The D-backs and the 2009 MLB Draft
by Jim McLennan on Jun 1, 2009 5:31 PM EDT
Email
PrintThe 2009 major-league draft takes place from June 9-11, and it's probably no exaggeration to say that it counts as among the most crucial in franchise history. Thanks to the loss of a number of free agents, the Arizona Diamondbacks have five of the first 45 picks, and seven in the top 65. This offers a significant chance for the team to restock a farm system largely perceived as short on top-tier talent, following the trade for Dan Haren. The front-office appeared fully aware of the importance, Josh Byrnes saying in March, "We've got a lot of people on our staff spending more energy on the draft than maybe they have in previous years. We're on top of it. We have a good handle on the draft class. Now it's a matter of seeing the players a lot and putting them in the right order."
After the jump, we'll see what this might mean for Arizona.
While there's no doubt about the quality of the top pick - universally agreed to be Stephen Strasburg and his 103 mph fastball, with a matching price-tag and likely to go to the Nationals - beyond him, there seems some debate over the standard of the players who will available. Speaking last fall, Keith Law said, "I’ve been in involved in some capacity in eight drafts (including 2009), and this might be the lightest draft in terms of high-end (first round) talent. It’s shallowest in bats, especially up the middle. It’s deepest in college starters." The lack of consensus beyond Strasburg makes it a lot harder to plan strategy, since it's almost impossible to tell who will be taken in the first fifteen picks, before the D-backs get their first choices, back-to-back at #16 and #17.
Flexibility would seem, therefore, to be the order of the day, and over the weekend, Byrnes commented, "We can probably put down eight to 10 players that we like and have a decent chance that five of them will be there."In the MVN mock draft, 'Skins chose speedy outfielder Levon Washington with the #16 pick, and first-baseman Jonathan Singleton at #17, though with 'Skins apparently vanishing off the face of the earth this week, he wasn't about to explain his pics. Jeff Summers from Diary of a Diehard stepped in to write about Washington and Singleton respectively. But almost every mock draft has had Arizona going with different players - Nick Piecoro lists slugger Bobby Borchering, RHP Mike Leake from ASU, 1B Rick Poythress, and LHP Matt Purke. But you could also have catcher Max Stassi and southpaw Tyler Skaggs, or LHP Rex Brothers and catcher Tony Sanchez.
One indicator to keep an eye on, would be whether we go for more college or high-school players. The former are likely closer to being major-league ready, while the latter generally require a year or two more to be able to contribute. A preponderance of high-schoolers might therefore be a sign that the team is looking to build towards 2012 and beyond for contention, rather than looking for an immediate reload in 2010. The good news is, even without a pick in the top half of the first round, there are still some extremely solid players to be picked at the Diamondbacks' positions. Here are some highlights from the 16th and 17th spots in recent years - I think we'd be happy if we got something like any of these players.
2005, #16: Chris Volstad, Marlins
2002, #16: Nick Swisher, Athletics
2002, #17: Cole Hamels, Phillies
1999, #16: Jason Jennings, Rockies
1998, #17: Brad Lidge, Astros
1997, #16: Lance Berkman, Astros
1995, #17: Roy Halladay, Blue Jays
We'll be following the draft itself on the day, of course [if someone who'll be about for it can volunteer to do basic coverage, that'd be helpful - I'm working, which will obviously restrict things from my end], but figure I should do this as a FanPost, to act as a clearing-house for all news and info as we head towards the day itself.
29 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Draft Implications
I can picture two scenarios in this draft for the Diamondbacks, each with their subsequent effects on the future of the team:
- Josh Byrnes & Co. could opt for a college hitter who is very polished (yet without a high ceiling) and an impact reliever, in the Joba Chamberlain mode, who could have an impact soon on the club. This would signal that Byrnes thinks that the D-Backs can compete in the coming years, as he will try to bring talent to the big leagues fast.
- The D-Backs could go after high school hitters or (gasp!) high school pitchers who will spend a few years honing their craft in the minors. These players would be high risk – high reward types of picks, with Byrnes showing that he thinks the next few seasons will be spent in mediocrity, and that this draft class will be the first few of a new crop of prospects.
Whatever choice the organization makes, it will be interesting to see the picks develop from Day One with the franchise.
Spread it out
With so many picks, I see our franchise partaking from all sections of the buffet this year; a little high-school here, a smidge of college there, and a plateful of dessert. Despite the awful first month, I see AZ as a team that can still win now (well, not RIGHT now) and later. I’d like to see our farm system be injected at all levels, not just AA.
Also, I am VERY excited for this draft. Alas, I will be sitting on the beach in Hawaii, but I will be listening on the ole XM radio…assuming they have satellites hovering over that section of the world.
Hate to break it you...
….but XM is not available in Hawaii. Had the same problem over Christmas.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
The XM rep...
….I talked to said something about the satellites not having much time visible from such a southern latitude as Hawaii. There is a federal request for repeaters to accomplish it, but it hasn’t happened yet. I am not technical enough to know whether that was just a company line or actually true.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
Self Fix
So, maybe if I hold my radio up really high I could squeeze in some signal? Or, perhaps a hike to the top of a volcano?
Off topic a bit, but I was amazed last week to find that there is year round skiing in Hawaii? 13,000 ft above sea level! Wow.
by Counsellmember on Jun 4, 2009 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
At Mauna Kea....
…no lifts though. Not exactly Utah, Colorado or Tahoe, but you can do it.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
You just ruined my day
No XM in Hawaii?! Isn’t that where satelites would be most important? I mean, Pearl Harbor…Red Dawn…everyone knows that’s the direction to come from if you are going to attack the United States. Who is watching over our Strategic Pineapple Stockpile?!?
by Counsellmember on Jun 4, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Well
I don’t think XM is an integral part of our national defense plan yet. =)
"We can plant wild flowers on roof tops and be unorthodox urban honey pioneers."
And we wonder
why we’re losing the war on terror…or drugs…or World Cup baseball?
by Counsellmember on Jun 4, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Are we really talking about the draft?
Have the Dbacks officially become the Cardinals of the past two decades? Are we that excited about a draft two months into the baseball season?……Yes. I won’t be watching but I hope the franchise can restock the farm system since the team depleted it through trades and call-ups this year. I’m hoping they add relief pitching, starting pitching, C, 1B, 3B and OF
It’s obvious we are not going to catch the stinkin’ Dodgers this season, especially after the alter ego of Tony Pena came out to the mound in LA tonight and did what he does best—-get two quick outs and then proceed to load the bases and walk a runner home. I’m sick of his act as well as Rauch’s. Then Hinch has no choice but to call on a rookie pitcher, just called up from Double A ball, to stave off a team with the bases loaded and karma on it’s side. Game over. Thanks for playing and pitching a gem Haren. Sorry you have NO bullpen to back you up.
Do you think O’ Dog is smiling every day he goes to work? There’s nothing worse than LA teams punking our teams in any sport. What is worse is that LA has mediocre starting pitching, at best, other than Billingsly. I have no idea how this team is almost 20 games over .500. Well actually, it’s obvious, they do well the very two things the Dbacks don’t—-put consecutive hits together and have a solid bullpen. It also helps when you play in a NL Weak, I mean West Division.
Badgers! Badgers! We don't need no stinkin badgers!
Cardinals?
You wanna know why we’re talking excitedly about the draft? It’s because we have 7 draft picks in the first 60. SEVEN IN THE FIRST SIXTY. So, just about one in every nine picks is a Dbacks pick. That’s AWESOME. Billy Beane has wet dreams that begin that way..
So, just a year after making the blockbuster trade for Danny Haren that significantly thinned out our farm system, and after promoting most of our top prospects over the past 3 years or so, we’ve got a GREAT chance to reload with some hot young prospects and prepare the next wave of future Dbacks.
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
I just hope
I just hope that the powers that be over in Dbackland can evaluate talent because Rizzo was fairly good at it before he left for the Natinals, I mean Nationals.
Badgers! Badgers! We don't need no stinkin badgers!
Yep, he was.
Which must be why the Nationals are so good right now. Or else why they let Josh Whitesell get away.
Jim Zorn, 55. Sean Miller, 40. AJ Hinch, 34. Notice a pattern here?
Over at Fangraphs.com
They review the last three years of Arizona drafts, picking the best and worst picks for the team. Interesting read. I’ll be going into the previous drafts in more depth on Sunday or Monday, I think.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
Nick Piecoro chimes in
In some cases, these are players whom we have heard the Diamondbacks really like. Or players whom the Diamondbacks are said to be keeping close tabs on. Or maybe they are just names we have heard over and over, which makes you think something is up, or players about whom people are being coy, which also makes you think something is up.
Link has full details
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
I'd love
to be more interested in the MLB Draft, but it’s hard to generate interest when it takes so long to ever see most of the players. It would be awesome if the MLB Network would should a minor league game every day, or even every week so that way it’s easier to gain some connection to these players.
I know we need hitters now but the problem with the draft is that we could draft them and not need them in the 3 or 4 years it takes them to get through the minors. That’s assuming any of these guys make it at all.
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
Agreed
I would love to see minor league baseball on TV.
"We can plant wild flowers on roof tops and be unorthodox urban honey pioneers."
I guess
the major problem would be getting cameras in the parks, and there is a ton of teams. Do AAA have local TV contracts?
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
AAA in Vegas
The area 51s here in Vegas only get local radio coverage. I used to be a lot more interested in watching them when they were part of the Dodger’s system. Now they belong to Toronto. I will never understand why it makes more sense for a team to be that far away from the parent club, at least for Triple A.
Of course, for the D-Backs, who cares where the AAA farm team is? They might as well send them to Siberia, it’s the same conotation. But at least our AA team should be somewhere close to Pheonix, as it’s the last place any of our major league ready players see of the minors.
by Counsellmember on Jun 4, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Used to work in Triple-A...
….in Fresno and Louisville. Louisville had a weekly game, but Fresno had nothing. I think the Beavers have a weekly game that can be seen on FCS Pacific nationwide (Cox Channel 172). Just caught the Portland/Salt Lake game the other night.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
That's neat
What did you do for at that level?
by Counsellmember on Jun 4, 2009 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Corporate Partnerships
Its not that neat.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
From what I recall
Some of the Fox Sports affiliates do show it. We don’t get them on our package, so I can’t be sure, but I seem to recall scrolling past them in the mid 100’s on the cable box. You can also watch them online:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/multimedia/video.jsp
At $30 per year, it seems pretty cheap.
"Win, or die" -- Marquise de Merteuil
Well
if they already have TV links at enough stadiums to pull that webcast off, I imagine it wouldn’t take much more to broadcast games on the MLB Network. Would be better than endless repeats of Prime 9.
Funny, Brown doesn't offer a degree in slut!
That would
probably be a good purchase for Paqs, if he’s gonna continue the minor league reports? Perhaps we could all chip in, if he thinks it’s gonna help…
Go Dbacks. (Temporary signature)
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
