early 2007 depth question

[DHonks]

I was just looking at Brewerfan.net's handy-dandy players' salaries page, and I can't help but notice that Lee, Ohka, and Kolb are potential free agents. With draft compensation still a part of the CBA (although a new one to be negotiated by December), there's the possibility that all three could leave through free agency. With good years, it'd seem likely that all three would be offered arbitration, but get lucrative multi-year deals elsewhere. Lee is obviously a type A, Ohka likely a type B or A, and Kolb could easily be a type B or A with a strong season.

 

So if my math is correct, that means that if the others signed elsewhere, that would be a minimum of 4 extra picks, and the possibility of as many as extra picks. Assuming the Brewers wouldn't go budget picks like the A's did in the famed Moneyball draft, I was just wondering what the early indications are for the 2007 June Draft. Is it shaping up to be pitcher/hitter friendly? Are there any fast-risers (Zimmerman, Drew, Verlander, Street come to mind recently)? Is there enough depth that we could potentially having a draft to build a tremendous amount of depth?

 

I'm sure you've thought of this Colby, hence why I ask

[Southwest Brewer]

Regarding Kolb going FA: If he wants to leave again, let him. Working with Maddox seems to help him a lot and we've seen what he did when he left and had a high pressure position. I think he settles in and gets comfortable in Milwaukee for a reasonable contract or leaves and flounders again. If we get extra picks for him leaving, gobble up'dem extra picks.

 

Having Kolb and Wise before Turnbow on top of our 5 starters and the other pen guys is the best situation I can remember us being for pitching in my days as a brewer fan.

 

Ohka: I think he's solid, but replacable and possibly tradable if we have a replacement that we have a lot of confidence in. Though if we're smoking hot going into the deadline, I don't want to trade him....unless of course Roger Clemens is coming to town (or according to ESPNews, Johan Santana http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif )

 

Lee: I'll trust whatever Melvin does. Too early to say with such a great player. It's a bad thing to get to attached to wanting a player...he has a high value, but Melvin won't give more than he's worth.

 

IN DOUG WE TRUST

[colbyjack]

DHonks, I actually took a sneak peak at the '07 draft in my Crack of the Bat column last week, at least some of the groupings from the college crop (in other words, good timing http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif ):

 

Crack of the Bat: College draft class of '07

 

I've mentioned David Price a few times now, and the other players discussed in that column really should make next year's talent on the top (which always improves the depth) pretty special (2005, 2003 and 2001 special).

 

The high school depth always takes longer to establish itself, but John Tolisano would easily be the best prep infielder in the '06 class if he were available, while Robert Stock has touched 95 off the mound with a killer curveball and has drawn comparisons to Joe Mauer as a left-handed hitting catcher. Michael Main is an incredible athlete.

[DHonks]

thanks Colby, I'll check it out later tonight.

 

Also, just noticing the link report, and I was wondering if Ned Yost still catches. I assumed last year he wasn't catching for the Crew because he'd been coming off injuries. When he was in college, was he considered an offense-first catcher?

[pogokat]

when he was catching at georgia he couldn't hit or field...

 

I would say ned is the third string catcher maybe for WV...maybe even behind holmberg...

[hauser42]

I saw young Yost play in the Northwest League couple of years ago. He seemed average with the bat, and it is a wood bat league. He was not anything great behind the plate. He seems like your normal hardworking player with limited skills.

 

One thing that stood out from the games I watched is that you could tell he was a smart player. There were better athletes on the team but at times put themselve ahead of the team.