Do owners get involved much?

I thought we were getting a toolsy OF. Doesn't make sense.

20003: Dave -- Kudos again for your great Hamilton piece. I hope it and you are getting even more attention after your award win and now that Hamilton has turned into Willy Mays. Can't wait until you get a regular column.

On Hamilton, I read over an argument recently about who won the Hamilton/Volquez deal, which mostly turns on trying to figure out which amazing story/performance is more likely to carry forward (unless you think Danny Herrera is going to blossom). What's your take?

Dave Sheinin: Thanks and thanks. Great question about the trade, and obviously it's a tough call. Volquez had another amazing start last night (his ERA is now 1.32), and Hamilton, like you said, has turned into Willie Mays. The easy answer here is that both teams benefited and the trade worked out equally well for both sides. But I'm going to take a stand and say the Rangers came out ahead. All other things being equal, I'll take an incredible young position player over an incredible young starting pitcher -- not only because the position player plays every day, but also because the pitcher is more likely down the road to suffer a career-altering injury.

Chat: http://tinyurl.com/4nevza
Last year's Hamilton Profile: http://tinyurl.com/23vfot

I (heart) your turn of a phrase ...
==========================

Does MLB's "BaseballChannel" feature anyone quite like ESPN's draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.?

The Rangers of the early 2000's had A-Rod, arguably the best all-around player of his era and the best-hitting shortstop of all time, not to mention a formidable infield of Mark Teixeira and Hank Blalock in their primes. Texas ended 2002 and 2003 fifth in the AL in runs scored essentially on that infield alone, as they had relatively pedestrian outfields during that span. But none of it could overcome their chronic lack of pitching; only once since 2000 have the Rangers had a staff ERA in the upper half, in 2004 with a 4.53 ERA when they placed fifth in the AL. And a good bit of that was because league pitching got noticeably worse that year.

Now I have to get my head around the fact that Ron Blomberg was from Georgia.

well-said ....

19

perhaps one of the triumvirate of Blomberg, Ivie and Benson was an alias for another

All teams should be forced to listen to the tale of Brien Taylor ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brien_Taylor

That statement may contain some redundancy, but what the heck, it's for emphasis.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7D8aDp3RUs

I predict they nab one of these guys, depending on availability:
Hicks (unlikely to be available)
Collier
Ethan Martin
C Kelly
or (if they do take a college guy) C Friedrich

I wonder if there's any chance they reach just a bit for J Weeks (Rickie's bro)?

--

Whoever drafts Shooter Hunt will end up with one of the best names in the draft, although maybe not a great pick.

33 Any relation to Bridger?

In symbiotic news, in honor of the 12th anniversary of the hit movie Independence Day, the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball (based in Durham) http://tinyurl.com/47ckfa , are reluctantly announcing that Will Smith will not be reuniting with DJ Jazzy Jeff for a concert.

36 You can't trade draft picks in baseball. You can be awarded them for free agent signings, depending on status.

http://tennessee.scout.com/2/759539.html

God Bless America...

Dodgers' Kemp suspended four games
9:26 AM Thu, Jun 05, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Posted by: Diamond Leung

Matt Kemp suspended four games and fined, while Yorvit Torrealba suspended three games and fined. Kemp's suspension will begin tonight unless it is appealed.

--

I am assuming it will be appealed, aren't you?

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

this pitch can not be legal SFW

http://tinyurl.com/49mow9

If there were runners on base, it likely still would be legal, but even Jason Phillips could steal a base off that pitch.

52 - I am sure Delwyn will get (at least most of) the replacement starts for Kemp.

54 - Hmm, tempting. Andrus hasn't yet been raking with the bat, but I know he's got the glove and a lot of upside. Not sure he's higher than Hu in hitting development at this point but could surpass him quickly. Hmm.

Kershaw for Hamilton

No Andruw Jones deal (minus $36 million in payroll)

An everyday outfield of Hamilton, Pierre, and Kemp/Ethier

No Minotaur

Not sure if I would have done the deal, but that would have been interesting...

Would Hamilton have hit as well in Dodger Stadium? Would he have seen as many good pitches given the line-up around him?

Here is the link to watch it live

http://tinyurl.com/3kqq9g

http://tinyurl.com/5lpjcz

"GM opening"? Does this mean after DePodesta was fired, or just a mis-chosen word?

But that doesn't preclude him from looking at LA again, should youknowwho get the boot after the season.

Am "working at home" this morning until the Dodgers first pick is in the books.

Games 1 on the Road
In Boston: 3-5
Overall: 6-8

Games 2 on the Road
In Boston: 2-6
Overall: 3-11

Games 3 at Home
Vs Boston: 5-3
Overall: 7-7

Games 4 at Home
Vs Boston: 1-7
Overall: 4-10

The Lakers have had home court advantage in half of their 28 NBA Finals, and are 11-3 in those series. Unfortunately, they are 3-11 in series without home court advantage. The last series they won without home court advantage was 1985...against the Celtics.

The lesson: it's OK to lose by 34 tonight.

I think the Lakers's have a clear advantage in "mental toughness" and "experience in the playoffs", led by Kobe and Phil. This stuff matters a lot in basketball, more so than in (e.g.) baseball.

I have a lot more confidence in Kobe's ability to score/draw fouls in "crunch time" than that of the Celtics's big name players. But we'll see.

"It's like something's burning" is not what you want to hear from your Opening Day pitcher, which is why the Nats are very worried about Odalis Perez right now. He's been a stabilizing influence on their rotation, and losing him might force them to make some more aggressive moves.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7622

When you think about it, how can the Rays not now be good, given all the #1 picks they've had over recent years.

Between the Uptons and Kevin Love, it seems a big deal to get your kid to have strong wrists.

From ESPN.com:

Time limit: Five minutes between first-round picks; one minute between compensation picks

Since they are using 1 minute limits for compensation picks, my hunch is that it will be that for short for all other picks.

Splitting the first 2 games is a good start, especially because of the 2-3-2 Finals format (ie, the Lakers home games are all bunched together). Winning 3 games in a row seems quite difficult.

Don't they have a new "enlightened" GM...?

123 Russell Westbrook is signing with an agent.

Wow, another incomprehensible cell phone call with a draftee.

I always expected him gone. Westbrook will always be one of my favorites.

I wonder if I should buy Westbrook autographed gear?

Okay, Giants on the clock! They probably won't screw it up, but we can be hopeful!

I hope they take that broken Fresno State pitcher instead, though.

The NBA lost my respect with Game 6 of the 2002 NBA Western Conference Finals. Watched maybe 5 games since then.

Billingsley may have to knock in his own runs tonight!

...the other one.

I pray they don't go 15 for 15.

"Or will they go with Smoak, a switch-hitter who could inspire "Smoak on the Water" references if he splashes balls into McCovey Cove down the line? (Full disclosure: I got that line from a fan who emailed it in.)"

Groan.

When Selig said "Gerald"..

I was like, "OMG OMG GIANTS DID SOMETHING STUPID.."

then the "Buster Posey" party came.

I'm assuming you meant one of the first two in Boston. There have been 29 NBA Finals with a 2-0 lead after two games. Only three of the teams down 0-2 went on to win the title:

1969 Celtics (vs. LA)
1977 Blazers (vs Phi)
2006 Heat (vs Dal)

I believe the only two teams to win the first two on the road were the 1993 Bulls (in Phoenix) and 1995 Rockets (in Orlando).

2-3-2 format was (re)adopted in 1985 (it previously existed at times in the 1950s). Bill Simmons is convinced the format gave the Lakers the 1985 title.

"Now the Marlins can take Kyle Skipworth at 6, with Gordon Beckham going 7 to the Reds under any scenario. The White Sox will probably be the landing spot now for Justin Smoak, with Aaron Crow going ninth to the Nationals.

"The big question now will be whether or not the Astros take Canadian catcher/infielder Brett Lawrie or Eastern Kentucky lefthander Christian Friedrich. That would leave Yonder Alonso at 11 for the Rangers, which puts Georgia prep righty Ethan Martin into play in the rest of the 12-20 range, possibly at 15 for the Dodgers or 21 to the Tigers."

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

If the Nats don't take Smoak, OR Aaron Crow, I'll eat my hat.

Game 1: Boston
Game 2: Los Angeles
Game 3: Los Angeles
Game 4: Boston
Game 5: Los Angeles
Game 6: Boston
Game 7: Tie game with 5 minutes left in the 4th quarter, and at this point the refs will then let the players decide who wins.

Enjoy the game tonight! :)

vr, Xei

And underdog does not have to eat his hat. Stand down.

Smoak still there.

190 - Hewitt could be solid for someone but seems a reach at 15.

The NBA has come a long way since then.

"You know he's smart, he went to Stanford" - Steve Phillips, kissing up to Jon Weisman

They just showed the A's draft room. It was filled with computers.

you do the math.

Bud winked at the A's.

-Peter Gammons, putting the smack down on Karl Ravetch.

Tell you what, Aaron Hicks... if he's still there at 15 and the Dodgers don't take him, I may cry.

kind of drives me nuts that i see who they draft before the commish announces it.

is it like that for those watching on espn2 too?

Twins might pick that polish college lefty starter now.

Well its now between Martin and Hicks for the Dodgers.

We're on the clock boys. With no Hicks, do we take Ethan Martin here?

247 - That cracked me up. Sounded like a Mel Blanc character there. "Loos Ahn-geleez"

Here we go!

Plus, Martin could also be moved somewhere else. Will be interesting to see what Logan White says about him.

Martin sounds like an intriguing pitcher too.

So I would predict somewhere around 2:30-2:45 p.m. PDT

Brewers take the Canuck, Lawrie.

Okay, I can go off to my meeting now. Tawk amongst yourselves.

Also, why take so many pitchers year in and year out?

"Martin is a two-way player. He came into the year as a potential first-rounder as a third baseman, but he didn't hit well at the beginning. He likes to pitch, and he shut down American Plantation H.S. (the team of prospects Eric Hosmer and Adrian Nieto) in February. He throws 91-95 mph. He has a chance to be an above-average bat at third base, and he obviously has a plus arm. I would be surprised if the Dodgers kept well at beginn. Likes to pitch. Shut down Hosmer and Nieto team in a feb. turn 91-95 off the mound. Chance to be an above abverage bat at third . Plus arm. Good athlete. Would be surprise if keep him as a pitcher because they tend to prefer guys with polish. He has arm strength, but not much polish as a pitcher."

Martin has some of the best raw power in this class.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=308

He was a HS QB, and is listed in the ESPN college football database.

http://www.swingtraining.net/Carlos/Scouting/Martin-swings.gif

He's old.

Looks like he has quick and strong wrists.

299 Well they better sign him today just to add one extra year of development with no worries about 40-man roster protection.

Of course, he may want to wait 11 hours for the same reason.

He could go to Ogden in the Rookie League. This is probably the last year the Dodgers will be in the Gulf Coast League with the move to Arizona next year.

And I'm predicting the Mariners spring for the college reliever in Cashner.

(note: comparisons of young pitchers to the greatest of the last half century are for entertainment purposes only)

Seaver. Duh.

So Seattle picks the best available starter and moves him to the pen?

Will we have a Martin to Martin battery?

http://itmightbedangerous.blogspot.com/2008/06/allan-dykstra.html

Scout's Inc. gave his fastball a grade of 60 (91-95 mph) and his curve ball at 50 (81 mph).

I'm still pretty happy with the Ethan Martin pick, wherever the heck he plays.

The Rockies finally put C Friedrich out of his misery.

But I do see that Mark Schlereth's son was drafted. I wonder how many sons of NFL offensive lineman have made the big leagues...

"Ethan is a fantastic young athlete who excels on the mound with an exploding fastball and a sharp-biting curve," said Assistant General Manager, Scouting Logan White. "He is a terrific competitor with first-class makeup."

"Ethan has a good angle on his fastball with late sinking action anywhere from 90-96 miles per hour," said Scouting Director Tim Hallgren. "He also has a plus-curveball that has late three-quarter downward action at the plate."

http://tinyurl.com/5exxb6

Gurnick is up also:
http://tinyurl.com/5wujwe

"He's too good an athlete, has too good a delivery and is a great makeup guy not to take him," said assistant general manager Logan White. "He was a position player until two years ago, so he's got a fresh arm. He's already got a plus-curveball and he throws 90-95 mph every time out. He's still filling out, so he projects to get better. We did a lot of research on him and he's healthy."

White said Martin is "no slouch at third, but we feel he's special on the mound and that's where we'd like him to go."

Wow, so Melville's still available? Hrm.

And with DeVall going at 40, Melville is now the last remaining undrafted player from BA's most recent mock 1st round.

371 - the Angels will sometimes go above slot. I believe Mark Trumbo was that sort of exception, and certainly Nick Adenhart was (he was drafted in the 14th round but given first-round money). It is not something they do as a matter of course.

I've been gone all day and I can't believe how few players have been chosen!

http://deadspin.com/5013439/a-note-from-your-editor

Okay, only 14 more picks to go til the Dodgers next one.

Also they paid slighly above slot for their
6th and 7th round picks in 2007.

Now they have not done anything big aside from the LaRoche signing under a different ownership and management but just pointing out that it has been done.

Dodgers' Kemp appeals
2:21 PM Thu, Jun 05, 2008
Posted by: Diamond Leung

Matt Kemp has appealed his four-game suspension and will be available to play tonight.

However, he's also 6'5 and its tough to make it in the big leagues with that big of K zone.

Skilled player, great makeup, very hard-nosed

In short, we think this is a very well-rounded player with great intangibles

Why is that surprising?

I hope the Dodgers go position player with some of their next picks, depending on who's available...

I expect that kinda stuff from people like Ned.

He may use some additional methods of evaluation but he is not bound by them.

'I am not telling the computer exactly what it can do with a lifetime supply of chocolate'

Because after building an altar to Depo, D4P would have nothing to show for it if he was just...you know...regular.

I can't speak for anyone else, but the issue for me is not that it's impossible to believe that he's not much different.

Rather, I want to believe that he's different. I've idealized him in my mind, and like to believe that he's smarter and more competent than other GMs/Special Assistant to the Whatever His Official Title Is.

Then sometime late in the season or during the offseason, BA would publish a more complete draft list after they'd completed their investigative work as to which round each player was drafted in. MLB was so tight-lipped about everything that following the draft was almost impossible.

I can't speak for anyone else, but the issue for me is not that it's impossible to believe that he's not much different.

Rather, I want to believe that he's different. I've idealized him in my mind, and like to believe that he's smarter and more competent than other GMs/Special Assistant to the Whatever His Official Title Is.

This may require a lot of CGI.

But also most draft folks will tell you that at that level, sophisticated analysis is just not as useful as basic scouting which involves lots of interaction with the players. So things like those intangibles are going to play a part.

Hmmm...

I wonder how many walks he gave up this spring.

It will probably go until 6:00 p.m. PDT

I had hoped to see Martin's arm action from the back. A front view is not sufficient.

>>In the field, Martin is a plus defender with a plus arm and athleticism. His best tool, though, is his raw power and strength. On the mound, Martin offers a fastball in the mid-90s and an above-average breaking ball with slurve action. His changeup is also advanced for a high school pitcher and can be a plus pitch. Where in the past he may have been labeled a thrower, Martin has shown pitchability throughout the spring. Scouts love the way Martin plays the game, with a country strong swing and dirtbag mentality. They also love his versatility. The team that drafts Martin will be have a tough decision to make on his long-term future, because he offers the versatility and talent to reach the big leagues either way.<<

I like the "country strong swing" (especially if it's fried, too) and "ditbag mentality" sounds good, too.

Yeah, if the Brewers don't use one of their consecutive picks here on Melville, he might still be available. Come on, Logan, talk him into it!

I sincerely hope that one day, we'll look back on this day as a fortuitous one in the history of L.A. sports.

Somebody has to host the All-Star Game, after all.

It just wasn't a low ceiling college reliever.

Huh?!

Brett Wallace is the great white whale.

What the heck is up with Melville...

Please don't be a reliever, please don't be a reliever, please don't be a reliever...

What part of the state is that in?

Third time in four years that the Dodgers have picked a U. of Tennessee pitcher in the first two rounds. (Lindblom tranferred to Purdue from Tennessee.)

>>
With a fastball that has been clocked up to 97 mph with some sink, Lindblom has the power arsenal you look for in a short reliever. His curve is inconsistent, but his splitter has the chance to be a plus pitch in the future. He's also got a changeup that can work against left-handed hitters. He's been up-and-down this season, sometimes being very hittable and sometimes being untouchable. But with his live arm and big-league body and stuff, someone is sure to bite fairly early on.<<

"Coco Crisp is hit by a pitch"
"On-field delay."

Hey, I still like our James Adkins pick in the previous draft, though he didn't go quite as early.

Ceiling of closer, could end up in mid-relief.

Of course, I've not seen Lindbloom at all.

http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/2008/06/ethan-martin-sa.html

Pierre. LF
Kemp. CF
Ethier. RF
Kent. 2B
Martin. C
Loney. 1B
DeWitt. 3B
Hu. SS
Billingsley. P

Canuck, any chance Galloway lasts 'til the Dodgers pick next?

http://tinyurl.com/4ofxpw

>>The former Harrison standout struggled as a starter for coach Doug Schreiber's team, eventually moving to the bullpen and becoming the Boilermakers' closer. Without question, Lindblom has thrived in this role.

"You watch some of these closers in the Major Leagues and they're off the wall and crazy," Lindblom said. "You have to take that role over. It helps when the opposing hitter steps in the batter's box and thinks you're a little crazy.

"I'm kind of out there, a little goofy. I feel like, right now, I fit the role pretty well."

It's hard for the Boilermakers and the rest of the Big Ten Conference to disagree. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound Lindblom leads the league in saves (11) and is tied for fourth nationally in the same category. He's also struck out 39 batters and walked nine in 352/3 innings, compiling a 3.28 ERA.<<

Kevin Goldstein (BP) on Melville:

>>It's looking more and more like he'll be a Tar Heel. His mom sent an email to scouts a few days back saying he'd expect 10-15 money -- I guess that was enough to kill him.<<

And I'm done trying to guess.

The Kreuter suspensions were done so as to not have more than three players out at any given time.

... how many players were suspended?

If he's put on the fast track, it's not a bad pick.

If you're going to take a college reliever this early, he better not be a developmental guy.

Apparently steroid abuse claims in the NFL are taken a bit more... seriously than in the MLB.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3427526

"A convicted steroids dealer who recently met with NFL security officials and gave them names of players he said bought steroids from him has been found dead in his home."

"No snitchin'", so to speak.

Wow.

Maybe someone that might turn out to be better than Ruggiano.

However, Shields, practicing safe fighting, kept his glove on.

He's got some pop. I like that pick.

506 ?? Did he pick the wrong week to quit sniffing glue?

Real tall, long lefty swing.

He started off this season in a deep, deep slump, but really caught fire and was dominant during the latter part of the year.

He's a type of player I never would have thought the Dodgers would have interest in. Among Texas players, I was actually hoping we'd draft Jordan Danks, a toolsy center fielder who's sort of a poor man's Matt Kemp.

But you are dealing with college pitchers so its hard to say he has good plate discipline.

BA had him as their 137th best pick.

Yeah, really don't like this pick.

But, he can mash.

Here's a good article on him from baseball analysts:

http://tinyurl.com/6x9d8w

Weird draft.

1st round he selects a pitcher while has excellent raw stuff, isn't as polished as the typical prep pitchers he likes.

2nd round he takes a college reliever..and well..he's a college reliever.

3rd round he takes a massive slugger who can hardly make contact although when he does, it goes a long ways. His hitting draft picks in the first few rounds have all been high contact/line drive pure hitter types.

Is Hallgren really running this draft?

Oooh, the Giants just took a UCLA guy - can they do that?

24Hrs in 173 Abs.
.364/.465/.884

.305/.361/.645 70K 262 AB.

I'd have been excited if they took him in the 1st.

Is that the same CC that Russ Martin went to?

Devaris Strange-Gordon sounded familiar to me so I looked him up.

Flash or Flash In the Pan...?

Reach pick...son of a big leaguer.

Okay, time for a meeting, then gone to a screening, will miss whatever mischievous picks the Dodgers make next as well as the Lakers game live and the Dodgers game, so... gulp... catch you all manana.

But he came up a bit short.

Your search - "devaris strange-gordon" "scouting report" - did not match any documents.

I saw Tom pitch for the Single-A Eugene Emeralds back in the day.

Didn't we have this coversation already, people? We have enough Dave Robertses already. We have the Red Sox stolen base guy, and the white guy who used to pitch for Houston, and the guy who writes great books about history and mountaineering. They're all too confusing. Please start focusing on the Sequoyah Stoneciphers of the world.

5 ...

4 ...

3 ...

The fourth guy was out of the majors in 1966.

There was lefty starter Dave Roberts,
Top draft pick Dave Roberts,
Speedster Dave Roberts.

Royals selected him.