Written by Greg Fertel
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07 June 2007
2:05 PM, EJ: This is going to be a fun day... but why did ESPN have to bring in Steve Phillips? Why...
That draft room looks a lot more empty than it should.
2:16 PM, EJ: Of course, Tampa was on the clock for 5 minutes for a pick they knew they were taking three weeks ago. Now that Price is taken, it should get interesting.
2:23 PM, EJ: The Royals take Moustakas at #2. Talk about a rise in the kid's draft status. The Cubs will probably take Vitters at #3.
2:27 PM, Eric: The Cubs take high school 3b Josh Vitters at #3, who has been called the best high school hitter available. It was rumored that the Cubs had a deal in place with prep arm Jarrod Parker, but when the Royals took Moustakas instead of Vitters, the Cubs jumped on the guy they wanted.
2:32 PM, EJ: Moskos? Wow, there have to be some signability concerns here, because he's not a 4th overall guy. Moskos is a safe lefty pick who should be in the bigs soon, but don't expect him to win any Cy Youngs. It's not like the Pirates don't have the young pitching at the major league level right now.
2:37 PM, Eric: The Orioles used the #5 pick on catcher Matt Wieters from Georgia Tech. Wieters, a switch-hitter with power, is a bit of a surprise pick here because Baltimore has never taken a Boras client before. Wieters could be an expensive sign, as Boras is reportedly asking for Teixeira money for him. Was hoping he would fall more, Wieters is a good pick for the Orioles
2:42 PM, Eric: The Nationals drafted Missouri State LHP Ross Detwiler with the #6 pick. The 3rd lefty in the top 5, Detwiler is a nice, safe pick, and was taken about where he was projected
2:47 PM, Eric: Another surprise at #7, as the Brewers, despite the presence of budding all-star Prince Fielder at first base, drafted slugging 1b Matt LaPorta from Florida. This is a huge surprise, considering first base is already taken. It might be a signability pick because he is a senior, but he is represented by Boras. They must be thinking about moving LaPorta to the outfield, because otherwise this pick makes no sense. I was hoping he would fall to the Yankees, and am surprised he was overdrafted here.
2:54 PM, EJ: What the hell are the Rockies thinking? Casey Weathers, a closer at #8? Such a terrible pick. How often do these 1st round relievers work out? The Rockies had been drafting great lately, but this is a big departure. I'd be unhappy picking Weathers at #30, let alone #8. Why are teams being so conservative?
2:58 PM, Eric: With the #9 pick, the Diamondbacks selected high school RHP Jarrod Parker. While Parker is a little shorter than some of the other top high school pitchers, he has some of the best stuff in the draft, and has been compared to a right-handed Scott Kazmir. He has a mid-90's fastball and solid secondary offerings. A great pick by Arizona, as he is signable with great upside. Porcello is still around, so keep praying.
3:04 PM, Eric: Another slight surprise at #10, as the Giants select power high school lefty Madison Bumgarner. He is somewhat of a project, as he has undeveloped secondary pitches, but there aren't many lefties with mid-90's heat like he throws. If he develops as planned, he could be part of a scary rotation with Lincecum, Cain and Zito. I was expecting a high school hitter like Dominguez or Heyward, but clearly this draft has not cooperated with my predictions so far.
3:10 PM, EJ: The Mariners take Aumont. He's got some serious talent, but didn't play in a high school league in Canada (because one did not exist near him) and only pitched showcases. He's a high risk guy, and so far no one has wanted to take a risk in this draft. Good pick by Seattle.
3:15 PM, Eric: Marlins take 3b Matt Dominguez at #12, a high school teammate of #2 pick Moustakas. Dominguez is a great athlete with great hitting talent, and was not a surprising pick here. He is very polished, and he has been compared to Ryan Zimmerman, and has enough fielding ability to stay at 3rd.
3:21 PM, EJ: Cleveland takes Beau Mills. That's a solid pick by Cleveland. Every time a position player is picked, it helps our chances of getting Porcello. Mills will be hitting home runs on the Indians before we know it.
3:26 PM, Eric: The Braves take HS outfielder Jason Heyward with the 14th pick. This selection made too much sense not to happen, as the Braves love taking kids from Georgia. Heyward is an athletic outfielder who profiles at a corner, and he has impressive power potential. He is compared to Fred McGriff and Willie McCovey, and has one of the highest ceilings in the draft.
3:32 PM, EJ: Mesoraco went to the Reds. He's a legit prospect, but tended to get more press for coming from Punxsutawney than his skills. Keep the position players coming! I want Porcello! Mesocraco is also expected to be an easy, slot-level sign, so the trend continues.
3:37 PM, Eric: Toronto took high school SS/3b Kevin Ahrens with the 16th pick. Ahrens has good potential with the bat, and will probably be a 3rd baseman in the pros. A solid pick, but not too surprising. Texas could make a Boras pick. Another positon player taken, which increases the chance of Porcello or Harvey dropping.
3:42 PM, EJ: Texas takes their Texas boy, Blake Beavan. He's a fairly typical, mid-1st round high school pitcher. There were some better options ahead of him, but he's still a solid pick. He's a big tall guy who generates a lot of sink on his 95 mph fastball. He's pretty raw. And ESPN starts to mention Porcello... and says that the Cards might take him.
3:47 PM, Eric: The Cardinals take the top high school shortstop available in Pete Kozma, who is solid in all 5 tools, but does not have any exceptional tool. He is also small at 6'1" 180 lb, and doesn't seem like a great pick at #18. This seems like a bit of a reach, but was probably a signability pick, and perhaps St. Louis sees more in him than most scouts do.
3:53 PM, EJ: Great pick by the Phillies with Joe Savery. Another lefty! Savery is a big time athlete with a low 90s, high 80s fastball and a nice easy motion. The Phillies stuck their neck out with this pick, because he was projected late 1st round, early supplemental round instead of in the teens. Still, I think it will work out for them. Another step toward Porcello falling to us...
3:58 PM, Eric: The usually shrewd Dodgers organization surprised me here, reaching for high school righty Chris Withrow. I don't know much about Withrow, but I have not heard him projected consistently as a first-rounder. Porcello and Harvey are still there, and hopefully one will fall.
4:03 PM, Eric: With the #21 pick, Toronto selected catcher JP Arencibia, another safe pick who was on my board. This is a sensible, signable pick, although there are questions about JP's defense. He is a power bat who was hurt this season, but has good upside to be an above-average hitting catcher. The Jays were reportedly looking for a catcher, so Arencibia makes a lot of sense here. Up next, Giants pick #2 at 22.
4:08 PM, Eric: With the #22 pick, the Giants selected high school RHP Tim Alderson. A tall (6'7) righty with good command and an unorthodox delivery, Alderson will be signable. This was a guy that Detroit was reportedly interested in, so this decreases the chances of Porcello falling.
4:15 PM, Eric: With the 23rd pick, San Diego selects polished college lefty Nick Schmidt. Schmidt does not have tremendous upside, but has been compared to Andy Pettitte, and is a safe, signable pick.
4:20 PM, Eric: The Texas Rangers select Michael Main with the #24 pick, their second of this round. Main is a very athletic high schooler who is a talented pitcher and a potential 5 tool outfielder. He has a big fastball, but his small frame could cause Texas to move him to outfield, a possibility considering they took Beaven already. Main is a good, signable pick who was expected to go around here. Up next, Chicago. Some top high school arm are still left, including Porcello, Harvey and Josh Smoker.
4:25 PM, Eric: With the 25th pick in the first round, the Chicago White Sox select LHP Aaron Pareda from the University of San Francisco, a hard-throwing lefty with solid control. He has a big body (6'6 240) and should be durable. He has some good upside for a pick this late in the round, but another possible suitor for Porcello is gone.
4:30 PM, Eric: I expect Oakland to take a college guy here at #26. With the 26th selection, Oakland take RHP James Simmons from UC Riverside. A hard-throwing righty, Simmons is a good pick for Oakland here. Detroit is on the clock here, with Porcello in the balance. I'm getting nervous.
4:33 PM, Eric: A crucial pick here, and Detroit could go with a high school pitcher. Josh Smoker is a lefty, and the most signable but has the lowest ceiling. Porcello and Harvey both have high upsides, but as Boras clients, will be expensive signs. If they don't go pitcher, they could go for OF Julio Borbon or perhaps in another direction.
4:35 PM, Eric: The rich get richer, as Detroit nabs Porcello at #27. Porcello is compared to Verlander, so it's fitting they are on the same team. Porcello is the top pitcher available, and is polished with a high ceiling, considered the best high school arm since Beckett. I'm having nightmares of a Verlander, Bonderman, Miller, Porcello rotation in the future. Hopefully they can't sign him, but I bet they will. Damn! 2 years in a row, Detroit drafts a top pitcher who drops. I guess we have to hope for Harvey or Brackman now. I'm guessing the Yanks will get Harvey at #30.
4:40 PM, Eric: With the #28 pick, the Twins select HS outfielder Ben Revere, a big reach. I don't know much about Revere, but he is small at 5'9" with exceptional speed. Up next, San Francisco at 29, who will probably take a hitter. I'm feeling Julio Borbon here.
4:45 PM, Eric: With the #29 pick and their 3rd of the first round, San Francisco takes high school OF Wendell Fairley. Fairley is a 2-sport athlete (football as well) who has great speed and a high ceiling.
4:47 PM, Eric: The Yankees have choices here at #30. They could take high school arms Harvey (a righty) or Smoker (a lefty). They could take speedy college outfielder Julio Borbon, or roll the dice on the risky pitcher
Andrew Brackman. I'm hoping for Harvey here. Come on Cash, make the right pick.
4:50 PM, Eric: Finally, the moment you've all been waiting for. With the 30th pick in the draft, the Yankees select RHP Andrew Brackman. There are questions about his health (especially his elbow), but when healthy, the 6'10" former basketball player can hit 99 with his fastball and has a good curveball. If healthy, I believe Nardi Contreras can turn him into a monster. He could also be a great closer if starting doesn't work out. He was a top 5 talent who dropped because of signability, and I'm fine with this pick. It means that Harvey must have been a very tough sign, and hopefully he'll go to UNC (or else fall to the Yanks in another round. I'm excited about Brackman, and hope he gets healthy.
Allright, so that's the end of the 1st round. I'm not going to liveblog every pick, but I will talk about selections of players that are interesting or picks that I have been hoping for the Yankees.
