our 2005 pick

[BucEbadger]

Was wonder does anyone think we may target one of the following players, Verlander RP, Humber SP, Niemann SP or Townsend SP?

 

If Humber or Niemann are on the board would we consider a college arm to add to our prospect list??

 

Or should we target a position player like Upton if by some luck he falls, Greene SS, Gordon 3rd, or do we target a unknown HS pitcher again like Rogers???

[squarepusher]

I'm no draft expert, but if Upton fell, I don't see why the Brewers could possibly pass him up.

[colbyjack]

If the Brewers didn't touch Wade Townsend last year with the #5 pick, I don't see why they would next year, unless he re-discovers his stuff.

 

And I think Verlander, Humber & Niemann all will eventually sign.

 

Rogers wasn't unknown, in fact, he was receiving quite a bit of attention at this time last year after an impressive summer showcase tour. After the East Coast showcase in Wilmington scouts were debating who was the best prep pitching prospect in the nation between Rogers, Nick Adenhart & Jay Rainville (Homer Bailey didn't attend).

 

I agree with Brian, if Upton is still on the board somehow you just can't pass on that kind of talent. I know projected #1 picks have slipped before, but the only way Upton slips is if he's hurt or asking for a $20 million dollar signing bonus.

[DHonks]

I want to stay away from the Rice trio at all costs...all seem to be doomed for arm problems. Verlander is a maybe.

[jwaltz]

If by some miracle Upton is still available, I wouldn't hesitate to draft him. Unless he is dead or in jail, or something. Or a limb fell off.

[Katuluu]

I'm still hoping Gordon is there when we pick. And that we actually draft him.

[jwaltz]

I also am hoping for Gordon. Although we look to be sitting pretty with the talent that should be available when we pick. We can't really go wrong with any of the top five or six. It would be nice to have a top 3B prospect for once.

[bjkrautk]

I think Upton would be a no-brainer (assuming no critical injury)....but that's why I doubt he'll make it to # 5.

 

Sticking with my 'best college pitcher available' draft philosophy, I'll have to keep an eye on Luke Hochevar & Tennessee. But that shouldn't really surprise anyone, since his draft profile goes so far as to mention Kyle Sleeth. (I think Colby threw in the 'fellow Colorado prep pitching star' line just so I would have someone to root for next season. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif )

 

Of course, there's also part of me that thinks Stephen Drew will be the best player available at # 5 next year....at some point, the D-Backs will start looking at keeping Richie Sexson and/or making FA moves trying to compete next year (since they didn't move Randy Johnson), and they don't have the bottomless pockets they seemed to a few years ago.

[colbyjack]

bjkrautk, if you get a chance, try to catch a game in which Hochevar pitches next year. More & more college games are being aired on various versions of Fox Sports Net (in the spring I subscribe to the TW Cable sports package, which includes two more FSN channels & CSN, the College Sports Network) and I believe ESPN is debuting a new station called ESPN U (as in University) next March. Anyway, I think I saw 3 games in which Hochevar pitched this past year and I was really impressed each time. I might have even taped one of them. He doesn't have the pure fastball that Sleeth does, but his build definitely resemble's Sleeth's. Plus, he really knows how to pitch, and commands the strike zone really well. If you like for the Sleeth comparison alone I guarantee you'll like him a lot more if you get the chance to see him play.

 

Combining likelihood of being at our pick (if the draft were held today of course, meaning Gordon & Upton would not be available) with my favorite players, right now it would probably be a tie for me between Hochevar and Georgia Tech SS Tyler Greene. Positional players win all tie-breakers for me.

 

But then again, what are the chances of the Brewers drafting a college player?

[950opsLHcatcher]

With a bunch of (it appears to a layman to be more than usual) college guys not signing, would it make sense for the Brewers to reach for a HSer they know they can sign sort of cheaply in round 1, and then grab a falling college guy in round 2? Say, for example reach for Lyman or Volstad in the first and hope that Kahn, Townsend, or Verlander fall to the second?

[colbyjack]

Would you really take another high school pitcher that high in the draft? It's an interesting idea, but I think I might try to pick someone a little bit safer. Although I do feel Lyman would be considered one of the more "safe" prep pitchers.

[950opsLHcatcher]

I only mentioned the HS kids because Jack Z. still runs the draft. If a reach college player were substited for the HS player, would it make sense in the same scenario?

[jwaltz]

Considering Jack Z's preferences, would he wet himself if Upton fell to us? Maybe he would faint. Or both.

[colbyjack]

I didn't mean college vs. HS so much Toby, but a HS pitcher vs. just about anything else, including a HS hitter. This past year I actually suggested something similar, throwing HS 3B Blake DeWitt's name out there for the #5 overall pick, who was considered the best pure hitter available for the draft. With consecutive years with the #5 overall pick I just don't know how wise it is to take a prep arm with the first-round pick 2 years in a row.

[CarolinaTommy]

Patrick, I see you have the rankings up already for the '05 draft -- nice work.

 

Re: the best college pitcher available comment -- I think that strategy will leave you in a bad place with this draft as the college arms are not great, in my opinion. I like Mark McCormick a lot, but, mostly as a late inning relief guy. Hochevar is good, I agree, Pelfrey is overrated, in my opinion. I like Ryan Mullins a lot, but he's not a top 10 guy. He almost reminds me of a 6'6" version of Jeremy Sowers, because the two have very good arm actions and deliveries, although Mullins comes across the body quite noticably.

 

I think I've told Patrick already, but one prospect that I think is a very intriguing name is RHP James Avery of Niagara University. He's got some major issues with command, but if he can put it together, he's a top of the rotation pitcher, in my opinion. 90-94 MPH fastball, easy delivery, delivery like Curt Schilling, flashes a plus curveball and change. Perhaps a major tease, though!!

 

Alex Gordon is a stud.

[Katuluu]

I've been a fan of Gordon's since I saw him play at the Metrodome last spring. The guy was easily the best player on the field, and that's including Glen Perkins who was mowing down hitters all night. Gordon is an absolute stud at the plate and in the field. He's got a quick bat and very good power to all fields. And in the field he has some absurdly good range for a thirdbasemen, and a very good arm as Patrick previously mentioned. I'll have a hard core nerdgasm if he falls to us.

 

Anyone know who he is leaning to for an agent? That's probably the only way he will fall.

[colbyjack]

Thanks for dropping by Tommy.

 

Kat, have you heard at all who the Gophers might be inviting to their tournament next spring? The '05 schedule hasn't been posted yet on their website, and I'm guessing that isn't something that is casually discussed around the Twin Cities, but I still have to ask. One of these years I'm going to make it up there. Last year it was Gordon & Drew, 2 years ago Wake Forest & Kyle Sleeth were in town. The Gophers aren't afraid about scheduling tough opponents early in the year, so that bodes well for viewers interested in seeing some potential future big leaguers.

[Katuluu]

Haven't heard much yet, although Nebraska is typically offered a spot in the tourney. I do know they are playing almost all of their games in the Dome next season, as they continue to make a push for a new stadium on campus. That's about the only thing being talked about at this point. My guess is they'll start leaking out more details once winter rolls around.

[colbyjack]

Here's a nice pic of Gordon with a mighty swing:

 

www.huskers.com/ViewArtic...CLID=78983

 

And since there isn't much baseball to follow these days, how about Gordon's stats during Nebraska's fall intrasquad scrimmage:

 

Over 4 games, yes, completely meaningless:

4 AB, 5 R, 3 H, 1 RBI, 6 BB, 0 K, 1 2B, 1 HR

 

I was actually looking more for DFE candidate & fellow Cornhusker Dustin Timm, who is healthy and pitched an inning in one of the games, allowing only 1 hit while striking out all 3 batters he faced. He, Jon Mungle and Derek Miller, the Brewers 3 red-shirt senior DFE candidates are all healthy at this time, with Mungle also participating in his school's (Mississippi State) fall practice and Miller pitching in the New England College Baseball League last summer.

[colbyjack]

Minnesota's schedule has been released now, with Pepperdine, South Carolina & New Orleans being the 3 teams invited to take part of Minnesota's annual Dairy Queen Classic:

 

DAIRY QUEEN BASEBALL CLASSIC

 

Friday March 4th:

PEPPERDINE vs. SOUTH CAROLINA , 12:15 pm

MINNESOTA vs. NEW ORLEANS, 6:35 pm

 

Saturday March 5th:

PEPPERDINE vs. NEW ORLEANS, noon

MINNESOTA vs. SOUTH CAROLINA, 6:30 pm

 

Sunday March 6th:

SOUTH CAROLINA vs. NEW ORLEANS 11:00 am

MINNESOTA vs. PEPPERDINE, 3:00 pm

 

South Carolina is a big opponent, although they're not stacked with the prospects like they were this past year. Steve Pearce is probably their most notable returnee, and they always have solid recruiting classes, both from HS commits and JC transfers. New Orleans & Pepperdine, while not as prolific, still have solid D1 programs.