2038 Draft Review

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ratman44
Posts: 1480
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:35 am

2038 Draft Review

Post by ratman44 »

Not a deep draft for hitting, some quality arms at the top, possibly some Diamonds at the bottom.

1) Arizona Rattlers - Carl Ricci - SP
Carl joins the young guns staff in the desert. He joins Vukovich for what should be a pretty solid 1-2 combo on the mound. The Rattlers had no bite last year and are in the midst of a total overhaul, young Ricci will probably spend a few seasons in the minors before making his way to contribute in the bigs. Starts as a full year at 17 in the minors as a C overall (C+/C-) so he has a shot at A+/A- with some luck, but with A+ Endurance he will definitely be an inning eater. If CPs get tight he could potentially fall into the A/B+ range but will still be a formidable pitcher.
Future Comparison: John Grace
ETA: 2043
Player Potential: A
Organizational Fit: A
Overall Grade: A

2) New York Freedoms - Marty Beaumont - SP
Marty was a little bit of a stretch at 2, some would argue the best overall pitching prospect is still on the board the Freedom went with an older player. A B- at 23 (B/C+) is not officially a bust, but the liklihood of becoming a stud is not very high. Marty may spend most of his mid 20's in the minors before being passed over by younger better prospects. New York does need pitching.
Future Comparison: Alex Sell
ETA: Maybe Never
Player Potential: C
Organizational Fit: B
Overall Grade: C+

3) Philadelphia Cubs - Pat Davis - SP
A team in desperate need of hitting help took the next best SP off the board. The Philly GM sought draft help and listened to the pundits, and avoided Hayes who is arguably the top hitter in the draft. You can always trade pitching for hitting in a pinch. The young Davis reminds me of Ricci, because the splits start the same, just the endurance starts a little lower. He joins a logjam of young pitchers in the city of brotherly love.
Future Comparison: John Grace
ETA: 2043
Player Potential: A
Organizational Fit: B+
Overall Grade: A-

4) Colorado C-Sox - Andy Blethen - 3B
Andy is the first hitter off the board. With its first of 3 first round picks Colorado took most power available. Blethen will hit the ball extremely hard, he just has no clue how to manipulate his swing to match the plane of the incoming pitch. When the pitcher throws it into his bat the ball will be a HR. At OS22 he will likely only spend a short time in the minors, but will his contact ever come around to be an everyday player? If the power is maxed out then he will likely be a guy that hits 40 HRs but strikeouts more than Ryan Howard. After trading many guys away Colorado can use all the help they can get.
Future Comparison: Willie Bryan
ETA: 2039
Player Potential: C+
Organizational Fit: B+
Overall Grade: B

5) Cleveland Scotsman - Moose Freiburger - RP
Moose is arguably the best talent in the draft. At C+ and 17 (B/C) he has A+/B+ floor written all over him, and with some luck A+/A-. He starts as C endurance, which could grow to C+ before he gets out of the minors which means he could turn into a low endurance B- Starter. Great pick by Cleveland as he was definitely the best player on the board at this point, and probably at worst their closer of the future.
Future Comparison: Jason Feinberg
ETA: 2043
Player Potential: A
Organizational Fit: A
Overall Grade: A

6) Chicago White Stockings - Earl Smith - C
The White Stocking found an A+ health catcher that should have some major pop. He is going to be 17 for almost the whole year, and he will end up being a weapon in the future. He should be ready to go when Rizzo retires, and he should send Pasquale back to the OF. Can't fault the White Stockings for taking a quality player at a premium position at this poitn in the draft.
Future Comparison: Steve Clement
ETA: 2043
Player Potential: A-
Organizational Fit: A-
Overall Grade: A-

7) Detroit Steel - Isamu Motohigashi - RF
Motohigashi, Bless you, no Motogashi Bless you again, Isamu what does a cow say, ISAMOO. No The Steel reached into the import bag and pulled out the best ready made talent in the draft. He is a VSR contact guy that at 26 should be an effective player for the next 8 years. His vsL is not very powerful, but he should be serviceable vsR. The Steel have some CP dilemmas so this pick makes sense from that standpoint, but Isamu is buried behind younger players in the OF currently so the organizational fit may not have made sense.
Future Comparison: Isamu Motohigashi
ETA: Now
Player Potential: B
Organizational Fit: C-
Overall Grade: C+

8) Milwaukee Beer Guzzlers - Ray Carleton - 1B
The bot led Guzzlers selected a vsL platoon player. Carleton should be a beast at the plate vsL, but he lacks defense, speed and his VSR may end up slightly less than desireable. At 22 already his time in the minors will be short. The Guzzlers do have a lack of bats so the overall addition of Carleton was a smart move. Time will tell if he can stay in the line-up full time.
Future Comparison: Yoshitomo Kaseda with less speed
ETA: 2039
Player Potential: B
Organizational Fit: A-
Overall Grade: B+

9) Colorado C-Sox - Roy Friberg - SP
Colorado went to the mound for its second pick of the draft. Friburg was one of the best pitchers remaining so noone will argue with the decision. The question will remain whether the C+ SP entering his OS20 season was the best player on the board. Time will only tell, if he has the backing of IC management to make it to A- overall, which will make him a very good control pitcher. The team needs alomst everything at this point so he will be a good start to a young rotation.
Future Comparison: Vince Russo Maybe a little better
ETA: 2041
Player Potential: B+
Organizational Fit: A-
Overall Grade: A-

10)Kansas City Predator - Jose Spencer - LF
The Predators selected an OS25 B-. I have to think the draft settings were not properly set, as he is in the minors with only 1 CP, so the chance that Jose makes any impact what so ever seems quite small.
Future Comparison: Jose Spencer
ETA: Now but never
Player Potential: D
Organizational Fit: D
Overall Grade: D

11) Washington Pickled BMs - Gentaro Kashiwada - RF
Wow this pick is just a turd, I mean a literal BM. A B overall player at 31, doesn't leave much hope for anything going forward. Arguably the best 2 hitters are still out there and Washington takes this steaming pile of import poo.
Future Comparison: Gentaro Kashiwada
ETA: Never
Player Potential: F
Organizational Fit: F
Overall Grade: F

12) Miami A Team - Tom Shilling - RP
The A Team sort of catch a break, as Shilling a 19 year old that starts a C+ falls all the way to 12. Probably the second best RP in the draft, with a chance at becoming a low endurance starter. Shilling is B/C at 19 so if he grows 4 grades a peice he is A+/B+. That is a steal at 12 in this somewhat weak draft. Miami has an aging team and in the back half of drafts you just take what you can get. Great pick for B. A. Baracus and the boys, don't pity the fool.
Future Comparison: Jason Feinberg
ETA: 2042
Player Potential: A
Organizational Fit: A
Overall Grade: A

13) Colorado C-Sox - Mike Ross - CF
For their third installment the C-Sox reach out and grab Mike Ross a 19 year old C+. He has a great eye already and he should end up A+ contact both ways. Mike is not a gym rat though and his lack of power is clearly evident. Adding 4 grades would make him an A+/C+ vsR and an A+/B+ vsL. He does have elite speed and he should be a menace vsL pitching. He could squeak out a better grade in PvR which would make him a BB guy. His defense leaves a lot to be desired but since he normally pulls his pants down and wears them around his ankles while he is on the field, it is understandable for the poor defensive performance.
Future Comparison: Salsa Cruz without the defense
ETA: 2042
Player Potential: B+
Organizational Fit: A
Overall Grade: A-

14) Atlanta Architects - Frank Cromer - CF
Atlanta GM admits he messed up his rankings and should have had Cromer 5th instead of 4th, but that benefited the next team. Cromer is a C+ at 18, so he is ahead of the normal development curve, but he is a pure contact guy. He hangs out with Mike Ross in the gym and they talk instead of lift weights. Cromer is B+ CvR and A- CvL at 18, so he is destined to max out both. It depends on how much work he can get done in the weight room on how good he can be. He seems destined to be A+/B both ways at worst, possibly B+ on one side if he is lucky. Should end up with A speed at worst, but needs to spend a few years honing his defense. His range should be ok but his noodle arm shows from the lack of weight room training.
Future Comparison: Billy Walton without the bunting
ETA: 2043
Player Potential: B+
Organizational Fit: B+
Overall Grade: B+

15) Cleveland Scotsmen - Alex Hayes - RF
The Scotsmen get a gift, Hayes is arguably the best hitting prospect in the draft. He fell way to far for how poor this draft was. He is not going to steal many bases but at C+/B- vsR at 18 he has A-/A+ potential on that side of the plate. His versus left starts D+/C which should end up in the neighborhood B+/A or B+/A-. He should be solid in the field as well. All around a steal at this part of this draft.
Future Comparison: Bob Monroe
ETA: 2043
Player Potential: A
Organizational Fit:A
Overall Grade: A

16) Tampa Bay Hurricanes - Shintaro Tsunekawa - RP
Tampa was lost in a hurricane power outage when setting the rankings. Another Import dud. He is C+/A- at 31, not good enough to make the show, and he will go down as a pick to forget. There were at least 3-4 guys that fell to round 2 that would have been better choices. So the grade is harsh for that reason.
Future Comparison: Shintaro Tsunekawa
ETA: Never
Player Potential: F
Organizational Fit: F
Overall Grade: F
Last edited by ratman44 on Thu Mar 29, 2018 11:57 pm, edited 3 times in total.
ratman44
Posts: 1480
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:35 am

Re: 2038 Draft Review

Post by ratman44 »

Will finish the second half tomorrow.
CT_Eagle
Posts: 408
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:29 am

Re: 2038 Draft Review

Post by CT_Eagle »

Great write up. I love reading these so thank you for putting the work in.
mjlee555
Posts: 421
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 10:42 pm

Re: 2038 Draft Review

Post by mjlee555 »

This is great. Really enjoyed reading it.
meat1968
Posts: 466
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 8:06 am

Re: 2038 Draft Review

Post by meat1968 »

excellent write up! Thanks for doing the hard work - I'll get RHL in some time soon.

What's funny, or coincidental about your view of the 6th pick, is that I used Clement as my comparison when making the decision to pick up the catcher that high in the draft - maybe I should change the name to Clement Jr?

Thanks again Ratman - well done sir!
ratman44
Posts: 1480
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 9:35 am

Re: 2038 Draft Review

Post by ratman44 »

I wonder what happened to my links, they were all working when I previewed it. Now some of them are duds. I will have to adjust that another day
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