Willihammer

Jason Hammel (RHP) throwing for the Royals btw.

The Twins selected Staten Island native Zack Granite in the 13th round of the 2013 draft out of Seton Hall University. Born Sept 17, 1992, Granite stands 6’0, 175, bats and throws lefthanded. As a junior he hit .304/.390/.387 in 263 PA, with 32 walks to 23 K’s (no HRs). He stole 35 bases against 7 CS’s and played Center Field. As a pro, Granite has produced about the same: .282/.349/.354 in 1487 Pas, with 130 walks against 149 K’s. He hit a career high 4 home runs at Chattanooga in 2016, helping him earn Twins minor league player of the year honors. He grades as an above average baserunner and center fielder with a below average arm. The KATOH system used at fangraphs projects Granite to produce 7.4 WAR in his first six years. Granite earns points for playing a premium defensive position, being drafted out of college (not high school), having a strong eye at the plate and elite contact ability. He’s penalized for having a low ISO, and being on the shorter side (6’0). Earlier this spring Cody Christie asked if Granite might follow Brian Dozier’s footsteps. Both players are later round picks, taken out of college, who improved to earn Twins minor league player of the year honors. Both players were projected as 25th man utility types by scouts. Dozier, we all know, raised his ceiling by developing more power. Granite has better defense and speed than Dozier, but the best thing he could do to catapult him into an all star at the majors is the same: develop power. http://www.chattanoogan.com/photos/2016/5/article.325060.large.jpg

I'll take Granite.

Sano took a 1-0 strike too. Let's get him!

Only Mauer could get an RBI in a 2-out bases loaded situation and still get ripped.

I'm still not convinced a two-way arrangement couldn't work, but for sake of argument let's say that's true. What the Twins really cannot afford to do with their #1 pick is bust again. They need to be able to pencil this player into a starting job for 7-8 years and count on 3-4 WAR production at least. McKay, IMO, is the best bet. His k/9 is virtually identical to Bukauskas'. Top 5 in the country. J.B. has the better velo and the better second pitch and so he has the higher ceiling, but McKay might be a better bet to reach his (lower) ceiling of a 3, his mechanics are less suspect. But even still, sometimes pitchers' arms just break. If that were to happen, then you're still looking at a guy whose hit tool has been described as "elite." As a batter he has 13 K's in 105 PAs (12.0%). That kind of bat to ball skill bodes well for translating power from aluminum to wood. For that reason alone I'd take McKay over someone like Kendall (who has dropped into the next tier of players anyway). I haven't read anything about ceiling or floor as a batter, and it would be harder to reach 3+ WAR as a first baseman with just good contact (cough Mauer) but again, the OBP would still have value (he's #8 in the country in OBP). And of course, if he somehow develops both as a pitcher and a hitter, then you have a value-maximizing scenario where the ceiling is pushed to maybe 6+ WAR combined, PLUS roster flexibility which would be huge as well. And the final benefit is that McKay is so polished that he would likely be ready to break into the majors within a couple years, whereas Greene could easily be a 4-5 year project (Greene is still only 17).

@1:28 Similar thing happened in a Babe Ruth game when I was 13 only the ball ricocheted into the umpire's crotch. Folded over immediately, trouble breathing. Ambulance was called, ump left in serious pain. My coach after the game:

Right, that's his floor though (assuming no injury) but his ceiling is still a #1/2. A guy like Greene has a similar ceiling but lower floor due to, for example, a second pitch that's still just a projection at this point. Height will concern some scouts. We could go back and forth about the evidence but bottom line is it likely would drive down his price. Whereas Greene would command slot if not overslot. Could be a value opportunity there. The other thing about Bukauskas is he skipped a year in high school so he's almost a full year young than other juniors like McKay. His arm doesn't have that much mileage on it. Perhaps the Twins could iron out his mechanics in the minors.

Write up on Bukauskas from thegoodphight: http://www.thegoodphight.com/2017/4/1/15133824/2017-phillies-draft-preview-j-b-bukauskas-rhp Bukauskas strikes me as the most certain arm in the draft. Fastball-slider are both legit, changeup is third offering (you do see a couple swings and misses on the changeup at 1:45 of the first vid). Thru 7 starts he is: 47 IP, 0.96 ERA, 24 H (3 HR), 11 BB, 70 K / 170 BF (41.2%).

http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/173/576/Wat8.jpg?1315930535

Interview with Kintzler. http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/brandon-kintzler-on-injuries-respect-and-a-bowling-ball-sinker/

Sorry can't help it. Really I'm wondering why bitcoin didn't drop to $200

April maybe?

Dunno if posted already but here's the link: https://www.iheart.com/show/139-Paul-Allen-KFAN-FM-1003/

I don't think I'm gonna get a reply. Asked a follow up in today's article though: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/3/31/15129654/brendan-mckay-vs-hunter-greene

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18992656/indians-ace-reliever-andrew-miller-end-tyranny-save Related to some of the discussion. And then the writer reminds readers about the "shutdown" concept introduced by Tom Tango in 2010, defined as an appearance that leads to a 6 percent gain in WPA. He suggests that could replace the save.

I'm just jealous of your friends for having a buddy that will voluntarily pony up money that is owed. You are a good friend Dave! None of mine will pay me (back) until I go full mafia goon on them.

Correct. I think we're all struggling to make sense out of it.

And right on cue, Sickels says McKay has "just a tad more potential on the mound." http://www.minorleagueball.com/2017/3/30/15098724/2017-mlb-draft-brendan-mckay-lhp-1b-university-of-louisville

Well, no, ha. I think BA puts it well

Yeah I just had a similar realization. No high school righthander has been taken first overall, and neither has a college first baseman.

He's strictly a 1B/DH according to every report I've read.

If that's the case then McKay should fall out of the top tier. After all, there are pitchers with #1 upside, and shortstops, and center fielders, and catchers available.

In BA's writeup McKay's described as a no. 3 rotation guy, whereas his hit tool is "elite" with developing power. "Most teams thus far appear to favor him as a first baseman." FWIW A first baseman hasn't been drafted 1-1 since Adrian Gonzalez in 2000.

No idea if Rosario will be good or bad overall, but I suspect he'll be at his best against Team Cuba the White Sox.