[Westheim]

2014 DRAFT POOL ANALYSIS

There’s two things in the 2014 draft pool, only two things, but lots of those: starting pitchers and outfielders. You’re hoping for your future franchise catcher or third baseman? Better luck next year. Luckily the Coons might have Nunley, and will definitely have a better chance on a great catcher if they bake themselves one and cover him in chocolate.

There’s at least a dozen very promising young pitchers in the draft, and while the choice among outfielders will not be quite as rich, there’s still the odd potential future slugger in the mix there, although notably you might have to sacrifice on defense on a number of guys here.

Here is Juan Calderón’s hotlist:

SP Andrew Gudeman (15/12/14) – BNN #8
SP Roger Kincheloe (14/13/12) – BNN #5
SP Tommy Weintraub (13/18/11)
SP Sid Fletcher (13/13/11)
SP Seth Powers (13/12/13)
SP James Silmon (13/13/12)
SP Corey Samora (12/13/11)

CL Frank Blewett (15/12/12)
CL Harry Merwin (12/15/12)

INF John Muller (14/12/13) – BNN #9
1B Ryan Crissinger (9/13/11) – BNN #6
2B Todd Jankowski (11/10/10) – BNN #3 – is listed as second baseman, but Calderón does not like how he fields, moves, or even lies down

RF/LF/1B Matt Hamilton (12/12/12) – BNN #10
LF/CF Brad Tesch (10/11/12) – BNN #1
OF Jason Gerling (11/10/11)
OF Todd Sanborn (11/10/11) – BNN #7
OF/2B/3B Travis Givens (10/9/11)

The only BNN Top Ten missing on our hotlist are SP Jeremiah Goodman, whom we have somewhere in that top dozen SP’s in the draft, and OF Nick Holt, whom Calderón only wants to talk about in snorting sounds.

There are a few C/1B types that might want to try their luck at either position, but none of them are very good at catching or at slugging. The only exception for the former might be 1B/C Kody Giles, but he also has among the worst defense. Given that we currently have more catchers in the system that I really like, we probably will completely abstain from drafting any catcher unless f.e. Giles falls to a middle round (fifth/sixth) where you can shrug and fire off a pick and release two other poor sods.

The Raccoons will have the #16 pick as their first selection. However, due to some odd quirks (a handful of compensation-eligible free agents retiring, and another handful being 40 or over and not getting another deal) the supplemental is the smallest in memory (only 13 picks) and thus the Coons’ two second-round picks will be quite valuable as well. They also have a supplemental round pick (courtesy of losing … sob! … Yoshi Nomura), and will have three picks in the first 50, and another pick in the first 60.

The draft will take place Sunday in two weeks.