A popular, although illogical, perception is that there are fewer good players to draft now that we can protect more than 15. Realistically, the only players missing from the draft are the guys who would have been cut in the old system, but you just can't convince some people of the logic. Maybe this will help. Here are some of the players we drafted last spring...
National League Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun was taken by the Rhinos with pick #103. That's a 7th round pick.
Close runner-up for ROY in the NL was Troy Tulowitzki, who went at #29, also to the Rhinos.
American League Rookie of the Year Dustin Pedroia was taken by the Inmates with pick #154 (10th round).
Hunter Pence to the Oilers at #125.
Kelly Johnson to the Warpigs at #109.
Tim Lincecum to the Drillers at #88.
John Maine to the Mavs at #59.
James Shields to the Drillers at #56.
Matt Garza to the Rhinos at #39.
Ryan Garko to the Fungoes at #112.
Corey Hart to the Inmates at #90.
Gil Meche to the FFTs at #153.
Oliver Perez to the Rhinos at #166.
Matt Kemp to the Rhinos at #174.
Matt Diaz to the Inmates at #181.
Cody Ross to the DVs at #178.
There's always quality in the draft, whether you are seeking prospects or just good cards. It takes two elements: (1) Do your homework and (2) Get lucky.
4 comments:
That analysis is not complete. The question is not were their good players available in the draft. The question is were there as many good players available in the draft as there would have been had we protected 15 as in years past. Develop the chain of logic that says that making fewer players available for the draft strengthens the talent pool available in the draft.
The talent pool for the draft hasn't changed (except possibly with regards to drafting uncarded players). The talent pool is not weaker, nor is it stronger. It is virtually the same. The only players who WOULD be in the draft - but are not because of the new system - are the players we would have cut to get down to 15. So the draft is weaker because the Brian Schneiders of the world aren't in it? That's ridiculous. In the old system, I would have drafted Brian Schneider in round 12 (2 hours before the END of the friggin draft) to be my back-up catcher. By being able to protect him, the draft ends earlier and the same exact players make the same exact teams.
Now, let's say Brian Schneider hits .325 with 25 homers and becomes a keeper the following year. In the old system, I could say, "Look what I found in the 12th round!" Can't do that now. Oh shit. Does it matter?
Indeed the draft itself is weaker according to your own line of reasoning strictly because Brian Schneider is not available in the draft in the new system and he was in the old system. He evidently has value or he would not be protected in the new system. By definition if he was available in the draft and he is now not available and he has value, the draft is not as strong.
Let me restate your position and see if this makes sense.
The draft is in fact not as deep as it was in prior years. But because you can now protect more than 15 players, it is not necessary for the draft to be as deep. The top level of incoming talent is "virtually the same". Therefore your ability to improve your team through the draft (which is I think the underlying issue that we're trying to address) is the same in either system.
once again, I am merely trying to check in, hopefully.
I still wish we could draft more extras than two, but that is water under the bridge, so I guess I'll just miss my having 16 picks in one round and Herman saying "Pass"
tm
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