In the lastest Ask BA, Callis put out this list. He is discounting Salty, Volquez, Botts, and Gabbard.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/askba/264614.html

"1. Eric Hurley, rhp
Never got the hype of the DVD trio but will eclipse them all.
2. Blake Beavan, rhp (2007 first-rounder)
6-foot-7 frame, mid-90s fastball, nasty slider make for intimidating combo.
3. Kasey Kiker, lhp
2006 first-rounder may not be big, but he's a lefty with three quality pitches.
4. Johnny Whittleman, 3b
Has rebounded from disastrous 2006 to become best bat in system.
5. Taylor Teagarden, c
Hitting better than expected; needs to get healthy go he can go behind plate again.
6. Elvis Andrus, ss (Teixeira trade)
Slick fielder has much to prove with the bat, but he's still 18.
7. Michael Main, rhp (2007 first-rounder)
Has best pure velocity in system but needs to add polish, reduce effort.
8. Julio Borbon, of (2007 supplemental first-rounder)
Easily the best college center fielder in the 2007 draft.
9. Omar Poveda, rhp
Held his own in low Class A last year at age 18; tearing it up this year at 19.
10. Joaquin Arias, ss
Shoulder surgery wiped out his season, but he still has lots of tools and is just 22.
11. German Duran, 2b
Has come out of nowhere to hit .311 with 21 homers in Double-A.
12. Chris Davis, 3b
Best power hitter in system will have to answer questions about contact, defense.
13. Fabio Castillo, rhp
Crown jewel of club's strong international push in 2006 can touch 97 mph.
14. Neftali Feliz, rhp (Teixeira trade)
Had best fastball in Braves system, reaching mid-90s with ease.
15. Matt Harrison, lhp (Teixeira trade)
Polished lefty needs to prove his shoulder is healthy, then miss some more bats.
16. John Mayberry Jr., of
Owns legitimate power but can be exploited by more advanced pitchers.
17. Marcus Lemon, ss
$1 million fourth-rounder is showing solid tools (except for power) in first full season.
18. Max Ramirez, c (Lofton trade)
Futures Gamer would rank higher if he had the defense to be an everyday catcher.
19. Neil Ramirez, rhp (2007 supplemental first-rounder)
Stock slipped during inconsistent spring, but he'll flash a plus fastball and curve.
20. Engel Beltre, of (Gagne trade)
Very raw but has drawn comparisons to Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., Darryl Strawberry."

Some surprising rankings. I find it strange that Matt Harrison went from the Braves 3rd best prospect this off-season to the Rangers 15th best without changing noticeable as a prospect.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=237

I thought I would continue to stoke the fires of Lincecum man-love here:

The 22-year-old third baseman calls Lincecum `the toughest pitcher I ever faced,' and goes further in this breakdown of what it's like to face him:

"Oh, man that was hard," Stewart said. "He's just a max-effort guy with a really different windup and you can't see the ball at all until it's right on top of you. It gets on you real quick.

"He kind of leans back over second base and then comes right over the top. Guys on our club who have been in the big leagues said he's the toughest guy they ever faced too, so that should tell you something.

"And though you only get a very short glance of the ball before it's on you, the stuff is just nasty on top of that. He was throwing everything for strikes. I mean he located everything and painted the corners with his fastball, worked on the inner half when he felt like it.

"His curveball was really good, a good hard-breaking spike curveball. He threw it for a first-pitch strike, a second-pitch strike, a third-pitch strike. You get the idea-he pretty much threw it whenever he wanted to and located it wherever he wanted to.

"I'm not really sure why he's down here, but for a guy who was drafted last year . . . that guy is filthy."

Does anyone know where I might be able to procure a list of all the international free agent signing from this past year? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I have a deep fantasy draft coming up and such information would be highly beneficial.

Thanks,

The Guy Who Wrote This Diary