However, that still probably suits Arizona fine, since it would seem we will shortly have most of the positions filled, except for our rotation - it's not like we need any more shortstops, for example. I wonder why it is that college players in other sports can go straight to the majors, while in baseball, you're usually looking at two years or more. Though I suppose, if Justin Upton went to college, by the time he graduated, you could probably drop him straight into the All-Star Team.

I suppose part of the problem is the aluminum bats thing, and making the adjustment to the wooden ones. Or maybe it's just that baseball is a more complex game? Hey, once you learn how to dunk, what more is there to basketball? :-)

With regard to the D'backs, while it seems likely we'll take a pitcher with our first round selection - exactly which one is harder to say since, unlike last year, other teams get to go to the well first. We're still in the top half, at #11, and there's a good chance someone like Luke Hochevar (a B*ras client) might still be around when we make our selection. Tim Lincecum or Joba Chamberlain are other possibilities. While the position players may have no obvious standouts, there's plenty of pitching depth to go around, and we should even be able to get someone decent with our supplemental first-round pick, which we got from the Giants for Worrell.

With the 11th pick. He's a pitcher from the University of Missouri, who has gone 7-2 this season, with a 1.95 ERA in 12 starts and has struck out 72 in 73 innings. It's uncertain whether he'll remain a starter: the report is that he has two plus pitches (fastball, slider) and might be better suited as a closer-type. He is a Scott Boras client, so don't expect him to sign a) for peanuts, and b) this week.

Frankly, life's too short. :-) With only a limited number of hours per day, I'd rather put my "effort, patience and diligence" towards expanding my knowledge in other areas - bad horror movies, for instance. To each their own. But I don't feel a failure to get so excited makes me a bad fan - I'd just rather wait and keep my powder dry, for when excitement seems a little more justified.

It's also the case that largely, we can only rely on received wisdom here, since I doubt many of us have seen any of these players in action. Again, that's different from football or basketball, where as you say, many more college games are easily available, even on basic cable. To draw a parallel, it's like hearing about a movie, but only from someone who has read the script, and says it might be good. You may be intrigued, but enthusiasm is likely to be muted, since the pitfalls between there and Opening Night are many.

• #177. Robert Side, CF. Out of the University of Georgia. No real scouting report available on this guy, and even Google seems to draw a blank. 6'3", 200 lbs.
• #207. Daniel Stange, RHP. "A college closer, he's had good results this year using a low 90's fastball, a hard slider and a plus change-up. He has the mentality to close at the next level." Interesting to see us taking another closer-type...
• #237. Chase Christiansen, RHP. Another unknown, but at 6'5" and 220 lbs, he's a big kid, and I suspect is not what you'd call a finesse pitcher. :-)
• #267. Edward Romero, LHP. Out of Fresno State University. Seems quite young - born in November 1985.
• #297. Anthony Barnette, RHP. Wooo! It's a local hero! Yes, Barnette is from ASU; he transferred there his junior year after playing two seasons at Central Arizona College. He pitched mostly in relief last season, but in 2006 also became a starter and went 6-1 with a 4.77 ERA for the Sun Devils. He struck out 70 in only 54.2 innings.

Apologies for the mis-leap from that, and I think we are on similar paths. To borrow your food analogy, the draft is like the harvest; while great things may come of it, it's by no means guaranteed. The odds are more likely of the produce ending up in a Taco Hell Value Menu item that in a work of great cuisine. I rely on people like yourself and William K to keep me informed about it.