News and Notes: Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Around SLB this week:

- SJ, having stretched their lead in the South to 5 games, got two 1st round picks in the 2017 amateur draft. They grabbed LHP Anthony Rodriguez (AUB) first overall and with the 10th pick took 3B Tyler Diggins (ND). Said a rival GM anonymously, "Rodgriguez was a solid pick. He looks like he could be at worst, a #3 guy. Maybe a solid #1. I'm shocked though, at the Diggins pick. Did they really need a third baseman that badly? We didn't have him in our top 30 - thought he was a good college player, not a great one and we didn't see much there in room for growth."
- TAI, up to #2 with the trade of LF A Mule to KYO, took LHP R Ruettigger (ND). "He throws hard, has good stuff but mentally he just loses focus. If things start badly, be it a game, series or even a season, it gets to him and it all falls apart," said a Tai Fong scout. "I argued against it, I thought we needed a high-ceiling, no risk pick and he seems a little risky to me." The 12th pick had TAI selecting reliever Dave Calvo (UCI). "We really like this guy," said GM Dylan Goforth. "He's going to be part of our 'pen for a long, long time. He just goes out and gets the job done."
- CLE, 1-9 in their last 10, also grabbed a left-handed starter, Dellin Betances (MIA). According to the Tai Fong scout, "Betances can't get right-handed batters out, and he could get by in college but that won't happen at the big league level. Cleveland got a 5th starter with the 3rd pick. He didn't fool us."
- SCO, falling off the pace in the Euro is now in a struggle to maintain wildcard position. With the 4th pick, the Rebels landed RF Pablo Mattisse (UNC). "We're delighted. We can't believe this guy fell to us, we were watching the draft board and when the National Player of the Year lands in your lap ... outstanding. He holds the record for RBI's in the NCAA and we've got a run producer," said the already celebrating SCO GM Carmelo Guarneri.
- IRE, losers are 4 straight and trying to push LON into the Euro basement, selected C J Berry (CONN). Berry, who never hit like scouts expected, are obviously still high on the sweet swinging right-handed hitting catcher. "I don't know why he didn't put up big numbers but he was too good to pass up. A rifle of an arm too," said IRE GM Tony Blake. "We'll find a spot for him, somehow." The Invaders have catchers Al Murphy and Earl Hickey on their roster right now and may be forced to trade one of the three.
- OSA, first place in the Far East, took a CF out of ND with their pick. "Andy Bokelman? Really?", said the Tai Fong scout. "He doesn't really seem like a Ronin type of hitter, in fact, I'm not sure why any team would take this guy with their first rounder. Sometimes, a team has a thing or a bias for a certain school. Certainly seems to be the case here."
- BED, picking 7th, chose yet another left-handed starter, Hunter Johnson (TUL). A World GM noted that they had Johnson ranked 1st on their board. "You really have to get lucky sometimes. This guy should've been number 1 and a couple teams really screwed up to let him go to Bedford."
- HAL, in a North dogfight with CLE and BED, went with LF Sam Archibald (HOU)with the 8th pick. GM Lars Cain said, "He's a real fun player to watch, a guy that gives his all out there and we're happy to get him. He's been an All-American three years running."
- SAV, who has been creeping up on SJ all month, selected 2B Dom Giggie (CMU) 10th. "Well, that's not quite as bad as Bokelman to Osaka," laughed a South GM. "But the Sabers have middle infield issues and he'll probably get a shot by next season."
- PAR, far ahead of the pack in the World League, took RF Shoo Sasaki (LSU) 11th overall. "You knew someone was going to give this guy a shot, right?" said a Euro scout. "They can afford to gamble. You can totally knock a wood bat out of this kids hands but his eye-hand coordination is incredible right now. He's a bit of a project but I like the risky move."
- PHI, picking 13th, had SS Adrian Cardenas (AUB) fall hard and land square on their draft table. "We needed a little boost right now," said a Fever scout. "What a break! We just got our shortstop for the next 10 years and that really helps our rebuilding project. We weren't sure anyone good would be left this late."
- The 15th and 16th picks to end the first round both went to HAL. CF Gary Hamm (MICH) "was an All-American last season and has more of the all-around talent we saw in Archibald. We may have to move him out of centre because of his arm but we think he'll be a heckuva player," said HAL GM Lars Cain. RP Greg Moore (HOU) will be "more of a project. If he can get a second pitch off his fastball, he'll be set," sent the Tai Fong scout.