Drabek & Kiker: Mysterious Makeup Problems

[Outshined_One]

For those of you draftniks, Kyle Drabek and Kasey Kiker are two guys in this year's draft who are potential first round pitchers. Drabek has two terrific pitches and projects pretty well at SS. Kiker has a pretty strong body and projects nicely as a power reliever (although there are concerns about his mechanics).

 

Yet, both have makeup issues that people have been tiptoeing around. Apparently the issues are bad enough that some teams refuse to draft them. I find this odd considering that last year, Clay Buchholz had a well-publicized incident in which he stole laptops, and a few years ago, Lastings Milledge had allegations of sleeping with a minor. It'd be one thing if scouts and publications didn't publically discuss these things about high school kids...but that's not the case.

 

So, does anyone know what the heck is going on with those guys? Are there unconfirmed rumors about them? Did these guys do something so bad that it can't be discussed without totally wrecking their reputations? What's the story?

[Mephistopheles]

Steroids for Drabek.

[Outshined_One]

Steroids for Drabek.

 

Yeowza. I can see now why people have been keeping quiet about it if that is indeed the case. Is it a rumor or is there some credibility to it?

[Mephistopheles]

I heard the rumor on the Internet first. I live in the area and have heard them off the Internet from people close to the TWH team. As for Kiker, I think it's that he's a animated pitcher and is prone to mood swings, a lot like Z. Not sure on that though.

[Outshined_One]

I heard the rumor on the Internet first. I live in the area and have heard them off the Internet from people close to the TWH team. As for Kiker, I think it's that he's a animated pitcher and is prone to mood swings, a lot like Z. Not sure on that though.

 

See, I heard the mood swings/animated/hyper-competitive thing for both, but it made no sense since that's something that is easy to talk about in public when it comes to sports. When BA and other draft publications say there aren't problems, but won't disclose them...that sounds suspicious.

 

The steroids allegation is plausible under that scenario. That's something that would scare teams away, even if it were an unfounded rumor. Heck, it would be enough to really hurt a guy's reputation. The current climate for that sort of thing is incredibly negative; if a team drafted a guy who it turns out was a steroid user, they'd catch plenty of unwanted flack and the guy would get plenty of bad publicity.

 

If he did them, I hope he cleans himself up and makes a good career for himself. If that's a malicious and wrong rumor, I wish shame on whoever decided to make it up and start spreading it.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/draft/features/261596.html (Premium)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Would this Drabeck kid be the son of former Cy Young Award Winner Doug Drabek?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Would this Drabeck kid be the son of former Cy Young Award Winner Doug Drabek?

 

Si.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Would this Drabeck kid be the son of former Cy Young Award Winner Doug Drabek?

 

Si.

 

Drabeck was a pretty good pitcher up until around age 33, and then the wheels came off.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Here is an article about Kyle Drabek from ESPN.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2006/news/story?id=2466618

 

It pretty much sums up everything already mentioned in the previous posts. The article goes on to explain that Drabek is possibly the best pitcher in the draft and possibly the best position player, but will probably fall to middle of the first round due to demeanor and his off field problems.

 

I don't really follow the draft and I was curious if the article is correct and he was to fall to the middle of the first round, should the Cubs take the gamble and select him with the #13 pick?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here is an article about Kyle Drabek from ESPN.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2006/news/story?id=2466618

 

It pretty much sums up everything already mentioned in the previous posts. The article goes on to explain that Drabek is possibly the best pitcher in the draft and possibly the best position player, but will probably fall to middle of the first round due to demeanor and his off field problems.

 

I don't really follow the draft and I was curious if the article is correct and he was to fall to the middle of the first round, should the Cubs take the gamble and select him with the #13 pick?

 

Yes

[Outshined_One]

Hendry likes character guys...so I really doubt the Cubs will take him. If he can put those character issues to bed and stay healthy, there's nothing stopping him from being a terrific pitcher.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Hendry likes character guys...so I really doubt the Cubs will take him. If he can put those character issues to bed and stay healthy, there's nothing stopping him from being a terrific pitcher.

 

He did take a gamble on Clanton...of course, that really didn't work out too well.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Hendry likes character guys...so I really doubt the Cubs will take him. If he can put those character issues to bed and stay healthy, there's nothing stopping him from being a terrific pitcher.

 

He did take a gamble on Clanton...of course, that really didn't work out too well.

 

And Christiensen. My guess is Hendry will pass on Drabeck.

[donobr]

I live in Woodlands area and have not heard steroid rumor.Do you think a man of Doug Drabek's character would allow or be blind to this?I don't think so.IF HE IS AVAILABLE,DRAFT HIM.

[goonys evil twin]

I live in Woodlands area and have not heard steroid rumor.Do you think a man of Doug Drabek's character would allow or be blind to this?I don't think so.IF HE IS AVAILABLE,DRAFT HIM.

 

How would any of us know Doug Drabek's character? As far as I know he could be a win at all costs push your kid to the limit irresponsible father. But even if he was Mr. Perfect it's not like he has the choice to "not allow it". Any son could easily get around his parent's watching to get on the roids.

[CubinNY]

I live in Woodlands area and have not heard steroid rumor.Do you think a man of Doug Drabek's character would allow or be blind to this?I don't think so.IF HE IS AVAILABLE,DRAFT HIM.

 

I think Drabeck had some sort of an issue with alcohol during his playing days, but I could be mistaken.

[oldcubsfan]

from ESPN's draft preview

 

"Kyle Drabek, RHP, The Woodlands H.S. (The Woodlands, Texas)

 

On talent alone, Drabek would rank as the draft's top high school pitching prospect ... and probably its top high school hitting prospect as well, although every insider I spoke with ranked him as a pitcher. Drabek works with a five-pitch repertoire, but his selling points are the mid-90s fastball and an outstanding curve. Oddly enough for the son of a pretty good big-leaguer, Drabek is not a polished pitcher, but is more of a talented arm who'd need some development. But the knocks on Drabek are substantial, from reports calling him "spoiled" to a history of off-field incidents, including a public intoxication charge that was dismissed and a one-car accident in which he rammed his SUV into a tree. Were it not for makeup concerns that have the names Jeff Allison and Josh Hamilton on some people's lips, Drabek would probably go in the top five picks, perhaps as the top pick overall, but one scouting director with whom I spoke called Drabek "the wild card" -- no one knows where he'll go.