Looking ahead to the 2018 draft

zambonir 2017-06-02 23:08:29 UTC #41

It's just hard to believe $3 million or even $10 million would really be vetoed given the current levels of major league spending and TV revenue.

Also - if Sal is so great and TPTB is still so mired in the old ways, why does he still work here? Surely if the organization was truly incompetent about international spending and development, he'd want to go somewhere that would let him do more. Or, for that matter, get promoted, like Almaraz.

Conversely, if it is MacPhail and Klentak who made these calls, it wouldn't surprise me to see him leave, whether it is his choice or theirs. If he wanted to sign a bunch of guys and the new GM passed, whether for financial reasons or because they didn't listen to his evaluations, that would seem a red flag. You've also still got Benny Looper as the top international advisor.

andyb 2017-06-02 23:18:27 UTC #42

The Phillies are not incompetent internationally. We have been in the middle of spending for the past decade consistently. We have just not been one of the 10-12 clubs that have gone over the cap when we are one of the few that could have easily done so financially. That has to be frustrating, but it does not mean the Phillies are an awful place to be for an international director.

Organizations do set budgets. I doubt the international budget is really dictated by Montgomery or the higher ups. I am sure they approve an overall baseball organization budget and the GM has some latitude to fit the pieces together. There is likely an initial itemized budget with an international line item, but only the total budget should be set in stone. I have no problem with the Phillies overall budget over the years. They just should have shifted $5 to $10 million to the draft or international budgets from the major league budget.

I don't think Sal or Almaraz would leave because of budget frustration. They have decent budgets compared to their peers and they are drafting relatively high for an organization that regularly spends their draft and international allocations. It is not the best situation in baseball but likely better than average.

teabag259 2017-06-03 23:16:10 UTC #43

Seth Beer vs Kyle Wright coming up momentarily on ESPNU

teabag259 2017-06-09 01:20:48 UTC #44

Sounds like there are some big time high school arms in 2018. Kumar Rocker is already in the mid to upper 90s and considered one of if not the best,

teabag259 2017-06-14 01:47:40 UTC #46

Early 2018 high school top 10 from PG...

Rank Name Pos Ht Wt B/T HS Hometown Commitment Travel Team
1 Kumar Rocker RHP 6-4 240 R R North Oconee Watkinsville, GA Vanderbilt Team Elite Prime
Fun to watch him pitch. Everything works well easy low 90's with plenty more in there. Extremely high ceiling up to 93 at PG Jr National Up to 95 this summer. Continued to impress at Fall WWBA
2 Brice Turang SS 6-1 165 L R Santiago Corona, CA Louisiana State Playa Vista Orioles
Very athletic all around player who really projects in all phases. Really stood out at PG Evoshield and CA World Series. USA Baseball POY
3 Jarred Kelenic OF 6-1 196 L L Waukesha West Waukesha, WI Louisville Rawlings Hitters
Can really hit. Ball flies off his barrel. Outstanding all fall including MVP of WWBA Kernels. Showed big 5 tool potential at PG Junior National and PG Underclass AA
4 Joe Gray Jr OF 6-3 195 R R Hattiesburg Hattiesburg, MS Mississippi Evoshield Canes
Very impressive at PG Junior National. Huge power potential. Very impressive at Fall WWBA Events
5 Ethan Hankins RHP 6-6 200 R R Forsyth Central Cumming, GA Vanderbilt Team Elite Prime 17U
Throws very easy and big velo gains now throwing high 80's up to 90 mph with lots more in there. Now up to 94 and still easy. Up to 95 at WWBA in the fall and MVPitcher WWBA World Championship
6 Will Banfield C 6-0 200 R R Brookwood Lawrenceville, GA Vanderbilt Team Elite Prime
Outstanding defensive catcher, can really hit with big power and up to 94 mph on the mound. Very good at PG Junior National, WWBA and PG Underclass AA
7 Triston Casas 3B 6-4 238 L R American Heritage Pembroke Pines, FL Miami Elite Squad
New to 2018 class. Can really mash. Hugh power potential
8 Nolan Gorman SS 6-1 210 L R Sandra Day O`Connor Glendale, AZ Arizona Central Florida Gators
Can flat out rake and showed it at WWBA and PG Junior National. Had a great fall. Seems like he gets a hit every time up
9 Austin Becker RHP 6-6 185 R R Big Walnut Sunbury, OH Vanderbilt Evoshield Canes
Touched 96 mph at WWBA Underclass World Championship
10 Elijah Cabell OF 6-2 190 R R TNXL Academy Winter Park, FL Louisiana State Central Florida Gators
Extremely fast bat and the ball just flies off his barrel. Very fun to watch him hit. Huge power at PG Junior National. Very good at WWBA

Squire 2017-06-14 12:30:27 UTC #47

Its Mid-june and we have a 3.5 game "lead" for the #1 pick in next year's draft. Unfortunately with the slot compression that occurred any advantage is mitigated some but it would be nice to have another shot at a top player. Unfortunately without any chance at a compensation pick or a competitive balance pick we will be looking at the same situation next year at trying to float a player all the way to 37-ish.

teabag259 2017-06-15 19:28:08 UTC #48

schooldoc 2017-06-26 23:51:36 UTC #49

Singer (Florida) going tonight for Florida in CWS championship series Game 1 vs. LSU. Fastball sitting at 94 mph with wipeout slider. Reminds me of a taller, slightly harder throwing Aaron Nola.

teabag259 2017-07-03 14:17:53 UTC #50

Looks like Beer has been hitting well for the USA college team.

Squire 2017-07-08 13:16:29 UTC #51

As each game passes it looks more and more like the Phillies will be 1.1 next year. One negative development this year was the growing concept of the overshot bonus at the top of the draft. If there is a clear top choice we may have to draw from the rest of our draft a little to sign him. I think we are deep enough that that would be the right choice. Right now because we seem to lack top of the rotation prospects I'm leaning Brady Singer right now. Just saying that we likely will not be able to push money down next draft.

California_Dreamin 2017-07-08 13:53:23 UTC #52

Is Scott Boras the agent for Singer? Its funny, I didn't hear or read Scott Boras's name once this signing season but have to assume he was Hunter Greene's agent since he signed literally minutes before the deadline, a common tactic of the agents.

Did we draft any Boras clients this year? I was actually wondering if Boras, who is nearly 70 years of age, has been ill or has simply cut back on his work since he no longer seems the dominant figure he once was. Not saying he isn't as effective, just not as newsworthy.

baseballoldie 2017-07-08 14:15:35 UTC #53

CD - Boras is #1 pick Royce Lewis' agent. He did not represent Hunter Greene whom I believe was represented by CAA.

California_Dreamin 2017-07-08 14:16:25 UTC #54

Thanks, is he Singer's agent?

baseballoldie 2017-07-08 14:55:05 UTC #55

Don't know if Singer had an advisor when drafted in 2015 since he didn't sign and went to Florida instead. Of course he can't have an agent while in college but I would expect, since he will be a top pick next year, he is being wooed by many advisors hoping to eventually become his agent.

schooldoc 2017-07-08 16:10:18 UTC #56

If the Phillies get 1/1 next year, I just want them to take the best guy especially if he has the relative certainty of a top college pitcher. I am certainly not ready to write off Moniak or Gowdy, and hindsight of course is 20/20. But, man, wouldn't you rather have Nick Senzel in their system right now? Especially with Maikel Franco hitting .219 with a .277 OBP, I sure would.

julio 2017-07-08 16:36:38 UTC #57

Would I rather have Senzel than Moniak? That's not at all obvious.

Nick Senzel is 22, having a very good season in AA. Mickey Moniak is 19, in single-A. But three years of development can be very significant.

Characterizing Senzel as "obviously" a better choice than Moniak (which is how I interpret your comment) seems to be all about what you see the Phillies needing right now. Is Senzel better/more advanced now? Yes, obviously. Does that mean he's more valuable, or is likely to have a better major-league career than Moniak? I don't see how you can reach that conclusion... and the Phillies are focused on maximizing long-term value, not on plugging short-term holes. I understand that doesn't sit well with lots of fans, who want their gratification right now, but I really think it's the correct approach.

schooldoc 2017-07-21 15:59:18 UTC #58

Checking in on the race for the 2018 #1 pick

PHILLIES 32-61
San Francisco 37-60
Chicago (AL) 38-54
Cincinnati 40-55
San Diego 41-54

Beware the White Sox, who have lost 9 of 10 and have a schedule coming up featuring the Cubs, Indians Astros, Red Sox over the next 3 weeks.

Austinfan 2017-07-21 16:04:39 UTC #59

I can see it now, Phillies go .500 after the Allstar break, and instead of people saying they really were better than that awful May and things are turning up, all we'll here is how they blew the #1 pick in the draft!

fish 2017-07-21 16:26:43 UTC #60

What if I just think it? They don't have the stars or depth the Cubs and Astros accumulated to get to where those clubs are now- fingers crossed that they just need one more round of high draft picks to get to where they need to be and that something more rises to the top from recent signings/picks. I like a few college hitters - and a few that haven't risen to the top of rankings yet. I feel pretty confident there is going to be a guy or two at the top of the next draft that is actually worth being picked there.

nycphils 2017-07-21 17:27:38 UTC #61

This isn't the NBA draft. Third pick (or whatever) is fine by me if it reflects development of the young guys.