2008 CPL Draft Review

Better late than never. Here is a re-cap of the 2008 CPL baseball draft. Remarkably we were all there on time and the draft did not take the 9 days that some were predicting. We’re already into the first week of competition, and many players drafted are already on the DL, their 2nd team or waivers. I did not try at all to be objective. If it seems like I’m picking on your team, I am. Sorry Karma.

Round 1
Best Pick: Chipper Jones #9 (Karma Chameleons) Quietly will be above average in 4 categories. Also, the last time KC will be seen in this section.
Worst Pick: Russell Martin #1 (Nuthin Yet) Needs to duplicate, or exceed 08 numbers to justify pick. Could do it.

Round 2
Best Pick: Garrett Atkins #11 (Regulators) Just because I think he ends up the season with the best #’s out of this round. not a great round overall.
Worst Pick: John Lackey #19 (Nuthin Yet) until he’s healthy, then it’s Fausto Carmona #12 (KC)

Round 3
Best: Felix Hernandez #25 (Legends) – if healthy, will contend for Cy.
Worst: TIE: Howie Kendrick #29 (KC), Francisco Liriano #28 (Jobu). Liriano will fall of the list if he comes up and performs, but anyone drafted #28 who gets sent down to the minors belongs on the list, even if it’s for a week.

Round 4
Best: Robinson Cano #34 (Kouz) Top 5 2B slides to the 84th player taken.
Worst: Jacoby Ellsbury #32. (KC) Homer Alert! Homer Alert! Anyone notice a trend??

Round 5
Best: Ryan Zimmerman #47 (Nuthin Yet) – based solely on his walk off 3/30/08
Worst: Placido Polanco #44 (Bounty Hunters) Nice average and some runs, but early for P-squared. Way to get off the snide KC!

Round 6
Best: Pedro Martinez #53 (Jobu) – 103rd player taken could be a top 5 pitcher if healthy.
Worst: Kenji Johjima #52 (KC) – Doh! He still went before Mariano…

Round 7
Best: tie: Jeff Francoeur #64 (Bounty Hunters)/Brad Hawpe #62 (Nuthin Yet) – both will have all-star caliber seasons
Worst: Hideki Matsui #67 (Kouz). I hate Matsui. He’s old and will break down by June. He also hates America and is involved in human trafficking.

Round 8
Best: James Shields #80 (BOB) Could win 15 with solid numbers. Cool action hero name.
Worst: Dustin Pedroia #71 (KC) – see Ellsbury, Jacoby #32

Round 9
Best: John Maine # 82 (Nuthin Yet) – looked great in spring. breakout year.
Worst: Phil Hughes #85 (Legends) – Better starters out there. Case of prospectitis. Symptoms are grabbing young guys for potential over established stars with slight blemishes. See Regulators.

Round 10
Best: Tie: Andruw Jones #95 (Swine)/ Jason Bay #96 (Legends) – big slide for previous studs. Both healthy with bounce back potential
Worst: Tie: Cameron Maybin #100 (BOB) already cut; Kelvim Escobar #91 (Legends) done for year?

Round 11
Best: Josh Hamilton #107 (Kouz) – Expected to hit 85HR, 210RBI based on spring
Worst: Kaz Matsui #106 (Swine) – Two words: anal fizzures.

Round 12
Best: Oliver Perez #111 (Regulators) – also potentially the worst pick of the round. Very exciting.
Worst: David Weathers #114 (KC) – check that on Perez, potentially the 2nd worst pick this round… potentially the #1 over-all seed of worst picks.

Round 13
Best: mostly closers and players already cut here. I’ll go with Jered Weaver at #130, cause I picked him, and it's my list (Regulators).
Worst: Todd Jones #122 (LL L) – the curse of Todd Jones lives again in 08

Round 14
Best: Rich Harden #134 (Kouz) Ace if healthy. It’s a big If, but a great If at this number.
Worst: Eric Gagne #137 (BH)– already cut, and already spectacularly blew a save. Someone call his pharmacist!

Round 15
Best: Kosuke Fukudome #146 (Swine) – a great name, and on pace for 162HR and 486RBI.
Worst: Milton Bradley #144 (BH) – expects to be arrested by May 15.

Round 16
Best: Khalil Greene #153 (Jobu) due to reach his potential some day.
Worst: Kevin Kouzmanoff #154 (Kouz). this blog black-lists communists.

Round 17
Best: Zack Grienke #170 (Regulators) – I had to put him here or else he’d have sat out this year.
Worst: Ryan Freel #166 (Swine) – Already cut. That’s what you get for listening to nephews.

Round 18
Best: Randy Johnson # 180 (BOB) Gotta take the BIG flyer here.
Worst: Kenny Lofton #178 (LL L) worst rule ever: you have to actually be on a roster to get starts. Stupid rules…

Round 19
Best: Troy Glaus #185 (Legends) – could get back to 35hr in the NL if healthy
Worst: Chris Ray #189 (KC) – great investment for the 2010 season, cause that may be when he pitches next.

Round 20 (and supps):
Best: Billy Butler #201 (BOB) – potential bopper. Where Maybin should have been drafted.
Worst: Andrew Miller #191 (Regulators) – So good, he was cut for someone who won’t pitch until June.