Law and Callis chats

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 18, 2007 11:49 AM CDT in News

A couple of chat sessions at ESPN today you might want to check out...

Keith Law has a chat session starting at noon...he really liked the Rangers' draft, so those of you who were critical of it -- particularly the Borbon selection -- might want to toss a question or two about it his way...

And Jim Callis has a chat session going at 1 p.m today, so send some Rangers prospect questions in to him...

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I wish he'd answered the second part...

Adam J. Morris, Houston, Texas: A lot of talk out there from some folks about Jon Daniels being unreasonable in his asking price for Mark Teixeira...what do you think would be a reasonable deal for Teixeira? And do you think he gets dealt before July 31?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:15 PM ET ) I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for a lot (like a Joba or a Hughes) two weeks before the deadline; JD should start high, solicit offers, and then bring his price down until someone meets it. It's like a Dutch auction. Since Teixeira isn't a FA until after '08, I think JD should be looking for one blue-chip prospect (or a blue-chip guy who hasn't reached arbitration yet) and at least one more solid prospect/young big leaguer. He should certainly start any conversation by asking the other team for their #1 prospect, because you never know when someone might say yes.

by hightowersmith on Jul 18, 2007 12:17 PM CDT reply actions

He did here

Mike (Springfield, MA): Pretend like you know the future, whats the biggest trade by the deadline?

Keith Law: (2:06 PM ET ) Adam Dunn or Dontrelle Willis. Teixeira stays put.

Ian Kinsler is my homeboy

by amr512 on Jul 18, 2007 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Yah

Just about to post that...

This is, of course, because Teixeira's a "hurt 1b."

by hightowersmith on Jul 18, 2007 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

and the A's are so scared of a hurt 1b

that they intentionally walked him twice

Ian Kinsler is my homeboy

by amr512 on Jul 18, 2007 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions

That's the Sosa factor

They are so eager to see an old statue with poor pitch recognition bat that they walk him.

by bushe on Jul 18, 2007 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Excerpt from Law's

Chris ( S.I. N.Y.): Keith, Is Chamberlain as good as his #'s reflect so far in Trenton and is there any thought of the Yankees bringing him up this year to pitch the 8th inning and get rid of Farnsworth. He's terrible. Also what's Joba's Ceiling?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:09 PM ET ) I was at Joba's start on Saturday night in Trenton. He was 94-98 in the 7th inning, with a plus-plus slider, average change, and an inconsistent but occasionally plus curve. Fastball command is OK, control is at least average. He's a potential #1 starter, and I can't imagine the Yanks trade him, not even for Teixeira.

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Jul 18, 2007 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

wow...

he also mentions that he'd trade Phil Hughes before dealing Chamberlain. That seems insane to me.

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Jul 18, 2007 12:23 PM CDT reply actions

Ouch

"A hurt 1b" is way too harsh.

Bo (TX): Evan Grant from the Dallas Morning News wrote in his Rangers newsletter this morning that GM's need to stop holding on to ALL of their prospects, especially when a hitter like Mark Teixiera is on the table. Does that argument hold water? For example, would it be worth it to the Dodgers to trade Loney and Kershaw in exchange for a world series push both this year and next year?

SportsNation Keith Law: (1:49 PM ET ) I love how Grant made up a trade for the team he covers to deal a hurt 1b for a hitter who's almost as good PLUS one of the five best pitching prospects in baseball. Needless to say, I don't think that sort of example supports his argument. I've always believed that teams should identify a very small number of their prospects who are untouchable, and make anyone else available in the right deal.

by hightowersmith on Jul 18, 2007 12:51 PM CDT reply actions

well

I think he said hurt because he just came off the dl, and maybe he's be blind to how well teix has been doing since coming off the dl.

but i'll agree with him loney and kershaw or billingsly just isn't going to happen.

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Jul 18, 2007 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Grant's article

I felt the same way when I read it. I think Tex will bring a decent return, but Grant's trade propositions struck me as a little homer-ish.

Obviously you're not a golfer.

by chief on Jul 18, 2007 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Seriously?

Almost as good?

Dude does realize that Loney never hit more than 11 HRs in a minor league season right? That's a good bat, a Casey Kotchman, maybe. A John Olerud if you're extremely fortunate, but almost as good as Mark Teixeira?

What kind of game is this guy watching, try "not even fucking close".

by FirebatM3 on Jul 18, 2007 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions

okay

Law says Melvin is one of the top GMs in the league?

Ummmm, no.

One picture is worth 1,000 denials.

by nirvana on Jul 18, 2007 1:52 PM CDT reply actions

Are you sure about that?

by badradiorules on Jul 18, 2007 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Yes.

I'm sure.

One picture is worth 1,000 denials.

by nirvana on Jul 18, 2007 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Alright, I've got three questions for you?

When did the Brewers win before he was their GM?

How many times have the Rangers gone to the playoffs without him as the GM?

When have the Orioles won without him in their front office?

by badradiorules on Jul 18, 2007 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Doug

I'd like to inherit the players he's inherited at each stop...

One picture is worth 1,000 denials.

by nirvana on Jul 18, 2007 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I admire him...

...for hanging on to the good young players he inherited.

A little more of that and we would have a lot more talented group around these parts.

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 18, 2007 2:31 PM CDT up reply actions

okay

i'm sure you would love to go through seasons like this for the next 4 years...right?

68-94
67-94
81-81
75-87

One picture is worth 1,000 denials.

by nirvana on Jul 18, 2007 2:33 PM CDT up reply actions

well

if you could guarantee I would be in 1st place at 53-40 the 5th year I might take that at this point... hell, we have already endured more than four years like that with no promise of 53-40 anywhere in sight

by Brandon Wilson on Jul 18, 2007 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Not really

Didn't the Brewers draft no lower than the top 6 for about 6 straight years, more or less?

We've always been just mediocre enough to draft between 10 and 15 roughly. That's the difference between Prince Fielder and Drew Meyer (Grady's foolishness doesn't overcome this), or Rickie Weeks and Tom Diamond. Plus, Melvin was dumb enough to choose Rogers over Bailey, when pretty much everyone had Bailey ranked as the best prep pitcher in the country (chaneling HeardDickey). Kudos for Gallardo, however.

And I'm too buzzed to look it up, but I'm pretty sure we've been 13 games over 500 more than once in the past 4 years. We obviously finished 17 over in 04. So I don't know what you mean there.

And Hart or Daniels never inherited anyone remotely resembling Ben Sheets.

Melvin's a decent GM. Anyone that misses the glory days of "Diabolical Doug" is enduring revisionist memories...

If the Scoot stays mute, you must commute.

by Brian Thomas on Jul 18, 2007 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Hate to bring it up again

"And Hart or Daniels never inherited anyone remotely resembling Ben Sheets."

Chris Young has been better than Ben Sheets the last 2 years, and JD inherited him.

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 18, 2007 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed, tricer

Revisionist history indicates that JD is NOT CLUELESS! Unfortunately, reality indicates otherwise. How's the "rebuilding" going?

Hit me in the eye...maybe I can see better.

by Clueless on Jul 19, 2007 1:05 AM CDT up reply actions

So, salary neutral

You are telling me you'd take Young?

If the Scoot stays mute, you must commute.

by Brian Thomas on Jul 19, 2007 6:01 AM CDT up reply actions

probably so

Young has pitched better the last 2 years and Sheets can't stay healthy.

But my point was, contrary to your statement, JD inherited a pitcher in the same class as Sheets, and arguably better. JD just didn't have the good sense to hold onto him.

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 19, 2007 9:12 AM CDT up reply actions

Well, I was a little liquored up last night

I probably wouldn't have added the Sheets comment.

But I'd definitely take Sheets over Young, unless the trainers told me the injury bug wasn't gonna go away.

Young had an era+ of 107 and 105 when he was here. I'm not saying it wasn't a terrible trade, but he didn't trade a guy who projected to be in Sheets class, as you just said. He traded a slightly above league average pitcher whose coaches stupidly predicted would wilt in the heat and/or not repeat his mechanics.

And please, nobody chime in about how he was under cheap control for years, that we traded a starter for a setup guy, etc. I know, and I agree, it was Godawful.

I don't know why I'm babbling on about this side issue, anyway. My point is, Doug Melvin was and is nothing special.

If the Scoot stays mute, you must commute.

by Brian Thomas on Jul 19, 2007 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

okay

I guess you like peanut butter and jelly more than baloney.

Notice that my post responds to yours about as well as yours responds to my previous one.

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 18, 2007 3:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't care

who he inherited. He wins in places where it's tough to win. As a Ranger fan, we had Juan, Pudge, Raffy, and Franco before Melvin and didn't win. We only won when he was here.

by badradiorules on Jul 18, 2007 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

ahh

you mean like the way Baltimore won in 96 and 97 right after Melvin left?

One picture is worth 1,000 denials.

by nirvana on Jul 18, 2007 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Ok

you're right. He's awful. He was awful here and Milwaukee would be much better off without him.

Man I'm sure glad we got rid of him. He did nothing when he was here and we've had so much success since he left.

by badradiorules on Jul 18, 2007 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

Ummm

where did I say he was awful?

But, yeah, I agree with the part that you are glad we got rid of him.

One picture is worth 1,000 denials.

by nirvana on Jul 18, 2007 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Also

Who cares if he was in the front office of the Orioles. He wasn't the GM...

And, he took over at Milwaukee in '03 and continued their losing for the next 4 years.

And in Texas, I'm not sure, but did he sign Pudge, Juan and Deno?

One picture is worth 1,000 denials.

by nirvana on Jul 18, 2007 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah, but

2 out of those 3 decisions ended up being right

by Brandon Wilson on Jul 18, 2007 2:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Also

all this joba love is pissing me off. If hurley was in the yankee system he'd be top 3 prospect, easy...

One picture is worth 1,000 denials.

by nirvana on Jul 18, 2007 1:53 PM CDT reply actions

JMJ

Justin (Wash. DC): John Mayberry Jr. was pretty underwhelming last season in Clinton and this season in Bakersfield. However, since his promotion to Frisco he has been very good. Has he finally turned the corner into the hitters the Rangers though he could be when they drafted him or is this a flash in the pan?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:34 PM ET ) A lot of teams questioned Mayberry's bat when he came out of Stanford. I don't know that he'll ever hit for average, but he's a good athlete with power. I see him becoming a decent regular, nothing more.

by hightowersmith on Jul 18, 2007 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

If he's right

a decent regular is still valuable. Since most draft picks outside the top 5 or so don't do anything noteworthy a regular starting player is a good end result and a piece of the puzzle.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2007 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions

JMJ

I agree...If JMJ can hit .260 with 25+ HRs and over 100 RBI's I will take that.

It might not make the stat heads happy...

by clinton33 on Jul 18, 2007 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions

i would def take that

stick him in right field and in the #5 spot would be pretty solid

by weslyenkid01 on Jul 18, 2007 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

yeah

25 homers and 100 rbi at a minimum salary have earned our current DH a lot of love.

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 18, 2007 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions

Ha

no crap.

Although, now I don't think our current DH will see either of those marks.

by badradiorules on Jul 18, 2007 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't either...

just saying.

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 18, 2007 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Mayberry

If his OBP is 83 points above his AVG, like it is this year, and he hits .260-25-100, this stathead will be plenty happy.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Jul 18, 2007 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions

M Main

Someone asked a question if Main worked out his funky delivery would he would throw as hard as Zumaya.

Reply was to the effect that he would not say that about anyone however, Main can be a bullpen guy that works 96-98 if he hits his potential.

by lamron on Jul 18, 2007 2:44 PM CDT reply actions

On the Callis Chat

Someone asked about Beaven, Borbon, and Ramirez.

response was "no details, but I expect all three to sign." Also responds that IF Texas signs all 3 it will be one of the better drafts this year.

additionally Law said he expects all Boras clients except possibly one, but not before August 15th.

by lamron on Jul 18, 2007 2:47 PM CDT reply actions

You know

sometimes I wonder why a nice guy like Keith Law can't get hired by another Front office, and then I read his columns and chats, and I understand immediately.

by FirebatM3 on Jul 18, 2007 3:54 PM CDT reply actions

I know what you mean

For instance he said that Aaron Harang (ERA around 3.7 over the last 3 years, 4.2:1 k/bb ratio, 37-26 record while pitching for a horrible team, etc) is a "decent third or fourth starter on a good team".

Me and Billy the Kid never got along. I didn't like the way he cocked his hat and he wore his gun all wrong.

by tricer on Jul 18, 2007 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions

He's very prone

to hyperboles and not very keen on research. It seems that once every column, and at least twice every chat, that he makes a statement that anyone with access to baseball reference would find utterly ridiculous.

by FirebatM3 on Jul 18, 2007 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Law

It's interesting you say that (and I'm not sure I disagree) since he used to be a writer for Prospectus...

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Jul 18, 2007 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow

that is a horrible assessment. He's the best pitcher on quite a few teams any of the last 3 years.

by t ball on Jul 18, 2007 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Especially

since he pitches in a big-time hitter's park. What he does has been exceptional.

by FirebatM3 on Jul 18, 2007 4:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Research.

A difference of opinion does not mean a lack of research. I've seen Harang pitch, and in my opinion, he wouldn't be a #1 or #2 starter for many teams, especially not in the American League. (Life is good when you pitch in the NL Central.) I'm not clear why, rather than accept that as my opinion, you feel the need to insult me.

The throwaway line about Teixeira being a "hurt 1b" was meant to reflect the fact that his trade value right now would be somewhat discounted by the concerns over his health status. Of course, I'm not privy to the same medical info that MLB executives are, and it's possible that another GM would see Teix's medicals and be comfortable with them, but in the absence of that information, it seems safer to assume that there will be a small discount.

by Keith Law on Jul 19, 2007 8:07 AM CDT up reply actions