[USML Announce] Baseball Draft

[Richard E. Robbins]

You are being short-sighted Andy.

Kerber will deal these guys to some fool like me for a player with real
value.  I'll end up with the nascent magic bean and Kerber will have helped
his team.

-- Rich

> -----Original Message-----
> From: announce-bounces at usml.net 
> [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On Behalf Of Andy Klein
> Sent: Tuesday, June 07, 2005 9:59 PM
> To: USML Announcements
> Subject: Re: [USML Announce] Baseball Draft
> 
> Now for the answer to the question, "How many of these 
> players will ever help the USML team that drafted them?" ... None.
> 
> -Andy
> 
> --- springkerb at aol.com wrote:
> 
> > Confirming the expertise of our league, no less than five 
> of today's 
> > first round draft picks were already in rosters in the 
> USML, including 
> > all of the first three picks.  Three of the five USML picks 
> landed in 
> > the AL, the lone exception being first pick Justin Upton, 
> who went to 
> > the D-Backs.
> >  
> > Below is a summary of the first round, with scouting reports, from 
> > Baseball America.  I have noted the USML teams of the 
> draftees in red.
> >  
> > Mark
> >  
> > 1. Diamondbacks: Justin Upton, ss, Great Bridge HS, 
> Chesapeake, Va.  
> > BERLINERS
> > 
> > Upton demonstrates excellent patience at the plate and a 
> quick stroke. 
> > His well-defined and muscular upper body give a hint to his 
> plus power 
> > potential, which he accompanies with equal amounts of speed.
> > His 6.23-second time in the 60-yard dash at a Perfect Game showcase 
> > last year rates as the quickest in the scouting service's history. 
> > Upton moves well defensively and shows clean actions at 
> shortstop, but 
> > again follows in his brother's footsteps because he has trouble 
> > harnessing the plus arm strength that has allowed him to hit 94 mph 
> > off the mound.
> >  2. Royals: Alex Gordon, 3b, U. of Nebraska NUKES
> > 
> > Gordon should hit for power and average because he has a sweet 
> > lefthanded swing, strength, exceptional strike-zone 
> discipline and the 
> > ability to make adjustments. He uses the entire field and can drive 
> > the ball where it's pitched after getting pull-conscious as a 
> > sophomore. When Gordon first arrived at Nebraska, some thought he 
> > might have to move to first base or an outfield corner. But he has 
> > worked hard on his defense, where his strong arm, instincts and 
> > quickness are assets.
> >  3. Mariners: Jeff Clement, c, U. of Southern California NUKES
> > 
> > 
> > Clement generates light-tower power with a short, compact 
> lefthanded 
> > swing. He stays inside the ball well and gets excellent 
> backspin. As a 
> > major league hitter, he projects to hit .270-.280 with 30-35 home 
> > runs. Clement has outstanding makeup and has worked hard to 
> shore up 
> > his weaknesses. He has shown his biggest improvement behind 
> the plate. 
> > His set-up, mechanics, blocking and arm quickness are all much 
> > improved. He still has only a 40-50 arm on the standard 
> 20-80 scouting 
> > scale, but threw out almost 50 percent of basestealers this year.
> >  4. Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman, 3b, U. of Virginia
> > 
> > Zimmerman's bat control, elite defensive and polish could 
> give team a 
> > quick return on investment.
> > Zimmerman rarely strikes out because of his balanced, up-the-middle 
> > approach and shows average speed and good instincts on the 
> basepaths. 
> > He's always had excellent defensive skills, with hands, feet, arm 
> > strength and range that all rate above-average. One scout 
> called him 
> > the best defender he had ever seen--at any position--and 
> said the only 
> > question about Zimmerman was how many Gold Gloves he would win. His 
> > makeup also gets high marks.
> >  5. Brewers: Ryan Braun, 3b, U. of Miami
> > 
> > Braun has a hitch in his swing and a high, unconventional 
> finish, but 
> > his hands are quick enough to make it work, and he?s 
> athletic enough 
> > to repeat his stroke and drive pitches to all parts of the 
> field. His 
> > future position will be the main source of concern for pro 
> teams. He 
> > came to college as a shortstop and now plays third, but he has 
> > struggled with errors at both spots. Some scouts doubt his infield 
> > actions and footwork and say he'll have to move to an 
> outfield corner, 
> > where his plus arm and speed could allow him to be an above-average 
> > defender in time.
> >  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.
> >  7. Rockies: Troy Tulowitzki, ss, Long Beach State U.
> > 
> > Tulowitzki compares favorably to Oakland's Bobby Crosby, his 
> > predecessor as shortstop at Long Beach State. They're about 
> the same 
> > size and have similar speed and bat speed at the same stage, but 
> > scouts say Tulowitzki is a better athlete and should be a better 
> > player. He has more arm strength and range, and more power to all 
> > parts of the park, while Crosby was more automatic on routine plays 
> > and had more pull power. Tulowitzki has also won over 
> scouts with his 
> > approach to the game. He plays with exceptional intensity and an 
> > unrivaled passion for the game.
> >  8. Devil Rays: Wade Townsend, rhp, Dripping Springs, Texas
> > 
> > Townsend didn't sign as the eighth overall pick last year, 
> deciding to 
> > return to Rice to complete his degree after negotiations with the 
> > Orioles broke down. Townsend spent April and May working out for 
> > clubs, and for the most part showed the same stuff he had 
> in 2004. He 
> > wasn't in game shape, so he didn't maintain his velocity past three 
> > simulated innings, but he pitched at 90-92 mph with his trademark 
> > spike curveball and an effective changeup.
> > Though he has the repertoire to start, most teams project 
> Townsend as 
> > a big league reliever because they say his intensity fits 
> best in that 
> > role.
> >  9. Mets: Mike Pelfrey, rhp, Wichita State U.
> > 
> > Pelfrey has blown away hitters consistently with a
> > 92-97 mph fastball that's as notable for its sink as for 
> its velocity. 
> > He's adept at getting grounders or strikeouts, depending on the 
> > situation. He has refined a straight changeup that will be a plus 
> > pitch and keeps lefthanders in check. He also has tightened his 
> > curveball and become more consistent with it. Add in a perfect 
> > pitcher's frame, good control and a competitive makeup, and 
> the only 
> > thing that really bothers scouts about Pelfrey is agent Scott Boras.
> >  10. Tigers: Cameron Maybin, of, T.C. Roberson HS, Arden, N.C. RED 
> > HOTS
> > 
> > Maybin has a rare combination of premium athletic ability, 
> bloodlines 
> > and baseball savvy. He has broad shoulders and long limbs 
> and fingers, 
> > and physically evokes comparisons on the low end to Preston 
> Wilson and 
> > on the high end to Vladimir Guerrero. He should be a 
> premium defender 
> > in center field with experience, with long, graceful 
> strides gobbling 
> > up turf and an average arm. Some scouts think his bat might 
> take time 
> > to develop once he starts seeing good breaking balls 
> consistently. His 
> > makeup?including good work habits, maturity and love for the 
> > game--endears him to scouts.
> >  11. Pirates: Andrew McCutchen, of, Fort Meade
> > (Fla.) HS
> > 
> > McCutchen?s game isn?t all about tools, though his tools are plus 
> > across the board. That starts with the most important tool: 
> the bat. 
> > McCutchen has quick hands and a compact swing, producing surprising 
> > raw power for his size and giving him the bat speed to lash line 
> > drives to all fields. His athletic ability, speed and frame earn 
> > comparisons to Mets prospect Lastings Milledge, but he?s 
> more polished 
> > at the plate, earning 60 and 70 grades from scouts (on the 20-80 
> > scouting scale) with 50 raw power.
> >  12. Reds: Jay Bruce, of, West Brook HS, Beaumont, Texas
> > 
> > Bruce has been compared by scouts to Larry Walker.
> > Though he has average to plus tools across the board and enough 
> > athleticism to play center field, Bruce profiles better in right 
> > field. His swing can get a little long at times, but Bruce is a 
> > polished high school hitter. He centers the ball well and already 
> > understands the importance of using the entire field. He 
> also has the 
> > strength and skill to eventually hit 30-plus homers annually in the 
> > majors. His average speed is probably his worst tool, but he plays 
> > quicker than his stopwatch readings on the bases and in the 
> outfield. 
> > He has more than enough arm to handle the move to right 
> field in pro 
> > ball.
> >  13. Orioles: Brandon Snyder, c, Westfield HS, Centreville, Va.
> > 
> > Snyder is tough mentally, jumping back and forth between 
> shortstop and 
> > catcher, though he moved behind the plate for good late in 
> his senior 
> > season.
> > He plays the game hard with a dirt-rat mentality in spite of his 
> > premium prospect status. Snyder's mature approach, line-drive swing 
> > and ability to pull the ball with authority remind scouts of Justin 
> > Upton at the plate. His athleticism and arm strength would play at 
> > shortstop or third base, and some teams would start him out as an 
> > infielder to make sure his offensive development doesn't 
> get stunted.
> >  14. Indians: Trevor Crowe, of, U. of Arizona
> > 
> > 
> === message truncated ===
> 
> 
> Andrew R. Klein
> anrklein at yahoo.com
> 
>