[ayaghmour2]

8th Round, 116th Overall: SS Archie Cunningham
School: Carolina Poly Cardinals
1948: .270/.355/.370, 218 PA, 6 2B, 5 3B, HR, 30 RBI, 37 SB
Career: .275/.348/.368, 429 PA, 11 2B, 9 3B, 2 HR, 64 RBI, 71 SB

On draft day, Dick Cunningham looked to be the more talented Cunningham brother. Now? It looks like Archie is the better prospect. One of the few guys to have a better 1948, Archie improved his OBP, slugging, and extra base hit numbers with more steals, more walks, and a higher WAR. "A.C." even makes an appearance on the mock draft, slotting in as the 8th pick in the 2nd round. That's the highest of any of our draftees on my initial mock draft, which is surprising because I don't think Archie is nearly that good. There's a chance he had a great spring, but he's just 66 on Dixie Marsh's position player list I'd split the difference on that, as Archie is an extremely valuable piece, even if it comes without much upside. He's a switch hitting shortstop and they don't make better utility players then that. He's no wiz with the glove, and you may not want him playing much short in the big leagues, but he's more then capable on athleticism alone. He's as fast as it gets and has the arm to make the move to third or right. With little power that's not ideal, and I only really plan to have him play short this year. Him and Dick could rise quickly through our system, and it will be fun to watch them play the middle infield together.

8th Round, 116th Overall: 2B Johnnie Love
School: Bluegrass State Mustangs
1948: .264/.328/.423, 265 PA, 11 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 39 RBI, 40 SB
Career: .272/.338/.413, 784 PA, 33 2B, 18 3B, 10 HR, 110 RBI, 114 SB

Bluegrass State ranks as the #1 school in the nation and they got plenty of production from their three year starter. Johnnie Love hit .264 with career high's in homers, RBIs, and stolen bases. Love was a nice supplement to All-American's Jim Urquhart (.328, 4, 50, 36) and Hank Estill (.281, 17, 58, 15), both of which were taken in the first round. Love isn't on their level, but the switch hitting middle infielder plays solid defense and hits the ball hard. He may develop strikeout issues as he faces better pitchers, but he makes enough contact it shouldn't hold him back. He's best when he's putting the ball on base, as his speed puts pressure on the defense and he can beat out many of his grounders if it's a tough play or the fielder makes a mistake. He's got a tough path ahead, but he loves the game and could work his way onto a big league bench.

9th Round, 132nd Overall: LHP Joe Oates
School: Narragansett Navigators
1948: 5-5, 96.2 IP, 4.28 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 51 BB, 72 K
Career: 13-10, 220.1 IP, 4.08 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 115 BB, 167 K

Year two didn't go so well for southpaw Joe Oates, who went 5-5 with a 4.28 ERA and 72 strikeouts. The hardworking Oates is still a soft tosser, and with his flyball tendencies that could mean two things. He'll either get pounded because his pitches are hittable, or he'll have good enough stuff that it's not easy to hit very far. He can be an effective pitcher with a developed change up, but if he continues to struggle with his command it won't matter too much. With a lot of interesting pitchers in the system, I may keep him in the San Jose or Lincoln pen to get his feet warm. In the minors relievers do pitch more and he could still get decent innings. Until he improves his repertoire short stints may be better, as lineups could get used to him quickly. His work ethic will allow him to hang around, but he does have a few pathways to a starting spot.

9th Round, 135th Overall: C Sam Bird
School: Northwest Knights
Commit School: Central Ohio-Ashland Eagles
1948: .420/.482/.590, 114 PA, 11 2B, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 6 SB
Career: .411/.473/.589, 467 PA, 33 2B, 4 3B, 10 HR, 114 RBI, 18 SB

Our first and only catcher, Naperville's Sam Bird hit .420 with 11 doubles and 29 RBIs. Son of legendary backstop Tom Bird, Sam's potential resembled as 18-year-old Tom, not the eventual 10-Time All Star, but there's a lot to like about the young backstop. He's a strong kid who could eventually hit for decent power, but he's already displayed the excellent plate discipline that made Tom as great as he was. Sam drew 50 walks and struck out just 21 times, and he should be able to do that in the minors. What could separate him from other catchers is if he can play solid defense. He'll start his Cougar career in a timeshare in La Crosse, but with Garland Phillips in the system and Eddie Howard in the majors, he may need to get used to limited playing time.

10th Round, 148th Overall: RF Gene Dibblee
School: Canton State Bulldogs
1948: .278/.328/.350, 289 PA, 8 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 42 RBI, 35 SB
Career: .281/.339/.350, 779 PA, 22 2B, 3 3B, 7 HR, 112 RBI, 106 SB

Another legacy pick, I could not pass up Gene Dibblee, and with three tenth rounders it wasn't a high cost to do so. The son of the legendary John Dibblee, who is the Cougars all-time leader in games (3,009), hits (3,913), OBP (.425), slugging (.509), OPS (.934), WAR (181.9), runs (1,940), total bases (5,763), doubles (561), triples (517), RBIs (1,528), steals (752), and walks (1,535). Some of these seem unbreakable, and I can guarantee you that if one does get broken, it won't be by Gene. The 22-year-old Chicagoan hit just 32 extra base hits in 154 games at Canton State. He did inherit his dad's speed, as Gene swiped 40 bags last year and 106 in total, and it's easily his greatest tool. He isn't expected to hit much, but I'm okay keeping him in the organization as a depth guy. It could make for a nice storyline if he works his way up to the big leagues, but I don't think that opportunity will come.

10th Round, 151st Overall: RHP Nick Tomlinson
School: Mobile Leopards
Commit School: Bayou State College Cougars
1948: 9-1, 107 IP, 2.10 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 39 BB, 118 K
Career: 36-7, 473 IP, 1.88 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 150 BB, 562 K

Purely a project pick, Nick Tomlinson is a 6'4'' righty who throws a fastball, curve, and cutter .If he pitches in the 90s, he could be really good. If he doesn't get much higher then 87, he might not have much of a pitching career. Tomlinson didn't have the best high school career, seeing his ERA and WHIP rise in each of his four seasons. I was really hoping he'd break that trend as a senior, but there were know noticeable improvements. I had some homes as he was throwing a mile faster as a senior, but he actually set personal worsts in strikeouts and K%. I'm somewhat debating letting Tomlinson go to Bayou State, but I think he'll end up soaking up some innings in the Lions pen.

10th Round, 156th Overall: LF Johnnie Cloud
School: Eastern Oklahoma Pioneers
1948: .282/.362/.458, 300 PA, 11 2B, 3B, 11 HR, 59 RBI, 30 SB
Career: .276/.367/.458, 882 PA, 30 2B, 3 3B, 33 HR, 162 RBI, 102 SB

The last of seventeen picks, Johnnie Cloud checks in as a 5th Rounder on the initial mock draft and helped sneak Eastern Oklahoma into the tournament. As the 16 seed, he will square off against Johnnie Love, but this Johnnie will be far more important to his team's success. Cloud hit 11 homers, scored 55 runs, and drove in 59. If the Pioneers want any chance of upsetting the one thing they'll need a big showing from their slugger. The power is what attracted me to Cloud, but he also has a good eye and makes consistent contact. If he's going to make it to the big leagues, it'll be the bat that carries him, but despite being a primary left fielder he has spent time in center and right. He's one of the more developed players we added, and could potentially go straight to A ball. Injuries will determine how much he plays, but the 22-year-old will get a few starts somewhere.