In what can only be seen as a righteous cosmic shift, the talent level in the season 11 draft was as amazing as season the season 10 class was awful. Nearly every team signed a ML quality player, with many franchises inking multiple future big league stars. Following is a divisional analysis of how the teams performed in the draft.
AL West
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Anaheim Sharks
--With the #26 pick in the draft the Sharks picked up a solid workhorse SP in Derrin Washburn. Boasting impressive stamina, control, velocity, and capable splits and pitch selection, Washburn should make it in the majors as a solid back of the rotation starter. 2nd round pick Bobby Mecir has ML potential as a setup man, as does 3rd round pick Tripp Rapp, who also gets a Times-Herald Top 5 Name of the Draft award. Overall a solid draft for a team that traditionally picks very late, and had no supplemental picks.
Grade: B
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Helena Hellraisers
--With the #20 pick in the draft the Hellraisers selected future closer Whitey McIntyre. Whitey has some skills on the mound, with all of the requisite closer capabilities, with only a slightly worrying weakness vs. right handed hitters. Helena had two supplemental picks, nabbing another solid reliever in Erik Rivera, and a SS with an above average bat in Javier Molina. 1B Vin Boldin was a very nice 3rd round pick, and has ML potential as well. This was a solid draft for Helena, with 4 players who all could contribute in the bigs, even though there isn't a superstar in the group.
Grade: B+
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Tacoma Jerry Gang
--The Jerry Gang had the #6 pick in the draft, and took a flyer on an extremely talented SS in Hugh Clark. Clark hasn't signed yet, but if he does he is a SS built in the mold of MVP winner Corey Green, a type of player every team would like to have on their roster. 2nd round pick 1b Darryl Boone is a very good hitter as well, with a lethal eye and split vs. righties, he's an everyday player who should hit above .300, even in the cavernous Tacoma stadium. 3rd round pick Jesus Balboa could contribute as a setup man in the bigs, and 4th round pick C has a very nice bat, even if his durability limits him to platoon duties vs. lefties. This was a solid draft for the Jerry Gang, a great one if Clark signs.
Grade: A/B - depending on Clark signing a deal.
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Vancouver Grizzlies
--The Grizzlies chose the disturbingly mustachioed SP Parker Ellis with the #16 pick in the draft. In addition to his lazy eyes and red haired stache Ellis boasts impressive control, stamina, velocity, pitch selection, and GB/FB ratio. Ellis also has good enough splits that he should be able to make it as a top of the rotation starter in the major leagues for most teams. The rest of the draft wasn't the best, bringing on board talented minor league players, but nobody else who really projects as a big leaguer. Still, any time you can bag a #1 or #2 starter you have to consider the draft a moderate success.
Grade: B-
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