Would have liked to see us hold onto him for one more year.

One game is no big deal. Hopefully all is well and he makes it. We could use the frontline depth while the younger 2012 recruits develop.

Will Smith (Sickels 2012 grade C, 2011 grade C+) isn't a high ceiling pitcher. He's a back of the rotation guy with an easy delivery (innings eater potential), but he's a lefty. He doesn't walk batters, he turned 22 this year, and he has size (6'5" and 235lbs). The FB is 88-92. Curve as well. He mixes speeds with both, and has a change as well.

He started off slow, and was immediately written off by many. After the Texas League All Star Break Smith had 12 starts, in which he pitched 79.2 innings with a 3.16 ERA, 62 K's, 19 BB's, 65 H's and only 4 HR's. He was named the Naturals' Pitcher of the Year. Dutton says he's going to get a spring training invite and I have to believe he'll start the year in the AAA rotation.

Cook is an extreme groundball pitcher who has been injury prone.

He'll probably be on a one year major league incentive-laden deal. Even when he's on, he doesn't strike out anyone. His only hope is to walk absolutley no one as well. I have a hard time imagining we will go after Cook unless his price gets down to a 2011 Francis level. Actually, I'd much prefer we just re-sign Francis and/or Chen.

Aldaberto Mondesi signed with the Royals for 2 million.
Humberto Arteaga signed for 1.1 million.
Orlando Calixte signed for 1 million.

There are a lot of factors in play here. Mondesi has the benefit of exposure from the DPL, his father's experience in the majors, and IFA bonuses have been on the increase. But the Royals paid a hefty price for Mondesi, especially relative to Arteaga, who was just as well thought of (Baseball America predicted Mondesi would get the 12th highest signing bonus in 2011 and Arteaga would get the 11th highest bonus in 2010). The LA shortstop crop wasn't particularly good this year by most accounts too. Even more, the Yankees supposedly tried to get in on Mondesi.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the three men above: Mondesi was born in the United States while his father played for the Dodgers. Mondesi's identity is a near certainty (unless the real Aldaberto Mondesi is somewhere else).

What is the true value of age-certainty? It would seem that the value would be at least the amount of an insurance policy to take out on the signing bonus you would give to another IFA signee. On top of that, there are your costs of development which might be useless if a kid is actually 3 years older and won't ever amount to anything. Even more, does it reflect the opportunity cost of devoting instruction and playing time to a kid who isn't a real prospect?

This is an updated top 40 over at Pine Tar Press. There's a lot of good info here. Definitely more of a tools-oriented ranking, but one of the better lists out there in terms of who to watch.

Now that Stephen Cooper has hit the IR, the Chargers only have 8 linebackers (though one Defensive End appears to actually be an outside linebacker) on their camp roster. Being a 3-4 team, they would likely carry 8 or 9 linebackers.

Gachkar is a pretty good special teams player as well. If they don't bring in different guys it appears at this point he's going to be on the active roster. For a 7th round pick, that's no guarantee and it indicates he might be an NFL player, long-term.

{Bumped to the Front Page.]

Oregon DL Brandon Bair 6-7, 272, Michigan St. TE Charlie Gantt 6-5, 260, TN-Chattanooga OL Chris Harr 6-6, 260, UNC OL Mike Ingersoll 6-5, 300, Temple LB Amara Kamara 6-1, 240, USC OL Butch Lewis 6-5, 295, Virginia Union OL David Mims 6-8, 335, Texas A&M DL Lucas Patterson 6-4, 295, Central Connecticut WR Josue Paul 6-1, 190, and Auburn DB/KR Demond Washington 5-9, 182.

Who would be the PTBNL? Is his last name Considerations?

It's difficult to know exactly who will be available with the Royals' pick. Word is they'd prefer a quick to the majors pitcher, which would presumably be Cole, Bauer, Hultzen, or Bundy. I assume they would pass on Rendon if he reaches them because the only way that could happen is if he didn't check out medically.

Bauer is a wildcard because of his unique training regimen and high pitch counts. Should he drop, I'm still not convinced we take him because of our unwillingness to allow pitchers to work on their own programs. That said, the entire front office recently watched him pitch, I believe.

The real wildcard in my opinion will be if Cole, Hultzen, Bundy, and Rendon come off the board in the first 4 picks. Assuming Bauer isn't the pick, who would it be?

Starling?
Matt Barnes?
Jed Bradley?
Archie Bradley?

thoughts?

Long and informative video.

He's been working out with Revis and **surprise** Larry Fitzgerald. I'd bet every cent I have that the Chiefs talked to Fitzgerald about Baldwin's work ethic, personality, etc.

Aviles 5, Cabrera 8, Butler 3, Ka'aihue DH, Francoeur 9, Gordon 7, Pena 2, Getz 4, Escobar 9

While changes could easily be made, I bet this is the opening day lineup.

Discuss.

1. Melky Cabrera CF
2. Jason Kendall C
3. Billy Butler DH
4. Kila 1B
5. Francoeur RF
6. Alex Gordon LF
7. Aviles 3B (Moose once the Super 2 deadline passes)
8. Betancourt SS
9. Chris Getz 2B

1. L. Hochevar
2. TBD
3. K. Davies
4. V. Mazzaro
5. S. O'Sullivan

Brett Eibner was in the mix for the White Sox with their first pick in the 2010 draft.

Scouts: "Offensively Brett Eibner is going to have power potential to all fields. Tremendous raw power. Defensively, he'll be able to stick in centerfield."

"This guy was a group 1 pitcher and a group 2 player. We have a guy whose value is in the fact of him being a two way guy."

Kenny Williams: "You guys have 1's and 2's on him across the board, both ways. I seriously am considering allowing him to do both. Why not?" "My goal is to create a big leaguer who is able to do both, so essentially you have a 26 man roster."

Selig: "The Kansas City Royals select Christian Colon."
Cut to Kenny Williams: "The guy we really wanted is off the board."

So who is it going to be?

Parraz
Anderson
Marte
Bullington
Hernandez
Bannister

Discussion of the Hoz starts at 2:05.

Good to see Colon and Antonio on that list. Hopefully all of our remaining top 20 picks will also sign.

We have only signed 2 high school players so far this year: Marquez, a C from Puerto Rico and Antonio. Given the severely limited number of HS prospects we drafted I would feel much more comfortable if we signed all (10 I believe) of them.

Interesting...

The article claims this in the title, then all but refutes it in the body.

Reported by twincities.com

Discuss. Seems like a productive player who might have the frame to add 10-20 more lbs.

Curious on his true height and weight since he didn't participate in the combine. I imagine he's closer to 6'1" which is better as far as I'm concerned. A lower center of gravity is a big advantage for interior linemen.

It's not going to be there after training camp. That's what is so exciting about the McCluster pick. We have a real slot WR so we can cut this guy and never hear from him again.

Brandon Graham fits the right 53 better than most anyone in this draft. OLB is certainly a position of need, and is basically a premium position in the 3-4.

This is a reach by most all accounts, but that doesn't mean it's without merit. Graham has almost no weaknesses apart from only being 6'1" He is the best OLB for 3-4 teams out there, assuming Pioli and Co. don't want to take a huge risk with Pierre-Paul and they agree with the "experts" that Derrick Morgan is incapable of making the transition (I think he'd have a shot because of the eerily similar measurables to Tamba Hali).

Not a sexy pick at the time, but there is a growing sentiment he might not make it out of the top 10. If he turns into the next Dumervil, Pioli looks like a genius.