Baseball America Grades Pirates' Draft

by Charlie Wilmoth on Oct 19, 2011 9:37 AM EDT

Baseball America has a draft report card for the Pirates (subscribers only). They describe the Pirates as being "as aggressive as any team in the draft." Alongside the usual praise for Gerrit Cole and Josh Bell, BA notes that ninth-rounder Clay Holmes already can hit 94 MPH, that fifth-rounder Tyler Glasnow has the best curveball in the Pirates' draft, and that 10th-rounder Taylor Lewis and 12th-rounder Candon Myles "immediately become two of the best athletes in the Pirates' system."

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My computer died yesterday and is currently on Best Buy life support (it's still under warranty, fortunately), so updates may be a little more touch-and-go than usual for the next week or two.

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weird question Charlie

But which Best Buy did u take it to?

by BattlinBucs on Oct 19, 2011 10:09 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Does Hallmark

make a card for that?

by bucdaddy on Oct 19, 2011 11:34 AM EDT reply actions

Not Hallmark

by Mr. E on Oct 19, 2011 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I like some of the arms

we got in the later rounds as well. Hopefully they pan out a bit more than where the 09 arms are at but they got plenty of time to develop, hopefully it works out. I’m excited for the minor league system in 2012

Thats what she said! - Michael Gary Scott

by C Shint on Oct 19, 2011 11:48 AM EDT reply actions

Consider this

RHP Matt Benedict (30) opened eyes in instructional league with an 89-92 mph fastball, average curveball and feel for a changeup.

This about a 30th rounder from Western Carolina University, that hot bed of baseball excellence.

Viva Clemente!

by Roberto on Oct 19, 2011 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

89-92 mph fastball, average curveball and feel for a changeup

Sounds like a back-of-the-rotation starter, maybe.

That’d be a pretty good return on a 30th-round pick.

by Vlad on Oct 19, 2011 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Hey, they’ve had a bunch of major leaguers. Jerry Reed (3.6 career WAR) seems to have been the best, though.

I did a double-take when I saw this guy on the list:

Steve Strausbaugh

Close but no cigar.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Oct 19, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

"Jerry Reed (3.6 career WAR) seems to have been the best, though."

When you’re hot, you’re hot. When you’re not, you’re not.

Not actually affiliated with whygavs.

by WHYG Zane Smith on Oct 19, 2011 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

Yep,

rec.

Free your ass and your mind will follow.

by cocktailsfor2 on Oct 19, 2011 9:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Some BA Rankings

Best Draft: Pirates—3rd (All of the other top five teams had a minimum of three first round picks. The Nats and D’backs had three, Boston four and the Rays ten.)

Best Pure Hitter: Josh Bell—5th

Best Power Hitter: Bell—1st

Best Fastball: Gerrit Cole—1st

Best Secondary Pitch: Cole—4th

Closest to the Majors (college): Cole—4th

Closest to the Majors (HS): Bell—2nd

No Pirate picks among “the ones who got away.” I thought maybe Aaron Brown would be in there.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Oct 19, 2011 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Ya

surprising Brown wouldn’t be listed in that category.

It almost goes without saying, but I’ll say it (ask) anyway. Christmas is coming up, and I still don’t have a subscription to Baseball America. It’s totally worth it correct?

Da'Sean Butler - A Mountaineer Legend

by McCutchenIsTheTruth on Oct 19, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions

To me it is. The draft database by itself is worth a good deal. I guess you could argue the draft pages at bb-ref make it superfluous to some extent, but the advanced database has the comments on the top prospects as well as signing bonuses right in there. And the lists are fun, as well as the chats. They’ve also got an increasing amount of coverage on the international front.

You're entitled to your own opinions. You're not entitled to your own facts.

by WTM on Oct 19, 2011 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions