Casey Tefertiller: Welcome to everyone in the chat. And thanks to Kevin for moderating. The A's have a most unusual and interesting organization, which makes it fun to watch and analyze. Dan, As you say, McCurdy showed great improvement toward the end of the season. However, he is still and advanced player at low-A, and it is hard to tell where that leads. It will be interesting to see if he can continue at Modesto this year. There are some in the A's who think very highly of him and believe he will emerge as an offensive force. I doubt many believe he can stay at shortstop, and he will more likely move to second or third in the near future. The full top 30 will be available in the prospect handbook.

Casey Tefertiller: Kris, Really too early to tell with much certainty. Among the most interesting are third baseman Mark Teahen and catcher John Baker. Teahen spent IL working on developing his power, and if he can hit for average power he has an excellent shot of becoming a regular. Baker, from Cal, will probably manage in the majors someday. He is competent, but the question will be whether he has the arm to catch. He is one of the brightest young players I have ever spoken with. The jury is still out on everyone from the draft. The A's remain very high on Jeremy Brown, though scouts outside the organization have a different view. This draft will be very interesting to watch over the next couple of years to see what develops.

Casey Tefertiller: Malcolm, Every team wants to draft power pitchers. The difficulty is finding the right ones. Everyone thought Todd Van Poppel would emerge as the ultimate power pitcher for a generation, and it did not quite work that way. I really like the way the A's have drafted top pitchers over the last decade, and I certainly believe that HudsonZitoMulderHarden can hold their own with the Red Sox in the postseason.

Casey Tefertiller: Ogando is an exciting young outfielder, with the emphasis on young. It is really too early to get much of a read right now. He appears to have legitimate power, but watch what happens this year and we will know more.

Casey Tefertiller: Ryan and Kris both asked about Rheinecker. The big lefty had a year where he kept winning, but did not do so impressively. Here is an excerpt from the prospect handbook writeup: well. Despite all this, he did not earn many accolades along the way. Rheinecker allowed a whopping 233 hits in 180 13 innings, enough to raise questions as to whether his stuff is too hittable for an effective major-league starter. The big lefty is a good battler on the mound who fights his way out of trouble. When he has command of his fastball, he can dominate games, but that has been highly inconsistent. He pitches at 88-89 with the fastball and his slider can be superior at times.

Casey Tefertiller: See above

Casey Tefertiller: Shane, Because he stands only 5-9, Komine will have to continually prove himself at every level before anyone believes he can be a quality major-leaguer. This is the curse of the short pitcher. However, Jeff Brantly had a darned good career, and he is about the same height. It is hard to project when he will reach the majors, since he will have to convince at each level. He ranks in the lower third of the A's top 30, but he is one of the reasons the A's system is so unconventional this year. He could emerge as something special in the future.

Casey Tefertiller: Jeff, Sullivan has hardly pitched as a professional, and when he has the A's have tried to get him to rely on his fastball rather than using his superior breaking pitch. He was almost burned out when he joined the organization, and there is really little upon which to evaluate. Based on his college reports, he could very well be a 1 or 2, but the question remains whether he was tired or damaged, and there is no way to know that until he has more professional experience. It is way to early to guess when he will arrive in the majors.

Casey Tefertiller: John, Hernandez appears to be just fine and to have completely recovered. He looks really, really good right now, with great potential. Again, he is so far away that it is impossible to know much, and he will have to move up before anyone can get too excited. Many of us remember Mario Encarnacion at the same age, and he was super. Oh well.

Casey Tefertiller: Jon, Baseball fans in Peru? I guess it beats llama polo. It will be hard for Koonce to make the team out of Spring Training, now that Karros has signed. I would expect him to wait in Sacramento and get the call up when a need arises. He has also been troubled by being a slow starter, which makes it more likely he will start in 3A.

Casey Tefertiller: Wow, Jeffrey, I think you said it all. Hatte is a superior clutch hitter, doing his best work with men on base. At some point, I would expect him to evolve into a solid pinch-hitter, and that point might come this year. Hatte is also a leader type who is really good to have on a team with young players.

Casey Tefertiller: Joey, Yes, I would. But I am not sure Jim Callis or Josh Boyd would agree. Blanton has had one pro season, so we must see what lies ahead. Right now, he appears very, very good.

Casey Tefertiller: Kris, You have touched on the substance of a continuing discussion at BA and around baseball. The A's system is not so much weak as it is weird. The A's may have more players who will reach the majors than does any other organization. The question is how many will be real impact players. There is a vast difference of opinion on the ceilings of many A's players, ranging from Swisher to Stanley. The system has the likes of Komine and Dan Johnson, who do not excite scouts, but their performances are nothing short of dazzling. It is a very difficult system to evaluate, since it is unconventional. My guess is that it will turn out pretty decently, but we will have to see. What the system lacks is that top half-dozen or so players that make scouts drool and have other teams coveting trades. We shall see.

Casey Tefertiller: Ryan, Blanton, no doubt about it.

Casey Tefertiller: Jason, Rich Harden is a special talent. I expect that you will see a much different Harden this year, with Curt Young along as pitching coach and a year of experience. Blanton need more minor league time to work out the kinks and develop his change. There is no need to rush him, and he and the A's will both benefit by giving him time.

Casey Tefertiller: I would think Duke and Wood would be in competition for a bullpen job, but more likely they will be in Sac to start the season. As said, Blanton will be in the minors. If Harden or anyone else falters, I would expect Duke to get the first call.

Casey Tefertiller: Mickey, Right now, Knox is knocking the eyes out, but he is a long, long ways away. He will probably make the Kane County team this year, and we will have a better idea.

Casey Tefertiller: Greg, If this happens, it will have a dramatic affect on the organization. Most players really enjoy playing with the A's, and this would indicate there is a chance they can keep the team together to some degree.

Casey Tefertiller: Jon, As players advance, deficiencies can become more apparent. In A ball, Brown's significant ability became visible. In double A, a problem emerged -- the same problem scouts forecast when he was a college player. The enormous question is whether Brown will have the athleticism to be a starting catcher; whether he can block balls in the dirt and the like. He is doing flexibility training and working to increase his abilities. If he succeeds, he could become a sold major-league catcher. If not, it is hard to see him as more than a backup or swing player. Offense does not appear to be an issue. He handles pitchers well. A's officials believe he will develop his flexibility, and if they are right, he could be a star. Outside the organization, there is great skepticism. We shall see.

Casey Tefertiller: Mike, I just answered this, but wanted to make an addition. The A's really like him as a player and a person, but the question of athleticism is discussed within the organization. Inside the organization, there is more optimism than with scouts outside the organization.

Casey Tefertiller: Craig in Custer Country, Tools, tools, tools. As said earlier, I was around when Mario Encarnacion came into the organization, so I would prefer to see what evolves rather than lust for tools on such a young player. The package is there, so we have to see what comes from it. He did not make the top 30 this year, and most of that analysis comes from within the org itself.

Casey Tefertiller: Mike, I already answered this, but I thought your comments so interesting that I wanted to include them in the chat. He has superior control, and he can throw his fastball, change and curve at any point in the count. None would grade out as above average, but the package with superior control works so far.

Casey Tefertiller: Kris, Harville still is a prospect, and there is a real difference of opinion about his potential. The only way to know if he can close in the majors is to see how he does. He has succeeded at closing in the minors. The problems are that injuries have stunted his career, and his control has evaporated when he has pitched in the majors. Scouts outside the organization say that he throws on a flat plane -- that height problem -- so the downward angle is not there to bother hitters. I think he has a real shot of being successful.

Casey Tefertiller: Dan, No one on the A's has 25-steal potential because they will not run 25 times. If you are referring to errors, I see Crosby as a very steady shortstop who will make few errors. I do think he might hit 25 homers, but probably not the first few seasons.

Casey Tefertiller: Kris, I don't think so, but there is no way to tell until DJ advances. He has worked hard to develop a short stroke so that he will not get beaten inside. We will know much more by what happens in Sacto this summer.

Casey Tefertiller: Jimmy you dreamer. Sutton is an intriguing hitter without a position. The A's are trying to work him in at catcher, but an injury limited his time there in IL. He is expected to go to Kane County as a 1BC to see where his bat will carry him.

Casey Tefertiller: Mike, First, it appears there is a good chance Chavez will stay, so the question may be moot. Teahen is my next organizational report, so there will be more in the next issue. He is well ahead of Snyder right now. He is very good defensively, and he has excellent hand-eye, which is the makings of a good hitter. The question is power, and that seems to be improving. Snyder got off to a rough start, then improved at IL. He will need much developing before he can really be considered a prospect. Other possibilities are that McCurdy may move to third and that Adam Morrissey may wind up there as well. Morrissey is a fine 3B, but the question is whether he will have the bat for the position.

Casey Tefertiller: Wes, I expect Harden to win about 18 and beat Pedro in the ALCS Game 7. For what that is worth. I think he will be fine, and he is ready to be a fourth starter in the majors.

Casey Tefertiller: Eric, Yep, you present a good argument. The counter argument is that the A's had just about everyone they thought had potential, so there was no reason to keep drafting and overfill teams. They could fill their weaknesses with free agents and be as well off.

Casey Tefertiller: James, Bynum is still around and making progress. The progress is not coming as quickly as the A's would like, but he remains a prospect. Ortiz was traded a couple of years ago and has never nailed down a major-league job. Harden is probably going to start this year as the fifth starter. I believe he has the makeup and ability to become a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, a 1 or 2, as he develops. He could be special.

Casey Tefertiller: BD, The A's believe that the power drop was mostly because of the thumb injury, and that offense is not much of an issue in Brown's future. They do not expect a Bench, of course, but they think he could be a 15-20 HR guy if he can develop the flexibility to be an everyday catcher.

Casey Tefertiller: Joe, Absolutely yes on McBeth, maybe on Gomez-Alfonseco. McBeth has outstanding tools and a plus makeup, but he just has not advanced in hitting for average. The A's are hopeful that offseason work will improve that, and some of those answers will come this season. He is a terrific defensive outfielder, and the A's could use him. Scouts outside the organization really like Gomez-Alfonseco. He missed nearly a whole season with visa problems, and he will have to prove himself.

Casey Tefertiller: Marty, Weber showed he can hit in A-ball, and the A's liked him enough that he is going to Midland for the summer this year. As an outfielder with limited power, it is hard to project his future, but he will have the shot to show he can play.

Casey Tefertiller: Lynn, In Danville, the name John Baker should be familiar. He is coming off a shoulder injury. If he can throw well enough, he has a shot of becoming an everyday big-league catcher. That is a big if. He has made huge improvement in his skills since signing, and all we can do is watch. Beyond that, Beau Craig and Casey Myers are in the system, but neither have made major advancements. The A's do not have a Joe Mauer.

Casey Tefertiller: Bren, Already answered on Komine, but Fritz is interesting. He had a year of real ups and downs, and when he was up, he was almost unhittable. He is in about the middle of the top 30, and some expect him to emerge as a closer-type at some point in the future. Minor injuries really hampered him this year. Murphy would have been in the top 10. No idea where he fits for Fla. Ask Jim Callis when he does his next chat.

Casey Tefertiller: John, Normally it would say much. In this case, it does not. Koonce could emerge as a late-bloomer who becomes a big-league force. This is an abboration rather than an indication of something else.

Casey Tefertiller: Mr. Becher, Good question. Wish I had a good answer.

Casey Tefertiller: Brent, Wood just missed the top 10. What happened was a change in how his ceiling is viewed. He did struggle last September, and that hurt him. He is now viewed more as a middle reliever -- a Jeff Tam type -- rather than a potential starter. He hit 90 in college, but he has pitched in the mid-80s as a pro, and the expectation is that he probably does not have enough to become a functional starter. The supersinker makes him a good candidate for that reliever role when a double-play is needed.

Casey Tefertiller: Bill, Already answered on Koonce. It will be hard for Grabowski to make the team this year out of spring training. He provides a good option for a callup in the event of injury.

Casey Tefertiller: Chris, I think my story on Crosby will be availabe on the BA site today. While Crosby is not the second coming of A-Rod, he might just wind up being one of the premier shortstops in baseball. Solid defensively and a legitimate. hitter. As for this year, rookie shortstops always have rough patches. I would expect him to be solid defensively and contribute with the bat. This should make him a real contender for ROY.

Casey Tefertiller: Rick, My top 30 really reflects mostly the comments accrued from discussions with A's officials. Because there was vast disagreement, I did more of the ranking myself this year than I have in past years, but it is highly reflective of organization thinking with some insights from scouts outside the organization. The concept is ceiling plus likelihood of reaching it. As such, Koonce has an excellent likelihood of being a big-league power hitter in the very near future -- if the A's can find an opening. The jury is still out on Swisher. As noted in the intro, there is vast disagreement in baseball about Swisher's potential. If the A's hierarchy is right, and he is a 30-HR guy who can play CF, he could be superior. If he becomes a .270, 15 HR guy limited to LF1B, he is below average for the positions. It is simply too early to get a better read on Swisher, and we must wait and see.

Casey Tefertiller: Ethier. Very intriguing hitter.

Casey Tefertiller: Steve, Too obvious, but Ripken. They look alike, they talk alike, at times they even hit alike. Remember, it was not that long ago that a shortstop who hit .280 with 20 home runs was a monster. In the pre-ARodJeterMiggy world, Crosby would have drawn headlines.

Casey Tefertiller: A, Excellent idea. It would make sense for both teams.

Casey Tefertiller: A dead-heat tie at the end of the year. Both should be considered great candidates.

Casey Tefertiller: Jim, He does indeed appear a good hitter, and he has caught the attention of the organization. This is a player with a real shot for a breakout year, and someone to watch closely. I would expect him to stay in Class A unless he really explodes.

Casey Tefertiller: Dale, Good question. There is no big-league backup plan, which shows how much faith the A's have in Crosby. Ellis could move to short and Menechino, Rouse or German could take second.

Casey Tefertiller: Bill, Fuson is exceptional at his job. He did extremely well with the A's. After his departure, the org has experimented with some innovative draft techniques, and the jury is still out as to how things will work out. Too early to tell.

Casey Tefertiller: Jerry, Kiger has really drawn attention in the A's system, and they like him very much. He is caught in a logjam of infielders in the organization, so it depends on what happens in spring to see where he will be assigned. He could emerge as a utility infielder with a good big-league career.

Casey Tefertiller: Dale, Depends on what happens with Hatte, Durazo and Karros. If Hatte or Durazo falters, Koonce could get his shot.

Casey Tefertiller: Thom, Not yet. The expectation is that he will show more power this year.

Casey Tefertiller: Dale, Well .... German is limited because he plays only second base and could not really function as a utility infielder. The A's love Ellis because he does so many little things to win games. It would take some sort of dramatic change for German to get back in the picture.

Casey Tefertiller: Karen, It is still in question whether Snow can make a complete comeback from the surgery. We will have to see how he does this year. He had a rough time last year.

Casey Tefertiller: I must apologize for being so slow. I still have 120 questions in the file that I have not answered, and my fingers are wearing out. I will have to skip around and answer what I can.

Casey Tefertiller: Josh, Worry not. It will not be all three for Hatte. I understand it will just be Jackson and Miller for Hatte. Yeah, yeah. I'm kidding.

Casey Tefertiller: Garry, The foreign market has changed dramatically in recent years, with more competition and higher bonuses being paid. It is not the super bargain it was a few years back. The A's are competing well, with the likes of Javier Herrera and Alexi Ogando and the recently traded Sierra, but they are not pulling out the numbers of talent they did in the past.

Casey Tefertiller: Aaron, Salinas is one of the few place in the U.S. where folks actually know how to pronounce rodeo. I grew up in Santa Cruz. Actually, the question is whether any of those three can play center. Swisher probably does not have the arm for right, and Ethier probably best profiles as a lf as well. I am pretty impressed by Kotsay and Kielty right now, and Burns could finally develop consistency. Tough call.

Casey Tefertiller: Joaquin, You answered your own question.

Casey Tefertiller: Dave, If it happens, you have a line on your own psychic TV network. Soriano is a franchise player with a huge upside. I would be surprised to see the Rangers move him.

Casey Tefertiller: I would think Teahen and Snyder would still have much to prove. Teahen really appears to have a shot at becoming an everyday big-league third baseman, but he still has to show that he can hit with power. If he does that in the early season, he could be traded for a decent return.

Casey Tefertiller: Mike, Yep. He really looks good, but he still has to prove himself at the higher levels.

Casey Tefertiller: Doyle, Every organization has prospect who fade and brighten as time goes on. Oakland actually does far better than most organization. Compare the A's to the Orioles, and there is just no comparison.

Casey Tefertiller: Byrnes (whose name I accidentally misspelled a minute ago) was so streaky last year that he lost his job. He has to do it over a full season to prove his worth.

Casey Tefertiller: MIke, Huge question. There is some fear that other teams may have learned how to get him out, and he may not emerge as the star the A's envisioned. That is why having Koonce in reserve makes so much sense.

Casey Tefertiller: Dison, He is a very impressive prospect.

Casey Tefertiller: Kyle, He will have to prove what he can do at every level. He has a good chance of becoming a fourth-outfielder type, but there is question whether his bunt-and-slash skills will be as effective against major-league defenders.

Casey Tefertiller: That is what the A's will be watching. If he can develop as a catcher, he has a real shot. If not, he is more a DH type, and he may have the bat to advance.

Casey Tefertiller: Matt, That is the question just about everyone is asking. If the A's are accurate in their projections, they have picked off a top player. We just do not know. The A's decided to assess talent differently in the '02 draft, and he is one of the most interesting players to watch.

Casey Tefertiller: Gary, Lehr, in particular, could make the majors in '04. He has really improved. Because of the A's more solid outfield and Lockwood's lack of power, it will be hard for him to win a job.

Casey Tefertiller: Mark Ellis, and probably Sacramento

Casey Tefertiller: Kyle, Doubtful. While he has a great bat for a catcher, it probably does not stack up to a 1B or DH.

Casey Tefertiller: Released after the season.

Casey Tefertiller: Kyle, First base for Sacramento. Koonce will likely be the DH at the start of the season.

Casey Tefertiller: DC, I was very surprised the A's gave up Sierra. He has a huge upside. The idea is to win this year, and Hammond makes that far more likely.

Casey Tefertiller: Kyle, Stanley compares to Brett Butler. Nobody gave him a chance of making it in the majors either, and he had a very decent career.

Casey Tefertiller: Louie, Most have already been mentioned. Brad Knox certainly fits in that category. The two Dominican outfielders could really turn into something. Matt Allegra and Chris Trittle would fit.

Casey Tefertiller: Damian, Rick Peterson was a great pitching coach, but his personal issues forced the move and caused some difficulties. I expect that Curt Young with do an excellent job, and I expect the A's pitchers will be very receptive to the change. Rick put together a terrific program for developing pitchers, and Curt knows the program well. Too early to tell on Sullivan.

Casey Tefertiller: David, Thusis the way of the minor leagues. If a player performs, he gets moved up and the fans are left thinking of what might have been. The A's usually do not set their A-level plans until spring training, so it is hard to tell who will be in Kane County and who will go to Modesto. Ethier and Majewski are exciting young talents, and at least one will probably be in Ill. Watch for Brad Knox, a most interesting pticher.

Casey Tefertiller: Dan Johnson. Opinions are divided, but I really like his chances.

Casey Tefertiller: Jude, No one knows the answer to that question, least of all Eric Byrnes. No one works harder or puts more into the game than does he, but he is so erratic. This is why the soap opera that is baseball is so fascinating. We simply cannot predict what will happen.

Casey Tefertiller: I expected him to recover last year, but then he kept getting injured. I think the A's are deeper this year, with the addition of Kielty, in particular. All indications are that Dye is recovering well and should be ready for a big year. We can only wait and see.

Casey Tefertiller: Thank you all for coming. Sorry I could not get to all the questions in four hours, and there were some really good ones I did not have time to answer. This should be a very interesting season, and we will all be looking forward to what happens.