List of Draft Steals

[Delandis]

This thread will be my list of draft steals, according to my scouting staff. Determination of a draft steal will be based on a simple objective observation of the difference between the player's predicted and actual draft position. I'll be posting throughout the day and will keep this as a thread instead of an article to give us something to chat about today. I can't guarantee that I'll get through the entire draft, but I will try to go as far as I possibly can today. So lets get started:

<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> 1.8-Willie Harrison (SP), Florida State Seminoles
Los Lunas Javelinas

Harrison is considered the first steal of the draft. Projected to be drafted 3^rd overall, this Seminole standout has three outstanding pitches and doesn’t look to be very far from pitching at a competitive level in the BLB. Harrison is a leader on the FSU baseball team and is very intelligent. Over his four years at Florida State, Harrison’s control has gotten significantly better giving up 11 homeruns over 73 innings as a freshman starter, compared to only 3 home runs in 77 innings as a senior. His only knock is that he doesn’t work nearly as hard as he could and may rely too much on his talent. One thing is for certain though, Harrison can definitely pitch as evidenced by a recent 3-hit, 14K shutout victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys (4/15/1992).

[Lintyfresh85]

Don't really know what other teams got a steal... so I thought I'd focus on a guy I drafted that I think will end up surprising some people down the line.

3.21 - Shawn Lawson (SP), Blessed Sacrament Huguenot
California Kodiaks

Lawson, an 18 year old graded out as a 5-4-5 SP prospect from my scout Joe Huber. To go along with his decent grade, he also features four solid pitches and has shown the ability to go long into games he starts. While Lawson had a down year his senior year, Huber, and the Kodiaks front office believe he will be a tireless worker and will get the best out of his potential. Don't be surprised if Lawson ends up as a 5-5-6 somewhere down the line. If he manages to stay healthy, the Kodiaks project Lawson to someday be a fixture in the back end of their rotation.

[Ryan]

We won't really know who got a steal for a few more years, will we?

[Delandis]

We won't really know who got a steal for a few more years, will we?

True. But its a simple list of where a person was drafted compared to a expected position. In a couple seasons, I can look back and compare expected and actual results with a list like this.

<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> 1.18-Wenceslas Hautbourg (SP), Louisiana State Tigers
Denver Bulls

Hautbourg is a native of Venezuela and has been a starting pitcher for LSU for the past four years. Projected as the 7^th overall pick of the draft, Hautbough tumbled all the way down to 1.18, where the Bulls picked Wenceslas. Many BLB general managers may have passed on Hautbourg because of his reported fragility. Hautbourg isn’t the type of pitcher that will blow people away with a fastball, but he does minimize mistakes and has great control for a young pitcher. Add the facts that he’s a positive influence in the locker room and works hard at his craft, there is a lot to like about this LSU standout.

[Pat]

All my draft picks are steals.





/thread

[Clay]

True. But its a simple list of where a person was drafted compared to a expected position. In a couple seasons, I can look back and compare expected and actual results with a list like this.

<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> 1.18-Wenceslas Hautbourg (SP), Louisiana State Tigers
Denver Bulls

Hautbourg is a native of Venezuela and has been a starting pitcher for LSU for the past four years. Projected as the 7^th overall pick of the draft, Hautbough tumbled all the way down to 1.18, where the Bulls picked Wenceslas. Many BLB general managers may have passed on Hautbourg because of his reported fragility. Hautbourg isn’t the type of pitcher that will blow people away with a fastball, but he does minimize mistakes and has great control for a young pitcher. Add the facts that he’s a positive influence in the locker room and works hard at his craft, there is a lot to like about this LSU standout.

I think he'll come into the league rated among the Top Prospects... but FRAGILE tag means he was taken about exactly where he should have been.

[Delandis]

1.20-Lonnie Fowler (SP), Cotuit Kettleers
Baltimore Bulldogs

-The Bulldogs were convinced that Fowler would not make it to the 1.20 pick, especially being with Lonnie being marked as the 8^th pick in the draft. Not even considered the best pitcher on the Cotuit rotation, Fowler pitches 3^rd behind fellow 1^st round pick, Artie Benitez and young phenom, Tom “Fate” Stolarik. Fowler will likely have to dramatically improve his changeup to be a true force in the BLB. The Bulldogs felt that Fowler improvement over the last four years proves he may have a chance as big league starter and at worst, a serviceable long reliever.

[Delandis]

1.24-Ivan Bojorquez (SP), Clemson Tigers
Virginia Colonials

-This California kid has been attending and playing for Clemson University for the last four years of his life. Originally from California, Ivan has the potential to be a very good pitcher in the BLB and was slotted by our staff as the 13^th overall selection. With a live fastball and matching changeup, Bojorquez has the ability to sit down batters in a hurry. Ivan also doesn’t gives up very many home runs.

[Carlos]

Where are you getting projected draft position? Your scout or another source?


Sent from my mobile device.

[Delandis]

My scout.

[Delandis]

<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> 1.26-Jeremiah Washington (SP), Arizona State Sun Devils
California Wildfire

-Another kid raised in California, Jeremiah opted to stay relatively close to hom and attended Arizona State to play baseball. Slotted to be the 11^th overall pick in the draft, selecting Jeremiah during the sandwich round may prove to be a coup by the Kodiaks. Washington has shown potential to have great movement on all of his pitches, although he hasn’t seemed to completely master that aspect of his game yet. After promising freshman and sophomore years, Washington struggled a bit his junior year. He has bounced back with a respectable performance his senior year. The biggest question with Washington will be, can he improve his 3^rd pitch enough to be an everyday starter at the BLB level?

[Ryan]

Where are you getting projected draft position? Your scout or another source?


Sent from my mobile device.

Peter Gammons.

[Carlos]

Peter Gammons.

The Boston beat writer? Why does he matter? Unless he becomes like some baseball guru or something why bring him up?


Sent from my mobile device.

[Ryan]

The Boston beat writer? Why does he matter? Unless he becomes like some baseball guru or something why bring him up?


Sent from my mobile device.

No sir, Peter started at ESPN in like 1988. He is already Guru-esque here in good old 1992.