KLaw's Top 100 Prospects List For 2012

[bballcardkid]

Re: KLaw's Top 100 Prospects Coming Tomorrow

[quote="bballcardkid":1x0kntd5]Klaw would be more respected if he wasn't a pompous tool. He certainly doesn't take criticism of his opinions graciously like most of the BA staffers do.

If you ever listen to him speak or read his analysis you'd realize that what you're perceiving as pompousness is simply his reaction to irrational criticism - he's sarcastic - it's something that's made him exceptionally popular. To say that he's not well respected within the industry is a gross inaccuracy.

If you consider sarcasm to read like a superiority complex loaded with insults, then we will have to agree to disagree. The fact that many members seem to discount his opinions is an indication to me that he isn't as expected as he thinks he is.

It certainly doesn't surprise me that many members here discount Law's opinion. Some prospectors seem to be among the most sensitive people around. Any perceived negativity towards their 'guy' is taken as an outright attack. Unlike most, Law doesn't mince words so I can only imagine the feathers he ruffles here.
I understand why some people don't like him but amongst the big evaluators his qualifications are no doubt the strongest. The guy has worked in an MLB front office, been a scout, and a writer. What more can you ask for in terms of qualifications?I often roll my eyes at his tweets but I'm not sure there's a baseball guy whose opinion I take more seriously.
Also helps that my two passions outside of baseball are food/cooking and literature.

Nobody is questioning his qualifications. You can be extremely qualified to do whatever job your trained to do. The fact that you are qualified to do that job doesn't discount you from potentially being a pompous tool. ESPN's premiere minor league / baseball prospect expert shouldn't come across like a 12 year old child in response to criticism. The entire point, or reason why so many dislike Keith Law is because of the way he handles his critics.

It's also the reason that so many like him.[/quote:1x0kntd5]

I mean, I'll read what he has to say, and I actually do put weight into his opinions, I'm just really not a big fan of arrogance. It's one of the many reasons why I prefer BA. They handle themselves much more professionally.

And thanks JP for posting that. I've seen Klaw just get pretty defensive.

 

[braden]

You'd have to have pretty thin skin to be insulted by those responses. And the "goes to eleven" answer is a Spinal Tap reference.

Personally, I can't stand reading a BA chat and completely stopped at least a year ago. They're vanilla. Criticisms are too often couched. Almost reads like a Beckett 'article'.

 

[glewis22]

I was fired up to get this list, even signed up for a month of insider to get it (I also use it for the month leading up to my auction), but seriously, this list is utter garbage and total BS.

Travis dArnaud #6!!!?????!!!!???

Devin Mesaraco #8!!!!!?????!!!!!

Im not even through with the top 10 and Im already livid.

Hak Ju Lee #12...................I refuse to read the rest, this is utter trash.

 

[Wes]

I was fired up to get this list, even signed up for a month of insider to get it (I also use it for the month leading up to my auction), but seriously, this list is utter garbage and total BS.

Travis dArnaud #6!!!?????!!!!???

Devin Mesaraco #8!!!!!?????!!!!!

Im not even through with the top 10 and Im already livid.

Hak Ju Lee #12...................I refuse to read the rest, this is utter trash.

How can you make such strong conclusions about any prospect list? Just because you don't think d'Arnaud or Mesoraco will have the sixth or eight best career out of the guys on this list doesn't mean it can't happen.

 

[outofluckandmoney]

Nobody is questioning his qualifications. You can be extremely qualified to do whatever job your trained to do. The fact that you are qualified to do that job doesn't discount you from potentially being a pompous tool. ESPN's premiere minor league / baseball prospect expert shouldn't come across like a 12 year old child in response to criticism. The entire point, or reason why so many dislike Keith Law is because of the way he handles his critics.

Craig (Toronto)
You are one of the only prospect evaluators that is this high on Hutchison. Why is it that you think other evaluators aren't so high on him?

Klaw (1:15 PM)
You should ask them.

Kevin (Los Angeles)
Why do you have eleven guys on a "Ten Who Just Missed" list?

Klaw (1:16 PM)
Because this one goes to eleven.

John (Denver, CO)
I was a little surprised to see Jesus Montero ranked as high as he was. He didn't have a great year at AAA, and obviously, as a DH, brings no defensive value to the table. I must be missing it, is his bat really that special?

Klaw (1:18 PM)
Yes, it is, or I wouldn't have ranked him where I did.

Darren (LA)
Junior Lake good enough to be in Cubs top 10 within a year?

Klaw (1:58 PM)
Only if someone teaches him how to play baseball.

I will say he's honest and some of those questions deserve the answers they get. Who cares why he listed 11? is that really an important question?

that's the thing, it's not an important question so why does he pick a question like that out of the queue to answer? most of this stuff is his fault, to a large degree. it's not like he has to argue with irrational fans about why joey terdoslavich isn't a top 10 prospect or what have you.

i love reading what law has to say in regards to prospects, especially since he doesn't fall into the kind of group-think mentality that happens with other people/publications, but i have to agree that his attitude is really, really off-putting.

anyway, pretty great list this year i think. hak ju lee and wil myers seems a little high though.

 

[shayscards79]

Like the list. Like Rosario at 50, think Bauer is too low.

Also, in regards to Law's attitude, no reason anyone can't troll him back. He might not answer the question, but you can get your own jab in at him. All is fair on the internet.

 

[glewis22]

I was fired up to get this list, even signed up for a month of insider to get it (I also use it for the month leading up to my auction), but seriously, this list is utter garbage and total BS.

Travis dArnaud #6!!!?????!!!!???

Devin Mesaraco #8!!!!!?????!!!!!

Im not even through with the top 10 and Im already livid.

Hak Ju Lee #12...................I refuse to read the rest, this is utter trash.

How can you make such strong conclusions about any prospect list? Just because you don't think d'Arnaud or Mesoraco will have the sixth or eight best career out of the guys on this list doesn't mean it can't happen.

The truth is these guys are not #6 and #8 PERIOD. No other scouts have them anywhere near this high on their lists. Thats 1 of about 10 reasons.

 

[James52411]

I was fired up to get this list, even signed up for a month of insider to get it (I also use it for the month leading up to my auction), but seriously, this list is utter garbage and total BS.

Travis dArnaud #6!!!?????!!!!???

Devin Mesaraco #8!!!!!?????!!!!!

Im not even through with the top 10 and Im already livid.

Hak Ju Lee #12...................I refuse to read the rest, this is utter trash.

How can you make such strong conclusions about any prospect list? Just because you don't think d'Arnaud or Mesoraco will have the sixth or eight best career out of the guys on this list doesn't mean it can't happen.

The truth is these guys are not #6 and #8 PERIOD. No other scouts have them anywhere near this high on their lists. Thats 1 of about 10 reasons.

If Law is correct on these two guys, then it gives him additional credibility over the rest of the herd. If they do not, then his credibility is diminished. We'll have to wait and see in a few years.

 

[hail2thevictors]

Re: KLaw's Top 100 Prospects Coming Tomorrow

[quote="Wes":uy1n9a3y][quote="bballcardkid":uy1n9a3y]Klaw would be more respected if he wasn't a pompous tool. He certainly doesn't take criticism of his opinions graciously like most of the BA staffers do.

If you ever listen to him speak or read his analysis you'd realize that what you're perceiving as pompousness is simply his reaction to irrational criticism - he's sarcastic - it's something that's made him exceptionally popular. To say that he's not well respected within the industry is a gross inaccuracy.

If you consider sarcasm to read like a superiority complex loaded with insults, then we will have to agree to disagree. The fact that many members seem to discount his opinions is an indication to me that he isn't as expected as he thinks he is.

It certainly doesn't surprise me that many members here discount Law's opinion. Some prospectors seem to be among the most sensitive people around. Any perceived negativity towards their 'guy' is taken as an outright attack. Unlike most, Law doesn't mince words so I can only imagine the feathers he ruffles here.
I understand why some people don't like him but amongst the big evaluators his qualifications are no doubt the strongest. The guy has worked in an MLB front office, been a scout, and a writer. What more can you ask for in terms of qualifications?I often roll my eyes at his tweets but I'm not sure there's a baseball guy whose opinion I take more seriously.
Also helps that my two passions outside of baseball are food/cooking and literature.

Nobody is questioning his qualifications. You can be extremely qualified to do whatever job your trained to do. The fact that you are qualified to do that job doesn't discount you from potentially being a pompous tool. ESPN's premiere minor league / baseball prospect expert shouldn't come across like a 12 year old child in response to criticism. The entire point, or reason why so many dislike Keith Law is because of the way he handles his critics.

It's also the reason that so many like him.[/quote:uy1n9a3y]

I mean, I'll read what he has to say, and I actually do put weight into his opinions, I'm just really not a big fan of arrogance. It's one of the many reasons why I prefer BA. They handle themselves much more professionally.

And thanks JP for posting that. I've seen Klaw just get pretty defensive.[/quote:uy1n9a3y]
Bro, I am right there with you. I echo your thoughts regarding the arrogance. For me personally, I cannot stand arrogance. Arrogance comes in many shapes and forms, and I don't read enough of Law to know him-but I will take your word for it. You are a straight shooter, and someone I respect a lot on this board.

I don't read his comments much, but the ones JP posted come off pompous, or whatever you want to call it really. The Junior Lake one especially. If people find the Junior Lake answer funny, sarcastic, etc-more power to them. But it just sounds childish to me.

We are all entitled to our own opinions on this stuff, so I'm not going to attack someone who likes him. I'm just stating my personal opinion.

 

[hail2thevictors]

I was fired up to get this list, even signed up for a month of insider to get it (I also use it for the month leading up to my auction), but seriously, this list is utter garbage and total BS.

Travis dArnaud #6!!!?????!!!!???

Devin Mesaraco #8!!!!!?????!!!!!

Im not even through with the top 10 and Im already livid.

Hak Ju Lee #12...................I refuse to read the rest, this is utter trash.

How can you make such strong conclusions about any prospect list? Just because you don't think d'Arnaud or Mesoraco will have the sixth or eight best career out of the guys on this list doesn't mean it can't happen.

The truth is these guys are not #6 and #8 PERIOD. No other scouts have them anywhere near this high on their lists. Thats 1 of about 10 reasons.

Mesoraco is a consensus top 15-20 prospect from what I have seen, with most having him top 15. d'Arnaud is a guy who could be even better than Mesoraco IMO, but seems to be ranked around 20-30 by most places. Personally, I think Mesoraco and d'Arnaud can certainly both be top 10 guys. What they bring to the table, as catchers, is not found often.

You also have to understand Law has been abnormally high on some guys for a while, like Hak-Ju Lee. To say the list is trash is very close-minded IMO.

 

[BowmanChromeAddict]

You know who likes this list? :arrow: ME

 

[braden]

I was fired up to get this list, even signed up for a month of insider to get it (I also use it for the month leading up to my auction), but seriously, this list is utter garbage and total BS.

Travis dArnaud #6!!!?????!!!!???

Devin Mesaraco #8!!!!!?????!!!!!

Im not even through with the top 10 and Im already livid.

Hak Ju Lee #12...................I refuse to read the rest, this is utter trash.

How can you make such strong conclusions about any prospect list? Just because you don't think d'Arnaud or Mesoraco will have the sixth or eight best career out of the guys on this list doesn't mean it can't happen.

The truth is these guys are not #6 and #8 PERIOD. No other scouts have them anywhere near this high on their lists. Thats 1 of about 10 reasons.

Mesoraco is a consensus top 15-20 prospect from what I have seen, with most having him top 15. d'Arnaud is a guy who could be even better than Mesoraco IMO, but seems to be ranked around 20-30 by most places. Personally, I think Mesoraco and d'Arnaud can certainly both be top 10 guys. What they bring to the table, as catchers, is not found often.

You also have to understand Law has been abnormally high on some guys for a while, like Hak-Ju Lee. To say the list is trash is very close-minded IMO.

But he typed 'period' in all caps!

 

[Wes]

I was fired up to get this list, even signed up for a month of insider to get it (I also use it for the month leading up to my auction), but seriously, this list is utter garbage and total BS.

Travis dArnaud #6!!!?????!!!!???

Devin Mesaraco #8!!!!!?????!!!!!

Im not even through with the top 10 and Im already livid.

Hak Ju Lee #12...................I refuse to read the rest, this is utter trash.

How can you make such strong conclusions about any prospect list? Just because you don't think d'Arnaud or Mesoraco will have the sixth or eight best career out of the guys on this list doesn't mean it can't happen.

The truth is these guys are not #6 and #8 PERIOD. No other scouts have them anywhere near this high on their lists. Thats 1 of about 10 reasons.

Argumentum ad populum.

And besides your flawed logic - who are the scouts who have posted lists on the internet?

 

[longbomberz]

I was fired up to get this list, even signed up for a month of insider to get it (I also use it for the month leading up to my auction), but seriously, this list is utter garbage and total BS.

Travis dArnaud #6!!!?????!!!!???

Devin Mesaraco #8!!!!!?????!!!!!

Im not even through with the top 10 and Im already livid.

Hak Ju Lee #12...................I refuse to read the rest, this is utter trash.

How can you make such strong conclusions about any prospect list? Just because you don't think d'Arnaud or Mesoraco will have the sixth or eight best career out of the guys on this list doesn't mean it can't happen.

The truth is these guys are not #6 and #8 PERIOD. No other scouts have them anywhere near this high on their lists. Thats 1 of about 10 reasons.

Argumentum ad populum.

And besides your flawed logic - who are the scouts who have posted lists on the internet?

See now you're just being arrogant.

/sarcasm

 

[superwhat]

here is the chat

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/42465/mlb-insider-keith-law

 

[19braves77]

Steve (NJ)


When you write lottery ticket in a trade review what does it mean?
Klaw
(1:56 PM)


High-risk, high-reward. Might be an unfair term, because only morons play the lottery.

or half of his readers.

 

[mwashuc06]

People are going to have a field day with the Casey Kelly ranking. It's interesting that he's always fairly high (although I think this is as high as I've seen him) yet people seem to always disagree.

His numbers have yet to match up to his projection.

Casey Kelly is a backend starter, hasn't picked up his velocity and his command hasn't got any better, most overrated prospect in the minors.

 

[padremurph]

People are going to have a field day with the Casey Kelly ranking. It's interesting that he's always fairly high (although I think this is as high as I've seen him) yet people seem to always disagree.

His numbers have yet to match up to his projection.

Casey Kelly is a backend starter, hasn't picked up his velocity and his command hasn't got any better, most overrated prospect in the minors.

But my question is: why do all the analyst still rate him so high? They must feel confident he will put it all together

 

[mwashuc06]

Harper does not weight 245 and is not 6 2 the last time I saw him.

Looks like he uses the weight/height they has at the beginning of the season to show you what they did with their numbers.

He has Mason Williams at 6-0 150 and he's at 6-2 175 now.

Where did you see that Mason is 6'2 now, I don't think he was 6'2 when I saw him in Auburn, i'm 5'11 and he was barely taller than me.

 

[mwashuc06]

my scouting source on twitter says that Hak-Ju Lee doesn't even project as an average regular.