Dare to Compare?????

Does anybody dare to compare the College and HS players drafted from NC and where they were predicted to go by the media??? Where did they hit it on the head? Where were the surprises (risers and fallers)?

 

Surprises:

- That USC did not have any players drafted in the Top 5 rounds (although next year they may have the 1st selection)

- I thought Josh Horton would be drafted in the 1st round

- I was surprised that Brackman was selected in the 1st round

- I was mildly surprised that Putkonen was drafted in the 3rd round

- That San Diego (who had little contact with Robert Woodard) selected him. It's a great fit.

Not surprising:

- That Scott Boras' clients were selected later in the draft. There are quite a few terrific sport agents out there, why would any HS player select him as their agent. There are no advantages to it.

 

I was surprised Brackman went so late. Boras is tough. I wouldn't want to deal with him either. Although I hate the Yankees, they can deal with him.

From everything I have read and the one time I watched him, Madison deserved where he went at 10th overall.

I was surprised at how many local players got drafted and how high. Surprised Lattimore went so high.

 

My observations

I was also surprised that Brackman went in the first round. He missed his last couple of starts and obviously has some arm problems. He has not shown that he can pitch a complete season even at the college level and stay healthy.

I was not surprised that Jackson went 45th but was surprised that Horton went 90th. Horton should have gone higher.

I was not surprised at all at the number of HS players drafted from NC. I have seen these guys play for years. I have seen them beat teams from all across the country at East Cobb and Jupiter. And I knew this was a very special group of HS talent.

I was not surprised at Lattimore going to the Pirates in the 4th round. He let it be known he wanted to be drafted and the Pirates have loved him for awhile.

I was surprised that Sowers went as late as he did. There is not a better "Pitcher in this state". There is one with more upside "Bumgardner" but not a better pitcher right now. Sowers is a stud.

I was very surprised to see two of the top ranked catchers in the nation "Matra" and "Grandal" both HS Florida products drop to the 22nd round. There were both considered top five round picks. They must have had Boras.

 

JJ/MB
The media preseason predictions had the Orioles taking Justin Jackson in the first round (#5 overall) and being groomed to replace Tejada down the road.
Meanwhile Madison Bumgarner was viewed as a late first rounder or supplemental pick. Jackson's fall has been widely attributed to overexposure
(numerous showcases/Midland Redskins/Team USA...)
Ironically, Bumgarner's decision to play for Post 29 rather than a national showcase team was a great decision because it forced scouts to see him during the 07 high school season, when his arm was fresh and his team was making a run at the national championship. Another big reason MB shot past other high school pitching prospects was signability. Again, I think playing Legion helped in promoting him as a signable blue-collar-player who loves to compete.

 

I have to disagree

Jacksons fall was due to doubts about his ability to hit at a high level. The exposure he got was why he was so highly rated in the first place. If he had not gotten himself out there and exposed the way he did he would not have been as highly ranked in the first place. Bumgardners legion play had absolutely nothing to do with his rise in the draft. The SR HS season is where the money is made. He showed what he needed to show this HS season when all the scouts were out following the guys leading up to the draft. Look at David Mailman. He got the scouts attention with his performances last summer and fall. Then he showed what he needed to show this HS season when the scouts were out making decisions on players. The same can be said for Lattimore. He made a name for himself hitting off highly touted pitchers at East Cobb and Jupiter. He came into the HS season with the scouts knowing who he was and wanting to get a look leading up to the draft. He obviously did what he needed to do. It has nothing to do with this Blue Collar Legion stuff. He has everything to do with being 6'5 and throwing mid 90's.

 

I'll just have to agreee to disagree on this one...

 

The fact is

PJ was never listed as a high draft pick. His lack of size for the pro level and his strong desire to go to UNC are the reason he was not drafted. Jackson went #45 overall. That is pretty darn good isnt it? The reason he slipped is the bat not over exposure. I think the world of Jerry and if he said that I just disagree with him. The scouts I talked to said Jacksons only question mark was his ability to hit at the next level with wood against the quality of pitching he would have to face. They must have still liked him he went #45. Maybe if he had played Legion he would have gone higher, right? I will take overexposure over no exposure everytime , how about you? If overexposure gets you at #45.

PJ is a tremendous pitcher. He will have a great career at UNC. He let it be known he was a college guy. He was not listed as a possible high draft pick and it had nothing to do with overexposure. It had everything to do with his size and him letting it be known that he wanted to go to college.

Josh Vitters went very high , higher than Bumgardner. He played all the showcase events including AFLAC East Cobb Jupiter etc. I think he was what the #2 or #3 pick in the draft as a posistion player out of HS. Are you saying he would have gone higher if he was not overexposed?

I would be willing to bet if Jackson had never done anything but played in HS and played locally in the summer he would have never gone anywhere near #45 this year in the draft. Im also willing to bet that the fact he was seen in so many venues against and with top level talent by so many people that is exactly why he was so well known and "slipped" to the #45 pick in the ML draft. Lets ask Chuck and see what he thinks.

You think the AFLAC game helped or hurt Bumgardner? Do you think Bumgardner would have gone #10 even if he had not played Legion? Do you think Bumgardner would have gone #10 if he had had a bad HS season but really pitched well last Legion season? Bumgardner's stock continue to rise because he showed "During the HS season that he could pitch and sustain mid 90's velocity from the leftside , with great size and projectibility". It had nothing to do with legion.

What about Runion? Was he overexposed? He did the same things Jackson did. AFLAC, Midland etc. Man he could have gone so much higher than #66 overall in the draft if he had just stayed home and played legion and showed that blue collar mentality. He was so over exposed.

 

Please think....

The Jackson Family respectfully requests that all comments reguarding Justin cease.

Madison's Family, Sam's Family and Justin's Family have been friends for a long time and phone calls went out within seconds of each of them getting drafted, congratulating each other. They are all very happy and proud of each of the boys.

Instead of wondering why and where players were picked, how about some Congratulations!!

The number of players selected in this years draft is an indication of baseball in NC as a whole. Whether you call it Legion ball, travel ball, AAU, USSSA, showcase baseball, AFLAC, East Cobb, Impact baseball or college ball, these players should be commended, not dissected.

Patrick Johnson is one of the top pitchers in the state and should have been drafted. UNC will be getting a gem.

Ya'll have to realize, these guys are in negotiations, and sometimes speculation and even barbs of jealousy can do more harm then you would imagine.

I have noticed over the years that when JJ's name comes up on this board, there always has been the same few distractors. What's up with that?

Let em sign, let em be pro's, then show your colors. Any one who wants the Jackson's phone number, shoot me a PM with the request and I will forward it on to them.

 

First of all

nothing in any of these posts is negative at all. The comments made are positive and these players are greatly respected not only for their baseball ability but the fine young men they are.

There is nothing wrong with talking about the draft. There is nothing wrong with having a discussion about the draft. I have not seen any comments on here that are negative. I think everyone agrees that these are outstanding young men and outstanding baseball players.

Congratulations to all the baseball players in NC. The ones that got drafted. The ones going on to play college baseball. The ones going to college and not playing. And the ones that are going to work now.