2014 Draft Discussion

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I'd be fine with Jackson if he was a lock to stay at catcher, but it doesn't seem likely from what I've read.

[craig]

I'd be fine with Jackson if he was a lock to stay at catcher, but it doesn't seem likely from what I've read.

 

I like Jackson. Obviously McLeod and those guys will need to scout and decide. But some of the stuff I've read suggests that he can stay at catcher. Heh, a guy who hits like Mike Piazza can play catcher as badly as Mike Piazza, and be awesome. (I'm not suggesting Jackson would be as bad defensively as Piazza; the scouting is much more favorable, as I read it. Only that even if you are a bottom quartile defensive catcher, if you are a great hitter you can still be a huge value, and be a 12-time all star and finish 7 times in the top-10 of MVP voting.)

 

Jackson could be much like Bryant. A lot of people questioned Bryant's ability to play 3rd; McLeod claimed that he thinks he can play a solid 3B, and that he can be a great value while playing 3rd but still be a great value if/when/after he moves to the OF.

 

It wouldn't shock me if they had analogous view on Jackson, that he's so good a hitter that he'll be great value if they move him to LF or RF; and if he can play catcher well, or well enough, that's just frosting.

 

All scouting, for sure. Defense and catcher-ability, yes. But as much or more is whether he really projects as a great hitter who you'll be happy with even if does move.

[Bilbo161]

I'd be fine with Jackson if he was a lock to stay at catcher, but it doesn't seem likely from what I've read.

 

I like Jackson. Obviously McLeod and those guys will need to scout and decide. But some of the stuff I've read suggests that he can stay at catcher. Heh, a guy who hits like Mike Piazza can play catcher as badly as Mike Piazza, and be awesome. (I'm not suggesting Jackson would be as bad defensively as Piazza; the scouting is much more favorable, as I read it. Only that even if you are a bottom quartile defensive catcher, if you are a great hitter you can still be a huge value, and be a 12-time all star and finish 7 times in the top-10 of MVP voting.)

 

Jackson could be much like Bryant. A lot of people questioned Bryant's ability to play 3rd; McLeod claimed that he thinks he can play a solid 3B, and that he can be a great value while playing 3rd but still be a great value if/when/after he moves to the OF.

 

It wouldn't shock me if they had analogous view on Jackson, that he's so good a hitter that he'll be great value if they move him to LF or RF; and if he can play catcher well, or well enough, that's just frosting.

 

All scouting, for sure. Defense and catcher-ability, yes. But as much or more is whether he really projects as a great hitter who you'll be happy with even if does move.

 

I don't think Jackson is my high top school bat though. I like Braxton Davidson's left handed power and hitters approach better but am not sure he should be a number 4 over-all. Jackson may be good but he is nowhere near the proven bat that Bryant was. Jackson lacks the college years Bryant had to support his going that high. I like the Idea of a stud pitcher or Trea Turner. We'll see how the season plays out though.

[craig]

Yeah, it's all a question of scouting.

[Guest]

@KendallRogersPG: Hearing some great things about @TCU_Baseball signee, P Tyler Kolek. Elite #MLBDraft prospect was 94-99 in his first spring outing. #want

 

I thought Florida was the only state that started HS baseball this early.

 

Opening day of the college season is this Friday!

[Guest]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 3m

Theo: continue to draft primarily arms going forward. Maybe not with the first pick. We’ll see how it shakes out. After that, ...

 

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 3m

... we’ll continue to hit that area of the draft."

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

I don't think they want to take a HS pitcher at #4 (Kolek). It's either going to be Beede or some out-of-nowhere guy.

[Guest]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/college-roundup-aces-shine-on-opening-day/

 

Weaver, Finneganan, Nola, Beede, Fedde and Brink all pitched very well yesterday. Rodon, Turner and NC State were cancelled yesterday and today. Doubleheader tomorrow.

 

Hoffman: http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/game-report-ecu-rhp-jeff-hoffman/

 

In the first three innings, Hoffman’s fastball sat 94-96 mph with ease and touched 97. In the later innings, Hoffman pitched at 92-95 mph. A premium athlete, Hoffman showed the potential for at least plus command, capable of locating consistently on the outer-thirds of the strike zone to both sides of the plate. Hoffman established his fastball for strikes early in counts, and nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of his fastballs went for strikes, while more than two-thirds (67 percent) of all his pitches were strikes. He walked two of the 27 batters (7 percent) he faced.

 

Working from the first base side of the rubber, the loose, long-limbed Hoffman showed the ability to create tremendous plane to his fastball and worked in the lower half of the zone. Hoffman relied more on his four-seam fastball Friday, and his two-seam fastball has plus life with heavy sink and arm-side run. He produced eight groundouts (and another groundball that should have been an out) against four flyouts and two infield flies.

 

Hoffman showed a clearly defined plan for facing right- and lefthanded hitters. The 6-foot-4, 192-pound Hoffman got ahead of righthanded hitters with his fastball and relied on his breaking balls as put-away offerings, as all six of his strikeouts came on breaking balls. His 80-83 mph curveball flashed at least plus, even better at its best. But the offering lacked consistency as Hoffman failed to get on top of the offering. Eight of his 19 breaking balls (42 percent) went for strikes, though five of the eight that did generated swings and misses. He also mixed in a few slower breaking balls at 76-78 mph.

 

Against lefthanded hitters, Hoffman showed tremendous feel for his improved changeup that was a legitimate plus offering. All but one of his 12 changeups were thrown to lefthanded hitters and all but two (83 percent) went for strikes. Twice Hoffman doubled up on changeups to lefthanded hitters to start the at-bat. Hoffman released his changeup from a lower arm slot than his fastball, which created fade and generated weak contact.

 

Although the 21-year-old Hoffman allowed four runs, only three were earned in his 6 2/3 innings, during which he allowed four hits. His third earned run occurred when he was pulled with two outs and a runner on second in the seventh inning, as Hoffman threw 87 pitches and had a 90-pitch limit. The baserunner scored on a hit surrendered by the reliever.

 

“You can’t walk away from this outing and not be impressed,” an American League scout said. “He is special. His changeup was a lot better today and he showed the ability to spot up his fastball where he wanted it.”

[A New Era]

Really seems like we're gonna end up with one of Kolek or Jackson. Works for me.

 

See I'm starting to think Beede or Turner. Though I'm on a "they probably want College dude" kick.

[A New Era]

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 3m

Theo: continue to draft primarily arms going forward. Maybe not with the first pick. We’ll see how it shakes out. After that, ...

 

Mark Gonzales ‏@MDGonzales 3m

... we’ll continue to hit that area of the draft."

 

Theo or McLeod also said something about 2 pitchers they are watching so either they like Beede or Hoffman as the 2nd guy who they hope falls. They obviously have Rodon as 1.

[Guest]

Rodon going today. Finally.

[A New Era]

I'm gonna try to record a game on TV with either Beede or Turner. Those are the guys I'm focusing on. While I like Kolek, and Gatewood, and a couple of others I remember this time last year I didn't know my Bryant from my Frazier. Picking this high in the draft I think the first thought process in drafting is, you want to see the college guys do real good, then have one of them available when you pick. Which is what happened with Bryant last year. It could happen with Turner or Beede for us this year.

[imb]

Rodon went 6, gave up 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

 

edit

Turner 3-4 with a SB.

[Guest]

Rodon went 6, gave up 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

 

edit

Turner 3-4 with a SB.

 

Rodon also hit 3 guys. Stuff was fine but his command was off.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Isn't it pretty much a lock right now than Rodon and Hoffman are going 1-2?

[Guest]

Isn't it pretty much a lock right now than Rodon and Hoffman are going 1-2?

 

Today is February 16th.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Isn't it pretty much a lock right now than Rodon and Hoffman are going 1-2?

 

Today is February 16th.

 

Yeah, hence right now. I'm aware a [expletive] load can happen between now and June.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Isn't it pretty much a lock right now than Rodon and Hoffman are going 1-2?

 

At this time last year, it was a lock that we were choosing between whoever dropped between Appel and Manaea.

[Guest]

Whitson struggled today but his stuff was back to his freshman level.

[A New Era]

My hope right now is we take whoever is the top college bat or arm left on the board. I'm hoping all of Rodon, Hoffman, Beede and Turner all have great years so there will be a great college player available for us no matter who the Sox and Marlins pick. Plus hoping for another college creeper (the good kind).

[Guest]

Some Trea Turner highlights that were posted on PSD

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/game-report-north-carolina-state-ss-trea-turner/ - From today

 

Then a couple of his defensive highlights that RammyFanny posted

 

 

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The last play on the BA link is amazing. That's MLB range *and* finishing the play at the end of his range.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

K, I'm fully on the Turner bandwagon. I'm sure nothing will change in four months either.

[Guest]

The last play on the BA link is amazing. That's MLB range *and* finishing the play at the end of his range.

 

Yep, nice to see the play everyone was going on about on Twitter yesterday.

[RammyFanny]

He's obviously never going to be a bodybuilder, but you can tell he put on some solid weight that hasn't affected his speed. He looks alot more "normal athletic" than skinny like I remember.