Draft Pick Discussion Thread, Rounds 1-5

[FVBrewerFan]

So, let's see if I can summarize the complaints...

 

1) A big power guy with a slow,long swing.

 

This is not the 80s amd 90s. Do you really believe Melvin and Jack Z would have drafted this kid if he's just a big lumbering Billy Joe Robidoux type? You need to have more faith that that, you can bet they studied his swing plenty.

 

2) Bad defense.

 

Yes, like Weeks, Fielder, Hart, and just about everyone else drafted recently not named J.J. Hardy.

 

3) Plays the same position as Prince.

 

Even if he does, so what?!?! It's a bad problem to have another .900 OPS guy sitting in AAA two years from now? Wouldn't that be nice insurance if Prince can't be re-signed? Besides, it sounds like he'll be a LF. It's not much of a stretch to take someone with even decent athletic ability and make them a serviceable defensive player.

[Brian the Automator]

He majored in Recreation and Event Management. That's awesome.

[Never Outhustled]

Interesting. The Brewers are in need of a backup outfielder who can hit right-handed and come off the bench. How much of an insane reach would it be to call him up in Sept?

 

Thats a really intriguieng idea Brian. Its even more likely if Laportas deal includes a major league contract. The Brewers have plenty of 40 man roster space to give a major league deal, and they did give 1 to Weeks. If a major league deal allows the Brewers to get Laporta under slot, its worth it.

[Brian the Automator]

Laporta really doesn't have the leverage to be guaranteed a 40-man spot, but given the lack of players who can swing the right-handed stick on the 25-man roster, what the hay.

[splitterpfj]

This could be fun in future years when the Cubs come to town...they drafted LaPorta out of high school.

[Herm]

One basic premise of Moneyball is to look hard at areas that are being undervalued or overlooked by traditional or prevailing norms. College seniors are often perceived as being sloppy seconds because if they were top tier they'd have come out as a junior.

[EdgarDiazRocks]

I like the pick quite a bit because it addresses the organization's biggest need which I brought up a few days ago: Power.

 

How is he different than Errecart?

 

I see this as a no risk budget pick. Either he signs for slot and becomes a trade/depth asset, or we get another pick next year higher than where we would normally pick (hopefully).

 

One basic premise of Moneyball is to look hard at areas that are being undervalued or overlooked by traditional or prevailing norms. College seniors are often perceived as being sloppy seconds because if they were top tier they'd have come out as a junior.

 

Actually they are viewed as easy signs because they have less leverage.

[ccbrew]

He majored in Recreation and Event Management.

 

Sweet. If he doesn't pan out as a baseball player he could always help out at Helfaer Field events or be a or a sausage racer extraordinaire. Seriously though, what does one expect to do with that degree other than 'professional athlete'?

 

With regards to the pick, I'm not even going to pretend that I've been following all of these prospects but I know that the brain trust has done their homework, so I'm fine with the selection.

[PKBadger]

If he can equal Carlos Lee's speed and athleticism in LF, then I applaud the pick. Somehow that doesn't seem to be too difficult.

[geothite]

I just got from the dentist and saw this pick.

I absolutely hate it.

This guy can barely play 1B. He is natural DH.

[Lil Dummy]

"If he doesn't finish next year hitting well at AA, he'll already start to be a disappointment."

 

If he finishes next year at AA, THAT will be disappointing. I don't know enough about this kid to comment specifically, but I do like drafting a college senior who can mash, assuming he's not a huge liability in left field.

[colbyjack]

This guy can barely play 1B. He is natural DH.

 

I have seen LaPorta play more than a dozen times over the last two years, and he can play 1B, no problem. He's not a future DH like many places will lead you to believe. He's athletic enough that to enter the spring of 2006 there were some rumblings about teams possibly trying him at 3B or even behind the plate. Having him move to LF is hardly a stretch, and his bat should make people forget about his glove.

[geothite]

The Problem is that he hasn't really progressed as a hitter since his sophmore season.

[BillScottCanRake]

Interesting. The Brewers are in need of a backup outfielder who can hit right-handed and come off the bench. How much of an insane reach would it be to call him up in Sept?

 

If he can contribute to the Major League club this year, how can you not like the pick?

[brettac1]

I just got home from work and have to say that I am absolutely thrilled with the LaPorta pick.

[PKBadger]

Quote:

---

The Problem is that he hasn't really progressed as a hitter since his sophmore season.

---

 

 

His OPS was 263 points higher and he cut his strikeouts. How else can he progress?

[dinger12]

I think once we move laporta into Left Field and stick him behind Prince for the next 10 years. A future lineup of

 

RF Hart

SS Hardy

3B Braun

1B Fielder

LF LaPorta

CF Hall

C Estrada

2B Weeks

P

[DrugBust]

Quote:

---

The Problem is that he hasn't really progressed as a hitter since his sophmore season.

---

 

That supposed to be in blue?

 

He hit 26 HRs, slugged .698 and drove in 79 as a Sophomore.

 

It's pretty hard to progress from there.

[rluzinski]

This guy can barely play 1B. He is natural DH.

 

Is there video of him playing 1B out there somewhere?

[PKBadger]

Dinger, you and I think alike. The only thing that worries me is that Fielder is the only LH hitter (besides the switch-hitting Estrada). Can an MLB team thrive with that many RH hitters? I'm willing to roll the dice and say "yes", but it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[qrk10000]

.402/20/52/2 in 52 games

55/16 BB/K

.582 OBP

.817 SLG

 

.991 fielding percentage

 

Overall college rankings:

 

#1 in OBP

#5 in SLG

#2 in OPS

#9 in HR

#9 in BB

 

Those are impressive numbers. I hope this pick works out. I certainly will not judge him until he has had a chance to play.

[Robideaux]

Quote:

---

The Problem is that he hasn't really progressed as a hitter since his sophmore season.

---

 

Not to pile on, but I think based solely on the numbers, that assertion just isn't accurate.

 

BA/OB/SLG

 

So: .328/.438/.698

Jr : .259/.410/.538

Sr: .402/.582/.817

 

Strike Outs

So: 65

Jr: 34

Sr: 16

[brewmann04]

what postion Is Cole Gillespie playing now Right or Left.

 

i can"t say if it a good or bad pick i just put my trust in Jack Z.

[homer]

And just to reiterate, he was hurt his junior year.

[dinger12]

Does Angel bat L or R, because if he is eventually up here, Prince could be the only lefty.

 

And wow, how many Aces do the Tigers need?