Getting to First Base

Draft Day #3: Picks 11-20

NUMBER ELEVEN:
Tyler Matzek fell to #11 somehow, but I thought he’d go higher. I’d take him too if I were the Rockies and he fell into my lap, even though I don’t love taking high schoolers in the Draft. Most of my discomfort with drafting HS kids comes from the fact that they are just that – kids – but it’s also hard to accurately project how good they will be throughout the pros. Jim Callis is surprised the Rockies are taking Matzek despite his extremely high demands for a signing bonus.

NUMBER TWELVE:
My nerves are killing me here. This is my team OH MY GOSH THEY JUST PICKED Aaron Crow. I just about fell out of my futon. Crow, as you’ll recall, is the guy the Nationals couldn’t sign last year (which is why they got the #10 pick this year). I figured he’d be around 3rd or 4th on the Royals draft board. This is surprising. He’ll sign, because his options are The Royals or another year in the indy leagues. Luke Hochevar did the same thing…

NUMBER THIRTEEN:
Grant Green was the guy who was rumored to be going to the Royals, and honestly would have made more logical sense for the Royals. I’m guessing the A’s didn’t expect to have him, but are thrilled he fell to them.  What I wouldn’t give to be a fly on the wall in an MLB team’s draft boardroom…

NUMBER FOURTEEN:
After going for offense (Justin Smoak) last year, the Rangers went for pitching with high school lefty Matthew Purke. He committed to TCU.  As pitching-starved as the Rangers have been the last few years, can they afford to lose a high schooler they drafted to college? At least they’d get comped in next year’s draft, but that extra year without pitching in their farm system could be a bad thing.

NUMBER FIFTEEN:
Alex White finally gets drafted. I thought he’d go so much higher, as evidenced by all the teams who were listed as interested him in my pre-draft post. Friend of the blog J from 3:10 to Joba just said he’s concerned about White’s mechanics. Maybe that’s why he fell to the Indians at 15?

NUMBER SIXTEEN:
The D’Backs get back-to-back picks, and use their first to draft Bobby Borchering, the high school third baseman who was mentioned in speculation in connection with the Rockies. It sounded like Arizona didn’t actually expect him to be available, so congrats to them on the guy they liked actually being available to them. That takes talent.

NUMBER SEVENTEEN:
This would have been the Dodgers’ pick, but they signed Orlando Hudson, a Type A free agent who formerly played for Arizona, so they get this pick. They went with Notre Dame CF A.J. Pollock, whose feel for the strike zone intrigues me. Apparently he only struck out 10 times last year. Hawt.

NUMBER EIGHTEEN:

Chad James. Another high school pitcher. I think that I’m going to make sure my sons are left-handed so they can get drafted higher. He’s a strikeout guy who the Marlins apparently wanted pretty badly. Wonder who their second choice would have been if they couldn’t get James…

By the way, I think the MLB Network coverage has been really good so far. Having a team of broadcasters who cover nothing but baseball makes a big difference.

NUMBER NINETEEN:
Shelby Miller. He throws a good fastball, curve and change, along with good control. Miller projects to be a middle- to front of the rotation pitcher. Toronto’s on the clock right now for the 20th pick, and will be the last pick I write about for a little while. My brother cooked dinner tonight, and it smells delicious so I’m going to go eat.

NUMBER TWENTY:

Chad Jenkins. Lots of media exposure today for Kennesaw State – Jenkins pitched there, and #6 pick Zack Wheeler had committed to them. Jenkens is a RHP with a power sinker and a power slider.

That’s it for the moment. I’ll be back with more after supper, but I can’t bear wasting my brother’s home cooking for the sake of sitting on the couch watching the Draft. I’m dedicated, but not THAT much.