Draft Pick Discussion Thread, Rounds 1-5

[Never Outhustled]

The Brewers are up here in a few picks for round 3. I think it was Geotite who wanted Chad Jones, and I think he's still left. He has the big upside Jack Z likes, hopefully they'll do it.

[dpapo]

Has Matt Harvey been picked yet. If not, a high school right handed pitcher would be right up Jack Z. alley.

[BucEbadger]

Harvey and Russell both are still on the board

[homer]

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/05/21/Xpdt2c9K.jpg

 

Jonathan Lucroy, C, U Louisiana Lafayette

 

Hitting Ability: Lucroy has an average bat with a line-drive stroke.

Power: While more of a line-drive hitter, he does have some raw power and should have average power in the future. He's got very strong hands.

Running Speed: He's a below-average runner, but isn't bad for a catcher.

Arm Strength: He's got an above-average arm.

Fielding: Lucroy is an excellent receiver with good defensive skills across the board.

Physical Description: As a strong backstop, Lucroy reminds some of Michael Barrett or Mike Lieberthal.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: Good line-drive stroke, excellent defensive skills behind the plate and natural leadership ability.

Weaknesses: How much power he actually has will determine just how bright his future is .

Summary: Lucroy is a pretty good, if lesser-known, all-around catching prospect. He has a good line-drive stroke and has the chance to hit for average with some pop. Defensively, he is a natural leader who throws extremely well. Those who look for college catching in this draft should surely take a look at Lucroy.

[pogokat]

hey, a catcher in the third round isn't bad...this guy seems to be pretty good all around...i like it...not terribly exciting, but a good pick i think

[Giraldo8]

Just wanted to say I love the pick. Fast Track him Doug

 

 

I really wanna see the Brewers stockpile young high school pitchers in rounds 4-6

[BucEbadger]

Woundering if Jack is gonna stock up on position players this year early on and take college arms later on??

[EdgarDiazRocks]

Lucroy reminds some of Michael Barrett

 

Lets get the pitchers some head gear and keep a clean fight.

[Never Outhustled]

BA had Lucroy #72, so he's a pretty good bargain here at 101. He was the #1 prospect in the Florida Collegiate Summer League, a wood bat league.

[PeaveyFury]

Minorleaguebaseball.com summary of Lucroy:

 

"Lucroy is a pretty good, if lesser-known, all-around catching prospect. He has a good line-drive stroke and has the chance to hit for average with some pop. Defensively, he is a natural leader who throws extremely well. Those who look for college catching in this draft should surely take a look at Lucroy."

[DHonks]

Nice, typical Jack Z. picks so far. It's likely that in the next 7 rounds we'll see a high school SS, a 3b, an athletic CF, and a whole bunch of pitchers fairly evenly distributed between HS, JuCo, and College. He always seems to take an athletic CF and a HS SS in the first few rounds.

[iluvlamp]

I guess Laporte will not catchhttp://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Oldcity]

Three college hitters in the first three picks. Nice.

 

Just to clarify, the fourth round pick (third overall) is Eric Farris, second baseman, Loyola Merrimount University.

[pogokat]

farris seems to be in the luis castillo mold..high average second baseman with lots of stolen bases...

[Boy Jeenius]

Well, if you send alot of college players to Helena, you've got a good chance to really compete in that league again, as there are a couple of teams that use that league instead of Arizona for their HS kids. LaPorta will not go there, but your DFE's and these picks in 3 and 4 already give that team a college flavor.

[brettac1]

It would seem that the college hitters are being undervalued, at least in Jack Z.'s mind.

[PeaveyFury]

They certainly seem to be taking a system where with Braun now in Milwaukee it's Angel Salome and some guys in West Virginia for position prospects and adding some polished college bats to instantly infuse talent into that side of the system.

[iluvlamp]

LuCroy looks like the bassist from Green Day.

[SheetsCyYoung04]

Huh, Sean Morgan went in Round 4, are Pryor or Bauman expected to go in this draft?

[Tbadder]

I really liked the catcher and 2nd baseman. Line drive hitters, self-made, who take it upon themselves to improve. I love that both feel totally at home with wooden bats.

 

I didn't like the first rounder. He seems like a bit of a stiff. My guess is that they really wanted a college pitcher here, but got beat to the punch. I must say that I'm neither a Carlos Lee fan or a Kevin Mench fan, and I think that's what the Brewers got if he turns out or he fails. A guy who was initally a catcher, moved to first base, and then to leftfield? They better hope Darren Ford is the next Tris Speaker because he's gonna have to cover a field and a half.

 

I'm sure I'm going to be wrong given Mr. Z's track record, but this one doesn't make me happy at all.

 

I assume this means the end of Jenkins, especially if he's fast tracked. If he's wildly good, and makes the big jump, they might not pick up the team option for next year, saving themselves, what? Seven mil or so.

 

Let the slings and arrows commence!

[brettac1]

They certainly seem to be taking a system where with Braun now in Milwaukee it's Angel Salome and some guys in West Virginia for position prospects and adding some polished college bats to instantly infuse talent into that side of the system.

 

Yeah, graduation has obviously thinned out the position player prospects, but I don't think Jack Z.'s drafting on need. I'm not nuts about Farris, but the LuCroy pick is excellent in my eyes.

[Tbadder]

Oops..I woulda picked Heyward for the record.

[Bambis Bombers]

Jack Z claims his first HS player: CF Caleb Gindl of Pace HS (FL)

 

From Scout.com

 

As a junior, Caleb batted .453 with 7 home runs and 43 RBI. He also pitched in relief, showing a fastball that topped out at 93 miles per hour. For his efforts, he was selected 5A first-team All-State as well as being selected Offensive Player-of-the-Year in his area.

 

During the summer of 2006, he was chosen by Major League Baseball scouts to play on the 20-man southeast team that played at the East Coast Professional Showcase.

 

Caleb is being recruited by Auburn (offer), Troy (offer), LSU (offer), Clemson, Army, Ole Miss, Alabama, Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Tulane, Mercer and Boston College.

[Cyanogen5]

Odd that we haven't taken a pitcher yet.

[PeaveyFury]

They've taken three players with some leverage in a row here- two juniors and a HS guy that is being pursued by much of the SEC.

 

A guy like Lucroy is going to take some serious cash to sign as a 3rd rounder.