Matt Torra the #23 prospect, goes to UMass. I had no idea who he was until now.

I'm not particularly thrilled with either...  I'd rather take a flier on Chris Robinson out of Illinois in the 4th or 5th round if he is still available.  IMO he's the best defensive catcher in the draft and he has average tools at the plate, but he makes the most of them...

I agree. Robinson would be a great pickup. I didn't know he was a great defensive catcher, which makes me want him even more. I just saw his offensive stats and thought he'd be a good pickup in one of the earlier rounds.

Matt Torra the #23 prospect, goes to UMass.  I had no idea who he was until now.

Torra sounds good to me. Baseball America seems to like him, rating him as having the 5th best fastball and breaking ball, and 2nd best command of college pitchers in the draft. Plus, you gotta love the ERA (1.13) and WHIP (0.75), and he's got a good frame (6'3'', 225).

 

Another guy that I like a lot is Stephen Head from Ole Miss. He's a lefty 1B/OF with some pop. His avg. is down a little this year at .308, but he doesn't have Seth Smith (high round pick last year) protecting him this year either. He's still got 16 HR's, though, and 58 RBI.

Torra sounds good to me.  Baseball America seems to like him, rating him as having the 5th best fastball and breaking ball, and 2nd best command of college pitchers in the draft.  Plus, you gotta love the ERA (1.13) and WHIP (0.75), and he's got a good frame (6'3'', 225).

 

Another guy that I like a lot is Stephen Head from Ole Miss.  He's a lefty 1B/OF with some pop.  His avg. is down a little this year at .308, but he doesn't have Seth Smith (high round pick last year) protecting him this year either.  He's still got 16 HR's, though, and 58 RBI.

Head is a guy who probably should of just went pro out of high school. It looks like he'll get picked around the same range. Two way player if I think right (also closes???). Projects more as a hitter though and definately has the pop.

 

Slotted to go somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd round (more likely the 2nd and you never know a team could take him in the supplemental round).

I didn't realize that the draft was June 7th. Isn't it usually June 20th or past then?

 

My hope of them taking a Boras client, I'm starting to realize, probably isn't going to happen. I'm dissappointed about that, but oh well, life goes on.

 

And, one more thing. What about Wade Townsend? He was part of that highly touted Rice trio, correct? He's not a Boras client, is he? And, is he good enough to take at #15, considering he went top ten last year?

 

(Edited, again): I just looked on thebaseballcube, and it looks like Townsend was right up there with Humber and Niemann. He averaged over 11 K's per nine, which was more than the other two (IIRC), and he had an ERA of 1.80 which was better than both of them. His walks were up a little more than the other two's, but not by a whole lot.

 

Yuck -- tell me that Boras is his agent...?

Edited May 24, 200520 yr by CWSGuy406

I didn't realize that the draft was June 7th.  Isn't it usually June 20th or past then?

As I remember the draft was right around when school ended for me so I'm thinking it was probably around the same time last year.

Ya, its usually right at the beginning of June. This time I plan to be home during most of the draft writing up pieces on it

 

Of course I'll be in Iowa the weekend before the draft..internetless (BOO).

Ick....Jason and I in the same state. We do have the internet here, ya know.

Ick....Jason and I in the same state. We do have the internet here, ya know.

Ya, but my grandparents don't....they don't even have a computer. Lucky for me I do get some semblance of Cable, of course WGN got replaced in there lineup a few years back (meaning I'm Soxless too).

 

Usually I spend a lot of time sleeping (its just such a different life than I'm used to out here...so much slower, well thats cause I'm not actually working the farm...in that case it would be quiet the opposite).

I dont think Townsend is a Boras client but one thing i read about him is his fastball is very straight which could be trouble because a straight fastball that isnt upper 90's will get smashed in the majors.

Two way player if I think right (also closes???).  Projects more as a hitter though and definately has the pop.

Yes, he does close for Ole Miss. But, you're right about him projecting better as a hitter than pitcher.

Edited May 25, 200520 yr by dasox24

Yes, he does close for Ole Miss.  But, you're right about him projecting better as a hitter rather than pitcher.

How's it going, man?? Good to see you back around here. You out of school??

Edited May 25, 200520 yr by Rowand44

How's it going, man??  Good to see you back around here.  You out of school??

Yep, I got out a week ago. My one and only exam was on the 16th. (Gosh, I love exemptions.) It feels good to be back, and getting up to par on the minor leagues and the upcoming draft, and all that good stuff. Anyway, I'm goin' out of town tomorrow for a week to see my brother in Virginia. So, I'll be gone awhile again, but when I get back, I'll be back for good.

 

Hey, rowand, you still gettin' on here really late at night like last summer? Go Late Night Sox Talk Fan Club!

Edited May 25, 200520 yr by dasox24

Yep, I got out a week ago.  My one and only exam was on the 16th.  (Gosh, I love exemptions.)  It feels good to be back, and getting up to par on the minor leagues and the upcoming draft, and all that good stuff.  Anyway, I'm goin' out of town tomorrow for a week to see my brother in Virginia.  So, I'll be gone awhile again, but when I get back, I'll be back for good.

 

Hey, rowand, you still gettin' on here really late at night like last summer?  Go Late Night Sox Talk Fan Club!  

Not the 4-5o'clock late yet. Once I get out of school next week I'll be back to the last summer routine

Not the 4-5o'clock late yet.  Once I get out of school next week I'll be back to the last summer routine

Sweet. I'm out early b/c my school always starts early. We started like Aug. 13th this year. Anyway, if you have to take exams, good luck on them, and if you don't, even better!

Oh, and I hate to say it, but there won't be many late nights for me like last summer b/c my job this summer actually requires me to wake up at about 7 a.m.

Edited May 25, 200520 yr by dasox24