2011 MLB Draft

[AZ_]

The draft begins a week from today, as Shapiro tweeted earlier they are bringing all their supervisors and cross-checkers in town to formulate a draft board.

As it stands right now, the top of the draft is as perplexing as I've seen since I started following/working in baseball.

The Pirates will set the tone, and I'm fairly certain they haven't made a decision yet...which is pretty rare for this stage of the game IMO. It seems like this is going to come down to how much above slot they and ownership are willing to go.

I personally think Gerrit Cole tops their draft board from a talent perspective (supposedly hit 102 in his start Friday), but the whispers of a guy like Hultzen going #1 overall probably have some legs. Cole is going to command a solid bonus and could very well make him unattractive.

Cole:
[video=youtube;KIzq2QuFmb0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIzq2QuFmb0&feature=related[/video]

Hultzen:
[video=youtube;atHVL_Orkz0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atHVL_Orkz0[/video]

Why this matters is because if the Pirates avoid Cole and take Hultzen, this causes a huge shakeup in the top five and could have Cole slide out of the top 5 all together.

Seattle is taking Anthony Rendon, that's pretty close to a lock IMO unless they're actually IS structural damage in the shoulder. So no Cole here....

Rendon:
[video=youtube;6x9ZzACRR08]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x9ZzACRR08[/video]

The Diamondbacks could make everything regular again by taking Cole at 3, but I know they've had multiple eyes on Dylan Bundy (HS RHP - Oklahoma) and Trevor Bauer (Cole's UCLA teammate). It could go any direction.

This is the first instance where the pick matters to Cleveland.

If Cole gets to three and AZ takes him, it means Bundy and Bauer will be there for Baltimore's pick. It leaves an outside shot that Bauer would slip to Cleveland at 8.

If they pass on Cole, they're going to take Bundy/Bauer and Baltimore will immediately take the other. This scenario leaves Cleveland's top overall prospect (Bauer) off the board at 8.

Bundy and Bauer are probably the two oddest prospects of this draft. Both are from the new school of pitching mechanics and have very strenuous workouts on the arm and body. It turns teams off, both have requested NOT to be drafted by some teams which don't cater to their styles (not Cleveland).

Bundy:
[video]http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14729855[/video]

Bauer:
Side view: [video=youtube;ZqDo8Iu0WkU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqDo8Iu0WkU[/video]
Plate view: [video=youtube;TmifEeHMa6E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmifEeHMa6E&feature=related[/video]

The Royals could certainly go over slot and take hometown kid Bubba Starling, and I think they will. If his demands are too ridiculous, which isn't out of the realm of possibility, I could see them going for the best college pitcher available (Matt Barnes - UCONN). If Gerrit Cole is still on the board here, he's gone no question.

[video=youtube;mvPULXKU2k8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvPULXKU2k8[/video]

Washington at six is a total mystery to me. They've gone so high the last two years I'm not sure they want to do it again (Starling or Archie Bradley - HS RHP), they could take Bauer if he's there. Totally up in the air. Could take Barnes or Sonny Grey (Vandy RHP) as well.

Arizona will take a signable player with the 7th pick, after losing out on Barrett Loux last year. 3B Cory Spangenberger makes sense here, but doesn't concern the Indians much.

The Indians here would hope and pray Bauer is magically still there. As an Indians fan I'd like to believe it's possible, but it's just not going to happen. With Bauer off the board, the Indians will take SS Francisco Lindor.

IMO, he is the truest definition of a shortstop. The absolute best hands I've ever seen at the high school level, flat out gold glove ability at the position and a leader of the defense on the field. Came into the season as a mid-late first rounder but became a top 10 pick this year because of the leap he took with his offense.

Is a switch hitter, showing much more power than he did in the past from both sides of the plate despite his stature (5'10, 170 IMO - has the body for more weight). Pretty smart hitter with OK plate discipline.

From a makeup perspective, top of the line all the way around. Great kid, wants to learn, great to coach. I have that on about as good of authority as you can possibly have. Everyone who's been around the kid loves him.

Here is a couple vids from Aflac in 2010 (Age 16, pre-offensive bustout)

[video=youtube;MvdmZt2uu9Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvdmZt2uu9Q[/video]

[video=youtube;8jtf9v01uV8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jtf9v01uV8&feature=fvwrel[/video]

Offense (RH and LH swings) and defense:

[video=youtube;pN5LgXpkk1Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN5LgXpkk1Y&NR=1[/video]




Just my take on things one week out, I know alot of people don't care about the MLB draft but I've become sort of wrapped up in the whole mess for the last few years.

We'll see how things shake out, but feel free to post any thoughts and comments about who you'd like to see the Indians draft.

 

[elcheato]

Not questioning what you think will happen with the Francisco Lindor kid , but when was the last time the Indians took a high school kid in the first round?

 

[AZ_]

Not questioning what you think will happen with the Francisco Lindor kid , but when was the last time the Indians took a high school kid in the first round?

Totally with you there. It has been since 2001 that they've taken a high schooler. 2000 since taking a position player from high school.

They've had people on Lindor ALL season and well before it, and I originally found out about Lindor through an Indians scout who was covering USA Baseball when this kid was 15.

With that said, this is a new regime and they've been hinting that they're willing to go over slot to sign someone. Lindor just makes sense for the Indians, who are thin on position players in the system and deep with pitching at almost every level.

This WILL be a rarity for the Indians, but I just think they have Lindor higher than the other college pitchers who will be there at the time...with Cole and Bauer being the exceptions.

 

[Damage]

Am I the only person who's interested in Bubba Starling??

 

[Chardon]

 

[KCOTT]

Bauer's delivery is very unique and distracting, which might actually work out in his favor. At least in my initial viewing, looks like the ball comes out of his hand late and he hides it well in the delivery, which gives a batter less time to initiate his swing. His curveball has a nice bite to it and good arm action.

 

[KCOTT]

But wow, Lindor has a great swing. I'm all for pitching, but part of me wants to find the next Manny Ramirez for our farm system.

 

[AZ_]

Am I the only person who's interested in Bubba Starling??

Like him, potential five tool guy.

Was hurt this year though, and has football offers on the table and rumors of a $10 million bonus swirling. Not sure if the Indians would be interested in that.

 

[Cavsfan89]

TonyIPI Tony Lastoria
According to ESPN's Keith Law, #Indians "biggest names right now are Lindor, Bradley & Baez. If Bauer actually gets here, he's their pick."
10 hours ago

 

[eighter08]

"Bundy and Bauer are probably the two oddest prospects of this draft. Both are from the new school of pitching mechanics and have very strenuous workouts on the arm and body. It turns teams off, both have requested NOT to be drafted by some teams which don't cater to their styles (not Cleveland)."

Is this the Nolan Ryan workout/approach to arm strength?
Also I don't care for Bundy's arm motion. The drop down as apposed to circling the ball up and back scares me.

 

[Chris]

I like Bradley. I feel like Lindor is not really what we need ... but I guess you take the best player you can get. I'm no MLB Draft expert, just going by what I have read.

 

[macbdog]

Am I the only person who's interested in Bubba Starling??

In what way? AY-OH!

That would be ridiculous if Starling can slide to the Tribe- but it would be a total shocker if he makes it past KC. With probable draft changes coming after this year, and after how they spent on the last draft, I think they will take a risk here in the first. I would love to get Starling, Bauer, Bundy, or Baez with that pick, in that order, but as b00bie noted I have already seen a few mocks where all 3 of my top selections will be gone by then. That Diamondback compensation pick is throwing all this off.

 

[DJTJ]

TonyIPI Tony Lastoria
According to ESPN's Keith Law, #Indians "biggest names right now are Lindor, Bradley & Baez. If Bauer actually gets here, he's their pick."
10 hours ago

Two of the three are SS? Don't we have a logjam on young middle infielders?

 

[AZ_]

Two of the three are SS? Don't we have a logjam on young middle infielders?

At the upper levels, yes...but not at shortstop.

But by the time Lindor is ready, Asdrubal Cabrera is going to be playing for a different team. Phelps is not a shortstop long-term, at least not a starter defensively. Donald's days at SS are probably done.

You take the best player, period. What you have at the big league level should not even factor into it if you're taking a high school player.

Javier Baez is probably due for a position switch as a professional, I don't think he stays at SS.

 

[Cavsfan89]

Francisco Lindor, a high school shortstop, is being strongly considered by teams with top five picks, including the Mariners (who pick second overall) according to Jason A. Churchill of ESPN.com. Lindor could end up as a speedy switch-hitter with some power and an elite glove.

I'm intrigued by Lindor. I'd love Bauer though.