The 2007 baseball draft

[jacksonianmarch]

WHO ELSE IS WICKED PISSAH EXCITED FOR THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DRAFT, YIPPEE!!!

[riverside sluggers]

Dwight "Dewey" Evans will represent the Red Sox and announce what picks they have gotten. Ill watch next Thursday just out of curiosity

[Coco's Disciples]

Eh Sox don't have a 1st round pick, making the fact that its televised less cool.

[riverside sluggers]

The Sox still have 2 supplemental 1st round picks, theyll probably show the first 2 rounds

Anyways, 2 highly ranked players have been taken before the draft

rotoworld

Pending league approval Thursday, the Diamondbacks signed 2006 first-round pick Max Scherzer prior to the Wednesday deadline.

The AP reported that no deal got done, but the Diamondbacks announced after the deadline that they did reach an agreement in principle. Scherzer, the 11th overall pick last year, was likely to go even earlier in this year's draft. There was speculation that he'd go sixth to the Nationals, whose assistant GM, Mike Rizzo, was largely responsible for drafting him for the Diamondbacks last year.

Padres signed RHP Matt Latos, a 2006 11th-round pick.

On the last day to sign draft-and-follows, the Padres inked probably the biggest name out there. Latos was reportedly asking for a $3.35 million bonus to forgo the draft. There's no way the Padres gave him that much, but they might have surrendered first-round money to finalize the deal. The 19-year-old Latos, a 6-foot-5 right-hander with a very good fastball, was projected as a late-first or supplemental first-round pick.

[Coco's Disciples]

Didn't realize we had 2 supps. I'll check in time to time.

[bosoxnation07]

wereup in the 50-60's for a pick, but we got Lester an Pedroia that late, its suppose to be a deep draft.

[riverside sluggers]

soxprospects.com

Sox sign DFE's Blocker, New

This afternoon Baseball America reported that the Boston Red Sox have signed draft-and-follows Darren Blocker and Brantley New. Blocker (36th round) is a 20-year-old right handed power hitting third baseman out of Connor State JC (OK), and New (27th round) is a 23-year-old 5th year senior RHP out of Mercer University (GA). New's signing was confirmed by a press release from Mercer's athletic department. Named first team all-region (Region 2), Blocker batted .436 (51/117) in 34 games with eight HR and 10 doubles. Leading into the 2006 draft New was considered by some to have been a top-ten round talent, featuring a low-90s fastball which reportedly tops out at 93 MPH, supplemented by a curve ball and change up. He missed the 2003 season with Tommy John surgery. New went 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA with 91 Ks and 30 BB in 106.3 IP in 2007.

[26 to 6]

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

The Devil Rays who again in their young history, will have the #1 overall pick in the draft. So far they are expected to take the pitching stud David Price
http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=243&p=2...%2F577410.html

In addition to of course the Yankees, Mets, and Red Sox; i'll be paying colse attention to the Devil Rays picks in the draft this week. Particularily because i'm interning with their NY-Penn League affiliate, the Hudson Valley Renegades. It'd be nice to get some good young talent for the 'Gades, so hopefully we can have a winning season.

[26 to 6]

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

Dwight "Dewey" Evans will represent the Red Sox and announce what picks they have gotten. Ill watch next Thursday just out of curiosity

I know Mike Thurman (pitched several seasons in Columbus with the Yanks. Originally an Expos farmhand, started a few games for us in 2002. After retiring became a scout in the Northwest for the Yanks) will be one of two people representing the Yankees in Orlando for the draft. I don't remember off the top of my head who the other is.

[riverside sluggers]

Originally Posted by bosoxnation07

wereup in the 50-60's for a pick, but we got Lester an Pedroia that late, its suppose to be a deep draft.

Very true, Lester was picked at 57th and Pedroia was picked at 65th overall. The 2007 supplemental 1st round picks are 55 and 62. The placement of their picks dont really get me uneasy at all. Just draft the best players available thats all I ask.

[jacksonianmarch]

this is a very deep draft. I was looking at Keith Law's draft and a potential immediate impact relief arm (a la Craig Hansen, lets hope they dont bring him up immediately this time) was slotted to the yankees. That is absurd to have 29 guys ahead of a potential immediate impact arm. And from what I have read, the first 3 rounds of this draft contain first round talent in most other yrs. Having 2 supps will be a huge boon for you guys.

[RavenOfProphecy]

I, for one, am not excited at all to be all the way down at #55 for our first pick. Sure, we have #62, but some teams have multiple first round picks, and we blew ours signing Julio Lugo (one of the signings, along with J.D. Drew, that I didn't really like all that much in the first place.) Lugo's batting .226/.289/.330, and that doesn't scream "first round" to me. More like "scrub." Kyle Russell and James Simmons are two guys I'm holding out hope for.

Russell has great power as a sophomore right fielder for Texas. He's 6'5", 185 lbs., and 20 years old, according to the Texas Longhorns website. He reminds me of Trot Nixon, back when Nixon was hitting .256/.338/.470 with 24 home runs or so. He's not afraid to get dirty playing and, like I said, he can hit.

His line from 2007: .336/.456/.807, 28 HR, 71 RBI, 10 SB

Simmons is another productive collegiate guy out of UC Riverside. He's a 6'4", 215 righty with pretty good stuff - he can reach 93 MPH or so. He's got some great numbers.

His line from 2007: 11-3, 2.40 ERA, 116 K, 15 BB, .220 BAA in 123.2 IP

It's not likely that either of these guys will be left at #55, because I think they're more of late-first/early sandwich picks, but should either of them fall for some reason, I would be happy with both. Russell and Place could make for a good corner outfield combination for the future with a lot of power, and Simmons would be someone who could eventually reach the rotation. I've heard Jack McGeary for the Red Sox at #55 as a high school lefthander from Massachusetts, but I'm hoping that's not the case, as his velocity is 91 tops, and more frequently around 85, and he has walked 21 batters in 40 innings.

[riverside sluggers]

Raven... maybe you didnt notice before but the Sox were able to get Lester at #57, Pedroia was 65th overall, Papelbon the all-star closer was selected in the 4th round. Yea it sucks we dont have any higher picks... but solid players can be had after the 1st round. Cmon Albert Pujols was taken by the Cardinals in the 13th round

[jacksonianmarch]

ah, I didnt know you guys lost your 1st. 2 supps and no first rounders. Hmmm.

[riverside sluggers]

Yep its going to be one of the worst drafts in recent history for the Sox Again yea it does suck, but it doesnt squash any chance the Sox have of nabbing some good young players.