MLB Draft on ESPN

[Honolulu Blue]

I'm surprised no one is talking about this, so I'll cast the first stone. Here's the article, so you know I'm not making this up. It's short, and I'd encourage you to read it if your workplace allows you to. In case you can't, here are the highlights:

* Thursday, June 7, 2 PM, from the WWoS Complex in Orlando (gee, shocker )
* First round only, 5 minute limit per pick
* ESPN2 does the honors, scheduled to end at 6.

I'm not expecting much, but this COULD be interesting. I'll be working through most of it, and it's not compelling enough for me to call in sick, but I plant to stick a tape in and watch what I can, when I can, and skip through the boring parts (which figure to be numerous).

[Young Drachma]

Yeah, I saw it yesterday. I'm pleased. All we need is draft pick trading and the 20th century to baseball's draft will be complete.

And I like that it's only the first round.

[Young Drachma]

And yes, I realize that baseball's draft is so long that doing more than one round would be painful.

But this is still a big step forward for folks who up until very recently were adamantly opposed to even putting the picks out on the day after the draft occurred.

[Crapshoot]

Yeah, I'm interested as well. If they get the BA guys in there as well as Keith Law, its a definite yes for me.

[rkmsuf]

you know what would be a cool idea? how about an FOFC member draft?

[Tyrith]

If they get some of the ESPN baseball analysts (especially Law, like Crapshoot said) then it could be really interesting -- I personally find the baseball analysts much more interesting to listen to than Kiper, Berman, et al -- the football draft this year was pretty obnoxious, a shame that we can't get NFL Network on cable.

[lighthousekeeper]

Looking forward to this.

[dacman]

Originally Posted by Tyrith

If they get some of the ESPN baseball analysts (especially Law, like Crapshoot said) then it could be really interesting -- I personally find the baseball analysts much more interesting to listen to than Kiper, Berman, et al -- the football draft this year was pretty obnoxious, a shame that we can't get NFL Network on cable.

The NFL Network's coverage wasn't that much better, IMO. The constant shilling of Sprint Mobile --"you can watch the NFL draft right on your mobile phone!" -- drove me nearly insane.

[Atocep]

It'll be interesting for hardcore baseball fans, but to most baseball fans its going to be something they'll check out once and move along. The idiotic no trading draft picks rule plus all the picks that are lost to free agency kills the excitment of the draft. Add to that the fact that you won't hear 75% of these guy's names again because of the incredible bust rate of baseball prospects and you have a boring show compared to NFL/NBA drafts.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by dacman

The NFL Network's coverage wasn't that much better, IMO. The constant shilling of Sprint Mobile --"you can watch the NFL draft right on your mobile phone!" -- drove me nearly insane.

God that WAS annoying. I liked how with each player though, they assessed his strengths and weakness, rather than having a big hug fest with him. I mean, I know Deion Sanders did that with the first rounders. But he's not exactly an analyst, so..I was tolerating that on mute.

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Atocep

It'll be interesting for hardcore baseball fans, but to most baseball fans its going to be something they'll check out once and move along. The idiotic no trading draft picks rule plus all the picks that are lost to free agency kills the excitment of the draft. Add to that the fact that you won't hear 75% of these guy's names again because of the incredible bust rate of baseball prospects and you have a boring show compared to NFL/NBA drafts.

Yeah, there's an equation you could come up with that factors in the sport's popularity, the draft's rules, and the percentage of drafted players who make an impact in a given sport as to how popular a sport's televised draft is or would be. Unless you're talking about a Mark Prior or someone like that, even the best first round prospects are 2-4 years away from the big leagues. There's no reason to "root" for your team to pick a guy that, at best, is going to help your team in 2010.

[SunDevil]

I think that this is a good idea. Yes, based on the numbers the players who are chosen in the draft are years away from making an appearance to the major league team, but I think that this could give a boost to minor league team as well. Living in Arizona and seeing how popular Spring Training is, how many people from out of state travel here to catch their team play, I think that some of these same people would visit their AAA team if they had better knowledge of the minor league players and such. Usually the AAA teams reside in the same city or another city close by.

So in terms of giving the fan the chance to identify with or connect with young players whether they make it or not to the major leagues, I think is a good thing.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I know this is a little strange, but the only draft I enjoy watching is the NBA draft. The MLB draft, to me, is like the opposite of the NBA draft. In the NBA draft, most of the top picks are going to get serious playing time and possibly make an impact in their first year. In the MLB draft, as has been mentioned, the guys are at least a couple of years away from the big leagues.

Now, this may be more of a personal thing, but when the NBA drafts players, I know who most of the players are, and I know something about how they play. In the MLB draft, I can pretty much guarantee that I've never heard of any of the draftees. Even if I've heard a name or two before, I certainly don't know anything about how they play.

OK, I understand that many people follow baseball prospects more than I do. It's just that there are so many players, so many rounds to the draft, and so many places that these players will get scattered to. It almost seems like a chore to keep track of these guys until they at least hit AAA level. By then, you have a pretty good idea of which ones have a future in pro baseball and which ones don't. On draft day, I just can't find much to get excited about.

Then again, I don't like watching the NFL draft at all, and everyone else seems to love that. So I guess I'm a little strange that way.

[Ksyrup]

I have little interest in the NBA, but I still will usually watch the draft. And of course, I like to follow the first few rounds of the NFL draft and keep track of players I know from FSU or other schools. With baseball, I'm more interested in reading the scouting projections that come out after they've been drafted and have played in the minors. The draft is really not all that important until they show they can play, and that happens in the minors.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I have little interest in the NBA, but I still will usually watch the draft. And of course, I like to follow the first few rounds of the NFL draft and keep track of players I know from FSU or other schools. With baseball, I'm more interested in reading the scouting projections that come out after they've been drafted and have played in the minors. The draft is really not all that important until they show they can play, and that happens in the minors.

This sounds quite a bit like me. I don't watch the NBA in the regular season at all, but I like to follow the stats of individual players, particularly the rookies. I only follow the NFL draft once it's over, and I look at the results to see where certain players went. Besides that, I don't really care about the NFL rookies until the season starts.

If there's an audience for the first round of the MLB draft, great. I certainly can't fault ESPN for giving it a shot. There are so many potential superstars that'll go in the 3rd round or 8th round of 15th round, though, that there's just not enough "bang for your buck" for me, I guess.

[Honolulu Blue]

I'm bumping this because the draft is today. Set the DVR/VCR.

P.S. There are a few more details about the ceremony here, along with some other links that may be of interest.

[Ksyrup]

I could not possibly imagine recording and watching a draft.

[Ksyrup]

No, I have an opinion.

I'm one of those who can't even watch tape-delayed live sporting events, so the idea of watching something as monotonous as a draft after the fact is unthinkable.

I apologize for making my opinion public, though.

[Logan]

I'm guessing the "first round picks being aired" will only include the true 1st rounders...not the sandwich picks between R1 and R2, correct?

[Ksyrup]

I'm disappointed. I thought you would just come back in 10 minutes and chastise yourself for making that post, instead of deleting it. Oh well.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

No, I have an opinion.

I'm one of those who can't even watch tape-delayed live sporting events, so the idea of watching something as monotonous as a draft after the fact is unthinkable.

I apologize for making my opinion public, though.

I deleted my comment right away, because I knew it would get misconstrued. I was just being a smartass. Sorry.

[Schmidty]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I'm disappointed. I thought you would just come back in 10 minutes and chastise yourself for making that post, instead of deleting it. Oh well.

You were pretty close.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Logan

I'm guessing the "first round picks being aired" will only include the true 1st rounders...not the sandwich picks between R1 and R2, correct?

If it's scheduled for 4 hours of coverage, and there are 30 teams, they may actually throw in the sandwich round. Hard to say though.

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I'm disappointed. I thought you would just come back in 10 minutes and chastise yourself for making that post, instead of deleting it. Oh well.

Always quote, Ksy...always.

Originally Posted by stevew

If it's scheduled for 4 hours of coverage, and there are 30 teams, they may actually throw in the sandwich round. Hard to say though.

An article I read was kinda specific about "every team's 1st round will be televised," but that may have been more to peek the interest of the fans of teams who don't get a lot of coverage, more than definitively saying "just the first 30 picks will be televised." They should go into the sandwich picks though...there's been some great players from there in recent years.

[st.cronin]

I think the Cubs just drafted a mentally handicapped 3rd baseman.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

I think the Cubs just drafted a mentally handicapped 3rd baseman.

Josh "tender" Vitters?

[Karlifornia]

Does Bud Selig really need to tell us what city and state Clemson University is located?

[Atocep]

Should we start a pool on when this Pirates 1st round pick blows his arm out?

[rkmsuf]

Daniel Moskos "on the Husdon"

[DeToxRox]

LaPorta to Milwaukee is interesting.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

LaPorta to Milwaukee is interesting.

Matt LaPorta "viarta"

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Matt LaPorta "viarta"

Touche.

[rkmsuf]

Matthew "cream of" Wieters

[Karlifornia]

The draft pick countdown timer is having issues. "Sponsored by Ronex watches"

[rkmsuf]

Casey "Carl" Weathers

Jarrod "Peter" Parker

[st.cronin]

The Giants just picked a girl!

[Toddzilla]

Whomever gave a microphone to that bald-headed mushmouth idiot to conduct interviews should have their head forced into the anus of a camel.

[Karlifornia]

..And the Giants take pitching..just what they needed.

That was sarcasm, btw.

[st.cronin]

Bud Selig is the wrong guy to be doing this, he's just not at all suited for television.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

The Giants just picked a girl!

"the bridges of" Madison Bumgarner

or the more edgy

Madison "Jennifer" Bumgarner

[Atocep]

Didn't I see this guy on King of the Hill?

[rkmsuf]

Phillippe "you hoser" Aumont

[st.cronin]

It sounded like the Indians just drafted Bode Miller.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

It sounded like the Indians just drafted Bode Miller.

Beua "Heather" Mills "McCartney"

[Terps]

The O's got Wieters, so I'm happy about that. I think if Mike Moustakas was there they would've drafted him since he's Greek, but kudos to KC for not letting them have that chance.

[rkmsuf]

Jason "Ironhead" Heyward

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

..And the Giants take pitching..just what they needed.

That was sarcasm, btw.

???

Even more than in football and especially basketball, you don't draft for immediate need in baseball - the players (with extremely few exceptions) are not ready to jump straight to the Major League roster, and most are a number of years away.

To a certain extent you can justify adjusting your draft board somewhat based off organizational strength, but for the most part you really do want to draft the "best available player" - if you end up stacked at certain positions, you can either change their position (if possible) or trade from a position of strength to fill a need.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Terps

The O's got Wieters, so I'm happy about that. I think if Mike Moustakas was there they would've drafted him since he's Greek, but kudos to KC for not letting them have that chance.

Wow - the O's aren't afraid of dealing with Boras, or they don't mind missing out on signing a guy this year and taking the new compensation rule pick next year. Wieters is the consensus best position player prospect in the draft and perhaps the best prospect period.

[Mr. Sparkle]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

???

Even more than in football and especially basketball, you don't draft for immediate need in baseball - the players (with extremely few exceptions) are not ready to jump straight to the Major League roster, and most are a number of years away.

To a certain extent you can justify adjusting your draft board somewhat based off organizational strength, but for the most part you really do want to draft the "best available player" - if you end up stacked at certain positions, you can either change their position (if possible) or trade from a position of strength to fill a need.

The Giants have absolutely no power bats in their minor leagues, and haven't developed a legitimate bat in Sabean's entire tenure. Beau Mills seemed like the perfect fit for them. They have has success drafting players from where he went, Lewis & Clark, they showed a ton of interest in him before the draft, it seemed as if everything fell right into place. And then they draft another pitcher. Now, I understand that you can't ever have enough good young pitching and you can always trade for hitting, but I have absolutely no faith in Sabean's ability to use that young pitching to actually make a decent trade. They need bats at all levels of their system, yet show no desire whatsoever to acquire them, be it through trades or through the draft. I'm sure things would be different if there was a 35-over softball league draft, however. Sabean would be all over that.

[st.cronin]

Wow, the footage of that Texas high school pitcher, Blake Beavens, is rough. My elbow twinges just watching that guy throw.