2009 First-Year Player Draft Open Thread
by gondeee on Jun 9, 2009 5:45 PM EDT
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PrintThe Braves did pretty good with four of the first 100 draft picks last year, but this year while the quantity won't be there, the quality should be. The Braves have the #7 pick in the draft's first round, then don't pick again until the third round and pick number #87 overall. Then that will be it for the day.
The odds makers have us selecting either UNC RHP Alex White or Vandy LHP Mike Minor, of course we should never underestimate the love Braves Scouting Director Roy Clark has for high school pitchers. The odds are that the real apple of our eye, Georgia high school pitcher Zach Wheeler, will not be available by the time we pick.
Clark doesn't want to tip Braves' hand: Mark Bowman tries to infer what the Braves are going to do by reading the body language of Roy Clark.
Braves look to make most of early draft pick: Carroll Rogers hears the same thing Bowman does and gives us a similar but less inferred take on what the team might do today.
Could Minor be a lock: Baseball America's Jim Callis says he has the top-8 picks locked down, with the Braves taking Matt Minor.
[UPDATE: 6:40pm]
The Braves officially select Mike Minor with their first pick.
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Mayo is sticking with Minor for us.
http://twitter.com/JonathanMayoB3
Wow Matzek is falling quickly on his list.
I'm sour on Minor
I don’t get why he’s so high, he just doesn’t seem like top of the first round talent.
He’s safe and he’ll sign for slot. Everyone I’ve read says Minor is the most likely pitcher to win 100 games in this draft. Even if he’s a 2 WAR pitcher for six years, he’s a safe bet. The Braves can take him and have a fairly good chance of having a #3/4 starter from 2011-2016 and won’t have to worry about negotiations taking all summer. They can get him in at Rome or Myrtle Beach, give him some innings, and look forward to him being at Mississippi next year. I’m strongly opposed to the move, but…
I agree
I’m not happy if we draft Minor. I’m willing to take a chance that our pick will be a complete flop. With a pick this high I dont want someone that is a middle of rotation at best, most likely a back-end guy. Why not take a chance with a top 10 talent.
http://www.whensidslid.com
After rereading reports on Minor
Im not sure i would take him. Alex White or Matzek would probably be better.
Seriously, whats with this stupid package showing former picks? A good 70% (guesstimate) of baseball players were drafted. Come on now.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
Amen
And they were showing all the first rounders. I would have rather seen the people who got picked in the 26th and 44th rounds
Minor for Team USA
Saw Minor pitch here in The Netherlands last year for Team USA. He was named best pitcher of the tournament (beating Strassburg, who was on the same team)..
by Rotterdam Braves Fan #10 on Jun 9, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions
Him and Law both have him out. Signability.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
He wanted I think 4.5 last year, so probably something in that general vicinity…I’d stay away, you don’t want him to pull a Matt Harrington
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
Dang
So we won’t be picking till like… 7 30?
Some minor notes…
Strasberg seems a lock at 1, Ackley at 2. Sanchez is going 4th to Pittsburgh, they’ve already reached a deal. Baltimore is taking either Wheeler or Hobgood.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
BEN MCDONALD IN THE HOUSE!??!
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
pick trout if he’s there…i see this kid in the neighborhood….he’s the real deal….(i have no idea what i’m talking about when judging prospects)
Cockchafer
Hey Harold Reynolds, you know whats a risk?
Taking a slap hitting middle infielder second overall
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
There goes Ackley
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
whats the situation right now?
who is up with what pick? Who of “our guys” are left?
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions
sweet.
thanks.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions
I won’t criticize anything the Front Office does for a month if they pick one of Purke, Matzek, and Green and pay for them.
I like what I have learned about Green today
He seems to have tons of upside.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions
JORGE?!?!? LOL
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
Jason Churchill on Tate…
It’s not Matt Bush, but it’s certainly not the best player available. The Padres are just bad at this.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
I don’t particularly agree. Tate has monster potential and if there’s one thing the Padres need, it’s high ceilinged position players. Kudos to the Padres for taking the risk; certainly better than spending comparable amounts on a HS pitcher or taking an inferior talent.
what is the down-side to Wheeler?
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions
which is what we seem to always draft
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Theres Hobgood…come on Giants…no Wheeler…
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
They should take Matzek
He’s a local guy for them. Leave Wheeler to us.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
Matzek / Wheeler available
interesting to see which one we get, if either
I’ll never agree with overdrafting and saving money. That’s all I have. Alvarez wasn’t the second-best player last year, Sanchez may not be the 24th best this year, and goes No. 4. Ok.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
This broadcast (on MLB network) is lame
You think they could learn from watching the NFL draft and have something more interesting b/t picks
Selig is putting me to sleep
he sounds like an old person telling a story.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I hate the stupid same line
With the Xth selection in the 2009 “first-year player” draft, the X team selects Y player.
Mix it up Bud!
So can anyone explain why we don’t just draft the best guy available with our pick, and if it’s a “signability” thing, we don’t just take the #7 pick for next year…?
wouldn't it be the #8 pick next year?
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it really worth it to just make a major reach with the Minor kid over another year of delaying the time getting a prospect in your system…? It isn’t like we’re hurting for low-level pitching talent right now.
by get swoll yunel on Jun 9, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed
You don’t get this kind of pick every year—unless your team sucks. The braves have to take advantage of this opportunity.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
I just don't get why you're so excited about him...
"If I had a little humility, I would be perfect" - Ted Turner
Wheeler to Frisco. Dammit.
MAT-ZEK MAT-ZEK MAT-ZEK
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
Get your rusty nail ready...
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
lol
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Wheeler looks horrified
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
on my feed
SF still has 46 seconds left…
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:41 PM EDT reply actions
oh lord
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Jim callis has been exactly right so far
that means mike minor… hopefully not
http://www.whensidslid.com
Cmon, Roy
Just draft a high schooler already.
Apparently, the Braves need pitching.
Facepalm
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
Green please
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
dammit…I wanted a position player here…namely, Green.
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:44 PM EDT reply actions
College player
interesting — hope he’s Joey Devine-ish
He’s a starter
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
i was referring more to the
college-player almost ready to dominate aspect of Devine when he was drafted
not atlanta joey devinish…
"Actually, Justin was right."
by bigjoe on May 15, 2009 9:04 AM PDT
by justincredubil02 on Jun 9, 2009 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions
When he’s on, he’s a No. 4 starter in the majors who could play up to a No. 3 because he has command and control
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
Positives:
He should get here quick and be solid for awhile.
He’ll sign quick.
Negatives:
He could be Jeremy Sowers
Cowardly pick
Hope it doesn’t blow up in their/our faces.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
LOL
Look at the Wheeler interview right now… the kid sooo doesnt want to be a giant.
Relax
Hanson was a sign and follow and Medlen was a 10+ rounder…
God damnit. I can’t believe we wasted our first top ten pick in years on talent that could be had at the bottom of the first round in ANY draft. If we choose Matzek and he doesn’t sign we have next years #8! Fuck. Signability.
That’s actually the point I was trying to make above. I feel like having next year’s #8 wouldn’t be the end of the world.
by get swoll yunel on Jun 9, 2009 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Sounds like Matzek is screwing himself
with his $$$ demands
87) Jacob Stewart, OF, Colorado HS
With no second round pick, making a big splash in the third round with Stewart is intriguing. It will cost a lot of money to get Stewart to pass up Stanford, but perhaps not having a second round pick would free up the cash. If they could actually sign Stewart, this is a good draft.
John Sickels thoughts
The signability thing isn’t surprising at all, though… the Braves are probably hurting for cash.
They have a top 10 payroll and are currently 25th in attendance (going on %).
That is a joke.
Yeah, the Braves are strapped for cash, but that’s the kind of thinking that gets you in trouble…shorting the draft money because you don’t want a prospect that’ll cost 5million vs. 2.5 million is going to cost you in the long run. The one thing that bothers me more than most is that this guy isn’t the best player available. He CLEARLY isn’t. When you start going away from that you’re going to find yourself in the Astros position.
I completely agree. The draft is the wrong area to be cutting corners… in any sport, really.
by get swoll yunel on Jun 9, 2009 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Pitchers like Minor can be successful in a rotation that includes a couple of hard throwers; they’d offer a much different look. That isn’t to suggest that Glavine wouldn’t have won 305 games without John Smoltz or Pedro Martinez. Rather, Glavine’s success goes to show that pitchers with supposed “fringy” stuff can make it in the majors. If Minor has a hero, it should be Glavine.
If Dunn walks 30 fewer times, he'll drive in 15 more runs. This is thanks to the scientifically proven formula: RBI = (this is nonsense) (I made it all up).
Here's a stat: Wins as manager: Dusty Baker, 1,162; Bill James, 0.
Bud Selig is the most boring human on the planet
The guy can not talk
Keith Law: Roy Clark is tied up in a closet in Atlanta’s offices.
Jason Churchill: Roy, don’t worry buddy. I’ll be in Hotlanta in September to break you out! Not a surprise, but a few weeks ago, I would have bet the farm against a pick like this.
Keith Law: A low-upside polished college lefty with the seventh pick. I’m a sucker for upside, and they passed on probably a dozen guys I’d like better who bring that upside to the table.
I mentioned this over on BH just now…the last 2 college pitchers we selected in the first round were Joey Devine and Dan Meyer. Both were traded 3 years after they were drafted to Oakland.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
Matzek should kill himself and not sign right now. He’s probably looking at the ceiling right now with tears in his eyes shouting his throat out.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?"
President, CEO, and chairman of the Brandon Jones fan club. PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK! PLEASE COME BACK!
Rockies normally are pretty cheap with their first rounders (Reynolds, Weathers, Friedrich). This was a great decision though.
I missed what happened to Prado
did he aggravate the hamstring last night? I didn’t see a DL of him today.
any word on time to back in action?
Hopefully Kotch can come back as soon as DL time is over
Whelp, the HS pitchers falling prediction never really materialized. You were hearing Purke falling into the Supplemental round this afternoon.
borchering to AZ
justin will be sad — he’s always looking for the next Chipper
So...
where does Minor fit, right now, into our prospect rankings. And compared to the rest of our pitching prospects. And where does everyone think he starts – A ball?
College pitcher
probably could start higher than A — probably AA depending on what the headcount is
Yeah, depends on the rotations. He could go anywhere from Danville for a few to Myrtle Beach.
I’d put him behind Heyward and Freeman now.
Really?
DeVall, Rohrbaugh, and Spruill have better ceilings, but Rohrbaugh has been incredibly inconsistent and the other two aren’t out of Rome. Teheran still hasn’t thrown this year. Hicks is struggling a lot. Kimbrel struggled and he’s a reliever. I could slot him as low as six behind DeVall, Spruill, and Teheran.
As you said earlier, we have several guys just like him at Rome right now
Still confused why they didn’t try to hit a home run with this pick.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
Wheeler looked like the Giants shot his dog when they drafted him
That kid was positively crushed he didn’t fall one more slot.
Way to not make the flashy pick, Frank the Wrench. Could have really stumped them if you just said “pass.”
"...Braves tie! ...Braves tie! ...Braves tie!"
by The Keith Lockhart Era on Jun 9, 2009 7:38 PM EDT reply actions
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/M/Michael-Minor.shtml
strong scouting report.
Hey douche
I said all I know. I’m lookin for the rest of them.
Hopefully his lack of a sharp breaking offering this year is just a symptom of complacency, and that coaches will get the best out of him by the end of the year. If that’s the case, and he begins to consistently pitch like he did against Cuba, then perhaps a late 1st round team like the Cubs will take a look.
HEADSMACK
hard to get all that excited about that…
by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 9, 2009 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
I was on the vandy site… same stuff there
maybe he blew FW b4 the draft....
guess we’ll never know
I chalk it up to inexperience
the braves haven’t had to make a decision like this in 18 years…
For real
We haven’t had a top 10 since 91. And no college pitchers 1st round since Devine.
“I’m very pleased with the guy that we got and I know that the baseball world thought that we were taking Zack Wheeler,” Clark said. “But we’re very pleased with the guy we got.”
YOU DIDN’T HAVE THE CHANCE TO TAKE ZACK WHEELER, OTHERWISE THE BASEBALL WORLD WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT!
“There were some pretty good players on that team and I know one of them throws 100 mph, but this guy is a winner,” Clark said. “We’ve been tracking him for a long time. We were hoping for the opportunity to select him and now I’m just hoping for the opportunity to sign him.”
He’s….a winner. Oh my god, I’m in hell.
Lol
When someone says he’s a winner, you can tell there’s not much to like. Clark can’t be pleased.
While his recently compiled statistics might not be eye-opening, the Braves saw Minor flourish when the Vanderbilt coaching staff allowed him to start calling his own games during the latter part of the season. In addition, they remembered him as the hurler who went 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA in six appearances (five starts) with the United States collegiate national team last year. After beating the Cuban national team twice, he was named Baseball America’s Summer Player of the Year. As Clark pointed out, his statistics proved to be better than Team USA teammate Stephen Strasburg, the heralded right-hander who was taken by the Nationals with Tuesday’s first overall selection.
Cuba is no joke. “Remembered” lol
HEY, LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!!!
http://web.usabaseball.com/news/stats.jsp?ymd=20080727&content_id=34673&vkey=recap_usab&gid=2008/07/27/jpnnat-usanat-1
Minor: 3-0, 0.75, 36 IP, 13 BB, 37 K, .179 BAA
Strasburg: 3-0, 1.06, 34 IP, 6 BB, 48 K, .137 ERA
So Mike Minor’s one less earned run in 2 more innings give him better stats. Gotcha.
he might as well of just said he has “heart”
by Smoltz's Beard on Jun 9, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions
"We were hoping for the opportunity to select him..."
Either Clark is full of shit, or he’s a fucking retard. I’m hoping it’s the former, and Minor was only selected because of money. If not, he needs to be fired ASAP. Well, I guess if he’s a “winner”, that makes up for it. He probably has a lot of heart, mental toughness, grittiness, and clutchiness as well. I just hope that he can be traded at peak value for a useful player.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
by buzzdeadwax on Jun 10, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Braves draft David Hale another pitcher
by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jun 9, 2009 10:20 PM EDT reply actions
Hale didnt fare to well in the Ivy league he was projected more as a 6th to 8th round pick. His fastball tops out at 93-94, He also has a decent changeup
by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jun 9, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions
Hale is from Marietta and pitched for Princeton. This article says he is a top 75 prospect and majored in operations research and financial engineering.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=aNmDnPTWUbjE&pid=20601079
K. Law says
His fastball runs from 91 to 94 mph but is flat with just a little tailing life. His 83-84 mph slider is an average pitch right now with a hard break and adequate tilt
http://tinyurl.com/mp53wb
by playertobenamedlater on Jun 9, 2009 10:38 PM EDT reply actions
I still think all of you guys completely wigging out are ridiculous
So you all clearly know way more than Roy Clark & team because you’ve read a bunch of scouting reports from secondary sources. And you all clearly know what’s going on with the finances of the Atlanta Braves.
I don’t mean to pull a “Dusty Baker has managed X number of games, how many have you managed?” sort of argument, but seriously, now…
MLB drafts are unpredictable as fuck. Settle down.
by get swoll yunel on Jun 9, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions
I'd love to be so zen about this draft
But you don’t take a second round talent at #7 unless you’re the Pirates. This is a bullshit pick because even though Minor is described as a “safe” pick, no pitcher is actually low risk, due to the probability of injury or flame-out. Therefore, when you’re picking this high, you absolutely have to try to hit a home run by taking the second or third best player in the draft if he falls in your lap like Matzek did. If he doesn’t sign, you pick eighth next year.
"…aren’t worthy enough to hold his (Pujols) ass cheeks apart while Playboy models wipe him with thousand dollar bills after he craps out the cure to whatever previously-incurable disease." by royhobbs 1/7/09
by buzzdeadwax on Jun 10, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I am suprised we havent taken a 3rd basemen yet unless they want to convert one of the 2 SS we drafted
by Heyward is the next crime dog on Jun 10, 2009 1:10 PM EDT reply actions
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