2007 Draft Class

[UK1679666180]

From what I've heard on Parker, it sounds real good.

[Guest]

From what I've heard on Parker, it sounds real good.

 

Yeah, I like what I've read too.

 

Also:

 

Q: Mike from New York asks:

Some top guys that might fall out of the first round becuase of signability issues?

 

A: Alan Matthews: Porcello and Wieters are the two most likely candidates. Guys like Aumont and Mesoraco are going to be two likely beneficiaries if that happens, as both are considered cinch signees if they go as high as the top 15 picks.

[Outshined_One]

Wieters + Porcello plz.

[RammyFanny]

Ugh Thursday needs to get here.

[RammyFanny]

Listening to Len and Bob give Ryan Braun's scouting report sounded alot like I was listening to another 3rd basemans scouting report (Vitters), with all the lightning quick hands comments, etc. Possible future comparison?

[Mephistopheles]

braun is a much better overall athlete.

[Brian]

I sure wish Price would fall to us. sounds like a fun guy to have in the system.

 

Little will the audience know that Price's preferred conversations come at 2 or 3 in the morning. It was around then, after Felix Hernandez threw his April gem against the Boston Red Sox, that Price rang Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin.

 

"Did you see Felix Hernandez pitch a one-hitter?" Price asked.

 

"Yeah," Corbin replied. "You called me at 2:30 in the morning to tell me that?"

 

"Were you asleep?"

 

"Yeah."

 

"You're soft."

 

Click.

 

Corbin recounted the story with a hearty laugh. Price does that to people. The assistant coaches who he wraps in wet, naked hugs after victories. The teammates who have to find plain food, because Price refuses to eat anything that isn't good-old American, even though he took a class where he had to go to an Indian restaurant. The friends who beat him at a video game, then come back the next day only to hear that Price stayed up all night because he refused to believe he wasn't the best.

[Mephistopheles]

I ranked the HS lefties and college righties. I reranked some of the HS RHPs.

 

Rk         Name                    Pos        School
1.         Andrew Brackman         RHP        North Carolina State
2.         Casey Weathers          RHP        Vanderbilt
3.         Chris Carpenter         RHP        Kent State
4.         David Kopp              RHP        Clemson
5.         Sam Demel               RHP        TCU
6.         James Simmons           RHP        UC Riverside
7.         Jake Arrieta            RHP        TCU
8.         Josh Fields             RHP        Georgia
9.         Wes Roemer              RHP        Cal State Fullerton
10.        John Ely                RHP        Miami (Oh)
11.        Matt Thompson           RHP        Santa Rosa JC
12.        Travis Banwart          RHP        Wichita State
13.        Corey Kluber            RHP        Stetson
14.        Sean Morgan             RHP        Tulane
15.        Eddie Kunz              RHP        Oregon State
16.        Connor Graham           RHP        Miami (Oh)
17.        Jordan Zimmerman        RHP        Wisconsin-Stevens Point
18.        Jess Todd               RHP        Arkansas
19.        Stephen Porlier         RHP        Oklahoma
20.        Clayton Mortensen       RHP        Gonzaga
21.        Barry Enright           RHP        Pepperdine
22.        Tommy Hunter            RHP        Alabama
23.        Duke Welker             RHP        Arkansas
24.        Stephen Clyne           RHP        Clemson
25.        Colby Shreve            RHP        CC of Southern Nevaada

I don't understand why BA likes Barry Enright so much. He's a righty with no outstanding pitches and the only thing above average is his fastball command. They even say he profiles as a set up man. Where they have him ranked you're looking at a potential setup man in the early second round -- no thanks. I've always liked David Kopp. He's a righty with three above average pitches.

Rk       Name                   Pos        School
1        Josh Smoker            LHP        Calhourn HS (Ga)
2        Madison Bumgarner      LHP        South Caldwell HS (NC)
3        Jack McGeary           LHP        Roxbury Latin HS (Ma)
4        Tanner Robles          LHP        Cottonwood HS (Ut)
5        Casey Crosby           LHP        Kaneland HS (Il)
6        Danny Duffy            LHP        Cabrillo HS (Ca)
7        Nathan Vineyard        LHP        Woodland HS (Ga)
8        Rob Rasmussen          LHP        Poly HS (Ca)
9        Scott Alexander        LHP        Cardinal Newman HS (Ca)
10       Forrest Moore          LHP        Parkview Baptist HS (La)

I like Madison Bumgarner, but I think you'll see him lower than most when I put together all the pitchers. He's got a great fastball, no doubts there. Probably the best left-handed one in the draft, Price included but you have to project all of his breaking pitches. There's a lot of risk in that. We didn't have to project Pawlys offspeed pitches, look what happened. Constructive criticism is allowed. Calling a moron idiot is allowed -- just expect me to come back snapping.

[Guest]

Interview with Josh Vitters: http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2007/06/2007_draft_spot.php

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is Carpenter draft eligible? For some reason I thought he wasn't. He didn't look overly impressive in the tournament game I saw him in. Lots of control issues and nothing really noteworthy offspeed. I'm far from an expert opinion though, especially going off an internet webcast of one start.

[Guest]

Is Carpenter draft eligible? For some reason I thought he wasn't. He didn't look overly impressive in the tournament game I saw him in. Lots of control issues and nothing really noteworthy offspeed. I'm far from an expert opinion though, especially going off an internet webcast of one start.

 

Yeah, he is draft eligible.

[1908]

Baseball Prospectus published their top 50 draft prospects list today. Here's the first ten.

 

Kevin Goldstein[/url]"]1. David Price, LHP, Vanderbilt

Pros: Nearly perfect power-pitcher’s frame; excellent mechanics; plus-to-plus-plus velocity; outstanding slider; solid change; cerebral, calm and soft spoken off the mound, aggressive on it.

Cons: Lists “Coming To America” as his favorite film; on a baseball level, anything is nitpicking.

 

2. Rick Porcello, RHP, Seton Hall Prep (NJ)

Pros: Big, projectable frame, touches 98 and sits in mid-90s; excellent arm action in terms of both speed and smoothness; mature changeup for age; excellent athlete who fields position very well.

Cons: Breaking ball flashes as plus at times, but can flatten out at others. the short season in the Northeast leaves unanswered questions about durability.

 

3. Josh Vitters, 3B, Cypress HS (CA)

Pros: Best hitter in the draft in terms of bat speed and hand-eye coordination--then adds plus raw power on top of it; shows no weakness in terms of pitch type or location.

Cons: Not a defensive stalwart, but most think he can at least stay at the position.

 

4. Matt Wieters, C, Georgia Tech

Pros: Big switch-hitting catcher with plus power from both sides; professional approach at the plate; outstanding arm strength.

Cons: Performance this year has simply been good, not lights-out as some expected; most scouting directors think he can stay at catcher, but not all do; play seems lackadaisical at times.

 

5. Ross Detwiler, LHP, Missouri State

Pros: Good velocity, good curveball, and good change give him three plus pitches; one of the more consistent performers among top college arms; hasn’t let bad defense or a bad bullpen get to him.

Cons: Very skinny frame creates some stamina questions, though he’s been fine from start to start on six days' rest.

 

6. Mike Moustakas, SS, Chatsworth HS (CA)

Pros: Set the California high school record for career home runs thanks to great bat speed and strong wrists; a very good athlete with plus-plus arm strength who touched 97 mph as the team’s closer.

Cons: Despite athleticism, doesn’t have a well-defined defensive home; smallish frame leaves some question as to how well his power projects in the pros.

 

7. Jarrod Parker, RHP, Norwell HS (IN)

Pros: Fast-rising pitcher has sat at 92-95 mph all year long while touching 99 at times; slider features two-plane break and very good velocity; easy, fast, clean arm action.

Cons: A little undersized at just six feet tall; his fastball lacks movement.

 

8. Jason Heyward, OF, Henry County HS (GA)

Pros: Best athlete in the draft with plus power, plus speed, and a muscular six-foot-five frame; good outfielder with a right field-caliber arm.

Cons: A raw talent who hasn’t played much against top competition; high-reward/high risk talent who has equal chances of stardom or pure bust.

 

9. Beau Mills, 3B, Lewis-Clark State

Pros: Monstrous season at NAIA powerhouse; plus power to all fields, with one scout comparing him to Mike Piazza for his ability to drive balls the other way; also should hit for high average; son of Red Sox coach Brad Mills, and grew up around the game.

Cons: His aggressive hitting style worked in Idaho, but he might be prone to chasing pitches against better pitching; a bad defender who will likely require an immediate move to first base.

 

10. Daniel Moskos, LHP, Clemson

Pros: The former closer excelled in starting role with mid-90s fastball, explosive slider and surprisingly solid changeup; very aggressive style; big-bodied.

Cons: Still learning to pace himself as starter; his command comes and goes on some days; borders on confrontational at times; fastball can occasionally be flat.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Jarrod Parker reminds me of Ben Sheets with easier velocity and better mechanics.

 

He throws a slider, not a curveball though. I think it compares well to Jeremy Bonderman's when he was drafted. That pitch has disgusting potential.

 

Another comparison I've heard is a RH Scott Kazmir.

 

Basically, he and Porcello are "special."

[Soriano12]

Cons: Lists “Coming To America” as his favorite film; on a baseball level, anything is nitpicking

 

:lol:

[Outshined_One]

How does Jarrod Parker stack up to Tim Lincecum, last year's "short pitcher with really good stuff"?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

How does Jarrod Parker stack up to Tim Lincecum, last year's "short pitcher with really good stuff"?

 

He's not as good or major league ready.

 

The only real similarities is that they throw hard and they're short.

[Guest]

How does Jarrod Parker stack up to Tim Lincecum, last year's "short pitcher with really good stuff"?

 

He's not as good or major league ready.

 

The only real similarities is that they throw hard and they're short.

 

Lincecum has a better curve and Parker is a bit taller (6'2" vs Lincecum's 5'11"). And yeah, Lincecum was much more advanced when drafted.

[Guest]

BA's June 5 Draft Tracker: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/rankings/?rank=tracker

 

1. Price

2. Weters

3. Porcello - mention of signability being an issue

4. Moustakas

5. Vitters

6. Parker

7. Heyward

8. Detwiler

9. Moskos

10. Mills

[Mephistopheles]

Hey guys let's talk about who'd you rather have: Smoker or Bumgarner.

[Mephistopheles]

BA's June 5 Draft Tracker: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/rankings/?rank=tracker

 

1. Price

2. Weters

3. Porcello - mention of signability being an issue

4. Moustakas

5. Vitters

6. Parker

7. Heyward

8. Detwiler

9. Moskos

10. Mills

 

 

ummmmmmm did you see this part?

 

Sean Doolittle, 1b/lhp, Virginia (NR) Up

The presence of Cubs GM Jim Hendry at Virginia's regional this weekend, and new ownership perhaps tightening the purse strings in Chicago, the Cubs could make Doolittle a signability pick at No. 3 overall, despite his talent warranting a spot at their sandwich round pick at 48.

[Guest]

Ugh.

[UK1679666180]

Hey guys let's talk about who'd you rather have: Smoker or Bumgarner.

 

Although I don't like going by website reports and not having seen them, I'd have to go with Smoker despite the size and velo being less.

[TruffleShuffle]

BA's June 5 Draft Tracker: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/rankings/?rank=tracker

 

1. Price

2. Weters

3. Porcello - mention of signability being an issue

4. Moustakas

5. Vitters

6. Parker

7. Heyward

8. Detwiler

9. Moskos

10. Mills

 

 

ummmmmmm did you see this part?

 

Sean Doolittle, 1b/lhp, Virginia (NR) Up

The presence of Cubs GM Jim Hendry at Virginia's regional this weekend, and new ownership perhaps tightening the purse strings in Chicago, the Cubs could make Doolittle a signability pick at No. 3 overall, despite his talent warranting a spot at their sandwich round pick at 48.

 

isn't it way more likely that they were scouting him for a possible pick at #48? I mean picking him at #3 would be almost absurd. I can't think of a time when a guy who wasn't even projected as a top round pick got selected in the top 5 of a draft. Sometimes teams will reach a little bit, but not that far.

[Mephistopheles]

I just dont like the idea of drafting a lefty in the first round whose offspeed pitches are all projection at this point

[RammyFanny]

There's just no way we would reward ourselves for last year's pile o' crap with another crazy pick like that.