Baseball America's Jim Callis (4-02-08)

[The Duke]

Ben (Centerville, OH): Do you find it odd that the Reds are starting off a polished college bat like Todd Frazier in Low A as opposed to High A?

Jim Callis: (2:03 PM ET ) Not really. If they're playing Frazier at SS, they've got Chris Valaika at SS in High A. The MWL is a tough place to hit, so it shouldn't just be easy pickings for Frazier, though I suspect he'll move up during the year.

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Alex F. (Knoxville, TN): With Reese Havens from South Carolina still racking up hits and showing some pop, how much has his draft status improved? Which other college players have helped themselves the most to this point in the college season? Which are slippig?

Jim Callis: (2:14 PM ET ) It has improved significantly, as he's showing the improvement he made in the Cape League last summer is no fluke. I could see him sneaking into the first round. The biggest knock on him is that I haven't talked to anyone who projects him as a shortstop. Other collegians on the rise include Georgia RHP Joshua Fields, Arizona State 3B/1B Brett Wallace, California 1B David Cooper and Texas Tech RHP Zach Stewart. Three of the bigger disappointments have been Louisiana Tech RHP Luke Burnett, UCLA SS Brandon Crawford and Kentucky RHP Scott Green.

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Luis (San Juan, PR): Volquez o Hamilton? Short and long term

Jim Callis: (2:18 PM ET ) Hamilton, Hamilton. Though Volquez has been resurgent this spring and looks like he will help the Reds.

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Nick (Long Island, NY): What's your opinion on Christian Friedrich? Will he still be around when the Mets pick at #18?

Jim Callis: (2:39 PM ET ) He's still the second best LHP in the draft behind Matusz. I don't think he'll make it all the way to No. 18.

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Brett (WI): OK... Hunt or Freidrich?

Jim Callis: (2:51 PM ET ) Shooter Hunt again.

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Matt (Boston, Ma): More Power, Rasmus or Bruce? More Speed?

Jim Callis: (2:54 PM ET ) Bruce has more power, Rasmus has more speed, neither is lacking in either category.

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Jeff Brooklyn, OH): Who's better this season, and in 3 years: Volquez or Cueto?

Jim Callis: (2:57 PM ET ) Cueto, Cueto.

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[The Duke]

I never really thought of the MWL as a pitchers league, but he would no more than I would. I still think Frazier will rake there and be in high A by the All-Star break, and finish the year in AA. The more I look at it, the more I think Frazier replaces EE at 3rd. mid 2009, or in 2010.

I doubt Crawford could slip to the 80's where we pick 2nd, but I never liked him as a top 10 pick.

I don't think he was taking Hamilton's injury concerns all that much. If he starts more than 120 games, i'll be shocked, and that is being generous to Hamilton.

I don't care what anybody says about him, I lke him at #7, especailly since he is a lefty, and he gets K's.

Hunt has more raw "stuff" a la Homer Baily, but Friedrich has much better command.

Rasmus is a CF, Bruce is a RF, I'd still take Bruce every time. He'll look real good in the 3 or 4 hole here before too long.

The national hype machine for Cueto is rolling. Big start thursday if they don't get rained out.

[GMBurchfield]

Apr 2, 2008 14:03:38 GMT -5 The Duke said:

The national hype machine for Cueto is rolling. Big start thursday if they don't get rained out.

I will be so pissed off if that happens. Drive down there for nothing and miss what could be the only game Ill be able to make it to this year.

Lets just say if that happens I feel sorry for whoever is around me because ->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[awnawboi21]

Duke, you've gotta consider some of the recent arms to roll through the MWL.

As recently as the past 2 years we've had 3 of the top prospects in the league roll through...(Cueto, Bailey, and Clayton Kershaw)