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When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Edgy MD Jul 12 2022 08:14 AM

Everything has gotten pushed back this year, but things are slowly catching up. The MLB draft is scheduled for July 17-19, and while that's a month late, it's only given the mockers another month to mock, and isn't it all about the mocking? The Mets have four of the top 100 picks because (1) they are awesome, (2) they banked their Kumar Rocker pick from last year, and (3) the Angels felt they needed Noah Syndergaard to help them to fourth place. The key picks of course, are #s 11 and 14. There have been a million mock drafts, and they're all certainly wrong, but sometimes right about individual details, even if they are right for the wrong reason. Keith Law mocks so prolifically and flamboyantly that his readers suffer from mockular degeneration. Oh, he mocks and mocks so much that he ought to be called (insert mock pun here). Key Flaw's most recent mockumentary has the Mets going for Texas Tech infielder Jace Jung and Arizona catcher Daniel Susac. As we know from Ike Davis and Michael Conforto, college bats can be among the fastest prospect to the show, but as we also know from Ike Davis and Michael Conforto, they can peak early once they get there. If Jung sounds familiar, you may remember his brother (and fellow Texas Tech Red Raider Josh Jung) going eighth overall to the hometown Rangers in 2019. Josh had a very similar profile and has hit at ever stop through the minors but looks like he'll miss of all of 2022 following torn labrum surgery. Jace is a second- and third-baseman with terrific on-base skills. Concerns include a poor showing in the Cape Cod League (waddayawant from 34 plate appearances) and a modest drop off in power between his sophomore and junior years. (Oh, his slugging dropped from .697 to .612! Cry me a river!!) Once you get past those negative nellies, though, you see an OBP figure of .481 this season and .468 over his three-year college career, and you cry, "Sign me up!" The name Jace Jung. He bats left and throws right, swings the bat and says goodnight. And if his nickname isn't "The Collective Unconscious," Imma be pissed. [YOUTUBE]Yl38AUpfOWs[/YOUTUBE] Daniel "Poison" Susac is also the younger brother of a former prospect, following Andrew Susac who went in the second round way back in 2011. Andrew made it to the bigs, but peaked as a backup. Nothing to be ashamed of there, and his experience can only enrich his brother's pathway. Little Poison was an NCAA all-freshman selection in 2021, and was Pac-12 freshman of the year. We're talking Pac-12, here, people. The poorly kept secret in college baseball is that there are really four divisions, with the difference in level of play between the top four conferences (Pac-12, Big 12, SEC, and ACC) and the rest of Division I being perhaps wider than the difference between Divisions I and II. I'm just telling it like it is. The Pac-12 is brutal, and Susac has personally brutalized it over his two seasons as a Wildcat catcher. Siouxsac has a .999 OPS over his two college seasons, and is as regarded for his defense as for his offense. And the first guy who says the Mets don't need a catcher because they have Franciso Álvarez is gonna get such a pinch. [YOUTUBE]ZeS53ZFwhTg[/YOUTUBE]

Edgy MD Jul 12 2022 09:14 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

There's also a lot of speculation bouncing around about Cohen throwing his money and weight around to somehow maneuver into taking Druw Jones, the son of Andruw Jones widely perceived to be going first overall to the Orioles. Since there is no trading of picks (apart from competitive balance picks) in the MLB draft, nobody has really come up with a coherent scenario about how this this might take place, but I might as well put that out there with a shaker of salt.

whippoorwill Jul 12 2022 10:07 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Son of Andruw Jones….geez isn't he still about 25?

Edgy MD Jul 12 2022 10:12 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Andruw was at last night's game. A little wide around the middle but still with his boyish face.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 12 2022 10:13 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

The real reason the draft was "delayed" is that so it can support an ever-growing MLB "tentpole" marketing event associated with the All-Star Game (more on this, soon). What I wanted to say, though, is a story... One of my closest friends ever-- a college/post-college roommate + a totally blue-and-orange guy (hes a key figure in my "Game 6" story)...was a pretty good athlete (racquetball.. and whiffe ball, my record, let's just say is not good, and we played A LOT) today is the parent of an 17/18-year old fresh hs graduate who was named one of 50 state winners of the "Gatorade High School Player the Year" (in Delaware, yes, so perhaps, he finishes, like 800th in California or Florida, but still, impressive, right?) Naturally, learning this I'm excited that my friend has a kid to get this kinda recognition, and--especially when I saw on Facebook he "committed" to a, let's say, junior college not known as an academic power hitter but happens to have a pretty good baseball team-- I saw it and, it struck me "OH, leverage! My buddy's kid, is going to be drafted, maybe, by the motherf÷(kn Mets!!" So I call him up for details, and get a kinda sad story. Despite the impressive stats Gatorade cites: .542 batting average, .642 OBP, 4 HR, 30 RBI, first-team All-State 3B/OF, who also had a 0.00 ERA is 7 Innings as a pitcher... it's one stat, my friend confesses, that really matters. "If he tries, we can maybe say, he's 5-foot-11," ... but in reality, he's "maybe" 5-foot-10. And all that shit above? Throw it away. High-school kids even with impressive stats who are "maybe" 5-foot-10, just don't get drafted. He's not even included in the mlb draft tracker database! And here's the second bit. The Gatorade thing also is meant to spotlight "student-athletes", and this kid, had good grades in a good high school. So why go to a junior commuter college? That's because he is also unlucky enough to be a good baseball player entering college while colleges are still dealing with a backload of scholarship athletes who had years tacked on to their deals--- because of Covid. So in a normal year, this kid could get a ride to a "real college" with a baseball scholarship, (like, for him, the UD Blue Hens). But, the Hens are fresh out of scholarships! They have way too many already due to covid, and so, tough luck! And the plan is, commute, and wait it out. Crazy, right? Too short... and too young.. to exploit either advantage!

Edgy MD Jul 12 2022 10:40 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Too short coming out of high school, so he had to enroll in junior college until a big time school opened their damn eyes. Is your friend's kid named "Tom Seaver," by any chance? The other enemy is all the teams that have shed two or more of their minor league clubs, providing fewer opportunity for all those fourth-year juniors and fifth-year-seniors and third-year sophs to take a shot at the pros, incentivizing them to stay in college. So many things suck. I CAN'T KEEP UP!

MFS62 Jul 12 2022 11:41 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: "If he tries, we can maybe say, he's 5-foot-11," ... but in reality, he's "maybe" 5-foot-10. Willie Mays was 5'10". I hope the kid hits 4 homers in the next game he plays in front of scouts. Later

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 12 2022 12:14 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

I'm also just starting the new Rickey Henderson bio, and theres a story of a Dodgers' scout turned off by his unusual package of less than standard height, odd BR/TL and two strikeouts on the day he went and saw him. The BR/TL, you may wanna know was because Rickey idolized... Willie Mays--and just imitated batting the way most kids in his neighborhood hit. Iow, he was probably a better hitter lefthanded -- just never tried! Good book, so far...

MFS62 Jul 12 2022 12:44 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Scouts have to be able to look inside the person to see the true value. My favorite baseball scouting report - on Barry Bonds; "He will make a great major leaguer for the team that drafts him. And I hope to G-d it isn't us". Favorite all time: A talent scout about Fred Astaire; "Can't act. Can't sing. Can dance a little". Later

Edgy MD Jul 12 2022 04:25 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

"Keith Law is late to the party," says, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. "I had Jung and Susac mocked to the Mets way back at the beginning of July, but I had Susac going 11th and Jung 14th. He's switched them up and acted like he did an original take!" But Carlos "Stop Calling Me Willie" Collazo over at Baseball America thinks they're both nuts. He has the Mets going for two high-schoolers, infielder Jett Williams (Heath, TX), who is 5'8" and committed to Mississippi State, and righthanded pitcher Brock Porter (Orchard Lake Village, MI). Jett, who thought the major was a lady suffragette, is a quick twitchy guy, strong for his size, who has also been scouted as a pitcher. He's a great example of what a Heath baseball player should look like. [YOUTUBE]KU8bCrCSWe0[/YOUTUBE] Porter is a prepster who has been dominating so effectively since his 9-2 / 1.20 freshman year that he's already got his own Wikipedia page, which informs me that he pitch a (presumably 7-inning) no hitter this year, striking out 11 and (I think) throwing only 47 pitches. He's Michigan's two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, and if anybody knows their Michigan schoolboy baseball players, it's Gatorade. He's a Clemson commit, but "commit" is a pretty plastic word in the high-flying world of the MLB draft. [YOUTUBE]5akbKOcNbJs[/YOUTUBE]

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 17 2022 06:08 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Help, I'm grilling and can't keep eyes on draft and grill. I think the Mets are up

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 17 2022 06:09 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

We're at 11. 10 now

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 17 2022 06:15 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Rangers, with the 3 pick get.... Kumar Rocker

DocTee Jul 17 2022 06:29 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Mets take a Catcher from Georgia Tech...

Frayed Knot Jul 17 2022 06:38 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

These interviews with the redhead are painful.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 17 2022 06:39 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Kevin Parada. Did anyone mock him? Some lists had him as high as 6 overall. And lots a mlb catchers from GaTech. Like Veritek

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 17 2022 06:39 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Jul 17 2022 06:40 PM

[CROSSOUT]Jack Williams[/CROSSOUT] Jett Williams. Ss from a Texas high school

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 17 2022 06:40 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

That's our guy at 14. Only 5-7!!!

nymr83 Jul 17 2022 08:15 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Edgy MD wrote: There's also a lot of speculation bouncing around about Cohen throwing his money and weight around to somehow maneuver into taking Druw Jones, the son of Andruw Jones widely perceived to be going first overall to the Orioles. Since there is no trading of picks (apart from competitive balance picks) in the MLB draft, nobody has really come up with a coherent scenario about how this this might take place, but I might as well put that out there with a shaker of salt. This of course didn't happen. How COULD it have happened? well, first the Mets (who had the 3rd largest 'bonus pool' with all their picks) would have found guys willing to take under slot deals at #14 and in later rounds. Then, the Mets tell Druw's agent that they're going to pay him $X million dollars above slot amount if he gets to them and would that work for Druw? Druw's agent says "yeah, we want X!" and proceeds to tell the other teams "you better not draft Druw because I plan to get him X and he is going to college if you select him and dont top that? don't believe me? Andruw has already set aside a million dollars for his kid to have the most fun college experience ever! bwahahah!" The risks for the Mets here are fairly low. The risk for Druw/agent are that the Mets somehow reneg as someone they like better falls to them unexpectedly at 11 or that the Mets screw him by drafting him and only offering slot value and getting the 12th pick next year if he declines. this seems VERY low risk. Doing this the year after they did it to Rocker gives the organization a stench that agents won't soon forget, and presumably if you are cutting a nefarious backroom deal like this the medicals have been exchanged and fully reviewed ahead of time.

Edgy MD Jul 17 2022 08:16 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Jett has a wicked arm and a quick hands. Met #1s who were under six feet: 1966: Steven Chilcott, c, 5'11" 1971: Rich Puig, 2b/3b, 5'10" 1977: Wally Backman, ss, 5'9" 1980: John Gibbons, c, 5'11" 1983: Stan Jefferson, of, 5'11" 1985: Gregg Jefferies, ss, 5'11" 1994: Jay Payton, of, 5'10" 1997: Geoff Goetz, sp, 5'11" 2003: Lastings Milledge, of, 5'11" Jett Blue&Orange would have them all beat.

Frayed Knot Jul 18 2022 05:43 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Our other picks last night: 2nd round (52 overall) -- Blade Tidwell, RHP Tennessee #75 (the Syndergaard pick) -- Nick Morabito (not to be confused with Micky Morandini) OF, Gonzaga College HS, Washington DC

Frayed Knot Jul 18 2022 05:50 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

So how about this slash line for #1-overall Jackson (son of Matt) Holliday during his 40 game senior year at Stillwater (OK) High School: .685/.749/1392 // 2141 52 of his (national HS record) 89 hits went for extra bases: 29 2Bs, 6 3Bs, 17 HRs At 6' 1" / 175 (though potentially still growing) he clocks in at a lot smaller than his 6' 4" / 240-ish dad. He also swings lefty and, at least for now, lists as a SS

Edgy MD Jul 18 2022 07:00 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Wifey Watch reports that Mrs. Holliday was/is pretty tiny, so his continued growth is something less than bankable.

MFS62 Jul 18 2022 07:20 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

After seeing Phil Rizzuto, listed at 5'6", play shortstop I'm OK with him. But when I read that he has "good pop" I had a flashback to the Baseball Digest Rookie Report (remember them?) that said Bud Harrelson had "good power for a shortstop", and laughed. Later

bmfc1 Jul 18 2022 03:00 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Here is an article on Nick Morabito: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/07/18/mets-draft-gonzagas-nick-morabito-who-plans-skip-virginia-tech/

Methead Jul 18 2022 03:09 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to 10th round selection Zebulon Vermillion.

MFS62 Jul 18 2022 03:21 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

He's a 6'5", 240 pound righty pitcher from the u of Arkansas. Last year's record was: 3-0 4.69 ERA with 41H, 15 BB and 28K in 40.1 IP. Later

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 18 2022 06:26 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

=Methead post_id=100200 time=1658178555 user_id=61] I'd like to extend a warm welcome to 10th round selection Zebulon Vermillion.

WoW!

Edgy MD Jul 18 2022 08:06 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Sounds like Methead has himself an adoptee.

Methead Jul 19 2022 06:59 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Heh. That thought crossed my mind, sure.

Edgy MD Jul 19 2022 08:10 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

I just want to point out that, as unimpeachable a name as that is, the Mets also selected "Blade Tidwell" in the second round. I just hope he was scouted by Razor Shines, and is represented by Bean Stringfellow.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 19 2022 09:47 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

With Blade and Jett, the Mets might actually have mistakenly thought this was the American Gladiators draft

Edgy MD Jul 19 2022 10:05 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

"And in Round 12, the Mets select .... Ice Cannon!" "Oh, the crowd, loves this choice Donald! Listen to the pandemonium!"

Frayed Knot Jul 19 2022 11:04 AM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Jett, I still can remember those scowling faces Shouting and screaming that you were too short to draft. And Jett, we put the scout who chose to sign you on a raft .. Jett

Edgy MD Jul 19 2022 12:14 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Two caveats about Parada: (1) This is the second straight year that the Mets grabbed somebody who was supposed to go several picks higher that had prognosticators (and possibly the Mets) surprised he was still on the board. That's probably nothing, but last year's pick worked out the way it worked out. (2) I need to find out if this is intentional or an error, but some sites list Parada as a leftfielder, despite catching exclusively in his two years at Georgia Tech and his brief summer in the Cape Cod League.

Johnny Lunchbucket Jul 19 2022 12:21 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

My interpretation of the little i'd read about this Parada Palooka, is that he's just a hitter who happens to play catcher

Edgy MD Jul 19 2022 12:32 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

That was my guess from seeing the leftfielding references. We'll find out soon enough, I guess — although though history, a lot of teams don't make the choice about whether to keep a hitting catcher catching until (or even after) he's reached the big leagues. A leftfielder who can also catch on occasion is certainly a coolish thing to have.

Benjamin Grimm Jul 19 2022 01:03 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

And the Mets now play in a DH league, so there's that.

Frayed Knot Jul 19 2022 02:23 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Bryce Harper was a C as an amateur but the Nats immediately announced they were drafting him as an OF. Of course he was virtually the definition of an outlier at that age.

batmagadanleadoff Jul 19 2022 03:49 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Dale Murphy.

Edgy MD Jul 19 2022 03:59 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Murphy, like Craig Biggio and Carlos Delgado and Gil Hodges, is a perfect example of a guy they moved shortly after he reached the bigs. It's often a gun-to-the-head decision. We have a plus hitter. Do we try to get more day-to-day value out of him by putting him at catcher, or do we try to get more games, more health, and a longer run out of them by moving them after they reach the bigs? Gary Carter, Yogi Berra, and Johnny Bench came very close to ending up in the outfield (or the infield, in Bench's case) when they reached the bigs. Their teams were tempted to get more out of their obviously capable bats by keeping them healthier and in the lineup at a safer situation, but in their cases, saw extra value in the plus defense (or in Bench's case, the plus-plus-plus defense) they also brought to the table. Murphy was a poor catcher and a poor thrower. He was a poor firstbaseman when they moved him there. That he was Golden Glove centerfielder waiting to happen is pretty incredible, and I hope whoever came up with that idea for the Braves got a bonus.

Frayed Knot Jul 19 2022 04:47 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

One of the first things Torre did with Zeile was to get him out from behind the plate as Torre himself had been moved. But both weren't moved until after their careers had already begun. Torre's first season of doing no catching was his .361/MVP year, and his first as StL Mgr was Zeile's first as a full time 3B

The Hot Corner Jul 19 2022 06:34 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Many of the "experts" yesterday were saying Parada is a big time bat that hits for average and power, but needs to work on his catching skills, particularly his throwing (release and accuracy). Jet Williams was compared to Altuve, but with true shortstop skills. If that comes to fruition, we will all be quite happy with him.

Edgy MD Jul 19 2022 07:11 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

It's fun how you always get the best-case projections. You never get, "Rousseau is getting a lot of attention from scouts, and the name that keeps popping up when they watch him is Brad Emaus."

Frayed Knot Jul 26 2022 08:46 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

#2 overall pick Druw (son of Andruw) Jones, suffers a shoulder injury in his first BP session with Arizona and will miss "significant time".

Edgy MD Jul 26 2022 08:49 PM Re: When I Mock-Draft, They Call Me Mock-arena

Gosh. I imagine that folks have gotten hurt during a batting practice session before, but I can't think of any.