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Monday, June 08, 2009

ESPN: Hefty pricetag on Strasburg’s talent

Major League Baseball officials rarely agree with Scott Boras on the appropriate price for his elite draft picks, but they can’t criticize him for a lack of historical perspective.

Boras was new to the business in 1982 when he hooked up with a talented college pitcher named Tim Belcher. That was the same year a promising shortstop from the Dominican Republic made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies. The kid would eventually become known as “the ageless Julio Franco.”

So when Boras calls San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg “the best amateur pitcher I’ve seen in my 27 years in the draft,” it’s noteworthy despite the obvious self-interest factor. You don’t need a Baseball America subscription to know that Stephen Strasburg is being advised by, well, Scott Boras.

“Brien Taylor was the best high school pitcher I’ve ever seen, and Darren Dreifort was the best college pitcher as far as stuff that I’ve ever seen,” Boras said. “But Stephen Strasburg has better stuff, a better breaking ball and better command. This guy throws 101 [mph] at times, and 98 was the optimum for those [other] guys.”

Strasburg’s talent is so striking, says Boras, that franchises with no prayer of drafting him are watching him pitch just for the experience.

“Most of the scouting directors are younger than me, but the ones who have been around are saying the same thing: ‘Oh my God, this is something special,’” said the 56-year-old Boras. “They’re sending scouts to watch him pitch when they know they can’t draft him, just so they can see him and use him as the ceiling.”

Tripon Posted: June 08, 2009 at 06:57 PM | 2 comment(s)
  Related News: GeneralAmateurCollegeHistoryCommunityWashington

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   1. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth)  Posted: June 08, 2009 at 08:23 PM (#3210614)
I wonder what kind of odds I could get someone to offer me to bet on 'Strasburg won't sign'. I don't trust the Nationals FO to properly handle hiring janitors, much less signing the far-and-away most expensive draftee in history...
   2. virginiasteve  Posted: June 08, 2009 at 08:28 PM (#3210620)
This has all the makings of a typical Nationals fiasco..like the Crowe thing last year times ten.

Not sure Brien Taylor or Darren Dreifort are the comparisons I would make, particularly to a team that I want to pay me $50 million.
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