Article: Twins Draft Blayne Enlow, Seven More

[drjim]

 

That is probably exactly what they are doing, according to their list at least.

It's not a huge stretch to have Lewis #1 overall.

[John Kelsey]

 

This is such a terrible draft. The one thing people can agree on is don't draft for need, take the best player available. But the Twins are too busy playing games, trying to look smart by getting a round 4 guy in the tenth round, or whatever else they are trying to do. 

Just pick the best guy available and quit messing around.

 

So they're drafting guys six rounds later than they should have been taken, but you're upset because they're not taking the BPA? Ok. 

[nicksaviking]

************Moderator Note************

 

Let's try to keep our comments about the picks and not about how other posters view the picks.

 

********Additionally, and probably more importantly, we are in Round 6, so let's try to stay away from outright rage and condemnation as if we really know anything about the guys being selected at this point aside from a picture and a paragraph and a half of a bio. This is currently just a social spot to enjoy our once a year draft party. I wouldn't suggest this has to be a game thread atmosphere, but I wouldn't NOT suggest it shouldn't be a game thread atmosphere.

[wagwan]

 

So they're drafting guys six rounds later than they should have been taken, but you're upset because they're not taking the BPA? Ok. 

No what I am upset about is they are taking guys early in the rounds that are lower rated so that they can look clever by making a late round master stroke. If they thought McKay was better than Lewis, they should have taken Lewis. Taking Rooker and Leach at 35 and 37, NOBODY had them there,  so they could make clever moves later is not the way to go. Probability is the higher  drafted guys have a better shot at making the majors. Get the best guys available in the early rounds. Don't try to score in the late rounds. Spend your money on the best guys available.

[amjgt]

Re: "Would have been a first rounder if the draft was in February"

 

What changed between then and now? Murder charge?

[Comrade Bork]

 

Re: "Would have been a first rounder if the draft was in February"

 

What changed between then and now? Murder charge?

Body slamming a reporter.  It probably wont affect his stock much.  

[mlhouse]

I would have bet money we would select De La Torre.

[Bob Sacamento]

Nice pick in De La Torre at this point, should stay at SS.

 

 

 

De La Torre is a solid all-around talent with the tools to stick at shortstop. He’s a near-average runner and shows smooth footwork in the infield. He flashes plus arm strength and can make the throw from deep in the hole, though his accuracy will need to improve as he climbs the ladder. He has quick hands and some loft in his swing and projects for average raw power. De La Torre competed on the national showcase circuit, and singled on a 97-mph fastball from Hunter Greene in the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game. While nothing about him jumps off the page, his ability to stick at shortstop and his projectable 6-foot-2 frame could appeal to teams in the fourth to sixth rounds. De La Torre is committed to Auburn.

[mikecgrimes]

 

It's not a huge stretch to have Lewis #1 overall.

 

Nor is it a stretch to want nothing to do with Greene.  If this was the NFL we would let the bidding war for the shinny QB play out and in the end everyone would like the result.

[John Bonnes]

Wagwan,

 

It sounds like your concerns are mostly about how the first four picks were handled, and I can get that. I have concerns about it too. I certainly did this morning. 

 

The fourth pick, Enlow, helps alleviate those concerns. Unless they did this strategy, he simply would not have been available. His signing slot is (likely) higher than even their #35 pick, so accumulating some money means they ended up with a guy 40 slots higher in the 3rd round than they would have otherwise.

 

But I also wasn't a huge fan of McKay, who seemed like a pick without a lot of upside. And the Twins have had some good luck scouting and drafting toolsy prep players like Lewis in the past.

[ThejacKmp]

 

Nor is it a stretch to want nothing to do with Greene.  If this was the NFL we would let the bidding war for the shinny QB play out and in the end everyone would like the result.

 

I agree. Find the shin-less QB. Hard to blow out the knee if is connected directly to the ankle.

[Siehbiscuit]

No what I am upset about is they are taking guys early in the rounds that are lower rated so that they can look clever by making a late round master stroke. If they thought McKay was better than Lewis, they should have taken Lewis. Taking Rooker and Leach at 35 and 37, NOBODY had them there,  so they could make clever moves later is not the way to go. Probability is the higher  drafted guys have a better shot at making the majors. Get the best guys available in the early rounds. Don't try to score in the late rounds. Spend your money on the best guys available.

 

I understand the frustration, but I do think people are frustrated because they don't have all the information. Jeremy Nygaard pointed out on Twitter, by drafting Leach at 37 (someone they liked, but is likely signable under slot), they can get a tougher sign guy like Enlow. BUT if Enlow still doesn't sign, which may happen, the Twins only lose $755k ( the slotted value of its 3rd round pick. If they had drafted Enlow at 37 and he still didn't sign (even though the $$$$ offered were the same), the Twins lose the slot bonus assigned to pick 37, which is $1.8M. The Twins can offer

 

Rookers slot value - $1.9M - could get $1.5

Leach - 1.8M - could get $1.5M

Enlow - $755k - could get $2M (money from Royce Lewis deal added)

 

Bottom line is a lot of risk is mitigated, by taking a tough sign later, because the Twins only lose $755 bonus money with no Enlow signing.

[wagwan]

 

Wagwan,

 

It sounds like your concerns are mostly about how the first four picks were handled, and I can get that. I have concerns about it too. I certainly did this morning. 

 

The fourth pick, Enlow, helps alleviate those concerns. Unless they did this strategy, he simply would not have been available. His signing slot is (likely) higher than even their #35 pick, so accumulating some money means they ended up with a guy 40 slots higher in the 3rd round than they would have otherwise.

 

But I also wasn't a huge fan of McKay, who seemed like a pick without a lot of upside. And the Twins have had some good luck scouting and drafting toolsy prep players like Lewis in the past.

I agree. But my point was based on the fact that the Twins offered him first, and then went to Lewis. If they liked him better take him. It should be quality over quantity in the baseball draft.

Enlow is the one pick that was ranked much higher than than when the Twins took him. Every other picked so far has been a guy that could be signed under slot. They were all ranked lower than when they were taken. The Twins can't be smarter than everybody.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Re: "Would have been a first rounder if the draft was in February"

 

What changed between then and now? Murder charge?

 

much, much worse

 

http://www.nbtworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/RIP-1.jpg

[Intramural Legend]

 

I agree. But my point was based on the fact that the Twins offered him first, and then went to Lewis. If they liked him better take him. It should be quality over quantity in the baseball draft.

Enlow is the one pick that was ranked much higher than than when the Twins took him. Every other picked so far has been a guy that could be signed under slot. They were all ranked lower than when they were taken. The Twins can't be smarter than everybody.

 

We don't know that this is true.  The Twins finding out what McKay wanted in terms of money is not the same as an offer.  

[NapoleonComplex]

Anyone have insight into JJ Schwarz? Two Florida catchers have been taken, while he is still waiting for his name to be called. Prior to the start of the season, he was mid-first round discussion. Down year offensively, but I don't see why teams, especially the Twins whom seemingly always has catcher issues, have passed on him through six rounds.

[JustinCB]

For all you complaining about the Twins outsmarting themselves, them and the Red Sox are the only teams so far to stick exclusively to ranked players with each pick.  Go take a look at the Braves draft so far and ask yourself how you'd feel about that one!

[drivlikejehu]

 

I agree. But my point was based on the fact that the Twins offered him first, and then went to Lewis. If they liked him better take him. It should be quality over quantity in the baseball draft.

Enlow is the one pick that was ranked much higher than than when the Twins took him. Every other picked so far has been a guy that could be signed under slot. They were all ranked lower than when they were taken. The Twins can't be smarter than everybody.

 

Most Cubs picks are below their mlb.com rankings. Are the Cubs dumb too?

[Respy]

 

Nice pick in De La Torre at this point, should stay at SS.

 

I also like that they picked a top Puerto Rico talent, given the young Puerto Rican talent currently on the Twin roster (Berrios, Rosario, Vargas).  If De La Torre can make the big leagues, it's fair to assume at least one of those three would still be on the roster.

[InfraRen]

From April:

 

[Willihammer]

Widell another JUCO player. 89-90, might be a tick of velo left to project, he just turned 20. Sounds like he has some upside.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Anyone have insight into JJ Schwarz? Two Florida catchers have been taken, while he is still waiting for his name to be called. Prior to the start of the season, he was mid-first round discussion. Down year offensively, but I don't see why teams, especially the Twins whom seemingly always has catcher issues, have passed on him through six rounds.

 

He didn't catch this year hardly at all, and forgot how to hit. 

[drjim]

 

I agree. But my point was based on the fact that the Twins offered him first, and then went to Lewis. If they liked him better take him. It should be quality over quantity in the baseball draft.

Enlow is the one pick that was ranked much higher than than when the Twins took him. Every other picked so far has been a guy that could be signed under slot. They were all ranked lower than when they were taken. The Twins can't be smarter than everybody.

 

Much, much lower seems like a stretch. It is at the point that if you like someone you have to take them. Rooker almost certainly would have been gone by the 3rd round, and decent chance with Leach too. The difference between 30 and 100 on those lists is quite small, and a matter of personal preference as much as any explicit difference.

 

If you can get someone you like and save money to spread risk in alter picks, that is a reasonable strategy.

[InfraRen]

 

He didn't catch this year hardly at all, and forgot how to hit. 

 

Jeremy has us taking him in the 9th. Shall see!

 

256th overall (round 9): $148,000: C J.J. Schwarz, Florida. During the Twins freefall last year, I started the #suckforSchwarz hashtag. Somehow wires got crossed and instead #Schwarzsucked. I’m still a believer in his bat and I think he’s worth still trying to develop as a catcher. (BA: 375; MLB: 172)

 

 

[caninatl04]

Ryley {sic} Ridell 6' 3" LHP.  For what its worth, MLB ranked 190 and drafted at 196.  Maybe all that saved money is going towards that difference of six! (and yes, I am joking).

 

I can't argue against this as a round 7 pick.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

Anyone have insight into JJ Schwarz? Two Florida catchers have been taken, while he is still waiting for his name to be called. Prior to the start of the season, he was mid-first round discussion. Down year offensively, but I don't see why teams, especially the Twins whom seemingly always has catcher issues, have passed on him through six rounds.

 

Doubts he can stick at catcher. Limited it to first base and bat hasn't been great since his freshman year when I started the #suck4schwarz hashtag. I did mock him to the Twins, but I don't see it happening.

[pbrezeasap]

 

No what I am upset about is they are taking guys early in the rounds that are lower rated so that they can look clever by making a late round master stroke. If they thought McKay was better than Lewis, they should have taken Lewis. Taking Rooker and Leach at 35 and 37, NOBODY had them there,  so they could make clever moves later is not the way to go. Probability is the higher  drafted guys have a better shot at making the majors. Get the best guys available in the early rounds. Don't try to score in the late rounds. Spend your money on the best guys available.

 

I would suggest you go look through the MLB Draft Archives at their rankings for past seasons, Rooker and Leach aren't really much of a stretch. For example in 2012, Berrios was ranked 46th and drafted 32nd and there were 15 players ranked higher than him who were drafted after him, but only one or two of those 15 would I maybe want over Jose. The rankings after the top tier don't really mean all that much.

[Respy]

 

Anyone have insight into JJ Schwarz? Two Florida catchers have been taken, while he is still waiting for his name to be called. Prior to the start of the season, he was mid-first round discussion. Down year offensively, but I don't see why teams, especially the Twins whom seemingly always has catcher issues, have passed on him through six rounds.

 

Good question.  I don't have much insight, but a quick review of some articles are describing how he once was projected as being average at catcher, expected to stick there, except he hasn't played much at catcher this year.  So he profiled as a hit-first catcher, but wasn't catching much.  That makes him a hit-first 1B or DH.  And he's been awful offensively this year.  So he's a struggling hitter with no position.  I'd suspect he might drop to rounds 10-15 or worse.

[NapoleonComplex]

 

He didn't catch this year hardly at all, and forgot how to hit. 

 

 

.271/.368/.470, 12 HR, 53 RBI. 35 BB, 55 Ks, 111 TB (83 next best on team) ... tough crowd. Makes more sense if he didn't catch most of this season.

[caninatl04]

Congratulations to Lucas Gilbreath, LHP, Univ. of Minnesota to Colorado