Jim Callis' chat

[cressj]

I got in early with this one:

 

Jason from Chippewa Falls asks:

Jim, what are your thoughts on the Brewers' draft?

 

A: Jim Callis: Their first three picks look pretty solid. Rickie Weeks, the all-time NCAA Division I hitting leader, may have the quickest hands at the plate since Gary Sheffield. Anthony Gwynn hits line drives and plays a fine center field. Lou Palmisano is less known than those too, but he's a solid all-around catcher. And if history is any indication, a couple of scouting director Jack Zduriencik's later picks should pan out as well.

[igor67]

I hereby outlaw all comparisons of Weeks to Gary Sheffield. Don't these people realize that's just plain offensive?

[cressj]

Q: Jason from Chippewa Falls asks:

Jim, from a previous answer, does that mean you don't like the Brewers' fourth round pick?

 

A: Jim Callis: Not at all, I just like their top three picks the best of their draft. Their fourth-rounder, Puerto Rico HS OF Charlie Fermaint, is a raw speedster.

[SoCalBrewfan]

And a response that answers the mystery of Greg Moviel:

 

Q: &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Mike Doyle from Valparaiso, IN asks:

What are the chances that the White Sox can sign Donald Veal andor Greg Moviel?

 A: 

&nbsp &nbsp &nbsp &nbsp Jim Callis: Arizona HS LHP Veal (12th round) turned down a $500,000 offer from the Yankees and likely will attend the University of Arizona unless the White Sox give him $750,000. Ohio HS LHP Moviel (15th) is a top student committed to Vanderbilt and probably won't sign either. But they're good late-round gambles in case the Sox don't sign one of their early picks.

[colbyjack]

I hereby outlaw all comparisons of Weeks to Gary Sheffield. Don't these people realize that's just plain offensive?

 

I don't think it's that bad, as long as you're comparing Gary Sheffield when he was drafted Rickie Weeks today. While everyone thought Gary Sheffield could be a very exciting offensive player, just like with Weeks now, I don't think anyone dared to project that he would be a 40+ HR hitter. Plus, he was drafted as a SS, and obviously has some questions about his defensive skills, moved to 3B and eventually to the OF. For their pure athleticism, it sounds as though Weeks & Sheffield are very similar, with extremely quick hands through the zone that goes a long way making quick decisions at the plate.

 

So, while comparing Weeks to Sheffield today may be unfair, comparing him to Sheffield's physical makeup is not. And I'm not talking about his character.

[igor67]

There've been a lot of other athletic ball players can't they use another name, any other name that's all I'm asking for.

[colbyjack]

Ok, how 'bout Hank Aaron http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif . He too started his career as a middle IF.

 

I can appreciate a hatred for Sheffield as a Milwaukee Brewer, so why not compare him to one we all like!

[950opsLHcatcher]

I still remember Sheff's first game as a Brewer, taking over for an injured Dale Sveum at shortstop. Not to pull an Al here, but honest to God, I have no problem with the guy, and if somebody wanted to compare Weeks to him, that would be an honor for Rickie. Maybe I'm just too young to fully appreciate what harm Sheffield did to the franchise.

[igor67]

Hank Aaron it is! May we be blessed with 20 years of awesome play.

[Al the Thinking Man]

My memory may be hazy, but other than the fact he "claimed" to have made errors on purpose, i don't recall the Sheff years being bad. Many would say we treated him much worse than vice versa, especially doubting the fact he was hurt (X-rays later revealed a fracture).

[mothershipconnection]

My memory may be hazy, but other than the fact he "claimed" to have made errors on purpose, i don't recall the Sheff years being bad

But AL, that's all it takes to be the most hated player in team history (yes, that includes Hammonds). While he wasn't always horrible, can you think of a player doing anything worse (within reason now) on the field than tanking plays. I mean, Hammonds sucked, but he screwed up because he sucked, which is far more acceptable than purposely screwing your team over. All that separated Sheffield from the Chicago Black Sox it that he didn't get paid to tank games, and all of those guys were banished for life. Though I have cooled down since he said that, I thought he should have faced the same fate at the time.

[DHonks]

In some ways you can blame Sheffield for the beginning of the franchise's downfalls. When we were forced to trade him, we received Matt Meiske, Ricky Bones, and Jose Valentin if I am remembering correctly. All three were okay players, and I think Meiske would have been better had be been given chances to play everyday, but they started the franchise's downward spiral. With Molitor gone, Yount retired, Gantner hurt (and eventually retired), Jaha and Nilsson constantly hurt, Vaughn inconsistent, Listach hurt, etc, the franchise needed some bright spot to give hope, but unfortunately Sheffield's attitude only united fans against him. He left, then all of those happened, and the franchise hasn't been the same since.

[RyDogg66]

If you look at some of our deals at that time (early 90s) we did get screwed on some of those. Greg Vaughn for Marc Newfield?? Newfield was already washed up and he went from a never will be to a has been in his few years here. The Padres were just screwing us left and right. I know the Brewers have done better with the Sexson deal, and to get Burnitz for Seitzer, but I cancel the Burnitz deal for holding out to long and only getting what amounts to Glendon Rusch for Jeromy. If we do decide to trade Sexson or Jenkins I hope we can do better than the past. It seems though that when we deal pitchers we do pretty well. Oh yeah and the Cirillo and Vina Deals were brilliant as well (note: I do realize that Acevedo was turned into DeJean but I am looking at the deals on a case by case basis.