FanGraphs 2025 Day One Draft Chat
| 5:56 |
: Hello one and all from Battery Avenue in Marieta for our live draft chat.
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| 5:57 |
: Meg and I walked from the hotel here and both were sweating profusely. I told her that her hair looks fine.
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| 5:57 |
: My mock just went up. It sounds like Washington is still negotiating, however.
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| 5:57 |
: In case you missed it, my final rankings are live:
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| 5:58 |
: Here is the mock
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| 5:59 |
: I’ll be analyzing picks and players all night, perhaps Woj’ing (who can say) and trying to have good posture in the event I’m on camera
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| 6:00 |
: Let’s take your questions while my ears are blown off by this in-studio drum line
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| 6:00 |
: Hey Eric! I know this lead up can be very difficult, just want to reiterate I definitely consider the quality of your work worth waiting for and worth the fangraphs subscription.
I am a Nats fan and I’ve been looking at who they might be able to float to 49. I know people have mentioned Landon Harmon, but do you think one of the high school hitters in the 45 tier might get there? mostly Kilby and Neyens. |
| 6:01 |
: Your guess is as good as mine. That’s so deep that I’d imagine it’s tough to float a specific guy unless you’re going to pay him 3.5 mil or more. There are too many potential landmine teams in between with money to take your guy.
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| 6:01 |
: Where do your scoops come from? Teams, agents, other?
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| 6:02 |
: Yes and yes. Word of mouth, sometimes just seeing who’s at the field with you at key times of year. Not the best year for draft dope, certainly not for me, at least.
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| 6:02 |
: Shoutout to you and the editors for all the hard work this week(end).
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| 6:02 |
: Gracias, Meg edited dozens of draft blurbs in between puking in her hotel room yesterday. She’s a gamer.
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| 6:03 |
: Is the smoke about Hernandez to the Mariners real? Not generally a fan of taking HS pitchers early but I suppose the Mariners are a pretty good landing spot if you’re gonna do it.
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| 6:03 |
: Think they have a mix that includes Arquette, him, and the option to cut deep with someone like Bremner. I just put Ethan there in the mock because, well, you can read why
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| 6:04 |
: Let’s talk Holliday. I was super convinced by your data on the summer circuit where he didn’t hit for power and had abysmal contact rates. I remember you said on a podcast somewhere that there wasn’t going to be another shot for him to change your mind, and it still seems like you think he’s not going to hit. But you changed your assessment anyway, so clearly you learned something new. What was it? Or did the Holliday mafia get to you?
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| 6:04 |
: Rule #1: Bet on Freaks. There really aren’t many in this draft. He’s no riskier than Alfredo Duno, and if you can adjust the way his hands work so that he’s pulling the ball, he’s a 30-040 homer guy.
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| 6:04 |
: Hi Eric, thanks again for all your hard work. What are similar or different about Arnold’s fastball regression compared to Sasaki? Will it be that as of an issue for Arnold as it has been for Sasaki?
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| 6:05 |
: No question. Just a big thank you for all your hard work. This is one of favorite places on the Internet.
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| 6:05 |
: Hey, thank you guys. It feels good to be done with all 30 lists and the draft reports.
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| 6:05 |
: Arnold’s issues were more about strikes and less about the shape or velo of his fastball regressing.
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| 6:07 |
: Have one source indeed saying Willits 1.1, will let y’all know if I get s second.
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| 6:07 |
: Is there any potential impact at 1B in this draft? My dynasty team is desperate for a re-set at the position.
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| 6:10 |
: I thnk Andrew Fischer might end up at first base, I like Jack Gurevitch from San Diego. So many impact first basemen are guys who trend down from other positions.
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| 6:10 |
: Dude, there are so many ex big leaguers in this room right now
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| 6:10 |
: Hey Eric! Thanks for chat! Orioles have a large bonus pool, but not a top selection. How would you play it if you were Elias?
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| 6:11 |
: Like the Westburg draft
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| 6:11 |
: stay open, take the best dudes, don’t lock into a strategy
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| 6:11 |
: Why does it seem like Kyson Witherspoon is falling in the latest mock drafts?
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| 6:13 |
: I’m not sure, I think the way the dope flows often attaches players with negotiating power to teams first and then the college guys go when the team sees them as being good value. That’s Kyson. No need to call his agent, just take him if he’s the top guy on your board
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| 6:14 |
: Hearing from multiple sources that Ike Irish will be the pick at 2
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| 6:14 |
: So that’s a shock first overall pick, right?
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| 6:14 |
: Nah, not really
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| 6:14 |
: If you think everyone up top is close to the same talent, take the guy who’ll take the smallest bonus so you can have a deeper class.
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| 6:14 |
: How big of a cut do you expect Willits to take?
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| 6:15 |
: I’d guess something just above slot at 5
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| 6:15 |
: First and second picks going way under slot?
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| 6:15 |
: Yes
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| 6:17 |
: uhhh…..
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| 6:17 |
: okay, I had multiple people texting me Ike Irish, no idea how I goofed that.
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| 6:17 |
: That’s wild
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| 6:17 |
: Sorry, y’all.
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| 6:18 |
: That’s a wild one, and I like Bremner a lot, not crazy from a talent standpoint, just nowhere near anyone’s radar. I had some notion Seattle might take Bremner for under slot.
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| 6:18 |
: But not this
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| 6:18 |
: WHAT
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| 6:18 |
: Woah!
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| 6:18 |
: Bremner is also probably below slot too?
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| 6:18 |
: Angels are gonna promote Bremner without him throwing in the minors aren’t they lol
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| 6:19 |
: Getting Kade Anderson to Seattle now
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| 6:20 |
: astonishing move by the angels, makes very little sense even underslot
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| 6:20 |
: Let’s see what else they get up to.
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| 6:20 |
: Happy to see how high you are on Aidan Teel. Any specific teams you’ve heard connected w/ him?
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| 6:20 |
: Nobody specific.
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| 6:20 |
: Good year to go under slot, lots of interesting high school guys later. Going to be interesting to see what Seattle does since probably the top guy on their board is left.
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| 6:20 |
: Agreed, if there’s a year to employ this strategy, this is it.
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| 6:21 |
: Where is the break point in this year’s talent pool? Is it like the first 8? More or less?
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| 6:22 |
: Yeah, that’s about where I think it is.
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| 6:22 |
: You killed me with that Irish prediction.
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| 6:22 |
: I’m so sorry, I had like 4 people text me
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| 6:22 |
: I thought Commish read the wrong card
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| 6:24 |
: Ethan Holliday to his dad’s old team?
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| 6:24 |
: Sounds like it.
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| 6:24 |
: Anderson 3, Holliday 4, what at then? I imagine the board didn’t shake up how the Cards expected with Willits being gone
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| 6:24 |
: Where would your sources be getting wrong info? Is someone out there actively misleading people?
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| 6:24 |
: It’s plausible, figuring out how signals got crossed there will be a post-draft project.
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| 6:25 |
: I cant wait to see bremner in the majors next month!
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| 6:25 |
: Does Anderson fit for Seattle’s pitching dev?
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| 6:26 |
: He’s pretty polished, not sure off the top what they’d tweak.
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| 6:26 |
: Looking over your last Mock, do you think Brendan Summerhill will potentially fall out of the first round tonight?
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| 6:28 |
: I do, off field stuff. Someone picking in the 20s told me he was dropping, but I don’t know how far.
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| 6:28 |
: What’s the reason for the lack of draft dope this year?
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| 6:28 |
: Chats like this.
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| 6:29 |
: Cardinals are taking Liam Doyle. It’s the second consecutive year they’re taking the top player on my board.
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| 6:29 |
: Holliday must be so sad to fall to COL
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| 6:29 |
: They’re gonna need security people at Salt River to deal with autograph hounds
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| 6:30 |
: Why is a platoon 1B (The Fish) going in the first 30 picks?
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| 6:30 |
: A middle reliever was just traded for the 37th pick
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| 6:30 |
: Harold Reynolds comp’ing everyone to hall of famers is not real life
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| 6:31 |
: any late news on the Dodgers or Red Sox?
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| 6:31 |
: Myles Upchurch buzz for Dodgers later, probably not at 40.
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| 6:32 |
: Everyone gets a HOF comp besides #1ovr, who gets Geraldo Perdomo
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| 6:33 |
: Love it. We can’t hear the broadcast from the room. I see the back of Kiley’s head.
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| 6:33 |
: Pirates are taking Seth Hernandez
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| 6:34 |
: Arquette vs Aloy…is the difference really that huge? I feel like the hit tools aren’t meaningfully different, and Aloy is more likely to stick at SS
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| 6:34 |
: I think your logic about SS fit is sound, Arquette i just kinda freaky, though.
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| 6:34 |
: The MLB network broadcast is so bad. Has Reynolds even seen any of these guys?
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| 6:35 |
: He’s been around them but hasn’t sat and watched them. Callis and Lance and Mayo should just be on there but that’s not how big corporate media works. You get DeRosa, whose schedule must dictate he wakes up at 5 am
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| 6:36 |
: How do you feel about the spencer strider comp i was just given?
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| 6:37 |
: Pre injury Strider isn’t a bad comp. Huge heater.
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| 6:38 |
: Who would you guess is your highest rated high schooler who makes it to college? Dual sport guy like Alec Blair?
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| 6:38 |
: Or Schoolcraft
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| 6:38 |
: Any chance Arquette slips to 10?
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| 6:38 |
: Buzz he’s going 7 after Sethy, one source tho
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| 6:39 |
: second source now
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| 6:39 |
: Hearing Sheduer Sanders is falling
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| 6:39 |
: Given the same bonus pool would you rather a few extra comp picks or a top heavy draft (not sure how much the answer differs depending on the draft class). I’d use the O’s vs the lottery winners as an example but the Orioles pool is a little bigger than those at the top of the draft.
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| 6:39 |
: More picks. Trust yourself to pick good players and your org to develop them.
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| 6:41 |
: Has Nick Kurtz leapfrogged Caglianone for you based on how their mlb careers have started?
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| 6:41 |
: Yeah, he leapfrogged him on the offseason hondo
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| 6:41 |
: Hearing Sanders to the Saints top of the second
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| 6:41 |
: The Espn broadcast has Kiley and three guys who watch college baseball. Why watch Harold?
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| 6:42 |
: I really like Amsinger and that broadcast, I just feel like Carlos and Jim and Mayo earn the right to do this broadcast
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| 6:42 |
: Plus Jim is like ripped now
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| 6:42 |
: How under slot would you expect Bremner to be? Trying to stay calm
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| 6:42 |
: No idea
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| 6:42 |
: Could be huge cut
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| 6:42 |
: Not a draft question….But Emmanuel Rodriguez hurt again. I don’t know that we can ever count on him at this point?
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| 6:43 |
: Bro, I’m with you. Love the guy, but it’s constant.
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| 6:43 |
: Thanks Eric for another cycle of tremendous team lists and draft work. Your analysis is second to none. Always wonderful to be here on draft night and hear reasonable analysis as opposed to whatever is going on on MLBN (thank goodness Kiley is the focus point for ESPN’s coverage). All that said…any Yankees dope? Demographic, specific player, etc?
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| 6:43 |
: No, heard Damon was on the Cape watching JT Quinn last week, though.
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| 6:43 |
: Hey Eric, any Jays news for picks #8 or #81? Thanks.
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| 6:44 |
: Working on it.
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| 6:44 |
: Appreciate your work, Eric. What does the actual process of trying float a player down look like?
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| 6:45 |
: Telling his agent you have $X for him where X is a really big number, and that they should tell other teams that’s his number or you’re going to college.
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| 6:45 |
: Who are guys who have the biggest disconnect between model-oriented teams and scouting-heavy teams?
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| 6:47 |
: great question, I want to get to this but i’m working the phone hard right now
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| 6:48 |
: One source Jojo Parker to Toronto
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| 6:50 |
: People think Steele Hall is going to the Reds
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| 6:50 |
: Many sources now
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| 6:50 |
: Which draft pick starts contributing in the majors first? Bremner because it’s the Angels?
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| 6:50 |
: Probably
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| 6:51 |
: Steele Hall is a 70 grade name. Any 80’s in this draft?
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| 6:51 |
: Malachi Witherspoon
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| 6:52 |
: At least a 70 grade name
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| 6:52 |
: oh yes
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| 6:53 |
: Wojing is fun in these pockets where I’m less source up
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| 6:53 |
: this 11 thru 14 area i’m efforting as they say
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| 6:53 |
: DUB GLEED
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| 6:53 |
: Lol yeah
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| 6:53 |
: But his name is Williams
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| 6:53 |
: William*
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| 6:53 |
: Waddaya got on that models/scouting divide question from DBRuns earlier?
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| 6:54 |
: Probably Billy Carlson for scouty teams. He’s 19. Defense is a huge part of why he’s good.
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| 6:54 |
: if you had to guess below/at/above slot for Jojo?
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| 6:54 |
: slot
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| 6:55 |
: D. Taylor to CLE a gut feeling or some smoke?
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| 6:56 |
: Gut, too many permutations to have dope for them. They have their types and I’m never shocked who they take. Taylor is just a good hitter who fell in the mock
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| 6:56 |
: My gut tells me CHW is using their time to negotiate…
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| 6:58 |
: Bill Carlson to Chicago
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| 6:59 |
: then some early Jamie Arnold to Sacramento smoke
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| 6:59 |
: I know you were lower on JoJo Parker, is he a scouting vs. stats guy?
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| 6:59 |
: I just think he’s good, well-rounded, everything guy
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| 6:59 |
: No detractors
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| 7:00 |
: scuttlebutt is 8.8M for Kade, 700k under slot. Have you heard the same? I’m surprised he would be under
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| 7:00 |
: I have not, that’s very specific and I’d guess it’s right. Who’s reporting that? That’s one more good HS player later.
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| 7:02 |
: More Jamie Arnold to A’s intel
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| 7:02 |
: Then Gavin Fien to Rangers from two sources but I think their source is the same source so maybe just one source?
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| 7:04 |
: Aram was first, but it’s been confirmed by Daniel Kramer (mariners beat)
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| 7:04 |
: I like that Aram Leighton kid.
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| 7:05 |
: We finally have some proper sickos emerging from the aether
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| 7:05 |
: Doyle too
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| 7:06 |
: Another source with Fien to Texas
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| 7:06 |
: How many of these top ten picks are instantly the best prospect in their new team’s list? 5-6?
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| 7:07 |
: I tend to care about proximity so usually only three or so
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| 7:09 |
: Working hard to get SF and Tampa….
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| 7:12 |
: Getting Kilen to SF
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| 7:16 |
: Daniel Pierce intel to Rays
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| 7:16 |
: Angels scouting director told Sam Blum they may not go under slot for signing the second pick…..not possible right
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| 7:17 |
: I mean, that’d surprise me and I might be the high guy on Bremner
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| 7:18 |
: Any hope with Jacob Berry still being a big leaguer? Crazy he got $6 mil a few years ago
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| 7:18 |
: Maybe he gets there but not a long term guy
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| 7:19 |
: What’s the incentive for the scouting director to answer that question honestly?
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| 7:19 |
: What’s the incentive not to?
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| 7:20 |
: Incentive: truth?
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| 7:20 |
: What’s going on with Witherspoon?
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| 7:20 |
: Think he’s going to Boston
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| 7:20 |
: Teams scrambling to get a sense as to why Irish is falling
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| 7:20 |
: Kilen a legit 13?
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| 7:20 |
: He’s safe, think he’s a better SS than I did a year ago.
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| 7:21 |
: Cleveland fan here. Knowing what we know now, does Bazanna go 1:1 in a 2024 redraft? Hard to ignore Cags, Kurtz, Wetherholt
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| 7:21 |
: Ahh, too soon to say so in a way that’s fair to Travis.
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| 7:21 |
: These guys have looooong careers (ideally)
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| 7:22 |
: For like 10 months Kiley and I loved the smell of our own farts with how we ranked Andujar
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| 7:23 |
: Just now realizing on draft day that I haven’t heard LaViolette’s name in a few months
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| 7:23 |
: Backed up in a big way
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| 7:24 |
: Kilen feels similar to Joe Panik for the Giants
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| 7:24 |
: Oooh hey, that’s a good comp
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| 7:26 |
: Irish to Boston if they think he can catch?
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| 7:26 |
: nah, told ya earlier it’s Kyson
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| 7:27 |
: Have the Twins with Marek Houston here
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| 7:28 |
: Are Gavins the new Jacksons?
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| 7:28 |
: I think Aidens are the new Jacksons?
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| 7:29 |
: Kilen .712 OPS in SEC play and didn’t hit on the Cape. Giants development hasn’t wowed lately either. A bit scary
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| 7:29 |
: fair point
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| 7:29 |
: Is Houston a good pick at 16 for the Twins.
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| 7:29 |
: Yeah
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| 7:30 |
: any dope on why Irish is falling?
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| 7:30 |
: Working on it
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| 7:32 |
: Which guy in this draft screams Kevin Goldstein, and was it Marek Houston?
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| 7:32 |
: Cunningham
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| 7:33 |
: Conrad here?
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| 7:33 |
: Yes
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| 7:33 |
: Who’s doing it better than Big Eric L?
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| 7:33 |
: Whoever can do what I do and also doesn’t have flat feet?
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| 7:37 |
: Kayson Cunningham to Arizona
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| 7:37 |
: Then I think Ike Irish’s fall will stop with Baltimore
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| 7:38 |
: Favorite pick so far?
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| 7:38 |
: This one
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| 7:38 |
: Where is Gage Wood in this draft without the shoulder issues?
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| 7:38 |
: Probably still in this area
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| 7:39 |
: Did Baltimore float Irish?
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| 7:39 |
: Would be a baller move if they did, but nobody picking in front of them has said that he has a huge number or something…
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| 7:40 |
: it’s possible whoever is talking to the Excel people isn’t who I’m texting with, though
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| 7:41 |
: Hopefully the Twins can convince this guy to swing. Not exactly an exciting write-up.
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| 7:41 |
: Good shortstop
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| 7:41 |
: let’s see if they can make him stronger
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| 7:41 |
: Noooo I wanted Cunningham
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| 7:42 |
: Yeah, he’s your guys’ type, too
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| 7:42 |
: Five HS shortstops so far
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| 7:42 |
: I just want to say if there are any MLB front office employees reading, you work too hard and don’t get paid enough and it’s your own fault.
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| 7:42 |
: lmao
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| 7:43 |
: chasing that ring
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| 7:43 |
: Why can’t the Rays help themselves?
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| 7:43 |
: It works for them for 20 years?
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| 7:43 |
: What do you think about Cubs obsession with cape cod performance?
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| 7:44 |
: They’re not alone.
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| 7:44 |
: What picks do you like the most so far?
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| 7:46 |
: Doyle, Kayson, Irish
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| 7:46 |
: have you ever put a grade above 80 on a tool? is “Ike Irish” an 85 name?
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| 7:46 |
: No, you can’t.
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| 7:50 |
: So seems like their was video of Irish being drunk and saying out of pocket stuff. I don’t know the nature of the language used, specifically. Should I find it and play it on my phone really loud in the draft arena?
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| 7:51 |
: Hearing Xavier Neyens here to Houston
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| 7:51 |
: what do you mean by “out of pocket”?
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| 7:51 |
: Derogatory, perhaps bigoted or hateful in some way.
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| 7:51 |
: Drunk Irish? Surprised he fell past Boston
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| 7:52 |
: Like this ^ except not funny.
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| 7:53 |
: ESPN seems to avoid talking a lot about some of the Boras-related influence on the draft as you alluded to in your mock. How much do agents influence have in shaping editorial narrative with broadcast coverage?
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| 7:57 |
: Probably some. It depends on which of us you’re talking about. I can barely stand them. We just don’t speak the same language. Boras isn’t talking to many/any of us himself
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| 7:58 |
: Hearing Southisiene to Atlanta
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| 7:59 |
: Biggest surprise faller (of guys not yet picked)
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| 7:59 |
: Shedeur!
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| 7:59 |
: No, I’d have thought someone would have run to safety with Bodine or Taylor by now
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| 8:01 |
: Hearing Sean Gamble to KC
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| 8:06 |
: Oh this is yost btw
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| 8:06 |
: lol sorry
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| 8:06 |
: lost in my phone texting people gearing up for the comp round
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| 8:07 |
: How is Southisene pronounced?
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| 8:07 |
: SOUTH iss scene
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| 8:08 |
: With Wilken, Burke, and now Fischer can we say the Brewers have a type?
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| 8:08 |
: I think it’s one of their types, yes
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| 8:08 |
: Like Julianne Moore is my type, and so is Jessica Williams
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| 8:09 |
: Any concern with this Southisene guy going to college?
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| 8:10 |
: Nah, at this pick the deal is verbally agreed upon before they turn in the card
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| 8:10 |
: did you accidentally just reveal your KC source
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| 8:10 |
: Lol no
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| 8:10 |
: i feel like most of your posts should have this tag
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| 8:11 |
: I guess, but if it benefits everyone and the player has as much agency as possible in the scenario, what do i care?
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| 8:11 |
: I’m not a cop
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| 8:11 |
: I will probably stop woj’ing soon
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| 8:11 |
: Every time I think about the deal being agreed on beforehand I think about that Kyler Murray pick again and make a face
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| 8:12 |
: Yeah but that fell apart because of the year he had playing football.
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| 8:12 |
: God i hope when he’s done playing football he at least decides to take BP or something
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| 8:13 |
: I mean Russ did some spring training shenanigans when he was in the NFL right?
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| 8:14 |
: Yeah but one guy seems like he wants to give a speech to minor league baseball players and the other guy wants to play Call of Duty
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| 8:14 |
: This is Gage Wood to Philly btw
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| 8:16 |
: Cleveland is an interesting spot for LaViolette
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| 8:16 |
: Kind of like DeLauter. Down draft year after huge soph season
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| 8:17 |
: Did you know about Bremner’s mom passing from cancer two weeks ago? How would you even evaluate a player when they’ve gone through something like that?
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| 8:17 |
: Something tells me this is a rhetorical question?
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| 8:17 |
: Did any of the draft picks so far help themselves a lot at the combine or is that kind of a non factor?
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| 8:18 |
: Probably in the room with teams
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| 8:18 |
: more than on the field
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| 8:18 |
: at least among guys picked so far
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| 8:18 |
: LaViolette’s .258 batting average in his junior year won’t play in models
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| 8:18 |
: models regress everything
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| 8:20 |
: Official broadcast is talking about Gage Wood as a bullpen arm for the Phillies this year – is that realistic?
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| 8:21 |
: I mean…yeah? It would involve him getting hot again, but he didn’t throw that many innings this year. No harm in seeing where he’s at when you get him to the facility. If you’re in the playoffs and think he’s one of the best dozen guys in your org…
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| 8:21 |
: Nice to see Heriberto Hernandez up and producing in the majors. You were on him before anyone else, and while he’s unlikely to ever be a star, that was a good eye on your part, and tons of credit to the kid with the T-Rex arms to put the work in to get there.
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| 8:21 |
: Heribertgod!
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| 8:21 |
: LaViolette not even a 35+ for you anymore, or am I just not finding him on the Board?
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| 8:21 |
: He’s on there
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| 8:22 |
: 22
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| 8:22 |
: Glad this draft seems to be moving along pretty well/quickly. After watching basketball/football drafts, this is so much more enjoyable
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| 8:22 |
: I can tell you that, for me, it’s moving VERY fast
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| 8:22 |
: You think the Royals will try to develop Hammond as a two way?
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| 8:22 |
: Initially, yes.
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| 8:24 |
: Just once I want them to comp someone to like Miguel Cairo
|
| 8:26 |
: Chris Burke dropped a Zack Cozart comp on Marek Houston, I have no idea if that makes any sense but it was nice to hear one that wasn’t completely over the top
|
| 8:28 |
: The NHL draft was awful this year
|
| 8:28 |
: Yes, it was really weird
|
| 8:29 |
: They had the club personnel tell the player via a giant zoom video board how great they were. “Tell Eric how much you like his game.” and Danny Briere had to be like, “yeah, we love how you skate and we know you’re a good person.” it was odd
|
| 8:29 |
: ESPN seems like they’re trying to be lean with this stuff
|
| 8:30 |
: Good draft by Baltimore so far?
|
| 8:30 |
: Yeah but know I haven’t seen the Irish video
|
| 8:30 |
: Do you think Kruz takes underslot money to open up a Cervantes type at 99 for the Friars?
|
| 8:30 |
: No
|
| 8:30 |
: Bet he’s 3 mil ish
|
| 8:30 |
: I’m just now realizing that Kyson and Kayson are different prospects. We’re gonna need more names.
|
| 8:32 |
: Does the Os taking 2 catchers say something about Adley?
|
| 8:32 |
: Nooooo
|
| 8:32 |
: You don’t sweat that stuff in the MLB draft. Take the beat guy.
|
| 8:32 |
: best*
|
| 8:34 |
: Hey who’s winning mock wars?
|
| 8:34 |
: I know you don’t sweat positional stuff, but do teams think about windows? Like taking Willits at 1 instead of one of the ColSP?
|
| 8:34 |
: This i do think is fair, I’d have been tempted to take Doyle 1 just because I think my core is good and I want to add to it quickly
|
| 8:34 |
: I also like him
|
| 8:35 |
: Question just posed to Meg: are there plants in the audience here?
|
| 8:35 |
: I like Michael Oliveto alot, needs work on D but gorgeous swing
|
| 8:35 |
: Yes I am a plant
|
| 8:36 |
: Presumably the Orioles were aware of the Irish video, if there is one?
|
| 8:37 |
: I wouldn’t presume that. If you didn’t think he’d be there when you picked, like it seemed several teams did not, you wouldn’t have had reason to do makeup work like that.
|
| 8:38 |
: I’m just relaying what team people are telling me when I asked why he fell and if there was any non-baseball reason for it.
|
| 8:38 |
: Any idea what the Mets are thinking?
|
| 8:38 |
: Actually, no.
|
| 8:38 |
: Brutal loss for Yale with Oliveto
|
| 8:39 |
: It’s gotta feel awful when you’re a small program and you freaking nail it, land a super talented recruit for your program, and then everyone else gets on board
|
| 8:39 |
: I guess the portal does a version of that to everyone now
|
| 8:39 |
: I’m not lamenting the portal overall but i feel for that recruiter
|
| 8:39 |
: Catching up on chat and caught the Julianne Moore reference. Just needed to say that May December is one of the most underrated films of the last few years. That is all
|
| 8:40 |
: They’re all incredible in that, watching Portman’s crescendo near the end made me feel like when I saw Billy Hamilton run for the first time.
|
| 8:42 |
: oh brother, even eric playing the loser hits of criticizing kyler for playing cod when i guarantee almost every single player in this draft plays it
|
| 8:43 |
: Not critical of it, was highlighting Russ being a dork
|
| 8:43 |
: When should we expect to learn Willits’ bonus?
|
| 8:43 |
: Maybe not until the very end of them signing the rest of the clas so he can get every penny they have left
|
| 8:44 |
: Oooh! I saw Billy Hamilton score from 1st on a groundout to 2nd on a backfield once.
Was like seeing God. |
| 8:44 |
: Tips for a week on Cape Cod? Parks, players, places, food, anything…
|
| 8:44 |
: You need to ping Jay Jaffe
|
| 8:44 |
: Will Arquette be the last big Oregon St. name with them no longer getting a real Pac-12 schedule?
|
| 8:45 |
: No, the program has real gravitas. Their fanbase travels so well, it’s as big deal up there, way bigger than U of Washington baseball or anything like that.
|
| 8:45 |
: They’re the team of that region
|
| 8:45 |
: Second apron teams incoming
|
| 8:45 |
: Slater is a country singer???
|
| 8:45 |
: I had no iea
|
| 8:45 |
: idea*
|
| 8:46 |
: can you tell I’m flagging?
|
| 8:46 |
: Do not drive in or out at a peak time unless you love pain
|
| 8:47 |
: How close to the ledge should Orioles fans be with the lack of pitching?
|
| 8:48 |
: I think it’d be fair to ask Elias & Co. how it is they think they’re going to come by it. Like, what’s the plan? Is it just developing later round guys? I’m cool if that’s what it is but feel free to say so to your beat writers or something.
|
| 8:49 |
: Thoughts on Voit for the Mets?
|
| 8:50 |
: Nice 2B prospect, good athlete, I have some swing questions but he’s toolsy. They’ve had success developing two way guys one way.
|
| 8:51 |
: Jake Mintz just reminded me Voit was the kid at Michigan who pretended to do the line of coke when he tripled
|
| 8:51 |
: which i thought was creative and hilarious
|
| 8:51 |
: What projectable pitchers should i target tomorrow?
|
| 8:52 |
: Are there teams that are genuinely harder to get source stuff from than others?
|
| 8:52 |
: omg yes
|
| 8:52 |
: this is a very on-brand thing for Jake Mintz to have internalized
|
| 8:53 |
: Jake is on adhd meds, not coke. i could see how it plays like coke, though
|
| 8:53 |
: Love the Yankees pick. Super projectable, feel for contact, lefty power stick who could end up at many different positions.
|
| 8:54 |
: 80 grade name on Dax Kilby
|
| 8:54 |
: Commish’s accent with the names tonight has been beautiful.
|
| 8:55 |
: Ha, not the coke, specifically. I just mean that he loves whimsy
|
| 8:55 |
: Oh, yes, he does
|
| 8:55 |
: Can Kilby stick at SS long term?
|
| 8:55 |
: Probably not, I have him in the 3B/RF mix
|
| 8:56 |
: Sounds like Root and Davalan for LA here
|
| 8:57 |
: Late to the chat – this might’ve already been asked – but anything to read into with Baltimore taking 2 catchers in the first round?
|
| 8:57 |
: Nah, just collecting talent
|
| 8:57 |
: Do you think Marcus Phillips can be an MLB starter?
|
| 8:57 |
: I do
|
| 8:58 |
: When it comes to that, I think betting on athletes who are built and move like most MLB starters is a good approach, and he has that.
|
| 8:59 |
: Is Harold Reynolds drunk or just really clueless?
|
| 8:59 |
: Has it really been that bad?
|
| 9:00 |
: SUmmerhill is coming off the board here with Tampa
|
| 9:00 |
: I think he’s doing really well
|
| 9:01 |
: I was more curious how DeRosa would do and how he’d prepare
|
| 9:03 |
: Is there anything you think should change about the draft? Date, ability to trade picks, etc?
|
| 9:03 |
: I wish it were in June again so I don’t have to stary 2026 before this one fires off
|
| 9:03 |
: Do you think the Mariners picking a college catcher has any impact on Harry Ford?
|
| 9:03 |
: No.
|
| 9:04 |
: Do you have specifics of summerhill’s off the field issues that you referenced?
|
| 9:05 |
: There are a couple of things I want to iron out about that before I say so.
|
| 9:08 |
: Red Sox with Witherspoon and Phillips is a really nice duo to develop.
|
| 9:09 |
: How concerning is Fiens swing?? Posted solid number on the circuit but didn’t excel his senior year and has what I’ve heard described as a “wonky” swing
|
| 9:10 |
: I was worried about it but teams mostly were all over him coming out of last summer.
|
| 9:10 |
: Merrill comp for Cannarella. Sure thing…
|
| 9:10 |
: If he gets stronger he could be jackie bradley
|
| 9:10 |
: Feels like Miami got some really nice college position player value in a draft where it’s relatively thin
|
| 9:10 |
: Agreed
|
| 9:11 |
: I thought DeRosa did a good job for someone who isn’t this world all the time. He’s at least not comping every player to a hall of famer and he’s coherent to listen to.
|
| 9:12 |
: Any reason you know why the Dodgers would prefer Davalan to Cannarella? Seems like Cannarella is just the better prospect
|
| 9:12 |
: Better contact hitter
|
| 9:12 |
: anybody left you think the nats could be floating down?
|
| 9:12 |
: I like a lot of the high school arms left
|
| 9:12 |
: Any sense on if the giants are more college oriented under posey for top of the draft (realize it’s a one year sample and that Michael Holmes is still there)?
|
| 9:12 |
: I think that’s still tbd. Thought pre-draft Holmes would make the pick.
|
| 9:13 |
: As I did the mock that’s what I was led to believe, anyway.
|
| 9:13 |
: Love that 750 of you are still here, you heathens
|
| 9:13 |
: I’m gonna quit soon, though
|
| 9:13 |
: Did they force everyone to leave the auditorium before round 2?
|
| 9:15 |
: No, people are milling about
|
| 9:15 |
: Fauske just came off the board with no announcement
|
| 9:15 |
: CHW got one of their fave Midwest prep guys lined up here?
|
| 9:15 |
: Nailed it, your eminence.
|
| 9:16 |
: Okay, I have to split so I can follow the draft since picks are no longer being announced
|
| 9:16 |
: Thank you guys so much for coming. I really appreciate your readership. I wanna thank David Gerth for his contributions to our draft scouting before he left for his Red Sox job and I want to thank James Fegan for helping with the pro lists. Both were invaluable.
|
| 9:17 |
: I’ll have day one analysis up on the site tomorrow.
|
| 9:17 |
: Please check that out
|
Eric Longenhagen is from Catasauqua, PA and currently lives in Tempe, AZ. He spent four years working for the Phillies Triple-A affiliate, two with Baseball Info Solutions and two contributing to prospect coverage at ESPN.com. Previous work can also be found at Sports On Earth, CrashburnAlley and Prospect Insider.