Klawchat 10/3/19.

Keith Law: What the hell am I trying to say? It’s Klawchat.

BigDaddeh: Should the Mets fire Mickey?
Keith Law: They already did. That’s probably the right move, but he’s also not the reason they missed the playoffs.

Kevin: Tampa Bay Ray new stadium debacle seems to hinge on what city can build them a new stadium first and the team will eventually locate there permanently? Cant see two cities spending that much coin for 40-something games.
Keith Law: I feel like there’s no viable solution in that metro area. Why would any city there waste public funds when there’s a 20 year history of fan indifference? What economic development could they even pretend will come from such an investment?

Dave: What happened to Felix Hernandez? Just too much wear and tear on the arm?
Keith Law: The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

addoeh: How easy is it to make Kurkjian laugh?
Keith Law: He’s a jovial guy. He’s also as nice and kindhearted as he appears to be.

Wil: Years ago, Bill Simmons wrote an article on Grantland about changing the draft to a revolving pick in the attempt to discourage tanking in the NBA. It guaranteed every team a top 6 pick every 5 years. I think the idea had even more merit now for MLB as it might also improve the recent slow free agency periods. What is you take? (Article: https://grantland.com/the-triangle/the-nbas-possible-solution-for-tank… )
Keith Law: I would favor some change to the top of the draft that discourages teams from accepting 110-loss seasons. There are numerous solutions, like a lottery for the top ten picks, or a form of restricted free agency for the top amateurs followed by a regular draft. Decoupling losing from the right to spend more on amateurs would help matters.

Bob: Do you think if the Mariners opened up 2B for Shed Long that he could grow into a solid regular at that spot or is he better fit as a utility guy?
Keith Law: He’s a 40 defender there. I don’t see it.

Phil: True or False: Joey Votto’s seven OBP titles have already punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame.
Keith Law: False. No evidence enough voters care about that.

JJ: What’s your guess for Game 3 in Tampa? My prediction, based on twenty years of experience with the franchise: 6,000 fans in attendance, 4,200 of whom are actually wearing Red Sox gear. When does MLB finally pull the plug on this market?
Keith Law: See above. I bet they get 15-20,000 fans. That’s not close to enough.

Brian: Obviously Tommy Edman is not a .304/.350/.500 player going forward, but can he be a useful starter for a playoff team? Or is he more likely a utility guy?
Keith Law: I think utility guy.

Jackie: If JD Martinez opts out of his contract, can he get more than the 3 years/$63 million the Red Sox would pay him if he stayed? His market two winters ago was non-existent, and it’s clear that he’s incapable of playing the field at this point.
Keith Law: Fair question. I keep reading it’s a fait accompli that he opts out, but his market would seem to be limited, no? And he’d be hitting a much more competitive FA market overall, plus the possibility that names like Betts or Lindor will be on the trade market.

Stephen: Now that the New York Metropolitans have moved on from Mickey Callaway, I would think the follow three will be included for new mgr: Joe Maddon, Joe Girardi or Carlos Beltran? Also should the Mets look into Mookie Betts?
Keith Law: Beltrán? He has zero qualifications. He’s never coached anywhere, let alone managed.

Sam: If you are the Giants do you give Will Smith a QO? I imagine if they do it would substantially hurt him in free agency and there is a decent chance he would accept it.
Keith Law: The counterargument is that he’s not easily tradeable at that salary, and the Giants would be better served spending that money on just about any other roster spot.

Moe Mentum: Name a musician or band from your teen years (1980s?) that you didn’t fully appreciate at the time until after they were no longer making new music. Talking Heads for me, no question.
Keith Law: The Smiths, although with Moz turning into a white nationalist I find them a bit harder to listen to these days.

Matt: What’s your take on Mitch Keller? He’s always been considered a top prospect, but really struggled this year once he reached the majors.
Keith Law: He is a top prospect, the first stint in the majors doesn’t actually tell us that much, but I very much believe he has to develop another third pitch because this is at least three years of him “working on” a changeup that isn’t getting better.

BigDaddeh: Is 9 straight defeats in elimination games SSS?
Keith Law: Yes.
Keith Law: 9 straight defeats over how many seasons?

Sedona: Any hope for Raimel Tapia or Tyler O’Neil to be starters within a couple years? OR are they quad guys?
Keith Law: I have more hope for Tapia as he’s a more well-rounded player who can contribute on defense.

Dean Mavrides: Are you buying in on Frankie Montas’ breakout this year or is it due to PED’s & and luck?
Keith Law: I’m not really buying him as a starter.

Rich J: It’s October, so obviously your readers have one question in mind: who are the standouts so far in the AzFL?
Keith Law: No idea. I haven’t been yet.

Tim Robinson: Is this the downside to impeachment – Trump doubling down and committing more crimes even more out in the open?
Keith Law: I mean, I think that’s probably a positive, no? Hope that he does enough to move public opinion further against him?

Santos: Do you watch the statcast broadcast? It’s awesome and I no longer twitch when I listen to baseball announcers
Keith Law: I didn’t last night because I was multitasking and had the game on with the sound off.

Michael: What ramifications do you expect from the California law allowing College Athelets to be paid for use of their name, image and likeness? Will is force a showdown with the NCAA?
Keith Law: I think it’s only positive, but I don’t know how the NCAA will respond (other than assuming they’ll do something anti-player and then give themselves hefty pay raises).

bartleby: wouldn’t the Mets benefit by hiring a manager with actual managerial experience (unlike Mickey), instead of going after a newbie?
Keith Law: Yes. That’s nearly always the best strategy.

Idaho Nuke: It sure looks like it’s Maddon’s job to turn down for LAA. Do you think Girardi manages again?
Keith Law: I know Maddon’s interviewing in San Diego, too. I expect both guys to be in dugouts on Opening Day.

Kik: Do you think Anthony Kay can be a top rotation type starter?
Keith Law: I don’t, but I think he can be a quality id-rotation starter.

HH: Are we headed for an era of tanking/rebuilding/contending/repeat waves for all but the 3-4 richest teams? Seems like that would be rational for almost everyone.
Keith Law: Yes, barring some changes to the system, that seems like the strategy most teams will take, especially since the owners like saving money.

Tim Robinson: The Mets traded away their future for .8 fWAR. If they didn’t make the Kelenic trade, would they have made the playoffs?
Keith Law: That trade was stupid the day they made it, but I don’t think it cost them a playoff berth.

Dr. Bob: Are the Cubs really going to consider the never-managed-or-coached-anywhere, former player David Ross? The recent track record of those guys hasn’t been so good.
Keith Law: Seems like it but I have no inside info on that. When I talk to front office people I don’t ask about rumors that fifty other people are chasing. They get enough of that elsewhere.

Joe: Kershaw’s looping, parabolic lefty curveball–why do lefties seem to be able to throw these while righties do not? I’m not sure if this is camera angle, or small samples, or what, but I’ve been curious why this sort of pitch seems hand-dependent.
Keith Law: It’s not hand-dependent; I think that’s just an availability bias. You remember more of those from lefties.

Jake: What are your thoughts on the strength of this years draft compared to recent yrs? What do you think KC is looking at at #4?
Keith Law: No team is looking at specific players yet.

BD: What does it say for the game when a team like the Red Sox might trade Betts for money relief?
Keith Law: It says the luxury tax is doing exactly what the owners hoped it would do. There’s a baseball argument for trading Betts, but it’s secondary to this financial consideration.

Adam: Do you believe Forest Whitley can still be a consistent starter for the Astros after this year’s disappointment?
Keith Law: Yes.

Sho: Given what he’s been, has Stephen Strasburgh overperformed or underperformed as an overall #1 pick?
Keith Law: He’s performed. Neither over nor under.

John: If Yellich had played all 162 could he have beaten Bellinger for MVP in your vote or was Belli pretty far ahead at the point Yellich got hurt?
Keith Law: He had a chance had he played the whole year.

Kevin W: Do you frequent the athletic or the ringer?
Keith Law: I subscribe to the Athletic and read articles there rather often.

Rob: Seems rotten for the angels to fire ausmus after that season, doesn’t seem there was anything he could have done to change that. Do you think he is a scapegoat or maybe the FO or arte didn’t like something behind the scenes?
Keith Law: Probably a scapegoat, but did he show any growth from his time in Detroit? I don’t think he did.
Keith Law: Handsome guy, though.

Eric: I wish I knew when I went to college that Grifting was a potential job opportunity. It seems so fun to just make up things when the facts are in front of you and make boatloads of money from it.
Keith Law: Indeed. More schools should offer it as a major.

Jesse B: Does Victor Robles make enough hard contact to be a .300 hitter at some point?
Keith Law: I would bet no, but it’s not out of the question.

Kevin: When I hear that people say the game is now 3rd in popularity why should I care? It won’t go away and the amount of other fans doesn’t change my love for baseball.
Keith Law: Yeah that’s “please like my sport” nonsense. Baseball remains popular. It could do more to get fans in the seats, and to recruit/retain younger fans, but it’s not dying.

Mad Max’s Brown Eye: What do you see as a fair market contract for Rendon, and what teams besides the Nationals are likely to pursue him aggressively?
Keith Law: I’m assuming Boras will be thinking 8/$250MM as a floor, probably asking for more to start. He’ll play at 30 next year, though, so I’m not expecting the length of deals we saw for Machado/Harper last winter. BTW, Rendon was so injury-plagued in his early 20s, but his lowest PA in any of the last four seasons was 597. Give him credit for newfound durability.

John: Seems to me as if the area around Nationals Stadium is an exception to the idea that stadiums don’t fuel economic growth in the area. Any thoughts? Not trying to provoke an argument, and the general rule may still hold; I just find it interesting.
Keith Law: Did the stadium spur that, or other local initiatives to develop a dead area?

Pramit: Do you believe that with heavy bullpen usage and openers that teams may not be developing starters to have enough secondary to turnover a line up 3 times?
Keith Law: If there’s a developmental gap it’s in the minors where pitchers are often restricted to pitch counts of 80 or lower so they don’t learn to turn over lineups.

Eric: Who is your pick to win the WS?
Keith Law: Houston over Tampa, NYY over Minnesota, Houston over NYY. LAD over Washington, St. Louis over Atlanta, LAD over St. Louis. Houston over LAD.

Ben: Why don’t teams simply throw balls to minor leaguers coming to the big leagues until they prove they’re disciplined? It seems like discipline is the main thing most young hitters lack, and we see young hitters come up, start hot, then never find that level of success again when teams stop throwing right at them. There are exceptions for minor leaguers with known discipline, obviously, but it seems like there is a lot of the old school “challenge them” mindset to throw strikes and just see if they can hit it when the opposite may be more successful.
Keith Law: I disagree with the premise that most young hitters lack discipline.

Tim Robinson: Doesn’t Beltran make as much sense as BVW did?
Keith Law: You make a valid point.

JP: Does news of the SI firings today impact your impending free agency on 12/31/19?
Keith Law: Uh, that’s kind of gross. A few dozen people lost their jobs today. This isn’t and shouldn’t be about me.

Eric: Do you see the Mets as a playoff team next year? Is Pete Alonso for real?
Keith Law: He’s for real, although I doubt he hits 53 homers with the 2018 baseball. I don’t think they’re a playoff team as currently constituted, but BVW will certainly make moves this winter. Mind you I didn’t say good moves. Just moves.

Jon V: Cleveland is facing the inevitable with Lindor but have now publicly stated that they won’t shop
Keith Law: I don’t believe that. It makes no sense not to take offers on him.

Eric: I know it’s still months away, but the derek jeter hall of fame voting is going to break the internets, right?
Keith Law: I don’t think so – he’s going to sail in, probably unanimously now that that seal is broken.

Tom: Should I be encouraged by Pavin Smith’s season?
Keith Law: I’m not sure what is encouraging about it.

Brian: With winter meetings in san diego this year, will you visit any breweries or have a book signing?
Keith Law: Probably neither, sorry. I can’t leave the meetings for that length of time, and I’m not staying extra this year.

Eric: NL Cy Young winner?
Keith Law: I did that column last week.

Mad Max’s Brown Eye: What are the requirements for minor league stadia to be acceptable for, say, AA vs. AAA? Wouldn’t it make a ton of sense for the Nationals to use Richmond as a AAA base, and for some more western team to take Fresno? I understand that you’d need to put another team in the AA Eastern League, but some of the affiliations make no sense.
Keith Law: Some is historical, some is driven by market sizes, but yeah, one East team getting stuck with a AAA affiliate in the mountains of Titan is not really very sensible.

Hank: How much do you weigh performance in the AFL vs full season minor leagues (ie Royce Lewis)?
Keith Law: Zero. AFL performance is not predictive: Sample sizes are tiny and competition is highly variable.

John: A different sort of question on Mookie Betts. If we take him at his word about testing the market, then a team is trading only for his 2020 services. That’s still valuable, but it differs from the usual scenario when the trade partner thinks it has a chance at an extension. If that’s the case, then the trade partner has to be a team that’s really close to winning it all now. There really aren’t all that many teams that (a) are in contention, (b) have somewhere to put him, and (c) have major prospects to give. Is it fair to say that it might be harder to trade him than people expect?
Keith Law: That’s a very reasonable argument. I guess I’d counter by saying that teams would make room for a player of Betts’ caliber, even trading the player he might replace, to get one year of possibly 8 WAR.

Joe: Knowing where the Tigers farm system is now, and ownership’s unwillingness to spend in FA, when do you think is a realistic timeline to think the team could contend again? Close to never with this ownership philosophy?
Keith Law: I wouldn’t say that but I think they’re more in the 4-5 years away category than closer.

Robert: I heard the Rangers might look to move one of their left handed hitting outfielders. Is Nomar Mazara a good buy low candidate? He’s had a lot of at bats, but is still fairly young.
Keith Law: I wonder if he gets better with a new org, just from a change of scenery/new approach. But maybe this is just what he is.

Jeff: Do you think the Wilpons/BVW combo will make it tough for the Mets to hire a highly sought-after manager? Why would a Maddon or Girardi volunteer to work in that circus?
Keith Law: Money. If they’re willing to pay they’ll get whoever they want.

BE: Avila is talking about not rushing prospects. Is there any reason not to see Mize and Manning in 2020 other than service time manipulation?
Keith Law: Mize ended the year on the shelf and I want to see him fully healthy before I think about a timetable for his debut.

Andy: Can Trammell play CF? In everything you’ve written, he only has the arm for LF, but would his glove play in CF? San Diego has a lot in the corners, but not much in center.
Keith Law: I don’t know anyone who thinks he can play CF.

Patrick: Keith, thx for not just sticking to baseball.
Have to pick options for our next book club–heavy into mystery and romance, but want to branch them out. Anything you might recommend? (I have perused your last Top 100 for tips already!)
Keith Law: For non-fiction, perhaps Amity and Prosperity, this year’s Pulitzer winner. For fiction, how about Elizabeth McCracken’s Bowlaway or Lisa Halliday’s Asymmetry?

Andy: The Braves opted to save Soroka for Game 3 due to his home/road splits (4.14 ERA & 1.303 WHIP vs 1.55 ERA & 0.963 WHIP). With a sample size that small, that’s pretty short-sighted, right? Plus, a road playoff atmosphere will be different from any he has ever pitched in.
Keith Law: I don’t think “he can only pitch on the road” is a thing, either.

Ron: Why do you suspect so many sports pundits (mostly white) are so upset about college athletes being able to…..have money? I will never understand why anyone would care about another person’s bank account.
Keith Law: I’m sure race is part of it – at the very least, you would think such white pundits would have a harder time relating to athletes of color, or putting themselves in the athletes’ shoes – but a lot of it is just defending the status quo.

Jim: Love the chats. Re something from last chat… I don’t keep up on all op-ed contributors at the major papers. What became of Bret Stephens? At WSJ he seemed to be reasonable “never-Trumper”. Something change?
Keith Law: Not sure, but now he’s doing videos for PragerU, the alt-right indoctrination video series on YouTube. The Times should absolutely fire him for that. It is incompatible with a job at a respected news outlet.

Buscon Bob: Between Avisail Garcia, Eric Sogard and Travis d’Arnaud, whom should the Rays consider 1st to attempt to sign an extension before FA?
Keith Law: None of the three for me.

Dave: Regarding the Callaway comment above about experience, does that mean major league pitching coach would be below AAA manager in terms of where you’d look to hire?
Keith Law: Yes.

LB: You’re Theo and Jed.
Keith Law: Woof, I have a hard enough time just being one person.

dave-o: Prez Pumpkinhead just requested China to go after Biden- isn’t that exactly what he’s being impeached for? WTF?
Keith Law: Forget it, he’s rolling.

JP: thoughts on the Joker movie?
Keith Law: No interest.

Dave: Is Kyle Lewis a long term solution in Seattle? Or was it just SSS at work?
Keith Law: SSS. Look at his minor league line from this year.

Ron: Betts for Verdugo, Ruiz, and Josiah Gray. Who says no
Keith Law: The Dodgers.

Jon V: Some interesting comments from Tito on Jake Bauers’ exit interview. Was his attitude a factor in TBs decision to move on from him?
Keith Law: I didn’t hear that specifically, but he did voice his displeasure with Tampa’s attempts to change his launch angle to get him more power. (That lack of power is why I never ranked him that highly; 1b only, not good there, has plate discipline and bat-to-ball skills but never projected for power.) Maybe that was a factor?

pj: Do you think pitchers with really good sliders were affected the most by the new ball? and is there any hope that with a new new ball some of these pitchers will revert back to their pre 2019 form? askin for some friends (diaz, thor)
Keith Law: I have heard this hypothesis several times from baseball people. It is plausible, at least. I’d like to see some evidence to support it.

Sage: KB + Happ for Betts ?
Keith Law: I don’t see how that helps Boston.

HH: Re more young MLB fans: Are Saturday night games really THAT much more profitable than Saturday day games? Saturday day games are the only time I’d consider taking my kid, and there are almost never games then.
Keith Law: I thought the lack of Saturday day games was a function of the Fox TV contract.

Jeff: Did the Mets deplete their farm system beyond the point of being able to make a trade offer for Betts?
Keith Law: Definitely not. Smith + Mauricio + Szapucki for a year of Betts is at least a fair proposal, even if the Red Sox might want more.

addoeh: Some of the arguments against the California college athletes bill have come pretty close to advocating for actual socialism.
Keith Law: From people who would probably tell you they’d sooner turn to satanism, too.

Todd: Think Betances gets a QO or hits free agency?
Keith Law: Guessing FA but I’m not sure.

Buscon Bob: Why is Trevor Bauer getting his own TV show?
Keith Law: Radio, right? Still, I don’t know. There are many other players more deserving of the podium.

Troy: Better next 5 year run: Flaherty or Buehler?
Keith Law: Love both. Would lean Buehler on pure stuff.

Ted: if you’re Alex A. you gotta be sliding into the DMs of yet-to-be-named-Red Sox-GM’s every day this winter right? Or would adding Mookie make the Braves too much fun for the universe to allow
Keith Law: They do seem like an ideal fit. They can give Boston young starters, and they have that spot open in RF.

Troy: Do you think Dakota Hudson has shown enough to be a mainstay in the Cardinals rotation?
Keith Law: No.

Regret: I know the Kelenic trade gets most of the “sh**iest move” press, but the Downs/Gray deal for the Reds has to be just as bad, no? Unjustifiable the second it was done–and horrific in retrospect.
Keith Law: Agreed, and then compounded by trading Trammell at his lowest value point for a fourth starter.

Jason: I asked about Xavier Edwards in Periscope yesterday, and you correctly pointed out he played more at 2B than SS. Now that Luis Urias has been freed, could he or Edwards play CF to get both of them into the lineup?
Keith Law: Edwards seems more suited to CF, although they’re at least two years apart developmentally.

Scott: Is Corbin Burnes still a starter for you long term? IIRC Woodruff followed a similar development pattern on his way up.
Keith Law: If healthy, absolutely.

Stu (UK): We chatted last week about my upcoming visit to the USA where I’ll be attending a World Series game- interesting insight into Minneapolis! Thank you! Where would I NOT want to go? Has to be Tampa, no? -Cheers, Stu
Keith Law: Tampa would be the worst of the 8 cities left, since the team itself actually plays in St. Petersburg, the stadium isn’t near anything worthwhile, and getting around that area is not easy.

Eric: When you listen to audiobooks, do you actively listen, or passively listen while doing other things? If the later, how well do you feel you retain the book vs. reading?
Keith Law: I listen while driving, cleaning, or cooking. While driving it’s passive listening, but the other tasks let me focus more on the book. Current audiobook is Josh Levin’s The Queen, which is very very good.

Fellow Little Man: We have a AAA quality park here in AA Hartford, just a hop, skip and a jump from DC. I nobody here has any say over these decisions but if I keep putting it out into the world maybe it’ll happen.
Keith Law: Incredible park. One of my favorites.

Chris: A bit of a delayed reaction here but my nieces and nephews won’t let anyone else make pancakes bc of my whipped egg whites. Glad to know the technique is Klaw-approved!
Keith Law: Huge difference. Do that and cook them in a thin layer of bacon fat for the best scratch pancakes ever.

Tom C: But you will leave the meetings to go to Juniper & Ivy right
Keith Law: I have to eat, Tom.

Tom: Re Pavin Smith: I was referring to his improved Avg and OBP, while still maintaining low strikeout rate, against AA pitching. I thought it was encouraging
Keith Law: No power. He’s a mediocre 1b without power.

Buscon Bob: Is 2020 the year that Tim Tebow decides that he should quit sports?
Keith Law: Maybe Callaway was sacked for opposing a Tebow callup.

JG: If you’re the Twins and could only keep one: do you extend Rosario or Buxton?
Keith Law: Extend Buxton, trade Rosario.

Andy: The President is using Nickleback memes.
Keith Law: Fitting.

Zach: Eh Prager is garbage brain washing, but it’s more hard conservative than alt-right
Keith Law: They’ve really veered into alt-right crapola lately.

John: Any recommendations via your daughter for YA fiction or fiction that’s adult-level reading but thematically appropriate for teens?
Keith Law: I’ll ask her what she recommends when she’s home from school. I know she read & liked my friend Kelly Swails’ This May Go on Your Permanent Record. She loved the Marissa Meyer Lunar Chronicles series too.

Richie O: Are you still upset at the Jays for firing you?
Keith Law: Well, they didn’t fire me, I quit to join ESPN … most fired people don’t start a new job the day after their last one at the old company. Facts still matter around here, Dick.

addoeh: Hey Keith, you live in Delaware. Could investigate the Bidens as well?
Keith Law: I have some very good dope about Ashley Biden’s sixth birthday party. Just waiting for the New York Times to call.

JL: Re: Soroka and the road… I don’t know if there’s truth to it, but David O’Brien and Eric O’Flaherty have mentioned on a podcast that some Braves pitchers believe the mound is too short in ATL. Could be Soroka is not as comfortable on his home mound. Just the messenger. Do you have thoughts on that as a possibility?
Keith Law: I don’t buy it. If the mound is low, and it’s bothering THEIR OWN pitchers, you don’t think the Atlanta brass would address it?

Matt: Speaking of Bill Simmons, didn’t you guys use to try to have a longest chat record? I think he won w/ like 6 hours but I could be wrong.
Keith Law: I used to do long chats but he always had the record as far as I know.

MIke: At what point does tanking become a diminishing return? I mean the Blue Jays can’t be thrilled about losing 95 games for the priveledge of drafting 6th (and its accompanying draft pool).
Keith Law: Agreed, and that fan base seems like one of the angriest at the current leadership.

Mike: Acuna/Pache/Betts OF? Yikes.
Keith Law: Right? Will they give up any doubles all year?

Robert: Did you see the Phil Rogers take where he asserted that the Cubs collapse in the last two seasons was a result of taking Russell off shortstop for Baez in the second half last year? Quality analysis—playing the better player instead of the domestic abuser leads to losses.
Keith Law: I saw it, but it wasn’t backed with evidence. That claim requires support.

Andrew: Bryan Reynolds…is he a legit MLB hitter?
Keith Law: MLB regular, yes. .400 BABIP guy, no.

JA: Any interest in returning to a front office role in the future?
Keith Law: Not really.
Keith Law: I never say never, but that fits my current life less than it ever has.

A-A-Ron: Is your name pronounced “Claw” or “Kay-law”?
Keith Law: Rhymes with “claw.” It’s been my nickname since high school.

Rob: Nice call on Jose Garcia prior to season. Can he be an above average regular at shortstop for the Reds?
Keith Law: Sure sounds like it. I should share credit with Eric Longenhagen, who was on him just as early as I was.

Sedona: BA seems to be buying in on Bryan Mata? What are your thoughts?
Keith Law: I have delivery questions. Great arm though.

John: Do you have any “never miss” podcasts that aren’t really well known? I do a ton of driving and would like to put a new one in the rotation. Thanks.
Keith Law: I listen to The Hidden Brain, Grierson & Leitch, and BBC’s The Inquiry, which are all weekly. I subscribe to some others that come and go, like Hugh Acheson Stirs the Pot, and have done some single-season ones too.

Mad Max’s Brown Eye: Why do any Democrats think the impeachment process is a bad idea, or that they should whip through it as quickly as possible? At the very worst, you’re getting all of the evidence (that you look for, at least) out into public record and forcing the GOP to defend Cheeto Benito’s actions before voters. People talk about his popularity, but Nixon was WAY more popular pre-hearings than Trump ever was, and look how public opinion turned against him.
Keith Law: This is my thought exactly. I’m neither a historian nor a political pundit, but my common sense meter goes bananas at the thought of a deliberate, thorough impeachment hearing.

Joe: Should the Phils dump Klentak/McPhail, Or Kapler? Or clean house with all of them? Should the injuries spare Kapler?
Keith Law: Keep them all. Who do you blame for the whole bullpen getting hurt?

Tom C: I was reading how attendance hit a 7 year low this year, with one theory being fans don’t like the happy fun ball results. But looking at the standings, there seems to be a lot of lousy to middling teams, and that would seem to me to drop it more because what’s the incentive to go watch teams like that?
Keith Law: Agreed – who is buying a season ticket package, even a partial one, to go see a team that isn’t trying to win and doesn’t bring up its prospects because service time.

Nick: Do you think Marcus Wilson is good enough to be an everyday starter in Boston?
Keith Law: I do not. .319 OBP in AA with a huge K% doesn’t bode well.

Bob: Forest Whitley seems to be pitching well again in the AFL. What does he need to do to give the Hou FO confidence that he can contribute in the rotation next year?
Keith Law: Just pitch well, really. I think they were ready to give him 10-15 starts this year until he struggled, and I don’t know if that was the Happy Fun Ball, or some physical issue, or something else.

Andrew: Random Question–I feel like its rare to find Left handed Catchers…is there a baseball reason for that, like its harder to throw the ball to a certain base- etc.
Keith Law: A left-handed thrower with that kind of arm strength probably ends up on the mound as a kid.

Ryan V.: I came across this longform story about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. I, for one, am *super* proud to live in a nation where the administration cares not a whit about the murder of a U.S. resident by a foreign government… https://www.insider.com/the-murder-of-jamal-khashoggi-2019-10
Keith Law: Thanks, I’ll check this out. And yeah, we used to stand for some things.

Bill: In terms of music, do you have any guilty pleasures (songs or bands) that you wouldn’t be overly eager to disclose to others?
Keith Law: You see my monthly and annual playlists – I don’t hide anything on there. If I like a pop song, it goes on the lists. Someone will always make a derisive comment but my tastes are what they are.

James: Do you think the Fair pay to Play act could potentially influence tough sign HS draft prospects in CA? Could they use it as leverage to get more $$$ from MLB teams?
Keith Law: I hope so, but college baseball players don’t have the personal revenue potential of football/basketball players.

Mark Emmert: How dare college athletes try to make money off their name and likeness, that should only be for the schools to do!
Keith Law: And for you personally, of course.
Keith Law: That’s all for this week – back to book writin’, although I’m near the finish line, at least. I appreciate all of your questions and will be back writing for ESPN+ next week after I visit the AFL. Enjoy your weekends!