Day 2: 2009 First-Year Player Draft Open Thread

by gondeee on Jun 10, 2009 11:30 AM EDT

Another day and a lot more drafting. Today's slate will start at noon with the fourth round and go through the 30th round. The Braves will pick seventh in every round.

Two of the major prospect outlets, Baseball America and ESPN (Keith Law), did reviews of yesterday's first round, and neither had anything to say about the Braves' selection. I don't know what to read into that.

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First pick on Day 2 is...

…a JuCo shortstop. Well, there’s that middle infield focus.

by gondeee on Jun 10, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions

Two of the major prospect outlets, Baseball America and ESPN (Keith Law), did reviews of yesterday’s first round, and neither had anything to say about the Braves’ selection. I don’t know what to read into that.

No news is good news. I think that if they didn’t say anything negative (ESPECIALLY KLaw) it is a good thing. A good safe draft choice is better than a risky one…but, if the club passed over other guys just because of money, I would have an issue with that.

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 10, 2009 12:47 PM EDT reply actions

Fangraph's take

for what it’s worth:

#7. Atlanta – Mike Minor, LHP

I am not a fan. This is a signability pick all the way. A low-upside lefty with good command, but the stuff isn’t great. He’s a back-end starter. Think Ricky Romero.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 10, 2009 2:15 PM EDT up reply actions

i swear, if i hear that word one more time…

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 10, 2009 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I respect everyone’s opinions, but I trust the Braves FO.

Guy #1: Damn, these oysters are going to make us horny as hell...
Girl #2: Oh yeah, I forgot oysters are hermaphrodites.

by bwellnjonesco on Jun 10, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d say all of the people that have been saying that signability was one of the main reason we signed Minor are right. He is probably a safe pick in that his upside/downside aren’t too far apart and he won’t cost as much.

by Fischerking on Jun 10, 2009 2:10 PM EDT reply actions

Maybe we are saving money for something interesting

Like the international signings.

by esadb on Jun 10, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

Possible, but we’ve never big big spenders nor are we in on the big guys this year. I know we’ve been linked to the Cuthbert kid from Nicaragua, but none of the other big money (500K+) guys. I think we’re just being cheap, which is annoying.

by 17843 on Jun 10, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

I bet Liberty Media would find spending unlimited millions on kids the FO didn't think was worth it annoying.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 10, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Uh, Clark alledgedly asked for the money to take Purke and was denied. If the Braves draft budget was set at ~$3-4 million, what else are they going to do? I don’t doubt that the Braves scouts would’ve taken someone else at #7 were they allowed too. It’s a failure by the execs up top if they capped the budget at a low figure.

by 17843 on Jun 10, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions

alledgedly

(sic)

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 10, 2009 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Posted this in another thread

This has been a horrible draft! Minor looks like Chuck James to me and the picks so far seem to be more minor league roster fillers. With a Top 10 pick you just have to come away with a guy with higher potential than Minor! I know many of you are going to say let him pitch first but his career 3.53 ERA is definitely not impressive. I’m not a fan of this pick or this draft so far.

by Jay212033 on Jun 10, 2009 2:18 PM EDT reply actions

He didn’t throw any offspeed stuff last year as he had 3rd and 4th string catchers he didn’t trust.

by graf on Jun 10, 2009 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

And he wasn't allowed to call his own games until the end of the season; he got much better.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 10, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Chuck James didn't succeed because he didn't have a breaking pitch

Minor has two breaking pitches, a better fastball, and the change. Other than the fact that they’re left-handers without above-average velocity and with good changeups, there really is nothing that ties the two together.

by was385 on Jun 10, 2009 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

Minor

Does not have a better FB and the only real breaking pitch minor has is his slider which I can almost bet the Braves will take from him to make him work on his change.

by Jay212033 on Jun 10, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Yay, we are almost betting now.

by bbxxj on Jun 10, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

James’ fastball was 87-89 most of the time and straight as an arrow. Minor’s is 89-91 with a little movement. Yes, his fastball is better. And yes, they drafted a guy with an advanced changeup, a good breaking pitch, and another one which could be useable with a little work, with the intention of throwing away those breaking balls so he can become a two pitch starter. Why is it you just assume they’ll do something stupid? Or is it just that you’ve already made up your mind that he is Chuck James and think the organization will do everything in their power to make sure that Minor develops all the negatives that Chuck James had?

by was385 on Jun 10, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Any severe reaction to the MLB draft is an overreaction.

Comon guys.

by bbxxj on Jun 10, 2009 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Completely agree

by Zeus12888 on Jun 10, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I take it

you like the pick and you support Roy Clark and our scouts but do the track record on Mr. Clark’s 1st Rd pks they have not been all that great!

by Jay212033 on Jun 10, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

but the team has been…

"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT

by justincredubil02 on Jun 10, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, I don’t mind the pick. He looks like he could be a solid major leaguer. Just because some draft gurus in some mag weren’t drooling all over his stuff doesn’t mean he will be a bust or a waste of a pick. Picking Matzek and giving him 10M to have him bust out would be a horrible waste.

You do know exclamation marks don’t really help your point out any, right?

by bbxxj on Jun 10, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I think you’re taking alot of the criticism around here all wrong. No one is expecting Minor to be a bust…in fact most people have pointed out that he’s possibly the safest pick in the draft. People are upset because we used our highest draft pick in over a decade to select that safe pick. The reasoning is beside the point…people just wanted that sexy pick.

That’s all.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 10, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Ok, I get what you're saying.

I guess I am in the camp that would rather spend our pick on a lower risk lower reward guy. We can take our risks later in the draft.

Of course I can be completely wrong…

by bbxxj on Jun 10, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

We didn’t take risks though. There were tons of guys who we could’ve taken risks on from the 3rd round on and instead we took a bunch of college arms and low-ceilinged JUCO guys. I’d wouldn’t be surprised if we got the least amount of talent when it’s all said and done.

by 17843 on Jun 10, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

1. Matzek’s demands were never $10 million. He wanted Porcello money ($7 million guaranteed) and could’ve been negotiated down.

2. No one who knows anything thinks he’s likely to bust. Minor is a very safe pick who’s likely to be a major league pitcher. That’s not a first rounder for a team who might have the most depth in good, not great minor league pitching.

3. It’s a waste to not use a high pick to get a premium talent. There aren’t many of those high-ceiling guys available in the draft each year. On the other hand, there are plenty of guys who profile as #4 starters available in the later rounds.

I trust Roy Clark and his staff to identify talent in the later rounds; they have great success taking JUCO guys that turn into good prospects. That doesn’t mean I’m giving him or Wren a pass on this one. Making bad decisions based on a couple million dollars when you re-upped Jeff Francoeur and Tom Glavine, and signed Garret Anderson just is stupid.

by 17843 on Jun 10, 2009 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

That doesn’t mean I’m giving him or Wren a pass on this one. Making bad decisions based on a couple million dollars when you re-upped Jeff Francoeur and Tom Glavine, and signed Garret Anderson just is stupid.

by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 11, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Getting rid of Francoeur wasn't an option.

You don’t give up on him after a single bad year, particularly given the way he apparently had everybody (including Chipper) fooled this winter.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 11, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions

You’d think the Braves have had their fill of soft throwing lefties…Jo Jo and Chuck and I’m sure there have been others, but those are the most recent. I doubt the Braves are going to get another Tom Glavine, so why do they keep trying?

by Sparhawk on Jun 10, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions

Jordan Kreke 3B Eastern Illinois PK-388

Same very rare last name as me.

Anyone know anything about him?

by bbxxj on Jun 10, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

Eastern Illinois senior shortstop-pitcher Jordan Kreke (Mater Dei) won’t have as much signing bonus leverage because of his senior status, but his numbers should attract plenty of attention.

The 2009 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year hit .394 this spring with 16 doubles, 13 homers and 59 RBIs. He also showed some versatility by pitching in 17 games, compiling a 1-1 record in 221(218)3 innings with 21 strikeouts.

Also one of the 38 finalists for the Brooks Wallace Award (top college SS), and was a conference All-Star last year.

Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.

by MichaelProcton on Jun 10, 2009 5:03 PM EDT up reply actions