amateur draft diary

Scherzer

11th overall. To Arizona.

Did Callis really think 29 teams would pass on this guy so the Cards could nab him?

by flynn on Jun 6, 2006 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sinkbeil

19th overall to Marlins. Sorry Brett...

by flynn on Jun 6, 2006 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Parmalee

taken 20th L.....

looks like you got a steal in your mock draft.

by Schnake on Jun 6, 2006 1:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And the winner is....

Adam Ottavino

who?

by cmat on Jun 6, 2006 1:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cards pick Adam Ottavino

RHP from Northwestern

Another gigantic pitcher (6'5", 215 lbs)

by flynn on Jun 6, 2006 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ottavino

http://www.gonu.com/baseball/ottavino.shtml

by mll2k3 on Jun 6, 2006 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he's from...

...northeastern, apparently.

by mll2k3 on Jun 6, 2006 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Correct

I misread the school in my euphoria over drafting a person named Ottavino.

by flynn on Jun 6, 2006 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Adam Ottavino-Agressive on the mound, he often has the stuff to match with a plus fastball, a slider that is an out pitch at times and a less consistent curve. You can watch his scouting video there too, and rom what I saw, delivery looked the same on all pitches, but he was always breathing really hard. Don't know what that's about.

by WhackCuzzi on Jun 6, 2006 1:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry...

Draft TRACKER, is what it's called

by WhackCuzzi on Jun 6, 2006 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sickels calls him

"one of my very favorite pitchers in the draft. He could be a first round pick if he'd gone to a warmer weather school."

by dmb60614 on Jun 6, 2006 1:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

John Sickels on Ottovino:

"Ottavino is one of my very favorite pitchers in the draft. He could be a first round pick if he'd gone to a warmer weather school. "

8/13/79- Lou Brock 3000 hits

by lb3000 on Jun 6, 2006 1:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm shocked Reggie Bush wasn't taken #1

oh wait, different draft.

"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." -- Hunter S. Thompson

by secretweapon on Jun 6, 2006 1:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

saved

LOL
you had this joke saved for a week, didn't you???

by BigJawnMize on Jun 6, 2006 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Northeastern...

is in Boston land. My wife went to law school there... This is an exchange I've watched her have numerous times.

Person: "Where did you go to school?"
Wife: "Northeastern."
Person: "Oh I love Chicago."
Wife: "Me too. But it was one hell of a commute to my school in Boston."

by Brock20 on Jun 6, 2006 1:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ha

thats classic

The St. Louis Cardinals: No Curses, No Excuses, Just Wins

by amettrick on Jun 6, 2006 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chris Perez

RHP from Miami

by BigMac545 on Jun 6, 2006 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

sandwich pick

Christopher perez from Miami 6'4" 225lbs
again, from the drafttracker-
Fromer starter, he has taken to the closer's role after a shoulder injury necessitated the move, saving seven games as a sophomore and then emerging as one of the best sort relievers in college ball. Perez primarily uses a low-to-mid 90s fastball with a lot of life.
Also, Colby Rasmus's brother went to the braves

by WhackCuzzi on Jun 6, 2006 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hmm..

i assume it's too much to hope this guy is huston street good and ready to close games by next year.

The St. Louis Cardinals: No Curses, No Excuses, Just Wins

by amettrick on Jun 6, 2006 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like that pick....

Big time program, lots of pressure. The scouting reports that I was reading on him are very, very good. The movement on the pitch is key.

by Brock20 on Jun 6, 2006 2:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2d rounder, another college pitcher

thomas furnish, outta tcu

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

he threw a no-hitter this year

throws 92-94, hard curve. left-hander

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

BRAD furnish

"thomas" must be his given name; all the scouts list him as "brad"

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sickels says this

"Furnish is a polished college lefty who should zip through A-ball."

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not great stats

this year for furnish but he's another right hander who throws in low to mid 90's

by chuckb on Jun 6, 2006 2:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oops

sorry. he's a left-hander

by chuckb on Jun 6, 2006 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

furnish is a scofflaw

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/040901furnish.html

On July 6, Brad Furnish was warming up for his fourth start of the summer in the Cape Cod League, when an unexpected visitor came to the bullpen. It was a local constable, bringing him notice of a lawsuit that had been filed against him.

The lawsuit, filed by the Northwoods League, said that by pitching for Wareham in the Cape League, Furnish had breached a contract he had signed with the NWL's Rochester (Minn.) Honkers. Furnish never pitched another game for Wareham--or anyone else--this summer. An injunction made sure of that.

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

question

If he pitched pro ball last summer, why is listed out of TCU? and if he was drafted so high this year, why did he go undrafted last year?

by Schnake on Jun 6, 2006 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

MLB has him listed out of TCU

your baseball prospective has him listed as a nebraska pitcher in the article headline.

I'm three kinds of confused now.

by Schnake on Jun 6, 2006 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

scuse me

baseball america article.

by Schnake on Jun 6, 2006 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

transfer.....

yup he played both places.

by Schnake on Jun 6, 2006 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

3 picks,

3 college pitchers.

8/13/79- Lou Brock 3000 hits

by lb3000 on Jun 6, 2006 2:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I would love to see that...

Just got done reading Last Best League which is about the Chatam A's of the Cape Cod League. Good summer read and made me want to take a summer trip out there to watch the stars of tomorrow today. The whole team supports the team by putting the kids up, getting them jobs, feeding them, etc. so that they can play summer ball. I'm sure the constable knew him and was mad that he had to do it.

by Brock20 on Jun 6, 2006 2:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Me too

I read that book as well a couple summers ago. Good read. It is a fun league.

However..if you want to drive less and see the same type of thing check out the Northwoods League. Known as the "second best" college, wood bat league behind the Cape Cod.

Teams in Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc. The team in Madison is owned and run by a HUGE Cardinal fan and local Madison legend. The draw about 5,000 fans a night. Great, great atmosphere.

I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a nice weekend retreat..plus, Madison is one of America's best cities anyway.

to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.

by beanocook on Jun 6, 2006 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Mallards...

been there numerous times. A proud alum of the University of Wisconsin!!

by Brock20 on Jun 6, 2006 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ha

I wont hold the Wisky degree against you ;)

It is a good time though.

to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.

by beanocook on Jun 6, 2006 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoops..

that should read the whole city supports their team.

by Brock20 on Jun 6, 2006 2:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jonathan Jay

5'11" 200lb OF from Miami (again)
Draft tracker-Speed is his game and he gets on base to take advantage of it. He hit .408 in his sophomore season. He may be a left fielder down the road, but can stay in center for now.

by WhackCuzzi on Jun 6, 2006 2:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

john jay

u of miami, outfielder, with the 74th pick.

that's a near bulls-eye for the mock draft team (which i was not a part of) -- they had the cards taking jay in the 3d round wth the 106th pick

nice going, boys

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wonder if

he's a lawyer, too..

by cardsrul on Jun 6, 2006 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Eww.

A collegiate speed merchant who may not stay in center field? Sounds like a fourth outfielder.

by DanUpBaby on Jun 6, 2006 2:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice revolutionary war name though.

n/t

by DanUpBaby on Jun 6, 2006 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the same thing after reading that

n/t

by rob is back on Jun 6, 2006 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2d round sandwich pick

mark hamilton, tulane
first baseman

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

john sickels likes this guy

he had him rated as a top-30 draftee -- ie, a 1st-rounder

and says he is one of the best college bats available in a thin class"

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

draft tracker says

"a streaky hitter who has had a big junior season, he can hit for power to all fields while hitting for avg and working the strike zone."

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tulane hitters

ugh. I went to Tulane and watched a lot of baseball, the hitting philosphy there favors aluminum bats (pull off-speed stuff, inside-out fastballs). I hope he is good though. He faced good pitching this year, so there is a shot.

by BigJawnMize on Jun 6, 2006 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ipeople

from Tulane are sweet. obviously a good pick.

by PGeorge on Jun 6, 2006 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like how he looks in the video

He looks like a future high-value trading prospect, since Pujols has 1B locked up.

by rob is back on Jun 6, 2006 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like

The second coming of Christ...oh I mean Albert Pujols

by BigdJC on Jun 6, 2006 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jay

I was looking thru his stats... he was Hit 21 times this year... wow

by BigMac545 on Jun 6, 2006 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I miss high school hitters.

Apparently Daric Barton and Colby Rasmus have turned out too well to go back to the till.

by DanUpBaby on Jun 6, 2006 2:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the same thing

They have shown that they can analyze high school players in the past few drafts, then they go and start drafting the chance caple route again.

by BigJawnMize on Jun 6, 2006 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

let's not jump the gun

rasmus is still only in low-a ball . . . .

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

but still...high ceiling, projectable body type, appears to have good plate discipline, hits for some power. I would rather say lets not jump the gun on barton, he seems to have stalled a bit.

by BigJawnMize on Jun 6, 2006 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zimmerman...Wright....Street...Cordero...Papelbon

Of course you could use these guys as examples of college guys who zipped through the minors and play major roles in the bigs right now.

I still prefer college draft guys but I have no real evidence/reason why.

to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.

by beanocook on Jun 6, 2006 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definately...

prefer college pitchers over high school pitchers. Just more predictable in a totally unpredictable endevour.

I was talking to a guy who used to scout for ML teams and he said that the draft is a gamble, but its more akin to blackjack then say roulette. You know when you should split, you know when you should doubledown, and sometimes it works and sometimes the dealer draws five cards to equal 21.

I thought that was a good analogy.

by Brock20 on Jun 6, 2006 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

right, he has stalled

and rasmus may stall as he moves up the chain.

i mean, they both look great --- but neither one is necessarily a reason to favor hs players over college ones, per se.

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I not saying...

...there is any reason to favor one type over the other. I am saying that they have had some success drafting high school hitters compared to college pitching. If the scouting (and stat analysis) system they have developed in the last couple years has matured and is spitting out these guys. I am cool with it. If this is a return to an organizational theory that college pitchers are safer bets, then has it really panned out in the last few drafts (with Reyes, you could say yes--not so much with lambert, caple, etc).

by BigJawnMize on Jun 6, 2006 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

right -- but i'm just withholding judgment

rasmus does look fantastic right now, but he's still in low-a ball --- it's too early to declare him a "successful" pick. too early to declare barton a success, for that matter; as somebody pointed out, he's not exactly tearing up triple-a pitching, and we ultimately don't know if he will provide the value at the mlb level that you want out of a #1.

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think he's got a better chance

Than Chris Lambert and the rest of the last self-consciously collegiate draft, which is why I'm worried.

by DanUpBaby on Jun 6, 2006 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not trying to get last word

but barton has already provided all the value the cardinals are going to get out of him. was mulder for two years and a reasonable contract the value you want out of a first rounder. I don't know, tough question to answer. (Hated trading haren though.) I have said this before, I think the cardinals do as well as anybody evaluating pro-ball talent. This is one of the reasons that I think this organization does so well. The only players that they have traded in the last few years that I regret are coco crisp and haren. I think barton got traded at the peak of his value because interal scouting didn't think he was going to pan out.

by BigJawnMize on Jun 6, 2006 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

two years of mulder

but barton was only, what, half of the deal? so we can assign about 50 percent of mulder's value to barton . . . i would think you'd be looking for more from a #1.

maybe that's more than they'll ever get out of chris lambert or eric haberer, but i'm still not convinced that the org has a decidedly better track record with hs draftees vs college ones. their most impactful homegrown talent of recent years -- haren, reyes (we hope), brad thompson -- are all college players.

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about????

I'm pretty sure their most "impactful homegrown talent" of recent years had only one year of junior college. So, what's that? A college guy? Not really. A high schooler? Not really that, either.

So, that solves nothing....

by flynn on Jun 6, 2006 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe

I don't know how the draft has played out in the past, but maybe for the 18th pick (I think that is where barton was drafted) one year of mulder (half of a two-year contract) is better than average. Maybe not. Tough question. Just a thought.

by BigJawnMize on Jun 6, 2006 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's not tearing up AAA pitching

But he's also 20/21 and in AAA. At 21 John Jay is going to be accumulating HBPs in A ball. College pitchers I'm all for, but outside the cream of the crop college hitters just seem to produce lower returns.

by DanUpBaby on Jun 6, 2006 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Especially

when they're doing this in a class that's supposed to be thin on college talent.

by DanUpBaby on Jun 6, 2006 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my judgment's suspended

that's all. barton may very well prove to be a hugely successful pick. in my opinion, it's too soon to say that

i'm certainly not suggesting that barton and rasmus were bad selections. i just don't think they constitute any basis for bemoaning the focus on college players in this year's early rounds.

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

draft philosophy

in years past, yes, they did deliberately go college heavy. this year i think its more a case of them feeling the best players on the board when they picked were college players. they certainly didnt shy away from high schoolers last year. i dont see why they would abruptly revert to something that didnt really work out too well for them before. just because they didnt take a HS player early doesnt necessarily mean they are averse to taking them.

by dmb60614 on Jun 6, 2006 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

gary daley

3d-rounder --- rhp out of cal poly-slo

pick #106

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

here's an article about him

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispotribune/sports/14687992.htm

apparently he pitched pretty well against fullerton, who is missouri's opponent in the superregional

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

whats the story with kyle drabek?

every says there are red flags, maturity issues, off the field problems, and stuff like that. i havent seen any specifics though. any one know what he did to get that label?

by dmb60614 on Jun 6, 2006 3:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

His father

played a few years with Barry Bonds. Maybe little Kyle hung around the clubhouse and learned from the master of jerks.

by flynn on Jun 6, 2006 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Drabek

Drabek has a reputation for blowing up at teammates when they don't make plays.

by P Bu on Jun 6, 2006 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and they just took

another college player --- shane robinson of florida state. centerfielder.

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 4:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

john sickels says

http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2006/4/19/163325/882

Shane Robinson, OF, Florida State University
Another possible stat-head type pick, Robinson is hitting .377/.448/.539 with 21 steals, 20 walks, 17 strikeouts in 167 at-bats. Good speed, decent on-base skills and contact rate make him interesting, but lack of home run power is an issue.

elsewhere, he calls him a "polished college guy" who lacks growth potential and doesn't have a big ceiling . . .

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

missed a pick

their 4th rounder, eddie degerman of rice univ.; rhp.

baseball america wrote this about him in april:

Eddie Degerman, rhp, Rice
Degerman has found a hard time gaining appreciation. He spent two years at UC Irvine without once making an appearance. He worked out of Rice's bullpen in 2004 and opened 2005 there before ending the year as the staff ace. Still, he slipped to the Red Sox in the 41st round. His value has appreciated since then, thanks to his 12-to-6 curveball and precision command. He has put up PlayStation numbers for the Owls, going 6-0, 0.98 with a 76-19 strikeout-walk ratio and 29 hits allowed in 55 innings. Batters have hit .149 with only one home run against Degerman.

by lboros on Jun 6, 2006 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

degerman

seems very interesting. i read the reason many were passing on him is that he has an unorthodox delivery. straight over the top. has a wicked 12-6 curve.

by dmb60614 on Jun 6, 2006 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Over the top pitchers...

"Hide Nomo" over the top? I can' think of other examples off the top of my head.

by BigJawnMize on Jun 6, 2006 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not the be all and end all

Just wondering if anyone has seen any articles or can share any insight as to just how important the MLB draft is, especially in comparison to the drafts of other sports.

One thing baseball has that the other sports don't is a bountiful and quite productive well of talent that lies outside the high schools and colleges that produce the drafted players - Latin America and the Caribbean. I have to believe that a great scouting system down there, coupled with an "academy" like many teams have, is at the very least equally important to having a good draft class.

by flynn on Jun 6, 2006 4:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Draft

The MLB draft is in my mind more important than the other sports drafts. You don't get the sort of instant impact you can get from NFL or NBA, it's 3 years removed with almost every player, but the upside to each pick for the team is huge.

Instead of paying some hack (En'cion) 5 mil a year, you can get the job done with a guy getting paid 350k for three years and then for cheap after that. You pretty much own these guys for very cheap for 6 years which has huge consequences. Next year, we are going to have an anchor like Encarnacion on the payroll when if we had an average OF'er waiting in the wings, we could use his 5 mil elsewhere.

Plus the fact that baseball has more trades in it than any other sport--a strong draft can get proven talent if used right.

A diamond is just a lump of coal that performed well under pressure

by joker24 on Jun 8, 2006 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs