[USML Announce] Baseball Draft

[Richard E. Robbins]

Andy,

Chad Orvella is The Man.

-- Rich 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: announce-bounces at usml.net 
> [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On Behalf Of Andy Klein
> Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 7:24 AM
> To: USML Announcements
> Subject: RE: [USML Announce] Baseball Draft
> 
> 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
> 
>