WTM Weighs in on the Draft

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jun 8, 2008 8:25 PM EDT

The more hardcore fans among you will remember that in WTM's previous draft reviews, you'd see the words "significant overdraft" in about half the player profiles. This year, the magic words are "more than slot money," "above slot," "hard to sign"... it's an enormous difference. As ever, this amazing compilation of information will take hours of your time if you let it.

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Amazing job WTM.

The Utah Jazz. The Jazz... duh.
The best NBA team in Utah... no doubts about it!
Playing For Pride. Pirates, Utes, Panthers, and more...
Because, in the end, only one team can "win it all".

by UtesFan89 on Jun 8, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply actions

Tremendous.

Thank you!

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro. -- HST

by cocktailsfor2 on Jun 8, 2008 11:30 PM EDT reply actions

McGough

The Pirates 46th round pick, Scott McGough, went to my high school and I played with both him and his older brother. He has a good arm, but I am skeptical that it hits 93. He is a hell of an athlete , though, and a really good shortstop and high school contact hitter.

by DITO on Jun 9, 2008 12:47 AM EDT reply actions

Velocity

I think a lot of times the velocity figures people throw around are what a guy topped out at one day when he had a wind at his back.

by WTM on Jun 9, 2008 6:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Yep, gotta be careful with those

Bryan Bullington Wind-Aided Fastball Types.

by patthatt on Jun 9, 2008 6:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Thank you sir

Outstanding work, WTM … I’m sure it was a more enjoyable experience this time around.

I felt good about high school selections like Grossman, Freeman and Aure after reading/digging up some information. But it seems as if some of the latter-round picks, McGough and Forrest to name a few, may be nice additions, too.

by woobie on Jun 9, 2008 1:10 AM EDT reply actions

Late rounds

The guys I’d love to get are Quinton Miller and Zach Wilson. I think the Pirates will only go after them, though, if they fail to sign Scheppers or Grossman.

by WTM on Jun 9, 2008 6:06 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope they just go crazy with the bonus money this year,

in order to give us a base for developing talent for the long-term success of the organization in the next decade; just like I also hope we start to reap the rewards from a real commitment to Latin America a few years from now.

by patthatt on Jun 9, 2008 6:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Thanks, WTM,

for the outstanding work. I read through each and every profile. It seems like a quality draft. At least a few players that you would expect to be a sure thing, some guys with signability issues, but at least you take a chance on a handful of them in 50 rounds, a number of players with “high ceilings,” a nice balance of this and that THAT should define a quality draft and give the team something to work with.

I also went back and spent some time reading through the 2007 draft profiles. Needless to say, it just made me angry. After the short season and rookie teams get their seasons underway, we should have a one-year review of where the 2007 draftees stand in their respective development. It probably won`t make for encouraging reading, though, so let`s hope the organization has turned a corner with its 2008 draft.

by patthatt on Jun 9, 2008 6:07 AM EDT reply actions

Duke Welker, RHP got off to a good start last year, but has looked very ordinary thus far.

Brian Friday, SS did well last year and is doing better this year.

Qunicy Latimore, OF did OK in the GCL last year, but does not seem to have started playing yet this year.

Andrew Walker, C had a nice season at State College last year, but has not done as well so far. (His BABIP is really low, so he may be hitting in bad luck, but his walk rate is pretty bad.)

Viva Clemente!

by Roberto on Jun 9, 2008 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Some numbers

So what’s it going to cost to sign some of these players? We all know that Wieters got $6,000,000 and Moskos got $2,475,000. Last year a Boros client taken second got $4,000,000. The people taken 8th through 14th (which may be relevant for Scheppers) got between $1,700,000 and $2,100,000. By the time you get into round 4 the typical bonus is $200,000 or less, with the Yankees tossing in $1,300,000 for Bradley Suttle at the end of the round. Interesting to think about the negotiating positions of the various draftees.

Viva Clemente!

by Roberto on Jun 9, 2008 11:48 AM EDT reply actions