Jemile Weeks, 2B, University of Miami.
Shrug. We were one pick away from having Smoak drop to us, and instead, Beane goes ahead and picks a guy no one expected him to 24 hours ago.
The Good: Weeks is a switch-hitting two-bagger who sprays line drives to all fields and has pretty good speed. He's got big-league bloodlines as his older brother is Milwaukee Brewers star Ricke Weeks. He's athletic enough to possibly be moved to center field, where his offensive approach and speed would play better. He's got pretty good, but not outstanding, plate discipline as he's walked either as much or slightly more often than he has struck out each season at Miami.
The Bad: He's definitely the lesser of the family talent-wise. He's not a particularly adept defender at 2nd and will never have plus power.
Personally, I'm not really thrilled with this pick. Sure, the organization is lacking in impact middle-infield talent, but Weeks is not projected to be the next Pedroia or Tulowitski. The Cards just took Brett Wallace, a Bay Area native and superior offensive player to Weeks right after the A's pick, who I thought would have been a better pick.
We have to wait until the 2nd round for the next pick as the A's do not have any compensatory sandwich picks this year. It's gonna be a long wait.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
With their 2nd round selection, 58th overall, the A's take:
RHP Tyson Ross , out of Cal!
I am very pleased that Ross fell into the 2nd round and that Billy made the decision to nab him. Tyson is an Oakland-native who has led the Cal Bear pitching staff the last few years. He's a tall (6'6) righty starter with good stuff. He had an awesome sophomore season but after dealing with some health issues at the beginning of this year, he's been kin of inconsistent. He's got awesome make up (as he was one of the leaders of the Team USA squad last summer).
I'm truly excited about this pick. Mechanically, some scouts have been put off by Ross's abrupt mechanics. However, others note that he is fairly new to pitching, is a tremendous athlete and has all the arm and lower body strength needed to become a top-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.
Plus, he was born and raised in Oakland. Can't get anymore local than that! Yippee!
...and in the 3rd round the A's took:
Catcher Petey Paramore out of ASU.
Solid pick there. Paramore was probably one of the to-5 catchers in the class. He's apparently a defensive stalwart, but he can switch hit and is another contact-oriented hitter that doesn't strike out much. He's also reportedly pretty good with runners in scoring position! Score!
0 recs | 312 comments
Hope BB, Forst and Co. are Right
And you are not. Now what are the odds of that?
madmongoose - June 5, 2008
hilarious
wow, a fan gave his opinion, and you’re response is “well, the team is smarter than you”. You do realize that we all know that we’re not GM’s, and that this site wouldn’t exist without people giving their opinions? You should really stop instigating people.
ohmangoAs - June 5, 2008
*your, not you're
ohmangoAs - June 5, 2008
I think this one's a little benign...
I read it as if he were just saying he hopes the front office made a good choice, and threw a little joke on the end of it. I’m not saying you’re trying to cause trouble, here, I’m just saying let’s give the guy the benefit of the doubt so we don’t have another 78-comment pissing contest.
Joey C. - June 5, 2008
thank you
exactly right. very benign—I understand that taj and others understand the draft and prospects a lot better than many of us who don’t have the time to be up on it. I was simply joshing that I hoped the A’s were smarter than he was giving them credit for. But absolutely benign.
madmongoose - June 5, 2008
I'm disgusted
I think Weeks was somewhere around the 20-25th best player in this draft, and we drafted him at #12. I’m not quite sure how he is really better than Josh Horton, who was drafted much later last year.
Beane & Co. know far more about baseball than I, but for now I can be nothing but disappointed with this pick.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
Maybe the team philosophy is changing?
Speed is perhaps becoming undervalued and BB is trying to exploit this? We are stealing a lot more then we ever have, more aggressive on the bases. Weeks looks like a Carlos Gonzales type player, no? I have faith and want to believe the A’s braintrust knows what theyr’e doing. I just hope we KICK SOME ANGELS BUTT this weekend!
A'sfansince1970 - June 5, 2008
Well
We’re going to kick the Angels butt in the draft!!!! They don’t pick until 70-something!!! We Win!!!
Colorado Fan - June 5, 2008
billy beane is the GM for a reason
have some faith in Billy beane and CO. look what he has done with the team we have now. maybe beane is trying to bring back the old days when rickey henderson would swap a bag everytime he gets on. as u can see the A’s have been running quite alot lately and it has done more good than bad.
Wreckonized - June 5, 2008
Well, you know who we have to trust.
Many, many on AN in last year’s draft bagged on the organization for picking Simmons and Doolittle. Well so far, the organization looks good for that despite AN.
TheRaiderWay - June 5, 2008
That's a good point
Both of them are looking like really nice picks right now.
Tyler Bleszinski - June 5, 2008
very true
i believe many of these same naysayers (not calling anyone out by name), were pissed off with the a’s last year for picking guys like simmons and doolittle.
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
Baseball America...
had the A’s projected to pick Weeks. So did Keith Law, but I can’t find his mock draft anywhere on ESPN now.
FoolshGame22 - June 5, 2008
Just to think
If we had lost to the Rangers one more time last year, we’d have Justin Smoak right now.
walk off bunt - June 5, 2008
Maybe the team realized that
and that’s why they’re playing so poorly against the Rangers this year.
Tyler Bleszinski - June 5, 2008
Just to think
If he’d decided to play pro-ball instead of college ball 4 years ago, we would have Justin Smoak right now
GusanoQuemador - June 5, 2008
If he had made that decision some time after the draft, you mean.
If he had decided before the draft, and anyone had a hint of it, he would have been claimed much higher four years ago.
iglew - June 5, 2008
The younger Weeks is apparently more adept at 2B than the elder
So there’s a decent chance, it seems, that he might stick. My problem is that he sounds like Bobby Crosby: The Early Years—trying way too hard to pull the ball over the fence, not content to use all fields. Which it would seem a guy without plus power would want to do.
Beane certainly knows better than I, so call it good.
Joey C. - June 5, 2008
I really, really dislike the negativity towards the A's
and the monday morning quarterback directed at everyone from Emil Brown to Billy Beane himself… Really hate it.
That said, seems like Wallace would have been a better pick. Thats why I get paid the big bucks to run this team, though.
As Fan in the Bronx - June 5, 2008
Emil Brown and Billy Beane lol
One of these things is not like the other (Hint: Beane is good at things).
iamawesomer - June 5, 2008
I'm not being negative.
Saying that you’d rather have the team select someone with a bigger power potential is not being negative, just pragmatic, in my mind. I’m sure the front office had good reasons to take Weeks and he might turn out to be a good player. But from a straight-up impact standpoint, I don’t think he was the best value pick in the slot. I like Weeks’ speed and contact-oriented approach and I’m hoping I’m dead wrong about being skeptical.
Taj Adib - June 5, 2008
monkeyball - June 5, 2008
Cake baby?
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Have your cake, and eat it too.
Another good point. Nevertheless, I like Wallace.
As Fan in the Bronx - June 5, 2008
Can't have your cake
and eat it too?
sprtsnwyn - June 5, 2008
This may be a cheap pick for the A's
like Jeremy Brown…they won’t have to pay Weeks top 12 $...siign hin for second rd. money. Essentially, A’s being cheap again
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
And your evidence for this is...
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
All the other years they've done it?
mikev - June 5, 2008
The A's have really only gone under slot in one year
That was the Moneyball darft, where they had a ton of picks. I don’t think this was a money pick, it was a need pick.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
Everyone in the front office
Has said that they don’t draft based on needs, they just go after the best player. I don’t see any reason for them to lie to us about this philosophy.
GusanoQuemador - June 5, 2008
I know what the A's said
I also know that not one propsect maven has Weeks listed as the 12th best player in the draft. The A’s may truly have valued Weeks as the BPA when they drafted, and if that is the case we will see whether their scouting was correct. The A’s would never admit they draft for need, because no team ever does; it does not mean that teams don’t draft for need.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
Namely...?
Have the A’s gone under slot for any pick since Wolff acquired the team?
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Pennington
Zonis - June 5, 2008
Can someone post an actual link to signing bonuses?
Can’t remember where the info is located…
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
i said may.....just something A's have done in the past
Jeremy Brown was not a first rd type pick, but took him because they liked his ability and new he would sign on the cheap end
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
And do you really see the A's paying eight figures for a draft pick?
There’s cheap and there’s being responsible with your money. Too soon to say one way or the other here.
Flashfire - June 5, 2008
i understand A's economics...everyone is surprised they took Weeks, but it makes
sense to take him because he would be cheaper than Wallace or Friedrich
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Why does it make sense to take him because he'd be cheaper
Instead of paying more money to get a guy who is better?
mikev - June 5, 2008
because the A's are cheap!!!!!!!!
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Your evidence for the A's being cheap is that the A's are cheap?
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Jeremy Brown, Stephen Obenchain..
were they not under slot 1st rd. picks?
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
... in 2002...
when the team had 7 first round picks… and moronic ownership…
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Maybe you don't understand A's economics as well as you claim.
Flashfire - June 5, 2008
Que Pasa Amigo?
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
It sounds like you'd rather they spend $10 million on a draft pick.
Flashfire - June 5, 2008
its not my money
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
And that's a non-answer
Stand behind your opinion. If the A’s are cheap for going about it the way they are, it sounds like you’d rather see them fork over a bunch of money instead.
They don’t do that even at the Major League level except in rare instances. Why would you expect them to do it with a draft pick when they don’t have the money for it?
Flashfire - June 5, 2008
i understand...I've followed them long enough to understand how they spend their money
it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Because nobody else is (besides the Yankees and Tigers)
and it seems like they’ve been spending a lot more money on foreign scouting and signing, so it could be estimated that they are putting more money into building from within.
If that means spending $10M on a draft pick instead of spending $30M on a free agent, that’s a big chunk of money saved, isn’t it?
mikev - June 5, 2008
That kind of goes back to what I read about...
...in Away Games, talking about Tejada and others when the A’s had more of a presence in the Dominican and surrounding areas. The philosophy was “why spend X amount of dollars on one or two players when you can spend the same amount on ten or fifteen and have a better chance of some of them panning out?”
But even then, they were talking more about spreading around $1 million or so, not $10 or more.
Flashfire - June 5, 2008
same line of thinking, numbers applied differently
mikev - June 5, 2008
The cost of amateur players of any sort, even first-round picks
is so low that it can, for all practical purposes, be assumed to be zero.
Given that, it never makes any sense to pick someone other than the best player for your organization.
For whatever reason, however, 20-odd major league organizations appear not to have realized this.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
This logic works for dating, too.
Girl 1: “I went on a date with ABB4L. He’s so cheap!”
Girl 2: “Why? Because he didn’t want to spend $200 on dinner?”
Girl 1: “Hey, it’s not my money!”
iglew - June 5, 2008
So should the girl spread it around
and simultaneously date 10 guys who each spend $20.00? (Guess what she’s probably spreading around?)
Nico - June 5, 2008
as disappointed as i am
making a statement like this with nothing to back it up is just stupid.
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
Talk about taking the wind out of my sails
I’m sure Beane knows a whole lot more than any of us do but it just seems like a reach picking Weeks here. He doesn’t seem like he could ever be an impact type of player that will ever hit more than 12-15 hrs in a season if that. Hes an average defender at best at 2B. If Beane sees the next Jimmy Rollins here I have no problem with this pick but I can say I’m really disapointed now.
AthleticsReign - June 5, 2008
Could it be that Beane is suddenly loving speed?
And realizing the value of having it on your roster. Remember this team picked up Rajai Davis and they’re essentially using him as nothing more than a pinch runner right now.
And the A’s also seem to feel like it’s been a long time since they’ve had a true leadoff hitter. Maybe they just feel that Weeks would fit that slot nicely and be able to steal a bag or two when they need one.
Tyler Bleszinski - June 5, 2008
bodes back
to the time Herb Washington was on the roster.
sarchasmic - June 5, 2008
He's going to wait a hell of a long time for a lead off hitter....
What’s best case for this Weeks on the A’s? 3 Years? And that’s….
Hey. Could this be a message to Ellis’ agent?
As Fan in the Bronx - June 5, 2008
I don't think it's speed per se...
but more like pure athleticism. The pick is not nearly as risky if you consider that Weeks’ speed and instincts could help him transition to center field, which, as we’ve seen, is a lot more of a difficult position to fill internally than 2nd base.
Taj Adib - June 5, 2008
okay, sure, speed is nice
rajai davis cost the team… a roster spot.
jamile weeks is the #12 overall pick! the highest a’s pick since zito in 1999! four spots before where they took swisher!
when are the a’s next going to be bad enough to pick #12?
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
About time if that is the case
Trainman - June 5, 2008
Well maybe he'll be a bona fide lead-off guy that we
don’t currently have.
I’m okay with the pick as long as Jemile pans out. Smoak is really just another 1B where we are stacked and speed is something we lack
dtownmbrown - June 5, 2008
I agree...
The path for him to be the future 2nd baseman and hitting at the top of the lineup is clearly there.
Duby - June 5, 2008
yeah what good is a guy with potential 30-40 hr power if you already have other 1Bs...
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
We couldn't get Smoak anyways
It wasn’t Weeks over Smoak. It was Weeks over Wallace.
rfloh - June 6, 2008
Jemile:
dtownmbrown - June 5, 2008
wish i could delete that
dtownmbrown - June 5, 2008
Bud Selig appears..
To be drunk.
Duby - June 5, 2008
From Keith Law
This is the riskiest pick so far. He can’t play anywhere but second base in the infield, so he has to hit well enough to be a major league regular. He’s a plus runner; he needs to be more contact-oriented with wood. With metal, he’s too pull-oriented, and he’ll have to adjust that. He has a better chance to be a plus defender at second base than his brother, Rickie Weeks.
Syphon - June 5, 2008
I thought he was a tool?
BWH - June 5, 2008
He is... but his opinion isn't less valid on this issue because of that fact...
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
This really sucks. We drafted a guy who most everyone thought would go in the late 1st round, maybe supplimental round
instead, we draft him 12th.
We better be giving him low pick money, because its a waste to draft someone who should be that low and pay him a ton.
And for those who say In Beane We Trust, remember that Beane hasn’t exactly enthralled us with his first round picks in recent years.
2007: James Simmons
2006: None (Esteban Loaiza)
2005: Cliff Pennington
2004: Landon Powell, Danny Putnam
2003: Brad Sullivan, Brian Snyder
Of those picks, only Simmons is a top prospect. Powell is ailing in AAA and could be a backup if he gets healthy and hits. Putnam’s peak is 5th Outfielder, and he was already DFA’d once. Pennington’s busted. Sullivan and Snyder have busted as well.
Zonis - June 5, 2008
We drafted Juan Pierre 2.0
Zonis - June 5, 2008
Juan Pierre, when he was in his pre-free agency years, was a good player
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
(Not that I'm accepting this comp as valid... it's ridiculous... just making the point)
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
you forgot Buck, which turned out ok
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
He wasn't a first round pick.
lenscrafters - June 5, 2008
he was a supplemental 1st rd....same difference
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Right
Except it allows you to ignore Buck, Huston Street, Corey Brown and Sean Doolittle.
I’m sure that wasn’t intentional.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
He also gets to leave off the A's top pick in 2006
A certain Trevor Cahill. Second rounder, the A’s top pick in the absence of a #1, and not working out too badly at the moment.
He’s “reverse cherry picking” here.
Faust - June 5, 2008
Agreed
Disappointing, considering this is the highest slot we’ve had in a while. I would’ve been happy with Wallace or Hicks.
lenscrafters - June 5, 2008
Beane must have really liked Week's potential and we don't have a late 1st round or supplemental pick this year.
So, if Week’s is the guy he liked.. he had to take him at # 12.
Eastbayjim - June 5, 2008
There's no apostrophe in Weeks...
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
So he has one of those last names
that doesn’t have a random apostrophe?
Nico - June 5, 2008
Thought that was usually first names
Like D’Brickashaw. Or K’lee.
Anyone who puts an apostrophe in their child’s name should be tossed into the ocean with weights tied to their feet. In my opinion.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
PT
some of your opinions are way more valuable than others. Just my opinion. :-)
149 - June 5, 2008
at least you had the good taste to avoid a certain other method of execution
monkeyball - June 6, 2008
D'Backs take Schlereth...who the A's selected last year, but couldn't sign
son of fromer NFL player & ESPN analyst
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
hey if we had given smoak and schlareth the money they wanted
it would be like having three first round picks this year…
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
I just heard an interview w/ Schlereth
He said he was only going to sign if he was picked in the 1st or 2nd Round (last year). As soon as he wasn’t, he knew he was heading back to Arizona. I wish the A’s would have called him to get an idea of where his head was at before picking him in the 8th Round.
Colorado Fan - June 5, 2008
I'm not sure how feasible that is with every player a team is considering, especially when...
...on the clock as rounds get later and later.
Flashfire - June 5, 2008
The odds seem against him playing second base
I won’t pretend to know anything about this guy but one thing that discourages me is that he’s already worked his way down to playing second base at the amateur level. This leads me to believe he’s not much with the glove and that his chance of sticking at second base isn’t very good. Most major league second basemen were shortsops until they reached the majors or high minors. For now, I will trust that BB and his staff see great things in him that lurk beneath the surface.
Monday Fan - June 5, 2008
Weeks
If he can become a true leadoff batter with speed on the bases, i’m fine with that pick, because we all know we need a true leadoff guy bad, especially for being a small ball team.
There were other players that made more sense in the 12 pick, but if he can work to become a great leadoff guy, i’ll be happy with the pick.
As go the A’s , In Beane we Trust.
TheGreenGoldCrush - June 5, 2008
The write up on the A's site shows that Weeks is a pretty good player.
I trust that Billy know what he is going and like dtownmbrown said above, we have enough 1B/DH players already. Also everybody has been asking for us to get some middle infield help.
This looks great to me:
2008 Preseason Baseball America First Team All-American for the Hurricanes and was batting .366 with 11 homers, 57 RBIs and a .447 on-base percentage through Thursday.
He’d also stolen 19 bases in 20 attempts.
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080605&content_id=2845386&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak
Eastbayjim - June 5, 2008
Urban on MLB is not the most un-biased journalist
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
I don't think he changed any of those stats...
mikeA - June 5, 2008
you never know
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
Those Stats look pretty good
Eastbayjim - June 5, 2008
tired redact?
monkeyball - June 5, 2008
Melillo traded to Toronto; Fiorentino claimed by Orioles
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Melillo release
Fiorentino release
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Fiorentino is being Jay Marshall'ed
franks a lot - June 5, 2008
Wrong
Marshall was only waived twice…
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Did we get Scutaro?
{can’t bear to check}
Nico - June 5, 2008
no luck on Scutaro... just some cash to pay Weeks
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Crap
I was hoping to keep Melillo. Hmmm… maybe the cash will go toward a deadline deal…
Joey C. - June 5, 2008
'Course...
I was concerned about losing Mike Rouse, and that definitely has not turned out to be egg on Beane’s face.
Joey C. - June 5, 2008
So we really didn't get a compensation pick
for Shannon Stewart? What a bunch of crap.
sprtsnwyn - June 5, 2008
Blame Stewart and his agent
for being greedy and wanting a multi-year contract. Screw your want for financial secruity! We want a comp pick dabnabbit!
franks a lot - June 5, 2008
Yeah, that is a shitty loophole.
He declined a major league deal (we offered arbitration) and signed a minor league deal elsewhere. Stupid.
mikev - June 5, 2008
Maybe the are loading up to take a high ceiling guy in Rd 2
Tim Melville would be nice.
Doubtful but lets be positive.
Bud Light - June 5, 2008
You know what would be nice?
Knowing who was being picked.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Tyson Ross, RHP, Berkeley
mikev - June 5, 2008
I meant in general...
not just the A’s picks.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
go to mlb.com, they have a draft tracker
jshaw25 - June 5, 2008
Doesn't work
It requires a plugin I don’t have. And I’m not about to call up the IT dept and ask them to install it so I can waste time on a draft tracker.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
A's Select Tyson Ross, RHP, UC Berkeley
iamawesomer - June 5, 2008
awesome
love this pick!
31Boots - June 5, 2008
Who is this Melville cat everyone seems to be talking about?
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
He came into the year
Ranked as one of the best prospects in the draft, and potentially the best high school pitcher in the darft. He has struggled a bit, and wants Top 15 money to sign. If he can be had for $1,500,000 he would add a very talented prospect to whatever team popped him in a later round.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
Laughed very hard at that Bhaskar
notsellingjeans - June 5, 2008
I was wondering the same thing.
mikev - June 5, 2008
I'd prefer not to disclose that
Ray of Lite - June 5, 2008
After watching Ross' scouting video ...
I am VERY worried about that right elbow of his …
devo - June 5, 2008
Link...?
to this scouting video? I’m curious about his awkward mechanics
Degolas - June 5, 2008
He throws off a stiff front leg
He plants his left foot, keeps his knee stiff, and kind of pivots his body around the plant foot, whipping his arm about 3/4 or a little higher.
Nick - June 5, 2008
That Delivery Needs A Lot of Work
Ron Romanick will definitely be refining this guys delivery. He seems to have a live arm, though.
Colorado Fan - June 5, 2008
Ziggy Mark II?
I want him to throw underhand!! He’d definitely be the scariest submariner ever—righties would hit .050 against him, if they were lucky!
Nick - June 5, 2008
I sense an obsession here, Nick
Sea kelp.
Nico - June 5, 2008
You mean Seay kelp?
Nick - June 5, 2008
No, I'm going with Miner
because I’m “old school”.
Nico - June 5, 2008
the guy can hit 97 though already
flipgatey3 - June 5, 2008
So can Travis Buck!
Nico - June 5, 2008
Not 097...
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
zing
flipgatey3 - June 5, 2008
or should i say
tag team quote of the month
flipgatey3 - June 5, 2008
it's from the mlb draft tracker ...
can’t link it …
devo - June 5, 2008
3rd Rounder (Guesses)
I’ll say Beane takes Cutter Dykstra (SS) – Beane loves bloodlines.
Colorado Fan - June 5, 2008
Cutter is already gone, Milwaukee at 54
theblackpearl - June 5, 2008
he's gone
jshaw25 - June 5, 2008
sickles ranking
sickles ranks Ross the 11th best pitcher the draft….
dbeach13 - June 5, 2008
What is up
with that formatting bug.
Frigging bizarre.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
I wonder if they're using blockquote or something else.
Flashfire - June 5, 2008
not sure
i just copied and pasted that from sickles site
dbeach13 - June 5, 2008
Yeah, that post went off the grid
can’t even read it.
notsellingjeans - June 5, 2008
Goldstein
Goldstein on Ross: http://www.baseball-analysis.com/article.php?articleid=7611
ohmangoAs - June 5, 2008
3rd Round
Preston Paramore a catcher from ASU
What?
Morgasm - June 5, 2008
A's got Paramore?
Nice pick.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Any links?
devo - June 5, 2008
According to the draft ticker
Looks like a line drive hitter, with extremely good defense.
Sounds like a younger Jason Kendall.
Morgasm - June 5, 2008
nothing like a young Jason Kendall
He is nowhere near as athletic as Kendall. He is also much better defensively than Kendall was at that age. Bad comp.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
no it's still a good comp, as long as he's white.
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
You know who Jemile Weeks comps to?
Cecil Fielder.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Here's a good interracial comp for you
Paramore is very similar in body type, defensive ability, and hitting ability to a young Jose Molina.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
What do u know about him other than what's on the tracker?
oaktownmario - June 5, 2008
paramore
do you have a crushcrushcrush on that guy?
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
nobody laughed at that one?
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
I found it funny w/o the link
As in, “PT paramour”
monkeyball - June 5, 2008
I think it's a pseudonym.... THe guy's name is actually Melvin Schwatznick.
As Fan in the Bronx - June 5, 2008
If catching doesn't work out
he’s going to become an actor in silent movies.
andeux - June 5, 2008
If lawyering doesn't work out
I’m going to become an adult film director.
Wait, what?
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
So basically, you like seeing people get screwed?
Nico - June 5, 2008
I prefer it in the pluperfect subjunctive
Scrumptious!
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Evidently, he's a great defensive player (mlb site says he could catch in the big leagues now)
who can get on base, but doesn’t have much power. He’s also 6’2” and “sturdy” (which I hope isn’t the new version of “husky”).
Nick - June 5, 2008
But
He’ll never make it… he’s not from South Dakota…
As Fan in the Bronx - June 5, 2008
Hey, but he caught the pitcher we grabbed in the third
As Fan in the Bronx - June 5, 2008
Another very solid value pick
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
At ASU
AVG: .318 OBP: .437 SLG: .428 OPS: 865
http://thebaseballcube.com/players/P/Preston-Paramore.shtml
ohmangoAs - June 5, 2008
That's his freshman year
mikeA - June 5, 2008
Another switch hitter
mikeA - June 5, 2008
Jemile Weeks ~ Kenny Lofton(?)
None of this is scientific, or even valuable, just throwing out some thoughts and looking for feedback…
If Weeks gets moved to CF – which I think there’s a good chance he will – I think our best-case scenario projection-wise would be Kenny Lofton, circa Indians cost-controlled years.
Same below average arm, blazing speed with good instincts, 60 walks/80 k’s, suprising power for a small frame, and 40-50 sbs a year along with a great steal %.
Averaging a .300/.380/.420 line through his cost-controlled years, with an average OPS of .800. If he can do that, bat leadoff, plus steal the 40-50 bags a year – that pick will look great.
I could easily visualize him being the opening-day starting CF in 2011 at age 24, when Sweeney, CarGon and Buck are all grown up and too big to play decent defensive CF anymore.
I think that Beane’s scouts/Beane believe that Weeks can become the rare outstanding defensive CF (like Rajai Davis) who can still put up .780-.800 OPS-type numbers. If he does, he’ll justify the pick.
notsellingjeans - June 5, 2008
Maybe a little
Weeks has plus speed, but nowhere near the speed Lofton had. If Weeks could be young Lofton with less steals he would defintely be a very good pick.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
this is my comparison
Chris Burke
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/B/Chris-Burke.shtml
Burke was the 10th overall pick.
apilgrim - June 5, 2008
And this comparison is based on...
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
college numbers
apilgrim - June 5, 2008
Ah, yes
Chris Burke going bananas in his junior year clearly indicates that all college middle infielders who hit well will be MLB busts.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
hmm?
I never said anything about anyone being a bust.
apilgrim - June 5, 2008
...Chris Burke is a bust, n'est ce pas?
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
alright
My comparison would be 2001 Chris Burke appears very similar to 2008 Weeks to me.
apilgrim - June 5, 2008
Why PaulThomas deserves the grief he gets on AN:
“Ah Yes – Chris Burke going bananas in his junior year clearly indicates that all college middle infielders who hit well will be MLB busts.”
-1000 for unnecessary obnoxiousness.
Nico - June 5, 2008
...and you claim I post unnecessary comments
Please explain to me, or anyone, what purpose this was supposed to serve.
That wasn’t close to “obnoxious.” I literally have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.
Were you abused by sarcasm as a small child or something? It seems to be anathema in your church.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
It's a little frightening to me that I believe
you when you say you have no idea what the hell I’m talking about. Oh well, so be it.
Since it doesn’t appear to be in my nature to ignore your comments as much as I wish I would, from now on I’ll just reply to your belittlements of others with a rephrased appropriate version in quotes. My first entry:
“I actually don’t think that’s an accurate comp – he just happened to be one player who went bananas in his junior year of college and went on to be a bust.”
Nico - June 5, 2008
WTF?
Ah, yes
Chris Burke going bananas in his junior year clearly indicates that all college middle infielders who hit well will be MLB busts.
Do please point out the place in this comment where I “belittled” him.
your belittlements of others
I’m really trying to hold on to my temper. That is a straight out lie. That’s the best I can say about that sentence. It’s false. Truth value zero. Etc.
Sarcasm is a rhetorical device. It is not Satan’s word on Earth. It is not prima facie evidence of contempt for your fellow man.
I clearly misunderstood what the guy was saying. I didn’t get into some kind of argument. This was literally a non-issue until you randomly decided to make it one by slamming me.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
It's not random. Your style of talking to people,
which is generally to talk down to them, is one of the main reasons I just stay away from AN sometimes – and I’m a fricking moderator. The nicest thing I can say to you about sarcasm is that it doesn’t become you. Instead of playing the victim about how bad it is or isn’t, why don’t you just try something else?
Nico - June 5, 2008
Boyz... meds!
It’s that time again…
I’m gonna let PT off the barbed part of the hook on this one; after all he couldn’t watch or track the draft because his IT department sucks. That’d piss off anyone and it’s reasonable to take it out on invisible people who can only type back. Just a smart move, in my opinion.
Nico, your flaw here is you weren’t funny. Usually, when you chastise people, you’re funny. Bring the funny! BTW, I hate it when you disappear. I have a kindergarten crush on your funny.
PT, you need “power user” status. I just harassed my IT guys for every little thing until they finally just unlocked my machine. Being a pest works… but then, com’on, you know that.
Points if you can tell the “sarcasm” from the “sincerity.”
149 - June 5, 2008
Upon reflection, I should have
sarcastically criticized the use of sarcasm. Or just taken the damn meds.
Nico - June 6, 2008
That may or may not be
and it is not what is pissing me off about this thread.
What is, are two things:
1. Your statement that I “belittled” him is still a libel. Whether or not I have done it on other occasions is irrelevant. The fact that I swore on the site once does not mean that you can say that I swore in every single post subsequent to that.
2. You basically just declared open season on me. Not only is this spectacularly hypocritical, it’s also tactically silly. No one wants to spend large amounts of time reading through back and forth flame wars. I cannot figure out why you seem determined to try to provoke them.
PaulThomas - June 6, 2008
FWIW ...
I agree with Nico on #1 … your statement was definitely not a friendly statement … it may not have been intended as such, but it came across as basically implying you thought he was an idiot.
I agree with you on #2 … his various statements were basically as condescending as yours and he certainly wins in terms of volume and persistence.
devo - June 6, 2008
I would agree with devo on both points
Nico - June 6, 2008
Be honest ...
you didn’t read them, you just saw that the first one included “I agree with Nico …” and the second one said that ”... [Nico] certainly wins …”
devo - June 6, 2008
It's worse than that -
I happened to be googling “agree + Nico + wins,” as I do every day, and saw that you had made a comment – so I just replied without reading it.
Nico - June 6, 2008
closer inspection
rate stats are very similar (although Burke had bigger absolute numbers). Age, body type.
apilgrim - June 5, 2008
also
size, position, batting order on team, scouting reports, speed numbers. I do think that Miami ACC division though is stronger than the SEC these past few years in baseball though, so the competition edge would go to Weeks.
apilgrim - June 5, 2008
That's a decent comp, based on scouting reports at the time
Burke has turned out poorly, but the Astros treated him badly by jerking him around to keep Biggio’s rotting corpse on the field well past his expiration date.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
Comparable blackness levels, as well.
BWH - June 5, 2008
No Kyle Long Yet, Huh?
I am surprised that no one has drafted him yet. He is a LHP and LH batting stud. I guess that he wants to go to College and someone will take him in the 17th Round and see if they can sign the kid.
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Melville still there as well
I’m guessing at this point there is no reason to draft him though.
sprtsnwyn - June 5, 2008
I bet that the Sawx take one of them next:
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
I would expect one of the aggressive teams to draft Melville
around the 10th round and try to sign him.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
From BPro's draft board
Kevin Goldstein (3:09:03 PM PT): Matt (Belmont,CA): Can you help me justify Weeks over the Walrus for the A’s?
Absolutely. Always bet on the tools. And it’s not like Weeks didn’t perform. much nicer player.
el generico - June 5, 2008
That guy who asked the question to Goldstein
What a dumbass…
Roscoe Parrish - June 5, 2008
who is the Walrus? Wallace?
theblackpearl - June 5, 2008
Wow
sprtsnwyn - June 5, 2008
Great minds think alike? or even a blind squirrel finds a nut?
theblackpearl - June 5, 2008
i am the walrus
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
monkeyball - June 5, 2008
Golfing legend (fittingly pictured with a chainsaw)
franks a lot - June 5, 2008
Who is the Walrus?
Wallace?
sprtsnwyn - June 5, 2008
My Guess Is That he Knows Wallace And Walrus Is His Nickname:
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Not quite
That’s what the scouts have started to call Wallace…
Roscoe Parrish - June 5, 2008
The Walrus was Paul.
BWH - June 5, 2008
Who buried Paul?
franks a lot - June 5, 2008
Remember Colamarino?
He had bitch-tits.
BWH - June 5, 2008
hahahah
such a good quote
flipgatey3 - June 5, 2008
How About Sean Ratliff?
His Stanford Stats
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Wow, the A's really were cheap this year
Apparently they only scouted the Pac-10.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Random tidbit
Arizona just drafted a high school pitcher named Kevin Eichhorn. His dad is Mark Eichhorn, a sidearmer/submariner who had one of the great rookie seasons of the last 30 years, and one of the best seasons by a reliever ever. The kid throws with a standard motion.
Nick - June 5, 2008
interesting name
I’m going to be the first to post a nickname
J-Mile
It’s not much of a stretch from how you say his real name and I know it’s a play on jimmy rollins nickname but it sounds cool to me : -) plus it kind of works for a guy with good speed.
here’s crossing my fingers on being able to yell that in Oakland (or Fremont?)
micdog2001 - June 5, 2008
The Green Jemile
monkeyball - June 5, 2008
Eichhorn is a Santa Cruz kid
Dad took little league team to world series (aptos)
Bud Light - June 5, 2008
Royals take Melville in the 4th
andeux - June 5, 2008
Wow
That’s a strong move for them, and they certainly could use the influx of talent . . .
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
Now the Tyson Ross pick, that one I like
Zonis - June 5, 2008
Watching his scouting video, his windup is very weird though
and it looks like he is just throwing the ball instead of pitching it.
Zonis - June 5, 2008
He appears to be a big project.
Syphon - June 5, 2008
That he does.
Zonis - June 5, 2008
Maybe they can actually teach him a delievery and use
his lower half. Could gain a few ticks on his 91-93MPH fastball.
Syphon - June 5, 2008
We're going to convert him to a submariner.
Book it.
Nick - June 5, 2008
Submariners are successful because
it’s difficult to hit the ball underwater.
Nico - June 5, 2008
Can someone explain the Ross pick for me?
Maybe it’s that I saw this game live, and that made me sour on him (because, frankly, the SC offence is not that great), and his mechanics look like an elbow injury waiting to happen.
We absolutely demolished Cal pitching all series that set, but … still. Hits were pretty hard, and he was kind of wild on top of it… so, someone needs to sell me on him.
As I said in the other game, he could have be aces for every other game, but… you know. I only saw this one, and it was ugly.
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
He's a classic scouting pick
As Goldstein pointed out, you can’t teach height or velocity, and Ross has both. As a first round pick, no good. At pick #59? Great value.
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
You just made Rashad really depressed -
You can’t teach height? :-(
Nico - June 5, 2008
He throws mid 90s without using his legs at all ...
His physical tools are incredible - his mechanics need a lot of work - but he’s the kind of 2nd round pick that could really blow up … (unless his elbow does first because of the mechanics)
devo - June 5, 2008
I say teach him a solid delievery...
let him work on it in A ball for a year and see what happends. If it works out he could be top of the line starter.
Syphon - June 5, 2008
Yeah ... he's said to have the kind of athleticism that will allow him to pick up the new delivery well ...
devo - June 5, 2008
I'm exactly the opposite
As I mentioned in the other thread, I also only saw him pitch once, and posted about it here at AN. He was a freshman pitching against a very good Long Beach State team (including Evan Longoria). He didn’t have great command of his breaking pitches so he was working with runners on base a lot of the game, but he showed great poise and consistently made the big pitches to get out of it.
As for his mechanics, well, the pessimistic view would be that he’s an arm injury waiting to happen, and the optimistic view would be that he’s 6’5”, and if he’s throwing in the low 90’s using just his arm just think what he could do with better coaching. Certainly there’s reason for concern, but if he were perfect he’d have gone a lot higher. Overall, I like the pick.
andeux - June 5, 2008
This Ross character doesn't seem to put much leg into his delivery.
I’m no mechanics expert, but really, that’s a choppy delivery.
Big dude, though.
BWH - June 5, 2008
Yeah, I noticed. He might need his mechanics completly rebuilt.
It looks like he is just throwing the ball. Yet, he can generate that much speed just doing that? Imagine if they fixed his mechanics or gave him a new windup. He could generate much more power.
Zonis - June 5, 2008
I doubt he'll add much velocity ...
but better mechanics should allow him to maintain that velocity for 100+ pitches and 200+ innings …
devo - June 5, 2008
I wonder if they will send Ross to the Instructional League or Rookie League
and not Vancouver Short Season. If they do want to rebuild his mechanics, that would be the place to start.
Zonis - June 5, 2008
Another college pitcher.
Anthony Capra.
BWH - June 5, 2008
it's a wonderful pick
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
lol
salb918 - June 5, 2008
mmm.
9-0, 2.87 ERA, .212 BAA, 30 BB, 87 K, in 75 1/3 over 13 starts.
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
previous two years
http://thebaseballcube.com/players/C/Anthony-Capra.shtml
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
Apparently, his
last two years have been better: cube.
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
Not really ... he was primarily pitching out of the bullpen ...
devo - June 5, 2008
some more links
2008 stats link
https://admin.xosn.com/fls/7500/stats/baseball/2008/teamcume.htm?ATCLID=652926&SPSID=61170&SPID=2844&DB_OEM_ID=7500
2006 and 2007
http://thebaseballcube.com/players/C/Anthony-Capra.shtml
apilgrim - June 5, 2008
Judging by his video,
he is NOT 200 pounds. More like 220.
Stocky lefty, reliever’s delivery.
BWH - June 5, 2008
video? link?
xbhaskarx - June 5, 2008
probably the MLB one.
mms link.
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
which apparently didn't work.
mms://a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2008/open/draft/broll/br_capra_anthony_400.wmv
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
Hope this
works.
BWH - June 5, 2008
Shit.
That’s Ross’s video.
Here’s Capra.
BWH - June 5, 2008
Shit.
That’s Ross’s video.
Here’s Capra.
BWH - June 5, 2008
What?
Why’d that post?
I love the word “shit.”
BWH - June 5, 2008
4th round A's pick....Anthony Capra
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Love his grandfather's films...
franks a lot - June 5, 2008
Another Wichita State guy. Billy likes that school.
Taj Adib - June 5, 2008
A lot of ppl like Wichita State
It’s a great baseball school.
149 - June 5, 2008
I know nothing about this guy
Anybody have anything on him?
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
No idea.
Taj Adib - June 5, 2008
Stud
I live in Wichita. Very good reliever.
sprtsnwyn - June 5, 2008
Apparently,
the Sunday starter this year, or the equivalent thereof in the Missouri Valley Conference.
But relieved the past two years.
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
I think he'll end up relieving
sprtsnwyn - June 5, 2008
As do I.
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
thanks for the info
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
Goldstein says
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
So, Dallas Braden with a few ticks on the FB
Not terribly exciting.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Typical mid-round pick for the A's
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
if 4 is mid... then...
what’s round 25?
(just waiting for the next pick, i know what you mean.)
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
in my jargon
1-3 is early, 4-10 mid, 11-50 late
BlameChannel53 - June 5, 2008
I don't really understand what the point is
They already have lefty pitching out the wazoo.
Whatever, it looks like those of us hoping that the A’s would go over-slot on a player for once will end up severely disappointed… again. I can’t figure out how such an obviously imbecilic system “works.”
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
If lawyering doesn't work out
you’ll learn about “pitching out the wazoo”.
iglew - June 5, 2008
Capra throws his Fb between 89-91:
Solid mechanics
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Best name so far:
Devaris Strange-Gordon, JuCo SS to the Dodgers.
Nick - June 5, 2008
Still not better than Shooter Hunt.
iglew - June 5, 2008
Neither better than Angel Pagan
... oh wait, not in draft… but still, kick ass name.
149 - June 5, 2008
Twins took Daniel Ortiz,
a toolsy, 5’11”, 166 pound HS outfielder.
Who saw that coming?
BWH - June 5, 2008
By the way, Saint,
Ratliff to NYM at 134.
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
Saw That, Thanks:
Now I want Satan!!!
I mean Stain!!!???
Or rather…Satin!!
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
OK looking at Ratliff's photo
the guy looks like Marty Feldman on a bad eyeball day.
I’m impressed he can even see the pitch.
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
After seein Dr. Rosenelli: He'll Hit 50 Bombs
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
David Duncan
is he another one of Dave Duncan’s kids?
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
Jason Christian SS
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
U of Mich.
athleticsBB4life - June 5, 2008
my computer dislikes umich for using PDFs.
slash stats: 330/445/567/1012
13 2b, 6 3b, 7 hr; 16/18 sb; 39 bb 36 k; 13 errors in 50 games.
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
06-07:
cube
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
Jason Christian.
6’3” college SS out of Michigan
BWH - June 5, 2008
Christian?
Why didn’t the Rockies take him?
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
WOW!!! Michigan, Miami, Wichita State, Cal, ASU!!!
Those are some baseball powerhouses…These schools are a far cry from UNC Willmington and Brown.
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Satin, Satin, Satin!!!!
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Has he gone off the board yet?
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
Nope
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Satan! Satan! Satan!
Zonis - June 5, 2008
Or: Satin, Saint, Satin!!! Or Saint, Satin, Satan!!!!
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Sator Arepo Tenet Opera Rotas
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
link to Satin then?
I mean besides this one.
Zonis - June 5, 2008
Dude is a second baseman with POP!!!
Link
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Satin can hit
but he’s really old for a college guy—redshirt senior.
The pick of Weeks made him supernumerary, IMO. On the other hand, the fact that he would be available is one of the reasons I wouldn’t have picked Weeks…
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
How many 6th Rounders make the Show anyway?
3-4, IF that?
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
He is Old though...At 23, he is MUCH older than half of the A's current prospects.
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Well, we just lost Melillo
Sounds like he’d be a good replacement.
Nick - June 5, 2008
good player, from CAL, plays position of need....
we’ll never take him.
Zonis - June 5, 2008
That would seem to rule out Tyson Ross too...
PaulThomas - June 5, 2008
considering
brett wallace:
justin-siena high school
favorite team is the a’s
favorite player is eric chavez
loves to get into hitters’ counts
walks a ton
raw power
and we didn’t pick him…thank goodness we got ross though
flipgatey3 - June 5, 2008
This will be YET another year When i don't get my wish IF we pass on Satin:
Quentin, Perriera, McQuistan, Ellsbury, Lowrie…
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
4 More Picks Until SATIN!!!
(Saint Crosses Fingers)
Raymond St. Martin (Saint) - June 5, 2008
Kenny Williams
Drops a 6th round pick on his son. He’s fast, and that’s it.
sprtsnwyn - June 5, 2008
psst.
new thread open atop this?
Jjjsixsix - June 5, 2008
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