Buzzmaster

  (2:16 PM)

Hey everyone, Jim just told me that he's running a few minutes late. He'll be here in about 15 minutes.

Jim Callis

  (2:25 PM)

Hello, everyone. Sorry I was late. I'm ready for your questions, and yes, I have the draft on my mind.

Adam (Ft Wayne)

The Indians drafting Alex White as a reliever, good move or dumb considering their lack of starting pitching depth?

Jim Callis

  (2:29 PM)

Did they say they were taking him as a reliever? That would surprise me if they were doing that and that they would say that. I'd think they at least would try him as a starter. Bottom line, getting that arm at No. 15 is a good value, good pick for the Tribe.

Tyler (California)

Jim, Do you think the regional and super regional had any bearing on the Draft, did some players lose or gain value because of their performances?

Jim Callis

  (2:32 PM)

Teams almost always say they don't performance scout, but they do. How players finish does affect where they go in the draft, carrying more weight some times than previous months or years of scouting. White is a perfect example of a guy who helped his cause. He had been a premium guy for years, slumped in his first two playoff starts and saw his stock drop. Then he pitched well in the super regionals and his stock rose again. He almost went No. 7 to the Braves. Another example from this year is Tigers third-rounder Wade Gaynor. He's a third baseman from Western Kentucky who went off in the regionals and moved up draft boards.

CC (Atlanta)

Was Mike Minor as big a reach at #7 as it appears? The Braves have really taken a step back as a franchise lately.

Jim Callis

  (2:36 PM)

We rated Mike Minor No. 23 on our final Top 50 list, which was part of the MLB Network telecast yesterday (which I thought went well). He wasn't a top 10 guy for me. He can really pitch and he's a lefty who commands solid stuff, but he just doesn't blow me away. That said, the Padres (No. 3), Reds (No. 8) and Nationals (No. 10) all wanted Minor badly.

Sammy (Los Angeles)

How do you rate Zdrunciek's first draft?

Jim Callis

  (2:39 PM)

I first have to file the standard disclaimer that it's too early to know for sure . . . That draft looks good one day out though. They got the best hitter in the draft (Dustin Ackley), a promising offensive infielder (Nick Franklin), a defensive catcher (Steven Baron), two more good college bats (Rich Poythress, Kyle Seager), two live college arms (James Jones, Tyler Blandford), another offensive infielder (Shaver Hansen) . . . looks good to me.

RJ ((DC))

What are your thoughts on the Hobgood choice at 5. The Orioles aren't normally shy about spending some money, was it all about money or did they see something others did not? I thought Matzek or Crow would have been great picks there. What did you think about the rest of O's draft? Thank you.

Michael (Pittsburgh)

so far, how have the pirates done in day two?

Jim Callis

  (2:45 PM)

The Pirates said before the draft that if they took a below-slot guy (Tony Sanchez) at No. 4, they'd put the money into later picks. Looks like they'll do that, as they've taken several talented guys today who could be costly: Texas HS lefties Zack Dodson and Colton Cain, Louisiana HS righty Zack Von Rosenberg (a personal favorite) and Arizona prep righty Trent Stevenson.

Jim Callis

  (2:47 PM)

Hey, my Hobgood answer disappeared . . . I think we were light on Hobgood all spring. Don't know if I'd put him right with the elite HS pitchers (Matzek, Turner, Purke, Wheeler, Miller), but he's not far behind. The Orioles say ability drove that pick, but his signability relative to the other HS arms couldn't have hurt.

Grant (Chicago)

Mike Golic raised the point this morning with Steve Phillips that you've got to sign Strasburg for any cost if only to trade him in a year. Phillips wondered aloud if anyone would pay Stras what he's asking for in this economy. How greed-dog would it be to sign him knowing you'd trade him in the end--if his price is just going to be higher than what you can afford no matter what?

Jim Callis

  (2:49 PM)

I'm sorry, that's not a smart point. I don't think he's going to cost $50 million--regular chatters know I think he won't be able to turn down $15-20 million at the deadline. And if you sign him to a big league deal for that amount, and he performs as expected, he's going to be a bargain. But let's say they have to pay him $50 million. If you're trading the remaining $40 million of his contract a year from, there aren't a lot of teams that will want to eat that salary and give up a ton of prospects. You draft Strasburg, you sign him and you pitch him. You don't trade him.

Washington (DC)

Jim,As one of the few remaining Nats fans left, how do you rate the Storen pick vs. taking Matzek? I understand that Matzek wants $$$ and we know the team leadership will have their hands full with trying to sign Strasburg, but wouldn't Strasburg Matzek have been a huge statement to the fanbase in DC? Or is Strasburg/Storen a good get with two top 10 picks? It seems like the team hit a double instead of a homer.

Jim Callis

  (2:52 PM)

Your dangling participle suggests I'm a Nats fan . . . Washington couldn't take Matzek--too much risk because the No. 10 pick doesn't yield compensation if they don't sign him. Matzek would have all the leverage and is already making noise about "precedent-setting money." I think spending $15-20 million makes a bold statement, and they'll get some good players elsewhere in the draft. I see what you're saying, but that could have left them spending $25 million on their first two picks to get them both signed.

Richie (DC)

Does Strasburg have the option of returning to college? Or does having an agent eliminate that possibility?

Jim Callis

  (2:53 PM)

Scott Boras is acting as his attorney. Not only can Strasburg return to college if desired, but Boras also can negotiate directly with the Nationals as a result of Andrew Oliver's court case.

Jake (Chicago)

Talk to me about Brett Jackson...

Jim Callis

  (3:01 PM)

Very good tools, one of the best tools packages among college players in the draft. But his propensity to swing and miss is troublesome.

Jim Callis

  (3:03 PM)

Between a lack of sleep for a week and some new chat software, I feel like I've lost a step today. Let's go to the lightning round and see if we can whip though some more questions . . .

Brett (Dallas)

how does the tandom of purke and sceppers compare to the tandem of holland and feliz?

Jim Callis

  (3:03 PM)

It's going to cost a lot more to sign Purke and Scheppers. Talent wise, that's two comparable pairs of electric arms.

Jr (Boston)

What do you think the Red Sox will do with Renfroe (Keep him as a position player or make him a SP)?

Jim Callis

  (3:04 PM)

Sounds like Renfroe wants to hit, just like Casey Kelly did last year. Not sure which way Boston wants to go with Renfroe, but they may let him hit to sign him.

brad (Detroit)

Turner, Matzek, Miller in that order?

Jim Callis

  (3:04 PM)

I'd rate them Matzek, Turner, Miller.

Jeff (NYC)

Heathcott or Fuentes?

Jim Callis

  (3:05 PM)

Heathcott but it's not a huge difference.

Nathan (irvine,ca)

Slade Heathcott >> Brett Jackson ?

Jim Callis

  (3:05 PM)

I think so. There's some risk involved but my gut feel says Heathcott.

Jeff (B-More)

Hobgood's ceiling?

Jim Callis

  (3:06 PM)

No. 2 starter.

Greg (Stratford, WI)

Heckathorn, future closer or starter?

Jim Callis

  (3:06 PM)

Reliever.

CG (IL)

J. Mitchell(CF/WR) vs. Jerry Owens(CF/WR)?

Jim Callis

  (3:07 PM)

Mitchell.

mike (san diego)

how many years will it take donovan tate to make the big leagues? Do you like the pick?

Jim Callis

  (3:08 PM)

He needs a lot of at-bats. I'm going to say 3-4 years.

Matthew (Fresno, Ca.)

The 3rd. pick of the KC Royals Will Myers. Why did he drop to the 3rd. and how good is his commitment to South Carolina

Jim Callis

  (3:09 PM)

Signability. I heard he wanted $2 million. Not sure how low he'd come down before becoming a Gamecock.

Brian (LA)

Strasborg or Bryce Harper?

Jim Callis

  (3:10 PM)

Strasburg. More proven and will help me quicker if I'm looking for a tiebreaker.

Doug (Chicago)

Thats the Mitchell question you answer? Any player drafted so far is better than Jerry Owens

Jim Callis

  (3:10 PM)

Good point. Let's find another.

Kenny Williams (Chicago)

Was Mitchell the correct pick in the first round?

Jim Callis

  (3:11 PM)

Sure. That was athletic-outfielder territory in the draft, and he's as good as any of them. Mitchell has huge upside but there's some risk because he's so raw from playing football. But it's still a gamble worth taking.

Clyde (Detroit, MI)

Andy Oliver - Starter or Reliever?

Jim Callis

  (3:12 PM)

Reliever unless he can reclaim the curveball he used to have.

Doc (alabama)

Stassi, why the fall?

Jim Callis

  (3:14 PM)

Mostly asking price. He wanted top-20 money, and he was more of a 25-40 pick for clubs.

Alex (Bloomington)

Does Josh Phegley stick at catcher?

Jim Callis

  (3:14 PM)

Yes but he needs to improve defensively.

John (CA)

Will Donavan Tate sign with the Pads or go play football at NC?

Jim Callis

  (3:14 PM)

I think he'll sign. If the Padres had doubts, they wouldn't take him at No. 3.

Ryan (DC)

Was LeVon Washington's arm so bad before surgery? Any chance he'll have the arm to stick in CF?

Jim Callis

  (3:18 PM)

He may need another surgery but his arm should be more than enough for CF. Have you seen some of the big league CFs who can't throw?

Jim (Santa Cruz (CA))

Your answer to the Renfroe question never appeared...

Jim Callis

  (3:21 PM)

Grrr . . . Renfroe wants to hit, much like Red Sox first-round pick/two-way star Casey Kelly wanted to last year. Not sure which way Boston prefers Renfroe, but they may have to let him hit at first to sign him.

Jim Callis

  (3:22 PM)

I've got to run, sorry for the shortened chat today. I'll make it up to you next week, and we should have some more draft chats soon at baseballamerica.com.