BY: JOHN SCAFETTA
** As promised, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the first round of the 2008 MLB draft on a running live blog. This is my first time attempting something like this, so If I don’t make it through the entire duration of the predicted seven-hour long first day I’m sure you’ll understand. By then I’ll either have given up or passed out. Either way, keep checking back as this will be updated periodically.
POST TWENTY THREE: 5:00 p.m.
With the first round concluded, its time for me to take a break. A very lengthy break. The draft continues on MLB.com. I hope everyone who followed my first-round coverage enjoyed it and check back later for more coverage of the 2008 MLB draft.
POST TWENTY TWO:4:56 p.m.
That interview with Mark Schlereth was brutal. It really shows that he is the epitome of a father who pushes their kid way too hard.
The Boston Red Sox select Casey Kelly with the No. 30 pick.
This is a great pick. Kelly was one of my players to watch heading into the draft.
The son of Pat Kelly, Casey is an exceptional athlete who has as much skill as a position player as he does as a pitcher. He’s set to play football at the University of Tennessee, so once again signability could be a factor. On the mound he has a low-to-mid-90s fastball one of the best curveball’s in the nation. At the plate, he has raw power and the ability to consistently make contact.
The Cleveland Indians select Lonnie Chisenhall with the No. 29 pick.
The Indians grab a JUCO kid in the first round and I like it.
Covering Junior College ball the last couple of years, I have so much appreciation for it. The JUCO level is a diamond mind for ball players.
Chisenhall has had some off-the-field problems, which could cause some concern. However, he is still considered to have one of the strongest bats in the draft. His is not so much conducive to power, but he will scatter line drives all over the field.
POST TWENTY ONE: 4:45 p.m.
People in Florida appear to really hate New York.
The New York Yankees select Garret Cole with the No. 28 pick.
It’s a no-brainer that the Yankees select a pitcher with this selection.
I have to say this is a little of a suprise, considering the Yankees go after more polished players. Cole has a blazing fastball and has a raw power arm. As a Boras client, once again the Yankees have no problem facing baseball’s anti-Christ.
The Minnesota Twins select Carlos Gutierrez with the No. 27 pick.
The third Hurricane drafted, has already had Tommy John surgery. Definitely a gamble. Gutierrez has a fantastic sinker, but doesn’t have an extended arsenal of pitches which could hold him back. He has the ability to start at the high class A and could be moved into the closers role in the near future.
POST TWENTY: 4:37 p.m.
Imagine if I covered all 1600 or so picks. I should be getting paid for this.
The Arizona Diamondbacks select Daniel Schlereth with the No. 26 pick.
Schlereth, the son of ESPN football analyst Mark Schlereth, has been touted as one of the best college arm’s in the country. His fastball consistently clock at 90-94 mph and has the capability to sit at 94-96 mph.
Arizona has had incredible luck with college players and continue on the collegiate path this year.
The Colorado Rockies select Christian Friedrich with the No. 25 pick.
The Rockies go with a lefty here, who has sweeping curve ball. He could be another pitcher who can run the fast track to the big leagues. Last summer, Friedrich struck out Buster Posey, Jason Castro and Gordon Beckham in his final inning in the Cape Cod League playoffs.
He doesn’t have the high-celling that say a Brian Matusz does, but is probably the second best lefty in the draft.
POST NINETEEN: 4:24 p.m.
The Philadelphia Phillies select Anthony Hewitt with the No. 24 pick.
Hewitt is the definition of high risk, high reward. He has boat loads of raw power, but has had problems with the wood bat and playing against tough competition. He still struggles to recognize curve balls, but when he hits the ball, he hits it a ton.
The San Diego Padres select Allan Dykstra with the No. 23 pick.
Dykstra (not the son of Lenny) has a ton of raw power.
The Padres go with another local kid here, who should help them out in the power department (something they desperately need).
He lacks great mechanics at the plate, but nothing too serious that it can’t be manipulated down on the farm.
POST EIGHTEEN: 4:14 p.m.
The New York Mets select Reese Havens with the No. 22 pick.
This pick’s a gift from the Braves for signing Tom Glavine in the off-season and they choose an absolute ballplayer.
Havens is another Gamecock who was a gritty college player. He will most likely move from short to another infield position due to a giant stop-gap in Jose Reyes at the bigs.
Havens has great hand-eye cordination, but lacks a decent amount of pop.
I see Havens really moving through the Mets system quickly.
The Detroit Tigers select Ryan Perry with the No. 21 pick.
Three relievers in a row.
Perry was Cape Cod all-star last year and is a huge power arm. He was definitely the best pitcher available on the board.
This is a kid who could be on the fast track. He throws in the mid-90’s, but has pushed his fastball to 98 mph. The only knock is that his fastball lacks deception, which could cause him problems as he moves up the Tigers system.
POST SEVENTEEN: 4:04 p.m.
Good thing John McLaren’s not at the mic today.
The Seattle Mariners select Joshua Fields with the No. 20 pick.
Much like last year, the Mariners again go for a hurler in the first round of the draft — this time a college pitcher.
Fields was drafted by the Atlanta Braves last season, but chose not to sign. His command of his mid-90’s fastball and low-80’s breaking stuff is often too inconsistent, which throws up a warning flag.
Looking at the position the Mariners are right now, it’s a little surprising to see them grab a reliever.
The Chicago Cubs select Andrew Cashner with the No. 19 pick.
Another college pitcher. The Cubs came into the draft with no real pressing needs, but you can’t have enough pitching.
Cashner is tall right-hander and a former Junior College standout who opted not to sign with the Rockies last year. He has a decent fastball, but his pitch is really his slider which consistently clocks a 84-85 mph. His command has some worried, which might force him into becoming a reliever.
POST SIXTEEN: 3:52 p.m.
Steve Phillips really wishes he was still a GM.
The New York Mets select Ike Davis with the No. 18 pick.
The Mets needed a catcher with this selection. They settled on a 1B/OF and I’m not sure why.
Davis, the son of former Major Leaguer Ron Davis, is a sweet swinger who has the ability to consistently drive the ball into the gaps. Some scouts had him gunned at 94 mph at the mound, which will transition nicely is he stays in the outfield.
However, the Mets needed to go after a backstop with this pick.
The Toronto Blue Jay select David Cooper with the No. 17 pick.
Blue Jay GM J.P Ricciardi really needs a strong draft this year. Toronto’s farm system needs resuscitation.
Cooper’s another NorCal product who has a big-time power potential at first base. He has a real smooth swing with the potential to catch up to any fastball.
POST FIFTEEN: 3:41 p.m.
Bud Selig is terrible with names.
The Milwaukee Brewers select Brett Lawrie with the No. 16 pick.
Yet again, another catcher. This time a Canadian.
This kid’s garnered comparisons to Craig Biggio and has a smooth swing. He’s short in stature but has enough pop to produce some power at the next level.
The Los Angeles Dodgers select Ethan Martin with the No. 15 pick.
Martin is a straight power pitcher, who also plays third base. He has the athleticism to do both in the pros, however his raw power might be his best attribute.
He is committed to Clemson to play football and baseball so this selection could be up in the air.
POST FOURTEEN: 3:31 p.m.
I can’t tell if Chris Singleton really knows what he’s talking about or could it be that he just reads the teleprompter really well.
The Minnesota Twins select Aaron Hicks with the No. 14 pick.
College players have been at a premium this draft, but the Twins grab a high school kid here who graduated from MLB’s Compton school.
Suprisingly, he’s also the only player in the auditorium. Cue the jersey grab and camera smile.
Back to baseball, this kid is both an outfielder and a pitcher who will most likely stick with the bat. He has quick wrists and a body that is made to develop into a solid outfielder.
The St. Louis Cardinals select Brett Wallace with the No. 13 pick.
Peter Gammons just called him “Matt Stairs times two.” He ain’t kidding.
Although he’s a big dude, he plays a solid third base and can be a legit power threat who should make a smooth transition to the wood bats.
POST THIRTEEN: 3:20 p.m.
I’m beginning to realize Karl Ravech has no baseball knowledge. Here’s the last two picks.
The Oakland Athletics select Jemile Weeks with the No. 12 pick.
Rickey’s little brother, who seems to just hit line drives. Another Hurricane, who is a solid defender who can really motor. A prototypical lead-off man, who has the ability to have a high on-base percentage.
The Texas Rangers select Justin Smoak the No. 11 pick.
I originally had Smoak going fifth to the Giants, so I absolutely love this pick (and not because he’s a fellow Gamecock).
Smoak is the purest hitter in the draft. He swings the bat well from both sides of the plate and can really field his position at First. Reminds a lot of Chipper Jones (even before Peter Gammons just mentioned that.)
POST TWELVE: 3:09 p.m.
The Houston Astros select Jason Castro with the No. 10 pick.
Another catcher. That’s three with the first 10 picks.
I didn’t have Castro anywhere near the top 10. He hit just .263 combined in his first two years at Standford, but hit .341 in the Cape Cod League last year, so he can handle the stick.
At 6′3, he’s athletic enough to be agile behind the plate and he’s improved as a receiver.
As a side note, through the rest of the first round as the picks speed up, I’ll be updating after every three of four picks.
POST ELEVEN: 3:02 p.m.
The Washington Nationals select Aaron Crow with the No.9 pick.
I had Crow going third, so consider this a steal. He’s by far the best right-handed pitcher in the draft, with an exceptional fastball. The Nationals need all the help they can get in the pitching department and this is a guy who could be on the fast track to the bigs. I’m talking maybe a year-and-a half.
POST TEN: 2:58 p.m.
The Chicago White Sox select Gordan Beckham with the No. 8 pick.
Suprised they didn’t go with Smoak here.
Beckham went undrafted out of high school and has transformed himself at Georgia. I wouldn’t be surprised if he changes position, but he’s athletic enough to make that transition.
POST NINE: 2:52 p.m.
The Cincinnati Reds select Yonder Alonso with the No. 7 pick.
I thought the Reds would stick with a pitcher here, but instead choose a big first baseman.
Alonso was once thought of as not being drafted in top 10, but has made a strong push up the draft board. He’s asking for a huge deal (somewhere in the neighborhood of 8 million), so again signability could be a factor. Either way, Alonso is one of the more dangerous hitters in college baseball (not to mention he’s on the most dangerous team).
POST EIGHT: 2:47 p.m.
The Florida Marlins select Kyle Skipworth with the No. 6 pick.
With Posey gone, it’s Skipworth at No.6. The California prepster is the next best choice at the catcher position. He’s a four-tool player who reminds me a lot of Joe Mauer. The Marlins were lacking at this position, so they got their man.
POST SEVEN: 2:41 p.m.
The San Francisco Giants select Buster Posey with the No. 5 pick.
Talk about a curve ball. I don’t know of anyone who had Posey going to the Giants.
Posey’s not a natural catcher (he played Shortstop at high school), but he has been proclaimed “the safest” pick in the draft. It will be interesting to see if he can convert his skills at the catcher’s position to the professionals. However, his bat has so much upside that the Giants can definitely be considered winners with this pick. They’re in need of just about everything when it comes to position players.
POST SIX: 2:35 p.m.
The Baltimore Orioles select Brian Matusz with the No. 4 pick.
I’m suprised Matusz was selected this high. Many had him going at the No. 7 position. But as a lanky, left hander, you can’t go wrong here. He has great command of his pitches and one of the best change ups in the draft.
POST FIVE: 2:31 p.m.
The Kansas City Royals select Eric Hosmer with the No. 3 pick.
I had a feeling this would happen. I was way off with my prediction of Aaron Crow going at this position.
Hosmer’s a tall (6′4′) left-handed bat, who hit .487 this year in high school. Signability might be a factor with Boras as his agent, but he is a legitimate prospect.
By the way, where are all these players? Shouldn’t it be like the NFL or NBA, where they walk up on stage, hold a jersey and give us one of those psuedo-smiles for the cameras.
POST FOUR: 2:25 p.m.
The Pittsburgh Pirates select Pedro Alvarez with the No. 2 pick.
Alright, so far I’m two-for-two in selections. Alvarez had a miserable SEC tournament performance, but he is a strong left-handed hitter. He’s a Scott Boras client, so he’ll be in for some money.
I must say, I like where Pittsburgh is heading. They have some young talent that will hopefully get them back to respectability. It’s been a while.
Is the auditorium the draft is in really called “The Milk House?”
POST THREE: 2:20 p.m.
Question. Where are all these Rays fans when Tampa Bay is playing at home?
Just a thought.
Here we go, first pick. The Devil Rays select Tim Beckham with the No. 1 pick.
I’ve said it before Beckham is a tremendous athlete and depending on how he matures at the minors, he could be in the bigs in 2-3 years. He can really field his position and has a high ceiling when it comes to the bat.
By the way, did I just hear Karl Ravech mention he’s African American within the first sentence after the selection was made. Wow.
POST TWO 2:10 p.m.
First let me say, Peter Gammons is a genius. He makes Baseball Tonight tolerable when he does make his 2-3 minute appearances and alleviates some of the pain of listening to John Kruk or Orestes Destrade.
Anyways, the crowd at the draft is in a frenzy. They put NFL fans to shame (I kid).
Tampa Bay is on the clock and within the last few days it appears the Rays are a lock to take Tim Beckham. Can’t complain there. He reminds me a lot of a younger Rickey Weeks.
And now time for “Bud Selig talking out his ass” time. If you aren’t familiar with it, it happens at every MLB event where he goes on a lengthy diatribe about how great the game is. I swear this guy loves the sound of his voice.
POST ONE 1:55 p.m
So we have just five short minutes until ESPN2’s coverage of the first round begins and before we commence, let me update you on the day one draft rules. MLB makes it pretty simple. Each team has five minutes in between picks and we should get through the first three rounds today with Friday selection’s covering up to 50 rounds (if team’s decide to go that far).
Last year was the first time ESPN ever attempted televising the draft and in a way I was surprised at how professional their coverage was (Thanks to Peter Gammons and only Peter Gammons). Don’t get me wrong though, some of it was still ridiculous. If haven’t figured it out yet, you could say I’m not a fan when it comes to a bulk of ESPN’s coverage and I’m sure you’ll hear my complaints as we get this thing started.
John Scafetta
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