2011 MLB First Year Player Draft, June 6...Cole going #1?

[stevew]

Here is the draft order. No word on who will go #1 as of yet. Believed to be between Gerrit Cole-SP UCLA, Anthony Rendon-3b Rice, or Bubba Starling-CF KC area HS

1. Pittsburgh Pirates
2. Seattle Mariners
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Kansas City Royals
6. Washington Nationals
7. Arizona Diamondbacks (Loux - unsigned)
8. Cleveland Indians
9. Chicago Cubs
10. San Diego Padres (Whitson - unsigned)
11. Houston Astros
12. Milwaukee Brewers
13. New York Mets
14. Florida Marlins 1
5. Milwaukee Brewers (Covey - unsigned)
16. Los Angeles Dodgers
17. Los Angeles Angels
18. Oakland Athletics
19. Boston Red Sox (V. Martinez - DET)
20. Colorado Rockies
21. Toronto Blue Jays
22. St. Louis Cardinals
23. Washington Nationals (Dunn - CWS)
24. Tampa Bay Rays (Crawford - BOS)
25. San Diego Padres
26. Boston Red Sox (Beltre - TEX)
27. Cincinnati Reds
28. Atlanta Braves
29. San Francisco Giants
30. Minnesota Twins
31. Tampa Bay Rays (R. Soriano - NYY)
32. Tampa Bay Rays
33. Texas Rangers (C. Lee - PHI)

Tampa has 10 picks in the top 60, also. The 2nd round doesn't start again until pick 61.

[Atocep]

Here is the draft order. No word on who will go #1 as of yet. Believed to be between Gerrit Cole-SP UCLA, Anthony Rendon-3b Rice, or Bubba Starling-CF KC area HS



Tampa has 10 picks in the top 60, also. The 2nd round doesn't start again until pick 61.

I can't see Neil Huntington taking Starling. Too much tools and not enough production (he's raw even by HS standards). He's probably looking for a college player. I'd say Cole or Hultzen with Rendon a possiblity as well.

It should be an interesting draft at the top. Every player near the top seems to have some question marks. Cole - not exactly lighting it up this year. Hultzen - upside is seen as a 2 starter. Rendon - Shoulder issues.

[Swaggs]

I hope they take Rendon. Cole seems destined for arm trouble and Hultzen, as mentioned, seems safe but without enough upside.

The Pirates, with all of their shots at high picks, always seem to pick #1 overall in years without a consensus #1 or pick early, but just past the "sure-thing" guys.

[stevew]

I thought Rendon was gonna be that no brainer pick but he has been hurt. Cole profiles as a #1 and it would be a nice top of the rotation if both he and Taillon develop. But usage on college arms is scary and I don't think that you can completely overlook the effects of metal bats.

[stevew]

Rocco DeMaro's Life of Leisure - Download free podcast episodes by Rocco DeMaro on iTunes. (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rocco-demaros-life-of-leisure/id428846279?ign-mpt=uo%3D4)

The 5/29 podcast on the draft was some really good stuff with Jim Callas.

Anyways, I've pretty much came around to the thinking that Rendon should be the 1.1 pick. The whole bit with Cole not even being the best pitcher on his own team is particularly troubling.

[JediKooter]

That number 10 pick for the Padres, is that Ed Whitson's son by any chance?

[Suburban Rhythm]

Rocco DeMaro's Life of Leisure - Download free podcast episodes by Rocco DeMaro on iTunes. (http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rocco-demaros-life-of-leisure/id428846279?ign-mpt=uo%3D4)

The 5/29 podcast on the draft was some really good stuff with Jim Callas.

Anyways, I've pretty much came around to the thinking that Rendon should be the 1.1 pick. The whole bit with Cole not even being the best pitcher on his own team is particularly troubling.

I didn't listen, but link that mentions the DeMaro discussion, and imagine it touches ont he same items.

Pirates Prospects: Is Hultzen the Next Bullington?*|*Pirates Prospects (http://www.piratesprospects.com/2011/06/is-hultzen-the-next-bullington.html)

[Doug5984]

This will be the first time I ever watch an MLB draft- I don't really follow baseball at all, but a guy I know pretty well should be taken in the first round so it'll interesting to watch and see how it works out for him.

[stevew]

That number 10 pick for the Padres, is that Ed Whitson's son by any chance?

I think it was his nephew.

[JediKooter]

I think it was his nephew.

Oh right on. Hopefully he has the same mustache. :)

[SackAttack]

I still don't think it's right that Arizona gets a compensation pick for not signing Loux.

This isn't a case of Scott Boras playing chicken and taking his client to school rather than signing.

This is a team that didn't do its due diligence on the injury front and declined to even make an offer once that came to light.

But even ignoring the injury aspect of it, what's to stop any future team in the top 5 or 10 of a weak draft from just punting the pick to the next year by drafting somebody and then forgetting he even exists?

[stevew]

Looks like it's breaking that the Pirates will be taking Cole. I hope this isn't a mistake. However he does seem like the type of guy that we can sign near the deadline, shut down for the rest of the season, and start him in AA next year. Hopefully Taillon and him will be ready by mid 2013 so that we can make the rest of the NL eat shit for a change.

[stevew]

I still don't think it's right that Arizona gets a compensation pick for not signing Loux.

This isn't a case of Scott Boras playing chicken and taking his client to school rather than signing.

This is a team that didn't do its due diligence on the injury front and declined to even make an offer once that came to light.

But even ignoring the injury aspect of it, what's to stop any future team in the top 5 or 10 of a weak draft from just punting the pick to the next year by drafting somebody and then forgetting he even exists?


It's fairly obvious the compensation system is flawed. For example, if it is based on a quality system, the highest quality player signed should go to tge first pick that was used. If Lee is the best FA then the Rangers should get pick #18, and so on.

The Loux situation was crap and the DBacks should have maybe received a sandwich pick, but no more.

I just hope the Pirates have done due diligence on Cole's arm. I figure he signs for about 10M/4 years on a ML contract. And hopefully Boras doesn't play chicken til the last minute. But he will.

[Atocep]

I had forgotten that Cole was the Yankees 1st round pick in '08.

[stevew]

Nats got a gift with Rendon falling to #6. Even if he doesn't hit for power he will be among the best 2nd basemen in the league. If he doesn't stay at 3rd.

[Swaggs]

His shoulder must have some serious damage.

[Atocep]

BP reported that some teams think he'll need surgery eventually and some teams think he's fine. BP said before the draft we may see a situation where one team being scared off of him scares others off of him as well.

[Swaggs]

As a Pirates fan, he's the guy I had wanted for months, but seeing five other teams pass on him makes me feel a little better. I'd be happy if I were a Washington fan (and I wasn't banned) with him at #6, though. They can give him a good/thorough check up, see if he is healthy, and if he is not, they can sign him at a reduced rate or take the comp pick next season.

[Shkspr]

All right, Tampa. One down, nine to go. Grab those arms...you don't need a first baseman.

[kcchief19]

The Ghost of Albert Pujols has been exorcised by the Royals ... sort of. After whiffing on Albert who played high school and juco ball in the KC metro, the Royals take a local product at No. 5 with Bubba Starling.

He's a tremendous athlete ... the Royals seem very convinced he'll sign and not go to Nebraska to play quarterback. He's years away though ... and hopefully with the Royals talent in the farm system that's not a bad thing.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Really hope the Pirates can sign Bell.

[stevew]

I think they will sign Bell as long as it doesnt get into 6m type money.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I've heard 6m is the floor, though of course there's a lot to play out.

[DeToxRox]

Bell seems intent on going to Texas. I suspect he'll want at least the 6 mil bandied about.

[stevew]

I wonder who will bite on Purke and try to make him a godfather type offer. I wonder if he gets past the Sox or Yankees again. Even if his shoulder is tweaked.

[MrBug708]

What are the odds that Bauer sees the majors this year? >50%?

[DeToxRox]

Nats took Purke.

[Swaggs]

I'm excited about the Bell pick. The Pirates front office recently indicated that they didn't feel like they had any high dollar international types to sign this season, so maybe they are planning to reallocate from those funds. Plus, I believe that both Cole and Bell are represented by Boras, so hopefully they had some communication with him last night that indicated he was open to sign for the right price. For $4-6-million, it would be awfully tough to choose college over the payday.

Even if he doesn't sign, I appreciate the attempt by the Pirates.

[stevew]

Bumpage-

No info out there, but I assume that all but a few of the #1 picks sign. Will be interesting to see what happens with a lot of the over slot guys. The pirates need to back a Brinks truck up to Bell's house.

[stevew]

Dola-

Bauer's start in A+ was amazing. k'd about 2 batters/inning.