The draft... I'll be sure to check on it every so often, but I will not be watching every moment with fervent interest. IMO, in the end we're going to end up with some entry-level talent that a group of scouts (for my recent words about scouting) will have developed a reasonably reliable sum analysis thereof. I trust they'll pick talented guys with good upside, since there's about 1000 of them in the draft.
Also, freaking out negatively about any of these picks is flat out hyperbolaic. At best, we barely know anything about the top guys available, and certainly know nothing about the rest of the field, other than a 25-30 word blurb scouts have used to sum up the kid's entire ability while watching him play a few times. I can understand a little bit of whining about the 1st round pick given there's always talent at the top, but once we're into the 2nd round, I'd appreciate if the blogosphere at large not bitch and moan about any particular picks, and even if they do, that my fellow readers not run with said flipping out.
I'd also appreciate that there be some proportional discussion, i.e. if the M's make what is concluded to be a bad 1st round pick given the talent available, but drafts a ton of other decent kids in the later rounds, I'd rather that the discussion not focus on how the draft is a failure because #11 wasn't Aumont or whoever. That's just stupid.
Another reason not to wax hyperbole: We have no idea how any of these kids will end up, save maybe for the top 5-10 kids. 90-95% of minor leaguers never make the bigs, and those who do don't necessarily stick around for long. They still have to step in at Single A ball (well, mostly) show they can play and then develop what raw talent and skill they have, which takes time and isn't a guarantee of success even if their handling is absolutely perfect.
Yet the league's full of 15th, 20th, 35th round picks who certainly didn't receive world class coaching but what they did have in ability and training just clicked and they became stars.
Unlike the NFL and NBA drafts, where the talent immediately works with the big club and we often see players immediately fill first and second team spots... you can't really know off the bat with the MLB draft what you're getting, at least for a few years.
So all that said, enjoy the draft, find out what you can about the kids the M's pick, and I hope that, when the draft is over, there's a lot more hope on the blogosphere than the usual pessimist hyperbole. We can save that for the big club, to exercise with guys that we know for a fact suck.
Okay, enough of that. On to the Wrap-Up, which is short given 3 of the 5 teams had Wednesday off.
Rk: The VSL Mariners had the day off. I wanna say I'm excited for them, but since they currently reside in Aguirre, Venezuela... I know better. Venezuela is a tough country.
A: Wisconsin's T-Rats also had the day off. Their bullpen certainly needs it. Man. Kyle Parker will try and rebound from a meh performance today at 5:05 pm PDT as the T-Rats start a series with kane County.
A: High Desert 10, Inland Empire 8
Cibney Bello: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER (HR), 5 walks, 2 K
Steve Uhlmansiek: 1.2 IP, 4 H, (5 R) 3 ER, 4 walks, 2 K
David Asher: 0.1 IP
Austin Bibens-Dirkx: 1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, K
Michael Saunders: 5-5, double, 2 run HR, 2 R, 5 RBI (.299)
Jesus Guzman: 2-5, double, 2 run HR, 2 K (.291)
Adam Moore: 1-4, double, 2 R, RBI, walk, K (.284)
Chris Colton: 2-4, double, RBI, K (.297)
Omar Peña: 4-4, 2 doubles, 3 R, RBI
The Mavs actually pounded all over James McDonald for 7 runs and had this game well in hand, as Cibney Bello pitched a surprisingly effective ballgame over 6 innings, leaving with a 9-1 lead.
... except after a scoreless 7th, Steve Uhlmansiek crapped the bed in the 8th, unable to finish, meaning an overworked David Asher had to come in and bail him out, 3 runs later. Despite back to back fielding errors by Omar Peña at SS that scored additional runs, Asher got out of the inning without allowing any more runs. But a comfortable rout was now a 9-6 ballgame.
The Mavs gave the bullpen a bit of help, as white hot Michael Saunders, already 4 for 4, smoked a grounder to 2nd that Travis Denker could not play in time to score another run and put him at 5 for 5 as the Mavs had a 10-6 lead.
ABD came in to shut it down, but Empire had other plans, smacking back to back singles and would've had a 3rd had a liner not found Casey Craig in LF for one out. But Blake Dewitt doubled to right to plate both runners and make it 10-8. Lucas Mays flyball was easily playable for two outs, but James Hoffman lined a single to left to move Dewitt to 3rd and it looked like trouble... until Russell Mitchell struck out to end the game and the threat.
Also, according to J at Mariner Minors, Adam Moore will be the Mavs representative in the Single A All Star Game. What, no Casey Craig? I guess the selection committee couldn't stand him either (I'M KIDDING, I'M KIDDING).
NEXT: Off to Stockton for a set with the Ports, with Jose Escalona pitching at 7:05 pm PDT. I have family in Stockton... well, the nice part of Stockton, rather than the shitty part that Eddie Guardado grew up in. The wealth on my dad's side of the family did not make it as far as my dad, but he works hard.
AA: West Tenn 12, Mississippi 6
Aaron Troila (!): 4 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 2 K, hit batter
Chad Fillinger: 3 IP, 4 H, K
Craig James: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, walk, K, balk
Sebastien Boucher: 2-4, double, 3 R, RBI, walk, K, SB #12 (.207)
Charlton Jimerson: 3-5, 3 run HR, solo HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, walk, K, SB #11 (.250)
Matt Tuiasosopo: 3-4, double, R, RBI, 2 walks (.300)
Brent Johnson: 1-4, double, 2 RBI, walk, K (.285)
Luis Oliveros: 0-5 (.305)
Luis Valbuena: 4-5, solo HR, 3 R (.215)
Chris Minaker: 2-5, double, R, RBI (.238)
The DIAMOND JAXX came back with a vengeance yesterday, absolutely destroying Kevin Villa, chasing him in the 4th and showing little mercy to his bullpen. They had to, after the Um Okay Then spot starter Aaron Troila started by allowing 4 runs in the bottom 1st. West Tenn responded with 4 runs in the 2nd, thanks to a solo shot by Luis Valbuena, and a 3 run shot from Charlton Jimerson. In the 3rd, Chris Minaker doubled in another run, and in the 4th, Brent Johnson smacked a 2 run double to chase Villa for good and give the DIAMOND JAXX a 9-4 lead.
Jimerson, who is monstrously hot right now, also hit a 2 run bomb in the 7th in case we didn't get the hint. Once again, we're seeing why the Astros gave this guy years of chances. It's just a matter of finding consistency. In the 9th, already leading 10-6, Sebastien Boucher and Tui doubled in runs to make it 12-6.
NEXT: Going back to Jackson to begin a series with the boring but effective Huntsville Stars at 5:05 pm PDT. Troila's spot start does call tonight's starter into question.
AAA: Tacoma's Rainiers had the day off. They're off to that mile high launchpad in Colorado Springs to begin a series with the Sky Sox. Jake Woods will be the series first sacrificial lamb tonight at 6:05 pm PDT.