Day 3 Open Thread
Posted on June 11th, 2009 by erik in 2009 MLB Draft, tags: Curt Smith, Sam FreemanYou can share your thoughts on all things round 31-50 of the draft in the comments. I still can’t believe they found a way to drag this thing out this long. The draft starts at 10:30. BA has it’s list of the best remaining players on the board. I’ll be semi-around, I have some real life responsibilities to take care of today.
Last year the Cardinals drafted LHP Sam Freeman in the 32nd round, and Curt Smith in the 39th. Both players I’d say are C prospects, but to find a C prospect this late in the draft means you as a team have done your homework. Freeman has a 2.94 FIP at Palm Beach and looks like an interesting left-handed arm out of the bullpen, and Smith has batted over .300 both at High A and now AA.
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For what it’s worth, I reviewed this morning Baseball America’s extensive round-by-round blogging of yesterday’s draft in which they attempt to single out noteworthy picks. In Rounds 5-30 inclusive, the only Cardinal selection mentioned was the shortstop Jackson taken in Round 5, and that was only to point out that he had been a preseason All-American pick who fell because of his season-long hitting slump. Whatever may be the merits of Luhnow’s generally contrarian drafting, his choices either don’t jibe with BA’s notion of value or they are so below BA’s radar that they aren’t seen as worthy of notice.
i would like to see them take foglia from mizzou
939 Tyler Bighames, SS, Estoro HS, FL
PG on Bighames “Tyler Bighames is a 2009 SS with a 6’2”, 198 lb. frame from Estero, FL who attends Estero. Tyler has a strong athletic build, good balance and actions in infield, good arm strength, comes in on ball well. Good balance in swing, very good strength, attacks ball, very good bat speed, impressive BP, good games swings, ball jumps off bat, 95 off bat in games, very interesting player both in the field and at the plate.”
Interesting pick, wonder how signable he is?
i feel like a future HOF will be selected by someone today…lets hope its us
hmm the fact that bighames was still around here makes me wonder if we have a chance at signing him…that blurb on him makes him look very interesting
969, Travis Lawler, RHP, Midland College
999 Devin Goodwin, SS, Delta State
pick 999, that’s good luck!
Goodwin hit .345/.465/.631 and was 18-19 on steal attempts.
http://www.gostatesmen.com/news/2009/6/4/BB_0604095128.aspx
Goodwin led the Statesmen to a 38-16 mark this season, and a share of the Gulf South Conference West Division title. The Russellville, Ala., native batted .345 with a team-leading 68 runs scored and 18 doubles. The power-hitting middle infielder also slapped 12 home runs and drove in 51 runs, while swiping 18 bases in 19 attempts.
1029 David Kington, RHP, Southern Illinois Carbondale
3.65 ERA for Kington in relief. 27 K in 37 IP, 19 BB
Bighames looks unsignable this late but I wonder if they cut a deal over night. Committed to Oregon.
Out of HS, Lawler had committed to U. of Florida. He might have some upside.
Sad to see that Tim Clubb out of Missouri St. went to the Cubs. He was someone I wanted the Cardinals to get late.
1089, Justin Smith, RHP, Utah Valley
91/37 K/BB 93 H in 91.1 IP for Smith 4.73 ERA. I’d imagine it’s a tough park, he led the team in ERA by a good margin.
Smith has a knee-buckling curveball and a fastball that reaches 93.
http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/article_d310c10b-045c-53da-81b1-08e5b4b24a96.html
1119 Rich “the Rock” Rocabaldo, 3B, Mt. Olive College. Hit .417/.518/.765 this past season.
The announcer of the pick made sure we knew his nickname was the rock
http://www.moc.edu/athletics/PlayerProfile.php?Section=athletics&RosterIDNumber=772
“The Rock” has this on his player page “Do You Smell What The Rock Is Cooking” played (on PA) after each hit or defensive play by Racobaldo
“The Rock” hit a HR every 12.5 AB, also had 22 SB
1149 John Durham, LHP, Warner Southern College
1179. Taylor Terrasas, SS, Santa Fe HS (TX)
Terrasas signed a letter of intent for Louisiana Tech
high school short stop!
Taylor Terrasas
1209 Jesse Simpson, RHP, College of Charleston
Another Ole Miss pitcher. College of Charleston’s Jesse Simpson started his college career for the Rebels.
Oakland already giving away who they are going to pick in the 42nd round with the twitter feed and it’s still in the 41st round.
Story on Bighames:
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jun/06/mlb-draft-big-dreams-esteros-bighames/
My hometown product just went to the Braves – Nathan Dorris. Hard pressed to think he will sign this late. Committed to Vandy.
SEMO Catcher/closer gets picked in 46th round. Dustin called that one yesterday.
It seems so odd – why don’t we try for some riskier picks now. Its like picking one HS guy in round 1 has kept us from drafting many more HS guys in the later rounds.
I know it is just perception…but I feel like the Cards are scared to death of HS kids. But we feed off of all of these small college kids…is there any metric for success here. Do they know something that the big college programs didn’t a few years before? I just feel like after Shelby Miller – we went even more college heavy this year than in previous years. Erik – do the numbers bear this out? Sorry for my laziness – but figured you and the other guys might not have the numbers close by.
From what I understand, he will probably go back to school. Was hoping to go sooner.
John Holmes was just drafted by the Braves.
It appears that this year is the year of the pitcher. I recall reading some articles saying that this year’s positional crop wasn’t as good in previous years, but still. We’ve drafted what, 70-75% of our picks to pitchers? I guess they’re hoping to catch some diamonds in the rough and that the FO thinks our positional depth is fine.
Walt Jocketty’s son got drafted by the Cubs. Hah. Last pick Michael Thompson set school record w/118′s in 95 IP, for what little it may be worth
Couple notables:
Rusty Kuntz’ son was drafted.
Pat White, the QB from WV was drafted and at first announced as a QB then CF.
Hillis looks interesting. Hit 91 with a decent slider in his mlb.com video.
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?topic_id=4961152&content_id=4521371
Video on 49th round pick. I’m pretty darn certain this kid doesn’t sign.
Hillis has his own website.
http://www.andyhillis.com/home.cfm
BA says there are make-up issues.
“Scouts aren’t high on Hillis’ makeup, though he has a pro body and average stuff (88-90 mph fastball). Adkins is consistent and pitches at 88-90 mph. He’s switched to a slider for his breaking ball and has a god feel for a changeup. His 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame inspires scouts to project him aggressively, but perhaps not enough to buy him out of his college commitment to Middle Tennessee State.”
anyone who has his own website clearly has some makeup issues.
I’m torn. Addison Dunn from my hometown small school in PA was drafted in the 45th. It’s got to be exciting for him, although it was the Cubs that drafted him. Hopefully he’ll make the smart move and go to Kent State in the fall and wait a few years.
I’m more excited by these late round, small college picks then I am with our picks 4-20.
Hell, I’ll throw in our rounds 2 and 3 picks as well. Blech.
Cale Johnson, ace of the McKendree staff, taken in the 41st round: 87:22 k/bb in 89 IP with a whopping 13 unearned runs, suggesting that he probably enjoys a reputation for burning worms. His team must also have some lousy defense, since another starter has 13 unearned runs in only 58 1/3.
As a former McKendree hurler, nice to see a Bearcat get drafted.
Anyone drafted late that stands to be the next Kennedy, Sinkbeil, Scherzer?