I'm a fan: He can hit, and he has average power, probably a slew of doubles and 12-18 homers when he's at his peak. It's not explosive like Schwarber, but it's more mechanically clean and simple. I've heard some comparisons too and most of them are dumb, which is another reason why I dislike player comps (yet, circularly speaking, also a reflection of that previously held belief on my part).

I did! I did! In the toilet, too!

Not a fan, although I haven't heard the reasoning.

Doubt it - owners cling to it as a drag on free agent salaries (how's that workin out for ya, fellas).

I'd argue there's never a lack of a market for a top-end catcher. Demand always outstrips supply.

Hasn't held up for a full season yet. Above-average starter ceiling.

Mostly. He doesn't look 18 in delivery, feel, body. It's a ridiculous fastball at the top end of its range and he showed he could spin a plus breaking ball. I didn't see the great changeup and he had the command of an 18-year-old. But still, how often does a high school senior look like this? Once every other year?

Solid regular.

I've written a bit about having it, including this: http://klaw.me/1znHEd4 I know Kat Kinsman has a book (Hi, Anxiety) on it coming out in April or May too.

This is a common problem of projection systems, most of which rely on simulating the season a huge number of times. Those sims will give you the average results for each team, which are flattened out by the huge number of samples. Real life produces outliers.

I'd still call it an upset. I think there's value in the arm, somewhere, although based on his history I'd say in relief. What his March performance showed us is that he might be a decent major-league pitcher again. I don't see how you can extrapolate from those few innings, ignore his entire history, and say he's going to be great (which you did not do in your question anyway).

I do one every month. Also, who says a song from 2015 is "old?"

I'm not clear on why a college campus needs a rapper (or any music artist) to perform. Aren't you there for education? You can certainly go somewhere else to see live music performed.

I'm assuming it's because he couldn't throw strikes last year.

Only in chats. Otherwise it's all non-baseball stuff: books, cooking, restaurants, music, boardgames, Top Chef, movies.

He can be effective in the bullpen if he throws strikes ... but if he threw strikes, he'd be effective in the rotation too. I think this is a good move to try to hit the reset button with him a little since they already have other starter options, but I'm also figuring Bauer ends up making 20 starts this year when, say, Josh Tomlin turns back into a pumpkin.

Devers.

I don't think so.

My entire predictions column goes up Saturday.

You should read my column of 2016 breakout player picks: http://klaw.me/1XNfNhB

I have to admit that I heard another Tigers' pitcher say that, and liked it enough to ... uh ... borrow it.

I've never seen him play it, but given his body type and what I've seen at first, I doubt it'll be good enough.

I can tell you no, but it's hardly a boycott when there's no chance I'll be in Austin any time soon.

No. Is it about high school football and basketball players going to NCAA division 1 schools?

Fifth starter if that. Would prefer to see Aaron Blair in that spot.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

It's not entirely the Twins' fault - the CBA gives teams incentive to do this. Aaron Gleeman also pointed out that they bounced Duffey, a fringe prospect who was way better than expected in two months last year with the Twins, in favor of Nolasco's dead contract.

I do. I hope he destroys AAA and forces a callup.

Thor's is more advanced now, but Giolito's stuff has been better at the same age every year since each emerged as prospects.

Bigger fan of Piscotty's swing and approach. Grichuk will probably hit more HR, though.

Yes, I don't think he's going to hit like that against better pitching. I praised the pick as a high-floor catcher, which he his. He will play in the majors for sure, probably for a lot of years.

I had him wrong yesterday - the HR by Kang was off Herrera, not Encinas. Encinas was more 93-94 with a decent slider, but I didn't see a long enough outing to say starter or reliever. (Well, I could say "reliever," because that's always the easy answer.)

That's a pretty shady - and shitty - way to phrase it. Bellatti was goofing off behind the wheel, driving 80 mph and eventually crossing into oncoming traffic, when his car hit another, which killed the other car's 50-year-old driver. He was sentenced to 8 months in jail and 5 years probation, which seems incredibly light to me. But "he killed a man" would give most people the impression that he murdered someone.

Fire their manager?

He's going to have to learn to play in the cold at some point.

Don't think it has crested, so much as the pool has thinned. There will still be stars (I am very high on the Dodgers' Yusnier Diaz), but there will be more misses, and teams will keep spending on these players because the payoff is still high.

I was told I'll be on at least four games this season, coming on for a few innings to discussing scouting-related topics. The first is April 6th, Phils at Reds, two teams that are focused on the future, meaning I'll talk prospects.

I would not do this. He didn't hit in AAA last year, so send him back there and let him try to make some adjustments.

I do not enjoy that style of sport. I'm a fan of players, but not of college baseball. It's so poorly managed that it doesn't sufficiently resemble the sport I love.

Your mistake is saying "settle." Why would you assume Groome is the top prospect when so many folks, myself included, believe that this class lacks a clear 1-1 guy? I'd take Corey Ray there right now, although I think Blake Rutherford, Delvin Perez, and perhaps even Braxton Garrett could make cases to go that high.

Obsession with service time? Naquin isn't 20. By the time he's ready for free agency, his peak years will probably be behind him.

The background? A painting by the Swiss-German surrealist Paul Klee, titled The Twittering Machine.

I don't think there is any chance at all he can be a starter. He has one pitch and a high-effort delivery that will inhibit his command.

Unless the ball changed there's no tangible reason to think this was anything more than a fluke.

I'd have to think the A's would jump through their computer screens to take that offer.

Still competing, but flawed.

I just read it last month (and wrote it up here, something I've been slacking on lately). It is indeed wonderful.

He's slipped. Reports are that he's gotten stiff and people are questioning the hit tool, which was his best attribute.

I do, so I'm hoping he comes out strong. Then I can get that scouting trip to Berlin in 2021!

Beatles. Not even a huge fan of their stuff, but they had better peak stuff and their catalog as a whole is much more interesting to me.