2021 MLB draft

[notin]

Was his dad really Al or was it Steve George?

 

Actually it was Mark, but don’t tell Al…

[jacksonianmarch]

Ultimately, as a DES pitcher, his stock isn’t gonna go higher. If I were him, I’d shoot for the Tigers. They have a good history of developing pitchers and would likely move fast up the chain into the bigs

[mvp 78]

Ultimately, as a DES pitcher, his stock isn’t gonna go higher. If I were him, I’d shoot for the Tigers. They have a good history of developing pitchers and would likely move fast up the chain into the bigs

 

If he was ready, the Sox could use him opening day of 2022. Not sure he'd get there quicker with the Tigers.

[moonslav59]

Going .500 the rest of the way gets them to 87-88 wins. It sounds like a let down now, but we would have all been on board on April 1.

 

That might be just enough to win a WC slot, too.

[Hugh2]

At some point, does it become relevant that neither Aiken nor Appel ever pitched in the majors?

 

I think it proves that no one is sure thing.

[Hugh2]

So, if you are Leiter, and you want to fall to the Sox, you demand $8M plus from the top 3 teams in the draft, then take less from the Sox, since we cant offer as much?

 

Who knows, he could just be trying to get more money from a team in front of Boston if they draft him. Hypothetically Boston could offer as much as Pitt but it would blow up our whole draft.

[Hugh2]

Why would he want to go to the Sox? If I was getting drafted, I’d want to go to a team that is rebuilding as that’ll provide a path to least resistance to major league service time

 

If you can pitch in the majors there’s a clear path to the majors no matter what team you’re on. Who knows why he wants to go to Boston. He might just want to go to a great competitive organization that can pay him one day.

 

Boston is the best organization in the top of the draft. If your New York Yankees sucked ass like Boston did I could see him trying to go to NY too.

[notin]

If you can pitch in the majors there’s a clear path to the majors no matter what team you’re on. Who knows why he wants to go to Boston. He might just want to go to a great competitive organization that can pay him one day.

 

Boston is the best organization in the top of the draft. If your New York Yankees sucked ass like Boston did I could see him trying to go to NY too.

 

Or we could pretend his MLB service time path is blocked by Martin Perez and Nick Pivetta…

[Hugh2]

Or we could pretend his MLB service time path is blocked by Martin Perez and Nick Pivetta…

 

Yeah, there's really no such thing as being blocked as a pitcher. If you're the top catching prospect or the top short stop prospect and you're playing behind an all-star you might get blocked for a year but the team will eventually either move you, trade you, or move the guy you're replacing. Good pitching is such a sought-after commodity and you need 5 starters, not just one guy for each position and injuries happen. Guys pitch their way up into a bullpen role for a year sometimes too. If you can pitch, you're not getting blocked for very long in baseball.

[moonslav59]

MLB.com just released its updated Top Draft Prospect Rankings 2021 (not a mock draft)

 

1. Mayer (HS SS)

2. Lawlar (HS SS)

3. Leiter (Vandy SP)

4. Watson (WF SS)

5. Davis (Louisville C)

6. Rocker (Vandy SP)

7. House (HS SS)

8. Jobe (HS SP)

9. Madden (Texas SP)

10. Cowser (Sam Houston OF)

11. Frelick (Boston College OF)

12. McLain (UCLA SS)

[Fan_since_Boggs]

Because his dad was a Yankee!!

 

Yeah, you get the feeling that Jack Leiter has a sense of entitlement. His father made millions playing baseball, he grew up a rich kid, and now he is going to make a fortune in the draft. For Jack Leiter, going to the Pirates isn't prestigious enough, he wants to go to one of the more historic, elite organizations in the game like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and obviously the only top organization that has a chance is the Red Sox with the 4th pick.

 

In addition, some middle class kid is thinking primarily about the money, but Leiter is a rich kid and so he might not care if he makes a few million less going to the Red Sox than getting the full bonus money from the Pirates or Rangers.

Edited June 17, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[moonslav59]

Yeah, you get the feeling that Jack Leiter has a sense of entitlement. His father made millions playing baseball, he grew up a rich kid, and now he is going to make a fortune in the draft. For Jack Leiter, going to the Pirates isn't prestigious enough, he wants to go to one of the more historic, elite organizations in the game like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and obviously the only top organization that has a chance is the Red Sox with the 4th pick.

 

In addition, some middle class kid is thinking primarily about the money, but Leiter is a rich kid and so he might not care if he makes a few million less going to the Red Sox than getting the full bonus money from the Pirates or Rangers.

 

But, ironically, doesn't he kind of have to demand top bonus money from Pit and others to maybe fall to the Sox?

[mvp 78]

Yeah, you get the feeling that Jack Leiter has a sense of entitlement. His father made millions playing baseball, he grew up a rich kid, and now he is going to make a fortune in the draft. For Jack Leiter, going to the Pirates isn't prestigious enough, he wants to go to one of the more historic, elite organizations in the game like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and obviously the only top organization that has a chance is the Red Sox with the 4th pick.

 

In addition, some middle class kid is thinking primarily about the money, but Leiter is a rich kid and so he might not care if he makes a few million less going to the Red Sox than getting the full bonus money from the Pirates or Rangers.

 

I can't believe he'd actually want to go to a team with a shot to make the playoffs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[moonslav59]

I can't believe he'd actually want to go to a team with a shot to make the playoffs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

...and be noticed.

[Hugh2]

Yeah, you get the feeling that Jack Leiter has a sense of entitlement. His father made millions playing baseball, he grew up a rich kid, and now he is going to make a fortune in the draft. For Jack Leiter, going to the Pirates isn't prestigious enough, he wants to go to one of the more historic, elite organizations in the game like the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and obviously the only top organization that has a chance is the Red Sox with the 4th pick.

 

In addition, some middle class kid is thinking primarily about the money, but Leiter is a rich kid and so he might not care if he makes a few million less going to the Red Sox than getting the full bonus money from the Pirates or Rangers.

 

I think that's an unfair assessment of Leiter, he's listening to his agent, and stuff like this happens all the time to try and clients the best bonus.

[moonslav59]

I think that's an unfair assessment of Leiter, he's listening to his agent, and stuff like this happens all the time to try and clients the best bonus.

 

We have very little knowledge on who Leiter is as a person.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

The fact that Leiter grew up a rich kid might explain why he would be willing to take less to sign with the Red Sox than, say, getting the full slot money as the first pick of the draft. Leiter might be more focused on the prestige of the organization and not the money. In contrast, some middle class kid would want to go first or second overall for the money.

 

I really want Davis, but I think the Pirates are taking him. Leiter is my next choice, but he may go to the Rangers. The guy I'm worried about is Lawlar, the age thing is starting to bother me. If the top 3 are Davis (Pirates), Leiter (Rangers), and Mayer (Tigers), I would want the Red Sox to take Jobe at 4. Sure, Jobe is a high risk gamble, but the pick could also pay off big time.

Edited June 19, 2021 by Fan_since_Boggs

[Hugh2]

We only know what we know, and these are relatively unknown commodities. But everything I’ve read on the draft they refers to makeup grades Leiter as a high make up guy.

 

I’m certainly not going to believe he’s anything less without specific reason to believe so. Davis is reportedly a high makeup guy too.

[moonslav59]

I'm beginning to think MLB.com is just messing with our minds.

 

Their last Mock Draft from 4 days ago, has several top players available to us at the 4 slot (like the whole top 4 from a few weeks ago!)

 

1. Marcelo Mayer

2. Kahlil Watson

3. Jackson Jobe

4. Jack Leiter

5. Jordan Lawlar

6. Henry Davis

7. Kumar Rocker

8. Brady House

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I'm beginning to think MLB.com is just messing with our minds.

 

Their last Mock Draft from 4 days ago, has several top players available to us at the 4 slot (like the whole top 4 from a few weeks ago!)

 

1. Marcelo Mayer

2. Kahlil Watson

3. Jackson Jobe

4. Jack Leiter

5. Jordan Lawlar

6. Henry Davis

7. Kumar Rocker

8. Brady House

 

Just heard college analyst Kyle Peterson on MLB radio discussing the Vandy aces. He says right now, Leiter has the better fastball, and knows how to use it, but Rocker has the better secondary -- slider and cutter. Leiter's curve isn't wipeout yet, but it's assumed he'll develop a cutter (considering the lineage). Peterson said he'd be thrilled to get either pitcher.

[Fan_since_Boggs]

I'm starting to think the Tigers might go college, leaving the Red Sox to take the first high school kid.

 

Pirates: Davis

Rangers: Leiter

Tigers: Rocker

Red Sox: Mayer

[moonslav59]

I'm starting to think the Tigers might go college, leaving the Red Sox to take the first high school kid.

 

Pirates: Davis

Rangers: Leiter

Tigers: Rocker

Red Sox: Mayer

 

I doubt the 3 you listed at the top, and the 3 I like most, will be gone at pick 4.

 

Maybe that's just wishful thinking.

[notin]

I’m sticking with:

 

Leiter (Pitt)

Lawler (Texas)

Davis (Detroit)

Rocker (Boston)

 

Then maybe Mayer…

[mvp 78]

I’m sticking with:

 

Leiter (Pitt)

Lawler (Texas)

Davis (Detroit)

Rocker (Boston)

 

Then maybe Mayer…

 

It'd be really hard for me to pass up on Leiter or Rocker. If one of them is there, I'd probably take them.

[moonslav59]

I'd like to see us get Davis or Leiter. Rocker is next.

 

I'd be happy with a HS SS, but I don't want to wait so long.

[moonslav59]

The top pitchers seem to be Leiter, Rocker and Jobe (HS). Jobe's stock is rising.

 

Top position players seem to be Davis, and 3 short stops- Lawlar (HS), Mayer (HS), Watson (HS) (House being the 4th)

 

Of these 7-8 players, only 3 are from college.

[notin]

It'd be really hard for me to pass up on Leiter or Rocker. If one of them is there, I'd probably take them.

 

Agreed.

 

And I don’t know much about Lawler vs Mayer vs Watson vs House. I’m randomly picking one for Texas. I think when I first formulated this mini mock, some talking heads had Lawler at #1 overall, so I figured he’d go really high.

 

I like Davis to Detroit, however, since 1) they do need bats in that org and 2) something unpredictable always happens in real drafts. And when I first proposed this, no one had Davis anywhere near the top ten. He has climbed a lot since…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

Agreed.

 

And I don’t know much about Lawler vs Mayer vs Watson vs House. I’m randomly picking one for Texas. I think when I first formulated this mini mock, some talking heads had Lawler at #1 overall, so I figured he’d go really high.

 

I like Davis to Detroit, however, since 1) they do need bats in that org and 2) something unpredictable always happens in real drafts. And when I first proposed this, no one had Davis anywhere near the top ten. He has climbed a lot since…

 

You did have Davis in the top 5 early. The catcher I liked, Adrian Del Castillo, has dropped in one poll to 40th... but I still like his bat, and see him as a possible second rounder for Bloom. There are four catchers projected in the top 40, three with a 55 hit grade (per scouts): Davis, Del Castillo and Joe Mack. The latter and Harry Ford are high schoolers. None are locks to remain behind the plate...

 

As others have noted, drafting an amateur catcher is almost as risky as taking a pitcher. In 1965, seven catchers were drafted before the #36 pick: Johnny Bench.

[jacksonianmarch]

There’s zero reason to forgo more money to go to Boston. Boston’s player development machine hasn’t been kind to pitchers and they’re currently a good team. Leiter has a better chance to move into the pros sooner on a rebuilding club. All that draft drop s*** sounds like media spin, likely from the boston media, ie john Henry’s peeps

 

If he’s looking at any club in the top 5 with great pitching track records, you stop at Detroit. That system has salvaged young pitchers, developed them, and has always seemed to get the most out of their starters. If he’s trying to pick a team based on relative proximity to the MLB and developmental acumen, then it’s the tigers. But the idea of “picking a team” is tremendously dumb on its face

Edited June 22, 2021 by jacksonianmarch

[mvp 78]

There’s zero reason to forgo more money to go to Boston. Boston’s player development machine hasn’t been kind to pitchers and they’re currently a good team. Leiter has a better chance to move into the pros sooner on a rebuilding club. All that draft drop s*** sounds like media spin, likely from the boston media, ie john Henry’s peeps

 

If he’s looking at any club in the top 5 with great pitching track records, you stop at Detroit. That system has salvaged young pitchers, developed them, and has always seemed to get the most out of their starters. If he’s trying to pick a team based on relative proximity to the MLB and developmental acumen, then it’s the tigers. But the idea of “picking a team” is tremendously dumb on its face

 

I think a team like BOS would be more likely to get him quicker to MLB since they are competing and need rotation help.