The MLB Draft: Day 2 (Rounds 6-50)

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 9:14 AM MDT in Draft

About 15 minutes until the second day starts. Alan Matthews has a list of some of the best remaining talent to be drafted.

Round 6: Cory Riordan, RHP, Fordham - can hit mid-90's fastball on occasion, 100 K in 100.1 IP, 29 BB

Round 7: Jeff Cunningham, 1B, South Alabama - 22 homers in 2007

Round 8: Parker Frazier, RHP, Bishop Kelley HS (OK) - Son of George Frazier. Read David OhNo's comments on the guy. He's already pitched at Drillers Stadium.

Round 9: Jordan Pacheco, 2B, New Mexico - 21 2B, 44:28 BB:K. Five homers each of the past two seasons, he had 15 as a freshman.

Round 10: Jeff Fischer, RHP, Eastern Michigan - 6'5". 95 K in 102 IP, 44 BB, 87 H

Round 11: Andrew Groves, RHP, Purdue

Round 12: Darin Holcomb, 3B, Gonzaga - Led team in average (.369) this year. 17 2B, 31:19 BB:K

Round 13: Beau Seabury, C, Virginia - In 2006, he ranked 24th in all of college baseball for sac hits.

Round 14: Kentrail Davis, CF, Theodore HS (AL) - Wow, just wow!

Round 15: Kenny Durst, LHP, West Virginia - Has a curveball with a "mid-80s moving fastball." One of those intelligent lefties.

Round 16: Mitch Lively, RHP, Cal State Sacaramento - Also a punter for the football team. .350 BAA

Round 17: Austin Chambliss, RHP, Middle Georgia College - I believe he's the closer for the team. MGC is a junior college.

Round 18: Brian Lapin, OF, Fresno State - 6'6"

Round 19: Evan Chambers, LF, Lakeland Senior HS (FL)

Round 20: Matt Reynolds, LHP Austin Peay - 6'5", 240 lbs.

Round 21: Chris Sale, LHP, Lakeland Senios HS (FL) - Chambers's teammate.

Round 22: Brent "Bo" Bowman, 1B, UL Monroe

Round 23: Don Taylor, RHP, Dallas Baptist

Round 24: Brandon Miller, LHP, Fresno State

Round 25: Mike Mitchell, CF, Virginia

Round 26: Stephen Shao, LHP, Vanderbilt

Round 27: James Sims, CF, Jackson State

Round 28: John Rodriguez, LHP, Ole Miss

Round 29: Andres Marrero, RHP, Puerto Rico BB Academy

Round 30: Bruce Billings, RHP, San Diego State

Round 31: Israel Troupe, LF, Tift County HS (GA)

Round 32: Kenny Williams, CF, Wichita State - Son of White Sox GM Kenny Williams.

Round 33: Wayman Gooch, RHP, Ohlone College - 1000th pick of the Draft

Round 34: Travis Lawler, RHP, Texas A&M Consolidated HS (TX) - Committed to Florida.

Round 35: Daniel Renken, RHP, Lutheran HS (CA) - Committed to Cal State Fullerton.

Round 36: Joey Williamson, RHP, Notre Dame

Round 37: Nicholas Gallego, 2B, Esperanza HS (CA) - Son of Mike Gallego.

Round 38: Warren Schaeffer, SS, Virginia Tech

Round 39: Chris Vasami, 1B, Elon - Also pitched a little bit this past season.

Round 40: Richie Rowland, C, Cloverdale HS (CA)

Round 41: Johnny Bowden, C, USC - Fight on!

Round 42: David Coulon, LHP, Arizona

Round 43: Devin Lohman, SS, Ernest Righetti HS (CA) - Committed to Long Beach State.

Round 44: Chad Lembeck, OF, Rice

Round 45: Zachary Jones, C, Jordan HS (UT)

Round 46: Kyle Saukko, RHP, Granite Bay HS (CA)

Round 47: Logan Schafer, CF, Cal Poly

Round 48: Christopher Morton, 3B, Bellevue HS (WA)

Round 49: Brandon Reichert, INF, Florida State

Round 50: William McHenry, 2B, Cheyenne East HS (WY)

The end.

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Comments

Riordan seems like a typical Schmidt pick

Where the stuff says that he should be more dominant than he is. Baseball America says he sits between 89-92 with the fastball, with an above average slider a shaky curve, and a feel for a changeup. He has plus command of the FB, which should be enough to work off if he can tighten the other pitches.

Let's see what happens with this one, as he seems like he has some characteristics of one of our later round finds.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 9:52 AM MDT 0 recs

He's been able to hit the mid-90's

He's a good guy to start today off with.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 9:54 AM MDT up 0 recs

Jeff Cunningham - A poor man's Brad Hawpe?

Another Joe Koshansky?

There's some serious power in his bat, but he's also got some serious holes in his swing, and I can pretty much guarantee that we won't like his K rate for at least the first few levels.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 9:56 AM MDT 0 recs

We got Frazier? Wow, after hearing so much...

about him watching Rockies games, I don't know if he could live up to the hype now for our fans. He's a good player though, and if we sign him, he could be a decent arm down the road. Definitely has the pedigree.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 10:07 AM MDT 0 recs

I wonder how David feels about this...

Since we'd be stealing him from his commitment to ORU if he signed. I know from past USC bound players (Ian Stewart, for instance) that it's a mixed emotion, but I usually came down in favor of the Rockies.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 10:11 AM MDT up 0 recs

We need some semblance

of upside from this draft, so Frazier is a very good candidate to provide some. As I've stated before, his slider is very good, and he can vary speeds on it to tighten break or work it more as a slurve. He dominated for five innings in the game I watched, before tiring in the sixth and struggling in the seventh. He's one of our better picks in my opinion.

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 11:03 AM MDT up 0 recs

I'm happy to see a Lobo get drafted by the rockies

Since I grew up in Albuquerque, I'm a big Lobo fan.

by Blake20th on Jun 8, 2007 10:14 AM MDT 0 recs

Callis and Manuel

will be chatting shortly about the draft. Trying to find out more on Froneberger.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 10:16 AM MDT 0 recs

I like Pacheco, a lot, actually

Baseball America says he's likely a utility infielder in the pros, but he's an Adam Kennedy like second baseman with very good bat skills and patience, and I don't know for sure that he couldn't be an everyday player in the MLB.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 10:16 AM MDT 0 recs

Another big right hander-

Jeff Fischer will be a bit of a late starting project, but he's got the raw framework in place to be a very good pitcher. He has a plus changeup already, his fastball doesn't get enough bite, though, to make the change that effective yet, and his slider's not in great shape.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 10:25 AM MDT 0 recs

Groves -

Baseball America makes it seem like this might be just the Rockies taking a flyer on a rumor of increased velocity this year. He was Purdue's closer, but starts in the summer leagues, so I'm not sure how the Rox are planning on using him. I'm guessing he's another reliever, eventually.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 10:39 AM MDT 0 recs

Holcomb

Watching the scouting video at MLB.com, you can see that he's got a very refined strike zone judgment, but can also expand it when he sees a pitch he thinks he can handle. He's a third baseman without power, though, so it's going to be a tricky path to the majors for him.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 10:46 AM MDT 0 recs

Beau Seabury

He's pretty much the epitome of system depth. A smart catcher who will work well with the pitchers we've drafted, but he's likely not going to be on our radar. It's kind of like drafting a coach.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 10:56 AM MDT 0 recs

DAVIS

is a Boras client.....should be interesting....

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 11:02 AM MDT 0 recs

Davis - There's the bombshell...

He's a second round/fringe first round talent that's slipped because of signing demands. If we can get him to ink the dotted line at a reasonable rate and not go to Cal State Fullerton, score for us.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 11:02 AM MDT 0 recs

BA .....

predicted that Davis will be a "new-age" Draft-and-follow.

Meaning, the team that picks him will watch him play Summer Ball and make a decision before the August 15th deadline whether or not to sign him.

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 11:05 AM MDT up 0 recs

said Fullerton, meant Tennessee

I got his commitment confused with somebody else, sorry.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 12:11 PM MDT up 0 recs

I take it

The Davis pick is similar to the Aaron Miller pick last year. Probably not a real good chance of signing him.

by malakian on Jun 8, 2007 11:03 AM MDT 0 recs

Where else are we going to spend the money?

Weathers will likely sign for slot, and as a considerably lower bonus than Reynolds, it's going to help. Our second through fourth round picks could be below slot. I think there's a much better chance of us signing Davis then there was of Miller.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 11:07 AM MDT up 0 recs

Maybe

Will Davis be the next Dexter Fowler?
(lower-rounds steal who fell due to signability issues)

I hope the F.O. dishes out the money to sign this talent.

by malakian on Jun 8, 2007 11:10 AM MDT up 0 recs

We HAVE to give Davis what he wants

with all the cheap, signable guys, we have to find room to fit him in the budget. For a draft that looks surprisingly flat and unlikely to produce valuable major leaguers, Davis my be the light at the end of the tunnel.

Sickels and Bryan Smith on XM panned the Rockies pretty good for taking what most equate to three relivers and two easy college signs on day one. While the jury is out on Graham's eventual role, the fact that most believe he'll turn to relief really throws more questions on this draft.

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 11:08 AM MDT 0 recs

BP

Gave the Rockies the "Worst Draft" Grade for their first 5 rounds....

Davis will help....

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 11:09 AM MDT up 0 recs

If we can't sign Davis

I'd probably flunk this draft as well...

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 11:11 AM MDT up 0 recs

Three relievers and two bench players, actually

At least, those seem the most likely destinations of the five right now. That said, other than Froneberger, I'm not opposed to any of them. I think the Rockies are exploiting a bias against certain types of players, here that makes them undervalued at draft day and in SABR circles, but overvalued when it comes to trades and free agent contracts. It's an interesting buy low, sell high take that might work.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 11:16 AM MDT up 0 recs

If that bias is against

players that lack starting potential, is it one worth exploiting?

I'm not saying it's all bad. Weathers will be very good, I think Lars Davis is a sleeper candidate that could be a quality big league starter, I buy Frazier's upside, Riordan has some workable tools, and Cunningham could be that college slugger I discussed that could be worth more as trade bait than as an eventual starter. That said, the system is starting to thin on quality position players, and to a degree, starting pitching in the low levels (but not rookie). This draft has not answered those concerns, and if we had to put players from this draft in our top 30 Purps, only one to two guys thus far may crack the list (three if you include Kentrail).

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 11:24 AM MDT up 0 recs

Weathers....

Is the only one that would make it for me (however that could change if Davis signs).

However, I can certainly see several of these guys developing into prospects over the next couple years.

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 11:29 AM MDT up 0 recs

You say they are exploiting a bias

perhaps, I'm just too green at this whole thing, but what bias are you speaking of?

by Blake20th on Jun 8, 2007 11:26 AM MDT up 0 recs

It's a bias against so called fungible talent

On benches and in the bullpen, that in recent years has proven far less fungible than it was when Bill James first started writing his Baseball Abstracts. The quality of athletes has risen dramatically in these areas over the last twenty years thanks to increasing numbers of Latin and Asian players and refined development.

Boston's so much better than the Yankees this year, in part, because their reserve and bullpen players are of a such higher caliber. The Padres, Dodgers, Tigers, Indians and Angels are all in a similar position. Arizona, at least as the far as the bench, not so much the bullpen, also fits this category. Then there are teams that don't have this. The Phillies, for instance, would would be willing to give up considerably more talent than they get in return for a reliever like Brian Fuentes and there are many other teams in the same boat.

To be able to accomplish a bench like the powerhouses while still maintaining a near minimum salary base for them -one of the first tenets of Jamesian roster construction, so you can use the money on starters- your team is going to need to use the draft.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 11:42 AM MDT up 0 recs

I don't disagree

with the nature of the bench and bullpen you suggest, but I don't agree with a strategy of drafting players early for the purpose of later serving bench roles. I'd prefer not to be a trendsetter here, and go by "Best Available" stragey myself.

What good is a bench when you don't have the starters to win?

There are too many holes in such a philosophy.

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 11:47 AM MDT up 0 recs

I'm not saying you should

abandon the "Best Available" strategy to do this, but I am saying that you shouldn't let a player's perceived role on the team cloud your judgment about whether he's the best available or not. In the case of Weathers, when I really started to look at him compared to others available, I think he very well could have been. There's so much risk with high school arms, and not enough difference in stuff to merit the increased bonus they asked for. The rest, honestly, I don't know for sure because I can't study everybody, but if you separate where others say they should be drafted or where they will eventually play and look at what they have as far as skills and tools (Rike-power, bat speed, strong arm, foot speed and a Lenny Dykstra type mentality; Davis - power, intelligence, etc...) you start to see that the players we selected match up very well with those picked around them.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 12:05 PM MDT up 0 recs

I have suggested that to a degree

with Weathers, as only Dominguez was a legit target left on the board that the Rockies would conceivably select.

However, I disagree with most all later selections being of the "best available" variety, save for maybe both Davis' (catchers were running thin) and Parker Frazier.

I'm not saying that we don't have some functional talent, but this does not appear to be on par with what should be expected, and there are many smart people out there that do not like what the Rockies have done.

Rather than looking at this as a new spin on finding dungible talent, I think it's more plausible to suggest that this is a draft on a tight budget this year. And for the fans on this board that question management's desire to spend money, they will have this draft as ammo should the Rockies be unable to sign Kentrail Davis and likely sign most of the first day guys for below slot money.

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 12:15 PM MDT up 0 recs

I'll agree that budget plays some role,

But I still disagree about the dismissal of the talent we've selected. I think it's clear that the Rockies use projected signing bonuses as a sifter, but I don't see it being the first criteria for a selection. The players we have are a solid group with a lot of intriguing aspects to their skill sets that match or exceed those of more familiar names and I see guys like Rike, Riordan or Pacheco as very capable of outperforming expectations. Outside of the top fifty prospects or so, the distinctions between players become very fine and it's less clear cut who's better than you make it sound. Obviously there were a handful of players like Kentrail Davis that did have some tools above the rest that priced themselves beyond what teams would sign them for, but I think besides those few, everybody should rely on their own scouts rather than what they read in BA or hear whispered from other teams.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 12:44 PM MDT up 0 recs

We'll see in time

but sometimes I feel it is just as easy to take the company line approach as it is to question a struggling franchise.

Anytime the bulk of your draft picks best profile as relievers (including a 5'8 fourth round HS-er!) there is something more at play than just taking guys that are the best possible fits for an organization.

Several of these guys will make something of their selection, Schmidt's track record is very solid. I don't have a big complaint with the second day if only because it is the second day. What looks disconcerting is that several of our second day picks carry a better profile than our first day guys.

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 12:53 PM MDT up 0 recs

Durst

Apparently his sister's a pitcher, too, for West Virginia Wesleyan's softball team, so he's from an athletic but intelligent family. Finesse lefty it is, then.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 11:28 AM MDT 0 recs

John Manuel

doesn't think Froneberger was a bad pick:

Q: Russ from Purple Row asks:
What do you think of the Rockies' selection of Isaiah Froneberger? There has to be something not readily apparent about the guy.

A: John Manuel: Well, he's got a plus curveball, and he's lefthanded--that often is a prescription for, at least, middle reliever. Kind of a safe bet, not a bad pick.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 11:38 AM MDT 0 recs

Still not sure

It begs the question, "If the Rockies passed on him until the second day, and ended up losing him to another team, how much would we lose?" Still doesn't answer size concerns, lack of upside, and an "interesting" arm motion.

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 11:44 AM MDT up 0 recs

Lively

He looks like a better fit for the Broncos than the Rockies. I like his punting stats better.

by Blake20th on Jun 8, 2007 11:38 AM MDT 0 recs

Height Challenged Draft

What's with all the short guys this year?

Evan Chambers is 5'11" and looks like another "summer draft-and-follow" type...

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 12:05 PM MDT 0 recs

Chambers is committed to Florida

But the height is the only knock on the kid. He's got a great bat and would be another fantastic sign if we can lure him away from his commitment. The fact that he slipped this low in the draft leads me to think that's not likely. Another of the new type of draft and follow players.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 1:11 PM MDT up 0 recs

If any of you with

editing abilities here can update the list as more picks are made, that would be great. I should be back to finish the draft.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 12:23 PM MDT 0 recs

Watching the Pokes and draft

so I can put up the draftees

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 12:26 PM MDT up 0 recs

College Seniors

Am I the only one who is noticing that the Rockies are drafting A LOT of college seniors in the top 25 picks so far?

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 1:00 PM MDT 0 recs

I saw that

but it looks like several other teams are doing the same.

I think it is part of the nature of the DFE-less draft, but it could also be part of the appearance that the Rockies don't have a big budget this year.

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 1:06 PM MDT up 0 recs

I'm thinking....

DFE-Less draft as well.

No longer will we pick-up free agents like Ryan Speier after the draft anymore....looks like teams are going to start drafting those players they used to wait until after the draft to sign.

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 1:07 PM MDT up 0 recs

I feel like I'm on the outside looking in

could you explain what a DFE-less draft means?

by Blake20th on Jun 8, 2007 1:14 PM MDT up 0 recs

DFE-less Draft

The new rules eliminated the "Draft-and-Follows"

All draft picks must be signed by August 15th and no later. (which prevents teams from selecting HS players and watching them play in Juco for a year but still retaining the right to sign them 1 week before the next draft).

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 1:17 PM MDT up 0 recs

New signing deadline of August 15

Means that teams can't pick high school or junior college players, have them play a season of JUCO the following year, and then decide if they want to sign them or not before the next draft.

Mark Buehrle and several other players followed this route to the big leagues.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 1:17 PM MDT up 0 recs

DFE specifically means

Draft-Follow-Evaluate, in case you're wondering.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 2:01 PM MDT up 0 recs

Do you want to

edit the picks in again? I'm going to be in and out now.

by David OhNo on Jun 8, 2007 2:07 PM MDT up 0 recs

I'll take over

again.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 2:08 PM MDT up 0 recs

So, Israel Troupe

Is the top rated wide receiver prospect in Georgia and committed to playing football with them. Do you think he might try playing minor league baseball at the same time in the summer? Probably not, I'm guessing this was a "just in case something happens" pick.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 3:31 PM MDT 0 recs

Don't see it happening,

but it's more likely that Atlanta's fifth round selection will play baseball during the summer and football in the fall.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 3:35 PM MDT up 0 recs

Jeremy Jones is still out there . . .

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 3:40 PM MDT 0 recs

And the Seniors Keep Coming....

By my count through 42 rounds:
College Seniors: 16
"Traditional" College Juniors: 13
Juco: 2
High School: 10

Can you ever remember the Rockies drafting more than 5-6 College Seniors before?

by sg8335aa on Jun 8, 2007 4:06 PM MDT 0 recs

The rule change definitely changed

how we approach the later stages of the draft. It will be interesting if any of these guys are able to take advantage and make the most of an opportunity they might not otherwise have gotten.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 4:11 PM MDT up 0 recs

Finally a Trojan!!

The first since Brian Barre to be drafted by the Rockies. I was wondering when the drought would end. Bowden's another minor league filler type catcher, though.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 4:10 PM MDT 0 recs

I was

forty rounds too early on Pat Venditte.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 4:36 PM MDT 0 recs

Gimmicks are a little more attractive

to us than they are scouting directors, apparently.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 4:45 PM MDT up 0 recs

I love digging

up threads from the past. It was the two of us going back and forth entire second day of the 2005 draft.

"Vae victis!" - Brennus the Gaul

by Russ on Jun 8, 2007 4:47 PM MDT up 0 recs

Good times...

You called Keith Weiser, early. Neither of us thought as much of Reynolds or Lincecum as we should have, though, but I know we weren't alone in that respect in the summer of 2005.

by Rox Girl on Jun 8, 2007 4:57 PM MDT up 0 recs