This year, talk of Stanford baseball has centered mostly around two top-end talents in Mark Appel and Stephen Piscotty. The first is considered a lock for the first pick on campus, and the second is coveted for his patience and power even if he falls to the second round. Both players played their parts in their schools’ weekend wins this weekend in the College World Series regional, but they weren’t alone. Perhaps the most striking aspect of this Stanford team is the depth that powered them to three straight wins over regional baseball powers Pepperdine and Fresno State.

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Confession: while I enjoy no-hitters as much as most baseball fans, part of me wanted Johan Santana’s no-hitter to get broken up. That impulse did not stem from a particular animus against Santana or the Mets. It most certainly did not stem from a liking for the Cardinals. In fact, the desire only reared its head when Carlos Beltran faced Santana. I thought it would be cool if Beltran rocked one out of the park in the midst of a dominating display. What can I say: I like watching Carlos Beltran, and I feel like he “deserves” to have some more memorable moments on the positive side of the ledger. I believe Beltran has a Hall-worthy resume already, but he also shares a few characteristics of the sort of players who get overlooked, which makes me wonder if he will be left out in the cold.

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During the 2011 season, Mariners Taijuan Walker quickly morphed from project to one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Entering 2012, an aggressive assignment to Double-A skipped him past the hitters’ paradise of the California League. The upper level assignment was expected to challenge the teenage right-hander. However, with a 2.86 FIP, nearly a strikeout per inning and more than a three-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio, Walker has posted one of the most impressive lines in minor league baseball when one takes age-versus-level into consideration.

Of course this level of success will lead to prospect speculation of his being ready for Seattle, but Walker still needs to add plenty of polish at the minor league level to unlock all of the potential his right arm holds. Given his present success, the idea Walker is far from a finished product is a scary proposition for future opponents.

Video after the jump

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Unlike in the other sports, draft picks in Major League Baseball are not tradeable assets – teams are required to use the selections that are allocated to them, and they are not permitted to officially trade a player for the first 12 months after he signs a professional contract with them, though teams do occasionally use the PTBNL loophole to trade them in the 6-12 month window. So, in tonight’s draft, you won’t see any swapping of picks or deals being made. We know who is picking at what spot, and regardless of whether they’re happy with that position or not, it is set in stone and will not change.

However, the new rules governing team draft allocation pools may present the opportunity for teams to unofficially “trade down” in a way that has has been less practical in previous years.

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The MLB Draft will commence on Monday evening at 7:00 p.m. eastern time with the Houston Astros kicking off the night with the number one selection.

Scouts and front offices have routinely been quoted as saying this year’s class lacks elite talent, especially within the college ranks. Chicago White Sox scouting director Doug Laumann stated over the weekend that “it’s probably as thin as I’ve seen in a decade.” Despite that, it appears the Houston Astros could dip into the pool of collegiate talent for the number one overall pick.

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Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes.

1. Real News Item: Amateur Draft Starts Today
2. Featured Game: Los Angeles NL at Philadelphia, 19:05 ET
3. Transaction Note: Fernando Martinez Recalled
4. Other Notable Games (Including MLB.TV Free Game)
5. Today’s Complete Schedule

Real News Item: Amateur Draft Starts Today
The 2012 amateur draft starts today at 7pm ET. Our Marc Hulet recently published notes on same for both the American and National Leagues. Furthermore, a source close to the situation reports that Hulet will be publishing a mock draft at some point on Monday.

Live and free video coverage of the first round appears to be available at MLB.com/live.

Featured Game: Los Angeles NL at Philadelphia, 19:05 ET
A Notable Thing in Terms of This Game
A notable thing in terms of this game is that it represents the return of Philadelphia right-hander Vance Worley (44.0 IP, 82 xFIP-, 0.5 WAR) from the disabled list.

Regarding That DL Stint
The internet reports that Worley was originally placed on the DL in mid-May with elbow inflammation. The internet reports, furthermore, that the discomfort Worley felt was caused by bone chips in his elbow (which will require surgery after the season, but shouldn’t impair him for the time being).

Regarding Bone Chips, What They’re Called in England
Bone crisps, naturally.

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The Houston Astros are far from the worst team in baseball this season, but their ability to seriously contend in the near future is largely based upon the rebuilding effort that was fully implemented the moment Jeff Luhnow took over. Luhnow inherited a team with a poor farm system — ranked #27 by Marc Hulet — that was high on right-handed pitching and nearly devoid of high-ceiling bats.

He also walked into a sub-par major league situation, with a strange mix of pricey veterans and underwhelming youngsters. There were bright spots in both the major and minor leagues, but Luhnow took the job knowing very well that the organization was more than a mere move or two away from turning things around.

Luckily, he brought with him a strong reputation for building from within. The Astros finally started the rebuilding process last season under Ed Wade by trading Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence, and entered this past offseason with long-term goals that took precedent over short-term — and short-lived — success.

The organization was interested in a solution, not a band-aid, and ownership seemed more than willing to experience losing seasons if management did everything in its power to essentially hit the reset button. With one-third of the season in the books, the Astros are getting closer to the point where decisions need to be made and actions taken with respect to several rostered players whose departures could aid and potentially expedite the rebuilding process.

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Table of Contents
Here’s the table of contents for today’s edition of Daily Notes.

1. Featured Game: Baltimore at Tampa Bay, 13:40 ET
2. Other Notable Games (Including MLB.TV Free Game)
3. Today’s Complete Schedule

Featured Game: Baltimore at Tampa Bay, 13:40 ET
Regarding Which of These Teams Is in First Place
In terms of which — between the Orioles and the Rays, that is — which of them is currently in first place in the AL East, the answer to that is: “Both of them.”

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The first round of the annual MLB Amateur Draft kicks off Monday night, June 4, at 7 pm eastern. Below, you’ll find a recap of each National League club’s first round picks from the past four years, as well as an overall grade and comments on noticeable trends. I’ve also included some notes and thoughts on the names being linked to each club for the 2012 draft. I looked at the American League teams on Friday.

Atlanta Braves
2008: DNP
2009: Mike Minor, LHP, College
2010: DNP
2011: Sean Gilmartin, LHP, College
Grade: C-

Atlanta has gone for college arms in the first round recently and could look at college righty Pierce Johnson. College third baseman Stephen Piscotty is another name I’ve heard. There are rumblings that they could be looking at Georgia natives Victor Roache, a college outfielder who would go much higher if he had not been hurt, and Lucas Sims, a prep right-hander. College outfielder Mitch Haniger keeps popping up for Atlanta too but would be an over-draft.

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