Jim Callis

I think that's it, and I enjoyed it. If you ever have any more Cubs questions, submit them for Ask BA at askba@baseballamerica.com. I know many of you do already. And thanks to everyone who has bought the Prospect Handbook, both a source of great pride and the bane of my existence during the winter. Those who haven't, get one today!

Yes, that's very fair. I really like Jason Wylie.

Could be a No. 2, more likely a No. 3. Wouldn't be shocked if he gets traded this year.

They really like him. That's too aggressive but doesn't mean he'll necessarily open the season there.

More of the latter.

Bobby Brownlie. I think he could really make huge strides this year.

Downs. Very nice curve, very nice pitchability, could really take off with the shoulder tendinitis behind him.

94-96 mph fastball, plus slider at times, very raw, command will be the key. Could be a No. 2 if everything comes together, but that will take a lot of refinement and consistency.

Hmmm. Guzman (No. 26) would have been in the low teens. Jones (No. 57), maybe about 10 spots higher. Brownlie, had he been at full strength and spent six weeks in Double-A, could have been much higher than No. 92. He should be right with Jeremy Guthrie (No. 53 if I remember correctly). Sisco's broken hand wasn't much of a factor. He needs to improve his secondary pitches and command to move up from No. 77.

Well, he was a first-round pick (supplemental). I tend to label guys as No. 3 starters, perhaps too easily, but I don't remember doing that with Blakso. His ceiling is as a No. 2, though it's safer to project him as a No. 3.

Pinto, because he's easier to project as a big league starter. But these things usually have a way of working themselves out.

Nope.

Downs on the curveball. Craig, Marshall has a high ceiling because he's a very projectable lefty with life on his fastball, and a better breaking ball, changeup and command than Sisco. But Sisco has a better chance of reaching his ceiling than Marshall does, if that makes any sense. Marshall could, and I emphasize "could" be a guy who pitches at 92-94 regularly, which is where Sisco is now. And while Sisco is younger, he's only six months younger. I'm not saying that Marshall is as good as Sisco or will be as good as Sisco, but he could be as good. Hence, his ceiling is similar.

I'll use this question to clear up a misconception, not that UK is necessarily perpetuating it. BA balances stats and tools. We're not all tools. We understand the importance of performance, and I weigh performance more heavily than tools, especially among upper-level players. And yes, I take park factors into account (and scouts do, too). I would note that while West Tenn is a pitcher's park, Iowa is not a hitter's haven and is one of the better pitcher's parks in the PCL, so there isn't a lot of PCL inflation in the Iowa stats (not nearly as much as with the traditional PCL clubs).

You sound exactly like one of my best Cubs sources, who says much the same things about Sanchez and notes that pitchers rarely improve their breaking ball by more than a grade (such as 40 to 50).