Season 22 Draft

The Season 22 draft looked pretty dismal and after looking over the first round, it wasn't even close to dismal. Half of the top 10 picks are still unsigned which could yet contain some studs I can't see. There were some good defensive players but no real plate beasts. A couple good starters but nothing in the absolute Cy Young range or even Fireman of the Year categories. Compared to last year where most of the first round was dominated by quality pitching, maybe only two or three this year at most in all reality.

1. Landon Jones, P, San Francisco Giants: Could easily become one of the best lefty starters I have seen. Good control and splits should be easy with four pretty damn good pitches to foil any hitter. Yup, undoubtedly the best player in the draft.

Grade: A+

2. Alvin Krueger, SS, Louisville Colonels: My scouts listed him as a SS but relatively weak defensively and would be better at 3B. Hitting would be relatively good for a SS though. Health is not of good quality. Wanted to be drafted in the first round, as the 2nd pick I think that qualifies pretty soundly. So is he going to raise his asking price before signing? Listed on my board but was dropped out due to Bio and Health.

Grade: A

3. Ray Shunick, P, Washington D.C. Senators: Could be a great lefty starter if he gets close to his projections. A catcher will need extra padding to handle that fastball and hitters might need special goggles along with umps that may need to guess. Yes, he was #1 on my board.

Grade: A+

4. J.J. Bowen, 2B, St. Louis Hawks: Too weak to play 2B and may look better in RF. Hitting will be good but nothing to write home about.

Grade: B

5. Claude Chatwood, CF, Chicago Cubs: The hitting beast of the draft has left Linda Loo screaming for more. Could be defensively good in CF or maybe even better at 2B. Maybe a little short in the durability department but we won't hold that against him. Is capable of lots of power with contact, eye and splits to match, an opulent OBP power machine. By far the best position player in the draft. Why wasn't he on my board? Now the trend is set for the unsigned to claim more money.

Grade: A+

6. Andrew Robinson, P, Cleveland Indians: Has all the makings to develop into a number 1 starter. Hopefully his FB rating doesn't cause problems at the ML level.

Grade A+

7. Victor Pose, P, Kansas City Royals: Control looks good, splits are good, but after pitch 1 a little on the weak side. Couple the pitches with the weak durability might cause a missed turn or delay in the rotation once in a while.

Grade: A-

8. Marino Vizcaino, P, Mexico City Diablos Rojos: A middle reliever to closer with so-so ability in my books. Has the pitches and decent enough splits for a lefty but the control may not be good enough.

Grade: B

9. Rick Ramsay, LF, Detroit Tigers: Could be an interesting character in the long run when he signs and for how much. May not look great in LF as 1B might be a better fit. Should have consistent long ball power, a good eye and pretty good splits though contact could be a downfall.

Grade: A

10. Kiki Bennett, 2B, Little Rock Heads: Looked better with my abysmal scouting on the draft board than with my real scouts. 2B is probably out but will find a place on the roster somewhere at COF. Hitting has power and contact and a good eye but splits are just average.

Grade: B+

News Flash
The State of the Union was on, good thing TBS had the Big Bang Theory. Almost the same thing if you ask me. Back to your regularly scheduled report.

11. Lou McKain, SS, Atlanta Braves: SS would be weak as he is better suited to 3B or a strong armed 2B. Has power and speed but lacks contact in the hitting department.

Grade: B

12. Ruben Fernandez, P, Anaheim Angels: Would have been the number 1 pick in the draft if his health wasn't so anemic. Can he withstand the demanding tribulations to be what Anaheim is hopeful for?

Grade: A

13. Joshua Burns, 1B, Dover Dung Beetles: Granted he won't be a Gold Glover at 1B but should be good enough. Hitting ability is good for DH also but doesn't have the beastly power.

Grade: B+

14. Jim Conner, SS, Toronto Blue Jays: Other than a strong arm he isn't good enough to play a decent SS but 3B is a great place to start. Projections in hitting might become someones dream also. Might be a project that may or may not pan out.

Grade: B

15. Juan Rivera, 2B, Cincinnati Reds: Probably won't sign - A shame at that, his demands are $6.5M and worth every penny if my scouts are right.

Grade: A

16. Ronn Penny, SS, New York Mets: I made an interesting pick in all reality, it was him or the guy drafted 30th left on my board. Of course you can't have too many actual defensive SS on the rosters in my thinking. Has a horrible eye but the rest of his hitting abilities are okay, even decent power.

Grade: B

17. Tim Looper, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks: Projects to be a great defensive SS with some nice hitting abilities. Standing in his way however is a terrible temper and a lack of patience. Will those two items put his projections short of goal?

Grade: B

18. Matthew Ford, P, Philadelphia Phillies: Could have the control and splits of a star pitcher but those pitches could end up causing nightmares.

Grade: B

19. Andy Carter, 3B, Helena Hot Pockets: Was drafted as a SS but will likely play 3B and hitting will be just so-so or worse.

Grade: C

20. Derek Rodgers, 2B, Toronto Blue Jays: I am not too keen on 2B but I do see great potential in RF maybe even a weak 3B if he progresses well. I like his hitting potential but will become a work in progress.

Grade: B+

21. Junior Olmedo, P, Minnesota Twins: Has everything going for him except great control. Will his other abilities hide that fact?

Grade: B+

22. Alex Mesa, P, San Diego Padres: Has good control and a line of good pitches. Will the average splits be a nuisance is the question.

Grade: B-

23. Sherm Brock, P, Los Angeles Dodgers: The biggest concern is whether the stamina shortcoming will have an effect. Has good abilities but may have problems getting a full inning under his belt in an outing.

Grade: B-

24. Boots Rivera, RF, Boston Red Sox: As his name indicates he can't catch worth a damn, one of many drawbacks. Has a good eye, speed and contact but not so lucky at the plate after that.

Grade: C

25. Dummy Carver, C, Pittsburgh Pirates: Will forgo the failing attempt at humor.

Grade:

26. Andruw Bumgarner, P, Milwaukee Brewers: A project closer the Brewers may forgo. Short on stamina but could have the control, split and pitches to succeed according to me scouts.

Grade: C

27. Brian Patrick, C, Las Vegas Slobs: Defensively outstanding at the position. The Slobs don't look so thrilled on his hitting ability however. Has power but tends to swing at anything with his eyes closed but seems to be lucky enough to hit it on occasion.

Grade: C

28. Darrell Gardner, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays: RF might be a better position. A swatter at the plate and has the ability to take second on a walk.

Grade: B

29. Carlton Saunders, CF, Florida Marlins: The best part is being right handed which means he will have the ability to play 2B also. Decent abilities at the plate with real good speed and contact.

Grade: B

30. Douglas Perez, SS, Seattle Mariners: No way he can be a SS, good enough to play RF and that could be questionable on greatness. Has speed and good hitting ability.

Grade: B

31. Nicholas Weaver, P, Houston Astros: Could be decent or so-so depending on how things go in the future. Has the pitches but control and splits are not overwhelming but such possible quality this late in the first round isn't easy.

Grade: B

32. George Sipp, 3B, Salem Super Sequoias: 3B is doubtful, maybe a strong 1B is possible. At the plate has a tendency to hit the ball but not well.

Grade: C-