For the third consecutive year I was handed the reins of the Cardinals organization in the minorleagueball.com mock draft. This was the highest pick I have had, and I was hoping to add some impact talent to the system. I believe I was able to accomplish that goal. Check it out after the break and tell me what you think.
13. Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky
For the 13th pick I targeted two players: Friedrich and Arizona State’s Brett Wallace. I am a huge fan of Wallace, and I would love to add a bat of his caliber to the system. However, in the end Friedrich just matched the needs of the organization too well. He is a lefty with decent control and two above average pitches that should pitch in a major league rotation in short order. I don’t know if he will last until the 13th pick on Thursday, but I am sure Jeff Luhnow would be happy to take him.
39. Conor Gillapsie, 3b, Wichita St.
My target for this pick was Zach Putnam, but when Gillaspie was still on the board he was too good to pass up. Everyone knows the Cardinals could use some infield depth, and Gillaspie just might be the best third baseman in this draft. He will never be confused for a slugger, but he has a great contract stroke. He has also proven himself with wood winning the Cape Cod League MVP. I seriously doubt he is available at this spot in the real draft, but he would be a steal at this point.
59. Trey Haley, RHP, Texas HS
This may look like a major overdraft according to baseball america’s rankings, but I think he could end up being the best high school pitcher in this draft. He has an athletic, projectable frame, and his fastball already touches 95 mph. He isn’t the most polished pitcher in the world, but he also has a pretty good curve he can throw for strikes. Haley is a bit of a project, but I love his upside. It wasn’t worth risking until the 3rd round, although he may be a tough sign if the doesn’t go in the first round due to a commitment to Rice.
91. Wade Miley, LHP, SE Lousiana
Going into the draft I wanted Louisville 3rd baseman Chris Dominguez with this pick, but after I stole Gillaspie I changed my plans. I was hoping Arizona flame throwing lefty Dan Schlereth would still be around, but he went right before me. I also targeted another Arizona player, prep slugger Jaff Decker, but like Schlereth he was also chosen right before my pick. That left me in a bit of a scramble before I finally settled on Miley. I haven’t seen a video on him, but he is a lefty that can dial his fastball up to the mid-90′s. The upside is definitely there as he has a slider and change that grade out as plus at times, and he also shows potential with a curve. Miley pitches at a smaller school and doesn’t have the dominating statistics you would expect, but lefties with that kind of velocity aren’t a bad gamble in this range.
125. Matt Marquis, OF, New Jersey HS
He was originally my target in round 5, but it sounded like the mock could get cut short and I didn’t want to miss out on this guy. He is exactly the kind of high upside high school player you want to gamble on in this range, and according to the perfect game message board, he put on a show at a recent Cardinals’ workout. Marquis has plus power, and the potential to be a prototypical right field slugger. He may be hard to sign away from Vanderbilt, but the upside is definitely there.
155. Johnny Giovatella, 2B, New Orleans
When they decided to go ahead and do the 5th round I was left scrambling a bit, but I settled on this diminutive slugger. He doesn’t have the size or tools you look for in a high pick, but all he has done is produce. He has a lot of Shane Robinson in him along with the ability to play 2nd base. I usually like to gamble on upside in this range; however, this is a position where the Cardinals could use some depth. He seems like a solid bet to hit.
Overall I was pretty happy with my haul. Friedrich was the #1 guy on my board for the 13th pick, and Gillaspie was an absolute steal at a position of need in the sandwich round. I love the upside with Haley and Marquis, and I think Miley was a solid gamble in the 3rd. The system is lacking in quality lefties, and I believe I added two very good ones. We are also a little short on infielders, and I was able to find a couple who have produced a lot in college.
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Very nice mock I’d say. Mind posting your’s from years past?
Also Saber Scouting just released their top 100 list.
http://www.saberscouting.com/2008/06/02/saberscoutingtop100/
They seem very high on Miley while Haley is nowhere to be seen.
here is last year’s mock
1st: Kevin Ahrens, 3b, Texas HS-picked prior to our selection, holding his own in the midwest leage
Sandwich: Pete Kozma, SS, Oklahoma HS-cardinals first rounder, holding his own in the midwest league
2nd: Nathan Vineyard, LHP, Georgia HS-supplemental first rounder, currently in extended spring training
2nd: Wes Roemer, RHP, Cal St. Fullerton-supplemental first rounder, holding his own in california league
3rd: Eric Sogard, 2b, Arizona St.-2nd rounder, hitting extremely well in california league
4th: Dan Schlereth, LHP, Arizona-8th rounder, didn’t sign, has established himself as a first round pick this year
5th: D.J. Jones, OF, Alabama HS-signed late, hasn’t made his debut yet
Houston sure did get a nice group of players in that mock draft as well. Aaron Crow, Destin Hood, Kyle Lobstein, Brett Marshall, Brad Hand, Peter Paramore and Dock Doyle.
Although I think Marshall is going to college and Hood and Lobstein could join him. But thats a nice collection of talent.
Yeah, that’s a dream haul for Houston, and I know most people know this, but Houston would never pay half those kids so I would be shocked if that is anywhere close, esp. with Crow apparantly wanting $5+ million.
wasn’t unclebuck44 picking for the Twins? I’d be interested in knowing how his picks went.
Overall, great mock FGC. I admit I hadn’t seen Marquis much until recently, his power seems pretty off the charts. He would be a tricky one to sign, much like our 4th rounder from last yr.
Yeah I did pick for the Twins. Here’s what I wound up getting:
14: Brett Wallace, 3B, Arizona St.
27: Reese Havens, SS, South Carolina
31: Ross Seaton, RHP, Texas HS
60: Tyler Sample, RHP, Colorado HS
92: Chris Dominguez, 3B, Louisville
126: Ryan Lavarnway, OF/C, Yale
156: Bryan Shaw, RHP, Long Beach State
I was very pleased with how my draft went.
stupid question alert….what day is the draft? the tv listings on espn.com seem to think today is august 2nd so i can’t check
It’s Thursday, I believe it starts at 1 on ESPN2. I will be liveblogging it.
I was reading some of the Houston papers and the Astros are already bringing up “Signability” in their predraft talks.
Way to drive down expectations Drayton!
I would be shocked if Houston took Crow.
I know we talk about Crow falling to #13 as a pipe dream..but if he makes it past Cincy at 7, I think the only team that will pay him what he wants is the Rangers at #11.
So there is a chance…that rumored MLB contract and 5 to 6M package is starting to make it rounds about Crow..been known to make a player drop.
yeah, mayo reported today that crow wants a major league contract. i don’t think houston goes there, and i don’t think the A’s do either. the rangers will, but hopefully nolan ryan talks them into taking cashner. here’s to hoping matusz makes it to the reds or they go with a bat. that is the first domino that has to fall.
i think josh fields is just an obvious fit when you consider their spending habits, but they do have a new man in charge so who knows.
Well, you did better on your mock than I did on mine, both of you. On the whole Blogger mock I got
13. Friedrich. (Good)
39. Perry (myeh)
59. James Darnell (may not stick at third)
A lot of the guys I really wanted went right before me, and sadly I didn’t prep that much as I wasn’t sure we were even going to go past the 1st round. If mine were the real Cardinal draft I’d be pretty upset. Boo me.
Looks like a very nice haul, FGC. I had a question regarding one of last year’s draftees, RHP Michael Stutes of Oregon St. who didn’t sign with us. The Kyle Russell debacle doesn’t look as bad for us now as it did a year ago, but does anyone know how Stutes has been doing in his Senior season and where he might end up in this year’s draft?
Haven’t really seen his name on any of the lists that I’ve looked over, but there is an interesting player I’ve gotten to see a couple of times in person that plays for Illinois State U, and last summer played on the Falmouth Commodores: Kevin Dubler. He played catcher during the games I saw, and he hit the ball very well with some pop (2HR in one of the two games). He throws RH and bats LH with a pretty quick release on his tosses. Seemed pretty solid behind the plate and ran pretty well for a catcher. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Cards take a flyer on him somewhere later in the draft as LH hitting catchers with some power don’t come around too often. Anyway, thanks for reading and if anyone has any thoughts on him feel free to toss them out there. I’d like to see what everyone has to say.
fgc, who would you have gone with if Fried Rich was already off the board?
kranhour, Dubler is projected to go anywhere in the 4-10 round range. Scouting report I read on him says his arm strength is fringy and he hasnt really mastered the finer parts of catching. They project him to be a utility type player who can play the corner positions to keep his bat in the lineup. His bat is just that good.
I have officially jumped on the Lawrie for #13 bandwagon.
I am also starting to lead the charge for Cutter Dykstra at #59 or #91.
I believe in gamers, I believe in energy and I really believe in genetics.
I love drafting sons of former players…they are rarely overwhelmed, they are almost always fundemental and they are almost always playing the game b/c they love it, not b/c they need the money.
Cutter Dykstra to me is a bigger Dustin Pedroia with a tad more power and speed.
Can a brotha get some Cutter Dykstra Bandwagon Love!
jdk, he certianly jumped off the page compared to the other guys on the field. At first I thought it was a product of poor pitching / aluminum bats, but the guy was stinging the ball every time he came to the plate even if he made an out. Thanks for the heads up on the projection. Sounds to me like he could end up in the AL and man a DH position if necessary. Still would like to see him in the Cards system.
Tim Melville was just on the radio here in STL, but for some odd reason he wasnt asked a thing about the Cards interest in him, if the Cards have talked to him and if he was invited or participated in the predraft workout.
So the fact he was on a STL radio show and not asked a thing about the Cards, I still found a couple of things out about him…he sounds like a smart kid, who is marture for his age and when asked about his MLB comp and style…he was told by scouts that he compares favorably to Matt Cain when he was coming out of HS.
Oh well…I guess you take what you can get on STL sports radio.
Why don’t the cards just take a chanch for once and pick Mellville or Ordoriizi in the first round?
Hicks supposedly was VERY impressive at a private workout for the Cardinals recently.
I’ve been the biggest Hicks supporter on this board, but Lawrie has taken a huge leap in my eyes. I’m about 50/50 right now.
Hope they take one of those two, and we don’t end up with Friedrich like every other mock I’ve seen.
Neither Mellville or Ordorizzi are worthy of the 13th pick.
CardinalSins at Cardstalk was nice enough to pass along Keith Law’s blog comment that Lawrie is now “heavily “in the mix with Cincy at #8.
My worst case, is if we are sitting there and Crow, Friedrich, Wallace and Lawrie are all gone.
If Shooter Hunt’s control wasnt already a concern, now you can add his health
On Friday he threw 99 pitches, 2 days later his moron coach lets him start and throw 90 or so pitches in less then 4IP.
3 days before the biggest day of his life.
Rick Jones the Tulane HC should be ashamed of himself.
Great job, FGC. Friedrich wouldn’t be my personal choice at 13, but that’s a fantastic haul overall.
coryk, i was deciding between friedrich and brett wallace the arizona state slugger, so if friedrich was gone i would have gone with him. as you can see, UB was happy to jump on him with the next pick.
I agree on Shooter Hunt comment. Your last game is teh last one in their minds. They could have just saved him for relief if needed, he pitched for nothing.
Stutes has not had a good year or his team. I am thinking that in a private conversation he had with someone that he wished that he had signed. He supposedly was insulted with the money offer, but were the cards that far off the mark? The way they move people if he had done well he could have been in AA. Sometimes it’s not about the money but the team. Players want to be moved up quickly and I don’t know of any other team that does so quickly. Do you guys?
He has been pitched way too much in college for an early consideration.
I am not sure of Melville’s agent, but most agents usually tell their clients to be very non chatty before the draft. Sometimes it does more harm than good, that’s why Boras never lets his clients talk to anyone. I like the kid, I hope he does ok.
Few questions (mostly involve chances guys fall)…
1) What are the odds of Crow really falling to 13th and Cards deciding to not have a Porcello sequel?
2) Love the Conor Gillipsie pick at 39, chances that will actually happen?
3) I know Dan Schlereth will not make it as far as he did in the minorleageball.com mock, but will he be around at 59? Love this guy, especially with our dirth of lefties in the farm bullpen, Tyler Johnson hurt, Randy Flores back to earth, and Ron Villone sucking.
4) This is the first hearing about 3b Chris Dominguez from Louisville. Since two of our messageboard draft experts are so high on him, was hoping some more could be shared about him.
5) Also, any input on Cutter Dykstra, Matt Marquis, and Wade Miley as the talk on this thread has me really intrigued.
Bump for discussion on the eve of the draft.