6:36 PM – Last year, I wowed the internet with my knowledge of the players and personalities involved in the Rule IV Draft. This time around, I tried to get Scott to put a little something together, since he actually knows a thing or two about the sport, but it turns out he’s actually doing something crazy like going to a live baseball game or something, so once again, anyone who happens upon this space in the next few hours will be subjected to my rambling thoughts.
First rambling thought: Bubba Starling? YES. Instant Moniker Madness entry.
Also, while I’m thinking of it, the thumbnail came from Purple Row.
6:42 PM – I’m not unexcited for tonight’s draft coverage, and I’m sure I’ll be checking in tomorrow (there’s something hypnotic about listening to a bunch of disembodied voices reading names. It’s like one of those Nature Sounds CDs that people use to help themselves sleep), but anyone who knows me knows that I’m waiting eagerly for Wednesday, when Mr. Don’t Count Him Out is announced. SO PUMPED for that moment.
6:45 PM – Hazel Mae looks fantastic tonight. That is all.
6:53 PM – Last year’s Mr. Don’t Count Him Out, Western Kentucky’s Matt Rice, hit .360 with nine homeruns and 59 RBI this season. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes this year. If I remember right, the last Mr. DCHO to be redrafted was Eric Gonzalez, who was chosen last by the Braves in 2004 and in the 24th round by the Padres in 2008. Gonzalez spent most of his time in High-A (he appeared once in Triple-A last season) was released prior to this season and has no 2011 stats listed at Baseball-Reference.
7:08 PM – According to Baseball America’s Prospect Handbook, when Gerrit Cole was drafted in 2008 at 28th overall, recommended slot for that position was about $1.26 million (last year it was $1.134 million, though Zach Lee signed a two-sport contract worth more than $5 million). Recommended slot for the first overall pick last year was $4 million. So he’ll get a lot more money and the prestige of being the number one overall pick…but he has to play for the Pirates. At least he’ll get to the majors faster (I bet he still wouldn’t be in New York if he had signed with the Yankees) and can be The Man on a pitching staff that brings a winning baseball team back to Pittsburgh. No pressure, though.
7:17 PM – I wonder if Anthony Rendon is the type of kid to be super-duper motivated by the fact that he was passed over with the second overall pick (darn you, Danny Hultzen!)? If he hits .900 against Seattle in his career, I guess we’ll know the answer. (Kindly remind me of this conversation in 2020, so I can go back and look.)
7:20 PM – Also, Arizona (darn you Trevor Bauer!). It’ll be interesting if Rendon becomes the Aaron Rodgers of this draft.
7:24 PM – You know what’s really cool? Those five guys that Dylan Bundy walked are gonna be able to tell those stories someday. “Yeah, worked him to 3-2, and he missed.” Not exactly the same as scoring four touchdowns in one game or anything, but you take what you can get.
7:30 PM – It’s not unheard of for a player to fall because teams don’t think they can sign him, right? But when was the last time a player who many thought would be a top two pick fell out of the top five (and Rendon is still falling)?
7:31 PM – BUBBA STARLING!!!
7:35 PM – The number of teams that Anthony Rendon must destroy stops at five. The Nationals had the first pick in each of the last two drafts, and this year they get a guy who COULD have been the first overall pick…at number six. I’m calling Nationals-Royals in the 2016 World Series, RIGHT NOW.
7:55 PM – Dylan Bundy looks like he’s about fourteen. Archie Bradley sounds like one of those big ol’ country boys that you like as soon as he opens his mouth.
10:18 PM – Hey, I’m back! Why? Because I love the representatives teams trot out in the compensation round.
Washington - Davey Johnson & Pat Corrales
Toronto - Roberto Alomar
Boston - Jim Rice
Is it just me, or are “cool cat” the best possible words to describe Jim Rice? I really wish I could’ve seen him play in his prime – I only saw him at the end, which came very, very fast.
Texas - Jim Sundberg
Your random Jim Sundberg fact for the day: a couple weeks ago, Baseball-Reference posted a list of the games with the hottest recorded temperature. Texas, understandably, had a bunch of entries on the list, and because many of them were during a time when Sundberg was their catcher, he was all over it as well.
Tampa Bay – Roberto Hernandez
Philadelphia - Mickey Morandini
When I interned at the Hall of Fame, my friend Nadine LOVED Mickey Morandini. I’m looking forward to catching up with him in Williamsport at some point this season.
How awesome is it that Larry Greene is at the draft? I think I’ll be rooting for that kid.
10:28 PM – And he’s a mumbler. Kid’s got the mic skills of Dean Malenko. He is AWESOME.
10:30 PM – I couldn’t agree more with the plea Harold Reynolds is making for players to come to the draft. The only down side? All the excitement over Greene delayed the next pick for a couple minutes.
10:35 PM – First impression of Jackie Bradley Jr: he seems awesome. Twitter feed confirms.
Arizona – Roland Hemond
Funny, they didn’t refer to Hemond as a “Hall of Famer”, which is funny because he’s as much a Hall of Famer as Peter Gammons is.
New York Mets – Frank Viola
Another guy I’ll be seeing in my New York-Penn League travels this season. Looking forward to it. Gotta love Frankie V.
Colorado – Walt Weiss
Chicago White Sox – Daryl Boston
I wonder what Daryl’s little brother is up to these days. D.J. (who at 6’7″, 230 was hardly “little”) was a fixture with the Nashua Pride for six seasons, from 1998 to 2003.
San Diego – Trevor Hoffman
San Francisco – Gaylord Perry
Every time I see Gaylord Perry, all I can think is that anyone who used steroids, put up great numbers, and doesn’t get into the Hall of Fame should be pissed.
Minnesota – Rod Carew
New York Yankees – Lee Mazzilli
Funny, I always think of Mazzilli as more of a Met.
DANTE BICHETTE, JR! I KNOW HIM! Well, I knew him when he was like eleven – his dad played in Nashua in 2004, partly because he wanted his boys to be able to see him play. Also, partly because he wanted to PITCH, but that’s beside the point.
Tampa Bay – Jared Sandberg
New York-Penn League managers and coaches all over this compensation round. Sandberg is the manager of Tampa Bay’s affiliate in Hudson Valley.
10:56 PM – Kes Carter from Western Kentucky? FREE MATT RICE!
