OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

ayaghmour2 · 10-24-2021, 09:13 PM

8th Round, 119th Overall: LHP Bob Hobbs
School: Brookhaven
Commit School: Daniel Boone College
1939: 8-2, 101.1 IP, 1.78 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 27 BB, 117 K
Career: 24-5, 301 IP, 1.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 83 BB, 375 K

Potentially the last high school arm I select (there are a few college ones I have my eye on for the 9th and/or 10th Round), after a little debate, I grabbed lefty Bob Hobbs. He seemed to break out as a junior, going 9-1 with a 1.14 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 25 walks, and 143 strikeouts, but then returned to his 1937 form. Of course, that still meant a sub 2 ERA with a WHIP in the 1.00s, but his strikeouts dropped from a 12.5 K/9 to 10.4. He did, however, come closer to his 1938 BB/9 (2.2) rate then 1937 (2.9), and the six foot southpaw still started 14 games for the third consecutive season. He doesn't throw too hard now, just 84-86 with his fastball, but that, along with his change, are just average pitches. I expect with more velocity, those two pitches will start to look different, and he should see improvements in his stuff. Luckily, neither of those are his top offering, as Weinstock is a big fan of his curve, and OSA seems to agree it's a nice pitch. And of course, command issues may stand in his way, which could also lead to a few early exits in starts due to effectiveness or fatigue. Hobbs won't turn 18 until October, and with a lot of development left to go, he could push his way into a very back end rotation role. The 8th Round hasn't been the kindest to us, but Elias Canady, Elmer Hutchins, and Johnnie Williamson have all debuted, while our most recent pitcher in the 8th, Johnny Ruby ranks toward the back of the top 500. Expectations aren't high for Hobbs, but he has a few interesting tools that could help lead him to a long term role.

8th Round, 126th Overall: SS Connie Wright
School: Petersburg
1939: .285/.387/.392, 222 PA, 6 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 33 SB
Career: .289/.393/.390, 671 PA, 21 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 97 RBI, 107 SB

One of the guys I debated taking instead of Arnie Scurlock, I eventually went back to grab the other college shortstop I had my eye on, Connie Wright. He isn't as versatile as Scurlock, and didn't face as tough of competition, but my scout is a fan of both, and I love shortstops who can handle the glove. He can also handle third, second, and center, so I imagine left and right will be a cinch as well. Of course, Wright also happens to be a switch hitter, but his teammates care more about his effect in the locker room. His teammates tend to follow his lead, and that's exactly what you want from your shortstop. He didn't hit many extra base hits, but he had his share of homers, 4 in back-to-back seasons despite just over 20 career doubles. He has good speed as well, so I was a little surprised with the lack of doubles and triples, but my guess is he's not much of a gap hitter. He has a really good eye, which has gotten him as far as he has, but he'll really need to work in another average or better tool at the plate. His athleticism allows him a high floor, but his occasional shortcomings at the plate lower his ceiling as well. OSA thinks of him as a reserve, Tom as a supplement not star, while the mock thought we should have used Cleveland's fourth rounder on him. I think he'll be a useful bench bat, perhaps a Clyde Hinzman type utility player, but with much better leadership skills.

9th Round, 135th Overall: RHP King Price
School: Bluegrass State
1939: 7-5, 115 IP, 3.83 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 43 BB, 69 K
Career: 15-21, 344.2 IP, 1.45 WHIP, 117 BB, 188 K

There were about four equally uninspiring college arms I was looking at (one actually was the next pitcher taken), and I decided to take the King. He'll turn 22 in August, but the intelligent and well spoken King of Price improved each season he pitched for the prestigious Bluegrass State. Each season, his ERA and WHIP dropped as his K/9 and WAR rose. His last season was easily the best, the only he finished with a winning record and sub 4.00 ERA. Another sidearmer, Price gets excellent bite on his mid 80s cutter, but his best pitch is above average change. OSA thinks he has a nifty knuckle-curve too, and OSA even thinks his cutter is decent. His control can come and go, but if he is able to locate more of his pitches, he could develop into more then just a AAAA type inning eater. I'm a big fan of his stamina, and his pitches are very well developed, even for a college kid. If my hunch is right, my guess is he'll start up in San Jose, and with a lot of underdeveloped arms in A ball and above, he could move up the ladder rather fast.

10th Round, 151st Overall: SS Johnny Henson
School: Pittsburgh State
1939: .276/.321/.344, 315 PA, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 38 SB
Career: .270/.339/.390, 833 PA, 30 2B, 9 3B, 14 HR, 131 RBI, 110 SB

Another college shortstop! After an outstanding freshman year where he hit .272/.370/.452 with 7 homers and 46 RBIs in 266 trips to the plate, Henson looked well on his way to an early round selection. Unfortunately for him, however, his power never resurfaced, combining for seven the next two seasons, while his walks dropped and his strikeouts rose. He actually hit for a higher average this season, but his slugging and on base percentage also dropped in each season. Even with all that, I'm hoping there is still a little of the freshman Henson left in him. An excellent athlete, Henson looks like an above average defender at short, and he's gotten a lot of time at all three other infield spots as well. He is a bit of a free swinger at the plate, and it has caused increases in his strikeouts. I think he could develop into an interesting bench bat, while the mock thinks he was worthy of a late third round pick.

No more picks in the human portion, as Henson rounds out a sixteen man human draft class. There is a Chicagoan left I want to draft, but for the most part, not too many interesting options out there. I plan on throwing in a few impossible in the middle to later rounds of the AI draft to hopefully limit the late picks, but this will be Tom's first amateur draft, and I'm looking forward to seeing if he can find a few gems us mere humans missed.

10-24-2021, 09:13 PM	#636
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	1939 Draft: Round 8-10 8th Round, 119th Overall: LHP Bob Hobbs School: Brookhaven Commit School: Daniel Boone College 1939: 8-2, 101.1 IP, 1.78 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 27 BB, 117 K Career: 24-5, 301 IP, 1.55 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 83 BB, 375 K Potentially the last high school arm I select (there are a few college ones I have my eye on for the 9th and/or 10th Round), after a little debate, I grabbed lefty Bob Hobbs. He seemed to break out as a junior, going 9-1 with a 1.14 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 25 walks, and 143 strikeouts, but then returned to his 1937 form. Of course, that still meant a sub 2 ERA with a WHIP in the 1.00s, but his strikeouts dropped from a 12.5 K/9 to 10.4. He did, however, come closer to his 1938 BB/9 (2.2) rate then 1937 (2.9), and the six foot southpaw still started 14 games for the third consecutive season. He doesn't throw too hard now, just 84-86 with his fastball, but that, along with his change, are just average pitches. I expect with more velocity, those two pitches will start to look different, and he should see improvements in his stuff. Luckily, neither of those are his top offering, as Weinstock is a big fan of his curve, and OSA seems to agree it's a nice pitch. And of course, command issues may stand in his way, which could also lead to a few early exits in starts due to effectiveness or fatigue. Hobbs won't turn 18 until October, and with a lot of development left to go, he could push his way into a very back end rotation role. The 8th Round hasn't been the kindest to us, but Elias Canady, Elmer Hutchins, and Johnnie Williamson have all debuted, while our most recent pitcher in the 8th, Johnny Ruby ranks toward the back of the top 500. Expectations aren't high for Hobbs, but he has a few interesting tools that could help lead him to a long term role. 8th Round, 126th Overall: SS Connie Wright School: Petersburg 1939: .285/.387/.392, 222 PA, 6 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 35 RBI, 33 SB Career: .289/.393/.390, 671 PA, 21 2B, 3 3B, 10 HR, 97 RBI, 107 SB One of the guys I debated taking instead of Arnie Scurlock, I eventually went back to grab the other college shortstop I had my eye on, Connie Wright. He isn't as versatile as Scurlock, and didn't face as tough of competition, but my scout is a fan of both, and I love shortstops who can handle the glove. He can also handle third, second, and center, so I imagine left and right will be a cinch as well. Of course, Wright also happens to be a switch hitter, but his teammates care more about his effect in the locker room. His teammates tend to follow his lead, and that's exactly what you want from your shortstop. He didn't hit many extra base hits, but he had his share of homers, 4 in back-to-back seasons despite just over 20 career doubles. He has good speed as well, so I was a little surprised with the lack of doubles and triples, but my guess is he's not much of a gap hitter. He has a really good eye, which has gotten him as far as he has, but he'll really need to work in another average or better tool at the plate. His athleticism allows him a high floor, but his occasional shortcomings at the plate lower his ceiling as well. OSA thinks of him as a reserve, Tom as a supplement not star, while the mock thought we should have used Cleveland's fourth rounder on him. I think he'll be a useful bench bat, perhaps a Clyde Hinzman type utility player, but with much better leadership skills. 9th Round, 135th Overall: RHP King Price School: Bluegrass State 1939: 7-5, 115 IP, 3.83 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 43 BB, 69 K Career: 15-21, 344.2 IP, 1.45 WHIP, 117 BB, 188 K There were about four equally uninspiring college arms I was looking at (one actually was the next pitcher taken), and I decided to take the King. He'll turn 22 in August, but the intelligent and well spoken King of Price improved each season he pitched for the prestigious Bluegrass State. Each season, his ERA and WHIP dropped as his K/9 and WAR rose. His last season was easily the best, the only he finished with a winning record and sub 4.00 ERA. Another sidearmer, Price gets excellent bite on his mid 80s cutter, but his best pitch is above average change. OSA thinks he has a nifty knuckle-curve too, and OSA even thinks his cutter is decent. His control can come and go, but if he is able to locate more of his pitches, he could develop into more then just a AAAA type inning eater. I'm a big fan of his stamina, and his pitches are very well developed, even for a college kid. If my hunch is right, my guess is he'll start up in San Jose, and with a lot of underdeveloped arms in A ball and above, he could move up the ladder rather fast. 10th Round, 151st Overall: SS Johnny Henson School: Pittsburgh State 1939: .276/.321/.344, 315 PA, 10 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 38 SB Career: .270/.339/.390, 833 PA, 30 2B, 9 3B, 14 HR, 131 RBI, 110 SB Another college shortstop! After an outstanding freshman year where he hit .272/.370/.452 with 7 homers and 46 RBIs in 266 trips to the plate, Henson looked well on his way to an early round selection. Unfortunately for him, however, his power never resurfaced, combining for seven the next two seasons, while his walks dropped and his strikeouts rose. He actually hit for a higher average this season, but his slugging and on base percentage also dropped in each season. Even with all that, I'm hoping there is still a little of the freshman Henson left in him. An excellent athlete, Henson looks like an above average defender at short, and he's gotten a lot of time at all three other infield spots as well. He is a bit of a free swinger at the plate, and it has caused increases in his strikeouts. I think he could develop into an interesting bench bat, while the mock thinks he was worthy of a late third round pick. No more picks in the human portion, as Henson rounds out a sixteen man human draft class. There is a Chicagoan left I want to draft, but for the most part, not too many interesting options out there. I plan on throwing in a few impossible in the middle to later rounds of the AI draft to hopefully limit the late picks, but this will be Tom's first amateur draft, and I'm looking forward to seeing if he can find a few gems us mere humans missed.