Draft History - Your Team's First Rounders

[Clay]

1983 - Clarence Evans - This guy will never be a great hitter but looks to have a future in Maine, even if it's just as a utility infielder. He's rated highly at all four infield positions. Also a very good baserunner. I'm still holding out hope that he could turn into a decent hitter and become a starter.

LOVED Evans! I still think he could be a STAR! I wanted him to fall to my Sandwich pick in the worst way that year.

Just looking through the draft histories... has anyone done a better job drafting than JMW and Dallas?

It'd be tough to argue a case for anyone but Dallas.... but I'm sure Diesel will try.

[Delandis]

1978 1.8, Carlos Bamentos(OF)-Carlos has been one of those guys who has yet to translate his ability to success at the major league level. After a September call-up in 1981, Bamentos hit .333 through 28 games and won the league's September ROM Award. Bamentos was fast tracked to a starting role in 1983 following this outstanding performance. However, he failed to impress hitting just .244 and striking out 141(2nd) times in 1982. This terrible performance by Bamentos likely inspired the signing of perinnial All-Star outfielder, Nick Latham. Subsequently, Bamentos was moved back to AAA in 1983, playing in just 41 major league games. In 1984, Bamentos was recalled back into a part-time role in the majors, but failed miserably. With a VORP of -17.0 and hitting just .211 through 126 games, I will likely be in the dumps this year, especially with the loss of Latham, if Bamentos doesn't step up to the plate and produce something.

1979 1.16, Jeff Franklin(P)-This young kid has come onto the scene as one of the most dominant pitchers the BLB has ever seen. Getting his first major league start in 1980 at just 18, Franklin struggled a bit. However in 1981 as a full-time starter, Franklin exploded to 16-6 record, a 2.61 ERA, with 230 strikeouts. In 1982, Franklin maintained his dominance lowering his ERA to a league low 1.71 through 35 appearances. Franklin continued winning in 1983 with a 1.94 ERA. In 1984, Franklin looked just little slower as his ERA slipped just a bit, back to 2.48 through 13 games. Unfortunately, in an interleague game against the Dallas Snappers, Franklin tore a shoulder muscle while pitching to Almato Albors in the first inning. Franklin underwent surgery to repair his arm and should be full strength and ready to return to spring training.

1980 1.13, Scott Limont(1B)-Despite promise shown throughout his minor league career, Limont tore a back muscle in 1983 that had likely ended his professional career. With the emergence of potential first basemen like Pat Washington, Luke Swain, and Chris Halsworth, Scott was deemed unnecessary by the Baltimore front office and released in June 1984.

More posted in a little while.

[Jim]

Just looking through the draft histories... has anyone done a better job drafting than JMW and Dallas?

I mean you really know your stuff.

'79: Gil Melgoza - 1.2
'80: Joe Molenza - 1.7
'81: Antenor Corona - 1.9
'82: Dani Álvarez - 1.8
'83: Denver Brode - 1.2

All of those guys are in the BLB right now! You either are an amazing evaluater of talent, or you've had some of the best luck with prospects out there.

Also if my math is right, these five combined for a total VORP of 110.2! For comparisons sake... California's total offensive VORP last year was a combined 8.5. Those five guys put up nearly 14 times the amount of VORP that my starting 9 did. That's flat out amazing. Congrats on the great work!

Thanks...I'm sure it was a combination of the right scouts & some luck though. I don't spend hours & hours looking at the draft classes but I would spend a fair amount of time checking out the top guys. It also didn't hurt to have two number 2 overall picks and all of my first round picks (until this year) had been in the top 10.

I still would love to know what my team would've done this year with Alvarez but the 3 guys I got in return played a huge role so I actually don't think we would've been as good if I didn't trade him.

[Guest]

1980 - 1.5 - SP Nacho Zagistado - A bust. Now 27, Zagistano has an outside chance to be a spot starter one day, and even that is a long shot.

I was extremely, extremely close to taking him at #1 instead of Haydon.