2000 Draft Review Each pick is given one of the following rankings; excellent pick, good pick, ok pick or bad pick. Where in the draft a player is selected is not taken in to consideration for the ranking…the bottom line is whether an owner drafted good players or not. The prospect team rankings and future closer tabs are from BA. Here we go…. #1 Mike A, ERUBIEL DURAZO 1B…excellent pick…Diamondbacks starting 1B…tore up AA and AAA before be very productive in limited duty in the majors…I believe he’ll be 600 points plus in 2000…it’s hard to believe a guy playing in Mexico as recently as 1998 has bumped Travis Lee to the outfield. #2 John, MIKE JACKSON RP…excellent pick…Philly’s closer…should be a top 5 closer in 2000 if his elbow holds up…John traded Jackson shortly after the draft along with Marlon Anderson for Ron Belliard, Mitch Meluskey, Marcus Giles and a stiff….I love Belliard but John should of got much more for Jackson., especially if he was going to throw in Anderson. #3 Mark, MIKE WILLIAMS RP…ok pick…in Pitts bullpen…Williams had 23 saves last year, but was awful in the 2nd half…Pittsburgh isn’t sold on him as a closer, and will probably acquire somebody else to be the closer…Williams is 31 and had 7 either awful or mediocre seasons prior to emerging as a closer in 1999. #4 Jeff, ROGER CEDENO OF…excellent pick …Houston’s starting CF…Cedeno was a top prospect when he came up in 1995, and it took him 5 years before he emerged in 1999 and put up 488 points in 453 AB’s…could really blossom in to a productive player as Houston’s ever day CF and lead off hitter in 2000. #5 Arra, CHIN-FENG CHEN OF…excellent pick…LA’s #1 prospect…One of the top prospects in baseball…He looks like a can’t miss prospect, and barring injury should put up 500-700 points annually when he makes it to the bigs. #6 Mike P, TODD ZEILE 1B…excellent pick…NY’s starting 1B…has been over 500 points in each of the past 4 seasons. #7 Alex, RICK AGUILERA RP…excellent pick…Chicago’s closer….Aguilera is 38 and this could be his last productive season #8 Chris, TRAVIS DAWKINS SS…excellent pick…Cincy’s #1 prospect…very good defensive player and starting to emerge as a good hitting prospect…could be a starter for Cincy in 2001. #9 Dan, PHIL NEVIN 3B… excellent pick…SD’s starting 3B….Nevin’s first 4 seasons were unproductive before he emerged in 1999 at the age of 28 to put up 434 points in 383 AB’s…with every day duty in 2000 he could put up impressive numbers…if Nevin produces in 2000 he’ll probably move to 1B or the OF in 2001 because of the emergence of Sean Burroughs. #10 Alex, RICH CROUSHORE RP…ok pick…set up man for Colorado…he’s probably 2nd in line to Jerry DiPoto for the Rockies closer job…righties hit .279 and slugged .481 off of him in 1999, not a good sign for Coors Field…Alex traded Croushore to Mark in a 3 way trade for Luis Gonzalez, which is a steal considering Gonzalez put up 730 points in 1999, SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY POINTS! #11 Rich, SCOTT SAUERBECK RP…ok pick…middle reliever for Pittsburgh….Sauerbeck was a 28 year old rookie last year who put up decent numbers in middle relief…but I’ve never heard him mentioned as a potential closer for Pitt…Rich must of heard something I missed. #12 Chris, ERIC GAGNE SP….excellent pick…LA’s #4 starter….LA’s #2 prospect….pitched very good in 30 innings in the majors in 1999…could have a productive 2000 in the majors. #13 Mike A, HEE SEOP CHOI 1B…excellent pick…CHI’s #2 prospect….this guy is 20 and appears to be a stud hitter…I really like this guy and will regret taking Nevin over him…could be Chicago’s 1B in 2001 if Grace is moved. #14 John, WILFREDO RODRIGUEZ SP…excellent pick…HOU’s #1 prospect….this guy is 21 and has the complete package as a starting pitcher…could be in Houston’s rotation in 2001. #15 Mark, MARVIN BENARD OF…good pick…SF’s starting CF…Benard put up 543 points in 1999…he’s 30 and was a 4th OF until 1999…I’m concerned that Armando Rios could break in to his playing time and eventually make Benard a 4th OF again. #16 Jeff, ADAM DUNN OF…excellent pick…CIN’s #2 prospect….Dunn is 20 and looks like a great hitting prospect….with a productive 2000 Dunn should increase his prospect status going in to 2001. #17 Arra, JOSE SILVA RP…ok pick…Silva is rehabbing from surgery and will miss the first couple of months…Silva was tried as a closer towards the end of 1999 and was 4-5 in save chances…he is repeatedly mentioned as a future closer…I don’t see it, his career ERA is over 5.00 and he lets up a ton of hits…Silva not being healthy this spring prevents him from an opportunity at an open closer role that could be secured by the time he his healthy to contribute. #18 Mike P ABRAHAM NUNEZ OF…excellent pick…would have been Arizona’s #2 prospect but was traded to Florida in a disputed trade…Nunez is 20 and is blossoming in to a stud hitter…I’m very high on this guy and expect him to increase his prospect status in 2000. #19 John WIKI GONZALEZ C…ok pick…San Diego’s #8 prospect…he is a decent catching prospect, but has his limited value behind Ben Davis…John took Gonzalez too early. #20 Chris CHAD MEYERS 2B…bad pick…didn’t make Chicago’s top 15 prospect list…Meyers will be a utility player for Chicago in 2000…Meyers is 24 and would’ve been a decent pick if the Cubs didn’t acquire Eric Young, who has a multi year contract…I think Chris missed the Young/Valdes for Adams trade. #21 Mike A TIM REDDING RP…ok pick….Houston’s #10 prospect…Redding can throw in the upper 90’s….the Houston closer job is secure, but there is nothing wrong with carrying guys who throw in the upper 90’s on your roster…things happen…often. #22 John NICK NEUGEBAUER SP…excellent pick…Milwaukee’s #1 prospect…appears to be the complete package with a great fastball…he’s only 19 and barring injury should be near the top of all baseball prospect charts after 2000. #23 Mark ALEX CORA SS…bad pick...LA’s #15 prospect…Cora is an excellent fielder, but is an awful hitter…will be nothing more than a utility player…if ever given a starting job Cora would be nothing more than Chris Gomez. #24 Jeff JEFF GOLDBACH C…good pick...Chicago’s #6 prospect…he’s only 19 and could better his prospect status with a decent 2000…finally Pat Cline isn’t mentioned as Chicago’s future catcher. #25 Rich HENRY BLANCO C…ok pick…Milwaukee’s starting catcher…Blanco is 28 and hit only .232 while playing his home games in Coors…he looks like another good D no hit catcher who will eventually be a back up catcher. #26 Alex TOM GOODWIN OF…excellent pick…Colorado’s starting CF…Goodwin received 1st round consideration from a few owners then amazingly fell to the late 3rd round…he’s never reached 500 points but that should change now that he plays in Coors…I read that Buddy Bell plans to keep Goodwin fresh by playing him an approximately 130-140 games, this could limit his Coors effect somewhat, but he should still reach 500 points easily…Goodwin signed a 3 year contract but my guess is he will be traded or become a 4th OF by the time his 3rd year rolls around…he just isn’t that good of a hitter. #27 Chris SCOTT SOBKOWIAK SP…good pick…Atlanta’s #4 prospect…another pitcher with the complete package who needs to do it one more year before joining the elite. #28 John BEN BROUSSARD OF…excellent pick…Cincy’s #5 prospect…appears to be a stud hitting prospect…if he hits in 2000 like he did in 1999 he could possibly start for Cincy in 2001. #29 Mark JOSE CABRERA RP…good pick…Houston’s RH set up man…pitched very well in AAA and in 29 major league innings…Cabrera is 28 and has a history of missing time with injuries…with a solid 2000 Cabrera warrants long term closer potential. #30 Jeff JOE MCEWING 2B…bad pick…utility man for St Louis…McEwing is 27 and the acquisition of Fernando Vina killed his chance for AB’s…this guy has utility written all over him, I don’t see him developing in to an every day player. #31 Rich EDGARD CLEMENTE OF…bad pick…4th OF for Colorado…I drafted Clemente a few years back and was very high on him…his development stalled at AAA and with the acquisition of Goodwin he has become a 4th OF…could blossom in a few years a la Roger Cedeno. #32 Alex CHIP AMBRES OF…excellent pick…Florida’s #6 prospect…appears to be a stud hitting prospect and is only 20…could shoot up the Florida prospect list with a solid 2000. #33 Dan CRAIG HOUSE RP…excellent pick…Colorado’s #7 prospect…after a 2 round lay off Dan jumps back in the action and acquires a young pup to groom in his closer academy…House has closer written all over him, he has dominate stuff…House should challenge for the Colorado closer role in 2001, with an outside chance of challenging in 2000. #34 Alex VINCE FAISON OF…good pick…SD’s #6 prospect…has a lot of potential as a hitting prospect, he’s only 20…should top SD’s prospect list in 2001 with a solid 2000. #35 Chris BRAD BAISLEY SP…good pick…Philly’s #2 prospect…he’s only 20 and another starting pitcher who looks like a good prospect. #36 John SEAN MCGOWAN 1B…ok pick…SF’s #7 prospect…this is one of the few guys drafted that I knew little about…I’ll wait to see what he does in 2000. #37 Mark SEAN MCNALLY 1B…bad pick…McNally is 28 and hasn’t had a major league AB yet…not a prospect, maybe Mark thought he would be the next Brian Daubach…John amazingly excepted McNally as part of the Mike Jackson trade. #38 Jeff AARON MCNEAL 1B…ok pick…Houston’s #7 prospect…McNeal had a solid 1999…I’m not that high on him, he strikes out a lot…he’s only 21, with a productive 2000 I will probably jump on the bandwagon. #39 Rich JIMMY ROLLINS SS…good pick…Philly’s #4 prospect…I like Rollins, he’s small but productive…he has good roto potential…I could see him being Philly’s starting SS in 2001. #40 Alex KURT AINSWORTH SP…good pick…San Francisco’s #1 prospect…another starting pitcher who has the complete package…had Tommy John surgery in college, but it hasn’t effected him so far. #41 Dan DOUG NICKLE RP…good pick…Philly’s #8 prospect…named Philly’s future closer…he’s 25 and only in A, so he’ll have to be productive over the next couple of years or be buried…Dan adds another cheese thrower to his closer academy. #42 Jeff BRIAN SCHNEIDER C…ok pick…Montreal’s #7 prospect…he’s a mediocre prospect…I’m not crazy about him, I see Michael Barrett being Montreal’s catcher for the next few seasons…Jeff traded Schneider to Mike A for Ron Gant…getting a major league starting OF for this grade of a prospect is impressive, however I doubt highly that Gant will ever reach 500 points again. #43 Chris TED LILLY SP…ok pick…Montreal’s #6 prospect…I was very high on Lilly a couple of seasons ago, but since he has been inconsistent, and now he’s coming of elbow surgery…unlike the other starting pitching prospects taken in this draft, Lilly is not the complete package. #44 Mike A JEREMY WARD RP…excellent pick…Arizona’s #4 prospect…this guy has closer written all over him…this was Dan’s next pick, I probably should of taken him over Nickle…Ward would’ve looked nice in Dan’s closer academy. #45 John CALVIN MURRAY OF…bad pick…didn’t make San Francisco’s top 15 prospects…no surprise to me he’s 28…he tore up AAA and John grabbed the bone…this guy has bounced around the Staples boys ending up with Chris…Murray has 4th OF written all over him. #46 Rich ALLEN LEVRAULT SP…good pick…Milwaukee’s #4 prospect…despite being a starting pitcher Levrault was named Milwaukee’s future closer…I’ve heard him mentioned as a closer type before, and his stock skyrockets once they do put him in the bullpen. #47 Arra BEN SHEETS SP…good pick…Milwaukee’s #2 prospect…another starting pitcher with the complete package…Sheets reminds me of Kris Benson, we’ll see if his road to the bigs is as rocky as Bensons’. #48 Mike P RUBEN QUEVEDO SP…good pick…Chicago’s #4 prospect…like Levrault, Quevedo is a starting pitcher but was named Chicago’s future closer…I don’t like Quevedo as a starting pitcher, but obviously I would as a reliever. #49 Alex WILFREDO CORDERO OF…good pick…Pitt’s starting LF if Al Martin is traded, otherwise he’s a utility player…Cordero is an excellent hitter, but has learned to love the DL…he needs to play every day to have much value…Cordero has never been over 500 points…I believe Cordero will get the AB’s he needs to be productive. #50 Dan RAMON CASTRO C…good pick…Florida’s starting catcher…Florida’s #12 prospect…Castro is a good D, suspect hitting catcher…he does have potential as a hitter, and his defense will give him the AB’s to develop as a hitter. #51 Mike P BEN CHRISTIANSEN SP…good pick…Chicago’s #5 prospect…another starting pitcher with the complete package…he’ll always be known as the prick who beaned the undeck hitter. #52 Chris WADE MILLER SP…good pick…Houston’s #3 prospect…Miller could spend 2000 in Houston’s bullpen or be in the rotation…Miller wasn’t great in AAA, but I like him because of the success Houston pitchers have had under Larry Dierker. #53 Mike A BRANDON PHILLIPS SS…good pick…Montreal’s #9 prospect…Phillips is only 18 and looks like a good prospect…2000 will either bury Phillips or he’ll shoot up Montreal’s prospect list. #54 Mark DOUG MIRABELLI C…bad pick…San Francisco’s back up catcher…our league has no place for 29 year old back up catchers…we have to assume that Mark didn’t know who Bobby Estalella was. #55 Arra MIKE BYNUM SP…good pick…San Diego’s #4 prospect…was dominate in limited minor league debut…will join the elite starting pitcher prospects with a solid 2000. #56 Mike P JASON MARQUIS SP…ok pick…Atlanta’s #6 prospect…I’ve had Marquis on my list for the past few seasons, and he finally got drafted…Marquis throws hard, but has been inconsistent. #57 Dan TODD RITCHIE SP…good pick…in Pitt’s rotation…Ritchie come out of no where last year to put up 40 points in 1999…he doesn’t have much of a track record, but I believe he can at least duplicate his 1999 season. #58 Chris BRIAN COLE OF…good pick…NY’s #4 prospect…Cole looks like a good hitting prospect…good prospect for the 8th round. #59 Mike A DAVID KELTON 3B…ok pick…Chicago’s #8 prospect…Kelton isn’t a great prospect…he doesn’t do anything for me. #60 Arra KENT BOTTENFIELD SP…ok pick…in St Louis’ rotation…Bottenfield won 18 games in 1999 and put up only 39 points…it’s a good bet to say Bottenfield will never eclipse 39 points in his career. #61 Mike P ERIC HINSKE 3B…ok pick…Chicago’s #10 prospect…mediocre prospect, nothing to get excited about here. #62 Alex JJ DAVIS OF…good pick…Pitt’s #2 prospect …Davis has great hitting potential, but has to keep the strike outs down so he doesn’t kill his development…Alex traded Davis along with Chip Ambres and Vince Faison to Mike A for Shane Reynolds…excellent trade for Alex, picked up a top ten pitcher for 3 prospects that mean nothing to his team…good trade for Mike A, picking up 3 quality hitting prospects for a starter that is solid but not spectacular. #63 Dan BRETT MYERS…good pick…Philly’s #3 prospect…yet another prospect with the complete package…Myers is only 19 and has a great fastball. #64 Chris JULIO LUGO…good pick…Houston’s #6 prospect…I like Lugo, he looks like a very good hitting prospect…his D is shaky and he has been passed by Adam Everett on the depth charts, but I still like his hitting potential. #65 Mike A CHRISTIAN GUERRERO…good pick…Milwaukee’s #10 prospect…this was my next pick, and I already regret passing up on Guerrero…he’s 18 and has great hitting potential…I don’t understand how he was only tenth on Milwaukee’s list. #66 Mike P JAMEY WRIGHT…ok pick…in Milwaukee’s rotation…Wright has been HORRENDOUS in his 4 year big league career…he’s supposedly going to become the dominate pitcher that some thought he would be now that his free from Coors…I don’t believe in this guy, I don’t care where you pitch, a pitcher should never have more BB’s that K’s, which Wright has for his career. #67 Alex GERALD WILLIAMS…good pick…in Tampa Bay’s OF…Alex got a 3rd round pick for Williams…not bad since he took him in the 10th round. #68 Dan BYUNG-HYUN KIM…good pick…RH set up man for Arizona…Arizona’s #3 prospect…Kim is only 21 and pitched very well in 27 big league innings in 1999…Kim has long term closer potential…welcome to Dan’s closer academy. #69 Chris WILSON BETEMIT SS…ok pick…Atlanta’s #13 prospect…Betemit is very young and could climb up Atlanta’s prospect list with a good 2000. #70 Mike A PAT STRANGE SP…good pick…NY’s #2 prospect…yet another good starting pitcher prospect. #71 Mike P JOE GIRARDI C…ok pick…Chicago’s catcher vs. lefties and some righties…Girardi is 35 and had an OBP of .271 in 1999…I’d rather have Jeff Reed…are catchers that scarce that this pud got drafted? #72 Mike A ERIC CAMMACK RP…ok pick…NY’s #9 prospect…Cammack has dominated the minors, but doesn’t throw real hard…however his numbers can’t be ignored. #73 Arra WESCAR SERRANO SP…good pick…SD’s #2 prospect…yup, another solid starting pitcher prospect. #74 Dan JOHN JOHNSTONE RP…ok pick…San Francisco’s main set up man…Johnstone has had positive points the past 2 seasons, and would be a short term closer solution if Nen went down. #75 Arra PAT HENTGEN SP…ok pick…in St Louis’ rotation…Hentgen was horrible the past 2 years in Toronto…he just isn’t the same pitcher that won the CY in 1996…he’ll probably have negative points in 2000. #76 Dan DENNYS REYES RP…ok pick…set up man for Cincy or possibly in the rotation…Reyes is only 23 and had very good numbers pitching in relief in 1999…Reyes has good long term starting pitching potential. #77 Arra JUNIOR BRIGNAC OF…bad pick…Atlanta’s #7 prospect…Brignac might have potential as a baseball player, but right now he’s a terrible hitter…Arra did the right thing and cut Brignac when his roster exceeded 40 players, Alex saved Brignac from the unclaimed by plucking him off waivers. #78 Dan ROBERT PERSON SP…ok pick…in Philly’s rotation…Person was horrible as a reliever for Toronto in 1998 and the beginning of 1999…however he pitched very well for Philly in the rotation in 1999 after getting traded…Person had excellent strike out numbers for Philly. #79 Arra MIKE REDMOND C…bad pick…Florida’s back up catcher…Redmond is 29 and needs Castro to flop in order to gain any value. #80 Arra TERRY BYRON SP…ok pick…Florida’s #10 prospect…with a solid 2000 Byron will join the long list of good starting pitcher prospects. #81 Arra RICO WASHINGTON C/3B…good pick…Pitt’s #3 prospect…Washington is struggling to find a position but appear to be a very good hitting prospect…not a bad pick for the last pick in the draft. |