http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/ The Home For Baseball Insiders Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:49:23 EST en-us http://www.baseballamerica.com/images/baonlinelogo4.gif http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/ 96 9 1 http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/chat/2013/2614890.html Content: Doug (Las Vegas): I noticed on Keith Law's recent list that a kid named Matt Krook popped up as the number 17 prospect in the country. I haven't heard his name and the list did not say a whole lot about him. Is he really a first round type of guy and can you please tell us more? Thanks! Jim Callis: Hi, everyone. Glad to be back for the regular Wednesday chats after a winter hiatus as we did our series of Top 10 Prospects chats ... Matt Krook's stock is shooting through the roof. He's a high school lefthander from California who looks like a definite first-rounder, could be the first prep arm taken. Consistent low-90s fastball, spins a tight curveball. I believe Conor Glassey will have more on Krook in his next edition of Draft Tracker. Diego Maradona (1986): Do you think Byron Buxton will hit above .250 in his full season debut? Jim Callis: Yes, not that it really matters either way. Justin (Tucson, AZ): I'm hearing great things about Carlos Sanchez with the White Sox. Comparisons to Jeter, Alomar and Ventura have been written but I don't see him in Baseballamerica's top 100 prospects list. He . . . Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:30:56 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/chat/2013/2614890.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/chat/2013/2614595.html Content: Andy Baggarly: Hi everyone, thanks for joining the annual Giants top-10 prospects chat. Apologies for getting started a little later than originally scheduled. I see lots of good questions from the usual suspects but I'll try to bounce around the board during the next hour or so. In other words, there's still time to submit a question and I'll do my best to answer everything I can. First question coming up in a moment... @Jaypers413 (IL): Thanks for the chat. I see you rated Shilo McCall as the biggest sleeper in the system. How fast could he rise this year, and what does he project as? Andy Baggarly: McCall was the outlier of the 2012 draft — the only high schooler among their top 26 picks. He was committed to Arkansas but scouts had a good feel for his signability and liked his blend of tools. I don't think he'll move quickly given his age, but he's got a lot of upside. Plus he's from New Mexico, home state of Cody Ross, and that never hurts! Ben (Leland Grove): Is Blackburn's arsenal of pitches considered to be inconsistent with the numbers he put up last season? In other words, is . . . Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:41:06 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/chat/2013/2614595.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/chat/2012/2614397.html Content: Moderator: Aaron Fitt will answer your questions about college prospects for the 2013 draft beginning at 4 p.m. ET. Aaron Fitt: Hello folks, sorry I'm a few minutes late getting started — had to take a phone call from a coach. Let's get going! Mick (Chicago): You have to scroll down to 54 to find a shortstop, and it's Brandon Trinkwon...wow!?! Aaron Fitt: Great observation, Mick — that is the biggest reason scouts are not terribly excited about this draft class: there is a real lack of impact up-the-middle guys. Most of the top college shortstops are more in the steady grinder mold (think Matt Reida, Jack Reinheimer at ECU, Adam Frazier, Kyle Farmer at Georgia, etc). That's why a guy like Hunter Dozier is interesting — he's got real impact tools, and has a chance to shoot up this list in the fall. Scouts really liked what they saw from Trinkwon in the Cape — he's got an innate feel to hit that stands out in this group of shortstops, and he's a good athlete. Good all-around player. Not Jaypers (Wisconsin): Aaron, who are you seing as some of the biggest risers on this list? Also, who seems to . . . Fri, 30 Nov 2012 08:08:37 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/chat/2012/2614397.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/chat/2012/2614315.html Content: Conor Glassey: Hey everybody! Thanks for coming out. It's never too early to talk about the draft, as far as I am concerned. This is always a fun time of year here at Baseball America. While today's content focused on the high school side of the coin, feel free to ask about anything draft-related. I'll chat here for about an hour before I have to get back to writing up the Mariners chapter for our Prospect Handbook. Mick (Chicago): Are there any position prospects, beside Corey Ray to see in Illinois next spring? Conor Glassey: Mick - Corey Ray was a tough cut from the list. He was on some initial versions of it, but scouts feel that he's a bit of a tweener right now. He has a nice swing, but it's more of a flat, line-drive swing and not one built for power. So he doesn't have profile power for a corner outfield spot and doesn't cover enough ground to play center field in the big leagues. Ray's teammate Ro Coleman is a really fun little spark plug committed to Vanderbilt, but he's another guy who would be better served going to college. Chuckie Robinson from Danville has . . . Tue, 13 Nov 2012 17:20:40 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/chat/2012/2614315.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2614074.html Content: @Jaypers413 (IL): Hey, Jim. Your first impression of Bundy's callup? Think we could be seeing another instance of David Price if they make it to the postseason? Jim Callis: I would have called him up earlier. You don't have to blow him out, but he arguably has a better arm than anyone on their staff and he can be an asset as they try to fight their way into the playoffs. I understand trying to keep pitchers healthy, but there's no sure way to health and I can't fathom why the Nationals and Orioles aren't using everything they have. Kudos to the Orioles for turning to Bundy, even if they needed an 18-inning game to make them see the light. Ben (Leland Grove): Now that Simmons has graduated, who gets your vote for Atlanta's top position prospect in their farm system? Jim Callis: They don't have anyone who's Top 100-worthy. I want to say Christian Bethancourt, but he had a sub-.600 OPS this year, so give me Edward Salcedo. Andrew (Baltimore): It was my understanding the O's didn't consider Bundy ready for the bigs and sent him to instructs. Is this move merely a matter of needing an extra body . . . Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:18:03 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2614074.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2614030.html Content: jim m (mariette, ga): What is the offensive upside for francisco lindor ? thanks ! Jim Callis: Hi, everyone. Glad to be here for the weekly Wednesday chat. Just to mix things up this week, let's see if I can hit one question for every organization . . . As for Lindor, I was very impressed with how well he controlled the strike zone as an 18-year-old in the Midwest League. I could see him his upside as a .300 hitter with 10-15 homers per year. He's a gifted defender who also will produce at the plate. Ben (Leland Grove): With the recent injury to Jason Hammel, could you see the O's giving Bundy a shot, if only in a bullpen capacity, or are they set at holding him off? Jim Callis: I think they're set on holding him off, but who knows when they'll contend again? He's already on the 40-man roster, and I'd take whatever innings he can give. Mike (Tampa): Even though it doesn't count, I'm curious what you think about Guerrieri suddenly issuing walks in his past two playoff starts? Jim Callis: Wouldn't read too much into two starts at the end of the season. I . . . Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:15:53 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2614030.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2614013.html Content: Evan (Chicago): Is Marcus Littlewood a prospect or suspect at this point? Jim Callis: Still a prospect. He converted to catcher this year and so far, so good. He'll factor into our Northwest League Top 20 Prospects list when that comes out later this month. He's still just 20 and had a nice year at the plate considering his age and league. Tommy (New York): Jim...In regards to the top 30 Cape Cod Prospects, I was wondering what scouts thought of Daniel Palka of Georgia Tech/Wareham this summer. Thanks. Jim Callis: They liked Palka, who was one of the best power hitters in the league. There just wasn't enough room for him on the Top 30, though he would have factored into the 31-40 range if I had gone that deep. He has a big swing but was less pull-happy than he was last year on the Cape. Bill F. (Scottsdale, AZ): True or False: 5 years down the road either Tim Beckham or Hak-Ju Lee will be the Tampa Bay Rays starting SS? Jim Callis: True. I still believe in Lee. I don't think Beckham has any chance to be a big league starting shortstop. He just doesn't cover . . . Wed, 05 Sep 2012 16:42:40 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2614013.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2613983.html Content: Ronald (Toronto): Talk me off the ledge, Jim: Should I still be as excited about the Jays farm system as I was a year ago? Jim Callis: Yes. Some players have regressed, sure, but they do that in every system. Focus on the Lansing rotation (Sanchez, Syndergaard, Nicolino) and their banner 2012 draft. Jim (Philly): Would you consider Darin Ruf to be a top 30 prospect in their system? Top 20? Jim Callis: Top 30 yes, Top 20 maybe. The Phillies system isn't nearly as deep as it used to be. He's 25, which is old for Double-A, but he has hit 37 homers and controls the strike zone, so he'll find a spot in the Prospect Handbook. Matt V (Philly): With Tyler Cloyd getting the call for his MLB debut tonight with the Phillies, what can we Fightin's fans expect both short and long term? Jim Callis: He's a finesse righthander who's not a viable long-term option for the rotation. Great year in the minors (15-1, 2.26). @Jaypers413 (IL): Your thoughts on the increasing number of positive drug testing results of late, the latest of which being Sale and Stroman? Jim Callis: Not in regards to those two players . . . Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:32:30 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2613983.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2613984.html Content: Ronald (Toronto): Talk me off the ledge, Jim: Should I still be as excited about the Jays farm system as I was a year ago? Jim Callis: Yes. Some players have regressed, sure, but they do that in every system. Focus on the Lansing rotation (Sanchez, Syndergaard, Nicolino) and their banner 2012 draft. Jim (Philly): Would you consider Darin Ruf to be a top 30 prospect in their system? Top 20? Jim Callis: Top 30 yes, Top 20 maybe. The Phillies system isn't nearly as deep as it used to be. He's 25, which is old for Double-A, but he has hit 37 homers and controls the strike zone, so he'll find a spot in the Prospect Handbook. Matt V (Philly): With Tyler Cloyd getting the call for his MLB debut tonight with the Phillies, what can we Fightin's fans expect both short and long term? Jim Callis: He's a finesse righthander who's not a viable long-term option for the rotation. Great year in the minors (15-1, 2.26). @Jaypers413 (IL): Your thoughts on the increasing number of positive drug testing results of late, the latest of which being Sale and Stroman? Jim Callis: Not in regards to those two players . . . Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:48:35 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2613984.html http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2613947.html Content: Jim Callis: Hi, everyone. Glad to be back in the chat room. Let's get to it. Kevin (Point Mugu): Jim, Is Clayton Blackburn for real? What are your thoughts on him? Jim Callis: He's legit. He went late in the 2011 draft (16th round) because most clubs thought he was destined to attend Oklahoma. Good arm, good feel, plus fastball with average secondary pitches. @Jaypers413 (IL): Assuming he gets the call to Cincy next month, could you envision Dusty giving Hamilton any chances to hit, or would he be used strictly as a PR? Jim Callis: Might get an AB or two, but I think he'd be mostly a pinch-runner. Don't think he's ready to do much damage against big league pitching. Sean (Coatesville, PA): Brian Goodwin has had a bit of a slow transition to AA, does he still project as a future CF/Leadoff hitter? ETA 2014? Jim Callis: I didn't think he'd get to or be ready for Double-A this season, so the performance doesn't bother me. Projection and ceiling remain the same, 2014 ETA makes sense. Brooks (Maryland): Jim-Only 39 games left, are O's going to collapse like Pythagorous says they should? Jim Callis: I still think . . . Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:37:13 EST http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/chat/2012/2613947.html