Pretty dry system. I had Jack Egbert highly-rated but he is getting more attention now and isn't a true sleeper these days. Oneli Perez is still intriguing. Honeslty I can't say any big sleepers stick out at me. It's a very dry system.

If it was me, Laird would be the C this year and Salty at first base. Teagarden would be being prepped for 2009. Ramirez can hit, not sure about the glove. Santana is a ways off and given the depth ahead of him they can be patient. I really love Teagarden, assuming he's finally healthy.

Hmm.....Tucker has the highest physical upside I'd say. I can't say I've ever been super-hot about Sinkbeil, he's struck me as perhaps a bit overrated. Thompson projects as a 3/4 starter but may be less likely to flame out than Tucker.

I think the Angels have handled him somewhat poorly. Word is that he's swinging for the fences now, trying to force himself into the majors. He's still very young but his approach is all messed up, and given what he's done in the past this is probably a psychological thing more than anything. I'm starting to think he needs a change of scenery.

I have not had any formal scouting training but have been watching minor league baseball and projecting future performance for 30 years. I'm not perfect but I think my track record is OK.

Good question. Excellent arm strength, no question. Cubs officials like to compare him to Lee Smith, and I think relief is probably his best option down the line. All depends on his command. . .let's see what his walk rate looks like in Double-A action.

Not sure yet. I am going to Tulsa on Sunday to try and figure that very question out.

He can hit, at least for power. I'd expect the batting average to settle down but it wouldn't surprise me to see him hit 25-30 homers if he maintains command of the zone.

That's like five questions, lol. If someone gave Botts 500 at-bats, let him adjust, I think he'd hit. Maybe .250-.260, but with 20+ homers.

No. I'd leave him in the outfield. I think he has more value there.

Too early to say. Need to see how his secondary pitches hold up at higher levels. My guess is that he spends time in both roles but eventually settles into the pen.

You're a good man.

Morrow....geez. I don't know what the fuck the Mariners are doing with him. If it was me, he would have been in Double-A last year, starting. I have no idea what to expect at this point. Anything could happen.

Yeah, that's a good staff, isn't it?? HRod and DLS have the highest pure physical ceilings, but Cahill and Anderson's polish stands out too. All could be 3s at a minimum. Of course, remember that for every 4-5 pitching prospects you are lucky to get one good pitcher. What will probably happen here is that one guy has a catastrophic injury and never develops, one turns into a really good pitcher, and two end up as journeymen.

I dunno...tough question....different positions and age groups involved. Pick a Grade B+/A- outfielder of your choice.

Lots of Rangers questions today.

Feliz, Main, Neil Ramirez, Font all have that kind of 1-2 ceiling. Other guys like Hurley, Beavan, Kiker are probably more 3 guys.

The whole slotting thing is so bogus I'm surprised any team pays attention to it. If I were the Mets, or any other big revenue team, I would flood the draft with money.

He is excellent with the glove, potential Gold Glove. If he hits well in Triple-A I expect he would be up by mid-season assuming a spot is open. They won't let him rust on the bench.

That's possible. I could see that happening, yes.

Haven't thought that far ahead yet.

Can't say he reminds me of anyone specifically. His ceiling would be that of a number one starter, IF he can refine his changeup. If the changeup doesnt' come along, and he relies on his fastball and slider, I can see him as a closer. As usual, all the caveats apply: will he stay healthy? Etc.

I have liked Thompson since he was in high school: I Shadow-drafted him for my fake Twins farm system. If he's fully healthy and can sustain that velocity, he could end up being an impressive pitcher...number 3 starter possibly. That's a big if and assumes durability which he has not shown to this point. He might end up as a really good short reliever.

Hmmm.....Ellsbury or Andrus

Daniel Cabrera at worst. He's got the great arm of course, it all comes down to command. If it remains erratic then he will be frustrating but occasionally brilliant like Cabrera. If he improves, he could be a legit number 2 guy, maybe a number 1 if the command REALLY comes around.

Depends on his elbow. If healthy he will be up in Sept.

I haven't seen Crow in person yet this year but should soon. As for the mechancal issue, the thing for me is repeatability...some pitchers have weird-looking or unusual mechanics that give scouts pause, but if they repeat them consistently and their bodies are used to that particular delivery, I think the concerns are often overblown. Just my opinion.

I asked a Dodgers official that last week on the radio show, and he gave a non-committal answer. I don't think they know yet themselves where Elbert will slot eventually.

Well the magazine list was finished in mid-December and my opinions change over time. In McCutchen's case I'm not sure he will have much of a short-term fantasy impact, and that is what the Rotowire lists tend to be directed towards, fantasy owners. The list in the book is more general baseball orientation.

Well let's see what reports on ihs defense look like, what his BB/K/AB ratio looks like, etc. Just throwing a guess out there, he will rank 72nd.

If healthy, perhaps. It's not a slam dunk though.

I'd trade Brignac. I like Brignac, but the other guys look better to me right now.

Hmm......I can buy a potential Manny comp, yes.

I am going to go to Burlington later this month or in May to watch Moustakas and will have a report then. I suspect he will have to move but I don't know for sure, I want to see him.

Well do you mean Top 10-20 in all of baseball, or just Twins top 10-20? I don't see anyone in the system right now who will be a national Top 20 a year from now. Twins top 10-20 would depend on who is doing the list. Underrated guys I like include Alex Burnett and Rene Tosoni.

I'd expect league-average performance with some flashes of brilliance, and be happy if he exceeds that (which he very well could). Cueto could be better this year, perhaps more consistent.

Probably a DH/platoon 1B if reports about his defense dont' get better. Bat looks interesting though.

Hmm....well any of the can't miss pitchers can miss easily if they get hurt. Of the position players...McCutchen seems a bit risky perhaps, though as I wrote last week he's still very young and has high upside. LaRoche could be a problem if he keeps getting hurt. I don't worry about Maybin, I think the whole "hits too many ground balls" thing is overblown.

He's been suspended yet again for bad behavior and insubordination. Injuries and this poor behavior over the last year have really dimmed him.

I have no idea what they will actually do. What would I do personally? I'd convert Nelson to second base and project him as the partner for Tulo. I'd hype up Hector Gomez as much as possible then trade him. Stewart and Atkins, not sure...

I think the injuries have really hurt him. He just doesn't look like the same guy.

Sure. Why not? LOL.... if he throws strikes he could be up by mid-season.

Intriguing bat....high batting average, some speed, mediocre walk rate but not many strikeouts, power development still uncertain, some risk he could be a "tweener" without enough home run power to start at a corner, but still young enough to develop more pop.

How about trading Duensing and Blackburn to the Angels for Brandon Wood, then sticking Wood at third base and saying "you have this position for the next 1,000 at-bats. Calm your swing down a bit, relax, have some fun, play." Of course it will never happen. Wood has too much power and too many strikeouts to interest the Twins.

Well I used to like going to Wichita....it was a quick trip I could do in a day, didn't have to spend the night, cheap. But that's out now. The parks in Cedar Rapids and Quad Cities are a lot of fun. Have to check out the new team in Northern Arkansas soon. I'm heading to Tulsa on Sunday and that's a nice trip too. Basically I like just about every minor league park I've ever been to.

I think it is quite possible, yes. I think both him and Mulvey could end up being really fine number three starters.

Can't go wrong with any of them. I think I'll go with the order in the book: DLS, Anderson, Cahill, HAR.

Could be an ace, more likely to be a regular starter. Don't really see him as a closer. All assumes he doesn't burn out or get hurt.

Toughie, obviously depends on who falls where. One of the college first basemen would look nice, even with Villalona around. He will need more time and the college guys will get there sooner. One sleeper possibility would be high school catcher Skipworth. Beckham would be great if he falls that far.

Carrasco has a higher ceiling, but Hurley is more likely to pan out....more polish. Carrasco has a higher physical potential, but is more likely to not live up to that potential.

No idea. I don't know enough about the machinations of the Dodgers front office and clubhouse to make a guess about what Torre will do. LaRoche is ready, if healthy.

Interesting power bat certainly, though his strikeout rate is quite high. I'd say a .250-.270 hitter with 25-30 home run power and lots of walks would be his peak ceiling.

Dunno. I am partial to vodka sours myself.

Before the season Anderson was regarded as the most polished of the quartet. Assuming that all of them are pitching well he would probably go up first.

Who knows? If they need a starter in July and they have other bullpen options avialble, maybe Joba gets the shot. I kinda doubt it though.

I think that Andrus has shown more polish so far than Arias did at the same age. Certainly a flop is POSSIBLE, but the scouts have liked Andrus better than they liked Arias, granted they liked Arias too.

If he keeps this up he will be in Double-A by mid-May I'd imagine, and perhaps the majors in the second half. We will know more about how ready he is when he moves up to Bowie. I suspect he will see the majors this year, yes.

He's a sleeper definitely, on my list to see early in the season schedule allowing. Sinker/slider guy, gets tons of grounders, when he throws strikes he's quite impressive.

I'm not sure either Mills or Hodges can handle 3B in the majors defensively. As for Marte....who the hell knows at this point? It's possible that none of them are the 3B of the Future.

I like Jackson's tools and athleticism but his bat is questionable. Ahrens will need an explosive season to live up to the Chipper Jones comparisons. Chavez has tools but doubtful plate discipline. Ahrens is probably best bet for a breakout.

Well you have the top four, and as you said at least two of those guys will graduate this year. Beyond that both waring anf Frazier have promising bats, and Mesoraco too. I like Kyle Lotzkar as young pitchers go. It will be interesting to see what they do in the draft this year, if they go more for polish or upside. They've made plays in both directions in recent years.

I'm not sure what you mean. Hes' not healthy right now, that's the main problem. He's got great stuff, but is reportedly somewhat stubborn. If healthy I think he'll be fine, but that's an IF apparently.

How do you see them? Do you think any of them will be availble at #8 in June's draft or they will be gone?

Harold Martinez? Tanner Scheppers? Dennis Raben? Gordon Beckham?

Ruth as a hitter.

*man, I must be pretty jaded to throw in "without PED's" for Ruth and Koufax.*

I have been a big supporter of Hanson so I say breakout, lol.....have to justify the B+ I gave him.

Special in that he could be a 40 homer guy with a high walk rate...at worst he's Pat Burrell and he should be better than that. Probably more 2009.

My guess is no, he won't be a regular for the Braves. Maybe for someone else, but he could end up as a Quadruple-A slugger.

I'm just focusing on that and don't know enough about bonus demands at this point to answer this question.

Interesting sleeper pick from last year's draft, good performance numbers so far in a limited sample size. Above average fastball, working on his secondary pitches. I'd say he's a Grade C/C+ guy and I rated him as a breakout candidate in my book.

It's possible, but he could also struggle like Dallas McPherson or bounce around like Russ Branyan. Davis' youth is a facet in his favor. It's dicey to predict anyone turning out like Howard of course.

Quentin, Cust, Buck, Gutierrez

I don't think he'll make enough contact to be a long-term regular, or at least he has to prove it to me outside of the Cal League.

Hmm.......I could see him being like Justin Morneau.

Not off the top of my head anyway.

Ask me again in a couple of weeks as I start putting my draft preview stuff together. I liked Sheppers better pre-season, but haven't focused on the draft or college game in a few weeks.

Looks like the real deal to me heading into this year....he's not a soft-tosser and the numbers are excellent. If this continues he will be ready for the pen sometime late this year or next.

Well Donald is more of a utility type according to what I have heard, though a good one, while Cardenas could be a starter. They don't have to rush either of them given the middle infield situation, so that's a plus. If they are ready and there is still no place to play, they would make good trade bait, esp. Cardenas.

forget this question, the draft question should be the one answered

You've got a little something on your nose there man.