MLB Draft Is Today

There is no Bryce Harpers in the MLB draft this year, but it is very heavy in arms. Here is who you should know:

Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA- Potential number 1 starter, dirty fastball, zero health concerns. Probably going number 1 to the Pirates.

Anthony Rendon 3rd base, Rice- Great bat, great defense, a bit of a shoulder injury, but should be fine whenever, he gets to the minors.

Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA- I like him almost better than Cole. He's more durable and has 3 plus pitches.

Dylan Bundy, RHP, Owasso (Okla.) HS- He can already touch 99 and is in High School. Has 3 good pitches and will be an unbelievable pro.

Bubba Starling, OF, Gardner Edgerton HS (Kan.)- This kid is a freak. He could play qb at Nebraska or be a pro next year. A legit 5 tool centerfielder.

Danny Hultzen, LHP, Virginia- Very safe pick and extremely consistent. May not have the upside as the guys mentioned above but still has a good arm.

i have no idea who the Red Sox are going to get.

Baseball Draft News

Here's the list:

First Round
Los Angeles Angels (18, 29, 30), Houston Astros (8, 19), Texas Rangers (15, 22) and Tampa Bay Rays (17, 31) had multiple first-round picks.

Pick	Team
1.	Washington Nationals Bryce Harper, OF, College of Southern Nevada
2.	Pittsburgh Pirates Jameson Taillon, RHP, The Woodlands (Texas) HS
3.	Baltimore Orioles Manny Machado, SS, Brito Private, Miami, Fla
4.	Kansas City Royals Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton
5.	Cleveland Indians Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Ole Miss
6.	Arizona Diamondbacks Barrett Loux, RHP, Texas A&M
7.	New York Mets Matt Harvey, RHP, North Carolina
8.	Houston Astros Delino DeShields Jr., CF, Woodward Academy, College Park, Ga.
9.	San Diego Padres Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley (Fla.) HS
10.	Oakland Athletics Michael Choice, OF, Texas-Arlington
11.	Toronto Blue Jays Deck McGuire, RHP, Georgia Tech
12.	Cincinnati Reds Yasmani Grandal, C, Miami
13.	Chicago White Sox Chris Sale, LHP, Florida Gulf Coast University
14.	Milwaukee Brewers Dylan Covey, RHP, Maranatha HS, Pasadena, Calif.
15.	Texas Rangers (for unsigned 2009 draft pick Matt Purke) Jake Skole, OF, Blessed Trinity HS, Roswell, Ga.
16.	Chicago Cubs Hayden Simpson, RHP, Southern Arkansas University
17.	Tampa Bay Rays Josh Sale, OF, Bishop Blanchet HS, Seattle, Wash.
18.	Los Angeles Angels (for Type A free agent Chone Figgins (Seattle)) Kaleb Cowart, SS, Cook County HS, Adel, Ga.
19.	Houston Astros (for Type A free agent Jose Valverde (Detroit)) Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Minooka (Ill.) Community HS
20.	Boston Red Sox (for Type A free agent Billy Wagner (Atlanta)) Kolbrin Vitek, 2B, Ball State
21.	Minnesota Twins Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State
22.	Texas Rangers Kellin Deglan, C, Langley HS, B.C., Canada
23.	Florida Marlins Christian Yelich, OF, Westlake HS, Westlake Village, Calif.
24.	San Francisco Giants Gary Brown, CF, Cal State Fullerton
25.	St. Louis Cardinals Zack Cox, 3B, Arkansas
26.	Colorado Rockies Kyle Parker, OF, Clemson
27.	Philadelphia Phillies Jesse Biddle, LHP, Germantown Friends HS, Philadelphia, Pa.
28.	Los Angeles Dodgers Zach Lee, RHP, McKinney (Texas) HS
29.	Los Angeles Angels (for Type A free agent John Lackey (Boston)) Cam Bedrosian, RHP, East Coweta HS, Sharpsburg, Ga.
30.	Los Angeles Angels Chevez Clarke, CF, Marietta (Ga.) HS
31.	Tampa Bay Rays (for unsigned 2009 draft pick LeVon Washington) Justin O'Conner, C, Cowen HS, Muncie, Ind.
32.	New York Yankees Cito Culver, SS, Irondequoit HS, Rochester, N.Y.

Comp Round A
Los Angeles Angels (18, 29, 30, 37, 40) had five of the first 50 selections; Texas Rangers (15, 22, 45, 49) and Toronto Blue Jays four (11, 34, 38, 41)

Pick	Team
33.	Houston Astros (for Type A free agent Jose Valverde (Detroit)) Michael Kvasnicka, C, Minnesota
34.	Toronto Blue Jays (for Type A free agent Marco Scutaro (Boston)) Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Barstow (Calif.) HS
35.	Atlanta Braves (for Type A free agent Mike Gonzalez (Baltimore)) Matthew Lipka, SS, McKinney (Texas) HS
36.	Boston Red Sox (for Type A free agent Jason Bay (New York Mets)) Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State
37.	Los Angeles Angels (for Type A free agent John Lackey (Boston)) Taylor Lindsey, SS, Desert Mountain HS, Scottsdale, Ariz.
38.	Toronto Blue Jays (for unsigned 2009 draft pick James Paxton) Noah Syndergaard, RHP, Legacy HS, Mansfield, Texas
39.	Boston Red Sox (for Type A free agent Billy Wagner (Atlanta)) Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, LSU
40.	Los Angeles Angels (for Type A free agent Chone Figgins (Seattle)) Ryan Bolden, OF Madison (Miss.) Central HS
41.	Toronto Blue Jays (for Type B free agent Rod Barajas (New York Mets)) Asher Wojciechowski, RHP, The Citadel
42.	Tampa Bay Rays (for Type B free agent Gregg Zaun (Milwaukee)) Drew Vettleson, RHP, Central Kitsap HS, Silverdale, Wash.
43.	Seattle Mariners (for Type B free agent Adrian Beltre (Boston)) Taijuan Walker, Yucaipa (Calif.) HS
44.	Detroit Tigers (for Type B free agent Brandon Lyon (Houston)) Nick Castellanos, 3B, Archbishop McCarthy HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
45.	Texas Rangers (for Type B free agent Marlon Byrd (Chicago Cubs)) Luke Jackson, RHP Calvary Christian, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
46.	St. Louis Cardinals (for Type B free agent Mark DeRosa (San Francisco)) Seth Blair, RHP, Arizona State
47.	Colorado Rockies (for Type B free agent Jason Marquis (Washington)) Peter Tago, RHP, Dana Hills HS, Dana Point, Calif.
48.	Detroit Tigers (for Type B free agent Fernando Rodney (Los Angeles Angels)) Chance Ruffin, RHP, Texas
49.	Texas Rangers (for Type B free agent Ivan Rodriguez (Washington)) Mike Olt, 3B, Connecticut
50.	St. Louis Cardinals (for Type B free agent Joel Pineiro (Los Angeles Angels)) Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Henderson (Texas) HS

Notes: Bryce Harper is obviously going to be the truth. He is said to play catcher, but I believe the Nationals will move him to left field.

As for the Sox:
Kolbrin Vitek, 2B, Ball State, Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State, Boston Red Sox (for Type A free agent Billy Wagner (Atlanta))
Anthony Ranaudo, RHP, LSU

The guy I'm most excited about is Ranaudo. When the Sox the drafted Vitek and Brentz I thought for sure they were going to pass on him, but were able to get him in the mid second. Ranaudo would have been a top 5 pick if he didn't get injured early in LSU's season. But there are concerns from him because he won't take a physical on the injured arm and he is a Boras Client. I think the Sox have deals in place for Vitek and Brentz, but expect Ranaudo to take some more time.

Vitek is 6'3 which is big for a 2nd baseman, but can pitch and play outfield too.

Nationals Offer Not Good Enough For Strasburg

"The clock is ticking on the Stephen Strasburg negotiations. Who will blink first? The Washington Post is reporting that while the Nationals have offered a record deal for an amateur, but it will not be enough to get things done before Monday night's deadline. Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports the Nats have made a $17 million offer, with easily attainable incentives that could push it beyond $20 million (ESPN)."

I knew there was no way that Strasburg would sign with the Nationals. Boras is going to want crazy money, and he probably really doesn't want his ace in the hole to stay in Washington. Listen, I know Strasburg might be the next Roger Clemens, but this is a ton of money for a player that has a lot of questions. You really don't know how good he'll be. There have been a lot of former #1 picks who turn out to be busts...

Luke Hochevar
Matt Bush
Delmon Young
Bryan Bullington
Matt Anderson

The list goes on and on. Now there are plenty that end of being great (Griffey), but I am just saying it is not a sure thing. I feel bad for the Nationals here, but they knew Boras was going to bust their balls. What is really unfair is that it will probably end up being a big market team that eventually lands this guy...

Sox Sign 2nd Round Pick

"Alex Wilson, a righthanded pitcher from Texas A&M chosen by the Red Sox in the second round of the recent First-Year Player Draft, was among 11 players whose signings were confirmed by the club today. Wilson, the 77th overall selection, went 6-6 with a 4.22 ERA and two saves in 24 appearances, including eight starts in 2009. The 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pound junior limited opponents to a .237 average and struck out a team-high 120 batters compared to just 25 walks, earning All-Big 12 honorable mention honors (Boston.com).

Good to see the Sox get this out of the way, so they can start this kid on his minor league journey. Here is the list of the other players that signed...

14th-round pick Willie Holmes of Chaffey (Cal.) College

15th-rounder Michael Bugary, a lefthanded pitcher from Cal

19th-rounder Tom Ebert, a righthanded pitcher from Florida International

22d-rounder Jordan Flasher, a righthanded pitcher from George Mason

23d-rounder Chris Court, a righthanded pitcher from Stephen F. Austin

41st-rounder Kyle Rutter, a righthanded pitcher from NC State

47th-rounder Jordan Sallis, a second baseman from Arkansas-Fort Smith

50th-rounder Drew Hedman, a first baseman from Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.)

Sox Draft Michael Yastrzemski

Over the past two days I haveput up posts about the Sox draft, but I did over look one player. That player is Michael Yastrzemski who is Carl Yastrzemski grandson. Here is the write up on him....

"Yastrzemski, 18, stands 5-foot-11 and weighs 185 pounds. He was considered by scouts to be worthy of an early-round selection, but he has received a scholarship to play baseball at Vanderbilt University and has said the only way he would back out of his commitment was if he was drafted in the first round. But a chance to sign with the Red Sox may be difficult to resist if the club's intent is to try to sign him now (Boston.com)."

I don't know if he will sign, but it is cool that there could be another Yastrzemski in the OF for the Sox.

Strasburg Won't Sign With Nationals

"The Nationals picked Stephen Strasburg No. 1 in yesterday's MLB Draft, but some are already speculating that the club and the pitcher won't agree on a contract. On "Mike and Mike" this morning, ESPN analyst and former Mets GM Steve Phillips said he thinks Strasburg won't agree to a deal with the Nationals before the signing deadline, which is Aug. 17. (The usual deadline is Aug. 15, but it was moved back because it falls on a Saturday this year.) If Strasburg doesn't sign, he will have to re-enter the draft next year (ESPN)."

Honestly who wants to play for the Nationals. They suck, and I doubt they are going to throw the 50 million over 6 years that Boras wants. There is so much hype around this kid that he can wait a year, and probably get that deal with someone else. If he does sign I think the Nationals are going to force him to the Majors right away, which will most likely fuck up his career. It is never a good sign when you are already hearing that a player doesn't want to sign before you even start negotiating.

Red Sox Draft Recap

There has actually been a lot of talk about the MLB draft this year, since the most hyped pitcher ever (Stephen Strasburg) was drafted #1 by the Nationals, but what did the Red Sox do? Well with their first pick they took a CF named Reymond Fuentes, which is a great name, but made all the more better by the fact that he is the cousin of Mets star Carlos Beltran. Beltran called him in the middle of the Mets' 6-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies to wish his relative congratulations. The write up on him is that he is extremely fast, and has very strong arms, but needs to fill out his body since he is only about 160 pounds. He is also a very free swinger, but most guys at his age are.

With their second pick, No. 77 overall, the Red Sox chose Alex Wilson, a 6-foot, righthander from Texas A&M. The report I have read think this was a reach since Wilson has already had Tommy John surgery, and can be wild at times. Still, he has an overpowering fastball, and a solid curveball. He has been a starter and a reliever, but my guess is that he will be a reliever while trying to make it to the MLB.

In the third round, the Red Sox added another player with major league family ties, David Renfroe. He's an athletic, 6-3 player from South Panola High in Batesville, Miss., who may be used as a pitcher, shortstop, or third baseman. Renfroe, the son of former Chicago Cubs pitcher Laddie Renfroe, has a commitment to Ole Miss, and could play quarterback for the Rebels football team if he so chooses. So the Sox aren't even really sure if they will ever see this guy in there minor league system. He has a lot of talent though, and is a "pure athlete".