Season 18 Draft Recap

Carlton Greely III - Special to Cobb Times Herald from Baseball Nerd Weekly

Welcome to the new and improved Cobb World Draft Recap.  Following suggestions from our subscribers, we have contracted out our draft recaps to Baseball Nerd Weekly, who bring their expertise and Specialized Talent Universal Draft Analysis (STUD Analysis) to the Cobb Times Herald.  So without further ado, here is this seasons draft recap, in team and pick order.

STUD Analysis Note: Players are rated on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest. Players are rated relative to their position and how they would perform at the ML level, with a 5 being average.  NR means the player hasn't signed and therefore has no rating.

Fran	Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Bonus	S.T.U.D.
							Rating
ARI	1	23	Von Molitor	P	19	$1,940K	8.1
ARI	1	39	Bobby Ray Cook	P	22	$760K	5.4
ARI	1	45	Ross Skinner	P	21	$1,009K	6.3
ARI	1	53	Manny Kennedy	P	21	$600K	7.2
ARI	2	69	Zip Manship	P	21	$550K	5.8
ARI	2	80	Emmett McDonald	P	21	$550K	5.9
ARI	2	88	Bill Nelson	P	20	$550K	5.6
ARI	3	122	Robb Dillon	2B	21	$425K	3.8
ARI	4	157	Bernie Castillo	RF	19	---	NR
ARI	5	189	David Chang	CF	19	---	NR
							Team Grade: B
ATL	1	16	Dean Murray	C	22	---	NR
ATL	4	150	Rudy Franco	P	18	$350K	3.8
ATL	5	182	Glenn Grant	P	22	$250K	1.2
							Team Grade: F
BUR	1	12	Adam Davis	RF	18	$2,970K	9.1
BUR	2	76	Kevin Kwon	2B	22	$550K	5.4
BUR	3	111	Rickey Gates	P	21	---	NR
BUR	4	146	Marcus Dolan	P	19	$350K	4
BUR	5	178	Larry Spivey	LF	19	---	NR
							Team Grade: B
CH1	1	2	Stan Stephenson	P	19	$3,910K	7.8
CH1	2	64	Christopher Sullivan	P	21	$550K	5.2
CH1	3	101	Chris Liddi	P	19	$425K	3.8
CH1	4	136	Hector Lopez	P	22	$350K	4.2
CH1	5	168	Footsie Reagan	P	20	$250K	5
							Team Grade: C
CHA	1	7	Birdie Miles	P	18	---	NR
CHA	3	134	Douglas Daneker	C	21	$966K	6.8
CHA	4	141	Neftali Uribe	1B	18	$350K	3.9
CHA	5	173	Eric Robertson	CF	20	$250K	3.3
							Team Grade: D+
CHY	1	8	Raymond Iannone	P	21	$8,085K	8.9
CHY	1	47	Wilkin Tapies	P	19	$600K	7
CHY	2	71	C.J. Soriano	2B	18	---	NR
CHY	3	107	Mateo Zapata	CF	21	$425K	5.8
CHY	4	142	Cory Bowman	P	18	$350K	4.8
CHY	5	174	Dick McCallum	CF	18	$250K	5
							Team Grade: B+
CLB	1	22	Cla Young	P	18	$2,040K	7.8
CLB	1	38	Joe Lemon	P	18	$800K	6.8
CLB	2	87	Carter LeCroy	P	18	$550K	4.9
CLB	2	93	James Sadowski	CF	21	---	NR
CLB	3	106	George Kinney	CF	20	$425K	5.2
CLB	3	121	Bob Halter	P	22	$425K	5.9
CLB	4	156	Enrique Lee	LF	18	$350K	3.6
CLB	5	188	Daniel Walters	P	22	$250K	3.9
							Team Grade: B
CLE	3	129	Cristobal Fuentes	P	22	---	NR
CLE	4	164	Rickey Lee	P	19	---	NR
CLE	5	196	Glenn Hill	SS	22	$250K	3.9
							Team Grade: F
DOV	1	27	Elroy Jefferson	P	18	$1,570K	7.9
DOV	1	41	Victor Conigliaro	2B	21	$680K	5.2
DOV	2	94	Nolan Brown	P	22	$550K	5
DOV	2	97	Terrell Morneau	P	19	$550K	4.9
DOV	3	126	Yuniesky Rojas	CF	18	$425K	5.8
DOV	4	161	Davy Thome	P	21	$350K	4.1
DOV	5	193	Yonder Romano	P	20	$250K	2.1
							Team Grade: C+
FLA	1	25	Willie Bradley	P	20	$1,750K	7.5
FLA	1	54	Howie McNally	P	19	$600K	7.4
FLA	2	91	Nolan Herndon	P	20	$550K	6.8
FLA	3	124	Norman Hamilton	P	21	$425K	5.5
FLA	4	159	Bryan Frank	P	21	$350K	5
FLA	5	191	Darin Kingland	C	22	$250K	4.8
							Team Grade: B+
FRE	1	6	Neil Simpson	P	18	$5,810K	8.5
FRE	3	105	Paul Kata	P	21	$375K	4.8
FRE	4	140	Lloyd Thompson	2B	20	$338K	4.4
FRE	5	172	Alex Redondo	P	22	$200K	3.8
							Team Grade: C+
HOU	1	5	Brian Martin	P	22	$3,630K	8.9
HOU	1	46	Keith Walker	RF	19	$600K	6.2
HOU	1	57	Orlando Noesi	C	22	$600K	6.2
HOU	1	61	Steve Newson	LF	18	$600K	4.1
HOU	3	104	Enrique Moreno	P	20	$425K	4
HOU	4	139	Marlon O'Brien	P	18	$350K	4.9
HOU	5	171	Ken Griffin	P	22	$250K	5.2
							Team Grade: B
IA	1	18	Josh Vogelsong	RF	19	$2,410K	7.8
IA	2	82	Sammy Escuela	RF	20	$550K	6
IA	3	117	Brian McKay	3B	18	---	NR
IA	4	152	Sam Watson	P	19	---	NR
IA	5	184	Artie Hamilton	P	18	---	NR
							Team Grade: C+
JAC	1	3	Tommy Tanner	SS	18	$6,074K	8
JAC	2	65	Larry Cannon	3B	21	---	NR
JAC	2	74	Roosevelt McConnell	P	18	$550K	6
JAC	3	102	Phillip Brea	LF	20	$425K	5.1
JAC	3	132	Gregory Shannon	C	18	$425K	5
JAC	4	137	Luther Slocumb	P	18	$350K	4.2
JAC	5	169	Omar Petersen	LF	18	$250K	4
							Team Grade: B-
KC	1	14	Alex Calderone	P	18	$3,739K	8.9
KC	1	49	Malcolm Gorecki	CF	21	---	NR
KC	2	78	Jayson Smith	RF	19	---	NR
KC	3	113	Hades DeWitt	RF	22	---	NR
KC	4	148	Gerald Nixon	SS	19	---	NR
KC	5	180	Jeff Mattes	2B	20	---	NR
							Team Grade: B-
LAA	1	21	Matt Brow	3B	20	$2,130K	7.6
LAA	1	37	Milt Tanner	P	19	$840K	7
LAA	2	68	Mikey Carey	P	22	$550K	7.1
LAA	2	86	Taylor Lewis	P	20	$550K	5
LAA	3	120	Bill Van Hatten	P	18	$425K	5
LAA	4	155	Lefty Duncan	P	20	$350K	4.8
LAA	5	187	Naoki Ono	2B	21	$250K	2.6
							Team Grade: B
MNT	1	24	Markus Mathews	SS	18	$3,600K	7.8
MNT	1	32	Endy Schlehuber	P	18	$1,100K	6.9
MNT	1	44	Tommy Truman	P	18	$600K	5.2
MNT	2	99	Raymond Carroll	CF	18	$550K	3.2
MNT	3	131	Jensen Patterson	2B	18	$425K	2.8
MNT	4	166	Mark Tremie	SS	18	$350K	3
MNT	5	198	Josias Andrus	SS	18	$250K	3.4
							Team Grade: C
NAS	1	28	Saul Gonzales	P	18	$1,470K	7
NAS	1	56	B.J. O'Malley	P	18	$790K	6.2
NAS	2	95	Bruce Smith	C	18	$2,701K	5.8
NAS	3	127	Mark Teixeira	2B	18	---	NR
NAS	4	162	Dicky Mills	2B	18	$350K	4
NAS	5	194	Mark O'Leary	3B	18	$250K	4.5
							Team Grade: C+
NB	1	13	Rip Phelps	SS	19	$2,880K	8.6
NB	3	112	Scott Washburn	CF	20	$425K	5
NB	4	147	Charles Garcia	C	20	$350K	6
NB	5	179	Bobby Linton	P	19	$250K	4.4
							Team Grade: B
NY1	1	1	Rob Bannister	P	18	$4,000K	9.1
NY1	2	63	David Kemp	C	18	---	NR
NY1	3	100	Travis Berry	RF	18	$425K	4.6
NY1	3	133	Charlie Nunnally	CF	21	---	NR
NY1	4	135	Bruce Buckley	LF	20	---	NR
NY1	5	167	Marty Hall	SS	19	---	NR
							Team Grade: B
NY2	2	89	Ross Volstad	LF	18	---	NR
NY2	2	90	Rickey Henry	CF	21	$550K	4.4
NY2	3	123	Dave Johnson	3B	19	$425K	3.6
NY2	4	158	C.J. Charles	CF	20	$350K	3.8
NY2	5	190	Ed Simmons	CF	21	---	NR
							Team Grade: F
OMA	1	9	Rickey Herrera	P	19	$3,250K	8
OMA	3	108	Brian Redding	2B	21	$425K	4.4
OMA	4	143	Danny Fleming	1B	19	$350K	3.8
OMA	5	175	J.J. Ramsey	P	21	$250K	3.6
							Team Grade: C
PAW	1	19	John Yamakazi	CF	18	$2,320K	7.9
PAW	1	30	Calvin Brinkley	2B	21	$1,290K	7
PAW	1	36	Kirt Turner	P	18	---	NR
PAW	1	52	Armando Rosa	SS	18	$600K	6.5
PAW	2	84	Rich Dietz	P	18	---	NR
PAW	3	118	Carlos Saez	SS	19	$425K	6.8
PAW	4	153	Trevor Baez	C	22	$350K	5
PAW	5	185	Renyel Montanez	RF	22	$250K	3.4
							Team Grade: B+
RIC	1	17	Corban Gosling	CF	20	$2,500K	6.8
RIC	1	35	Jacque Dougherty	SS	21	$920K	6.6
RIC	1	51	Ronny York	LF	20	$600K	6.4
RIC	2	70	Beamer McBride	P	18	$550K	5
RIC	2	81	Don King	SS	21	$550K	4
RIC	3	116	Hugh Hauser	P	21	$425K	4.1
RIC	4	151	Taylor Benoit	2B	22	$350K	3.9
RIC	5	183	Yamid Garces	P	19	---	NR
							Team Grade: C
SEA	1	4	Wes Moss	P	21	$3,720K	8.8
SEA	2	66	George Chamberlain	CF	21	---	NR
SEA	2	67	Roosevelt Hiatt	SS	22	$550K	7
SEA	3	103	Tyrone Welch	P	21	$425K	6.6
SEA	4	138	Grant Simms	P	21	---	NR
SEA	5	170	Louis Hernandez	2B	19	$250K	4.5
							Team Grade: B+
SF	1	43	Eric Neal	P	18	$600K	5
SF	2	72	Saul Candelaria	P	18	$550K	3.2
SF	2	98	Hector Aquino	P	18	---	NR
SF	3	130	Fritz Adams	P	18	---	NR
SF	4	165	Rickey Grabow	P	21	---	NR
SF	5	197	Lawrence Walters	P	19	---	NR
							Team Grade: F
SXF	1	15	Keith Bennett	LF	20	$2,690K	7.9
SXF	1	34	Torii Madson	CF	20	$960K	7.8
SXF	1	50	Johnny Cheney	P	18	---	NR
SXF	1	59	Ted Hebert	2B	18	$600K	6.5
SXF	2	77	Joba Forbes	1B	18	$550K	7
SXF	2	79	Louie Gonzales	RF	19	$550K	5.4
SXF	3	114	Edgar Beltran	SS	18	---	NR
SXF	4	149	Trot Goulet	LF	18	$1,488K	5.6
SXF	5	181	Timothy Rodney	1B	22	$250K	3.6
							Team Grade: B+
SYR	1	10	Giomar Candelaria	2B	20	$3,160K	8.6
SYR	1	48	Hector Quentin	2B	18	$1,014K	7.8
SYR	1	58	Harry Lopez	P	19	$600K	4.5
SYR	3	109	Dave Irwin	P	18	$425K	5
SYR	4	144	Alfonso Vazquez	P	18	$875K	5
SYR	5	176	Milt McElroy	P	22	$250K	1.8
							Team Grade: B
TAC	1	29	Alex Costilla	2B	18	$1,380K	7
TAC	1	42	D'Angelo Aquino	P	18	$640K	6.9
TAC	2	96	Rick Kelley	RF	18	$754K	5.8
TAC	3	115	Steven Rossy	3B	18	$425K	5.4
TAC	3	128	Ron Thielman	SS	18	---	NR
TAC	4	163	Sherman Magnuson	2B	18	---	NR
TAC	5	195	Einar Vega	P	18	$250K	4.8
							Team Grade: C+
TOR	1	20	Cristian Walton	RF	21	$2,220K	5.8
TOR	2	85	Dwight Rogers	P	22	$550K	5.6
TOR	3	119	Patrick Douglas	P	21	$425K	5.5
TOR	4	154	Dixie Bradley	P	18	$350K	3.8
TOR	5	186	Rico Valdes	3B	19	$250K	2.6
							Team Grade: D-
TRE	1	11	Russell Roosevelt	CF	18	$3,070K	8.7
TRE	1	31	Clyde Edwards	3B	18	$2,035K	7.6
TRE	1	33	Ted Lo Duca	C	18	$1,000K	7.6
TRE	2	75	Tomas Ortiz	SS	20	$550K	5.8
TRE	2	83	Jeff Rizzo	CF	18	$550K	5
TRE	3	110	Bobby Denham	P	20	$425K	5.1
TRE	4	145	Steve Fox	P	20	$350K	3.8
TRE	5	177	Santiago Benavente	CF	19	$250K	2
							Team Grade: A-
WIC	1	26	Jeff DeJean	SS	19	$1,660K	7.8
WIC	1	40	Grant Leach	CF	19	$720K	7.6
WIC	1	55	Aramis Alicea	SS	19	$600K	7
WIC	1	60	Napoleon Glover	SS	20	$600K	6.8
WIC	1	62	Pat Stewart	SS	18	$600K	6.5
WIC	2	73	Tiny Easley	SS	20	$550K	4.8
WIC	2	92	Bosco Duran	3B	20	$550K	5.4
WIC	3	125	Doc Xavier	2B	19	$425K	4.7
WIC	4	160	Lastings Anderson	P	19	$350K	3.8
WIC	5	192	Harold Greer	P	21	$542K	2.9
							Team Grade: A-

Bonus Draft Coverage!

Biggest Steals:  Hector Quentin (2B, Syracuse, #44 OV), Joba Forbes (1B, Sioux Falls, #77 OV)
Biggest Busts: Corban Gosling (CF, Richmond, #16 OV), Christian Walton (RF, Toronto, #20 OV)
Best Names: Mark Teixeira (Nashville, #117), Sherm St. Clair (Columbus, #252), Cy Young (Syracuse, #688), Dummy Service (Cleveland, #708)

Owner Q&A - Lightman

Tito McQueen - Cobb Times Herald

Today we sit down with Wichita Wankers owner Lightman. Long a power in the NL East, Lightman takes the time to break down the competition in today's owner interview.

Does your franchise name imply that all residents of Wichita are Wankers? Or just the baseball team?
--Absolutely not. In fact, I am deeply offended that you would imply such an implication. Our team name definitively asserts that all residents of the entire state of Kansas are Wankers.

Is it possible to have celebrity fans in Kansas, and if so, who is the Wankers most famous celebrity fan?
--That's easy. Rob Riggle of the Daily Show.

Where do you think Davey Silva ranks all time among Cobb Hall of Fame pitchers?
--In my opinion, he's in the argument for the top slot. He doesn't give you quite the number of innings of Dean or King Ong, but he may be more effective in slightly less innings. Through his first 9 seasons, he's averaged about 19 wins and 229 IP with a 0.99 WHIP and 2.43 ERA.

If Davey Silva demanded a max contract, plus 10% of the franchise, plus a little dog named Toto, plus a herd of little people with lollipops, and some ruby slippers, would you give it to him?
--I think I'd have to, given how little I've had to pay him so far.

You are the only owner other than squidvicious to make the world series twice and lose. How does that make you feel?
--Sticky.

What is the best promotion that the Wichita Wankers run each year?
--Pull Davey Silva With a No-Hitter in the Ninth Inning Night. Not only do the fans get to watch one of the great pitchers in Cobb dominate the other team. They also get to watch one of our middle relievers induce a game-ending groundout in a five-pitch appearance to finish off a 7-0 win.


Which player on your team has the best theme music, and what is it?
--Lawrence Shave. 93 'Til Infinity by the Souls of Mischief.

Who is the most underrated player you have ever had on your Wankers teams?
--Could be any of my top hitters, since our park is such a pitchers park. Grant Keats, Vasco Chantres, Dorian Woolf all come to mind.

Which baseball team do you follow in real life?
--Chicago White Sox. I grew up outside Chicago and that was the team I followed. I do also enjoy laughing at Cubs fans.

Who do you think is the best character from Arrested Development?
--Wow. That's like asking me what is the worst episode of Glee. How do you choose? I think I'd have to go with Buster. He always cracked me up. Of course, I'd probably give you a different answer tomorrow.

What is the best trade you have ever made in Cobb?
--Getting Davey Silva. I don't remember what I gave up, but I'm pretty sure I won that trade.

And what is the worst?
--Nothing jumps out at me as a terrible trade. I know there are several trades that I didn't pull the trigger on that I probably should have. I guess my worst one was dealing away Elvis Kennedy for Victor Sanchez, who never panned out for me.

Is there any particular move you made as a GM that you are incredibly proud of? (trade, draft pick, free agent signing, etc...)
--No, not really. Just felt that I built a very competitive team from scratch. I tend to focus more on those moves that didn't work out as I would have liked, so I'm probably a bit of a pessimist in that way.

Best movie concerning vigilante justice - Punisher (Dolph Lundgren version), Judge Dredd, Commando, Kick Ass, Kill Bill, or other (you name it)?
--Kill Bill. Love that flick.

So are all lawyers crooks, or just the good ones?
--All of them. Including my wife.

Which player in Cobb other than Ong, Hernandez, or Barrios, have you desperately craved to have on your team?
--Kirk White. I love the thought of rolling out Silva for six innings, then handing the ball to White to finish it off.


Is there any problem in HBD that can't be solved with a spreadsheet?
--Definitely not. The same goes for problems in life.

Davey Silva Wichita Wankers Age: 32 B/T: R/R Born: Jarabacoa, DO Position(s): P (SP1) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Who are the top 5 Wankers of all time? And who is the franchises "Mr. Wanker?"
--1. Davey Silva; 2. Grant Keats; 3. Carlton Nelson; 4. Dorian Woolf; 5. Tony Cho. Grant Keats is definitely Mr. Wanker. He was really my first stud who helped lead our rise after our rebuilding effort. I hated to let him go, but I had too many good players ready to break into the bigs when he hit free agency. (If I had to do it again, I'd re-sign him, though.)

In the decidedly nasty NL East, who is your biggest rival?
--No one team is more of a rival than another. This division has been so tough for so long, it's just a matter of not finishing last.

How has your life become easier since mrploppie landed in the NL East?
--Well, in the short-term, he's made the division a little easier while he embarks on a rebuilding effort. In the long-term, I know I never need to worry too much if he acquires a great player, because they'll probably be gone by the next time we go head-to-head.

You are giving out Christmas gifts to your fellow NL East owners, what do each of them get (other than a lump of coal)?
--alogman1 gets a torn labrum for Dean Hernandez. rbf_4 gets a one-way plane ticket to Wichita for Tony Cho. And mrploppie gets a nice wristwatch. (Look at his record. That's punishment enough.)

Owner Q & A - yanks21

Tito McQueen - Cobb Times Herald

Today we have the pleasure of interviewing legendary Cobb owner yanks21, a five time World Champion in Cobb with his Omaha Sluggers franchise.  His teams are great, but can he interview?  Read on and find out!

Having won 5 World Series titles in Cobb, and 14 overall in HBD, do you ever wake up in the morning wondering how you got to be so dominant?
--Every morning I wake up look in the morning and view greatness. In all seriousness, I've figured out a pretty good system and been pretty lucky. Thats always a good combination for success.

Does HBD dominance translate into money, fast cars, and nice houses?

--Oh yeah, I've got a butler and maid for my 1 bedroom high rise in Arlington, VA. Pimped out my Honda CRV, and make it rain at all the strip clubs. Now if you only asked me about loose women.

Other than Jose Barrios, who is your favorite player in the history of the Omaha Sluggers?
--It has to be Kaz Ong. Without him leading the staff the sluggers never see that run of success.

How many statues outside of Rosenblatt Stadium is Barrios going to get after his retirement, and will they be as big as George Steinbrenners?
--Not sure as to the #, but it will definitely exceed Steinbrenners, just not the one I am working on erecting of myself shortly.

So in real life, are you a Mets fan?
--Ouch!

What was the best trade you have ever made in Cobb?
--Has to be for either Barrios or Ong. Probably a tie between those two. There is no way the sluggers win 5 series in 7 seasons without those two.

What was the worst trade you have ever made in Cobb?
--Probably dealing Pat Barber, a hall famer, for a A.J. Buck.

Which musical artist would you most like to pursue the nuclear option on, and which band would play your theme music?
--I know nothing of a nuclear option, but O.A.R. is the Sluggers band.


Should Sean Hill be in the Hall of Fame?
--It would be hard to justify that he is a hall of famer. I would have a hard time voting in any pitcher especially a reliever with a career WHIP of 1.43 and ERA over 4.

Cops or Cheaters - which television show would you like to appear on most and why?
--Cops, sounds safer.

Star Wars - Awesome or overrated?
--First three were awesome, last three were pretty weak.

Which players (pitcher and position) on another team in Cobb do you covet the most?
--Always wanted Dean Hernandez and came close to landing him when he was up for trade. But now, it would have to be Howard Hall of Montgomery. Always prefer pitching.

After ten straight seasons of untouchable awesomeness, how did it feel to be looking at another team on top of the NL West?
--A little weird but I knew it was coming, hard to stay on top long with the budget restrictions and drafting low in the first round year after year.

How is the rebuild going, are we looking at a near return of the Omaha dynasty?
--It's going to take a little while, have some nice young position players in Brutus Myers, Eddie Bird and the now injured Vic Sosa, but short on starting pitching beyond Albie Lopez. I'll need to land a couple of internationals hopefully.

Which young player on your team do you hope retires in a Slugger uniform, if any?
--Not particularly attached to any youngster on my team right now. Just want to ensure that Barrios retires in a slugger uniform.

Jose Barrios Omaha Sluggers Age: 39 B/T: L/L Born: Darillo, NI Position(s): LF/1B/RF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Do you think there will ever be another player in Cobb that will come close to challenging Barrios' numerous records?
--Hard to see someone matching 800 hrs, 3000 hits, 2000 RBIs, 2000 runs.

Money not being an issue, what car would you like to drive to work every day?
--Never been a car guy, but I've always like BMW's. Preferrably something in the 5 or 7 series.

Who is your favorite MLB player of all time?
--Paul O'neill. Always been a huge fan of how he played the game.

How nice is the press buffet at Rosenblatt Stadium? Do you provide Omaha Steak Co. products?
--Oh yeah, they have their own restaurant in the stadium, How do you think the Yankees got the idea for NYY Steak?

What is your favorite viral video? If you have one please provide a link!
--How do you think I discovered Justin Bieber?

Who would you consider to be your biggest rival in Cobb World, or are you simply without equal?
--Not sure I have a rival, but I thoroughly enjoyed beating pieo in 3 world series.

Thanks again to yanks21 for taking the time to answer the Cobb Times Herald's questions!