Jim Callis

  (2:05 PM)

Hi, everyone. I survived another signing deadline and am trying to recap all the draft action and the Cape Cod League prospect scene. It's a busy week--and I won't even mention how much I wish my four kids were back in school already--but my next hour is yours . . .

Andy (NYC)

Jim, as of last night every starting position player is hitting .300 or better. Can the Angels make a run in the playoffs with their monstrous offense to compensate for their pitching?

Jim Callis

  (2:07 PM)

Sure they can. They're a talented club and they play fundamentally sound baseball. Very well could go all the way.

J.P. (Springfield, IL)

If you had to speculate now, how much do you think it would take Bryce Harper to sign with the team that drafts him next year?

Jim Callis

  (2:08 PM)

If he maintains the hype he has now, considering he'll have the added leverage or being able to re-enter the draft in 2011 and 2012 and 2013, I'm sure the Boras Corp. will look to Strasburg's $15.1 million deal as a starting point. But can he maintain that hype? It's already through the roof.

Dave C. (LA)

What is the upside to Jacob Turner? Who would you compare his potential to? What do you think of the Tigers system with the infusion of these new players?

Jim Callis

  (2:09 PM)

He's not the next Rick Porcello but he's awfully close. The Tigers' top three prospects may be Porcello, Oliver and Fields, all of whom just signed big-bucks deals on Monday.

Toby (Brooklyn NY)

Whose fastball impresses you the most - Chapman, Strasburg or Feliz?

Jim Callis

  (2:13 PM)

Feliz. They're all equally legendary, but he's proven he can make major league hitters look silly with his.

Ben (Miamisburg, OH)

For Reds fans, its time to start thinking about the 2010 draft, would Bryce Brentz be worth a top 5 pick, and is his big power/avg/OBP numbers for real?

Jim Callis

  (2:14 PM)

Brentz is a legitimate first-round prospect, but top five seems a little bit high to me at this point.

Joey (Oakland)

Will the a's regret not singing Dyson the same way they do Smoak in 05, and how do you like their draft with Stassi and Krol signing?

Jim Callis

  (2:15 PM)

Sam Dyson has an intriguing arm and would have been a nice get, but he's not on the same level as Smoak. I don't know what his asking price was, but the A's did well to spend much more than MLB would have wanted to sign Grant Green, Max Stassi and Ian Krol. Very nice draft.

Ryan (Austin)

The word is MLB is making financial decisions for the Rangers due to Hicks' flirtation with bankruptcy. Reports said Texas offered Purke $4m but press here says Selig actually okayed only $2.3m. If they're stuck to slot, obviously Scheppers isn't signing either. AND ... MLB says they won't let Hicks sell for less than $600m even though no one will pay that much. Should I enjoy this wild card chase while it lasts? It all looks downhill from here.

Jim Callis

  (2:17 PM)

I saw that Randy Galloway column this morning that had those details. I don't think there's any doubt that MLB could lean more heavily on the Rangers than on any other club, but I also had a source tell me Texas was able to offer $4 million. I'm sure both sides (Rangers, Purke) have differing ideas of why a deal didn't get done. Scheppers has barely seen any game action in the last 15 months and there are major questions about his shoulder, so those are impediments to a deal. I'd have a hard time going over slot ($776,700) for him if his shoulder is still dicey.

Charlie (Bethesda, MD)

What is your take on Jerry Dipito, the supposedly new GM for the Nats?

Jim Callis

  (2:21 PM)

He's regarded as one of the sharper talent evaluators around. So is Mike Rizzo, for that matter, and I think Mike has made the most of a bad situation. But I'm hearing the same DiPoto rumors you are.

Andy (Denver)

When, if ever, do you think we'll see mandatory slotting in MLB?

Jim Callis

  (2:22 PM)

It's becoming more and more of a priority for MLB. It won't happen before 2012 at the earliest, the first year of the new CBA. Based on a lot of the rhetoric surrounding Strasburg, the union members probably wouldn't mind either. But they're kidding themselves if they think the owners would spend the draft savings on big leaguers rather than just pocketing it.

ttnorm (Connecticut)

Are you surprised that The Rays didn't get Washington done given that they have haven't been shy about going over slot elsewhere?

Jim Callis

  (2:26 PM)

Sounds like the two sides disagreed on what they had agreed to before the draft. When the Rays issued the press release saying they didn't expect to sign him, it went downhill from there.

Daniel (san diego)

I'm having a hard time finding a scouting report on Reyes, the kid the padres signed in the 16th round, I just know he was great at the Cape.

Jim Callis

  (2:27 PM)

17th-rounder, I think. Reyes had a strange career at Oregon State. College World Series MVP as a freshman, bad year as a sophomore, so-so year as a junior. He was very good on the Cape, with one of the best sinker-slider combos around. Getting him for $200,000 was a very nice deal for the Padres.

Joe (San Jose)

Favorite player taken in the 2nd round?

Jim Callis

  (2:29 PM)

Everett Williams (Padres). I thought he was the best hitter among the best athletic outfielders in the draft. Two others to mention: Marc Krauss (Diamondbacks) was one of the very best college hitters in a draft short on them, and I'm one of the bigger fans of D.J. LeMahieu (Cubs).

Mac (Philly)

Brett Jackson looks very impressive since signing. He's walking more and striking out less than in college all while showing good power. Was he underrated coming into the draft? It looks like the Cubs got a steal.

Jim Callis

  (2:30 PM)

He is striking out in 25 percent of his AB, but his approach does look better than it did in college. The Cubs say he's toned it down now that he's not trying to play up his power for the draft. He was one of the better athletes in the draft but there were legitimate concerns about his ability to make consistent contact. If he can do that, he will have been a very nice pick.

Alex Rios' saved money (Parts Unknown)

Why wasn't I used?

Jim Callis

  (2:31 PM)

No idea. The Jays didn't sign three of their top four picks (Paxton, Eliopoulos, Barrett) and must have known they weren't just going to roll over for slot.

Justin (OKC)

It's not talked about as much, but these last minute signings drive fans of college baseball crazy. The OSU Cowboys lost their Ace pitcher to the Tigers and potential starting shortstop to the Orioles late Monday night. My question is this: Would a slotting system help or hurt the college baseball game?

Jim Callis

  (2:33 PM)

A definite slotting system would help college immensely. High school prospects who legitimately consider attending college put a price tag on giving up that college experience. With a slotting system, teams wouldn't be able to make up that value to them. If we have pure slotting, I think you'll see fewer high school players sign, which will benefit the college programs.

Chris (Alabama)

Did you get to see the Aflac game on Sunday? If so, what were your impressions of Bryce Harper? He looked overmatched by the 90 MPH fastballs. I'm guessing that's something a high school sophomore just doesn't see that often. He went 0 for 5 with 3 K's and 2 groundouts.

Jim Callis

  (2:34 PM)

I didn't, but heard that Harper struggled. Don't forget that he'll be in a wood-bat league in junior college, too. As wondrously talented as he is, it will be hard to live up to all the expectations. Though Strasburg did a nice job of it this year.

Jeff (NY, NY)

Who were the most impressive players from the Cape that were just drafted and signed?

Jim Callis

  (2:37 PM)

I mentioned Reyes earlier. Rangers lefthander Chad Bell, a 14th-rounder. Yankees righthander Caleb Cotham, a fifth-rounder. I thought the White Sox should have made a stronger run at third-rounder Bryan Morgado. The Yankees apparently ran out of money--imagine that!--to sign 10th-rounder Tyler Lyons and 28th-rounder Aaron Meade. Bell, Morgado, Lyons and Meade were four of the Cape's six best LHSP prospects.

Mo (NY)

Did the Yankees really run out of money? They gave the money that Lyons wanted to Deluca and Talerico on the last day. It seems that they had the money and valued other players more. Doesn't that suggest that they just saw something that turned them off, possibly health wise with Lyons?

Jim Callis

  (2:43 PM)

I was told by multiple sources that unlike the basically open checkbook they had in the past, the Yankees had a strict budget this year and once they reached it, they could sign guys like Lyons and Meade.

jack (houston)

Who would you rather have in your farm system? Strasburg or harper?

Jim Callis

  (2:45 PM)

I've answered this a few times and will do so again: Strasburg. He's proven a lot more and will help me a lot quicker.

Jim Callis

  (2:46 PM)

Let's head to the lightning round! Extra-lightning today, as I pledge all of my answers will be 10 words or less!

Katie (IL)

If Harper does indeed go to the Nats, can they afford him?

Jim Callis

  (2:46 PM)

Yes. No matter what Stan Kasten says.

Gage (Moorhead MN)

Joe mauer is having a one of the best seasons i've ever seen for a catcher but no one is ever talking about him. He should be the top AL MVP canidate

Jim Callis

  (2:47 PM)

I concur.

Jake H (Kansas City)

I love how people are saying the MLB needs a slotting system but that doesn't help the NFL. Stafford got 41 million guaranteed on his 6 year deal but it could go up to 72 million. Steve got a little more then a 1/3rd of Staffords deal

Jim Callis

  (2:47 PM)

NFL rookies fit into salary cap. MLB wants NBA style.

ttnorm (Connecticut)

If mandatory slotting happens, will guys try to bootleg themselves as internationals?

Jim Callis

  (2:48 PM)

Someone may try Japan, become free agent after one year.

Michael (Thousand Oaks)

What do you make of how Harvey did in the Cape Cod League this year? His stats looked absolutely terrible

Jim Callis

  (2:48 PM)

Total enigma, must put a lot of pieces back together.

Ryan (Newark, NJ)

Lightning Round! Pick 2. Holland, Price, Matusz, Bumgarner.

Jim Callis

  (2:49 PM)

Tough! Price, Bumgarner.

Kellen (KC)

Jim, how long do you think the Royals will keep their current offer of $3 million to Crow?

Jim Callis

  (2:51 PM)

Two sides may be closer than people think.

Alex (Boston)

Tyler Matzek or Jacob Turner?

Jim Callis

  (2:51 PM)

Matzek.

Chris (Alabama)

Are any of these guys that just signed (besides Strasburg) in your end of the year Top 20 prospects?

Jim Callis

  (2:51 PM)

Ackley, for sure. Haven't thought it all the way through.

Shawn (Boston)

What are the expections of Reymond Fuentus

Jim Callis

  (2:52 PM)

Young athlete, lot of upside, needs time to develop.

Clayton (St Paul, MN)

Kyle Gibson's ceiling and ETA to majors?

Jim Callis

  (2:52 PM)

No. 2 starter, 2011 if healthy.

Kevin (CT)

Who's to blame for Mets drafting philosophy? Wilpons or Minaya?

Jim Callis

  (2:52 PM)

Wilpons buy into slot more completely than most owners.

Woody (Columbus, Ohio)

Daniel Fields ceiling?

Jim Callis

  (2:53 PM)

Potential all-star, though he's not a shortstop.

Mo (NY)

Fuentes or Heathcott?

Jim Callis

  (2:53 PM)

Heathcott.

Jack (San Francisco)

In regard to the draft, MLB should follow the NBA draft system where picks have to sign for a certain amount of money and that all players including all international players must go through the draft. Do you agree or disagree? Also what is the possibility of seeing this system in the near future?

Jim Callis

  (2:54 PM)

Disagree. Adding international players creates even more problems.

Alex (Munich)

C. Santana or B. Posey?

Jim Callis

  (2:54 PM)

Posey.

Ryan (Newark, NJ)

2010. Brett Wallace or Justin Smoak?

Jim Callis

  (2:54 PM)

Smoak.

Bob (MA)

Younginer or Chad James?

Jim Callis

  (2:55 PM)

James.

Mo (NY)

How does Renfroe compare to Kelly?

Jim Callis

  (2:55 PM)

Comparable but not as good, more of a hitter.

Dan (Tampa)

Brandon Snyder or Josh Bell?

Jim Callis

  (2:56 PM)

Bell.

Dave (Detroit)

Strasburg or Porcello???

Jim Callis

  (2:56 PM)

Strasburg.

Sean (Newbury Park, CA)

Where do you see Ackley's MLB position? The M's outfield is pretty crowded... 2B?

Jim Callis

  (2:56 PM)

Center field. They'll make room for him.

David (Toronto)

How highly rated would Ackley be if he had to move to 1B, basically just wondering how legit the bat is.

Jim Callis

  (2:59 PM)

Still would be a stud, bat is that good.

Mark (Nj)

If Montero can't catch, what's wrong with him being a career DH for the Yanks? His bat seems to be the real deal.

Jim Callis

  (2:59 PM)

His bat alone makes him a stud as well.

Adam (Top of CN Tower about to jump)

Just a recap.. the Jays "save" money letting Rios go. Plus other moves to "save" money.. then they don't sign 3 of their top 4 draft picks including Paxton who is Canadian and could go top 10 next year... This is all positive developments no ? I am getting closer to the ledge right now.... unreal

Jim Callis

  (3:00 PM)

Should I mention Eliopoulos is Canadian, too? Don't jump!

Jack (Toronto)

Darvish or Chapman?

Jim Callis

  (3:00 PM)

Darvish.

J. Kilty (Elon College, NC)

Any chance Moyer was so upset about his demotion centered on the lack of opportunity to increase his win totals for a HOF run?

Jim Callis

  (3:00 PM)

Hard to put him in even if he wins 300 games.

Otto (Georgetown PA)

Can we expect to see Strasburg, Ackley and Tate in the AFL?

Jim Callis

  (3:01 PM)

Tate would be over his head, maybe on other two.

Andrew (Florham Park, New Jersey)

Who will sign first..Crow or Schneppers?

Jim Callis

  (3:01 PM)

Crow.

Jason (Bmore)

Alvarez, 1st or 3rd?

Jim Callis

  (3:01 PM)

First base, in the long run.

Justin (OKC)

Where would Smoak have gone in this year's draft?

Jim Callis

  (3:03 PM)

I would have taken him third.

Jim Callis

  (3:03 PM)

Have to run . . . see you next week.