Maverick Lasker is an awesome name for a reliever.

HS catcher with elbow trouble is going to drop.

Another guy whose stock dropped, Jacob Thompson, picked by the Braves.

The Tigers apparently scouted the SEC a whole lot. 4 of their first 5 picks from that conference...

What happened to Eric Thames and Zach Putnam?

Maverick Lasker is an awesome name for a reliever.

As someone on our blog said, it's too bad the Brewers didn't draft Shooter Hunt, too; then they'd have Shooter, Cutter, and Maverick.

What happened to Eric Thames and Zach Putnam?

What happened to Isaac Galloway? I thought he'd be a sandwich first rounder.

The White Sox just took Kenny Williams. Seriously. Come on!

Grossman = good value at 6.

"What happened to Eric Thames and Zach Putnam?"

Putnam went to Cleveland in the back of the 5th.

Is Destin Hood slipping? I would rather him play football, but Alabama oversigned its class, so it would be nice to figure out who might be on the final roster...

wait, I guess I missed Hood being drafted....

Destin Hood got drafted.

Is Destin Hood slipping

Went to the Nats at #55

Hood went to Washington at No. 55 overall.

EDIT: Beat me to it. I should stop with the complete sentences, I suppose.

BA's best available:

36. Isaac Galloway
48. Daniel Webb
70. Nick Maronde
78. Brett Mooneyham
86. Jordan Danks
132. Adam Smith
135. Rolando Gomez
139. Michael Palazzone
160. Harold Martinez
163. Jordan Cooper
185. Dusty Coleman
200. Antonio Jimenez

Yeah, I just caught it-I must have been looking with one blind eye and the other one closed.

So I guess I am just waiting to see if Melvin Ray gets drafted.

Chris Smith: Straight out of Compton?

Colby Shreve to the Phillies at six is a good gamble.

If Dayton can pry open Glass' wallet enough to get Melville, it'll be a hell of a coup, since Melville is a Missouri high school pitcher from Cardinals country.

Yea, the Braves drafted Shreve last year, but couldn't sign him.

Wasn't Danks signed by somebody?

And weren't people projecting Palazzone to in the supp or second round? How did the Braves leave a projectable HS from Ga out there still?!

Only six rounds in the first day now? What a rip.

And weren't people projecting Palazzone to in the supp or second round? How did the Braves leave a projectable HS from Ga out there still?!

He missed most of his Jr year with "soreness" and Lassiter pitchers don't have a great health record so I'm sure teams were wary of paying him the top 30-50 money I assume he wanted. With UGA likely losing DeVall, Avery and maybe Cone and Davidson recruit-wise I like the idea of Pallazone coming to school

Shadow draft, Pirates, Day 1:

1. Hosmer (1/2, 1/3, actual draft Alvarez)
2. Galloway (2/48, ND, actual draft Tanner Scheppers, which is an interesting gamble)
3. Alex Meyer, RHP, Greensburg (IN) HS (3/79, ND, actual draft Jordy Mercer, SS, Oklahoma State)
4. Sonny Gray, RHP, Smyrna (TN) HS (4/114, ND, actual draft Chase D'Arnaud, SS, Pepperdine)
5. Adrian Nieto, C, American Heritage HS, Key West, FL (5/144, 5/151, actual draft Justin Wilson, LHP, Frenso State. Nieto is Hosmer's teammate, although that didn't have much to do with this pick)
6. Dusty Coleman, SS, Wichita State (6/174, ND, actual draft Robbie Grossman, OF, Cypress-Fairbanks (TX) HS)

Galloway, Meyer, and Gray are all consider to be signability risks, which is probably why none have been drafted yet.

I'm not thrilled with Pittsburgh's actual draft. Mercer will probably be able to stay on SS, but before this past season his bat was a question mark, and I'm not sure how much he'll hit; he needs to get stronger. D'Arnaud is an overdraft. Wilson's a generic lefty, nothing special. Grossman's likely to be a tweener.

Shadow pick, Round 7 (7/204): Blake Stouffer, INF/OF, Texas A&M. He cost himself some dollars by not signing with the Reds a year ago, then having a poor senior season with the Aggies. If the Rays take Stouffer, I'll opt for Aja Barto, Tulane OF.

-- MWE

Mike,

Before Scheppers was injured, where did you have him ranked?

Since I was at a ballgame all day here are my draft thoughts for ya..
Note, I am not saying I know better. This stuff is all just my take on it. I could be wrong as hell about all of this...

-Who is the Mariner's third rounder, pick 98? It is missing from BA database

-I have to assume some of these guys that fell VERY far or went unpicked (Hunt, Grossman, Putnam, Melville, Galloway, Maronde, Danks, Webb, others) did so for signability reasons even if a guy like Galloway was not buzzed as being a difficult sign. I guess a couple of those guys (Hunt, Putnam) could have fallen for talent-only reasons

-Lots of pint-size college IFs being picked. A few of these guys (Harrison, Miclat) I have liked but wondered if their small stature would discount their stock into being senior signs or something next year.

-I love Jacob Thompson when he is on.

-Azusa Pacific's CF over Miami's CF? Wow. I don't know anything about Azusa Pac (a d-II school) guy but I really like Tekotte at Miami.
Another D-II guy went in Round Three over big college stars like Jacob Thompson (UVA), Scott Green (Kentuck), Vance Worley (Long Beach), ect. NIce to see guys who were likely unrecruited by the big dogs get the last laugh.

-I don't get picking Alonso over Smoak. I also don't get Jason Castro in the top 10, Havens at 22 and Jeremy Bliech at 44. Some of these first basemen seem like reaches. I don't see Cooper as a top 20 guy, esp one pick in front of Ike Davis. I also don't think of Carlos Gutierrez of Miami as a Round One guy.

-USF's Evan Frederickson is still a big lefty who can K guys but he still can't throw a strike to save his life and he was mediocre in the WCC after sucking for 2 years in the ACC. As far as strong armed, K-getting college LHP go I'd have to go with Wade Miley

-I'm glad to see SIU RHP Cody Adam's still going in Round Two despite a rough start this year. I also like seeing Illinois CF/WR Kyle Hudson in round 4. Here to seeing IU CF/WR early tomorrow.

-Charlie Blackmon is athletic and interesting but Round Two seems high, especially since he went in front of Tekotte.

-Cole Figeroa was draft eligible?!

-Sounds like Jarret Parker could be a steal in round 6, havn't seen him though. I think Jordy Mercer in round 3 is a nice pickup too.

-Delaware's 2b went before Tony Delmonico? Hmm. I like Delmonico a little BTW.

-Clayton Shunick in round 5 is a steal. I like Coastal Carolina closer Pete Andrelcyzk but I can't see him as a better pitcher than Shunick

-GTs David Duncan has not improved his draft stock at all since HS despite 3 years as a Friday guy in the ACC and being draft-eligible in 05, 07 and 08.

Who is the Mariner's third rounder, pick 98?

Ben Pribanic, Nebraska RHP

Before Scheppers was injured, where did you have him ranked?

In the 10-15 range. I still thought someone would take a flyer on him around #25 or so; I certainly would have IF (and this is the rub) I already HAD a good team on the field and could afford the luxury of waiting for Scheppers to recover. Pittsburgh isn't that team.

I think Jordy Mercer in round 3 is a nice pickup too.

Mercer's had exactly one good college season with the bat. Will he hit enough in the pros, especially if he has to be moved off SS? I think that's really an open question.

-- MWE

"Mercer's had exactly one good college season with the bat. Will he hit enough in the pros, especially if he has to be moved off SS? I think that's really an open question."

One good season seems to be in demand this year (Castro, Havens, Perry, Fredrickson, Bliech) : )

More seriously..
The "one good year" thing is why I think it is a nice value in round 3, not 2. When he entered OK St is was known that he was a super athletic kid who wasn't fully developed. I think he could be a guy just now starting to get to his potential. I think his athleticism, arm, and offensive and defensive potential make him a guy who at least could be a good gloveman but with some nice up-side too.

Any guys you think are notable under/over drafts Mike?
Any guys you think could be good picks in tomorrow's rounds (excluding signablity fallers)?

Also, when I wrote Here to seeing IU CF/WR early tomorrow. above I must have been watching Tv at the time or something. That was supposed to say.

I am looking forward to seeing where another Big Ten CF/WR, Indiana's muscular Andrew Means, gets drafted tomorrow.
While we are on the subject of speedy CFs for tomorrow's rounds did Danks fall for signability or talent. I have to believe that signability was a large factor.

Another speedy CF, Elon's Chris Dove is raw but talented.

His HS teammate, Coastal Carolina's David Sappelt, isn't a scout's dream at 5-8 or 5-9 but is strong, somewhat athletic, throws well and is a very solid all-around ballplayer.

Dove's college teammate, Cory Harrilchak, has a light frame but has a smooth stroke, good to very good speed, enough arm to throw mid-high 80s from the mound, had the most steals without being caught in the NCAA this year and hit a ton at the plate this spring.

Anyone know where St. Bonaventure OF Randy Moley might get picked?

Has Diallo Fon fallen off the draft radar this bad? Looks like picking college over pros out of HS was a bad move.

Auburn's Mike Bianucci has not heard his name called after six rounds?

On a non-OF note.. I didn't realize Chris Dominguez fell to Round Five. If the fall isn't partly related to the difficulty in signing eligible soph's I love that pick. Really raw, maybe a little immature but he is immensely talented.

Azusa Pacific's CF over Miami's CF? Wow. I don't know anything about Azusa Pac (a d-II school) guy but I really like Tekotte at Miami. Another D-II guy went in Round Three over big college stars like Jacob Thompson (UVA), Scott Green (Kentuck), Vance Worley (Long Beach), ect. NIce to see guys who were likely unrecruited by the big dogs get the last laugh.

FWIW, Jeff Sackmann (of collegesplits.com) predicted those would be the first two D2 guys picked, and in the first six rounds.

USF's Evan Frederickson is still a big lefty who can K guys but he still can't throw a strike to save his life and he was mediocre in the WCC after sucking for 2 years in the ACC. As far as strong armed, K-getting college LHP go I'd have to go with Wade Miley

Frederickson's K/9 is significantly higher (13.14) than Miley's (10.84) and he also throws about 5 MPH faster. Yes, I realize he has like twice the walks.

I certainly would have IF (and this is the rub) I already HAD a good team on the field and could afford the luxury of waiting for Scheppers to recover. Pittsburgh isn't that team.


The Pirates have a lousy team and can wait for Scheppers. It's not like they're going anywhere soon.

Players on the board

Brett Lilley (Notre Dame): 5'8/165, BL/TR, IF, .297/.459/.381, 31BB/31HBP/26SO

Career stats for Lilley: 122 walks, 109 HBP, and 111 strikeouts in 231 games. One HBP every two games!

Michael Harrington (Col. Charleston): 6'1/195lbs, BL/TR, OF/1B, .316/.421/.731, 26 HR in 58 games, 36BB/10HBP/42K

Rodney Rutherford (Columbus State): 6'0/210lbs, BR/TR, OF/3B/P, .373/.469/.755, 26 HR in 62 games, 37BB/9HBP/54K, former TJ surgery patient

Kevin Alley (Gallaudet): 6'0/185lbs, BR/TR, OF/P, .384/.500/.657, 42 stolen bases in 44 attempts over 33 games

Granted, no player from Gallaudet has ever been drafted. Not to mention that the team went 4-29. And Gallaudet being a school for the deaf probably doesn't help prospects out.

Scheppers is the wrong kind of risk for a team like Pittsburgh, because he's KNOWN to be injured, and therefore the risk of the pick being a zero-value pick has just gotten orders of magnitude higher.

Hosmer instead of Alvarez would have been the right kind of risk. Alvarez is likely to be a Troy Glaus type of player - a good player, an MVP candidate in his best years, but probably not the type of player that you build a lineup around. Hosmer has the type of talent where he COULD anchor your lineup, and be an MVP candidate *every* year. The Pirates are no worse off if Hosmer ends up being something like Adrian Gonzalez or Casey Kotchman (more probable destinations), and they have a bigger chance of getting something better than they have of getting something better than Troy Glaus out of Alvarez. That's why I take that risk, if I'm the Pirates. Alvarez is more likely to be good than is Hosmer - but Hosmer is more likely to be an MVP than is Alvarez.

-- MWE

Galloway finally goes - to Florida.

Bianucci goes to Texas. I like that pick.

I'm not going to try to keep up with things round by round (I only shadow through 10 rounds and things are going much too fast at this point). I'll post my shadows for rounds 8-10 later.

Pirates took Ben Gonzalez, HS SS out of Puerto Rico, in Round 7. I have Stouffer.

-- MWE

The White Sox have picked all college players so far, and they did take Jordan Danks

I hate Tommy LaSorda

Brett Hunter seems like a potential steal in the 7th round (BA had him rated 51st). Did his elbow have another setback? Or are his mechanics just that worrisome?

Danny,

Waht do you think of the A's draft? I'm not going to pretend to have an informed opinion on these guys. I was initially bummed by the Weeks pick, but after sleeping on it, I'm happy the A's went for athleticism with their choice.

Scheppers is the wrong kind of risk for a team like Pittsburgh, because he's KNOWN to be injured, and therefore the risk of the pick being a zero-value pick has just gotten orders of magnitude higher.

I disagree - to me, this is backwards. Scheppers is a high-risk, high-reward type of pick that the Pirates need to take. Unless they hit on a few of these, they'll never get out of the rut where they're stuck now. Why take a player whose upside is an average shortstop, say, when you can roll the dice on having a legitimate front of the rotation guy? The Red Sox and their ilk are the teams that need cheap average guys to complement their expensive stars with.

Shooty,

I was disappointed they didn't get Smoak, but I'm with you on not having an informed opinion. I like them taking some risks on high ceiling guys like Hunter and Ross, and Dixon (Mr. Mississippi with a football scholarship at MSU) looks like he'll be good test case for whether the A's are willing to pay above slot with all the money they're not spending at the major league level.

I'll have more of an opinion after reading more about these guys over the next week.

Asked in the lounge by me:

Should baseball strive to have its draft become a media event like the NBA’s/NFL’s, and if so, what would be lost if they reduced it to say, 12 rounds, or even fewer?

What say y'all?

Re #837:

I've heard the "high risk, high reward" analysis for years with respect to the Royals, and I think it has an important flaw. Even if you develop stars or potential stars, a team with too many holes can't take advantage, because they can't fill their other holes in the three or four year horizon where the star is performing and affordable. Even "freely available talent" is hard to find when you need to fill five or six spots.

In my opinion, what a truly bad team needs is depth. If you develop a large enough number of good players, normal variation will result in a few stars, and you can take advantage of the of opportunities when they present themselves.

Re #839:

What you would gain is an expensive mad scramble to sign a bunch of free agents to fill out all those minor league rosters, with spend-thrift teams beating the cheaper teams like drums, as has happened in mlb history. The baseball draft is different because similar minor leagues don't exist in NBA/NFL and the signability gamble isn't nearly so acute in the other sports.

Harrington goes at 396

And they could be on a lunch break now

I have to say, a lot more of the Pirates' second day picks than usual seem to be credible as prospects.

In my opinion, what a truly bad team needs is depth. If you develop a large enough number of good players, normal variation will result in a few stars, and you can take advantage of the of opportunities when they present themselves.

The hardest thing to do, IMO, is to convert depth into stars. You don't get stars developing by "normal variation"; sure, you get the occasional Piazza or Pujols, but most players who become stars are drafted early. You have to get your complement of star quality players out of the first three rounds, and you cannot afford to miss on too many picks.

-- MWE

And the Royals pick Miguel Moctezuma (C-Central Oklahoma), who would go for Moctezuma's revenge on bad umps

The Braves did pick up Palazzone, but it was very late. Might be tough to sign him now.

Folks over at BravesJournal, who know these players, say Milligan is going to be a tougher sign than Stovall, as Milligan has a Vandy committment.

Can someone who is listening tell me if you hear the entire conference call? Specifically, do you hear the guy who says "X selects Y from Z" after the team picks the player.

JC:
1) I think the way they are doing it now is fine. Baseball is most similar among professional sports to the NHL - it doesn't make sense to televise more than 1 or 2 rounds.
2) There would be lots more undrafted free agents, which would probably be an advantage for large-market teams, if they reduced the number of rounds.
3) Even if they wanted to expand coverage, they don't need to reduce the number of rounds. In the second day of the NFL draft, they don't pause in the coverage to announce every pick - it's more of a conversation.

The Royals picked LHP Derrick Saito (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), a 5'9/155lb pitcher.

Yeah, really.

From the comments: "He's got a huge arm and the ability to throw four pitches for strikes. Someone will have to take a risk to take him but they could have a top-notch lefty specialist if they do"

Yay, lefty specialist at #475!

Can someone who is listening tell me if you hear the entire conference call? Specifically, do you hear the guy who says "X selects Y from Z" after the team picks the player.

Yeah, you hear the pick, and then the pick repeated by some whiny-voiced schmuck. Why, do you know him?

I thought Toronto or Boston would pick him up given their lack of catching depth.

Toronto's actually got relatively strong depth at catcher (at least compared to the rest of their system). They have JP Arencibia, first-rounder from last year's draft who is having a strong season, Curtis Thigpen and Robinzon Diaz at the high levels and some interesting names in the lower minors in Brian Jeroloman and Joel Collins. None of them are top prospects or sure things or anything, but I would expect perhaps a couple of those guys to develop into at least below-average MLB starters or serviceable backups (my guess is Diaz splits 2009 with Barajas or maybe Zaun and the team hopes Arencibia is ready for 2010, while they attempt to develop Thigpen as multi-position infield reserve). It's not a spectacular collection of talent, but it's one of the strongest positions in the system.

Plus, the team grabbed Antonio Jimenez (BA's 200th ranked prospect) in the 9th round. He's been sidetracked by injury, but it's a gamble worth taking in that round, IMO.

And the A's picked Rodney Rutherford at #604

The Royals picked LHP Derrick Saito (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo), a 5'9/155lb pitcher.

Yeah, really.

From the comments: "He's got a huge arm and the ability to throw four pitches for strikes. Someone will have to take a risk to take him but they could have a top-notch lefty specialist if they do"

Yay, lefty specialist at #475!

He's a walk-on who went on an engineering scholarship. So if things don't work out, he could help build KC's downtown stadium in ten years.

Saito is awesome. Have you seen him throw yet? There's no way he should be able to pitch as fast as he does.

The Yanks took Pat Venditte (i.e. the new Greg W. Harris).

We need Saito to design the left field seating area in order to help our RHBs while preventing problems for LHP pitchers like him.

And the Royals picked Ryan Morgan from Rockhurst College. Whoo!

I don't know if we're going to be able to sign Alex Gordon's cousin, since he's committed to Nebraska.

Yeah, you hear the pick, and then the pick repeated by some whiny-voiced schmuck. Why, do you know him?

I believe he's going to be announcing rounds 31-40

I did rounds 28-31. Hit my pitch count early and had to be relieved. That whiny-voiced schmuck is a good guy by the way.

Oh thank goodness, the guy after you sounded like a Muppet.

Brett Lilley goes to St. Louis with pick 875

And no picks from the UCM yet

I was laughing at y'alls comments about Gordon Beckham's hair, because he looks like every guy who ever went to my high school. Then I figured out (by reading the AJC today) that he did go to my high school. Then I figured out he's the son of my first grade teacher - she was pregnant at the start of the year and didn't come back after Christmas break because she had her baby... who turned out to be Gordon Beckham.

And now you know the rest of the story. </Paul Harvey>

I'm surprised Nate Frieman went unpicked, and I am also surprised that Ryan Wood lasted til the 40s rounds and Chris Shehan to the 30s.
It doesn't look like JUCO arms Ryan Chafee and Ben Jeffers got picked up.

Also, how did Barry Bowden go unpicked? I realize he isn't too prospect-y and he is older but a guy that good in college is worth a late round pick

Holy ####, Kyle. That's awesome.

I feel kind of obligated to root for him now, even though I imagine his social life while at Westminster was quite different than mine was.

And jesus christ, that was an absolutely horrible loss for the Braves. I feel like I've had my guts ripped out with a meathook.

disgracefully lazy fantasy player asks:

best of the NL selections for short-term, mid-term, long-term fantasy value?

best of the NL selections for short-term

Pedro Alvarez. Andrew Cashner might get saves at some point soon.

mid-term,

Alvarez again, but Buster Posey after him.

long-term fantasy value?

Brett Lawrie, Zach Collier, Alvarez again, maybe Kyle Skipworth.

And Alonso's going to hit some bombs, playing at GAB. If he signs.

Thanks much.
I was thinking, Alvarez for sure.
Then Posey vs the Reds kid vs Crow, and Cashner is interesting.

Developing storyline to watch..
Will the loss of Coach Cohen make all the talented Kentucky recruits who were going to turn down the draft to reconsider whether they want to be Wildcats?

In a related story, Ron Polk is hopping mad..
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=3430009&campaign=rss&source=NCAAHeadlines