Callis with some Rangers

by Brett Perryman on Mar 27, 2008 2:31 AM CDT Comment 23 comments

Jim (McKinney, TX): Jim, got to know about Wilmer Font of the Rangers. One blog said if he were in the draft this year he could go in the top 5 (maybe #1). What's the upside of this kid?

Jim Callis: (2:00 PM ET ) Font has huge upside. He's big (6-4, 237), young (17) and has been clocked as high as 98 mph while sitting 93-96. His secondary stuff isn't very refined, so I think it's a huge stretch to say he'd go in the top five. I like him and he could shoot up prospect lists, but he wouldn't go that high.

Tom: (Revere, MA): Just thinking on your thoughts of Chris Davis, down in TX. What type of player does he seem to be? I know you guys had him at #65 in your top 100, but factoring in Texas as a hitting environment, he could produce some astounding numbers. Disagree or Agree?

Jim Callis: (2:14 PM ET ) I like him, too. I apparently like everyone I'm getting asked about today . . . Yes, he could put up big power numbers in Texas. I'm not sure he'll hit for a huge average with all the strikeouts, but I could see him becoming a 35-HR guy in Arlington.

adam, ny: does salty ever pan out?

Jim Callis: (2:57 PM ET ) Yeah, I still believe in him.

3 recs | Comment 23 comments

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Font

So young, oodles of time to develop those secondary pitches. I don't think it's a stretch with someone so young and with that kind of stuff to go that high in the draft.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 27, 2008 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hard to say

Jeremy Jeffress had a similar profile coming out of high school and went 18th. I think Font would go higher than that because of his size and I think will be year a younger than Jeffress was when he was drafted, but maybe not 13 spots higher. Kind of depends on the draft I guess...

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Mar 27, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beltre

seems to me the kind of guy who would be more likely projected that high, but radar gun readings are awfully fashionable these days when ranking pitching prospects.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 27, 2008 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Font is also not known as a lover of old Mary Jane like Jeffress was/is.

Makeup concerns caused Jeffress to slide a bit.

But I agree with you that top 5 is a bit high. High school righties almost never go top 5 unless they're just uber talented.

"Sabean did a good job on selling high on Liriano." Excel Hearts Choi

by thedirkatron on Mar 27, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah

I forgot about his drug thing...

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Mar 27, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Top five picks

are usually reserved for guys who are 3-4 years away at the most and relatively sure thing. That is why only the best high school pitchers (guys like Beckett, Porcello) really get considered there, barring stupid signability decisions. Teams can't afford to spend top 5 money on a guy like Font who in all likelihood won't even make it to the majors. Even if his ceiling is higher than anyone else's, he's so far away that you have to discount his value a lot.

But whatever, having guys 3 extra first-round caliber picks in your system like Font, Feliz and Beltre is a big bonus, regardless of if they would be top 5 or just top 30.

by JBImaknee on Mar 27, 2008 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lot of good stuff there

So are we looking at a Dean Palmer redux with Chris Davis?

by Hypo-Luxa on Mar 27, 2008 10:20 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

id take that

in a second..

.500 or bust!

by Jayslick on Mar 27, 2008 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In all likelihood won't even make it to the majors?

Any pitcher with that good a fastball at his age has a fair chance to make it to the majors...he's got at least five years to develop two more pitches. At worst, he's a reliever.

by John Fountain on Mar 27, 2008 12:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1

but more of a +1 on feliz at a RP

by knockoutking on Mar 27, 2008 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the info, zywica

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on Mar 27, 2008 12:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

font and feliz

is it too early to say whether they will end up as starters or relievers?

New Troll Script for 2.0

by ab03 on Mar 27, 2008 12:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I would think so

they're teenagers.......

by Dirk Diggler on Mar 27, 2008 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You missed this one

Phil (Grand Rapids): How would Josh Hamilton in his uber-prospect heyday compare with this crop of CF prospects (Maybin, Upton, Rasmus, McCutchen, etc.)?

SportsNation Jim Callis: Before his injury and drug problems, we rated Hamilton the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball. The best comp in that group would be Upton.

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Mar 27, 2008 3:43 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

wow

upton?

question, havent researched it (at all) and im sure i could find out if i did...but what is hamilton's speed like? i mean i know he had 47 sb in 277 games in the minors but only 3 last year (didnt want him to get hurt on the paths?) vs upton (who is seen has having big time speed but not a lot to show for it last year)

also, wish EV the best of luck in cinci. i couldnt be any happier if both guys ended up reaching the top of their potential.

and i wish hamilton the BEST of luck this year.

by knockoutking on Mar 28, 2008 2:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At least somebody

Still believes in Salty.

Can we get Callis a job in the front office?

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 27, 2008 7:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

huh?

the truth.

by Longhorn on Mar 27, 2008 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Next track for OC, et al:

Del tha Funkee Homosapien - Catch A Bad One

by Chase Irwin on Mar 27, 2008 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone else notice Chris Stewart was cut?

So, we keep Laird (?) send Salty to the minors, have a glut of catcher's in AA & AAA, so we cut Stewart?

Not that he was a 'great' prospect but a serviceable back-up.....this Laird deal is beginning to get me down!

by tklawless on Mar 28, 2008 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who cares

He was the backup catcher at AAA. I don't understand the fuss over cutting your backup AAA catcher. Melhuise is a good veteran who works well with pitchers and is a good clubhouse influence. Thats all you need from a guy who is only going to play a couple dozen games this year. This isn't the first time we cut Stewart either IIRC. Some of yall need to pick your gripes and the backup AAA catcher should not be really high on the list.

by bigsteve on Mar 28, 2008 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs