The Arizona Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers has been out to Kansas City to see the quickly rising Bubba Starling. They say he hits 500ft homers and throws 95 mph. He can throw out runners at 1st from center field on a single. he is humble and has a great attitude and a love for baseball. But...
The Diamondbacks should not draft this young man. There are a few reasons this may be a waste of a draft pick for the Dbacks when they have so many other needs.
First of all Starling has committed to Nebraska to play QB and center-field for the Cornhuskers. This means that the team who drafts him is going to have to buy him out of his college education. This could be very expensive considering his agent is Scott Boras. Boras will probably demand a signing bonus upwards of $10 million. The Diamondbacks can not afford this and they probably wont take the chance of losing him to college.
Another reason...The Diamondbacks already have a center fielder. Chris Young has a long and expensive contract to play center field for the Dbacks for through 2014 if the Dbacks decide to keep him. Chris Young is very good defensively but has struggled at the plate the last couple years. He is young and still has the time to become a great CF. The Dbacks will probably stick with him.
And lastly the Dbacks need impact players NOW. They need additional help in the starting rotation, bullpen, first base, third base, and left field. The Dbacks minor league teams are full with talent that still needs time to develop so they would be wiser if they drafted players who can make an impact immediately next spring or at least early into the season in 2012. There are too many college players who are more MLB ready for the Dbacks to waste a first round pick on Bubba Starling.
Starling will need time in the minors to prepare for major league pitching and hitting...IF he decides the money is better than college.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Dbacks offense goes flat in 4-3 loss to Giants
The Dbacks lost tonight in 2010 Diamondback fashion...Juan Gutierrez gave up a HR to break a 3-3 tie game. Aubrey Huff's blast to right field put the Giants up 4-3 and that's all their bullpen needed.
The Giants last 18 games have all been decided by 3 runs or less.
The Snakes had a few chances with runners in scoring position but failed to push them across when it mattered most. They were 1 for 9 w/RISP before the Giants even had a player reach second base. They also had a chance with Brian Wilson on the mound when Xavier Nady led off the ninth with a double to center. They failed to move him over when Henry Blanco struck out on a bunt attempt and Russell Branyan failed to get a pinch hit. In 11 at-bats as a pinch hitter this season he has 0 hits.
Armando Galarraga may have sealed his fate even though his line was decent tonight. He only allowed 3 runs but fell apart in the 6th inning and could not find the strike zone. He may earn himself a demotion to AAA if the Dbacks weren't so thin on quality starting pitching. He will probably be sent down when Zach Duke is healthy.
It was announced today that Josh Collmenter will be starting against the Dodgers in the Dbacks next series in LA. Collmenter has be efficient out of the bullpen so far and hopes to carry his momentum into the rotation.
Thanks for reading
The Giants last 18 games have all been decided by 3 runs or less.
The Snakes had a few chances with runners in scoring position but failed to push them across when it mattered most. They were 1 for 9 w/RISP before the Giants even had a player reach second base. They also had a chance with Brian Wilson on the mound when Xavier Nady led off the ninth with a double to center. They failed to move him over when Henry Blanco struck out on a bunt attempt and Russell Branyan failed to get a pinch hit. In 11 at-bats as a pinch hitter this season he has 0 hits.
Armando Galarraga may have sealed his fate even though his line was decent tonight. He only allowed 3 runs but fell apart in the 6th inning and could not find the strike zone. He may earn himself a demotion to AAA if the Dbacks weren't so thin on quality starting pitching. He will probably be sent down when Zach Duke is healthy.
It was announced today that Josh Collmenter will be starting against the Dodgers in the Dbacks next series in LA. Collmenter has be efficient out of the bullpen so far and hopes to carry his momentum into the rotation.
Thanks for reading
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Kennedy's pitching gem ends in a Dbacks loss; Lincecum shuts down clutch offense
Ian Kennedy and Tim Lincecum both pitch 8 innings of shut out baseball tonight in San Francisco. Kennedy consistently got out of jams with runners on base by keeping the hitter off balance through a brilliant performance. Lincecum did the same but didn't allow a hit until Kennedy hit a ball up the middle in the 6th inning.
Kennedy lowered his ERA for the year to 3.25 even though he got a no-decision tonight.
The Dbacks had runners in scoring position a few times tonight but could never string together a couple of hits. Kelly Johnson hit leadoff and was able to go 1-4 with a walk. He also stole second base but could't get any farther as Lincecum shut down the side. This was a positive night for Kelly and hopefully he can build off of it.
Melvin Mora let a routine ground ball get passed him late in the game which put a runner on. Mora was hugging the foul line. The game winning hit later went right by him and down the foul line. His defense is suspect and he probably wont be in the lineup much going forward.
David Hernandez walked a better, who then stole second base, and allowed a hit to take the loss and go 2-1 on the season. This was an off night for Hernandez as he had trouble finding the strike zone and left many of his pitches out over the plate. This is uncharacteristic and he will find his groove again. Joe Paterson probably should have been brought in to face the left-handed hitters tonight. He still hasn't given up a run.
Kennedy lowered his ERA for the year to 3.25 even though he got a no-decision tonight.
The Dbacks had runners in scoring position a few times tonight but could never string together a couple of hits. Kelly Johnson hit leadoff and was able to go 1-4 with a walk. He also stole second base but could't get any farther as Lincecum shut down the side. This was a positive night for Kelly and hopefully he can build off of it.
Melvin Mora let a routine ground ball get passed him late in the game which put a runner on. Mora was hugging the foul line. The game winning hit later went right by him and down the foul line. His defense is suspect and he probably wont be in the lineup much going forward.
David Hernandez walked a better, who then stole second base, and allowed a hit to take the loss and go 2-1 on the season. This was an off night for Hernandez as he had trouble finding the strike zone and left many of his pitches out over the plate. This is uncharacteristic and he will find his groove again. Joe Paterson probably should have been brought in to face the left-handed hitters tonight. He still hasn't given up a run.
Dbacks Draft Notes
The Arizona Diamondbacks have the opportunity to bring some major league ready players into their system this year with the 3rd and 7th overall picks. I'm afraid Gerrit Cole and Danny Hultzen will already be taken when they are on the board at number 3. That would leave Trevor Bauer as the next best pitcher on the board and the Dbacks should take him with this pick. He has a small frame but utilizes his body well to throw his pitches and he should hold up just fine in the majors. Here is what Jon Heyman has to say about him.
Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA. He's "shooting up the draft,'' one scout said of the pitcher who's pitching brilliantly as the No. 2 man, behind Cole, for the Bruins. Bauer is 5-1 with a 1.53 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched. He has been likened to Tim Lincecum, which only helps him, as a smallish (6'2", 185 pounds) righthander with a unique delivery; previously, that might have caused teams to shy away from him. Now it's all positive. "Has swing-and-miss stuff,'' said one scouting director.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/05/02/draft.top.players/index.html#ixzz1Lzkahawg
Bauer would have an impact on the Dbacks rotation much sooner than some of their other top pitching prospects. He may need a year of low pitch counts after being abused at UCLA. He has thrown over 120 pitches in most of his outings this year.
The next pick at #7 may be a little more tricky but Anthony Rendon may still be around for it. If he is, the Dbacks should not hesitate to pick him here. They are in need of 3rd baseman and his bat may be ready for the majors faster than any of their current prospects. Bobby Borchering will probably move to 1st base and Matt Davidson needs more work in the minors. Rendon would be a great pick in this slot. Heyman had this to say about him.
Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice. "He's a tremendous defender,'' one scout said. "Big track record,'' said another. The one issue is a shoulder injury that's kept him to DHing all year. While it isn't believed to be serious, one scouting director said it's enough of a concern when you're talking about a player who's going to exceed a $5 million signing bonus to drop him out of the top two, and perhaps even more than that.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/05/02/draft.top.players/index.html#ixzz1LzmvVOcM
Thanks for reading
Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA. He's "shooting up the draft,'' one scout said of the pitcher who's pitching brilliantly as the No. 2 man, behind Cole, for the Bruins. Bauer is 5-1 with a 1.53 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched. He has been likened to Tim Lincecum, which only helps him, as a smallish (6'2", 185 pounds) righthander with a unique delivery; previously, that might have caused teams to shy away from him. Now it's all positive. "Has swing-and-miss stuff,'' said one scouting director.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/05/02/draft.top.players/index.html#ixzz1Lzkahawg
Bauer would have an impact on the Dbacks rotation much sooner than some of their other top pitching prospects. He may need a year of low pitch counts after being abused at UCLA. He has thrown over 120 pitches in most of his outings this year.
The next pick at #7 may be a little more tricky but Anthony Rendon may still be around for it. If he is, the Dbacks should not hesitate to pick him here. They are in need of 3rd baseman and his bat may be ready for the majors faster than any of their current prospects. Bobby Borchering will probably move to 1st base and Matt Davidson needs more work in the minors. Rendon would be a great pick in this slot. Heyman had this to say about him.
Anthony Rendon, 3B, Rice. "He's a tremendous defender,'' one scout said. "Big track record,'' said another. The one issue is a shoulder injury that's kept him to DHing all year. While it isn't believed to be serious, one scouting director said it's enough of a concern when you're talking about a player who's going to exceed a $5 million signing bonus to drop him out of the top two, and perhaps even more than that.
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/05/02/draft.top.players/index.html#ixzz1LzmvVOcM
Thanks for reading
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