2010 Draft discussion thread.

[Dipre]

With the draft looming large, i thought it appropiate to begin discussion on who might be the Sox' first round pick (which is number 20) his upside, and who could potentially be picked with the supplemental number 39 pick in the draft. This thread could also be used for future discussion as the draft progresses when it actually takes place from June 7-9.

 

As a source of early info, i tried MLB.com's mock 1st round draft in both its formats (1st 20 picks, entire first round), and found the following two names to apparently be the most likely future Red Sox:

 

Top 20 prediction:

 

 

20. Boston Red Sox: Matt Harvey, RHP, University of North Carolina

Let's see: A North Carolina Tar Heels pitcher with some good stuff who started in college but might be a reliever at the next level. Sound familiar? Harvey doesn't throw as hard as Daniel Bard, but if starting doesn't work out for Harvey, he could be an effective bullpen piece very quickly.

 

Matt Harvey scouting report:

 

Matt Harvey - P

North Carolina, Jr.

 

* Birthdate: 3/27/1989

* Height: 6'4"

* Weight: 225 lbs.

* Bats: Right

* Throws: Right

* Report Date(s): 3/26/10

* Game(s): Georgia Tech

 

Scouting Report

 

Fastball: Harvey was throwing his fastball up to 96-97 mph and sustaining the velocity deep into his start.

 

Fastball movement: There's some decent life to it.

 

Slider: It's a relatively new pitch for him, so it's not always sharp, though he showed some glimpses of a decent slider.

 

Curve: In high school, he featured a pure, overhand power curve. He's gone more to the slider, though he'll still throw the curve on occasion.

 

Changeup: He doesn't use it much, but he's got a feel for it, and it could be an average offering.

 

Control: Command has often been an issue for Harvey. While it's been better, it's still not pinpoint control.

 

Poise: He's improved his mound presence and worked on maintaining the same approach regardless of what happens around him.

 

Physical Description: Harvey has filled out his 6-foot-4 frame quite a bit in college and is a big and durable-looking right-hander.

 

Medical Update: Healthy.

 

Strengths: He showed a plus fastball and shows flashes of the above-average breaking stuff he once had. He's also got a feel for a changeup.

 

Weaknesses: There are still some delivery issues, though what got him out of whack as a sophomore has largely been corrected. Command is still a problem at times.

 

Summary: Once a top high school prospect, Harvey has reclaimed his status as a first-round candidate with a resurgent junior season. The delivery problems that had him so off his game as a sophomore have largely been corrected, though there are still some issues there that can effect his command and ability to throw his breaking ball. Still, Harvey was showing an above-average to plus fastball and maintaining his velocity, to go along with glimpses of good breaking stuff and a feel for a change. He's come a long way this season, and he likely won't have to wait too long to be redrafted.

 

Mock 1st round draft:

 

20. Boston Red Sox: Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, Louisiana State

Tough signs inevitably end up with teams like the Red Sox, and that's one reason why the Boras-advised Ranaudo is showing up here. Another is that GM Theo Epstein was on hand at the SEC Tournament to see Ranaudo's bounce-back start.

 

Anthony Ranaudo scouting report:

 

Anthony Ranaudo - P

LSU, Jr.

 

* Birthdate: 9/9/1989

* Height: 6'7"

* Weight: 230 lbs.

* Bats: Right

* Throws: Right

* Report Date(s): 4/24/10

* Game(s): Ole Miss

 

Scouting Report

 

Fastball: Ranaudo struggled in a big matchup against Ole Miss' Drew Pomeranz, but his fastball was up to 93 mph.

 

Fastball movement: When he's on, he'll keep the ball down in the zone, but he's got below-average life on the fastball.

 

Curve: He throws a spike curve, over the top with downward action, 78-80 mph. It's an average pitch.

 

Changeup: It's an average offering, thrown 80-81 mph. He's still working on it, and it's behind the other two pitches.

 

Control: He should have average command in the future, but he's been struggling with keeping the ball down in the zone.

 

Poise: Showed decent mound presence, with average aggressiveness on the mound.

 

Physical Description: Ranaudo is a big specimen but is fairly athletic on the mound.

 

Medical Update: A stress reaction in his elbow knocked him out of action early this year. Reports are that it's not an issue now, but he hasn't returned to form since.

 

Strengths: Has shown very good fastball-curve combination in past, with decent changeup. Pitching for a top college program, he has thrown in a lot of big games.

 

Weaknesses: The injury, and the ensuing struggles, have many concerned.

 

Summary: Entering the spring as perhaps the top college arm in the country, Ranaudo missed a chunk of time with an elbow issue. Brought back slowly, he has struggled to regain the form that made him such an elite prospect in the first place. More than anything, he's struggled to find a feel for the strike zone, and for keeping the ball down in it like he had in the past. How he finishes his season will go a long way toward determing his Draft stock, but the injury, together with being advised by Scott Boras, make him very difficult to place.

 

The most interesting thing to me is that, from this information, the Sox seem intent on drafting a pitcher with their first pick. I need to do more research to see just how much upside do some of the bats that could potentially fall to the Red Sox could have when compared to the players mentioned above.

 

Supplemental pick analysis coming soon.

[msubulldogs21]

Ranaudo has had some ups and downs this season for LSU, but that dude can pitch. He was a huge reason they won the College World Series last year. Would be a very nice pick.

 

I don't know a ton about Harvey off the top of my head. I'll be looking for him on tv during the regionals/supers if UNC advances.

 

Just out of curiosity, where did Drew Pomeranz go in the mlb.com mock? I hate Ole Miss, but Pomeranz is a bad, bad man.

[jacksonianmarch]

Ranaudo lasts to the sox if the medicals do not look good. The yanks are on his case too. If he lasts to the sox, then someone is concerned about his shoulder/pectoral region

[jacksonianmarch]

Pomeranz isn't making it out of the top 10

[msubulldogs21]

Pomeranz isn't making it out of the top 10

 

Yeah, I wasn't expecting him to. Just wondering where exactly they had him slotted at.

[bsox0407]

Saw a Full 8 round mock draft. Was Kind of Disappointed Not to See Mike Nemeth out of Uconn. Lefty 1B. Can hit the s*** out of the ball. A good Defensive 1B also. This is his 2010 Stats.

AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB SLG% BB HBP SO GDP OB% SF SH SB-ATT PO A E FLD%

 

Mike Nemeth. .380 61-61 242 57 92 19 1 14 80 155 .640 35 6 23 2 .463 4 0 1-2 589 26 4 .994

[msubulldogs21]

I'm not sure where Conner Powers is projected, but I would love for the Sox to grab him. He played up in the Cape Cod league last summer and has been a joy to watch at Mississippi State. Very talented.

[ORS]

That's an excellent baseball name, Connor Powers. I just hope Berman is retired by the time he makes the bigs.

[Dipre]

Just out of curiosity' date=' where did Drew Pomeranz go in the mlb.com mock? I hate Ole Miss, but Pomeranz is a bad, bad man.[/quote']

 

In the mock, top twenty and top ten, they have him going sixth to the D-Backs.

[jacksonianmarch]

Harvey is out of Fitch HS in CT. Small frame, throws gas. Was drafted high by ANA 3 yrs ago but didn't sign. He was first round talent then and has proven he's first rd talent

now.

[rhet]

Harvey is out of Fitch HS in CT. Small frame, throws gas. Was drafted high by ANA 3 yrs ago but didn't sign. He was first round talent then and has proven he's first rd talent

now.

 

Boras client?

[jacksonianmarch]

I think so

[Keeper]

If I were Theo, I'd take Alex Wimmers (assuming he's available) over Ranaudo.

[msubulldogs21]

That's an excellent baseball name' date=' Connor Powers. I just hope Berman is retired by the time he makes the bigs.[/quote']

 

I hope Berman retires before he's drafted.

[example1]

If I were Theo' date=' I'd take Alex Wimmers (assuming he's available) over Ranaudo.[/quote']

 

It seems that every year there is one player that everyone believes Theo is picking for his first pick, and nobody is ever right. Last year it was Max Stassi. Ranaudo seems to be that name this year, which tells me he's unlikely to be drafted by the Sox.

 

With so many good picks this year I do expect them to go after players very aggressively.

[jacksonianmarch]

I doubt the sox take a guy like Ranaudo. They have 2 picks, and they dont have much of a history of taking major risks. If Ranaudo is hurt, be it elbow or pec or shoulder, then he owns a bit more risk than some others. This is supposed to be a pretty thin draft at the top, but having 3 picks prior to the 2nd round, they should be fine

[italstallianion]

Harvey just went 7th to the Mets. I think he was drafted in the 3rd round by the Angels a few years ago.

[jacksonianmarch]

He was, and he was to be drafted in the top 10, but dropped due to contract demands. He is a hell of a pitcher.

[jacksonianmarch]

Grandal fell like a rock. He was supposed to go to the Royals, but they argued about the salary at the end. He is a hell of a pick here and will likely fly up their system.

[suns]

Pomeranz was a great pick for the Indains...He will become the #3 starter for the Guardians in a few years.

[italstallianion]

Pomeranz was a great pick for the Indains...He will become the #3 starter for the Guardians in a few years.

 

 

 

Behind Huff and Talbot?

[jacksonianmarch]

Pomeranz is a solid pick, assuming he is okay. He was assumed to be a top 5 pick prior to the season, then fell out of the first round after having a run of s*** performances then righted the ship. He never had an injury concern, like Ranaudo does. Which is why Pomeranz is off the board, and Ranaudo isnt. I really think Ranaudo falls to the Yankees here.

[suns]

Behind Huff and Talbot?

 

Behind Hagadone/Drabek and Talbot.

[Dipre]

Behind Hagadone/Drabek and Talbot.

 

Except for the fact that Talbot sucks.

[jacksonianmarch]

Suns, stop talking. Please. Your team sucks right now and projecting a minor leaguer as your ace is a bad idea right now.

[Spudboy]

Was Harper taken #1?

[italstallianion]

Except for the fact that Talbot sucks.

 

 

 

And if he doesn't suck, then there's no chance that he'd stay with the Guardians.

[suns]

Was Harper taken #1?

 

Yea, he's gonna play OF.

[italstallianion]

Was Harper taken #1?

 

 

 

If he wasn't, there'd probably be a thread about how the Nationals just f***** themselves.

[jacksonianmarch]

Harper went as an OFer cause they want him in the bigs ASAP. Its kinda funny, cause his mechanics and arm were highly rated, but it takes awhile to groom a catcher. Sounds like they want Strasburg and Harper to be on the same team for as long as possible.