BA: Draft Report Cards

[colbyjack]

It's draft report card season at Baseball America, and they kick it off today with their general overview, ranking the best players/tools/debuts among the 2008 draftees. Brett Lawrie got some love (link for subscribers only):

 

http://www.baseballameric...aft-dish/2008/267079.html

 

5th best power hitter

4th closest to the majors among HS players

4th most intriguing background, non-baseball relative division

 

Cutter Dykstra had the 4th most intriguing background in the baseball relative division.

 

BA also broke down what each team spent towards signing their draftees. The Brewers finished sixth by dropping more than $8 million, almost double what they spent in 2007. All of the teams that spent more than the Brewers outside of the Red Sox (who have been spending crazy amounts of money on draft picks in recent years) were among those that had the single biggest bonuses handed out to players (Rays/Beckham, Pirates/Alvarez, Royals/Hosmer/Melville, Giants/Posey).

 

Again, the link is for subscribers only:

 

http://www.baseballameric...aft-dish/2008/267078.html

[colbyjack]

Here's the schedule. The Brewers and the rest of the NL Central are up on the 29th:

 

http://www.baseballameric...aft-dish/2008/267081.html

[colbyjack]

The NL Central is up today, and Brett Lawrie got the homepage picture nod...(link below for full Brewers report card for subscribers only). With all due respect to John Manuel, who compiled the Brewers list (and most of the NL IIRC), these report cards don't seem as thorough as they used to be.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/images/blawrie08428309bm.jpg

 

http://www.baseballameric...aft-dish/2008/267103.html

 

If you have followed the picks, including the scouting reports in the official selection/signing thread, I don't think any of the reports will be all that surprising. Carlos George was called the best late-round pick, praising his glove while noting he has the potential at the plate to get a lot better.

[vannzee]

Man, I wish I was a member to read the report cards. I cant afford a suscribtion right now however. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif

[colbyjack]

vannzee52, if you go to Barnes and Noble or some other bookstore, you should be able to pick up a print copy of BA that has the draft report cards. It may be worth your money, as CC Sabathia is on the cover as he was named BA's player of the year. I don't know how much an individual issue costs, since I've been a subscriber for roughly a decade, but I'm guessing it's $4-6.

 

Or, go to BA's site and request a free sample issue and keep your fingers crossed that you get that issue http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

 

In BA's draft report card chat on Friday, John Manuel was very complimentary of the Brewers draft effort, with props to Jack Z. on his last draft sharing support for Lawrie and Odorizzi in particular. Manuel has kept tabs on the Brewers more closely than most national columnists, having written the team's top prospect list and handling the chat responsibilities a few years ago in place of Tom Haudricourt.

[brewerguy71]

The full year print edition is pretty expensive, but you do get a free book out of it. Includes something like 38 issues. Runs around $80 per year or so. Its pretty steep, but worth it if you are really into the prospects angle of the game. I actually save them all, got about 3 years worth saved in a pile, and look at them periodically.