Sorry I accidently sent it unfinished. Use of second half stats such as your piece on Desmond's second half slump as a representation of what to expect going forward. This is not true and any study of projections will demonstrate that this is a false picture. Data for players is so limited anyway and full season data is the much stronger option to use. When you use second half stats to misrepresent a player's value it produces a false narrative just like you always warn against. Of course that doesn't detract too much from your overall point in Desmond's case. Anyway not a jab. I follow your work extensively for a reason. Just a heads up

Does Christian Arroyo have a chance to crack the top 50 on your next list? Do you think moving him to 3B will be a struggle for him due to his limited range? Thank you.

With all the talk about the obscure California labor law that could affect player free agency (Trout, Bumgarner, Posey...not Pujols), if a lesser player used this clause would they be blackballed by MLB teams? Would the directive be from MLB brass, owners, or would General Managers take it upon themselves?

As someone who obviously values paying for creative services (and rightfully so), what are your thoughts on Spotify and how it pays artists? From what I've read, seems that artists (the smaller ones mainly) get underpaid, potentially even enormously. It's led to my hesitancy to make the switch to Spotify.

Gavin Cecchini made the back end of your Top 100 last year and you still seemed optimistic that he could stay at SS. From all I've read it seems his defense got even worse, but he still looks to be a solid hitter. Will he be anywhere near your Top 100 this year? Do you see him ending up an everyday player?

In theory, do you think teams that ask for taxpayer money to build stadiums should have their full finances open to the public?

Why do you think there's been such a lull in the FA market?

Recently heard Sam Miller voice his distaste for ROY award, citing it favors older players and is biased against players who enter midseason for fiscal reasons (e.g., Gary Sanchez). As an alternative, he suggests best player awards by age groups (e.g., best under 25). As part of his case, Miller stated that Felix Hernandez was younger than at least one top 3 finisher for ROY for 7 straight years(!). Thoughts on Miller’s idea?

I'm struggling with the whole RP shouldn't be in the HOF argument. I get that many, if not all, relief pitchers are guys who weren't good enough to be starters, and I get the argument that they don't throw as many innings as starters so it's difficult to impact a game as much. However, relief pitching is still certainly a very important part of baseball, and wields itself in virtually every game one-way or another. As so, can't we just appreciate relievers for what they are and what their role is? And put the guys that were the very best in this role in the HOF? I know you don't like Hoffman as a HOF'er, but he's a guy that had a lot of success for a long time, and as we know, that kind of sustained success is rare for relievers.

Could either of the big name PR players (Ricardo De La Torre & Wilberto Rivera) sneak into the first round of the draft?

Does Tyson Ross have anything left? SD ditching him is damning. I'll hang up and listen.

Seems like the holdup on the Twins trading Dozier to the Dodgers is the isistance on getting 2 MLB-ready prospects from the Dodgers. Are the Dodgers being unreasonable by trying to hold on to both DeLeon and Stewart?

Why don't people make a bigger deal of Faedo's knee issues when discussing his draft stock?

In some parallel universe where the Wilpons didn't own the Mets, what kind of return would you expect for Bruce if mets ate his entire salary?

When do you expect to have your top 100 up?

Surprised at all the bats still available this late in the offseason?

People have frequently talking about Wieters’ lack of pitch-framing skill this offseason. Do you believe that’s something a catcher can “learn” at some point in their career or is it an innate skill that can’t necessarily be taught?

I've seen some talk lately of Robert 'The Lighthouse' Stephenson being destined for the bullpen this year due to his command issues, but wouldn't it make more sense to keep trying him as a starter and using those three option years he has remaining to be sure he can't maximize that potential?

I've heard you say repeatedly that the Angels will not trade Mike Trout. But, it just doesn't make sense to me. If you can trade one 9-win player for three 4-win players, don't you do that?

Dave Cameron mentioned shortly after the Eaton trade that sources he spoke to said Giolito's stock is down and those sources have doubts about Giolito reaching the #1 starter type, more of a 3 or 4 now. Do you agree with that assessment?

So...Curt Schilling. He seems like he's become a bitter angry man that blames others for his own shortcomings. If there is ever an example of money doesn't make you happy, it's him. I'm glad I don't go through life with so much anger and hate.

Has the outlook on Berrios dimmed at all? Any clue on what we can attribute the control issues to?

Can you imagine Dusty working with Dave Stewart? That would be a historic train wreck, wouldn't it?

I have vowed to listen to (even) more music this year. I am quite open-minded and enjoy many genres. Please recommend as many non-mainstream albums/artists as you feel compelled to name.

Why has Tyrell Jenkins been picked up and released four times in the last month? Is there a particular reason (contract, options, or otherwise) why teams can't just keep him stashed in the minors?

Here's an answer to the closers-in-the-HOF argument. Would you have traded prime Trevor Hoffman for prime Curt Schilling straight up? Yeah, I thought not.

How soon do you think Bellinger can be ML ready? Can you forsee another Belt/Huff situation with he and Gonzalez?

Heard the Goblin Cock LP on JoyfulNoise? Certainly not trying to be facetious, I didn't pick the name. It's Rob from Pinback & it's been a very pleasant surprise.

Hope you had a great holiday! I finished the year having read 128 books- my goal was 100. I knocked out a lot of the books I wanted to read. Of course there are still more; there are always more. What were some of your favorites this year? What's on your list to read this year? And, is there anything you have been continually pushing aside?

What level of baseball understanding is your target audience for your book? I love your baseball input but don't want to spend the money if it's way over my head or meant for a complete novice.

Hi Keith, what are your thoughts on Louis Gohara? Can he be a number 2 in a few years? I know he had some make up issues but he seems to have found his focus last season

Thoughts on what Wikileaks and Snowden have provided? Traitors or heroes?

The Yankees appear to be at a critical point in the win curve, have spaces in their rotation that could use an upgrade, have one of the deepest farms in the game, and just gave nearly 18 mil a year for a closer. Specific package aside, are there any reasons why the Yankees shouldn't press hard for Quintana?

Based on your recommendation, I bought Pandemic from Amazon 2 months ago, and my wife and I love it. However, we seem to be able to win relatively easy. This might seem like an odd question, but how much do you collaborate with other players when you play? We keep our cards face up during the entire game.

Klaw, every now and then, usually around HOF time, you insist that "there is no evidence" that PED's have any effect on baseball performance. So what are you saying, exactly - that you have doubts that HGH or steroids have even an indirect effect on one's playing performance because a peer-reviewed study in a medical journal doesn't say so? That until this happens, players may as well be popping Smarties?

Smart Baseball book tour means Portland which means Powells which means Apizza Scholls & Le Pigeon. Good reason to write the book

As arguably the best defensive CF ever, with almost 450 home runs, Andruw Jones belongs in the Hall of Fame, right?

Keith, with all of the activity around A's ownership/loss of revenue sharing this offseason, I expected some bigger moves (moving Sonny, exploring more trades), but the lack of activity this offseason (Rajai Davis?) has me scratching my head... is there any hope on the horizon?

Word around the time of the Adam Eaton trade was that Giolito's value amongst teams around the league isn't as high as recent prospect lists would lead one to believe--and now similar things are being said about Glasnow amidst the Quintana talk. When making your yearly list, do you consult team executives, or do you rely on your own scouting and reports?

How good can Astros Martes be? Would you have traded martes , tucker for Sale?

Am I just being particular and pedantic when I get annoyed by people who talk about an "aging player" or an "aging roster"? I mean we're all aging. E just aged reading this question.

How high do you think walker buehler's ceiling is?

It sounds like Willie Calhoun doesn't have the defensive chops to be the Dodger's long term 2nd baseman but I saw someone write that he's most likely a Zobrist-like super utility type player. Do you agree and does the bat ultimately play in the majors?

Given that Oakland's payroll projects to be around 72 million at the moment, is there any real reason to get as concerned about Davis' salary as one twitter pundit appears to be? They can play him, trade him, bench him, what difference will it make?

RE: blackballing in MLB. You mention that a blackball situation would result in a lawsuit. I would agree except that it can be very difficult to provide evidence of blackballing unless you have a smoking gun that would likely come in the form of an email that would likely require a whistle-blower.

That being said, Barry Bonds was a 3+ WAR player coming off a 28 HR season in 2007, and didn't get a sniff from any team during Free Agency of 2008. Were Bond's contract demands simply too high or did baseball decide he was not worth the headache?

As a longtime A's fan, I wonder if yesterday's ridiculously passionate defense of the Rajai Davis signing & rumored interest in Mark Trumbo is evidence that the "cult of Beane" is a little *too* in the tank for a front office that is deservingly lauded, but also...guilty of more than a few missteps in recent seasons?

I read the Master and Margarita on your suggestion. Complex read but I loved it. I've read there is a film adaptation in the works but can't fathom how that would work. Can you?

I think my biggest problem with top chef this year is that all returning contestants did very well on they're years. Idea would have worked better if just chefs returning were eliminated in their first or second episode. This is like if you took the all stars season and added eight rookies to the cast.

Cruising to St Maarten, St Kitt, Grand Turk and Puerto Rico next week. Only on land for 8ish hours at each island. Any food or tourist recommendations for those spots? Thanks!!

Do you do vinyl/physical copies of music or are you all digital? Are you the same way with books?