I know we just discussed this some yesterday, and you can put this in the “for what it is worth file”. I really don’t know some of these sites from Adam or how reputable they are, but here is who the mock drafters have the Cardinals picking in the first round.
| Mockdraft | Updated | Cards 1st Pick |
| Baseball Draft Report | 5/8/2009 | Andy Oliver, LHP, OK State |
| Sporting News | 5/4/2009 | Jay Marisnick, CF, Riverside Poly HS, CA |
| Minor League Ball (Fanpost) | 4-May | Andy Oliver, LHP, OK State |
| Morisato’s Blog | 4-May | Chad James, RHP, Yukan HS, OK |
| Flagrant Fouls | 4-May | Jake Turner, Westminster Christian, MO |
| USC Trojans | 26-Apr | Andy Oliver, LHP, OK State |
| My MLB Draft | ? | Tim Wheeler, OF, Sacramento St. |
| Rivals.com | 29-Apr | Jake Turner, Westminster Christian, MO |
| Jason Churchill | 5-May | Matt Davidson, Yucaipa HS |
Saberscouting (I miss that site) has this scouting report on Marisnick from last year.
Marisnick is a big athlete from southern California with some serious tools that is still rough around the edges. He has above-average speed in a 6′4, 200 pound frame that can play in center field for now with an above-average arm. His bat from the right side impresses at times and his power approach is projectable as an above-average big league regular and first round pick if his hitability and pitch selection can progress. Scouts dream on his projectable, near ideal frame and also on his flashes of big power and hitability in BP sessions.
Here are MLB.com’s draft reports on the others:
Sorry, no Andy Oliver. I was able to find this scouting report and this video, however.
Out of all of these mocks, Oliver makes the most sense. He hasn’t lit it up for Okie State, posting a 4.36 FIP but he is striking out over 10 per nine innings and his home park is a tough place to pitch. The problems that he comes with all seem to be something that can be ironed out. He already comes armed with the two-seam fastball and has potential to have a plus slider. Considering the dearth of depth the farm system has with left-handed pitching, Oliver seems to be a fit but I thought the same thing about Christian Freidrich last year and thankfully we got the Walrus instead, but I don’t think there is a bat remotely close to Brett’s being available this year.
After looking at the draft prospects a little more closely, I’ll throw together my own futile attempt or two at a mock draft.
Entries (RSS)
I may be biased as a Sooner fan, but I have been relatively unimpressed with Oliver the last two seasons. He was solid last year, but not spectacular and this year he has struggled at times.
He did have a major problem with the NCAA regarding his eligibility and that may have had some impact on his performance this year. I’ll trust the talent guys we have. I like the depth the farm is developing so if we pick him then I’ll trust them, but it would seem that there are better available in the first round.
As a card carrying member of the “Let’s draft a high school pitcher” club, i would be more than ok with Jake Turner, but i’d still rather have zack wheeler…both have small delivery concerns, but from what i’ve seen, wheeler’s stuff is better…plus we’ve had good luck with Ga. HS pitchers(waino–i know i know, we didn’t draft him, still though…i know i know small sample size, still though)
HS pitchers are the most flaky grouping of any draft. they bust at a much higher rate than hitters, either college hitters or high schoolers. and you’re talking about guys with delivery concerns to boot.
i really prefer they take the best hitter they can find, either college or high school but if they take paxton, minor, oliver or brothers i won’t complain much.
No information to back this up, but I don’t think Turner lasts until our pick … or z. wheeler.
I just can’t picture Luhnow and Co. drafting a high-school pitcher in the 1st round.
college pitcher, likely LH. there are no middle infielders worthy there. the catching crop is strong, a HS catcher is a possibility. next year, I see a HS pitcher somewhere in the high picks. with Ank, Piniero, Wellemeyer (?), Glaus, K Greene, T Miller as FA’s, I see several of those being offered arbitration and the cards getting picks for some of them. given 2-3-4 extra 1-2nd rnd picks, that is the time to go out and get a high end HS pitcher.
I think I’m gonna be dissappointed if we don’t get a high-school pitcher in the first round (unless Leake is there somehow).
Dan, I don’t the Cards are going be offering arbitration to all those guys if this past offseason is any indication. Unless Khalil steps it up big time and Glaus is healthy I don’t see either being offered arb.
Wasnt Lunhow and Co. ready to take high school pitcher Blake Beavan in the 07 draft before the rangers took them one spot before the cardinals drafted?
@ nmstar … we don’t exactly have anyone to take over at SS, so arb to Greene is a good option. Unless T. Greene impresses enough to share the duties with Ryan next year, offering arb might not be a bad idea. K.Greene hasn’t exactly had seasons the past couple of years that he would have to be paid a lot of money in arb. As always, just my opinion.
what i mean by that is that if he shows good D (see Isturis), that is what STL has been looking for from their SSs the last couple of years. Don’t see Glaus being offered arb unless it’s a weak 3B crop this off season (not taking the time to see who is available). Ank … hopefully we can find a trade). Pineiro … no. Welley … no. Miller … don’t we have a club option?
I just have a feeling another Ottavino pick is coming in the first round this year. Jeff Luhnow actually has to draft a high school pitcher in the first round before I believe he will.
And so far 0-4 since taking over.
fwiw, in 2007 Goold reported that they were going to take Blake Beavan before Texas took him first.
and how is he 0-4. Colby is in the big leagues and was ranked the third best prospect in baseball, Wallace is doing just fine. Ottavino and Lambert…bleh. It’s still to close to call, but I’d say he’s closer to 2-4 than 0-4.
With the seasons most of those guys are having they’ll be lucky to be type B free agents and worthy of a compensation pick even if we offered them arbitration.
I’m not sure who except ankiel I would call even type b. Glaus will be injured too long. Neither pineiro nor wellemeyer are likely to keep it together long enough. Greene could improve his hitting enough to be a type b, maybe. Miller? No.
Eric
I meant he was 0-4 as it pertains to drafting a high school pitcher in the first round. And I’ve really never bought the Beavan thing. It just doesn’t fit the modus operandi.
gotcha.
They took Herron in the supp. 1st round in 2005, and Josh Wilson in the 2nd round. That’s close enough for me when there’s better talent available on the draft board (see: Rasmus, Colby).
hate to harp…but if we take rick procello instead of kozma, then we have a low cost high upside pitcher to take piniero or wellenmeyer’s spot in the rotation next season…i know its risky, but good businesses take risks
but there is no porcello in this draft that is going to be available at 19. and fwiw, there are some scouts that would rather have james paxton, a college pitcher, than purke (the top hs pitcher).
I’d rather have a college pitcher than a HS pitcher generally because there is less “bust” chance with the college pitcher and they always move quicker through the organization.
Porcello was very rare as a fast moving HS pitcher.
i’m not gonna be too upset if we take a good college lefty, but if turner or wheeler fall to us and we take kozma, i’ll be upset….and i like pete
i do think if turner fell to st. louis, they probably would take him. while drafting hs pitchers isn’t their thing, drafting someone they know is, either family or what have you. there are just so many cardinal connections with turner, be it his coach or his teammates’ dads.
Klaw was saying that Turner hit 98 in his last start. He’s going top ten, it really doesn’t matter that Boras is his agent.
Think I’m actually the one that asked that in the chat if it’s the signability question. And I think the first question he answered was that no one has any clue on mock drafts until about a week before the draft.
Over at Minor League Ball, they are getting ready to do their Mock Draft again this year. I signed up to take care of the Cardinals. I would appreciate any help that you guys would want to send my way.
I know that I am not all that active in posting, but I read everything that I can about the minors. It has become a great hobby for me. But, I am always open to others’ opinions. Thanks!