2007 Draft

by nmc on Jun 4, 2007 11:34 AM CDT

I will be Tivo-ing the draft Thursday to see how it's presented on ESPN and how non-excited I will be when it comes to the Brewers pick. I guess the question is not who you would pick, but what would you be looking for?

I am not a draft expert, but having paged through the year-by-year (PDF) of the first rounds, it looks like you're really cheating death by selecting a high school pitcher. I understand teams want to capture lightning in a bottle, but wouldn't a surer thing be selecting a college pitcher?

As far as the Brewers outlook, I do not think they need to draft any hitters unless there is a solid catcher available. The infield is supposedly set, and outfielders can be had. A college pitcher could be ready in three years, a high school pitcher in five ... I would say a college pitcher is the way to go. Who, I don't know because I find it difficult to follow college baseball.

I have faith in Team Canada and fully expect them to pick the best available. They've had extraordinary success in their picks thus far.

Sickels' mock draft has the Brewers picking Jarrod Parker, RHP, Indiana HS. Just what the team needs, another HS pitcher.

MLB Press Box's official info page. Let me know if you can see it, it used to be off limits but they have done some tweaking of the site this year.

[editor's note, by Jeff] Thanks, nmc, for posting this. Personally, I'd love to see Matt Wieters (power-hitting college catcher) fall to #7, but I don't think it'll happen: I've seen him projected as high as #2.

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I generally agree

re: high school pitchers.

OTOH, Yovani Gallardo was a high school pitcher...

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 4, 2007 1:00 PM CDT reply actions

ah, but...

second-rounders don't count. :)

Apropos of nothing, searching the Baseball Cube for players named Gallardo also displays this unfortunately-named fellow...

by Zeyes on Jun 4, 2007 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Wieters

Most projections have Wieters going below the Brewers because of his bonus demands. Keith Law's blog has an item this morning suggesting the Brewers are considering drafting him:

"Milwaukee is strongly considering taking Georgia Tech catcher Matt Wieters, even though Wieters' agent, Scott Boras, is rumored to be looking for a deal around $10 million. Milwaukee wouldn't pay that, but they would make a solid offer knowing that they'll get a pick right after the seventh pick next year if Wieters doesn't accept their offer."

Aside from Price (who will likely go #1) there aren't many great college pitchers available. The Brewers haven't had much success going with the high school arms lately, but that's what the top end of this draft has to offer if you're looking for pitching. I'd love to see Wieters picked, particularly since we have some money to spare since our next pick is in the 90s.

by jackie t on Jun 4, 2007 1:03 PM CDT reply actions

Nice

well then, I'll be rooting for that pick. I had forgotten about the rule you mention, where we'd get pick #7a next year if he doesn't sign.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 4, 2007 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd get behind a Wieters pick, too...

FWIW, Mike Emeigh over at BTF thinks that Wieters could well fall all the way to #10 (upon being queried by a Giants poster about that)...

by Zeyes on Jun 4, 2007 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow, main page

... If I had known that, I would have organized my thoughts better.

I can't remember where I read it (perhaps Al or the feature at BrewersFan), but since the Brewers don't pick again until 97th they could go after the "harder to sign" picks because of the extra money left over. I'm intrigued by this possibility (note that the Brewers originally drafted Garciaparra). They could even sign some of the tougher Latin America players, too.

by nmc on Jun 4, 2007 1:19 PM CDT reply actions

From everything I've read...

Wieters isn't getting past Baltimore. The name that keeps coming up in my readings is Mike Moustakas. I'm not sure what his monetary demands are looking like, but I do know Boras is acting as his "personal advisor" whatever that means. Frankly, I'd say that HS pitchers are more of a crap shoot, but Gallardo, Bailey, and Hughes are all HS products. Given our past draft history, I'm not scared.

That's not the Chirizo, It's Enrico Polazzo!

by hyattff2003 on Jun 4, 2007 2:12 PM CDT reply actions

you know more than I do...

but would the O's take Wieters? Isn't Angelos the president of the Boras-hater society?

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 4, 2007 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions

He may be...

but what stands out to me in their lack of fear, similarly to us, is that they don't have another pick until round 4 at #129. If Weiters falls to the O's, Boras or not, it is my prediction that he's gone.

That's not the Chirizo, It's Enrico Polazzo!

by hyattff2003 on Jun 4, 2007 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions

It's fun to think about

Other than (possibly) catcher and maybe a good outfielder, we don't have holes to fill on the major league roster. Which is good, because drafting to fill a ML position sucks, and rarely works out.

Also, barring injury, we can predict most of our major league roster for the next few seasons, which is nice. Chris McGruder, we hardly knew ye.

One thing to consider, though --- if one WERE to draft to fill a hole, one might want to look at Braun, Hardy, Weeks, Fielder, and Hart. (Plus Gwynn, maybe, if his 2007 season isn't a mirage. Keep in mind Hall is already locked up for a while.) When will they first have the opportunity to leave the nest? How much will it be to sign them to a Hall-like deal? etc. etc. etc.

Or, for even more intrigue, who among this group will WANT to leave, either because they don't like Milwaukee (how is that possible? We get Steve Winwood at Summerfest!) or because they'll get big FA money elsewhere. Again, assuming they develop over the next few years and don't suffer serious injuries, I think Hart, Gwynn, and maybe Ratboy might sign a long-term, Bill Hall special. Braun, I have no idea about. Prince is a tough one: so far, he's the one who would demand the most money as a FA, and teams with money could seriously outbid us to retain his services. Rickie is a tough one too: we're still waiting for him to consistently display the mad skills he's supposed to have. If he keeps muddling along, he'll be a tough decision.

Anyway, I guess if I were choosing between two infielders in the draft, all else being equal, I might opt for one on the right side of the infield.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jun 4, 2007 2:38 PM CDT reply actions

well

I think it is easier to find first basemen, as long as he is a good hitter, you can pretty much move him to first. So I would not draft a first basemen, although it has worked out very good so far with Prince

by Bigdogg2002 on Jun 4, 2007 2:49 PM CDT reply actions

In regards to drafting for need

There aren't too many guys that are Major Leaguers within one year with this group. There really are no Lincecums or Andrew Millers here. This draft, from all the projections, seems to be one with the stars coming on after 2 or 3 years. Thats why I have no problem taking a HS arm or Bat.

That's not the Chirizo, It's Enrico Polazzo!

by hyattff2003 on Jun 4, 2007 3:44 PM CDT reply actions

regarding Wieters

One thing to think about- while we may have extra cash to spend with no second round pick, if we can't get him to sign not having a pick until the third round hurts.

by sheeter on Jun 4, 2007 5:11 PM CDT reply actions

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