Reaction on Cole, Bleich starts to come in
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jun 05, 2008 
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Over on ESPN.com, Keith Law is digging the Gerrit Cole pick. What’s not to like? He’s a top-15 sort of talent.
UPDATE, 7:08 p.m.: Cole is not doing a conference call with the New York media today but will do one tomorrow.
UPDATE, 7:21 p.m.: Here’s a breakdown on the first two picks from Rich Lederer of the excellent Baseball Analysts site. Rich saw both of them play.
Gerrit Cole: Cole may have the best teenage arm in this draft. He throws a four seamer that peaks at 97-98 and a heavy two seamer that runs in the low-90s. Baseball America has ranked his fastball at the top of the high school class. There are two questions that have dogged Cole this spring: (1) his makeup and (2) his signability, as he is represented by the Scott Boras Corporation and has committed to UCLA. Slot money probably won’t do the trick here. The tall righthander could slide like Rick Porcello last year, but it is unlikely that he will receive a signing bonus approaching Detroit’s first pick in the 2007 draft.
Jeremy Bleich: Bleich (pronounced Blishe) began the year as Stanford’s No. 1 starter before suffering an elbow injury that sidelined him for almost the entire Pac-10 schedule. The tendinitis went away and he returned in the last half of May. Has a fastball in the upper 80s to low 90s with good movement and deception. Also throws a curveball and changeup. Known for his competitiveness on the mound. Had a 4-2 record with a 2.44 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 44.1 innings in the Cape Cod League last summer. Bleich has never been drafted before.
seems like the reports are correct, kid has an attitude problem
Yankees pick at #75: Joseph Bittle from Ole Miss.
Joe Bittle pitcher from Ole Miss is the 2nd round pick
too busy to take 10 mins. of his time? Ouch. Not a good first impression alright.
Not a very good first impression. He was too busy to talk about an event that may affect the rest of his life.
He’s gotta go set up a high interest savings account.
He’s probably going down to the local luxury car dealer.
Here is what BP says about Bittle.
Kevin Goldstein (3:57:13 PM PT): And there’s Bittle to the Yankees. Interesting that a guy who totally lives off one pitch (and it’s a cutter), goes to the Yankees. If anyone can teach him how to do that at the next level, it’s Mariano.
awesome fight in bos
This kid Bittle is a fascinating story.
Here are his numbers this year at Ole Miss:
27 games, 7-1, 1.78 ERA. 70 innings, 35 hits, 30 BB, 130K’s.
That’s right, 130 K’s in 70 innings.
He throws this pitch called “the thing”. Its kind of a cross between a slider and changeup.
Its tough to describe but the ball does some really funky stuff.
He also throws in 92-94, which makes it even tougher on hitters.
He learned the pitch when he was in JUCO in Texas and its something to see.
I watched him last weekend and guys just had awful swings on it.
A couple of the scouts I know see the guy as a relief pitcher who can move quickly through a farm system.
Interesting pick for the Yankees.
Its probably best to describe the pitch as a cutter. Its got real funky action to it. Sometimes it breaks like a cutter. Other times, it looks like a slider.
He throws it at different speeds too which makes it murder on college kids.
Its going to be interesting to see how pro players adjust to it. Its a real funky pitch.
Bittle was a good pick there. Video game numbers this year. Hitters could not square up his cutter.
As long as he can pitch, I don’t care how much an attitude problem he has.
Here is a video of Bittle its not that great, but better then nothing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_shav1mfBA
SJ44,
Wouldn’t those numbers warrant being drafted a little higher? Are there any drawbacks/question marks about him?
i like this pick
wang has 33 walks.. pettite has 17 in 10 less innings.
the walks are killing Wang, I think he is actually giving up less hits then last year.
what is going on with him?
thanks…
Maybe Cole was in class lol.
“what is going on with him?”
Personally, I think he’s injured, but he’s keeping it on the down low because of all of the issues the Yankees have right now.
Whats sad is Wang is gertting more strikouts but getting more fly balls and less groundballs the in the last 2seaspns.
can we reserve judgment on this kids for another 2-3 years. Or, as Hughes and Kennedy have more aptly demonstrated, 4-5 years please? Jeez…
Dis anybody take Tanner Scheppers.
“Personally, I think he’s injured”
Posada and Girardi felt he had changed his mechanics while trying to work his secondary pitches. Something that should be fixable.
For those who are interested, Classy Cocoa Crisp just got absolutely pummeled by the Rays in a full-on brawl.
Very interesting description SJ44. Sounds like a good potential bullpen weapon.
Is it just me or do we have enough young pitching to build three teams? Guess I’m a spoiled Yankee fan, but other than Joba, it sure would be nice to see some of this young drafted talent impact the big league club quickly.
Pirates took Scheppers.
Dave,
Early in a draft, teams go after high ceiling guys. Bittle is a specialist kind of a guy. Basically, a one trick pony even though that “trick” is a very effective pitch.
For a team like the Yankees, its a great pick. They can afford to take a run on a kid like this and see if he fills a particular niche (bullpen help) they currently have.
If his pitch translates to the pros, he could be in the majors very quickly.
For teams drafting earlier in the draft, you don’t spend a pick on a one trick pony. You go more for toolsy position players and big arm pitchers.
For those who aren’t aware, the college baseball is different than the pro baseball. The stitches on a college baseball are higher, which allows pitchers to get more break on the ball.
If his “thing” pitch translates using the pro ball, he isn’t long for the minors, IMO.
Guys will go nuts trying to hit that pitch.
“DID” anybody take Tanner Scheppers?
Wow, the tone of this post changed in a hurry.
This kid is an 18 year old high schooler in SoCal. He’s supposed to be Joe Torre-like in his deference to the reverential NY media?? Lighten up clones…
“For those who are interested, Classy Cocoa Crisp just got absolutely pummeled by the Rays in a full-on brawl.”
He’s a Crock Sox so he deserved it. Somebody needs to beat the crap out of Manny.
This is off topic, but did anyone notice how PopUpRod deliberately stayed away from the celebration at the plate? I think he was afraid to get hurt.
Also, Farnsworthless looked like he could have cared less that they won. Man, I can’t wait to be rid of that guy’s contract. We should send him to TB so he can help beat up Crock Sox players.
Elsbury just hurt his hand/wrist diving for a ball.
Life is good.
The Tigers are loading up on college power arms.
Their three picks thus far, Ryan Perry of Arizona, Cody Satterwhite of Ole Miss, and Scott Green of Kentucky are all Mid-90′s flamethrowers.
They seem to be looking for guys to help their bullpen this year. All three of those guys may get shots in the majors this year.
That’s how desperate theyr are for bullpen help.
BTW FYI i have just registered/trademarked the phrase “kei igawalbatross” thanx and keep shopping!
Ellsbury is screwed, that was nasty
Hey SJ – I have a question for you.
I saw the Tigers just took a pitcher from my alma mater (Univ of KY), and that made me think about a couple of hitters from UK that there’s been a little bit if buzz about. I was wondering if you’ve seen or heard anything regarding Collin Cowgill (a JR OF) or Sawyer Carroll (a SR OF/1B). If so, I’d be really ineterested in what you you’ve heard.
SJ,
I completely agree with you on the Tigers. They’ve done complete 180 in their draft philosophy.
They’ve really been about best player available.
Now its need. They are a win now team. I’d guess they’re hoping one of those arms pans out this year.
Perry is very good.
I thought beforehand if they drafted for need Cole would be there.
The Yankees basically just picked Pedroia.
Wolf,
Haven’t heard much on either guy. Only guy I heard a lot about was Green.
It was a mixed review on him. Some scouts love his arm but, he has a tendancy to struggle with control.
Overall though, he’s a talented that some had pegged for the late first round.
David Adams seems to have one heck of a hitch in his swing – based on the mlb.com video.
Thanks SJ –
The analysis I saw of Green pretty much sums it up. He got worked out of the rotation and ended up buried in the bullpen. The other guys I mentioned totally lit it up from the plate this year and were mentioned over at MLB.com in one of the draft updates at one point, but I didn’t know what their draft prospects were like.
Thanks for answering, though.
SJ,
Thanks for the update. I had no idea the college ball was different… very interesting.
LOL – just as I was writing that, the Padres took Carroll and MLB.com’s draft tracker has his first name incorrectly listed as “Swain”. Smooth.
Kansas City????
wow.
someone tell me my eyes didnt just deceive me. Melville to the Royals?
its true
Hey guys, I’m a sophomore at Orange Lutheran (Geritt’s highschool)and I’ve got to say hes throws the hardest out of anyone I’ve seen. I’m only on junior varsity but I had to catch one of his pens and he could tell I was scared so the first thing he pitched was a fastball in the dirt (jerk! haha). If he makes it, that will be a story I will tell for the rest of my life. Anyways, he’s a cool kid and today on the intercom our principal said “Congrats to Geritt Cole on being drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees.” I can’t begin to describe how jealous I am of him. Just thought I’d post that.
-p.s. seniors have finals this week, probably where he was.