One thing I am enjoying about the baseball landscape these day is the ability to get to know something about the prospects going into the draft. Ten years ago the draft just happened and you got a blurb or two in the paper the following days. Now it is possible to get some feel for the players likely to go in the first couple of rounds. Granted, that "feel" is a little cursory, but at least it gives baseball fans more of a rooting interest.
That being said, here are a few players I'm rooting for the Cardinals to select with one of their four selections in the first 72 picks. (The Cards select 27, 34, 69 and 72.) Note this is not an attempt at a "mock draft" ordering. Trying to do that past the Top 10 selections seems a bit of a fool's errand. There is just too much volatility for mock drafts to be all that worthwhile (though they are fun.) The only thing I am doing is removing some of the big names from consideration as it seems unlikely, for example, that a Brady Aiken or Tyler Kolek would fall all the way to 27. As a result I'm limiting myself to more likely possibilities.
My rooting interests by position:
LHP
Matt Imhof: Cal Poly - Big kid might eventually fit in a big league rotation or maybe a Glen Perkins type bullpen arm.
Carson Sands: HS Fla. - Supposedly has good glove-side run on his fastball. At 6' 2" seems to offer more potential.
RHP
Aaron Nola: LSU - Probably won't make it to pick 27, but might. Seems too good to pass if he falls that far.
Nick Howard: Virginia - Baseball America actually has the Cards selecting Howard in their mock draft. I wouldn't complain. He's called "a strike throwing machine" and averaged 16.6 K's per 9.
Nick Burdi: Louisville - Hits 103 mph. Yes, please.
Joe Gatto: HS, N.J. - Good frame and a plus curveball. Seems to have the upside you look for in a prep pitcher.
Keith Weisenberg: HS, Fla - Another long term development project said to have "plus life" on his fastball and good control. I hate walks.
James Norwood: St. Louis University - OK, I'm a Billikens fan and would like the Cards to select the toolsy local university product. Sue me.
C
J.J. Schwarz: HS, Fla - Offense first catcher. Not the Cards MO I know, but it seems scouts don't hate his defense.
Aramis Garcia: Florida International - Cards drafted him before, and he's improved since then. Second time the charm?
1B
NONE
2B
NONE
3B
Matt Chapman: Cal-State Fullerton - Seems t be a true third sacker with the ability to try things on the bump if the position player thing doesn't work out.
SS
Milton Ramos: HS, Fla - Defensive wizard, bat a project. Said to have good bat speed, so maybe worth the gamble.
Josh Morgan: HS, Cal - Has all the hallmarks of being a "ballplayer." Might project as a utility type eventually, but one with some plus tools.
OF
NONE - I'd love for Michael Conforto (Oregon State) to fall down to the Cards but that won't happen.
That being said, here are a few players I'm rooting for the Cardinals to select with one of their four selections in the first 72 picks. (The Cards select 27, 34, 69 and 72.) Note this is not an attempt at a "mock draft" ordering. Trying to do that past the Top 10 selections seems a bit of a fool's errand. There is just too much volatility for mock drafts to be all that worthwhile (though they are fun.) The only thing I am doing is removing some of the big names from consideration as it seems unlikely, for example, that a Brady Aiken or Tyler Kolek would fall all the way to 27. As a result I'm limiting myself to more likely possibilities.
My rooting interests by position:
LHP
Matt Imhof: Cal Poly - Big kid might eventually fit in a big league rotation or maybe a Glen Perkins type bullpen arm.
Carson Sands: HS Fla. - Supposedly has good glove-side run on his fastball. At 6' 2" seems to offer more potential.
RHP
Aaron Nola: LSU - Probably won't make it to pick 27, but might. Seems too good to pass if he falls that far.
Nick Howard: Virginia - Baseball America actually has the Cards selecting Howard in their mock draft. I wouldn't complain. He's called "a strike throwing machine" and averaged 16.6 K's per 9.
Nick Burdi: Louisville - Hits 103 mph. Yes, please.
Joe Gatto: HS, N.J. - Good frame and a plus curveball. Seems to have the upside you look for in a prep pitcher.
Keith Weisenberg: HS, Fla - Another long term development project said to have "plus life" on his fastball and good control. I hate walks.
James Norwood: St. Louis University - OK, I'm a Billikens fan and would like the Cards to select the toolsy local university product. Sue me.
C
J.J. Schwarz: HS, Fla - Offense first catcher. Not the Cards MO I know, but it seems scouts don't hate his defense.
Aramis Garcia: Florida International - Cards drafted him before, and he's improved since then. Second time the charm?
1B
NONE
2B
NONE
3B
Matt Chapman: Cal-State Fullerton - Seems t be a true third sacker with the ability to try things on the bump if the position player thing doesn't work out.
SS
Milton Ramos: HS, Fla - Defensive wizard, bat a project. Said to have good bat speed, so maybe worth the gamble.
Josh Morgan: HS, Cal - Has all the hallmarks of being a "ballplayer." Might project as a utility type eventually, but one with some plus tools.
OF
NONE - I'd love for Michael Conforto (Oregon State) to fall down to the Cards but that won't happen.
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