MLB Season 8 Draft

Something a little different this year in the draft spotlight. Other than just highlighting the 1st round pick, will also grade the organization with the 1st 5 picks. So without further ado...

1. Phil Lee was made the first pick of the MLB Season 8 draft by the Santa Fe Heat. Drafted as a 3B, but very versatile as he can play any position.

Hitting : B as his contact is a bit low
Defense : A very versatile though a little weak for SS
Intangibles : C+ as his makeup and speed are low

Santa Fe: C As 2 iffy picks may not sign and the 2nd round pick of a low eye questionable SS

2. Jesse Brennaman, 2B San Francisco Giants Can we say future Gold Glover and MVP! This kid has it all. His power and speed will cause enough headaches for the opposition. Now to get him signed. Not as versatile as Phil Lee, but can play anywhere except SS and 3B well.

Hitting: A+
Defense: A+
Intangibles: A

San Francisco: B Would have been higher, but the 3rd round pick of Sid McDonald is a drag

3. Cam Hughes, 1B Philadelphia Athletics Another monster power hitter and defensive minded kid. Cam and Jesse will be duking it out for honors no matter where they play.

Hitting: A+
Defense: A+
Intangibles: A- As his speed drags a little

Philadelphia Athletics: Not enough known

4. Alex Richardson, 2B Dover Stangs Not as strong as the previous two, but just as good and will be competing for the same honors also.

Hitting: A+
Defense: A-
Intangibles: A+

Dover Stangs: A+ I like all 5 draft picks and all should be at the ML level one day.

5. Tony Austin, P Iowa City Hawkeyes As for starting pitchers in the draft, this is one of the best. Great control, fantastic pitches, good against the right, low against the left. Good velocity and worm burner to go with his own PC capabilities will make him hard to beat. He will win quite a few games in his long career.

Pitching: B the vsL drags the grade down
Defense: C
Intangibles: A

Iowa City Hawkeyes: C+ Did well with the first 3 picks but the next 3 are questionable

6. Zeus Singleton The Trenton Ball Hogs chose a shut down closer with their first pick. The only drawback is his stamina which with the rest of his stats should not matter in the least as he does have quick recovery time. I also foresee a lot of 9 pitch innings or less from this kid.

Pitching: A+
Defense: A
Intangibles: A

Trenton Ball Hogs: C+ as it goes down hill from here

7. Nicky Sierra The Kansas City Royals see a good staring pitcher in the making with Nick. Displaying great control over two pitches and two out pitches will make all hitters think twice before swinging late.

Pitching: A- lower than average velocity
Defense: A
Intangibles: A+

Kansas City Royals: B- the other 4 picks are only decent at best

8. Sam Charles The Seattle Pilots drafted a good defensive minded SS with power to spare at the plate. Lacking a little in the contact department to be an elite, but with his splits and eye should be keeping the pitchers on their toes.

Hitting: B+
Defense: A-
Intangibles: A-

Seattle Pilots: B+ 4 real good picks out 5 is a good job.

9. Richard Yamada The Texas Rangers chose a very good power hitting 1B with their pick. Maybe not the best defensively, but adequate.

Hitting: A+
Defense: B- actually a little weak for 1B
Intangibles: B

Texas Rangers: B+ 3 more above average and 1 average position players

10. Daniel Blackwell The Pittsburgh Pirates made a future shut down closer their first pick, maybe not quite as good as Zeus, but pretty close and better stamina.

Pitching: A+
Defense: A+
Intangibles: A

Pittsburgh Pirates: C+ a questionable SS (actually a 3B) and a mediocre RF didn't help their cause

11. Alex Rowan The Boston Red Sox chose another of the 1B power hitters available. Right handed pitchers will learn to fear Alex and will get a lot of walks in his career.

Hitting: A+
Defense: B+ good for 1B, range a tiny weak
Intangibles: B+

Boston Red Sox: drafting three 1B's makes me wonder, though 1 plays a weak LF

12. Carlos Guerrero, SS Tampa Bay Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies

Hitting:
Defense:
Intangibles:

Tampa Bay Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies: C+ as the 5th pick is asking for way to much and is probably unsignable.

13. Olmedo Franco The New York Mets felt the need for pitching and drafted a starting pitcher with their 1st pick. With the draft being SP poor, the Mets got one of the best available. He is considered a back of the rotation starter with good control, two good pitches with two out pitches with above average splits. His GB/FB is gonna make outfielders play deep.

Pitching: B+
Defense: B- does he know what a glove is? No not a fly swatter...
Intangibles: B-

New York Mets: C drafting 5 SP with questionable abilities

14. Al Mack The Detroit Detroit took a speedy power LF with a defensive mind and could be slotted to play 1B. The bad news (hopefully not) is his low health rating and makeup that could cut his playing career short due to serious injury.

Hitting: A-
Defense: A+
Intangibles: C weak health and makeup could spell trouble

Detroit Detroit: B- the third and 4th picks look good

15. Steve Clifton, LF The San Diego Dirt Bags drafted a slightly "iffy" power hitting iffy LF (1B definitely). My crystal ball says to let him go to school, bartend or something and let him play softball where he may safe from harm.

Hitting: A
Defense: C weak for LF, strong for 1B
Intangibles: D hopefully no one sets fire to his shoelaces as that could put him on the DL fast

San Diego Dirt Bags: C- could be lower, hopefully the second pick looks better

16. Dean Romano, SS The Washington D.C. Senators got good value with this pick, although I would imagine he will be finding himself shagging fly balls in CF. A good power hitter at the plate and some speed to burn will help the Senators down the road once they get him signed.

Hitting: A-
Defense: C weak for a SS, but strong everywhere else
Intangibles: A

Washington D.C. Senators: B- could go up or down depending on 2nd pick

17. Lou Helling The Arizona Splashlogs were probably a little surprised that this closer/setup pitcher fell into their laps this late. Control, splits and pitches, this kid has them all, not as good as the previous two, but just as good.

Pitching: A
Defense: B+ requires special rules for bunting practice
Intangibles: A

Arizona Splashlogs: C+ Having 8 picks and looking for closers and not getting good value until picking Allen Wight (1B) in the 3rd round which was a coup that late.

18. Theodore Lincoln, LF Salt Lake City Multiple Spouses

Hitting:
Defense:
Intangibles:

Salt Lake City Multiple Spouses: D unsure really with three that may not sign?

19. Vic Galvez The Salem Mayhem may have been a little unhappy with this pick after all was said and done. Has some pop in the bat, but will strike out a lot looking and swinging. Defensively may lack a little for 3B, my crystal ball thinks COF is better suited.

Hitting: B-
Defense: B- weak for 3B but as OF pretty good
Intangibles: A+

Salem Mayhem: C- Crystal ball thinks this is a wait and see bunch.


20. Gerald Gibbs The St. Louis Barracudas got a great hitting defensive speedy CF with a drug problem. Guess ya can't have everything. Just kidding, I have this thing against player with low health.

Hitting: A
Defense: A+
Intangibles: B- little weak in the health department

St. Louis Barracudas: A+ Those were some fantastic picks

21. Ruben Lopez The New York Yankees tripped over the steps getting to the podium to select this kid causing several injuries pushing people out of the way. Power, speed, defense and multi-positional (1B,COF) what more can you ask for? Future star in the making.

Hitting: A
Defense: A+
Intangibles: A

New York Yankees: C- other than a power DH that thinks he is a catcher, not much else is known.

22. Bump Lazzeri The Toronto Blue Jays drafted an all around good player with their first pick. Although he was drafted as a LF, he will be good in RF and even better at 1B.

Hitting: B +
Defense: A
Intangibles: A

Toronto Blue Jays: B+ 4 good picks out of 5

23. Emil Sosa The Las Vegas Slobs drafted a very good long reliever. With control, splits and 4 outstanding pitches, you wonder why he dropped so low. It could be because of his low velocity verses high velocity pitch capacity.

Pitching: B low velocity with power pitches
Defense: A
Intangibles: A

Las Vegas Slobs: B+ like the second pick much better

24. Wesley Ray The Atlanta Pork-N-Beans drafted a starting pitcher with their first pick and that was what most of us were looking for and the pickings were slim. Wesley will more than likely make it to The Show as a starter, however it will be as a #4 or #5 starter. He has two fantastic pitches, control and above average splits.

Pitching: B low velocity also, but can mask the only power pitch, needs better out pitches
Defense: A
Intangibles: B-

Atlanta Pork-N-Beans: C+ as that 2nd pick could be the steal of the draft, but the drag is those so called 1B for a NL team.

25. James Trachsel The Milwaukee Brewers selected probably the best SS in the draft at #25. Sound a bit odd? Most draft gurus put him to be drafted between 15 and 20, that is where I thought he would go. Why did he drop so far? He didn't warrant a top 10 pick because of his low vsR ability called a very rare and mysterious lazy eye syndrome. But not to worry, that is his only drawback.

Hitting: A-
Defense: A ++
Intangibles: A+

Milwaukee Brewers: C+ the rest are average at best

26. Pascual Dotel The Houston Astros selected a great hitting 2B that can also play CF which makes this a good value pick.

Hitting: A+
Defense: A+
Intangibles: B

Houston Astros: B- good value with the 4th pick also

27. Jerome Webb The Monterrey Corn Dogs felt the need for a PC catcher in their organization. Not over powering at the plate, but left handed pitchers will have an awful time with him in hit and run situations and coaches will have to make sure that players are in position with right handed pitchers for he will slap the ball somewhere. The big drawback could be his range behind the plate catching foul balls.

Hitting: B
Defense: B+ range factor
Intangibles: B not the fastest kid on the block but then not the slowest either

Monterrey Corn Dogs: B- looks like the Corn Dogs have a plan smothered in mustard

28. Alex O'Neil, C Austin Deuce Droppers

Hitting:
Defense:
Intangibles:

Austin Deuce Droppers: C- Just not as thrilled as the Deuce Droppers

29. Robin Mitchell The Louisville Swingers may have been bamboozled with this pick of a 2B, not sure why he is rated so high for so little. A defensively talented 2B that can in fact play CF, but I draw the line there.

Hitting: C+
Defense: A
Intangibles: C- health and makeup problem

Louisville Swingers: C+ Defense may have been on the Swingers mind

30. Ross Perry The Nashville Marlins took a 2B that like the Swingers doesn't really measure up. Better suited to play 3B or COF and has a firey tendency to hit the ball. Interesting thing though, will need to see if he makes it as a lead off hitter though.

Hitting: C+ contact and eye is all he shows and you hear a loud swish a lot
Defense: C+
Intangibles: A+

Nashville Marlins: B+ I really like the other picks

31. Carson Matthews, P The Chicago Cubs gambled, hoping this kid will sign. Although having only 3 pitches, was probably the only pitcher that could have been a #3 starter at least. With his asking price, the agent knows it also.

Pitching: A-
Defense: C- keeps getting cleats stuck in the rubber
Intangibles: A

Chicago Cubs: C with the 3rd pick being the best and the 2nd as trade bait, maybe deserves higher

32. George Peterson The Cincinnati Reds drafted a RF that suffers from corporal wrist syndrome in his right hand. It doesn't affect his hitting, but when a glove is but on, it has a tendency to flop around some. Where he will play will be an interesting debate among coaches.

Hitting: B+ by no means a power hitter, not everyone can be
Defense: C- ugly glove
Intangibles: B-

Cincinnati Reds: C- tried to fill holes, but drafting last took its toll.