2020 Official Draft Thread - Starting Tues 2/14

[Z]

I have all my picks in 2021 and I can't wait.

[Pat]

I like the Harftord pick. If my top hitting prospect wasn't a RH 3B, Paton might have gone #4. But I scratched him off my board because of redundancy.

[Delandis]

Nice pick. I think he could be really special. When the draft class was first announced, I actually thought Whaley had a chance to go #1. If he lives up to the OSA potentials, he could end up a 5-tool CF as you said, but also as a SS! Stats, durability, intangibles, rankings, etc. He's really got it all. I went back and forth with him and Bernardi for #4.

I was hesitant to pick him for two reasons however:

1.) I'm really not sure what to make of this new OOTP ranking of CFs. If you look at every level, BLB, CCBL, NCAA, HS, there are multiple CF prospects in the Top 15 that can field and run, but not necessarily hit all that well. That worries me some. Whaley is the #1 prospect in HS, but if we were on OOTP16, where would he rank? Is he considered an elite prospect just because of his defense/speed?

2.) My scout has soured on his bat twice in recent reports since January. I trust OSA more than my scout the past few years, but I did spend a lot on amateur scouting this season for maybe the first time ever and my scout is LEGENDARY at scouting prospects. My scout still thinks he will be a great player but that worried me.

I feel like Whaley was probably the most boom/bust prospect in the Top 10 and not just because he is a high schooler. I know a lot of teams loved him. I think he definitely has a chance to be the best player from this draft.

I agree 100%.

Like I said, my scout doesn't like him nearly as much as OSA, but he still describes him as one of those "most dominant hitters for the next ten years" kind of guys. He also thinks he'll just have average contact, but big time power and discernment at the plate. Add in his speed and defense and it just looks like if he just reaches 60% of his potential, he's starting in someone's centerfield for a while.

As much as I hate the uncertainty of high school stars, I couldn't pass on him.

[Z]

As much as I hate the uncertainty of high school stars, I couldn't pass on him.

Kudos to you. I would have taken him with the second pick if MacDonough were off the board.

[Pat]

As much as I hate the uncertainty of high school stars, I couldn't pass on him.

I'm pretty sure I would have made the same choice had you moved up to 1.4 and taken Bernardi. Part of the reason why I moved up was I figured you would have selected the lefty SP and I wasn't certain I could pull the trigger on the HS at 1.6...if he made it there.

[Z]

I feel like Whaley was probably the most boom/bust prospect in the Top 10 and not just because he is a high schooler.

I don't see him as a boom or bust guy at all. I think he has the highest floor of anyone except The Tornado.

At a bare minimum he will be an elite defensive shortstop who will pull his weight as a hitter. Even if he is Brendan Kelsey as a hitter -- which I think is his floor -- his defense means you have an above-average starter.

Same thing goes for his potential in center, although I see him as someone who projects better as a shortstop.

[Delandis]

2020 Official Draft Thread - Starting Tues 2/14

I'm pretty sure I would have made the same choice had you moved up to 1.4 and taken Bernardi. Part of the reason why I moved up was I figured you would have selected the lefty SP and I wasn't certain I could pull the trigger on the HS at 1.6...if he made it there.

My scout doesn't like him (Bernardi) so much.

And while I do have the final say, at this point in the draft we have to agree on guys.

[Andrew]

My scout hates Whaley's bat. The stats and OSA tell me he's probably wrong but it would have been too big a variation for me to seriously consider him in the top 5.

[Delandis]

My scout hates Whaley's bat. The stats and OSA tell me he's probably wrong but it would have been too big a variation for me to seriously consider him in the top 5.

I love hearing this.

Not the part where Whaley is going to suck, but the differences in scouting opinions.

[Pat]

I don't see him as a boom or bust guy at all. I think he has the highest floor of anyone except The Tornado.

At a bare minimum he will be an elite defensive shortstop who will pull his weight as a hitter. Even if he is Brendan Kelsey as a hitter -- which I think is his floor -- his defense means you have an above-average starter.

Same thing goes for his potential in center, although I see him as someone who projects better as a shortstop.

Boom/bust might not have been the best phrase... One of the pitchers is a much higher risk of busting, as we have seen usually one of the first few pitchers not quite make it almost every draft. DeGennaro had a major injury. Stokes has low stamina. Bernardi has character flaws. You're right, these three are all probably high chances to bust.

What I mean is, I think he has just as good a chance of any prospect in this draft to come out as #1 in the class. HOF potential. But if my scout is right, he might just end up a DWI-level defender and average at the plate.

[Guest]

Those aren't the same person?

Nemesis is the jerk, I'm the nice one, asshole.

[Carlos]

Denver selects David Banda. He was my #4 on the board. I know there are other players that would be considered better than him, but I know when a guy won't fit my park and some guys picked before Banda would have been a disaster.

Banda can hit and field. He's got the shoulder injury (twice!) but much like DeGennaro in Syracuse, I'm not letting an injury stop me from drafting a player I really like when he's 20-years-old.

[Delandis]

Same thing goes for his potential in center, although I see him as someone who projects better as a shortstop.

I'm curious s to the rationale. Pat said the same and just wondering why you guys feel that way.

[Pat]

And while I do have the final say, at this point in the draft we have to agree on guys.

I agree 100%.

If we didn't have scouts on, I would have taken Whaley hands down. But when picking this high, I need some consensus.

Now if my scout turns out wrong, and Whaley ends up in the HOF, I might not even hire a scout.

[liquidcrash]

I'm curious s to the rationale. Pat said the same and just wondering why you guys feel that way.

He has the infield ratings to potentially make the move - 8 range, 6 Arm, 7 Turn DP and 5 Error if you go by OSA.

I think he's a more natural CF, and that's where I would probably keep him.