If you have a question, send it to askba@baseballamerica.com. Please include your full name and hometown if you'd like your letter to be considered for use in an upcoming column. Also, please understand that we can't respond to every question.
Ask BANov. 2, 2009
Did Braves lefthander Mike Minor deserve to get drafted seventh overall? Are White Sox outfielder Jordan Danks' Arizona Fall League numbers for real? Is Tigers shortstop Gustavo Nunez a legitimate prospect?
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Ask BAOct. 26, 2009
How does Jarrod Parker's surgery affect his prospect status? What kind of shape are the Padres in as new GM Jed Hoyer takes over? How high does Puerto Rican shortstop Dickie Joe Thon project to go in the 2010 draft?
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Ask BAOct. 19, 2009
Who are the best prospects among sons of former big leaguers? What's the best infield that could be put together using the last five drafts? Is the Cubs' pick at No. 16 next year protected from free-agent compensation?
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Ask BAOct. 4, 2009
What does the 2010 draft order look like, and how are ties broken? Why did the Padres get the No. 1 pick in the 2004 draft over the Tigers when Detroit had a worst record in 2003? Who's most likely to record an out in the big leagues: Matt Bush, Dinesh Patel or Rinku Singh?
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Ask BASep. 28, 2009
Where will Aroldis Chapman rank as a prospect? Should the Royals trade Zack Greinke? How does Rick Porcello's rookie season rate against that of other recent blue-chip pitching prospects?
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Ask BASep. 21, 2009
Who are the best NFL quarterbacks ever drafted by MLB clubs? How similar were Jason Heyward and Donavan Tate coming out of high school? How does the Royals' pitching talent compare to that in other farm systems?
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Ask BASep. 14, 2009
How do the Yankees' catching prospects compare to one another? Which is better, the package the Indians gave up for Mark DeRosa or the players they got in return for him? What does the future hold for White Sox righthander John Ely?
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Ask BASep. 6, 2009
What happened to the SL's top prospects from 2005: Delmon Young, Jeremy Hermida, Jeff Francoeur and Chris Young? Did the Yankees make a mistake by signing Caleb Cotham for $675,000 and letting Tyler Lyons go? Has Blue Jays first baseman Brian Dopirak regained his prospect status?
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Ask BAAug. 31, 2009
How does a draftee qualify as a two-sport athlete? What's the ceiling for Cubs shortstop prospect Starlin Castro? Why doesn't Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava get more love?
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Ask BAAug. 25, 2009
Which teams had the best drafts? Which teams had the biggest coups in the first round? What would the first round look like if the players had been drafted in the same order as the guaranteed money they would wind up receiving?
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Ask BAAug. 10, 2009
After all the Pirates' spending, how good is their draft? What did MLB think it was going to accomplish by cutting its slot recommendations by 10 percent? How much of a prospect is Padres lefthander Juan Oramas?
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Ask BAAug. 3, 2009
What would updated Indians, Pirates and Phillies Top 10s look like after the trade deadline?
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Ask BAJul. 27, 2009
What's up with Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas and Red Sox first baseman Lars Anderson? Which righthander has the higher ceiling: Tommy Hanson (Braves) or Mat Latos (Padres)? Who's a good comp for White Sox center fielder Jared Mitchell, and how quickly can Mitchell reach the majors?
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Ask BAJul. 20, 2009
Who is the Indians' best pitching prospect? Could a team trade the rights to a draft pick by designating the choice as a player to be named later? Is Braves first baseman Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg's hot start for real?
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Ask BAJul. 13, 2009
Who was better in high school: Justin Upton or Bryce Harper? Has Jordan Lyles surpassed fellow 2008 draftee Ross Seaton among Astros righthanders? Why isn't Cubs righty Andrew Cashner working deeper into games?
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Ask BAJul. 6, 2009
What would the Cardinals Top 10 look like now? Which international signees could crack the next Top 100 Prospects list? How talented is Casey Kelly as a pitcher, and why are the Red Sox moving him back to shortstop after the all-star break?
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Ask BAJun. 29, 2009
Which top draft talents are the most likely to not sign? Which first-round picks are the least likely to crack their teams' Top 10 Prospect lists? How to teams determine which legitimate late-round talents to sign, and what bonuses do they receive?
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Ask BAJun. 15, 2009
Which first-rounders will be their team's No. 1 prospect? Who's a better prospect, Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper? Why didn't Florida State shortstop Stephen Cardullo get drafted?
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Ask BAMay. 31, 2009
How many 2000 draftees will make the Top 100? Who's more attractive as a prospect, Rangers first baseman Justin Smoak or Orioles lefthander Brian Matusz? Where might Oklahoma State pitchers Tyler Lyons, Tyler Blandford and Thomas Keeling go in the draft?
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Ask BAMay. 19, 2009
What has happened to Delmon Young? Would the Nationals consider redrafting Aaron Crow? Who are the best prospects who have been drafted more than once?
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Ask BAMay. 11, 2009
Will Stephen Strasburg's no-hitter drive up his value? What were the scouting reports on Zack Greinke when he was coming up as a prospect? Is it too soon to call Pirates lefthander Daniel Moskos a bust?
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Ask BAMay. 4, 2009
How good is Astros righthander Ross Seaton? Is it time to start worrying about Orioles catcher Matt Wieters? What's the upside for North Dakota high school star Cole Frenzel?
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Ask BAApr. 27, 2009
Who's the best two-way player in the draft? How will the Rays make room in their outfield for Desmond Jennings? Will Rice's three first-round picks in the 2004 draft ever live up to their former promise?
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Ask BAApr. 20, 2009
How do this draft's prep catchers compare to each other? Why doesn't Arizona State lefthander Josh Spence get more love from scouts? Is Rickie Weeks a bust?
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Ask BAApr. 13, 2009
How good or bad is Cardinals third baseman Brett Wallace's defense? How much is Marlins outfielder Mike Stanton's stock rising? Has a major league Rule 5 pick returned to his original club ever become an all-star for that team?
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Ask BAApr. 6, 2009
Did the Dodgers pay too much for Casey Blake? Can teams manipulate the Rule 5 draft rules by activating injured players in September? What's the status of last December's Rule 5 picks? Why can't teams trade draft picks?
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Ask BAMar. 30, 2009
Could Bryce Harper use a GED to enter the 2010 draft? Could Josh Lindblom really crack the Dodgers rotation less than a year after being drafted as a reliever? Where would Angels shortstop Brandon Wood rank on the Top 100 Prospects list if he were eligible?
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Ask BAMar. 23, 2009
Who will be the top five picks in the 2010 draft? Which Top 100 Prospects are in line for a breakout season in 2009? Are Georgia first baseman Rich Poythress and Louisiana State righthander Anthony Ranaudo legitimate College Player of the Year candidates?
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Ask BAMar. 16, 2009
Where would Stephen Strasburg, Matt Harvey and Bryce Harper rank on the Top 100 Prospects list if they were eligible? What percentage of first-round picks reach the majors? Could a 16- or 17-year old American move to a different nation to avoid the draft?
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Ask BAFeb. 23, 2009
What's the No. 1 overall pick worth in a trade? How long will it take Joshua Fields to become the Mariners' closer? Who's better: Lonnie Chisenhall or Nick Noonan? Ryan Flaherty or Todd Frazier? Shooter Hunt or Tim Melville? Jason Castro or Brett Lawrie?
[...] Continue Reading »