Draft '07

The Mets own the 42nd, 47th, 93rd, and 99th picks in the upcoming draft out of the top 100 and they can certainly pick up some talent in those spots. The obvious hope is someone dropping for signability reasons, but with the Yankees picking 30th, it would be hard to see anyone really special drop past them. Below are some guys who I am intrigued by and very well could be on the board when the Mets are picking.

Guys that intrigue me:

41. Nick Noonan, 2b
Noonan has plenty of baseball savvy, first and foremost at the plate. He stays balanced, trusts his hands and makes consistent hard contact. Overmatched earlier in his career with wood, Noonan has made adjustments in his swing and shows excellent aptitude. While he's just an average runner, he's a good baserunner and basestealer, and he's a solid defender thanks to good hands and sound footwork. While he doesn't have flashy tools, he's one of the steadiest players in this draft class.

While he should be off the board when the Mets pick, anything is possible. But he is not targeted to be a hold out because of money and appears to be a great guy to have in your organization so no one would really shy away from nabbing him.

43. Casey Crosby, lhp
Now Crosby is a 6-foot-5, 200-pounder with a low-90s heater that tops out at 93. He still has plenty of room to add strength to his frame, too. He impressed scouts last October by playing wide receiver on Friday night, taking the ACT test Saturday morning and then flying to Florida to light up radar guns at the World Wood Bat Championship. He finished the fall with 76 receptions for 1,150 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Hard throwing lefties are always good to have he certainly looks like a good character guy to have in an organization that will work hard and do the right things.

56. Cole St.Clair, lhp
St.Clair's stuff has looked good when he has taken the mound, as he has worked at 90-92 mph and flashed a good curve. Yet he had pitched just 11 innings in five weeks and he's a reliever, so scouts had trouble catching him in action. When healthy, St.Clair has been more dominant than Savery. Several clubs believe he has enough stuff to start in pro ball, a transition he wants to make. St.Clair was a potential top 10 pick coming into 2007, and he could vault back into the first round if he shows teams he's healthy.

The Mets have some starting depth already and with the high cost of relievers and Joe Smith's success, another fast moving reliever to the bigs sounds appetizing. Of course he could be moved into the rotation so you have a guy that can certainly fill whichever need you have and you can fill it with someone that is close the bigs in either role.

61. Todd Frazier, 3b
He has been a three-year starter at Rutgers and carved a reputation as a solid all-around player with a long track record of performance despite a modest tool set. He raised his profile by showing plus power with wood last summer with the college national team, but scouts are apprehensive about his long-term ability to hit for average because of unorthodox swing mechanics. He's a solid-average runner with adequate hands and an average arm, tools that might play at third base or second, but not at shortstop. His instincts and makeup are outstanding, and if he gets to his power as a pro, he'll play his way into a big league lineup.

I also remember questions about two other guys who played shortstop while they were in college. The first one is Ryan Braun and questions about his ability to succeed because of a hitch he had in his swing. The second one was about Jed Lowrie and whether or not his swing would translate with a wooden bat. Both guys were good players and were able to put all of those questions to bed. Frazier might not be able to follow in their footsteps, but the prospect of a Dustin Pedroia-type guy with more pop is exciting. Of course Frazier has less bat control and K's more, but such are the pitfalls of hitting for more power.

69. Jordan Walden, rhp
alden was Baseball America's No. 1 high school prospect at the outset of the 2006 season, but an inconsistent senior year killed any chance that he'd realize his desire for a seven-figure bonus. After touching 99 mph the previous summer, he dipped as low as 85-88. When he fell to the Angels in the 12th round last June, he turned down a scholarship from Texas to attend Grayson County Junior College and keep his draft options open. Walden has been much better in 2007, sitting at 92-94 mph and peaking at 97.

The key for their early picks might just be taking a chance on players who's stock has fallen and Walden certainly fits that bill.

73. Danny Duffy, lhp
He has perhaps the best fastball in the state among draft-eligible players, reaching 95 mph and sitting in the 90-93 mph range with his four-seamer. He's somewhat mature in build and has had back issues in his past, and needs to get stronger. Duffy also throws a high-80s two-seamer with good armside run, and has shown ability with both a slider and curveball. His mechanics aren't a thing of beauty, one easy indicator of how much work he has to do.

His 118 k's in 53 innings opened my eyes. However, more walks than hits raises a red flag and this guy looks like a project. He seems to have an arm an a half though which certainly helps so maybe he can work out with John Holdzkom.

81. David Kopp, rhp
Somewhat enigmatic, Kopp has been inconsistent with his control and velocity, but at his best he flashed middle-of-the-rotation stuff. He stayed behind and on top of the ball better during his delivery this spring and improved his direction to the plate. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph, sitting at 92. He gets sink and run from his three-quarters arm slot, though he doesn't repeat his release point. His changeup is a weapon, but his 81-83 mph slider shows potential of becoming a legitimate put-away pitch.

Good fastball? Good change? Potentially devastating slider? Needs to work on his delivery? Sounds like the perfect guy to have in big league camp to be working with Rick Peterson.

93. Victor Sanchez, 3b/c
His businesslike approach invoked some Garret Anderson comparisons, and he plays the game hard and without unnecessary flash or effort. Sanchez has shown average power at present with a loose, easy swing that promises more down the line. He's shown the ability to adjust within at-bats and games to opposing game plans. His arm plays well at third base, and he has intrigued scouts even more by playing catcher, where his arm actually has improved and grades as slightly above-average. Sanchez is part of yet another strong San Diego recruiting class.

The Mets already have a young catcher in Francisco Pena, but catchers are finiky and Sanchez can play multiple positions should both work out. They could certainly stand to grab him if he is on the board when they have one of their latter picks.

100. Jonathan Bachanov, rhp
University High was his fourth high school in as many years and Bachanov's Myspace page--complete with a "countdown 'til I get paid"--was a running joke among scouts this spring. Despite his blemishes, the big righthander shows glimpses of greatness, like his 15-strikeout performance against one of the state's top teams, Winter Springs High, in the 6-A regional quarterfinals in early May. That night his fastball was up to 95, and he showed an ability to place his hard breaking ball down in the strike zone.

Seems like he has a bit of a douche streak, but his arm is intriguing nonetheless. At 6-5, 200 pounds, he certainly has a durable build for a pitcher as well.

* * *

Alan Matthews Draft Chat:

Q: Mike from New York asks:
Some top guys that might fall out of the first round becuase of signability issues?

A: Alan Matthews: Porcello and Wieters are the two most likely candidates. Guys like Aumont and Mesoraco are going to be two likely beneficiaries if that happens, as both are considered cinch signees if they go as high as the top 15 picks.

Again, it would be nice to think the Mets could nab one with their first pick, but someone will make a play for them. I can see them slipping into the 20's, but then they have to get past the Tigers, Yankees, San Francisco (who direly needs to pick up some premium hitting talent), St. Louis, Philly, and the Dodgers. Tough for someone to slip that far past teams that all could be slated to open their pocketbooks.

Quotes of the week from Buster's blog on the 1st.

dj_mahoney (6/1/2007 at 11:58 AM)

Giambi has only been productive when he's been healthy and on the juice. The folly of the Giambi contract is not just the amount of money that the Yankees spent. Giambi has tarnished the Yankee's reputation. Say what you will about their payroll, but the Yankees (since 2005) have earned the respect of the baseball community and the fans for being straight-laced good guys that play the game the right way. Disregarding Clemens' two Piazza meltdowns, the times you could condemn the actions of Yankee players were few and far between. Giambi has been a complete and utter embarrassment. He's a fraud and a cheater. If he's dumb enough let his guard down again, Giambi will be the first to admit that was chemically enhanced during his walk year in Oakland and during his one shining Yankee moment, the 2003 ALCS. Mike Hampton and Chan #### Park did almost nothing positive after signing their ridiculous contracts, but neither of them sullied the reputations of the Rockies and the Rangers.

It would seem as though DJ gets all of his news from the YES network. All this Yankee reputation crap really gets to me. There are plenty of teams (i.e. the Mets, the Red Sox, the Angels, the Dodgers, etc.) that play the game right and keep their heads down while not disrespecting anyone and not incessantly jawing. There are teams that do cheap things and lately, the Yankees have been one of them. Mostly due to one player, but they have been more guilty than most other teams.

This notion that the Yankees are morally superior is just poppycock. Yeah, I said that. POPPYCOCK! Simply a false notion concocted by none other than...the Yankee fans and the media that covers them. The fact is, one bad apple can spoil the bunch. A Jose Guillen circa 2003 or a Aramis Ramirez with his non-hustle and sit down viewings of his doubles off the wall can really downgrade people's view of a team. Eradicate that or somehow squelch it and you have a good guys. 90% of the players are inherently good in this league and the AJ Pieznaljkajasierkiskis and Gary Sheffields are few are far between.

Seattle second baseman Jose Lopez says that yelling at infielders is standard operating procedure for A-Rod, and calls it "stupid." Richie Sexson calls it "bush league," as John Hickey writes. Within this notebook, Tom Gage writes that a Tigers infielder had a similar incident with A-Rod last year.

While on the topic of the ever so high an mighty Yankees, I didn't really touch upon the A-Rod fiasco. While it isn't a big deal and isn't illegal, it's professional courtesy to not do that. People try and liken it to blocking the fielder on a grounder if you are a baserunner to swinging to distract the catch on a throw to second, but they are different. For one, the other two situations involve being in the players field of vision. Just like fake catching a ball for an outfielder to try and fool a baserunner or the hidden ball trick. The guy trying to be fooled can see the play clearly. In regards to a pop up, in order to avoid a collision, you have to rely on your teammates. If someone calls you off, you back off. A-Rod's move was cheap. It wasn't slappy bad, but it's just another item on a growing list of A-Rod's childishness on the field. Not to bring this comparison up, but could you see Derek Jeter doing that? Whether or not he becomes the all-time homerun king or not, he will not have my respect for all his crap from his days on the Rangers, his little cheap shots, and his lack of a grasp on reality.

tdellacroce (6/1/2007 at 1:02 PM)

It appears that Yankee fans are going to have to get used to the newest pastime of the media, fans of other teams, and occasionally opposing players -- kick the Yankess while they're down. It's a perverse pleasure born of pent-up envy. It's sadly pathetic.

Yeah. That's it. You hit the nail on the head 100%. The poor little old Yankees and their poor fans. Yankee fans have never stooped down to saying disparaging remarks about other teams or their fans, right? Right? Douchebag. I really fault A-Rod for not being in touch with reality, but Yankee fans have a pretty bad case of A-Rod-itis themselves. Self evaluation is a big problem for many, many people in this world.

"I was losing my mind. Seriously."

The mind is crazy thing and it could have wreck Ollie. But now he is cruising and looks like the Perez of 2004.

"Phenomenal," David Wright said of Perez's performance Sunday, though mindful that the lefty is one of several Mets starters who could use more run support. "Those guys get losses when in six, seven innings they give up two or three runs. That's not fair to them, but that's the game of baseball. That's what happens sometimes."

The Mets were facing the hottest team in the bigs with an outfield that would be lucky to help the team to produce one run much less a win. It was a rough series for the Mets.

Beltran, Wright, Reyes, and LoDuca are the top vote getters in their respective positions.

The Duque? Money.

Facing Orlando Hernandez’s maddening array of breaking balls is the kind of thing that can put some hitters into a funk. Apparently it was just the tonic to help struggling rookie Carlos Gomez get out of his.

Gomez snapped an 0-for-18 hitless skid Saturday, and followed that up with a 2-for-4 performance yesterday that showed some promise. And the youngest player in the National League was quick to single out pregame work he’d done the last few days in the bullpen with venerable El Duque as the biggest reason why.

Pedro Martinez is scheduled to throw off a mound tomorrow in Port St. Lucie for the first time since surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff. The Mets expect an August return.

Chan Ho Park is gone.

Humber is pitching himself in line to be the next call-up. He went 6.2 innings and gave up seven hits, three runs, and one walk while striking out five.

Ummmm....yeah...

On his having two kids with two women by age 17: "That was part of my plan. I didn't want to be the typical athlete who's single all his career. I wanted the all-American family, and I did it the wrong way."

So let's get this straight. It was your plan to have two kids with two different woman to prove you weren't the typical athlete who is single. Brilliant!

On the decline of African-American players in MLB and the increase of Latinos: "I called it years ago. What I called is that you're going to see more black faces, but there ain't no English going to be coming out. ... (It's about) being able to tell (Latin players) what to do -- being able to control them. Where I'm from, you can't control us. You might get a guy to do it that way for a while because he wants to benefit, but in the end, he is going to go back to being who he is. And that's a person that you're going to talk to with respect, you're going to talk to like a man. These are the things my race demands. So, if you're equally good as this Latin player, guess who's going to get sent home? I know a lot of players that are home now can outplay a lot of these guys."

Talk about inflammatory racist comments. Where's Al Sharpton? Where's the ACLU? Where are the activists the calling for him to fired? Racism obviously exists and has existed in baseball, but I have no idea to what degree in Major League baseball at this point in time. It is ridiculous how Gary will just get away with this with minimal outcry while other people get lambasted. People are going to chalk this up to Gary being his usual self and this will die down and just be another ridiculous remark added to a long list of ridiculous remarks.

Just my two cents, but if a player could help an owner win and add more millions to their pocket, they would be on the team regardless of race.