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ayaghmour2 · 03-12-2025, 06:34 PM

3rd Round, 51st Overall: SS Art Strait
School: Coalfield Cardinals
1963: .479/.537/.668, 214 PA, 17 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 56 RBI, 3 SB
Career: .479/.537/.668, 214 PA, 17 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 56 RBI, 3 SB

I probably should have picked a pitcher here, but we already grabbed two and we were running out of quality shortstops. With no John Butts, it made sense to go with Art Strait, though they aren't really similar players. Butts, the El Paso Methodist alum is probably the rangiest player in the draft, both in the infield and the outfield and the guy with one of the highest floors, but he's not very sure handed and acts like, well. A butt.

Strait meanwhile is more of a straight arrow, a high upside prospect who went from team manager to starting shortstop at his Tennessee high school, he was named captain of the baseball team. A leader on and off the field, he hit an impressive .479/.537/.668 with 78 runs, 56 RBIs, and 24 extra base hits. He's not the fastest guy, and if anything is a negative on the bases, but he's got the range for short with a lot of room for improvement. 18 in October, he has above average contact potential, able to put the ball in play often. Both Dixie and OSA think he "can be penciled in for a lion's share of starts at his position," and I hope they're both on to something. Dixie will get another look at him once he joins the organization, but what I like most so far is that both him and OSA note above average power. You can never have too much pop, and out stadium is perfect for guys that can clear the fence. I don't ever want Strait hitting the ball on the ground, he's not going to make anything out of it, but when he elevates good things can happen. The bat is good enough where he can move off of short and still be useful, as he'll remain a plus defender the infield. Add on the personality and at worst you have exactly the kind of guy you want mentoring star shortstops

4th Round, 71st Overall: C Clem Barney
School: Golden Gate Grizzlies
1963: .292/.355/.429, 248 PA, 10 2B, 7 HR, 42 RBI
Career: .292/.355/.429, 248 PA, 10 2B, 7 HR, 42 RBI

I completely overrode my scout with this one, as with all due respect, I think the scouts are crazy on this one. Both OSA and Dixie think that Barney is a bubble player who may never make the majors, which I think is absolutely laughable. I mean currently, "Bedrock Barney" is better then Milt Payne, and not that I'm saying Milt Payne is the barometer for quality, he literally only has a job because he's the most "successful" piece of the useless trading of prized Cougar draftee Jerry Smith and it's just a backup catching spot. The longwinded point is that if I had two years from now or even next year Clem Barney when this season started, he'd have a legit chance to be the backup catcher.

Instantly our best defensive catching prospect, the 21-year-old Cali kid is pretty much the best catcher overall, but the roster filler of Dave Marsh, who I like to pretend is only in the organization because he's Dixie's son, is technically a 5-4-5 while Clem is "only" a 4-4-5. No one is every going to steal off him, it'll be the pitcher, as our future catcher has an absolute cannon behind the plate. The blocking and framing are obviously elite as well, and as a college catcher I think he's probably no worse then ready for A ball. Some of these guys come fresh out of the box ready, as if anyone remembers Bob Mundy, he had a green arrow up to Chicago. Don't expect that here, he's got a lot of work needed with the bat, but he actually has offensive upside. He has a quick swing that will lead to solid contact, but averages much over .250 shouldn't be expected. Instead, his value will come from walks drawn and at bats extended, with the threat to hit a double or homer. As long as I don't rush him, I think we can develop him into at least a top-tier backup catcher, but I wouldn't dream of limiting his ceiling there. I think he can be an approximately 100 WRC+ hitter, and at a muscular 6'2'', 210, he could be a legit power threat. If everything works out like I'd like it to, this is a top-3 catcher, as he could be a Hal Kennedy with an even better glove. No need to get ahead of myself, but I really like think this pick will work out well for us, and at least makes it so I don't have to worry about a backup catcher anytime soon.

03-12-2025, 06:34 PM	#1617
ayaghmour2 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 3,010	1963 Draft: Rounds 3 and 4 3rd Round, 51st Overall: SS Art Strait School: Coalfield Cardinals 1963: .479/.537/.668, 214 PA, 17 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 56 RBI, 3 SB Career: .479/.537/.668, 214 PA, 17 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 56 RBI, 3 SB I probably should have picked a pitcher here, but we already grabbed two and we were running out of quality shortstops. With no John Butts, it made sense to go with Art Strait, though they aren't really similar players. Butts, the El Paso Methodist alum is probably the rangiest player in the draft, both in the infield and the outfield and the guy with one of the highest floors, but he's not very sure handed and acts like, well. A butt. Strait meanwhile is more of a straight arrow, a high upside prospect who went from team manager to starting shortstop at his Tennessee high school, he was named captain of the baseball team. A leader on and off the field, he hit an impressive .479/.537/.668 with 78 runs, 56 RBIs, and 24 extra base hits. He's not the fastest guy, and if anything is a negative on the bases, but he's got the range for short with a lot of room for improvement. 18 in October, he has above average contact potential, able to put the ball in play often. Both Dixie and OSA think he "can be penciled in for a lion's share of starts at his position," and I hope they're both on to something. Dixie will get another look at him once he joins the organization, but what I like most so far is that both him and OSA note above average power. You can never have too much pop, and out stadium is perfect for guys that can clear the fence. I don't ever want Strait hitting the ball on the ground, he's not going to make anything out of it, but when he elevates good things can happen. The bat is good enough where he can move off of short and still be useful, as he'll remain a plus defender the infield. Add on the personality and at worst you have exactly the kind of guy you want mentoring star shortstops 4th Round, 71st Overall: C Clem Barney School: Golden Gate Grizzlies 1963: .292/.355/.429, 248 PA, 10 2B, 7 HR, 42 RBI Career: .292/.355/.429, 248 PA, 10 2B, 7 HR, 42 RBI I completely overrode my scout with this one, as with all due respect, I think the scouts are crazy on this one. Both OSA and Dixie think that Barney is a bubble player who may never make the majors, which I think is absolutely laughable. I mean currently, "Bedrock Barney" is better then Milt Payne, and not that I'm saying Milt Payne is the barometer for quality, he literally only has a job because he's the most "successful" piece of the useless trading of prized Cougar draftee Jerry Smith and it's just a backup catching spot. The longwinded point is that if I had two years from now or even next year Clem Barney when this season started, he'd have a legit chance to be the backup catcher. Instantly our best defensive catching prospect, the 21-year-old Cali kid is pretty much the best catcher overall, but the roster filler of Dave Marsh, who I like to pretend is only in the organization because he's Dixie's son, is technically a 5-4-5 while Clem is "only" a 4-4-5. No one is every going to steal off him, it'll be the pitcher, as our future catcher has an absolute cannon behind the plate. The blocking and framing are obviously elite as well, and as a college catcher I think he's probably no worse then ready for A ball. Some of these guys come fresh out of the box ready, as if anyone remembers Bob Mundy, he had a green arrow up to Chicago. Don't expect that here, he's got a lot of work needed with the bat, but he actually has offensive upside. He has a quick swing that will lead to solid contact, but averages much over .250 shouldn't be expected. Instead, his value will come from walks drawn and at bats extended, with the threat to hit a double or homer. As long as I don't rush him, I think we can develop him into at least a top-tier backup catcher, but I wouldn't dream of limiting his ceiling there. I think he can be an approximately 100 WRC+ hitter, and at a muscular 6'2'', 210, he could be a legit power threat. If everything works out like I'd like it to, this is a top-3 catcher, as he could be a Hal Kennedy with an even better glove. No need to get ahead of myself, but I really like think this pick will work out well for us, and at least makes it so I don't have to worry about a backup catcher anytime soon.