Klaw

  (1:01 PM)

Look out now, the saints are comin' through - it's Klawchat.

Richie (NYC)

Regarding all the people arguing with you on Twitter about the Triple Crown (among other things). Do you think there are fewer of them than there were, say, 5 years ago? Are we (i.e. you) making any progress?

Klaw

  (1:04 PM)

I think there are fewer such people today, yes, but apparently there are a ton of people who still view the Triple Crown as Something Special. The problem is that it's nothing more than a statistical quirk, not an indication of superior value. Things not included in the Triple Crown: Walks, HBP, the outs created in sac flies, the extra-base value of doubles or triples, stolen bases, other baserunning value, defense, positional value, park effects. Yeah, that sounds like a real complete look at a player.

Klaw

  (1:04 PM)

Which is why I compared it to a perfect game - another cute, fun, yet uninformative bit of information on a player's value.

EricJ (SF)

Would you put Melky Cabrerra on the post season roster if you were in charge?

Klaw

  (1:05 PM)

Yes.

BD (DC)

OK, once and for all how on earth are the Orioles pulling this off? Deal with the devil??

Klaw

  (1:05 PM)

Marlo's involved somehow.

dc (dc)

Thoughts on Dylan Bundy's promotion to the bigs?

Klaw

  (1:05 PM)

Love it. Excited for him, good move for the O's.

Thomas (Los Angeles)

Do you give any weight to RBI percentage? If you extrapolate Trout's percentage to Cabrera's chances, he comes up 20 or so RBIs short of Cabrera. Are RBIs equivalent to runs created? That would at least bring them somewhat closer in value, I think.

Klaw

  (1:06 PM)

No. Pseudometrics - it's a stat that sounds useful, but isn't.

Josh (DC)

This is from Jeff Sullivan and pretty much sums up baseball: I try not to be surprised by anything that pitching prospects end up doing. Tom Wilhelmsen is an effective closer. Ryan Anderson is a chef.

Klaw

  (1:06 PM)

That's fabulous.

Dave (NJ)

Do you think Brian Butterfield is a legitimate candidate to manage in Houston in 2013?

Klaw

  (1:06 PM)

I have no idea what his chances are, but I would certainly endorse him, having worked with him several years in Toronto.

Kyle (Minnesota)

How many more years would you allow Miguel Sano to try to stick at 3rd before finding him a new defensive home?

Klaw

  (1:07 PM)

I'd give him at least another year. He's not great there, but I think it could be workable if he's willing to put more effort into it.

Adam (Bowling Green)

Do you expect the O's using Bundy as a bullpen guy or possible starter? Just thinking of how Price was handled when he was recalled by the Rays.

Klaw

  (1:07 PM)

I'm assuming pen guy.

David (va beach)

Thanks for the chat, Keith. How excited should Cub fans be about the general group that finished the year at Boise? Including Almora, Vogelbach, Candelario, Amaya, Hernandez, Paniagua, and Pierce Johnson? Is there anyone on that list you see as less than a solid prospect?

Klaw

  (1:08 PM)

Amaya and Vogelbach aren't elite guys. Probably wouldn't have Hernandez in there. I love Almora and Paniagua and Candelario is really interesting.

No Heart Anthony (Maryland)

Talk that Neal Huntington may be fired at the end of the season has started. Do you think it is short-sighted to punish a GM (or even a manager) for in season collapse when the team is still going to outperform what was expect of them at the start of the year?

Klaw

  (1:10 PM)

I agree with the sentiment that that's not a good reason to fire a GM. A manager, maybe, but not a GM. The cases for and against Huntington are pretty complex - there's been a lot of good, especially in restocking a fairly barren farm system, but with some less-good. I also wonder if the Pelotero scandal is affecting his status.

Jeff (Pit)

Whats going to happen to Huntington? Does this collapse cause him to be replaced?

Klaw

  (1:11 PM)

With so many of these in the queue, let me ask this: Do Pirate fans think he should be replaced? I'm not saying that at all.

Tom (L.A.)

I know you weren't big on Trumbo's first half but did you think he'd regress to "We have to give playing time to Vernon Wells" level bad?

Klaw

  (1:12 PM)

I kept arguing that pitchers would stop pitching to him because he'd become the same kind of hacker he was last year.

Klaw

  (1:12 PM)

I just didn't believe that he'd suddenly acquired average plate discipline in one offseason at age 28.

Jay (Gilbert, AZ)

I saw that Sam Selman won BA's rookie-level minor league pitcher of the year. I thought the 2nd round seemed too high for him, but so far it looks like the Royals chose wisely. What do you think his upside is?

Klaw

  (1:12 PM)

Reliever. Erratic arm, throws hard. Saw him really bad in March. He was better in May, but I don't see huge upside there.

Mark (CA)

Please rank in terms of long term potential: AJ Griffin, Dan Straily, Tom Milone.

Klaw

  (1:13 PM)

Straily, Griffin, Milone.

Jibraun (Los Angeles)

Any idea on what type of performance we can expect from Chris Carpenter upon his return?

Klaw

  (1:14 PM)

I wish I knew. Was hoping I'd see that outing last week in LA.

Jason (Milwaukee)

I listened to your podscast with Eric Karabell. If the Brewers make the playoffs and Ryan Braun is a huge part of that, who wins MVP? Buster Posey regardless?

Klaw

  (1:14 PM)

I don't think Braun wins no matter what. He may actually be the most valuable this year, but it will only take a few voters to spite-vote him down or omit him entirely.

Lyle (NM)

Fill in the blank: Now that we've had a year and half of fielding data, the scouts/analysts that said Ackley would never last at 2B were ______?

Klaw

  (1:16 PM)

Working with the best info available at the time. He wasn't good in the minors, just about right up to his recall. Give him and the M's coaching staff a lot of credit - he improved dramatically in a short period of time.

Klaw

  (1:16 PM)

And I didn't think such a quick, massive improvement was in his future.

Jeff (Pit)

Yes I do want Huntington replaced. For what they spent in the draft, the farm system should be better. Barajas was inexcusable. There appear to be real problems with development.

Klaw

  (1:17 PM)

The development issues are one of the points in the negative column. I'm not sure about the draft argument - they haven't nailed every high pick but the total talent in the system is pretty solid, including some international signs.

Billy (Bee)

Obviously the O's are somewhat lucky, what with a -12 run differential and all. That said, since July 17, the O's are 37-20 with +43 run differential. The primary difference being that early in the year Matusz, Hunter, and Arrietta were in the rotation (getting killed), now they're not. So, is it possible they're not quite as lucky as some say? Thanks.

Klaw

  (1:18 PM)

The problem with the run differential parsing arguments - either based on calendar or by eliminating outliers - is that the entire run differential theory is based on full seasons, not partial ones. The correlation between run differential and won/lost record will absolutely be lower when you work with half-seasons or less.

Klaw

  (1:19 PM)

Incidentally, that's a good time for me to clear something up. My argument that the Orioles are probably the 8th best team in the AL isn't based strictly on run differential, although it's being cast as such. It's based much more on an objective evaluation of the talent on the roster, and of the same evaluations of the talent on competing rosters.

Liam (Boston)

I agree that Cabrera isn't the MVP, but isn't part of the problem that the Tigers have him playing completely out of position at 3B? If he was a 1B this season wouldn't his defense look a lot better?

Klaw

  (1:19 PM)

But he'd lose a fair amount in positional value. Replacement level at 3b is pretty low.

Alex (Chicago)

biggest sophomore disappointment this year? Hosmer? Ackley? Jemile Weeks?

Klaw

  (1:21 PM)

Hosmer, relative to expectations. But I think he's fixable - just get his hands down and a little further out so he's not so long to the ball.

Skitch (Detroit)

Is it frustrating when choosing a "this guy or that guy" side that you almost have to bash the "that guy" because you support "this guy?"

Klaw

  (1:21 PM)

If that frustrated me I'd have to cancel my Internet service.

Jack (NC)

Jason Heyward looks more athletic and natural in the outfield this season. If the Braves are unable to resign Bourn could he be a slightly above average Centerfielder defensively to replace Bourn? Also do you think there is 40 homer potential?

Klaw

  (1:21 PM)

Yes to 40 homers. No on centerfield.

Justin (Houston)

Who makes the majors first for Houston: Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers, or Rio Ruiz? Expected year of arrival?

Klaw

  (1:22 PM)

McCullers could get there the fastest if he ends up in relief. Otherwise I think Correa could move the fastest.

Jim S. (Baltimore)

I don't think it is fair that Escobar gets suspended solely for the Yankees series but gets to play against the Orioles. Why does MLB want the Orioles to miss the playoffs so badly?

Klaw

  (1:23 PM)

Didn't Toronto suspend him, not MLB?

Keith (Saginaw MI)

Seems like any stat that makes Cabrera's case (Triple Crown) you are against and any stat that makes Trout's (WAR) you are in love with.

Klaw

  (1:23 PM)

Meow. Show me a rational stat that makes Cabrera's case. The "Triple Crown" ain't rational.

No Heart Anthony (Maryland)

I haven't completely look into the this because I am too lazy, but one theory I have on run differential and how it correlates to actual wins involves the quality of the back end of a bullpen. In my opinion, it would make sense for a team to have a better record in one run games if they have the pieces to hold those leads. For example, the Pirates early in the year, had the eight and ninth innings shut down since Grilli and Hanrahan were lights out.

Klaw

  (1:24 PM)

This is absolutely a factor - yet the Orioles are still outplaying expectations even if you try to account for the strong pen (especially Strop/Johnson).

Klaw

  (1:25 PM)

BTW, the Seattle hitters trying to hit Strop last night might have been the funniest thing in a game since Napoli's throw hit the umpire in the posterior about 15 hours previously.

Fred (Iowa)

Who's second in the AL ROY race? Cespedes?

Klaw

  (1:25 PM)

Darvish?

Nasty Nate (Boston, MA)

If you predict early in the season that a team will not be "good," and that team wins their division and the world series, and you still claim that the prediction is accurate, then your definition of "good" is so irrelevant as to be useless.

Klaw

  (1:27 PM)

There's a difference between predicting a team will be "good," a fairly subjective term, and predicting a won/lost record or a run differential, which can be demonstrated to be wrong. My won/lost prediction on Baltimore was wrong, of course.

Mike (San Diego)

I read a comment somewhere saying that Cabrera should get some additional value because he made the sacrifice to move to 3rd and that allowed Delmon Young to get in the lineup. Shouldn't anything that adds Delmon Young to a lineup be looked at as a negative?

Klaw

  (1:27 PM)

Plus that's a shoehorn argument for Cabrera - someone wants him to be MVP, or wants to make a counterfactual argument, so they're inserting a totally subjective and largely unmeasurable point into the discussion. You could also argue Mike Trout's main value was pushing Vernon Wells to the bench.

Justin (Kentucky)

Since there really isn't much of a choice, would you be bummed to have the AL ROY vote this year?

Klaw

  (1:28 PM)

That would be less fun than NL, sure.

Person (DC)

Harper has an 11 UZR and while it's a tiny sample it seems unlikely he's bad in center field, right?

Klaw

  (1:28 PM)

I agree. I think his UZR is probably too high, but even so, he's added some value on defense.

Jason (paJasonPA)

I still feel like the jury is out on Huntington. He's competent and there is room for improvement. I jus feel anyone in that position would have it tough. Yinzers would blame anyone that is the GM for the past 20 years.

Klaw

  (1:29 PM)

That's part of why I asked. Is Huntington merely being blamed for all 20 years when he's only been in charge for five?

Myles (Litchfield, CT)

Odorizzi didn't exactly light up AAA with his K or BB rate, is he a bit overrated?

Klaw

  (1:30 PM)

Depends on what you expect. He's not an ace or even a 2, never really has been. I give him some chance to improve his offspeed stuff because he's so athletic, but there's no knockout pitch and I worry that the fastball is a little true.

Matt (Brew City)

KLaw, love your stuff. Is Hunter Morris a future major league regular? Am I right that the Brewers best minor league position players are all not likely major league starters? They all seem too old for their levels or just not rounded enough (see Taylor Green). Thanks!

Klaw

  (1:30 PM)

If Morris is a regular, it's probably a second-division regular - someone who'd start for ten teams, but not for most teams.

Rob (Philly)

Tampa next year: Shields traded and Archer in. %?

Klaw

  (1:31 PM)

Or Hellickson traded.

Steve (Iowa)

Keith isn't the issue at the heart of this Orioles discussion whether we're talking about prediction v. description? Obviously the Orioles have won these games, you can't take that away from them. But past record isn't necessarily indicative of future record, where as 'true' talent level is a much better predictor.

Klaw

  (1:31 PM)

Good point. But we can argue and disagree over how to assess true talent level.

Father Tom (Florida)

Empire Falls is awesome. My first Russo. What of his should I read next?

Klaw

  (1:32 PM)

Straight Man is his funniest. Nobody's Fool is probably his next-best complete novel.

Dan (Kalamazoo, MI)

Thanks for jinxing Max Scherzer! MRI on his shoulder came out negative last night, but should probably not play again this season.He has had pretty good control for a K pitcher the past few seasons, but has really kicked it into a different gear this season. What is it about his delivery that lead you to think of him as a relief pitcher? I do think he could be a monster there, but would be sad to have him out of the rotation.

Klaw

  (1:33 PM)

He was much more violent when he was in the minors, and he'd had minor shoulder issues in college as a result. But he did a fair amount of cleanup before reaching Detroit that gave him this opportunity to start.

Jon (Minnesota)

Do you see Oswaldo Arcia as a Top 100? Seems to go under the radar, though he could cut down on the K's.

Klaw

  (1:34 PM)

He was on my top 100 last year.

Mattt (Minneapolis )

Will we be getting a review on the dish about the new Eastwood baseball movie? I don't particularly care to see the film, but absolutely want to read your take on it.

Klaw

  (1:34 PM)

Will Leitch dared me to review it, so I think I have to. His review of it (on Deadspin) was hilarious, BTW.

Jason (Aberdeen, MD)

Hey Keith......what do you think about Keon Broxton and Leon Landry? Any chance either of their ceilings will be Future All-Stars? How do you feel about crabcakes? If you're ever in my area (Ripken Stadium), check out Boxhill Pizzera, they're the best around. Thanks.

Klaw

  (1:36 PM)

Landry no, not even sure he's a fourth OF. Broxton has tools ... but he's still really raw, even at 22. Love crabcakes. My two Baltimore musts were always breakfast at Blue Moon and trying crabcakes somewhere new.

Fred (Austin, TX)

Doesn't the back and forth over the O's run diff miss the most important point? Who cares if they are "lucky"? If you are a fan it is still fun to see your team win so frequently

Klaw

  (1:36 PM)

I agree. Fans of a team shouldn't worry about run differential or whether Keith Law thinks their team is good.

Teddy (austin)

With all the talk about Baltimore, Oakland never comes up. Is Oakland lucky? Where would you rate them in the AL. Do they actually have a 90+ win roster?

Klaw

  (1:37 PM)

I think so. It's more fair to criticize me for underrating some of their players (like Reddick, whom I wrote about yesterday) than Baltimore's (I'm not sure where I was light there). I was light on a number of Oakland guys, which is why I was so low on their potential this year.

J (Boston)

if Trout doesn't win ROY unanimously, should that voter be publicly ridiculed, and lose their voting privileges?

Klaw

  (1:38 PM)

Such a slippery slope there. It's one thing to revoke the privileges of people who vote for ineligible players. It's another to get into subjectivity. If we're going to revoke anyone's privileges, it should be those who use the ballot for 'homer' purposes, to enhance their standing in the local team's clubhouse.

Timmy (Kansas)

Was making your own bacon worth the time/effort?

Klaw

  (1:38 PM)

Hell yes.

BG (MN)

Is Bobby V bi-polar?

Klaw

  (1:39 PM)

Not comfortable with using a legitimate mental illness as some kind of snarky insult.

Ron (Houston, TX)

If Austin Kubitza and John Simms (Rice) have reasonable workloads in the spring, do you promise to at least reconsider your position on Rice pitchers? Maybe the old dog has learned a new trick?

Klaw

  (1:39 PM)

Workloads haven't really been the issue - it's the regimen between starts.

AC (Dirty Jerz)

Stayed up until 3:30... Birds Fan and advanced metric snob... Cognitive dissonance is hard when you're tired. Also, Teagarden is a sorcerer.

Klaw

  (1:40 PM)

Someone check his arm for the Dark Mark.

Todd M. (Mesa, AZ)

Thoughts on Tony La Russa still holding a grudge against you?

Klaw

  (1:40 PM)

Sad, no? You've just won a World Series, and that's what you're thinking about? To say nothing of La Russa and Hummel both getting so many facts wrong in that passage.

Justin (Boston)

I asked you this on Twitter, and I'll ask again here - what stats would comprise the Keith Law-approved Triple Crown?

Klaw

  (1:41 PM)

I wouldn't. I don't like that shorthand replacing an attempt to encapsulate total value in a single number, with visible components.

Paul (NJ)

Nate Jones has quietly had a pretty good year in the 'pen, is his upside as a closer or an 8th inning guy?

Klaw

  (1:43 PM)

Either. All about command and control with him. First saw him in 2009, was 92-98 with a plus slider, but couldn't throw enough strikes.

Gus (Forest Grove, OR)

Do you have thoughts on the factors contributing to Justin Smoak's demise? Do you know what has changed (qualitatively) between the praiseworthy Smoak of yesteryear and the trainwreck version?

Klaw

  (1:43 PM)

Bat speed is noticeably slower. Also think he's so geared up to not miss the fastball that offspeed eats him alive.

John (Arlington)

Ceiling for Nathan Karns?

Klaw

  (1:44 PM)

Top end reliever.

Mike (Cleveland)

Triple Crown may not relate total value of a player, but most of the winners are ultimate Hall of Famers. Maybe it does take special skills to win it.

Klaw

  (1:44 PM)

It's also tied to playing a lot in the heart of a lineup. Not saying TC winners suck, just that there are other independent variables at play.

Chris (California)

Is Josh Donaldson for real? Killed AAA and has been the best 3B in the AL not named Cabrera since getting called back up 32 games ago.

Klaw

  (1:46 PM)

I doubt it - he was repeating AAA and had a pretty weak track record before that. I liked him a ton out of the draft, but he hasn't performed until this year.

Marty (Fairfield, CT)

Do you think baseball umpires have gotten worse, or are their errors more apparent due to social media?

Klaw

  (1:46 PM)

The latter.

JR (Vegas)

Do I have this correct: DUIs - zero game suspension; bigotry - 3 game suspension; PEDs - 50 game suspension. Sounds like MLB has it's priorities straight.

Klaw

  (1:48 PM)

They do have their priorities straight - their priority was getting Congress off their backs.

Pardue (Atlanta)

Trout is the obvious choice for AL MVP. But who would you have following him?

Klaw

  (1:49 PM)

Verlander.

Pat (Baltimore)

Trout has a 3 fWAR advantage over Cabrera, why is this a discussion? I feel like we need a public service announcement regarding RBI.

Klaw

  (1:50 PM)

RBI love is just a symptom of a broader problem.

Anders (Toronto)

Pretty easy to conduct a thought experiment wherein the Triple Crown winner isn't the best player - player A is a DH who "wins" the triple crown, player B is a good CF who is a point/rbi/homer or two behind player A in everything. Which, really, isn't so far off the case this year.

Klaw

  (1:50 PM)

Yep.

Rick (Memphis)

Does Hultzen start next year in the MLB

Klaw

  (1:50 PM)

I don't see this. He finished pretty poorly, and I imagine the M's would want to see improvement in AAA in April before committing to him.

jeff (sacramento)

Care to take a stab at the Orioles starting pitcher rotation next year? There's only about 15 candidates.

Klaw

  (1:52 PM)

Has to include Hammel, Chen, Tillman, and Britton, right? I'd give Matusz one more shot in the fifth spot.

Richard (Toronto)

What does the move from Las Vegas to Buffalo mean for the Jays developmentally, more consistent stats to analyze, better ballpark, closer to home? Did the Jays essentially win the jackpot by getting Buffalo as an affiliate?

Klaw

  (1:53 PM)

Better ballpark is the key.

Klaw

  (1:53 PM)

Look at Gose, Snider, Hechavarria in Vegas this year. Totally misleading, and it's harder to develop hitters in that environment, not just pitchers.

Max (TN)

Why do you talk about cooking? What cooking credentials do you have?

Klaw

  (1:56 PM)

Who are you, Mayor Shinn? Will you make me put up a bond? I know how to cook and enjoy discussing it. If you don't like the cooking talk, door's on your left.

CJ (Toledo, OH)

Why do you talk about The Wire? What drug dealing credentials do you have?

Klaw

  (1:56 PM)

I was a pharmaceutical distributor.

Aaron (Merrick, NY)

We know you like duck as a cooking meat/poultry. Why do you prefer it over, say, chicken?

Klaw

  (1:57 PM)

Darker meat has much more flavor, and the skin is like candy when you crisp it correctly. Chicken breast meat is the most boring animal protein imaginable.

FS (DC)

did you watch Anthony rendon this season? his potential defensively and offensively?

Klaw

  (1:58 PM)

No, missed him by a few weeks, but I'll see him next month in the AFL.

James (Scottsdale, AZ)

I am going to give Liberty Market a try. What's your favorite item there?

Klaw

  (1:58 PM)

The salmon BLT.

Frank (Denver)

Are you as excited as I am for a new season of the original Top Chef? Not sure I like bringing Wolfgang on as a judge though.

Klaw

  (1:59 PM)

Yes, and I agree. I think he might be too nice.

Roger (Washington DC)

So what did you think about Belt's swing when you got a chance to see him this weekend?

Klaw

  (2:00 PM)

It's not good. Trying to get with Hensley Meulens to discuss it. (By the way, his voicemail starts, "Hi, this is Bam-Bam." How awesome is that?) Belt's got his hands way back and throws his front hip forward - and he didn't do all that crap in the fall league in 2010.

Kernel Sanders (KFC)

Isn't that chicken meat genetically engineered to be boring? Maybe a wild chicken you taste better!

Klaw

  (2:01 PM)

That's very true. Pasture-raised chickens have much less breast meat as a percent of the whole bird.

Tommy (Cal)

Keith, is MOY award the most pointless award out there? Teams like The A's and Orioles are winning in spite of their manager, and other teams have been doing it for years.

Klaw

  (2:01 PM)

Is that really true? You think Showalter has hurt the O's? I don't agree with that at all.

Richard (Toronto)

I started watching Top Chef Masters as a result of your write ups on it. Which of the chef's restaurants have you visited, and which do you want to visit the most?

Klaw

  (2:02 PM)

None yet, but Chris Cosentino's is tops on my list.

HankScorpio (Cypress Creek)

Thoughts on Sal Perez? As a Royals fan, I see a kid that just turned 22 that is killing it at the plate and in the field. But, as a Royals fan, I'm pretty quick to latch on to anything potentially positive. Is he someone we can be excited about? Thanks.

Klaw

  (2:04 PM)

Yeah, he's legit. I wrote about him in the comments under my piece yesterday - he looked so ordinary, maybe less than that, in the AFL his year here, but in hindsight it seems likely he was just worn out from the long year.

JERICHO (DETROIT)

how EMBARRASSED are you going to be when MIGUEL CABRERA is the AL MVP??????? seriously he could win the TRIPLE CROWN but you have this sabermetric fetish that you need to get over! who cares if mike trout is 0.000001% higher in WAR. no wonder you've been out of a real baseball job for so long

Klaw

  (2:04 PM)

The problem is that Trout's about 50% higher in WAR, not 0.000001%. Math is hard, but I assume you can even see that's a big difference.

V C (CA)

Aaron Hicks: Finally put it together or just an anamoly?

Klaw

  (2:05 PM)

I think we're getting there. But I've long been a fan.

Michael (Philadelphia)

Hey Keith- Purchased the app Le Havre, but the game seems to have an abnormally steep learning curve (unlike say TTR, Carcassonne or Samurai) and have been unable to get the hang of it. Worth it to tough it and keep trying to plow through or move on to something else? Any new iOS games catch your eye?

Klaw

  (2:05 PM)

Very steep. I think Caylus is a little easier to pick up, and since Le Havre was built off that it's easier to learn that after you get the hang of Caylus. I reviewed Lost Cities a week or so ago - that's a very easy-to-learn and well-implemented boardgame app.

Dan (Tulsa)

What's the triple crown of animal proteins?

Klaw

  (2:07 PM)

Pork belly (bacon), duck leg (confit), crab (anything, really).

Colin (Waco)

Not that I think Cabrera is the MVP, but it's not fair when you only show the Cabrera supporters that are obvious idiots.

Klaw

  (2:07 PM)

Selection bias. They're the most likely to come running into the chat with Y U HATE THE TIGGERS? questions.

Klaw

  (2:12 PM)

I truly don't see a rational case for Cabrera. It's all based on outdated and incomplete stats. Trout and Cabrera have equivalent OBPs. Cabrera has a 54-point lead in SLG, but plays in a better offensive park. Trout is a plus defender, Cabrera is a poor one. Trout has stolen 46 bases of 50; Cabrera has stolen 4 of 5. Replacement level at 3b and cf are pretty close to equal. So Miggy's slight lead in power is obliterated by Trout's huge advantages in defense and basestealing. Is that really hard to understand? Do we even need WAR or a similar construct to tell us that?

Zack (San Diego)

If Vizquel did reach 3,000 hits, how would that affect your opinion of his HOF chances, if they do at all? I know you are not a big fan and think of him as a homeless man's Ozzie Smith

Klaw

  (2:13 PM)

It would not. I don't believe in arbitrary benchmarks for the HoF.

Mike (Detroit)

Would you still have Cabrera outside of your top 5 like you did a few weeks back? If so, is your argument that you think his defense is more like -20 or more runs as opposed to around -10 that most metrics have him credited with right now?

Klaw

  (2:13 PM)

He's top 5 now, definitely. He's also passed Austin Jackson, so he'd be second on his own team, not third.

Matt (Steinway)

Lobster > Crab

Klaw

  (2:13 PM)

Meh. Lobster is just a vehicle for drawn butter.

mymrbig (NOLA)

If you publicly state that Miguel Cabrera is one of the best hitters in the game and an extremely valuable baseball player, will the complainers go away?

Klaw

  (2:14 PM)

They'll just complain about something else.

Klaw

  (2:14 PM)

Thanks for all the questions - I will be back next Thursday, on the usual schedule again. And if you're at Angel Stadium tonight or tomorrow, tweet at me - I'll be there both nights.