Amazin' Avenue, a New York Mets community

"They (the Pirates) are not making the playoffs, and they would be fools to start buying." "Even if they (the Pirates) got to the playoffs, which I just think is close to a zero probability, they would not go far in the playoffs at all. They are not even close to any other potential playoff team." - Keith Law on the Baseball Today podcast July 5, 2012 UPDATE from David: Keith said the same thing many times last year and was obviously right. We'll see how this season plays out or if his views change at all as we get closer to the deadline.

Law believes Hanson is a legitimate hitting prospect who also has the tools to remain at SS. He liked Carvajal but chided him for showboating. He liked Polanco and Bell, but believes they need to clean up their swings. He liked Dodson. He worried about Allie.

Here is Keith Law's chat transcript from today. I've pulled out the Jays related questions/answers. The Beede quote below made it sound like he was hurt, anyone know anything about this? About Tyler Beede Ian (Toronto) Hey Keith. The Jays missed out on signing Tyler Beede, much to the disappointment of fans. Now that time has passed and we have more data on Beede, do you think this is a miss the Jays will come to regret? Klaw (1:13 PM) No. And they didn't miss out. The two sides couldn't agree on how healthy he was, so the discussion fell apart. He has not looked good so far this year, according to a half-dozen scouts I've talked to who've seen him. About Joey Votto: Ron (Toronto) It seems like for the next two years, there will be an endless Joey Votto-Blue Jays discussion in Toronto. Given the Jays likely timeline and team needs, is Votto the player you would suggest they go "all-in" on, whether it's in free agency, a trade, or a trade and extension? Klaw (1:46 PM) Great player, but I don't get the whole "sign every Canadian you can" concept. How about just signing the best players? About Delgado/Doc Daniel (Charlotte) What is the single greatest 1 game performance you have scouted? Klaw (2:14 PM) Can I count two from Toronto? Delgado's four-homer game, or Halladay's 99-pitch 10-inning CG against that awful Tigers team in 2003. Took a no-hitter into the 8th when Kevin Witt broke it up. I don't buy into the whole "inevitability" thing, but those were two instances were I felt from early in the game that I was watching something different.

It's lower than I've seen from most other outlets, who put the Mets in the middle of the pack.

The glorious exchange for your entertainment: Law: Very, very slight preference for Mills, because we already know what Mathis is, but Mills still could improve enough to have value. Comrade Lyle: @keithlaw Mathis is respected and valued only by every pitcher with whom he has worked. No analytics for that. Law: And is terrible at everything that matters. RT @LyleMSpencer: Mathis is respected and valued only by every pitcher with whom he has worked. Comrade Lyle: @keithlaw Mathis is respected and valued only by every pitcher with whom he has worked. No analytics for that. Law: That's good, since Mathis doesn't help anyone win anything. RT @LyleMSpencer: @keithlaw Winning doesn't matter. Comrade Lyle: @keithlaw Winning doesn't matter. Won 12 more than Napoli in exact number starts for four years together. Nap caught Lacker, Weaver more Law: @LyleMSpencer CERA was demonstrated at least ten years ago to have no utility in evaluating catchers. None. Comrade Lyle: Catching same staff, Mathis had CERA .88 -- almost a full run -- better than Napoli for four years. Won 59% of games he started. Law: @LyleMSpencer Besides, you said there were "no analytics" for what Mathis gives, then you quote CERA. Which is it? Comrade Lyle: Numbers guys hate Jeff Mathis. Teammates love him. I think Mathis will settle for that tradeoff.#angels Comrade Lyle: CERA is of definite value when evaluating catchers handling the same pitchers over a number of years. I don't care what your crowd says. Comrade Lyle: @keithlaw Love analytics. Still have my Bill James Baseball Abstracts from '80s. Neyer, Dewan, James have Mathis 1-2-2 among def. Cs. ------- Law then ignores the ramblings of a blathering idiot trained in the propaganda tactics of the Soviet Union and tweets about food. Seriously though, this exchange summarizes how ridiculous Comrade Lyle Spencer is.