MLB Draft Thread

Today and tomorrow.

50 rounds of players you've never heard of who won't make an impact for at least 3 years, if any at all. But that won't stop anyone from critiquing a team's draft. So have at it!

1. Arizona
2. Kansas City
3. Seattle
4. Washington
5. Milwaukee
6. Toronto
7. Colorado
8. Tampa Bay
9. New York Mets
10. Detroit
11. Pittsburgh
12. Cincinnati
13. Baltimore
14. Cleveland
15. Chicago White Sox
16. Florida
17. New York Yankees (from Philadelphia for Type B Jon Lieber)
18. San Diego
19. Texas
20. Chicago Cubs
21. Oakland
22. Florida (from San Francisco for Type A Armando Benitez)
23. Boston (from Los Angeles Angels for Type A Orlando Cabrera)
24. Houston
25. Minnesota
26. Boston (from Los Angeles Dodgers for Type A Derek Lowe)
27. Atlanta
28. St. Louis (from Boston for Type A Edgar Renteria)
29. Florida (from New York Yankees for Type A Carl Pavano)
30. St. Louis

Supplemental First Round
------------------------

31. Diamondbacks (for Type A Richie Sexson)
32. Rockies (for Type A Vinny Castilla)
33. Indians (for Type A Omar Vizquel)
34. Marlins (for Armando Benitez)
35. Padres (for Type A David Wells)
36. Athletics (for Type A Damian Miller)
37. Angels (for Type A Troy Percival)
38. Astros (for Type A Carlos Beltran)
39. Twins (for Type A Corey Koskie)
40. Dodgers (for Type A Adrian Beltre)
41. Braves (for Type A Jaret Wright)
42. Red Sox (for Type A Pedro Martinez)
43. Cardinals (for Edgar Renteria)
44. Marlins (for Carl Pavano)
45. Red Sox (for Angel Cabrera)
46. Cardinals (for Type A Mike Matheny)
47. Red Sox (for Derek Lowe)
48. Orioles (for failure to sign Wade Townsend)

(-Copied from Tuggy)

What is up with all these compensatory picks? I mean, the 17th overall pick for not signing freakin' Jon Lieber? That is a terrible system.

Comp picks should be no higher than 2nd rounders, or more preferably 3rds... especially in a draft that goes on forever.

The only draft-related article I've read lists three pitchers among the top few prospects... here's hoping the Blue Jays can land a good starter at #6.

What is up with all these compensatory picks? I mean, the 17th overall pick for not signing freakin' Jon Lieber? That is a terrible system.

Comp picks should be no higher than 2nd rounders, or more preferably 3rds... especially in a draft that goes on forever.
Well, being such a crapshoot, does it matter?

It gets better though. If you're in the bottom half of the standings, you can't lose your first rounder. So a team could have signed Pedro and Beltran and not lost their first rounder. Oh wait. That happened.

Well, being such a crapshoot, does it matter?

It gets better though. If you're in the bottom half of the standings, you can't lose your first rounder. So a team could have signed Pedro and Beltran and not lost their first rounder. Oh wait. That happened.

Hold on, so it's not a compensatory (ie extra) pick, they actually take the pick of the team that signed away the player?

This is whacked out.

edit: looks like some are picks taken away, and others are compensatory (based on salary? something else?)

I give up.

Well, being such a crapshoot, does it matter?

It gets better though. If you're in the bottom half of the standings, you can't lose your first rounder. So a team could have signed Pedro and Beltran and not lost their first rounder. Oh wait. That happened.


What would have happened had the Mets been in the bottom half

What would have happened had the Mets been in the bottom half

That's what he's saying; the Mets were in the bottom half, so their first (#9) was protected even though they signed Pedro and Beltran.

Hold on, so it's not a compensatory (ie extra) pick, they actually take the pick of the team that signed away the player?

This is whacked out.

edit: looks like some are picks taken away, and others are compensatory (based on salary? something else?)

I give up.
Yes and yes. Class C free agents, you get a supplemental pick between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Class B free agents, you gain that team's first rounder. Class A, you gain that team's first rounder AND a supplemental pick between the 1st and 2nd round.

(If they can't give up a 1st then it's a 2nd)

"I stopped trying to figure out the geniuses that run baseball a long time ago." - Mike Marshall.

That's what he's saying; the Mets were in the bottom half, so their first (#9) was protected even though they signed Pedro and Beltran.


oops, i meant the top half

oops, i meant the top half
They would have lost their pick.

They would have lost their pick.


Yeah but they don't have 2 1st rounders. They can only give up 1.

Yeah but they don't have 2 1st rounders. They can only give up 1.

Then they'd only give up one, I guess. To whom is a very good question. The other team could get a compensatory pick, but one team might be out a 1st.

Yeah but they don't have 2 1st rounders. They can only give up 1.
They'd lose their first and their second. See above where I said if a team doesn't have a 1st, they give up their 2nd.

Anyone know when it starts? 11 12 1 EST ?

This is a silly question, but are these picks tradeable? I would assume so, but I never hear of baseball trades which mention draft picks in them... only minor-league prospects.

This is a silly question, but are these picks tradeable? I would assume so, but I never hear of baseball trades which mention draft picks in them... only minor-league prospects.

Nope...one of the really dumb things about baseball too. I believe you cant even trade a drafted player for 1 year...but I'm not 100% on that.

Nope...one of the really dumb things about baseball too. I believe you cant even trade a drafted player for 1 year...but I'm not 100% on that.

Actually that may help to explain all these "player to be named", as sometimes the report will say believed to be 'player X', but it can't be made official until such and such a date.

Actually that may help to explain all these "player to be named", as sometimes the report will say believed to be 'player X', but it can't be made official until such and such a date.
Sometimes thats it. Other times, a team giving up the "player to be named" gives a list of players the other team has to choose from, and then that team will send their scouts out to watch those players.

I don't think not trading picks in baseball is that dumb. It's such a guessing game in the draft that it's probably for the better... dumb teams would have nothing in the tank. Although they usually don't anyways...

What team does Scott Boras ream this year? Find out in this season's America's Top Baseball Prospect!

Upton goes 1st overall
Gordon 2nd overall
Clement 3rd overall
Zimberman 4th overall
Braun 5th overall
Ricky Romero 6th overall

I don't think not trading picks in baseball is that dumb. It's such a guessing game in the draft that it's probably for the better... dumb teams would have nothing in the tank. Although they usually don't anyways...

Trading picks would be complicated for baseball, but I hate seeing small market teams getting shafted each year. Seems like a brutal cycle where small market teams can't afford anybody on their major league roster, and they get a high draft pick to help them become a better team, only they can't afford to sign a consensus top guy, and the top guy ends up going lower but still getting top pick money.

But most years the draft might have one or two studs, while everybody else uses the "I can't believe ____ was still around for our pick" line the next day.

Ricky Romero 6th overall

A college lefty starter, one of four or five guys Ricciardi has had his eye on according to an MLB.com article I just read. Sounds ok to me.

Pirates got their man in OF Andrew McCutchen at 11th.

I'm happy. Five-tool outfielder. The BPA and an organizational need.

The A's take Pennington, a SS. Not terribly happy with the pick as I was hoping they would grab a pitcher.

Pirates got their man in OF Andrew McCutchen at 11th.

I'm happy. Five-tool outfielder. The BPA and an organizational need.
A toolsy HSer. Let me know how that works out.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/2005draft/firstround.html

Guys... you can go to MLB.com and get a GameCast of the draft.

What team does Scott Boras ream this year? Find out in this season's America's Top Baseball Prospect!

Luke Hochevar, Baseball America's #6 rated guy and Boras client, is still available (right now pick #40)........

.....nevermind the Dodgers just took him. Quite emphatically in fact if you're listening to the Webcast. Ah, it was Tommy Lasorda who made the pick.

A toolsy HSer. Let me know how that works out.

Given the Pirates history with drafting I'll take a toolsy HSer with all the talent in the world over a "safe" college pitcher who doesn't amount to **** like every other year.

Bullington anyone? :help:

Given the Pirates history with drafting I'll take a toolsy HSer with all the talent in the world over a "safe" college pitcher who doesn't amount to **** like every other year.

Bullington anyone? :help: This makes no sense. Given the Pirates (in)ability to scout players three more years developed than a HSer, you're pleased they took a HSer, who is therefore much more raw, much more undeveloped, and a bigger question mark?

This makes no sense. Given the Pirates (in)ability to scout players three more years developed than a HSer, you're pleased they took a HSer, who is therefore much more raw, much more undeveloped, and a bigger question mark?

I'd rather have a guy with a buttload of talent and a high ceiling than a "safe" player with a lower ceiling considering all the "safe" guys the Pirates pick end up being godawful.

I'm happier with a boom or bust player than a flatliner.

Outside of VanBenschoeten, who is out with Tommy John Surgery, the Pirates have had absolutely no luck at all with college players the past decade. Success with high schoolers is almost as bad but at least our recent track record is better.

In 2002 the Pirates chose Bryan Bullington because he was "more major league ready and a safer pick" than either Kazmir or Upton, who the Pirates were also looking at. Now look at where Kazmir & Upton are in their developmental stages and where Bullington is.

:madfire:

I'd rather have a guy with a buttload of talent and a high ceiling than a "safe" player with a lower ceiling considering all the "safe" guys the Pirates pick end up being godawful.
Okay, but how about players with buttloads of talent and lower ceilings? When you draft a high school player, more often than not this is what you're getting. Not too many teams pass on butt-loaded talents with high ceilings, regardless of they come from college or high school.

You can't predict how "talent" projects to professional ball, but you can predict with reasonable certainty how a player will perform, given you have something to work with (i.e., a season or two of college statistics to review). High schoolers just don't have enough history to be sure they'd perform as well as college players. That doesn't mean they can't, but that it's less likely they will when picked early in the draft and thrown multi-million dollar contracts.

What smart teams do is hedge their bets; dumb ones flip coins, sometimes step in it, and call it "magic." It's just a silly, silly way to go about drafting players.

In 2002 the Pirates chose Bryan Bullington because he was "more major league ready and a safer pick" than either Kazmir or Upton, who the Pirates were also looking at. Now look at where Kazmir & Upton are in their developmental stages and where Bullington is.
Kazmir & Upton aren't exactly lighting the world on fire.

Besides, many people think that pitching should be drafted later, and hitting should be selected up front.

Anybody listening to the draft on-line?

Random woman: "I don't think I'm on the right conference call." Click!

It's exactly why no one gives a rat's ass about the Major League draft. The whole thing is a major crapshoot.

I'm just happy the Pirates got a guy that is projected to have alot of talent. Baseball America ranks McCutchen as the second best pure hitter in the draft, second fastest player, third best five-tool player, and fifth best player overall in the draft. Meanwhile Bullington, who went first overall, was projected by the Pirates to be a third starter.

The Pirates said **** the odds and went with the BPA, something they haven't done in a long, long, long time. Their previous college first mindset was failing miserably so it's refreshing to see the Pirates go the high school route, even if the odds are considerably higher that the player will flop.


But like I said, the whole thing is a crapshoot. The Pirates best prospect wasn't the first player taken or even a first rounder but the 594th selection in 2001(Zach Duke out of Clifton, Texas).



edit: At least Kazmir & Upton are doing something. Bullington's ERA is over 7 on arguably the best team in AAA.

The whole thing is a major crapshoot.
Only for those not willing to embrace the concept that evidence exists that can restrict the degree of uncertainty. I won't get into the details here, but there's awfully persuasive evidence that drafting college over high school players is a significantly better option. That doesn't mean that every high school player is going to be a bust, or that every college player will be a success, but that college players, on average, project more often and earlier to the majors than high schoolers. It's so obvious that it shouldn't seem equally intuitive.

However, that being written, the drafting of college players is becoming such commonplace that the potential advantages to be gained by selecting only college players is no longer such an advantage. This isn't 2002 anymore. My new application of Turf Alive III is going to look sharp in the yard (half the growth rate, half the watering), but if everyone starts using it then it really isn't an advantage.

Nevertheless, I can't make myself believe that simply throwing darts at a board is better than quantitative data.

edit: At least Kazmir & Upton are doing something. Bullington's ERA is over 7 on arguably the best team in AAA.
ERA? We've put people on the moon, we can leave that irrelevent stat in the dust now.

His WHIP is 1.24 and his K/BB rate is infinity. INFINITY! Actually, the guy has only pitched 5.2 innings for the Pirates this year, so any evaluation of his ML numbers from this year are quite meaningless.

His stat line from 2004 in Altoona (you'll have to work with the editing):
Year Team . Lg Age Org Lvl W L ERA G GS CG SHO GF SV IP H R ER HR BB SO WP BK h9 hr9 w9 k9 whip
2004 Altoona East 23 Pit AA 12 7 4.10 26 26 0 0 0 0 145.0 160 77 66 18 47 100 5 9.93 1.12 2.92 6.21 1.43

That's not that bad, and if you're claiming the draft is an utter crapshoot, then his drafting position (first overall) shouldn't really matter. At any rate, he's going to be 25 at seasons' end, so he's got to get to the Show in a hurry. Perhaps the Pirates should keep their fingers off the trigger for another year. The last time they jettisoned a pitcher whom them deemed underdeveloped, he turned into Bronson Arroyo.

-----------------------------

I think Lasorda is sipping wine in between speaking into the microphone. He's still an entertaining guy.

"He's from California-Fullerton, that's where I live..."

I'm excited about the Tigers drafting Maybin. Although it sounds like it's gonna cost a ton to sign him band it might have hurt his draft postion but Illitch and DD will find a way to get him signed. Plus enough damn pitchers already, the Tigers have went with SP 4 out of the last 5 years .

Plus enough damn pitchers already, the Tigers have went with SP 4 out of the last 5 years .
Pitchers are kind of like goalies, you never know what you're gonna get, and it's never a bad thing having too many of them in your system.

Anybody listening to the draft on-line?

Random woman: "I don't think I'm on the right conference call." Click!
Hilarious. I also liked:

"Durable pitcher's body. Similar to Darren Dreifort."

That's not that bad, and if you're claiming the draft is an utter crapshoot, then his drafting position (first overall) shouldn't really matter. At any rate, he's going to be 25 at seasons' end, so he's got to get to the Show in a hurry. Perhaps the Pirates should keep their fingers off the trigger for another year. The last time they jettisoned a pitcher whom them deemed underdeveloped, he turned into Bronson Arroyo.


The Pirates are notoriously bad for that. They seem to give up on the right players too soon(Arroyo, Lieber, Wakefieldt) while they keep the wrong guys around forever(Anderson, Silva, Vogelsong).

That said I can't see Arroyo doing the same in Pittsburgh as he is in Boston. It's a confidence thing, he had zero in Pittsburgh and has an infinate supply in Boston it seems. That said Arroyo didn't get a fraction of the time to prove himself as even the other throw aways like Lieber did.

Another problem guys like Lieber create is that the team is no unwilling to give up on players as easily and we get stuck with crap like Anderson and Vogelsong for years past their experation dates.

There's a long list of reasons why this team hasn't had a winning season since 1992.

Pitchers are kind of like goalies, you never know what you're gonna get, and it's never a bad thing having too many of them in your system.



Yeah thats true, and rumors were if Pelfrey was there the Tigers would have taken him. But in reality the Tigers have good pitching prospects but their fielding prospects are very weak.

Hilarious. I also liked:

"Durable pitcher's body. Similar to Darren Dreifort."
:amazed: :amazed:

So interestingly enough, now that alot of teams have come around to their way of thinking and started leaning towards college players over high school, the Oakland A's seem to have reversed course and only bothered scouting high school pitchers this year.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/2005draft/firstround.html

Thanks for the link bro!

6. Blue Jays: Ricky Romero, lhp, Cal State Fullerton
Romero has three solid, major league-ready pitches that he can throw for strikes almost at will, including a fastball that sits at 90-91 mph and touches 93-94. He also has an excellent curveball and a better feel for a changeup this year after he reduced his reliance on his curve. But Romero gets his highest grades for his makeup, temperament and competitive zeal. He is an excellent student of the game who understands the science of pitching, and is a master at controlling the tempo of a game.

So, do we see Ricky playing Blue Jays baseball anytime soon? Or does he go to the minors.

So, do we see Ricky playing Blue Jays baseball anytime soon? Or does he go to the minors.
When is the last time you saw a player go straight to the majors?

When is the last time you saw a player go straight to the majors?

Shut up, lol, jk, good point

So, do we see Ricky playing Blue Jays baseball anytime soon? Or does he go to the minors.

Most players need a year or two of seasoning in the minors before getting called up. And most of the time, prospects only get called up in September when a team knows if it's in or out of the playoff hunt.

Mark Prior made his debut less than a year after being drafted, but he's basically a once in 20 years type of guy. The Padres drafted Tim Stauffer in 2003, and he made his debut about a month ago.

Basically, I wouldn't expect to see many 2005 prospects in Major League uniforms at the earliest late 2006 for brief callups. Sometimes you just hope you didn't sign a guy who'll be a headache to sign, like a Jered Weaver/Stephen Drew, where the player will waste a key development year trying to squeeze every last cent in his signing bonus.

So interestingly enough, now that alot of teams have come around to their way of thinking and started leaning towards college players over high school, the Oakland A's seem to have reversed course and only bothered scouting high school pitchers this year.

I was surprised to see the A's draft a couple of high school arms but in Billy I trust :D

When is the last time you saw a player go straight to the majors?

Johnny O! :handclap:

Craig Hansen is going to own. I just hope we can sign him, since Bora$$ is his agent.

This kid could be a top-flight closer some day, and I've heard he could be MLB ready by the end of the year. His fastball is consistently in the mid 90s, tops out at 97 :eek: and his slider is in the high 80s and tops out at 90.

I'm very familiar with Hansen, he's a local kid from Long Island.

Arizona mentioned they were interested in him with the first overall pick..there were also rumors about him going to the Mets at #9...Baseball America had him in their top 10 I believe...and he falls to 26? Wow, teams must really hate dealing with Boras if they're passing up talent because of $$.

So, do we see Ricky playing Blue Jays baseball anytime soon? Or does he go to the minors.

David Bush reached Majors real quick, I think Most likely if he pitches well in the minors this year and next. We'll see him up in september 2006, he'll get his feet wet.

When is the last time you saw a player go straight to the majors?
Mark Prior........

Mark Prior........

No he didn't. He got a sniff of AA and AAA before hitting the majors.

One of the last guys (if not the last) to go straight to the majors was Padres IF/OF Xavier Nady, and he hasn't done much yet, although it could be due to being roadblocked at every position he can play.

One of the last guys (if not the last) to go straight to the majors was Padres IF/OF Xavier Nady, and he hasn't done much yet, although it could be due to being roadblocked at every position he can play.Good find. He was drafted in 2000, had one at bat in 2000, and didn't play in the majors again until 2003. So it was sort of a stunt.

And according to this (http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20030602&content_id=350507&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp) he was just the 19th player to make his pro debut in the majors (since the draft began).

Dave Winfield is the most notable straight-to-the-majors player I can think of.

There's a long list of reasons why this team hasn't had a winning season since 1992.
This is true and fair, and it would be wrong to forget the lack of money the organization has relative to many of the teams they have to compete with. They can't cover up drafting mistakes and bad personnel moves with money as easily. Simply put, Oakland is an exception to the rule, and Pittsburgh simply can't afford to have early-round draft picks fail as can the New Yorks and Bostons of the world.

Dave Winfield is the most notable straight-to-the-majors player I can think of.
I think Olerud fits into this category, too. There's someone else currently playing, I think, but I can't remember who it is. Maybe it was Winfield. Senility, you know.

At any rate, I think is news when a player goes directly to the majors from high school. With college essentially serving as an alternative proving ground to the majors with the professional minor leagues, I wouldn't be too surprised to look back in a few years and see many college players making the jump.

Edit: Jonus Hoglund already mentioned Olerud, but in secret buddy code so I didn't realize at the time that he did.

I think Olerud fits into this category, too. There's someone else currently playing, I think, but I can't remember who it is. Maybe it was Winfield. Senility, you know.
I forgot Olerud went straight to the majors. Anyways, I should rephrase, best player. Most notable might be David Clyde.

Didn't Jim Abbott, the one armed pitcher, go straight to the majors as well? I remember reading that somewhere when I was a kid.

I forgot Olerud went straight to the majors. Anyways, I should rephrase, best player. Most notable might be David Clyde.
I don't know if you need to re-phrase; I think your point is that players just don't up and jump from the draft into the majors, and that's very true.

Furthermore, I'd bet we would all agree that it's not necessarily the same as it is in other sports since the draft is held during the season. A direct "jump" is not as easy to define. For one, the college season ends in June (or is it early July now?) and the ML roster expansion doesn't occur until September. A club could be risking having somebody claimed off waivers in order to make a roster spot available. If the club isn't contending to begin with, the player would probably be better off leaving the player develop at a lower level in the meantime.

If someone advanced, like Hansen, gets called up in September and stays up for good, isn't that really like a direct jump in one sense even if he played a month or two in the minors? Where else was he going to play? In the bigs at the expense of a roster player? What's the point for the organization?

My point is that it's sort of vague by any measure.

No he didn't. He got a sniff of AA and AAA before hitting the majors.
He still made the majors the next season.

Craig Hansen is going to own. I just hope we can sign him, since Bora$$ is his agent.

This kid could be a top-flight closer some day, and I've heard he could be MLB ready by the end of the year. His fastball is consistently in the mid 90s, tops out at 97 :eek: and his slider is in the high 80s and tops out at 90.
I'm guessing his velocity had nothing to do with why he was selected, rather is incidental.

It's about what he's done: http://www.sports-wired.com/players/profile.asp?ID=41386

14.1 K/9, 0.91 WHIP - ouch. We'll see how it projects; I'm sure they're hoping it does in a Street- or K-Rod-like fashion.

Not included here are his 40-odd Ks in 20-odd innings in the Cape League last summer. Gosh, I miss going to those games. I lived in Gray Gables for a year, just down the road from the field, although I've never seen Hansen pitch.

Did the nats make a good decision by selecting Zimmerman...I WANTED BRAUN...cause according to many scouts...he's gonna be a hell of a power hitter.Well, I'm still happy with Zimmerman...he seems to be a great all around player...he really impressed me in the scouting video on the mlb site.He reminds a lot of Scott Rolen...in Zimmerman we get a future gold glove winner at 3rd base..bah..I"m happy..

Do anybody know something about Maxwell and Delaughter??? Maxwell has been disturbed by a lot of injuries...from what I've heard.

Does anyone have any information on Ricky Romero's ( BlueJays prospect ) championship game in which he was supposed to pitch?

I wanna know how he pitched. Who won and all...cant seem to find. And if someone has seen him play. How does he look :) Is he a good pick?

Did the nats make a good decision by selecting Zimmerman...I WANTED BRAUN...cause according to many scouts...he's gonna be a hell of a power hitter.Well, I'm still happy with Zimmerman...he seems to be a great all around player...he really impressed me in the scouting video on the mlb site.He reminds a lot of Scott Rolen...in Zimmerman we get a future gold glove winner at 3rd base..bah..I"m happy..

Do anybody know something about Maxwell and Delaughter??? Maxwell has been disturbed by a lot of injuries...from what I've heard.

Zimmerman has the tools to be one of the best defensive infielders int he future.