Here are some excerpts from Keith Law's prospects chat over on ESPN on Thursday:
Bret (Toronto)
In your Anthony Gose write-up, you talked about his changed swing. How much does this help his chances of becoming a good enough hitter to make use of his tools? Is the .250 average from this year indicative of his hitting ability?
Klaw
(1:04 PM)He was young for the level - albeit in a good place to hit - and his two-strike approach still needs work. As in, he needs an actual two-strike approach. But I'm a lot more sanguine about his chance to hit for enough average to be an above-average or better everyday player than I was at the time of the trade.
Law wrote a piece a few days ago saying that he thought Gose is flashing star potential in the AFL this fall. Gose hit .253-.349-.415 with 16 HRs, 59 RBI, 87 runs and 70 SBs in 85 attempts in AA this season. He still strikes out too much, but if he can walk 60-70 times per year in the big leagues, he could steal 40+ bases a year.
Chris (Pgh)
Robbie Grossman...Intriguing statistics in High A this year. How has he looked in the AFL this year and what is his potential?
Klaw
(1:08 PM)Looks good - great at bats, hard line drives, goes the other way really well. I do wish they'd promoted him to AA midyear, because full-year repeater stats are close to useless, but from a scouting POV he looks strong. I feel like Grossman actually is the player Brett Jackson is supposed to be.
I think Jackson is supposed to be a 20-20 player in the big leagues, so Grossman is a player to watch, and draft in keeper and dynasty leagues. Grossman flashed a great batting eye in High A this season, hitting .294-.418-.451 with 13 HRs, 56 RBI, 127 runs scored, 24 SBs in 34 attempts and an excellent K/BB rate of 111-104. Grossman could shoot up prospect lists in 2012.
More chat excerpts after the jump:
Brendan (VA)
If you were the Nats, at which level(s) would you start Rendon, Meyer, and Goodwin next year?
Klaw
(1:09 PM)High-A on the first two. Probably high-A on Goodwin but I wouldn't be opposed to two months in low-A.
So, if Anthony Rendon starts the season in High A, could he get a cup of coffee in 2013?
Jason (Indy)
If the Astros are heading to the AL, when will this be? Next season? 2013?
Klaw
(1:13 PM)Didn't I read 2015? I guess we'll know for sure in mid-November. Kind of bad news for Astro fans - would you rather compete in the AL West or the NL Central?
I may have jumped the gun a few days ago when discussing the impact of the Astros moving to the American League.
Scott (St. Louis )
Klaw, surely Brett Jackson (as has been rumored) is too much compensation to give up for Theo Epstein. Would you even consider that?
Klaw
(1:22 PM)Yes. If you think Theo is going to turn this organization around, you wouldn't give up six years of a non-star prospect?
KLaw has never been high on Brett Jackson, and I think I would agree with him. The rumored money the Cubs are investing in Theo Epstein means they think he will turn the team around.
Nora (St. Louis)
Do you think Jason Motte can be an effective closer in 2012?
Klaw
(1:28 PM)Yes.
Motte has looked pretty dominant in the playoffs thus far, but I wonder if Tony LaRussa will go with the closer by committee approach again.