Physical projection is the biggest thing, and it includes room for the player to fill out, adding upper and lower body strength, which tends to favor taller pitchers but shouldn't exclude shorter ones entirely. I also prefer guys whose deliveries work reasonably well, as opposed to pitchers with deliveries that are "max" or high effort (where are you going to get more velocity from?) or that otherwise seem likely to impede command or health. One other thing I'll note is that I am more open to HS arms throwing in the upper 80s today than I was ten years ago, because of what we have learned about velocity/effort and pitcher health.

Undersized righty without plane or a decent breaking ball.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. Oh, I guess also the distraction of having him around. And will the washed-up QB actually be that much of a draw for a minor league affiliate? He's basically a sports Kardashian. He's famous for being famous, not for being good at anything.

The assumption you cite is the problem.

I assume this is Taijuan? Then yes. I oppose pitchers with short strides because they nearly all end up either getting hurt or losing something on their pitches, either velocity on their fastballs or quality of the breaking ball. Aaron Sanchez is the only real short-striding starter I see in the majors now. ASMI has some real research showing that short striders have these problems due to the higher release point and abrupt finish. Arizona shortened Tyler Skaggs' stride and he lost about 3 mph and blew out. Walker lost his curveball and hasn't ever really had command since he shortened his stride. The stride length is my one big concern on Alex Reyes, whose stuff is otherwise unbelievable.

A lot. MLB's Statcast product is providing a torrent of data that we don't get to see.

I've never had it. I don't love very spicy food (and it loves me even less).

Probably never.

It would be nice if he knew what Aleppo was (or if the US media spent more time covering the human disaster of Syria). He's also done his share of pandering to the anti-vax nut jobs, and his site refers to government efforts to fight climate change as "a political agenda," a sort of backdoor form of denial (yeah, man is causing climate change, but the government shouldn't do anything to stop it) that I can't support.

I know of no change in approach or mechanics, and it's just seven games, but I'm happy to see it.

Walker has 202 strikeouts this season. Those are good reasons.

Performances do not, but I will go scout players there and talk to other scouts who'll cover the league, so how players look at that time will have a definite bearing.

I've mentioned this before but I think differences between the minor and major league baseballs are the root cause.

Playing for a non-contender doesn't help. I wrote in June that he should be in the All-Star Game over Nunez as the Twins' rep and was told by a couple of Twins fans that this was dumb because Dozier was having a bad season.

None of those guys are especially high ceiling but I think Gsellman is the most likely to be a quality major-league starter. Lugo's great spin rates are fun to discuss but if he doesn't miss bats or generate weaker contact, then I'm not sure this emphasis is properly placed.

It was my idea, but it was also your idea. I am asked at least once a week to recommend a book like the one I'm writing, and I didn't have a book to recommend, so I decided to write it. I have had publishers approach me before, but when they had concrete ideas they were dumb ones - someone just wanted to put my name on a book and hope it would sell because I have an audience. I didn't want to write a book I wouldn't want to read.

That's a very high bar but I think Buxton's speed and arm could make him a top 3 CF in baseball.

Never heard anyone cite it for Baez or any other player, but it's pretty clearly a way he delivers value and is also fucking awesome to watch.

Yes. The Astros shift at all levels of their minors, to pick one example.

Nobody wants their affiliate in Vegas or Albuquerque or Lancaster or High Desert (RIP) for that matter. But the problem with the AAA clubs is that there aren't just cities sitting around with seven-figure populations and AAA-ready stadiums. At least with the Cal League teams that are folding, MILB had a handful of moderate-sized towns in NC (and I think in VA if they wanted to go that route) that could support A-ball clubs.

Yes, that's why he was on my top 100 in the winter. Just gotta stay healthy.

The guy struggled to turn around 88 in his workout. I clocked three guys at 100 mph last AFL and there was at least one more. That'll be fun.

I don't know anything about it, but "siding" with someone is a weird way to put it. But I'll stick up for Mike Bell here - he's a star and should be getting attention for VP-type roles or even GM openings in the near future.

One, because the science behind veganism as a more healthful diet is nowhere near what you imply it is. Two, because I like meat.

No progress at all. Repeated low-A with still awful plate discipline, moved to a hitter's park, continued awful plate discipline. Great athlete, big tools, but that swing and approach right now are not going to produce an average hit tool.

I thought he was at least an average LF, but they have some well above-average defensive OFs in Pittsburgh.

Never, unless I'm visiting family.

I saw that piece; it grafted a narrative on to the story after the fact. No one is really just seeing a prospect once. I might see a player once myself, but then I talk to multiple scouts who've probably seen a player 3-6 games apiece, more if it's an area guy seeing a top draft prospect.

Don't think so. Hitters are having a hard time too because we (myself included, yes) find it hard to cope with their stats.

Looked good, glad to see him throw strikes, but that Padres' lineup is pretty awful.

The answer is 42.

Fourth outfielder. Thought he was a bit of a reach as a supplemental first guy. Real problem now is he's limited to LF and doesn't have the power to profile there.

I've seen that going around today and I don't understand why. What did Baker do wrong? What could he possibly have done better?

I'll go with True. I'm a believer.

I'm not, mostly because I find baseball in fiction is often excruciating to watch or read. I haven't seen her try to throw, though.

Horrible to say but I haven't been to the Pacific Northwest in 15 years. There's just never a good reason to go for work and it's a PITA to get there from here.

I have a copy on my shelf but haven't cracked it yet.

I think he has zero chance because derp-playoffs-derp.

Check out my rankings from last November, which also has a separate ranking of top games for two players. Splendor is definitely your speed. Dominion's quick to learn with lots of complexity. Jaipur's a great little two-player game that never really gets old for us. Agamemnon is a new title I played at GenCon that has that Jaipur feel - very simple rules, lots of thinking going on.

Cease was on it last year. Can't say about any of the others as I won't even think about those rankings until December.

I would start Martinez, but I would bet my house they'll start Wainwright.

I did, but our editors pushed it back a little. Chris Crawford took the lead on assembling the list (he saw team USA, area codes, and the PG All-American Classic) and I helped tweak it and gather more info.

Don't think his velo will ever exceed that and I don't project him as a starter.

Don't think it'll harm him - that's a small risk, but a real one - but it comes back to what I wrote last week, that I don't see how he really solves any particular need for them.

Not really. Two-pitch starter struggles with the breaking ball. Walked a lot of guys in double-A but was young for the level (turned 22 on July 8th). Back end starter?

In Oakland, sure. Anywhere else, I doubt it.

I don't know, and I'm a big believer in Bo's bat, but his brother may have had the best first pro season of any player drafted in 2011 and how'd that work out for him?

I would. I think he'd be dynamite in short relief, and could go 2-3 innings if need be.

It's what I own and I doubt I'll need another one for a few decades.

I liked his swing when I saw him in 2013 but a 21-year-old can't put up a .286 OBP in A-ball and be any sort of prospect.