Draft about to get started again
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jun 10, 2009 
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The draft gets going today at noon with the start of the fourth round. They expect finish the 30th round by the end of the day. Rounds 31-50 will be tomorrow.
The best player available is probably catcher Max Stassi of Yuba City, Calif. But he is considered a tough sign and is committed to UCLA.
Arizona closer Jason Stoffel is an interesting player. The Yankees took an Arizona closer named Mark Melancon in the ninth round of the 2006 draft, so who knows?
You can follow pick by pick on MLB.com.
Hey Pete, Evan Roberts gave your blog a shoutout today. Said you do an excellent job.
Yankees gonna get taken to the cleaners by the first rounder. No levrage. Hold out for 10 million kid.
Why did the yanks draft another catcher? Don’t we have enough talent around that?
The Yankees have two .240 hitting third basemen. One has power, the other is a better fielder. All Rodriguez seems to do lately is pull everything on the ground to the left side. I think young Mr. Pena could do that at 1.7% of the cost (yes, that is the salary difference).
Speaking of Melancon. Got the win last night, but gave up a couple runs along the way. Almost a 5.70 ERA over his last 10 appearances. Good peripherals still, but not as dominating as he was pre-callup.
You don’t draft according to need in MLB Draft. Also, catching is one of the most prized areas in baseball today
Maks June 10th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Why did the yanks draft another catcher? Don’t we have enough talent around that?
—
can never have enough good catchers … plus with the MLB draft, you’re not really drafting for a particular ‘need,’ but want to stockpile the best available prospects…
dissapointing regarding Melancon.
was expecting him to be a key contributor in the bullpen, this year
I think the Yankees are gearing towards developing more versatile athletes.
All these catchers will get time at first base as well. You have to collect catchers so that you can use the cream and not get stud with the curd!
pat,
If Sutcliffe is saying, “how could I hear a whistle from the press box?”, then he’s definitely changing his tune.
That thing ran in the news loop on tv the whole next day.
I thought it was quite clever myself. But how the issue is only coming up now is a mystery.
ZMANN
Unless you are a Steinbrenner heir, why does 27 million more in their pocket impact your life?
Bench Alex, bat Matsui behind Tex and play Pena. Didn’t you have enough of that the first month?
If your premise is Alex needs to play better, agreed. But the salary and Pena have nothing to do with that.
Repost from the last thread:
June 10th, 2009 at 11:57 am
M – yeah the place is HUGE … really really nice campus. When I went to check it out I wanted to move in right away, it’s incredible. The baseball fields are professional quality, I’ll definitely take some pictures and post them somewhere for you to see.
I checked out the tennis area a little bit quickly, some BIG BIG names went through there. The Pendleton school is on the same campus as the IMG academies. They actually run the school like a college where they don’t necessarily have school from 9-3 like a normal school – the classes are run around the sport they play. Really cool and a lot of fun.
Former Yankee Steve Farr is actually one of the instructors
Joe T,
Sounds great. I want to say (not definite) that it was originally Nick Bollateri who started his tennis academy there. Best known for molding Andre Agassi, but I want to say that Seles and Sharapova passed through as well. I think he sold his academy to img and they branched out from there.
What are you doing there again?
ZMan – Alex looks toast
He has done nothing with the bat since that 5-5 game in Texas
We are paying him $27 million dollars to produce runs, hit HRs, and carry teams. He better start hitting and he better start hitting soon
“We are paying him $27 million dollars to produce runs, hit HRs, and carry teams. He better start hitting and he better start hitting soon”
FWIW, one shouldn’t underestimate the hip issues as they result to Rodriguez’s play. Probably incorrect to think he is out there at 100%.
I was going to tune out of the draft, but it’s moving at a pretty quick clip. Looks like these teams did all their work already. What do they do? Pick names out of a hat?
MAX STASSI is off the board
to oakland
Oakland picks Stassi. Cardinals select Bittle, our 2nd pick from last year
A-Rod is now “toast” and should be benched because he’s in a slump, offensively and defensively? Laughable, and the kind of comments that will look brilliant once A-Rod is in the midst of another hot streak.
Although I will say, I’d rather read that kind of nonsense than be subjected to 5 hours of people coming on here to post about and parrot everything that Mike Francesa has to say about last night’s poor Yankees performance.
That’s exactly it M. The Williams sisters both went through there as well. If I remember correctly Jeter, Nomar, Hamilton and others went through there.
I’m going to be coaching summer ball over there. Should be a lot of fun!
my bad, it’s not the Bittle from last year.
Yanks pick Adam Warren, RHP from UNC
Day 2, Round 4, Pick # 135, Yankees take: RE-DRAFT Adam Warren, RHP, University North Carolina
Adam Warren RHP UNC
Adam Warren, RHP from UNC selected by the Yanks.
Adam Warren is really good. Watch him pitch in the CWS this weekend. You will be impressed.
Nice pick by the Yankees.
To me the Bittle pick by the Yankees was dumber than the Cole pick last year. Bittle was such a clear waste of a pick, to the point where I want to believe that Cashman knew he was going to sign multiple free agents post-’08 and wanted to take a guy that he knew they would not sign, so he could be sure to get a protected pick in yesterday’s draft.
Andrew,
Don’t worry, it’s coming in about 45 minutes…. 200 posts in 20 minutes paraphrasing what Francessa said about last night’s loss. Usually posted by the same people who claimed last night they would not listen to him today.
Baseball America: North Carolina righthander Adam Warren to the Yankees. Warren pumps his fastball up to 93 mph regularly, sits average with it and his slider and has solid-average command of both pitches.
Aw, I love watching and posting Francessa. That dude is too funny.
Joe T,
That’s great. What a fun opportunity for you.
SJ & the rest,
Thanks in advance for your insight on the draft and the different picks.
BTW, who’s the Yankee representative that I’m hearing?
Or should I say reading posts on Francessa.
Yankee person on the phone might be Damon Oppenheimer.
Thanks M
When A-Rod gets hot, he’s better than any player who ever played the game.
On the ESPN Baseball Podcast, Peter Pascarelli described AJ’s performance last night as *atrocious*. I had to laugh because I’m sure that Francessa is going to use the same word.
That message board dedicated to Mike Francesa is HILARIOUS.
This time Laura, it’s actually the correct word to use.
Warren Bio/Stats through 2008: http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sp.....dam00.html
Somewhere, Francessa prepares to talk of the virtues of pitching over pies.
Francessa is going to destroy AJ today
Can’t say he doesn’t deserve it though
Day 2, Round 5, Pick # 165, Yankees take: Caleb Cotham RHP Vanderbilt Univ
Calib Cotham LHP Vanderbilt
oops RHP, Vanderbilt
MLB Scouting Video on Caleb Cotham: http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.....id=4827529
Bio: http://vucommodores.cstv.com/s.....leb00.html
Wow. Sox’s 5th round selection’s name is longer than Salty’s!
All I know is as of now Salty is the proud record holder of longest name in ML history.
Congrats to your nephew, SJ. I’ll be watching UNC CLOSELY now in the CWS, LOL.
Looks like my post got blocked for two links in the same post. As soon as Pete unblocks my post, the link for scouting video and bio for Cotham will be there.
Anybody want me to post links to bios and what not if I can find while I’m able or not even bother?
Day 2, Round 6, Pick # 195, Yankees Take: Robert Lyerly 3B UNC Charlotte
Ewww… Adam Warren..low 90′s eh..
Day 2 is starting off sad.
Lyerly Scouting Bio/Stats: http://www.charlotte49ers.com/.....rob00.html
Rob Lyerly hit over .400 his year. He’s one of the best A10 players
Baseball Prospectus (http://www.baseballprospectus......ed/?p=1308)
Caleb Cotham, rhp, Vanderbilt. Many of you know the affinity I hold for the Cape Cod League, and Cotham was very good with the Brewster Whitecaps one year ago. The right-hander allowed just 34 hits in 46 innings, striking out 51 batters on the summer. Inconsistency, as it has throughout his career at Vanderbilt, plagued his season, as Cotham managed only a 4.10 ERA in 13 starts as a junior. Commodores coaches put Cotham in the bullpen towards the end of the season, but when they let him loose as a starter in the postseason, the Cape version of Cotham was there: a complete game shut out of Middle Tennessee State and a seven-inning, one run domination of Arkansas in the SEC Tournament. All told, 16 innings, with a strikeout-to-walk of 15/1, thanks to the rediscovery of a two-plane slider. Tim Corbin tells me he thinks with one more season, his coaches could make Cotham a first rounder. If I’m a team in the middle rounds, I don’t let Corbin get the chance.
Brian Moran went to Iona prep
Baseball America: Tough sign alert—Vanderbilt eligible sophomore righthander Caleb Cotham went to the Yankees near the end of the fifth. Cotham made some money with a complete game effort in the Louisville regional. At his best, he’s a power sinker-slider pitcher, with his slider reaching 87 mph in shorter outings.
Definitely good to draft kids from the UNC system. High character guys with a good work ethic. There are a lot of bad seeds going to some schools in that area, but the UNC kids are solid.
Day 2, Round 7, Pick #225, Yankees Take: RE-DRAFT Sean Black RHP Seton Hall
Sean Black Bio/Stats: http://www.shupirates.com/View.....EASON=2009
He’s from Mt. Laurel, N.J. ..maybe he’s a Yankee fan..
and I think all my links are pissing the blog off…
or I didn’t hit submit (sorry Pete if I do a double post!)
Sean Black Bio/Stats: http://www.shupirates.com/View.....EASON=2009
(He’s from Jersey)
Day 2, Round 8, Pick #255, Yankees Take: RE-DRAFT Samuel Elam RHP Univ Notre Dame
Josh, he’s a LHP and is he good?
Sam Elam? He was horrible this year. Josh you have any links on him?
Yeah. Sorry, Elam LHP.
Elam Bio/Stats: www. und .com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/elam_sam00.html
remove spaces (blog might let it go through)
Can’t post a link, but search “sam elam notre dame” on yahoo and it’ll be the first result.
Looks like a project…hope they teach him some control
Day 2, Round 9, Pick #285, Yankees Take: Gavin Brooks LHP UCLA
Gavin Brooks LHP who can pitch in the rotation or out of the bullpen sort of like Phil Coke.
the Yankees are making good picks this year, I think.
A lot of pitching, maybe they’re looking to hit the lotto and have someone who they can rush to the bigs and help the bullpen
Day 2, Round 10, Pick #315, Yankees Take: Tyler Lions LHP Oklahoma State
Sorry, Tyler Lyons.
Draft Tracker takes too long before they give the spelling, so I just guessed..wrong…
Good pick. Tyler Lyons was really successful this season. He’s a draft eligble softmore so I don’t know if he’ll sign.
Since it looks like just two of you (DJ and benfica356) are looking/posting here, I’ll stop. I guess nobody is too interested in the future, just the present. Have a good day.
josh, stay. I need the info.
I’m staying I love this stuff. Its better than talking about mike francesa
I’m staying I love this stuff. Its better than talking about mike francesa
BaseballAmerica (regarding Sean Black): Sean Black was a second-round pick out of high school in 2006, but he turned down an over-slot bonus offer from the Nationals to go to Seton Hall. He was the highest-drafted player who didn’t sign that year, and you have to question the wisdom of that decision now, at least from a financial perspective (though certainly there is inherent value in the college experience). Just about as expected, Black slipped to the seventh round this year, going No. 225 overall to the Yankees. He won’t get nearly the offer he turned down three years ago.
sorry posted twice
Black won’t sign probably.
and the Yankees hold up the draft..lol
Finally not a college pitcher. The Yanks cause a delay in the draft. LF from Oklahoma State
Day 2, Round 11, Pick #345, Yankees Take: RE-DRAFT Neil Medchill OF (Left Field) Oklahoma State
Neal Medchill
Looks like a power hitter with 12 hrs in 58 games but a high strikeout total.
Baseball Prospectus regarding Elam:
Bryan Smith (10:08:08 AM PT): Didn’t think we’d be hearing Sam Elam’s name in the top 10, a lefty from Notre Dame. Elam has a one of the better raw left-handed relief arms in the country, but it’s been a long time since he’s known where a ball is going. 29 walks in 31.1 innings this season, and he was worse over the summer. A Yankees scout must see something fixable, because if it gets straightened out, it’s great stuff.
Thats good info Josh thanks.
any info on him?
Day 2, Round 12, Pick #375, Yankees Take: Brett Gerritse RHP Pacifica HS – California
Brett Gerritse HS RHP
Gerritse first high school pitcher the Yankees take
I know maybe they’ll start going after the tough signs now. I am looking for info on Brett and not much luck.
Brett Gerritse
http://www.ocvarsity.com/playe.....easonID=35
According to the above link, he’s “Committed to Long Beach State.”
Nice record. 10-2, 86 innings pitched, 0.90 ERA
Thanks, committed to Long Beach State. They’ve turned a couple of good position players out.
Gerritse was on the O.C. All-Star Baseball Game yesterday.
Might be hard to sign him. If he’s from Orange county, CA and wants to go to school so close to home.
Day 2, Round 13, Pick #405, Yankees Take: Deangelo Mack OF (Left Field) Univ South Carolina (Columbia)
Mack played in the CCL last summer. Stole 8 bases hit .273. He’s a redshirt junior.
Bats and throws Left.
You’re either real quick with Google DJ or you follow college baseball
Mack Bio: http://gamecocksonline.cstv.co.....elo00.html
I wonder where Alibay Barkley is gonna go. He went to George Washington HS in the city.
a little of both lol got to love ESPNU
watch him go to the yanks and is he good DJ?
Big time power. Throws hard off the mound. He’s a 1B. They called him young papi
I got blocked again!
Stonebruner is another CCL player. He’s a redshirt softmore.
Day 2, Round 143, Pick #435, Yankees Take: Graham Stoneburner RHP Clemson
I am officially taking the officially panicked off my name. I panicked on 5/13/09 when the Yanks lost to Haladay and they looked flat with no spunk. Since then, they have turned it around and have shown me things I haven’t seen in years.
I now have full confidence in this team…but reserve the right to change my mind.
test…
Stoneburner struck a lot of guys out this season but also gave up a lot of hits. That might be as a result of the metal bats his ERA is in the 3s
Weird. Not even any links.
Wow just looked. A kid from SUNY Cortland Michael Tone was drafted. DIII ftw
alright Josh I’m out gotta go work. hope the yanks pick up a gem
Baseball America:
Two more pitchers who were projected as potential first-round picks at some point in 2009 went off the board in the 10th. The Athletics took South Carolina flamethrower Sam Dyson with pick No. 303, and the Yankees grabbed Oklahoma State lefty Tyler Lyons 12 picks later.
Lyons, a junior southpaw, was also projected as a potential second-round pick heading into the draft, though his stock was hurt this spring by a dip in fastball velocity (he worked mostly in the 86-87 range). Still, he’s a strike-thrower and a competitor with a chance for two average-to-plus offspeed pitches in his curveball and changeup. That’s an excellent value as this point in the draft, and don’t be surprised if the Yankees make a strong run at signing Lyons, perhaps as a summer follow.
Have a good one DJ
Day 2, Round 15, Pick #465, Yankees Take: Shane Green, RHP, Daytona Beach Community College
I’m done. Anyone who is following and not posting, sorry. Have a good day everyone. I’m sure Pete will have a nice write up and/or provide links later on today/in the near future.
whos this guy josh
Spelling on the last name of Shane, is Greene – Not Green. Now I’m done.
Thanks for posting what you did Josh.
Really good stuff for those of us lurking from work!