"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you."

- Frederick Nietzsche

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Here we are again, back in that state of cautious optimism, placing our faith deep within the unknown.  "But this time it will be different!" we cried, immediately envisioning a day when Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul will light up the Garden.  They even toasted it, which in 13 states is actually considered to be a legal declaration.  And then the tweeting started.  Reports flew in, explaining that for some reason, Chris Paul no longer wants to call Nawlens home.  And so we overanalyzed his every move.  We examined his words, we held him under a microscope, waiting to see a sign, any sign.  But guess what?  He says he's happy now.  

Carmelo Anthony to the Nets was plastered all over the intra web in the past week.  It was a done deal the media called, and when Chris Broussard saw the breadth of his domain, he wept, for there were no more worlds to conquer.  But then it wasn't.  And then it really wasn't.  And then it was dead.  But not before we overanalyzed everything once again.  Sounds familiar, no?  Well, believe it or not, this summer, some people became fairly interested in the movements and actions of the free agent crop.  There was ESPN's Lebron Tracker, which in any other scenario would be revealed for what it truly was, which is glorified stalking.  We theorized, and hypothesized, but never realized.  We asked:

- "Look at his shoes!  They're Purple and Green.  Wait, aren't those Chris Rock's favorite colors?!?!  He must be coming to the Knicks"

- "But why Greenwich?!  Maybe he's trying to lure the New York Audience in, lure the Cleveland audience in by being from there, lure the Miami audience in by leaking it' Miami, and then he'll turn around and shock us all!!"

There are many more questions just like this that we all asked.  It was like a druken one night stand, where you talk the dirtiest talk of your life, promising you're going to make her hear color, make her see sound.  And then you wake up the next morning, realizing the pure irrationality of your actions, and you become sick with yourself.  We mistook Lebron James for a member of the Illuminati, thinking that he was leaving clever clues everywhere like a coked up version of Where's Waldo.  But guess what?  The King knew where he was going since 2008.  He, Wade, and Bosh had decided this.  But no one believed it.  "What about all the rumors?!" we asked, dumbfounded that this reality show could have possibly been scripted.  

And then it hit us (me).  We watch basketball for basketball, longing for a historic night on any given evening, hoping that what we witness will be worth recalling.  We care about the legacy of it all.  We care about the importance of sports, the rarity of a pass-time capable of transcending the bonds of its intention and interweaving with society.  And it's because this is the closest to greatness that many of us will taste.  At least, the pantheonic greatness associated with sports.   But guess what?  Not everyone sees it this way.  These superstars have managed to remember that man is inherently self-interested.  

So why does this matter?  The dust has cleared, and the summer is beginning its descent into fall's reintroduction to reality.  And the reason that any of this matters is that this is the NBA today.  It's no great surprise that athletes care about themselves; they are blessed with talents than an infinitesimally small group of humans are, and have a small window to utilize said talents.  But in the past, to think that a group of the most talented players in the NBA would get together and decide to play together would have been absurd.  Maybe it's the modernization of it all.  These guys can text, tweet, message, and poke (not on facebook...) eachother whenever they want.  When Isaiah and Magic kissed, everyone was creeped out, in part because of what just happened, and in part because these guys weren't supposed to be friends; they were supposed to go kick the living shit out of one another!  Now days, the NBA has morphed from the Marine Corp to a Frat house, where battalion members who you lived and died with have been transformed into your beer pong partner.  

The point I'm trying to make is that we have entered an age of macro-entertainment.  Historical significance no longer matters when what's hot is what's trending on twitter.  And in some ways, it's not like it's the role of an NBA player to maintain a legacy.  And as today's generation of athletes begins to realize that they can have what they want even down to the team they play for, we see sports evolve, just as it has before.  When Jackie Robinson stepped on the diamond, sports drastically changed forever.  When Ali refused to join the draft, sports became more important than ever.  When Len Bias blew his brains out with blow and when Magic announced he had HIV, sports became more mortal than ever.  And when Lebron made his Decision, sports became more simple than ever.  Find your friends who are superstars, agree to play together, and soon enough, you will.  That any NBA team now thinks it is bigger than the interests of its superstar is insanity; the balance of power has swung, for now, fully in favor of the athlete.  

So, it was just a toast, right?  It couldn't have anything to do with the Nets Nuggs deal mysteriously falling through.  It couldn't have anything to do with Raymond Felton being signed with a 3rd year team option, which can be exercised during the same offseason Chris Paul has the ability to opt out.  The point is, in today's sports climate, don't ever doubt the insane.  Three friends got together in China 2 years ago and made a decision that then became The Decision.  Like it or not, this is the NBA we live in now.  Might be time to start drinking the Kool-Aid.  Although, I could understand if you'd need a chaser to wash it down.

I'm writing this post as a forum to discuss Mr. Kendal Volz, a 9th round pick out of Baylor for the Boston Red Sox last year.  Volz's numbers in college never seemed to match the scouting report, and he seemed to me, at the time, the type of guy who could be more successful in minor league ball than college at the same age( if that makes any sense).  Now, from what I've read, he's got a fastball that sits 90-93 that's pretty heavy, a low 80s slider that looks very good, and a fairly inconsistent change-up.   Many think that he was miscoached at Baylor, and that the Red Sox will attempt to tweak his mechanics in order to help him at some velo and movement to his pitches.  He was started off this year at Greenville, and has put up some very impressive numbers: 

What stands out to me is the walk rate.  Walking 1 per nine, in my eyes, makes up for the somewhat lack of k's.  So, what are your thoughts?  I know we have a bunch of red sox fans here, let's hear it?

According to BA: 
White Sox agreed to terms with first-round LHP Chris Sale.
"Sale will get a $1.656 million signing bonus from the White Sox, who made him the 13th overall selection in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft. The tall lefty is expected to cruise through the Sox's system as a reliever. Baseball America's Jim Callis suspects that he could be in the majors by August." 

Well, that's interesting.  Considering I don't see Chicago truly contending this season, it seems like an, shall we say interesting, choice.  Especially given their lack of any real pitching depth in their system, this move seems to, in the words of Ricky Bobby, bottle the mind.

As I stood on the bus, trying to get across town and home by 7:05, I began to realize that I had been standing, waiting for this ungodly traffic to disperse for nearly 40 minutes.  I got off one stop early to expedite my trip home, practically running in khakis, blazer, and dress shoes up 5th avenue.  Other than the natural desire to get home as quickly as possible, something was different about last night.  Last night, we were all told to sit down and watch as history was made.  The hopes of a team, a franchise mired in mediocrity (and that’s being generous), were connected to one man, much like how this one man was connected to a supposedly breath-taking arm.  I didn’t get home to see the first inning of the game, but I was there to see inning number two.  I sat there, nearly spell-bound to both the  grandeur and the sheer lunacy of the night’s events; here, it seemed, the world had stopped to watch a 21 year old with 57 innings of professional ball under his belt channel Ryan, Clemens, Gibson, and Carlton while putting the Nationals’ franchise on his back. 

It was Herculean, while at the same time, unshakably Achilian.  How many times has the media created a Frankenstein of poise, talent, and upside, lulling us into a false sense of invincibility?  But Strasburg, he was different, those unnamed scouts who had scouted Seaver said.  He wasn’t a can’t miss prospect, this Strasburg kid, because that suggests that there does exist some level of potential for failure; no questions seemed to exist as to whether or not he would dominate at the Major League level.  The questions about Strasburg were not what if, but rather, how high.  Of course, various members of online communities refused to accept that Strasburg would even touch the proposed level of excellence.  “He’s an injury waiting to happen,” said some.  “Once they get a book on him, he won’t dominate,” said others.  “His mechanics seem clunky,” said yet more self-proclaimed analysts.  All guilty of one of the inherent notion of any well educated sports fan: the idea that we should not just look every gift horse in the mouth, but that we should demand a full body physical before accepting said horse.  In this world, you show me perfection, and I’ll find a flaw.  But why is it that the underwhelming 1% of negatives so frequently outweigh the 99% of positives?  Here we were, watching Stephen Strasburg’s major league debut, and already many were rooting (expecting) him to fail.

Naturally, my jaw dropped when he launched his marionette curveball.  I can admit to screaming “what?!” at least four times while watching in my room alone.  I’ve watched many of the greats that have graced the field with their presence and our screens with their dominance, and yet something about Strasburg seemed different; the smoothness of his delivery, the laser precision of his fastball, the bowling ball qualities of his changeup.  As I too began to wonder to myself just how high, the announcers began trying to qualify the events.  Remember, they cautioned, this is just one game.  In an industry with such extreme volatility, it is important to remember that all of the pre-mature accolades can vanish faster than Strasburg’s 101 heater.  But, something seemed different.  Not in terms of the pitches he was throwing; it is understood that he has an arsenal that would make Batman’s utility belt look like Tim Allen’s tool chest from Home Improvement.  Not in terms of his poise; the hackneyed idea that he looked like he belonged seemed to fall far short.  Not even in terms of the spectacle of the event; we know the pitchers who have preceded Strasburg who caused the same turnstile madness.  I suppose, it was probably one of the least analytical justifications I could provide.  Something about watching Strasburg work gave me a feeling I’d never felt before while watching a pitcher.  It seemed to encapsulate both the historical significance as well as the ceiling-less future of Mr. Strasburg’s career. 

It was just one game.  I’m not forgetting that.  He could blow out his arm next week, next month, next year, and I would just be one more fool who put his chips on the odds on favorite.  And he could drastically struggle as he deals with more advanced hitters.  And he could just be an average starter who shows flashes of brilliance.  It won’t all be perfect; I’ve lived enough life to know that nothing ever can be.  And who knows, maybe I’ll look back on this piece, and laugh at myself because Strasburg didn’t become one of the greats.  But between you and me, I don’t think I’ll have to.    

That’s it, I’ve had it with the Bryce Harper propaganda slam.  I mean, who does he think he is?  The last position player to receive this much predraft hype was Alex Rodriguez; look at him now!  Doper, who yeah, maybe hit a few home runs here or there, but I mean, come on.  Some of the problems I have with Harper:

-       Harper is the biggest showboat I have ever seen.  Rather than act responsibly and hit only 15, 16 home runs as a high school junior playing college ball, he goes and has the nerve to embarrass the opposing pitcher 29 times!  Um, attitude issues much?  The kid is 17, for crying out loud.  When I was 17, I had a six figure job, two kids, and my 401K under my belt.  Harper?  He’s still thinking about PROM!  What a joke!  And have you seen the video of his recent suspension?  I mean, I can’t remember the last time a professional hitter argued balls and strikes like Harper did that one time.  The guy is a prima dona, and everyone needs to realize it

-       The kid is 6’3’’ and weighs 205 pounds.  NEWSFLASH!  He’s maxed out!  I mean, sure, some 17 year olds continue along a body developmental track, but come on, do you really expect a kid who has focused on maintaining his body to be in peak athletic form to actually develop anymore?  Also, he’s obviously too big to stay behind the plate!  I mean, who can remember the last catcher his size to win an MVP award?  Crickets

-       Do you guys realize the rate of attrition for players who are in Harper’s situation, which are about a dime a dozen?  I mean, we can all remember the yearly high school junior dominating the college level, then being drafted and completely flaming out.  I’d MUCH prefer a prep arm or a prep shortstop with an average bat over Harper.

-       (From Capitol Punishment, a Nats website) What if he turns out to have the personality of Ryan Leaf?  What if he thinks that he (and his dad) know the best way to train and prepare?  What if he's not willing to listen to instruction and work on the things the Nats need him to?   What will his hypercompetitive streak (not that that's a bad thing) do when he struggles in pro ball?  Will he channel his frustrations internally?  externally?  will he work harder?  will he work harder on the right things?  (From me) All of those are valid concerns people!  Ryan Leaf dominated college in the exact same way as Harper, and baseball and football are basically the same sport.  What if he completely ignores his coaches period, and only talks to his dad!  Hypercompetive?!  No thank you!  Imagine when he loses a game!  He’ll go Incredible Hulk on everyone around him.  And the last question, about his work ethic, is the biggest one for me.  This is a kid who has NEVER had to push himself.  I mean, sure, he got his GED early in order to compete at an obscenely high level for a kid his age, and the proceeded to adjust to the differences and dominate like few ever have, but still. 

Look, Harper might be a decent player at the MLB level, but come on people!  Try to find one positive in everything I just said.

As most of you know, one of the greatest men to grace this planet passed away this evening.  John Wooden, coach of UCLA through the most dominant stretch in not only college basketball, but in all of sports, died of natural causes at the age of 99.  I know he was a basketball coach, but as Coach said: "What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player."  Share your thoughts, wishes, prayers, or simply pay your respects to Coach Wooden and his everlasting legacy.  

The following is an essay I felt compelled to write today.  This may seem like a stupid request, but if you really like it, feel free to rec it.  With the bombardment of MOD's, if you actually enjoy the essay, I'd hate to see it get buried, if for no other reason than I am quite proud of this essay.  I hope you all enjoy

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So, we've got our budget.  $5.2 Mil, as decided by both myself and the community at large.  It seemed to be a good average of the posts I got, so cool.  Now, since we only have two picks to worry about, why don't we look at the top 5 choices for #7 first.  I'll list my guys in no order, then state who, as of now, is my pick at #7.

-Brandon Workman

-Zach Cox

-Yasmani Grandal

-Karsten Whitson

-Alex Wimmers

And my pick is: Brandon Workman.  He's got very good upside, but as a college arm, he fits the Mets' general drafting strategy.  Throw in that his bonus demands don't seem to be too high, and he seems like a darn good pick here.  Not sure why he hasn't been thrown around this spot more, but for me, right now, he's the pick.  The following is the order I'd be inclined to go assuming Workman is not picked, or you guys just hate the choice:

1. Whitson

2. Grandall

3. Cox

4. Wimmers

So, in this MOD, I want you guys to chime in on both your thoughts on my current ranking, as well as your own rankings/thoughts in general about this #7 pick.  I'll post our MOD for the 3rd rounder tomorrow, but let's start with this.  And, as always, our mascot:

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After getting some good responses in our last MOD, I've started thinking about the idea of what our ideal draft budget should be set at for our three picks.  I know there's all this talk about the Mets being stingy, come draft time, and while I think that that may be true about their number of draft picks, with some closer investigation, it doesn't necessarily seem to be true with regards to their budget.  In 2008, the last year the Mets had a first rounder, they set their draft budget on their first 3 picks to be 4.034 Mil, which, while not a tremendous sum given that two picks were 1st rounders and 1 was a supplemental pick, still shows to me that the Mets are not terrified of spending a lot of money in the draft.  In fact, their total draft budget in 08 was only about .4 mil less than the Sox's budget in 09, which says something.  Additionally, without a Suppy pick or 2nd rounder, I feel like the possibility exists to go over slot in both the 1st and 3rd rounds.  Look, if we're sticking to straight slot money, the budget shouldn't exceed around 4.5 Mil, at the most.  But I'm leaning toward possibly a 5-5.5 Mil budget max on these first two picks.  So, the question for this MOD is, what do you think we should set our budget at, and why.  I'll try to use all of your posts, as well as my own opinion, to generate our budget.  Once I have it, I will post it for all to see.

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Yes, I'm aware it was actually the 5th movie, and not the 2nd, but as our mascot, thumbs up Johan says: "S'ok, S'ok."  Soooo, after you guys weighed in and we discussed a few prospects, it has become obvious that trying to draft as the Mets indeed do will be maddening.  That being said, I don't think that we have to exactly draft as though we're the Mets from years past.  This year, management is being pressed to hit a series of Home runs in terms of personal acquisitions.  That being said, I could see us taking more risks this year than in years past.  But, hey, who knows.  Following is a list of guys who I'll provide scouting reports for, that I think we could be targeting.

1. Karsten Whitson: He's already big, strong and durable and he's got plenty of projection, meaning he might throw harder than his already mid-90s fastball. Add in a plus breaking ball and good changeup and he's got a very intriguring three-pitch mix already. Some tweaks to his delivery could make him even more dangerous. There might be a right-hander or two ahead of Whitson on the high school depth chart, but he should figure into high Draft pick conversations come June.  That's what MLB.com said, but I think that Whitson is an interesting pick for us at this spot, assuming he's still around.  

2. That Grandal dude: Grandal has been on radars since high school, when he opted for the University of Miami rather than the Red Sox. He's come through with his best offensive season at the right time, with consistent production at the plate moving him up Draft boards in a hurry. He's a switch-hitter with some pop, but some worry about his ability as an overall hitter. Defensively, he has a good reputation, but he does need work on things like his footwork. With college catchers always in high demand, Grandal's numbers this spring could very well result in him being the first catcher off the board in the first round.  That's from MLB.  I think they're slightly under selling his power potential.  I could see him developing 15 homer pop with his swing, which looks to be pretty darn smooth.  And I know, don't draft for need, but I think he could be a great addition to our system.

3. Austin Wilson: Wilson not only has tremendous tools -- his raw power being the best of them -- he's got the work ethic and character to maximize those tools. Still a little bit raw, he does need to improve his overall hitting skills so he'll be able to consistently tap into that power at the next level. He's a sponge who soaks up information, so most feel he'll do just fine down the road. With a plus arm and good speed, the Stanford signee could be a prototypical right fielder in due time, one who doesn't wait long to hear his name on Draft day.  From MLB.com.  What I love the most about him is how scouts rave about his mental makeup and his learning skills.  That is SO important for a player.  Unwillingness to accept teaching is why Andy Marte sucks now, as well as being lazy.  One who "soaks up information" is exactly the description you want to hear about a toolsy guy like this.  This is the type of home run pick I could see us making, which might break the mold a bit.  But I think that it would be a great idea if ownership took this risk.  He's my favorite guy in this draft not named Harper, for what it's worth.

4. Bryce Brentz: A year after having one of the best offensive seasons in college baseball, Brentz entered his Draft year as one of the top pure college hitters. He's done nothing to alter that impression. He has a short, compact stroke and plenty of power to all fields. A two-way player in the past, the arm that worked well for him on the mound is more than enough from the outfield. He could be one of the top college bats to come off the board.  I love the two way ability, as those types tend to be successful.  This seems like an interesting pick, as he is a college bat (which the Mets like), but also as a guy with a lot of upside.  Could be an interesting pick here.

5. Alex Wilmmers: Wimmers is setting himself up to be one of the safer college arm picks in the 2010 Draft. He has three pitches he can throw for strikes and he shows tremendous poise on the mound as Ohio State's Friday starter. While his raw stuff won't jump out at you and he might profile as a middle- to back-of-the-rotation pitcher, he's also the type whose sum is greater than each of his parts. Wimmers should shoot through the Minors and could be big league-ready by 2012, meaning he probably will not last very long on the first day of the Draft.  Sounds like a Mets' type pick to me. 

6. Deck Mcguire: McGuire may not have the highest ceiling of the pitchers in this draft class -- he profiles as a No. 3 type starter -- but he might be the safest college arm to choose from. He's got a good three-pitch mix and excellent command that comes in a big, durable body. He's always been successful and has shown the ability to compete and win even without his best stuff. While he's not an ace in the making some teams might look for, he should be the type of advanced arm that can get to the big leagues in a hurry and be a very important innings-eater in the middle of a rotation. That might not be sexy, but it's likely to get McGuire drafted early on Draft Day.  I'm thinking this is also a route the Mets could take.  After all, we could sure as hell use his type.  Also, with his 6'6' frame and only 215 lb weight, I could see him adding a few ticks, as well as strength.  

7. A.J. Cole: With size, projectability and at least two outstanding pitches, Cole is at or near the top of prep pitching lists. His fastball already touches 94 mph, and there's lots of room for growth in his 6-foot-5 frame. He adds a wipeout power slurve to put hitters away and even shows a feel for a changeup. There are some small concerns about his arm action, but his delivery overall is good and he has decent command. James Taillon might be the first high school arm to go off the board, but Cole won't be far behind.  Hardly a Mets' type pick, but he's still a very interesting arm.  Got tremendous upside, and a strong arm, but obviously the risk of being a high school arm is pretty big.

8.  Christian Colon: A big prospect since high school, there's a lot to like about Colon's game. He's got a solid approach and setup at the plate and he makes the plays in the field. His individual tools don't grade out well, and some think he'll need to move to second as a pro. He was the captain of Team USA last summer and put up big numbers as well. He hadn't done that in the early going of his junior season and this is a performance-based industry, so that could hurt his draft stock a little. Even if he doesn't pick it up, his past performance, makeup and baseball acumen should help ensure he doesn't wait too long to hear his name called.  As mentioned in the first MOD, he could fill the hole at 2b for the Mets down the line, and I do like his leadership qualities.  He's got a good head on his shoulders, and seems to have a pretty high floor.  

9. Michael Choice: In a year that lacks a ton of big-name college hitters, players from smaller programs like Choice have a chance to shine, and he is taking advantage. Though he'll need work on his swing mechanics, he has big-time raw power to all fields. He runs well and plays a strong outfield to boot. He may not be the elite hitter clubs seek, but since there aren't many of those this year, teams may look hard at Choice in the early going.  He's got some good power, although his swing is a bit funky.  Also, doesn't have a great body.  Still, good hitter with a great overall package.

10. Drew Pomeranz:  Pomeranz has established himself as the top lefty arm in a Draft class that hasn't got a deep the southpaw pool. Big, strong and durable, he's got the makings of an above-average three-pitch mix. He commands his fastball and breaking ball very well, and, while the changeup is a bit behind, it's improving quickly. There's little not to like about Pomeranz -- most criticisms are on the nit-picky side -- and it seems likely that he'll hear his name called very early on Draft Day.  Obviously, he'd be the pick if he's still on the board, but that doesn't seem totally likely.  Love his stuff, love his size, love his makeup.  This would be a steal if he falls to us.

11. Zack Cox: A Draft prospect two years ago, Cox is back as a Draft-eligible sophomore. His best tool is his bat and he should hit for plenty of average with at least decent power. His plus arm plays just fine at third, but his overall defense at the hot corner likely won't work at the next level. Arkansas has been mixing him in at second and that might prove to be a better spot for the left-handed hitter. Regardless of the position, the bat should be enough to get him off the board sooner rather than later.  Eh, I'm not a huge fan of Cox.  Not a great fielder, and a solid, but unspectacular bat.  He'd sign for slot, if that's your concern, but I don't love him.

So, with help from MLB.com, here you have it.  Here's 11 guys I think are reasonable to think the Mets could pick.  Love to hear your thoughts.  I could include a poll, if you'd like, but I really think that discussion is the best way to figure out our pick.  Let's have at it!  

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This is my first mock draft over here.  As my name might suggest, I am indeed a Mets fan.  And I also believe that the Mets as an organization needs to fully overhaul their frugal spending come draft time.  They have a knack for picking up quality Latin American talent, and are not afraid to dole out huge contracts to veterans, but for some reason, we are notoriously stingy come June.  So, fellow Mets fans, let's switch this up.  We're new ownership, and we're making sh*t happen now.  I'm personally a fan of the idea of taking a fairly signable guy in the first round and saving budget for later rounds, but with the Mets system as it is right now, and with our past draft decisions, I'm partial to attempting a different strategy.  This won't be a Mocktatorship.  This is a mockmocracy, so I want as much input from you guys as possible.  Let's start off the discussion here, and we can figure out our next steps.  For anyone who needs to contact me outside of this zany website, you can email me at Jmsnyder@wesleyan.edu (Braves07, no more of those creepy pictures, however).  Let's bring in a new era of smart drafting for this organization.  

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Holá mis amigos.  Porque hoy es Cinco de Mayo, creo que es importante hablar sólo en español, como una forma de honrar a nuestros vecinos del sur, así como para demostrarle a la gente que conozco algo en este mundo (fuera de succión en el béisbol de la fantasía).  Para aquellos de ustedes que no pueden comprender esto, el uso de Google traducir. La mayor parte de lo que estoy diciendo ahora es inútil, pero está bien. De todos modos, en los juegos de hoy. Tienes un montón de nombradores grande en la colina de hoy:

Casey Kelly
Kyle Drabek
Brad Holt
Matt Moore
Mike Montgommery
El regreso valiente de Jacob Turner

I know there are a bunch more going, so write 'em down.  Also, can someone tell me about Jason Heyward?  Seems like an under the radar guy, but he's been hitting pretty well since his call-up.  Future fourth outfielder?

Here's my list.  I tried to have fun with it, so some of the comments are more on the joking end, and not so insightful.  Regardless, after the jump, hope you enjoy!

1. Jason Heyward- Without a doubt in my mind, the top prospect.  Could be an MVP candidate before long.

2. Stephen Strasburg- Jesus as a pitcher, but I'd like to see him spend at least half a season in the Minors.

3. Desmond Jennings- Think his combination of speed, hit tool, and fielding ability puts him here

4. Jesus Montero- If he brought any defensive value, he would challenge Heyward for the top spot.  

5. Mike Stanton- Light tower power, and I think everything else will come in time. 

6. Carlos Santana- It seems a little too convenient that he's filling Victor Martinez's shoes

7. Buster Posey- Above average catcher, who at his peak could look a lot like Paul Lo Duca's did.

8. Neftali Feliz- As a starter, I think he'll have enough to be dominant.

9. Brian Matusz- He's got the potential to be among the top #2 starters in this league.

10. Martin Perez- Could very well rank #1 on this list next year

11. Dustin Ackley - At 2nd for the foreseeable future, which makes the Chase Utley comps even more valid.

12. Jeremy Hellickson- Like him more than Davis, very good #2 upside.

13. Pedro Alvarez- Even as a first baseman, has game changing power.

14. Domonic Brown- Having this 5 tool stud will soften the pending loss of Jason Werth

15. Wade Davis- Big, tough kid, who will play a valuable role in Tampa's rotation.

16. Chris Carter- The average will come to be at least neutral, but the power makes him a special hitter, even if it's as a DH

17. Justin Smoak-I see him being the Adam Laroche-Casey Kotchman deal.  By that, I mean, his offensive upside is of Laroche, and his defense is Kotchman-esque.

18. Christian Freidrich- The curve may be Public Enemy #2

19. Aroldis Chapman- Sure, if the scouting reports are right, he's too low.  But that's a big if in my mind.

20. Ryan Westmoreland- Would bet my house that he'll be a star (if I didn't live in a dorm).

21. Michael Taylor- Oakland won the Wallace-Taylor trade by getting a better fielder who could easily provide as much offensive value, if not more.

22. Jenrry Mejia- If everything breaks right, could be the first star in the MLB to be named Jennry.

23. Madison Bumgarner- He could shoot up this list, or fall off it depending on his performance next season.  Oh, and if you haven't heard, there's something about his velocity that some people like to talk about.

24. Fernando Martinez- He's been around for about 10 years now, but I still think the star potential is there.

25. Aaron Hicks- If the stats start matching the reports, he's right on Target (Get it, Target Field?  Nothing?  Hello?)

26. Casey Kelly- In my mind, a sure bet to be a fantastic #3 or even a #2.

27. Simon Castro- My love has been well documented.

28. Lonnie Chisenhall- If he plays well enough, he could very well steal the 3rd base job by the end of the season (yet another pun).

29. Chris Withrow- I think he'll be a top 10 prospect next year.  Quote me on that

30. Kyle Drabek- Just not all that impressed with his stuff, think all the trade rumors overhyped him.  He's a Tommy John recoverer who doesn't overpower.

31. Logan Morrison- League average 1b, but could come back bigger later in the year once the Hamate has fully healed.

32. Derrick Norris- I think he stays at catcher.  I am positive that the broken hamate will reduce power this year, and people will all get concerned, but I'm not.

33. Starlin Castro- I debated putting him much higher than this, since I think the power comes at least modestly, but decided that it's too much of a flier.

34. Brett Lawrie- If he's a 2nd baseman, then the special bat becomes all that much more...special. 

35. Matt Moore- If the walk rate lowers, he'll shoot up this list. 

36. Casey Crosby- I admittedly don't know a ton about Crosby, but from what I've read, he and Turner will form a dynamic duo at some point.

37. Jordan Lyles- Maybe this is too high, but that fastball is dirty.

38. Brett Wallace - I just don't think he's really that good.  25 home runs and a .280 ba as well as questionable defense is, at best, a league average 1B.

39. Tyler Matzek- If he's as good as advertised, then Coors will be no match for him.

40. Alcides Escobar- Many will say it's too low, but I just think it's hard to see that much more offensive development.

40. Dee Gordon- His high CS rate concerns me, but I think he's got room to grow into a more powerful hitter.

41. Jacob Turner- He and Matzek will always be compared, no matter what.  I think Matzek will win, but barely.

42. Hank Conger- Breakout next season, write it down.  Now, will Mike Scosia let him play?

43. Todd Frazier- Not sure where he plays, but when it's because he can play a bunch of positions, that's not really a problem.

44. Michael Saunders- Not great at anything, but good at most things.  He could surprise some people.

45. Ethan Martin- Still young, and could be much higher next year if he continues to improve.

46. Chad James- Love his combo of stuff/size.  Slips under the radar a bit, but could be a top 7 pitching prospect next season.

46. Arodys Vizcaino- Not sure why I like him as much as I do, but I do.

47. Mike Montgormery- For all the crying about the Royals' futility, they've got a very good minor league pitching system, led by Montgomery

48. Ike Davis- I didn't want to put him too high (homerism), but I think he'll hit 30+ homers with plus defense.

49. Yonder Alonso- Not terribly impressed.  Now's your chance Yonder, prove me wrong so I can add you to the list of MLB stars with awesome names.

50. Julio Tehran- Some think he's an injury waiting to happen.  I don't.

51. Aaron Crow- So good, he was drafted twice

52. Tyler Flowers- He improved the defense, and the bat is legit, but something keeps me from thinking he is ever a star.

53. Josh Reddick- Good defense to go with plus power and solid contact= good.    

54. Donovan Tate- Will forever be linked to actor Tate Donovan.

55. Dan Hudson- He's better than some think, but not as good as the numbers suggest.

56. Hector Rondon- Ditto

57. Brett Jackson- If you love upside, here's a good place to start.

58. Mike Trout- These two guys are interchangeable for me

59. Jhoulys Chacin- Eh, he's still good, but the shine has worn off.

60. Freedie Freeman- They say he'll grow into more power.  Could this be Logan Morrison 2.0?

61. Jaff Decker- A fatass who can hit.  But despite his weight issues, has slimmed down some and isn't a butcher in the field.

62. Matt Dominguez- He could be in the majors right now if there was such a thing as a designated fielder.

63. Tanner Scheppers- Quick, Texas, start him in the majors now, because you have 5 years until his arm detaches from his body. 

64. Zack Wheeler- Anyone remember Pete Wheeler from Backyard Baseball?  Sadly, no relation.

65. Wil Myers- He's who will be catching (hopefully) all those Royals' arms.

66. Jared Mitchel- I don't think he'll develop as much power as some do, but he could still be very valuable.

67. Mike Leake- Could be Cincy's #3 by the ASB.

68. Josh Vitters- Without any plate discipline, all the other skills won't matter. 

69. Grant Green- Showed he can be more talented than he was in his final season of College ball.  I think he'll show that again soon.

70. Josh Bell- The traded prospect overhype strikes again.

71. Wilmer Font- One of my favorite prospects, could be a top 20 prospect easily next season.

72. Alex Avila- Great glove and very good power, under the radar a bit, but shouldn't be.

73. Shelby Miller- He's a way away, but here's to hoping he's not the next Homer Bailey

74. Tim Beckham- I think he rebounds in a big way this season.

75. Danny Espinosa- The scouts love him, so I guess I will too.

76. Jiovani Mier- Could easily wind up the best of these 3 ss.

77. Jay Jackson- Like him more than Cashner, could be an impact starter.

78. Mat Gamel- Sure, no glove, but he's shown such a good bat that I think he works it all out.

79. Jason Castro- Perhaps the least exciting guy on this list to me.

80. Mike Moustakas- He'll keep on falling, if he doesn't start hitting better.

81. Jarrod Parker- Tommy John victim, still has that #1 upside.

82. Tim Melville- The 3rd Royal arm already, but could be a very solid starter.

83. Randall Delgado- Eeirly similar to Melville in terms of situation (two pitching prospects ahead of him, not as much of a ceiling, but still very good)

84. Alex Colome- Some love him a lot more than this.  Let's see it again this season.

85. Kyle Gibson- He fell too far in the draft, and he'll show that soon.

86. Jake Arietta- He's a #3/4 starter.  That's it.

87. Zack Stewart- BTD baby, BTD

88. Wilson Rasmos- Injured for half the season, but great catcher and a pretty good bat, as well.

89. Trevor Reckling- He is not better than Neftali, but that doesn't mean he's not good.

90. Max Stassi- I like him for some reason a lot more than I probably should.

91. Drew Storen- Elite closers are valuable.  So is this guy.

92. Eric Hosmer- It was only one season, give me two and he's off.

93. Anthony Rizzo- Has surpassed Lars as their 1B of the future.

94. Andrew Cashner- Could be a damn good reliever, but not that great a starter. 

95. Danny Duffy- The Royals have a four man rotation on this list

96. John Lamb- Make that a five man rotation.

97. Thomas Neal- He is what he is, a 20 homers .270 hitter with solid defense.

98. Tony Sanchez- Close to the big leagues, but a perfect example why the MLB needs a hard slot system in the Draft

99. Scott Sizemore- League average 2B is still valuable to every team in the league.  

100. Lars Anderson- Just to show that he's barley still a top 100 prospect to me.

Random Facts-

Guys I listed initially twice: Matt Dominguez and Ethan Martin (both significantly far away each time)

Guy I put on who I really didn't want to put on: Thomas Neal

Guy who is considered a top 50 prospect who I would consider even dropping from the list: Kyle Drabek

Biggest riser for next year: Wilmer Font

Biggest Drop for next year: Kyle Drabek

Sleeper who I didn't list but wanted to to be cute: T.J. Steele

Next Year's top 5: Stanton, Perez, Montero, Santana, Brown, Westmoreland

I have had enough of the madness.  Enough of this grand injustice that continues to perpetuate itself.  I am, of course, discussing the underrating of Simon Castro.  For those of you who don't know who he is, please exit this thread (I kid, he is the top pitching prospect in the Padres' system).  Since I have a slow day today due to this bitch of a virus that has made it difficult to leave the bed as of late, I will attempt to explain to you why, my sweet community, that Simon Castro is a top 30 prospect.  

First, let's look at the stats:

This was Castro's first full year of baseball.  He finished the year with the following line:

BA against: .230

HR/9: .58

BABIP: .313

LOB: 68.2%

FIP: 2.80

After some analysis, we can conclude that these stats are downright dominant.  What stands out to me are a few things:

1. A bb/9 of 2.37 is simply an outstanding rate.  Castro, in the past, has struggled with command to an extent, however, he really seems to have minimized walks, while bringing up his k rate.

2. The G/F rate isn't perhaps completely ideal, but that's by no means a poor rate, especially considering that he allowed 9 homers throughout the season.  

3. His BABIP is right in line, if not somewhat high.  I know that BABIP for minor leaguers is understood differently from major league BABIP, for what it's worth.

4. A FIP of 2.80 is dominant.  How dominant?  This past season in the MLB, a FIP of 2.80 was had by one Justin Verlander.  The only pitchers to post a better FIP?  Chris Carpenter, Javy Vasquez, Tim Lincecum, and Zack Greinke.  I know that Castro is not a major leaguer, but that's a pretty successful stat, in my opinion. 

Scouting Report:

This is actually an area that I've had some trouble trying to find info on.  Apparently, no one on the interweb has posted Simon Castro video.  But here is what I have heard about his pitches:

Fastball: Sits from 92-94, comfortably in the mid 90s as a starter.  One report had him touching 98, which I highly doubt, but I could easily see the kid hit 95 consistently.  Good movement, plus pitch.

Slider: This is a pitch that has made tremendous strides this season.  It's a power slider that flashes plus (when Castro locates it) with hard and late break.  Some call it plus right now.   

Changeup: Not a great pitch, admittedly, but reports throughout the season seem to indicate it's coming around.  This is probably the pitch Castro needs to work on the most in his arsenal.  But remember, last season was his first full season, and I feel optimistic that Castro is a pitcher who works to improve his pitches (see his slider above).  As well, people said that while his change up is now not quite average, when he began implementing it as the season went on, his results improved.  

Body:

Despite my hesitance to subscribe to the notion that a taller pitcher is a better pitcher, Castro's 6'5'' frame indicates that he has a lot of room to put on weight, which I feel is a better indication of a pitcher's power.  At only 203 pounds, his body looks like it has room to grow and add on another 20 pounds or so.   

So, I suppose my question is, what is it about this guy that stops him from making the top 30?  Has two plus pitches with an average pitch that seems to be on its way.  Great size.  And put up some amazing numbers this past season.  Still has loads of room to improve, but seems to be well on his way.  Is it because he is a Padre prospect that he falls under the radar?  Wish I knew.  But hopefully, this will, at the very least, stimulate some productive discussion about Mr. Castro.  

Ok, I will preface this with the information that I am a Jets fan, so my opinion of Mr. Favre is less than positive.  But after Favre's recent and vague announcement that his return for next season is "highly unlikely," I have simply had enough.  Well, that's not true.  I had enough last summer when Favre, like a whiney attention whore looking for a prom date, waited until he felt wanted enough by the Vikings' organization to decide to play.  The man truly is a narcissist in the worst possible way of the word.  I couldn't think of a more predictable Favre line than to say that it's "highly unlikely" that he'll be back.  If he hasn't made a decision, then just say that!  But that's not Favre's M.O., nor has it ever been.  To paraphrase Cheap Trick: He wants us to want him.  And it works, too. ESPN will commence their Favre watch 2 weeks before the Superbowl is even played.  It's ludicrous that this man, no matter how great an athlete he is, continues to have the ability to wrap us around his finger.  With recent news that Coach Childress will not impose a deadline for Favre's decision, we can look forward to another summer full of Favre.  Lucky us 

As reported by Buster Olney via Twitter, the deal is going through after the completion of the Halladay trade.  This makes thing much more confusing.

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Question is pretty straight forward.  Which would you want to build your franchise around?

To fill the rest of this, I just want to say that Anthony Randolph is far and away the most fascinating figure I have ever seen.  He looks like a Greek God, but has the mentality of a prepubescent girl who just got her period.  He's like a mixture of a car accident and a russian model orgy: no matter what aspect you're watching, you just can't look away.

I love projections.  For whatever reason, despite their arbitrary nature, they are fun to read and help gauge multplie opinions of players.  So, I've decided to write this post.  This is an open form for people to post projections for promising players for their 2010 seasons.  I will start with a few of my favorites.  Feel free to critique, alter, debate, etc.

Matt Wieters

.305/.350/.500

85 R 25 HR 90 RBI 5 SB

Clay Buchholz

3.30/1.28

16 W 170 K 20 QS

Neftali Feliz

3.75/1.35

12 W 180K 15 QS 5 Holds

Billy Butler

.310/.370/.530

95 R 32 HR 105 RBI 3 SB 

Clayton Kershaw

3.20/1.30

18 W 210 K 22 QS

Justin Upton

.290/.360/.550

100 R 33 HR 100 RBI 20 SB

Joey Votto

.320/.400/.600

90 R 37 HR 120 RBI 2 SB   

Tommy Hanson

3.65/1.32

14 W 185 K 17 QS

Ian Stewart

.265/.340/.490

80R 30 HR 90 RBI 10 SB

These are just a few fun ones to throw out.  Go ahead, give it a try

I know this community is home to many fantasy players, so I decided to go and ask you guys to contribute your own versions of this idea.  Granted, a player does not need to have been undrafted, per se to make your list, but more so, it is about players who greatly surpassed their projected values.  My "Undrafted All Stars":

<!--StartFragment-->

C: A.j. Pierzinski

1B: Mark Reynolds

2B: Aaron Hill

SS Jason Bartlett

3B: Ryan Zimmerman

OF: Michael Bourn

OF: Jason Werth

OF: Andre Ethier

DH: Adam Lind

SP: Chris Carpenter

SP: Josh Johnson

SP: Ubaldo Jiminez

SP: Jair Jurjens

SP: Scott Feldman

CL: Heath Bell

CL: Andrew Bailey

I'd love to see everyone else's version.  Let's have some fun here.  And remember, WE PLAY TO WIN THE GAME 

Ok, I can't seem to figure out why this guy is still a pitcher.  His numbers as a pitcher are pretty terrible, whereas his career line is .296/.328/.538.  Granted it is in only in 169 at bats, but that is still something.  At the very least, I don't see why putting him in left field would be a terrible idea.  I mean, come on, is Wladimir Balentien much better?  I know Dusty Baker loves his draconian line ups, but the whole Owings pitching thing isn't working.  Plus, he has good size (6' 5'', 220), and was regarded as a very good hitter when drafted.  Am I crazy, or is this something that should be happening?

Now how much do we think he'll sign for next year?

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I know he's not a prospect, but he's 21, which is as old as many of the guys we hype everyday.  He has allowed 5 runs in his past 9 starts, which is an astronomical stat for anyone, especially a 21 year old who is still developing his control and is not allowed to pitch very late into games.  As it is, he has one of the most impressive arsenals of pitches in the majors (his curveball is just dirty).  But as much as we talk about Price, Hanson, Anderson, et. al., perhaps we should realize that Kershaw is the most promising pitcher of all of the prospect-esque (I know I'm going to get killed for that phrase, but I'm not really sure how else to classify Kersh and all of these recent call up guys) pitchers in the league.  What do you all think?  What is his upside?  Any comps?  Or would you just like to join in on my gigantic man crush on him?

He was recently promoted from the GCL after posting a line of .330/.388/.614 , and is only 18 years old.  His 6' 1'' 225 frame is a bit short, but he seems like a very good athlete (had a football scholarship lined up at Alabama, if I'm not mistaken).  Is he all tools no performance?  Or could he develop into a good MLB player.  He strikes out a bit too much, but what kind of player do you think he will be?

We all get so caught up in top 25s and what not, how about we as a community try to make our own ultimate prospect team.  Pick a full nine fielders (including a DH, who can play any position), a full 5 man starting rotation, and two bulpen guys.  Use only the top prospects, in your opinion of course.  I'll give it a try

C: Buster Posey

1B: Justin Smoak

2B: Jemile Weeks

SS: Alcides Escobar

3B: Brett Wallace

LF: Matt Laporta

CF: Mike Stanton

RF: Jason Heyward

DH: Yonder Alonso

P: Strasburg, Bumgarner, Tillman, Feliz, Latos, Perry, Schlereth

I know by making something like this, I am essentially throwing myself to the wolves, but I figured it might be fun for the community for people to make their own ultimate prospect team.  This is just meant to, as John says, stimulate and create a discussion.

How is it possible we are this bad?  We have a payroll of $138,187,639, and Fernando Tatis is our #5 hitter?  Really?  Did Minaya not think that maybe we'd get a few guys hurt (like the 36 year old Delgado, and the reckless Beltran out there in center)?  Did he maybe consider that instead of paying Oliver Perez $12 million a year, perhaps signing Adam Dunn for $8 million and using that $4 to sign quality backups?  Has anyone ever, EVER, considered Perez to be worth $12 million?  It's like giving a recovering addict an all expense paid weekend to Vegas and saying, "Stay sober and clean!"  As I watch yet another defensive "masterpiece," I can't help but compare this team to an overmatched highschool team.  Even my mom commented the other day, saying, "It's not even their fault.  The guys they have out there are playing as well as they can.  They are just terrible."  And that's basically where it starts and ends.  We are terrible.  To think that we could have Dunn playing for us now, instead of trying to acquire him (in vain of course) instead of Oliver "I love to walk 7 guys in a game!" Perez.  If we're trying to win now, why not trade some of our system, such as Flores, to a team like Oakland, who clearly loves to build young and has many attractive players we could be using, instead of Angel Fucking Pagan. Even David Wright, who is like a fucking eager Golden Retriever with an insanely effeminate voice of course, seems to just not care.  Even Manny Ramirez gets pissed when he strikes out.  And I think Manny doesn't even realize he's playing in a real game!  Wright strikes out (often), and just walks off with this, "would it even matter if I got a base hit?" look on his face. I honestly feel like I would rather  hit myself in the head with a Keith Hernandez Just for Men hairgrowth bottle until I am in a vegetative state than watch Fernando Nieve try to prove to us that it's cool that the guy couldn't get a starting job in the Majors before this, because he won his first two starts.  Thank you for indulging in my rant, and God Save the (mets in) Queens

Title says it all.  From rotowire:

With the trade of Nate McLouth to the Braves, the Pirates are promoting McCutchen, according a team press release. Spin:  McCutchen had a .303/.361/.493 line with four home runs, 20 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 41 runs scored along with a solid 24:17 K.BB ratio with Triple-A Indianapolis. The .854 OPS is an improvement over the .770 he posted last year, and while he likely won't hit for much powerm he should be a solid source of runs and steals.

The Pirates will reportedly receive three prospects in return. Tommy Hanson's name is was thrown around, but the Post-Gazette has "doubly confirmed" that the Braves' uber pitching prospect is not involved. Details to come.  This is from the Pittsburgh Gazette.  Big News.  Details to come

The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb The limit is dumb 

So the Rays called up Joyce a few days ago, and granted it has been a relatively tiny sample size, he has been raking.  He has always been an interesting hitter, and the more I look at his stats, the more I see his upside as Corey Hart-esque.  He looks to be solidly holding down the right field spot, and seems to slot in perfectly into the Rays' lineup. What are your thoughts on Joyce?