Comments on: Mock Draft 1.0

By: Slack

Slack — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:37:57 +0000

I guess I’m not so high on Melville anymore.
Anyway, I do believe in the best player available approach. But I also like power bats and starting pitchers in particular and I’m hoping that maybe one of those is the BPA.
One of the reasons why I think the BPA appoach work the best is because the BPA has the greatest chance to make it to the big leagues and to make an impact.

By: CoreyC

CoreyC — Sat, 17 May 2008 21:32:04 +0000

I’m hoping Halman gets on the Wlad track and start to slowly cut down on the K’s. His power seems to be right there with Wlad’s. 10 HRs in 40 games isn’t too shabby.

One thing that impresses me about Halman is 17 SB, 0 CS.

By: Jason A. Churchill

Jason A. Churchill — Sat, 17 May 2008 09:59:44 +0000

Why would his approach have to have changed?

His numbers are the same.

By: 01v-dubs

01v-dubs — Sat, 17 May 2008 06:04:24 +0000

Jason, sorry to go off topic, but is there anything to Halmans recent performance? 4 HR’s in three games with only 1 K. Have you heard if he’s changed his approach or anything like that?

By: Jason A. Churchill

Jason A. Churchill — Sat, 17 May 2008 04:46:27 +0000

They have a thing for Fields, not Cashner. At least so far.

But they do trust their Texas scout a ton.

By: yohnhimself

yohnhimself — Sat, 17 May 2008 04:43:52 +0000

Looks like there is another closer that may go in the top part of the first round: TCU’s Andrew Cashner. He has some sick numbers going right now; in 43 innings he has allowed 14 hits and struck out 65 while holding the opponents to a .104 batting average. He apparently throws 97-98 MPH at times.

From some of the articles I have read he may be challenging Fields as the top college closer in the draft. I hope that doesn’t push Fields to the Mariners, I would rather have both of them go before the M’s and drop someone else to us.

I have no problem with the Mariners drafting a college pitcher. It just makes no sense in my mind to draft a bullpen arm in the first round. I think that would be a terrible value and unless you know for sure you are getting Mariano Rivera I think you’re better of using later rounds to come up with relievers.

By: Jason A. Churchill

Jason A. Churchill — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:33:33 +0000

I think BA got that from the M’s, Slack. They’d prefer not to go the prep pitcher route again, but they would probably take Melville if he were truly the BPA.

But there are so many talents that a lot of clubs and scouts grade out similarly to Melville that the M’s aren’t likely to have to make the decision.

As far as a target… you target the best player available, Slack. You never draft for NEED. EVER. If you draft a player for his talent genre/position, your passing up better players, which means the club isn’t doing what’s best for them.

If they have several players graded out super super close and a power bat at 1B or the OF is among that group and is available, then fine. But don’t draft Cooper or Davis just to draft a power hitter.

And I don’t think Fields gets to the Mariners anyway. I can see one of the college arms (not Sonny Gray, he’s probably going to Vandy instead) being the pick, though probably not Shepper.

The M’s just figure they have enough starting pitching in A ball and would much prefer to add some in AA or AAA, or get offense.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t draft a Melville if he’s there.

Re: Melville

Heard that his last few starts didn’t go great, despite lots of Ks. Was high-80s a lot, some low-90s, and his breaking ball, a true curve I believe, wasn’t sharp.

He might drop past the M’s even due to the most recent reports and the fact that most scouts say his delivery needs to be revamped big time.

By: Slack

Slack — Sat, 17 May 2008 02:17:20 +0000

I’d love for Melville to be the M’s pick but I don’t think he goes past the Dodgers who seem to love high school pitchers.
Furthermore, I didn’t like BA’s reasoning that the M’s would go after Melville because they got Aumont the year before.
I like Melville but I’m with the consensus around here that a power bat should be the target. I like Raben. I don’t know anything about Cooper. What could you guys tell me about him?

By: yohnhimself

yohnhimself — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:53:36 +0000

It doesn’t seem like the crop of prep arms is very good this year so just because the M’s could have the pick of the litter doesn’t mean that those are the best available players. That being said I’d rather them choose a prep pitcher with starting upside than a college-bullpen arm.

For me I still think that choosing a potential left-handed hitting first baseman type is the way to go but the Mariners probably don’t see it that way. If Wallace is gone I want Ike Davis or David Cooper, maybe Raben.

By: 01v-dubs

01v-dubs — Fri, 16 May 2008 22:14:21 +0000

Wow, that BA mock draft looks like a worst case scenario type of thing. I guess in that situation if the M’s are staying away from prep pitchers like Jason said they’d probably take either Jamile Weeks, Raben, or Cooper. To bad they can’t afford a prep pitcher in the first because it seems like there will be a lot of good ones there.

By: Jason A. Churchill

Jason A. Churchill — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:06:53 +0000

By the way, Mock Draft 2.0 (of 5) will be out next Friday or so.

By: Jason A. Churchill

Jason A. Churchill — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:05:55 +0000

I think if Melville fell that far, they MIGHT consider him, but unless a no-brainer falls - not sure Melville is a no-brainer - they probably aren’t taking a prep pitcher.

By: yohnhimself

yohnhimself — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:23:00 +0000

In Baseball America’s first mock draft, Jim Callis has us taking high school pitcher Tim Melville.

By: Slack

Slack — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:21:45 +0000

By the way, who is the player in the above picture for this post. I’m curious.

Jason says the photo above is of Georgia closer Josh Fields

By: Slack

Slack — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:41:05 +0000

That’s some very interesting stuff. I would hope for either Alonso or Raben. A power bat feels really good about now.
I had a feeling that the M’s would be interested in Fields and all I can do is roll my eyes and groan.
I’m so pumped up for draft day!