me.

Klaw

  (1:44 PM)

Agreed.

Dave (Yucaipa, CA)

Do you watch Justified? It has to be the most underrated show on TV right now.

Klaw

  (1:44 PM)

No. Heard good things, just don't have time for another show right now.

Jason (St Louis)

Jamie Moyer in Denver? Really?

Klaw

  (1:45 PM)

They are out of ideas.

Casey (Hawaii)

2012 draft question!!! Gut call on a 2012 draft prospect who seperates himself as the top guy in next years draft?

Klaw

  (1:46 PM)

First pick is most likely Appel or Marrero, with a small chance of Zunino. Outside of that mix, I'd say (in terms of odds, not scouting report), Buxton would be next, with Fried and Weichel two extreme sleepers to watch.

Klaw

  (1:46 PM)

That said, Weickel's (spelled correctly this time) a HS RHP, and no prep righty has ever gone 1-1.

Randy (Hoboken, NJ)

Does a prospect's organization affect your ranking of him? For example, if you were considering ranking Jose Campos (or, to use a more likely example, Manny Banuelos) in your top 100, would the Yankee's shaky recent history developing starters affect your decision?

Klaw

  (1:47 PM)

No. The rankings are independent of organization, whether we're talking about development track record or home ballpark or anything else.

Bob (Silver Spring)

Does Matusz get it back or end up another Oriole draft bust?

Klaw

  (1:47 PM)

You tell me where his velocity went and I'll answer your question.

Stefan (Munich, Germany)

Keith, Looking at the free agent class after this season. Which free-agent pitcher do you think will be the most attractive for the Yankees - cole Hamels or Matt Cain? All the talk seems to be about Hamels these days. Which player would you prefer? Thanks.

Klaw

  (1:48 PM)

I'd prefer Hamels, and think he's more likely to reach free agency than Cain is.

Pete (LA, CA)

Here is an idea for the Rockies: change managers.

Klaw

  (1:49 PM)

I've been saying that for a while now. He only got the job - after failing in two other stops - because he was handy when Clint Hurdle decided to treat the team's best player like he was its biggest problem.

Chris (KC)

2012 draft, I've heard projections of Giolito at #1. High school RHP and all that aside, since you mentioned Weickel, which one do you like better?

Klaw

  (1:50 PM)

Those "projections" aren't worth the electrons used to post them. Giolito has more now stuff. Weickel is the better long-term projection guy. I wouldn't be totally shocked to see Giolito's teammate, Max Fried, drafted in that same range.

Derek (Storage facility from the movie "Primer") [via mobile]

Keith, you are one of the smartest baseball writers I read, however I have to strongly disagree (respectfully, of course) with your DH position. In the spirit of the game, all 9 fielders should have to bat. If I had to watch Pat Burrell/Raul Ibanez in LF all those years, you should have to watch Pitchers take their hacks too.

Klaw

  (1:51 PM)

I don't see that as the "spirit of the game." I'd rather see 30 more talented hitters get to swing the bat than pitchers do something they weren't drafted for doing well and haven't been developed to do well either.

Jon (DC)

I read Moneyball and enjoyed it. I saw the book last night and have no idea why it got a single good review.

Klaw

  (1:52 PM)

I promise everyone I did not secretly post this as Jon (DC).

Stros Fan (Hell)

I know you don't get your HOF ballot for 8 years (I believe), would you vote for Baggy and Biggio?

Klaw

  (1:52 PM)

Yes, without a doubt.

Jason (Birmingham MI)

Relatedly, isn't it fair to think that pitchers would hit better if they worked more on hitting because they know there is no DH to cover for them? This I suppose would require eliminating the DH at all levels.

Klaw

  (1:53 PM)

No. They'll never get enough reps for it to matter. Not to mention that you're significantly increasing their pre-game responsibilities.

ron (salisbury, md.)

Someone earlier asked about Matusz--any ideas about his drop in velocity---seems like a mystery.

Klaw

  (1:53 PM)

My assumption is that he's hurt.

Q-Tip (Linden Blvd)

Making short ribs this weekend for the first time. I've seen different recipes calling for different types (cut parallel to the bone or across it) is there a large difference between the two?

Klaw

  (1:54 PM)

I only use English cut (individual bones, not cut across them), which presents better.

Terry (Boston)

Do you see Pedro Alvarez ever developing into 25 HR and .350+ OBP?

Klaw

  (1:55 PM)

Power yes, OBP no.

Jason (Aberdeen, MD)

Finally a decent episode of Top Chef last night. You could tell Tom was relieved that the chefs made some creative dishes (even though they were forced to) instead of the same old boring proteins with garnishes they've been making all season. Baseball Question: What do you think of Taijuan Walker, Zach Lee, and Tyrell Jenkins? Do they all have potential to be #1's? Also, what do you think Keyvius Sampson's ceiling is? Thanks for all your great work!

Klaw

  (1:56 PM)

Agreed. No scallops. It was really fun to watch. (My recap, with spoilers: http://klaw.me/A3gsLw) Those three guys are all at least good number-two starters. Sampson I'm not sold on yet. Still see a possible reliever there. Good arm.

Dale (KY)

Is there real evidence that throwing a cutter leads to diminished velocity on the fastball. I have heard this insinuated many times.

Klaw

  (1:56 PM)

I feel like that claim lacks hard evidence.

Ken (Palo Alto)

few elite soccer players play high school varsity soccer anymore, sticking instead with their club teams. Do you see High School baseball ever going the way of soccer? -- with elite club teams becoming a surer way into college and/or the pros?

Klaw

  (1:56 PM)

I do not.

Jeff T (Wilmington DE)

Keith,Based on the criteria you stated for a major league market in terms of population and corporate base, are there any teams, in your opinion, that should be re-located due to "not cutting it" in any of those areas?

Klaw

  (1:57 PM)

I think the smallest markets are Milwaukee and Cincinnati, both in new publicly-funded ballparks, so I don't think either club is going anywhere; in a free market for relocation, one or both would likely have moved.

EricJ (SF)

Dead cat bounce for Aubrey Huff in '12?

Klaw

  (1:57 PM)

They only bounce once. After that, they're carrion.

Tom (St. Louis)

Is Rasmus every going to come close to being the star everyone thought he was going to be?

Klaw

  (1:57 PM)

Lot of work to do there on his mechanics, especially his lower half. Tools and approach are still there for stardom.

Rich (Kentucky)

You a Taco Bell fan?

Klaw

  (1:58 PM)

No, but I heard your mama is - when times were rough, I saw her in the back of Taco Bell with handcuffs.

Jason (Birmingham MI)

To follow up on a discussion on the podcast, would Garza for D. Young a few years ago have qualified as a "challenge trade"?

Klaw

  (1:59 PM)

Yes, although I think Bill James' definition was two guys at the same position. I prefer this broader use of the term.

Ken (Palo Alto)

did you see the recent New York times article about how the draft has ruined baseball in Puerto Rico. Agree or disagree?

Klaw

  (1:59 PM)

Agree. Good piece. Considered alternative explanations too.

Logan (Cincy, OH)

Keith Cincinnati will never move, broke or not! America's first professional baseball team would never relocate. Lets not forget they do have more world series wins than other small market teams

Klaw

  (1:59 PM)

All of which means absolutely nothing to the top line.

Myles (Litchfield, CT)

Lindsay had scallops.

Klaw

  (1:59 PM)

I thought she had shrimp. I might be remembering wrong.

Jay (Tacoma, WA)

After the Taco Bell question, I have to ask: do you secretly enjoy any fast-food places?

Klaw

  (2:00 PM)

I like In-n-Out and Five Guys. I don't like any of the real low-end national chains though.

Joe (NV)

Klaw, how do you take your coffee? I've never been all that partial to specific beans because I tend to drench my java in cream and sugar, which makes them all taste relatively the same. I'd like to become a more refined coffee drinker. Tips?

Klaw

  (2:01 PM)

Espresso for me. You might try French-pressed coffee, which preserves more of the oils in the beans, although it produces a darker cup. I don't think sugar or milk are a crime in coffee, but the better the beans, the less you need either.

Ray (Burlington, NJ)

Keith-thanks for the chat. Thoughts on Dee Gordon's performance last year and can he be a .275 hitter in the big leagues?

Klaw

  (2:01 PM)

Was in the majors prematurely. He needs to get stronger. Same comment as last winter.

BD (DC)

an hour in and no Prince Fielder questions? Where do you think he ends up, and how many years? Thanks.

Klaw

  (2:02 PM)

No idea. Not really my area.

Greg (NYC)

Who is (or was) the Tim Tebow of MLB. Jack Morris? All he did was win!Or is that underselling Morris. I don't hate the guy, but his "clutchness" and "playing to the score" make me hate his HOF supporters.

Klaw

  (2:02 PM)

Luis Sojo.

Brendan (DC)

Leaving a slow cooker on while you are at work... yay or nay? I've never had the guts personally.

Klaw

  (2:03 PM)

I've done it. There would be a lot more reports of slow-cooker fires if it wasn't safe.

Erich (CT)

Do you think the steady decline of Ryan Howard has had an effect on the years for Prince?

Klaw

  (2:03 PM)

That's a good question, although Fielder's a better player.

Greg (DC)

Keith, how much of a correlation is there between injury history and future health? Put another way, does the fact that Edwin Jackson has never been on the DL actually mean much going foward?

Klaw

  (2:03 PM)

Yes, I think it does. Guys who have gotten hurt tend to continue to do so.

Jason (Birmingham MI)

Keith, I've seen you mention Guinness a number of times in your chats. Do you put much thought into food-beer pairings?

Klaw

  (2:04 PM)

Yes, by which I mean I pair whatever I put on the table with the beer I happen to have in the fridge.

Chip (NYC)

I believe this is the worst season of Top Chef ever. In part I think that while the idea of Texas was good - the reality is that Texas in the summer is not a fun place to work, especially if your work involves open flames. Amazing to see how much better they performed in an air conditioned studio kitchen cooking for 5 people than an outdoor firepit for 300.

Klaw

  (2:05 PM)

Agreed. But it was an exceptionally hot summer in Texas, wasn't it? I doubt this is convincing them to do "Top Chef: Phoenix" any time soon.

Daniel (NY)

Is the Montero-Pineda trade in any way similar to the Hamilton-Volquez trade from a few years ago? Will this trade also look one-sided in a few years?

Klaw

  (2:05 PM)

Only if Pineda gets hurt. Hamilton/Volquez wasn't this even at the time it happened.

Nate (Dubuque) [via mobile]

Heard the argument that Darvish would be, at best, worth 2-3 more wins to the Texas rotation than Ogando, and that Fielder would represent more of a wins-upgrade by replacing Moreland. If the Rangers did indeed choose one over the other, what is your take?

Klaw

  (2:05 PM)

I would dispute that valuation of the pitchers.

Shawn (MI)

Please tell me DD isn't serious about filling V Marts spot internally and they are gonna get some of his caliber to replace him,preferably a trade since the free agents(other than Fielder)who isn't happening don't excite me either. Thanks

Klaw

  (2:06 PM)

The Tigers nearly always do something significant in free agency or trade. I don't think standing pat is Dombrowski's style.

Christian (Berlin)

Max Kepler-Rozycki made headlines in Germany when he was signed by the Twins in 2009. Do you see enough talent and development in him to continue his way possibly to the MLB?

Klaw

  (2:06 PM)

Yes. But it will take time - he'll play at 19 this year, I believe.

Mike (Boston)

Who is the scrappiest player you've ever seen in person?

Klaw

  (2:07 PM)

Minor league veteran Chris Cates is 5'3". That works, right?

Maximus (CA)

Hi Keith, I remember reading your blog and you saying Foyles War is one of the best TV's shows out there. You had another that you said was one of the best of all time I think it was in your wire blog. What was that show? Also any new shows your excited about?

Klaw

  (2:09 PM)

It was Foyle's War. I've also highlighted Homicide: Life on the Street, as well as two six-episode miniseries, Thief and State of Play.

Muzzy (Leicester)

Speaking of guys who are 5'3" (ish), what do you make of Jose Altuve? His numbers are awfully solid, but can he sustain the power he showed in the minors?

Klaw

  (2:09 PM)

He's strong for his size (about 5'5").

Bill (Toronto)

As a frustrated Jays fan I ask your opinion, does Alex Anthopolous's lack of significant movement this offseason lead you to believe he believes in the core group on this team, or is he hamstrung from making significant moves by Rogers Cable?

Klaw

  (2:10 PM)

I don't get the idea that he should have made moves just to make them. The guy is a value whore. If he can make his club better, he will do so. I don't think he's seen great value this offseason, except the deal he did make for Santos, which everyone I've talked to in the business thought was a steal for Toronto.

Dave (MO)

Were you high on Delmon Young out of the draft?

Klaw

  (2:11 PM)

I did not see him before he was drafted.

Guy in the white shirt (Toronto)

How much of an impact will me not being in the outfield stands have on the Blue Jays this season?

Klaw

  (2:11 PM)

Just change your shirt.

joe (seattle)

what big name players will seattle get?

Klaw

  (2:11 PM)

Maybe they'll trade for Rzepczynski and Foltyniewicz?

Andy (Fairless Hills, PA)

O's signed a 17 year old softball player from Australia yesterday. Yes, softball.....

Klaw

  (2:13 PM)

Seriously. This stuff didn't work ten years ago. Why should we believe it will work now? And, by the way, where is Robinson Checo?

Klaw

  (2:13 PM)

Thanks for the questions, but I have to get back on the phone. I'll be back at least once in the next two weeks before the top 100 drops.