MLB draft is today...

[PhilipNelsonFan]

...and our first pick went towards a Canadian RHP.

More as events warrant.

[Ex-hippie]

From Keith Law on ESPN:

At 6-foot-6, Aumont is an imposing pitcher. At the same time, though, he is an excellent athlete who is still very crude as a pitcher, but he has the velocity and sink you don't see very often. I had him going as high as No. 5 to the Orioles, so this is outstanding value for the Mariners.

I'll admit I don't know the first thing about the guy, but it sounds good. Before the draft I had read (also from Keith Law) that the M's were looking to draft someone they could get to the Majors very quickly; but the word "crude" would imply that they went in a different direction.

[Ex-hippie]

Still more from Keith Law. Explanation of ratings:

80 - Hall of Fame caliber
70 - Perennial all-star
60 - All-star caliber
55 - Above average
50 - Average
45 - Below average
40 - Future potential player
35 - Non-prospect

Aumont's ratings:

Fastball - 50 present, 60 future (88-92 mph) ("Several scouts reported 92-96 mph in prior outing")
FB movement - 60 present, 60 future ("Serious sink")
Command - 35 present, 45 future
Control - 40 present, 50 future
Curveball - 35 present, 40 future (73-76 mph)
Slider - N/A
Changeup - 45 present, 50 future (83 mph) ("Fair arm speed")
Splitter - N/A
Other pitch - N/A
Feel for pitching - 35 present, 50 future

After looking at that, why the hell is this guy a first-rounder (projected as high as #5, no less)? You mean his only current above-average attribute is the sink on his fastball? It's one thing to draft a guy with no control if he can blow past people, but his fastball currently rates only a 50? Even if it develops into the "All-star caliber" 60 rating projected for the future, how's that supposed to get Major Leaguers out with poor control and no other decent pitches? To be the kind of guy who just blows the ball past everyone, shouldn't that fastball be at least a 70, if not better?

And a bit more:

Physical Description: 6-foot-6, athletic; imposing, broad frame.

Arm Angle: Low 3/4.

Mechanics: Short stride. Arm has to catch up a bit. Slight slinger.

Tempo: Inconsistent.

Release time: 0.0

Ultimate Role: No. 2 starter

Draft Estimate: 1st round (high)

Summary: Excellent athlete who is very crude as a pitcher, but has the sort of velocity and sink you don't see often. Fastball reported up to 96 mph in other outings but just 88-92 today, with excellent sink generated by the low slot. Curveball is a waste of time, flattens out,. Should be throwing a slider from that slot. Holds arm speed well on the changeup; looks like he hasn't had much experience with the pitch. Outstanding guy to take if you have a good instructor in player development.

Whatever. Bill Bavasi has proven to be somewhat like Isiah Thomas -- even though he's a totally incompetent GM on the whole, he scouts and drafts well. I'll try not to get down on this pick.

[Ex-hippie]

Okay, I've been avoiding work too long, but here you can see a video of Aumont. What can I say, he makes some good pitches, but he's more or less all over the place.

[Sweezo]

I don't know anything about the guy, but I'd rather the M's gamble on the guy that has high upside than settle for a college pitcher who is what he is. The MLB draft is a totally different type of draft than other sports...

[Basketball Jesus]

Everything I

[Ex-hippie]

The only thing that angers me is that Rick Porcello was still out there. Yeah, the demands were high, but the kid

[Ex-hippie]

Everything I

[Ex-hippie]

Sandwich pick was Mark Mangini, 3B, Oklahoma State. Presumably no relation to the Jets coach/Sopranos guest star.

Law's assessment (same criteria as above):

Hitting - 55 present, "N/A" future (??)
Power - 50 present, 60 future ("Has shown flashes of big-time power.")
Plate Discipline - 60 present, 60 future ("Very selective hitter; some struggle vs LHP.")
Running Speed - 40 present, 40 future ("Home to first time: 4.3 sec")
Base Running - 40 present, 40 future ("Good runner; just not an average runner home to first.")
Fielding Range - 50 present, 50 future ("Anticipates well. Game comes easy to him.")
Arm Strength - 55 present, 60 future
Arm Accuracy - 55 present, 60 future ("Very accurate, with all throws on the money.")
Fielding Instincts - 50 present, 50 future ("Anticipates well . Game comes easy to him.")

Now this is the kind of player who would make Billy Beane drool. College player? Check. Power? Check. Plate discipline? Check. Speed? Not so much. Bonus that he appears to field his position well.

More descriptive material:

Physical Description: Medium-large frame (6-4, 225), strong-looking college athlete. Broad shoulders. Strong features throughout body; strong hands.

Batting Stance: Slightly open with short stride. Head still in swing. Double tap load -- g

Ultimate Role: Middle of the order.

Draft Estimate: Sandwich

Summary: His draft status is all tied to the swing. Similar to a DH at the next level. AL team type. Plus arm with plus accuracy from 3B. Playable fielder at this time, but is stiff on approach to ball and his reactions are a bit slow. Adequate runner; OK when under way.

Okay, so maybe the description of his defense here isn't as great as it was above. Maybe he's our first baseman of the future?

[PhilipNelsonFan]

So...did we draft anyone decent/good? I have no idea how to tell.

[Sweezo]

Sadly, this how you tell if someone is good from the MLB draft...

1. Write down all their names on a piece of paper.
2. Put the piece of paper in a safe
3. Set a timer to go off five years from now
4. Open box
5. Check names to see if any of the names on your list have done anything.

I appreciate ESPN's efforts to pump up the draft, but it takes so long to tell whether it was a success or not. And the prospects are people I've never even see play before.

When a high schooler jumps to the NBA, I have a pretty good chance of having seen him play in something if the name's big enough.

I like to read U.S.S. Mariner and basically steal their opinion on the draft...makes me sound smart.