1997 BLB Amateur Draft

[spot]

Pawtucket at 2.11 takes Willie Gomez. Still on my scouts draft board at #1.12. I like his hitting potiental so figured even if he's a left what the heck. Looks a little like Kel Brown when he was first drafted.

3-4 seasons from now people will either be saying "Wow, can't believe he slipped that far" or "Another 2006 second draft bust"

Get the feeling there will be no middle ground with him. Feast or famine!

It was either him or Garita for me. I decided to go with the SS and hope Gomez was there 3 picks later. Alas...

[spot]

Onus back on LAM.

Don't make me come back there!

[BradZ]

Don't make me come back there!

Just trying to keep this from getting ugly.

[mwetts]

Shut it. We're doing fine here.

haha. and in 5 picks picking again.

[Matt]

I'll pick in 10 or so...let me fire up the game.

[spot]

Just trying to keep this from getting ugly.

Nonsense. This is an online league so looks don't come into play here.

haha. and in 5 picks picking again.

4 picks down and not auto'd yet. And I'll get the next one too...

[BradZ]

Nonsense. This is an online league so looks don't come into play here.




4 picks down and not auto'd yet. And I'll get the next one too...

The snippy comments are nothing new. They're present every draft.

[Dave]

My scout thought Alvarado was the best hitter in the draft.

[spot]

The snippy comments are nothing new. They're present every draft.

Hey there, glad to meet you. I'm the guy usually at the other end of those snippy comments...

No worries here. I'm usually less available during the draft and I get it. Just making sure that I am "present" this time. Picks, trading, all the rest... Again no worries.

[Jistic]

My scout thought Alvarado was the best hitter in the draft.

I'm gonna say this in about the 5th round to someone.

[Clay]

OK.... here it is... for what it's worth....

***

It's 11-13 guys by my guess....

Not necessarily saying these will be the best guys... but these are guys who I think will end up being kind of OOTP/OSA darlings... making them very likely to debut in the Top 100.

BEST PITCHER:

Pat Lombardo (Drafted 1.3 by WILMINGTON) -- I think he debuts the highest in this class. BUT... that being said... I think he's probably on the high side of TOP 10. Based on what I'm seeing in 12... my best guess is that he lands somewhere around #8-10.

BEST HITTER(S):

"Roo" Luna (Drafted 1.2 by SYRACUSE)
Jimmy Hackett (Drafted 1.1 by INDY)

One of these two guys lands as the best hitter on the BA List by OSA. I think they're both good picks and land somewhere between #10-20. Not sure WHO is higher. If I'm betting though, I say it's Luna because this class of Catchers is SOOOOO thin. There's been some behind the scene talk in the BLB offices about how deep OF is getting. I think OSA BA List gives bonus cred to C's and MIF's because of that fact.

REST OF THE CLASS (in Order by Draft Position):

Jamie Thomas (Drafted 1.5 by CALIFORNIA)
Ruben Velazquez (Drafted 1.7 by CAROLINA)
Willie Castellanos (Drafted 1.8 by PHILLY)
Stu Driscoll (Drafted 1.9 by NEW ORLEANS)
B.J. Jobe (Drafted 1.14 by WASHINGTON)
Luther Bennerman (Drafted 1.19 by LOS LUNAS)
Bobby Enriquez (Drafted 1.21 by HARTFORD)
Colin Anderson (Drafted 1.23 by CAROLINA)

These guys all feel/look like Top 100 types.

BORDERLINE:

Tyler Earley (Drafted 1.17 by BATAVIA)
Chris Flores (Drafted 1.10 by LOS ALAMOS)

I see these guys as Top 100 talent, but may not actually show on the list.

***

Grain of salt not included.

[funclown]

My scout thought Alvarado was the best hitter in the draft.

My scout had him has some super power hitter guy who can't hit for average.

One more pick later for Pawtucket then "auto" probably engaged.

[BradZ]

Top 100 Rankings might be a bit hard to project in this version at this point right (since RP routinely show up in the list now)?

[Clay]

Top 100 Rankings might be a bit hard to project in this version at this point right (since RP routinely show up in the list now)?

For sure. That's the other disclaimer. It's based on experience in '11... and what's currently in the Top 100 in '12.

It's an old ass system (like Shavermetrics)... but it was actually really, really close the last few years. I'd say I was hitting in the 80-85% ballpark.... but so was everyone else (likely) if they'd chosen to waste their time on it.

[BradZ]

Hey there, glad to meet you. I'm the guy usually at the other end of those snippy comments...

I was unaware. How embarrassing.