Prospects Chat: Excerpts from Keith Law Chat

ESPN's Keith Law held another chat on Thursday, to answer questions on his Top 50 players under 25 years of age, and he had some very interesting things to say, so let's get to the excerpts:

Michael (Kalamazoo)

I'm just gonna say it so we can get it over with. 2011 Andrew McCutcheon = 2010 Justin Upton. Make your fake trade, double the value and THEN maybe we can talk. He's just not being moved.

Klaw

(1:07 PM)

Huntington made it very clear internally that they will consider moving him, because he wants big money on an extension and they're not going to pay it. I think the Upton extension is a good comp, and if that's what McCutchen wants, I'd give it to him.

I wonder if the guys over at Bucs Dugout have seen this? Wow. If you have read KLaw in the past, you know he doesn't get into the trade rumor mill, but his comment, especially the one in bold, appears that he has a good source in the Pirates front office who confirmed this.

Mike Oxmall (Dallas)

Hey Klaw, how much of a rebound do you expect Jason Heyward to have in 2012?

Klaw

(1:09 PM)

That all depends on the swing issue I talked about in today's rankings. If that's resolved, I think he will exceed his 2010 production. I'm still high on him.

Heyward owners should watch how he performs in spring training before deciding whether to keep him for 2012. He has the potential to be one of the top outfielders in baseball, but last year he had issues with the shoulder injury and his swing, as KLaw nentions above.

More excerpts from his chat after the jump, as there is another doozy, and a classic quote from Cliff Claven as well:

Walter (Smalltown, USA)

If you were forced to give an honest answer would you take the over or the under on Pujols age if the line was set at 35?

Klaw

(1:26 PM)

Under.

There is a lot of speculation as to how old Albert Pujols is, and I wish we could find out soon. 2012 will be very telling in my opinion. Will he continue his slide in performance or will he continue to be a monster?

Nate (WV)

Did Tabata get any consideration for the top 50 or were injuries too much of a problem

Klaw

(1:46 PM)

He's not good enough anyway, but he's also several years older than his listed age, according to a source who has seen his Venezuelan passport.

First, he tells us that Neil Huntington has made it clear that the Buccos will consider moving McCutchen, and now the info on Tabata. KLaw must have a good source in the Pirates front office. Tabata's FanGraphs page says he is 23 years old. How much older could he be? 25 or 26? He's still young, so I don't think it affects his performance in 2012.

Tyler (wv)

Do you drink to get drunk? ever?

Klaw

(2:09 PM)

Last time was 2005, at a wedding in Boston, where I could no longer read the word PRUDENTIAL on a certain building downtown.

I guess Keith has never heard the Cliff Claven theory on beer drinking. C'mon Keith!!!

Well you see, Norm, it’s like this … a herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the lowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.

In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Now, as we know, excessive intake of alcohol kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine.

And that, Norm, is why you always feel smarter after a few beers.