tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post2732298505246415939..comments2023-10-10T12:46:47.186-04:00Comments on The Green Weenie: The 2008 Draft & InternationalsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-84311104005084554202010-10-09T15:56:57.554-04:002010-10-09T15:56:57.554-04:00Yah, they did choose a long and risky road, Wil. ...Yah, they did choose a long and risky road, Wil. And you're right that the whole focus has been on the farm, not the current MLB product. Pedro is the only fast tracker they've drafted.<br /><br />The funny part is they seem to have a pretty good eye for mid range college talent, like Brock Holt, Matt Curry, etc. <br /><br />A couple more of those guys sprinkled in would have picked up the pace for the big team, especially if they would have gone for some college level arms.<br /><br />And they really don't seem willing to take a risk on possible impact players; they get a lot of guys that I think will be MLB players, but not guys that can carry a club.<br /><br />Like Branch Rickey, Huntington may have created a system that rewards his successor.Ron Ieracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08784507810080514099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-11969382652444476882010-10-09T14:42:09.502-04:002010-10-09T14:42:09.502-04:00While I'm definitely more pessimistic than Ano...While I'm definitely more pessimistic than Anon when it comes to his take on Opie's trades---assuming we're talking about the same Anon!---I am more optimistic about the kids in the minors. Once again I'll say it was very strange to see how many of the Pirates' position players got hurt, badly and for extended periods. D'Arnaud, Farrell, and Cunningham all had significant injuries, especially Farrell and Cunningham. While I don't see any superstars in that bunch, I do think we might have one or two better than average big leaguers when it's all said and done. <br /><br /><br />In general I don't like the fact that the Pirates drafted so heavily in terms of high schoolers and international teenagers. The system was SO bereft of talent that I think we'd have been better served to mix in a few more high end collegians than we did. That said, since the front office obviously decided it didn't care what happened at PNC, sure, why not go for a boatload of more projectible types. If it takes 5 or 6 or 7 years before you see any real payoff from them, so what? <br /><br /><br />I'm definitely not down with that approach, mind you, I'm just saying that appears to be what they're chosen, so whatever. <br /><br /><br />Anyway, Miller to me is the biggest disappointment of the first draft class. He has to show something this coming season or it's probably curtains for him. With the notable exception of Justin Wilson, whom I like a lot, the current crop of top pitching prospects in our system consists almost entirely of players who were either acquired in trade or drafted after this bunch.WilliamJPellashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12774466220683142262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-57339253327853164492010-10-09T12:20:15.230-04:002010-10-09T12:20:15.230-04:00Anon - you may be right; the results won't be ...Anon - you may be right; the results won't be known for at least a couple of more seasons. Mercer and d'Arnaud are keys to the draft, along with high schoolers Cunningham, Grossman and Miller.<br /><br />Certainly none of them are knocking on the door; one rap with the Pirate drafts is that they don't end up with enough impact players, just a lot of complimentary pieces. <br /><br />And that looks fairly true of position players; a few pitchers may break out from their current three drafts.<br /><br />The Latino players, since they're signed so young, are real wild cards, but they hauled in a couple that have the look of big leaguers.<br /><br />So we'll see; at least they brought in some guys with a shot at the show down the line.Ron Ieracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08784507810080514099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6207200414495313452.post-57568851692563738012010-10-09T11:58:15.735-04:002010-10-09T11:58:15.735-04:00I'm not an expert at drafts or drafting so wit...I'm not an expert at drafts or drafting so with my untrained eye I don't see anything outside of Alvarez to be excited about.There seems to be nothing but a bunch of light hitting infielders. Grossman and Miller whom recieved about a million each arn't worth one dollar each. Miller was injured when they signed him and has mostly stayed that way and I keep hearing about Grossman's power will come. I think he should go to college and get a degree and do something in the business world that he would be more qualified for than hitting a baseball.But like I said I'm not an expert.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com