Comments on: Keith Law Ranks the Pirates Farm System 7th

By: Nuke Laloosh

Nuke Laloosh — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 18:24:45 +0000

That is the biggest difference. Look at the number of Latino players in the top 20. Building the Dominican Academy was something the Pirates were 20 years behind in doing. Now look at the results.

By: Kevin Creagh

Kevin Creagh — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:34:36 +0000

The Astros played the 2012 draft perfectly. Instead of going $6M on Appel and have a lackluster remainder of the draft, they got Correa/Ruiz/McCullers and a couple other interesting players.

The Astros adjusted very well to the new landscape.

By: NastyNate82

NastyNate82 — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:11:57 +0000

The cynic in me wonders if Boras used Appel as a blunt instrument in his jihad against the new CBA. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did.
Of course you’re right, all have to adjust. More than anything else, it bothers me because it dictates how a team should spend their resources; and if the resources are limited for teams (like the Bucs) they get much more bang for their buck in the draft pool, then they would in free agency. But, they have to adjust. Hopefully, they can load up with a couple of good picks this year, blow some on seniors from Yale in the middle rounds to save some scratch, and draft high later.
I think you’re right about Appel not being on the top of everyone’s board. But I think a team like Houston picked Correa because of the strategy they had in place to sign him under-slot and sign above-slot guys later. While they may have liked Correa a lot (and I would have taken him over Appel) thats also NOT the same thing as having him as a higher rated player on their board.

By: Kevin Creagh

Kevin Creagh — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:49:40 +0000

It’s not like the “advisors” didn’t know about these changes, too. They would see the penalties, especially how onerous it would be with draft pick loss in the following year, and have to adust expectations accordingly.

I agree that’s it wrong that draft pick pools are suppressed while FA’s are not, but that is the standard now. All parties need to adjust to it.

There were more than a few teams that did NOT have Appel #1 on their boards. For instance, I don’t think the Orioles had Appel over Gausman. Appel’s most likely landing spot would have been KC at #5. I think all the other teams in front of that legitimately wanted the players they picked.

By: NastyNate82

NastyNate82 — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 01:43:11 +0000

I’m not disagreeing with you on the decision made by Appel (or Boras…whoever was running that show); frankly, I think it was foolish and highly risky of him to not sign. Coming back he has NO leverage and little margin for error. More can go wrong than right for him back at Stanford.
But why could they only offer 3.8 instead of 6? Because of the new CBA and the incredibly stiff penalties they would incur by signing him. Frankly, I just shake my head at the millions being tossed out at free agents not drawing the commissioner’s ire one bit, but the Buccos and other small market teams tossing around what amounts to pocket change in the draft causing massive changes.
Here’s a question for you or anyone. If there were NO draft caps, how do you think the top 10 would have gone? Do you think Appel goes #1? Top 5?

By: Kevin Creagh

Kevin Creagh — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 12:51:52 +0000

If a human being is offered $3.8M to sign his name on a dotted line and does not because his feelings are hurt, thinking he should sign for $6M, then that is not MLB’s fault or the Pirates’ fault.

Only an idiot, or a greedy idiot more accurately, would not realize that by signing 1 year earlier and getting his career going, he could make up that $2M perceived loss much quicker.

Oh, and Appel isn’t all that great to begin with. He’s not going to be a potential ace, more of a mid-rotation pitcher.

By: Ian Rothermund

Ian Rothermund — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 03:08:46 +0000

They didn’t screw the Pirates directly….the Bucs just happened one of the several small market teams to get shafted.

By: NastyNate82

NastyNate82 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:26:53 +0000

I don’t have insider, but my guess would be that he has the Cubs ahead of the Bucs because of the depth of their system. The Cubs don’t have the high-end pitching prospects the Bucs have, but they have a lot of good position players and are pretty deep in B-type prospects, and the Bucs have a fairly deep drop from the top 6.

By: NastyNate82

NastyNate82 — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 02:24:49 +0000

Well, I think the new system was designed to decrease bonuses given to amateur talent. And the Pirates (and other small market teams) realized that spending $$ there is definitely the best way for them to compete.
However, I do agree with you that loopholes exist (such as drafting underslot players) but I wonder about the long-term effects of this new agreement. More good prep players may end up in college rather than in the minors and while that isn’t always a bad thing for players, I wonder how many will fall thru the cracks in college.

By: Ian Rothermund

Ian Rothermund — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 01:37:23 +0000

My laughing to myself, I actually missed the part about it being sarcasm at first.