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Season 9 Draft Review

The season 9 Wright world draft has taken place. There were 32 first round selections made, 7 compensatory selections for a total of 39 1st round draftees.

Some fan bases exclaimed joy at their franchise selecting a sure fire future all star, others were left scratching their heads like a lions fan seeing 3 straight WR's drafted in the 1st round.

First Round
1.Memphis Redbirds - Theodore Wilson $4,000,000 Bonus ****
There were screams of joy from the Redbirds fans after it was announced "With the first pick of the Season 9 amateur draft the Memphis Redbirds select Theodore Wilson, SS from North Iowa Area Community College"
A future batting title waiting to the happen. Shows great patience at the play, a tremendous batting eye. Solid inside pitch hitter & brings some slick fielding to the position.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 10-11
Major League Comparison: Derek Jeter
Injury Concern Level: 2.0

2.New York New York - Chris Lloyd $3,910,000 Bonus ****
The absolute worst kept secret in the draft was that Lloyd would go at #2 to NY. The bronx bombers bought the super sophmore from Gainesville FL in for a workout just 2 days before the draft and gave him a tour of the stadium. Has a good set of defensive tools to be a capable SS at the ML level, my be best suited as a 3B. Show plus power and is at his best when he pulls the ball but lacks the patience at the plate to be a hall of famer.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 11-12
Major League Comparison: Miguel Tejeda
Injury Concern Level: 3.0

3.Tampa Bay Tic-Tacs - Ricky Terry $3,820,000 Bonus *****
Shock was the word to describe the feeling around tropicana field when flat out stud OF/2B Terry was available at number 3. Grading out as the best player in the draft with 5 tool potential. The Sr. from ECU comes to the Tic-Tacs as a highly heralded player with poise, polish and potential. A true five tool guy who shows tremendous power potential, great base running ability and will be a gold glove winning LF should he stay there permanently. Has a swagger that is cock-sure but not cocky, franchise player and future HOF'er if he reaches his full potential.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Alfonso Soriano
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

4.Iowa City Acorns - Dan Peterson $3,720,000 Bonus **** 1/2
Drafted as a SS but is in no way shape or form will likely make his mark as a good glove 3B or RF with the lack of range to play SS or 2B. But boy does he make up for it as a hitter. He can hit for power, or average. An advanced hitter who's bat is ahead of his glove. Has a bright future ahead of him but it depends upon his position.
Major League Debut ETA: Season
Major League Comparison: Chase Utley
Injury Concern Level: 2.0

5.Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo Buffalo - Alan Moreno $3,630,000 *****
A true Ace in this draft. Has great command on his pitches & a electric fastball. Can go deep into games, has great poise. Knows how to get you out, whether it is Swinging at strike 3 or a flyball to CF. A player that has "it".
Major League Debut ETA: Season 11
Major League Comparison: Roy Halladay/David Price
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

6.Houston Councils for Foreign Relation - Raymond Walton $3,540,000 Bonus ***
A puzzling pick this early, A high control, high velocity guy with 2 solid pitches.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12-13
Major League Comparison: None
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

7.Boise Land Sharks - D'Angelo Leon $3,440,000 Bonus ***
A very consistent player over his HS career. Great command of his pitches but must get better at being spectacular. He's solid and you know what your going to get from him but that's also the problem because he's capable of more.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Joe Blanton
Injury Concern Level: 2.0

8.Burlington Coat Factory - Chip Restovich $3,350,000 Bonus **** 1/2
A great pickup by the Coats in the first round. A very advanced hitter with a patient approach at the plate. Has good power potential but is more likely to be a 20-25 HR guy while making contact and driving in alot of RBI's, just depends upon the development of his bat.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Justin Mourneau
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

9.Ottawa Primetimers - Pete Conigliaro $3,250,000 *** 1/2
One of the best defensive players in the draft this season. Has the ability to play at any position you need him except catcher. No slouch with the bat either. Has a good amount of power potential along with the ability to make contact and draw some walks. Not a great base runner but is good enough to not kill a inning rally.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 13
Major League Comparison: Edgar Renteria
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

10.Las Vegas Immortals - Beamer Griffin $3,160,000 **** 1/2
What's not to like about this big projectable Right hander from VA. The sky is the limit on potential with this kid. He's a bit raw like all HS talents but with some fixing of mechanical issues and growth this "kid" could grow up to be a 5 pitch multiple Cy Young winner. A lights out fastball combined with a heavy curveball give him the established pitches to move quickly in a system.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Brandon Webb
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

11.Jacksonville PnBs - Trenidad Prieto $3,070,000 Bonus ***
A very good command type pitcher who can throw hard and throws all the pitches in his repertoire well. His struggles versus righties could man a bullpen future for him. But if his command can overcome that deficiency he could turn into a solid middle rotation starter.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12-13
Major League Comparison: Mark Mulder
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

12.St. Louis Spirits - Doug Giles(Not Signed)
Major League Debut ETA: None
Major League Comparison: N/A
Injury Concern Level: N/A

13.Durham Wolverines - Carl Broome $2,880,000 Bonus ***
A smallish guy with a slight frame but he can turn it loose on the radar gun. Has issues with poise and patience on the mound and tends to become rattled at times. If he can overcome this your looking at a pitcher with a live arm who can throw strikes.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12-13
Major League Comparison: Carl Pavano
Injury Concern Level: 3.0

14.Portland Rainmakers - Lonny Gil $4,000,000 Bonus ***
Very erratic pitcher, has good stuff overall but lacks focus and poise to be a consistent front end of the rotation type.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 11
Major League Comparison: Javier Vazquez
Injury Concern Level: 4.0

15.Pittsburgh Outlaws - Nick Field $2,690,000 Bonus ***
Solid all around player. Can hit, can field, can play all the OF positions in a pinch plus some 1B. Very versatile not only as a fielder but as a hitter as well.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Nick Swisher
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

16.Cincinnati Marauders - Don Crawford $3,614,000 Bonus *** 1/2
High value in picking up the sweet swinging 1B at this spot. Very adept hitter who shows plus power potential along with a knack for coming through with clutch hits. One of the best at his position in picking balls out of the dirt so he's a INF's best friend.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Mark Texeria
Injury Concern Level: 3.0

17.Cleveland Redlegs - Hal Lamb $2,500,000 *** 1/2
A very good college arm with the ability to throw strikes. Has good stuff but won't blow you away with anything. Just plain effective out on the mound.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 11
Major League Comparison: Jose Contreras
Injury Concern Level: 2.0

18.Dover Demons - Pete Gragg $2,410,000 Bonus ***
A spunky defensive centerfielder who shows a keen ability to use his bat. He's not going to remind you of Micky Mantle but he'll be a solid ML'er for quite a few seasons.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12-13
Major League Comparison: Aaron Rowand
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

19.Florida Villians - Harold Forbes $2,320,000 Bonus **
A puzzling pick at this spot. Doesn't really do anything well and is a bit of a health risk. Will be shocked to see him make the Bigs.
Major League Debut ETA: Never
Major League Comparison: N/A
Injury Concern Level: 3.0

20.Chicago Chargers - Bruce Campbell $2,220,000 Bonus *** 1/2
Chicago taps the tough HS arm from Texas at this pack. A fiery young gun with alot of velocity and movement on his pitches. If he can stay healthy he has the potential to be a top of the rotation starter. Maybe not an ace but a solid #1 or a great #2 option.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 11-12
Major League Comparison: Aj Burnett
Injury Concern Level: 3.0

21.Chicago Crankers - Rex Barker $2,920,000 ***
The Crankers go high risk high reward with this pick. This HS arm has a decent skillset with a cannon arm but maturity and control issue could doom this talent to minor league status for his career.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Braden Looper
Injury Concern Level: 3.0

22.San Antonio Sandbaggers - Steve Carter $2,040,000 Bonus ****
A very solid arm with a good fastball as his primary pitch and a curveball as his off speed out pitch. Has good velocity on the ball but not a real flame thrower but he gets the job done.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Joe Nathan
Injury Concern Level: 3.0

23.Indianapolis Colt 45's - Earle Trunk(Not Signed)
Major League Debut ETA: N/A
Major League Comparison: N/A
Injury Concern Level: N/A

24.Willie Gil $1,850,000 Bonus ***
A enigma wrapped in a riddle is what this player is. Sometimes he's one of the best arms in the draft at other times he's wilder than Kyle Farnsworth and Rick Ankiel put together. If he can mature and improve his control and poise on the mound he could be a solid #2-#3 starter. But if he cannot he's a AAAA player at worst or a solid bullpen long reliever at best.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Jeff Weaver
Injury Concern Level: 2.0

25.Richmond Sons of Virginia - Ronnie Coleman $1,750,000 Bonus ****
Drafted as a SS but is nowhere near a fielder for that position. Likely to outgrow the position and be moved to either 3B or RF in the future. Depending upon his position he's a average to above average defender with big bat and not affraid to use it.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 11
Major League Comparison: Jermaine Dye
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

26.Los Angeles Dodgers - Felix Culver $1,660,000 Bonus ***
A Solid selection at #26. A polished collegiate arm with a bit of zip on his fastball. Likely to be a bullpen guy in the future.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 11-12
Major League Comparison: Tim Redding
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

27.Vancouver Muffdivers - Marvin Cooney $1,570,000 Bonus ***
Solid is the word to describe him. He does nothing great but he does some of everything well.
Will make a good everyday bottom of the lineup hitter with the potential to be better.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 10-11
Major League Comparison: Yunel Escobar
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

28.Santa Cruz Banana Slugs - Gill Gryboski $1,470,000 Bonus ***
The slugs roll the dice on a high upside HS arm with this pick. A ground ball pitcher who gets outs with quality off speed stuff & grit. He'll never wow you but he's that guy that year in and year out is always that solid #4 guy who performs like a #2.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 13
Major League Comparison: Derek Lowe
Injury Concern Level: 2.0

29.Texas Rangers - Russell Linden $3,550,000 **** 1/2
The Rangers may have mined the best pure hitter in the draft out of the 29th overall pick. The Jr. from the University of Michigan sports a prodigious amount of power to go along with great patience at the plate and the ability to change the game. If he fills out his potential we'll know him by his initials as R.L. puts on a HOF Jacket.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 11
Major League Comparison: Josh Hamilton
Injury Concern Level: 2.0

30.Atlanta Fairfax - Larry McCovey $1,290,000 Bonus ***
A very good defender who projects as a solid hitter with some pop and the ability to run the bases.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 12
Major League Comparison: Brandon Phillips
Injury Concern Level: 2.0

31.San Diego Padres -Paxton Coppinger $1,190,000 Bonus **
At a loss of words to describe this pick...
Major League Debut ETA: Never
Major League Comparison: None
Injury Concern Level: 1.0

32..Toronto Trail of Tears -Vin Gomez $1,100,000 Bonus ***
A slick fielding, sweet swinging 2B with some serious pop potential. Health concerns could keep him from developing into a staple of a team's lineup. But the potential is there to be a "glue" guy.
Major League Debut ETA: Season 13-14
Major League Comparison: Jayson Werth
Injury Concern Level: 4.0

Compensatory Round
33.Cleveland Redlegs - Todd Dresden $1,000,000 Bonus ****
The Redlegs score a hit with the late selection of argueably the best closer in the draft. The super sophmore right hander is a groundball pitcher with "heavy" stuff. With the right defense behind him we could be looking at a hall of fame type closer.
34.Richmond Sons of Virginia - Ajax Dransfeldt $960,000 Bonus **
A control artist with not much else. Very questionable so early.
35.Tampa Bay Tic-Tacs - Rube Adams $920,000 Bonus ***
A great pick for the overall value this late in the draft. A solid trick pitch right hander from UNC. He won't blow you away but he'll do enough to get you out on a consistent basis. Could be a future all star with some coaching.
36.Portland Rainmakers - Roy Lansing $880,000 Bonus **
A solid defensive OF capable of playing multiple positions, more of a tweener than having a true role. Brings a decent skillset to the plate but lacks patience to mature into a true hitter.
37.Los Angeles Dodgers - Russell Griffey $840,000 Bonus ***
A very polished player who shows great patience and poise on the mound. Gritty as well as durable but while he will be a solid reliever at the next level the question is can he be really effective because he does alot of things well when he's not great at any one thing.
38.Vancouver Muffdivers - Marc Risley $800,000 Bonus **
A very sound and polished defensive OF with great speed and base running ability. Doesn't offer much as a hitter aside from bunting. Could make the majors as a backup defensive specialist.
39.Florida Villians - Henry Grace $760,000 Bonus ***
A defensive wizard in centerfield. Shows an above average arm and is adept enough at the plate to be a solid OF in the bigs or possibly even a 2B.

Star Ranking System & potential
***** - Hall Of Famer
**** - Perennial All Star
*** - Solid Major League Contributor
** - AAAA Type
* - Minor League Roster Fodder

Health Concern
5.0 - 0-44 Severe health issues. Potentially projection affecting.
4.0 - 45-59 Very serious health concerns with DL trips likely mutiple times during a season.
3.0 - 60-74 Average health but nothing that should be woefully alarming.
2.0 - 75-89 Solid health and shouldn't make many trips to the DL
1.0 - 90-100 Outstanding health with injuries few and far between. Not likely to be severely injured.

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I now know why

You know one of the things that peeved me the most when i first started playing HBD. It was when a GM said "i refuse to trade with..."

I'm not really sure why it always bugged me to here another GM say that, maybe it was my thinking that you should never close off trading with someone cause out of 31 other teams in the league your gonna have to make a trade with just about all of them eventually.

I would always say to myself "that is so dumb." But now i've found myself having those same sorts of thoughts.

In fact in another league i'm in I actually have a mental note of 5-6 GM's who i will flat out not trade with. Regardless of the player involved i always either tell them no thanks or drag out talks til they find another team to deal with.

Why you ask? Because i've come to realize that there are several things that will cause me to think this way.

1.Ridiculous demands or Putting down of other players
Constantly demanding a fortune for you players but refusing to deal players of value for other franchises players of the same or better level. I especially can't stand it if a GM says "well he's 30 so i'm not gonna trade this prospect/player for him"
2.Dragging out a decision on an offer.
I cannot stand making an offer to a team and then having them say they are thinking about it, will get back to you or "weighing multiple offers" then it takes them 2-3 days to get back to you.
It grates my nerves and quite frankly it doesn't take more than a few hours to determine what you want for a player.
3.Inter-divisional Rival
I have only recently given into this train of thought but it makes good sense. Why deal with a team in your division that even though it might help you now could come back to haunt you in a season or 2.
4.Owner i cannot stand
No reason to even explain this one.

Now i'm not at all saying that the thought process is not inherently flawed but i do now understand why it is said so frequently in the HBD realm.

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Value Of The Draft

After careful study as well as a few painful trial and errors, This GM has come to a important conclusion. The value of the draft towards ensuring a franchise's long term success can be summed up in just one word... crucial.

Main Entry:

cru·cial

Pronunciation:

\ˈkrü-shəl\

Function: adjective

Etymology: French, from Latin cruc-, crux cross

Date: 1706

1archaic : cruciform2 a: important or essential as resolving a crisis : decisive crucial step> b: marked by final determination of a doubtful issue crucial game of a series> c: important , significant crucial question — Stanley Kubrick>


One word but key to a truly successful franchise. Not just in a figurative sense but in a literal one as well.
If you can draft well and i don't mean simply having a top 5 pick and landing a stud player.
You have to poor money into scouting, sink time into ranking your prospects & make sure they are signable. A wasted pick can be more harmful than one might think.

The first 5 draft choices you make in every draft will determine your ability to either make trades to improve the club in the present or hold onto the talent so that you can have a vast number of choices for your ML club in the future.

Why are the first 5 draft picks so important you ask? Because it shows your ability to not only scout talent but to mine it out of the later rounds. What good will it do a franchise to have the #1 pick in every round if they draft a stud in the first round and completely drop the ball in the next 24-25(depending upon compensation picks) That would mean that the club had roughly picks number 1, 43, 75, 107 & 139.

Wasting a top 75 pick is beyond foolish to begin with. A high second round draft choice is sometimes just as valuable as a first round selection in the early to mid 20's.

Not every team sees the same draft pool due to scouting budgets, also not every team ranks the pool the same way. 10 GM's might see the exact same pool with the same projections but 10 people will likely always have 10 different opinions upon how to ascertain the value of a player.

Some seek the closest to becoming a major leaguer, others prefer taking a stab at selecting the player with the highest ceiling. With so many unknowns it is vital that a GM does his homework in the draft. It could be the difference between a disappointing season or a world series championship.

Let us also not forget that philosophy plays a huge role in the draft rankings as well.
There are some GM's who's stance is that a closer should never be your first round pick, other who are in the NL and refuse to draft a DH type because they could never be used in a ML capacity and there are others still who have even more variations of "non draftable".

There is simply too much talent floating around every season in the draft to haphazardly give away compensation picks for "so-so" and fringe players.

I have even taken a close look at my own draft history and sure enough when i have had a strong first 5 picks and mined that talent out it has allowed me to pull off trades, allow them to develop and become a part of my ML squad and has simply made the franchise more valuable.

It's alot better to be bugged constantly about your nice prospects sitting in the minors than it is to go to make a trade and to be told "i'm not seeing much there, sorry" .

What you do is up to you but this GM plans to take the draft much more seriously in the future.

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