As most of you likely know, there is an election on Tuesday, November 5th. I encourage everyone to study the issues and vote. People died so we can do this; soldiers and sailors still put their lives on the line every day to protect us. Do our women and men in uniform proud. Study the issues, get involved, vote.

To the mailbag!

Kevin C. writes: Are there other small players in the minor leagues that, if given the opportunity, could produce like David Eckstein? I can't help but think of the Marlins' Kevin Hooper (from your town, Lawrence, Kansas) when I watch Eckstein.

I like Hooper. I saw him play a lot for Wichita State, and he's surprised a lot of people with how well he's done in the minors. This year, he hit .288 with 17 steals for Triple-A Calgary. Like Eckstein, he is small and doesn't wow scouts, but he works his tail off, knows baseball, and does all the little things right. Like Eckstein, he can play a decent shortstop despite his lack of great tools. Compared to Eckstein, he has a bit less speed and his walk rates haven't been as high, but I wouldn't underestimate Hooper. He's been surprising people since high school.

Another "scrappy second baseman" to watch is Jermaine Clark in the Rangers system, who hits from the left side of the plate, but is otherwise very similar to Eckstein: patience, some speed, more pop than you expect, works hard.

Ray G. asks: Where do you see the Rangers third base situation shaking out in 2003 and the future? It seems as if Blalock was having a superb year at Triple-A in 2002 (after a less-than-stellar MLB debut) before he had the elbow injury. Do you think the Rangers soured on Blalock and view Mark Teixeira as the third baseman of the future? Or are they likely to keep both and move one to another position (Teixeira to first base or the outfield?)?

I mentioned this a few weeks ago, but I continue to get questions about it. STATS has discontinued the Minor League Scouting Notebook, but I will be writing a book for 2003, tentatively entitled "The 2003 Baseball Prospect Book." I'll pass along publishing/ordering details and such as I get them.

The Blalock/Teixeira contest is one of the more intriguing positional questions. I know Blalock disappointed people this year, but I still believe in him completely, assuming his elbow is OK. Teixeira, on the other hand, is the best positional prospect in the game, provided you no longer count Blalock, and perhaps even if you do. He won't hit for as high of a batting average as Blalock, but he has more power and will draw his share of walks.

As for what the Rangers do with them, no one knows yet. Blalock has started to pop up in trade rumors, which has more to do with how good Teixeira is than with any flaw in Blalock's game. Blalock is a good third baseman, but Teixeira has proved better than advertised with the glove there, too, so either could fit there long-term. Blalock has better speed and might move to the outfield if there is no trade. Or he could remain at third and Teixeira move to first base.

Basically, the Rangers haven't decided yet, so this is all in the realm of speculation. If someone forced me to bet, I'd say Blalock will be traded for pitching, but that is a pure wild guess on my part, so don't take it too seriously.

Dan B. writes: I was wondering what you think of Dontrelle Willis, the Florida Marlins prospect who played for the Jupiter Hammerheads this year? In all the years I have been attending minor league baseball games (I have season tickets for the Hammerheads and have seen players come through the Florida State League since the '80s), and with all the good players that that has included, I have never seen a pitcher "wow" me like Willis. Every pitch he throws has movement on it! He also works fast and hitters never seem to be able to get a rhythm going in an at-bat against him.

Willis may be the best left-handed prospect in the game. He's in the Top Three if he's not No. 1.

He started the year 10-2 ith a 1.89 ERA in the Midwest League, then went 2-0, 1.80 in five starts after moving up to Jupiter. His K/BB on the year was 128/24, including 27/3 at Jupiter, in 158 innings. His strikeout rate is just a touch lower than I'd like, but his command is outstanding, his velocity is increasing, he is physically projectable, and he already knows how to pitch. He has one of the best curves in the minor leagues, and his changeup is improving as well. I think he's a top-notch prospect, but I wouldn't look for him before 2004.

Dante F. asks: What do you think of Indians first-round pick, Jeremy Guthrie from Stanford?

Guthrie signed in late September, so we don't have any professional numbers to look at. The scouting reports are very strong, of course, as befitting a first-round pick and very successful college pitcher. Guthrie throws 90-94, occasionally hitting 95. He has a diverse arsenal, bringing a curve, a changeup, and a slider to the mound with him. All are major league pitches, and he also has sharp command, walking only 36 in 158 innings this year for the Cardinal, with a 2.51 ERA and 136 strikeouts.

Stanford pitchers have a mixed track record in the pros. For every Mike Mussina, there's a Jeff Austin and Kyle Peterson. Guthrie is a little older than most college pitchers, since he spent two years on a Mormon mission. This is a disadvantage in the sense that he isn't as "projectable," but it is also an advantage in that he is more emotionally and physically mature than your average draftee, meaning he should arrive in the majors quickly.

Guthrie will probably begin 2003 in Double-A, and could see Cleveland by the end of the year if everything goes well. The Indians have rebuilt their farm system quickly and impressively over the last year; the pitching available is particularly intriguing, so Guthrie has good company. Cleveland is well-positioned to challenge for the division title again by 2004.

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.