Baseball’s Best (And Worst) Mustaches, Mullets, Beards and Goatees!

From Keith Hernandez’s stache, Rod Beck’s mullet and horseshoe or Rollie Fingers’ handlebar, facial hair and mullets are a part of the baseball lexicon. Enjoy the photo gallery!

Are we egregiously missing someone who should be here? Help us out by leaving a comment and letting us know who needs to be added to the list. There are so many players who fit the bill that we definitely are missing people.

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Florida Marlins’ manager Edwin Rodriguez resigns

Edwin Rodriguez has resigned as the manager of the Florida Marlins. Bench coach Brandon Hyde will replace Rodriguez for today’s game on Sunday, June 19 and has been named the interim manager.

Florida is currently last in the NL East, 12.5 games back from the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies. The Marlins have lost nine straight games and 20 of their previous 23 games. Only seven teams have a worse win-loss percentage (.451) in Major League Baseball.

Rodriguez replaced Fredi Gonzalez last June after he was dismissed from the team.

Carl Crawford hits 15-day DL

The 2011 season has not been forgiving to Boston Red Sox left fielder Carl Crawford. Due to a strained left hamstring, Crawford is headed to the 15-day disabled list just as his bat started to get going in the last few weeks.

Crawford already had two homers and 10 RBIs in June and had a hit in 11 of 14 of those contests. He rebounded in a big way in May by improving his batting average from .168 on May 1 to .234 on June 1.

“I think the medical people thought at best it was going to be 10 to 14 days (recovery time),” Francona said of Crawford, who was diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain, the least severe. “I called him and talked to him this morning, he gets it.”

Crawford’s roster spot is being filled by 24-year-old Josh Reddick. He’s hitting .385 in only 13 at-bats in the majors but has been limited to .223 in Triple-A.

Boston currently has the second-best record in baseball (42-28) only behind the Philadelphia Phillies (45-27). The Red Sox finish a three-game interleague home series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, June 19 and then will host another three-game series against the San Diego Padres beginning Monday.

2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings

The Dugout Doctors present their 2011 Fantasy Baseball rankings. Every position is included here. The rankings are a mixture current and projected performance. Enjoy!

(Note: I highly recommend using the free Pickemfirst app while browsing this page. The app allows you to upload your Fantasy league’s information and displays a tiny icon beside every player’s name that tells you which players are unavailable, owned by you or available in your league. When you click the icon, it also provides relevant news, stats, charts and blogs for each player from trusted Fantasy sites across the web. It works for MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and college football. Click here to sign up now!)

Updated: June 19, 2011 – 10:22AM eastern

Moneyball Trailer (starring Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman)

Moneyball, the story of Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane and how he forever changed the baseball landscape, has at least four people involved who I really enjoy. I’ll check out anything they’re associated with. Brad Pitt, first and foremost, is one of my favorite actors. From Fight Club to Inglorious Basterds to A River Runs Through It, I’m a big fan. Then there is Jonah Hill (Superbad, Get Him to the Greek) and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman (Capote, Almost Famous, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead) are both in this movie. Although Hill isn’t exactly on the same level, he’s still goofy and can get a laugh out of me.

Lastly, Aaron Sorkin co-wrote this screenplay. From his work on The West Wing and The Social Network, I’ve become a fan over the years and I’m really looking forward to this film. Moneyball opens September 23, 2011.

And here’s a bonus video of the author Moneyball, Michael Lewis, and other books such as The Blind Side and Liar’s Poker.

2011 National League Playoff Predictions

Jack Jones is a sports handicapper who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, college football and NCAA basketball for Betfirms. He spends his summers finding new ways to get an edge over the daily baseball lines.

It has been exciting to watch the National League play itself out through the first half of the 2011 MLB season.  Now that we are nearing the halfway point, it’s time to start making predictions on which teams will make the NL postseason.  I have gathered enough information to make an educated guess as to which teams will still be standing come October.  One thing is certain to this point, and that is that the NL is loaded with dominant pitching.

The Philadelphia Phillies came into the season as the odds-on favorite to win the NL.  They have not disappointed, currently holding the best record in the league at 40-26.  Atlanta is only 2.5 games behind them, after putting together a great May and carrying their success into the month of June.  Milwaukee and St. Louis are battling it out atop the NL Central, while Arizona and San Francisco are neck-and-neck in the NL West.  Here are my division winners along with the team I believe will get the Wild Card.

Philadelphia Phillies: NL East Winner

The Phillies have cruised out to a 40-26 start to the season and currently sit atop the NL East division.

Offense

With how great this Phillies staff has been, they haven’t really needed much hitting to win ball games, and they haven’t gotten much of it either.  This lineup clearly misses Jayson Werth in the heart of the order as they are only hitting .247 as a team and scoring only 4.0 runs per game on the season.

One of Philly’s bright spots on offense has been Placido Polanco, who is hitting .309 with 4 HR and 37 RBI.  Ryan Howard (.247, 13, 53) has been close to his usual productive self, while Chase Utley (.261, 2, 8.) has recently returned to the lineup. They need him to return to form after sitting out most of the past two seasons due to injury.  Jimmy Rollins (.256, 4, 21) needs to get going as well, though he has stolen 14 bases and scored 35 runs.

Pitching

The Phils signed Cliff Lee in the offseason, making an already dynamite rotation even better.  They literally have four aces on their staff, and they are all pitching like it.  Roy Halladay has been the best of the bunch, going 9-3 with a 2.39 ERA and four complete games already.  Cole Hamels (8-2, 2.58), Roy Oswalt (4-4, 3.14) and Lee (6-5, 3.41) are all trying to keep pace with Halladay.  Competition breeds success, and what makes this staff so amazing is that each starter tries to go out and out-pitch the starter before him.

Milwaukee Brewers: NL Central Winner

Coming into the season, the Brewers looked better than any team in the division on paper. They have nearly lived up to those expectations as they currently sit tied atop the Central with the St. Louis Cardinals at 38-29.

Offense

Ryan Braun is hitting .308 with 14 HR and 48 RBI, as he and Prince Fielder (.303, 19, 58) are each putting together MVP-caliber seasons. It all starts with Rickie Weeks (.277, 12, 29) at the leadoff spot, who has scored 47 runs while hitting in front of the aforementioned dynamic duo. Corey Hart has returned after missing half of the first half of the season, and Casey McGehee (.225, 4, 24) is likely to get going before the season is all said and done. The Brewers certainly have the hitting to contend in the division, and now have the pitching to hold off both the Cardinals and Reds in the Central.

Pitching

This team has been a starting rotation short of making some noise in the NL for years, but that’s no longer the case. They brought in Shaun Marcum and Zach Greinke, and each has lived up to expectations. Marcum has been their best starter, going 7-2 with a 2.68 ERA. Greinke spent the first month of the season on the DL, but he has returned to go 6-1 with a 4.69 ERA over eight starts. Yovani Gallardo (8-3, 3.96) is finally starting to come around and has been nothing short of dominant over the last month or so. The real surprise has been Randy Wolf (4-4, 3.20), a veteran lefty who has shown he has plenty left in the tank. Chris Narveson (3-4, 4.32) has not been too shabby himself as the fifth starter.

San Francisco Giants: NL West Winner

The defending World Series champs proved that pitching wins titles last year. Again their starting rotation has shouldered the load while a lackluster offense still struggles to get on track. San Francisco sits one-half games ahead of the pesky Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West standings with a 37-29 record.

Offense

The Giants got timely hitting in the postseason last year and they are going to need more of the same this season. San Francisco is without Buster Posey for the remainder of the year after his collision at home plate, which resulted in substantial injuries. Freddy Sanchez is also on the DL with a shoulder injury, but Pablo Sandoval is expected to return to the lineup today after suffering a broken hand which has limited him to just 24 games so far. Sandoval was hitting .313 with 5 HR and 14 RBI before the injury, so his bat will be welcome in this lineup. Cody Ross (.261, 5, 19) was the Giants’ postseason hero last year, but he has missed significant time as well. Aubrey Huff (.234, 8, 34) and Sanchez (.289, 3, 24) have done the best they can to keep this lineup afloat, but they are going to need a lot more from Miguel Tejada, Aaron Rowand, Pat Burrell and Andres Torres the rest of the way.

Pitching

To give you an indication of how good their pitching has been, the Giants own a 19-12 home record this season, despite only hitting .234 and scoring 2.8 runs per game. Ace Tim Lincecum hasn’t been as dominant as usual, but he’s still 5-5 with a 3.41 ERA. Ryan Vogelsong (4-1, 1.81) has been the surprise of the staff, while Matt Cain (5-4, 3.36), Jonathan Sanchez (4-4, 3.47) and Madison Bumgarner (2-8, 3.23) have all been holding their own. I still believe their starting pitching and bullpen (17-6, 3.20 ERA) will carry them to their second-straight division title.

Atlanta Braves: Wild Card Winner

Don’t look now, but the Atlanta Braves are only 2.5 games out in the NL East division. This team has overcome injuries to the likes of Nate McLouth, Jason Heyward, Brandon Beachy and Martin Prado to piece together a 38-29 record. The Braves started the season 8-12, but have rebounded nicely to post a 30-17 mark since.

Offense

Providing most of the run production has been Brian McCann, who is hitting .303 with 9 HR and 37 RBI. Prado (.277, 8, 33), Freddie Freeman (.268, 6, 25) and Chipper Jones (.266, 6, 35) have all helped shoulder the load offensively. Atlanta ranks 12th in the NL in hitting (.242) and they are only scoring 3.9 runs per game. Their pitching is good enough to get them the Wild Card, but the hitting isn’t where it needs to be to overtake the Phillies in the NL East.

Pitching

Atlanta has the best ERA (3.04) in the big leagues and that is the biggest reason why they are in the thick of things in the NL East. Jair Jurrjens has been the best of the rotation, going 8-2 with a 1.82 ERA in 11 starts. Tommy Hanson (8-4, 2.48), Derek Lowe (3-5, 4.02), Tim Hudson (5-5, 4.06) and Beachy (1-1, 3.45) are all having solid seasons to help round out this rotation.

Atlanta ‘s bullpen has been rock-solid to say the least. Closer Craig Kimbrel has converted 18-of-23 save chances while going 2-2 with a 3.28 ERA in the process. Jonny Venters (4-0, 0.44) and Eric O’Flaherty (1-2, 1.42) have done an excellent job of getting Kimbrel the ball with the lead in the ninth. Atlanta ‘s bullpen as a whole is 13-9 with a 2.64 ERA on the season.

Philadephia Phillies: NL Pennant Winner

2011 American League Playoff Predictions

Jack Jones is a sports handicapper who covers the NFL, NBA, MLB, college football and NCAA basketball for Betfirms. He spends his summers finding new ways to get an edge over the daily baseball lines.

Now that we are nearly halfway through the 2011 MLB season, it’s time to start looking ahead to see which teams have the best chance of representing the American League in the postseason.  It has been a very exciting season to this point, with a few surprises along the way.  The Boston Red Sox were expected to run away with the AL at the beginning of a season and have really come on of late after a horrible start.

The defending-AL champion Texas Rangers have been plagued with injuries this season, but they sit in first place in the AL West, just ahead of the pesky Seattle Mariners.  Meanwhile, the Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox are battling it out in the AL Central.  Over in the AL East, the New York Yankees are hanging in there with the Red Sox and seem primed for at least a wild card spot by the end of the season.  Below are my projected division winners and wild card teams to come out of the American League.

Boston Red Sox: AL East Winner

The Red Sox came into the season with big expectations after giving big contracts to Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez.  Boston fans were rightfully irritated after the team’s 2-10 start, but their struggles would not last long. The Red Sox have gone 37-16 since and currently own the league’s best record at 39-26.  They sit 2.5 games ahead of their rival Yankees, who they are 8-1 against this season.

Offense

As part of the best lineup in baseball this season, Gonzalez has been even better than the Sox had hoped, hitting .341 with 13 HR and 60 RBI. Veteran David Ortiz (.325, 17 HR, 43 RBI) has shown he still has the ability to produce and be an asset to this team from the DH spot. Unfortunately for the rest of the league, Crawford is starting to come around as well after struggling at the plate through the first two months of the season.

Pitching

Josh Beckett has returned this season on a mission, pitching brilliantly thus far, going 5-2 with a 2.06 ERA in 13 starts.  Jon Lester (9-2, 3.73) and Clay Buchholz (5-3, 3.59) give the Red Sox a solid three at the top of their rotation.  They need John Lackey (4-5, 7.41) to somehow turn it around, while finding a consistent fifth starter in the process.

Detroit Tigers: AL Central Winner

The Tigers are only percentage points behind the fading Cleveland Indians in the AL Central race.  They have gone 22-13 in their last 35 games as of this writing.

Offense

Miguel Cabrera is having another MVP-caliber season, hitting .314 with 13 HR and 45 RBI.  Victor Martinez is holding up his end of the bargain as well, hitting .316 with 9 HR and 35 RBI.  Johnny Peralta (.306, 9, 34) and Brennan Boesch (.283, 8, 34) are also chipping in nicely for this lineup.  The Tigers also recently returned Magglio Ordonez to the line-up, and he should provide yet another spark offensively.

Pitching

Justin Verlander (7-3, 2.89 ERA) and Rick Porcello (6-4, 3.61) are holding down the rotation, while Max Scherzer (8-2, 4.69) looks to have a dominant second half like he did a year ago (6-5, 2.47).  Detroit ‘s middle relief has not been great, but Joaquin Benoit has the ability to turn it around after getting a big contract in the offseason.  He sets it up for closer Jose Valverde, who is 16-for-16 in save opportunities, while posting a 2.89 ERA to this point in the season.

This team has the offense, plus plenty of pitching to win them the AL Central division, but they will have to hold off the Chicago White Sox, who will likely be right there with them up throughout the season.

Texas Rangers: AL West Winner

It’s pretty amazing what Texas has done to this point despite playing without Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz for a large portion of the season.  What has been even more impressive is their rotation after losing Cliff Lee to the Philadelphia Phillies in the offseason.  Texas is 36-31 on the season, which places them 1.5 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the AL West.  Seattle has one of the best rotations in baseball that nobody is talking about, but unfortunately for the Mariners they simply don’t have enough hitting to get by the Rangers in this division.

Offense

Despite playing in only 50 games, Cruz has 15 HR and 34 RBI, while Hamilton has 4 HR and 23 RBI in 30 games for Texas. Picking up the slack has been Adrian Beltre (.265, 12, 48) and Michael Young (.306, 3, 40).

Pitching

The starting rotation and bullpen is the real reason the Rangers are in first place right now.  Ace C.J. Wilson was one of their biggest bright spots coming into the year, and he has not disappointed, going 7-3 with a 3.09 ERA.  The surprises in the rotation have been Alexi Ogando (7-0, 2.10), Matt Harrison (5-6, 3.31) and Derek Holland (5-1, 4.41).  It also helps that closer Neftali Feliz has converted 13 of 16 save chances while posting a miniscule 1.21 ERA. As a setup man, Darren Oliver has been great (2.96 ERA) at getting the ball to Feliz in late game situations.

New York Yankees: Wild Card Winner

The Yankees have hung tough in the AL East, and currently sit 2.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox. New York is 36-28 on the season and have played amazing baseball outside of their three series with Boston , going 35-20 against all other opponents.  New York is hitting the ball well, and their starting pitching has gotten a major boost from a few veterans. The AL Central and AL West divisions don’t appear to have a second team to challenge New York , leaving division foe Tampa Bay as their main competition for the wild card spot.

Offense

Derek Jeter is closing in on 3,000 hits for his career, though he is having somewhat of a down season, batting just .260 with 2 HR and 20 RBI.  Curtis Granderson has easily been their most productive hitter, batting .278 with a league-leading 20 HR and 47 RBI.  Mark Teixeira (.250, 19, 47), Alex Rodriguez (.284, 13, 40) and Robinson Cano (.285, 12, 41) have all been playing up to their potential as well.

Pitching

Rotation leader C.C. Sabathia has gone 7-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 14 starts this year, which is pretty much what you would expect from the Yankees No. 1 starter.  The surprises have been Bartolo Colon (5-3, 3.10) and Freddy Garcia (5-5, 3.60), who have each revived their careers. A.J. Burnett (6-5, 4.09) has also bounced back nicely after a sub-par 2010 campaign. David Robertson (1-0, 1.37) has been untouchable while setting it up for the ageless Mariano Rivera, who has converted 16-of-19 save chances and posted 1.85 ERA so far this season.

Boston Red Sox: AL Pennant Winner Prediction

Nine Innings: Matt Kemp is the Best Player in Baseball

Every week, “Nine Innings” covers nine topics ranging from Fantasy, injuries, big performances, streaks, slumps, rumors and whatever else that pops into my head.

1. Hanson dominates, Uggla heating up
Dan Uggla had been struggling and then some so far this season. In his first year with the Atlanta Braves, his numbers are certain to decline but there’s still nearly 100 games to get back on track. Uggla went yard for his eighth HR on Sunday against the Houston Astros. His homer was nearly enough to secure the win. Tommy Hanson won his eighth game of the season and struck out 14 batters in only seven innings of work. This win gives Atlanta six straight to pull within two games of the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. The National League looks to have a very interesting wild card race developing as seven teams have a record over .500.

2. Derek Jeter seven hits away from 3,000
Although the media is giving this a fair amount of attention, I still think it should receive more attention. The 3,000 Hit Club is a serious achievement. Put it this way, it takes 15 seasons with 200 hits in each to get to 3,000. I know you can do math, my dear readers, but c’mon! 15 years with 200 hits apiece is nuts. This is Derek Jeter‘s 16th full season and it really speaks to his talent, longevity and consistency. Be sure to check out The Dugout Doctors’ photo gallery of all the members of the 3,000 Hit Club!

3. Red Sox crush the Blue Jays, complete sweep
Winners of nine straight, Boston hasn’t lost a game since June 1 and on Sunday, they completed their three-game weekend sweep of Toronto. The Jays were outscored 35 to 6 in the three games. Jon Lester struck out eight and only allowed two hits over his eight inning masterpiece on Sunday. David Ortiz went 0-for-4 on Saturday but that game was sandwiched between two games where he went 7-for-9 combined with 2 HRs, 7 RBIs and 4 Rs.

4. Prince Fielder jacks one to seal win over Cards
Prince Fielder has a great season going with 19 HRs (2nd in the NL), 58 RBI (1st) and he’s also hitting .305. He kept that going on Sunday with a huge bomb, a true “no-doubter” that he pounded into the right field seats against the St. Louis Cardinals. With the win, the Milwaukee Brewers pulled ahead of the Cards by a half-game. The NL Central is locked up with three teams with 34 or more wins (Brewers, Cards, Reds). Cincinnati is 4.5 games back.

5. “No One Cares About Baseball” three-part series
I’d like to thank any and everybody who took the time to read my critique of Major League Baseball and the perception that the game “sucks” or is becoming less popular. It was an overwhelming success and even though it’s not like I’m going to win the Pulitzer or be acknowledged by anyone other than myself, it sparked a great debate about the game. I met some new people who appreciated my point of view and it was an interesting topic to research and write about. If you missed it, check out Part One by clicking here.

6. Fantasy baseball is killing me
After having as many as a dozen Fantasy teams in every sport as recently as 2009, I decided to taper back my Fantasy commitments by limiting myself to only two or three teams per sport this year. One could assume that since I’m focused on fewer teams, it should be easier to succeed with them. You’d be wrong. I’m not in even in the Top 3 in any league and I’m scraping by to remain relevant. My gravitation towards younger players didn’t pay off, but hey, can’t win ‘em all, just ask LeBron! Zing! But in all seriousness, I feel a comeback is imminent. I’ll keep you posted.

7. College baseball, where art thou?
Besides that hilarious video of the game announcer going nuts when Cal won their game against Rice with a walk-off hit, I haven’t been paying enough attention to college baseball’s postseason. We did a recap here at The Dugout Doctors of the MLB Draft’s first-round picks with a brief analysis of each player (I mention this since it does technically count as following college ball), but with so much going on in MLB, the NBA Finals, the NHL Finals and the nice weather keeping me outdoors on weekends, there’s only so much time in the day. I’d like to hear who you guys think has a shot to win it all besides an obvious favorite like UVA. Hit me up on Twitter and let’s talk college baseball, I need to be educated.

8. Matt Kemp is easily the best player in the game
First, let’s focus on the numbers. Matt Kemp is fifth in the majors in batting average (.331), tied for second in HRs (20) and third in RBIs (56). He also has 14 steals. He’s on pace for 196 hits, 109 runs, 48 homers, 135 RBIs and 34 steals. In a year where pitching is wreaking havoc on bats across the league, Kemp stands alone at the top. Kemp does need to improve his defense, I wouldn’t even consider him a Top 20 defensive centerfielder. But that said, he’s at least playing a demanding position. There is definitely an argument for Boston’s Adrian Gonzalez being the best in the league and many people would probably agree, but it should be considered that Kemp plays for a less-talented team in a tougher hitter’s park. He’s not the best player ever, or had the best career, but he’s having the best year right now.

9. FanGraphs: Denard Span is the most underrated player in baseball
Any baseball fan worth a damn knows FanGraphs and they recently published an article attempting to quantify who truly is baseball’s most underrated player. By using stats which are admittedly a little bit beyond me, they present a pretty good argument for guys like Denard Span and Howie Kendrick. As they mention, their system seems to overvalue the underrated-ness of lesser positions like catcher, middle infielders and center fielders. But nonetheless, it’s an interesting read. Click here to check it out.

Follow Matt on Twitter and Facebook to follow all his updates!

The Best Harry Caray Impressions

Recently, Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster did his best Harry Caray impression before a game. It got me thinking about all the other great Harry Caray impressions I’ve seen over the years. So I thought I’d compile them for you here, all in one place, to pay homage to one of the game’s most iconic game announcers. Please email me if any of the videos aren’t working or send me a link with another great Harry Caray impression. Cubs win! Cubs win!

Ryan Dempster

For a better quality version, visit MLB.com.

Will Ferrell

American soldier in Iraq

John Campanera

Matt Wagner

The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Harry Caray

2011 MLB Draft: First Round Results & Analysis

The Dugout Doctors’ writer Steve Garrity presents his first round analysis of the 2011 MLB Draft.

1. Pittsburgh Pirates

RHP Gerrit Cole, UCLA – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 220 B/T: R/R

A first round pick by the Yankees in 2008, Gerrit Cole has come a long way. He is equipped with some of the best pure stuff in the draft. His fastball has been clocked consistently in the high-90s and has touched triple digits. His secondary offerings include a slider and change, both are only average right now. Command and control seem to be Cole’s Achilles’ heel at the moment as he struggled some in 2011. However, with some seasoning in the minors, Cole has real ace potential.
 

2. Seattle Mariners

LHP Danny Hultzen, Virginia – Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 200 B/T: L/L

A surprise pick here. The Mariners were mostly connected to bats like Anthony Rendon, Francisco Lindor, and Bubba Starling. Danny Hultzen is probably one of the safer picks and should be a quick mover in the minors. He has three potentially plus pitches in a low-90s fastball that has touched 96, a true plus-changeup with excellent life and fade, and a slider that has a chance to be plus in the future. Thinking about a future rotation of Felix Hernandez, Michael Peneda, and Hultzen has to make Mariners fan smile.

3. Arizona Diamondbacks

RHP Trevor Bauer, UCLA – Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 185 B/T: R/R

Some clubs were scared off of Trevor Bauer because of his long-toss pitching regiment and his quirky personality. But he is dominant as he is odd. Bauer is a true student of pitching, studying everything from biomechanics to pitch tunneling. He mirrors himself off of Giants ace Tim Lincecum and his delivery certainly shows that. He has one of the largest bag of pitches in the draft including a fastball that sits in the 93-95 range with good life, and a plus plus curve, as well as an above average change, along with several variations of these pitches. He is possible the most Major League ready pitcher in the draft and has a chance to become a dominant number one starter at the next level.

4. Baltimore Orioles

RHP Dylan Bundy, Owasso HS (OK) – Ht: 6’0″ Wt: 200 B/T: S/R

The 2011 class has some the best collection of arms in quite a while, some have suggested Bundy might be the best out of the bunch. His size is not usually what you look for at the top of the draft at only 6’0’’, but he has outstanding strength. He can squat 500 lbs. and leg press 1200 lbs., which goes to show how strong his work ethic is. He has reached triple-digits with his fastball and already has a plus-cutter and curve, along with a slider. He has a big price tag associated with him but his brother is already in the Baltimore organization and for the right price could be bought away from his Texas scholarship.

5. Kansas City Royals

OF Bubba Starling, Gardner-Edgerton HS (KS) – Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 200 B/T: R/R

Possibly the best prospect in the entire draft. Bubba Starling is also a top quarterback prospect with a scholarship waiting for him at the University of Nebraska. The Royals were connected to college arms pretty much the whole way but grabbing the local product here almost made too much sense. Starling is a tremendous athlete with plus-speed and power potential, along with a plus-arm. Some scouts think he could of more of a future on the mound but for now, he will hit. He will be a tough sign but under GM Dayton Moore, the Royals have not been afraid to spend to get top talent with high ceilings. If everything falls into place, Kansas City has the chance to add a potential superstar to the deepest system in the league.

6. Washington Nationals

3B Anthony Rendon, Rice – Ht: 6′ Wt: 190 B/T: R/R

Anthony Rendon is the top college bat in the entire draft. He slipped slightly due to injury risks with his shoulder and ankle. The Nationals already have Ryan Zimmerman at third but Rendon could be moved over to second as he played some there this season. At the plate, Rendon has tremendous hand-eye coordination with excellent plate discipline and bat speed. He has the potential to develop 20-25 home run potential. In the field, he is an outstanding defender with above-average range and an outstanding arm. When he enters Washington’s system, he would automatically become the number 2 prospect behind Bryce Harper.

7. Arizona Diamondbacks

RHP Archie Bradley, Broken Arrow HS (OK) – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 225 B/T: R/R

Archie Bradley is an interesting pick here. The Diamondbacks will not receive another pick next year if they fail to sign him. He has had high bonus demands attached to him, as high as $20 million. All along the D-Backs’ have mentioned that talent would reign supreme over signability here and in Bradley, they get one of the most athletic pitchers in the draft. He is another top quarterback prospect with a scholarship to Nebraska. He has outstanding size at 6’4’’ and 225 pounds and tremendous mechanics. His fastball has been clocked as high as 101 mph and he matches it with a devastating curve. If Arizona can get him in their system, they have another potential number one starter to go along with Trevor Bauer.

8. Cleveland Indians

SS Francisco Lindor, Monteverde Academy (FL) – Ht: 5’11″ Wt: 170 B/T: S/R

Francisco Lindor is a rare high school shortstop prospect who actually has a chance to stick at short. Scouts have described him as someone who can do it all: he can run, field, throw, and hit. The only real question about him is how much power potential he really has. He’ll need some seasoning down on the farm but down the road, he has a real shot to be a top of the order threat and a Gold Glove defender.

 

9. Chicago Cubs

3B Javier Baez, Arlington Country Day School (FL)

Javier Baez is slightly below Lindor in terms of upside, though his power potential can’t be questioned. He may have the fastest bat in the entire draft. He is a shortstop now and has an outside shot to stick there but odds are, he outgrows the position and moves over to third, where he has more than enough power and arm strength to profile. The only real question about Baez is his makeup; those concerns have really turned off scouts. If he matures in the minors, he has the chance to become a real star.
 

10. San Diego Padres

SS Cory Spangenberg, Indian River State College – Ht: 6′ Wt: 185 B/T: L/R

San Diego was connected to Cory Spangenberg leading up to the draft. It makes sense with their compensation pick, as he shouldn’t be a difficult sign. His bat is definitely what will carry him; he squares up everything and should be a doubles machine. His swing lacks loft though so his power potential is a question mark. He plays second and third now but concerns about his footwork and infield actions make scouts believe he will probably have to move to an outfield corner position. He has tremendous speed and an average arm so he could be an average defender but the bat is what to watch.

11. Houston Astros

OF George Springer, UConn – Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 200 B/T: R/R

The Astros have one of the shallowest systems in all of baseball and rumors were they were going to go for another overdraft with Chris Reed here leading up to the draft. However they shrugged everyone off and took George Springer. A true five-tool potential player, Springer has plus raw power, a plus arm, is a plus runner, and a smooth defender. There are some questions about his ability to hit for average at the next level because he tends to swing and miss some. Springer has shown he can make adjustments in the past though. He gives Houston a real potential superstar prospect, something their system could desperately use.

12. Milwaukee Brewers

RHP Taylor Jungmann, Texas – Ht: 6’6″ Wt: 220 B/T: R/R

Taylor Jungmann saw his stock rise some leading up to the draft until a velocity dip brought up some questions. However, the Brewers obviously were not scared off. He is a proven winner who has great size at 6’6’’ and 220 pounds. His repertoire includes a fastball that sits at 90-93 and a solid slider and change. He commands his pitches well but his upside is somewhat limited despite being a safe pick. There is some concern about his delivery with an extreme head movement but he has been doing it his entire life. Even with all the questions, he is still one of the best college arms in this draft.

13. New York Mets

OF Brandon Nimmo, Cheyenne East HS (WY) – Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 185 B/T: R/R

Brandon Nimmo is the mystery man in this draft. Wyoming does not have high school baseball and as such scouts rarely got to see him play. His stock began to rise last summer after dominating the showcase circuit. He is raw but has proven he can handle top level competition. He is an outstanding athlete so he should be a very good defender in center and has tremendous hitting tools. He has a smooth left-handed swing that should allow him to hit for average and solid power. The only question with Nimmo is his price tag, rumored to be in the $3 million dollar range. The Mets have said they can go over slot to sign their pick but with their financial issues it remains to be seen.

14. Florida Marlins

RHP Jose Fernandez, Alonso HS (FL) – Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 235 B/T: R/R

Jose Fernandez is wise beyond his years. He tried to defect from Cuba three times and even spent time in a Cuban prison before finally making it to the states. He has proved it was all worth it and stood out this year among a strong high school pitching class. He has three potentially above-average offerings in a 90-95 mph fastball with very good sink, a sharp slider, and a curve that has flashed 12-6. He also has a change that is a work in progress. The Marlins love high school pitching and an arm like this in their backyard was too much to pass up. The only concern with Fernandez is keeping his 6’3’’ and 235 pound frame in check. If he can, Florida has a potential ace in the making.

15. Milwaukee Brewers

LHP Jed Bradley, Georgia Tech – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 224 B/T: L/L

Jed Bradley has some of the best pure stuff in the draft in 91-95 fastball, a potentially plus low-80s slider, and a change with great movement. Even after dominating the Cape League in 2010, Bradley was never really able to put together an outstanding season for the Yellow Jackets which caused his stock to drop some. He has a smooth delivery and has shown a strong work ethic. The Brewers hope with better coaching, he can finally become the ace he is meant to be.

16. Los Angeles Dodgers

LHP Chris Reed, Stanford – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 190 B/T: L/L

The Dodgers didn’t really have the money to sign any top tier talent and Chris Reed is a slight overdraft here as he was projected as more of supplemental round talent. However as Stanford’s closer, he has shown the stuff to potentially start at the next level. He has an above average fastball that sits in the 91-95 mph range with solid run, and a plus slider, as well as a potentially plus change. He has the fastball and breaking ball that could move him quickly through the Dodgers system as a bullpen arm. He hasn’t really pitched much; he only pitched around 30 innings before this season, which makes scouts think there is still more to come from Reed.

17. Los Angeles Angels

1B C.J. Cron, Utah – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 230 B/T: R/R

C.J. Cron is an odd pick for the Angels as they usually go for the high school talent. But he is one of the top college bats in the class; he makes some of the hardest, most consistent contact in the entire draft. He is below average as a runner and will probably be no more than an average defender at first, but his bat should allow him to hit for plus power and a solid average. This pick has to make you think what the futures of Mark Trumbo and Kendrys Morales are in the Angels organization.

18. Oakland Athletics

RHP Sonny Gray, Vanderbilt – Ht: 5’11″ Wt: 180 B/T: R/R

This is a perfect Oakland A’s pick. Sonny Gray is undersized for a pitcher at only 5’11’’ but he has a bulldog mentality and gives his all the whole game. On the mound, he has a fastball that has touched 97 mph and usually sits in the 91-95 mph range, along with possibly the best curveball in college baseball. He has a developing change but it lags behind his other offerings, because of this some believe he could be a fast mover through the minors as a potential back end of the bullpen arm with closer potential. However, he will be given the chance to start and if he works on his third pitch, Gray has the ceiling of a number 2 starter.

19. Boston Red Sox

RHP Matt Barnes, UConn – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 203 B/T: R/R

Most had the Sox grabbing a college arm here. Alex Meyer was a former draft pick of theirs so he was an obvious fit but with Barnes falling to them here tough to not pounce all over him. In most classes, Matt Barnes would be a Top 10 pick easily, but with the depth of this class, he slips to 19 and it is Boston’s fortune. He has a solid three pitch mix with a mid-90s fastball, an outstanding curve, and a change that could be average down the road. His command is excellent and his frame offers good projection down the road. He has the chance to be a frontline starter and be a quick help arm in the bullpen.

20. Colorado Rockies

LHP Tyler Anderson, Oregon – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 215 B/T: S/R

Colorado was connected to college bats like Kolten Wong and C.J. Cron in the days leading up to the draft. However, Tyler Anderson saw his stock rise some after defeating Texas and Jungmann. He has very good size at 6’4’’ and 215 pounds and an outstanding feel for pitching. He has above-average movement on his fastball that ranges from 90-94, to go with two above-average secondary offerings in a slider and change. He will most likely have to scarp his curve and concentrate on one breaking pitch but he has the work ethic to move quickly through the minor leagues.

21. Toronto Blue Jays

RHP Tyler Beede, Lawrence Academy (MA) – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 200 B/T: R/R

This is an interesting pick here. Tyler Beede is mentioned to be one of the toughest sign in the entire draft, with an extremely strong commitment to Vanderbilt. Beede himself has said that whether he turns pro or not all depends upon money. But there is a reason Toronto was willing to take a risk on him this high in the draft. He has great size at 6’4’’ and 200 pounds, a frame that offers plenty of projection in the future. He also has outstanding mechanics and a quality three pitch mix with a fastball that can touch 95 mph, a curve that projects to be an above average pitch in the future, and a change. If the Jays are willing to open their wallets, they will get themselves a potential frontline starter.

22. St. Louis Cardinals

2B Kolten Wong, Hawaii – Ht: 5’9″ Wt: 190 B/T: L/R

The Cardinals usually like to go for top college bats and in a class where they are slightly lacking, Wong is right there near the top. One of the rare true second base prospects, Wong has extremely solid hitting tools. A potential doubles machine at the next level, he has a compact left-handed swing that should also allow him to hit for average at the next level. In the field, he is very versatile and could become a Gold Glove defender.

23. Washington Nationals

RHP Alex Meyer, Kentucky – Ht: 6’9″ Wt: 220 B/T: R/R

The Washington Nationals were looking at Alex Meyer as high as number 6 in the weeks leading up to the draft. Grabbing their guy here has to be a real coup. Though Meyer is still pretty raw, he has ace potential down the road. One of the bigger arms in the draft at 6’9’’ and 220 pounds, there is still room for weight to be put on. He has an extremely strong arm with a fastball that has hit triple digits but will need seasoning to work on his secondary offerings, command, and control. His slider however projects as a plus pitch in the future. The Nats will have to be patient with him but down the road he could fall right in line behind Strasburg as a top number 2 starter.

24. Tampa Bay Rays

RHP Taylor Guerrieri, Spring Valley HS (SC) – Ht: 6’3″ Wt: 180 B/T: R/R

Taylor Guerrieri fell some due to maturity issues, though they obviously were not enough to knock him out of the first round. He has some of the best pure stuff in the draft. Guerrieri has three potentially above-average pitches in the future in a fastball that has touched 98, a hard curve, a change. He also has a cutter. He has great size a 6’3’’ and 195 pound frame. The Rays were connected to arms at this pick and with Guerrieri, they get themselves another potential number one starter to add to their hoard of arms in the minors.

25. San Diego Padres

RHP Joe Ross, Bishop O’Dowd HS (CA) – Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 180 B/T: R/R

Joe Ross has a strong commitment to UCLA and could be tough to sign. Though with the Padres grabbing a solid bat at number 10, Ross is worth the risk here. His brother is already in the Oakland A’s system, so he has the bloodlines, but he is a prospect all his own. He has a solid pitching frame at 6’2’’ and 180 with plenty of upside down the road. He also flashes a 96 mph fastball, a curve with hard bite, along with a change that could be above average.

26. Boston Red Sox

C Blake Swihart, Cleveland HS (NM) – Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 175 B/T: S/R

Before the draft, Blake Swihart asked teams not to draft him because he wished to go to the University of Texas. Most however think that was all a ploy, letting teams know it would take a lot to sign him. Naturally, most think the Sox are the team to pony up that cash. He has been a target of theirs for a while and there are plenty of reasons to see why. He has above-average hitting tools and should hit for a good average at the next level and has 25-plus HR potential. He is a catcher now and obviously has more value there, but may have to move off the position. He is a solid athlete with plenty of arm strength for a corner outfield position.

27. Cincinnati Reds

RHP Robert Stephenson, Alhambra HS (CA) – Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 190 B/T: R/R

Throwing back-to-back no-hitters this year, Robert Stephenson added to his already impressive resume and saw his stock rise all year. He has a lean 6’2’’ frame. His fastball has already touched the high-90s and with a smooth delivery, he may have more velocity in him. He packages it with a developing curve and change. The Reds were said to be looking at college lefties here, but in Ross, they get a kid who is lauded for his makeup and has the makings of a potential number 2.

28. Atlanta Braves

LHP Sean Gilmartin, Florida State – Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 195 B/T: L/L

The Braves are a team that rarely goes the college route early. Sean Gilmartin is a slight reach here as he was seen as more of supplemental round talent. However it is tough to argue with what Atlanta does in the draft; they have built up a top three farm system through the draft. Gilmartin has been compared to another Braves arm, Mike Minor. He has solid size for a lefty at 6’2’’ and 195 pounds and a smooth, athletic delivery. His fastball is only average at 89-91 but he has a plus pitch in his change and an average slider. He commands them all well. He has the makings of the middle of the rotation arm.

29. San Francisco Giants

SS Joe Panik, St. Johns – Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 193 B/T: L/R

Tough to agree with John Panik in the first round. The Giants rarely seem to get it correct in terms of grabbing position players in the first round. He is a pretty big reach here but Panik does have talent. His bat is his only above average tool. He has very good plate discipline and strike zone awareness, so he should hit for a decent average at the next level. With his size, 6’2’’ and 195 pounds, he could be compared to former Giants second basemen Jeff Kent without the power. Panik is a solid bat but with Mahtook and Michael still on the board, it is hard to agree with this selection.

30. Minnesota Twins

SS Levi Michael, North Carolina – Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 220 B/T: R/R

Most had the Twins looking at college pitching at this pick but with Levi Michael still here it is hard to argue. Michael has played all over the field with the Tar heels, meaning he has the versatility the Twins love. He settled on short this year and scouts have recently said he has a chance to stick there at the next level. When it is all said and down he most likely settles in at second where he could become an above-average defender. At the plate, he is a patient hitter with a keen-eye and should hit for a solid average. He also has some solid power. Overall he has the chance to become a top-tier top of the order bat for Minnesota.

31. Tampa Bay Rays

OF Mikie Mahtook, LSU – Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 192 B/T: R/R

Mikie Mahtook fall was surprising. Most had him pegged as a mid-first round selection and the Marlins were said to really like him at 14. However once again, the Rays showed great patience and get another excellent pick here. Mahtook is an Eric Brynes type of player with more talent. He has five-tool talent as he should be at least average across the board. He no doubt will give his all every time he plays, wherever he plays. He is in center now and has the arm strength and power projection to handle a corner outfield spot. This is just another case of the rich getting richer.

32. Tampa Bay Rays

SS Jake Hager, Sierra Vista HS (NV) – Ht: 6’1″ Wt: 170 B/T: R/R

All the rumblings suggested the Rays would select a slight reach here. With the amount of picks that they had in this draft, they no doubt had to spread the wealth around. Jake Hager’s stock was on the rise leading up to the draft, so he is not an extreme reach here. He has all the intangibles you want in a shortstop. He has an extremely strong arm, smooth actions. At the plate, he allows the ball to travel well and hits line drives to all fields. He is committed to Arizona State but First round money should make him turn pro.

33. Texas Rangers

LHP Kevin Matthews, Richmond Hill HS (GA) – Ht: 5’11″ Wt: 180 B/T: R/L

Interesting to hear Kevin Matthews name called here. The Rangers said signability would not be an issue with who they grabbed with the 33rd pick. Matthews will most likely not be a problem to sign, there just happened to be better prospects still on the board. He is however still a solid prospect. He does not have great size at only 5’11’’ and 180 pounds but he can still get his fastball into the low-90s, along with a big curve, and a solid change. He has a good feel for pitching and could start or become a backend of the bullpen arm.

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