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2012 MLB Draft Thread

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Kipnis 2.0? I like that he has a strong arm. Could move quickly through the system with the lack of quality OFs.
 
I LOVE this draft so far. Holmgren and Heckert certainly know what they are doing.
 
I LOVE this draft so far. Holmgren and Heckert certainly know what they are doing.

You have no idea how much I want to see Antonetti give a random interview with a radio station in Seattle just to fuck with people.
 
You are so fucking retarded Pyro.
 
You are so fucking retarded Pyro.

I think you're the retarded one here, since you clearly didn't get the joke.

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Kipnis 2.0? I like that he has a strong arm. Could move quickly through the system with the lack of quality OFs.

Who compared this guy to Kipnis? Kipnis had infinitely more pop in his bat and a much shorter, compact swing.

In 2009 (his last season at ASU), Kip batted .384 with a .500 on base percentage and a .709 slugging percentage as the team's leadoff hitter, with 16 home runs, 71 RBIs, 27 steals in 33 attempts, and 51 walks vs. 32 strikeouts.

So Kipnis hit in the same lineup slot (leadoff) and blew Naquin's college numbers completely out of the water (in 5 fewer AB's). Slightly better BA, 40 points higher on the OBP%, 170 points higher SLG%, 20+ more RBI's, 13 more HR's and twice as many walks. Kipnis was a fantastic college hitter, not only for average but for power as well and he was considered a reach as an OF.

His 2 years at ASU he hit .378 with 30 home runs, 144 RBIs, 142 runs, 37 doubles, 10 triples, and 51 stolen bases in 474 at bats.

Those are absolutely monster numbers for a leadoff hitter. Naquin was nowhere near that and Kip was what? A mid 2nd round pick?

That's my issue with Naquin, is that the Indians essentially drafted a singles hitter in the middle of the freakin first round. The only way it remotely makes sense is if he can turn in to a quality MLB leadoff hitter. If not, having a corner OF who can't SLG worth a crap is a huge waste at a premium power position.

I also don't buy that he "could have hit more HR's if he wanted to". He's going to be playing in larger parks, against better pitching and he'll be using a wood bat. Maybe as he ages he'll add some power but he looks like a guy you just hope can get on base.

We'll see if it works out but you win at the MLB level, especially in the playoffs, with dominant arms. The Indians have zero (on every level), so even if you're going to blow through half of your bonus pool, it may as well be on a HS arm who has a 100 MPH fastball. Had it not been for a non structural elbow injury, Giolito would absolutely have NEVER been there at #15…The Indians were gifted a massively talented young arm and instead they took a 3 year college player with no power who plays a corner OF position. :weirdo: If this pick doesn't work out, they're going to look really stupid in my opinion.
 
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Uh... college baseball switched over to composite bats last year, which produce nowhere near the numbers that the old aluminum bats did. Numbers went down dramatically across college baseball with the new bats. The numbers can't really be compared, especially since you can't hit 400 foot homers off the bat handle anymore.

As for Giolito, yes, he throws hard, but so did Stetson Allie two years ago. Where is he now? In the OF in A ball. The other factor in being a successful pitcher is health. Where is Adam Miller again? He could throw 100mph as a teenager, too. When a kid throws that hard, but then gets hurt that quick, it does say something about their durability. Giolito got silly comparisons to Roy Halladay. That is great, only what makes Roy Halladay what he is is durability. He wasn't shelved as a teenager, in fact, he has been on the DL what, one-two times in his career? I just don't see the wisdom in paying several million dollars to find out if Giolito can keep throwing that hard and stay healthy when he already hurt his elbow at 18. And in a way, it is worse that he didn't pop the ligament- at least he would have gotten his TJ out of the way. Now, if after he signs and pitches, in a year the ligament finally goes, then you have a million dollar bonus baby on the shelf until he is 20 who still hadn't gotten out of A ball. Good luck with that.
 
As for Naquin- we just don't know what he will be yet. It isn't a 'sexy' pick- but few picks in this weak draft are. More than half of this year''s first rounders would not have been taken there in the same draft last year. As for the scouting reports, they sound alot like what was said about Jason Kipnis and Trevor Crowe . Until he actually gets into pro ball and we see what he has, we just don't know. He has the skill set, and yes, he has enough projectable pop, to play just any OF position. The rest is up to him.
 
Tribe just took Mitchell Brown, RHP prep pitcher from Minnesota.

From MLB.com:

"6'01" 195lbs DOB: 04/13/94 It's not uncommon for players who play in colder climates to be late risers as scouts get to see them as the weather changes. That definitely has been the case for Brown this spring. While not the biggest guy in the world, he is strong and durably built. He also has a good idea of what he's doing on the mound. The right-hander can run his fastball up to 94 mph. He can spin a breaking ball pretty well, throws a good cutter and even shows a feel for the changeup. That gives him the chance to have four Major League average or well above offerings in the future. While Brown can struggle with his overall command at times, it's not a long-term concern. There was little doubt he was the best player in the state of Minnesota as the Draft approached, one who was creeping up higher on Draft boards
."
 
3rd round selection

T.J. Zuppe ‏@TJZuppe
#Indians select RHP Kieran Lovegrove from Mission Viejo High School (CA) in the 3rd round (110th overall).

6'04" 185lbs DOB: 07/28/94 This SoCal right-hander has great upside but has been inconsistent throughout his career. His delivery has a short stride and relies mostly on arm action, but he is able to consistently throw his fastball from 90-94 mph. His slider, although inconsistent, has a chance to be a strikeout pitch. His changeup has the chance to be an average pitch but can help complement his fastball and slider if they aren't being commanded well. Lovegrove also has the ability to add muscle to his lean frame, which could mean added velocity. A team that thinks that it could smooth out his mechanics will take a chance on him and could end up getting great value.
 
Kieran Lovegrove is a guy I really like, he's a tall kid who has the frame to add both weight and velocity as he matures and has an unbelievable understanding of the game and life.

He started his own charity with some high school friends called the Going to Bat Foundation, which collects baseball equipment for the less fortunate.

One of the nicest kids I met during my time with USA Baseball, and I'm really excited the Indians took him.

Could be really special on and off the field for this organization.
 
B00bie our resident Mel Kiper here...

Not to excited about the Naquin pick to be honest, I think you need to start taking chances on some real lightning rod pitchers and hitters. We have no one that can drive runs in and as it stands now I don't know if we have an ace. Our bullpen is awesome and the rest of the roster is pretty average in terms of talent.
 
I miss the good old days when players could add some HGH to gain some pop in the bat. The Indians should be working on a drug that can't be detected.
 
B00bie our resident Mel Kiper here...

Not to excited about the Naquin pick to be honest, I think you need to start taking chances on some real lightning rod pitchers and hitters. We have no one that can drive runs in and as it stands now I don't know if we have an ace. Our bullpen is awesome and the rest of the roster is pretty average in terms of talent.

Thanks McShay...

But looking at the roster now has very little to do with how they should be drafting, as these guys are mainly 3-4 years at best away from the big leagues.
 
D'Vone McClure, outfielder from Arizona.

Solid commitment to Arky, but if he signs, this is the power potential some of you have been hoping for.

In the MLB.com video, he shows some great bat speed and looks like he's got a pretty solid lower half which will generate a great deal of power as he matures.

Wonder what his contact rate will look like though, as with any young power hitter.
 

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