[USML Announce] Baseball Draft

[Andy Klein]

I never thought of it that way, Rich.

Good work, Kerber!

-Andy

PS:  Nick Markakis is The Man!!



--- "Richard E. Robbins" <RERobbins at iTinker.net>
wrote:

> 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 
=== message truncated ===


Andrew R. Klein
anrklein at yahoo.com