Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
Rich Lederer watched Ian Kennedy, the Yankees' top pick in the 2006 draft, pitch in a college game earlier this season (check out Rich's pitch-by-pitch post of the game). Lederer's scouting report on Kennedy goes something like this:
Following in the footsteps of fellow Trojans Tom Seaver, Randy Johnson, Barry Zito, and Mark Prior...Consensus All-American...Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year...Two-time pitcher for Team USA...Although stuff is no better than average for a major league hurler, the right-hander exhibits outstanding command of four pitches...Fastball ranged from 89-91 all night...Throws strikes and changes speed...His stretch position is similar to Mike Mussina...Top ten draft pick unless his advisor and soon-to-be agent Scott Boras scares off potential suitors.
http://tinyurl.com/hr5rz
The comments are especially interesting, as both Rich and some commenters give the Yanks good grades for the day.
Given that I know nothing about prospect evaluation, it made me feel good to hear at least a couple guys who know a thing or two think that the Yanks had a good first day.
Also, as hitters are more predictable, trading for position players is a safer bet than trading for pitching, so better to develop your own hurlers at the cost of a few draft picks and then pay the higher premium of pitching prospects (of which there is no such thing) or free agency money to fill in position players.
It's a good strategy, as is the fact that they're focusing college pitching. I just wish they had picked up a catcher in the early rounds. Could be they just weren't sold on Conger and the rest.
"The NYY selected three highly rated pitchers based on your AdjDERA work in Kennedy (#21), Chamberlain (#41), and Melancon (#284). The latter could prove to be a steal when we look back at this year's draft in a few years. Add in high schooler Zachary McAllister (#104) and the Yanks obviously made a point of beefing up its pitching."
And from Red Sox fan Kent Bonham:
"seeing NYY take Betances right after BOS . . . and then Melancon go to NYY right after us made me want to throw up in my mouth."
Given the limited talent pool, I'd say that's two solid drafts in a row.
If young Pena is not the plan, then a giant "what the funk!?" is well-deserved.
21 R/R RHP Ian Kennedy, USC, 12.19.1984
41 R/R RHP Joba Chamberlain, Nebraska 09.23.1985
104 R/R RHP Zachary McAllister, Illinois Valley Central High 12.08.1987
134 L/L RF Colin Curtis, Arizona State 02.01.1985
164 R/R RHP George Kontos, Northwestern 06.12.1985
194 R/R SS Mitchell Hilligoss, Purdue 06.17.1985
224 R/R RHP Timothy Norton, U Connecticut 05.23.1983
254 R/R RHP Dellin Betances, Grand Street Campus 03.23.1988
284 R/R RHP Mark Melancon, Arizona 03.28.1985
314 R/R RHP Casey Erickson, Springfield College IL 08.28.1985
344 L/L LF Jeffrey Fortenberry, Baylor 09.01.1983
374 R/R RHP Nicholas Peterson, U Tampa 10.03.1984
404 R/R RHP Daniel McCutchen, Oklahoma 09.26.1982
434 L/L LF Donald Hollingsworth UC Riverside 05.28.1985
464 R/R RHP Gabriel Medina, Emporia St 02.17.1984
494 R/R RHP Paul Patterson, Norther Kentucky 05.08.1984
524 R/R RHP David Robertson, Alaabama Tuscaloosa 04.08.1985
554 L/L LHP Paul Howell, American Christian Academy 09.06.1987
584 R/R 2B Christopher Kunda, Oregon St 11.01.1984
614 R/R 2B Kevin Russo, Baylor 07.08.1984
644 R/R 2B Russell Raley, Oklahoma 12.30.1983
674 L/L LF Brian Aragon, NC State 01.12.1984
704 L/L LHP Brandon Thomson, Chandler Gilbert CC 08.17.1985
734 R/R C Brian Baisley U South Florida 12.19.1982
764 S/R SS Kevin Carby, Texarkana CC 11.24.1986
794 L/L LHP Timothy Dennehy, Chandler Gilbert CC 09.22.1986
824 R/R RHP Michael Lee, Bellevue CC 11.18.1986
854 R/R RHP Barrett Bruce, Flower Mound HS 01.15.1988
884 S/R C Orlando Torres, PuertoRico BB academy HS 08.07.1987
914 R/R C Brock Ungricht, SDSU 12.31.1984
944 L/R CF Zakary Presley, Carroll, TX HS 12.20.1987
974 L/L LHP Thomas Palica, Golden West Col 07.21.1987
Seriously, while taking a catcher might be nice all other things being equal, by far the most important thing is taking talent. High-ceiling talent at any position is more likely to net a catcher in the long run (via trade) than a lower-ceiling catcher. For example, the Mets got Mike Piazza for a then-recent 1st round pick (Preston Wilson) and third-round pick (Ed Yarnell).
Though Kurt Suzuki they could have had last year in the late first round. He could arrive as early as next year for the A's.
We do have a couple of guys at the lower levels (ie Pilittere in Tampa) but nothing close. How close the other youngsters could be if we get any one of them is also to be seen. I doubt we'll have someone ready to understudy Jorge next spring by going the draft route anyway
The Dodgers aren't likely to keep three catchers, so they'll have to decide between Dioner Navarro or Sandy Alomar Jr. as the back-up. The only other alternatives are to keep Navarro in Triple-A, which is highly unlikely, or use him as a trading chip. -- Los Angeles Daily N
Navarro would be great to have back.
Three for one swap:
Erickson, Small and Long for Navarro. Think the Dodgers would bite?
http://tinyurl.com/nabhy
I smell....Paaaaa.....vano.
16 I agree, but it just depends on the price. Unfortuntely, even with Kelly Flaherty I fear no young catcher will get PT under Torre unless Jorge hits the DL for an extended visit. The sad part is he'll lose his bat come September - as surely as summer turning to fall.
Randy (sigh) will behere,
Moose option will be declined (17 mill no way and this is the last yr of his excellence i think), but i think he will settle for a lesser arb figure
Wright (look at it this way, the payoff is 4 mill, i would rather they pay 3 more totalling 7 and keep him)
Wang ( i really think he will be traded in July or offseason next yr)
Chacon ( no idea)
I rad that the japanese pitcher Matsuzaka may be lapped up..
He's 28.
He's lefty.
The guy's not a number 1 - he is a solid 2.
He has pitched a bunch of innings but no real injury history.
Every year he throw 200 innings with an ERA usually much better than league average.
There's no reason not to sign him, unless he doesn't want to come to NY.
If the price is right, sign Pettite too.
22 As for Wang, what are you going to trade him for? Another pitcher? The team has three OF's signed for the next three years (Matsui, Damon, and Melky). The IF is also covered. Jorge's option kicks in. The Bullpen is full with the big club and in the minors.
So you trade Wang for a 4th OF or backup IF? Because it doesn't make sense to trade him for pitching - he could be a solid 3 and is no worse than a 5. Unless this year's team falls apart with injuries I guess - but then why trade him?
but it was a gut thing, i just feel he may leave us in the off-season..
well, consider this, what if the Dudgers ask Wang for Navarro.. i will think atleast..
if he goes on a trade its either a RF or Catcher hopefully
If they can get Wang to work out his problem working from the stretch he may convert from a capable #4 to a capable #2/3. I don't think they should give up on him just yet; unless Hughes, White and Henn just go ballistic and we can't keep 2 of them out of the rotation that is. I understand that he looked pretty good last night.
wow!!
Well, i was hoping on Kelvim Escobar, but Angels resigned him.
No make up day announced.
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