Dave Saltzer

I'm going to post this in both this thread and the official draft thread. I checked with some people in a variety of organizations and was told that there was no way Adams was going to go much lower, and definitely zero chance he'd make it out of the 1st round. A couple of clubs were really hoping he'd drop to them and were ready to pounce if we didn't take him.

In his interview with Alex Curry, Matt Swanson used the word "athleticism" a whole bunch. The people I talked to said that our picks were by design to get younger and more toolsy. That's the plan under Eppler, and that's what they were looking for at the top of the draft. 

Another thing that Swanson and a few others mentioned was maturity/mental makeup. That is definitely a big factor. Having interviewed our top prospects for a decade or so, I can definitely say that the more recent ones in particular, Jones, Canning, Adell, Marsh all carry themselves a lot better and come across as more mature and articulate than those that we have drafted in the past. Again, I've been told that having a higher mental approach to the game and other aspects is very highly sought after by our organization. 

Hearing how desired Adams was by other organizations makes me feel a lot better about the pick. 

1 minute ago, Inside Pitch said:

His stuff took a step back early on....   Only thing that's been talked about.

Lost some velo early in the season, but it's back to where it was from what I'm told. 

2 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

I really like Gorman. Singer would be great too. 

I want a pitcher not a belly itcher!

1 minute ago, Angelsjunky said:

There goes Winn. You’d think Singer or Liberatore but there’s got to be some reason other teams are passing. 

 

Yeah. Really wanted Winn, but I'd be thrilled with Libertore, Singer, or a couple of other arms. 

Has there been a pick that the commentators hasn't loved?

Lots of arms still left. It may be a tough decision between them!

1 hour ago, GrittyVeterans said:

I think some of you greatly overestimate the influence Scioscia has on Trout wanting to be here.

Lol at that being the difference between him staying or leaving.

If Trout leaves, it will be because either someone paid him more or because he wants to be closer to home. All the other stuff about Pujols and Sosh is just noise. Also if he feels he has a better chance at winning somewhere else the last 10 years of his career, he'll leave. 

The Angels need to focus on setting themselves up so they can put a better team around him in the future. Also making the playoffs the next 3 years of his current contract would go a long way.

Strongly disagree. I think with Trout it comes down to comfort. At $35 million/year, money REALLY isn't the issue. If Trout really wanted more money, he'd just do more endorsements and things. Since we don't see that, I don't think money is the issue. He could easily generate so many more millions doing that than what he'd make as a player.

As for the tail wagging the dog (that someone else said fire them both over), baseball is a business. Trout draws fans in the seats and generates ridiculous surplus value, even at his salary. You don't kill a cash cow. Now you don't allow him to control everything that the organization does, but, you sure as heck make him happy and comfortable. If you fired/got rid of both, no major Free Agent would come play for you, and you'd destroy your franchise's value. Not a good way to run a business.

And, between Trout and Scioscia, if Trout came to the Angels and said he's no longer happy playing under Scioscia (like a vote of no confidence), Scioscia would be gone. Don't believe me? Ask Terry Collins how that went. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-mets-terry-collins-20151007-story.html

Just now, Chuckster70 said:

Man the Braves have a ton of good young arms in their system. Carter Stewart looks like he's going to be a good one. 

I didn't think he would fall to us, but I would have liked him to have been there for us to grab!

Really cool of the Braves to let this kid make the announcement.

Just now, Chuckster70 said:

Wow, Padres go for Weathers. 

A bit high for Weathers from what I'm told, but not that far out of line. A very good solid pick.

4 minutes ago, nate said:

If keeping Trout meant firing Scioscia, would you do it?

Absolutely. 

I've asked it before, and I'll ask it again: If keeping Trout meant keeping Scioscia, would you do it?

It looks like the Angels are getting how much buzz the draft is generating . . . just got this in an email from them.

Okay, who has Keith Law's draft 4.1 that was just published . . . All these mock drafts are like shaking the boxes under the tree trying to figure out what we're going to get!

5 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Wasn't Turang originally thought a year ago to be a potential #1 overall pick in this draft? 

One note to Jordyn Adams: the slotting system recently instituted has made it pretty much a no brainer for first round picks to sign.   Even if you move up say 12 spots 3 years from now, the money won't be that much more plus you sacrificed 3 years minor league development in the meantime.

Yes he was, but what I've been told is that his performance this year didn't match the expectations (that were ridiculously high), so it chilled the buzz. It's kind of like what happened to Howie Kendrick--the hype was so great that when he didn't realize it, people considered him a failure rather than looking at his very good contributions. 

Turang is still considered a 1st round talent, but lower than where he was projected before the season began.

I have to wonder how this year's draft affects us at the trade deadline and in the offseason. Imagine if we get another player like Marsh in the second round, or do extremely well with some pitching that we get. If, near the end of July, we are seeing some success, does that help make other prospects expendable to fix the parent club? Lots of possibilities . . . 

15 minutes ago, Chuckster70 said:

Have you guys heard that in addition to Jordyn Adams, we've been looking at Xavier Edwards and Brice Turang as position players?

Yes. And, we've taken a long look at Winn out of Orange Lutheran. I doubt that Winn will be available to us at 17, but, it would be a very nice pick if he is. I doubt that Edwards will be there in the second round, but, that would be a great pick if we could get him there.

16 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

0.80 WHIP then for Gilbert, very good WHIP it is.   Do they take the bigger potential of Kowar or Rolison, or the more refined command of Gilbert?

If you are going for power and possibly the highest ceiling, if he's available (since Mize won't be) you'd take McClanahan. 

2 minutes ago, Angel Oracle said:

Is that a misprint on Gilbert's WHIP?   0.40 doesn't seem possible. 

Here are Logan Gilbert's stats according to baseball cube 

According to d1baseball.com, they have this:

1 hour ago, Dochalo said:

My guess is that he's at the top of the halos big board and we'd take him if he fell to us.  It would surprise me if he went out of the top 10.  

It would surprise me a little bit as well, as we are a long way down from where he is most likely going to get picked. He's supposed to be a gold glove capable 2B with the best hit tool in the draft. A young Kinsler has been bandied about as a comp. That's something that could tempt me from some of the pitching that should be available to us.

2 hours ago, Dochalo said:

Jo Adell

Jo Adams

Nice swing.  High upside.  CF.  

Tough call to pick him at 17.  I'd be stoked to get him in the 2nd round.  

 

Yes, you take the BPA. But, what does he offer that Trent Deveaux doesn't already offer in the system? Both are 80 runners. Both are comparable hitters. Like you, I'd be thrilled to get him in the 2nd round, but would much rather add a top pitcher or someone like Madrigal in the 1st.

3 hours ago, REDneck said:

2 mocks I just read has us taking Jordyn Adams a prep CF from NC

I've seen us linked to him as well, but I'd be a lot happier with him in the second round rather than the first. 

Here's a thought. Not that I think it is likely, but, an interesting thought. What if Nick Madrigal falls from the top-3 (for those who don't know him, he's the top-rated college hitter, plays 2B/SS, great fielder, runner, but limited power and only 5'7"). It's possible because teams put such a premium on power that he could fall, even though his hit tool is considered far and away the best.

Now I've been mostly about the pitching in this year's draft, but, what if he fell down to us? It is possible (but again, not likely) that he could drop due to the small stature and lack of power (so many teams and scouts are married to traditional views, especially in the 1st round). If that happened, I think we would have to draft him as the BPA. What do you think?

Most of the IE66ers are like this:

But Brandon Marsh is like this:

Whatever you do, though, don't call him Shirley.

Latest from the Bleacherreport: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2778655-2018-mlb-mock-draft-breaking-down-top-prospects-and-predictions

17. Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Rolison, LHP, Ole Miss