1997 BLB Amateur Draft

[Jake]

mwetts?

I laughed.

[tomr1962]

Looking at college SS with 40 SB in 49 games played. Ratings of 5 for both Speed and SB. Makes no sense.

[Carlos]

Looking at college SS with 40 SB in 49 games played. Ratings of 5 for both Speed and SB. Makes no sense.

I stopped trying to make sense of some stats.

Just look at the first pick.

Jimmy Hackett. Blazing speed. 7-8 Ratings. Career .397 OBP. 11 Stolen bases. In 4 years.

Actually the problem I have with some of the college stats is how they don't correlate to actual ratings, but rather potential. And that's absurd because if a guy is potentially a 7 and hitting like one, then his current should be a 7.


I get it that the pitchers they face aren't Pancho Herrera, but everyone else has their same current power rating.

Hackett's OSA current is 2. Caplan's is 2. Jamie Watson is 3.

The stats don't match up.

But, that's also another reason why ratings are BS too.

[funclown]

But, that's also another reason why ratings are BS too.

That made me laugh. Somtimes prior stats don't help either.

[tomr1962]

I know like a guy hits .400 + for 4 yrs in college, yet he is rated 2 and your scout states he will never hit better than .160

[Delandis]

I stopped trying to make sense of some stats.

Just look at the first pick.

Jimmy Hackett. Blazing speed. 7-8 Ratings. Career .397 OBP. 11 Stolen bases. In 4 years.

Actually the problem I have with some of the college stats is how they don't correlate to actual ratings, but rather potential. And that's absurd because if a guy is potentially a 7 and hitting like one, then his current should be a 7.


I get it that the pitchers they face aren't Pancho Herrera, but everyone else has their same current power rating.

Hackett's OSA current is 2. Caplan's is 2. Jamie Watson is 3.

The stats don't match up.

But, that's also another reason why ratings are BS too.

Well to be completely fair, his manager at OSU was a bit conservative on the base paths.

His contract was not renewed this year. :)

[liquidcrash]

I stopped trying to make sense of some stats.

Just look at the first pick.

Jimmy Hackett. Blazing speed. 7-8 Ratings. Career .397 OBP. 11 Stolen bases. In 4 years.

Actually the problem I have with some of the college stats is how they don't correlate to actual ratings, but rather potential. And that's absurd because if a guy is potentially a 7 and hitting like one, then his current should be a 7.


I get it that the pitchers they face aren't Pancho Herrera, but everyone else has their same current power rating.

Hackett's OSA current is 2. Caplan's is 2. Jamie Watson is 3.

The stats don't match up.

But, that's also another reason why ratings are BS too.

Feeder league stats are almost entirely based on potential ratings. That's been the case forever. If a player absolutely mashes in one of our feeder leagues, he's likely a high potential guy. If you were to go into the current ratings, I'd be willing to bet almost all of our HS level guys have nearly identical current ratings, particularly hitters (even on a wider ratings scale than our 2-8). It gets a little more spread out in college, but it's still a potential=stats thing. I don't really have a problem with this, since the current ratings are based on their ability to perform in a professional level league. Just like in real life, top high school players are going to kill it on that level, but are years away from any major league impact and will likely take years in the minors.

Back to the real news: my draft. I actually put it on auto earlier than normal this year (damn time constraints), but I kind of like the guys I've gotten. We took CL Pat Durst, who I think could be a decent reliever in time, though not a closer. We also took LF Travis Howell, who's had some success in the college level. I'm not sure he does anything great, but he could have a couple BLB-level abilities. With our second sandwich pick, we got Dave Jennings, who the game lists as a 1B but he's an outfielder as well. He's put up two good years, has really good speed and gap power. Not sure he's going to get on base much.

On the whole, I'm pretty happy to get Ruben Velasquez and Colin Anderson in round one, and I think Troy Saxe will be a good reliever with our second round pick. Dave Palmer is a pitcher who does some things that I like to see from a HS level pitcher, assuming he comes back healthy this season. I think my drafts have been ok the past few years, so hopefully we got some help again this season.

[Pat]

Ttavis Howell is a big time sleeper.

[funclown]

So Indy is not set to "auto"?

[Carlos]

Feeder league stats are almost entirely based on potential ratings. That's been the case forever. If a player absolutely mashes in one of our feeder leagues, he's likely a high potential guy. If you were to go into the current ratings, I'd be willing to bet almost all of our HS level guys have nearly identical current ratings, particularly hitters (even on a wider ratings scale than our 2-8). It gets a little more spread out in college, but it's still a potential=stats thing. I don't really have a problem with this, since the current ratings are based on their ability to perform in a professional level league. Just like in real life, top high school players are going to kill it on that level, but are years away from any major league impact and will likely take years in the minors.

That makes all the sense in the world. I'm glad you're my editor.

[Ryan]

So Indy is not set to "auto"?

Sorry, i am now. Thought i'd be awake for the pick, but I nodded off. Old age...

[Delandis]

As one of the guys that enjoys the latter half of the draft, Im happy to pick up Tommy Dukes (MR). Probably not much more potential than a AAA guy, Dukes was pretty good during his college career at LSU, posting career highs in ERA (1.73) and WHIP (.92) in his final season. He's got a good work ethic and has the skills to be a professional starter. Dukes was also part of the LSU's 1996 Championship winning team

[funclown]

Pawtucker 6.13 selected PANGBURN! He can do it all ....IF/OF. Plus I love saying his last name.

PANNNNNGBUUUUURRRRNNNNN!

[Spectre]

Yes! I got Pat Sandusky

[Clay]

Draft goes in Friday.

Just gave my office the "something came up, gotta work from home on Friday" speach, so I should be able to get the draft in earlier than I hoped.