The Keith Law Show

Keith opens up the mailbag to discuss several prospects -- including expectations for JJ Bleday's arrival in Miami, Spencer Howard's ceiling, Nolan Gorman's long-term position -- and a mix of board game questions. Rundown2:00 Expectations for Atlanta Prospect Bryce Ball3:34 D.J. Peterson & Mitch Garver, Hitters in New Mexico6:50 Prospects w/Biggest Growth Potential 8:18 JJ Bleday’s Timetable9:51 Evaluation Takeaways From Winter Leagues10:40 Cubs Starting Pitching Prospects11:27 Spencer Howard’s Ceiling12:54 Mason Thompson’s Chances of Being a Starter13:55 What is Keith's Favorite Bird in Wingspan?15:28 Who Are the Blue Jays’ Untouchables?16:48 Time to Alter Expectations for Jo Adell?17:45 Changes to Oakland’s Draft Strategy & Player Development20:21 Masyn Winn’s Future21:35 Ranking the Tigers’ Top Pitching Prospects22:38 Nolan Gorman’s Long-Term Position23:27 Simeon Woods Richardson’s Future Role25:52 Top Priority for MLBPA in CBA Negotiations 29:12 Best Expansion for Seven Wonders?30:31 Preferred Place for Reviews in New Fiction34:59 Positional Value in Top 100 Prospect RankingsFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99/month to start: theathletic.com/klaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith is joined by Bobby Heck, special assistant to the general manager for the Tampa Bay Rays to discuss Wander Franco, a shift in the Rays' recent draft philosophy, what they saw in Randy Arozarena before acquiring him from St. Louis, and the scouting process behind George Springer and Dallas Keuchel from Bobby's tenure as the Astros' scouting director. Rundown2:49 Getting Wander Franco Into the Rays’ System5:16 Recent Changes to the Draft Philosophy in Tampa Bay8:42 Seeking Carrying Tools vs. Broader Skill Sets in Scouting10:58 Are Teams Still Overemphasizing a Player’s Height in Scouting?15:47 How the Rays Effectively Blend Scouting with R&D 20:05 What Did the Rays See in Randy Arozarena?21:27 The Process of Scouting George Springer as a First-Round Pick25:43 Why the Astros Targeted Dallas Keuchel as a Seventh-Rounder in 2009Follow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99/month to start: theathletic.com/klaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith discusses a few omissions from his recently released Top 100 prospects list before Mariners pitching prospect Adam Macko joins the show to share the early chapters of his journey into baseball from an unexpected starting point. Rundown1:01 Notable Omissions From Keith's Top 100 Prospects8:38 Adam Macko's Unique Path Into Baseball14:05 The Process of Learning Different Pitches21:22 Early Professional Development with Mariners24:02 Making Baseball More Popular in EuropeFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Adam on Twitter: @adaaam_15Subscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99/month to start: theathletic.com/klaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith is joined by Britt Ghiroli of The Athletic to discuss her experiences as a woman covering baseball for more than a decade — including an unfortunate familiarity with the Jared Porter story — before discussing the latest chapter in the MASN saga, and spring training plans as potential delays loom. Rundown1:39 The Unfortunate Familiarity with the Jared Porter Story5:14 The Tip of the Iceberg & Gender Power Dynamics14:46 How Men Can Be Better Allies20:15 The MASN Mess with the Orioles & Nationals26:41 Spring Training Plans In Light of Possible DelaysFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Britt on Twitter: @Britt_GhiroliSubscribe to The Athletic for just $3.99/month to start: theathletic.com/klaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith opens up the mailbag for several baseball questions before discussing some of the top books of 2020 with Ron Charles of The Washington Post. Rundown1:05 Baseball Mailbag!10:17 Interview w/Ron Charles11:34 "Parnesi" by Susanna Clarke14:56 "Utopia Avenue" by David Mitchell18:03 "Jack" by Marilynne Robinson20:26 "Here We Are" by Graham Swift23:05 "The Glass Hotel" by Emily St. John Mandel27:02 Ron’s Favorite Books of 202029:25 The Impact of Penguin Random House Buying Simon & SchusterFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Ron on Twitter: @RonCharlesBuy a one-year subscription to The Athletic, get one to give to a friend -- FREE -- at theathletic.com/klaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith is joined by Tony Paul of The Detroit News to discuss the Tigers -- including what it's like to cover a bad team, how the franchise missed its window to trade Matthew Boyd, and the struggle to develop position players in recent years -- diversity in baseball, and sushi. Rundown2:40 The Unique Challenge of Covering a Bad Team8:45 Showing More Patience with Young Players12:10 Missing the Window to Trade Matthew Boyd15:27 What Has Prevented the Tigers From Developing Position Players?21:32 Baseball’s Recent Diversity Efforts & Improved Locker Room EnvironmentsFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Tony on Twitter: @TonyPaul1984Buy one subscription to The Athletic, get one free to gift to a friend at theathletic.com/klaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith is joined by Red Sox VP of Scouting Mike Rikard to discuss the development of Jarren Duran, Jay Groome's return to health, the unique challenges in Boston's recent draft classes, big changes in scouting and player development around baseball, and more. Rundown4:01 Jarren Duran’s Development & Recent Swing Changes6:46 Jay Groome is Healthy & Has Added a Slider9:02 Unique Challenges in Recent Red Sox Draft Situations11:07 How Data & Tech Has Changed the Way Players Are Evaluated14:26 The Use of Models in the Draft Room19:25 Big Changes to Scouting & Player Development Around Baseball 24:12 Can We Make This Environment Work for Traditional Scouts?26:44 Dining Recommendations for RaleighFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawSubscribe to The Athletic for just $1/week: theathletic.com/klaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith is joined by Bill Baer, author of the Baer in Mind newsletter, to discuss Drew Smyly's quick move to Atlanta, the unusual position of fans taking the side of MLB owners over the players, and the Phillies' current GM vacancy and near-future direction. Rundown3:10 Drew Smyly to Atlanta & Pillow Deals4:40 Marcus Stroman Accepts the Qualifying Offer8:14 The Puzzling Nature of Fans Backing Owners Over Players10:56 Changing the Way We Talk About Players and Their Contracts15:11 The Struggle to Grasp the Magnitude of the Owners' Wealth18:50 What Should the Phillies Do with Their Front Office Vacancies?21:33 Fixing the Phillies’ Roster & Choosing a Direction29:00 The Damage Being Done with Minor League ContractionFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Bill on Twitter: @baer_billCheck out Bill's newsletter 'Baer in Mind': https://baerinmind.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith is joined by Meg Rowley, Managing Editor of FanGraphs and a co-co-host of the Effectively Wild podcast, to discuss expectations for free agency, big cuts in baseball operations, and MLB’s need for revamped hiring processes in the wake of Tony La Russa’s move to the White Sox. Topics2:53 Free Agency Expectations 8:24 The Impact of Future Non-Tenders on Current Free Agents12:41 In Consideration of Short-Term Deals17:04 Big Cuts in Baseball Operations24:37 Tony La Russa, A.J. Hinch, Alex Cora & Baseball’s Need for Revamped Hiring ProcessesFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Meg on Twitter: @megrowlerSubscribe to The Athletic for just $1/week: theathletic.com/klaw Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Keith is joined by Sarah Langs of MLB to discuss this winter's free agent class. Rundown2:09 Overall Assessment of This Year’s Free Agent Class4:09 J.T. Realmuto & Catcher Aging Profiles7:58 The Market for Marcell Ozuna 12:33 Jackie Bradley’s Foray Into the Open Market15:51 Andrelton Simmons & The Value of Defense20:50 Trevor Bauer vs. Marcus Stroman26:14 Chris Archer & Potentially Overlooked Free Agents31:37 DJ LeMahieu's Step Forward with the YankeesFollow Keith on Twitter: @keithlawFollow Sarah on Twitter: @SlangsOnSports Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.