Sunday, June 6, 2010

The MLB Draft's 10th Pick

With Major League Baseball's amateur draft starting on Monday, people like to look back at the top picks from the past decade. Well, we also happen to care about the tenth pick. But should we? Also check out the fourth pick.

2000
10. Joe Torres, Angels, LHP

Torres never made it past A ball with the Angels and battled injuries early in his career. Since then he has bounced around with the Rangers and White Sox, all in the minors. Fun fact, Joe Torres played Danny Lightfoot on Nickelodeon's Hey Dude in 1991. I have fact checkers working on if it's the same guy. I'm guessing yes.

Verdict: We should not care

2001
10. Chris Burke, Astros, SS

Burke played four years in Houston averaging .249/.319/.377 before being traded to Arizona in a package for Jose Valverde. He played sparingly in 2008 with Arizona and even less so in 2009 with San Diego. In 2010, he signed with the Reds and broke his finger in spring training. He can play all over the field but can't really, um, hit.

Verdict: We should not care

2002
10. Drew Meyer, Rangers, SS/2B

In 2006, Meyers got 15 plate appearances with the Rangers. He got 3 hits and struck out 8 times. He currently drives a bus in the Astros' minor league system. Or plays in the Astros' minor league system. It's unclear what's going on with the Astros' minor league system.

Verdict: We should not care

2003
10. Ian Stewart, Rockies, 3B

At 25-years-old, Stewart is the everyday third baseman for the Rockies. In his first full season in 2009, Stewart played second, third and the outfield while hitting 25 home runs and .228/.322./464. Obviously, you'd like to see more out of the average and OBP but he's young and this is the first season he will be set at one position.

Verdict: We should care

2004
10. Thomas Diamond, Rangers, RHP

In 2005, the Ranger's highly touted pitching prospect trio, DVD, was being hyped as the greatest thing since the Snuggie. I'm not good with time frames. Thomas Diamond was considered by some to be the best prospect out of himself, Edison Volquez and John Danks. Danks is now a stud for the White Sox and Volquez got a Rookie of the Year vote in his second full season. Meanwhile, Diamond pitches for ears of corn in Iowa for the Cubs.

Verdict: We should not care

2005
10. Cameron Maybin, Tigers, CF

Maybin was the crown jewel in a package that landed the Tigers Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis in 2007. Maybin is still only 23-years-old and the future center fielder for Marlins but his bat isn't developing as most expected it would. He has 56 strikeouts and 14 walks this season. Cameron Diaz could do that. But I still believe in his tools.

Verdict: We should care

2006
10. Tim Lincecum, Giants, RHP














You might have heard of Timmy. In his first two seasons, he won two Cy Youngs. He occasionally likes to smoke pot. He's 5'11 and 170 pounds and led the league in strikeouts in 2009 (261) and 2008 (265).

Verdict: We should care

2007
10. Madison Bumgarner, Giants, RHP

There has been some recent concern about Bumgarner's loss of velocity. While it is puzzling, he is still pitching pretty well in the minors and he was considered the best pitching prospect in the minors just a couple of seasons ago. Oh, and he's 21-years-old. Are you watching this, Pittsburgh? This how you do well picking in the same spot year after year.

Verdict: We should care

2008
10. Jason Castro, Astros, C

The Astros' minor league system is well in the bottom half of the league and it's a franchise heading in the wrong direction. That said, Castro is the 'Stros best prospect. While he doesn't project as a power guy, he should be a pretty good receiver and high OBP guy. He also finished fourth on American Idol season 7. My ex-girlfriend used to vote for him because he played the "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" version by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.













Verdict: We should care

2009
10. Drew Storen, Nationals, RHP

The Nats had to take Storen here after they drafted Stephen Strasburg with the first overall pick. They had to backup the dump truck filled with gold bars and blood diamonds to Scott Boras' front lawn to sign Strasburg. So with the 10th pick, they drafted a kid who would sign for slot and make it to the majors quickly. Which he did. In 2010, he's pitched 9 innings, given up 2 runs, struck out 6 and walked 5. He's 22-years-old and the heir apparent to the closer role.

Verdict: We should care

Recap: 6 We should care, 4 We should not care

Summary: I've wasted both your time and mine.

Good luck on Monday, boys. The draft is like a coin flip. Sometimes you come out ahead, other times you just fall on your ass.

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