New Draft Post
by thedirkatron on May 27, 2008 11:26 PM CDT
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PrintWith the last draft post now lying vacant way down the diary list, and with the draft itself rapidly approaching, I figured it's about time to make a new place for draft discussion.
There's some decent stuff out there, but most of it is still pretty general at this point:
* Baseball America has their Top 200 prospect list up . Interesting to note that they still list Tanner Scheppers as the 10th best prospect overall, despite the fact the list has been updated since his injury. Do they believe he's healthy? Or is the little "Last updated" time-stamp at the bottom of the page just a dirty, dirty lie?
* In the latest Ask BA , Jim Callis notes that two prominently mentioned Ranger targets, Eric Hosmer and Gerrit Cole, are at the top of the "Most likely to demand too much money and end up going to college" list.
* John Sickels posted a top 30 about a week ago . Much can change in a week, but it's still fun to look.
* Keith Law wrote a draft column that I can't read cause I don't have Insider cause I hate the living shit out of ESPN and try not to give them any of my money, lest I accidentally end up making Stuart Scott happy in some way, shape, or form.
* Kevin Goldstein discusses the top 12 teams and their plans.
KG on Texas:
11. Texas Rangers. Also crossing Scheppers off their board, the Rangers still want a college arm, and of the pitchers moving up of late, Eastern Kentucky’s Christian Freidrich leads the pack, followed by Tulane’s Shooter Hunt. They’ve also been rumored to have interest in some of the top college relievers, including Texas Christian’s Andrew Cashner, who has pitched well on numerous occasions in front of team president Nolan Ryan.
And, finally, in his newest (and most epic) newsletter (found HERE ), Evan Grant answers two draft questions:
Q: Who do you see the Rangers taking in the draft, and are they going to try to fill a need with a college pitcher or position player to rise through ranks quickly or take more high school pitchers or position players?
Chris, Oklahoma City
GRANT: I really think the Rangers are going to go for the best available talent, but there is some sentiment to look hard at a college pitcher like Shooter Hunt, and here's the reason: the bulk of the pitching talent is at the lower levels in the minors. If there is a big gap in the organization somewhere, it's in upper-level pitching right now. Tommy Hunter, already at Double-A has come fast, but Eric Hurley has slowed down, and Thomas Diamond can't be counted on to reach the majors this year.
The bulk of the talent in the system is at low Class A Clinton, where the key members of the rotation (Neftali Feliz, Blake Beavan, Derek Holland, Kennil Gomez and Fabio Castillo) have a composite 2.42 ERA as starters, or lower.
If the Rangers could get Hurley back on track and get Diamond healthy and add a quick-moving college starter to guys like Matt Harrison, Hunter and Doug Mathis, well, they could fill out a solid rotation pretty quick with the really exciting pitching prospects still on the horizon.
And this one:
Q: In the most recent newsletter, you mentioned that the Rangers would consider drafting a high school first baseman or Tulane's Shooter Hunt with the 11th pick in June's draft. Before this season began, there was talk of Vanderbilt's Pedro Alvarez being the No. 1 draft pick, but he broke a bone in his wrist early in the season, and his stock seems to have slipped some. Is there any chance Alvarez would slide all the way to the 11th pick considering his numbers have slipped, he is also represented by Scott Boras, and he broke a bone that is notoriously difficult to recover from (the hamate bone)?
Scott, Plano
GRANT: Simple answer: No. General consensus is that Alvarez won't get past the top five and probably not past Pittsburgh at No. 2. The negotiations between Pirates CEO Frank Coonley and Boras could be very interesting. Coonley was once MLB's chief legal counsel and has done battle with Boras in the past.
I still think that Florida high school first baseman Eric Hosmer or Hunt, who was drafted out of high school by the Rangers in 2006, are the most likely choices if they are still available
And that's all I've got right now. Feel free to post anything else you find out there, as I'm sure there's plenty.
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The two
The two items that seem to impact the Rangers are that:
1. Florida likes Hosmer at 6. The only hold back could be that Florida ownership hasn’t signed off on paying him over slot money.
2. “Word among scouts is that Fresno State right-hander Tanner Scheppers’ advisors have backed off of the stress fracture diagnosis - about which several clubs had expressed skepticism to me - and intend to get a second opinion from Dr. Frank Jobe.”
Hosmer to the Marlins?
The Marlins almost never go out of slot, and word is that Hosmer is seeking a ML deal that rivals Beckett and Porcello. I don’t see a match there.
SaberScouting's rankings
They have a top 25 up, soon to expand to a top 100, with a nice, concise report on each player. They list Hosmer at 10 and Alonso at 11, FWIW.
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
Hmm.
The link didn’t post for some reason:
http://www.saberscouting.com/drafttop100/
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
Keith Law's piece
Anyone want to paraphrase Rangers-relevant passages?
Go Strangers.
by hightowersmith on May 27, 2008 11:43 PM CDT reply actions
Over Yonder
Not quite, but I did have to curb my enthusiasm on him a bit when I read in BP’s report that he has troubling splits against lefties. You don’t use a pick that high on a platoon player.
+1...
Kiker and Diamond were both projected as relievers…
I want high ceiling starting damnit.
"pujols is good" - Clayton Kershaw after his first start.
No they weren't
Just because someone asked the question of whether they would stick as starters doesn’t mean that they were “projected as relievers.” The same questions were asked about Beavan.
by Brett Perryman on May 31, 2008 7:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Concur...
please no Cashner in round 1.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
I don't recall
but if it’s a college reliever, I’d imagine that it is not easy to add a 3rd ML-quality pitch that late in development. I’m sure it has happened successfully many times, but at the 11th pick, this franchise can’t afford to gamble on future changes, imo.
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 28, 2008 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Aaron Weatherford
Have you guys read much about this guy, the closer at Mississippi State. From what I have read, he has three legit pitches and could easily be a starter at the next level. The Rangers have shown the willingness of late to convert college relievers back to starters.
nothing, huh
this guy has 62 Ks and only 10 hits and 10 walks in 31.2 innings this year. He is playing against elite competition in the SEC. And he can touch 97 at times with his FB, so he’s not all smoke and mirrors.
Interesting
where is he projected to slot in, on average?
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 28, 2008 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions
BA has him 67th.
So there’s a good possibility he’s there when we pick at 57.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2008 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Another interesting power relief pitcher to keep an eye on for the 2nd and 3rd rounds.
I’ve seen conflicting reports on whether his delivery is max effort or effortless. There’s some concern his delivery leads to more injuries. However, his secondary stuff is farther ahead than Cashner, it appears from reports.
I could get excited about him as a 2nd rounder. As a meteorologist, I’m all for bringing a guy name Weatherford into the organization.
I'd like to see them take Cole
If nobody falls. However, I have a feeling they’ll go with Hunt.
Not the only black poster on LSB.
I like Hunt
Much more than Cole. Hunt has two very legit pitches in his fastball and curve, and a decent, developing change up. We may have to be a little patient, but he seems like the surest bet of the pitchers rumored to be there at 11.
I just think
he will be an easier sign than Cole. I have seen Hunt as high as 8 and consistently around 10 on draft boards, whereas I have not seen Cole higher than 15 or so. Both have electric arms and both come with issues.
Do you really
think there is going to be a successful MLB pitcher named “Shooter Hunt”? Cause I don’t. Gerrit Cole, now that’s a name of an ace.
Not the only black poster on LSB.
Well
I didn’t really think there was any chance a hitter named Evan Longoria could possibly be any good.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2008 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Haha
Yeah, It was a sarcastic comment. That and I’m not that high on Hunt.
Not the only black poster on LSB.
I was serious about Longoria
when I first read about him I thought it was an April Fools joke.
Evan Longoria? I mean, really? How does he compare to fellow college slugger Mangelina Jolie?
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2008 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions 7 recs
TT
Taylor Teagarden doesn’t sound like a baseball name either.
Derek
Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!
by DerekSTheRed on May 29, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions
That's a perfect
Baseball name. It’s got that alliteration thing going, a long last name with a generic first name. A come-easy nickname (teabags).
Now Jacoby Ellsbury, that’s a weird baseball name. He sounds like a polish midget.
well...
Catfish wasn’t his real name. Gaylord was.
The best thing about Shooter Hunt (other than making me think of Happy Gilmore) is that his nickname is already there. Lefy Grove, Three-fingered Brown, Catfish Hunter, Oil Can Boyd.
But I do use the “is this the name of an ace/slugger” test. I think Bruce Posey fails. Shooter Hunt and Gerritt Cole both pass.
I know Catfish wasn't his real name...
but it’s his common-name.
Some names do seem to have a baseball quality to them.
Harmon Killebrew.
Best flamethrowin handle ever:
Colt Griffin.
Say it out loud. In your bestest Vin Scully dulcitones.
Savor. Repeat.
"For the record, I did not and do not like the Volquez trade, even though Hamilton is awesome and our best player and I think he’s going to be one of the best players in baseball." philikid3
by Brian Thomas on May 28, 2008 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions
I still think...
we take Yonder Alonso.
I think Hosmer will be gone by the time the Rangers pick. Sorry Dirkatron.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
nice thing about Alonso
is that he will not cost much more than slot money and should sign quick. that would allow the team to be more aggressive with some riskier later round picks.
dammit
i love me some draft talk. why so late? i need sleep, but anyways…stuff from Law’s column:
-Several GMs at the SEC tourney, including Epstein, Towers, and Kenny Williams. White Sox are interested in either Whitey Beckham or Brett Wallace.
-Scott Green from Kentucky is “a hot name of late”. But, he then suggests the coach doesn’t trust him in big game situations.
-Based on watching each pitcher once this spring, Law would rate Ole Miss right-hander Lance Lynn over Shooter Hunt (walks too many peeps).
-Phillies would take Jason Knapp if he was avail in the sandwich round.
- Ryan Westmoreland, a vandy recruit, wants 1.6-2.0MM. Red Sox are interested.
• Word among scouts is that Fresno State right-hander Tanner Scheppers’ advisors have backed off of the stress fracture diagnosis - about which several clubs had expressed skepticism to me - and intend to get a second opinion from Dr. Frank Jobe. Meanwhile, Pepperdine right-hander Brett Hunter, who’s missed about two months due to an elbow injury after showing upper-90s velocity in fall ball, was 88-92 in a relief outing last week, then didn’t pitch in either of Pepperdine’s losses to San Diego in the West Coast Conference championship.-
-And, the Mets are interested in catcher Adrian Nieto and the Hosmer to Marlins rumor won’t go away; Marlins ownership is still thinking about it. Also, Hos hit 96mph off the mound. He’s still a hitter though.
Law... and BA would laugh their a$$ off.
Lance Lynn sounds like a Doug Mathis with perhaps better control.
i said he said that after watching each pitch once
he wouldn’t take lynn over hunt from everything he’s read and heard over the past year…
He must know how to load his scap
through and through.
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 28, 2008 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Blake Tekotte
Anyone else like Blake Tekotte in the third or fourth round? He is a little guy (5’11”, 180) but he is a strong defensive CF for Miami who has shown excellent patience and the plate and a little pop. Also, he has led the team in hitting in conference play, so he is not just padding his stats against the weakerthans.
Is this JD's
make or break draft with Nolan hovering over him?
"pujols is good" - Clayton Kershaw after his first start.
Nah...
JD’s make or break draft was last year. It’s still early but I think he scored big.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
Doubtful
It takes too long for draftees to show what they’ve got.
Even if JD completely blows the pick, it’ll likely be at least two years before we know for sure, and by then the major league club will be what makes or breaks him.
If we’re contenders in ‘10, JD is made.
If we’re still a ~.500 (or, gulp, worse) team at that point, JD is broken.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2008 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions
If Hosmer and Scheppers are gone when the Rangers pick,
I’m beginning to warm up to the idea of Ethan Martin in a Rangers uniform. He has some attributes that remind me of Main: athletic, mid-90s fastball. The sabre scouting report on him suggests he’s made progress at smoothing out his delivery, probably a testament to his athleticism. I’m still excited about Melville and Cole, but I like how Martin’s demeanor is described as aggressive and super competitive.
Not too excited about Yonder, Hunt, Cashner, or Friedrich at #11.
It seems like the top hitters have higher ceilings than the top pitchers, but the drop from the first to second tier talent is less for the pitchers than hitters. There’ll probably be some interesting college arms available in the 2nd round: Tyson Ross, Chris Carpenter, Tim Murphy, Zach Stewart, Zach Putnam.
What are the odds the beast formerly known as Smoak is still available at #11?
35%? 30%? I will giggle like I had a freshly-deflowered vagina if we land him.
And I don’t get all the poo-pooing on Yonder. Seems like there is a lot to like there.
"For the record, I did not and do not like the Volquez trade, even though Hamilton is awesome and our best player and I think he’s going to be one of the best players in baseball." philikid3
The Smoak Monster would be sweet
but I really doubt it happens. I guess it could… who knows. The draft is so fluid.
Yonder is okay, but I just don’t know how much ceiling he has. Also the mention that he has truly horrible splits versus lefties gives me the red ass. No platoon players in the first round. None. Nada. Nope. If the lefties thing is overblown, then wouldn’t be too angry with that selection. Does anyone know how to find college splits?
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2008 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I'd rather have Yonder than a lot of people
that I see others suggesting. I’d rather have him than any high school pitcher, for instance, and probably before any of the college pitchers not named Crow or Matusz.
I think that there is a pretty solid top ten in this draft now that Scheppers is out of the mix (in no particular order: Crow, Matusz, Posey, Alvarez, Hosmer, Beckham 1, Beckham 2, Smoak, Yonder, Skipworth) I’d rather have any of those guys than anyone not on that list. As #11 in the draft, we should be able to land one of them…
Well said
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 28, 2008 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Aggies in the draft
what’s Thebeau all about…? are there any Aggies worth drafting this year? sorry, I know we’ve had a great season (until the past 2 or so weeks) but I have NO idea about our guys this year…
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Cape Cod
I saw him pitch in the Cape Cod League last summer. The inning started out well, but then the wheels came off. Of course, this is just one appearance, which means nothing in the grand scheme of things.
by Excel Hearts Choi on May 28, 2008 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions
Our weekend starters
Are all underclassmen, so they won’t go. Thebeau will likely go in the 4-6 range because of his live arm. Of our hitters, I could see Duran going somewhere in the top 10 rounds, and Stouffer will get drafted, albeit much later than last year. Carter will get drafted as well, being a college senior and an easy sign, but both he and Stouffer will probably be in the teens.
what's Thebeau throw?
besides a fastball? how much gas does it have behind it?
"No, Donny, these men are nihilists, there's nothing to be afraid of."
by Walter Sobchak on May 28, 2008 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Mayo at mlb.com
throws out this worst case scenario:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080528&content_id=2786402&vkey=draft2008&fext=.jsp
Daniels
is a complete dumb ass if he goes after a reliever in the first round.
Plain dumb ass.
"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos
if that scenario happens
I am okay with Brett Wallace being the pick there. He did win the triple crown last year in the Pac 10, and he is hitting .412 this year with 20 HRs. Even if he can’t stay at 3B, he has value for his bat alone.
I've really come around on Wallace
I think there’s absolutely zero chance of him staying at 3b long term, but his bat is gonna play no matter what. Even if he ends up as a 1b/lf/dh type, I still think he’d have a lot of value at #11.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 28, 2008 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Yep
I’ve been pimping my fellow Sun Devil on LSB a little bit.
Wallace is one of those types that just plain hits. He’ll probably never be much of a defender, even at 1st.
But he has the same sort of potential that someone like Billy Butler has. Absolutely a place on a roster for someone like that.
by Dirk Diggler on May 28, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions
but..
...don’t we already have someone he is mediocre positionally and are wanting to move along just for his bat in maximus…
Andy (Chicago, IL): Should Josh Hamilton be at the top of the list of people getting consideration so far for AL MVP?
Joe Morgan: At this point, most of it is a matter of a couple of months. The Rangers aren't leading their division. The MVP has to come from a team that helps his team win.
Because the "V" stands for "VictoryMachine." The M stands for "MostWinsByA." The P stands for "Peace Out, Y'All!" ~FJM, Ken T
Sure
And I’d take another Max in a heart beat.
Wouldn’t you?
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I can be happy about selecting Wallace.
Nothing wrong with having guys that can just hit, see LaPorta.
Cashner
has legit heat but he struggles with command and his secondary pitches are a question mark. I’ve also read a report that describes his fastball as being straight. Matt Anderson 2.0?
I’m not sure that his current skill set justifies taking him at #11. I have a feeling that if we do select him in the first round it will be a decision by Nolan and not JD.
No, no, no
say no to a reliever in the first round. If one of the top ten doesn’t fall to us we should take the best HS arm, be that Melville, Martin, or whomever. College arms that can move quickly are good but if there isn’t an outstanding one available, ie Matsuz or Crow, good options can be found later in the draft (ie guys like Laughter and Hunter)
BPA, do not reach JD, that’s what got us Drew Meyer rather than Kazmir or one of the other 18 first rounders from that year who are in the show, none of whom are in a Texas Ranger uniform.
That's a weird mock after pick #10.
I can’t see the Rangers taking Cashner over Hunt, Cole, and Martin. Ryan or no Ryan, Cashner has no track record as a starter and his control as a reliever leaves a lot to be desired.
I’d be very happy if #10 and #11 picks were switched!
I think it's safe to assume...
There will not be too many people around here who are going to be happy with our first round selection.
I just don’t see Hosmer making it to us. I want him here too.
I wouldn’t be completely disappointed by Shooter Hunt at this point.
Hunt
He’s going to be here at FSU this weekend, I’m going to try and catch his game… especially if Tulane uses him against FSU on Saturday. Either way, if I hear that they’re starting him against Florida on Friday, I might go to that game too.
If he’s a legit possibility to be drafted by the Rangers, this would be a cool opportunity to catch him play.
"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2
You should
follow up with a diary, if you were so inclined …
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 29, 2008 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions
follow up comment...
didn’t see him play. They used him against UF today, and I wasn’t all that interested in going out and sitting in the afternoon sun. Didn’t put up that great of a line, against a team that isn’t that great:
5.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
They could end up using him again, and if FSU turns their act around at meets Tulane on Sunday (and maybe Monday), I might go take a look.
A pitcher that I did see that was freaking amazing, was Bucknell’s Mathew Wilson. He pitched an AMAZING game against FSU tonight. Against a team that has a ton of batters hitting over .350, Wilson just had them completely fooled. I’ve never seen a team take so many strikes, they were just completely lost. On top of that, he faced 35 batters, maybe 7 of them got the ball out of the infield. Another comment, Bucknell’s shortstop Ben Allen is a remarkable fielder!
Wilson’s line:
9 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2
That Bucknell pitcher
he’s a senior, isn’t he? I read about that game – that’s impressive to shutdown FSU like that. Is he projected to go in any of the top 6 rounds or so? Usually seniors don’t go very high for a reason (if they had high draft talent, they’d have gone the year before) That game had to help his stock though
Yeah, I did a litle research after the game
because I came away so impressed, and really rooting for the guy. He’s a senior, which you’re right, probably indicates that his stock wasn’t very high to begin with. Just take a quick look at the BA top 200, and not a single Bucknell player appears on the list. That’s all I can really rely on, since I don’t have any paid subscriptions, so I don’t know if anyone else expect him to get picked. I wouldn’t really know where else to look either.
Either way, that game could have made the difference between a 40 and a 30 round pick for the guy.
Someone that can work efficiently, fool batters, and get them to ground out as much as that guy did, has to be worth a look.
"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2
By the way...
Buster Posey is pretty damn good.
"that suzuki guy should go back to making cars" - My girlfriend after C.J.'s close in game 2
Ethan Martin
might look pretty delicious at #11. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rangers drafted Friedrich though.
Bleck
Friedrich does nothing for me.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't like him either
A pitcher with four average pitches and slightly below average control that projects as a #3 does not sound like a legit pick at #11.
I only want delicious players at #11. Friedrich doesn’t look tasty.
Helium Alerts
I never really know how to assess the guys on helium a few weeks before the draft. Lawrie might be a truly great talent whose initial ranking suffered from lack of exposure, but there are many others who seem to me to be on a hot streak, like Cashner.
I think out of the top 18 I would be not all that excited about Skipworth, Yonder, Hunt, and Hicks. But even Hicks is a little more interesting to me as a pitcher than as an OF. If you haven’t noticed, I really like athletic power pitchers. I’m not sure about BAs comments on Yonder in which they say there are no questions about his bat. I’ve read some things that suggest he has a hole on the outside half of the plate. I’ll try to find them.
So, I think drafting the highest ceiling guy that has some baseball IQ and aggressiveness about him is hard to figure out at this late point when helium begins to enter the equation.
The dropoff from Crowe, Sheppers, Matusz to the next level of college pitchers is significant. So, I’ll stick to my guns and continue to not be all that excited about Hunt, Friedrich, Cashner, or others on helium.
Ethan Martin seems to best fit the mold of HS pitcher the Rangers have taken lately. The descriptions about his stuff, demeanor, and athleticism remind me of Main, but he has at least one-year less experience on the mound than Main did when he was drafted.
Lawrie is a hard one to figure out. Nothing wrong with getting a plus-plus power guy. Sounds alot like Cristian Santana. No true position, freaky power, gives away the outside part of the plate, leaving him susceptible to breaking balls. Just seems like a lot of risk at #11, given his age and inexperience.
The guy who has a reasonable chance of falling that I most hope does fall is Hosmer. But, I’ve shuffled my list of guys that I’m excited about since the beginning of the draft season a couple of months ago. Right now, my top five is Ethan Martin, Brett Wallace, Tim Melville, Gerrit Cole. Well, I can’t think of a fifth I would be stoked about, but I could understand putting Lawrie or Hicks as #5, though if Sheppers latest diagnosis is favorable, I would put him ahead of Martin.
+1
Take the best HS arm if the top guys are gone. I don’t know if that’s Meville, Cole or Martin, but don’t take the average college arm because he’s in college. Hell, if we want that there will be more than a few like Tommy Hunter available in later rounds.
Don’t take the reliever either. Wait the extra two years for a potential top of the rotation arm.
Draft
I still like hosmer and smoak at the top but they probably wont be there.
i’m coming around on cole, and i think schneppers is going to fall big.
and i do NOT want cashner in the first round
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
also
i’m really starting to like these guys around 11 if hosmer and smoak arent there
martin, wallace and hicks
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
hicks would be okay
Wallace I just don’t know. Honestly, Texas wants a college arm but if one of the best ones doesn’t fall grab the best HS arm available. No thinks drafting another Michael Main is a bad idea, right? Grab one of Hicks, Melville, Cole, or Martin and look for college value in some of the later rounds.
Smoak seems like he'll be an easier sign than Hosmer.
I would gladly take Smoak as a consolation to Hosmer, but I think Smoak is less likely to be there than Hosmer. I could see Pittsburg or Florida taking Smoak since he’s a high-level talent that probably won’t be difficult to sign and they won’t have to go over slot.
yeah
i really don’t know that either will be there, but if hosmer is they should take him price be damned (UNLESS he wants an ML deal)
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
My thinking too.
Speaking of ML contracts to draftees, it seems like Borbon is due a promotion to AA.
I'd give Handsome Hoss a ML deal
I’d try everything in my power to get him to just take a butt load of money and forget the ML deal, but I wouldn’t be upset if we gave it to him.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Hosmer
I like him almost as much as you do, but theres no way i give a hs kid a ml deal.
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
Yeah,
you hate to have two of those at the same time, and one of them a high schooler to boot. Considering the amount of talent moving upward in the system, that’s pretty darn constricting. If he were a college hitter you could perhaps justify it, but even then it would make roster decisions unneccesarily difficult in coming years.
Of course, all this is moot since he’ll be gone by 11 anyway.
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
re
Well then, no offense, but you don’t like him almost as much as I do ;)
Basically I think the kid is going to be a superstar, so while I would do everything in my power NOT to give him a major league deal, if that was the difference between getting him here and not getting him here, I’d bite that bullet.
I mean, do you think the Tigers are kicking themselves right now, wishing they had a free 40 spot rather than that icky Rick Porcello character?
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 3:21 PM CDT up reply actions
true
i’m not to the stage of wanting to have Hosmer’s babies like you are
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
I'd pay serious dollars
for the privilege of bearing Hosmer’s son.
I’d name him Hosmer, Jr.
The kids can call him HoJu.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Having Hosmer's child
he’s not a switch hitter, is he?
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
Perhaps LAMF could be of some assistance
he takes his work with him, right?
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 29, 2008 10:29 PM CDT up reply actions
The irony isn't lost
that the “40 trumps all” guy is the one throwing around ML roster spots willy-nilly…
Over the next three years, while waiting for Hosmer to get to the bigs, in addition to the 25 ml roster spots, Texas will probably certainly have to use additional 40 man spots for the likes of Feliz, Andrus, Kiker, Main, Beavan, Santana, Beltre, Poveda, and hopefully several other kids coming up through the system. Other guys like Harrision, Teagarden, MaxRam, Hurley, and Mayberry will hopefully be on the 25man soon but also but Texas is looking at an over-crowded 40 in the very near future. Can you afford to put Hosmer, or any other great high school kid, into that mix?
(as for Porcello – yes the Tigers filled a slot with him, but there is also no better way to relieve pressure on your farm system by trading all your tradable prospects to another team… their system doesn’t have the ground swell of guys who will soon be demanding 40-spots as Texas does)
The second question is whether you think that this kid can be a full-time major leaguer by age 21. Because that is what a major league deal is. Borbon’ll be 25 (I think) when the option clock runs out for him – as Jamey pointed out, Texas’ll know by then if he can play in the majors. But giving Hosmer a ticket to the big leagues by 21 or 22 years old? That is Smoak’s age now. That was Teixeira’s age when he entered our system.
I’d actually contend that it is harder to expect a hitter to move up that quickly than a pitcher. If a pitcher has unhittable stuff, he has unhittable stuff. But a hitter like Hosmer has never faced a dominant pitcher. When would he have faced a 80 mph changeup after a 96 mph sinking fastball and a 11-6 65 mph curve? He has to learn to hit those – he may be fast, but he may be slow. No ML deal…
"The 40 trumps all"
is sarcastic. I’m mocking all the people who make all decisions with the 40 in mind, while ignoring other, possibly more important things.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 5:25 PM CDT up reply actions
but... but....
the 40! wont somebody please think about the 40!!?
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
Keith Law chat...Rangers stuff
Russell (McKinney, TX): Keith, who do you think the Rangers will grab at #11? Who do you feel better about Shooter Hunt or Gerrit Cole?SportsNation Keith Law: I’ve got Cole ranked ahead of Hunt; Cole’s got another great arm, very quick, 94-97, life, good breaking ball, change could use some work, delivery’s not pretty. Hunt is more of a solid #4, but has below-average control, and I think a first-rounder without a big upside should have better command/control than that. I’ve heard the Rangers on Hunt, Friedrich, and some of the college relievers like Cashner.
Josh Hamilton (Arlington, TX): Will I get 200 RBIs?SportsNation Keith Law: I would love to see the RBI record fall. Roughly as unlikely as Chipper hitting .400, though.
That’s it.
A lot of draft stuff, of course.
Ugh
Shunt, Friedrich and Cashner.
The three guys we’ve been linked to that I like the least, and here we sit, linked to them once again.
Bleck.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Yah
No way he falls to us unless he demands something ridiculously outrageous + a major league deal + a talking banana, in which case we’d prolly steer clear anyways.
But it’s pretty to think it might happen.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 9:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Well...
For him to fall to us, we’d have to pray that Tampa takes Posey. In that scenario, it’s not so unreasonable that Hosmer fall to us. Pittsburgh, being notoriously dumb/stingy, was almost obligated to take Alvarez, but with the cheaper Beckham falling into their laps would likely take him. KC would prefer Alvarez over Hosmer, and then there’s a clear path for Hosmer to 11.
Also
Porkchop (Minden, La.): What are your thoughts on the prospect of trading draft picks in the future? For it or against it? What do you think of Max Ramirez and Chris Davis’ future with the Rangers? How about cajun-spice pringles? Mmmm… Keith Law: For it. Ramirez’ performance has been outstanding – I have never liked his approach, but it’s irrelevant, the guy can hit – but I’m not sure about him long-term at catcher. He’s probably trade bait with all the other catching in the system. Davis has huge raw power but he’s going to swing and miss a lot. I hate pringles.
White Women!
Woops
Porkchop (Minden, La.): What are your thoughts on the prospect of trading draft picks in the future? For it or against it? What do you think of Max Ramirez and Chris Davis’ future with the Rangers? How about cajun-spice pringles? Mmmm…
Keith Law: For it. Ramirez’ performance has been outstanding – I have never liked his approach, but it’s irrelevant, the guy can hit – but I’m not sure about him long-term at catcher. He’s probably trade bait with all the other catching in the system. Davis has huge raw power but he’s going to swing and miss a lot. I hate pringles.
White Women!
Trading Picks
I’ve always said I wanted it…. but only as long as there are certain restrictions:
1) You can only trade picks for other picks. This keeps overzealous teams in “win-now” mode from mortgaging a franchises future for a big time deadline acquisition.
2. You can’t trade picks for any draft other than the immediately upcoming draft. In other words, you can’t deal your teams first three picks next year for a first rounder this year.
With how long it takes for drafted players to develop, there would just be too much incentive for teams to mortgage their futures to win-now to allow them to trade picks for players, or trade picks way out into the future. I’d be against any draft pick trading that didn’t support those two restrictions.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 29, 2008 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions
What's wrong with trading players for picks?
"For the record, I did not and do not like the Volquez trade, even though Hamilton is awesome and our best player and I think he’s going to be one of the best players in baseball." philikid3
by Brian Thomas on May 30, 2008 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions
It's kind of a built in way
to protect GM’s from themselves. I think given the long timeline for developing baseball prospects, the temptation to mortgage your future to win now would be too great.
Kind of like how the NBA doesn’t let you trade consecutive first rounders to protect their GM’s from torpedoing the long term prospects of their franchise to win-now.
At the very least there should be some limit as to how how many picks you can trade, and how far into the future.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 30, 2008 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions
+1
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 30, 2008 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions
You make some good points
But if we changed the draft pick trading rules with that many limitations, I’d feel thoroughly cock-teased.
The ol’ hotshot player-for-a-number-one-pick-maneuver is one of the most exciting transactions in sports, imo.
"For the record, I did not and do not like the Volquez trade, even though Hamilton is awesome and our best player and I think he’s going to be one of the best players in baseball." philikid3
by Brian Thomas on May 30, 2008 6:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I think you'd run into
a lot of teams in effect selling their picks if they were allowed to trade picks for players. You know, “Hello, Boston Red Sox? Yes, this is the Kansas City Royals. We were wondering if you’d be interested in taking Jose Guillen’s contract off our hands for a low level prospect. You wouldn’t? What if we threw in the #3 overall pick?“
Again I feel due to the nature of the long development cycle in baseball, you’d want some sort of ules in effect to protect GM’s and owners from themselves.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 30, 2008 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions
"Never liked his approach"
Keith Law: In all honesty, I just don’t like Latin Americans. By the way, Padilla is a drunk and have proof that he drinks behind the wheel.”
+3
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 29, 2008 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions
relievers
One who should go first round is Josh Fields of Georgia.
I’m kind of interested in him – he should’ve been a very high first pick last year, but his junior season was way off. He’s rebounded this year, as a senior, and should be quick in the system. I wouldn’t get him at 11, and he won’t last to the 2nd round, but he’ll be a nice pick for someone.
I think Brett Hunter of Pepperdine is a reliever as well – injuries held him back this year. He may slip to the 2nd round – if he does I hope we consider him.
college reliever
i’d be perfectly fine drafting one if the rangers had a late first or sandwich picks but i think it’s a little dumb to draft one at 11
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
Thames
I would love for us to grab Eric Thames in the second round. Hopefully that quad injury will allow him to get to us.
--Brian
I have seen him
as low as the third round. remember this season sort of came out of nowhere for him. but yeah, with the injury, he could slip a bit. Sickels had him as a first round talent before the injury, which should have no long term effects on his career.
Maybe it is hope talking
but with everyone talking about the Rangers interest in Cashner, one might think it is a smoke screen. every pundit i have read has talked about Cashner. if not, JD and Ryan might as well start blogging about their top choices, because the whole world seems to know.
To be fair
JD does keep everything close to vest. I remember two years ago when we were all hearing about Drabek this and Drabek that and we ended up tapping Kiker
+1 MM
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 30, 2008 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Well all of the sudden, Cashner's name is popping
up all over. This could be one of those things where someone picking Cashner ahead of Texas pushes their real target down to #11.
Some interesting stuff happening with the mock
Stuff I haven’t seen really. I know there’s a chance TB takes Alvarez but I honestly doubt it, given what he’s asking for and what they already have. Also, I thought KC would take Hosmer over Smoak and Baltimore would take Matusz over Smoak.
Crow’s probably going to drop to you if you want to take that risk.
yeah
lame Matsuz and Crow make it to 9 and 10.
In real life, hopefully Wade or Bowden would be stupid enough to take Hicks
In real life.
I think Chicago might take Wallace, causing one of the top 10 to fall to us (HOPEFULLY NOT SKIPWORTH)
Maybe that’s just hope.
That too.
I think the Nationals would take Skipworth if he fell that far though, right?
So at this point...
In the real draft, if TB takes Alvarez, there’s a realistic shot that Crow drops to us ,
If TB takes Posey, there’s a realistic shot that either Crow or Hosmer drops to us.
if the TB takes Posey
and the Chi Sox takes Wallace or the Nats takes Hicks, I’d say there’s an almost certain chance that Alonso or Crow drops to us.
I have heard
that Skipworth has the highest upside of any player in the draft. He is probably the top high school bat (all around) and he plays a premium position. I would not mind taking him.
yeah
best HS arm. Better than Friderich, and I don’t really see much of a difference between Friderich and Murphy, who I can take in round 2 or even 3.
Ok, shock wore off
he did seem to be the best pick left.
Does he play two ways for a bit, ala Main?
...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?
i don't know if you can say
he’s better than Friderich. Maybe he has more potential, but that is a classic high high high risk, high reward pick.
both are guys
that are essentially unproven. Friderich’s cieling is so much lower, that right now, I think I can say that Martin is the better prospect
if i was going the boom/bust route
i probably would have picked Hicks. Or more safer pick, Wallace, and i’d keep him at 3rd.
Not a big fan of Hicks
just as raw pitching wise as Martin without showing 3 potential plus pitches like Martin does
Jay Bruce is decent
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 31, 2008 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions
hicks / wallace
2 guys i’m liking as well
"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum
I don't know how you can watch Wallace
and think there’s any way he can stay at third.
I heart the bat, but he’s a 1b/LF/dh all the way, imo.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 31, 2008 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Other guy's I'm looking at
Tim Murphy, LHP, UCLA
Jacob Thompson, RHP, Virginia (Possible round 3 selection)
You going to do
a summary after this is all over so we can rec it and continue the draft discussion?
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
Minnesota
takes Brett Wallace with its first pick and Reese Havens with it’s 2nd first rounder. So they take a 3B that can’t stay at 3rd and a SS that can’t stay at SS. They’re both good players, but I just thought that was funny
not really
there’s really only 1 weird pick that made me go “That’s not going to happen” and that’s Castro to the Mets at #15
yeah, really
signablity issues or something will make few go in the later rounds. U already forgot about Harvey?
which of those guys drafted in the first 30 have signability issues?
I doubt Hosmer lasts to that point, same with Gerrit Cole.
The one guy that would last to the later rounds (Alex Meyer) didn’t get drafted until the supplemental
i didn't say JUST signability issues
teams are not going to go by BA’s rankings, they are going to go by their’s.
Hold on.
So, you’re essentially saying that the mock draft isn’t going to be completely accurate.
Consider my mind officially blown.
yeah, you can't read
go read the first reply to Firebat’s cashner comment. You seriously can’t be that dense.
that comment is reflective of 1 thing
people don’t think Cashner is that good of a prospect. What does that have to do with guys lasting to rounds 3 and 4.
No, I am that dense.
Your reply to Firebat basically says, “hey, people are going to fall in the draft”. You backed off your “signability issues” reasoning and said that teams are going to go by their own board (which is the 2nd most obvious thing a person can say about a mock draft).
You are basically saying that the mock draft isn’t going to be accurate (this is the most obvious thing a person can say about a mock draft).
what, i didn't back off
i like how you purposefully left out ‘or something’. Yeah, i didn’t go into detail there. But, Firebat said “not really” to some of the players they drafted in the mock would NOT drop to the 3-4th rounds. I obviously proved that wrong.
THAT was what i was saying. Come one now.
how did you prove that wrong?
which players have signability issues? Seriously, if you can find one player in the 1st 30 with signability issues, then, you’ll have a point. But you can’t, cause they don’t.
so what you're saying
is that I have no idea who the fuck 25 of these guys are, but I’m confident that at least 1 will have signability issues?
So, like i said
there’s going to be guys in the 1st for y’alls mock that doesn’t go until the 3-4th rounds.
Alonso
To the Giants at 5 was a bit of a stretch IMO.
Damn
DeVall gone to the Mets in the supplemental 1st. Perry gone to the Brewers and Zach Stewart goes to the Phils. So much for top talent falling
I ended up taking Kieschnick
I didn’t like Raben, and everyone else fell off the board right as my pick was coming up.
Putnam was target #1, he went to the Phils
No problems with that pick
I’m not in love with Kieschnick, but he’s okay.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 31, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Heh
I was just about to ask if he’d be a round 3 candidate.
I’d love him in round four.
His physical tools are still superb, even f the results haven’t been. He’s a rare college projectability pick, imo.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 31, 2008 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Are you looking at Jose Duran in rounds 4/5?
He might be a bit of a reach even there, but I like him a little.
I have no idea where he’s going to go in the real draft.
It’s so damn hard to predict who’s going to go where after the first 40 or so picks.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 31, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah
German’s little bro from Texas A&M right?
I’m looking at Austin Woods, a high school guy with signability problems, for Round 5. Michael Palazoone is still out there as well. I’m pretty sure 3 and 4 are going to be college guys but I’d like to take a high schooler round 5.
Gotcha
And, yes, that’s German’s lil’ bro from A and M.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 31, 2008 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions
what u think of Michael Pallazzone?
He got a nasty curve and a pretty good FB.
I’m not sure if he’s been picked yet?
Round 3/4
Tim Murphy got tabbed in round 2
Here’s some guys I’m looking at
Wade Miley, LHP, Southeastern Louisiana
Lance Lynn, RHP, Mississppi
Cody Satterwhite, RHP, Mississippi
Jordan Danks, OF, Texas
Daniel Schelerth, LHP, Arizona
Sickels is an ass
he conducts a half-assed community mock draft and then gets super frustrated when things get even a little out of control, which of course only makes things worse.
The 40 trumps all!!!
by thedirkatron on May 31, 2008 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions
He's had a lot going on
in his personal life, plus a huge troll problem over there, I think his patience is gone.
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
it seems like
he wants everyone there to have a board of 500 or so and keep up so quickly that each pick needs to be made in a minute or so; that’s just not conceivable.
+1
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 31, 2008 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions
I like your draft, FirebatM3.
I really like Martin’s pure ability and i love everything i have read about him. I think, if I had been in your shoes, I would have done 1. Martin, 2. Fife, 3. Weatherford, 4. Bobby Bundy, 5. Scott Bittle. I just don’t like too many of the bats, although Raben would have been given some thought in round 2. There is something I just don’t like with the Tech kid…he has a lot of athletic ability and true power potential, but the Ks and low BA scare me.
Raben
his inability to actually translate his Cape Cod league stuff to Miami really scares me. He’s surrounded by a good lineup, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t be dominanting.
Still, the decision was between the two of them. I went with Kieschnick because I asked myself “What would Nolan ryan do?” And the answer was draft someone from Texas.
Hah!
And the Dallas area, if I am not mistaken. When doing these mocks, are you supposed to just draft who your team would probably draft, or who you personally would draft for your team?
some do it
like they would do it independent of the team. I always liked to do it depending on the team.
I wonder how Nolan does it
WWND?
Anyone?
"Chase. Dominguez is not really your liking" - Mr Santos
by inactive lsb user on May 31, 2008 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Cardinals
I really like their draft so far. I like Miley in the third and Giovatella in the fifth. I also think that Eastern Kentucky pitcher has more legitimacy than he gets credit for around here. He doesn’t face much competition in college, but he showed he could face big bats last year at the Cape.
He walked 24
in 37 innings and it was only 133 ABs. I don’t think that proves anything save that he was good for a short time. The scouting reports still said the same – his stuff isn’t that good, his control isn’t great and he really lacks projection. All he really has is that curveball.
I agree in that
I like Martin more than Freidrich. Freidrich is a nice player, but I agree that he does not have the ceiling of Martin, and in a stronger draft, would be more of a mid to late first round choice. College lefties always get overdrafted.
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