Pedro Alvarez wins a ballgame
by nms on Apr 26, 2008 3:19 AM EDT
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PrintAlvarez comes through with a 2-out RBI double in the 8th in front of a packed home crowd to win game 1 of the #15 Kentucky series for #17 Vandy 3-2. The series could be crucial for SEC and NCAA seedings for both teams. Looks like hes feeling healthy now
The double came off UK Jr LHP Chris Rusin, a pretty good pitcher. Rusin, a potential 4th-5th rounder, went 8 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 8 K for the complete game.. and the tough luck loss
From Vandy's site..
"He (Rusin) threw me a curveball my first three at-bats and so I was expecting it and was fortunate enough to hit it," said Alvarez.
Dom de la Osa, a high Tigers pick last year trying to salvage a regression of a Sr year, went 2-3 with a double for Vandy.
Vandy SS Jr Ryan Flaherty, a contact and doubles kind of hitter, struggled, going 0-4 with 2 Ks.
Vandy starter, Soph LHP Mike Minor struck out 9 in 6 IP and gave up two walks, five hits and one run (unearned). Minor, a fastball/changeup guy, looks to be an 09 first rounder. He managed to hold KYs Sawyer Carroll and Collin Cowgill, two of the NCAAs top hitters, to 1-7 with 3 Ks and one walk.
RS-Fr RHP Russel Brewer, who was drafted out of HS as a IF, closed the game with 1.2 scoreless innings, no hits, 1 walk and 1 K to get the win. He is 3-0 with 5 saves and 1.12 ERA and 39 K, 6 BB in 32 IP this year
PS, I'll give anyone who called Mike Macias being Vandy's best hitter this year a dollar : )
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VOTE FOR PEDRO
This guy is going to be a monster in the majors. It is amazing how he has done this year especially considering that a broken hamate bone usually takes a year of recovery to get a hitter’s power back. If I am Tampa I take him with the first pick, move Pena to DH and add another impact bat to a freakish lineup including:
C. Navarro (I am still a fan but am starting to wonder if he ever makes the jump)
1B. Alverez
2B. Iwamura (recommendations for anyone else?)
SS. Brignac
3B. Longoria
Of. Upton
OF.Crawford
OF.Jennings
DH. Pena
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Apr 26, 2008 12:03 PM EDT reply actions
Under this senario
Pena and Alvarez would be switched. Pena is a plus ML defender. He’s really good at first.
Tools Whore
Sign Bonds!
Sure
I would take that too. Perhaps Pena won’t even be in Tampa by the time Pedro is ready anyways.
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Apr 26, 2008 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
ive heard many speculate
that tampa will take Tim Beckham instead of Pedro Alvarez, I kind of hope they don’t because Pedro seems to be a special player in waiting.
"Listen, here's the thing. If you look up and down a line-up and don't see the hole in it, you ARE the hole."
by realityconquest on Apr 26, 2008 12:54 PM EDT reply actions
you would think they would do it to reunite Price and Pedro
.... assuming theyre buddies… plus Pedro will be ready before beckham… i just see pedro as a win-win any way you slice it
Beckham has
been compared to Bossman. If that comparison holds true (not saying it will), he’ll be ready at just about the same time as Alvarez. Plays a much more important defensive position and still offers a plus bat no matter where he plays. I can see the argument for either.
Tools Whore
Sign Bonds!
I think Beckham is a lot more raw then the Uptons
I’ve heard the comparisons but I can remember people saying both of them might be able to play at the majors when they were drafted and you don’t hear that about Beckham. The power is completely a projection; it isn’t even average right now. Mayo says he has good bat speed but a lot of flaws in his swing. I’ve heard he is an above average runner which means he probably wont get a whole lot faster and might slow down if he puts on some weight.
The potential is there but he is a heck of a project. Better glove then BJ but I’m just not sure you can expect him to be at the level of the Uptons. Last year I thought Smoak and Alvarez were 1 and 1A but what Alvarez has done even with the injury (which most said would severely impact his effectiveness at the plate this year) has been impressive while Smoak got off to a little bit of a slow start. I can see Beckham being slotted ahead of Smoak on potential (I wouldn’t but I can see why some would) but not Alvarez. I think Alvarez is safest pick, closest to the majors and most likely the best bat in the draft.
Pedro vs Beckham
The best choice for me is hands down Pedro. The Rays have chosen the path of win now, so in that instance he makes the most sense. All the top hitters from college have been ready pretty much after 1+ year in the minors: Gordon, Longoria, Zimmerman, Tulowitzki, and Wieters looks well on his way to be in the same category. From all acounts Pedro is a special hitter and defianty in the same category as the hitters above, so basically your looking at him ready by 2010 after 1 year. Pena has a 3 year deal, would be in his last year of the contract I believe so the Rays could use a power bat to take his place. I also think he is athletic enough to take over in RF if need be.
On the Beckham side, yes he has been compared to Uptons, though Chris Nelson was also compared to BJ and that hasn’t exactly worked out to well. I like Beckham more than Nelson, but it’s just used as an example of different factors that can happen to H.S. hitters. But even if he moves as fast and lives up to the hype, the quickest he is up is in 2 years. By then there really is no knowing into his polish if he can step right in and help or if he would need some time once he got to the majors. Also there is no saying that he would be better option than Brignac his first couple years in the majors, though he has a higher upside.
All and all the moves the Rays have done pretty much point to the safer, quicker, and still just as special bat. That said Beckham is the only other player besides Pedro that I would take with the 1st pick and like him a lot, just not for the situation the Rays are in.
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