Jim Callis chat session

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2007 2:08 PM CST in News

BA's Jim Callis has a chat session going right now, and this jumps out at me:

Nathan (San Diego): When I open Baseball America's 2008 Prospect Handbook, which team's farm system am I going to find made the biggest jump from last year? Also - are any new Indians prospects going to break into the top 100?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:25 PM ET ) The Rangers. Via trades and the draft, plus the improvement of prospects already on hand, they'll jump from No. 28 last year to perhaps the top five. I haven't broken down all the systems, so I can't be more precise.

That sound you hear is zywica and I saying, "I told you so."

Go back to last year -- particularly after the Brandon McCarthy trade -- and there was much howling about what a desolate wasteland the Rangers farm system was, that it would take years to get the minor league system back to respectability, despite a few of us pointing out that there was a good chance of there being a big leap in 2007.

Now, one of the most respected prospect gurus out there has the Rangers as a top-5 system.

The talent at the major league level is not good right now...but the future, at least, looks very bright.

Of course, we also have this...

Tyler (denton, texas): Common i gotta know.. Ian Kinsler or Noah Lowry.. good deal for both sides?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:11 PM ET ) Texas needs pitching, San Francisco needs hitting, would make sense for both sides.

No. Texas needs hitting more than pitching right now. Kinsler is the team's best positional player, and trading him for a pitcher with shaky peripherals that is a year closer to free agency would not be a good plan.

Tweet Comment 75 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Arrogance?

"I told you so"?

I don't think anyone on this thread thought after JD traded Lofton, Tex, and Gagne for prospects that our farm system would still suck.

Why can't we be friends?

by Agreen07 on Nov 28, 2007 2:07 PM CST reply actions

There are folks

who post here who apparently believe that JD has done absolutely nothing to improve the franchise and is running it into the ground.

"LSB: accept the losing" - Sharky

by DJCahill on Nov 28, 2007 2:12 PM CST up reply actions

As illustrated by your sig

"Red Sox = Evil Empire 2.0" -MR

by RangerMoto on Nov 28, 2007 2:13 PM CST up reply actions

Well, JD damn sure got rid

Chris Young who could have been one of our top starting pitchers. Plus JD thought he had a great idea to trade south paw John Danks for a brittle and injury prone Brandon McCarthy.

I think it's rather obivious that JD has done flopped and done absolutely nothing to improve starting pitching. He's actually set this team back several years by letting Chris Young and John Danks go.

I am living off the government tit! Sucking it dry!

by LtDan on Nov 28, 2007 8:50 PM CST up reply actions

JD has made some great...

moves for this team. The CY trade was bad but he has done well since that deal. Calling the McCarthy deal bad is ignorant. McCarthy was hurt, but Danks didn't tear it up. Look at our farm system now, that is his doing, and I don't think he is done yet. I have complete confidence in JD and the direction he is taking this team.

I would love to see the moves you would have made if you were GM.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 28, 2007 9:15 PM CST up reply actions

The Danks for McCarthy was bad

McCarthy was injured most of last year. Danks was in his rookie year and actually did pretty damn good considering the run support in quite a few games with the White Sox which had a horrible offense this past season.

Sure, JD stacked up on some prospects from the Braves and Red Sux trades. But prospects are just what they are. Prospects. We shall see. Don't get me wrong... I'm big on prospects. I follow what's going on with how farm system and the top prospects.

But, for anyone to completly overlook the major league players that JD has traded away that we once had is not being very realistic to the fact he completly messed up in trading away a Chris Young, John, Danks, Adrian Gonzalez, and Alfonso Soriano.

I mean... my goodness, trading Alfonso Soriano to the Washington Nationals for Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge, and Armando Galarragato. That was his first major trade and then trading Chris Young, Sledge and Adrian Gonzalez to the San Diego Padres for Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka, and Billy Killian.

How can you have much confidence in a GM that does this

I am living off the government tit! Sucking it dry!

by LtDan on Nov 28, 2007 9:40 PM CST up reply actions

Look at how young JD is...

No one will argue the CY/Gonzalez and Sori trades were bad, even JD himself, but many a great GM has made a bad trade or two. I still say, and have said, I like the direction this team is headed in and have faith in JD.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 28, 2007 9:48 PM CST up reply actions

Danks

Danks was in his rookie year and actually did pretty damn good considering the run support in quite a few games with the White Sox which had a horrible offense this past season.

His 5.50 ERA had little to do with his run support.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2007 9:49 PM CST up reply actions

Half and half

Yep McCarthy is brittle. He may work out.

Nope Chris Young wouldn't be worth much as a Ranger. Gawky, one actual ML pitch, endurance issues, hittable big time when tired, just a losing situation. Good mind, big body, should be trading equities is precious metals and not playing baseball. Even basketball would be a losing proposition, Princeton just doesn't come up to superstreet NBA standards.

You got the wierdest player fascination I've ever seen! And you don't answer your email LOL

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Nov 28, 2007 9:18 PM CST up reply actions

sorry.. Ed

it must be the yahoo email, that's the email I have here at LSB. BTW... your email might have been piled or dumped in with the spam/bulk folder.

Heck if I know. I do apologize. But, I thought I said a while back in some unknown post or thread that I never got your email.

I am living off the government tit! Sucking it dry!

by LtDan on Nov 28, 2007 9:47 PM CST up reply actions

True

I was poking fun, as well. Will resend the same message to the yahoo account. If it goes to spam, undo gmail unless it's the source of a lot of junk.

Thanks!

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Nov 28, 2007 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

My point was...

...z and I were saying last winter that there was a good chance of this happening...

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2007 2:14 PM CST up reply actions

well kudos to you then

Hopefully this farm system translates into winning on the major league level. We will see.

Why can't we be friends?

by Agreen07 on Nov 28, 2007 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

That's a bit revisionist, Adam

There wasn't a good chance the farm system would get back to respectability after the McCarthy trade. It took the draft, plus good years from Teagarden & Davis, and the Lofton, Tex & Gagne trades to do that.

"Red Sox = Evil Empire 2.0" -MR

by RangerMoto on Nov 28, 2007 2:13 PM CST reply actions

Well

Last winter, we pointed out that the Rangers were going to have a bunch of compensatory picks in the 2007 draft, and that there were several guys -- notably Teagarden -- within the system who were poised to break out.

It was also noted that, if the Rangers fell on their face, they were going to have quite a few tradeable assets to replenish the farm.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2007 2:15 PM CST up reply actions

Ok, I'll accept that

"Red Sox = Evil Empire 2.0" -MR

by RangerMoto on Nov 28, 2007 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

Lowry is hotter than Kinsler...

...so advantage Texas in that aspect.

"Red Sox = Evil Empire 2.0" -MR

by RangerMoto on Nov 28, 2007 2:18 PM CST reply actions

Hotter...

in a Doctor McDreamy way, or hotter in a baseball playing way?

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on Nov 28, 2007 2:21 PM CST up reply actions

Lowry

can sure wear a uniform......

"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that on-base percentage," Baker said. "Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me."

by jparks77 on Nov 28, 2007 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

both

"Red Sox = Evil Empire 2.0" -MR

by RangerMoto on Nov 28, 2007 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

actually, nevermind

just in the former.

Kinsler for Lowry would be an awful deal for the Rangers. Laird for Lowry? Sure.

"Red Sox = Evil Empire 2.0" -MR

by RangerMoto on Nov 28, 2007 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

I'd choke on my ghasp

if they accepted Noah for Gerald

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Nov 28, 2007 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

You forget...

This is the franchise that traded Nathan and Liriano for Pierzynski :P

by cjcheng on Nov 28, 2007 3:55 PM CST up reply actions

Yah

But don't you know that Sabean is the world's greatest and most handsome genius for trading Liriano when he did?

Dwyade once challenged God to a game of 1-on-1, only to realize it's impossible to play 1-on-1 against yourself.

by thedirkatron on Nov 28, 2007 5:45 PM CST up reply actions

AJM

yes we need hitting more so than pitching. But in the end we need both to achieve playoff success and looking at the past it seems like it is easier to acquire quality hitting than pitching, especially via FA market (considering nobody wants to come to Texas and if they did we would probably have to overpay).

Thus, unless we expect Hicks to dish out big-time money for Sabathia or Peavy next offseason, it seems like trades or farm products are the only way we are going to get quality pitching here. So while we may need offense more than pitching, we certainly need both and in order to get quality pitching I think we will have to trade an offensive stud in our farm system or on our major league roster to get a great pitcher in return.

Why can't we be friends?

by Agreen07 on Nov 28, 2007 2:25 PM CST reply actions

BTW

I'm don't think we should do Lowry for Kinsler. But I do think we will have to pull off a move like this to get an arm that has ace potential.

Why can't we be friends?

by Agreen07 on Nov 28, 2007 2:28 PM CST up reply actions

Lowry

I don't think he has ace potential.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2007 2:39 PM CST up reply actions

Where are we going to get an offensive stud?

There is this mentality that we have plenty of stud offensive players, but no top quality pitchers.

Who, though, is an offensive stud in the system right now?

Kinsler? Saltalamacchia? Chris Davis?

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2007 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

Teagarden

I still believe in Botts. Maybe MaxRam and definitely Chris Davis.

That being said, I still believe we are much weaker in offense than pitching.

"2008 should be about rebuilding, 2009 about taking a step forward. 2010 is the target year." -AJM

by dstar442005 on Nov 28, 2007 2:47 PM CST up reply actions

Botts

He's someone who looks like he can be a nice DH. Not an offensive stud.

Ramirez and Teagarden look like they will be good to great hitters for catchers, quite possibly, but not middle of the order impact bats.

Davis is the only one who looks like he could be a legit #3/#4 masher.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2007 2:50 PM CST up reply actions

I agree with you

but to me at least, it seems like in the past it has been easier to get a quality free agent offensive player to come to Texas than a pitcher.

Why can't we be friends?

by Agreen07 on Nov 28, 2007 2:58 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think so

The Rangers have had little luck getting anyone to sign here, pitching or hitting.

Kenny Lofton and Frank Catalanotto are the big acquisitions, unless you want to go back to Juan Gonzalez.

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 28, 2007 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

Speaking of Lofton...

Why is his name not mentioned as a potential CF FA signeed this offseason? Since the Rangers are probably going to stop-gap at CF for a couple of seasons, seems like Lofton is as useful a solution as any.

Colbert/Colbert '08

by rooster on Nov 28, 2007 3:56 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think...

he would be interested in coming here again.

And I think I would rather go with what we have now over Lofton another year.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 28, 2007 9:17 PM CST up reply actions

maybe its cat and mouse

but i think if the rangers sported some young studs, a free agent bat might be more inclined to come here. And, though i've disagreed in the past, there just aren't as many top quality free agent pitchers as there are hitters

by ab03 on Nov 28, 2007 4:18 PM CST up reply actions

*chicken and the egg

by ab03 on Nov 28, 2007 5:27 PM CST up reply actions

Big free agents

We just haven't signed that many big FA's in recent memory, period.

ARod, Millwood and CHoP are the only ones that come to mind.

Dwyade once challenged God to a game of 1-on-1, only to realize it's impossible to play 1-on-1 against yourself.

by thedirkatron on Nov 28, 2007 5:48 PM CST up reply actions

Infield vs. Outfield

the problem clearly lies in the outfield and injuries. Sure Hank hasn't been the stud we expected even when healthy, but we could all see a little bit of a change in him the past year, both before and after injury. If our infield stays healthy, I think we've got one of the top units around, competing with NYY, better than playoff teams Boston, Anaheim and Cleveland. That's just my opinion, but I see outfield as being our key area primed for improvement. So while we don't have a Tex-like stud anymore, I think our infield is collectively better than most others. We do need to make sure we have a 1B ready to contribute regularly, in addition to an improved OF, before we can close the book on the offense, but I think with healthy Kinsler and Blalock, MY starting the year as he usually does (not like in 2007), Salty at C and Botts' improved learning curve, we've got a lot of things going for us on offense. And it just so happens that the outfield is the easiest position to improve via free agency and the trade market

with that said, leave Kinsler there unless, as AJM said, you can swing a deal for a true Ace - Santana, Peavy, Bedard if he's healthy, etc.

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Nov 28, 2007 3:06 PM CST up reply actions

Lowry

even K:BB rate, 1.55 whip, and he finished the year on the DL, undergoing an MRI on his arm.

But we need pitching, so what the heck.

by clark on Nov 28, 2007 2:27 PM CST reply actions

Kinsler for Lowry=CY/AGon for Eaton/Otsuka

It would be a bad idea!

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on Nov 28, 2007 2:30 PM CST up reply actions

I want

John Lackey next year.

"2008 should be about rebuilding, 2009 about taking a step forward. 2010 is the target year." -AJM

by dstar442005 on Nov 28, 2007 2:39 PM CST reply actions

Lackey

Is he a free agent next year? If so, yes, get him, but I thought he was extended through 2009.

I own a lot of Apple stock,so buy more iPhones!

by Ajax on Nov 28, 2007 2:41 PM CST up reply actions

theres a club option for 09

which will no doubt be picked up.

by DShep on Nov 28, 2007 2:44 PM CST up reply actions

Pirates

Snell and Bay have the headlines; what about a lesser deal? BA's list motivated me to look up some of the Pirates players. Steve Pearce looks interesting. Patient hitter with a little pop that plays 1B. A prospect for prospect swap, maybe? Or, is he too likely to be Shealy?

Colbert/Colbert '08

by rooster on Nov 28, 2007 2:43 PM CST reply actions

and yet

there is still room for improvement and I believe that Daniels is not satisfied.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Nov 28, 2007 2:45 PM CST reply actions

yep

i told you so as well.

Merill Hodge = Skip Bayless < Mark May...yeah, that's saying something.

by Longhorn on Nov 28, 2007 2:59 PM CST reply actions

link please

Brett Gardner broke my heart...

by Brian Thomas on Nov 28, 2007 3:04 PM CST up reply actions

i think it's fairly common knowledge

of what i think about JD and what he's done here.

Merill Hodge = Skip Bayless < Mark May...yeah, that's saying something.

by Longhorn on Nov 28, 2007 3:26 PM CST up reply actions

Yes,

you have been pretty supportive of JD, but it's also common knowledge that you have a tendency to claim to have been right about everything and ahead of the curve on every trend.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Nov 28, 2007 3:29 PM CST up reply actions

Like Mike Vanderjagt sucking?

But, i was wrong about the Chris Young trade, we ended up getting nothing for Aki, for now...

Merill Hodge = Skip Bayless < Mark May...yeah, that's saying something.

by Longhorn on Nov 28, 2007 3:55 PM CST up reply actions

Well

I do remember that cheesy former sig of yours, where you claim to prognosticate his future greatness on this blog, but don't actually link to anything you actually said.

You may have said it, I don't know. I've never cared enough to spend 2 minutes and look it up.

As far as JD goes, I think it's entirely fair to say he hasn't had many bigger, more consistent, and more vocal supporters than T Ball and myself. But to extrapolate from that support some kind
of "I told you the farm would make a quantum leap in one year" assertion is quite ridiculous. I certainly wouldn't make that claim, and I'm pretty sure T Ball wouldn't either.

Adam once remarked that one of the reasons he started this blog is because of people claiming he said things he knew he didn't, and conversely, people alleging they never said things he thought they did.

So, I repeat. Link please.

Brett Gardner broke my heart...

by Brian Thomas on Nov 28, 2007 6:11 PM CST up reply actions

Sorry

I have no link.

Merill Hodge = Skip Bayless < Mark May...yeah, that's saying something.

by Longhorn on Nov 28, 2007 6:56 PM CST up reply actions

where's Craig A. Wilson?

is he a free agent or on somebody's roster? I wouldn't mind plugging him at 1B for us this year...

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Nov 28, 2007 3:08 PM CST reply actions

how about...

....his response to these two questions:

***
Greg, TX: Whittleman or Davis?
Jim Callis: Chris Davis.
--------------------------------------------------
Russell (McKinney, TX): John Mayberry Jr. or Chris Davis?
Jim Callis: And back to Chris Davis again.
*****

he later picked brandon wood over chris davis...
at least we're in the conversations again...

hurleyhurler, king of the i-got-the-last-word-so-i-win agruement... and his own sandbox

by ivysafety39 on Nov 28, 2007 3:09 PM CST reply actions

Well

Neither of those is so surprising.

There's no comparison between Davis and Wood. Weird to even bring that up...

by hightowersmith on Nov 28, 2007 3:12 PM CST up reply actions

They both hit for power

and they both K a ton.

"On-base percentage is great if you can score runs and do something with that on-base percentage," Baker said. "Clogging up the bases isn't that great to me."

by jparks77 on Nov 28, 2007 3:14 PM CST up reply actions

Well

I guess in my head it weighs heavily that Wood is in the majors and we have a 100 AB sample of Davis at AA.

Plus Davis has his profile from 1B, where Wood is more a rarity across the diamond.

by hightowersmith on Nov 28, 2007 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

Cardinals would make good trading partners...

they're in need of a SS (and have been rumored to be somewhat interested in Arias) and they want a veteran starter.

I'd be ok sending Padilla and Arias their way for a piece that could be a part of our organization for the foreseeable future. They've got some really nice prospects, but I wonder what it would take to pry away Chris Duncan or Rick Ankiel. Duncan could play either cof spot or 1B if needed. I just don't want Edmonds.

by HaegerChamp on Nov 28, 2007 3:16 PM CST reply actions

ya know

that seems to be a good idea. I've never heard it discussed before though. I'd do Padilla and Arias for Duncan in a second.

"2008 should be about rebuilding, 2009 about taking a step forward. 2010 is the target year." -AJM

by dstar442005 on Nov 28, 2007 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

Two notions

That would make me stunned if any such proposal even got put into writing. Arias does not have 'next shortstop' value appeal, I doubt the Cardinals would consider him as a component of any trade. Then, Padilla has the best chance of being a double digit winner for Texas in 2008 "no matter who" is hitting or defending. All he needs to be is healthy. The Cardinals would definitely consider him a component in a deal.

Duncan? Why? you have Botts who is every bit as much, and Cruz who is going to be much better than either (yeah I know, very few others think so).

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Nov 28, 2007 3:35 PM CST up reply actions

Whoah

You're still high on Nelson Cruz?

Dwyade once challenged God to a game of 1-on-1, only to realize it's impossible to play 1-on-1 against yourself.

by thedirkatron on Nov 28, 2007 3:45 PM CST up reply actions

Yep

He's a long learning curve guy who has hung around on pure athletic ability, and is basically just now (past year or so) learning some intracasies of baseball. He could totally flop, I just don't think he will. A lot depends on attitude. You just don't do what he did at OKC on his send down, or his 400/500/600+ '07 launch in the DWL without the raw capability. When application and attention catch up with capacity for him he will be totally hellacious. Because of his age, it's a short 3-6 year window for high career achievment. Skip the notion about never playing baseball until he was 18. Now, ten years later, he's never "had" to play focused and informed MLB until a year and a half ago.

He's still an "if". I for one believe he'll bust out, and I hope he's a Ranger when he does so.

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Nov 28, 2007 4:29 PM CST up reply actions

Fukudome

would he bump Cruz to left? Vice versa? Is Cruz going to get regular AB's?

T.R. -- enough is enough.

by inactive lsb user on Nov 28, 2007 4:32 PM CST up reply actions

Hypothetical

IF the team has the option of having both Cruz and Fukudome in the OF, you'd think the cannon arm and going to his right range would put Cruz in RF, while Fukudome who is a more experienced fielder with supposedly outstanding ability to read batted balls would be very good in LF.

Remember, LF is where a lot of the "runs against" damage is traditionally done against the Rangers. The irregular base wall, the narrow angle down the foul line, and the steep fallaway to the LCF gap make it a speed and read field.

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Nov 28, 2007 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

Ed

I'm with you on Cruz...a stud defender by all indications, with freakish power and some speed, if he puts it together, we could have a really nice piece of our OF right in front of our eyes

here's crossing my fingers...

"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."

by Walter Sobchak on Nov 28, 2007 4:42 PM CST up reply actions

I really hope you're right

If Cruz figures things out he'd be a huge asset for us.

I just don't know if he'll ever get another real shot to prove it in the bigs.

Dwyade once challenged God to a game of 1-on-1, only to realize it's impossible to play 1-on-1 against yourself.

by thedirkatron on Nov 28, 2007 5:52 PM CST up reply actions

Cruz

If you're managing, Ed, how many more ABs with the same results does he get?

Brett Gardner broke my heart...

by Brian Thomas on Nov 28, 2007 6:13 PM CST up reply actions

Fewer

Than another 150. Maybe 120. Obviously I'm not managing, but if I were I'd deliberately put him into pressure/stress situations, like hitting 5th behind Hank (given no true cleanup hitter is found by April). When pushed Cruz responds. When given a slot (especially low and 'unimportant' in the batting order) he idles.

Good question Brian, and it reveals that I don't care much for "easing" talent into place. Produce or depart is a fair appraisal. However, if you start someone on an ease in path, it's totally unfair to then yank 'em around. Maybe Wash will put the onus on Nelson to get going or get out this spring. Cruz has a tendency to burst onto the scene, then fade. Well, don't let him fade. Keep the heat on and the spotlight ready. (My not so smart analysis, anyway).

Unsolicited, Botts on the other hand will never be an MLB hitter until he picks LH or RH. His approach, stance, swing, timing, even sense of the plate are different from the two different sides. Please set one aside until the other works?

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Nov 28, 2007 6:42 PM CST up reply actions

150 ABs

I can definitely get on board with that. Especially given our other options.

I just don't think he merits another full season. Thing is, this past season was the first in awhile where I didn't see as many games. Like twice a week, so maybe you saw things in him I didn't.

Moving to the East Coast = kind of sucks for watching sports. I didn't fully appreciate how good we had it out west in that regard...

Brett Gardner broke my heart...

by Brian Thomas on Nov 28, 2007 7:11 PM CST up reply actions

Interesting takes, Ed

on both players. I think I'd go along with another 100-150 ABs for Cruz, but only if they don't add better options this winter. He does not get the benefit of the doubt if they've added someone like Fukudome and a CF via trade.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Nov 29, 2007 12:07 AM CST up reply actions