QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 13, 2016 -> 01:12 PM)
Roland got the axe because the minor league system was embarrassing. The guys they were calling up in 1985 were not major leaguers in any way. Roland's a nice guy, but if you use the same criteria on him you use on everyone else, his being fired was deserved.
Kurt Brown over Barry Bonds with the 5th overall pick in the 1985 draft? Oops. Some of Roland's top 10 picks, Baines, nice, Daryl Boston at 7, Cecil Espy at 8, Steve Trout at 8, Steve Bueschele a decent player at 9, but didn't sign. Why would you draft a HS player at 9 who isn't going to sign?
You look at the top 6 picks in that draft, and Kurt Brown is the only one you would say "Who?".
1 B.J. Surhoff Milwaukee Brewers
2 Will Clark San Francisco Giants
3 Bobby Witt Texas Rangers
4 Barry Larkin Cincinnati Reds
5 Kurt Brown Chicago White Sox
6 Barry Bonds Pittsburgh Pirates