| Amateur Draft Picks |
2002 Round 1 (6) B.J. Upton Sandwich (21) Denard Span Round 2 (29) Derek Grigsby - released 11-26-06 Round 3 (49) Mark Schramek - released 11-26-06 Round 4 (70) Brent Clevlen - traded Round 5 (89) Jake Blalock - released 8-12-07 Round 6 (105) Mitchell Talbot Round 7 (121) William (Ben) Crockett Released: 3-13-07 Analysis: D... if Upton develops it's a C... if he busts it's a pure F. Boy did I suck on this first draft. I was going by ear this first year and it was obvious to see... Upton was an obvious pick for the first rounder so I can't really get too much credit there, and he's been the definition of up and down. Blalock and Span at this moment are just hanging by a thread. At least Mitchell Talbot is turning out better then expected, but it was a random pick at the time. One thing I learned. NEVER DRAFT A PLAYER BASED ON THEIR SCHOOL. August 12th, 2007 - Upton has shown enough to revise this grade to a C. If he continues he may make this a C+, unfortunately Talbot has regressed slightly this year. 2003 Round 1 (14) Nick Markakis - traded Round 2 (28) Brian Snyder Round 3 (49) Craig (Roger) Whitaker Round 4 (63) Jarrod Saltalamacchia Round 5 (77) Estee Harris - released 8-12-07 Round 6 (91) Ryan Feierabend Analysis: B+ This is the first draft I really paid attention too, but I really didn't have a system going at that time. Overall though it turned out a lot better then can be expected. Two fantastic picks in Markakis and Salty, one that has turned out better then expected in Feierabend, two busts, and one undecided make this a pretty good year. If Feierabend becomes a solid #3 or 4 then this will be a B+. July 12th, 2007 - Feierabend is a major leaguer, (not a quality one yet but he made it), and Snyder has turned his career around as a second basemen (and is no longer considered a bust by me). Whitaker is still one of the fragilist men around but when healthy he has shown some potential to be an okay reliever. This draft may very well net an A grade when everything is decided. 2004 Round 1 (10) Stephen Drew Round 2 (16) Landon Powell (24) Phillip Hughes (26) Chris Lambert Round 3 (38) Danny Putnam (40) Jay Rainville Round 5 (65) Corey Dunlap (67) Billy Becher released: 3-13-07 Round 6 (81) Billy Buckner (87) Ray Liotta (89) Adam Lind Round 7 (97) Kyle Bloom (101) Josh Johnson Analysis: B+ First draft I had a definite system going and so far I LOVE this draft. Hughes, Drew, and Lind makes this rank at a B+ level by themselves. While Lambert, Putnam, Rainville, Dunlap, Buckner, Liotta, and Bloom all have been considered solid B prospects at one point all are still in the "will they make it" boat. Really though if just one of them live to their potential this is an assured A. Becher was one of the players I really thought highly of coming out of the draft, and I drafted him way over what he where he went in reality. Unfortunately, a bad injury his first full year forced his release from the Cards... and his subsequent mediocre play in the Independent Leagues forced his release from my team. I still think if somebody decides to give him a chance he could be the next Erubial Durazo or something. |