Pierre K.

"I beleive they might know more than us in terms of potential." At dang near 100 losses per year, what fact reinforces this statement?

I think the Twins missed out big time by taking a pass on Windle. A hometown kid with tons of potential. He will succeed with the Dodgers. As for the first round pick, seems risky all the way around for me. Who's he ever pitched to? How serious is he for baseball?

Nice write-up on Chris - The first-round roadblock for the Jacksonville University baseball program appears to be on borrowed time, thanks to Chris Anderson. The Dolphins’ junior right-handed pitcher is expected to hear his name called before any other local product in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, which begins Thursday. The first and second rounds, and the new competitive balance rounds (a combined 12 picks that follow the opening two rounds) will be held Thursday. Should he go in the first round, Anderson would become the first JU player drafted in the opening round. Pitcher Mike Christ, who was a second-round pick of the Seattle Mariners (29th overall) in 1984, remains the top draft pick in Dolphins history. Anderson, 20, is poised to supplant Christ as various scouts and mock drafts put him anywhere between going as early as 11th and not getting past the Cardinals at No. 19. MLB.com has Anderson rated as the draft’s 16th best prospect. “You know, I have [heard about JU’s lack of a first-rounder],” said Anderson, who went 7-5 with a 2.49 ERA last season for the Dolphins and has a fastball that can touch the mid-90 mph range. “Some of teammates gave me a little grief about it. I’d feel honored to be the first guy,’’ Anderson said. “There have been so many good players in the past [at JU]. You look at guys in the past, guys who made big leagues. ... I’d be very honored to be the first.” It hasn’t always been that way for Anderson, who arrived at JU as a dual-sport star (he was a solid quarterback for Centennial High School in Circle Pines, Minn.) and the state’s inaugural Mr. Baseball. Anderson was a two-way baseball player when he began playing for JU, a good pitcher and a good hitter. But he’d always had more upside as a pitcher and that’s the direction that the coaching staff wanted him to go in. Dolphins coach Tim Montez said that’s why there were two Andersons at JU — the one before playing a summer in the Cape Cod League and the one after it. “We just wanted him to concentrate on pitching, play against a little better competition,” Montez said. “I think he kind of realized and learned how to change speeds, refine his pitches. He came back this past fall and worked on his off-speed stuff, in particular, his changeup. He really took a big step forward in the fall; he cleaned up his mechanics a little bit and then it just started clicking. He could dominate the outer third of plate with his fastball.” Not that Anderson was a project before his trip to the Cape (he was a freshman All-America after a 4-2 season with 11 saves), but he was trying to do too much. Montez said that trying to transition from closer to starter is difficult enough because of how much more of a pitch selection a hurler must have. A reliever throws an inning or two, tops, and often just fastballs with some occasional off-speed stuff. JU wanted Anderson to be able to throw more than just two pitches and essentially take his mind off of batting altogether. Even though he didn’t have the best statistical time in Cape Cod (6.34 ERA, 43 hits, 42 Ks in 33 innings), he returned to JU as a different player. “That was a great experience, it helped me a lot,” he said. “I really just soaked everything in. I had a lot more knowledge for pitching after the Cape.” That time in the Cape and his showing for most of the 2013 season put Anderson smack in the middle of the draft conversation. Not only can his fastball touch 94-96 mph, Anderson can throw a wicked slider, a curve and a changeup. One longtime professional scout who spoke under the condition of anonymity as to not reveal his team’s draft strategy, said that Anderson’s progress has been remarkable to watch and felt he was a first-round lock. “For me, he’s the most improved player, from freshman year to now, that I’ve had in my area,” the scout said. “He’s the best pitcher I’ve had in my area, period. Period. He throws four pitches for strikes. He commands them. He commands any pitch and at any time in the count.”

Talked with a couple of scouts at last weekends game that would be thrilled to nab him around the 20 range. They know the situation he's had with poor defense (95 errors), hitting (255) and poor relief. They have also gunned him up to 98 recently. He will be gone somewhere in round one.

keith law - Jacksonville RHP Chris Anderson has gone 10 innings tonight and faced 39 batters. Since 2003 only 2 MLB pitchers have faced 39+ in one game. Final 2 games - 19 innings and 0 earned runs.

You said they were a weak team and nothing about the conference. That's your opinion that the ASUN is weak, but the Ospreys are in 1st place. I don't personally think the ASUN is any better or worse than most other conferences top to bottom. As for all these mock drafts. They are fun to look at, but with a month left to go, these scouting staffs pretty much know who and what they want. Yes, great or poor late season performances can sway a GM's pick from one to another but these guys pretty much have seen what they need to see. If a player gets taken in a particular round, that's probably where most teams had that player for quite a while.

"weak northern Florida team" Are you sure about that? They are 32 and 12, and 14 and 4 in conference!

With a week of slowing down and rest, Chris is getting back to form. From Perfect Game 4-19 - Top performances Chris Anderson, RHP, Jacksonville: The outstanding right-handed pitcher struck out five, walked three and allowed just a run (none earned) on six hits in a complete game performance.

Mlb.com currently ranks Windle at 28. Click link to see video of him and all the top prospects. NOTE: Select (50 Draft) 2013 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: News

Mlb.com currently ranks Anderson at 8. Click link to see video of him and all the top prospects. NOTE: Select (50 Draft) 2013 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: News

From a Baseball America article - "He's really developed a good changeup," Montez said. "He throws a cuveball and slider that he can locate—I would say the slider's his out pitch, and he can drop the curveball in to get-me-over early in the count, in case teams start being real aggressive on his fastball. It's a lot like the progression that Matt Garza made with me at Fresno State. Matt and Chris were very similar as freshmen—when they got into trouble, they tried to throw harder instead of smarter. As they grew and developed, they learned how to change speeds." Montez also lets Chris call his own game.

From his pitching coach - "Early on in his career, he reminded me a lot of Matt Garza when I had him at Fresno State. He really wore his emotions on his sleeve. Now, though, he's the most composed guy that we probably have. His composure is now uncanny," Montez said. "We added a slider for him last year when he become a starting pitcher, while also refining the curveball and changeup." After two seasons to refine his stuff, Anderson finally is in his perfect place. And from a prospect standpoint, there's very little, if anything, not to like about him. The talented right-hander has a physical and prototypical frame at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds, and reminds Montez a lot of former big leaguer Andy Benes. "He's really put together well with a big, thick lower half, a lot like Andy Benes. Physically speaking, Andy was a strong and big righty," Montez said. "The thing that separates him right now is early in his career he had issues with location. Now, he's the type of guy who can locate four or five pitches. That just puts him over the hump." Anderson is showing excellent stuff this spring. He's consistently 91-96 with his fastball, and has gotten up to 97. Meanwhile, his slider is a plus pitch and typically sits anywhere from 80-84, while his changeup is 79-80 mph and a plus pitch with good depth and late downward movement. The righty also throws a two-seam fastball and curveball. "He's really learned to use all of his pitches now. He can throw a curveball early in the count, and the second and third time through the lineup, and still be effective. He can also use the changeup in the same fashion," he said. "The thing about Chris now is that hitters pretty much can't sit on anything. He'll throw any pitch in any count."

I can tell you that Anderson has 4 quality pitches and scouts are very 'aware' of his skills. If he continues throwing the way he has, I believe you will see him go top 5. Fun to speculate, but it just has to play itself out. Personally i'd pass on Appel. Anyone DUMB enough to turn down that kind of money and risk it all to injury doesn't belong on my squad. (See Whitson)

And Tom Windle has been on fire as well. Go Minnesota!!!

Video of Chris - Scout.com: Draft Video: Chris Anderson

My only point is that conference play is just going to start and many players will have an equal opportunity to elevate their worth, or the opposite. I saw Windle play against one of the elite, and he held his own just fine. I actually came away being more impressed with him than Manaea. Why? He knows how to pitch, and fields the position better. As for Anderson, his stuff is 92 to 94 and can touch 96/97 when he needs to. Has good command of 4 quality pitches. Lots of upside to him, as he has noticeably improved each season. As for top 5 for either of them, I can't honestly say they will even be first rounders. Just that anything is possible. I read from more than one source not long ago that Anderson was at best a 2nd to 5th rounder. Funny thing is, most sources have him now at picks 10 to 15 (1st rnd). What the teams think is ultimately what matters.

So tell me, what's "Gain better stuff" ?

And who knows, it's still early, maybe Anderson and/or Windle become "elite" and finish as top 5 prospect status. People up there presently still have to perform and remain injury free. People can drop, and people can rise. And....if i'm the Twins, i'm drafting quality arms at the top of the draft. That is their biggest need.

I haven't followed Tom's college career but I saw him plenty in HS. He had all the tools then, and was very tough to beat. Being a lefty with that talent will increase his value. The NH shows that he is also putting it all together his Jr. season. I think it's pretty cool that we have hometown guys that are excelling in sports.

He's been very good at the D1 level earning All-America honors as a freshman. His sophomore season is very deceiving. He took hold of a starting role and pitched very well. His team (3 draft picks) was an early pick to make it again to regionals and win one. Well the team couldn't hit 'till the final month of the season, and with 100+ errors, the pitchers innings became slightly extended and the team bottomed out. This season, Chris is on a mission, and with the the expert guidance from one of the very best pitching coaches, it's all coming together at the right time, which is great because the 2013 team is already at 35+ errors. Pitching stats can be deceiving!!!! Chris has progressed and excelled at every level and will become an outstanding pitcher in MLB, where-ever he ends up!

Hi lightfoot789 - Chris is currently 6' 4" at 225 and was drafted in round 35 by the Cubs in 2010. I don't know all the reasoning for the 35 pick but the biggest was that Chris was very up front with all scouts with respect to signing. He wanted a college education and the chance to work with one of the best pitching coaches in the country (Montez) rather than sign for little money and linger in the minors. They were told it would take big money to pass on that opportunity (hence, dropping in the draft). I think he made the wise decision. Now Whitson & Appel, their choice boggles the mind!!

Hope the Twins don't pass on Chris Anderson. This year Chris is on a mission. Beat TCU last night going the distance with 12K's. So far in his 3 starts he's pitched 23 innings, striking out 35. Fastball at 96 with consistency at 92 to 94. He's now being talked about as a possible first rounder.