MLB Draft Day 1 Discussion
by Slyde on Jun 9, 2009 4:30 PM EDT
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Get your popcorn popped and put your slippers on, it's time for the time honored tradition of gathering the family around the high definition television and watching watching a confused, wrinkly old man talk about teenage boys. Is there a more awkward sports commisioner in the history of sports commissioners than Bud Selig?
In case you've forgotten, the Reds have the 8th pick in this year's draft. Most experts agree that they will take pitching with their first pick, though that's about the point where the agreement stops. After the first two picks, this draft is pretty much wide open. It really all depends on who is there when the pick comes around because it seems like nobody is sure who is going to be taken 3 thru 7 this year.
Ultimately though, it may not matter who the Reds take with their first pick. The baseball draft is 50 rounds of yummy goodness for a reason. It's basically a crapshoot and what teams lack in certainty they try to make up for with volume. The Reds appear to have gotten some MLB potential out of the first round in recent drafts, but the past decade of first round picks leaves a lot to be desired:
2008 - Yonder Alonso
2007 - Devin Mesoraco
2006 - Drew Stubbs
2005 - Jay Bruce
2004 - Homer Bailey
2003 - Ryan Wagner
2002 - Christopher Gruler
2001 - Jeremy Sowers
2000 - David Espinosa
1999 - Ty Howington
Bruce and Sowers are the only picks currently on a Major Leaguer roster, with Bailey being the only other player with MLB experience this season. Stubbs and Alonso could be up some time this year though, making the second half of this decade's drafts look a lot more promising than the first half. Even still, the Reds are depending on several players taken in later rounds to make an impact in the next couple of years (Chris Valaika, Todd Frazier, Neftali Soto, Zach Cozart, Travis Wood, etc.). Unlike the NBA and NFL, the distance in time between draft day and your big league debut means that a lot can happen to make that 30th round pick just as valuable as the 1st round pick.
The draft starts at 6pm ET and Thundering Turtle will be our guide through tonight's proceedings. He's a fountain of knowledge when it comes to amateur baseball, so if you've got a question, don't hesitate to ask.
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People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carried their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can’t rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right.
Will you stop it with the vegetables
by Man Mountain on Jun 9, 2009 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And now I'm looking forward to getting Crow just for this
“Tell them death is coming for them, tonight. Tell them Eric Draven sends his regards.”
Things are getting interesting already.
Baseball America’s Jim Callis thinks he has a handle on the first seven picks, calling them “fairly certain.” The Reds, of course, pick eighth and have become the wildcard in the machinery. Callis speculates that Cincinnati will select LHP Tyler Matzek of Capistrano Valley HS in Mission Viejo, Calif. Matzek, who will be expensive, is regarded by some clubds as the No. 2 player overall, behind Stephen Strasburg.
Callis has it going: Washington-Strasburg, Seattle—Dustin Ackley, SD—Donavan Tate, Pittsburgh—Tony Sanchez, Baltimore— Matt Hobgood, SF—Zach Wheeler and Atlanta—Mike Minor.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:00 PM EDT reply actions
I'd love that if we could sign him.
As much as I’d prefer a college pitcher, Matzek is probably my favorite HS arm, and he’s got some serious upside. That said, reports have him wanting a bonus upwards of $7M, and I don’t see the Reds doing that.
Now that it's prime time
Will they follow the NFL and NBA and invite the top tier guys to attend? They’re doing this at the MLB Network studios (greetings from Secaucus!) so I am assuming no live audience.
I hope Chris Berman comes on and announces the pick before the commissioner does
that always makes it fun.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
Also, I hope Bill Simmons writes 30,000 words on how his dad makes jokes about the number of buttons on a suit
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
If so, they haven't promoted it well.
I know Strasburg is in California. Some of the top players still are playing, so they won’t be there. Maybe they’ll come up with someone, though.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Hope they get good directions
There’s like three exit 16s on the Turnpike and Secaucus is one of them.
by ken on Jun 9, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Idea for tonight
Whenever TT puts up a pick with analysis, let’s rec it til it turns green (3 recs). That way, when someone comes back through the thread, those posts are easy to find.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
Problem: I'm here
So TT’s posts will get mixed up with my insouciant bon mots.
Will you stop it with the vegetables
by Man Mountain on Jun 9, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
strike me down and I will become more imagined than you can powerfully possible
Will you stop it with the vegetables
by Man Mountain on Jun 9, 2009 5:23 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I hope the Reds draft someone with a funny name.
You’ll be a lot of fun tonight!
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions
And remember Frank Pfister and Eric Pfisterer
from last year, along with Matt Stiffler and Alex Buchholz. I’ve often wondered if the Reds meant to draft Pfister and accidentally hit Pfister on the computer, then picked Pfisterer anyway two rounds later. I wonder about strange things.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Another note
I’m not going to put the game thread up until just before game time (6:45 or so). I want to give the draft a little coverage first.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
Scratch Tyler Matzek!
Callis is reporting the Reds will select North Carolina RHP Alex White. That’s not a pick that thrills me, but he has tremendous potential if he gets everything working at the same time.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:28 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I can't quite wrap my mind around the amateur draft.
Why is baseball so different from other sports when it comes to the draft? Why are talent evaluators more frequently wrong? Why aren’t there more “can’t-miss” prospects? Why do draft boards vary so much? Why are there so many damn rounds?
I guess the last 2 questions go hand-in-hand, but I don’t get how scouts can be so wrong, so frequently in baseball, while this seems less rampant in other sports (although football scouting obviously has its pitfalls.)
why isn't there rookie, A, A+, AA, and AAA ball to prepare players
for the NFL and NBA? Same reason – baseball performance at the MLB level is difficult to predict based on performance at lower levels (college and high school, especially).
"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey
by JJ on Jun 9, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
That's just hard to fathom for me.
I guess it makes some sense – everyone else at the MLB level is way better than the college or amateur level – but why? Why 5 amateur levels in baseball, and only one (or two, if you count foreign “pro” leagues) for other major sports in America?
And why is education so important for athletes? (see European soccer)
I think some of it is a reflection of the difficulty of the game
with respect to a given skill set. It’s not necessarily a sport that rewards the more easily measured athletic gifts.
I also wonder if baseball’s large minor league system is better at weeding out the mistakes. In other words, maybe the NFL Draft is just as big a crap shoot only the structure of the league means that the guys who get drafted play even if they’re not as good as others might be.
Will you stop it with the vegetables
I think the NFL
is just as a big of a crap shoot.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Part of it is that very, very few MLB draftees are ready
for the top level, unlike with the NFL and NBA. There is so much more projection with baseball. The draft boards vary for a variety of reasons — scouts’ preferences, money, draft philosophy — not the least of which is who saw whom when. If you saw Alex White two weeks ago, no way he goes at No. 8. If you saw him last week against ECU, he’s a steal at that slot.
There used to be 100-plus rounds. There are so many so that teams can fill minor league rosters, take a chance on some guys who might be difficult signs and generally cover themselves so that they don’t have to sign a mess of amateur free agents.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Good thing you're holding off on that game thread, SLyde
There is some serious thunder going on here right now. I don’t have a window in my office, so I don’t know what the rain is like, but the thunder just started going like gangbusters. May be a delay for the game tonight.
http://www.wjla.com/weather/
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 9:00 PM ON TUESDAY
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6:15 PM ON TUESDAY
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FLASH FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT UNTIL 11:00 PM ON TUESDAY
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
But currently, ABC weather says it’s sunny and 82.
6PM
85
Mostly Cloudy
7PM
83
Mostly Cloudy
8PM
79
Mostly Cloudy
9PM
76
Mostly Cloudy
10P
75
T-Storms
11PM
73
Mostly Cloudy
And with more weather analysis....
Looks like the rain is going to pass over D.C. in the next hour or so, and then be clear-ish till later.
Where do you work, Brendan?
Well, there's thunder clouds in Proctorville, too,
so they can’t move the game here.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Which part of DC, if you don't mind my asking?
I’ll be there for the summer working close to DuPont Circle, and I dunno where Nationals Park is, really. Last summer I was in the Palisades and didn’t get further east or south than K and 15th, except when I went to the Hill.
I work just north of McPherson Square, a couple blocks northeast of the White House
It’s pretty close to Dupont (half a mile). If you were on the Hill, just head south down S. Capitol St, and before you cross the Anacostia River, you’ll run into Nationals Park. Or it’s off the Navy Yard Metro stop, if you like.
I barely remember where those places are.
The Palisades lack of a metro stop really prevented me from getting too intimate with the system. This year I’ll probably avoid it a lot too since the walk to work will only be 25 minutes or so. Good to know though, always good to know people where you’ll be going.
Yeah, well only till Aug 15 actually.
2 months. But I hope to be back next in 2010 with a full-time job for a couple years before law school or something like that.
yeah, I wanted to get a job before law school
I’m in my parents’ house in Cleveland instead. Nice how that worked out.
Well, you can go see Alex White in a year or two.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions
According to Kevin Goldstein:
Pittsburgh is now taking Tony Sanchez fourth, and seems to already have a deal done…. Atlanta is now leaning towards Mike Minor with the seventh overall pick, which is a pick that deserves far more criticism than Sanchez at 4. That’s a very big domino that could lead to Cincinnati getting away from the high school arms and going for a quicker fix with Alex White….. Speaking of high school arms – all of those guys looking for huge money? They’re all dropping . . . bigtime. Could all clear the top ten picks unless Detroit bites
I agree with Goldstein.
I’m not a fan of Mike Minor. Of course, the Braves know something about pitching, so who am I to argue. Those big money guys are dropping and I’ll be Detroit, Boston and the Yankees grab one apiece in the first round.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
He's a reach, but is a value pick.
Pittsburgh plans to spend big internationally this year so they’ll likely hold back in the draft.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Yet another part of baseball that confuses the shit out of me.
There’s a draft, but there’s also cutthroat signings of kids ineligible for the draft, and foreign baseball academies. How new is this phenomenon?
It's been around a while, but there was a bonus skimming
scandal that came to a head last summer and cost some peole their jobs, including Jim Bowden, Jose Rijo and several people in the scouting departments of various clubs. The Reds used to dominate in Latin America. The Astros made a living off Venezuela for much of the 1980s. The Pirates did well, too. Now, the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets and Rangers are strong there. The Reds and Padres have made big splashes the last couple of years.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Why don't we see this translate to big league success?
Dominance of Latin markets in a sport like baseball should project pretty well. I know we signed Yorman Rodriguez and that other “top prospect”, but how active are the Reds outside of these major signings?
What stopped the Reds dominance of L.A.?
Most of the top Latin American prospects
sign when they are 16, so there is even greater projection involved than with the draft, where players 18-23 are selected. Most Latin American players who sign after age 16, with a few exceptions, aren’t as highly regarded as prospects.
Teams, including the Reds, fluctuate in Latin America depending on the philosophy of who is running the ballclub. Can you imagine Marge Schott OKing a $1 million bonus to a skinny 16-year-old from he Dominican? Not likely. Also, sometimes key scouts move from one team to another, further disrupting the process.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Seattle and the Braves are strong, too.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
interesting
all of those guys looking for huge money? They’re all dropping . . . bigtime.
The curse of being drafted in a year when the economy sucks?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
The Nats have 15 minutes to make the first pick.
After that, there are four minutes allotted for first-round picks. After the first round, there is one minute between each selection, although teams rarely use the entire 60 seconds.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Matzek.
90-93 fastball, sharp curve, promising change and slider. Smooth arm action. With pro coaching, he could be a special LHSP. He will be very expensive, though. I like White, just not as much.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you think the Reds have an organizational weakness in terms of coaching?
vis-a-vis Dave Duncan, for example
No more so than most teams.
At the MLB level, yes. The minor league coaches have done well overall.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
i like the idea of drafting over-slot guys
because its not my money and things like that
What do you mean, "blank slate"?
Strasburg it is.
The Nats get to deal with Boras and try to figure out how to pay a $20 million bonus.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:16 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Seattle takes Dustin Ackley-OF/1B-North Carolina.
No surprise there. Best all-around college hitter in the draft. If he can play CF, he’s a great pick by the Mariners.
Now, the fun begins with San Diego. Donavan Tate? Will SD spend $6 million to sign him?
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:21 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
the fjm guys pretty much cemented this as erstad's legacy. well-played, mose
What do you mean, "blank slate"?
What's up, draftees?
So, am I clear that this draft is 50 rounds over two days?
While football is seven rounds over two days?
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
Three days for MLB this year.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably because of it's rise to primetime
That’s pretty cool, still.
The football draft is more boring than football fans think baseball is.
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
Wouldn't it be fun if no one
drafted him, ever? Nor signed him? It might send Boras a message. Probably not, but it’s fun to think about.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
blackball'd
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
The Padres pop Donavan Tate-CF-Cartersville HS.
I’m impressed they didn’t go cheap. Tate is a UNC football signee. He’s a great athlete, but there are questions about the bat. If he hits, he’s a star and a great fit for CF in Petco some day.
Pittsburgh is next.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:26 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
but wasn't he a basketball player?
plus he was pretty much a lock to start as a freshman wasn’t he? As opposed to some other schools with more depth and a better program
Hope Springs Eternal!
Pittsburgh takes Tony Sanchez.
I like him. I don’t like him at No. 4, though. The Buccos went cheap. They’d better spend big in the international market or sign some guys later in the draft after the players drop.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:31 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Baseball America ranked Sanchez
as the 32nd-best overall player and the third-best catcher available. Sanchez will move faster than the HS kids and he’s more signable.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions
why not?
They’ve already had two Wilsons and two LaRoches.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Yeah, but there are a lot of arms in this draft.
Hitters aren’t as plentiful.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I trust Jim Callis a lot, so probably,
unless Baltimore surprised the Reds by taking Hobgood instead of Matzek.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Is that a request?
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Haaaaa! Very good.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
The way he says the next team "is now on the clock"
Is beyond creepy.
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
Baltimore goes with Matt Hobgood-RHP-Norco (Calif.) HS.
Interesting. The O’s must really have liked him. Several sources ranked him somewhere between 40 and 50 overall and somewhere around No. 25 among pitchers, although he made a late-season rise. He’s a good arm, though.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Baltimore's system is stocked with pitchers
And Hobgood looks like quite the fatty
6-4, 245.
Body draws comparisons to Goose Gossage.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
94 MPH fastball that looks like it breaks 7 inches into a righty...
Plus curve. If he finds command and a changeup, he could be nasty.
i called alonso last year
and brandon waring the year before that. so, based on pretty much nothing but my own past success, i’ll say we get matzek at no. 8
What do you mean, "blank slate"?
Giants break the Braves' heart
and take Zack Wheeler-RHP-East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga. Most liked him better than Hobgood, plus Wheeler is quite signable. The Giants are accumulating some amazing young pitchers.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:40 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Without the hair.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
That's one of my all-time favorite Onion articles
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
Do the Braves go Alex White or Mike Minor?
Or will they surprise and take Matzek?
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:42 PM EDT reply actions
Atlanta selects Mike Minor-LHP-Vanderbilt.
Good.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
any chance Reds throw a big curveball and go
with Green the SS from USC?
Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle
Always a chance. Dougdirt will have a fit
if that happens.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions
man, i hope not
not good enought to play ss, not a good enough hitter to play anywhere else
Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?
Greg Amsinger looks like
Vince Vaughn. I used to work with Greg in Terre Haute at a TV station. He was a really nice guy.
Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle
ED!
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
Looks like he can still play.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
And now there's grass for him to play on
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
Mike Leake-RHP-Arizona State.
I really, really like it. Excellent selection.
We Are ... Marshall!
by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:50 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Three to be safe.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions
8. Mike Leake, RHP, Arizona State
The Good: The most consistent pitcher in college baseball had a lower ERA than Stephen Strasburg while pitching in a tougher park against much tougher competition; he throws strikes with three pitches that grade average to plus; he also has top-line pitchability.
The Bad: He’s not tiny, but he’s certainly undersized, and he lacks much in the way of projection.
In A Perfect World He Becomes: An above-average starter and occasional All-Star
Kevin Goldstein (3:55:49 PM PT): Reds take Mike Leake and we have our first somewhat sizeable surprise here, as they were expected to take Alex White here or Shelby Miller. I like this pick, even this high. The difference for me between Minor and Leake is the difference between a No. 4 and a No. 3, which is pretty sizable for me.
Not to mention the good poise
Great intangible right there.
"I saw a commercial on late night TV, it said,'Forget everything you know about slipcovers.' So I did. And it was a load off my mind. Then the commercial tried to sell me slipcovers, and I didn't know what the hell they were."
-Mitch Hedberg
great control, pretty polished
should be relatively quick to the show
Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?
Sounds good to me
Should be a very quick mover as he already has plus command and can throw 3 pitches for strikes.
Leake is 6-foot, 180 pounds.
He’s athletic and produces. A three-sport athlete in high school, Oakland drafted him in the seventh round in 2006. He’s a strike thrower with a fastball ranging from 88-92, having touched 94. He gets plenty of movement.
Leake thros from a 3/4 arm slot, which gives him armside run and sink on his fastball. He gets a lot of ground balls. His change and slider are improving. His cut fastball is above average. leake is smart.
His stats: 14-1 1.24 ERA. 15 G, 116 IP, 66 H, 128 K, 18 BB.
Yes, the Reds take a Leake.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:53 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Good comparison.
I’d certainly take that.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
He also has been compared to David Cone.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Q for the experts?
I assume this a good pick because of the value aspect? Should reach the bigs in a year or two and signing him won’t cost much, and he’s a solid bet to slot into the back of the rotation?
I think he has No. 3 starter potential.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably, to an extent.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
so
he might sign fairly quickly?
and Turtle I was down your way Sunday at a family reunion down on Rt 10
Hope Springs Eternal!
No way!
I was at a Youth Retreat out Rt. 10 Friday and Saturday. I wish I knew you were around.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:11 PM EDT up reply actions
MLBDraft says:
This is the first real surprise of the draft. The A’s drafted him out of high school apparently.
I'm really pleased with this pick.
Really pleased. Leake has been dominant against international competition and in the PAC 10. Opponents hit just .252 against him. He’s not a Johnny Come Lately guy, either. He was 13-1, 3.69 as a junior when he gave up 126 hits in 127 IP, with 94 Ks and 59 BBs.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I think I really like it.
Control and poise makes anyone a good pitcher. A plus fastball, and the ability to throw curveball, slider, and changeup for strikes projects well (as far as I could venture a guess)… What was the ETA for this guy? Seems like the type of prospect that could rocket through the minors.
Detroit took the first of the big-money guys other
than Strasburg in Jacob Miller. He’ll likely want a Porcello-type of contract.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
It just sounds strange that the Detroit team is spending the big bucks
But good for them.
by ken on Jun 9, 2009 6:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Rick Porcello
and now Jacob Turner. It’s odd that the team in the city of GM is throwing money aroun, but it does.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Detroit
is probably the biggest-spending small market team. They were number #2 last year, after the Yankees. About the same as the Mets and more than the Red Sox.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Detroit is hardly a small market.
After New York, LA, Chicago, and Boston, they’re right near the top.
SO Washington gets 2 of the first 10 picks?
was that from a trade?
and it is raining in DC
Hope Springs Eternal!
They didn't sign Aaron Crow at No. 9 last year,
so they get No. 10 as compensation this year.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Though they have to sign that pick
They don’t get a compensation pick for not signing their comp pick, iirc.
by ken on Jun 9, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
You are correct, sir.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions
You can tell it is raining in DC because everyone thinks going 5 mph is too fast
Grr. I was going to go to a concert tonight and made the mistake of coming home first. Now I’m soured on the idea of going back out onto that parking lot they call a highway system here.
Tell that to Jacob Turner.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions
On phone with MLB TV
Leake says he loved to be a 2-way player
"It's like my father used to say, "When I was a child, I thought as a child and spoke as a child. And when I became a man, I took that child out back and had him shot.' "
He batted .303.
Leake could have been a position player if he abandoned pitching. I’m sure he’s glad he didn’t.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Nats understandably take a signable
player in Stanford reliever Drew Storen.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Leake's a guy with plus command of his fastball
and will throw three pitches in any count. Did I mention that I really like this pick?
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
From 2006:
[i]“Although Leake has signed a letter of intent to play college
baseball at Arizona State University, the offer made to him by the
Athletics organization includes full payment of college tuition at any
university as well as a six-figure signing bonus. They’re willing to
invest heavily in his college education as well as a considerable cash
bonus on top of that, [A’s Scout Craig] Weissmann said.” [/i]
[url]http://natnotes.com/2006/06/16/great-story-on-michael-leake/[/url]
Matzek to the Rockies.
Very nice pick, if they can sign him.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:04 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
KC takes Aaron Crow.
Nice pick. The Missouri contingent will be thrilled.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:08 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Billy Beane selects Grant Green.
Interesting. I like him a little better than some. I think he’s better than he showed this season. Draftitis and injuries slowed him a bit.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Meant to post this earlier: A word on the scouting scale from Redlegs Baseball
http://redlegsbaseball.blogspot.com/2008/12/word-about-20-80-scouting-scale.html
70-80 (A): This category is reserved for the elite players in baseball. This player will be a perennial all-star, the best player at his position, one of the top five starters in the game, or a frontline closer. Alex Rodriguez, Ichiro Suzuki, and Johan Santana reside here.
70 control!!! Or near 70 control!!! I like Leake more and more..
Rangers go with Texas HS pitcher Matthew Purke.
Really good pitcher seeking big money.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
White goes to the other Ohio team.
UNC’s ace for three years. Fastball is 91-94 and has touched 96 with excellent life. White has three plus pitches, but never at the same time. If he can put it all together, he could be a terrific starter. If not, he could be an outstanding power reliever. He needs to be more consistent with his arm action to improve his command.
White (6-foot-3, 200 pounds) is athletic and competitive. His splitter is his second-best pitch, but his slider has potential to be just as good. The splitter is a weapon against left-handed hitters. He’s a two-time All-American and a Braves fan.
This season, White has gone 7-4 with a 4.13 ERA. In 13 games and 85 IP, White has allowed 73 hits, struck out 92 and walked 34. The Dodgers drafted him in the 14th round in 2006.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Arizona grabs Bobby Borchering-3B-Verot HS.
Very good pick at this spot. Might move to 1B, but he can really hit and hit for power.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:28 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, well, that Notre Dame.
Not the high school. That’s in Portsmouth.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, that's Portsmouth West.
also known as the Senators. Portsmouth High is the Trojans. Portsmouth East, now known as Scoiotoville East, is the Tartans.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The Snakes take A.J. Pollock-CF-Notre Dame.
Interesting. If you had back-to-back, mid-first round picks in a pitcher heavy draft, would you have selected two bats? There are some enticing pitchers remaining.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:33 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
More on Leake, via a release from ASU:
TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University junior right-handed pitcher Mike Leake has been named one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the nation’s premier amateur baseball player. Leake is the 9th ASU player to be a Golden Spikes Award finalist. This is the second straight year a Sun Devil has been a finalist, as Brett Wallace made the list in 2008.
Leake (Fallbrook, Calif.) won the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year for the second consecutive season this year, becoming the first pitcher in conference history to win the award in back-to-back years. Leake is 15-1 with a 1.23 ERA and 143 strikeouts on the season. He has also thrown seven complete games, including the first two complete game shutouts of his career. Leake has 39 career wins at ASU, ranking him fourth on the school’s all-time list.
Three Arizona State players have won the Golden Spikes Award, including the first winner, Bob Horner, in 1978. Oddibe McDowell won the award in 1984 and Mike Kelly won in 1991. Other Sun Devil finalists for the Golden Spikes Award were Kelly (1990), Paul Lo Duca (1993), Jacob Cruz (1994) and Dustin Pedroia (2004).
The other finalists for this year’s award are North Carolina first baseman Dustin Ackley, Alabama outfielder Kent Matthes, Kansas State pitcher A.J. Morris and San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg.
The 2009 Golden Spikes Award will be awarded on July 14 at All-Star FanFest in St. Louis.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I dug up a picture of Leake from his little league team
Word is he was a helluva ballplayer even then, though he was kind of a prick.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
by Slyde on Jun 9, 2009 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
The Fish go to the Yukon for a pitcher.
Chad James-LHP-Yukon, Okla. Good pick. Typical Marlins-type pitcher.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:37 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
James is the brother of Reds farmhand Justin James,
he of whom was acquired from Toronto for Buck Coats.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Wow. Red birds go for Shelby Miller.
A HS RHP from Texas, Miller is a premier talent. He throws serious heat, has a great frame and is athletic. The Cardinals will have to pony up serious coin to sign him away from Texas A&M.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
The top players left?
Kyle Gibson-RHP-Missouri
Tanner Scheppers-RHP-St. Paul Saints
Tim Wheeler-OF-Sacramento State
Rex Brothers-LHP-Lipscomb
Eric Arnett-RHP-Indiana
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Good question.
I’m really starting to think one of them might. Would you take either if he is available?
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably will go to the Twins!
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Leake
Any chance we can sign his brother Kelly to play LF? He was a great hitter for the Bears.
by ThisonebelongstotheReds on Jun 9, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions
You can only take one Leake per day!
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions
The blue birds take Chad Jenkins--RHP-Kennesaw State.
I like this kid, too. Good value pick for Toronto.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Toronto hadn't taken a college RHP
in the first round since 1996.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I wish the analysts were more like the NFL Draft guys.
Not everyone is a great pick. Jiovanni Mier-SS-Bonita HS probably is one who isn’t a great pick at No. 21.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:51 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Yeah, for the mostpart.
Miller I don’t like at 21, nor Pollock at 17. I just would like someone to say, “that’s a bit of a reach.”
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions
But just one E.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it just me, or have the Astros been the Raiders of baseball the last few drafts?
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on Jun 9, 2009 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Good comp.
They’ve been horrendous of late.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Ed Wade had a good run with the Phillies
But credit is often given to his assistant, Mike Arbuckle. I think he’s in KC now.
by ken on Jun 9, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Twins pop Kyle Gibson-RHP-Missouri,
the highest-rated player left on the board. Gibson has a stress fracture in his pitching arm and won’t pitch until late July. He could be a real steal. I would have been happy with the Reds taking him.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Pale Hose take a wide receiver.
Jared Mitchell-CF-LSU. Great athlete. Can run. CF defense will improve as he concentrates full time on baseball. Will the bat? We’ll see.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Speaking of a bit of a reach
the Angels take Randal Grichuk-OF-Lamar Consolidated HS, Rosenberg, Texas. He has power and made a late surge. Two weeks ago, though, he was being talked about as a possible third-rounder. Could be a bit of a signability pick, since the Angels have two picks in the first round.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:06 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Angels follow Diamondbacks lead and go for
consecutive first round bats, taking Mike Trout-OF-Milville (N.J.) HS. Good athlete, but I’m not a fan of his bat. He’s another late comer.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Very good! Very good indeed.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Just a thought after watching the college world series and all
I don’t think I would ever draft any cold-weather high-schooler in the first round if I was a GM. The only exceptions would be truly phoenomenal athletes.
There just isn’t enough competition in the New Jerseys, Pennsylvanias, Illnois, etc. of the world. A kid can be hitting .500 against, well, non-baseball-players. Anyone seems like they’d be a huge reach, Griffey Junior aside.
The flipside, with pitchers at least,
is that the northern kids have fresh arms. They’re not as polished, but they haven’t endured the workload of the southern kids. While I wouldn;t eliminate a talent pool, I’m with you in leaning toward the warm weather guys.
Then again, Larkin and Sabo played at Michigan.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
Mesaroco fits this pretty well, in retrospect. Plus he played out in the country.
by ken on Jun 9, 2009 8:41 PM EDT up reply actions
It makes me think of "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
One of his big premises is that you need about 10,000 hours of practice at something before you become world class. It’s hard to get that much practice when it’s cold longer.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
I read "big premises" as something else initally, and wondered what the hell you were talking about
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on Jun 9, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions
which is funny,
because I’m trying to make a “Thats what she said” joke out of what Slyde said re: practice, cold longer, 10,000 hours
Interestingly, Malcolm Gladwell has spent over 15,000 hours pulling things out of his ass.
Will you stop it with the vegetables
by Man Mountain on Jun 10, 2009 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions
definitely
I find his books entertaining because I like the stories he writes about, but I find the most of his theories are pretty much junk. And half the time the stories he profiles are only related to the point he is making by the loosest of threads. I get a kick out of him trying to tie two completely unrelated ideas together as if they make some grand point. My wife asks me why I keep reading his books when the whole time I make fun of the straws he’s grasping at. I think that’s exactly why I like them.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
He was the keynote speaker at the conference I went to in April
His point there was learning about slow growth by studying the career of Fleetwood Mac. So to weather these trying economic times, we’re supposed to do a lot (a LOT!) of blow and have awkward sex with our coworkers. Apparently.
by Brendanukkah on Jun 10, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Mostly rolls of pennies
From what I hear, the entire city of New York is now part of the largest ass penny experiment on record.
"I'd walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball" - Pete Rose
by Officer Dibble on Jun 10, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Brewers take Hoosier RHP Eric Arnett.
He’s a guy I might underrate, but I’m not a big fan, although if he develops his change he has a shot.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Yeah, but I doubt he'll be dressed better
What, in this 5200 dollar suit? Common!
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on Jun 9, 2009 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
One could say
the Brewers have made a huge mistake.
by coocooforcocoapuffs on Jun 10, 2009 2:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Mariners grab Florida HS SS Nick Franklin,
an Auburn signee. Dare I say he is a ballplayer? Nice pick at No. 27.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Boston takes Reymond Fuentes-CF-Callego (P.R.) HS.
I like Fuentes a lot. I’m a bit surprised the Red Sox took him at 28, but I think he’ll be a good player. He needs to get bigger, but he can hit and can play CF. Boston has a bunch of young, talented OFs. I could see Pete Hissey, Ryan Westmoreland and Fuentes turning into a stellar OF some day.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Needs to get bigger, eh?
They’ll call it Reymond being Reymond.
by ken on Jun 9, 2009 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, at least everybody loves him
"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san
by BK on Jun 9, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yankees on the board. I'll say Scheppers.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:26 PM EDT reply actions
Turtle was wrong.
Slade Heathcott-OF-Texas HS, Texarkana, Texas. Good bat. Will power develop? Some supposed off-field issues.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Stubbs high school. Baseball powerhouse. Draconian liquor laws.
Will you stop it with the vegetables
by Man Mountain on Jun 10, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Rays take LeVon Washington-2B-Buchholz HS, Gainesville, Fla.
and list him as a 2B. Kid can run. He’s a little guy who has no arm after having rotator cuff surgery. He’s a pretty good hitter, though. If the arm comes back, maybe he can play CF.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:34 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Doesn't this seem like a bit of a reach in the first round?
Name reminds me of MaliVai Washington the tennis player
Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?
I wasn't big on the kid.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions
One word.
Kremchek.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions
The Cubs select a swing-and-miss guy.
Brett Jackson-OF-California. He’s a fine, toolsy athlete. He does lots of things well, except make contact. He Ks a bunch. He’s drawn J.D. Drew comparisons for his athleteic ability.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:38 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
I'm sure he'll be whiffing at Cueto's slider in no time
Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?
Rockies take Tim Wheeler-OF-Sacramento State.
He’s a good fit for Colorado. Power guy, can hit. Good, solid pick.
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:42 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
How many Wheelers are in this draft?
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
The Wheelers in the sky keep on turnin'
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by Thundering Turtle on Jun 9, 2009 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs