[USML Announce] MLB Amateur Draft

Thu Jun 5 22:59:10 EDT 2008

With all due respect to the Red Hots and their bonus babies, the real winner in this year's minor league draft was, as I predicted, Mark Blocker.? Brian Matusz is an experienced college pitcher that could be ready to contribute in the majors as soon as next year.? Team that up with David Price who is now over his injury and tearing up the minor leagues and you're looking at a team that could threaten as soon as next year.? Tim Beckham and Eric Hosmer are less than 4 years older that Jason, Joseph, Ben or Ezra and their combined ages?are no less than 5 years less than the youngest member of our league.? If these guys had been drafted by Brad Lee, the over/under on the number of times that they would be moved?between USML teams before they were?playing in the major leagues would be no less than 5 times.? Of course, they weren't drafted by the Riptorns, they were drafted by the Red Hots, which moves the over/under to 1.? Anticipated arrival somewhere between 2011-2013.

My hearty congratulations to Mark Blocker on a job well done.? In recognition of this fine effort two years in a row, I am pleased to offer DUMP membership to Mr. B and am prepared to let bygones be bygones.? Welcome Mark!

The King

-----Original Message-----
From: springkerb at aol.com
To: announce at usml.net
Sent: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 10:16 pm
Subject: Re: [USML Announce] MLB Amateur Draft

Let's start with Ellsbury, and we can talk about throwing in some college boys after that. ?Shall we negotiate this publicly? ?I've always thought that might be fun. ?Kind of like an auction! 

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: Richard E. Robbins <RERobbins at iTinker.net>
To: 'USML Announcements' <announce at usml.net>
Sent: Thu, 5 Jun 2008 8:32 pm
Subject: RE: [USML Announce] MLB Amateur Draft

In addition to Beckham and Hosmer, you can add Dennis Raben to the collection of Red-Hots draft picks landing in the AL.? Dennis was taken in the second round by the Mariners.? For those not familiar with Raben, here's what Baseball America says:

?

Lefthanded power hitters are always in demand, and with this draft class being low on quality college outfielders, Raben satisfies two areas of desire. A 49th-round draft pick by the Mariners in 2005, Raben chose to attend Miami and helped lead the Hurricanes to the College World Series as a freshman. Following his sophomore year, Raben played in the Cape Cod League for Orleans, hitting six home runs and earning all-Cape Cod League honors. A preseason All-American, Raben was recognized as one of the top hitting outfield prospects in the upcoming draft. Raben has a strong build at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. He is aggressive at the plate and can often times get caught chasing pitches out of the zone. His swing has some length, but Raben has tremendous power that translates to the game. In the outfield, he is a below-average runner but does have good instincts and takes proper routes. However, Raben could be moved to first base at some point in his professional career.

?

That makes me three for three?today.??Gentlemen, I am open for business and playing for this year.? There are no untouchables on my roster.?

From: announce-bounces at usml.net [mailto:announce-bounces at usml.net] On Behalf Of Blocker, Mark B.
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 2:47 PM
To: announce at usml.net
Subject: [USML Announce] MLB Amateur Draft

Colleagues: 

? For teams like mine that our annually out of the running for the USML title by June 1, the baseball amateur draft brings a much-needed level of excitement into my hum-drum USML existence.? Since the first dozen or so picks are now in the books, I thought I would look at the winners and losers among USML league members:

1.? Big Winners:? Mighty Red Hots 

? Noted Bean Watcher Rich Robbins scores biggest, correctly predicting two names from the first three picks in the draft, and both of them (Beckham, Hosmer) went to AL teams.? Kudos to Rich.? Message to Beckham/Hosmer: don't expect to be going anywhere anytime soon.

2.? Smaller Winners:? Nukes, Bombers 

? I think Kerber actually chose Smoak two years ago and reserved him this year; is that right?? Anyway, Kerber's patience pays off (and he "Smoaks" the rest of us), as J. Smoak goes to the 1B-light Rangers.

? The Bombers were of course roundly criticized for taking Brian Matusz, but the powerful lefty goes to the pitching-starved Orioles with the 4th pick, making this two years in a row that the Bombers taking home the top pitching prize in the draft (amateur).

3.? Losers:? Berliners 

? Bummer for Jeff:? his picks were excellent, but unfortunately, the roulette wheel stopped on the Pirates (P. Alvarez) and the Reds (Y. Alonso), both in the NL last time I checked.? Jeff, the silver lining is that you just had two spots open on your roster!

? -- Mark B. 

Sidley Austin LLP mail server made the following annotations on 06/05/08, 14:47:19:
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