391 replies to this topic

[Oriole85]

Please, please, stop just saying "BPA."

It's legit in baseball, not so much other sports.

[Chris B]

O's take Adrian Marin, SS from Miami area.

[Nuclear Dish]

What makes you think that about Rahier?

Honestly, it's primarily a gut feeling, and if I''m truly honest, it's probably disliking his body-type.

[Nuclear Dish]

O's take Christian Walker, 1B, U. of South Carolina

Nice pick, IMO.

[Nuclear Dish]

What's to like about Walker?
- Draws walks
- Doesn't strike out much
- Has decent power
- Hits for average
- A middle-of-the-order player on a championship team

What's not to like about Walker?
- Lacks height, which will probably limit his long-term power potential
- Stocky for his height
- Average fielder at best

[Nuclear Dish]

Found this from Viva El Birdos (Cardinals site) on Walker:

Chris Walker is pretty much your prototypical middle of the order hitter. Highly thought of coming out of high school back in 2009, he was drafted very late by the Dodgers thanks to what looked to be an ironclad commitment to South Carolina. In the three years since, Walker has done nothing to diminish the perception of him as a big-time power prospect.

If you're looking for a true home run hitter near the top of the draft, Walker is your man. He put on a show at the Powershowcase event in Tampa his senior year of high school, the same event that first made Bryce Harper such a household name. His swing is explosive, with a short stride and the kind of hip torque that can make a ballpark seem small in a hurry. Pure power isn't all Walker brings to the table, though, as he's shown a solid approach at the plate and the ability to hit the ball to all fields.

Walker has the strong, stocky build of a running back, leaving him little room to grow any further. Physically, he's pretty much a finished product. He has the range and quickness to handle third base for now, but his likely future is at first. He is a plus athlete, with outstanding feet and an arm which was clocked in the upper 80s in high school. It's possible some team could select him with an eye toward playing him at the hot corner, but such a situation would likely fall into the, "Until he proves he can't do it," category. Call it the Brett Wallace Exception.

[JeffLong]

Tom Krasovic ‏@tomkrasovic
If my source is accurate that Appel turned down $6 mm from Astros, #Stanford RHP is a huge egg in #Pirates basket. Bucs draft pool: $6.6 mm.

[Nuclear Dish]

5th round: Colin Poche, LHP, HS (in Texas)

Signed with Arkansas. If we can pull him away, he's got potential once he builds his frame. He's in the high 80's-low 90's now, with good secondary pitches. When he fills out, he could be a better power arm.

[Nuclear Dish]

Anyone know how Poche's name is pronounced?

Is it Kah-lin (as in Colin Firth), or Koalin (as in Colin Powell)?

And is it Poach or Poke or is the "ch" guttural, like in the word "Reich"?

[Nuclear Dish]

Hate to say it, but the Yankees made a nice pick just now at the end of Round 5, get ROb Refsnyder from U. of Arizona. They kid can rake.

[JeffLong]

Anyone know how Poche's name is pronounced?

Is it Kah-lin (as in Colin Firth), or Koalin (as in Colin Powell)?

And is it Poach or Poke or is the "ch" guttural, like in the word "Reich"?

Kah-Lin Po-Shay is my understanding.

Ps - who else is hoping the O's are taking signable guys to take a shot at a HSer in the 10th round?

[Nuclear Dish]

6th round pick: Lex Rutledge, LHP, Samford U.

Can be a good LOOGY. Can hit high 90's if he's limited in his innings. Was a 26th rounder out of high school.

[Nuclear Dish]

Guys worth looking at in the 7th:

Stephen Johnson, RHP, St. Edward's College (throws 100 MPH with a 4-seamer - a Kyle Farnsworth type)
Buck Farmer, RHP, Georgia Tech (had a poor senior year, but a potential #4 starter type)
LJ Mazzilli, 2B, UConn (Lee Mazzilli's son, sweet swing, excellent OBP guy)
Torsten Boss, 3B, Michigan St. (athletic)

The guy I want is Mazzilli.

EDIT: Johnson is gone late in the 6th.

[Nuclear Dish]

7th rounder: Matt Price, RHP, U. of South Carolina

He's a senior, so he'll be easy to sign. He's been the closer for a high-pressure championship team. Throws in the mid-90's. Could be in the majors very quickly.

He's started before, but he's most likely another reliever.

[RichardZ]

Looks like Stotle has Kline, Walker, and Rutledge all on his 2-5 round targets.

So, I would guess he at least likes some of these picks. Price seems like good value in the 7th. Biggest question marks would seem to be the two HS picks, Marin, and Poche and the rounds they were taken in.

[SportsGuy]

7th rounder: Matt Price, RHP, U. of South Carolina

He's a senior, so he'll be easy to sign. He's been the closer for a high-pressure championship team. Throws in the mid-90's. Could be in the majors very quickly.

He's started before, but he's most likely another reliever.

This pick I like.

[Nuclear Dish]

Crap, Beau Amaral just went to the Reds. I was hoping we'd go for him in the next round or two.

[JeffLong]

Looks like Stotle has Kline, Walker, and Rutledge all on his 2-5 round targets.

So, I would guess he at least likes some of these picks. Price seems like good value in the 7th. Biggest question marks would seem to be the two HS picks, Marin, and Poche and the rounds they were taken in.

Marin isn't a question mark for me at all. I thought it was a great pick

[RichardZ]

Looks like Stotle has Kline, Walker, and Rutledge all on his 2-5 round targets.

So, I would guess he at least likes some of these picks. Price seems like good value in the 7th. Biggest question marks would seem to be the two HS picks, Marin, and Poche and the rounds they were taken in.

Marin isn't a question mark for me at all. I thought it was a great pick

I meant for the people who are using the Baseball America rankings as a guideline. I know a little about some of these guys but trust that Rajsich and crew know what they are doing. Time will tell. I just find it amusing when guys who really follow the draft less than I do, dissect every round and call this pick or that pick bad. Most picks after the 1st half of the first round don't make it at all or have pretty insignificant careers, but everyone has an opinion. Marin sounds good to me. I like the draft so far. In the past there were picks I questioned, like Blake Davis in the 4th round but I don't see anything so far that bothers me.

[Nuclear Dish]

8th rounder: Torsten Boss, 3B, Michigan State

Interestingly, we're listing him as a CF.

Boss played 3B last year, then was moved to CF at the beginning of the season. That experiment failed, and he was moved back to 3B. Not sure whether it failed because he struggled or because the alternative at 3B struggled.

He can hit pretty well (lefthanded bat), but he didn't hit all that well in the Cape Cod league last summer, and that seems to have scared some people off.