Cardinal's potential draft selections

by KeepOnRolen on May 30, 2007 4:05 PM EDT

With the MLB draft coming up on June 7th (and it will be televised), I've been thinking about the Cardinals options.
The Cardinals have the 18th OVRL pick in the 1st round and the 36th pick OVRL in the supplemental part of the draft

David Price (Vandy LHP), Matt Wieters (GA C), Josh Vitters (HS 3B) with probably round out the top 3 picks.

I really like Mike Moustakas, a HS 3B, but he will probably be picked in the 6th-10th picks.

Josh Smoker might be available when we pick. He is an excellent high school LHP.

Matt Dominguez also plays 3B-1B on the same team as Moustakas. He might be available, too. He's about the 4th best hitting high school player in the nationa.

Blake Beaven is another excellent high school righthander who might still be around by the 18th pick.

Jason Heyward is an excellent corner outfielder who played in the AFLAC game. He has a LOT of potential to be a very powerful outfielder. I'd really like to see the Cardinals take him but I doubt he'd still be around.

The draft is relatively weak in middle infielders. Josh Horton (SS, NC) would probably be around in the supplemental round. He's one of the best out there.

Thoughts on the draft?

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the first pick is hard to get a read on

i'm thinking

a) matt dominguez
b) casey weathers, Vandy's flamethrowing closer....
c) max sherzer

if they pick a pitcher in the first round, they'll pick a 3rd baseman in the supplemental...todd frazier would fit the bill, very powerful college hitter. or if they prefer to go prep, switch hitting kevin ahrens seems like a distinct possibility.

Future Redbirds

by erik on May 30, 2007 4:56 PM EDT reply actions

this kid

is from my town. He's going to wichita state. but he is a SS and we should keep an eye on him.

http://owassobaseball.com/index.html

scroll about halfway down. names pete kozma. gatorades ok player of the year.

Here I Am, Rock You Like a Hurricane

by OKCardsfan on May 30, 2007 5:03 PM EDT reply actions

celebrate diversity?

looks like the team lost a bet with eminem...

Don't Panic!!!

by SleepyCA on May 30, 2007 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

i used to live in tulsa

and broken arrow for a while too. (i miss big daddy's bbq!!!)

Kozma is intriguing as a 2nd rounder, for sure. he's just all around solid sounding.

Future Redbirds

by erik on May 30, 2007 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

kozma

if there is one thing i can guarantee, it would be that pete kozma will never suit up for a game as a shocker. he is a sure fire first rounder (if you count the supplemental first round) and will likely go in the 20-30 range.

by fewgoodcards on May 30, 2007 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

You are from Owasso?

I am/from Oklahoma City. Play high school baseball, too (in 5A.) Owasso is very very good, as is Edmond Santa Fe

by KeepOnRolen on May 30, 2007 5:14 PM EDT reply actions

Moved here

from St. Lou. All this town talks about is that kid. Seems like he has a good head on his shoulders. Is thee any talk about him on any draft discussions? I don't really follow it too much.

Here I Am, Rock You Like a Hurricane

by OKCardsfan on May 30, 2007 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

draft slot

from everything i have read, it sounds like he will go to the blue jays at 21 or the twins at 28.

by fewgoodcards on May 30, 2007 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions

I really

For those interested, here's a look at the last several years' 1st round draft selections.
2006:
Adam Ottavino (RHP)
Chris Perez (RHP)
2005:
Mark McCormick (RHP)
Tyler Greene (SS) <-- Not looking too good
Tyler Herron (RHP)
Colby Rasmus (OF)
2004:
Chris Lambert (RHP) <-- Ouch
2003:
Daric Lambert (C/1B) <-- Later
2002:
Didn't have 1st or 2d round pick. Picked Calvin Hayes (ouch) in fourth round.
2001:
Justin Pope (RHP) <-- Bust
2000:
Shaun Boyd (2B/CF) <-- Ow
Blake Williams (RHP) <-- Oof

With the except of Rasmus, we haven't brought any talent into the system. It's too early to tell for Perez, Herron, Ottavino and Herron.

I'd like to see a Nick Schmidt (LHP), Ross Detwiler (LHP) or Heyward taken.

Interesting fact:

The Cardinals haven't selected a lefthanded pitcher in the first round since 1994 when they selected Bret Wagner.
Wagner was also one of six players to never make it to the major leagues out of the 34 players drafted in the 1994 first round.

by KeepOnRolen on May 30, 2007 5:24 PM EDT reply actions

We brought Pujols, Reyes and Duncan

up through the system in those years

by Valatan on May 30, 2007 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Fine and dandy..

but when you repeatedly see 1st and 2nd rounders breezing their way through the minors and into the show - but not on the Cardinals - it is disconcerting.

I know there have been some great "steals," in the draft - Pujols, etc. - but that list of 1st rounders is downright depressing.

Rasmus looks very very promising and hopefully he has begun a long line of 1st rounders that will make the big club.

by silent_bob on May 30, 2007 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Nick Schmidt

would be a good choice. He pretty much held his own against Price from Vandy this year in the SEC. He did have a bit of a slump mid-season, but had an ERA under 2.00 for almost half the year.

BTW, Arkansas has another good pitching prospect, Jess Todd (RHP) who everyone around here thinks will also be a 1st or 2nd round pick. He started off his SEC tournament start with nine straight strikeouts. Yep, struck out the entire order the first time through. No one could recall that ever happening outside of a Little League game. (ended the game w/ 17, btw, against South Carolina, a pretty good team.)

by ArkansasTravs on May 31, 2007 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions

don't want

I do not want the cardinals to draft either scherzer or detwiler. I think they need to look at college outfield prospects that could be up within a year or two. Julio Borbon or Corey Brown seem to be good choices to me. What I don't want to see is another Chris Lambert.

hit em where they aint

by thefordhamflash on May 30, 2007 5:54 PM EDT reply actions

Who to pick

If he's available...I'd say Matt Dominguez. His scouting report says he can hit and play potentially gold glove caliber defense---sounds familiar, doesn't it.

If he's not, I'd say Devin Mesoraco--a HS catcher, Nick Noonan--a HS SS/2B, or Andrew Brackman--college SP.

And in the sandwich round, perhaps Tim Alderson, Josh Smoker (HS SPs), Grant Desme--college OF, or Peter Kozma--a HS SS

by michajo on May 30, 2007 6:22 PM EDT reply actions

Scherzer

Is the guy I want. He could be fast tracked to the rotation

Come on You Redbirds--Mike Shannon

by BluesDrummer85 on May 30, 2007 6:34 PM EDT reply actions

There's no way

he lasts until 18. If he does, we should be on him like a pit bull on a poodle!

by chuckb on May 30, 2007 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions

he just signed w/ the D-backs!

Dammit!

by chuckb on May 31, 2007 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

eh...

the Dbacks got fleeced. $4 million and he goes right to the 40-man from day one.

Prediction: In 2010 he'll be a middle reliever with poor control and no options left.

by guayzimi on May 31, 2007 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Have you ever seen the guy pitch?

I severely doubt it or you wouldn't be talking like that. I saw him pitch live in one game against Texas and then on ESPN later. Against Texas, he sat 93-95 and hit 98...in the 7th inning. I saw the Stalker readings myself. With great command I might add.

I'm guessing you are just reading Baseball America on him? I've read from them a few times how he was in the low 90's topping out at 95 at the end of the year. #1 The Texas game was at the end of the year. #2 Mizzou's final game of the year he was sitting an explosive 93-95 touching 98. Great reporting. He had maybe 1-2 pitches below 93 that entire game.

Pujols < .300 (it worked for .200)

by joker24 on May 31, 2007 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I saw him...

once on TV and have read some stuff... Obviously I can't predict the future. He could be great, or he could be the next Chris Lambert.

It's just amazing to watch Scott Boras stick it to these teams over and over again. And if you look at all the can't miss college arms that did in fact miss, or that needed a while to develop, you have to come to the conclusion that these sorts of gambles are not really wise. How's Luke Hochevar doing?

If I understand the rules correctly, he's going to have to stick with the Diamondbacks by the beginning of 2010 or they risk losing him. What if he loses a year to injury, then needs another year to get back to where he was. It happens. I suppose they could try to get a fourth option year, but they're not leaving themselves much space. Better to sign a somewhat less heralded prospect, or one with as much talent and a different agent, pay him far less and let him develop somewhat normally.

by guayzimi on Jun 1, 2007 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

That's fine

I'm not saying the guy is going to be Roger Clemens...I'll go out on a limb here haha and say he isn't. But he's good...really good. Like you said, injuries can and will happen, but I feel fairly confident in saying he won't be a shit-middle reliever with no command in 2010. Might flame out, might be a crap starter, might be a good setup man...but I'll say he won't be that. If I'm guessing though? Barring injury a solid #2 starter?

Hochevar by the way despite his ERA has a stellar 65/17 K/BB in 58 innings. He'll be alright.

As for all the high-priced draft picks...#1 their value to the teams is much higher than even the highest bonus (aside from Samardzija which I could argue is the worst deal in the history of baseball). It's exclusive negotiating rights so their price gets depressed. Whether or not the cliche "they haven't even stepped on the field" is important or not, the actual value to the teams in terms of saving money on free agents is a lot more than their 5 mil bonuses.

#2. I'll find it later, but a good thing BA did awhile back was analyze teams that "went cheap" vs those who drafted the "over slot" guys; let's just say it didn't look so good for the cheap guys.

Pujols < .300 (it worked for .200)

by joker24 on Jun 1, 2007 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions

"final game of the year"

Was on ESPN. BA should've just turned on the TV.

Pujols < .300 (it worked for .200)

by joker24 on May 31, 2007 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Tim Alderson

This guy is going to very very good.
He's a great pick in the sandwich round. Throws well into the 90s and just throws it by people. I think the only downside is he has rough mechanics. Those can be straightened out, though.

by KeepOnRolen on May 30, 2007 7:29 PM EDT reply actions

looks like we won't be drafting scherzer

he is now a diamondback

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0530scherzer-ON.html

hit em where they aint

by thefordhamflash on May 31, 2007 12:48 AM EDT reply actions

boras

stuck it to the D-backs: "a guaranteed value between $4 million and $4.5 million and is a major league deal, meaning Scherzer must be placed on the club's 40-man roster."

by jjray on May 31, 2007 8:33 AM EDT reply actions

Yup...

that's a tough deal for the D-backs to swallow. And he's not exactly a can't miss prospect...

by guayzimi on May 31, 2007 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

draft...

it always tough to know how a draft will play out until it actually happens and if a power arm (college or hs) drops into their laps i wouldn't be surprised to see them pull the trigger...short of that i'd like to see the birds nab a young bat and as stated earlier unless the cards want to reach ten picks or so for an infielder who slots near the latter part of the first round, they are most likely looking at another first round outfielder...i like heyward alot but he may be gone by 14 when the braves pick (they love their ga boys down there)but more likely than not michael burgess a powerful tampa hs outfielder will be there...i think he's the pick...but i also seriously doubt it plays out that way

by intimidator45 on May 31, 2007 3:20 PM EDT reply actions

draft

These would be later round selections, but with a weak group of middle infeilders down on the farm, Arizona State's Eric Sogard and Andrew Romine are two keepers that will make it to the show and either would look good in Cardinal red.

by rajah424 on May 31, 2007 5:00 PM EDT reply actions

Brackman

Future Redbirds mentions him. I am not all that familiar, but he sounds like a pretty good option.

Come on You Redbirds--Mike Shannon

by BluesDrummer85 on Jun 1, 2007 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

No

He's got more upside than anyone in the draft, 6'11 dude who throws in the high-90's with an at-times devastating knuckle curve. But it's not lookin good on the health side of things. He's been out the last two weeks with a "tired arm" after having skipped a start 4 weeks ago. That's 3 out of 4 weeks missed with "fatigue"...sounds fishy.

Pujols < .300 (it worked for .200)

by joker24 on Jun 1, 2007 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions