And That

Braun as one of the fastest college players in the draft, and he had 21 steals in 22 attempts this year. He also hits for average as well as power. He can run, I can accept that. However, speed on the basepaths does not necessarily translate over to defense. Inverse case in point, J.J. Hardy is one of the fastest defender with the glove you'll have the privilege to see, but he'll never steal more than 10 bases in a season. And hitting for power and average in college really doesn't do anything for me. So many people have done that and utterly failed in pro ball, it is not really even worth further discussion as a general topic. With Hardy going off the power 50 soon, Braun should take his slot. Hardy can play defense, and has a projectable bat. Braun has a questionably projectible bat and an equally questionable glove. If he ends up in the outfield, he's that much less valuable. I have no doubt he'll be able to hit up to AA or so. Beyond that, I don't know. Toby thinks he knows draft prospects better than the entire Brewer scouting department. No, but claiming the Brewers scouting department as infallible just because you like a guy is faulty, at best. They've missed on a number of high picks under Jack Z's reign, and it is not that difficlult to speculate they may well miss on a #1 eventually. I think they've missed on this guy. It is as simple as that. I've never taken a stand against one of their first round picks as stridently as this one, but this is their pick who I don't like. It goes no further than that. The 20 year old Wahpehpah has been good with great peripherils at A ball, while the 23 year Baker has been crushed at the same level. And Baker has been crushed at the A-ball level, while Wahpepah hasn't. That said, I think a lot of people would have projected the same thing I did coming into the season. Pitchers are much harder to gauge, and the difference I had between Baker and Wahpehpah was very small, just like BA's. Yah, I missed so far, but that is how it is. I don't think either of them are great MLB prospects at this point, and likewise I don't think Carlos V. is a great MLB prospect for the Brewers because of his HR against totals. I'll take flack for it, but I think the Brewers will switch him to a reliever role and then trade him, much like Liriano a year ago. It is my list, and that is how I feel. I think I've had a pretty good track record considering. I really like Gamel, and he'll be not that far behind Braun. Inman is a tricky case with his injuries, but he'll be in the top 30 someplace. I don't see any of the other guys, apart from Roberts maybe lighting up the Pioneer League, in the top 30. I think this was a solid draft, maybe more of a depth draft than anything else. I just don't see Braun as anything more than a utility player right now. He has a long swing, and has that hitch at the beginning of his swing that bothers me a lot. If he can fix it and still get his bat speed across well, he'll be fine, but I don't know that he'll ever be a third baseman. That is how it is with me. If you don't like it, then we'll have to agree to disagree.

Sometimes when you go to random parties and sometime when you drink random beer for about 5 hours, everything is better. And then you listen to Tool, evertything is better still. Viva la Leinie's.

I will respond to this (especially X's criticisms) tomorrow or Friday, but the highest he'll go is 13, behind last year's first rounder who has actually played pro ball. Though I will say those idiots at BA also had Baker ahead of Wahpepah.

The play of the minor league teams has been so gawdawefulbad this year that the managers may be getting pressure from above to get their teams in line. The Brewers are trying to develop a winning attitude in the minors, and the players have had the wrong attitude by and large this season. Part of the problem is bad player assignments out of spring training, but a lot of the blame lies on the players themselves. The managers are supposed to be teachers, but when the players seemingly are comfortable with their mistakes...

Here's a thought: Gamel makes it as a Mueller-esque third baseman. Braun is a pretty groovy right fielder. Hart finally embraces a position, and it is first base. He gets traded. Nelson Cruz on the other hand, is a Gold Glove-caliber LF and hits like a mother, striking out just enough to keep Branyan, now the hitting coach, happy. In other words: C: Moeller and Mosquera, all the way! 1B: Fielder 2B: Weeks SS: Hardy 3B: Gamel LF: Cruz CF: Kryznel RF: Braun

what about Angel Salome? He's heavier than Jamile, but he looks 5'5, tops. Salome is short, but solid. A bowling ball to the chest wouldn't knock him over. KB, on the other hand, is short and slight. A heavy feather might do the job for him.

yet he was listed at like 6'1". The one time I met him, he was a solid 8-10 inches shorter than I was. I'm pretty tall, about 6'5 or a little more, but Leskanic came up to about my chest. Cool guy, but not 6'1 cool. Maybe, maybe 5'10. With spikes.

Any complaints about those two picks? Neither Weeks nor Fielder had the questions about their bat that Braun does. It is a really bad analogy.

I know the article relating to Braddock insinuated that he'd be a DFE, but since Bailey is a 4-year guy, wouldn't we have to sign him now?

In fact, the most physically interesting player drafted was Jemile Weeks, who, at 5'9 and 160 pounds dripping wet and his brother giving him a noogie, becomes one of the smallest players in the system, with possibly only KB giving him a run for his small man money. But hey, Mega Thomas could make a return at any time.

I watched all of the scouting videos that were available for our draftees, and I have to say, the guy that impressed me the most was Hun Garrison. In the picture we have in the draft resource thread, he looks about 15, but he has a very mature, clean delivery. I think MLB compared him to Jaime Moyer, and while that is apt, he throws harder than Moyer. He did two things very well. First, he repeated his delivery very well. With most younger guys, if you look at the side view of their pitching rotation, something always looks a little off. For instance, Mike James looks like he's about to tip over the way he lands when he pitches. (As an aside, not a big James fan after watching his display. Through a lot of sinkers, but he has a lot of work to do.) Garrison has such a fluid motion that he lands the same each time, which is crucial towards getting a good feel for all your pitches. Second, he worked both sides of the plate very well. He kept everything down, which is good, but he was able to move in and out with his stuff. This kid could advance pretty quickly. Kudos to scout Tony Blengino on this one.

I just watched Hereaud's scouting video, and I came away impressed with the stockyness/agility ratio of his body. He's pretty think, but he moves around well. Pretty good swing, too. My biggest concern involves his defensive footwork, especially when he releases the ball. He never sets his feet up the same way twice, and gets happy feet when he throws hard. His best throw on the tape (his most in control throw) was a feed into second base on a double play scenario.

When the Braddock pick was announced by the Brewers' guy, he said Zack Braddock. William must be his official first name, but he goes by Zack. Kind of like the mild confusion of Jeremy "Bo" Hall a few years back.

I need to run and get something to eat myself, so go ahead.

Bell also played SS and catcher at Grayson.

Round 15: Michael Bell - 2B 6'0", 200 lbs - Grayson County College - Texas NOTES & INFO: - Was named the 30th best prospect in the 2004 Cape Cod League by Baseball America. - Was named to the All-Southwest District NJCAA Team and was named the district's Defensive Player of the Year. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From The Herald Democrat, 06-07-2005: In the 2005 First Year Player Draft that begins today, look for two Grayson County College players to be selected in the first seven rounds. First team All-America and former Grayson shortstop Michael Bell might go in the first five rounds, according to coach Tim Tadlock. "He'll go at least on the first day," Tadlock said. Bell had an outstanding senior season, hitting .419 with 95 hits in 227 at-bats. He hit 14 home runs and drove in 77 runs. He stole 28 bases. From the Redding, 06-09-2005 (Byline Jeffrey Jen): For the past two days, the Major League Baseball Draft has been taking place. Though anyone from college seniors to prep seniors to junior college players can be chosen, sometimes it pays to wait a few years to further develop your game. That was the case for 2003 Red Bluff graduate Michael Bell in this year's draft, which concluded Wednesday. Bell was the only north state player chosen this year after two standout seasons at Grayson County Junior College in Texas. Tuesday, he was chosen in the 15th round by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 445th overall pick. After leaving Spartan country two years ago, Bell was selected in the 43rd round by the San Francisco Giants. This season, he had a huge year offensively for Vikings as a sophomore second baseman, batting .441 with 14 home runs, 77 RBI and 27 stolen bases. He led the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference in hits (94), homers, RBI, stolen bases and runs (75) for the 45-13 Vikings. Bell was hoping to be chosen in the top 10 rounds, like Foothill's Brandon McConnell was two years ago when he was taken in the eighth round by the Minnesota Twins. However, Bell's name was called five rounds too late for that, but still in the first day and still much earlier when the Giants chose him in 2003. Bell was the 14th individual pick by the Brewers and the first second baseman. The Brewers did take three second basemen in subsequent rounds, the next earliest coming in the 22nd round. Now, it's likely Bell could sign with the Brewers organization. If he gets a contract, he likely will be moved to one of two rookie-league teams, the ASL Brewers in the Arizona League, or the Helena (Mont.) Brewers of the Pioneer League. "He had an outstanding arm and could really swing a bat," said Jim Bonomini, the former Spartans baseball coach who coached Bell at Red Bluff. "When he was hot, you didn't want to face him no matter what stuff you had. He likes the limelight and has always wanted to play pro ball." From the EzCode Parsing Error:=]Red Bluff Daily News[, 06-14-2005 (Byline Paul Gadbois): Michael Bell, a 2003 graduate of Red Bluff High School, was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round of Major League Baseball's amateur draft. On Saturday, Bell signed for a fourth-round bonus which is six figures and Monday he flew to Helena, Mont., where he will soon join the Brewers rookie affiliate club. Bell, who led the Grayson County College league in virtually every offensive category this season, was taken as a third baseman after being drafted by the San Francisco Giants as a catcher two summers ago out of high school in the 43rd round.

Round 14: Mark James - RHP 6'1", 185 lbs - Sinclair Secondary School - Ontario http://img175.echo.cx/img175/6042/james9ea.jpg (Full-Size Image) NOTES & INFO: NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: From MLB.com, 06-07-2005: One of two native Canadians selected by Milwaukee, which has a number of prominent Canadians in the front office including general manager Dooug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash and advisor Dick Groch. "This is one kid Dick was certainly responsible for," Zduriencik said. "In my first couple years here, we didn't have good information in Canada. The fact that Dick is up there running our Canadian operations is a great benefit to us." From the MLB.com Draft Tracker: Medium frame. Athletic, evenly proportioned build. Similar to Joel Pineiro. Downplane FB tails and sinks, mostly around 86 mph. 3/4-rotating CB w/ occasional late, sharp, strike zone bite. Straight change-up sinks and fades. Deceptive delivery. (Video included.) From Diamond Kings Baseball Report: James is a tall, lanky and evenly proportioned pitcher with a narrow waist and slopping shoulders. A little on the thin side makes this 6'2 project nicely. Has room to grow and is already touching close to 90. Consistantly worked the mid 80's and showed 89. Smooth, fluid delivery. High 3/4 delivery. FB had some movement. CB had decent late break but could be improved. Good mound presence. Loves to challenge hitters. Changed speeds well. Composed pitcher that will pitch in college. Added velo could make him an impact D1 player. Team Ontario Player Profile: LINK

For sure, but my computer is on the verge of a meltdown. I'll see how far it gets.

13th round: finally, a catcher Ryan Babineau, a HSer from California.

White Sox just took Sheldon Cachot, a pick of ours last year.

12th round: John Alonso, 1B, some CC in Florida

MLB.com on Allar: Tall athletic body. Similar to Mike DeJean. Fastball sinks w/ very good velocity. Challenges hitters. Also throws circle change. Sinkerballer=good.

Brent Allar, a college RHP.

Washington just took John Lennon.

Wouldn't you agree -- even though you disagree with the premise that Braun is approximately even with Maybin? I'd agree that if two players are almost completely equal, you take the guy at the position of more need, but I don't really even consider Braun to be a long-term third baseman. That's part of the really big risk here for the Brewers. If you make Braun an outfielder down the line, that further distances him from Maybin.