MLB Draft Discussion: Day 2

[Mike Sixel]

Another good point, Jim. Maybe there just aren't arms there. I'll bet good money they missed on at least three starters, but that's not a fair way to judge them (pure numbers game.....).

[Jim Crikket]

Jose Fernandez is a 6'3" 165 lbs catcher who also plays CF and still growing. Would be interesting to see what happens to him. Committed to Alabama State, but could sign. I think some PR HS kids are signable at this point.

 

maybe there is your third baseman

6' 3" and 165#?

 

Hell, I was 6' 1", 165 when I graduated from HS and I was downright scrawny (ah yes... those WERE the "good old days").

 

I sure as hell hope you're right about him being "still growing"!

[John Bonnes]

Well, it's interesting at least.

 

If Bard (#43) had an SP instead of an RP next to his names, I wonder how different the perception would be. I also wonder what was available in terms of hard-throwing starters at #63. If we had our choice between a hard throwing reliever that might become a starter or a "pitch to contact" starter after those first 60 picks, which would we choose?

 

If this is a new inefficiency that the Twins think they've found, it sure would be nice if they could give us a homegrown poster child for it, because Boer/Boyd/Hunt don't exactly inspire confidence.

[Jim Crikket]

Another good point, Jim. Maybe there just aren't arms there. I'll bet good money they missed on at least three starters, but that's not a fair way to judge them (pure numbers game.....).

Do you think they'll have ended up missing on three top of the rotation starters or just three guys who end up on a MLB rotation somewhere? The latter is all but certain, but the former I'm not so sure of. Either way, even if it turns out to be true, the trick is knowing WHICH three guys they're missing on... and to figure it out now instead of with 20-20 hindsight. I'm just glad I'm not the guy whose job it is to do it.

[drivlikejehu]

I'm not a scout, but other teams thought prep pitchers were worth taking. Some highly ranked ones were available at #42 including Smoral and Weickel. In the 2nd round they passed on strong-armed guys like Brown, Underwood, and DeJong.

 

Maybe those guys stink but other teams- who have drafted better than the Twins in recent years - apparently don't think so. It seems the more logical conclusion is that the Twins have a bad strategy.

[Jim Crikket]

Then again... it might be kinda fun to have that job for a while, until people figured out how much I suck at it.

[jokin]

Then again... it might be kinda fun to have that job for a while, until people figured out how much I suck at it.

That's the point, and the problem, Jim. I think everyone except Twins management has already figured out that Deron Johnson sucks at it and they seemingly don't care. Trust me, you would be a major upgrade.

[jokin]

Well, it's interesting at least.

 

 

 

If this is a new inefficiency that the Twins think they've found, it sure would be nice if they could give us a homegrown poster child for it, because Boer/Boyd/Hunt don't exactly inspire confidence.

 

You nailed it, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and hoping for a different and better outcome. Why haven't the Twins thought about hiring staffers from the Braves, Nationals or Rays to try a "different" approach with a history of success rather than failure?

[jokin]

Christian Powell, College of Charleston, 6'4" 220#s. So far so good. Please tell me he projects as a starter.

[Mike Sixel]

Do you think they'll have ended up missing on three top of the rotation starters or just three guys who end up on a MLB rotation somewhere? The latter is all but certain, but the former I'm not so sure of. Either way, even if it turns out to be true, the trick is knowing WHICH three guys they're missing on... and to figure it out now instead of with 20-20 hindsight. I'm just glad I'm not the guy whose job it is to do it.

I was trying to say what you said, that it is 100% certain that they'll miss on guys, just from a numbers perspective. But, to say we should let them of the hook means there just isn't any accountability, right? At some point, they need to find and develop starting pitchers that can be in their rotation. Whether they are easy to find or not, that is their job. So if they consistenty fail, at some point, changes should be made. I don't know if we are at that point or not, but this farm system is pretty bad right now.

[jokin]

I was trying to say what you said, that it is 100% certain that they'll miss on guys, just from a numbers perspective. But, to say we should let them of the hook means there just isn't any accountability, right? I don't know if we are at that point or not, but this farm system is pretty bad right now.

Mike, the Twins have been at that point for a number of years, there is virtually no drafted pitching talent on the current roster, with a string of high end busts/trade-aways over the last decade.

[Mike Sixel]

Great point, John. Is this a market inefficiency or not? If so, they'll look like geniuses in three years. If not, well, I don't want to think about that....

[Mike Sixel]

jokin, I agree, and the minors are devoid also....but it isn't up to me.

[SirLoin]

Christian Powell, College of Charleston, 6'4" 220#s. So far so good. Please tell me he projects as a starter.

Looks like he's a pretty solid starter....

 

Player ERA W-L APP GS CG SHO/CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR B/Avg

Christian Powell. 2.69 9-4 17 16 0 0/1 0 93.2 88 43 28 29 77 16 1 8 .247

[Shane Wahl]

Well is the draft low on quality position players? Because they sure as hell aren't taking many of those either.

[Shane Wahl]

This is where they could take T.J. Oakes.

Or Nick Wittgren.

[jokin]

Looks like he's a pretty solid starter....

 

Player ERA W-L APP GS CG SHO/CBO SV IP H R ER BB SO 2B 3B HR B/Avg

Christian Powell. 2.69 9-4 17 16 0 0/1 0 93.2 88 43 28 29 77 16 1 8 .247

BA had him rated #193. Fastball in the low 90s. Pitcher of the Year in the Southern Conference. Turns 21 in July. At this point, too much pitch to contact, but at least a name to watch out for down the road.

[J-Dog Dungan]

Most of Powell's hits against were singles, which is good. He also has a WHIP of 1.26, and he strikes out about .83 batters per inning. He also has some innings on his arm if he has gone through 16 CG's. That also means that he does well against hitters multiple times through the lineup.

[jokin]

Wow, Lee Mazilli's son is on the board! He was a projected 4th-5th rounder. There's your future 2nd baseman, Todd Walker with a little more moxie.

[J-Dog Dungan]

Clearly the description of the guy the Twins just picked means that he slid: "Mazzilli's bat will most likely be too much for teams to pass on in the top five rounds of the Draft." It is the 9th round of the draft.

[Shane Wahl]

.952 OPS 16/21 SB/SBA. Solid pick.

[SirLoin]

Wow, Lee Mazilli's son is on the board! He was a projected 4th-5th rounder. There's your future 2nd baseman, Todd Walker with a little more moxie.

Yep! And here's what MLB.com says....

 

The son of former player and manager Lee Mazzilli, L.J. swung a hot bat for UConn all season. Mazzilli makes hard, consistent contact and is able to use the whole field. He has a short, compact swing and should be able to hit for a good average at the next level. He has shown good power this spring but many believe that at best, it will be average. He has the ability to steal some bases and has shown it throughout his college career, but it will not be his best asset. Mazzilli is not the greatest defender at second but scouts believe that with some instruction he could be an average defender. Mazzilli's bat will most likely be too much for teams to pass on in the top five rounds of the Draft.

 

We're actually getting some value in these middle rounds....

[jokin]

Clearly the description of the guy the Twins just picked means that he slid: "Mazzilli's bat will most likely be too much for teams to pass on in the top five rounds of the Draft." It is the 9th round of the draft.

Maybe I'm a little too conventional in my thinking, but I wouldn't mind seeing more subsequent picks looking like these last two, with an additional eye to Puerto Rico to gather a few more signable HSers.

[Shane Wahl]

Nick Wittgren goes to Ozzie. Yuck.

[jokin]

Yep! And here's what MLB.com says....

 

The son of former player and manager Lee Mazzilli, L.J. swung a hot bat for UConn all season. Mazzilli makes hard, consistent contact and is able to use the whole field. He has a short, compact swing and should be able to hit for a good average at the next level. He has shown good power this spring but many believe that at best, it will be average. He has the ability to steal some bases and has shown it throughout his college career, but it will not be his best asset. Mazzilli is not the greatest defender at second but scouts believe that with some instruction he could be an average defender. Mazzilli's bat will most likely be too much for teams to pass on in the top five rounds of the Draft.

 

We're actually getting some value in these middle rounds....

Stop it SirLoin, too much optimism! Just when I had become more comfortable feeling jaded than optimistic about this draft (after Buxton).

[J-Dog Dungan]

i think that this is where the Twins start going for MN players, because I have heard indications that they really liked some of the guys coming out of here and they haven't chosen many, if any, yet.

[John Bonnes]

So after the 1st 10 rounds, when we're out of the CBA's "bonus" rules, can teams pay someone anything? So a team could go back and revisit someone who was thought to be unsignable? Are any such players really available?

[jokin]

i think that this is where the Twins start going for MN players, because I have heard indications that they really liked some of the guys coming out of here and they haven't chosen many, if any, yet.

 

Speaking of good pedigrees, will TJ Oakes still be there in the 10th round? If they liked DeVries and Thielbar, they've got to love Oakes.

[Shane Wahl]

Yay, the Sox just made a foolish pick. Even before the injury this year, Micah Johnson was falling in value since his freshman year.

[Mike Sixel]

you can only pay $100,000 after round 10.