Non-Audio Podcast Draft Recap

CZ Notes Special

Post-draft thoughts with special commentary by Brendan Hart (started this article whilst on the train and hungover )

The first ever live draft was a rousing success as long as you exclude the part where Andy, Brendan (30 minutes of a wandering Jeff Lester) and yours truly waited until 4:30 a.m. for a cab to take us one mile to the hotel. WHOMP WHOMP. Also ignore Brendan booting on the side of I-95 on the way home. That’s another story…

Big ups to Tom Tom for putting his life/marriage on the line coming to the event. Maybe I’m giving him too much credit. To borrow a line from Chris Rock, kids aren’t a big deal anyway, “I mean, even roaches have kids.”

The following is the first ever non audio podcast.

Recap and thoughts:

Round 1
1 Ballyhooly Ballers of Cork - Bailey, Andrew RP OAK
2 RIC Anchormen - Suzuki, Ichiro RF SEA
3 Attack Pigeons of Connecticut - Raburn, Ryan LF DET
4 Binghamton Hell Benders - Marcum, Shaun SP MIL
5 The Brew Crew - Gonzalez, Gio SP OAK
6 The Smoke Monsters - Fowler, Dexter CF COL
7 Attack Pigeons of Connecticut - Street, Huston RP COL
8 The Smoke Monsters - Ramirez, Manny LF TB
9 Cuban Rampage - Putz, J.J. RP ARI
10 The Carbombs - Cordero, Francisco RP CIN
11 The Smoke Monsters - Thornton, Matt RP CHW
12 Polska Pandas - Furcal, Rafael SS LA

Best Value Pick:
Brendan: JJ Putz was easily the best value in this entire draft.
John: I agree, kind of. Putz was my top closer going into this. I like him to have a Billy Wagner type resurgence and as Heath Bell has shown, playing for a bad team might actually help because the games you do win, are close.

Also liked:
Brendan: I also like Shaun Marcum. For Tom Tom to land him at 4, was huge for his team.
John: Marcum is good, but I really like Gio Gonzalez too. His strikeout totals are high. He’s looked good in spring, even though that means nothing, and if he can reduce his walk rate, he’ll be real good. To me he was the highest upside pitcher and maybe player available. Former panda pitching prospect too.

Most Surprising Pick
Brendan: Ryan Raburn. I think it goes against what the Pigeons are doing now. They’re trying to get younger. Also the risk of Ryan Raburn at the first round, doesn’t match the reward that you could have gotten with some others. Definitely someone he could have targeted around the third round.
John: Agree on all that. But I would say Dexter Fowler might be a slight reach. I had him targeted around the third round. He had a strong final two months, but I don’t think there’s enough to go off of there. Who knows? Maybe he puts it all together.

Other thoughts:
Brendan: If I’m Billy at the second spot, to me it makes a lot more sense to have taken a riskier, but higher upside guy, maybe like Fowler or something. I mean yeah I get that Ichiro is good, but the only reason I would take him there is so I could trade him for more than that at the deadline.
John: I wonder if in the future closers might be a player you take a greater consideration holding onto. There are some absolute nubs out there. And speaking of closers, Francisco Cordero, tough to take him over Matt Thronton with Aroldis Chapman breathing down his neck and ready to make a potential Neftali Feliz-like contribution.

Round 2
1 Ballyhooly Ballers of Cork Maybin, Cameron CF SD
2 RIC Anchormen Lidge, Brad RP PHI
3 Attack Pigeons of Connecticut Desmond, Ian SS WAS
4 Binghamton Hell Benders Pagan, Angel CF NYM
5 The Brew Crew Ordonez, Magglio RF DET
6 Ballyhooly Ballers of Cork McLouth, Nate CF ATL
7 Polska Pandas Napoli, Mike 1B TEX
8 The Smoke Monsters Lee, Derrek 1B BAL
9 Rhode Island Quahogs Nunez, Leo RP FLA
10 The Brew Crew Hanrahan, Joel RP PIT
11 Wickford Walnuts Huff, Aubrey 1B SF
12 New England Bombers Abreu, Bobby RF ANA

Most Surprising
Brendan: I don’t want to harp on Eamer’s draft picks but I felt like he reached for several guys throughout the draft and Maybin was no different.
John: Agreed. Maybin was definitely a shock to me here. Maybe he was looking for Dexter Fowler to be there and when he got picked he thought he had to get the other toolsy CF.
Brendan: As much as I liked the Marcum pick in the first, I’m a little puzzled by the Angel Pagan pick by Tom.
John: I liked Pagan but I wonder if he can approach the numbers he had last season. His first full season will be a test. I was shocked to see he was already in his late 20’s.
Brendan: I also can’t believe Derrek Lee went off the board before Aubrey Huff. I think everyone regarded Huff as a first round talent in this year’s draft.

Best Value:
Brendan: I never thought Huff would drop to us in the 2nd round so for us to get him there, I was pumped. I also like [the Pandas] Mike Napoli pick.
John: Yeah. For me it was pretty important to get Napoli and Furcal to fill those gaps. There weren’t any closers available that I liked at this point or I would have taken one and hoped Napoli fell.

Other Thoughts
John: This list of second round guys is pretty uninspiring.
Brendan: to say the least. I felt like the 2nd round is where you looked to fill some holes and more upside guys would be available in the 3rd-6th. But yeah. Very nubbish list.

ROUND 3

Round 3
1 Ballyhooly Ballers of Cork Carmona, Fausto SP CLE
2 RIC Anchormen Johnson, Chris 3B HOU
3 Attack Pigeons of Connecticut Suzuki, Kurt C OAK
4 The Brew Crew Lilly, Ted SP LA
5 The Brew Crew Lowrie, Jed 2B BOS
6 Polska Pandas Franklin, Ryan RP STL
7 Cuban Rampage Figgins, Chone 2B SEA
8 New England Bombers Vazquez, Javier SP FLA
9 Polska Pandas Kennedy, Ian SP ARI
10 The Carbombs Kuroda, Hiroki SP LA
11 RIC Anchormen Zambrano, Carlos SP CHC
12 RIC Anchormen Uribe, Juan SS LA

Most Surprising:
BH: Fausto Carmona was awful. He’s great if you like that k/9 around 4. I hate that guy.
JR: (laughing) I didn’t know the Nuts consortium was so dead set against Fausto.
BH: Definitely not high on that guy. In fact very much the opposite.

Best Value:
BH: Chris Johnson was a great pick by Bill. He could have a strong year and I can see him being kept. Plus Bill needs a 3B. I like this pick a lot. I had him high on my list.
JR: I like Chris Johnson. I think getting Ted Lilly, in this round defines value. I’m surprised he lasted until the third.
BH: I know. He was a top-25 pitcher last season. I think Andy nearly killed me when I vetoed taking Lilly with our first pick in the second round. I was convinced though that Aubrey Huff was more vital to the Nuts than Ted Lilly. Had I known how things would unfold, I may have taken Lilly over Huff and grabbed Lance Berkman with our next pick

Other thoughts:
BH: As much as I’m down with The Brad picking the TED, I think Jed Lowrie was a reach here.
JR: Yeah. He was totally who I was going to take…around the 8th round. But I think, looking back at this, it will look like a smart move. He was really good last season.
BH: True. But the Sox love Scutaro.
JR: Yeah. By all accounts, there is not debate and they’ll find a few at bats every week for Jed. Unfortunately for Brad, unless someone gets hurt, Lowrie is pretty much just a super utility guy for the Sox.
BH: If Fausto Carmona isn’t picked in this round, Chone Figgins gets the award for most questionable. Once again, this is the “master plan” showing it’s true colors, which are, there isn’t really a master plan.
JR: Harsh criticism hombre. On the more positive side, I liked the pick of Javier Vazquez.
BH: I agree.
JR: I mean, when he got traded back to the NL, there was talk he would be a first round pick again, so obviously getting him in the 4th was a good value. I also don’t want to toot my own horn, but I think grabbing Ian Kennedy here a pick later was huge.
BH: Yeah I was a big fan of him.
JR: one of the few guys that has legitimate upside but a decent enough sample size. Plus he really turned it on at the end of the season. As a 5th or 6th starter, I’m more than confident throwing him out there, especially against the crummy NL West offences.
BH: Carlos Zambrano a few picks later. Thoughts?
JR: I hate that guy.
BH: (laughs) Was Knapp even at the draft?
JR: yeah I think he had like 2 picks all day.
BH: haha yeah. He didn’t even need his laptop. He could have just had a notecard with a few names.
JR: Speaking of materials, how about Eamer.
BH: oh you mean the 90 pages of notes he had sprawled across the table?
JR: yeah
BH: I love that he had all that paper and you gotta think some rankings were included on there somewhere and yet he takes Fausto.
JR: must have been all prospect materials, because his prospect draft was 180 degrees better.
BH: Yeah, okay let’s finally wrap up round 3.
JR: Okay… um, juan uribe, last pick. “yawn”
BH: (actual Yawn)

Rounds 4-6

Surprises:
BH: I’m not a big fan of the Mark Buehrle pick. I mean he was a guy that was on the waiver wire most of last season. What did he do in the offseason that warranted being picked up, no less in the 4th round?
JR: Duuuddeee. The ball comes out of his hand like no other.
BH: Haha. It’s not that Buehrle is a bad pitcher.
JR: yeah, he’s serviceable.
BH: Right, but for Bill, it just doesn’t make sense.
JR: yeah, he’s hoarding all those prospect picks for next season. Seems he’s shooting for a run at the title in 2017.
BH: In the next round, Eamer taking Yunel Escobar. I have issues with this.
JR: He’s a dog shit taco.
BH: mostly
JR: Maybe Eamer liked the 4 homeruns he hit last season. I think Cliff Pennington, Scutaro and I’m sure I’m leaving out others are more able bodies.
BH: I have a few issues with the Frank Francisco pick by KOB. Has there been any report that he has the job?
JR: not that I’ve seen.
BH: or even the inside track?
JR: I haven’t seen it. I don’t have as big a problem with this pick.
BH: yeah. I suppose not, but I think there were better options for Kevin at this point.
JR: How about Chris Ianetta at the next pick? I forgot about that guy completely.
BH: I liked that pick. But I hate the team that drafted him haha. He’s already got a top 5 catcher.
JR: hahaha. Yeah somehow, brian McCann is so forgettable.

Nice Picks:
JR: who were some guys you liked?
BH: I liked all those guys in the early part of the 4th round. De La Rosa, Peavy and Scott.
JR: yeah, De La Rosa was on that draft screen for a long time. CBS had him ranked very highly.
BH: And peavy could prove to be a strong pick.
JR: Yeah, shoulder injuries are scary though.
BH: But it’s a low risk and potentially high upside pick.
JR: true. All reports are that he looked very impressive in his spring debut.
BH: Yeah. And Luke Scott… Did you know he hit .290 last year? His numbers across the board are really really good, especially for where he was picked.
JR: That’s potentially a dangerous lineup in Baltimore he’s a part of too. Plenty of RBi opportunities. Also I want to like the Homer Bailey pick, but I feel like he’s going to be average his whole career. Last chance hotel With the Quahogs.

Rounds 7-10
JR: I don’t think there were any surprises at this point in the draft.
BH: yeah. Even though the draft is longer, by the time you got to this point, it was really the trash heap.
JR: Some pretty below average talent at this point.
BH: I think that the talent pool was very much diluted this year.
JR: hmm. Why do you say that? There were at least 36 players that might have been kept last season available.
BH: yeah, but if you think about it, the new 1st year keeper rule, dilutes young talent.
JR: I don’t know if I agree with that. I mean sure people abused that, but is anyone really drafting Eric Young Jr and Jon Jay?
BH: I see your argument, but think about it. Last year, Erik would have had to keep Jason Heyward, Posey, et al over other players. I feel like if the one year keeper rule was not in place, he would have had to drop someone like Howie Kendrick.
JR: Yeah I see your point. But I think Erik’s team might be the exception to the rule. He had good established veterans and young talent. I feel like rebuilding teams won’t have a lot of veterans really. I don’t know.
BH: I see your point too, but, eh, I don’t know. I felt like the talent got really thin really fast.

Observations:
JR: moving on. Were there any names that stuck out to you?
BH: Umm…
JR: Look at AJ Burnett all the way down there in the 8th round. Could that guy have fallen any further? You were laughed at for not taking Burnett 1st overall last season.
BH: Don’t remind me.
JR: Daisuke Matsuzaka. Ugh. I hate that guy.
BH: I love eamer drafting his second catcher hahaha.
JR: Doumit. Hilarious. Though I liked the Duensing pick. He’s not a big K guy, but I think he’s the type of pitcher that end the year with a sub 3.75 ERA sub 1.25 WHIP. That’ll play.
BH: I don’t know if I’m as bullish on him.
(silence)
BH: Darren O’Day!?
JR: Thoughts?
BH: I mean…
JR: (laughs)
BH: Worst pick of the draft even if he’s immediately dropped. Darren O’Day wouldn’t even own Darren O’Day if he was in a fantasy league.
JR: Own percentage: 1. His mom.

Prospect Draft:
JR: I think the prospect draft was as good as it’s ever been. It’s clear that everyone has looked at the rankings and came in prepared for this one.
BH: Undoubtedly. I mean I think it’s harsh to judge draft picks these days.
JR: Yeah. We can just base the picks off of rankings that were predetermined by other people haha.
BH: As you look at the draft board, what are your initial thoughts?
JR: For as bad as Eamonn’s MLB draft was in my humble opinion, his prospect draft was as good on the other end. It’s easy to pick Bryce Harper obviously, but I think each one of the guys he took was strong. Here’s the lIst:
Bryce Harper
Josh Sale
Anthony Rizzo
Zach Cox
Joe Benson
Tyler Skaggs
Andrew Oliver

JR: That’s quite the group
BH: Did you see the rousing debate that Josh Sale and Nick Castellanos caused at the intermission?
JR: Yeah, heated. Piazza and prospects by the way, a nice combination by the way.
BH: KOB got pretty into the discussion, and on the opposite end of the spectrum was Pat.
JR: I like Castellanos. His writeup screams Evan Longoria comparisons.
BH: Yeah I was seriously thinking of taking him, but when I learned that I’d get Singleton I was pretty pumped.
JR: Yeah I remember you debating which one you liked better. Singleton is one of those guys like Jason Heyward where you just feel like he’s going to be good. He’s black. That gives him like way more credibility than others.
BH: I hope so.
JR: Going back to Eamer’s draft, I think time will show that perhaps the best pick outside the obvious Harper pick was Joe Benson. I wanted him in the worst way.
BH: Really?
JR: yeah. I love that guy. His power rates really high and everything else rates as a 60 or higher. Hard not to like that.
BH: K/BB ratio was a little poor on him.
JR: I feel like he’s the kind of guy that makes enough contact to offset that.
BH: I don’t know. Maybe.
JR: Be skeptical, but when that guy is the next Jayson Werth, don’t say I didn’t tell you. What other picks caught your attention.
BH: I liked Zach Lee. And the guy you took, Kyle Parker. Was kinda pissed when you got him.
JR: yeah I liked those guys. But the lisp on Zach Lee? It’s tough enough having to draft a guy with two first names. But throw that in there, and that’s a real mixed bag.
BH: I thought Billy took every guy that I thought he’d take. Chris Archer. That guy screamed Billy pick. Jordan Lyles. Bill Pick. Brent Morel. Christ, did I not tell you like 2 weeks ago that guy was getting picked by Bill?
JR: hahaha you called all those guys. It’s not like those players are bad. But I don’t know what makes someone a prototypical Billy guy but you really can sniff it a mile away. It’s like how guys have type of girls they like you know?
JR: how did you not come away with Trey McNutt?
BH: Worst pick of the draft right there. I hate that guy. You don’t even need to see him pitch and he looks like a fucking 3rd starter and Brad got him in the 2nd round.
JR: Drinking the haterade there.
BH: Definitely drinking the opposite on Josh Sale. I really like that guy. He was a lightening rod though. KOB, aka Mr Baseball prospectus was like EHHHHAAAAHHHHHHH prospectus thinks he sucks.
JR: LAUGHS. Well I don’t know what prospectus had to say. All I know is Sale’s writeup was pretty bonerific. You also weren’t a big fan of another BrewCrew pick
BH: Who’s that
JR: Travis D’Arnard
BH: Oh, yeah. He’s awful.
JR: oooff, harsh criticism. The nuts sure find people they either really like or hate in a hurry haha.
BH: That’s how we roll.


John’s Favorite Prospect picks:
Round 1
Michael Pineda, Rampage
Jonathan Singleton, Nuts
Wilin Rosario, Benders

Round 2
I liked everyone in Round 2 haha

Round 3
Eibner, Nuts

Round 4
Segura and Yelich, Benders
Raunado, Monsters

Round 5
Cecchini, Ballers
Arcia, Quahogs

Brendan’s Favorite Prospects:
Round 1:
Pineda
Josh sale

Round 2:
Michael Choice
Craig Kimbrel

Round 3
Kyle Parker
Matt Szcur
Cesar Puello

Round 4
Raunaudo
Heredia
Ovando

Round 5
Aaron Sanchez
Levon Washington
Xander Bogerts