MOD Texas Rangers #2

by FirebatM3 on May 17, 2008 8:22 PM EDT Comment 20 comments

I felt that an update was necessary given the stuff that happened the last two days.

Unexpectedly, Tanner Scheppers is probably going to be available to the Rangers at #11. A shoulder injury is always worrying, but it's not like a torn labrum or TJ, where a long recovery time is expected.

Right now, if everything breaks out as expected and Eric Hosmer doesn't fall, I'm pretty inclined to take Scheppers with #11. What are your thoughts on the injury and Schepper's future?

As far as 2nd and 3rd round, there are a couple of names that I'm looking at. Anybody have any decent suggestions for the later rounds?

Right now, I am leaning towards signability guys like Kyle Lobstein for the later rounds because 1) That's what Jon Daniels tend to do anyways and 2) I just don't feel that confident when it comes to late round prospects.

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Call me crazy,

but I still think Sheppers is worth the risk. I assume that if the Rangers were interested they’d be getting as many medical details as possible.

Sorry, I have no knowledge of guys for the later rounds, the draft is definitely not an area I’m confident enough with to give that kind of advice.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 17, 2008 11:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree

If he is as talented as stated then he he is worth the risk. The Rangers should find out as much out his injury as possible.

by coolaid on May 17, 2008 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tim Kiely

Pitcher – Trinity College

Worth a selection with a 4th or 5th.

by batonball on May 17, 2008 11:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hosmer, then Scheppers

Wouldn’t mind Melville here either. Though I keep hearing his stock is falling quite a bit.

I posted this stuff in the other Rangers MOD, but it was a day or so after it had left the “Recent Fanposts” so I don’t know if you ever saw it. If you did, I suppose you can always ignore it.

Some post-1st round guys to look at, though I’m not quite sure where they’ll fall. Some may be sandwich picks. I don’t really know, other than I doubt they’ll be first rounders…

DISCLAIMER: I really don’t know what I’m talking about. So look up these guys before forming any solid opinions.

Mike Colla (Arizona RHP): Not a frontline guy, but a safe pick in rounds 4-5 if he’s still there. Consistent and polished. Could move quickly a la Tommy Hunter, but a similar ceiling I would imagine as well (i.e. mid-rotation/back-end).

Daniel Marrs (HS RHP): Big, strong, projectable hard thrower with poor command. A project guy. Doubt he’ll last longer than the 2nd round. Could go as a sandwich pick to a patient team. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp?mc=marrs

Jarret Martin (HS LHP): Fastball at 87-90 mph. More of a pitchability guy, but a pretty good one. Probably similar to Matt Harrison, although maybe I’m just generalizing lefty pitchability guys. Still, that profile works for Arlington, and maybe he gains some arm strength as he matures. Probably a 2nd rounder, but if he last til the 3rd, take him.

Nick Maronde (HS LHP): Projectable lefty with a plus fastball and chance for two other pitches. Trouble repeating delivery, which results in poor command on occasion. Won’t last past the 2nd. Might go in the sandwich round. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp?mc=maronde

T.J. Steele (Arizona OF): Hits for average and power with some speed as well. Haven’t heard much about him, but Scout.com says he’ll need a good season to be taken in the first two rounds. Sounds like a good pick in rounds 3-4 if he’s there. See if you can find out more about him though.

Mike Bianucci (Auburn OF): Toolsy outfielder with speed and "light tower raw power" but it doesn’t seem that it has all translated just yet. Would be a gamble in the 2nd, solid in the 3rd, and a good pick in the 4th, I think. I looked at this guy again today, and I like him a bit more now I think. But try to find out more on him yourself first.

Robbie Ross (HS LHP): Somewhere between Zach Phillips and Kasey Kiker, it sounds like. Someone could take him at the end of the 1st or in the sandwich round, but he’d be a good pick if he fell to us in round 2 I think. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp?mc=rross

Roger Kieschnick (Texas Tech OF): 5-tool right fielder that reminds scouts of Mark Teahen. I’d take him over a lot of players in the 2nd, but I suppose it depends on who falls to us at that spot. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp?mc=kieschnick

Austin Wood (HS RHP): Big, projectable righty with his fastball right now at 92, but will likely throw harder as he develops. Works too much off of his fastball right now, so he’ll probably last until rounds 4-5. He has a scholarship to Florida State, so I’d imagine he’d need some money to sign in real life. Goes to the same high school as Brett DeVall. For some reason, I really like this guy. If he’s still there in the 5th, I’d take him with your last pick. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/draft_report/y2008/index.jsp?mc=wood

Other dudes to keep in mind, though you should really find out more about these guys if you can…

Scott Silverstein (HS LHP): 2nd or 3rd?
Andy Burns (HS INF): 2nd or 3rd
Ryan Flaherty (Vandy INF): 2nd or 3rd
Logan Forsythe (Arkansas OF): 3rd or 4th
Tim Murphy (UCLA LHP): 2nd
Ryne White (Purdue 1B/OF): 2nd or 3rd?

And that’s my contribution. I think you’ll probably need to fork over the money for Baseball America to prep for this thing. The draft reports on milb.com are good and free, though it doesn’t really give you a good idea on where they’re likely to be picked. Good luck.

by naropean on May 17, 2008 11:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I saw that, thanks for all the help.

Right now, I’m actually looking at Tim Murphy for round 3, since I think he’ll slip. Like I said, I’m heavily inclined towards the guys with signability concerns for the later rounds right now. To get a pair like Lobstein and Woods in the later rounds would be my best case scenario, at this moment.

by FirebatM3 on May 17, 2008 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Silverstien

blew out his shoulder. He might not have been a 2/3 rounder to start with but the combination of that and his price-tag makes 2/3 way too high for him now I’d guess.

2/3 seems high for White as well, though he is a tough and fearsome college hitter.

by nms on May 18, 2008 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

good to know

Those question marks have been answered well, sir. Thank you.

by naropean on May 18, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brett Wallace

If Schepper’s injury is worse than expected, I’ll probably go with a college position player.

What does everyone think of Brett Wallace? Is he capable of playing 3B? Is he a reach at #11?

by FirebatM3 on May 22, 2008 2:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm supposing you mean

if someone like Hosmer doesn’t fall to 11. :) I’ve seen some good reports about Wallace’s bat potential, but I have not seen any mocks with him this high. But you’re probably already aware of all the reports I’ve seen and then some. Go with your gut, you’ve done your homework.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 22, 2008 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have seen him

as high as 12 to Oakland on mocks.

by FirebatM3 on May 22, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, but

that’s Oakland. I think people just look at his dumpy body and bat and think Oakland. Given the Rangers’ emphasis on defense and all around play lately I doubt they’d take him this high.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 22, 2008 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

eh

Brett Wallace seems like a reach to me, a bit of a “need” pick. John seems doubtful of his ability to stay at 3rd, and if we’re going to draft a 3B that high I’d like him to be a plus defender.

I’m surprised no one is mentioning Aaron Hicks as a possibility for the Rangers at 11. I’d much rather take a flier on his ceiling than go for Brett Wallace. But if you’re really looking college position players the only one that wouldn’t be a reach in my eyes would be Alonso. Or take a couple college bats in rounds 2-5, like Kieschnick or Flaherty (who is projected to be more of a 3B than 2B anyway).

You can’t go wrong popping your favorite HS pitcher here, and while Shooter Hunt may have trouble with control, he has a real nice ceiling.

by naropean on May 22, 2008 9:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

According to Jon Mayo

the real Rangers are hot and heavy after Gerrit Cole.

What does everyone think of Cole as a choice?

by FirebatM3 on May 22, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

interesting

might be a little boom-or-bust but I’ve heard smart folks say he has one of the best pure arms out there

by nms on May 22, 2008 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe so

But it seems like he’d be a reach at 11. If we were picking in the late teens, as was the case last year, I’d be all over him. But I think I’d rather have a more sure-fire prospect like Alonso with the 11th pick in the draft.

Hard Drive Manufacturer Hires Barkley

by BudLight on May 23, 2008 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Any idea

how Cole would rate vs. Main and Bleavan from last years 1st round?

by laxtonto on May 23, 2008 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think

he has as good of breaking balls as either of those guys. He’s probably more similar to Beaven given his mechanical issues, strong arm and general douchiness, but without the awesome slider.

A lot of arm strength, though.

by FirebatM3 on May 24, 2008 2:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How late

does everyone think a guy like Lonnie Chisenhall goes? 1st Supplemental? 2nd?

Does his character concerns drop him to a 3rd or 4th rounder?

by FirebatM3 on May 22, 2008 1:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't see character as a detractor to his draft status.

I would see him as a 3rd rounder, since he hasn’t shown much power. A pretty big gamble to go with a 3B that has yet to show power in the 2nd round over some of the college power arms that will be available.

by rooster on May 28, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs