Not that Derek Fisher, and not that Houston - the Astros have announced a deal with OF Derek Fisher, their competitive balance pick (37th overall) in this year's draft, received as part of the Fud Borris trade. Jim Callis reports that the deal is for $1,534,100, or full slot value. Fisher was ineligible to sign until the University of Virginia completed their College World Series run last week.
Thanks to our good friend Jayne over at What the Heck, Bobby?, we see that this means only Mac Marshall (21st round), Michael Foster (38th round), and Brad Antchak (39th round) remain unsigned.
It is hopefully not noteworthy that no official deal has yet been announced with 1-1 Brady Aiken. We know he was in Houston early last week. Ken Rosenthal ominously opined yesterday, "The holdup bears a resemblance to the delays that occasionally occur in free agency when players fail physicals and teams try to rework deals." But that is pure speculation at this point, so don't read too much into it. (Yet.)
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
Showing posts with label Jim Callis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jim Callis. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Friday, November 1, 2013
Astros have baseball's best farm system
Callis:
It wasn't always like this. Entering both the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Baseball America rated Houston's system as the worst in the game, which proved to be a harbinger of doom at the Major League level. But since then, the Astros have drafted much better and engineered several trades, pumping some much-needed young talent into the organization.
Now, Jonathan Mayo says Nay, it's the Pirates who have the best farm system in baseball.
Houston is a worthy choice, but I've gone in another direction. When trying to decide which organization has the best farm system, I try to look for a combination of impact talent -- elite prospects who could become highly productive big leaguers -- as well as depth. Taking those variables into account, I have to go with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
The Alex Rodriguez Starter Set of Tools
MLB.com's Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo were tasked with answering the question of which of the worst three teams in baseball (Houston, Miami, Chicago Cubs) has the best chance to reverse their fortune.
Mayo said Miami, because he likes fraud. Callis said the Cubs are in the best position to contend more quickly, but that Houston has the best farm system in baseball.
Jim Callis says Carlos Correa has "the Alex Rodriguez starter set of tools," and Mark Appel has "the stuff and polish to headline a rotation."
And Carlos Rodon is "If Cy Young and Clayton Kershaw had a baby, it would be Carlos Rodon*."
* - He did not say this.
This is still impressive, given that the Baseball Analysts said the Astros had the worst farm system in baseball in 2010. Keith Law had the Astros ranked #30 in January 2009, and said:
Houston's farm system looks like General Sherman marched through it, then turned around and marched through it again just to be sure the job was done. The Astros' 2007 draft class might turn out to be one of the worst in history...
In March 2012, the Astros' own Kevin Goldstein (who was not the Astros' own then, he was Baseball Prospectus' own Kevin Goldstein) ranked the Astros as the 26th-best farm system.
Mayo said Miami, because he likes fraud. Callis said the Cubs are in the best position to contend more quickly, but that Houston has the best farm system in baseball.
Jim Callis says Carlos Correa has "the Alex Rodriguez starter set of tools," and Mark Appel has "the stuff and polish to headline a rotation."
And Carlos Rodon is "If Cy Young and Clayton Kershaw had a baby, it would be Carlos Rodon*."
* - He did not say this.
This is still impressive, given that the Baseball Analysts said the Astros had the worst farm system in baseball in 2010. Keith Law had the Astros ranked #30 in January 2009, and said:
Houston's farm system looks like General Sherman marched through it, then turned around and marched through it again just to be sure the job was done. The Astros' 2007 draft class might turn out to be one of the worst in history...
In March 2012, the Astros' own Kevin Goldstein (who was not the Astros' own then, he was Baseball Prospectus' own Kevin Goldstein) ranked the Astros as the 26th-best farm system.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Odd news from BA
Baseball America's Jim Callis posted his last mock draft before the main event this evening and, boy oh boy, there's some weird news there.
He's hearing reports that the Astros have a preference for Appel, but only at the right price. I didn't realize this (I rarely realize the things that make perfect sense), but the July 12 signing deadline doesn't apply to college seniors, which means that Boras/Appel can hold the Astros' bonus pool hostage or, at the very least, corncob it so hard that the Astros get severely penalized. Buzz on Wednesday night was that the Cubs and Appel were close to reaching a deal at 1.2.
Callis projects Gray as the pick, but that Houston could go Bryant or Moran.
He's hearing reports that the Astros have a preference for Appel, but only at the right price. I didn't realize this (I rarely realize the things that make perfect sense), but the July 12 signing deadline doesn't apply to college seniors, which means that Boras/Appel can hold the Astros' bonus pool hostage or, at the very least, corncob it so hard that the Astros get severely penalized. Buzz on Wednesday night was that the Cubs and Appel were close to reaching a deal at 1.2.
Callis projects Gray as the pick, but that Houston could go Bryant or Moran.
Monday, November 19, 2012
While You Were Drinking: Weekend Link Dump
Some fairly big news related to the Astros over the weekend - what do you miss?
Jim Deshaies might not be in the booth next year. TCB was all over this over the weekend, but news broke that Deshaies has interviewed to call games for the Cubs.
David Barron has an update from JD:
“I spoke with George at the end of the year, and he was reassuring and said we like your work and we want you back. It’s a case of getting the call from Chicago and them asking if I would be interested in the job and thinking, ‘Well, that’s worth talking about.’ ”
We are, of course, in agreement with all the outrage. For those of us who live out-of-market, Deshaies was enough to get us to watch 213 losses over the last two seasons. It's hard to believe that both JD and Bill Brown weren't locked up far enough in advance so that Deshaies didn't have a chance to talk to the Cubs.
It sounds as though the ball is in the Cubs court, and the Astros let that happen. Deshaies said he would wait to hear from the Cubs before deciding either way. Let's all hope that the Astros pull their heads out and keep Deshaies.
-
Berkman in mix as DH.
We've talked about this before, but Lance Berkman is going to be a volunteer coach at Rice before determining if he wants to come back to baseball. He told McTaggart on Friday that he plans to play in 2013. He indicated to Crane that he would be interested in joining the Astros, and also had lunch with new manager Bo Porter, and characterized the nature of the conversation as "informal."
Berkman:
"There was absolutely no discussion of me signing a contract. They've said they have some interest, but so far, they haven't made an offer."
It's pretty clear that a 75% Berkman is better - on paper, anyway - than any 2013 option the Astros have right now. He brings familiarity to what will be a wholly unfamiliar situation, new uniforms, new league, new faces. Is he worth it? For $5m + incentives...maybe.
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Jim Callis ranks the Astros as one of the top three systems in the AL.
In his chat, Baseball America's Jim Callis has nice things to say about the Astros' system:
Based on our BA Grades, the AL's three best Top 10s belong to (in order) the Mariners, Rangers and Astros.
Jim Deshaies might not be in the booth next year. TCB was all over this over the weekend, but news broke that Deshaies has interviewed to call games for the Cubs.
David Barron has an update from JD:
“I spoke with George at the end of the year, and he was reassuring and said we like your work and we want you back. It’s a case of getting the call from Chicago and them asking if I would be interested in the job and thinking, ‘Well, that’s worth talking about.’ ”
We are, of course, in agreement with all the outrage. For those of us who live out-of-market, Deshaies was enough to get us to watch 213 losses over the last two seasons. It's hard to believe that both JD and Bill Brown weren't locked up far enough in advance so that Deshaies didn't have a chance to talk to the Cubs.
It sounds as though the ball is in the Cubs court, and the Astros let that happen. Deshaies said he would wait to hear from the Cubs before deciding either way. Let's all hope that the Astros pull their heads out and keep Deshaies.
-
Berkman in mix as DH.
We've talked about this before, but Lance Berkman is going to be a volunteer coach at Rice before determining if he wants to come back to baseball. He told McTaggart on Friday that he plans to play in 2013. He indicated to Crane that he would be interested in joining the Astros, and also had lunch with new manager Bo Porter, and characterized the nature of the conversation as "informal."
Berkman:
"There was absolutely no discussion of me signing a contract. They've said they have some interest, but so far, they haven't made an offer."
It's pretty clear that a 75% Berkman is better - on paper, anyway - than any 2013 option the Astros have right now. He brings familiarity to what will be a wholly unfamiliar situation, new uniforms, new league, new faces. Is he worth it? For $5m + incentives...maybe.
-
Jim Callis ranks the Astros as one of the top three systems in the AL.
In his chat, Baseball America's Jim Callis has nice things to say about the Astros' system:
Based on our BA Grades, the AL's three best Top 10s belong to (in order) the Mariners, Rangers and Astros.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Jim Callis on Ariel Ovando
I've seen and answered several questions about Ovando's performance so far this year at Greeneville, but I'm always eager to see what those with much more experience judging prospects have to say about our PreStros. Over at Baseball America, Jim Callis answers one reader's questions about Ovando.
I agree with Callis' view here. While Ovando's batting average may look a bit shinier, his walk and strikeout rates are essentially the same they were last year, and his power numbers haven't increased by any statistically meaningful amount, either. I have heard that his defense looks much better this season, and the numbers prove that out so far. In all, Ovando is still very raw.
While Ovando has made some encouraging progress in 2012, he's still far from a finished product.
I agree with Callis' view here. While Ovando's batting average may look a bit shinier, his walk and strikeout rates are essentially the same they were last year, and his power numbers haven't increased by any statistically meaningful amount, either. I have heard that his defense looks much better this season, and the numbers prove that out so far. In all, Ovando is still very raw.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Draft signing deadline has passed
...and the entirely expected happened in Astros-land. Meaning, nothing. Is what happened.
Preston Tucker didn't sign, but Jim Callis confirms that he likely still will. Hunter Virant "can't wait to be a [UCLA] Bruin." And... that's it.
Assuming that Tucker (eventually) signs, it will be the second year in a row that Houston has inked all of their picks from the top 10 rounds. They'll end up with 31 of 41 picks signed, after they signed 30 of their top 40 picks last year.
Up next in Draft-land is the confusing-as-heck "Competitive Balance Lottery," giving 13 teams a shot a 6 extra (and tradeable!) picks between the 2nd and 3rd rounds of next year's draft. But the Astros aren't one of those lucky 13, so never mind about all that.
EDIT: And had I posted a moment later, I could have linked to this handy deadline day rundown from Zach Levine.
Preston Tucker didn't sign, but Jim Callis confirms that he likely still will. Hunter Virant "can't wait to be a [UCLA] Bruin." And... that's it.
Assuming that Tucker (eventually) signs, it will be the second year in a row that Houston has inked all of their picks from the top 10 rounds. They'll end up with 31 of 41 picks signed, after they signed 30 of their top 40 picks last year.
Up next in Draft-land is the confusing-as-heck "Competitive Balance Lottery," giving 13 teams a shot a 6 extra (and tradeable!) picks between the 2nd and 3rd rounds of next year's draft. But the Astros aren't one of those lucky 13, so never mind about all that.
EDIT: And had I posted a moment later, I could have linked to this handy deadline day rundown from Zach Levine.
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Addendum on Preston Tucker
Jim Callis of Baseball America had a chat with fans this afternoon, and he had this interesting note about Preston Tucker:
"I'm not sure why Tucker hasn't signed yet, but remember as a college senior with no eligibility left, the deadline doesn't apply for him."So we may not hear of Tucker's signing before 4:00 pm Friday after all, but it's likely still coming soon.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Monday Draft Notes
*Baseball America's Jim Callis posted his Mock Draft 4.0: Mark Appel. However:
Buxton appears to be the preference of the team's baseball decision-makers and would be Plan B if a deal with Appel falls apart.
*Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers says Correa is gaining momentum, but not enough for the Astros to bypass Appel or Buxton. Astros Puerto Rico-based scout Joey Sola said Correa was the best Puerto Rican prospect since Carlos Beltran. A Rockies scout says Correa is a cross between Beltran and Alex Rios.
*Keith Law's (Insider-Only) final Top 100 draft prospects has Buxton #1, followed by Correa, Gausman, and Appel.
*Sports Illustrated's Dave Perkin's mock draft has the Astros taking Appel, saying it's the safest option.
*UPDATE: Jon Heyman has an unsubstantiated rumor that the Astros will take Appel, and the Twins will take Buxton.
Buxton appears to be the preference of the team's baseball decision-makers and would be Plan B if a deal with Appel falls apart.
*Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers says Correa is gaining momentum, but not enough for the Astros to bypass Appel or Buxton. Astros Puerto Rico-based scout Joey Sola said Correa was the best Puerto Rican prospect since Carlos Beltran. A Rockies scout says Correa is a cross between Beltran and Alex Rios.
*Keith Law's (Insider-Only) final Top 100 draft prospects has Buxton #1, followed by Correa, Gausman, and Appel.
*Sports Illustrated's Dave Perkin's mock draft has the Astros taking Appel, saying it's the safest option.
*UPDATE: Jon Heyman has an unsubstantiated rumor that the Astros will take Appel, and the Twins will take Buxton.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Baseball America projects Mark Appel as 1-1
Baseball America's Jim Callis posted his mock draft today, and had this to say about where the Astros may be leaning, one month out from the June draft:
Houston is focusing on Buxton, Zunino and the three best college pitchers (Stanford's Mark Appel, Louisiana State's Kevin Gausman and San Francisco's Kyle Zimmer). Scouting director Bobby Heck has taken an up-the-middle position player with his top pick in each of his four drafts, and he and his staff are believed to favor Buxton, a five-tool center fielder. Rumors persist that the Astros' higher-ups—new owner Jim Crane and new general manager Jeff Luhnow—prefer an arm who could help soon and fit at the front of their rotation.
Still, they project Appel as the 1-1 pick.
Houston is focusing on Buxton, Zunino and the three best college pitchers (Stanford's Mark Appel, Louisiana State's Kevin Gausman and San Francisco's Kyle Zimmer). Scouting director Bobby Heck has taken an up-the-middle position player with his top pick in each of his four drafts, and he and his staff are believed to favor Buxton, a five-tool center fielder. Rumors persist that the Astros' higher-ups—new owner Jim Crane and new general manager Jeff Luhnow—prefer an arm who could help soon and fit at the front of their rotation.
Still, they project Appel as the 1-1 pick.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
The Astros in Jim Callis' chat wrap
Jim Callis had a live chat today. What matters to Astros County?
On Kody Hinze:
He has some power, but it's his lone distinguishing tool, and he feasts more on mistakes and has trouble making contact against quality pitching. He's also a righthanded-hitting first baseman, and those are fairly easy to find.
On the Bourn trade:
I thought the Astros should have held out for more. Bourn was such a nice fit for the Braves, and while they weren't going to give up Teheran or Vizcaino, they wouldn't have given up Minor if pressed?
On the prospects in both Bourn and Pence deals:
Singleton and Cosart are nice gets. Oberholtzer and Clemens are more complementary pieces.
Who the Astros should be looking at with the #1 pick in 2012:
Stanford RHP Mark Appel, Arizona State SS Deven Marrero, Florida HS RHP Lance McCullers Jr. Assuming he's back to full health, throw Texas Christian LHP Matt Purke in there too.
On Kody Hinze:
He has some power, but it's his lone distinguishing tool, and he feasts more on mistakes and has trouble making contact against quality pitching. He's also a righthanded-hitting first baseman, and those are fairly easy to find.
On the Bourn trade:
I thought the Astros should have held out for more. Bourn was such a nice fit for the Braves, and while they weren't going to give up Teheran or Vizcaino, they wouldn't have given up Minor if pressed?
On the prospects in both Bourn and Pence deals:
Singleton and Cosart are nice gets. Oberholtzer and Clemens are more complementary pieces.
Who the Astros should be looking at with the #1 pick in 2012:
Stanford RHP Mark Appel, Arizona State SS Deven Marrero, Florida HS RHP Lance McCullers Jr. Assuming he's back to full health, throw Texas Christian LHP Matt Purke in there too.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Jim Callis' updated Astros prospect list
Via Alyson Footer, Jim Callis posted his Top 10 Prospect list for the newStros:
1. Jonathan Singleton, 1b/of
2. Jarred Cosart, rhp
3. George Springer, of
4. Jonathan Villar, ss
5. Brett Oberholtzer, lhp
6. Paul Clemens, rhp
7. Mike Foltynewicz, rhp
8. Delino DeShields, Jr., 2B
9. Jimmy Paredes, 2b/3b
10. Ariel Ovando, of
Click the link for a one-sentence description, but there are a couple of things to note about this list.
*Six of the top 10 prospects (according to Callis) were acquired by trades in the last 370 days.
*Once George Springer signs, he'll immediately become the #3 prospect in the organization.
If we go back and look at Keith Law's Top 100 prospects list from February, the Astros have now acquired #27 (Singleton), #34 (Cosart), in addition to #42 (Lyles) - who is obviously already in the Majors.
1. Jonathan Singleton, 1b/of
2. Jarred Cosart, rhp
3. George Springer, of
4. Jonathan Villar, ss
5. Brett Oberholtzer, lhp
6. Paul Clemens, rhp
7. Mike Foltynewicz, rhp
8. Delino DeShields, Jr., 2B
9. Jimmy Paredes, 2b/3b
10. Ariel Ovando, of
Click the link for a one-sentence description, but there are a couple of things to note about this list.
*Six of the top 10 prospects (according to Callis) were acquired by trades in the last 370 days.
*Once George Springer signs, he'll immediately become the #3 prospect in the organization.
If we go back and look at Keith Law's Top 100 prospects list from February, the Astros have now acquired #27 (Singleton), #34 (Cosart), in addition to #42 (Lyles) - who is obviously already in the Majors.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Jim Callis: Springer will sign
Jim Callis had a big ol' live chat at Baseball America today, and there was a question about the ownership question impacting the signing of George Springer, and on making trades.
Callis:
Springer will sign, no doubt, regardless of the ownership situation. Don't see it affecting trades much either—MLB is going to have no problem with the Astros trading high-priced veterans.
Callis:
Springer will sign, no doubt, regardless of the ownership situation. Don't see it affecting trades much either—MLB is going to have no problem with the Astros trading high-priced veterans.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Jean Segura vs. Jose Altuve
Baseball America's Jim Callis responded to someone else's tweet, asking, who's better: the Angels' Jean Segura, or the Astros' Jose Altuve.
His response:
Segura. Not close, despite the little guy's numbers.
Of course, we disagree. But let's take us a gander, eh?
Jean Segura is 21 years old, BA's #57-ranked prospect, pre-2011, and a SS/2B playing in the Angels' Cal League team in Inland Empire.
So far, in 37 games for Inland Empire, he's hitting .276/.343/.428. In his five-season career, he's hitting .315/.372/.446, with 143K:99BB (1.44 K:BB ratio), with 47 doubles, 22 triples, 18 homers.
Okay.
Jose Altuve (also 21 years old), in 52 games at Lancaster, hit .408/.451/.606. Combine that, with his 16 games at Double-A Corpus (where he's hitting .394/.420/.712), and he's hitting .405/.444/.631 in 2011. So maybe you're still unimpressed. In the same five-season span as Segura, Altuve is hitting .326/.387/.483, also with 166K:133BB (1.25 K:BB ratio), with 85 doubles, 24 triples, and 28 homers.
So it's safe to say that we will disagree with Callis. If we take defense into account, Altuve has a lifetime .969 Fld% at 2B, committing 49 errors in 1597 chances. Segura has a lifetime .971 Fld% at 2B, with 32 errors in 1094 chances.
Not sure what criteria there is that would make this "not even close," but we call bullcrap.
His response:
Segura. Not close, despite the little guy's numbers.
Of course, we disagree. But let's take us a gander, eh?
Jean Segura is 21 years old, BA's #57-ranked prospect, pre-2011, and a SS/2B playing in the Angels' Cal League team in Inland Empire.
So far, in 37 games for Inland Empire, he's hitting .276/.343/.428. In his five-season career, he's hitting .315/.372/.446, with 143K:99BB (1.44 K:BB ratio), with 47 doubles, 22 triples, 18 homers.
Okay.
Jose Altuve (also 21 years old), in 52 games at Lancaster, hit .408/.451/.606. Combine that, with his 16 games at Double-A Corpus (where he's hitting .394/.420/.712), and he's hitting .405/.444/.631 in 2011. So maybe you're still unimpressed. In the same five-season span as Segura, Altuve is hitting .326/.387/.483, also with 166K:133BB (1.25 K:BB ratio), with 85 doubles, 24 triples, and 28 homers.
So it's safe to say that we will disagree with Callis. If we take defense into account, Altuve has a lifetime .969 Fld% at 2B, committing 49 errors in 1597 chances. Segura has a lifetime .971 Fld% at 2B, with 32 errors in 1094 chances.
Not sure what criteria there is that would make this "not even close," but we call bullcrap.
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