Comments on: Day One Recap, Day two preview

By: JC

JC — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:07:41 +0000

Just participated in Jim Callis’ Chat on the Draft. He said he expects Miller to sign closer to the slot (~$1.4M) than his asking price of $4M. With that said I am guessing we are talking around the $2.5M area (give or take a few hundred thousand).

By: Shhh

Shhh — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:24:54 +0000

“Cockiness and a 98 mph fastball works better than cockiness and a 92.4 mph fastball…”

WTF.

BA: He usually pitches at 92-93 mph
MLB: Miller threw his fastball up to 96 mph and throws comfortably at around 93 mph. He’s been clocked as high as 98 mph.
PG: 3/1-Miller’s fastball is in the 91-94 mph range 5/15-Miller consistently generated 94-97 mph fastballs

So Shelby has probably hit 98 a couple times in his life, while you compare that with Homer’s average velocity. Homer has probably hit 98 a couple times in his life too. Lets try not to make Shelby out to something he isn’t like people clamoring to Strasburg and his 103 number which he hit once in his life, which may have been a juiced gun, he’ll probably be lucky to sit at 96 (which is amazing) which is the number that matters. By the way anyone have what Klaw and KG usually have Shelby’s velo at?

By: SleepyCA

SleepyCA — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:26:14 +0000

Cockiness and a 98 mph fastball works better than cockiness and a 92.4 mph fastball…

By: Gruntosaurus

Gruntosaurus — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:28:09 +0000

As regards Miller and the “cocky” part, how does he compare, stuff-wise and makeup-wise, to former Reds uber-prospect Homer Bailey? His “cockiness” has been cited as one of the reasons why he has disappointed on the big stage. I lack the data to compare the two, but at a first glance, it strikes me that there are similarities. Of course, if you KNOW there’s an issue there, it’s easier to deal with, and another part of the Bailey problem seems to be that the Reds hadn’t really thought through what they were getting.

By: t7rick

t7rick — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:22:05 +0000

Eric, please send me an email about a donation. t7rick at gmail dot com

Also, I know a couple of people were adamantly opposed to the Kelly pick but now that I think about it more I think it was very prudent. Especially if they choose to try him as a starter. I think he is a slot sign with very high upside. That will save money and hopefully allow for Miller and Stock to sign while providing the talent that could end up being a steal. I do think there is a much larger chance that he flames out but I am completely fine with drafting a guy who will sign for slot who has very high upside for a third round pick.

By: whopperman

whopperman — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:57:44 +0000

Two things to point out — one, if the Cards don’t sign Miller, they get a compensation pick in next year’s first round. Obviously, you’d rather get Miller into the system, but getting an extra pick in the 20-25 range is a decent consolation prize.

Second, I would have been surprised if Kelly didn’t start initially. If you keep a guy in the rotation, you can get him more regular work with the pitching coach on smoothing out mechanics, etc., when he throws his side sessions halfway between starts.

Obviously, if he handles it well enough, they’ll leave him there.

The Kelly pick reminds me of taking Boggs a few years ago — blah stats but an arm that’s better than the numbers.

By: bigchieftootiemontana

bigchieftootiemontana — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:53:06 +0000

Miller’s comments sound good, he has a lot of confidence and drive, hope he turns out like another cocky high school arm (Josh Beckett) who proclaimed shortly after being drafted that he would be pitching in an All-Star game soon.

By: Shanky

Shanky — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:50:42 +0000

I, for one, feel a lot better about Miller’s signability after reading his comments yesterday. He seems genuinely geeked up about being a Cardinal. Never did I think that Miller would be in our wheelhouse, but Keith Law did mention him along with Purke as being possibilities. Thank God we didn’t pull the trigger on a third-round talent with that first round pick. . .now, about that Robert Stock selection! Oh, never mind, I’ll let that one slide.

By: Lou Schuler

Lou Schuler — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:46:45 +0000

BJM and Jeff:

I don’t know if the Cards will pull off a big signing like Mateo in LA, but it seems they’re linked to a lot of the top lefthanded pitchers mentioned in articles at BP.

I kind of thought they’d try to get some lefties in the draft, but now that they’ve drafted three righties in the first three rounds, I have to think they’ll go for the other arm on July 2.

By: gforce

gforce — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:43:11 +0000

Hey all,

Couldn’t have picked a better day if I tried. JC/Batavia is definitely going to be an interesting watch all summer with last year’s crop, the DR players, and Luhnow V5.0.

Can’t wait for the 4th round to start!