[USML Announce] Baseball Draft

[Blocker, Mark B.]

Man, Billy Butler (KC - 3B SuperProspect) sure had a short tenure as Third
Baseman of the Future.


  _____  

From: announce-bounces at usml.net [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On Behalf
Of springkerb at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 8:23 AM
To: announce at usml.net
Subject: Re: [USML Announce] Baseball Draft


These guys are not "nascent" magic beans.  They are real magic beans--and
two of them are probably closer to sprouting than most minor league
prospects.
 
Gordon will probably be pushing Mark Teahen out of KC by next year.  And
Miguel Olivo's tenure in Seattle is now looking almost as short.
 
Mark 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard E. Robbins <RERobbins at iTinker.net>
To: 'USML Announcements' <announce at usml.net>
Sent: Wed, 8 Jun 2005 07:16:30 -0500
Subject: RE: [USML Announce] Baseball Draft


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%40usml.net>  

> [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net <mailto:announce-bounces%40usml.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 <mailto:springkerb%40aol.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 <mailto:anrklein%40yahoo.com> 

> 

> 










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