So, after the 2012 NBA Draft last night, who were the big winners and losers? Let's take a look:
Winners
- The New Orleans Hornets: They are big winners because of Anthony "The Unibrow" Davis. I didn't like the pick of Austin Rivers, and you can read my last post to see why. But Davis instantly makes them a playoff contender.
- The Washington Wizards: It was no secret here in DC that the Wiz coveted Bradley Beal. Thanks to Michael Jordan not trading down, the Wiz got their man. A starting 5 of John Wall, Beal, Trevor Arize, Nene and Emeka Okafor is not too shabby at all. Won't win a title, but can compete for the playoffs if they all stay healthy.
- The Boston Celtics: They got two talented big men with the 21st and 22nd picks. While Jared Sullinger may have a health risk, and Fab Melo may have an idiocy risk, they have the potential to be a dominant 4/5 combination. In 3 years, they could give the Celtics the best draft. Add in a versatille swing man like Kris Joseph, and they just got younger and a bit better. You can never have too many Cuse players, damn it!
- Readers of Bill Simmons: You are going to have a ton of fun reading what he has to say about Fab Melo if the 7-foot moron acts like the idiot he was at Cuse. Just read his Draft Diary from last night. It's genius.
- The Cleveland Cavaliers: Yes, I am biased. Unlike Mr. Simmons, and most Cleveland fans, it seems, I love Dion Waiters. I think he will be a perfect combo with Kyrie Irving. That will be the best backcourt in basketball within 3 years. And enough with this "He couldn't start on Syracuse" stuff. He could start. He was the best player on the team. The reason why he didn't was because of the way Jim Boeheim played his rotation. It is just like why Manu Ginobili was the 6th man on the Spurs for a few years, despite being their most explosive offensive threat. Dion will be just fine. Add in Tyler Zeller, a center with good fundamentals who is NBA-ready, and Dan Gilbert's team could be competitive sooner rather than later.
- Thomas Robinson: He got drafted in the Top 5. He will get paid. He gets to support his little sister and his father. A happy ending to a sad story.
- The Oklahoma City Thunder: If Perry Jones III stays healthy, they just got a better offensive version of Serge Ibaka. That is fantastic, especially since Ibaka is in the last year of his contract.
- David Stern: I don't think I have ever seen someone love getting booed that much. He is a perfect wrestling heel. WWE should get him instead of John Laurinaitis. He has more personality, that's for sure. Stern is like the Vince McMahon of the NBA. He is in charge, he loves being the villain, and doesn't care what you think of him as long as the product flourishes.
Losers
- The Houston Rockets: Didn't they acquire all of those picks in order to try to trade for Dwight Howard or Pau Gasol? But.. they didn't trade for either... So now they just added three more rookies to an already young team. What happened to win now?
- Meyers Leonard: The center out of Illinois went to the Trailblazers. I believe my twitter message after that was " Uh oh. Portland draaaafted a ceeeennnterrrr". With such a bad history of injury with their draftees at that position, you have to wonder if it already got in Leonard's head. Here's hoping the curse doesn't apply to him.
- Fans of New York teams: How painful was it to hold the draft in Newark after the Nets moved to Brooklyn? To top it off, the Nets and the Knicks proceeded to make stupid picks. What good does drafting a foreigner do when your team actually needs help now?
- The Miami Heat: Look, I know the NBA Champions don't really care right now about the draft. But it would have been nice to see them add some kind of piece to their puzzle to help them repeat. They did nothing, so the draft is a loss for them.
- Fans expecting a ton of trades: There were, what, three trades? None of which had any big names involved? How boring. Remember how fun it was when stars got traded on draft day? When the Celtics got Ray Allen and KG in the span of 15 minutes? What happened to those days?
- People playing along with the Jay Bilas drinking game: Bilas acknowledged the game by saying "wingspan" three times in a row, but I didn't notice him saying it once after that. He's no fun.
Well, I hope that you enjoyed the Draft as much as I did. If you love your team's picks, be happy! If you are bummed, give it time. You never know, I suppose. Free agency starts on Sunday. The NBA never stops.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Thursday, June 28, 2012
JFLANland's 2012 NBA Draft Preview
Tonight is the 2012 NBA Draft, and there are so many interesting storylines that I won't be able to talk about them all. So, here is a look at a few of the most interesting ones. We'll start at the very beginning... Since it is a very good place to start...
- Anthony Davis and his fantastic unibrow will be the top pick. No surprise there. The question we have to ask after tonight is whether or not he can live up to the hype. Some people have said he will be on par with some of the all-time greats, like Bill Russell and Kareem-Abdul Jabar. I think that is asking a lot. If he can be closer to Marcus Camby with a better all around game, he'll make the Hornets a contender in the West.
- All the drama begins after Davis is drafted. Michael Jordan, the best NBA player and the worst NBA owner/executive, holds all the cards. The real question is whether or not he will use his Get Out of Jail Free card and trade out. ESPN is reporting that the Bobcats have at least 5 offers for the #2 pick. The thought is that teams covet Florida 2-guard Brad Beal, who is being compared to a young Ray Allen. Being a Wizards fan (its a tough thing to be...), I am hoping Beal is still there at pick #3 because he fits in with our starting rotation. If the Bobcats decide to trade out, it could be the start of a flurry of lottery teams trading back in a draft that is deep, but lacking superstar potential.
- Some players I love in this draft? Brad Beal is at the top of the list, of course, because I think he is the best shooter in the draft and I want the Wizards to get him. I think the only other player with true superstar ability and a drive to succeed is Dion Waiters of my Syracuse Orange. The comparisons to Dwanye Wade are high praise, indeed, and somewhat accurate. He is able to get to the basket at will, is a pretty good size for a combo guard, and provides instant spark to any offense. He was Cuse's best player this season, on a team that went to the Elite 8. Sure, I am biased towards him, but I think he can meet everyone's expectations if he lands on the right team.
After those guys, I love the depth at the Center position. There are some true 5's in this draft, with Andre Drummond, Myers Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Fab Melo and Festus Ezeli all probably 1st Round picks. Drummond is the biggest question mark, as he never seemed to dominate (or care) at UConn. He could be the next Dwight Howard. He could also be the next Kwame Brown.
Zeller is the most polished of the group, having played the most in college at a consistently high level. Leonard is a huge specimen with a soft shooting touch that still needs to develop a mid-range game that many great centers have. Ezeli's a strong, tough player who will get you plenty of rebounds but needs polish on the offense side of the floor. He also has a freakish 7'6 wingspan, and would fit in wonderfully on a team that needs a chippy, roleplaying 5 over a go to scorer. Think the Miami Heat. Finally, there is Fab... Oh Fab. We have a serious love/hate relationship. I loved you when you decided to play at Cuse this year, and I hate that you got suspended and cost us a real shot at a national title. I would really love it if he ended up on the Celtics, just so Bill Simmons would have to write about him every week. He is a great defender, can rebound, and has an evolving offensive game. He just needs to care enough to become great. He didn't care at Cuse, he might in the NBA.
- There are three guys I don't like in this draft. It isn't their fault, because they are all solid college players. I just don't think they translate into stars in the NBA. The first is Kansas' Thomas Robinson. By all accounts, he is the best person in the draft hands down. But he is an undersized power forward that was great in the NCAAs. That screams Sean May to me. However, I have more faith in Robinson than I did May, plus Thomas has a better mid-range game. I don't see him being a star, and do you really want to draft a role-player at the #2 pick? He can be a wonderful support guy, but he isn't a franchise-changer like Davis.
Next is Jared Sullinger. He was the national player of the year two seasons ago. He was fantastic, and he decided to stay in school instead of declare. It cost him about 20 spots in the draft because he wasn't as good last season, and team physicals have shown he will have back issues. He is a high risk player, and that should drop him into the late 1st round. That being said, he has as much polish on the low post as anyone in the draft, and could contribute to a team if he stays healthy.
Finally, there is Austin Rivers of Duke. I don't like it when a high school kid goes to one of the most storied programs in NCAA history and pretends to be bigger than the school. Somehow, Rivers managed to do this. Maybe it is because he has been around the NBA his whole life. You would think that being a coach's son might make him a bit more humble. Instead, he is distastefully cocky, didn't do enough to impress me in some of the biggest games of the season, and doesn't have the humility that will help him push through adversity. I think he will be a bane to any locker room he is in, which will poison his potential.
Tonight will be a great night for 60 young men, who get to realize their dream of becoming NBA players. While not all will succeed, we should see some guys from this draft still thriving in 10 years. I am looking forward to watching their journey start tonight at 7:30. Enjoy the Draft.
- Anthony Davis and his fantastic unibrow will be the top pick. No surprise there. The question we have to ask after tonight is whether or not he can live up to the hype. Some people have said he will be on par with some of the all-time greats, like Bill Russell and Kareem-Abdul Jabar. I think that is asking a lot. If he can be closer to Marcus Camby with a better all around game, he'll make the Hornets a contender in the West.
- All the drama begins after Davis is drafted. Michael Jordan, the best NBA player and the worst NBA owner/executive, holds all the cards. The real question is whether or not he will use his Get Out of Jail Free card and trade out. ESPN is reporting that the Bobcats have at least 5 offers for the #2 pick. The thought is that teams covet Florida 2-guard Brad Beal, who is being compared to a young Ray Allen. Being a Wizards fan (its a tough thing to be...), I am hoping Beal is still there at pick #3 because he fits in with our starting rotation. If the Bobcats decide to trade out, it could be the start of a flurry of lottery teams trading back in a draft that is deep, but lacking superstar potential.
- Some players I love in this draft? Brad Beal is at the top of the list, of course, because I think he is the best shooter in the draft and I want the Wizards to get him. I think the only other player with true superstar ability and a drive to succeed is Dion Waiters of my Syracuse Orange. The comparisons to Dwanye Wade are high praise, indeed, and somewhat accurate. He is able to get to the basket at will, is a pretty good size for a combo guard, and provides instant spark to any offense. He was Cuse's best player this season, on a team that went to the Elite 8. Sure, I am biased towards him, but I think he can meet everyone's expectations if he lands on the right team.
After those guys, I love the depth at the Center position. There are some true 5's in this draft, with Andre Drummond, Myers Leonard, Tyler Zeller, Fab Melo and Festus Ezeli all probably 1st Round picks. Drummond is the biggest question mark, as he never seemed to dominate (or care) at UConn. He could be the next Dwight Howard. He could also be the next Kwame Brown.
Zeller is the most polished of the group, having played the most in college at a consistently high level. Leonard is a huge specimen with a soft shooting touch that still needs to develop a mid-range game that many great centers have. Ezeli's a strong, tough player who will get you plenty of rebounds but needs polish on the offense side of the floor. He also has a freakish 7'6 wingspan, and would fit in wonderfully on a team that needs a chippy, roleplaying 5 over a go to scorer. Think the Miami Heat. Finally, there is Fab... Oh Fab. We have a serious love/hate relationship. I loved you when you decided to play at Cuse this year, and I hate that you got suspended and cost us a real shot at a national title. I would really love it if he ended up on the Celtics, just so Bill Simmons would have to write about him every week. He is a great defender, can rebound, and has an evolving offensive game. He just needs to care enough to become great. He didn't care at Cuse, he might in the NBA.
- There are three guys I don't like in this draft. It isn't their fault, because they are all solid college players. I just don't think they translate into stars in the NBA. The first is Kansas' Thomas Robinson. By all accounts, he is the best person in the draft hands down. But he is an undersized power forward that was great in the NCAAs. That screams Sean May to me. However, I have more faith in Robinson than I did May, plus Thomas has a better mid-range game. I don't see him being a star, and do you really want to draft a role-player at the #2 pick? He can be a wonderful support guy, but he isn't a franchise-changer like Davis.
Next is Jared Sullinger. He was the national player of the year two seasons ago. He was fantastic, and he decided to stay in school instead of declare. It cost him about 20 spots in the draft because he wasn't as good last season, and team physicals have shown he will have back issues. He is a high risk player, and that should drop him into the late 1st round. That being said, he has as much polish on the low post as anyone in the draft, and could contribute to a team if he stays healthy.
Finally, there is Austin Rivers of Duke. I don't like it when a high school kid goes to one of the most storied programs in NCAA history and pretends to be bigger than the school. Somehow, Rivers managed to do this. Maybe it is because he has been around the NBA his whole life. You would think that being a coach's son might make him a bit more humble. Instead, he is distastefully cocky, didn't do enough to impress me in some of the biggest games of the season, and doesn't have the humility that will help him push through adversity. I think he will be a bane to any locker room he is in, which will poison his potential.
Tonight will be a great night for 60 young men, who get to realize their dream of becoming NBA players. While not all will succeed, we should see some guys from this draft still thriving in 10 years. I am looking forward to watching their journey start tonight at 7:30. Enjoy the Draft.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
What If Lance Cheated?
The US Anti-Doping Agency announced today that it will bring up charges against Lance Armstrong. Now it isn't just France and their biases. It has hit home. What if Lance Armstrong actually cheated? What if he doped his blood to gain an unfair advantage, and used that to win the Tour de France? What if his entire image is a mirage?!
I don't care.
Seriously, I don't.
I mean it.
Why should I care that a cyclist, as in one who participates in the single-most drug-fueled sport in the world, went along with everyone else and doped? There is a reason why no average sports fan can name another Tour de France champion besides Lance Armstrong- No one cares about cycling! I will bet my beard that a majority of American sports fans don't even remember the name Floyd Landis. Who, you ask? You know, Floyd Landis! The other American cyclist that won the Tour de France, but then got caught cheating and stripped of his title? No? Don't remember that? Funny how that works.
No, I really don't care if Lance Armstrong doped. This isn't baseball, where there are sacred records and generations of amazing American men that played the game without performance-enhancing drugs that are broken by dopers like Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire. This is a sport where every single member of a generation doped in some way, and if Lance did, than the two Americans are no exception. If they didn't, they couldn't compete with the rest of the world.
Will this destroy the LiveStrong movement? Probably. Or, perhaps, it could be refocused on those who are still battling and overcoming cancer instead of Lance Armstrong. Instead of elevating a man who divorced a wife and abandoned a family that stuck with him through an amazingly difficult time battling testicular cancer so that he could enjoy fame and fortune, then leaving his then-girlfriend Sheryl Crow right after learning that she had cancer, then hooking up with some Olson Twin jailbait... Well, you get the idea.
So no, I do not care that Lance doped. I will not miss him if his name is besmirched, and if he disappears in eternal shame. In fact, I might relish it. He served a purpose at a time. He may have even inspired people. But he became bigger than the cause to which he claimed to be dedicated. Maybe this will show that blood doping is some great way to get cancer survivors back to full strength, so some good can come out of his selfishness. If not, we should forget Lance and concentrate on finding an end to this disease. Perhaps now people can go back to caring about curing cancer, and not just wearing yellow wristbands.
Donate to cancer research because you want to and because it is the right thing to do, not because some guy won a bike race.
I don't care.
Seriously, I don't.
I mean it.
Why should I care that a cyclist, as in one who participates in the single-most drug-fueled sport in the world, went along with everyone else and doped? There is a reason why no average sports fan can name another Tour de France champion besides Lance Armstrong- No one cares about cycling! I will bet my beard that a majority of American sports fans don't even remember the name Floyd Landis. Who, you ask? You know, Floyd Landis! The other American cyclist that won the Tour de France, but then got caught cheating and stripped of his title? No? Don't remember that? Funny how that works.
No, I really don't care if Lance Armstrong doped. This isn't baseball, where there are sacred records and generations of amazing American men that played the game without performance-enhancing drugs that are broken by dopers like Barry Bonds or Mark McGwire. This is a sport where every single member of a generation doped in some way, and if Lance did, than the two Americans are no exception. If they didn't, they couldn't compete with the rest of the world.
Will this destroy the LiveStrong movement? Probably. Or, perhaps, it could be refocused on those who are still battling and overcoming cancer instead of Lance Armstrong. Instead of elevating a man who divorced a wife and abandoned a family that stuck with him through an amazingly difficult time battling testicular cancer so that he could enjoy fame and fortune, then leaving his then-girlfriend Sheryl Crow right after learning that she had cancer, then hooking up with some Olson Twin jailbait... Well, you get the idea.
So no, I do not care that Lance doped. I will not miss him if his name is besmirched, and if he disappears in eternal shame. In fact, I might relish it. He served a purpose at a time. He may have even inspired people. But he became bigger than the cause to which he claimed to be dedicated. Maybe this will show that blood doping is some great way to get cancer survivors back to full strength, so some good can come out of his selfishness. If not, we should forget Lance and concentrate on finding an end to this disease. Perhaps now people can go back to caring about curing cancer, and not just wearing yellow wristbands.
Donate to cancer research because you want to and because it is the right thing to do, not because some guy won a bike race.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
What Now for Chad Ochocinco?
Chad Johnson... Ochocinco... Whatever the hell he is calling himself these days... Was released by the New England Patriots this afternoon. He had an extraordinarily disappointing season, catching only 15 passes, with 1 touchdown and less than 300 yards receiving. This would be bad anyway, but the fact that all this was with one of the best QBs in history throwing to him. So, what can the formerly flamboyant wideout do now?
Odds are that Chad isn't going to retire just yet, nor should he. I am pretty sure that, while he may have lost a step, he still has enough ability to be a solid complimentary receiver. If he can get one or two more seasons in with a team, he can retire with a solid career, go into the booth, and provide us with hours of entertainment. Just imagine him, Deion Sanders and Warren Sapp all together on NFL Network!
So, since he shouldn't retire just yet, what teams could use his services? Here are my Top 5 destinations for #85.
1. Jacksonville. The Jags are in desperate need of WR depth, and their prize first round pick is probably going to be suspended. Yes, Justin Blackmon, when you blow a .24 BAC (an amazing 3-times the legal limit), you are going to miss a few games. Papa Goodell doesn't allow that. Furthermore, while Laurent Robinson was a good pickup, they still need some guys with experience. Ochocinco would be a good fit.
2. Miami. Chad could take his talents to South Beach. He has the personality to fit in. He has a name that could sell tickets and jerseys. Ryan Tannehill needs warm bodies to throw to. Brain Hartline and Legadu Naanee aren't exactly Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. Ochocinco could bring much-needed veteran leadership to a young team.
3. Minnesota. The Vikings seem to be the destination of any veteran who wants to play a few more years. Worked for Favre. Didn't work for McNabb. Ochocinco would be added to Percy Harvin, Devin Aromashodu and rookie Greg Childs. Not marquee names, but Chad could fit in as a #3 or 4.
4. St. Louis. Look at their receiving corp. That's all I have to say.
5. Denver. Chad has gotten to play with Tom Brady. Now he could play with Peyton Manning. Hey, it could happen...
So, there are my thoughts. He may end up somewhere else, but these 5 teams should take a look at him. No matter where he goes, I want to see some more Chad Ochocinco... Johnson... Whatever. Just give me some more of his shenanigans, his tweets, and his letters to Papa Goodell. I'm rooting for you, Chad.
Odds are that Chad isn't going to retire just yet, nor should he. I am pretty sure that, while he may have lost a step, he still has enough ability to be a solid complimentary receiver. If he can get one or two more seasons in with a team, he can retire with a solid career, go into the booth, and provide us with hours of entertainment. Just imagine him, Deion Sanders and Warren Sapp all together on NFL Network!
So, since he shouldn't retire just yet, what teams could use his services? Here are my Top 5 destinations for #85.
1. Jacksonville. The Jags are in desperate need of WR depth, and their prize first round pick is probably going to be suspended. Yes, Justin Blackmon, when you blow a .24 BAC (an amazing 3-times the legal limit), you are going to miss a few games. Papa Goodell doesn't allow that. Furthermore, while Laurent Robinson was a good pickup, they still need some guys with experience. Ochocinco would be a good fit.
2. Miami. Chad could take his talents to South Beach. He has the personality to fit in. He has a name that could sell tickets and jerseys. Ryan Tannehill needs warm bodies to throw to. Brain Hartline and Legadu Naanee aren't exactly Jerry Rice and Tim Brown. Ochocinco could bring much-needed veteran leadership to a young team.
3. Minnesota. The Vikings seem to be the destination of any veteran who wants to play a few more years. Worked for Favre. Didn't work for McNabb. Ochocinco would be added to Percy Harvin, Devin Aromashodu and rookie Greg Childs. Not marquee names, but Chad could fit in as a #3 or 4.
4. St. Louis. Look at their receiving corp. That's all I have to say.
5. Denver. Chad has gotten to play with Tom Brady. Now he could play with Peyton Manning. Hey, it could happen...
So, there are my thoughts. He may end up somewhere else, but these 5 teams should take a look at him. No matter where he goes, I want to see some more Chad Ochocinco... Johnson... Whatever. Just give me some more of his shenanigans, his tweets, and his letters to Papa Goodell. I'm rooting for you, Chad.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Will the Real Ryan Zimmerman Please Stand Up?
I could tell you how bad the captain, leader and face of the Washington Nationals has been this season... but he did a pretty good job of doing it after a loss to the Braves yesterday-
"I just stink right now. It's frustrating."
Well, Ryan Zimmerman is right. He has been terrible at the plate. He has hit 9 doubles since coming back from injury. He has hit into 7 double plays. He is batting .233, and only has 2 home runs. This isn't the production we are used to from one of the most clutch hitters over the past decade. It used to be that, if the Nats needed a big hit late in a game and Zim was up, it was guaranteed that he would come through. Now, I find myself at games begging him to strike out instead of grounding into a double play, just so Adam LaRoche can come up and bail us out.
The real shame about this situation? There isn't as much pressure on him as there has been in years past. LaRoche, Ian Desmond, and rookie sensations Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper are getting on base and driving in runs. Michael Morse just came back from the DL. Jesus Flores and Danny Espinosa find ways to help the offense a little bit too. Our pitchers hit better than almost any in baseball. There is no need for Zim to force anything, but he is still trying too hard. Maybe he will snap out of it soon. He seems confident-
“That’s the beautiful thing about baseball. I have four months left to turn it around. I’ve been terrible and a couple of other guys have been hurt and we’ve been in first-place the whole year. It’s definitely not what I wanted to do to start this season. I can’t do anything about it now. Just gotta keep working hard and continue to grind it out. It’ll change. It’s been like this before. You just have to stay positive and keep working.”
We will try to stay positive too, Zim. Cause right now, for the fans, your struggles are driving us crazy.
"I just stink right now. It's frustrating."
Well, Ryan Zimmerman is right. He has been terrible at the plate. He has hit 9 doubles since coming back from injury. He has hit into 7 double plays. He is batting .233, and only has 2 home runs. This isn't the production we are used to from one of the most clutch hitters over the past decade. It used to be that, if the Nats needed a big hit late in a game and Zim was up, it was guaranteed that he would come through. Now, I find myself at games begging him to strike out instead of grounding into a double play, just so Adam LaRoche can come up and bail us out.
The real shame about this situation? There isn't as much pressure on him as there has been in years past. LaRoche, Ian Desmond, and rookie sensations Steve Lombardozzi and Bryce Harper are getting on base and driving in runs. Michael Morse just came back from the DL. Jesus Flores and Danny Espinosa find ways to help the offense a little bit too. Our pitchers hit better than almost any in baseball. There is no need for Zim to force anything, but he is still trying too hard. Maybe he will snap out of it soon. He seems confident-
“That’s the beautiful thing about baseball. I have four months left to turn it around. I’ve been terrible and a couple of other guys have been hurt and we’ve been in first-place the whole year. It’s definitely not what I wanted to do to start this season. I can’t do anything about it now. Just gotta keep working hard and continue to grind it out. It’ll change. It’s been like this before. You just have to stay positive and keep working.”
We will try to stay positive too, Zim. Cause right now, for the fans, your struggles are driving us crazy.
Hey! Did You Know the MLB Draft is Tonight?
Live from Studio 42 in scenic Secaucus, NJ, tonight we have the MLB Draft. Shockingly, my Washington Nationals aren't picking in the top 5... or the top 10.... or the top 15! Progress is fun, isn't it? Various mocks have us taking the best college arm available at Pick #16, which could mean Andrew Heaney from Oklahoma State or Michael Wacha of Texas A&M. Another has the Nats taking Deven Marrero, a shortstop from Arizona State, and cousin of our 1B prospect Chris Marrero. It is nice, for the first time in franchise history, to be picking for luxury over need.
There is no Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper-type star in this draft. There may be players that end up better, of course, but none of them have the kind of ridiculous hype those two players came into the draft with. Knowing this, the Houston Astros are expected to draft pitcher Mark Appel from Stanford first overall. According to ESPN's draft guru Keith Law, Appel is the #4 prospect, but is a very safe pick, with guaranteed MLB potential, as well as a fastball that touches 99 mph. The 'Stros need a solid starter as they move to the AL next season.
Another question this draft will raise is whether or not the MLB will make it possible to trade picks soon. Say, for instance, the Washington Nationals wanted to acquire a centerfielder at some point this season. They could pair players with major league ability that rarely see the field, such as John Lannan, along with a high pick for a young outfielder like BJ Upton, Peter Bourjos or Denard Span. I am unsure why baseball is so hesitant to allow this to happen, since it could make the draft more exciting to watch. However, with their recently-approved signing bonus caps on teams, it doesn't make trading in the draft as feasible.
The MLB Draft starts at 7 pm on MLB Network. Enjoy it! I hope your team improves itself just enough to finish just behind the Nationals.
There is no Stephen Strasburg or Bryce Harper-type star in this draft. There may be players that end up better, of course, but none of them have the kind of ridiculous hype those two players came into the draft with. Knowing this, the Houston Astros are expected to draft pitcher Mark Appel from Stanford first overall. According to ESPN's draft guru Keith Law, Appel is the #4 prospect, but is a very safe pick, with guaranteed MLB potential, as well as a fastball that touches 99 mph. The 'Stros need a solid starter as they move to the AL next season.
Another question this draft will raise is whether or not the MLB will make it possible to trade picks soon. Say, for instance, the Washington Nationals wanted to acquire a centerfielder at some point this season. They could pair players with major league ability that rarely see the field, such as John Lannan, along with a high pick for a young outfielder like BJ Upton, Peter Bourjos or Denard Span. I am unsure why baseball is so hesitant to allow this to happen, since it could make the draft more exciting to watch. However, with their recently-approved signing bonus caps on teams, it doesn't make trading in the draft as feasible.
The MLB Draft starts at 7 pm on MLB Network. Enjoy it! I hope your team improves itself just enough to finish just behind the Nationals.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)