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NL West 2nd Round Picks: Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks, 2000-2008

A comment found in my last draft piece offered the idea of looking at how the teams in the NL West comparatively fared with one another in the rounds beyond the first. I'm going to do this round-by-round from the second to the fifth and then group the other rounds as I see fit once I get there. This is actually part one of a look at the NL West's second round picks this decade. Part two will look at the other three teams.

Colorado Rockies:

2000 - Jason Young, RHP, Stanford - Young was the seventh pick in the second round (47th overall) and, before signing, he pitched in the College World Series as the Stanford ace. He didn't pitched for the Rockies in 2000, but started at High-A ball in 2001. Notwithstanding a losing record, Young posted a 3.43 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP in 105 IP. The next year saw Young split time between Double-A and Triple-A ball to some success. Young spent most of 2003 with the Sky Sox, but received a promotion to Colorado. He started three games and appeared in eight--allowing eight homers in 21 1/3 IP. His 2004 season was lost to a rib injury, and late in the 2005 season he was claimed off waivers by the Indians. He hasn't been heard of since then.

Oh, and from what I remember Young was going to be the Rockies' pick in the first round before Harrington fell to the seventh pick.

One more thing: He signed for $2.75M.

2001 - Trey Taylor, LHP, Texas HS - Taylor was actually a supplemental second round pick for the loss of Julian Tavarez. The Yankees received the Rockies' pick in the second round, selecting Jason Arnold. Taylor didn't sign, elected to attend Baylor, spent four season with the Bears, was drafted in 2005 by the Cubs, pitched all of two games for their AZL team, and has since disappeared.

2002 - Micah Owings, RHP, Georgia HS - The Rockies really wanted to sign Owings, but he was intent on going to Georgia Tech. The Rockies then used that money to sign Jeff Baker. This was (and still is) a good thing. Owings was drafted by the Cubs in 2004 and then the D'Backs in 2005 (after playing his junior year with Tulane). He has since moved to Cincinnati as part of the Adam Dunn deal. At best, he'll be a back-of-the-rotation guy.

2003 - Scott Beerer, RHP, Texas A&M - Beerer was a two-way player for the Aggies, but the Rockies wound up using Beerer exclusively as a reliever (well, after a few starts in 2003 for Casper). Beerer was moving up the ladder, but just before the start of the 2007 he was placed on the restriced list.

2004 - Seth Smith, OF, Ole Miss - This guy was killer in September and October 2007. More, please.

2005 - Zachary Simons, RHP, Everett CC (Wa.) - I believe the first reaction by many of us here was that Simons would turn out to be like Aaron Cook. We were told that Simons was tired after a long season and that we'd see some electric stuff out of him in 2006. It didn't happen, and Simons moved to the 'pen in 2007. He went to Detroit and the Rockies received Jason Grilli in return. The Rockies have certainly gotten the better end of the deal so far.

2005 - Daniel Carte, OF, Winthrop - Hey, the Rockies had two second-round picks. Thank you Washington for hastily signing Vinny Castilla once free agency started and allowing the Rockies the easy decision of offering arbitration. Carte's advanced a level each year, but we may have witnessed his peak level this past year. With a .698 OPS for Tulsa, Carte's needs to show vast improvement on whatever level he starts at this year.

2006 - David Christensen, OF, Florida HS - Christensen's going to draw some debate here, as did his selection. He had a pre-draft deal with the Rockies in place, and the Rockies lived up to it. He spent 2006 and 2007 with Casper, showing slight improvement. Still, the guy had a problem taking a walk, apparently liking many of the pitched he saw (and whiffing quite a bit). He moved to Asheville in 2008, struck out even more, and couldn't improve his walk rate. You could say he has made progress each season, but it's been minimal. He's only 20, so he still has time before we can write him off; still, this one is looking like the stinker of the decade right now.

2007 - Brian Rike, OF, La Tech - He did well for Tri-City in 2007, a team that has had few stand outs over the years (.845 OPS). His move to Asheville didn't turn out so well--he struck out 161 times in over 500 PA. He did, however, walk 62 times.

2008 - Charlie Blackmon, OF, Ga Tech - .856 OPS for Tri-City. Let's hope Blackmon doesn't follow the path of the last few picks.

Arizona Diamondbacks:

2000 - Mike Schultz, RHP, Loyola Marymount - Schultz is a boring way to start this one off. He spent most of his time as a reliever in the minors. It paid off as he made his debut in 2007, pitching all of one inning. I don't believe he played in 2008.

2001 - Mike Gosling, RHP, Stanford - Another of those polished Stanford products turned into not-quite-that-good major leaguer. He spent some time in the majors with the D'Backs in '04 and '05 before the Reds picked him off the waiver wire in early 2006. Gosling has since moved to the Toronto organization, pitching out of the bullpen.

2002 - Chris Snyder, C, Houston - You know, when I write these draft review pieces, I don't have much to say about the good or decent ones.

2003 - Jamie D'Antona, 1B, Wake Forest - D'Antona's an interesting case. With the exception of part of his 2004 season in Double-A and all of 2005 in Double-A, D'Antona's been able to hit. It finally paid off for him in 2008, getting 17 at-bats. And that's likely all that he'll get. Last I heard, he was headed to Japan.

2004 - Jonathan Zeringue, OF, LSU - Zeringue debuted in 2004 with a .925 OPS in 56 games at High-A. He disappointed after that and moved to the Oakland system in 2007. He strikes out a ton and he's getting up there (26 in 2009), so there isn't much hope for being a useful major leaguer.

2005 - Matthew Green, RHP, UL-Monroe - Career ERA is at 4.83 and career WHIP is at 1.57.

2006 - Brett Anderson, LHP, Oklahoma HS - The other big prospect sent to Oakland in the Dan Haren trade, Anderson is poised to break into the majors in 2009.

2007 - Barry Enright, RHP, Pepperdine - 4.44 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, .337 BABIP for High-A Visalia in 2008.

2008 - Bryan Shaw, RHP, Long Beach State - So-so debut, but he did pitch better upon promotion to the Midwest League (4.03 ERA, 1.07 ERA).

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Interesting comparison piece.

Are you going to compare the 3rd through 50th rounds as well? (This could be part 3 in a 100 part series!!)

2001 – Mike Gosling, RHP, Stanford – Another of those polished Stanford products turned into not-quite-that-good major leaguer. He spent some time in the majors with the D’Backs in ’04 and ’05 before the Reds picked him off the waiver wire in early 2006. Gosling has since moved to the Toronto organization, pitching out of the bullpen.

Hehe. This brings me back to the days when Gosling was the Dbacks’ #1 minor league prospect, and a young pitcher named Brandon Webb was our #2.

2003 – Jamie D’Antona, 1B, Wake Forest – D’Antona’s an interesting case. With the exception of part of his 2004 season in Double-A and all of 2005 in Double-A, D’Antona’s been able to hit. It finally paid off for him in 2008, getting 17 at-bats. And that’s likely all that he’ll get. Last I heard, he was headed to Japan.

Indeed. He was reportedly sold to the Yakult Swallows for about three-quarter million. Don’t forget to mention the guy won the Triple-A home run derby this year, and was the third leg of the so-called “Three Amigos”. (With Conor Jackson and Carlos Quentin)

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 29, 2008 8:12 AM MST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hmm

The best current player out of that grouping perhaps is best known for parading around the locker room naked and suffering a fractured testicle in a game.

by Poseidon's Fist on Dec 29, 2008 10:04 AM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The best current player out of that grouping perhaps is best known for parading around the locker room naked and suffering a fractured testicle in a game.

Suffering a fractured testicle and finishing the inning, thank you very much.

Also, being the target, a few years back, of Mark Grace’s accidental Jesse Jackson moment on the air: “Every f***ing swing that guy takes is an underwater swing”

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 29, 2008 10:47 AM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Are you going to compare the 3rd through 50th rounds as well? (This could be part 3 in a 100 part series!!)

I’m not a mod, but possibly….it’s going to be a long slow winter, as the Rockies don’t have enough juice to actually get into the “hot stove” action.

Other ideas: “names on the back of the jersey…added ego?”, “positive and negatives of sunflower seeds”, “Seeds vs. bubble gum, vs tobacco” and other hot issues.

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Dec 29, 2008 10:05 AM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Other suggested topics for discussion

“The humidor: Is 100 mentions per nationally-televised Rockies game enough?”
“Bud Selig: Great commissioner, or the greatest commissioner?”
“Clint Hurdle vs. Bob Melvin: Who sucks more?”
“Who’s taller: Randy Johnson, or Tim Lincecum?”
“The Colorado Rockies: Ghetto or not ghetto?”
“What effect did the now-defunct XFL have on Major League Baseball?”
“Will the election of Barack Obama lead to higher salaries for biracial Hawaiian-born baseball players with exotic middle names?”
and, sure to be a favorite at Purple Row, “Jesus H. Christ: Are the Rockies doing enough to honor Him?” ;-)

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 29, 2008 11:00 AM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Maybe

the Rockies should find a team chaplain.

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Dec 29, 2008 1:26 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh, and don't forget

“Russ attempts to equate the Rockies or something in baseball to (insert military or diplomatic event).”

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Dec 29, 2008 1:27 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Hmmm....

I think I would entitle that one, “Russ’ Greatest Hits: Historical Name-dropping While Discussing the Rox”

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 29, 2008 2:09 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

And what about...

“Rox Girl makes ridiculously optimistic bets/claims for the Rockies in 2009” posts. I think I’ve got a good half dozen of those in me for January.

by Rox Girl on Dec 29, 2008 2:35 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Those are a given.

I have moments of divine inspiration for my stuff, and that only happens rarely. God just doesn’t talk to people like he used to all those years ago.

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Dec 29, 2008 2:38 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

My dear Rox Girl....

….just happened to notice this, but you seem to have disappeared from the Managers list at the bottom of the PR front page.

Ceci n'est pas une signature.

by DbacksSkins on Dec 29, 2008 3:35 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh....

wait, you’re back now.

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 29, 2008 6:42 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Weird...

Maybe our SBN overlords are trying to tell me something… at least I haven’t received a memo of redundancy yet.

by Rox Girl on Dec 29, 2008 6:56 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The Sandmen called.

They’re taking you to Carousel.

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by DbacksSkins on Dec 29, 2008 7:49 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Well, after the 10th round I'll

just go by tens and look at the good picks.

"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Dec 29, 2008 1:24 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

After

the early rounds, it would just probably be best to see which team has drafted the most guys that made it to the majors and made any significant contribution (14 random at-bats and the like probably shouldn’t count).

On a side note, I was looking at a few of the Rockies drafts the past years and it seems like they do a pretty good job of drafting guys who make it to the bigs but they tend to be a lot of guys like Jeff Baker who are good, but don’t seem to be impact players. This makes me feel like the Rockies have some pretty solid scouting – I don’t know how much one can whine about them not being able to draft all the 16th round Jake Peavy’s out there. It makes me wonder though, if they sunk some more money into scouting and the like, if they could improve from drafting a lot of fringe/AAAA type players to maybe some more impact type guys (or whether the added scouting budget would just result in an increase of AAAA players selected)

by Resolution on Dec 29, 2008 8:17 PM MST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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