I’ve had my say, reviewing day 1 and day 2, as well as some overall thoughts. Now I want to know what YOU think of our draft. I’ve set up a simple poll over at polldaddy.com, just click the link and register your vote. Also, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
20 thoughts on “2007 Draft, What do YOU think?”
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Phuture Phillies 
I think we will continue to use 1998 and 2006 as benchmarks as to what consitutes a good approach and a good draft by the phils- one that takes chances, one that drafts aggressively, and one that looks for finds later in the draft.
This draft, well i think it will fall in with all the mediocre drafts and the same sort of strategy they partook- one that will net you probably a solid first rounder in Savory, one of either d’Amard or Mattair should shake out to at least be a decent prospect (which has its value), and expect 2-3 of these other college rhp to show up in the bullpen at some point in time- if just for brief cups of coffee.
The phils wanted to add bats to the system, they did- but they just aren’t the polished variety- guys like Spencer and Riccoti, you expect -or hope- they’ll do well in the lower leagues. But I think most of us don’t trust the phils have a good development approach when it comes to first finding the right kind of hitters (outside obvious choices in the first 2 rounds), and second putting them into a system that will develope them to be productive. heck, aside from Slayden- they don’t even seem to be able to be able to identify organizational filler to perform at the lower levels.
Overall, sign all the picks in 1-10, get me Sampson and one or two other highschoolers from the later rounds- and i’ll be content with having a handful of toys to watch instead of what could have been much better.
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Okay, I know this is rough and theoretical, but stay with me here.
There’s 25 guys on a major league team, there’s 50 rounds in a draft. Even if every guy who ever made it to the majors only played one year, you’re only talking about 1 out of every 2 guys drafted making the majors. In the 1st 3 picks, we took a lefty with a good changeup, a catcher with amazing defense, and a big 3B with potential and great makeup. One of those three should see time in the majors at some point. If they do, it’s a successful draft. I know the point is to draft as many guys as possible with a shot at seeing the majors, but these seem like 3 good guys.
-I really like the pick of Michael Taylor out of Stanford. James, you keep mentioning that the Phillies never develop bats. I think that’s a little misleading. The bats they do develop are ones that are true power bats. Howard (a 5th rounder), Utley, Burrell, and even Rollins (his batting line is more of a power hitter’s, his speed is dressing) are all power bats coming out of the Phils system. It’s the 5-tool and pure speed OFs like Golson, Moran, and Bourn (still looks lost) that they have trouble developing. If the Phils can bring out the power potential, they get themselves a real steal.
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The Phillies don’t develop toolsy players. Taylor is a toolsy outfielder with a ton of power and athleticism. Burrell and Utley were finished products out of college. Rollins is the last prep hitter they developed, and I don’t really think they developed Howard, but I guess he kind of tapped into potential that he showed in college.
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I will give my own assessment a bit later; but itshould be noted, right off, that comparing THIS draft to those of the past several years is like comparing apples and oranges.
the BIG change is that all players must be signed by a date certain which is immediately before college classes begins. Applicable particularly to HS draftees who could have college on their minds. If not signed by then, a chosen player goes back into the pool for ’08.
This system culls the serious baseball-intended draftee from the ones not willing to make that commitment to baseball, at least for now.
And those who could otherwise be drafted on a draft & follow basis are not in this draft; no draft and follow anymore.
So comparisons to priors won’t work…
It will have to stand on its own 2 feet in comparison to other teams who had close to the same opportunities as the Phils.
THAT is a comparable.
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Well then, let’s hope that Taylor taps into his potential like Howard did, eh?
And from what I’ve read, he used to be a toolsy guy, but as his body grew and filled out, he turned into a power guy.
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Toolsy is synonymous with guys who have multiple tools out of the 5, but don’t translate that into consistent results. Taylor has the power tool, he still has the speed tool (he has 6 or 7 triples this year) and he has the arm tool.
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Somewhat pleased with Day 1. I’d give them a B+ for those first seven picks with only Mach a reach (a cheap one at that). Terribly disappointed in Day 2. I’d give them a D for Day 2. Overall grade B- (First 7 picks way, way more important that the last 45). This was a HS draft and we should have taken like 7 in the first 10 rounds. The Williamsport roster will have about 15 college age RHPs, I think but no discernable 3B or SS. Last year we signed 8 HS players. I’ll be somewhat surprised if we sign more than 3 (d’Arnaud, Mattair, Workman). I would love for them to prove me wrong but I’ve seen the way they operate for far too long. 2006 looks like the aberration now.
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Further to my comment on the last post (and I realise I’m diving in the deep end with all you draft sharks), the only thing that has me wondering if more of these guys get signed is that we did manage to sign the HS guys last year – and that was the first year Gillick was with us. Is he the significant factor which differed from previous years? Wait and see, I guess.
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The high school guys signed last year were predominantly taken in the first 12 rounds.
Myers = 4th round, ranked #69 in California, signed for $250,000
TJ Warren = 8th round, unranked, $92,500
Jarrod Freeman = 11th round, bonus not disclosed (or no bonus)
McDonald = 12th round, bonus not disclosed (or no bonus)
Dominic Brown = 20th round, not ranked by BA, $200,000
I think if we sign any of them, it will be Sampson, and he’ll likely require at least 3rd round money.
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I still like the top three, but beyond that it looks like a crap
shoot to me. We may luck out or we may not. In any case, it’s
still early for a real evaluation–given the new rules in place.
Let’s look at all of this again in the fall.
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I’m with Olgrandad. The top 3 picks are fine and uninspiring after that. I give the draft a C+ for now. It could go to a B+ if Savery is fully healthy and Sampson signs.
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I also want to say, I don’t like to toot my own horn, but I am really happy that I was on Travis Mattair 2 weeks ago, and the Phillies ended up taking him. We always have our favs, but to have the guy you actually really want get picked by your team, especially with their 3rd pick, makes me feel like I kind of knew what I was talking about. Ok, done now 🙂
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Fine to toot your horn, I’m just glad we have Mattair. We need a 3B other than Costanzo in the system.
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Given where they were picked, I like Taylor better than Spencer. Both of those picks should have been used for HS players with upside, however. I especially distrust a player like Spencer who blossoms in his last college season. Fluke career season?
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I don’t mind the Spencer and Taylor picks as at least they have some big upside. The picks that I liked the least were Mach (4th) and Rocchio (10th). Give me RHP Kyle Blair in the 4th (or the SS from Puerto Rico that KC drafted at the top of the 6th) and a HS position player like Chris Berroa in the 10th and I’d have been ecstatic. My only hope is that the Phillies feel more flexibility to do some things after the tenth round like they did last year. If Sampson is unattainable, I’d like to see them get Moncrief they way they got Dominic Brown.
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1.Mattair, Travis-
Positives: His athleticism is obvious. He runs like an athlete with great easy and that is a great sign on the defensive side it means he will have good body control. Also, he has very fluid hands but needs become a little quicker fielding and getting rid of the ball (very common for players his age). Offensively he has a very quite body and a short swing. This should translate to low strikeout numbers, 300 plus BA. and an easy adjustment from metal to wood. Travis gets very good extention (very impressive for how short his swing is). This means gap to gap power. I see swing a lot less polished chase utley from the other side.
Negatives: Defensively needs polishing. Offensively there two concerns of mine He needs to increase his bat speed he also does not show good timing at the plate and relies to much on brut strength to muscle it out there. He does not always hit the ball out in front and take advantage of his good extension.
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Matt Spencer Positives: Matt has a quick bat and obvious Power. Turns on the inside pitch very well. He has very good size.
Negatives: Pull happy. Has too long of a swing and drags the bat head through the zone. I hate to say it but I see offensively similarities to Costanza I an not sure his succes translates to wood
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Micheal, Taylor- Positives I love his build broad shoulders, tall, long arms. reminds me of Vadimir Guerrero in terms of his build. Strong arm. Plus power.
Negatives: Like Spencer I am very worried about him swinging a would bat. His uppercut scares me I see a ton of K’s unless the hitting coach can shorten his swing up. Defensively seems a little stiff fielding the ball
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I was thinking about this yesterday. Are they saving money on the draft because they are pursuing something on the Latin American front? I was reading an analysis of the Mets draft, and the commentator was saying that the Mets might have drafted relievers early and often to save a bit of money to make another splash in Latin America. In the last few seasons, they’ve grabbed the best position player (Fernando Martinez) and one of the best pitching prospects in Deolis Guerra. Maybe Gillick has a guy targeted that he wants to sign and has already allocated those funds, thus taking money away from the draft budget.
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