2008 MLB Draft

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

Nice to see the O's screw up with their pick.

[MassNole]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

The Royals took HS 1B Eric Hosmer out of Florida. The scouting report says he is arguably the top bat from this year's HS class. I'd rather have seen them take Buster Posey.

[Scott]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

I'm kinda disappointed the Rangers didn't take a pitcher. Does anyone know anything about Justin Smoak?

[BunnyHardaway]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

Being compared to Chipper and Teixiera, has a ton of power, but I wasn't too high on him.

[ZB9]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

I'm kinda disappointed the Rangers didn't take a pitcher. Does anyone know anything about Justin Smoak?

he was the best player available. It's usually not good to draft for need at the top of the draft in baseball.

here are some analysis of the pick:

"Lonestarball.com" BA's mock had him at #5 to the Giants. He was #8 on their top 100 rankings, with this scouting report:

A switch-hitting first baseman with power, Smoak draws natural comparisons to Mark Teixiera. Drafted out of high school in the 16th round by the Athletics, he has started every game for South Carolina since arriving on the Columbia campus, doing nothing but produce. After batting .303 with 17 home runs, Smoak earned Freshman All-America honors. He followed that with a .315 batting average and 22 home runs in his sophomore year?enough to be tabbed as a third team All-American. He also competed for Team USA last summer. As a first baseman, Smoak has Gold Glove-caliber actions and soft hands. His footwork and instincts around the bag are advanced and his arm strength is adequate. As a hitter, he is consistent from both sides of the plate, and he has superior pitch recognition. A power threat against any pitch, Smoak has the ability to hit to all fields. Smoak proved his power translates to wood when he hit 11 home runs in 39 games while playing in the Cape Cod League following his freshman year, though he struggled with Team USA last summer. He is thought to be the best combination of offense and defense at first base in this draft class.

Kevin Goldstein says of the pick:

Congrats Rangers fans, you just found your replacement for Mark Teixeira. Just a crazy, crazy steal. The Rangers could have picked fourth or fifth and not done better.

Bryan Smith says:

Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

Keith Law ranked him #3 overall, ahead of Hosmer and Alvarez, and projected him to go #8. Goldstein also had him going #8.

ESPN.com's take on the Smoak choice:

This is the best pick in the draft so far. Smoak is the third-best player on my board. He's a switch-hitting Adrian Gonzalez with more power. In the Rangers' ballpark, he has a good chance to hit 40 home runs, if he develops. There are no major holes in his game. I saw this scenario possibly unfolding last night. A lot of things had to go right for them to get Smoak, and they did.

[Scott]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

he was the best player available. It's usually not good to draft for need at the top of the draft in baseball.

here are some analysis of the pick:

"Lonestarball.com" BA's mock had him at #5 to the Giants. He was #8 on their top 100 rankings, with this scouting report:

A switch-hitting first baseman with power, Smoak draws natural comparisons to Mark Teixiera. Drafted out of high school in the 16th round by the Athletics, he has started every game for South Carolina since arriving on the Columbia campus, doing nothing but produce. After batting .303 with 17 home runs, Smoak earned Freshman All-America honors. He followed that with a .315 batting average and 22 home runs in his sophomore year?enough to be tabbed as a third team All-American. He also competed for Team USA last summer. As a first baseman, Smoak has Gold Glove-caliber actions and soft hands. His footwork and instincts around the bag are advanced and his arm strength is adequate. As a hitter, he is consistent from both sides of the plate, and he has superior pitch recognition. A power threat against any pitch, Smoak has the ability to hit to all fields. Smoak proved his power translates to wood when he hit 11 home runs in 39 games while playing in the Cape Cod League following his freshman year, though he struggled with Team USA last summer. He is thought to be the best combination of offense and defense at first base in this draft class.

Kevin Goldstein says of the pick:

Congrats Rangers fans, you just found your replacement for Mark Teixeira. Just a crazy, crazy steal. The Rangers could have picked fourth or fifth and not done better.

Bryan Smith says:

Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

Keith Law ranked him #3 overall, ahead of Hosmer and Alvarez, and projected him to go #8. Goldstein also had him going #8.

ESPN.com's take on the Smoak choice:

This is the best pick in the draft so far. Smoak is the third-best player on my board. He's a switch-hitting Adrian Gonzalez with more power. In the Rangers' ballpark, he has a good chance to hit 40 home runs, if he develops. There are no major holes in his game. I saw this scenario possibly unfolding last night. A lot of things had to go right for them to get Smoak, and they did.

Nice, lets hope he's the real deal.

[ZB9]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

Nice, lets hope he's the real deal.

I would bet the main reason Hosmer was taken ahead of him is because Hosmer is 17-18 while Smoak is 21.

[BatsareBugs]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

ESPN.com's take on the Smoak choice:

This is the best pick in the draft so far. Smoak is the third-best player on my board. He's a switch-hitting Adrian Gonzalez with more power. In the Rangers' ballpark, he has a good chance to hit 40 home runs, if he develops. There are no major holes in his game. I saw this scenario possibly unfolding last night. A lot of things had to go right for them to get Smoak, and they did.

Um, if that's so, this guy would probably hit close to 50 home runs in the Rangers ballpark if he has more power than Adrian Gonzalez, who still is finding ways to get around 25-30 (on pace for more this season) in the ballpark that's the exact opposite.

[MassNole]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

Well Kyle Long went in the 23rd Round to the White Sox, I think it's safe to say he'll be at FSU next fall and perhaps by miracle in 2 years he'll rethink not playing football.

[stewaat]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

The draft is a complete joke.

[MassNole]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

The draft is a complete joke.

Why do you say that?

[stewaat]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

Why do you say that?

Maybe not a complete joke, but some of the people who get drafted are a joke. It taints the draft when you know how worthless a player is despite his physical tools that were handed to him.

Here are the stats of someone who was chosen in the 23rd round.

Year ERA W-L G-GS CG SHO-CBO SV IP H R-ER BB-SO
2008 18.00 0-0 1-0 0 0-0 0 1.0 0 2-2 4-2

He was 100% healthy
He is a junior in college

Here's another guy drafted in the 24th round

Year ERA W-L G-GS CG SHO-CBO SV IP H R-ER BB-SO
2008 6.75 1-0 9-0 0 0-1 0 10.2 12 8-8 9-8

Same deal, 100% healthy.


Basically both are EXTREME head cases and I just don't understand why either was drafted.

[MassNole]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

Maybe not a complete joke, but some of the people who get drafted are a joke. It taints the draft when you know how worthless a player is despite his physical tools that were handed to him.

Here are the stats of someone who was chosen in the 23rd round.

Year ERA W-L G-GS CG SHO-CBO SV IP H R-ER BB-SO
2008 18.00 0-0 1-0 0 0-0 0 1.0 0 2-2 4-2

He was 100% healthy
He is a junior in college

Here's another guy drafted in the 24th round

Year ERA W-L G-GS CG SHO-CBO SV IP H R-ER BB-SO
2008 6.75 1-0 9-0 0 0-1 0 10.2 12 8-8 9-8

Same deal, 100% healthy.


Basically both are EXTREME head cases and I just don't understand why either was drafted.

Were you surprised last year (was it?) when you weren't drafted?

[stewaat]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

Were you surprised last year (was it?) when you weren't drafted?

No. The draft is based on how a kid projects at the next level. I didn't project very well.

These guys project well I guess. The one kid is a 6-5 lefty who throws 91-94 but can't throw a strike to save his life. It's all about the pro clubs thinking they can miraculously make this kid spot up his fastball.

Other kid is a 6-1 righty with 90-91 and it's pretty decent. Nothing stands out about him though.

I need to learn to accept the fact that kids are based on what they could be as opposed to how they have produced.

IMO these type of players getting drafted taints the draft.

[ryanm1058123]

Re: 2008 MLB Draft

the MLB draft is the best draft in sports.


why would you not draft somebody who throws 90-94 compared to somebody who doesnt. its simple baseball. a guy who throws 80-85 isn't going to get mlb hitters out while a guy who has a 90-94 has a chance too. mlb teams can fix these kids, although not all the time.