that hasn’t been mentioned on here.

Q: Todd from Chattanooga asks:
I really thought that Davis ran away with this honor as #1 guy in the TL this year – don’t get me wrong I like Fowler, but the guy could stand to put on about 25 lbs

 A: Kary Booher: Selecting the Top 20 for the Texas League this year was a nice challenge, as there were a lot of good prospects to consider. But given that the talent level wasn’t overwhelming to a number of scouts I spoke with, it took using a fine-toothed comb over and over again to narrow down the list of who was deserving. Davis and Fowler, though, were clearly at the top of my list, and Davis was an obvious favorite, especially by the time the second half of the season got under way. But I gave Fowler the edge because — and in no particular order — 1, league managers thought he was the most exciting player in the TL, 2, he could switch hit and 3, he had the overall athleticism lacking of corner infield or corner outfielders. Davis’ knock was that he has had trouble playing over at third, and that’s why the Rangers moved him across the diamond. Having covering the Cardinals Double-A club the past four seasons, including most of this year, I saw Fowler a number of times. And each time he always seemed to change the complexion of a game. I remember in early April, the Drillers had a runner at first and his manager called for a hit and run. Fowler, batting left, angled his bat so that he shot a grounder through to the left side of the field. It set up a first-and-third situation, and the Drillers went on to have a big inning. I thought the same thing early about Fowler—that he needs to add some weight. But at the TL All-Star Game, he was walking around with a T-shirt off and you could see his abs and upper chest. I think he’ll add some weight to get more power to his bat, but Fowler should be careful because it could cost him with his other tools. Good question.
 
 Q: Luke from Des Moines asks:
Can Chris Davis stay at third base, or will he move back to first? Do you expect him to hit .280 with 40 homers in his prime?
 
 A: Moderator: I look for Davis to move back to first eventually. The only reason the Rangers moved him back to third base—he played there the prior two seasons before returning to Frisco in 2008—was to make room for Hank Blalock. I actually saw Blalock in Oklahoma City in late June, and he handled a tough grounder. The Rangers obviously are wanting to keep Blalock healthy and in the lineup, and they’re willing to sacrifice some defense by having Davis shift over to third. In the long run, look for Davis to be a first baseman.
 
 Q: Luke from Des Moines asks:
Where would Brett Wallace, Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, and Neftali Feliz ranked if they were eligible?
 
 A: Kary Booher: A few managers politicked for Cahill, but he just missed the list because he missed qualifying by just a few innings. Had he not pitched for the Olympic team, he would have. In that case, Cahill likely would have vaulted up into the Top 10. He was that good from what I gathered from some of the TL South Division managers. Feliz was in that same boat, and Wallace made a huge splash very late in the season. I think he would have been rated within the top seven on this list had he met the qualifying in at-bats (at least 140), and that would have been even more so in a year when the league did not have the enormous star power as it did in, say, 2006, when the TL had Tulowitzki, Gordon, Butler and Pence.
 
 Q: Ben from Leland Grove asks:
Will Max Ramirez eventually have to learn a new position if his catching abilities still aren’t up to snuff? If so, where?
 
 A: Kary Booher: It’ll be a big offseason and then big spring for Ramirez, if he is to show the Rangers that he should remain behind the plate. But more and more it looks as if he will eventually move, and scouts believe that will be the case. Remember, he started his career at third base, but his success has not mirrored that of another corner infielder-turned-catcher (Geovany Soto). I’d look for Ramirez to give first base a try.
 
Q: Alex from Atlanta asks:
Is Chris Davis the next Ryan Howard?
 
 A: Kary Booher: Only if Davis gets the chance to play in the drama of a pennant race. That would be the true test. You’re comparing a rookie, albeit one with tremendous power from the left side of the plate, to a guy who could win his second NL MVP award in three years after a blitz through September. Both have the advantage of playing in small ballparks, so Davis can pile up the numbers. The question is whether he will be surrounded by the talent that Howard has in Philly. With Nolan Ryan as the Rangers team president now, the next few years should help answer that question.

(I just have to say, that is a really stupid answer.)