2009 Draft Review

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (splitterpfj) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:50:17 GMT

Thanks Patrick, excellent analysis.

I think the Brewers did a great job of addressing organizational needs, without "reaching."

Some of the guys signed too late to play pro ball this year, but that's about the only complaint I've got - I think this could be a great draft class.

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (colbyjack) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:35:22 GMT

Some people don't think his delivery is particularly smooth. Like I said, I didn't see anything wrong with it and felt overall his arm and body worked really well with no wasted movement, but evaluating pitching mechanics isn't my specialty.

Also, he needs to develop a changeup. I'm guessing that is something he was working on this summer, but the times I saw him in the spring he was a 2-pitch pitcher.

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (Tedaldtada29) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:15:14 GMT

Maybe because he doesn't have the best command yet?? Idk, he looks to be nothing but a SP in my eyes...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (TooLiveBrew) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:12:18 GMT

Why do some think he'll only be a reliever? His arsenal sounds so well-rounded, & he has the ideal build & velocity.

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (colbyjack) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:09:10 GMT

I'm sorry you got visions of Turnbow with my description TLB, they're really nothing alike.

Turnbow has (had) the livest of live arms, and a wicked nasty slider that were tailor made for a closer's role. He was about as max effort as you get.

When I talk about generating velocity from the bottom up, I'm talking about a nice and easy delivery, in which no part moves more quickly or violently than another. By the time that momentum reaches his upper body and...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (TooLiveBrew) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:17:47 GMT

Wow, Arnett's stuff as you described it really reminds me of 'good Turnbow', right down to the wonky almost-slider to complement the big freaking wicked one. Similar velocity & break on the fastball, unless I misread anything.

His stuff includes a heavy mid-90s fastball that he throws seemingly without effort. A good overall athlete with very good balance and coordination, he generates that velocity from the bottom up, incorporating his entire body...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (colbyjack) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:37:04 GMT

I fell in love with Arnett after seeing him pitch twice last spring. The first came against Iowa I believe in early April, and the second time was against Purdue in the Big Ten championship. I wrote this story after watching Arnett pitch the second time. As you can tell, I walked away incredibly impressed.

There's plenty of upside with Arnett. In the first game I saw, he was...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (TooLiveBrew) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:19:00 GMT

Great work as always, cj. I'm really looking forward to seeing Arnett pitch next season. I realize he's probably still ~2 seasons from reaching the bigs, but he probably has the chance to rise rapidly in 2010.

-- Davis, Walla, Richardson, Davis, Gennett --

It's exciting to see such a talented group of hitters amassed early in the draft. You have to think at least one of these guys will turn into an impact prospect, and given the scouting reports, I'd...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (filthyfrog) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:13:00 GMT

I'm kind of in your camp, Menace. As a big, athletic, hard throwing righty, I like Arnett and I'm glad he's in our system, but the max effort delivery and speculations that he'll end up in the bullpen knock his status down a peg. Then again, outside of Strasburg, there weren't any wartless pitchers drafted this year.

Personally, I prefer Odorizzi to Arnett. His delivery is just too free and easy not to love. I think that'll help him stay healthy, command his...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (Tedaldtada29) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:59:59 GMT

It could be because I liked the Z formula of taking someone that is the best at something (power, fastball, curve, speed, whatever.

Arnett did have a top 5 or so slider going into the draft. Pretty hard to get the 'best' with Strasburg around. Also, his FB had to be considered top 10 at least because of his semi-polished command and above average velocity.

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (Menace II Sobriety) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:39:59 GMT

Why I am not more excited about Arnett? I have never seen him pitch but I have read a lot of the reports out there and for some reason I just haven't warmed up to the pick. This has nothing to do with his performance this year after he signed and I commend him for getting into the fold and onto the field so quickly. I realize he wasn't using his slider after the innings logged for IU this year.

Maybe it is because he had so much helium before the draft. Even though he...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (colbyjack) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:13:40 GMT

Thanks again for the kind words. I do appreciate it!

I really liked the team's draft, largely because I was a big fan of Arnett, Davis, Richardson and Gennett going into draft day. Getting Gennett and Howell signed and in the system as mid-teen picks for respectable six-figure bonuses was huge. I would probably put the Brewers '09 draft effort in the upper third of drafts since they did have extra, early picks and made some aggressive selections that clearly required...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (filthyfrog) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:59:54 GMT

I've been looking forward to this article since June. Nice work, Colby. With the caveat that it's way too early to really judge the draft, how do you think the Brewers drafted relative to the rest of the league? Top ten? Somewhere in the middle?

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (foamboy1) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:05:20 GMT

I don't have comments or questions, Patrick. I did however, want to thank you for the excellent work. You are one of the many tremendous assets of this site, and I always look forward to your fantastic articles and speculative works.

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (colbyjack) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:21:45 GMT

Prince needs to continue to progress with his bat. It's nice to see him draw walks and steal bases, but he need to hit, and show that he can hit for some power as well. The potential is there, any hopefully we'll see more of that next year. However, I think that means we need to be a little more patient with his timetable.

Thanks for the kind words. Good call on adding the positions, I think I used to do that and overlooked that this year.

Reviewing past drafts is...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (CheezWizHed) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:37:35 GMT

Patrick, excellent stuff as usual. It great to hear about our first year players, especially since their results are rarely based on their talent (i.e. Arnett not throwing sliders, 4-year college players looking too good in rookie ball). It gives a good perspective.

One recommendation would be to add the players position (or expected position) to their name so we know that without looking elsewhere. Some of the lower round drafts, I had no idea.

And in the midst of the...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (Tedaldtada29) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:24:36 GMT

I have to say I still like Walla a lot. I just remember that post-draft interview he did. He was very excited and had some of that Ryan Braun swagger.

I have to think the surprise player from this draft is Josh Prince. Although he def. struggled some once he got to WI, his strike zone recognition seemed very solid and his speed is obviously game changing. I don't remember any reports on how his D looked but the post-draft report said he was solid. I'm guessing he will start...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (colbyjack) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:41:01 GMT

I've been a little gun-shy about players putting on huge pre-draft performances ever since watching Josh Murray belt line drive after line drive over the left field fence at Miller Park back in 2002. They seemed to have fallen for another big pre-draft performance when Evan Frederickson was throwing in the upper 90s at Miller Park in '08. One of the first things I learned in my work with Perfect Game was not to fall too far in love with one player over one game or a stretch of...

Re: 2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (Tedaldtada29) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:27:58 GMT

Nice work Colby. I'm interested on your take of Max Walla. Were the pre-draft scouting reports a tad exaggerated? Where do you think the Brewers will place him next year? Are there any recent reports on his bat speed you are aware of?

2009 Draft Review

feeds@yuku.com (colbyjack) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:53:04 GMT

Visit the homepage for my annual draft review story: 2009 Draft Review