I don't believe there's a clear 1-1 candidate in this draft yet. I think if the draft were today it'd be Alec Hanson of Oklahoma, but this isn't a Harper or Strasburg situation, and even Gerrit Cole, who I thought was the clear 1-1 in his class, didn't emerge as that until March or so of his junior year.

I probably would not, because I think regression for him is almost inevitable, but I wouldn't say that it was the wrong choice if they did so. Same for Daniel Murphy - not going to be worth the QO, but I can't tell you it's a bad move, just not what I would do.

I've heard more than just playable or average. So far I've only seen him hit here - two doubles and a homer yesterday - and I love what I see at the plate.

He needs a viable second pitch and then I think they really have something. I'm not concerned about his age because I don't think it matters for relievers and because he has a good reason (missed 2.5 years with injuries).

Two? I do not believe this is their last one in this run - they're only getting better.

I don't think so. Great athlete, could still figure it out.

You can't, because I wasn't in Arizona yet, but I will see him in about three hours!

Nope.

I think he ends up an average or fringe-average defender in LF. I doubt they trade him - the front office believes very, very strongly in his makeup.

Both, no question. I pay a bit more attention to certain stats, to certain skills (e.g. questions around hand-eye coordination), worry less about body types, etc. You have to adjust, but you'll also never get everything right in this business and IMO you can't try to change your approach for every failure either.

I think it's much less likely now but not impossible, and there are always owners who want to make the big splash by saying "we signed the World Series hero!"

Probably low-A to see what his approach is like, because I don't think anyone knows how advanced or raw he is in that regard.

That ended the conversation for me. I am short and slight and I don't think I need to apologize for either.

Smith is coming reasonably quickly, Herrera should be a real asset on offense, Cecchini may be as well, Rosario is still a potential all-star. They'll probably need to add one bat this winter to bridge the gap to those kids.

We have to give the Mets credit - I think every major trade Alderson and company have made has worked out near the top end of the possible outcomes, like a 90% outcome on just about every deal. I'm sure there's some good fortune there but credit their pro scouts and analysts too.

I think he's a 4A guy.

Woof, I wouldn't give him that. Maybe someone will and if Toronto thinks so then yes, they should absolutely offer it.

I've always believed in his defense - pitchers loved throwing to him, his receiving always looked great, and his throwing was always good. My main concerns on him have been the ability to stay healthy and the ability to get on base.

Reputation yes. Education, probably not.

If I were Alderson I'd hold firm on one of those two kids, because I don't think getting someone farther away like Devers makes quite as much sense for a team that is already a legitimate contender, but in the abstract, Devers and a second prospect of note would be reasonable for Harvey if you agree with me that Devers is a monster in waiting.

Going to miss him unfortunately - he's pitching today in the other afternoon game, and I'm going to see Reyes instead.

Yes, went there with Harold Dieterle and had the duck carnitas and the blue corn pavolva ... both absolutely mind-blowing dishes.

Depends on what you want to do as manager. If you want more autonomy, Washington. If you want more input from the front office on moves, tactics, lineups, then LA. I'd actually prefer the latter myself - I want to be more armed with info so I can do a better job.

He wasn't anywhere near this good in the minors.

Yes. Most free agents from NPB have no-arbitration clauses that gives them unrestricted free agency when their deals expire, even if it's before six years of service. Some Cuban FAs have done the same. No reason a US-born player couldn't do the same.

Shirt. Didn't fit and it was kind of loud so I thought it would still 'pop' a bit on the card. I wear too much monochromatic stuff and I didn't think anything plain would look good on the card.

A player can be on a "hot streak" in the sense that he's performed appreciably better than his norm or true talent level in a short stretch, but it has no predictive value. It has narrative value though!

I see no reason to argue that he won't.

Yes, and I think some fielders can learn better reads - I know I've seen players improve in that regard - but neither is easy. You can't just wave your hand and say "he'll get better." It takes the right coach(es) and the right player makeup too.

Haven't seen yet - he's out here - but it does sound from what scouts have told me like he's a power reliever with big upside in that role.

Yes and there's power in there too. Probably 1B only in the long run so the standard is high for his offense but I do like his chances - thought it was a very good pick where they got him last year.

I think so - I think they have to do so even if they retain Greinke. What's their rotation otherwise? Kershaw, Wood, and, uh, I mean, well, McCarthy will be back at some point...

You're welcome and thanks for the question. I'm bummed that I won't see Sims, for myself and because I know Atlanta fans wanted me to see him, but rain on Tuesday killed his game (but not the one on the other side of town, so I raced across Phoenix and got eight innings of the alternative) and he ended up pushed back to Thursday.

Yes, I do. He's had some rotten luck but nothing that would prevent him from coming back and eventually working as a starter. Look at how much time Matz missed ... he's still a viable mid-rotation starter.

That boy can hit. I don't know where he plays but the hit tool is "loud."

Unfortunately the redesign did not play well with the formatting of lists. I was told a while back that they'd be doing some retrofitting to restore those, but I know everyone is already rather well taxed by 'current' work and I would never expect that to be a top priority. The people you don't know at ESPN work very hard so that people like me can just do what we do and not have to worry about getting stuff formatted and posted and linked.

Not off the top of my head. People sometimes complain on the twitters when I post a remarkable velocity number for a pitcher, saying velo isn't everything ... well, no, it's not everything, but it's still pretty fucking nice to have.

Development of their young bats, especially Hosmer and Moustakas.

There's a two-player standalone game called 7 Wonders: Duels coming soon. I'm working on getting a review copy.

I can't. After he left Norris (best wishes to him in his fight against cancer) out there for nearly 60 pitches in that one inning, he should have been fired on the spot. Like, you don't even get to use our showers. Just pack your knives and go.

Probably - the power is a bit surprising, but I spoke to the area scout who signed him for SF who talked a bit about why Duffy showed no power as an amateur (injuries and of course the terrible home park at Long Beach were major reasons) so maybe he can be a 10-12 HR guy going forward.

I don't know that Gray is "available" so much as he's "Oakland." I do think Cleveland would entertain offers on any of their starters but you'd better be willing to pay through the nose - especially Carrasco who is so unbelievably valuable thanks to that team-friendly contract.

I think Piscotty's fine, but I much prefer Grichuk in a corner and Holliday is an adventure. A real CF would help.

I have not - never read any Irving.

I don't have a good explanation for what went wrong this year, and I think I'd need that to answer your question fairly.

I've seen all six teams already, about half the starting pitchers and maybe a little more than half the relievers, so yes - but it will help me if you have a question on a specific player because I don't have my notes or rosters in front of me as I do this. (I do have a crepe with pork belly and maple bacon in front of me, though.)

Uh ... put the phone down?

Ah, my mistake. That would not proscribe such clauses for NPB/KBO/Cuban free agents, because those are not "qualifying offer" clauses but disallow offers of arbitration. Thank you for the correction.

Not common, and not something I want to speculate on here (or anywhere).

Welcome Chicken (second visit but still great), Noble Eatery, La Piazza al Forno all great. EVO was kind of a disaster.