UK1679666180

The Yankeed draft Venditte again.

Jones had an impressive freshman season in 2006 for Louisiana Tech, hitting .356-16-56 and winning five games on the mound—for added measure. He struggled to duplicate that success as a sophomore, however, hitting just .297-5-36 while winning only twice. But he was hampered all season with what was initially diagnosed as a pulled groin, causing him to miss two weeks and limiting his ability to utilize his 6.7 speed. He struck out in his only at-bat during the summer in the Cape Cod League, before shutting it down for good. Finally, on a visit to his eighth different doctor, Jones was diagnosed with a double hernia and he had surgery in August to correct the ailment. The 6-foot-5 Jones has plenty of tools and could be drafted as either a hitter or pitcher. As a position player, he has above-average power and arm strength; as a pitcher, he’s been clocked at 92 mph and combines his fastball with a 12-to-6 curveball and changeup. He’s starting in right field and hitting in the 3 or 4 hole for the Bulldogs this spring, while occupying the No. 3 spot in the rotation.—ALLAN SIMPSON UDATE (5/15): This spring began with high hopes for Louisiana Tech and its two individual stars, Jones and Luke Burnett, but fell far short of expectations. While the Bulldogs went 23-31 and Burnett (No. 3 above) couldn’t get anyone out and was eventually removed from the rotation, Jones filled his two-way role and consistently flashed some of the tools that have always intrigued scouts. While Jones’ numbers as a hitter (.364-13-46) were better than his pitching (5-5, 5.80 in 68 innings), scouts seem to like Jones better as a pitcher. His build and easy, low-90s velocity are projectable and Jones has never concentrated on pitching, one of the reasons that he is still raw in his approach and with his secondary pitches. As a hitter, Jones has a long swing and is prone to contact problems against better stuff

The 5-foot-9 Macias is a bundle of energy in a small package, and was a catalyst atop the Vanderbilt batting order this season, leading the Commodores in batting (.365) and base hits as they began SEC tournament play. He also showed surprising power, hitting seven home runs with a team-best 126 total bases. Macias is solid in all phases but his best tool is his defensive ability. He’s an excellent center fielder with a strong, accurate arm, and is so athletic that he can practically play any position on the field, and could well end up at second base, or even shortstop, down the road. Of Venezuelan descent, Macias’ ability to speak fluent Spanish will make him a welcome addition in any minor league organization.

Beliveau spent two years at the College of Charleston before transferring down to Florida Atlantic. A product of the highly-successful Bishop Hendricken High program in Rhode Island, Beliveau is an excellent athlete who could have been a two-way player as a collegian under different circumstances—and did play some in the outfield as a freshman. This year has been a mixed bag for the lefthander. He went 4-3, 3.71 through games of mid-May, allowing only 50 hits in 70 innings to go with 72 strikeouts. On the other hand, Beliveau walked 73 hitters. The bottom line is that while his stuff is very difficult to hit, he has an equally difficult time throwing it strikes. His fastball will touch the low 90s, but has so much late life that it often takes the pitch right out of the strike zone. He throws a hard curveball from a high three-quarters release point that is difficult to hit, too, and equally hard to put over the plate on a consistent basis. Beliveau’s athletic ability and his clean injury history, plus his proven ability to continually go high in a pitch count, are all pluses that teams will consider to balance off his control issues.

Nothing from me either.

TB selects Tim Beckham's older brother.

I got nada on him.

How long is this break?

Coleman was the key recruit for the new Florida Gulf Coast baseball program three years ago and has not disappointed, leading the team since the start of his freshman year both on the mound and in the field. FGC upgraded to provisional NCAA Division I status this spring and topped the Atlantic Sun Conference most of the spring, though will not be eligible for post-season play. The son of former Detroit Tigers 20-game winner Joe Coleman, the third overall pick in the 1965 draft, and grandson of former Philadelphia Phillies righthander Joe Coleman, Casey has an opportunity to make baseball history as there are only a handful of three-generation families that have played Major League Baseball—the Boones and Bells being the most famous. Like his father and grandfather, Coleman’s future is on the mound despite his ability to play shortstop and third base. Coleman’s fastball was up to 94 mph this spring as the FGC Friday starter. He understandably has an advanced idea how to pitch, given his background, and uses his curveball and changeup well. Giving up full-time infield duty should add some consistency to his command and stuff at the next level as Colemen tends to be more erratic with his command than he should be at this point. Coleman went 6-3, 4.57 with 52 strikeouts in 63 innings this spring (through mid-May) and hit .312-5-32.—

Big and strong with an electric arm and an aggressive demeanor, McDaniel had just a mediocre 2008 season. He pumped steady 92-93 mph fastballs but got hit hard as his secondary stuff is below average and he struggled to command all his pitches. McDaniel, an Oklahoma State recruit, was primarily a position player in high school and had little inclination to develop a breaking ball or change, and they remain at an elementary stage of development.

Nice pick by TB with McKenna

Campana has one exceptional tool: game-changing speed. He ran a league-best 6.31 seconds in the 60 at the Great Lakes League all-star game last summer, and led the league with 24 stolen bases. He also stole 60 bases, second in the nation, during his junior year at Cincinnati. Like big leaguer Juan Pierre, he makes good contact as primarily a slap hitter. He doesn’t offer much power (only seven extra-base hits in 2007), but he can work counts and take a walk. He will also drop a bunt in his leadoff role, but his upside at the plate is limited as he is so small that he struggles to get the ball out of the infield on the fly. He hit .349-0-11 on the summer, earning Great Lakes League all-star honors. Campana was the league’s best base stealer, even as he was caught stealing a league-high nine times. His speed also plays well in center field but his arm is considered just adequate.—ALLAN SIMPSON UPDATE (5/15): With Campana, it’s all about speed. He was the same player this spring that he’s always been. He stole a team-best 44 bases in 55 attempts, while hitting .338-1-28. His bat will limit him. He shows a better swing and a more patient approach to hitting in BP, but rarely brings those qualities into games. He’s jumpy at the plate and is prone to chasing pitches. Campana plays exceptionally hard, a trait that endears him to scouts. As a senior sign, he could sneak into the top10 rounds.—

I don't know much about this stuff but would he be comparable to Fontenot probably? On paper, yes. But Fontenot was drafted much higher.

Opitz has been a four-year starter for the Cornhuskers at second base, with more than 200 career starts to his credit. He’s a lefthanded hitter who has gradually developed some gap power (.335-8-45, 15 2B) with the bat. Opitz is limited to second base by his arm strength but has good quickness and range, and is especially quick getting rid of the ball on the double play. He’s developed a reputation as a gamer and leader while at Nebraska, and should be a good senior-sign type of pick

White his teammate Aaron Barrett (No. 6 above) is much further ahead in his development, scouts believe the 6-foot-5 Matchulat may have the higher upside. He struggled with his mechanics and command as a freshman, but flashed three impressive pitches, including an 89-93 mph and an outstanding tight curve with sharp bite and a strong finish. He got just limited exposure, working both as a starter and closer, and went 4-1, 3.00. In 30 innings, he walked 27 but allowed just 18 hits while striking out 33. He lacks control of his tall, gangly frame, and it will take time before it all comes together for him.—

Wilson was primed to become an early-round pick in this year’s draft after going 13-3, 3.78 with 143 strikeouts in 138 innings as a freshman at Winthrop, and following up with a solid 6-4, 2.51 record with 97 strikeouts in 111 innings as a sophomore—accomplished mainly on the strength of a fastball in the 92-95 mph range. But those hopes were pretty much dashed when he felt discomfort in his pitching elbow in two brief appearances last summer in the Cape Cod League and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery. He would have been lost for the entire 2008 season anyway, but he elected to transfer from Winthrop to Texas A&M. He could still be drafted in a prominent round by a team prepared to monitor his progress during the summer, but his immediate future is uncertain. In all probability, he will pitch for Texas A&M in 2009. His loss was the second critical blow for Winthrop as righthander Jason Franzblau, who went 8-4, 3.13 last year as a co-ace with Wilson, chose to transfer to Arizona State rather than return to Winthrop for his junior year—though Franzblau is nowhere near the prospect Wilson is. Wilson’s secondary stuff, a 70-73 mph curve and 79-81 mph slider, is a marginal complement to his fastball. That pitch and his aggressive approach are his strengths.—ALLAN SIMPSON UPDATE (5/15): Wilson has made a quick and strong comeback from TJ surgery and threw a bullpen for scouts in early May where he touched 94 mph. More such bullpens will certainly be thrown leading up to the draft. Wilson has plans to pitch at Falmouth in the Cape this summer and any team drafting him is sure to follow him there to further gauge his health and progress. But the early velocity that Wilson showed is sure to spike interest among scouts who saw him dominate in 2006 and 2007

Regarded as the best overall athlete in the Great Lakes League last summer, Jackson began the GLL season primarily as a center fielder but soon made more of an impact on the mound. His fastball routinely hit 91-92 mph and showed excellent movement. Jackson also threw a solid slider with bite and a two-plane curveball, and began developing a changeup. In 37 innings in the GLL, he went 5-0, 1.96 with just six walks and 38 strikeouts, earning a place on the league all-star team as a pitcher. Jackson also has intriguing potential as a position player, though he hit just .196-2-15 with 28 strikeouts in 102 at-bats last summer (a falloff from the .289-6-31 numbers he posted at Furman in the spring). At the Great Lakes League all-star game, he ran the 60 in 6.5 seconds—the third fastest time posted. He also showed flashes of above-average power.—ALLAN SIMPSON UPDATE (5/15): Jackson was used both ways again this spring for Furman, but his performance on the mound left little doubt about the role he’ll pursue at the professional level. In 90 regular-season innings, he went 9-2, 2.81 with 35 walks and 87 strikeouts. His stuff was similar to what he showed last summer. His delivery was also free and easy, though he is in needs of developing strength in his lower half. Jackson played center field when he didn’t pitch and hit .325-8-30. His athleticism was apparent on both the mound and in the field, and his velocity could climb down the road, possibly to the mid-90s, as he adds strength and concentrates only on pitching.

Leverton entered Texas Tech as a first baseman/outfielder and started as a freshman, hitting .285-5-35. He and his high school teammate, Roger Kieschnick, looked like they would key the Tech lineup for three years. But when Leverton didn’t improve on his offense as a sophomore, especially his power (.290-3-25, only 10 extra-base hits), the decision was made to put his strong left arm on the mound, where he had dabbled a bit out of the bullpen. Leverton was an immediate success this season as a set-up man to teammate Zach Stewart, going 2-3 with a team-leading 3.70 ERA in 31 appearances. Scouts were frustrated following him because Leverton rarely threw more than an inning on a staff that had a 6.34 ERA, and it was difficult getting a good read on him, especially considering his lack of pitching background. What they did see, though, was a loose-armed lefthander who would pitch at 89-91 mph, touching 92, with an upper-70s slurve-type breaking ball. He also had a pretty good idea how to throw strikes and get hitters out, too. Leverton turned 22 in May and scouts feel that he needs to get out this year as a junior and develop his pitching skills as a professional.

The three major college programs in the state, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Oral Roberts, all had high-profile transfer catchers join their programs this spring and Flores was the best of the three. He played at Houston for two seasons, splitting time between the mound (1-1, 6.10) and behind the plate (.263-9-24), with mixed success. Though he was 6-0 at Houston as a freshman with a lively 90-mph fastball, Flores gave up pitching this spring to concentrate on his catching duties, although he did throw a couple of mop-up innings. As a catcher, Flores is an intense competitor with great baseball savvy. His arm strength was among the best in the country, and he is a quick, agile receiver despite his strong, blocky build. Offensively, Flores flashed raw power occasionally, but is best when he’s working counts and using what the pitcher gives him. He hit .299-5-31 with 39 walks this year (entering NCAA regional play), consistent with his previous output. He’ll be drafted because of his defensive and leadership skills.—DAVID RAWNSLEY

The three major college programs in the state, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Oral Roberts, all had high-profile transfer catchers join their programs this spring and Flores was the best of the three. He played at Houston for two seasons, splitting time between the mound (1-1, 6.10) and behind the plate (.263-9-24), with mixed success. Though he was 6-0 at Houston as a freshman with a lively 90-mph fastball, Flores gave up pitching this spring to concentrate on his catching duties, although he did throw a couple of mop-up innings. As a catcher, Flores is an intense competitor with great baseball savvy. His arm strength was among the best in the country, and he is a quick, agile receiver despite his strong, blocky build. Offensively, Flores flashed raw power occasionally, but is best when he’s working counts and using what the pitcher gives him. He hit .299-5-31 with 39 walks this year (entering NCAA regional play), consistent with his previous output. He’ll be drafted because of his defensive and leadership skills.—DAVID RAWNSLEY

It's threads like these that bring on trolls. Every message board has some off the wall statements towards opposing teams and their players. Calling them out here, about that board would more than likely only bring them here in a combative manner and nothing worth a damn would come from it. This board is far from above that concerning Sox and Cards players.

It was just a good way to get the kids watching to pay extra attention to what he is about to say. I know when I was a little ankle biter and he would say that, that I would listen more and process what he was about to say.

Both have their positives and negatives. Stone came across as more of a know-it-all, nothing really endearing about how he analyzes the game, but he does analyze the game in more of an advanced manner where you don't feel like it is broadcast for the casual fan or someone just learning the game. Brenly lets the game come to him better where he describing what is happening without diverting from what is happening out there. Unfort., when I listen I feel like I'm being talked to as if I was 8 years old again. I loved Stone's for all you youngsters.

Because it's not about the Cubs' development, it's more about fickle nature of pitchers. Especially for a position where they have someone performing very well. The difference between Navi and Salty isn't worth the cost of top arm. I think TB should do their best to keep these arms until it is sorted out as to who'll stick in the rotation, who'll end up in the pen, and who'll get hurt. Once it is sorted out, then they trade the 2nd tier arms to improve and hopefully those 2nd tier arms would be considered top prospects as well. Similar to the Yankees around '00, they had Soriano and D'Angelo Jiminez who were both top 2B/SS prospects, they knew Soriano was the better of the two and traded Jiminez and kept Soriano until a bigger trade presented itself (A-Rod).

Sometimes I think the ability to think rationally loses out to the ability to be the armchair GM (or scouting director in this case).