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Joined: Mon Jul 11, 2011 11:14 am
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Favorite Team: Rays
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2010 Rookie Draft
Country Picks
1. Cornejo 3b (EDEDFE)
Comments: analysts agree that he was the best position player available, and should have been selected earlier. He showed promise at the plate against college pitchers, and while he is not as athletic as the Country normally prefer, if he does not stick as a 3b, he probably can be a serviceable player at any position other than SS, 2b, and CF.
2. Giron (94 EC(92) SL – two, CB – two)
Comments: a solid pick at the end of the draft, the Country clearly stressed fastball mph again, as they did last year when they selected Pettyjohn and Uchiyama, who both entered the draft throwing 95. Giron is not expected to vie for a starting position, but should develop his slider and curve to be a serviceable reliever next season, and if he develops an effective 3rd pitch, could become a valuable late-inning reliever. Judging from the Country's last 2 spring trainings, a vertical slider, shuuto, or screwball are the pitches most likely to be promoted.
Top 3 Draft Picks
1. Texas Rangers Airoso RF(EEDEEE, Spark plug)
Comments: most analysts were disappointed with this pick. While Airoso has good quickness and is a well-rounded player, there were better players on the board, and a player should generally have 2 or 3 D ratings to be a #1 pick. In addition, this was not a "need" pick, as the Rangers have 2 solid RFs (Milton Bradley and Randy Winn) under contact for another 4 years. Analysts wonder if this is the Ranger's initial step in shedding payroll by trading one of their veterans, each earning over $4 million/season. If so, the move makes more sense, as the Rangers do not have a glaring need at any particular position and generally have a need for minor league depth, as Airoso becomes the Rangers' only minor league OF. Still, the Rangers also have no minor league SS or 2b, and likely could have found more advanced players at those positions.
2. Kansas City Royals Vosburg CF (FFEEDE)
Comments: like Airoso, the Royals did not choose the best player available. While
Vosburg may become a serviceable backup, he has not shown the potential for anyone to expect him to do enough with the bat to warrant becoming a starter. This pick also confuses pundits in light of the Royals' recent activity in center, striking a trade with the Rangers last year that brought in power-hitting young CF Josh Hamilton, who was earning the league minimum, but was apparently unable to beat out incumbent Joey Gaithright. Still, Hamilton was light years ahead of Vosberg and was only earning slightly more than what the Royals are paying Vosburg. Considering that the Royals had 2 CFs on their roster and have no backup SS or 2b makes this pick even more of a "head scratcher."
3. San Diego Padres Smitherman P (89 EB SL – two, CB – two, SLV – two)
Comments: Smitherman has the best stamina of any pitcher in this year's draft. Proponents argue that the Padres received a polished pitcher who can step in as a back-end starter right away, while critics say that it was too early in the draft to pick a pitcher. Regardless, this pick satisfies a need for pitching depth, as Smitherman gives the Padres a 6th pitcher with level B stamina
Consensus best position players
Diamondbacks: Dunwoodie C (EEFDED, good blocker)
Comments: at least the 2nd best defensive catcher in the draft (one other catcher has lower defensive ratings but "great catcher" ability), he was one of the top players in terms of being well-rounded on offense and defense. Moves well behind the plate and should be able to develop into a serviceable 7-9 batter. People who question this move do so only because the Diamondbacks selected a similar-type catcher in last year's draft, Damico (EFEDED, good blocker)
Brewers: Rolls SS (EEED(9)D(9)D)
Comments: Already a decent player, he should push for a bench spot by year end if he focuses on improving his range and arm strength. Needs to improve his hitting, but most agree that his ticket to the bigs will be punched with his glove, not his bat. With 2 solid players already on the team who can play SS (JJ Hardy (DBDCCD) and Bill Hall (DBBADD)) and no good choice at catcher after the aging Jason Kendall, a young catcher may have been a better choice, although both of the aforementioned SS are in the final year of their contracts while Jason has 3 more seasons after the current one.
Nationals: Aranda 3B (FCGEFF clutch hit four)
Comments: A bat in need of a position, Aranda is listed as a 3b, but has not distinguished himself in the field. Has a 1b arm, but a DH's defensive abilities, making most surprised that he was not picked up by an AL team. The Nationals can allow Aranda to develop into a 3b since they have Ryan Zimmerman at 3rd now, and will probably want to renew Zimm's contract after next season to give Aranda more time. It is not likely that a switch to 1st would help Aranda, as he is unlikely to push Nick Johnson for playing time, and would also be competing against 1b Great Lopez (EDFEFE). Aranda's best way to hit his way into the lineup might be as a LF, with Willy Mo Pena being in the last year of his contract.
Honorable mention: Twins SS Boyd (FD(100)EDD(9)E error prone). This offensively- minded SS might be a superstar if he can limit his errors and develop into the hitter people project him as.
Consensus best pitchers
White Sox: Zap (91 DB(110) CB – 1, FO-2)
Comments: Zap has great stamina and plus speed on his fastball, but his curve needs work. A solid pick who should work his way into the starting lineup next year, or perhaps this year, as he is only the 5th pitcher on the roster with a stamina of B or higher.
Tigers: Inglett (90 DC(105) SL – three, CB – two, FO – two, KN – two)
Comments: a very good slider, an impressive array of pitches, and decent stamina for a rookie. A solid pick. Inglett might make an appearance on the major league roster sooner rather than later since he has the 5th highest stamina of the Tigers pitchers, and with 4 pitchers with A stamina, the Tigers bullpen should be able to come in as of the 4th or 5th innings and take it from there. Inglett's main competition will be with incumbent Rolls (86 DC SL13, CU-1, CB-3, FO-1).
Marlins: Scobie (93 EC(107) CB – one, FO-2)
Comments: Scobie can probably be a long reliever right now, although his breaking pitches need a little refining. Very good stamina and one of the hardest throwers in the draft, Scobie was a solid pick by the Marlins. Scobie is unlikely to appear on the Marlin's major league roster until it expands in September, but considering that the Marlins are deep at almost every position, the Marlins pick likely would not have started, regardless.
Consensus worst 1st pick
Yankees: Ponder 1B (FFGGGF, error-prone)
Comments: He can't hit and he can't field, but his name will work very well in the NY papers when they "ponder" why the Yankees used their pick on someone who cannot play baseball. With 3 other 1b on the team, but only 1 2b and 2 SS (one of whom is Alberto Gonzalez (GFEEEE)), it would have made a lot more sense for them to have taken a poor midfield prospect than a poor 1b prospect.
Cubs: Reichert P (79 ED SL - 1, CB -1)[/color]
Comments: can't break 80 mph on the radar gun, can't fool hitters with his curve or slider, and even if he could, he couldn't do it for more than a few innings. He has the weakest arm on the staff and likely was a wasted pick for a team with a decent number of pitchers. With only one SS on the major or minor league roster, they should've taken a flyer on the best SS available.
Big "winners"
Marlins: in addition to picking up one of the better pitchers from the draft, Scobie, noted above, their initial pick was a serviceable shortstop – Cavazos (FFEDDF). Two decent pics, the second of which (Scobie) will most assuredly be on a major-league roster for a long time
Diamondbacks: in addition to their first pick, catcher Dunwoodie, described above, they got a potentially solid middle reliever with their second round pick, Morgan (90 EC CB – two, FO – three). In addition, they picked up a decent free-agent the day before the draft – the recently released shortstop Burba (DEEEDF spark plug) who still has five years remaining on his rookie contract. A nice haul for Arizona!
The "time will tell" award goes to the Orioles, who picked catcher Hyatt in the first round (GFFDED – great catcher, clutch hit – four) and third baseman Freeze in the second round (FDGEFG). Each have the potential to develop into solid players at their positions if they can get rid of the sizable holes in their current skill-sets.
[I hope you enjoyed this. It was a lot of work, but I enjoyed putting it together]
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