Official 2014 Draft Day Thread, Day 2

[cmathewson]

We don't yet know what the Twins are going to do with them though. Specifically Burdi and Cederoth. If they just plug em into the bullpen next year, that is some awfully fast cash.

 

They have drafted more college relief arms of late and converted many of them into starters. I'm sure they will try with these two. The reason they shy away from college starters is the wear and tear on their arms.

[jokin]

Right. Let's hope they are using international development better than we generally think they are.

 

Agreed. Has anyone heard anything about how Lewin Diaz and Amaurys Minier are doing? Any whispers on Rusney Castillo and Daniel Carbonell?

[drivlikejehu]

I'm not sure that it's savvy, and I'm not trying to sell you. The strategy is unconventional, so naturally the evidence legitimizing such tactics would be scant.

 

For a team mired in conventional thinking to go so hard after velocity with atypical tactics, I think, demonstrates an evolution in that team's thinking; and beliefs about player development. I honestly don't know enough about this particular draft to judge whether the tactics are exploiting a market inefficiency or not, but I like conviction and a the renewed approach by the Twins, and I like the unrelenting acquisition of power arms.

 

I'm not sure this is anything new. The Twins spent a first round pick in 2008 on a closer that they tried to convert to a starter (Gutierrez). They drafted hard-throwing projected relievers in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of 2009 (though Tootle had started in college). Then there was 2012 of course. It just seems to be a thing they do, with nothing to show for it.

[cmb0252]

It was reported last night that they will keep Burdi in the pen.

[Otto von Ballpark]

For a team mired in conventional thinking to go so hard after velocity with atypical tactics, I think, demonstrates an evolution in that team's thinking; and beliefs about player development. I honestly don't know enough about this particular draft to judge whether the tactics are exploiting a market inefficiency or not, but I like conviction and a the renewed approach by the Twins, and I like the unrelenting acquisition of power arms.

 

I don't think the Twins have ever had a serious aversion to (or deficit of) fairly hard throwers in the bullpen.

[jokin]

They have grabbed some interesting international bats the last few years, however. My guess is that picks in rounds 2-4 won't have a huge impact on longterm minor leaguer rosters.

 

Huh. How do you feel now that it's round 2-6? And as of right now, it's awful hard to see one real legitimate major league prospect currently in Cedar Rapids (Vielma? Garver?). Not getting anyone other than Gordon in the first 6 rounds is bound to leave an even bigger hole in the lower levels of the organization, unless, as Pseudo so correctly pointed out, we are about to see a huge influx of impact players from the international market.

[jokin]

I'm not sure this is anything new. The Twins spent a first round pick in 2008 on a closer that they tried to convert to a starter (Gutierrez). They drafted hard-throwing projected relievers in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of 2009 (though Tootle had started in college). Then there was 2012 of course. It just seems to be a thing they do, with nothing to show for it.

 

Well, the sheer quantity of college RPs in the high rounds is new.

[Otto von Ballpark]

So we take Jake Reed when two HOF'ers in Carter and Moss were still available?

 

Three Deep! Triple Threat!

[jokin]

i like curtiss!

 

Uh Oh. I'm guessing that Gardy won't like this particular aspect to his college pedigree:

 

A potential No. 2 or 3 starter if everything comes together, he's also highly intelligent and graduated from Texas in three years with a double major in English and history.

[Willihammer]

Andro Cutura: 87 h, 23 ER, 21 BB, 99 K, 2 HR, .219 BAA in 106 IP (16 starts / 16 appearances)

[jokin]

Huh. How do you feel now that it's round 2-6? And as of right now, it's awful hard to see one real legitimate major league prospect currently in Cedar Rapids (Vielma? Garver?). Not getting anyone other than Gordon in the first 6 rounds is bound to leave an even bigger hole in the lower levels of the organization, unless, as Pseudo so correctly pointed out, we are about to see a huge influx of impact players from the international market.

 

Make that rounds 2-7....

[iceslick]

Agreed. Has anyone heard anything about how Lewin Diaz and Amaurys Minier are doing? Any whispers on Rusney Castillo and Daniel Carbonell?

 

Diaz is playing in DSL along with Tapia. They have only played a handful of games but I know Diaz has already gone yard once.

[gunnarthor]

Huh. How do you feel now that it's round 2-6?

Not concerned.

[Pitz]

Aside from the HR, he's off to kind of a rough start. Primarily DHing as well.

[jokin]

Diaz is playing in DSL along with Tapia. They have only played a handful of games but I know Diaz has already gone yard once.

 

Thanks.

[Vervehound]

They have drafted more college relief arms of late and converted many of them into starters. I'm sure they will try with these two. The reason they shy away from college starters is the wear and tear on their arms.

 

you realize that could be construed as really funny considering all of the arm injuries we've drafted in recent years? tootle, bard, chargois to name the first that come to mind. the twins have been entirely cavalier about incorporating medical reports into their drafting and have only recently conceded the need to do so.

[Vervehound]

i count six high schoolers in round 6 and only two so far in round 7. teams are going down their lists for signability and are waiting until round 11 to go for the best remaining prep talent.

[nicksaviking]

Dang it, I was just going to say the Twins should draft Joey Pankaka because then I might get my four-year-old interested in watching baseball.

 

At least until he realizes he isn't food.

[twinsfan34]

Round 8...

 

Keaton Steele, 91-93. RP most of the season, has started some.

 

Groundball pitcher.

 

http://www.mutigers.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/keaton_steele_831367.html

 

That makes ANOTHER college relief pitcher.

 

Per MLB.com

 

6'3" 225lbs DOB: 10/30/91 | http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/components/events/draft/y2012/draftcaster/images/vid_icon.pngScouting videoSteele missed his first college season in 2011 with rotator-cuff and labrum tears in his shoulder that required surgery. He came back the next year to win Most Outstanding Player honor at the Junior College World Series. Steele helped Iowa Western capture its second national title, hitting a go-ahead two-run homer and earning a save in the championship game. In his first season at Missouri in 2013, he was the only NCAA Division I player to lead his team in homers, wins and saves, and he has focused mostly on pitching this spring. When he's at his best, Steele works at 91-93 mph and touches 96 with a heavy fastball, flashing a plus slider with good tilt at 84-85 mph. At other times, he pitches with an 88-91 mph fastball and a flatter slider in the upper 70s. He has a strong, athletic frame and earns praise for his control and his competitiveness. Moved into the Tigers' rotation for the final three weeks of the season, Steele responded with two complete games and pitched into the ninth inning of his third outing. He has a chance to start in pro ball, though he'll need a better changeup in that role. After graduating as a redshirt junior with a degree in sociology, he's expected to sign after turning down the Rays as a 29th-rounder in 2012 and the Royals as a 40th-rounder last year.

[Willihammer]

Keaton Steele: 64 h, 23 er, 18 bb, 56 k, 0 HR, 67.1 IP

[gunnarthor]

Looks like Steele will get a shot at starting. Not a bad pick for the 8th round, actually. But this has been a weird draft.

[jokin]

you realize that could be construed as really funny considering all of the arm injuries we've drafted in recent years? tootle, bard, chargois to name the first that come to mind. the twins have been entirely cavalier about incorporating medical reports into their drafting and have only recently conceded the need to do so.

 

And the last 2 picks have serious recent arm injuries.

[jokin]

Looks like Steele will get a shot at starting. Not a bad pick for the 8th round, actually. But this has been a weird draft.

 

Rounds 2-8. Still not concerned by the "weirdness" quotient?

[gunnarthor]

Rounds 2-8. Still not concerned by the "weirdness" quotient?

No. It's a boring draft but that doesn't mean it's a bad draft. And draft picks don't nec line up with A ball either. Some guys might start at rookie, some A and some will get to AA this year. Next years draft will be the same so there will be overlap within the levels. Way too early to get concerned about the bats at Cedar Rapids.

[jokin]

No. It's a boring draft but that doesn't mean it's a bad draft. And draft picks don't nec line up with A ball either. Some guys might start at rookie, some A and some will get to AA this year. Next years draft will be the same so there will be overlap within the levels. Way too early to get concerned about the bats at Cedar Rapids.

 

Only now it's going to be the bats at E-Town, Cedar Rapids and Ft Myers starting in 2015.

[cmb0252]

Apparently the Twins hit both their HS and position player quota for the draft with the first pick. This draft has been completely underwhelming.

[Dman]

There strategy had to be take a fairly safe 1st round pick and the go high risk high reward pitching the next several picks. They must have felt the pitching prospects outweighed the position players early on in this draft. Had to be a strategy as they are usually more balanced than this.

[kab21]

They have grabbed some interesting international bats the last few years, however. My guess is that picks in rounds 2-4 won't have a huge impact on longterm minor leaguer rosters.

 

Just because they might not have a long term impact that doesn't mean that you just throw this many picks away on RP'ers. I can understand a guy like Burdi but look for guys like Rosario, Goodrum, Walker and Navarreto in rds 2-6.

[PseudoSABR]

I think there's far too much vocal disappointment with how much velocity we added to the minor league pitching corp. Again, this is a club that drafted relief pitchers for their ground ball rates not but a few years ago.

 

Sure it's more exciting to draft a half-dozen high school projectable arms, but it's hardly a foregone conclusion that doing so is the better strategy. Honestly, there's plenty to be excited about in the arms the Twins have drafted.

[drivlikejehu]

I think there's far too much vocal disappointment with how much velocity we added to the minor league pitching corp. Again, this is a club that drafted relief pitchers for their ground ball rates not but a few years ago.

 

In 2009 they drafted for velocity. Bashore's was good for a lefty, Bullock and Tootle were pure arm strength picks, and velocity was also the main selling point of 7th rounder Stillings. A bunch of guys who couldn't stay healthy and/or know how to pitch.

 

Drafting guys who throw hard isn't new. I don't understand why you keep claiming this. Neither is taking college relievers. These are standard Twins' strategies, in place for years.

 

I'm not excited because I've already seen this strategy fail repeatedly. Yes, velocity is important, but so are a lot of other things. They are taking guys with huge flaws and a player development system with no proven ability to fix them.