2006 MLB Draft

[riverside sluggers]

Not if he can't locate his fastball and complement it with other pitches.

 

Alright

 

Well of course thats a given... Im sure if they are this high on him, he cant be that bad

[jsinger121]

I want pitchers in this draft...and lots of them.

 

pitchers are great but the goal is to take what the red sox feel is the best available player. Never draft for need in a draft like the baseball draft.

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

pitchers are great but the goal is to take what the red sox feel is the best available player. Never draft for need in a draft like the baseball draft.

 

Agreed...I just tend to value pitchers a little more. Always nice to grab a talented (5 tool?) position player but when it comes to free agency its easier to find those guys as opposed to top pitching talent. Deffinitly agree though....take the best player available.

[RoyNHSox]

The Sox are going to go back to drafting high school players. Example given by Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald

 

Pitching remains a priority for every club, and one name the Red Sox appear to have a good handle on is Jeff Locke, a southpaw high schooler from Conway, N.H., who throws in the 90s.

 

A native boy too. A southpaw that young who is already hitting the 90s with his fastball has to be good

 

Whether or not he ends up drafted by the Sox I wish this local guy all the best.

 

He has consistently shown scouts a fastball averaging 88-91 mph while impressing them with other qualities such as athleticism, mental makeup and a strong desire to play pro ball.

 

From http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=On+Baseball%3A+Pivotal+week+for+Locke+and+other+NH+prospects&articleId=c813faac-b983-4454-b754-a6ca2b0353cb

[ORS]

I really hope LaPorta's slightly disappointing season this year allows him to slip to our spot in the draft. I watched quite a few UF games since they are on T.V. down here, and he can hit. I doubt he slips to the #27 pick though.

[jsinger121]

I really hope LaPorta's slightly disappointing season this year allows him to slip to our spot in the draft. I watched quite a few UF games since they are on T.V. down here, and he can hit. I doubt he slips to the #27 pick though.

 

From everywhere I hear Laporta is slipping and could slip as far as the supplemental round.

[riverside sluggers]

I came across this catcher who will be in this year's draft. Hyun Conger of Huntington Beach High school

 

Comments: Switch-hitting catchers are rare, especially ones with power, a big reason why he's now considered the top backstop in the draft. Improved defense has people believing he can stay behind the plate.

 

http://mets.scout.com/2/500345.html

[jsinger121]

I came across this catcher who will be in this year's draft. Hyun Conger of Huntington Beach High school

 

 

 

http://mets.scout.com/2/500345.html

 

With the Red Sox signing two DFE's in catcher's Levi Tapia and Luis Exposito they might shy away from catcher early in the draft since the catching position is not deep at all this year and I would not reach for any catcher this year.

[elsrbueno]

pitchers are great but the goal is to take what the red sox feel is the best available player. Never draft for need in a draft like the baseball draft.

 

JSinger is right on here.

 

The draft and player development are so unpredictable that you need to draft the best player out there whenever you draft. Saying "we've got enough young pitching," or "no need to draft a shortstop because we've got Pedroia already" or anything like that is not a good idea IMO.

 

See the DBacks for example. They drafted a shortstop 2 years in a row. They switched Justin Upton to an outfielder before he even played a pro game, but they didn't look at him as a shortstop they looked at him as a TALENT. That's the key to the draft. Take the talented players then fit them into your system. Even if you keep a guy like Upton at shortstop he's younger and therefore behind Drew in development. What if Drew never pans out? Well, you've got an insurance policy.

 

Pitching is nice, and I'm SURE the Red Sox will draft plenty of it. but if a great position player is available (and has a higher projected value than the best pitcher) at #27 he's the guy you draft.

[jsinger121]

Exactly 24 hours and counting until the start of the draft. Rumors swirling that the Giants will do a predraft deal with Chris Parmelee at #10.

[CrespoBlows]

You think Drew Stobbs goes top five? I heard a rumor that the Royals were considering him at number one. Though, that would be a worse pick than Mario Williams over Reggie Bush.

[jsinger121]

I think Drew Stubbs in the top 5 is a bit of a reach. Hes more likely a guy that could go from 5-15 somewhere in that range.

[jsinger121]

Just alittle over 12 hours until the start of the draft.

[kreinbihl34]

is it going to be televised?

[jsinger121]

is it going to be televised?

 

Only on MLB.tv I believe

[elsrbueno]

One man's opinion on the draft projections. Does anyone else have any others? I'd be curious to read them.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20060605&content_id=1489090&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp

[jsinger121]

11:12 a.m.: Late word on the Royals' decision at No. 1 included speculation that incoming general manager Dayton Moore advocated taking Drew Stubbs rather than the pitchers the Royals were considering. If Stubbs goes No. 1, no one will be more surprised than Stubbs. A source close to the Texas outfielder said he had not heard from the Royals about possibly going 1/1.

-- John Manuel

 

This would be a reach by the Royals if this happened.

[jsinger121]

Late Word From The Top

11:38 a.m.: Multiple sources are confirming that the Royals, as Baseball America has projected, will take Fort Worth Cats righthander Luke Hochevar with the No. 1 choice at 1 p.m. ET. The Dodgers, who pick No. 7, are believed to be zeroing in on Motlow State (Tenn.) CC righthander Bryan Morris. It's possible Morris would be available when Los Angeles picks next at No. 26. But the Dodgers could lose him to the Braves at No. 24 or the Angels at No. 25, and don't want to risk it.

--Jim Callis

[CrespoBlows]

Is Scherzer going to want a MLB contract?

[jsinger121]

Is Scherzer going to want a MLB contract?

 

I have been hearing yes because of boras but you never know. He is falling in the draft though.

[jsinger121]

The draft so far

 

1. KC - Luke Hochevar, RHP

2. COL - Gregory Reynolds, RHP

3. TBY - Evan Longoria, 3B

4. PIT - Brad Lincoln, RHP

5. SEA - Brandon Morrow, RHP

6. DET - Andrew Miller, LHP

7. LAD - Clayton Kershaw, LHP

8. CIN - Robert Stubbs, CF

9. BAL - William Rowell, 3B

10. SFG - Tim Lincecum, RHP

11. ARI - Max Scherzer, RHP

12. TEX - Kasey Kiker, LHP

13. CHC - Tyler Colvin OF?????

14. TOR - Travis Snider OF

[SchillingIsTheNatural]

did we just get Daniel Bard???? holy crap!!!!

[jsinger121]

Sox select Jason Place HS OF and Daniel Bard RHP in 1st round

[Mr Crunchy]

3. TBY - Evan Longoria, 3B

 

Id go to 3rd base with eva longoria

[jsinger121]

Scouting reports

 

Daniel Bard, North Carolina

There may be no one who mystifies scouts more than Bard. He began the year as someone who could battle his teammate Andrew Miller for top pick honors, pitched well as the Saturday starter for a while to even draw a Friday start. But then the wheels fell off and he struggled so much he got moved to Sundays. He was so-so for a while before he opened some eyes with a four-hit shutout on April 23. People started to get excited when he followed that up with another superb start until he regressed last Sunday by not getting out of the fourth inning. Still, he's got an easy and fluid motion that enables him to throw in the mid-90s without too much effort. His breaking ball is a curve that isn't consistent, and his fastball can lack movement. Despite his ups and downs, he does have a 3.75 ERA and .220 batting average against with 78 Ks in 72 IP.

Scout says: "He has great stuff all across the board. He's what a pitcher is supposed to look like physically. But his pitching performances have been like mood swings. I would say it will be interesting to see which club steps up and thinks they can make him a consistent performer with his stuff. His stuff belongs in the first five picks."

 

Jason Place, Wren High School (S.C.)

Place, who has played five years of varsity ball in high school, closed out the prep season on the sidelines with a serious leg injury. He's committed to the University of South Carolina, but a lot will depend on where he is selected. Place is devoted to baseball, forsaking other high school sports. The work has paid off because he has decent power and can hit for average.

"He's kind of an enigma guy," one scout said. "He's a right-handed power corner guy, but he's a risky bet for a high school hitter. There are some people who like him, but I'm waffling on him a little. I can see a lot of Kevin Mench in him. He can drive the ball and has a good swing. I can't say anything negative about him and I know there are teams on him in the first round."

[Beckett95]

Sox have taken 4 pitchers so far, 3 of them coming out of college

[AgentAnni008]

yeah and the lefty kris johnson just came off tommy john surgery last year. he must have amazing stuff to be drafted 40th overall after blowing his arm out!

[Papelbon58]

you know this Bates kid we took was an 8th rounder last year and hit .425 in the Cape League. He is a first baseman who also plays catcher

[buddylove]

I got to see Bard, Bates and Masterson play on the cape last year. I liked Bard even though he was occasionally erratic but absolutely love Bates. On the cape they use a wood bat and he adjusted so quickly. I'd say the bat flew off his bat second best in the league only behind Chris Emanuele (OF-Northeastern). Emanuele is still out there, hoping they grab him, second baseman Jim Negrych (pitt) and if Scott Sizemore (VCU)

[buddylove]

I got to see Bard, Bates and Masterson play on the cape last year. I liked Bard even though he was occasionally erratic but absolutely love Bates. On the cape they use a wood bat and he adjusted so quickly. I'd say the bat flew off his bat second best in the league only behind Chris Emanuele (OF-Northeastern). Emanuele is still out there, hoping they grab him, second baseman Jim Negrych (pitt) and if Scott Sizemore (VCU)