I hope everyone had a safe holiday. Let's hit the mailbag.

Eric D. asks: What is your take on Carl Crawford? He isn't hitting .350 anymore, but he's still consistently hitting around .310 to .315, with a hit every game. His SO/BB ratio is still pretty bad (about a 3 to 1 ratio), but he still seems like an excellent prospect. Do you think the Devil Rays will call him up anytime soon, and especially with all those rumors that they will try to trade away guys like Greg Vaughn and so on? If Vaughn gets traded, an outfield position will be open for a guy like Crawford. Is it just that the D-Rays don't want to rush Crawford or what?

As you point out, Crawford has cooled after his hot start, but is still playing well. He's now at .312/.351/.487, with 23 steals in 74 games. He's on pace for close to 40 steals, with a high batting average and double-digit home run production.

I have mixed feelings about Crawford. His physical tools are undeniably outstanding. He's got blazing speed, and has learned to use his natural strength to drive the ball. He used to be a slap hitter, but his power is clearly increasing. His work ethic is also a strong positive, and he's still only 20 years old. Guys who hit .312 in Triple-A at age 20 are, by definition, excellent prospects.

But then I look at his 19/61 BB/K ratio (plus the fact that five of his walks were intentional), and I start to get queasy. He still doesn't take enough pitches. If he hits .300+, the low walk rate doesn't matter as much. But if he hits .250 or .260, his OBP will be very low, reducing the value of his other skills greatly. His youth is a huge advantage, of course. He's got plenty of time to improve, and he's got the work ethic he'll need to stick with it.

I personally think the Rays are correct in leaving him in Triple-A as long as possible. It's not like they are contending, and with a work stoppage looming, there is no sense in burning service time on a player who may not be quite ready. Despite my concerns, Crawford is clearly one of the best prospects in baseball. He's not quite the sure thing that some guys are, but his tools are excellent, his skills are improving, and no one questions his attitude or desire.

Eddie M. asks: I was wondering what you can tell me about Rich Harden. Peter Gammons says he is potentially the next young "ace" for the Oakland A's. I see that he is currently playing Double-A ball and is only 20 years old.

Harden was a 17th-round pick in 2000, out of Central Arizona Junior College. He didn't sign until the spring of '01, then proceeded to punch out 100 in just 74 innings last year in the Northwest League. He posted an 85/24 K/BB in 68 innings for Class A Visalia this year, earning a promotion to Double-A, where he has a 1.95 ERA in his first five starts.

Gammons is correct, Harden has ace potential. Despite his non-imposing 6-1, 180-pound body, Harden hits 95 mph. His slider is nasty, and he's developed a changeup this year. His control is improving as well, and he seems to be developing a better feel for pitching as he moves up. He is one of the best prospects that people haven't heard of, and if he stays healthy, he could see the major leagues sometime next year. Keep track of him.

Matt C. writes: I was taking a peek at the low minors for the Braves, and came across the excellent numbers of Daniel Curtis. Who is this guy and why haven't I heard about him before?

Curtis is 7-7, but with a fine 2.59 ERA in 16 starts for Class A Myrtle Beach this year. He also has a 96/18 K/BB ratio in 111.1 innings; the low walk rate is especially impressive.

Curtis is a product of the 1998 draft, a 17th-round pick out of high school in Chattanooga. He pitched mediocre ball in the New York-Penn League in '99, then pitched well in 2000 (1.97 ERA in the Sally League), though he was limited to just 96 innings by shoulder trouble. He missed all of '01 after surgery, but has returned healthy and effective this year. Curtis works with a 90-mph fastball, a curve, and a changeup. His stuff is not overwhelming, but he throws strikes, and knows how to pitch. He seems to have mastered Class A despite missing last season, but we need to see what happens in Double-A before we know exactly how good he can be. He is certainly intriguing.

Brian P. asks: I wanted to get your impression of Jason Arnold, who plays in the Yankees organization. I fear the front office may trade him for help during this season or for help next season. His WHIP is very good, and his strikeout to walk ratio is also very good. When might we see him in the majors?

Arnold is one of my favorite prospects, and I think he's one of the best right-handed pitching prospects in the game today. He was a second-round pick last year from the University of Central Florida, though many teams considered him a first-round talent. He's been clocked as high as 97 mph, though 91-93 is his usual range. Both his slider and his changeup are very good, and he throws strikes.

Arnold was 7-1, 2.45 in his first 13 starts for Class A Tampa this year, with a solid 83/22 K/BB in 80 innings. He moved up to Double-A a couple of weeks ago, and has done well, posting an 18/5 K/BB in his first 17 innings. With left-hander Brandon Claussen on the disabled list at Triple-A Columbus, Arnold is now the most advanced pitching prospect the Yankees have. You may hear his name in trade rumors, yes, but I'd be surprised if they are willing to trade him. We should see him next year sometime.

A True Tigers Fan writes: I know the Tigers need a good third basemen for the future. So with the recent drafting of Scott Moore, can he be the third basemen of the future? Also, I just read that the White Sox are scouting Jeff Weaver. Joe Crede's name has come up in the discussions. Can you give me some information on Crede and should the Tigers trade Weaver (especially to the White Sox) for a package of players, including Crede?

Moore (Detroit's first-round pick this year) is playing shortstop in rookie ball, but has made seven errors in his first 10 games. Most scouts expect he'll move to third base eventually, so he does seem likely to be Detroit's Third Sacker of the Future. He's hitting well so far by the way, at .310/.388/.619 through 12 contests.

Although Moore is advanced for a high school player, it would be an upset if he was ready in less than three years. If the Tigers do trade Weaver, a ready or near-ready third-base prospect would make sense in exchange. Crede is one of the best available; frankly, I don't know why the White Sox won't let him play. He's got a good glove, and should be an above-average hitter. Exchanging Weaver for Crede and a pitching prospect or two seems reasonable to me, though teams are often loathe to make trades like that with divisional rivals, the recent Blue Jays/Yankees Raul Mondesi salary dump notwithstanding.

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 johnsickels.com.