Chris Kline's NL Central comments

[mikechamp]

From an ESPN chat. He's a writer for BA. Filling in for Jim Callis, there were a lot fewer cub questions. I wonder why????

Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=15244
=============

(This was in response to a Q&A about the top 5 starters under 25.)

How about Homer Bailey, Philip Hughes... no?

Chris Kline
Not a believer, I think Bailey will get beat up a little bit before he gets better, and yes, Hughes is certainly in that group.
----------------------------

With St. Louis in a panic over Chris Carpenter's elbow, I've been hearing the name "Blake Hawksworth" being thrown around, maybe a call-up in the near future? Can you tell me about this kid?

Chris Kline
Sure. Hawksworth was 28th-round draft-and-follow of the Cardinals in 2001; and signed for @ $1.5 million a year later out of a JC in Washington. He's had some medical issues, the largest was surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in 2004. But when I was in Cardinals camp, they raved about him--they love the makeup and the competitiveness. This season was to be his first in Triple-A . . . curveball, slider, changeup, low 90s velocity on his fastball.
----------------------------

How about an Ian Snell question.. what do you think about him? Had a decent 2nd half last year, and was awesome last night, yet he's always ranked behind guys like Gorzelanny and Mahlom.. what can we expect from him this year on a poor Pirates team, but a relatively unimpressive divison?

Chris Kline
I picked the Pirates to win the Central! (I actually pick them every year, since I unofficially played for them in 2004 . . . and no, I didn't need surgery afterward).

The division is weak, and everyone in the office keeps talking about Houston. Milwaukee is interesting, but it's very wide open.
----------------------------

How old is Amaury Marti? And if he is indeed 32, why did the Cards draft him?

Chris Kline
Amaury Cazana-Marti is 32, according to records we have from the Cuban National Team. They drafted him because even though his window is miniscule, they saw upside in his speed, athleticism and power.

The bigger question to ask youerself is this: Why does a 32-year-old guy leave his family--which included two young children--behind? To me, that's pretty whacked out.
----------------------------

I love the prospect blog on BA. When do you think Yovani Gallardo is coming up?

Chris Kline
Thanks. Scouts weren't impressed with Gallardo in the Futures Game last year, but he shut those guys up pretty quick--flashed plus stuff the rest of the year. In fact, it really seems like that tiny one-inning sample was one of his worst performances in terms of stuff all year. It was just his luck that it came during the one time he was on TV. That will change soon. He's got to be in the rotation by June if he performs.
----------------------------

[Pujols_rules]

I didn't know this guy knew anything about baseball... Just bad movies...

[Bo Hart]

I thought Marti left Cuba to play baseball for his family. He wanted to make money...?

[mikechamp]

I thought Marti left Cuba to play baseball for his family. He wanted to make money...?

Yeah, that's kind of what I thought to. He got freedom in order to provide a better life for his family.

I guess Kline saw the "negative" side of the coin.

[Jmodene]

Exactly. If he can make it to the majors and make a few million in the process, that'd be equivalent to a few billion when he takes it back to Cuba (by then, Castro should be gone so he'll be able to keep it).

[boyer14]

Exactly. If he can make it to the majors and make a few million in the process, that'd be equivalent to a few billion when he takes it back to Cuba (by then, Castro should be gone so he'll be able to keep it).

Little brother will still be there, though.

[ToughGuy_BlueShirt]

I didn't know this guy knew anything about baseball... Just bad movies...

HEY! "JUST FRIENDS" WAS A GOOD MOVIE!