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#Post#: 121368--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: ticohans
Date: March 18, 2013, 5:20 pm
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Elite defensive first basemen need soft hands and quick reaction
times. Elite defensive outfielders need strong arms, among many
other qualities. Taken together these qualities would seem to
make an elite third baseman.
The notion that Bryant profiles is a gold glove first baseman or
outfielder but does not profile is one who can stick at third
base in the major leagues does not add up.
#Post#: 121380--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: Chris27
Date: March 18, 2013, 7:10 pm
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--- Quote ---
> How realistic are Mike Trout comparisons for Clint Frazier? Do
you think he has a legitimate chance of going No. 1 overall in
the upcoming draft?
>
> Chris Kurtz
> Rocklin, Calif.
--- End Quote ---
[Jim Callis]
--- Quote ---
> An outfielder from Loganville (Ga.) HS, Frazier may have moved
ahead of crosstown rival Austin Meadows of Grayson HS as the top
high school prospect in this year's draft. But any Trout
comparisons are a bit much and he probably won't be the top
choice in the 2013 draft.
>
> However, neither of those statements should be construed as a
knock on Frazier, who delivered two homers when he matched up
against Meadows last week. He looks like a future star.
>
> Based on his major and minor league performance to date, Trout
could be a once-in-a-generation type of talent. He's a 6-foot-1,
220-pounder with top-of-the-line speed and hitting skills, not
to mention at least above-average power and center-field
ability. While Frazier is more highly regarded than Trout was at
the same point in his career, Frazier doesn't have the same
tools. He's a 5-foot-11, 185-pounder who's more of a plus hitter
and projects as a future plus runner who eventually may move to
right field. That still makes Frazier a very talented player,
even if he pales somewhat in comparison to someone who batted
.326/.399/.564 with 49 steals as a 20-year-old rookie last year.
>
> As good as Frazier is, he'd be an atypical No. 1 overall pick.
In the 48 previous drafts, only three righthanded-hitting prep
outfielders have gone No. 1: Jeff Burroughs (1969, Senators).
Shawn Abner (1984, Mets) and Delmon Young (2003, Devil Rays).
Abner had a similar profile to Frazier and wound up as one of
the biggest No. 1 choice busts in draft history. I believe
Frazier is in the Astros' mix for the top selection in June, but
at this point I expect Houston to opt for a college pitcher.
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 121384--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: Chris27
Date: March 18, 2013, 7:33 pm
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Video of Jonathan Gray vs UCLA a few weeks ago:
HTML http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpmOv_EhynI&feature=youtu.be
#Post#: 121528--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: Chris27
Date: March 19, 2013, 4:35 pm
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Frazier homered again yesterday.
#Post#: 121535--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: Reb
Date: March 19, 2013, 5:25 pm
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Part of BA piece on Gray:
Gray's bazooka arm has made him a prospect of interest since his
freshman year at Eastern Oklahoma State JC, but as he has
learned to refine his command and secondary stuff, his draft
stock has soared. After Gray showed dazzling stuff during seven
shutout innings in a win at UCLA in front of a gaggle of the
scouting community's heavy hitters, the buzz intensified. He
touched 100 multiple times in the second and third innings, and
he was still throwing 98 mph in the seventh, after he had
reached the 100-pitch mark. But that wasn't all; he complemented
his heater with a plus slider with good depth that ranged from
82-87 mph, and he mixed in a handful of quality 83-84 mph
changeups with good bottom.
It was hard not to think of another physical power righty who
toed the rubber at Jackie Robinson Stadium plenty of times in
the past—former Bruin Gerrit Cole, the No. 1 overall pick in the
2011 draft. Gray left UCLA's coaches with a feeling that they
had just been beaten by another potential top-five overall pick.
"I'll tell you, he mixed as well as any power pitcher that I've
seen in a while," UCLA head coach John Savage said after
Oklahoma's 4-0 win. "You've got to give credit where credit's
due. When we were looking for a fastball, he threw his breaking
ball, he threw his change. It wasn't rear back and let it go and
not pitch—it was pitching. It was impressive. I was impressed.
He was the best guy we've faced by far this year, and it was
because of one, the velocity; two, the command; and three, the
mix. It was a true mix: 3-2 change, 3-2 slider—I mean, come on.
There certainly was some Cole—yeah, there was. I think anyone
that sat back there would have to agree. It was three major
league pitches."
Gray's development has accelerated at an impressive clip since
he arrived at Oklahoma for his sophomore year. He grew up always
wanting be a Sooner—as a football player. He played defensive
end and tight end in high school, catching passes from older
brother Jack, who went on to play college football at Division
II Northeastern State in Oklahoma. But Jonathan realized he had
a chance to be drafted in baseball, so he gave up football as a
senior—though he says he still misses it.
Gray originally signed with Oklahoma out of high school, but he
wasn't ready for the Big 12, so he spent his freshman year in
junior-college ball. In high school, he sometimes ran his
fastball up to 92 or 94 mph, but as a freshman he occasionally
bumped 97-98. He sat regularly in the mid-90s as a sophomore at
OU, but his command and feel for pitching had a long way to go.
He progressed steadily under Giese's tutelage and finished the
season 8-4, 3.16 with 104 strikeouts and 42 walks in 103
innings.
He capped his season with a memorable start at two-time
defending national champion South Carolina super regionals. The
Sooners were facing elimination after losing the opener, but
Gray was ready for Game Two.
"We're playing South Carolina, he comes down to pregame meal in
his uniform, and I'm a little worried, thinking he's pretty
nervous—Game Two in a super regional against South Carolina,"
Oklahoma coach Sunny Golloway said. "But the reason he has his
uniform on is he wanted to have time after his meal to go to
every one of his teammates' room and tell them, 'Don't get on
the bus unless you're going to find victory, because we ain't
losing today.' You know what? He wasn't wrong, he was right—we
didn't lose that day."
In wet conditions, Gray threw six shutout innings against the
Gamecocks, allowing just three hits while striking out nine. But
play was suspended by rain with the two teams locked in a
scoreless tie, and the Gamecocks jumped on the Oklahoma bullpen
when play resumed the next day, ending OU's season. Still, it
was an important milestone for Gray's development.
"Having that success in that atmosphere against that good
ballclub, I think really helped him," Giese said. "You can
always look back at your career and see that one moment where
you grew, and I give it to that moment for him."
Gray's velocity jumped again this fall, when he touched triple
digits on the radar gun for the first time in his life. But more
importantly, he spent the offseason working with Giese on
refining his secondary stuff. Giese wants him to throw his
slider hard, targeting 88 mph. He threw a couple at 87 against
UCLA, and they were his best sliders of the day, with vicious
bite. But he can take a little off it and throw it at 82-83 when
he really needs a strike, which is a sign of his maturation.
The Sooners are wary of throwing too many changeups because his
other two pitches can be so devastating, but they know it is
important for his development to hone that pitch. And it can be
another weapon for him.
"When my changeup's on, it's money, and I throw it a lot," said
Gray, who is 4-1, 1.51 with 39 strikeouts and eight walks
through 36 innings. "(Giese) usually gives me about four or five
chances to throw it early on, to see if I can throw it for a
strike or if it's effective. But that opens up a whole new game.
It's easy.
"My main goal is to become a full pitcher, not just a guy who
goes out there and throws. Because I want to have both
pitchability and power. I think they'll go great together."
#Post#: 121536--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: Playtwo
Date: March 19, 2013, 5:39 pm
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Sounds like a sucker pick. Too good to be true.
#Post#: 121537--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: Reb
Date: March 19, 2013, 5:47 pm
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Would be nice if both Appel and Gray continue to be dominant and
we get a shot at one of them.
#Post#: 121551--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: shasson
Date: March 19, 2013, 8:52 pm
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Amen to that, Reb.
Is Gerrit Cole going to be up in PIttsburgh this year? I don't
even know if he has been called up to Pittsburgh at any point.
#Post#: 121552--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: shasson
Date: March 19, 2013, 8:59 pm
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Answering my own question: Cole was sent back to AAA. But he was
really good in the FSL and then AA last year, so he could be
called up in May after a handful of starts in AAA. He and
Taillon have a Prior/Wood vibe. I hope for Pittsburgh's sake
their highs are as high, but without all the lows.
#Post#: 121558--------------------------------------------------
Re: 2013 Draft
DIR By: Chris27
Date: March 19, 2013, 11:49 pm
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Cole's numbers weren't all that impressive in the minors for
such a supposed stud.
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