A quip on the newest Arizona Diamondback Alberto Callaspo

[Diamondback Jay]

The premier contact hitter in the minor leagues, he has led the minors in most plate appearances per strikeout in each of the last two seasons, including a 20.4 mark in 2005. He hit .304/.345/.422 with 11 homers, 80 RBIs and 11 steals (albeit in 24 tries) between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Salt Lake last year. Though he's a switch-hitter who has little trouble hitting for average, he'll need to add more power, on-base and/or basestealing capability to be an effective offensive player in the majors. He has spent most of his minor league career at second base in deference to Aybar, but Callaspo has the range and arm strength to handle shortstop where he spent most of 2004.

Some feel his best long term value would be at either 1st or 3rd.

This guy is a pure contact hitter in every sense. He's never seen a pitch he can't hit and could be a high average guy in the bigs.

I'm thinking this move all but closes the door on Alex Cintron and Scott Hairston's time as Diamondbacks.

 

[Phill11]

If I remember correctly Callaspo's defense isn't bad at 2B.

I'm really high on this guy. Like you said, contact contact and more contact. I think that would really compliment and even out the power and contact in our potential lineup. I get the chills just thinking of our new lineup.

Young - CF
Callaspo - 2B
Drew - SS
Upton - 3B
Tracy - RF
Jackson - 1B
Quentin - LF

 

[boondockdrunk]

If I remember correctly Callaspo's defense isn't bad at 2B.

I'm really high on this guy. Like you said, contact contact and more contact. I think that would really compliment and even out the power and contact in our potential lineup. I get the chills just thinking of our new lineup.

Young - CF
Callaspo - 2B
Drew - SS
Upton - 3B
Tracy - RF
Jackson - 1B
Quentin - LF

I would rather have us sign Hudson to a long term contract. His defense is supposed to be stellar.

I understand this trade because we got a good prospect for a moderate prospect in Bulger. However, I can see Callaspo or some other middle infield prospect (of course not Upton or Drew) being traded for a starter.

 

[nathan]

Some feel his best long term value would be at either 1st or 3rd.

Where are you getting this? Everything I've read says that he was good enough to play SS but moved to 2B because of Aybar. He certainly does not have the stats that people want from corner infielders. The only way he ever plays 3rd base is if he in utility role (if he's a regular it will be at 2B). I can't conceive of any reason he would ever play 1B.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Where are you getting this? Everything I've read says that he was good enough to play SS but moved to 2B because of Aybar. He certainly does not have the stats that people want from corner infielders. The only way he ever plays 3rd base is if he in utility role (if he's a regular it will be at 2B). I can't conceive of any reason he would ever play 1B.

He played some third last year for the Angels in sporatic spot duty, and the plan was to possibly move him there regularly. Although his power numbers aren't that of a Corner Infielder, his defensive range would make this possible.

 

[Kolo]

From Ask BA:

Where would Albert Callaspo rank on the Diamondbacks Top 10 list?

Simon Boisvert
Montreal

It seems to me that the Angels should have got more for Alberto Callaspo then Jason Bulger. Why did they not go after Matt Chico, Tony Pena or Micah Owings? I think Callaspo is flying under the radar because he was overshadowed by Howie Kendrick in the Angels system. Why did he go so cheap?

James P. Tate
Guthrie, Okla.

The Diamondbacks system has gone through a lot of change since we finalized their Top 10 for the Prospect Handbook. Arizona has traded for outfielder Chris Young and Callaspo and signed shortstop Justin Upton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft.

I'd line up their revised Top 10 in this order: Upton, shortstop Stephen Drew, first baseman Conor Jackson, outfielder Carlos Quentin, Young, outfielder Carlos Gonzales, righthander Dustin Nippert, catcher Miguel Montero, righthander Garrett Mock and Callaspo. Ranking 10th on that list is no slap in the face, because when we update our farm-system rankings for our upcoming Minor League Preview issue, Arizona will be No. 1.

The Angels were in a tough position with Callaspo. Adam Kennedy is going to get their big league at-bats at second base, and Howie Kendrick is going to get their Triple-A at-bats. They really didn't have a place to play Callaspo, and while he's a good prospect, Kendrick is a great prospect.

Callaspo is a career .315 hitter in the minors and he's an exceptional contact hitter. He has led the minors in most plate appearances per strikeout in each of the last two years, including a rate of 20.4 in 2005. But he doesn't stand out in any other area offensively. He doesn't have much more than doubles power and his career slugging percentage is just .424. He has walked just 166 times in 544 pro games, so he has to hit for a high average to have a respectable on-base percentage. He has some speed but is just 73-for-123 (59 percent) as a pro basestealer.

A slick-fielding second baseman who also can handle shortstop, Callaspo figures to make Arizona as a reserve middle infielder. I could see him becoming a decent regular but I don't see a lot of star potential. The Angels needed to move him, and I'd take Bulger over Chico and Pena because he's big league-ready. The Diamondbacks couldn't trade Owings until the one-year anniversary of his signing last summer, and I doubt they would have made him available in this deal.

 

[nathan]

I'd line up their revised Top 10 in this order: Upton, shortstop Stephen Drew, first baseman Conor Jackson, outfielder Carlos Quentin, Young, outfielder Carlos Gonzales, righthander Dustin Nippert, catcher Miguel Montero, righthander Garrett Mock and Callaspo. Ranking 10th on that list is no slap in the face, because when we update our farm-system rankings for our upcoming Minor League Preview issue, Arizona will be No. 1.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I'd line up their revised Top 10 in this order: Upton, shortstop Stephen Drew, first baseman Conor Jackson, outfielder Carlos Quentin, Young, outfielder Carlos Gonzales, righthander Dustin Nippert, catcher Miguel Montero, righthander Garrett Mock and Callaspo. Ranking 10th on that list is no slap in the face, because when we update our farm-system rankings for our upcoming Minor League Preview issue, Arizona will be No. 1.

The scary part is that our system should get even better in a few months, considering the Dbacks hold 5 draft picks in the first three rounds, including the 11th overall pick (not to mention a supplemental first) in a draft heavy with college pitching.

 

[overseascardfan]

If I remember correctly Callaspo's defense isn't bad at 2B.

I'm really high on this guy. Like you said, contact contact and more contact. I think that would really compliment and even out the power and contact in our potential lineup. I get the chills just thinking of our new lineup.

Young - CF
Callaspo - 2B
Drew - SS
Upton - 3B
Tracy - RF
Jackson - 1B
Quentin - LF

If this is our lineup I'd switch Tracy and Quentin because Quentin is a natural RF.

 

[AZZenny]

because when we update our farm-system rankings for our upcoming Minor League Preview issue, Arizona will be No. 1.

Heh-heh...WOW.