Article: Twins Daily Official MLB Draft Day 1

[Intramural Legend]

 

LENIII just tweeted that the "Lewis steam is real" and that McKay and Greene are "also in the picture." Says it's coming down to money.

 

Maybe this is all smoke screen to get Greene to drop his price a bit?  Could be selling that it is worth dropping your price a bit to be a historical first pick?

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Please, not Lewis.  Want pitching, more pitching, and even more pitching.

As a Cubs fan, way back in 2013, I said the same thing during the draft; we need pitching, lots and lots of pitching.  The Cubs had the #2 overall pick instead of picking a college arm with a plus fastball, plus breaking ball, future plus change and picked the power college bat with defensive and contact questions.  It turned out alright, as Kris Bryant has developed nicely and quickly while the other guy I wanted, Jon Gray, has slowly turned into a stud for Colorado.

Edited June 12, 2017 by Bob Sacamento

[gunnarthor]

Well, I'd be stunned if Lewis is really the pick and if he is, they better have something good at 35 planned. I don't want us to save money at 1 just to sign a bunch of 3rd or 4th round types after round 10.

[twinsfanstreif]

LENIII just tweeted that the "Lewis steam is real" and that McKay and Greene are "also in the picture." Says it's coming down to money.

Edited June 12, 2017 by twinsfanstreif

[Bob Sacamento]

 

LENIII just tweeted that the "Lewis steam is real" and that McKay and Greene are "also in the picture." Says it's coming down to money.

With Terry Ryan out and a new guard in, I thought Twindom might not hear "it's coming down to money" for the first pick overall, but I guess that's wrong.

[Vanimal46]

Well, I'd be stunned if Lewis is really the pick and if he is, they better have something good at 35 planned. I don't want us to save money at 1 just to sign a bunch of 3rd or 4th round types after round 10.

Agreed. This organization needs top end talent again in the system. They have depth already.

 

I'd rather they go all in at 1-1 but understand the strategy to go underslot to get something better at 35/37

[InfraRen]

[Mike Sixel]

 

As a Cubs fan, way back in 2013, I said the same thing during the draft; we need pitching, lots and lots of pitching.  The Cubs had the #2 overall pick instead of picking a college arm with a plus fastball, plus breaking ball, future plus change and picked the power college bat with defensive and contact questions.  It turned out alright, as Kris Bryant has developed nicely and quickly while the other guy I wanted, Jon Gray, has slowly turned into a stud for Colorado.

 

didn't hurt they traded for Arrieta and were willing to sign Lester. The Twins utterly failed in their trades, and certainly won't be signing a Lester type.....

[Mike Sixel]

 

With Terry Ryan out and a new guard in, I thought Twindom might not hear "it's coming down to money" for the first pick overall, but I guess that's wrong.

 

It's always about money with this family in charge. Always.

[Miles Tones]

 

But we can't think like that, think of teams that passed on Trout because they needed pitching (we sure did) or the Astros passing on Bryant for Appel because they needed pitchers. There is much regret in baseball from teams drafting for need

 

I think there's a lot of validity to your points.  A few counter thoughts...

• At the times of those drafts, Trout wasn't quite as highly regarded (lower first-round guy), and Appel was (supposedly) the top prospect in the draft. 
• I think mid-market teams like the Twins are somewhat stuck with finding and developing pitchers.  They won't outbid the large-market teams like the Yankees, and I just don't recall many stud pitchers signing with low-to-mid revenue teams like the Twins.  I think we need to almost over-emphasize the drafting of pitchers, and give ourselves more room for error.
• I can't think of better trade-bait the young, high-upside pitching.  If you loaded up a farm system with stud pitching, you can trade from that position of strength to fill in other holes, if needed.

I'd actually like to see the Twins grab 3 pitchers at 1/35/37.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

For me, I don't care about his lack of velocity. I just am concerned that he was losing velocity at the end of the season.

Good point. To follow that:

 

In the very small sample of college starting pitchers drafted at the very top (top 3 or higher) in the past dozen years, I think it shows a slightly more favorable trend for those who sign late and rest their arms for the rest of the year.

 

Signed and rested their arms for year: Price, Cole, Verlander, Hultzen, Humber

 

Directly to minor leagues to pitch: Appel, Reynolds, Gray, Bauer, Rodon. 

 

Other cases: Hochevar opted not to sign and played indy ball. Strasburg signed at the signing deadline, then rested his arm, then pitched in the Arizona league that fall. 

 

Although I don't know if either Wright or McKay rise to a true 1-1 as a few of those did.

[tvagle]

We are forgetting the biggest upside to Drafting McKay 1-1

 

Twins will be showing this guy their willingness to let players play both ways

 

 

 

[KirbyDome89]

Greene...then Gore if he'll sign under slot.

 

The association of Wright with "safe," scares me and I'm not terribly high on McKay as anything other than a mid to back end rotation piece. 

 

If they go with one of the college pitchers and save some $$$ for picks later in the round I can understand it but short of that it'll be disappointing for me if they take one of those two guys. 

Edited June 12, 2017 by KirbyDome89

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Lewis was always mentioned, but does seem he was flying under the radar the whole time.

 

I'm a Wright guy, but I think I can get on board. Get pitching at 35 and 37.

It will be very intriguing to break down those two later picks, especially if they are college pitchers.

[drjim]

 

It's always about money with this family in charge. Always.

 

Are you purposely mischaracterizing this information for a cheap shot?

[mikecgrimes]

Does anyone else feel like the Twins are floating out all these non Hunter Greene names to try to get a kid excited about going #1 and increase the chances they will take less?  I kind of feel like there's a good chance in the end the twins go with Greene after none of these other guys give them the discount they want.  In the past I've heard insiders don't get any info out of Falvey but the confidence some of these mockers seem to have as they change the Twins pick every day suggest the twins are leaking these names.  No reason to do that unless it's either a done deal or your trying to get the info out for a purpose.  Also if your Greene's agent don't you call the Twins about now and say you'll take 6.5?

[drjim]

 

Does anyone else feel like the Twins are floating out all these non Hunter Greene names to try to get a kid excited about going #1 and increase the chances they will take less?  I kind of feel like there's a good chance in the end the twins go with Greene after none of these other guys give them the discount they want.  In the past I've heard insiders don't get any info out of Falvey but the confidence some of these mockers seem to have as they change the Twins pick every day suggest the twins are leaking these names.  No reason to do that unless it's either a done deal or your trying to get the info out for a purpose.  Also if your Greene's agent don't you call the Twins about now and say you'll take 6.5?

 

I don't. It would be pointless to try and work Greene this way. He seems locked in at #2.

 

They still might take him (though it's unlikely), but it does seem they are shopping around for the best deal of value for cost. Probably not the worst strategy when there is no clear cut #1.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Are you purposely mischaracterizing this information for a cheap shot?

 

Not based on how Bob typed it.....

 

but this isn't the thread for my thoughts on whether things have changed or not, so I won't continue this direction.

Edited June 12, 2017 by Mike Sixel

[nicksaviking]

 

To play Devil's advocate to your devil's advocate, are you saying that you would rather have Gibson opposed to Trout? Or Appel over Bryant?

 

No one is saying that, but both of those pitchers were drafted ahead of the batter anyway. All I'm suggesting is that someone who argues that you should draft pitching has a merited argument. You're not winning a WS without it.

[KirbyDome89]

 

LENIII just tweeted that the "Lewis steam is real" and that McKay and Greene are "also in the picture." Says it's coming down to money.

Thanks for ruining my day....

[King]

Still holding out hope for Greene. 

[InfraRen]

Our boy calling his shot:

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

One more. 1st college bat taken since 2008:

 

Pedro Alvarez

Dustin Ackley

Christian Colon

Anthony Rendon

Mike Zunino

Kris Bryant

Kyle Schwarber

Dansby Swanson

Nick Senzel

"What do the Cubs Know, that the Rest of Us Don't", Part Infinity

[Willihammer]

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235948816/the-first-day-draft-picks-for-the-padres/

[ThejacKmp]

 

With Terry Ryan out and a new guard in, I thought Twindom might not hear "it's coming down to money" for the first pick overall, but I guess that's wrong.

 

I mean, you realize that's not the same thing right? If I'm missing sarcasm apologies but this isn't "the team is too miserly to buy a Ferrari and is going to get a VW Beetle instead". It's more "I'm passing on Park Place because that way I can buy Pacific and Marvin Gardens." It's about budgeting how you use the limited amount of money available, not being cheap.

[gunnarthor]

 

"What do the Cubs Know, that the Rest of Us Don't", Part Infinity

I think it's more what are the Mariners doing?

 

But has anyone noticed Schwarber is below replacement level this year? 

[nicksaviking]

 

 

We are forgetting the biggest upside to Drafting McKay 1-1

 

Twins will be showing this guy their willingness to let players play both ways

 

 

Or their unwillingness.

[Mike Sixel]

 

"What do the Cubs Know, that the Rest of Us Don't", Part Infinity

 

that they traded for Arrieta and can afford to sign Lester?

[bluechipper]

 

I think it's more what are the Mariners doing?

 

But has anyone noticed Schwarber is below replacement level this year? 

And he has to hit a lot to be valuable because he can't field or run. I'd have to think there's a trade to an AL team in the future.

[mikecgrimes]

 

I don't. It would be pointless to try and work Greene this way. He seems locked in at #2.

 

They still might take him (though it's unlikely), but it does seem they are shopping around for the best deal of value for cost. Probably not the worst strategy when there is no clear cut #1.

 

I think we basically agree, by question is if none of the other top 4 or 5 give them a bargain do they end up with their true #1 and is that Greene.