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From an ESPN chat:

Mandatory Linkage: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=14988
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Where do you think Prior would be if the Twins had drafted him instead of Mauer. My thoughts are he would still be a very effective pitcher.

JIM CALLIS
I don't agree. When Prior was drafted, he had picture-perfect mechanics and was supposed to be injury proof. So much for that. But I'm not so sure he wouldn't have had injury problems anywhere he went -- it's just the nature of pitching.
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Felix Pie has looked awesome this Spring. Outfield assists, SBs, and hitting for a great average. It seems a lot of scouts are down on him, because of a poor first half at AAA last year. His 2nd half #'s were great though, and he just turned 22. Why have a lot of people cooled on him?

JIM CALLIS
I don't know if a lot of people have really cooled on him. Pie did respond well to adversity last year, and winning has followed him through the Cubs system. The biggest knock on him, however, is that he hasn't developed his tools into skills. He's still raw in terms of power, basestealing and defense. But as you mentioned, he's still very young, too.
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How do you think the Pirates are going to do this season?

JIM CALLIS
Last place in the NL Central.
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Come on, if Phillip Hughes was on the Royals or Pirates, would we even be talking about him as the next Clemens? The hype on this kid is ridiculous.

JIM CALLIS
Yeah, I think we would, actually. Homer Bailey is getting similar hype, and he's a Red. Alex Gordon is a Royal, and he's getting hyped as the best thing Kansas City has seen since George Brett. How many chats in a row have I taken a Philip Hughes question now?
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Hey Jim, lets assume Clemens retires or goes to New York. Do you see the Astros contending for a World Series this year?

JIM CALLIS
They could still win the weak NL Central. But I think they'd have a hard time doing so without Clemens, as their rotation lacks depth and there are still holes in the lineup.
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what can you tell me about milton loo - ss, reds? will he grow out of ss?

JIM CALLIS
Tremendous athlete, legit five-tool guy, but probably not a shortstop. Probably has the highest ceiling in the Reds system after Homer Bailey and Jay Bruce.
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Thoughts on Theriot starting @ 2nd base this year, likely, possible, only if DeRosa needs a rest?

JIM CALLIS
I just don't see Theriot doing much in the majors. I know he hit 328/412/522 in 130 or so big league at-bats last year, but that's way over his head. He's a defensive-minded guy and I can't see him as a big league regular.
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I'm a little tired of hearing people say the "weak" NL Central when the NL Central is the only division to have someone in the WS the last 3 years straight and have vastly improve as a whole this year. Your thoughts?

JIM CALLIS
I don't see how it's vastly improved at all this year. The Cubs spent a ton of money, and they still might not be a .500 team. I mean, Jason Marquis is your No. 3 starter? I must have missed the part about how the rest of the NL Central teams got a lot better.
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After watching Philip Hughes a couple times, he reminds me of 6"5 220lbs Oswalt. After reading the scouting reports on BA about Oswalt as a prospect, it is similar to Philip Hughes. Both pitchers didn't allow alot of walks or Homeruns and their fastball velocity and command are the same. Both throw 70-75 MPH curveballs. What are your thoughts on my comparison of Hughes.

JIM CALLIS
Interesting.
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one year from now where will eric patterson be?

JIM CALLIS
Getting ready to take the Cubs' second-base job.
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Hunter Pence is putting up CRAZY numbers in Spring Training, while Chris Burke is hitting .086. Any chance Pence takes over starting job in CF this season?

JIM CALLIS
Yes. He's the best hitting option the Astros have in center, and perhaps their best defensive option as well. Craig Biggio will play to get his 3000 hits, but they need to find room for Pence.
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Jim, as you know Craig Biggio is going for his 3000th hit this year. Hes a first ballot Hall of Famer right???

JIM CALLIS
I would think so, especially when you consider how much the Astrodome hurt his numbers. Biggio is on the short list of the best leadoff hitters ever.
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Difference between Colby Rasmus and Jacoby Ellsbury?

JIM CALLIS
Rasmus has more power, Ellsbury is a better center fielder.

(And 3 years in age, too.)
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Luke Scott or Jason Lane for RF starting Position?

JIM CALLIS
Have to go with Scott right now based on what he did last year.
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Who will have a better career....Donald Veal or Jeff Samardzija?

JIM CALLIS
Veal is the safer bet. It's still very hard to know exactly how good Samardzija will be.
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Have you heard anything from Mesa regarding Matt Harrington's performance for the Cubs? And do you see him getting back to becoming even a shawdow of his former self?

JIM CALLIS
I have not. But I don't think he'll ever get back to where he was in 2000, when he was the best prospect in the draft. He'll be a cautionary tale for quite a while.
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Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey or Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller?

JIM CALLIS
Bruce and Bailey.
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Bruce and Bailey or Gordon and Hochevar?

JIM CALLIS
Bruce and Bailey.
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best p ever?

JIM CALLIS
Considering how much tougher it is to pitch today, I'll take Roger Clemens over Walter Johnson and Lefty Grove.
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JIM CALLIS
I don't see how it's vastly improved at all this year. The Cubs spent a ton of money, and they still might not be a .500 team. I mean, Jason Marquis is your No. 3 starter? I must have missed the part about how the rest of the NL Central teams got a lot better.

This about sums it up for the cubbies.

Seriously though, I really don't get how the NL Central is called 'weak.' It's as strong as the other divisions. Am I wrong?

Marquis is the 4 starter at best. He may be 3rd to pitch because Piniella wants to split Hill and Lilly, but he's the 4(probably the 5th if Guzman keeps it up).

one year from now where will eric patterson be?

JIM CALLIS
Getting ready to take the Cubs' second-base job.

I'll never understand the DeRosa signing beyond the "money is no object" approach suddenly adopted by the Cubs this offseason. They could have gotten Belliard to keep the keystone warm for Patterson for a fraction of what they gave to DeRosa.

Hungary Jack wrote:

one year from now where will eric patterson be?

JIM CALLIS
Getting ready to take the Cubs' second-base job.

I'll never understand the DeRosa signing beyond the "money is no object" approach suddenly adopted by the Cubs this offseason. They could have gotten Belliard to keep the keystone warm for Patterson for a fraction of what they gave to DeRosa.

DeRosa doesn't make too much that he couldn't be used as a utility infielder or platoon outfielder if need be. Also, while Patterson had a hot streak at AAA after his promotion, his 263/.330/.408/.738 line at AA isn't exactly lighting it up. He also has severe concerns about his ability to handle 2B defensively.

Anyone else get the feeling he was in a bad mood today?

one year from now where will eric patterson be?

JIM CALLIS
Getting ready to take the Cubs' second-base job.

The thing I always keep in mind when reading these guys is that (I feel) they live in a prospect vacuum, where the potential of the next guy will most likely be better than the aging veteran, or even the player who's 32 years old, so the prospect would be the far better option.

For instance, he answered a question about Sheffield vs. Delmon Young for this season. Callis chose Young, because there was no guarantee Sheff could stay healthy.

How many people on this board, if you had to choose one of those 2 guys to play RF for us in 2007, would choose Young? If this was 2009, ok. But we're talking about Sheffield here, and a vengeful one at that.

mikechamp wrote:

one year from now where will eric patterson be?

JIM CALLIS
Getting ready to take the Cubs' second-base job.

The thing I always keep in mind when reading these guys is that (I feel) they live in a prospect vacuum, where the potential of the next guy will most likely be better than the aging veteran, or even the player who's 32 years old, so the prospect would be the far better option.

For instance, he answered a question about Sheffield vs. Delmon Young for this season. Callis chose Young, because there was no guarantee Sheff could stay healthy.

How many people on this board, if you had to choose one of those 2 guys to play RF for us in 2007, would choose Young? If this was 2009, ok. But we're talking about Sheffield here, and a vengeful one at that.

While I'm not sure how vengeful he is, Sheffield is 38 years old, played less than 40 games last year, and is a question mark to be able to handle the outfield anymore. I'd take Young too.

No way I'd take Young. Sheffield is healthy now and the point was made about him being vengeful. I fully expect him to put up 35/120. Is Young going to do that? Not much of a chance for that. Sheffield now, Young in two years.

Transmogrified Tiger wrote:While I'm not sure how vengeful he is, Sheffield is 38 years old, played less than 40 games last year, and is a question mark to be able to handle the outfield anymore. I'd take Young too.

What I'm referring to is a stat I saw about Sheff's offensive output the season after he is traded/allowed to walk via FA. Supposedly, he puts up some pretty good numbers.

And while I know he was hurt last year, I don't believe he is any more.