The Braves’ No. 1 pick: A Minor addition or a major reach?
Nobody would ever suggest the Braves don’t know what they’re doing — on second thought, that’s pretty much all anybody ever suggests on the ol’ blog — but taking Mike Minor with the seventh pick in Round 1 seemed, shall we say, unusual.
He’s a college pitcher. The Braves tend to prefer high school pitchers. (Fewer innings in the arm.) And it’s not as if Minor was considered the class of this college class. Indeed, Baseball America had him ranked a “second-round talent” and the 10th-best lefthander available in its pre-draft issue.
Baseball America’s capsule: “Minor could be the third lefthander drafted out of Vanderbilt in the past six years, and he’s more Jeremy Sowers [who's 13-22 with the Cleveland Indians] than David Price [the Tampa Bay phenom]. Like Sowers, Minor has more pitchability than stuff, with a fastball in the 86-89 mph range and a plus changeup that grades as his best pitch. His other strongest attribute could be his pickoff move … Minor’s success could depend on his breaking stuff … Minor will be all over draft boards in June and could go anywhere from the first half of the first round to the back half of the second.”
Here was Jim Callis, the Baseball America writer who tabbed Minor as the Braves’ No. 1 pick in his mock draft: “[He] doesn’t have as high an upside as some others.”
From John Manuel of Baseball America (link requires registration): “It’s an out-of-character pick for Atlanta in many ways, but the Braves believe in Minor, the 2008 Summer College Player of the Year. The Braves like the fact that Minor improved down the stretch when he took over the duties of calling his own pitches, and his cerebral approach should help him move quickly. Scouts who doubt Minor believe his stuff has flattened out the last year or so and believe he’s a fourth starter at best, with only plus pitchability and no true out pitch.”
Keith Law of ESPN.com’s Scouts Inc. had Minor rated the draft’s 38th-best prospect. (Requires registration.) And let’s note that he went No. 7, which was the highest pick the Braves have had since 1991, when they took the center fielder Mike Kelly at No. 2.
Loading ...And here, as reported by esteemed colleague Carroll Rogers, was scouting director Roy Clark’s rationale for taking Minor: “He was the ace of the USA Baseball national team last year that had a number of pretty good pitchers, including Mr. [Stephen] Strasburg [the No. 1 overall pick]. This guy is a winner. I was hoping we’d have an opportunity to select him. Now, I’m hoping we have an opportunity to sign him.”
A stipulation: The Braves do a nice job scouting and developing talent. Their track record tells us so. Another stipulation: Zack Wheeler of East Paulding, considered the apple of the Braves’ eye, was taken sixth overall by San Francisco. That said, Minor was still an odd choice.
John Schuerholz arrived from Kansas City in October 1990. In the 19 drafts since, only twice have the Braves made a collegian their first selection. The aforementioned Kelly, of Arizona State, was one. Joey Devine, the reliever who exited North Carolina State in 2005, was the other, and the Braves made a hash of his development. Not the most heartening precedents, would you say?
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127 comments Add your comment
SC Ace
June 10th, 2009
10:27 am
The baseball draft is something of a crapshoot anyway, so who knows? I’ll leave it to people who have more knowledge, time, and interest in the draft.
What do people say about that kid from Princeton in the 3rd round?
Sam Everyman, Citizen Journalist
June 10th, 2009
10:28 am
“Scouts who doubt Minor believe his stuff has flattened out the last year or so and believe he’s a fourth starter at best, with only plus pitchability and no true out pitch.”
Just what we talked about yesterday. Will Roger teach Minor a devastating sinker?
Will the career be over before he gets to Roger? Or will Roger be gone before Minor gets to the bigs?
Sam Everyman, Citizen Journalist
June 10th, 2009
10:34 am
Better chance . . . Minor and a few more promising young arms will be sent to Texas for an aging Saltalamacchia.
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
10:37 am
Baseball America rated David Hale of Princeton the 28th-best righthander in the draft. He pitched and played center field at Princeton, and Baseball America says: “Many scouts believe he could take off once he starts concentrating on pitching full-time.” Has command issues. (But hey, so do I.) Topped out at 97 mph on the fastball.
Herschel Talker
June 10th, 2009
10:39 am
Another feather in the cap of Frank Wreck!
Phillip
June 10th, 2009
10:45 am
Braves should have taken the “Matzulek” kid that went 12th overall to the Colorado Rockies – he was a lefty who has electric stuff with 97-98mph fastball – supposedly the only reason he fell this low was because he wanted a big signing bonus. Braves should have paid it! This Minor kid sounds very ordinary and not worthy of a “top 10″ pick.
jb
June 10th, 2009
10:48 am
Given all the talent available with the #7 pick, and the braves took this guy? A 6-6 record and an ERA up at almost 4.00??? He was not even the best pitcher on vandy’s staff? We take 2nd round material at best, and get this guy in the top 10. It’s like taking a buick regal over a bmw!! Does anyone else wonder why this organization is just average at its best these days, and you could argue that average is a bit to kind!! We can’t sign top free agents here anymore, we run hall of famers off in the worst way, get made to look like fools by previous players { furcal debacle} and have perhaps the worst offensive team in all of mlb to witness on every given night? No suprise to me that we blew the 7th overall pick in this draft, i mean the braves are not exactly causing anyone to look back and worry about them! Minor will be a career minor league pitcher and will never see AAA ball!! Terrible pick
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
10:54 am
The Braves saw something in Minor. Let’s hope the thing they saw wasn’t just signability.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
June 10th, 2009
11:00 am
I second the wish for Matzulek but I will leave it to Roy Clark. He is one of the best in the business and plays a mean banjo.
Hoosier Aaron
June 10th, 2009
11:01 am
I’ve read reports that call Minor, “The most polished lefty in the draft.”
I’ll bet after Roy Clark got finised pickin’ he was grinnin’.
PMC
June 10th, 2009
11:03 am
They certainly need to find some talent at third base to draft soon as Chipper is getting long in the tooth.
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
11:05 am
Yesterday, when Roy Clark was young …
JT
June 10th, 2009
11:05 am
What was the terminolgy used to describe Maddox and Glavine when they were drafted? Just curious.
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
11:07 am
Scouting dossier on Smoltz: “Throws hard; likes golf; hates Mark Bradley.”
Scouting dossier on Glavine: “Throws soft; likes golf; used to like Mark Bradley.”
Wren Hater
June 10th, 2009
11:08 am
Major Reach !
Thanks, Mark.
The Orioles got rid of the WRETCHED WREN after only one (1) season.
What is taking our beloved Braves so long to come to the same realization about this bumbler?
mudcat
June 10th, 2009
11:08 am
With all the pre-draft hype about this draft being pitching-rich, I was surprised with the Minor pick. But I have faith in Roy Clark and our scouting staff. It sounds as if he could go through our minor league system relatively quickly and he could be helping the Big Boys in a couple of years-that’s good! Trade bait potential?
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
June 10th, 2009
11:10 am
Minor sounds like braves pick about 20 years ago. Lefty with 88-90 mph fastball with command of his changeup which is his #2 pitch. Hope this guy turns out as good.
Navigator
June 10th, 2009
11:13 am
This pick has Cox’s finger prints all over it. Remember, he likes players that he’s comfortable with and this guy sounds like a young Tommy Glavine. Decent fast ball, nibbles the corners, but the problem is that Mazzone developed Tommy Glavine and he’s no longer with the Braves, or is he???
dap01
June 10th, 2009
11:14 am
Seems like a real low ceiling for a #7 pick.
Jonathan
June 10th, 2009
11:15 am
This was not a good pick but all accounts. Of course Clark will say “he was the guy we wanted”
The fact of the matter is they had to find a guy who would sign for cheap because all of the more talented players were more expensive.
Mike Minor was not the 7th best talent in the draft, according to every source out there.
We FINALLY have a chance to pick in the top 10, and we get a guy we could get in the 30-40 range every other year.
Scorby Jones
June 10th, 2009
11:18 am
It sounds to me like we got an intelligent pitcher with a worse reputation than he deserves. Hopefully, it turns out to be a steal of a pick. However, if he isn’t more than two years away from the majors…. what do we need him for???
Maybe the Braves are buying low on him (and their second pick) to let them develop and prove theirselves in the minors, before we trade them for some big league position players??
Missing Leo
June 10th, 2009
11:21 am
RE: “The Braves like the fact that Minor improved down the stretch when he took over the duties of calling his own pitches….”
DUH! When you have an incompetent pitching coach like Roger McDowell overseeing your big-league “development,” you better be able to think for yourself.
————
What kind of bridge did Leo Mazzone have to burn with the Braves to STILL be out of work that the local baseball team would rather keeping re-hiring McDowell instead of him?????
Missing Leo
June 10th, 2009
11:21 am
RE: “The Braves like the fact that Minor improved down the stretch when he took over the duties of calling his own pitches….”
DUH! When you have an incompetent pitching coach like Roger McDowell overseeing your big-league “development,” you better be able to think for yourself.
————
What kind of bridge did Leo Mazzone have to burn with the Braves to STILL be out of work that the local baseball team would rather keeping re-hiring McDowell instead of him?????
jarvis
June 10th, 2009
11:27 am
Mark – any info on corner outfield talent in the farm system? What we have in Atlanta is not good. Unless there was nothing available or there is someone waiting in the wings I don’t know about, why wouldn’t we have drafted some outfield power?
Chipper Jonestown Massacre
June 10th, 2009
11:31 am
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger wrote: “Minor sounds like braves pick about 20 years ago. Lefty with 88-90 mph fastball with command of his changeup which is his #2 pitch.”
I agree, this guy sounds just like Derek Lilliquist…
jarvis
June 10th, 2009
11:33 am
I loved the Lilliquist pick at the time. I figured he and Jerry Willard would be battery mates for years.
Bamafan
June 10th, 2009
11:33 am
I live in Nashville and never heard of the Minor kid till yesterday. His college coach at Vandy is a great baseball coach and recruits like Nick Saban. Leave it to the scouts and front office people to
pick the best baseball players in the draft.!!
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
11:40 am
I believe Jason Heyward is a corner outfielder, Jarvis.
And with that, Elizabeth and I are going to lunch. Anybody want anything from Chick-fil-A?
Rick
June 10th, 2009
11:44 am
I hate the “high ceiling” crap, remember Van Poppel and Brien Taylor. They both had unbelievable potential and how about David West who was as hot a prospect as there was, did either of them ever turn out to be much? High ceiling or low ceiling the fact of the matter is that you never know how a kid will develop. Being a Braves fan one thing that has been proven is that you don’t need a 98mph fastball to be successful in the big leagues so I will trust Roy Clark’s judgement and hope for the best.
Icepack
June 10th, 2009
11:44 am
Buck Balue sized minor up succinctly yesterday, positive feedback. I am OK with it. Enjoy the Chick-fil-A.
Chipper Jonestown Massacre
June 10th, 2009
11:46 am
I’d love me some o’ them chicken nuggets… (Honey Mustard sauce, please)
Thanks,
NC Braves Fan
June 10th, 2009
11:48 am
Mark – what exactly is “pitchability?” I’d like to drop that word in casual conversation in order to try and impress my few remaining friends. Can you help a brother out?
singndablues
June 10th, 2009
11:49 am
Even with all the minor league talent traded away the Braves still have one of the top rated farm systems. Somebody obviously knows what they are doing so I wouldn’t be so quick to judge. Lot’s of kids with amazing tools and potential have been picked in the draft and never seen the light of day on a major league field.
Michael Scharff
June 10th, 2009
11:59 am
Mark, what in the heck is “pitchability”?
NC Braves Fan
June 10th, 2009
12:04 pm
Maybe it’s just the combination of pitch + ability. Kind of like the baseball scouts’ answer to the combination of peanut butter & jelly you find in Goober Grape. http://www.taquitos.net/snacks.php?food=3
BoiseBravesFan
June 10th, 2009
12:05 pm
I commute back and forth from Nashville to Boise and have seen MMinor pitch 3 or 4 times over the last three years. Make no mistake about it the MLB draft is the biggest crapshoot around as said above but this guy is international and SEC hardened and would not surprise me to be in the show in two or three years; somewhere. These 97mph whiz kids for the most part have trouble “pitching” if you will. Minotr already has that aspect under control.
Hoosier Aaron
June 10th, 2009
12:07 pm
Just for the heck of it, I took a look at a few of the numerous, numerous mock drafts available.
I stopped after looking at the first 8 that popped up….
Funny thing is – all 8 had our boy listed in the first round.
One going to the Reds at #8, #10 to the Nats, the lowest was #24 to the Halos.
While Roy Clark forgot more about evaluating talent in his sleep last night than any of these “mock drafters” will ever know – it appears that our boy might have earned a little respect within the baseball world.
joe
June 10th, 2009
12:08 pm
Strasburg will need TJ surgery in a few years. It ain’t natural to throw that hard with that big a breaking ball. The Nats will pay 20 mill to sign him, for what? This has Mark Prior written all over it. Minor probably is a minor talent (pun intended), but hey, if he can stay healthy and become a good 5th starter…why not?
Sam
June 10th, 2009
12:13 pm
Chick-Fil-A is a great metaphor for Minor. Quality picks are made based on scouting (experience), potential (how strong is your stomach), and signability (price). Based on that, and our amazing Mr. Bradley, I like both selections (CFA and Mr. Minor).
Only problem is: who is going to replace Chipper one day? Were there any top prospects in the draft that played 3rd?
carl
June 10th, 2009
12:17 pm
He”ll be the steal of the draft to ONLY be traded away in a “STINKER” of o deal!!!
Slee
June 10th, 2009
12:19 pm
It looks like to me like they picked him due to signability and the fact that he will be able to contribute in the show fairly quickly.
Money
June 10th, 2009
12:19 pm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/david_sabino/06/09/draft.rankings2/index.html
Draft rankings don’t really mean much to me…just look at this list…Jake Peavy went in the 15th round in 1999…but on the flip side, Chipper went #1 overall in 1990, and look how that turned out…draft rankings are just a big crap shoot…
Gil In Mechanicsville
June 10th, 2009
12:22 pm
Sam… and others… The Braves’ best success has been in their signings of Latin players. No one drafts third baseman, they draft shortstops who grow big and strong and slow…
Daniel
June 10th, 2009
12:28 pm
I can’t believe anyone has a strong opinion on the baseball draft. The Braves have an extensive history of drafting and developing talent. Some of you people are real idiots.
joe
June 10th, 2009
12:29 pm
http://www.talkingchop.com/2009/6/9/904151/braves-take-vanderbuilt-left
Here is a nice highlight reel of Minor. Not flashy, but pitches in and out, up and down, with what looks like an awesome changeup.
TO NC BRAVES FAN
June 10th, 2009
12:32 pm
I think it’s like drinkability – just draw a picture of a perfect pitch with your finger in the air… Don’t forget to credit Anheuser Busch!
Alan
June 10th, 2009
12:33 pm
As far as adressing 3rd base, I would like to see Yunel eventually move to 3rd and we can develop a SS. I am not sold on the idea of “Yunel”, as I think he loses concentration very easily, thus making silly mistakes and making himself look bad. Hopefully he can straighten that out. Too bad we don’t have Elvis anymore….
Everytime I think about that trade with Texas, I think we made a bad move. GO BRAVES!
Green Tea
June 10th, 2009
12:33 pm
http://vucommodores.blogspot.com/search/label/2009%20mlb%20draft
TO NC BRAVES FAN
June 10th, 2009
12:35 pm
I wonder what Mark Bradley would draw? I think he likes smokeability from the look of some of his columns. ; ) Kiddin!
joe
June 10th, 2009
12:35 pm
What exactly have Elvis and Salty done at the ML level? Escobar and Elvis don’t hit on the same planet. Salty is another power potential, low average guy we don’t need any more of.
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
12:39 pm
I have to admit that “pitchability” stumped me, too. It reminded me of what the late Paul Owens — the Philadelphia manager and general manager — said about baseball men needing to recuperate from, shall we say, a night on the town: “You’ve got to have bounceability.”
Big B CH 99
June 10th, 2009
12:40 pm
W/ this pick, the Braves definitely need to pick up the phone & see if they can bring Glavine back as a consultant or something to work w/ this kid. There wouldn’t be anyone better to work w/ a young left-hander that doesn’t throw that hard, but has a great change-up.
I’m still not sure why the Braves haven’t brought Leo back, Roger ain’t that bad, but he also ain’t no Leo Mazzone.
Jordan
June 10th, 2009
12:43 pm
This is a smart pick, so stop dogging this player already Mark. Being a Nashvillian, I have watched Mike Minor pitch a couple of times at Vanderbilt and he’ll be a great asset for Atlanta down the road.
http://cgi.ebay.com/J-D-Drew-Autographed-Baseball-Bat-Full-Size_W0QQitemZ120432728127QQihZ002QQcategoryZ27261QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
retired scout
June 10th, 2009
12:43 pm
One of the funniest comments I read here was that “Mazzone developed Glavine”. Give me a break. Mazzone is a legend in his own mind. I don’t see any major league clubs beating his door down to hire him, do you? As for draft opinions, I doubt if any of you bloggers would recognize a prospect if you saw one. Some even quote won loss records, era, etc..Stats don’t mean anything. No professional scout considers “outcomes”; only consider tools and personal make-up.
Sam
June 10th, 2009
12:45 pm
Who have we signed from Latin America in the last couple years (besides Yunel) who has really produced at the Major League level? Furcal, Andruw, and Javy were all years ago. We drafted Francoeur, Kelly, McCann and Hanson. Plus, wasn’t Yunel drafted in the second round? I think so!
NC Braves Fan
June 10th, 2009
12:47 pm
Here’s a writeup from the ChiSox portion of MLB.com. Kind of explains the use of pitchability with Minor. I have no idea about his drink or smokeability.
CHICAGO — The word is “pitchability,” and it won’t be found in even the most thorough of dictionaries. That’s probably because pitchability isn’t really a word.
It’s more of a descriptive term, unique to the game of Major League Baseball. If a particular hurler has this pitchability, it usually indicates that he doesn’t possess a fastball able to whiz by hitters at 95-to-100 mph on a consistent basis. Bobby Jenks has raw firepower, for example, with a hint of pitchability.
In the converse, pitchability also means this man on the mound understands the job at hand. He knows how to attack the hitters within the zone. He knows how to change speeds. Simply put, he realizes what has to be done in order to give his team a chance to win games.
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051116&content_id=1269226&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws
Alan
June 10th, 2009
12:48 pm
Just saying it would be nice to have Elvis in the minors developing and move Yunel to third and Elvis to SS when Chipper calls it a day….
Daniel
June 10th, 2009
12:49 pm
Hes only 21 years old, he will sign, and he is not a huge risky pick that will take years and years to develop. He is much like Cole Hamels in his talent level, and has the intangibles to boot. Get over yourself. It was a GREAT pick!!
Sam
June 10th, 2009
12:50 pm
Also, total side note, wouldn’t it be amazing if MLB got rid of the archaic rule that you cannot trade draft picks? Imagine how much better teams, like the Nats, could be if they could trade the #1 pick to the Red Sox (who could sign the pick) for a good vet or pitcher like Bucholtz.
Daniel
June 10th, 2009
12:51 pm
I don’t know who that last Daniel is…
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
12:52 pm
While I’m off idling away the minutes at Chick-fil-A, NC does major research and educates us all. I feel ashamed. (But also edified. Thanks so much.)
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
12:53 pm
It is an outdated rule, Sam. Thanks for broaching the subject.
Sam
June 10th, 2009
12:55 pm
A question for our esteemed Mr. Bradley: do you get paid by the hour, by the column, or are you signed to a contract? If that is too personal, sorry, I was just having an argument with a buddy.
1eyedJack
June 10th, 2009
12:55 pm
“Minor has more pitchability than stuff, with a fastball in the 86-89 mph range and a plus changeup that grades as his best pitch”
Sounds a lot like Tom Glavine doesn’t it? Too bad we didn’t retain him as a pitching consultant so he could work with the kid.
NC Braves Fan
June 10th, 2009
12:58 pm
Mark – hey, I got drink, smoke and bounceability in return for a modest Google search, which is a tidy return on investment in my book.
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
12:59 pm
Got no contract, Sam. I think I get paid on the monetary system, but I’ll have to check with accounting.
(In semi-seriousness, I don’t get paid by either the column or the hour. I get paid by the number of correct predictions I make, which means I’m still waiting for that first check.)
Jeff R
June 10th, 2009
1:00 pm
Got to hope that Roy Clark’s estimate is on the mark. What’s the best guess on where Minor starts out? High A or AA?
G. Bluedar
June 10th, 2009
1:00 pm
Ah, memories from the last paragraph of Bradley’s Devine column:
At a time when half the Braves’ pitchers are hurt and the cry to promote Charlie Morton from Class AAA is reaching full volume, it’s prudent to recall Joey Devine. “We try to err on the side of caution,” Wren said, and for good reason.
datominator
June 10th, 2009
1:02 pm
Lol, “Wren Hater”. Smoltz – you’d better stop trying to dump on Wren, and get back to your rehab, slacka…
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
1:04 pm
I’m betting Minor starts out in the minors.
Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
Kyle
June 10th, 2009
1:04 pm
Everybody hates on Wren, but Schuerholtz(sp?) is still President and I’m sure these decisions do not get finalized without the approval of Schuerholtz. You never can tell how a baseball prospect will develop. Take Tommy Hansen….a 22nd rounder. Also, just because a guy can throw in the mid 90’s doesn’t mean he can pitch.
Sam Everyman, Citizen Journalist
June 10th, 2009
1:06 pm
Consider this . . . the Braves now have a pitcher from Vanderbilt and one from Princeton. They picked them to go with one another. Partners, so to speak. Otherwise, another interpreter would be required in the dugout.
Imagine one of them rooming with Francoeur or with Chipper – no understandability (to borrow from Mark). Don’t they also have an aerospace engineer now? Factor all three in and the IQ of this organization just shot up to about the mid-90’s. Talk about the blind Homer. C’mon kid.
Jeff R
June 10th, 2009
1:06 pm
There’s no doubt that the Braves made a mash of Joey Devine. But they did well with Wainwright,Harrison and Feliz. Oh, yeah, that’s right: they’re somewhere else now.
Jeff R
June 10th, 2009
1:07 pm
Yes. Minor in the minors. Minor makes majors. Major Minor mocks Mike Minor (say that three times fast).
NC Braves Fan
June 10th, 2009
1:11 pm
Mark – a chicken finger woulda been nice for the efforts. I find their eatability to be quite high.
Mike in Nashville
June 10th, 2009
1:14 pm
I think Mike Minor is a great pick up for the Braves. He definitely was the best pitcher on Vandy’s staff. His record isn’t so hot due to him always going against the other team’s best pitcher, and the SEC is just a really tough conference to pitch in. (Vandy’s offense was very erratic this year, which didn’t help either).
His international experience as part of Team USA is a huge plus. In the local papers, he was predicted to be a top 10 pick, which is where he went.
Booster
June 10th, 2009
1:14 pm
Are you saying Chipper aint smart because I know he is and Frenchy went to Parkview and could have gone to Clemson. So, what’s the big deal about going to college if Frenchy could get in. All they have to do is learn the sines and be selective at the plate. Oh, I see what you mean.
Barry Howard
June 10th, 2009
1:16 pm
I’m tired of the negative nellies constantly bashing this team. First The MLB draft is very unreliable as far as who makes it and doesn’t based on draft pick number. At best its always an educated guess. This team has a solid minor league system and record based over the past 15 years. So obviously there is a lot of talent in our scouts and front office. Second our major leagure pitching staff is very good and young. Not a whole lot of need there over the next few years. In fact this team is 1 or 2 big bats away from being a championship team. First base and Right field is where we need better production. I don’t think the trading is done yet. We are close so be patient!
Turtsnap
June 10th, 2009
1:16 pm
Mark, hope you had a peach milkshake at Chic-fil-a…. they’re da bomb!!
Eric
June 10th, 2009
1:21 pm
How many games do scouting reports win/lose ya? Let’s hold off judgement and see how he pans out.
Roja
June 10th, 2009
1:21 pm
Mike Piazza was what? The last guy picked and chosen on a lark as a favor to Tommy LaSorda. Maybe the Braves know something that Mark Bradley does not know. But that is a vast UNDERSTATEMENT!
NRBraindead
June 10th, 2009
1:23 pm
In a way, this pick reminds me of the Disney classic “Old Yeller.” It was hard for Mr. Wren to let Tom Glavine go (think of the older son shooting Old Yeller to put him out of his misery), and then Mr. Clark (think Fess Parker) brings Mike Minor (think the new puppy) along to replace Old Yeller at the end of the film – It’s all so heartwarming that I want to puke.
Sam Everyman, Citizen Journalist
June 10th, 2009
1:26 pm
I wonder why Chik-fil-a didn’t go with a pineapple upside down shake?
Will Francoeur be back in the lineup? Inquiring minds want to know. Jurrjens for instance might want to know.
Sam
June 10th, 2009
1:31 pm
Anyone willing to pony up a dollar to help the Nationals? They certainly need it to pay the money Strasburg (sp?) and Boras are going to want for that contract.
Smitty
June 10th, 2009
1:34 pm
still want to know if anyone knows what Anderson’s longer term injury/disability is?
Bama Aaron
June 10th, 2009
1:42 pm
I’m not completely unhappy with this pick. But we’re not completely bare in the pitching department….however we don’t have anyone that can seem to hit or hit with power. Were there no decent 3rd basemen or 1st basemen in this draft? And since it seems to take our farm system many years to “develop” someone I’d take a college outfielder that doesn’t strike out 3 times a game!
Ted Striker
June 10th, 2009
1:43 pm
Most Chick-fil-A coupons don’t expire. They have a “please use by” date, not an “expiration” date. Truett Cathy told me that so I believe him.
Meat Rabbit
June 10th, 2009
1:45 pm
Buck Owens could have made that pick….we need some sluggers!
Braves73
June 10th, 2009
1:47 pm
I can honestly say that I don’t know anything about this kid. It’s tough to put a well thought out analysis with baseball, because college and high school is just not as prevelant as other sports. I would have to defer to the Braves scouting department because they seem to be pretty astute at player personal on this level.
CharlieAlphaBravo
June 10th, 2009
1:52 pm
Everyone thought the Braves were nuts when they decided not to take Todd Van Poppel with their first-round pick a while back… They instead took a risk and picked Larry Wayne Jones, Jr.. So let’s try to hold off on dismissing Minor before he gets a chance to prove himself.
Phillip
June 10th, 2009
1:53 pm
NRBraindead,
I almost starting crying when I read your account of Mike Minor replacing Old Yeller(Glave)
Justafan
June 10th, 2009
1:57 pm
check out Leo MAZZONE
httpi//sports.espn.gocom/espn/eticket/story?page=mazzone
Might change some haters mind.
Booger
June 10th, 2009
2:03 pm
The Minor kid can’t be all bad when you consider they have leagues named after him. I also felt a twinge reading about Old Yeller. It is a fitting analogy. Here’s another . . . watching the game last night Bobby reminded me of Little Jack Horner. He stuck in a thumb and pulled out a plum. Wait, that was no plum. Wasn’t a peach shake, either.
NRBraindead
June 10th, 2009
2:04 pm
Thanks Phillip.
Poorjeff
June 10th, 2009
2:13 pm
Was Minor one of the top 10 players in USA…I think not.
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
2:17 pm
Elizabeth had a milkshake (vanilla). I’m watching my boyish figure.
KB
June 10th, 2009
2:19 pm
Um…it seems to me that no one on this blog has actually seen Minor pitch, (including Mr. Bradley since he’s taken about ten quotes from different sources). Minor is a very good pitcher, although I agree that he reminds me more of Jeremy Sowers than David Price. When he locates his change-up, he’s tough to beat. He’s a very Glavinesque pitcher.
Turtsnap
June 10th, 2009
2:21 pm
I watch my boyish figure too….it keeps getting fatter :O)
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
2:23 pm
I’d be willing to bet that most of you morons havent watched a whole college baseball or high school baseball game all year long. You make your decisions about these players’ ability based on what some publication or tv. sports pundit has to say. This isnt like the NFL or NBA draft where many fans have watched these guys play numerous games in college. Most of us havent seen these players play AT ALL.
Point is, in some way, the MLB Draft is a true crap-shot. Personally, I would rather the Braves make smart draft picks and develop players who “can learn to pitch”, instead of just throwing hard. Spending millions of dollars on draft picks who “may or may not pan out” to me is more of a crap-shot than spending millions on proven, healthy, pitchers like Derek Lowe.
There are bargains to be had in the lower levels of the draft, where the prices to develop them are much cheaper. Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen are two prime examples. From an economic standpoint, it makes more sense to draft the “diamonds in the rough” than to spend millions on young kids whom you have no idea how they are going to pan out as they work their way through the minors. It’s too much of a crap-shot to be throwing away millions at unknown talent.
Just because someone is a high school legend (Jeff Franceour for instance), does not mean that he is going to be a superstar at the Majors. By the way, how many All-Star games has Jeff Franceour played in?
Atlanta Cowards
June 10th, 2009
2:40 pm
What the saw in this kid, or rather what the DIDN’T see, is dollar signs. This is a pocketbook pick which really hurts with the quality available at 7. Pony up and assure the future of this club. Lest we find the next Chuck James.
Paul Lents
June 10th, 2009
2:52 pm
((This post has been removed for moron content))
Jp Swain
June 10th, 2009
2:53 pm
There is much more likelihood that he turns out to be Jo Jo Reyes than there is that he turns into Tom Glavine. I would’ve taken Alex White- you can have as much pitchability as you want and never develop his fastball, split or slider. With Brett DeVall- a carbon copy pitchability lefty already in the system, this pick makes no sense.
country boy
June 10th, 2009
2:57 pm
Maybe Minor would be major league ready within a couple of years. Knowing Wren and Shurholtz I’m thinking trade bait since we like to give 3 to 4 minor league prospects for a major league player.
Supes
June 10th, 2009
3:00 pm
He would have been a great 2nd round pick.
The problem is, you don’t spend the 7th pick in the 1st round on a guy who has a projected seiling of a 4th STARTER at BEST!
You just don’t. Minors are full of back or the rotation “projects”.
Look at the Braves rotation for the future.
D-Lowe and Kawakami are going to be here for the next 2-3 years. Tommy Hanson and Kris Medlen will be here. Jair will be here. IF Hudson returns to form, no doubt the Braves will make a play and sign him for 2011 and beyond.
So where for the love of baseball do we project Minor to start? Yes I know injuries and depth building, but the point is…most likely Minor will be used as trade bait down the road. That’s it.
Basically you spent the number 7 pick in the draft as trade bait and you passed on guys with higher seilings b/c you were TOO Cheap to pay them. Braves are now the Expo’s of this decade (as far as payroll flexibility)
Supes
June 10th, 2009
3:01 pm
Epic Fail by The Braves…glad to see many share my view by voting it a whiff!
Joe Fan
June 10th, 2009
3:10 pm
It is way to early to judge the upside for Minor. Possibly he is a stellar pick but, as we all know, only time will tell. However, I believe pitching was not the hole needing filling by the Braves, it is position players. They need players with offensive punch especially someone to eventually replace Chipper and another corner outfielder to complement Heyward. Much rather have seem them use the 7th pick on a top tier position player.
Jonathan
June 10th, 2009
3:10 pm
People are leaving alot of comments and it is obvious that they do not follow the draft much..I am gonna say a few things then leave because most people have their mind made up already
1) you dont draft someone to just trade them down the road (because then the signing bonues you gave them goes to waste, for example)
2) the in “Roy Clark we trust” mantra is foolish becuase he ASKED for money to sign some of the mroe talented players in the draft, and was rejected. so to say “we got a good pick becuase of Roy Clark” is dumb.
3) OF COURSE Clark is going to say we took the player we liked the most lol. What do you think he would say “well there were about 10 better players on the board but are too cheap”??
4) The Braves have produced THREE all stars level players in about 15 years…McCan, Chipper, and Glavine. itis time for people to wake up and realize our players development hasnt been THAT great.
5) this was the first time we have picked in the top 10 in more than 15 years, and dont have a 2nd round pick at all, and we went for a cheap sign, that dosent tell you good things abotu where things are headed for our team.
Steve from OH
June 10th, 2009
3:12 pm
A bit of a reach in terms of pure stuff, but when you factor in signability and pitchablity and polish, it’s not too bad. He doesn’t have as high of a ceiling as Matzek or Purke or Turner (but he’s not asking for “record-breaking” money either), but he is a very good pitcher and a safe choice. Would’ve preferred to see a true #1-ceiling talent taken, but he’ll do fine. I don’t expect him to be a top-of-the-rotation starter I expect him to breeze through the minors, and probably start at hi-A or AA. I don’t think it’s a good pick in the sense that they didn’t get the best player available, but they still got a good player.
Paul Lentz
June 10th, 2009
3:17 pm
Supes………Braves management has done a GREAT job with managing the payroll this year. Frank Wren rebuilt the starting rotation and fleeced the Pirates in the McLouth trade. After this year, when Hudson’s $13 mil comes off the books (I would not resign him), then the Braves will have even more flexibility to improve the team.
Last year the Braves spent $50 mil on John Smoltz ($14 mil), Tom Glavine ($8 mil), Mike Hampton ($15 mil), and Tim Hudson ($13 mil) who combined to make 52 starts for the Braves last year. I would not consider that to be “cheap”. However I would consider that to be a complete WASTE. Frank Wren realized that and let 3 of them leave. After this year, Hudson will leave as well.
We have a starting 4 this year who has not missed a start at all. All 4 have been healthy, durable, and eaten a lot of innings while pitching. And now the Braves have Hanson in the 5th spot with Medlen waiting in the wings should he be needed.
Get your facts straight before you call someone “cheap”. The Braves are being smart (cutting Glavine and trading for McLouth) with where they want to spend their money.
siskel_god
June 10th, 2009
3:18 pm
If this kid pitches 89-91mph, I think outside of Vasquez, and Hanson none of our starters throw any harder. Big frame on this kid too maybe they can work on that arm strength a little. I’ll say this Kyle Farnsworth throws harder than anybody I ever saw live, but I will take Jamie Moyer over him. I would have loved another big arm too get excited about but this is what the Braves do, that’s why we all get so excited about Hanson.
siskel_god
June 10th, 2009
3:23 pm
Jonathan I think the fact that we picked in the top 10 for the first time in 15 years tells me enough, I don’t need you to tell me anymore. The Braves have always drafted good and usually known when it’s time to go another direction. Nobody ever gets it perfect but the Braves have been consistently one of the best.
wayn-o
June 10th, 2009
3:38 pm
You have to remember they braves are looking for someone who has what it takes to play at the major league level one day (ie Hanson over Glavine)… not someone with the best stats or stuff… because that doesn’t always translate… Francoeur has all the talent in the world but look how he’s turned out!
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
3:46 pm
Good point about Kyle Farnsworth, Siskel.
Or, as the master nicknamer Bobby Cox called him … wait for it … “Farnsy.”
Sam Everyman, Citizen Journalist
June 10th, 2009
3:57 pm
Two of my comments have disappeared today and I’m not sure why. I suspect it is because I let my union dues lapse but I cannot be certain. It’s good that the Pirates have Morton going on a rainy night because we all know that when it rains he pours, er, pitches. I advocated earlier that Escobar be given his own candy bar but I guess that one was so bad the computer wouldn’t accept it. Something frosted on top. I am doing this without the benefit of a peach shake or a pineapple upside down cake (an old Southern favorite much like New England clam chowder). Will Francoeur start tonight? Has anyone told Morton how to pitch to Frenchy? Throw it to the batter’s circle and get a quick strike on him. Then, you can settle in and throw one low and away. Strike two. Then, a serious around-the-shoulders ball. Strike threeeeee. Three pitches should do it.
Ward Cleaver, Beaver's Dad
June 10th, 2009
4:00 pm
Don’t be so hard on Frenchy. I don’t think we should discuss how to pitch to him. What if a scout from another team is reading this blog?
jarvis
June 10th, 2009
4:14 pm
Trading draft picks would be interesting. How many rounds are there? What could you get for the 27th pick in the 27th round?
I assume it has something to do with the ridiculous number of teams in the baseball farm system? If Atlanta trades away bundles of late round draft picks for actual needs, who is going to be in the bullpen in Danville?
gene garbage
June 10th, 2009
4:19 pm
decent pick. pitching future is in the hands of medlin and hanson. free agency will take care of the rest. don’t look for any pick to stay with one team anymore. in today’s game, just how long away is the future anyway? 2 yrs,3yrs 5? teams only keep a few of their “prospects”. the bravos will keep the two mentioned above, along with freddie freeman and jason heyward. (as far as down on the farm). everybody, i do mean everybody, else is trade bait.
Turk 182
June 10th, 2009
4:24 pm
New Peach Milshake! New Peach Milkshake!
jarvis
June 10th, 2009
4:28 pm
Put a couple buffalo nugget sauces on a chik-fil-a sandwich. Makes the best buffalo chicken sandwich on earth.
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
4:31 pm
You know the best thing about Chick-fil-A sponsoring a bowl based in Atlanta? Gary Stokan hand out coupons for milkshakes in the press box.
(Don’t tell anybody, though. Might have to declare those on the ol’ tax form. And I’ve gotten enough IRS attention as it is.)
jarvis
June 10th, 2009
4:34 pm
You don’t have an employment relationship with the Atlanta Sports Council. It would be 1099 taxable, and you don’t have to report anything on a 1099 less than $600 from a single source.
You’re in the clear.
Atlanta Journal Constitution » Blog Archive » The Braves’ No. 1 pick: A Minor addition or a major reach?
June 10th, 2009
5:29 pm
[...] Mark Bradley | ajc.com – [...]
Dawg A
June 10th, 2009
5:40 pm
Why in the world does the Braves pick someone that only was really good for a few games. Another interesting move by the braves!!!!
Mark Bradley
June 10th, 2009
6:02 pm
There was a time when I thought Gary Stokan might pay me $600 not to write about his Chick-fil-A Bowl, but we we seem to be on speaking terms again. (Which is good. He’s a nice guy, and he has worked wonders with the bowl formerly known as Peach.)
Oh, and if you’re so inclined, here’s a little something I’ve whipped up on Chipper Jones.
the real Old Gold
June 12th, 2009
11:36 pm
I sat near Frank Wren at the Rome Braves game tonight and was going to call him out, but he brought his kid as a disgruntled fan buffer while he was shooting radar.
McLouth: 32R, 10HR, 36RBI, 9SB, (.255) Francoeur: 27R, 4HR, 26RBI, 3SB, (.245)
If these are drastic enough differences to sign one to four hears and have constant trade talks for the other then I’m going to look into getting a job as a sports writer or a GM because I think I may know more than I thought I did. Prediction: Frenchy goes to Boston and goes to the Hall in 20 years with a Sox cap on. You people are worthless fans.
justin
June 13th, 2009
11:05 am
its laughable that you call francour a star!! hahaha!! he sux.
| Mark Bradley
June 14th, 2009
2:46 pm
[...] The Braves’ No. 1 pick: A Minor addition or a major reach? [...]