Rounds 6-10: Chapman, Langille, Parillo, DeCarlo, Sollmann

[madbad2000]

Steven Sollmann

 

MEDIUM, STOCKY, GOOD ATHLETIC FRAME. WIDE, SQUARE, STRONG SHOULDERS. WELL TONED TOP DOWN. MATURE LOOK. SIMILAR TO EX-MAJOR LEAGUER CHUCK KNOBLAUCH. MEDIUM WIDTH, OPEN, CROUCH STANCE. SOUND, COMFORTABLE APPROACH. SOLID CONTACT. SPRAYS BALL GAP TO GAP. GOOD HIT & RUN POTENTIAL. SOUND DEFENSIVE TOOLS AT 2B. PLAYABLE ARM W/ CARRY. SURE HANDED INFIELDER. TURNS DP WELL. AGGRESSIVE, INSTINCTS, QUALITY MAKEUP. SOLID DEFENSIVE SKILLS. KNOWS HOW TO USE HIS OFFENSIVE POTENTIAL. TEAM PLAYER W/ GREAT FEEL FOR THE GAME

[bjkrautk]

The BA report on Sollman:

 

Quote:

---

2B Steve Sollmann hit .384-4-40 with 38 stolen bases in 2003, yet was only a 32nd-round pick of the A's. He figures to go 15-20 rounds earlier as a senior, despite hitting .328-2-20 with 16 steals. He spent several weeks on the shelf after a collision in the outfield that left him with a concussion and broken jaw. Sollmann compensates for average tools by being a smart, aggressive player, and his 2-1 walk-strikeout ratio will appeal to teams that emphasize plate discipline.

---

 

Two walks per strikeout? Sounds like a good pick for a tenth rounder. I can hear the Mark Loretta comparisons already.

 

[FYI, I'll be running an errand for about the next half-hour. If anyone else wants to fill in the Baseball America draft reports, go ahead. If not, I can fill in the gaps when I return.]

[colbyjack]

I thought Sollmann would have been an A's or Blue Jays pick. Loretta is a good comparison, atlhough Sollmann doesn't have that kind of versatility.

[nikip43]

I know it takes a lot of upside to climb the ladder to the majors but I can't figure out how guys like Sollmann are so overlooked in drafts. First team All American from some publications with great numbers is definatly a guy I would take a shot at in my organization. I love this pick in the 10th round and hope for the best from Sollmann.

[clancyphile]

Sollman is insurance in case Weeks has to move to the OF or 3B.

[jwaltz]

If you would have told me before the draft Sollmann would last untill the tenth round I would have thought you were crazy. I thought he would have been selected by the sixth or seventh by the A's or Blue Jays. I never imagined he would drop this far. Great pick. I love his walk rate.

[batman]

*Love* him. Academic All-American, too, at Notre Dame. He is like the definition of a Moneyball pick.

 

I'm stoked about this draft, thus far. Obviously Rogers wasn't someone I would have preferred, but Jack Z. and DM have made up for it with some great picks in later rounds. Hopefully they can continue to work their magic.

 

~Bill

[xisxisxis]

Obviously Rogers wasn't someone I would have preferred, but Jack Z. and DM have made up for it with some great picks in later rounds.

 

What makes you think Doug Melvin has anything to do with this draft? I'm a big Jack Z supporter so I'm a little biased, but based on Melvin's track record with the major league roster, I'll give 99.9% of the credit to Jack and 0.01% to Melvin for "existing".

[igor67]

David such positivty from you on draft day is, is well different http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif

[xisxisxis]

David such positivty from you on draft day is, is well different

 

Well I actually like some of the picks the Brewers have made AND we haven't drafted a light hitting CF just because of his father, so what's not to like! http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[batman]

What makes you think Doug Melvin has anything to do with this draft? I'm a big Jack Z supporter so I'm a little biased, but based on Melvin's track record with the major league roster, I'll give 99.9% of the credit to Jack and 0.01% to Melvin for "existing".

 

Melvin didn't fire Jack Z, so he's got to get at least 0.10% of the credit. Add in your 0.01% and he's up to 0.11%... that's worth a mention, isn't it? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

 

~Bill

[EdgarDiazRocks]

Steven Sollmann:

 

SIMILAR TO EX-MAJOR LEAGUER CHUCK KNOBLAUCH.

 

Well hopefully he's considerably less twitchy.

 

Excellent pick.

[batman]

"Stronger DeCarlo Hits High Pitch," Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Byline Shandel Richardson, January 31, 2003

Quote:

---

Derek DeCarlo was days away from pitching in perhaps the biggest game of his young collegiate baseball career.

 

He was set to start Florida International's first game in the NCAA regionals last season. Then the pain started. He had trouble moving his pitching shoulder. It hurt to throw.

 

The soreness took DeCarlo from ace to spectator. He watched from the dugout as FIU's season ended with two consecutive losses.

 

"When you're a pitcher, you want to pitch," DeCarlo said. "That's the thing you do, the only thing you do. These hitters, they can play the field [if they're injured], make a play in the outfield. But I'm a pitcher, and when I can't throw I can't pitch. So it was tough."

 

DeCarlo, a sophomore, hopes an improved training program can prevent a similar ending this season. If so, expect him to rank among the top pitchers in the nation. He was named to the Collegiate Baseball preseason All-American team after earning Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors last season.

 

An avid outdoorsman, DeCarlo spent more time in the weight room than fishing and deep-sea diving in the offseason so he can better attempt to meet the high expectations. He also works on an individual basis with team trainer Mike Pawlusiak.

 

"I've been working a lot more with him," said DeCarlo, a 6-foot-3 right-hander out of Miami Southridge High. "We go in there and work with the medicine ball, and there's some bike riding. He takes me through a bunch of exercises and hopefully the rest will take care of itself."

 

The late-season injury spoiled an impressive rookie year for DeCarlo. He was one of only two unbeaten Division I starters last year, posting an 11-0 record and 3.53 ERA. He led FIU with 92 strikeouts, including a season-high 12 against Fairfield. But a team-high 94.1 innings led to fatigue and over usage, which caused problems during the conference tournament.

 

FIU coach Danny Price said he provided DeCarlo the option to pitch or rest during the postseason. After receiving clearance from doctors to play, DeCarlo decided he would sit out rather risk further injury.

 

"It was good decision. I don't regret it," DeCarlo said. "A lot of things could've happened. I could have gone out there and got hurt or we could've lost. I think we made the right choice."

 

Price said: "I never worried about doing the best thing [for the team]. I know this was right for him. You don't pitch a guy who's sore, so we pulled him out."

 

A pitching staff that returns nine who saw action last season should keep DeCarlo from loading up on innings. Junior Josh Banks, senior Carlos Sanchez and freshman Edgar Ramirez are expected to be in the rotation. Banks was 3-2 with 47 strikeouts last year, and Sanchez was 6-0 in eight starts. Ramirez, a high school teammate of DeCarlo, led Southridge to the state tournament last season.

---

~Bill

[batman]

"FIU's Quick Starter," Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Byline Craig Barnes, May 30, 2002

Quote:

---

Derek DeCarlo expected to be a standout pitcher for FIU, but he didn't think that it would happen in his freshman year.

 

As the Golden Panthers (41-18, 14-12 in the Sun Belt Conference) prepare to play in the Gainesville Regional against cross-town rival Miami (30-26) on Friday at 3 p.m., DeCarlo has seized an unexpected opportunity and been the staff savior.

 

"I never thought that I would be 11-0," DeCarlo said. "I knew that I was good and that my time would come to prove it. I just didn't expect to pitch this much this soon. This is a good Division I-A team. Not many freshman pitchers become impact players."

 

DeCarlo, a right-hander who was 10-2 with a 1.25 ERA and 95 strikeouts for Miami Southridge High last season, broke the freshman record for consecutive victories and is only two short of Willy Collazo's school record of 13, set last year.

 

His opportunity came when injuries hit the staff. Right-hander Andrew Edwards, the No.1 starter, suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the first game.

 

Josh Banks, another right-hander, missed eight weeks (Feb. 22 through April 20) with an elbow injury. Right-hander Luis Gazitua, the closer, suffered a season-ending shoulder injury.

 

Coach Danny Price hasn't decided whether Banks (3-1, 1.19 ERA) or DeCarlo will start against the Hurricanes. DeCarlo had one win over Miami this season as the Golden Panthers won three of five games.

 

Banks, a sophomore, also beat UM and struck out 11.

 

"We don't count on freshmen coming in and winning 10 games or more," Price said, "but then, we don't count on having the number of injuries that we've had."

 

Without the injuries, the 6-4, 175-pound DeCarlo would likely have been a middle reliever and spot starter. At best he would have been the No. 3 or No. 4 starter.

 

"I was asked to pick up the slack," DeCarlo said. "I've given hitters their respect. I've tried to get ahead of hitters, pitch my pitch and hit my spots. If you give up some runs or some homers early, you can't give up."

 

It has been DeCarlo's composure as much as his ability that has impressed Price. He has used his fastball to get ahead of hitters and then work them with his curveball and change-up, but he is not afraid to use off-speed pitches first to keep hitters off balance.

 

"His maturity is ahead of his years," Price said. "He has a business approach and is unemotional. He pitches the same from behind as he does when he's ahead. The second pitch he threw was a home run, and he ended up winning the game. I said, 'Uh-Oh'"

 

DeCarlo has a 3.53 ERA in 15 games (14 starts) with 92 strikeouts and 37 walks in 941/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .259 with 22 doubles and 10 home runs.

 

"He attacks the strike zone and stays ahead of hitters," Price said. "We play good behind him because he doesn't work the corners much. He goes right after hitters, and you can't afford to be sleeping.

 

"Mark Prior of Southern California [now with the Chicago Cubs] was the best college pitcher that I had ever seen. He had that rare combination of ability and composure. DeCarlo has a similar combination, but he doesn't have the same experience."

 

DeCarlo has benefited from a productive offense led by Brad Eldred of Coconut Creek (.364, 29 home runs, 70 RBI), Tommy Duenas (.401, 12 homers, 57 RBI) and Bernard Gonzalez (.332, 10 homers, 62 RBI).

 

"Everybody has stepped up," DeCarlo said. "We want to do well in the regional and hopefully get over the hump of the super regional [where the Golden Panthers lost last season]. The records are nice, but the team record is the only one that counts."

 

With his performance as a freshman, DeCarlo, drafted in the 24th round by Kansas City out of high school, knows the expectations will be different next season.

 

"I'm going to take the summer off and rest," he said. "I know the pressure will be on me to perform next year, but I have the advantage of doing it once.

 

"The experience will give me confidence that I can do it again."

---

~Bill

[batman]

"Five Questions - Steve Sollman," Cincinnati Enquirer, Byline Neil Schmidt, June 16, 2002

Quote:

---

Steve Sollmann is red-hot at the right time. The St. Xavier High alum, a Notre Dame sophomore second baseman, was batting .714 (20-of-28) with 11 RBI in six NCAA Tournament games entering play Saturday. The Irish faced Stanford on Saturday in the first round of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

 

Sollmann is following in the footsteps of older brother Scott, who also starred at St. X and then as a Notre Dame center fielder. It can be confusing. Notre Dame's Web site still has a page for Steve, but it mistakenly includes Scott's bio.

 

Sollmann took time Friday to answer five questions from the Enquirer's Neil Schmidt.

 

1. How often do people call you Scott and call your brother Steve?

 

Very often. I wouldn't say as much now as in the old days. It's not so much people confusing us as the fact we both have the "S" first name. And our sister's name is Stacey. I'm sure my parents might want to take that "S" idea back.

 

2. How often do people sing that song, "I'm a Soul Man," to you?

 

I hear that (on the loudspeaker) every time I go up to bat at Eck Stadium (for Notre Dame home games). We get to pick the song. I started off with something else, and I wasn't having much success at the plate with my old song, so I thought I'd go with that.

 

3. You won a state championship in basketball and broke your brother's St. X career rushing record in football. Do you still get an itch when you're at a Notre Dame football or basketball game?

 

Not so much basketball, but it was tough at the beginning watching those football games from the stands. But the more and more I play baseball, the more I'm glad I didn't play both sports. I was thinking of possibly walking on in football like my brother (who played split end), but I didn't.

 

4. Your buddy from the St. X basketball team, Jordan Cornette, plays basketball for Notre Dame. What can you tell us about your friendship?

 

I don't get to talk to Jordan as much now as in high school because of our conflicting schedules. But whenever I have a chance to see him, we talk for a while. It's great to have a guy up here I can cheer for on the basketball team. I go to a lot of the games.

 

5. What is there to do in Omaha?

 

Uh ... practice. (He laughs.) No, seriously, there's a lot of stuff to do. But going to the stadium's the best part -- seeing the fans and the love they have for baseball. It's great.

---

~Bill

[batman]

"Clear and Simple, Sollman a Winner," South Bend Tribune, Byline Andrew Soukup, June 3, 2002

Quote:

---

Minutes after Notre Dame beat Ohio State Sunday, Irish second baseman Steve Sollmann walked into the interview room, plopped into his assigned seat and cracked open a bottle of water waiting for him on the table, even though he already had one in his hand.

 

"This is your third time in here (this weekend)," teammate Steve Stanley said after the Irish had advanced to face Florida State in the super regional. "And you're milking it, aren't you."

 

Who can blame Sollmann for grabbing another Aquafina? Considering the weekend he had, Sollmann certainly earned it.

 

In three games, the Irish sophomore batted an amazing .750, recorded 13 hits, scored 10 times and batted in eight runs. He followed up a 6-for-7 performance during Notre Dame's 25-1 thrashing of South Alabama Saturday with a 4-for-5 day during the championship game, a 9-6 victory over the Buckeyes.

 

"I've never had anything like that before, there's no way," Sollmann said.

 

"I was afraid to talk to him the whole week, he was so unconscious," Irish coach Paul Mainieri said. "Every time he swung the bat, he hit a line drive and it found a hole somewhere."

 

Then again, the reason Sollmann is so good at finding the holes is because he is so good at filling them.

 

Three years ago, Mainieri traveled to Cincinnati to watch Sollmann play baseball. Sollmann's brother, Scott, played centerfield for the Irish in 1994-96, and Mainieri wondered if Sollmann had the same fiery competitive spirit as his brother.

 

A three-sport standout at his St. Xavier High in Cincinnati, Sollmann drew attention from college football recruiters for his skills as a running back and was a point guard on the state championship team that included current Irish basketball player Jordan Cornette.

 

But baseball was the sport Sollmann loved and he dreamed of following in his brother's footsteps and playing at Notre Dame.

 

Mainieri only needed a seat at one of Sollmann's high school games to be convinced he wanted Sollmann on his team.

 

There was only one problem. Sollmann played centerfield in high school. Notre Dame already had an established outfield.

 

"Steve carried himself with such an aura you just knew he was going to be a winner," Mainieri said. "I said to him after the game, 'Steve, we don't really need a centerfielder, but I know whoever you play for is going to win a lot of games. I'd just as soon have you play for us than somebody else. If you come and play for us, we'll find a place for you.'"

 

Sure enough, Mainieri found a place for Sollmann at second base, a position where the Irish had a gaping hole. Again, there was a problem. Sollmann had never played the position.

 

It took a while for the rookie to adjust to the new position. One game, the athletic Sollmann would make SportsCenter-worthy diving stops. The next game, he'd botch a grounder or fire the ball over the head of the first baseman.

 

"A lot of playing second has to do with concentration," he said. "When you're in the outfield, you can kind of lull off to sleep sometimes. I wasn't used to being so close to the batter and having my hands in the dirt."

 

But the quiet Sollmann persevered. He cut down on his defensive mistakes, emerged a consistent hitter and garnered preseason All-American honors just one year after learning a new position.

 

Now, Sollmann plays a vital role for the Irish. When he battled a leg injury earlier in the year, the Irish struggled. It's no coincidence that when he got healthy, the Irish started winning games in bunches.

 

Even Mainieri couldn't have predicted Sollmann's imitation of a wrecking ball as the second baseman knocked Notre Dame into an NCAA super regional.

 

But he could see glimpses of greatness three years ago, back when he had holes to fill and tournaments to win.

 

"He plays better when he's under pressure than he does when it doesn't matter," Mainieri said. "That's not unusual for guys who are winners, and he's a winner, clear and simple."

---

~Bill

[batman]

"Sollmann Wins Football Award," Cincinnati Enquirer, Byline Dave Schutte, February 18, 2000

Quote:

---

Winning awards in sports, academics and community service is nothing new for Steve Sollmann, an 18-year-old senior at St. Xavier High School.

 

The Cincinnati Enquirer's Division I Football Player of the Year, Sollmann claimed yet another honor Thursday night at the annual meeting of the Greater Cincinnati chapter of the National Football Federation and College Hall of Fame.

 

Competing against football players from area schools, Sollmann won the "That's My Boy" award for excellence not only in football, but also in the classroom and community.

 

Sollmann's older brother, Scott, now a baseball player in the Toronto organization, also won the award in 1993, sharing it with Norwood's Marc Edwards, now a fullback for the Cleveland Browns.

 

"This is amazing to me," Sollmann said. "I was just happy to be here with all these outstanding athletes. My brother won the award, and this is very special to me."

 

To recognize football players who are standouts on and off the field, the local chapter of the National Football Federation established the "That's My Boy" award in 1962. After the end of football season, leagues accept one nomination for the award from each high school, and the athletes with the highest rankings compete against the best from the other leagues.

 

Each category is weighted, with football at 50 percent, academics 30 percent and extracurricular activities 20 percent.

 

"The national organization thinks we put too much emphasis on football," said Ron Woyan, a member of the Cincinnati Chapter board of directors. Next season, the breakdown will be 40 percent both on football and academics and 20 percent on outside activities.

 

Sollmann had high scores in each category.

 

Besides earning first-team all-state honors, Sollmann, a three-year starter for the Bombers, also was named offensive MVP in the Greater Catholic League South.

 

Academically, Sollmann is in the top 10 percent of the 2000 graduating class and belongs to the National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society.

 

The community also has benefitted from Sollmann's effort. He headed St. X's canned food drive, served as a Big Brother - Big Buddy and was a leader of St. Xavier's Bomber Pilot program.

 

During three years as a starter for the St. Xavier football team, Sollmann rewrote the offensive record books, establishing the following records:

 

Single-season rushing: 1,592 yards.

 

Single-game rushing: 316 yards.

 

Career rushing: 3,947 yards.

 

Career rushing touchdowns: 51.

 

Career all-purpose yards: 5,860.

 

Career touchdowns: 60.

 

Career scoring: 362 points.

 

He also tied a single-game record with six touchdowns.

 

"I've run out of compliments for Steve," St. Xavier football coach Steve Rasso said. "Steve's desire to win is unbelievable. He had tremendous focus that carried over to other players. You can also see it in basketball and baseball."

 

Sollmann is the fifth St. X athlete to win the award. Besides his brother, others earning the honor are Tom Rhoads (1964), John Tuke ('74) and Mike Healy ('8http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/glasses.gif .

 

Next year, Sollmann will attend Notre Dame, where he has a baseball scholarship.

---

~Bill

[colbyjack]

Whats with all the "sloping shoulders" talk?? Now I have to go home and look in the mirror to see how mine rate. I hope we didnt pass on Bailey due to the wrong slant of his shoulder.

 

Sloped shoulders are usually noted in hitters more than pitchers. Some of the best hitters in baseball have sloped shoulders as opposed to broad or square shoulders. Sloped shoulders are when your shoulders are set down lower than your neck, almost forming an upside down V. Eric Chavez is a perfect example of a hitter with this physical trait. How does it help hitters? I have no clue, but many believe it does.

[homer]

I love this pick. I like guys that aren't physically gifted but still produce. I bet this guy projects as utility but that's fine. He's smart, he's solid in the field and disciplined at the plate. Just the kind of guy you need off the bench. I think this and Solome are the sleepers (and maybe the 1st baseman from Washington)

[MassBrew]

Text here, link while it's "live":

 

www.herald.ns.ca/stories/...1.raw.html

 

Brewers tab Langille in 7th

Hammonds Plains pitcher selected 196th overall

By MONTY MOSHER / Sports Reporter

 

The Milwaukee Brewers said they liked Craig Langille and they backed it up on Monday.

 

The Brewers tabbed the 18-year-old right-handed pitcher from Hammonds Plains in the seventh round of Major League Baseball's first-year draft. He was the 196th selection overall.

 

He becomes the second-highest MLB draft pick out of Nova Scotia.

 

Langille was the second Canadian selected behind catcher Mike Nickeas of Vancouver, who went to the Texas Rangers in the fifth round, 141st overall.

 

Milwaukee seemed to show the most interest of any big league club in the six-foot-two, 190-pound Langille, who has shown pro potential on three pitches - a change-up, slider and a fastball that tops out around 88 mph.

 

The Brewers made a few scouting visits to Nova Scotia and invited him to a camp in Milwaukee last week, though he did not attend.

 

A member of the Dartmouth junior team who only emerged as a pitcher two years ago, Langille said playing professional baseball is a dream.

 

"This is the No. 1 thing I wanted to do," said Langille, who has exams beginning Monday and will graduate from C.P. Allen High School in Bedford later this month. "It's the best career possible. I was thinking about taking business if I went to school, but this is definitely a lot better than taking business."

 

He was born in Moncton, but moved to Nova Scotia as a youth and played all his minor ball here. His parents will be his agents.

 

The scouting report on Langille is positive about his mound repertoire. He draws comparisons to relief pitcher Paul Quantrill of the New York Yankees, another Canadian.

 

"Agile. Easy thrower with fresh arm. Progress made from last year. Minor mechanical faults correctable," the pre-draft report states.

 

Langille discovered he was a Milwaukee selection by tracking the draft on MLB.com. He nearly jumped out of his seat when his name flashed up on the screen.

 

"It was awesome, I couldn't believe it," he said. "I never expected the seventh round."

 

The Brewers gave him a congratulatory phone call, along with all of his friends, and promised a visit in the next week or two. Since Langille expected to be picked somewhere between the 15th and 20th rounds, he can expect a better signing bonus than he was anticipating.

 

A number of teams identified him as a decent prospect and the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners were on hand last week when he pitched a no-hitter against a junior team from Kentville. The Los Angeles Dodgers also had an eye on him.

 

There is no guarantee the Brewers will take him to the U.S. right away.

 

The visa quota for international minor league players has been used up for 2004, meaning most prospects other than the Americans won't get to work out for their teams until the Arizona Fall League. Players do not need work visas for the instructional league because they don't get paid.

 

Langille said he's in no hurry to leave home.

 

"I really don't know whether I will go away this year or next year. I really wouldn't mind seeing my friends for a little bit longer, but if they (the Brewers) bring me down soon that's just as well, too."

 

Dartmouth's Steve Nelson, now recovering from arm surgery, is the top pick ever out of Nova Scotia. He went in the fifth round to Los Angeles in 2001.

 

Cole Harbour pitcher Terry Forbes went in the ninth round to Seattle in 2002. Prior to that, Bedford's Trevor Wamback was the highest selection, going in the 22nd round to Montreal in 1998.

 

Other Nova Scotians to be selected are David Detienne (1997, Los Angeles), Jamie Vallis (1995, Minnesota), Joel Young (1994, Montreal), Trevor Zwaan (1994, Houston), Mark Creelman (1993, Florida), Darren Doucette (1992, St. Louis) and Joel Irvine (1991, New York Yankees).

 

Dartmouth's Vince Horsman was the last Nova Scotian to play a major league game when he pitched for Minnesota in 1995.

 

DARREN PITTMAN / Staff

Craig Langille of Hammonds Plains pitches in a recent junior game in Dartmouth. The 18-year-old was taken in the seventh round, 196th overall, by the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday in Major League Baseball's first-year draft.

 

http://www.herald.ns.ca/2004/06/08/bigthumbs/1028.jpg

[igor67]

huh interesting trivia maybe we should archive this when someone asks why he's not playing. Maybe he can wait until Helena sneeks north of the border http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[MassBrew]

Tallahassee.com on 6th round high school OF Stephen Chapman and 17th round OF Lorenzo Cain:

 

Marianna outfielder Stephen Chapman, an Auburn signee, was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the sixth round (166th overall) after working out for team officials last Saturday in Milwaukee.

 

Lorenzo Cain, an outfielder who started playing competitive baseball three years ago, went to Milwaukee (496th overall). Cain has signed with Tallahassee Community College.

 

Chapman expects to bypass college for professional baseball. Chapman was one of the Big Bend's most scrutinized prep players, playing in front of a large contingent of scouts each week.

 

"I couldn't have asked for a better situation," Chapman said.

 

"It was definitely nerve-wracking during the regular season because you are playing in front of 20 and 30 scouts. But once I settled down and started to relax, it was a lot of fun. Right now I am just kind of soaking it up and enjoying the moment."

[homer]

Quote:

---

What makes you think Doug Melvin has anything to do with this draft? I'm a big Jack Z supporter so I'm a little biased, but based on Melvin's track record with the major league roster, I'll give 99.9% of the credit to Jack and 0.01% to Melvin for "existing".

---

 

I'm curious what your specific issue is with the major league roster?

[batman]

Some thoughts from Steve Sollmann in Notre Dame's post-draft press conference:

Quote:

---

"Yesterday was really hard, putting that uniform on for the last time is something that will take me a while to deal with. Today is great. It is a new chapter in my life and hopefully I can experience the same success in minor-league ball "

 

"I'll go wherever they want me to go, as soon as they want me. I'm just happy they have given me to opportunity to go out and play. I am going to take advantage of it."

 

"It will be a totally different experience. I've been at Notre Dame for four years and I've been able to play with great players and some great friends. Playing for coach Mainieri was one of the greatest honors I could ever have. It's a whole different situation now It's do-or-die time. I'm going to go out and play like I have for the last four years."

 

"It's been a pretty crazy day with the rollercoaster of emotions. But I'm really excited. It's sad for me that my career at Notre Dame is over but I guess it's time for me to start a new career.

 

"It's been an amazing four years here and it's exceeded all my expectations by far. I came in here and I knew what it took to play baseball here at Notre Dame and I knew I could play with the guys that were on this team. But I didn't know how great the kids on the team were going to be and how close of friends I would become with all of them. I really consider myself lucky to have been able to play with these guys."

 

"I came here to play baseball but the fact that Notre Dame presents such a great education also weighed into it. That's what is so special about this school is that you can play for a top program like our baseball team but you also can get one of the best educations in the country. Both of my parents are educators and have instilled that value in me since I was a young pup and I've really taken to what they've told me."

 

"A lot of players that go through this program talk about how special it is here and how it's different than any other program that they've ever heard about. And the reason that this program is so different is because of coach [Paul] Mainieri. He really makes Notre Dame a special place, not only on the baseball field but people take that experience on the baseball field into other parts of their lives when they are here. He does a great job of making this a special place. We talk about how unselfish the players are on this team and it's because we buy into the way he wants us to play the game. We respect him more than anyone else on the field at all times."

 

"[Athletic trainer] Mike Bean has helped just about every person in my family. My brother when he was here I'm sure had problems and Mike helped him out. My dad passed out in right field when I was out there and Mike helped him and then, just yesterday, my mom cut herself up with a knife and he sewed her up. I owe a lot to that guy. He has helped me from the time when I broke my hand freshman year and it seems like I've always had something going on. He really is a special person in this program and what he contributes can't be overlooked."

---

Available Online at:

und.collegesports.com/spo...04aaa.html

 

~Bill

[batman]

Notre Dame provides updated biographies for each of their drafted players. Here is Steve Sollmann's updated info.

Quote:

---

Steve Sollmann

2004 BIOGRAPHY CAPSULE

(Sr., 2B; Cincinnati, OH/St. Xavier HS; 5-foot-11, 195 pounds)

 

Capped stellar career by being selected by Milwaukee Brewers in 10th round of 2004 MLB draft ... rates as 6th-highest drafted senior in ND baseball history, behind RHP Aaron Heilman (1st rd, Mets, '01), CF Steve Stanley (2nd rd, A's, '02), RHP Steve Whitmyer (6th rd, Indians, '83), OF/1B Frank Jacobs (7th rd, Mets, '91) and LHP Ed Lupton (8th rd, '65, Senators) ... former ND catcher Mike Amrhein also was a 10th-round pick as a senior (Cubs, '97), as was RHP Danny Tamayo in 2001 (Royals) ... combined with 3B Matt Macri (5th rd, Rockies) as highest drafted pair of infielders in ND baseball history (the only other time that's happened was in 1994, with Failla in the 3rd and then utility IF Matt Haas in the 44th round to the Expos) ...he and catcher Javi Sanchez (14th round) are 2nd-highest pair of drafted seniors in the program's history, behind Heilman and Tamayo and ahead of Stanley and 3B Andrew Bushey (15th rd, Rockies) ... one of 11 seniors who have been selected in the MLB draft during the 10-year Paul Mainieri era (all in the first 17 rounds) ... went undrafted out of high school ... returned for senior season after being a 32nd-round pick of the Oakland A's in '03 ... first active ND player ever drafted by the Brewers, who signed a pair of ND players - 1B Tim Hutson ('88) and OF/2B James Sass ('89) - as free agents in the late '80s.

 

CAREER NOTES - Finished storied career ranked 2nd in ND history with 302 hits, also ranking 4th in runs scored (210), stolen bases (84) and at-bats (84-of-111), 7th in games played (221), 8th in stolen-base pct. (.757) and starts (219), 9th in triples (12) and sacrifice bunts (20), 10th in batting avg. (.360) and 13th in walks (103) ... also set ND record with 629 career fielding assists as four-year starter at 2B, after converting from CF (where he starred as a prep) ... winningest four-year starter in ND baseball history, with the Irish winning 76.1% of their games during his ND career (195-61-1) ... the team won at an even higher pct. when he was in the starting lineup (77.9%; 170-48-1), compared to just 65.8% in 38 games when he did not start (25-13) ... hit a combined .478 (43-for-90) during the '01-'04 NCAA Tournaments to rank as one of the program's leading all-time postseason performers ... his signature game was a 6-for-7, 7-RBI effort vs. top seed South Alabama in the 2002 South Bend Regional (25-1; 6 R, HR, 2 3B, 13 TB) ... set NCAA Tournament record in that game for runs (6) while tying ND records for hits, RBI and runs (also tied NCAA Tournament records for hits and triples) ... Matt Haas (.514, 19-for-37 from '92-'94) is the only other ND player with a better career batting avg. in the NCAAs (min. 20 ABs) ... also compiled .355 career batting avg. in regular season and just .245 in BIG EAST Tournament ... 6th ND baseball player ever to earn Academic All-America in multiple seasons (2nd team in '03, 1st team in '04) ... completed rare double of All-America and Academic All-America honors in 2003 (ND's 11th non-senior, in any sport, ever to earn both honors) ... joined two former ND players - DH Jeff Wagner (1st team, '96-'99) and RHP Aaron Heilman (2nd team in '98, 1st team '99-'01) - as third BIG EAST player ever named to the all-conference team four times (1st team/rookie of the year in '01, 2nd team in '02 and '03, 1st team in '04) ... 5th ND player ever to be named 1st team all-BIG EAST in multiple seasons, joining Wagner, IF Brant Ust ('97, '98 and '99, at three different positions), Heilman and CF Steve Stanley ('01, '02) ... recipient of ND Athletic Department's 2003 Francis Patrick O'Connor Award, recognizing team spirit, inspiration and courage ... graduated with 3.44 cumulative GPA (including 3.73 in fall of '03, 4.0 in spring of '04), as a business marketing major ... MVP of '02 NCAA South Bend Regional that sparked ND on to College World Series ... also named to NCAA Tournament All-Regional teams in '03 and '04 ... earned Freshman All-America honors in '01 ... one of seven ND players ever to post double-digit home runs (13) and 10-plus triples (12) in his career ... his other career stats include 38 doubles, 146 RBI, 19 hit-by-pitch, 88 strikeouts (he was +34 in BB-to-K margin), 13 sac. flies, 39 errors (.962 fielding pct.), .435 on-base pct., .480 slugging pct., .915 "OBS," and 91 multi-hit games (28 with 3 hits, 6 with 4 hits and 6-hit game vs. South Alabama in '02 NCAAs) ... a .383 career hitter at Eck Stadium (138-for-360, 68 RBI in 102 GP, 98 R, 4 HR, 4 3B, 30 2B, 45 BB, 36 SB) while batting .342 on the road .. averaged 8.9 games per error over final three seasons (8 in '02, 8 in '03, 2 in '04).

 

AS A SENIOR - Closed his final few weeks at Notre Dame with a 4.0 semester GPA, his fourth career all-BIG EAST honor (1st team) and a spot on the prestigious 1st team Academic All-America squad (which includes just 11 players) ... overcame early '04 slump to bat 10-for-21 in five-game stretch before fractured jaw in freak collision with teammate (April 3), sidelining him for 21 games (team was just 15-6 in his absence, compared to 34-6 in games he played during '04) ... his return sparked ND to 16-3 record, batting 21-for-62 (.339) in those 19 games ... led '04 team in stolen bases (17, also 10th in BIG EAST) despite missing one-third of season, also ranking 3rd on team in on-base pct. (career-best .442), hit-by-pitch (11) and sacrifice bunts (4) and 4th in walks (26) and 5th in batting avg. (.311) ... also 2nd on team in 2-out batting (.366, 10 RBI) and 4th in batting with runners on (.355) ... ranked 2nd on team in hits (1.18) and runs (0.98) per game ... his +19 margin of walks (26) plus HBPs (11) minus strikeouts (18) was best on the team (the rest of the Irish were +4) ... did not make an error in his first 154 chances of the 2004 season before 9th-inning E vs. Central Florida on May 19 (he quickly recovered and threw to third base to catch the runner over-running the bag for the final out) ... totaled just 2 Es for .991 fielding pct.... his .444 conference batting avg. (20-for-45) would have ranked 2nd behind teammate Craig Cooper among all BIG EAST players but he did not meet the AB min. (65, or 2.5 per team game) ... ranked 3rd in BIG EAST with 11 SBs in league play ... reached on 35.1% of his leadoff plate appearances while batting .286 with runners in scoring position ... grounded into 4 double plays ... helped turn 28 of team's 59 double plays ... hit .396 at Eck Stadium (21-for-53, 5 RBI, 12 R, 4 2B, 10 BB, 7 SB) ... all 40 of his starts came at 2Bm batting mostly in 2-hole (25) or leadoff spot (15) .. posted 14 multi-hit games (4 with multiple RBI) ... closed career with third NCAA All-Regional performance after batting 5-for-11 (RBI,2 R, BB, SB, SF, SAC) to go along with several highlight-reel defensive plays.

 

Also see the below link for pre-2004 bio. (including prep and personal data)

 

und.collegesports.com/spo...eve00.html

---

~Bill