Knuckle Curve » draft

Looking Back on 2007

Geoff Young — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:48:07 +0000

Well, that was quick. Another year gone by already? Hey, I still can’t believe it’s not the ’90s.

Anywho, thanks to everyone who stopped by and participated here at Knuckle Curve during 2007. As a way of wrapping things up, so to speak, here’s a quick look at the most popular items of the year:

Top Stories

2008 Baseball Free Agents. Far and away the most popular post of the year. All I did was put together a little list to help folks find stuff.
Cardinals Sign Springer. I have no explanation for this. Maybe Russ Springer has a huge fan club?
MLB Draft 2007: Who’s Hot, Who’s Not. This one helped kick off our draft coverage, which as you’ll see from entries further down the list, turned out to be a favorite.
Nine Baseball Predictions for 2007. I nailed the last two, and almost got the bit about Gil Meche right. I’d said he would lead the Royals to 67 wins, but they actually won 69 games. Talk about overachieving.
2007 NCAA Baseball Brackets Announced. Folks seemed to be pretty fired up about college baseball this year. I was, too, until my Toreros got spanked in the postseason. Sigh.
NL MVP Poll. We ran a bunch of polls at the end of the season to see who people thought would/should win awards. This one got way out of control (in a good way, of course), with nearly 1200 responses.
2007 MLB Draft Roundtable at Baseball Analysts. More draftasticness. Hey, I just made a new word. Hooray for me.
BDD’s Top 100 Prospects for 2007. Baseball Digest Daily released their list of top 100 prospects, and there was much rejoicing.
Early Look at Free Agents for 2008. More free agent stuff. I’m noticing a theme here — people really like looking forward, whether it’s to potential free agents, the draft, postseason awards, or whatever.
MLB Draft Will Be Televised in 2007. This was one of my personal favorite news items of 2007. The coverage could be better, but you have to start somewhere and baseball finally did. Nowhere but up from here, or one would hope.

Shout Outs

And a big thanks to some folks “out there” who have been generous in linking to Knuckle Curve in 2007:

We’re huge in Boston. I was born there, but I have no memories of the place; I’m guessing it involved a lot of pooping in my pants and drooling on stuff.

Thanks again for hanging with me here at Knuckle Curve in 2007. Onward!

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Porcello Signs with Tigers

Geoff Young — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 23:23:13 +0000

Billfer at Detroit Tigers Weblog notes that the Tigers have inked first-round pick Rick Porcello. Apparently it’s a Major League contract worth more than $7 million. If nothing else, this reaffirms that Bud Selig’s efforts to “slot” players in the draft have been wasted.

This is a great addition for Detroit, but it’s got to be something of a slap in the face of Selig and MLB, which recommended a signing bonus of $1.17 million for the 27th pick this year. Of course, you could argue that Porcello slipped so far because of his reported demands. And that brings us to the uncomfortable question of why, exactly, MLB even has a draft…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

Draft Signing Update

Geoff Young — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:19:55 +0000

You will recall that starting this year, teams now have until August 15 to sign their picks from the June draft. Guess what, kids; the deadline is almost here.

From Rain Delay comes word that the Atlanta Braves have inked their first-round pick, outfielder Jason Heyward. Meanwhile, the Texas Rangers are hopeful that Heyward’s signing will help them in negotiations with right-hander Blake Beavan. And in Kansas City, Joe Posnanski talks about the Royals’ efforts to bring Mike Moustakas into the fold.

Complicated stuff…

Post from: Knuckle Curve

MLB Draft 2007: Julio Borbon

Geoff Young — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:37:12 +0000

Vitals
Name: Julio Borbon	Bats: Left
Pos: OF	Throws: Left
Height: 6′1″	DOB: 20 Feb 86
Weight: 190 lbs	School: Tennessee

With the x pick in the 2007 draft, the x x have drafted Tennessee outfielder Julio Borbon.

2007 Stats
AB	BA	OBP	SLG	BB	SO
Stats are through May 25, 2007, and are courtesy of Tennessee.
174	.345	.370	.506	6	20

Additional reading:

2007 Draft Report (MiLB.com) — includes scouting video
Player Bio (Tennessee)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

MLB Draft 2007: Brett Cecil

Geoff Young — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 07:37:01 +0000

Vitals
Name: Brett Cecil	Throws: Left
Pos: LHP	Bats: Right
Height: 6′2″	DOB: 2 Jul 86
Weight: 225 lbs	School: Maryland

With the x pick in the 2007 draft, the x x have drafted Maryland left-hander Brett Cecil.

2007 Stats
IP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	K/9	ERA	BAA
Stats are through May 19, 2007, and are courtesy of University of Maryland.
62.1	8.95	0.43	2.74	8.95	3.32	.270

What they’re saying:

Cecil’s slider alone will get him to the big leagues. If he can add a changeup to throw to righties, he could close.

–MiLB.com

Additional reading:

Player Bio (Maryland)
2007 Draft Report (MiLB.com) — includes scouting video

Post from: Knuckle Curve

MLB Draft 2007: Yankees Pick Brackman at #30 to End First Round

Geoff Young — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:53:45 +0000

Vitals
Name: Andrew Brackman	Throws: Right
Pos: RHP	Bats: Right
Height: 6′10″	DOB: 4 Dec 85
Weight: 230 lbs	School: North Carolina State

With the 30th pick in the 2007 draft, the New York Yankees have selected North Carolina State right-hander Andrew Brackman. The former basketball standout fixed his attention solely on baseball this season and has referred to himself as an “unpolished stone.”

2007 Stats
IP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	K/9	ERA	BAA
Stats are through May 26, 2007, and are courtesy of North Carolina State University.
78.0	9.00	0.81	4.27	8.54	3.81	.264

What they’re saying:

His stuff has not dropped off, but also he still has not struck out a lot of guys. There’s still so much development to be done with him. He needs to tweak his breaking ball, but it will be better, it has been better.

–Unnamed veteran American League scout, Baseball America

Additional reading:

Player Bio (North Carolina State)
2007 Draft Report (MiLB.com) — includes scouting video
Andrew Brackman (Minor League Ball)
Brackman learns to handle hype (MLB.com)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

MLB Draft 2007: Tigers Tab Porcello at #27

Geoff Young — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:36:10 +0000

Vitals
Name: Rick Porcello	Throws: Right
Pos: RHP	Bats: Right
Height: 6′5″	DOB: 27 Dec 88
Weight: 195 lbs	School: Seton Hall Prep, West Orange, N.J.

With the 27th pick in the 2007 draft, the Detroit Tigers have selected high school right-hander Rick Porcello. Porcello’s player profile from the 2006 Aflac All-American High School Classic notes that the right-hander “offers a projectable frame as well as above-average pitches, and has drawn comparisons to Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander.”

Unreal. The strong get stronger.

What they’re saying:

If you could design a “perfect” high school pitching prospect, it would be hard to beat Porcello. He’s tall and lanky…6-5, 190…with some projection left in his body. He’s athletic. He already throws 93-94 MPH, hitting 96-98 at times.

–John Sickels, Minor League Ball

Additional reading:

2007 Draft Report (MiLB.com) — includes scouting video
Amateur Player Profile (Brewerfan.net)
RISE presents 2006-07 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year, Rick Porcello (RiseMag.com)
Porcello shows why he’s so highly coveted (Daily Record)

Post from: Knuckle Curve

MLB Draft 2007: Rangers Grab Main at #24

Geoff Young — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:22:29 +0000

Vitals
Name: Michael Main	Throws: Right
Pos: RHP/OF	Bats: Right
Height: 6′2″	DOB: 14 Dec 88
Weight: 180 lbs	School: Deland (Fla.) HS

With the 24th pick in the 2007 draft, the Texas Rangers have selected high school right-hander Michael Main.

Additional reading:

2007 Draft Report (MiLB.com) — includes scouting video

Post from: Knuckle Curve

MLB Draft 2007: Padres Pluck Schmidt at #23

Geoff Young — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:17:19 +0000

Vitals
Name: Nick Schmidt	Throws: Left
Pos: LHP	Bats: Left
Height: 6′5″	DOB: 10 Oct 85
Weight: 230 lbs	School: Arkansas

With the 23rd pick in the 2007 draft, the San Diego Padres have selected Arkansas left-hander Nick Schmidt. ESPN2 guys praise his poise and makeup, note that he doesn’t have a real high ceiling — mid-rotation guy. Average fastball, above-average change, control isn’t great, “safe” pick.

2007 Stats
IP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	K/9	ERA	BAA
Stats are through June 5, 2007, and are courtesy of University of Arkansas.
124.0	6.10	0.65	3.70	8.06	2.69	.196

Additional reading:

2007 Draft Report (MiLB.com) — includes scouting video

Post from: Knuckle Curve

MLB Draft 2007: Rangers Nab Beavan at #17

Geoff Young — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:42:09 +0000

Vitals
Name: Blake Beavan	Throws: Right
Pos: RHP	Bats: Right
Height: 6′7″	DOB: 17 Jan 89
Weight: 210 lbs	School: Irving (Texas) HS

With the 17th pick in the 2007 draft, the Texas Rangers have selected high school right-hander Blake Beavan. His fastball reportedly runs 91-96 mph, and his slider draws positive reviews. Beavan also has earned praise for his performance against the Cuban national team in Cuba during the World Junior Championship.

What they’re saying:

Beavan is a very confident young man who knows all eyes are on him. He didn’t do anything to disappoint in his senior season. He was virtually unhittable all year with a plus fastball and slider coming from a big, athletic frame.

–MiLB.com

Additional reading:

2007 Draft Report (MiLB.com) — includes scouting video
Player Profile (Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic)
Beavan brings competitive flair to Draft (MLB.com)
Interviews with top MLB Draft prospect Blake Beavan and Brew Crew Ball’s Jeff Sackmann (The Pitch)
Youth Player Of The Year: Blake Beavan (Baseball America)

Post from: Knuckle Curve