One of the facets of the game I enjoy digging deepest into and having the most fun with is the draft. This is one of the areas I assume will differentiate this blog from others as much of the commenting is my actual thoughts on player development and drafting.
2005 JUNE DRAFT
This is the first ever draft for us and we have the #1 overall pick. We are on the clock and it's actually unanimous. Despite the questions around his health starter Joe Linn is the 'no-brainer'. Some other concerns have now cropped up. He is looking for a 2.8 million dollar bonus and the recommended slot is 1.38 million. We have the cash to reach in this draft but I was hoping NOT to do it on our 1st rounder. I'm stuck between Steve Eisentrout and 3B Ben Chase out of Texas Tech. While he is the #1 prospect Chad Lawrence is also a reliever. Huge arm but no chance I spend the 1st pick on a pen arm. Notice the plethora of corner infield bats too.
I'll follow this round until these 10 guys are picked and then stick with my picks for a few rounds.
(#) = prospect ranking by OSA.
After free agency this year there are just 21 picks in the 1st round. A further 8 in the sup round before we pick again at 30. We pick 1, 30 56, 85, 101 in the first 4 rounds.
1:
Florida –
Joe Linn RHP Michigan State University 6'2” 195 lbs 21 yr 57 days.
I will meet his 2.8 demand and get the ball rolling. I think he's ready for AA now but I will get him a few starts in Frederick before that.
2: St Louis –
Ben Chase 3B (4) Texas Tech
3: Wisconsin –
Tyshawn Ogarro 1B (9) Wisconsin Badgers
4: Kansas City – Joe Austin LHP Wake Forest
(Huge arm, but a bullpen guy with no 3rd pitch)
5: Jacksonville - Chad Mohr 1B Miami Hurricanes
(Had this guy on our board too, love him)
6: Phoenix –
Zach Page RHP (2) Texas A&M
7: Chicago – Eric Mitchell 1B Boston College
(This guy was nowhere to be found on our 1st 5 rd board) BTW BC won the NCAA title this year over Florida State
8: New England – Steve Eisentrout 1B Northwestern
(Guy I would have taken 1st overall)
9: Ohio – Ismael Saldan 1B Texas Tech
(2nd TT player taken in top 9)
10: Brooklyn – Eric Cox LHP Minnesota
(another guy we like but another 2 pitch reliever)
11: San Diego – Mike Topolski 1B Texas
12: Portland –
Juan Ramos RHP (3) Kansas State
(a guy our scouts weren't that high on but I loved. 6'7')
13: Oklahoma –
Dave Grohs 1B (7) Miami
(13 picks in 7 1B and 1 3B 5 Pitchers)
14: Las Vegas –
Kody Pollock RHP (5) Georgia Tech
(Love the arm, but a starter in a 5'11” body 14th overall?)
15: New York –
Dave Haynes RHP (8) Clemson
(Big arm HUGE command issues now and we think in the future)
16: Pittsburgh – Jonathan Claypool LHP Illinois
(starter, awesome change, but 5'10”)
17: Minnesota – Mike Moss RHP Texas
18: San Francisco –
Zach Sheppard (6) 1B Minnesota
Think this was a steal. This kids actually going to be a 2B our scouts think, who will hit and has great speed.
19: Los Angeles – Jon Girard RHP Georgia Tech
DAMN! LA grabs a kid who we think is going to be incredibly successful as a knuckleballer. That now begs the question on Givens. The only other legit prospect with a knuckleball and many believe it can be as good or better than this kid. Where does he slot?
20: Texas – Rob Monrose 2B University of Arizona
First true middle infielder to go. Also notice not a single OF has gone yet. FWIW we didn't have this kid anywhere near the 1st round.
21: Detroit – Jeremy Pannebaker 3B Maryland
That's the end of round 1. The OSA's top ranked prospect is still on the board. If by some incredible twist of fate Mendoza is there that's our target. A legit 2 way talent. Robbie Givens the Knuckleballer is on our list too. 6'7” Mark Carpenter is also on our list of hopefuls.
SUPPLEMENTAL ROUND
1. Milwaukee - Josh Miles 2B Washington State
2. Jaxonville – Jarrod Calhoun RHP Stanford
3. Ohio – Layne Meloche SS Penn State
4. Texas –
Jeff Lewis LF (10) Indiana
(first OF to go in the draft) Lawrence now remains as the only top 10 prospect on the pre-draft board.
5. Chicago – Harland Daig SS Arizona State
6. Los Angeles – Jeff Faulkner RHP U of North Carolina
7. Denver – Chris Feggins SS Duke
8. Chicago – Davon Legion SS Florida State
Ok wow. I wasn't expecting ALL THREE of the guys I was looking at to be there. Our scouts are screaming for triple digit lefty Chad Lawrence. I just don't think a reliever is the right pick A) this early and B) for our needs. I think I've proven that this league has a plethora of relievers available almost year round. I don't think the 2nd round is the place to get one. That being said he's a Billy Wagner type arm in my opinion but his below average control now, and as a projection, makes this a no-brainer of a NO on him right here. I'm taking the guy I am stunned is still around. And if by some miracle either one of the other two arms are there I will absolutely jump on them to start round 3.
2nd ROUND
1.
Florida –
3B/SP Arturo Mendoza
St Louis grabs Lawrence with the very next pick.
3rd – Mike Carpenter RHP Kansas State 6'7” beast with advanced skills already.
4th – Chris Baggett LF/RF UCLA very different case. Kid was behind all american and didn't get AB's but if our scouts are to be believed he has insane raw power and a great eye.
5th – Teagan Beairsto 2B Indiana U uses the bat like a katana. Can bunt his way on with blazing speed
6th – Ignacio Camargo SS Illinois already a ML defender at SS. Has hit very little but our scouts honestly think he's a potential middle of the order bat. Biggest discrepancy in the draft between OSA and our guys. Guess we'll find out if the salary is being earned.
7th – Marc Gammel 3B Virginia Tech Another large chasm between our scouts and OSA here. OSA thinks very little of this kid and our scouts love him
8th – Dave Weller RF Minnesota Olympic track star speed with a cannon of an arm.
9th – Chris Brodman IF/OF Oklahoma Huge utility potential defensively and our scouts honestly think he's a potential .400 OBP with 30 homer pop. Why do I sound surprised? He hit .193 this year. Our guys have been recommending him since the 4th round.
10th – Dave Conover 2B Kansas State
11th – Eric Duson C Ohio State
12th – Sergio Medina LHP Georgia Tech another guy our scouts disagree with OSA on. They've wanted him since round 7
13th – Mike Stauffer C Purdue our guys wanted him before Duson 2 rounds ago
14th – Dave Briones RHP Texas Tech
15th - Jon Persinger LF Indiana U
16th – Bobby Lapenna RHP Nebraska
17th – Jeremy Moorefield 1B/OF Wake Forest
18th – Robbie Givens RHP Kansas State Scouts love his knuckler but do not believe he will ever gain command of it. We'll find out
19th – Chris Weiss C Maryland
20th – Jake LeClerc RHP Purdue