Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you all know that I have signed up to be the St. Louis Cardinals Scouting Director over at John Sickels' Minor League Ball site on SB Nation for the annual Mock Draft. The Cardinals have the 19th and 23rd picks in the first round and will have the 19th pick in the 2nd and 3rd rounds as well as a sandwich pick for the loss of Albert Pujols.

For the past 3 years I served as Scouting Director for the Mock for the Brewers, and this year wanted to try a new team.

Looking at the Cardinals' Farm System, I notice that they like to sign "safe" college bats in early rounds, and projectible HS arms, as well as do a very good job in the International market. They have a very solid system right now with guys like Shelby Miller, Carlos Martinez and Oscar Taveras, and safe, league average types in guys like Zack Cox, and Kolten Wong, and some more raw talents like Jordan Swagerty and Tyrell Jenkins.

Cost hasnt ever seemed to be an issue for the Cardinals in the draft, but they have also normally been in a pretty low to middle spot in the rounds where huge signing bonus problems may be an issue. The new CBA probably limits all of the teams, but shouldnt hurt the Cardinals' philosophy.

I will post more on this on subsequent Fan Posts and will have open threads over at Minor league ball as well. My philosophy for the Mock, held on Saturday, May 26 at noon Central, will be to go for best player available. Guys I will be keeping an eye on are Courtney Hawkins, a HS pitcher with a big power bat as well, Steven Piscotty, 3B, Stanford, Tyler Naquin, RF, Texas A&M (possible Rasmus comp without the attitude issues), Lance McCullers, a HS fireballer poised for a closers role, and Ty Hensley, another HS pitcher, among others.

As a side note, I have personally worked as a scout for multiple Major League teams over a 20 year stretch, and have done some data analysis for a couple of area scouts the past 4 or 5 years in preparation for the draft.

I look forward to any input you may have about who you would like the Cards to draft this year. I will most likely be putting up polls as well to guage the interest in certian players for this years draft.