Potential 2013 Twins Draft Pick: Mark Appel

Yeah, I was in the camp for Gausman or Appel over Buxton as well. I'm not sure the whole BPA thing was clear either. Sickles gave Gausman a higher grade than Buxton, and I suspect he'd have done the same with Appel. Both of those guys were putting up 1/2 type numbers against competition that was closer to A+/AA. I think the move wasn't the brightest. Granted they weren't passing up on a Strasberg or Harper type guy to get Buxton, but with the ceilings on all being nice, the obvious need, and the fact that those guys were a lot closer, I'm still rather miffed about this one.

Appel's 15 strikeouts last night was a career-high, but took the loss on the heels of two unearned runs.

Game story

You have to think many teams in the Top 10 are going to better prepare themselves in the event that Appel drops. I would very much assume that the Twins will have a strong plan in place if Appel is on the board at #4 (i.e. have a lot of college seniors ready to go to save money in rounds 2-10)

Friday night
Appel 7IP 4h 3r 1er 15k (career high) 1bb.....lost 3-2

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Originally Posted by Jeremy Nygaard

Appel's 15 strikeouts last night was a career-high, but took the loss on the heels of two unearned runs.

Game story

You have to think many teams in the Top 10 are going to better prepare themselves in the event that Appel drops. I would very much assume that the Twins will have a strong plan in place if Appel is on the board at #4 (i.e. have a lot of college seniors ready to go to save money in rounds 2-10)

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I suppose but I don't see anyway he slips past the Cubs at this point. No one else has really even made a case for going #1.

"Yeah, I was in the camp for Gausman or Appel over Buxton as well. I'm not sure the whole BPA thing was clear either. Sickles gave Gausman a higher grade than Buxton, and I suspect he'd have done the same with Appel. Both of those guys were putting up 1/2 type numbers against competition that was closer to A+/AA. I think the move wasn't the brightest. Granted they weren't passing up on a Strasberg or Harper type guy to get Buxton, but with the ceilings on all being nice, the obvious need, and the fact that those guys were a lot closer, I'm still rather miffed about this one." QUOTE FROM DIEHARDTWINSFAN

I don't know if Glausman or Appel would of been a better pick than Buxton, but the idea that any college conference is better competition than even Rookie level ball is just wrong. There are very talented college players but most of them are freshmen or sophomores. There are polished college players but most of them are older and not talented enough to get drafted. A Rookie league team such Elizabethan, will have those same young talented college guys, just a year older. The rest of the roster will be 4 year college guys who got drafted, and high school kids or international signings who are very talented or have some experience, or they would be playing in the Gulf Coast league. There is certainly much more talent at Elizabethan than any college team out there. They are also more experienced, generally.

I have read many posters who equate college ball with lower minor league ball, but I just don't think that is a realistic comparsion. There are a few college teams with multiple future high draft choices, but most of the roster will not be drafted at all.

Appel is from Houston and will likely get drafted by Houston. Who else do you see Houston taking? They are going to take the hometown guy all things being equal. I think another reason he wasnt taken by Houston last year was that maybe Appel told them he wanted to finish college and Houston knew they were not going to be good last year and were going to get a top pick this year.

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Originally Posted by Brandon

Appel is from Houston and will likely get drafted by Houston. Who else do you see Houston taking? They are going to take the hometown guy all things being equal. I think another reason he wasnt taken by Houston last year was that maybe Appel told them he wanted to finish college and Houston knew they were not going to be good last year and were going to get a top pick this year.

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Just like they did last year? They may take him, but I Don't think it's a given... but I think you make a good point.

Appel returned from break with a pretty dominant performance: 11 strikeouts along with 12 groundball outs.

A Boras client (Carlos Pena) did sign with the Astros this offseason, so there must have been/be an okay relationship there. I still think the smartest thing they can do is draft Appel and play hardball. Worst case scenario: Draft 1st and 2nd in a much better draft... not ideal, obviously; but hardly the end of the world for an organization that is improving (from the bottom up).

Appel kept things going on Thursday vs Washington State throwing a complete game shut out. He allowed 4 hits and had a 10/1 K/BB. Man is a machine.

I just jumped over here from the Jonathan Gray thread, and was thinking about the Appel vs. Gray debate when it comes to picking at number 4 (assuming the Twins would even have the luxury to choose)

I know that Boras is Appel's agent, but if a team decides that Appel can truly anchor a staff, then why not draft him, try your best with Boras (but likely end up paying the devil in the end) and inserting Appel into your rotation come September? It sounds like he has nothing left to prove on anywhere, so why not just pay the guy and let him get after it?

Also-- look at this list...

2013 MLB Top Total Salaries - Starting Pitcher

Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly (19 and 20, respectively) earn just north of $13 million. Now I have no idea what Boras would demand, but based on the new draft salary-structure, I would think that we could get Appel cheaper than this. And I would also have to believe Appel would contribute more to a roster both now and in the future than Dempster and Lilly.

Finally-- based on this money-talk, wouldn't it be worth it to get a stud in the draft if you truly think he is the one? I know drafting Appel would take up a huge portion of our available draft money, but in reality, how many contributing, major-league caliber players can a team count on finding in a single draft?

Sorry if this has already been touched on here... I just jumped over from another thread

They won't have a shot at Appel unless he gets hurt. The Cubs will be taking him. The Twins' hope is that Gray somehow falls. Otherwise it is another year w/o picking an ace type pitcher and going with some HS kid 6 years away. Just my guess.

I'm not so certain about that. Manaea and Anderson both look like potential anchors and should be there. I'm not so certain while people are suddenly down on Manaea. He's had 1 bad start.

Some HS kid 6 years away? Don't know who you are talking about but it clearly isn't Buxton.

As for Manaea, while he might only have one bad start, his stuff isn't there like it was in cape cod. His fastball has been a tick or two slower. His slider and control haven't been as consistent. College stats are great and all but scouts are looking for ability, not the final stat line.

If Appel( most likely) and Gray (decent chance) are gone by the Twins pick they will be in an interesting spot.

The way Appel has pitched, there is no way he is making it to the Twins. Boras has little leverage now and teams don't have to be scared to draft him. If Boras holds out again, he will have cost Appel millions. His best strategy would have been to let him sign and play right away because he might have seen serious MLB playing time this season. Now, he is backed up a year and if he doesn't sign he is backed up again.

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Originally Posted by cmb0252

Some HS kid 6 years away? Don't know who you are talking about but it clearly isn't Buxton.

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For the record, how long do you think Buxton will spend in the minors?

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Originally Posted by ThePuck

For the record, how long do you think Buxton will spend in the minors?

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BA has Buxtons ETA at 2015 which seems a little aggressive but when you have a freak athlete with Buxtons work ethic it is completely possible. Personally I think Buxton will be up to stay in 2016.

But anyways....this is the Appel section and not the OMG why did the twins take a HS OF and not a college pitcher section. We already have enough of those.

I agree with most people here that there is no way Appel is going to make it to the Twins at 4. Even if the Astros pass on him the Cubs wont. They need pitching in the minors almost as bad as us.

When did I say Buxton would be 6 years away? Not one time in this thread.

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Originally Posted by cmb0252

As for Manaea, while he might only have one bad start, his stuff isn't there like it was in cape cod. His fastball has been a tick or two slower. His slider and control haven't been as consistent. College stats are great and all but scouts are looking for ability, not the final stat line.

If Appel( most likely) and Gray (decent chance) are gone by the Twins pick they will be in an interesting spot.

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These issues have been known for some time. I think many put Manaea into front of the rotation anchor tier based on him magically solving these by draft time. Imo Manaea continues to be the same prospect that he was a couple of months ago. He has good upside but isn't a sure thing.

Appel has seemingly pulled away from the competition and Gray has moved into the spot that Manaea was put into.

The Twins look like they will be in a tough spot in the draft. I don't have a problem with drafting a HS'er if he's the best talent and good top 5 overall picks don't take 6 yrs. The key is to pick a good top 5 pick and not the Beckhams, Tates or Bushes but that's the risk with HS'ers.

After several very unspectacular weeks Appel came out and pitched well.
9/2 K/BB, 8.1 innings, 8 hits, 1 ER,
Appel had fifteen, yes fifteen, ground ball outs against one fly out.