2008 Draft, Open Thread: Reds select Yonder Alonso

Chris OLeary’s take on Aaron Crow’s mechanics that Doug Dirt brought to our attention has sufficiently scared me off him. Question though—what’s the mechanical red flag that caused teams to back off Tim Lincecum? I remember he was billed as an injury waiting to happen which caused certain clubs (sob) to pass, but in his inverted W primer OLeary says Tiny Tim does it the right way and could be “a 20 year guy” (sob).

but I can’t quite put my finger on it. I actually saw him play once this year, and he reminded me of Todd Walker: a SS with a lot of power coming from a small frame. Walker’s power took a dip with the switch to wooden bats, at least in the majors.

I suppose if a team could know ahead of time that a draftee would have Todd Walker’s career they’d take him, but it seems like there might be a surer bat there at 7.

One vote for Gerrit Cole, who’s much better than where he’s projected, better top end than Crow IMHO, and, given our lack of a second rounder, his ties to Boras shouldn’t matter as much moneywise.

Per Goldstein, Posey is pricing himself out of the Rays’ budget: “Late this evening, multiple sources have indicated as to Buster Posey’s draft-eve asking price, and it’s a doozy at $12 million. Right now, that looks like more than enough to make up the Rays mind, and they’ll likely be taking Tim Beckham unless that number reverses dramatically in the next 12 hours. The real question is to the reason for the number, as some believe it’s a posturing maneuver to drop Posey to a team with deeper pockets, though many feel that strategy would backfire, and somebody with a early pick will call the bluff.”

Even if he did fall to no. 7, I can’t see the Reds matching that kind of demand.

BA has the top 10 as:

TB: Tim Beckham
Pit: Pedro Alvarez
KC: Eric Hosmer
Bal: Brian Mtausz
SF: Justin Smoak
Fla: Buster Posey
Cin: Gordon Beckham
ChiW: Yonder Alonso
Was: Aaron Crow
Hou: Kyle Skipworth

BA reports the Reds prefer Matusz, but don’t expect himto be there, and won’t rule out Posey. Lawrie is a possibility, but Beckham is preferred.

The Reds pick is going to be determined by the Orioles and possible the Marlins with who they take. The Reds won’t let Matusz go by them, but he probably won’t be there. They have some interest in Posey but with his rumors 12,000,000 bonus demands I can’t see them taking him. Honestly, I wouldn’t pay him half that price. That leaves Beckham and Alonso. If Beckham is there and Matusz isn’t, he will be the pick and I will rejoice.

Aaron Crow will be a star,

Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune has the Reds taking Brian Matusz. Rogers’ top 7 is as follows:
TB: Posey
Pit: Alvarez
KC: T. Beckham
Bal: G. Beckham
SF: Smoak
Fla: Skipworth
Cin: Matusz

he doesnt seem all that thrilling to me, although there’s a lot to like about a college junior with good defense at short who hits 24 homers in 62 games.

and voted for beckham

Marty was talking about what a big day it will be for the Beckham family with the two brothers going in the top 10.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2008/draftcaster.jsp

It’s working now.

this next pick could decide a lot

they stop the “clock” during commercials

another Boras guy

this is chalk. i smell gordon beckham

It gets interesting now with the Giants.

but i think we’re gonna pass him up for backham

Beckham, Alonso, Smoak and Crow. I’m hoping Alonso or Smoak, but my money is on Beckham.

picks have playedin the majors—Ryan Wagner. Ever hear of that Bruce fellow, gentlemen?

alonso and smoak are right there.

i dont dislike beckham, but is he really that inspiring for a No. 7 pick?

Bryan Smith (11:55:19 AM PT): The top Cape prospect finds a home in the top ten, which proves to you college players that it pays to hit with wood when you can. Yonder Alonso is such a talented hitter, though, I think he could hit with a tennis racquet. Alonso has the best approach for any player in this draft, and it’s really not close.

Here are some items from various sources regarding Alonso:
Has been consistent for three seasons at Miami. Minnesota drafted him in the 16th rond out of HS. Drove in 69 runs as a freshman. Very patient power hitter. OBP fans will love him. He makes consistent contact. As a sophomore hit 18 HR w/a .376 average. Born in Cuba, Alonso came to the U.S. when he was 9.
Alonso is regarded by many as the draft’s best combination of power and average among 1B and, really, among all hitters. He has a very professional approach and has power to all fields. Alonso is limited to 1B and while not a gold glover, plays it just fine. He has an adequate arm and is a below average runner.
Alonso is 6-2, 215 and a junior. He was rated the No. 2 prospect in the Cape Cod League last summer after going 4-12-.338. He’s from the same HS as Mike Lowell. Alonso has consistently played well in big games.
This season, Alons has a 21-66-.370 .536 .767 line. In 189 AB, he walked 69 timesand struck out 30 (I know, BB don’t count as AB).

That’s a bigger surprise than Alonso.

I thnk he’ll be a 3B or LF, but we’ll see. Good gamble by a team with a lot of extra picks.

If you’re still around, I’m really enjoying this today. There aren’t a lot of folks who get into the draft. I appreciate your work and your input.

Newest Red Yonder Alonso will be playing with the top-ranked Miami Hurricanes in a super regional game against Arizona.

It’s the flagshipl game tomorrow, Friday, at 7pm eastern on ESPN.

Gerrit Cole just went to the Yankees at No. 28. He’s a good value there. I feel for the kid. I’msure he’s already being billed by NYY fans as the next Whitey Ford.

Real surprise there. He was rated much lower. Minnesota took a similar coourse with Ben Revere last year. It’s tough to go against their scouting department, but this is an interesting pick.

Lonnie Chisenhall-3B-Pitt CC. He was kicked off the South Carolina team after a larceny conviction. I hope the kid just made a dumb mistake and bounces back well. The Indians usually put a fair amount of weight into character.

Sock. Boston picks the HS SS from Sarasota. His dad is a coach in the Reds organization and there were rumors Cincinnati would take him at No. 7. He’s a SS/RHP and also a Tennessee football and baseball recruit. I doubt Boston can’t get him signed away from the Vols.

from Tulane. My Thundering Herd knocked him around pretty good in the Conference USA Tournament. Speaking of the Herd, Kansas City took HS LHP Mike Montgomery. If he works out as well as their last Montgomery, Jeff, they will have done well. Jeff, by the way, is a former Marshall pitcher.

Now that I’ve plugged good ole MU more than anyone wants to hear, can you name the player the Reds received when they traded Montgomery to KC many years ago?

for taking Jordan Lyles-HS-RHP. He wasn’t in Baseball America’s Top 200 and ranked as just the seventh-best player in South Carolina. A closer look shows he’s a good one with a lot of projection. That pick might actually be a good one, although I think there were better options available.

The Fresno State RHP was viewed by many as a top-10 talent before a shoulder injury sidelined him late in the season. I never thought Pittsburgh, who can rival Cincinnati for most injured pitchers, would draft him. High risk, high reward. That’s one way to try to turn around a franchise.

i dont have a list in front of me, and i dont see reds anywhere on the drafttracker. do we even have a second-round pick?

had they not signed Coco, Milwaukee takes Seth Lintz-RHP-Marshall County HS. Icould be proven wrong, but I’d rather have Cordero.

Destin Hood, a raw, toolsy HS OF from Alabama. Who would have thunk it?

reds take RHP Zachary Stewart, a closer from Texas Tech. Turtle?

high schooler Tyler Cline

shrugs

Anyone know anything?

NC State’s Clayton Shunick.

Seriously, aren’t there enough RHPs in our organization?

6-1, 170. Jr. Age 21.

His line: 6-5 2.48. 12 G. 76.1 IP, 62 H, 19 BB, 82 K.

BA rates him the 170th player in the draft. He is a transfer from Georgia State, where he pitched as a freshman. As a sophomore at NC State he was a RP. This season he was the Wolfpack’s No. 1 SP.

Scouts say he profiles best as a middle reliever. His delivery is deceptive and he is an intelligent pitcher.

He was a Cape Cod League all-star in 2006. Throws an 88-91 mph fastball and an above average splitter that he gets outs with. He has a solid slider. He commands all three pitches well, throws on a downhill plane and keeps the ball down in the strike zone. He throws and commands the splitter in any count.

Taylor, a SS from Delaware. He sounds neat.

sinking fastballs and knee-buckling curveballs sound effective. we need more effective players.

At Delaware he did nothing but rake … until this season. After batting .378 in 2006 and .387 in 2007, he fell off to .319 in 2008. Maybe a case of draftitis.

His line this year: 5-34-.319. He doesn’t strike out nor walk much and isn’t much of a SB threat. His .944 fielding percentage certainly means he won’t stay at SS.

He is 6-foot, 190 and and also has played 3B. He hit 18 HR as a freshman and 11 as a sophomore, driving in 64 and 63 runs, respectively.

To recap:
1) Yonder Alonso, 1B, Miami
3) Zachary Stewart, RHP, Texas Tech
4) Tyler Cline, RHP, such-and-such High School
5) Clayton Shunick, RHP, NC State
6) Alexander Buchholz, SS, Delaware U

I love the Alonso pick. I like Stewart’s potential. Shunick was a nice pick. Buchholz at least has hit in the past, but I’m not sure if his defense will play. I need to find out more about Cline.

For not having a second-round pick, this was a solid day, thanks to the Alonso selection.

Let’s do it again tomorrow.

its gonna say “HIT IT OUT YONDER!” and it will have an arrow pointing to Kentucky. clever, huh?

From perfectgame.org

“PG Report
Tyler Cline is a 2008 RHP/3B/C with a 6’3’’, 215 lb. frame from Cartersville GA, who attends Cass HS. Named to Top Prospect Team.Thick extra strong build. Primary OF, looks like a RHP prospect. FB tops 90 mph, occ excellent life, slurve 75 SL, good chg, low effort mechanics, some pitchability. Plus raw power at the plate, aggressive swing, front foot hitter. Two-way power prospect.”

Don’t know what half of that means but there you go

Chris at Redleg Nation has uncovered a video interview with Alonso conducted by some hip kids at the Miami Herald. Worth a look.

http://redlegnation.com/2008/06/05/reds-take-um-1b-yonder-alonso-in-first-round/

I’m really not thrilled with Alonso. Assuming that Votto moves to the outfield, he’d have to play left most likely, meaning Dunn would be gone. Unless Alonso is trade bait (the high asking price hurts that possibility), I have some bad feelings…

On a lighter note… I’m now in Ohio…

I heard he is gonna demand some real cheddar, 8Mill ! Whats the new rules about signing a guy? If we don’t get it done by September don’t we get the same pick next year? Is that at all a possibilty?

An impressive lot, at least recently:

2007 Matt LaPorta
2006 Clayton Kershaw
2005 Troy Tulowitzki
2004 Homer Bailey
2003 Nick Markakis
2002 Prince Fielder

‘So is joining some good company.

Why Alonso over Smoak? Smoak was getting hyped last year as a possible #1 pick and I hadnt heard of Alfonso until a few days ago. Sounds like they are pretty much the same player except Smoak player better defense and is a switch hitter. Since our line up is lefty heavy anyway wouldnt it make sense to draft Smoak instead. Both players would move quickly through the system.