Baseball Prospectus - Chat with Craig Goldstein

Chat: Craig Goldstein

Welcome to Baseball Prospectus' Wednesday September 30, 2020 1:00 PM ET chat session with Craig Goldstein.

Craig Goldstein is the editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus and co-host of the Five & Dive podcast.

Craig Goldstein: I didn't forget about this I was merely raising the tension by not declaring when I'd actually start this thing.

Quincy (Ames): Hedbert perez seem like a cornerstone for the brew crew?three years away?

Craig Goldstein: I get needing a boost as a Brewers fan right now, but this is blindingly optimistic for a 17 year old who hasn't played stateside.

The Colonel (Pasadena, CA): Hi Craig, A lot of Cs debuted this season that have the potential to be at least average-everyday catchers. Any changes +/- from last seasons' write-ups that you saw from their major-league time for Tyler Stephenson, Keibert Ruiz, Ryan Jeffers, William Contreras, Sam Huff, Alejandro Kirk, Luis Campusano?

Craig Goldstein: Great Q. I like Stephenson more than I did before. Jeffers impressed but I don't think I'd roll with him for 130+ (and the Twins don't need to). Keibert, no change. Contreras no real change. I didn't get to see much Huff. I've been low on Kirk. I think he can really hit but idk that he's a regular backstop. Campusano is still the class of the position as a prospect.

Fredwhitfield (Cleveland): Zack elfin quietly had a nice season . Real or small sample size?

Craig Goldstein: He's a 4th starter. Take that as you will.

Wilbur mills (Arkansas): Jeremy de la rosa the next stud national or a work in Progress?

Craig Goldstein: Is this you, Flax? It feels very Flax.

I like JDLR alright, but more the latter than the former.

jugdish (Faber): If arenado opt out or is traded (admittedly unlikely) Who do you think would succeed him-Rogers vilade or Schrunk or PTBNL?

Craig Goldstein: I don't think it's that unlikely he gets dealt, tbh. I think I'd give Rogers first shot but admittedly predicting anything the Rockies will do is foolishness. Why did they put Owings at 2B and Hampson in the OF? It doesn't make sense, like most things they do.

Nick (Middleberg): Max Meyer -think he’ll break camp with the fish and be a starter or closer.

Craig Goldstein: I think he can start, but no, I do not think he'll break camp. There's no incentive for them to do that other than trying to field the best team from day 1.

Biff hooper (Bayport): Will smith (dodgers) struggled down the stretch in 2019 and was very impressive with the stat cast numbers this year in a small sample. Think he’ll take a step up next year?

Craig Goldstein: I think he took a step this year. He was one of the best hitters in baseball this season, and I think you have to factor in some wear and tear in a longer season but he's a really good piece to have behind the plate.

roxfan12 (Denver): Craig, thanks for the chat. Early returns on Carter Kieboom haven't been stellar. Have the early results caused Washington to lose confidence in his abilities, or is this a case of a young player needing consistent AB's to figure things out?

Craig Goldstein: It seems to me they're not super high on him right now. I don't think that's a permanent outlook, but it did feel like they were looking for ways to get other players involved at his expense. 33 games in a season they were out of it for most of doesn't seem like a great sign. Doesn't mean he can't figure it out though.

John (Denver): What are your early thoughts re how this year’s 60 game season will impact next year’s (hopefully) 162 game season? Pitchers more prone to injury due to big jumps in workloads? Or less prone due to less wear and tear? Pitching workloads more evenly distributed between SPs and RPs? Prospects being promoted or developing/ achieving more slowly because of lost development time? What occurs to you?

Craig Goldstein: I've never really bought the idea that guys can't take a larger step forward in IP than teams seem willing to take (but then, no one's career is in my hands). That said I think less wear and tear is a real factor and shouldn't be overlooked. I expect teams will hedge on pushing guys well beyond their prior IP thresholds, and so we'll see more starts skipped, etc.

The Colonel (Pasadena, CA): Totally different prospect paths: Would you rather have Jared Walsh or Evan White play 1B for you for the next 4 years?

Craig Goldstein: I think White will be better with the bat and is a special glove at 1B, but I'm not really clear *how long* it'll take him to do that. He was rushed to the majors. I think I'd still take White, but Walsh can certainly hit.

Alex (Austin): How likely is it that teams actually play 162 games in the regular season next year?

Craig Goldstein: I think it's pretty likely. MLB is determined to do it, as they were 60 games this year. I can't imagine that would change i/r/t a full schedule, assuming they can get fans in the park next year and that seems likely to me whether it's advised or not.

P (MPLS): Thanks as always for the chat Craig. Do you have any insight as to how teams have done advance scouting this year? Like, as a team prepares for a playoff opponent from a different division, do they just have to go on video alone, or are scouts allowed at games?

Craig Goldstein: I think it's mostly been via video. I don't think they ever did allow advance scouts in, especially in situations where they're facing a non-conference player.

Craig Goldstein: Alright, everyone. Sorry for the late start to the chat, I got distracted by playoff baseball. Hope you're enjoying it as much as I am.