Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ron Burgandy
As excited as many of us were over the early results of the '05 draft class last year, this season has really tempered that enthusiasm...
|
How so more than a typical draft class?
Cameron Maybin is off to a great start in West Michigan.
Chris Robinson has been awful, but he was awful last year.
Kevin Whelan has been very good, but has been human the last couple of weeks.
Jeff Larish has also been very good (.395/.469 line through yesterday is nothing to scoff at)
Clete Thomas has been a bit of a disappointment, but he really didn't hit much in West Michigan last year.
P.J. Finigan is in Lakeland's bullpen pitching very well.
Brendan Wise will be in Oneonta this year, still not even 20 yet, way too soon to pass judgement
Kevin Ardoin got off to a rough start in Lakeland, but has pitched very well of late.
So of our first 9 picks, 7 are in Lakeland, and 5 are not disappointing. I'd say this draft class is still fairly strong.
Anthony Claggett has been almost flawless thus far.
Matt Joyce got off to a slow first couple of weeks, but is coming around in a big way of late.
Holliman and Rhymes are certainly holding their own, and they are later round picks.
Most drafts are going to look worse as time rolls on. That is because players are drafted by their upside, and it becomes evident over time that they aren't the player that they could be. That hasn't happened so much with this draft, which is still very strong at this point. Most importantly, such a college heavy draft will allow us to go strong on a high school strong draft this year without our full season depth hurting next year.