What problem is this fuckwit trying to solve?
I think the only rational conclusion is that the owners really want to lose a season.
The fact that operating a baseball team, much less a competitive baseball team, costs the owner money.
1 Like
I like the international draft part, the rest of it not so much.
Some good details in here:
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/49107139/sources-mlb-proposes-international-draft-part-cba-talks
āSaving the owners from themselvesā
So, highschoolers have to go to some combine/tryout and then just negotiate a deal directly? That wonāt turn out well for owners. Agents will be all over that.
The international draft is the one area where thereās an obvious problem that needs solving (corruption) but leave it to MLB to crack down on corruption by restricting spending instead of just cracking down on corruption directly.
2 Likes
As part of the proposal, MLB would work with the Dominican government, independent trainers and the MLBPA to establish the following protections and safeguards for players training in the Dominican Republic:
Establishment of a code of conduct for independent trainers with appropriate penalties for violations
Prohibiting any individual or firm from purchasing an interest in a playerās future signing bonus or salary, or loaning a player or his family money with the playerās future signing bonus or compensation as collateral
Implementation of a lifetime ban from the baseball industry, and criminal penalties, for any person who provides performance-enhancing substances to a player
A requirement that players who reside in an independent trainer academy prior to age 18 must remain enrolled in an education program approved by the Ministry of Education
All of which can be done with or without a draft. Conditioning any of it on acceptance of a draft is absurd.
And they should do those things regardless, agreed. Weāll see what ends up happening. I have no problem whatsoever with a draft.
1 Like
Couple of new mock drafts came out late last week.
Jim Callis (MLB), whose mock isnāt based on any new intel about what teams are going to do, has the Astros selecting:
- 17 - Justin Lebron (SS - Alabama)
- 31 - Zion Rose (OF - Louisville)
Lebronās high risk, high reward profile ha already been covered upthread. Rose, however, seems like the inverse of Lebron. Heās not super athletic; defensively, he profiles as an average(ish) LF with a fringey arm. The hit tool is less of a question but he hasnāt shown much in-game power so far in his career.
Kiley McDaniel (ESPN) based his mock on what he thinks teams should do in the first round and has the Astros selecting:
- 17 - Daniel Jackson (C - Georgia)
Jackson is a bit of a polarizing prospect. He won the SEC Triple Crown (.379 AVG, 32 HR, 87 RBI) and the Dick Howser Trophy for outstanding collegiate baseball player. He also stole 26 of 28 bases. Behind the plate, while he may not be the next coming of Jerry Goff, heās still very raw defensively with a strong arm that lacks accuracy and decent pop times.
FWIW, Iād be pretty bummed if Callis is right. Thereās no question Lebron has a ton of upside. But the concerns about his hitting are real and thatās not something the Astros have demonstrated a strong history of developing. Rose looks a guy whose profile matches any number of hitters you can find in the later rounds.
Jackson is interesting. If Houston canāt develop him defensively, heās athletic enough to move to a corner OF or 1B (or even full time DH). But there are also guys like Carson Tinney and Jack Natili who are better catchers defensively with somewhat similar hitting profiles.
The depth of college pitching is one of the strengths of this yearās draft. Iād love to see the Astros focus on some of those power arms with their early picks and/or the hitters who are athletic enough to keep playing up the middle in pro ball.
Lebron reminds me a ton of Brice Matthews (super fast hands/bat, great athlete, questionable contact skills), and we already have one of those (juryās still out on his future).
When it comes to guys with questionable contact skills Iād say weāre pretty stacked.
3 Likes
1 Like
Also, Brice at home vs road split is fucking ridiculous:
H: .099 .108 .168 .276 102 PA
R: .284 .359 .543 .902 134 PA
Does he play blind-folded at home?
1 Like
I said upthread that Lebron seems like Matthews 2.0 with lower exit velocities (and Matthews seems like Tony Kemp with better exit velocitiesā¦ so I suppose Lebron is Kemp 4.0).
Kidding aside, those are useful guys to have in the system and on an MLB roster. But theyāre not the type of player you take with the 17th overall pick. This is Dana Brown, though, so juneberno.
1 Like
LH at home, RH on the road?
Add my name to the please not Labron list. He makes some great plays in the field and then has major lapses on routine plays. When you combine that with hitting issues, it make me question his mental make up/ ability to maintain focus.
Jackson was impressive to watch this year. He was just the fifth player and first catcher to hit 25 HR and have 25 steals in a season. I havenāt watched his defense closely but I like the offence he brings.
Iāve read some chatter that Lebronās performance in the postseason was enough to restore some of his shine as a prospect. Hope thatās true and heās someone elseās problem when the Astros are on the board.
Jackson certainly seems like a prospect whom youāre selecting for his bat. Iād be surprised if he stays behind the plate in pro ball, however, given the evaluations Iāve read about his defense. Sounds like heās athletic enough to make that transition.