2009 MLB Draft Thread: June 9th-11th

[trwi7]

If we didn't take Baron we couldn't afford Rich Poythress who many had as a top 10 pick.

Nobody had him that high. He was projected to go in the late first or supplemental round.

[HeavyP]

This site has a Poythress interview: http://www.projectprospect.com/article/ ... -interview However, in that interview he expects to be late first to supplemental.

I guess most of the mock drafts that had him top 10 were published early, but I don't remember reading any (many?) that didn't have him in the top half (or so) of the first round.

[BlackMamba]

i like the mixture of players and positions that the mariners picked. but what pleases me more is the potential they all have.

[Ex-hippie]

If Dennis Raben recovers, and I believe he's expected to, then it looks like he and Poythress could turn into a couple of real mashers in the middle of the M's lineup. That's something we haven't seen for a while.

Projecting out to 2012 or so, I can see Moore/Clement at catcher, Poythress at first, (?) at second, maybe Franklin at short, Triunfel at third, Halman in left, Ackley in center, Saunders in right, Raben at DH. Carp, Carrera, Almonte and others could be used as trade bait to find a decent middle infielder or two. The upside in that group is huge. And bear in mind, it will be a cheap lineup, so where there are failures (and there are bound to be some), the team will have the flexibility to spend whatever is necessary to fill the holes. I like the future of this team.

[Ex-hippie]

ESPN's write-up of Steven Baron:

Summary: Baron should reach the big leagues on his defensive ability alone, but questions about his bat leave his upside uncertain. He has soft hands, a plus arm, and great actions behind the plate, with good energy and an agility that you don't often see in catchers. At the plate, he starts with a very wide stance and closes after an exaggerated toe-tap in towards his back foot. While his swing is fine mechanically, he doesn't square balls up well at all; he pushes his hands at the ball instead of the bat, so he swings and misses often and really doesn't want the ball inside. When he does square one up, he has some power and puts good backspin on the ball, so there's hope, but the team that drafts him is going to have to teach him how to hit. If he hits just a little, he's a big-league backup, and of course any more offense gives him a chance to be a regular.

Wait, is this a draft prospect they're talking about, or do they really mean Larry Craig?

[Bulltalk]

Well we've been complaining about our lack of hitting, especially power hitting, our mid-infield defense, and position players in general...and Z has so far answered the call in his first draft. Bravo! You never know how such players will turn out, but the focus was applied where it was necessary to be applied, ie, we didn't draft a handful of relief pitchers.

[HeavyP]

Seattle is stocking up on LH, all over the place.

It's funny, those complaining about pitching I'm reminded of the USSM Luncheon with the scouts. I cannot remember who said it (as we weren't allowed to take notes or anything) but he said that when they arrived they were surprised at how few power hitters we have, and that we needed more hitters in general.

Apparently they were telling us the truth with what they've drafted.

[slaterbug]

We take in the second round:

51. Mariners: Rich Poythress, 1B, Georgia.

Richie Sexson? JK

[Bulltalk]

Just for kicks, a somewhat updated list of the Mariners' picks so far. I am somewhat curious what will become of all such picks over time? I've never really followed an entire list of such picks in any given year over time to see what happens to them all in relation to their fortunes with the team that picked them. It would be an interesting little sideshow for me to do so. Maybe I will just for the hell of it.

2 Dustin Ackley Center fielder North Carolina
27 Nicholas Franklin Shortstop Lake Brantley H.S. (Fla.)
33 Steven Baron Catcher Ferguson H.S. (Fla.)
51 Richard Poythress First base Georgia
82 Kyle Seager Second base North Carolina
113 James Jones Left fielder Long Island U.
143 Tyler Blandford RH Pitcher Oklahoma State
173 Shaver Hansen Third base Baylor
203 Brian Moran LH Pitcher North Carolina
233 James Gillheeney LH Pitcher North Carolina State
263 Trevor Coleman Catcher Missouri
293 Vincent Catricala Third base Hawaii
323 Timothy Morris First base St. Johns
353 Andrew Carraway RH Pitcher Virginia
383 Matthew Cerione Center fielder Georgia
413 Adam Nelubowich Third base Vauxhall H.S.
443 Blake Keitzman LH Pitcher Western Oregon
473 Tillman Pugh Center fielder Gateway CC
503 Joseph Terry Second base Cerritos College
533 Anthony Vasquez LH Pitcher USC
563 Eric Thomas RH Pitcher Bethune-Cookman
593 John Hesketh LH Pitcher New Mexico
623 Daniel Cooper RH Pitcher USC
653 Andrew Hayes RH Pitcher Vanderbilt
683 David Rollins LH Pitcher San Jacinto Col North
713 Carlton Tanabe Catcher Pearl City H.S. (Hawaii)
743 Brandon Josselyn RH Pitcher Yale
773 Chris Sorce RH Pitcher Troy
803 Austin Hudson RH Pitcher Central Florida
833 Regan Flaherty First base Deering H.S. (Maine)

[HeavyP]

I think it'd be fun to see on August 18th how many of these players have signed (August 17th is the deadline).

Having no idea how many usually sign per year, I'll guess 21 sign.

[trwi7]

Having no idea how many usually sign per year, I'll guess 21 sign.

It's going to be more than that. I would say at least 25 and probably closer to 30.

[Bulltalk]

This rounds out the list of the Mariner's draft class of 2009, Z's first as our new General Manager in the post-Bavasi era.

863 Brandon Haveman Center fielder Purdue U.
893 Brandon Bantz Catcher Baptist U.
923 Clint Dempster LH Pitcher Mississippi Gulf Coast JC
953 Bennett Whitmore LH Pitcher U. Oregon
983 Hawkins Gebbers Second base Biola U.
1013 Scott Griggs RH Pitcher San Ramone Valley HS (CA)
1043 Eric Valdez RH Pitcher Indiana State U.
1073 John Housey RH Pitcher U. Miami
1103 Chris Kessinger RH Pitcher U. Nebraska Omaha
1133 Matthew Nohelty Center field U. Minnesota
1163 Greg Waddel Left field Florida International U.
1193 Jordan Merry RH Pitcher U. Washington
1223 Kyle Witten RH Pitcher Cal State Fullerton
1253 Stephen Hagen Third base Eastern Oklahoma State JC
1283 Cameron Perkins Left field Southport HS (IN)
1313 Mark Angelo Left field East Stroudsburg U.
1343 Kevin Malloux Second base Canisius Col.
1373 Clay Cederquist First base Fowler HS (CA)
1403 David Holman RH Pitcher Hutchinson CC
1433 Sean Nolan LH Pitcher San Jacinto Col North
1463 Dane Phillips Catcher Central Heights HS (TX)
1493 Evan Sharpley Third base U. Notre Dame

[Sweezo]

I have to say [and it sounds like i am not alone here] this is the first time where I was actively following an MLB draft to see what we got. I've never done that...

[jumanji]

I'm hoping that as soon as the College World Series is over the Ms can get Ackley signed and on the field. I wouldnt have a problem with him playing 2b, (we could move Lopez to 3rd), anyone have a problem getting him in the lineup? By the way he went 5 for 5 today against So. Miss.

[Bulltalk]

2009 Draft Recap:

2 Dustin Ackley Center fielder North Carolina
27 Nicholas Franklin Shortstop Lake Brantley H.S. (Fla.)
33 Steven Baron Catcher Ferguson H.S. (Fla.)
51 Richard Poythress First base Georgia
82 Kyle Seager Second base North Carolina
113 James Jones Left fielder Long Island U.
143 Tyler Blandford RH Pitcher Oklahoma State
173 Shaver Hansen Third base Baylor
203 Brian Moran LH Pitcher North Carolina
233 James Gillheeney LH Pitcher North Carolina State
263 Trevor Coleman Catcher Missouri
293 Vincent Catricala Third base Hawaii
323 Timothy Morris First base St. Johns
353 Andrew Carraway RH Pitcher Virginia
383 Matthew Cerione Center fielder Georgia
413 Adam Nelubowich Third base Vauxhall H.S.
443 Blake Keitzman LH Pitcher Western Oregon
473 Tillman Pugh Center fielder Gateway CC
503 Joseph Terry Second base Cerritos College
533 Anthony Vasquez LH Pitcher USC
563 Eric Thomas RH Pitcher Bethune-Cookman
593 John Hesketh LH Pitcher New Mexico
623 Daniel Cooper RH Pitcher USC
653 Andrew Hayes RH Pitcher Vanderbilt
683 David Rollins LH Pitcher San Jacinto Col North
713 Carlton Tanabe Catcher Pearl City H.S. (Hawaii)
743 Brandon Josselyn RH Pitcher Yale
773 Chris Sorce RH Pitcher Troy
803 Austin Hudson RH Pitcher Central Florida
833 Regan Flaherty First base Deering H.S. (Maine)
863 Brandon Haveman Center fielder Purdue U.
893 Brandon Bantz Catcher Baptist U.
923 Clint Dempster LH Pitcher Mississippi Gulf Coast JC
953 Bennett Whitmore LH Pitcher U. Oregon
983 Hawkins Gebbers Second base Biola U.
1013 Scott Griggs RH Pitcher San Ramone Valley HS (CA)
1043 Eric Valdez RH Pitcher Indiana State U.
1073 John Housey RH Pitcher U. Miami
1103 Chris Kessinger RH Pitcher U. Nebraska Omaha
1133 Matthew Nohelty Center field U. Minnesota
1163 Greg Waddel Left field Florida International U.
1193 Jordan Merry RH Pitcher U. Washington
1223 Kyle Witten RH Pitcher Cal State Fullerton
1253 Stephen Hagen Third base Eastern Oklahoma State JC
1283 Cameron Perkins Left field Southport HS (IN)
1313 Mark Angelo Left field East Stroudsburg U.
1343 Kevin Malloux Second base Canisius Col.
1373 Clay Cederquist First base Fowler HS (CA)
1403 David Holman RH Pitcher Hutchinson CC
1433 Sean Nolan LH Pitcher San Jacinto Col North
1463 Dane Phillips Catcher Central Heights HS (TX)
1493 Evan Sharpley Third base U. Notre Dame

Looking back at our 2009 draft, I was curious as to the breakdown of it. Here's a rudimentary look at it:

Total Players Drafted

52

College Players Drafted

43

High School Players Drafted

9

Pitchers Drafted

24 (9 LH Pitchers, 15 RH Pitchers)

Outfielders Drafted

9

Catchers Drafted

5

Infielders Drafted

14

First Basemen: 4
Second Basemen: 4
Third Basemen: 5
Shortstops: 1

I'm still kind of curious as to what actually becomes of all the players in one particular draft. It would be interesting, I think, to just follow one draft through time and see what the actual results of it are, at least as such players pertain to our organization. I've never done such a thing.