Mike Piazza was a 62nd round pick, and the only reason Lasorda took him was as a favor to Piazza's relative (I forget which one exactly). Why can't we catch that? Maybe because....Piazza is the exception and not the rule. Name another player from rds 45-60 who is likely going to the HOF? Heck name another from rds 45-60, who is EVEN playing in the majors? Well, since 1998 the MLB has limited the draft to 50 rounds, that limits a lot of "current" players who were in the 45-60 range. Yes Mike Piazza is an exception to the trend. But so are Keith Hernandez (rd 42 1971), Kenny Rogers (rd 39, 1982), Jeff Conine (rd 58, 1987), Isringhausen (rd 44, 1991), and Mark Buehrle (rd 37, 1998). And just as an aside, Scott Seabol, who was on the 2001 Yankees AL-Champions, was an 88th round pick. I drew my line in the sand at rd 35, because no matter where you draw it, it's rather arbitrary. These guys are exceptions. But looking at draft histories, the success of 1st rounders while becoming more commonly contributors in the Majors, success isn't a guarantee at all. Many of them never make it at all. And yet...only Buehrle is the only one that COULD be a HOF when it is said and done. The point is....somebody wonder why the Cubs couldn't catch a break and find a Mike Piazza late in the draft, and all I said was...the Dodgers were pretty much lucky in finding Piazza.