Excerpts from Keith Law Chat

ESPN's prospect expert and Moneyball panner Keith Law held a chat on Thursday afternoon and here are some exxerpts:

Avi (New Jersey)

I've seen you refer to Jesus Montero as a "front foot hitter". Can you explain what this means?

Klaw  (1:14 PM)

He gets his weight on his front foot - I actually haven't seen him live this year, so this is a scouting take based primarily on previous looks - as opposed to most hitters who stay back and transfer their weight later during their swing. Montero is just so damn strong that he can hit for power anyway.

Montero has regained his trade value with his power display in his first few weeks up in the big leagues. He is hitting .286-.359-.571 with 3 HRs, 6 RBI, and 7 runs in his first 10 games in the big leagues.

Johnny ((Bmore))

KLaw, any thoughts on Matt Wieters' end of the season? Is there a chance he is proving that it takes switch-hitting catchers a while to figure it out. Thoughts on his career going forward?

Klaw  (1:28 PM)

I'd like to understand why he's showing such an enormous, persistent platoon split this year. I don't remember ever seeing a substantial difference between his two swings, or feeling like he didn't see the ball well when hitting LH.

Wieters is hitting .231-.283-.365 with 10 HRs and 39 RBI in 342 at bats hitting left-handed vs right pitchers, and is hitting .348-.429-.696 with 10 HRs and 24 RBI in 115 at bats hitting right handed vs lefty pitchers.

More excerpts after the jump:

Josh (Phx)

The NL MVP debate will likely come down to the term "Valuable", does it mean stats or team position. In terms of stats, Braun is the best (50 less late appearances than Kemp which coorelates to less RBI, HR's etc.) vs . "valuable" which is Upton. NO way the Dbacks are where they are without Uptons breakout season. Your thoughts?

Klaw

  (1:42 PM)

Kemp is pretty clearly the MVP now.

Hell yeaahhhh!!! Now he just has to come around on Clayton Kershaw for NL Cy Young award. I might have to post something here soon on just that. Kershaw has had a better year than Roy Halladay in my opinion.

By the way, the Diamondbacks are where they are today because of Ian Kennedy, Daniel Hudson and their bullpen. Upton has had a very good year, but Kennedy and Hudson are on the cusp of being aces. I am surprised someone from Phoenix would give Upton that much credit.

Bill (St. Petes )

Looks like LoMo officially filed a grievance against the Marlins for demoting him, according to Amy Nelson. What can he gain? Lost wages?

Klaw  (1:53 PM)

How about a trade? That seems like the best outcome for him.

I was shocked when I read this, to be honest. I thought that had blown over and everyone in the Marlins clubhouse and front office were high-fiving each other. Is it a coincidence that news of the grievance came after Mike Cameron was released for an argument with a flight attendant? Then again, maybe it wasn't an argument.

Dylan (Kingsville)

Brett Lawrie do you buy the comp by scouts = Ryan Braun

Klaw  (2:02 PM)

Kind of fits - another strong, athletic guy, plays all out, looks like he should be able to handle 3b but it doesn't play out that way.

And Alex Anthopolous is smiling ear to ear. I guess he figured that if he couldn't beat the beasts of the AL East with pitching, he would beat them with the bats, and he got one of the better ones in Lawrie.