Day one process grades: pass/fail

Weickel, Walker

Many of you will state that it’s way too early to grade a draft.

Many of you are right.

Here’s what you can do, though, you can take a look at what teams did today, and discuss the process. And as I’ve said millions upon millions of times, it’s about the process, not the results. If the process was done correctly, the results will come. If the process was wrong and the results are “good”, it’s blind luck. I don’t believe in rewarding blind luck.

With that being said, here’s the pass/fail grades of the teams who picked tonight, in order of picks, not in order of success.

Houston Astros: Carlos Correa, Lance McCullers – Look, I’m not as high on McCullers as many are, but I can’t argue with acquiring two talents like this. They get a pass, and a fairly easy one.

Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton, Jose Berrios, Luke Bard — Berrios and Bard weren’t in my top 50 — and weren’t really close. I still give it a pass because they got the best player in the draft, but this one wasn’t a slam dunk.

Seattle Mariners: Mike Zunino – The only guy I would have taken over Zunino is a guy that I don’t think would’ve signed with them. Pass

Baltimore Orioles: Kevin Gausman – Best player left on the board, easy pass.

Kansas City Royals:  Kyle Zimmer – I probably would have taken Giolito or Appel, but, I’m going to go ahead and give this a very slight pass.

Chicago Cubs: Albert Almora, Pierce Johnson, Paul Blackburn — They loved Almora and he was good value, Johnson if healthy is a potential No.2, and Blackburn was coming on late as much as any prep pitcher. Gotta give it a pass

San Diego Padres: Max Fried, Zach Eflin, Travis Jankowski, Walker Weickel – Best draft of the night, and I don’t think it’s close. Pass.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Mark Appel, Barret Barnes – Now, this will all depend on if they can sign Appel, but getting him at eight and then a talented outfielder like Barnes at 45? Well done.

Miami Marlins: Andrew Heaney – This was difficult. I like Heaney, and he wasn’t a huge overdraft, but they passed on much better players with their only selection. I give this a fail, but again, it’s close.

Colorado Rockies: David Dahl, Eddie Butler — They took Dahl about ten spots higher than he belonged, and Butler about thirty. Not a fan of these first two picks. Fail

Oakland Athletics: Addison Russell, Daniel Robertson, Matt Olson — Mixed feelings on this draft. They took two shortstops that I think end up at third-base, and they way over-drafted Olson. I give it a pass, because I believe in the two bats ahead, but the Olson pick almost ruined it for them.

New York Mets: Gavin Cecchini, Kevin Plawecki — This one breaks my heart a little bit — because I am a Cecchini fan — but Plawecki isn’t even close to a first-day talent, no matter what crazy Purdue fans might tell you. Fail

Chicago White Sox: Courtney Hawkins, Keon Barnum – Ok, I have to commend them for their first pick, Hawkins was outstanding value at 13, but Barnum at 48? Not a top 100 player. I realized they had to take a cheap player in order to sign Hawkins, but they could have done a lot better than that. Have to give it a fail. Sorry Sox fans. Hawkins is a great pick, however.

Cincinnati Reds: Nick Travieso, Jesse Winker, Jeff Gelalich – Reached for Travieso, reached hard for Winker, and stole Gelalich. Nice effort at the end, but fail.

Cleveland Indians: Tyler Naquin –  We talked about Naquin a lot, and I like the player, but not at 15. Fail

Washington Nationals: Luc Giolito: Not sure I could like a pick much more than this. Pass.

Toronto Blue Jays: D.J. Davis, Marcus Stroman, Matt Smoral, Mitch Nay, Tyler Gonsalves: They didn’t kill it like they did last year — I’m not huge on Davis and Gonsalves was clearly a money pick — but Smoral and Stroman are extremely talented, and Nay has as much pop as any right-hand hitter in the draft. Pass

Los Angeles Dodgers: Corey Seager, Jesmuel Valentin: Reached on Valentin — they pretty much had to if they’re going to afford Seager — but I do think he’s an interesting player, and Seager can flat out hit. Pass

St. Louis Cardinals: Michael Wacha, James Ramsey, Stephen Piscotty, Patrick Wisdom, Steve Bean – This is a clear cut example of the new rules effecting the process of the draft. Wacha and Piscotty were fine picks, and Wisdom wasn’t horrific value either. But Ramsey and Bean? There had to be better players that would accept close to slot than that. I’m sorry, have to give it a fail.

San Francisco Giants: Chris Stratton: Perfect example of a player being drafted where he should. Nothing wrong with that. Pass.

Atlanta Braves: Lucas Sims – A bit of a cliched pick, but again, solid value.

Boston Red Sox: Deven Marrero, Pat Light, Brian Johnson — The last few years, the Red Sox have killed it. This year, they get a pass, but it’s not an impressive one. Not much upside in their class so far.

Tampa Bay Rays: Richie Shaffer — A lot of people were disappointed that the Reds took a third-baseman with Longoria in the fold. A lot of people are incorrect, Shaffer was easily the best player on the board. Pass.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Stryker Trahan: Once again, perfect value and a good fit. Pass

Milwaukee Brewers: Clint Coulter, Victor Roache, Mitch Haniger — Slight reach in the first, super reach in the second, and slight reach in the supplemental. Fail.

Texas Rangers: Lewis Brinson, Joey Gallo, Collin Wiles — A ton of upside in this class, but I was super unfamiliar with Wiles until yesterday. As marginal as pass as you can get.

New York Yankees: Ty Hensley — Well done, Yankees. I knew you had it in you. Pass

Philadelphia Phillies: Shane Watson, Mitch Gueller – Watson has tons of upside, and Gueller might be the best two-way player in the draft. A solid Pass

Los Angeles Angels: N/A

Detroit Tigers: N/A

 

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2 Responses to “Day one process grades: pass/fail”

  1. Michael says:

    Chris,

    Who is the player you are referring to that the M’s would not have signed?

    • maqman says:

      Same question I was going to ask but thought I knew the answer. If they took him at three he’s probably not going to do better out of college so I’m guessing he didn’t want to be behind the Big 3 or he wants to stay in LA/doesn’t like the Northwest. However I’m not aware of any commentary to that effect and working in DC is not much of an incentive either.

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