It's been quite stormy here in Eastern Kansas over the last few weeks. I like storms, so it doesn't bother me. I'd rather have too much rain than too little, but it's easy for me to say that because I don't live in a flood plain. Someday I want to do some serious storm chasing, which my wife says would complete my quest for utter geekdom. But she did marry me, so I guess she's a geek too.

Let's hit the Down on the Farm Mailbag. There are plenty of questions to pick from today.

Chris M. writes: Joe Thurston is tearing up Triple-A pitching to the tune of .367/.401/.568 in 139 at bats -- not bad for a middle infielder. His plate discipline looks a bit shabby (20/4 K/BB), but that's not an absurd amount of K's as long as he's hitting .367. It would seem as though he has a shot to play in L.A. eventually as Mark Grudzielanek isn't much of a road-block. Any chance we'll see Thurston in the majors soon and what do you see are his chances to succeed?

Thurston got some attention as a prospect after he hit .303 with 43 steals in the California League in 2000. He hit .267 with 20 steals in Double-A last year, and didn't get as much attention, though from what I'm told, the Dodgers still like him. Obviously his early hot start at Vegas helps his status.

A fourth-round pick from Sacramento Community College in 1999, Thurston is a fine athlete, with very good speed. Scouts praise his work ethic and hustle. He's settled in as a very good defensive second baseman after starting his career as an error-prone shortstop.

I do have some concerns. You mentioned his low walk rate, and although he doesn't strike out that much, I worry that he is too aggressive at the plate, swinging at pitches outside the strike zone more often than he should. He has doubles power, but we have to take some air out of his numbers due to PCL and Las Vegas stat inflation. If they stuck him in the major leagues right now, he'd likely hit .250-.270, with some doubles and the occasional homer, but his on-base percentage would be pretty low. At age 22, there is no particular need to rush him. A full year of Triple-A is in order, but he should challenge for a job next season. Coaches really love his hustle, and that will help him.

James K. asks: What ever happened to Bobby Bradley? I can't find him on a roster of any Pirate affiliate.

Bradley, a first-round pick in '99 by the Pirates and owner of an outstanding curveball, had Tommy John surgery last October. He is out for the year.

Matt S. writes: Where did Mark Teixeira go? Ever since he was sent to minor-league camp I haven't been able to find anything on him anywhere. He's not on the roster of any minor-league team.

Teixeira hurt his left elbow in spring training, and it is possible he may miss the entire year. We should know by the end of the month whether or not he will play this season. It's too bad, too, because he can really mash.

Jason B. asks: I know that Jim Rushford is old for a prospect and all of the usual comments. But considering he floated out of baseball and then into the independent leagues, how well do you think he can do as a major leaguer? He's jumped from Class A to Triple-A without really dropping off in performance (save for a park adjusted decrease while playing for Class A High Desert). He looks like he would be a very good hitter for average and takes his walks.

Rushford is a very intriguing case, and another example of how a smart organization can find useful players by being creative. Rushford went to school at San Diego State, but wasn't drafted. He signed with an independent team as a pitcher in 1996, but hurt his arm and then drifted around for a few years. He re-emerged as an outfielder in the independent Northern League in 2000, hitting .329 with 12 homers. The Brewers signed him to fill out a roster in the California League last year, and he responded by hitting .363 in 65 games. Promoted to Double-A, he hit .343 in 57 games. He's hitting .348/.442/.455 so far this year in Triple-A, and at this rate he could be in the majors shortly.

A left-handed hitting outfielder, Rushford is 28 years old, so he isn't a prospect in the classic sense. But he's done nothing but hit since the Brewers signed him, showing gap power and solid strike zone judgment. He doesn't run well or do much with the glove, but it seems clear his bat would be useful off the bench, and you have to root for guys like this. My guess is that he could hit .280 in the majors, with some power and a solid OBP.

Joe N. writes: I'm wondering about Jace Brewer's chances at making it to the big leagues. He is a shortstop in the Devil Rays organization.

Brewer has been the center of some controversy. He went to college at Baylor, and was draft-eligible as a sophomore in 2000. He told everyone not to draft him, sending a letter to each team saying that he wanted to play another year for the Bears. But the Devil Rays drafted him in the fifth round anyway, then signed him to a $1.5 million major-league contract, which just about every other team thought was silly. Brewer has a very good glove at shortstop, but hit just .219 and .217 in his first two pro campaigns, with no power and horrible strike zone judgment.

He is doing much better this year, hitting .338/.370/.438 so far at Class A Bakersfield, though his strike zone judgment remains weak with a 6/27 BB/K mark in 32 games. He had injuries that held him back last year, but I retain some skepticism. Unless Jace learns better plate discipline, I doubt he'll do much more than hit for a fair batting average at higher levels. Also, his major-league contract means he doesn't have much time left to develop before the Rays have to stick him in the majors or risk losing him on waivers.

John Sickels is the author of the 2002 STATS Minor League Scouting Notebook. He is currently writing a biography of Bob Feller. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife, son, and two cats. You can send John questions or comments at JASickels@aol.com, or you can visit his homepage at hometown.aol.com/jasickels/page1.html.