The lowlights:
'One small-market Central Division team that hasn't done very well for years has essentially completed a deal with its fourth-round pick, who isn't a college junior and thus has bargaining leverage. But the commissioner's office doesn't like that the agreed-upon number is above slot and has refused to sign off, so the player hasn't gotten out there and is being kept from what the team decided is his market value.'

Now, maybe Peter is mis-stating the facts, and Bud just doesn't want ink on the deal until 8/15, and that's somewhat reasonable. But one could certainly read that Bud wants the deal re-done, and in slot. Which is insane, and, like, Revelation of John-level scary.

"It is amazing to see these kids in a tryout setting -- they can tune up a BP fastball and run the 60 but lack instincts and most basic fundamentals," one international scouting director said. "When we put them in games, their lack of game-playing skills stick out -- they can't slide, don't recognize situations. But buscones continue to emphasize power, arm strength and speed -- nothing else. What's more, they're taken out of school at 10 years old, and their abilities to retain information are severely hindered. We try to get these kids to learn English, yet their Spanish isn't very good."

Which makes me all the more happy that we hear such great things about Marteen's and Wilfredo's and Alvarez's and Edwin Escobar's character and aptitude. Let the other teams teach kids to read.

In 2006, Boston gave outfielder Engel Beltre $600,000. When everyone's favorite guide -- the Baseball America "Prospect Handbook" -- came out in 2007, Beltre was compared to Barry Bonds. The Red Sox traded Beltre to Texas, and he's hitting .217 with a .568 OPS in Class A ball. But his tools are still great.

I don't know if Engel is really a prime example of the dirty deeds buscones pull down south- didn't the kid spend most of his childhood in New York?

Former San Diego Padres chief executive officer Sandy Alderson is overseeing a wholesale investigation being conducted by Eddie Dominguez of MLB Security into corruption and fraud in the Dominican Republic and all over Latin America. The investigation could lead to the deportation of 70 to 100 minor leaguers.

Once again, it could be alarmism, and I have faith that the intense scouting we do is better than a lot of the dumber teams, and I doubt we lose any primo prospects.

But I will cry if we do. Like, serious crying. I'm man enough to admit it.