MLB Draft (June 4-6)

[Ceetar]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I'm confused. If he's committed to a college, does that mean he doesn't play for us? Or does he now pass on college?

I believe they pay him and he doesn't go, as long as they pay him before he attends his first class or something (which isn't a problem given the pushed up signing date)

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Mets with their Jose Reyes pick take Kevin Pawlecki, catcher from Perdue U

In related news, they release Mike Nickeas.

"Obviously, he's an offensive guy," said Baseball America executive editor Jim Callis, adding that Plawecki reminds him of longtime Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski. "He never strikes out. Defensively, he's kind of freaky. His arm is not real strong, but he's got a quick release." The 6-1, 215-pound Plawecki was hitting .365 with seven home runs and 45 runs batted in going into the postseason. He led the Big Ten with 20 doubles and had struck out just eight times in 211 at-bats. He has started 163 of 165 games during his collegiate career and never hit lower than .341 in a season. He has struck out just 29 times in 626 collegiate at-bats.

[MFS62]

Here are some very positive comments about Cecchini.

Later

[ashie62]

Ceetar wrote: metsguyinmichigan wrote: I'm confused. If he's committed to a college, does that mean he doesn't play for us? Or does he now pass on college? I believe they pay him and he doesn't go, as long as they pay him before he attends his first class or something (which isn't a problem given the pushed up signing date)

Isn't the college baseball season almost over? and it will be for Perdue, they suck. That might play into it.

[Edgy MD]

seawolf17 wrote: Not looking forward to facing Strasburg-Giolito ten times a year.

Are they planning on marrying? Have they produced a son?

[Frayed Knot]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I'm confused. If he's committed to a college, does that mean he doesn't play for us? Or does he now pass on college?

Which guy are you talking about?

The HS kid Cecchini is "committed" to [crossout]Auburn[/crossout] Ole Miss in the sense that if he decides to go the college route that's the one he's promised to attend. But few 1st round HS picks opt for college so, most likely, some time in the next month (signing deadline is July 13th I believe) he'll get a trunk full of cash from the Wilpons and kiss his educational life goodbye forever. NCAA rules would prevent him from playing college ball once he signs a pro deal.

If it's the catcher already at Perdue, college players are permitted to enter the draft (or re-enter it if they were picked out of HS but didn't sign) following their junior season. He can choose to stay for his senior year if he either doesn't like the offer or is really committed to advanced physics or something but, again, few do.

Bottom line: Both guys are almost certain to be NYM property in the next few weeks.

[bmfc1]

Howard Megdal:

Here�s hoping the Met scouts really saw something in Cecchini and Plawecki. Because everyone else seems to think they�ve acquired, at best, Rafael Santana and Charlie O�Brien.

http://mets.lohudblogs.com/2012/06/05/half-a-loaf/

[nymr83]

I wasn't enamored with what Keith Law and Churchill had to say about either of them on ESPN, it sounds like the Mets gave up on upside in order to ensure themselves another Ruben Tejada and a guy who isn't a great defensive catcher and has a bat that's good "for the position."

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I don't understand the machinations, but there's a possibility they are hoarding $$ for devastating later picks.

Or maybe they just like Righty Thole and Raffy Junior.

[Ceetar]

eh, I'll trust that the Mets put more effort and research into it than a couple of random writers and a few scouts that may or may not have seen the kids more than once.

[MFS62]

PDP speaks on espn.com:

Paul DePodesta said both picks -- albeit one high school and one college -- had a common thread.

"I don't think we go into the draft that we want to target anything that's related to the major league club, or any even specific need in our system," DePodesta said. "That said, we want middle-of-the-diamond players -- catchers, shortstops, center fielders -- if we can get them. And so we do target those players regardless. Needless to say we were thrilled to come up with a shortstop in the first round and a catcher in the comp round. We think those players have multiple ways to help the team. They're incredibly hard to find. And in these two players in particular, they're both offensive and defensive at what are premium defensive positions."

Plawecki, 21, hit .359 (80-for-223) with seven homers and 47 RBIs in 59 games. He struck out only eight times -- the type of plate discipline that matches the Mets. (Read Plawecki's college bio here.)

"No doubt, it's a terrific skill of his, as well as some other things he brings to the table," DePodesta said. "And we think he's a special receiver defensively. Special. He certainly has a terrific eye at the plate.

"There's no real secret about our offensive plan here. We have a system that we believe in, and we believe in it at the major league level as well as through the minor league level and into the scouting ranks."



Later

[metirish]

Gammons and co were frothing at the mouth talking about the pitcher the Nats picked...................but I think they said he needs surgery?

[Edgy MD]

Ceetar wrote: eh, I'll trust that the Mets put more effort and research into it than a couple of random writers and a few scouts that may or may not have seen the kids more than once.

Serimously.

And if Cecchini turns out to be as good as Tejada has been, I won't be complaining.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

2nd round underway, Mets about to make picks 71 and 75 overall...

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

71. Matt Reynolds, 3B, U. Arkansas
"maybe a ultility guy" Mayo says.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

75. Teddy Stankiewicz, RHP, Ft. Worth Christian, Texas
"little surprised he went this high, 3rd, 4th round pick..."
--Baseball America guy

[Frayed Knot]

Met picks so far are confounding the conventional wisdom out there.
All have been "over-drafts" in the opinion of the draft-eratti with these recent two ranking in the low-mid 100s by BA for instance.


Reynolds -- Playing for a top-notch program in one of the best college conferences in the country, Reynolds has been seen by plenty of scouts. And while he might not be among the top tier of college bats in this class, he has some skills that could translate at the next level. With a balanced set-up at the plate, Reynolds has a good approach and hits line drives. He doesn't have a ton of power, mostly to the gaps, and is more consistent to the pull side. Without average power, Reynolds will have to learn how to hit to all fields. He's a heads-up baserunner who will swipe some bases even without particularly good speed. He's a very good defender, with the potential to be above average with his arm and fielding to go along with solid average range. Reynolds plays mostly third, but has seen time at shortstop, and that kind of flexibility will only help his value. If the bat doesn't progress, he could have a very good future as a utility type.


Stankiewicz -- High school pitchers are often projectable. Sometimes, they have good pitchability. Every once in a while, there's one like Stankiewicz, who's a little bit of both. Tall and lanky, there's room for growth in the Texas prep right-hander's frame. That could mean a few more ticks to a fastball that can already touch 93 and sits in the 88-91 mph range. Stankiewicz backs up the fastball with plus pitching instincts, mixing in three other pitches for strikes. His slider is the better of his two breaking balls, but both could be at least Major League average. He may not throw the changeup that much at this level, but he shows a good feel for it. If the fastball develops into a plus pitch and his secondary stuff is average to go along with his outstanding command and mound presence, this is a Major League starter in the making.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Scouts rate Stankiewicz' talking 80:

Teddy Stankiewicz doesn't back off. It's part of his makeup. It's the reason why he kept playing a sport he wasn't very good at and developed into becoming much better. It's why he keeps coming at hitters, and coming at them, challenging them. Here, "Hit this," each pitch seems to scream when it's released from his right hand. It's why the 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior from Fort Worth Christian (North Richland Hills, Texas) isn't afraid to pitch to contact. As of May 11, Stankiewicz carried a 12-2 record with 135 strikeouts and just 20 walks (two intentional) in 93.1 innings pitched. He's committed to Arkansas on a baseball scholarship and should go in the high rounds a few weeks from now in the Major League Baseball amateur draft June 4-6. Though he consistently throws between 90-93 mph, Stankiewicz isn't your typical power pitcher. "I have no fears about pitching to contact," he said. "I have a good defense behind me that will make plays. Pitching to contact, you get ground balls, throw less pitches. My attitude is if they hit the ball, they hit the ball. They get on base, I have a feeling that they're not going to score. It's when my switch turns on, you can say. "I'm different. It's something I always did. I throw it down the plate, if they hit it, great. If they don't, great. I know scouts like the strikeouts, but I like to go for it and attack a hitter. There isn't anything cute about me. I just feel like I'm out there and nothing can beat me except myself. I don't let anything get to me. I don't drag things around with me. I enjoy pitching. If I fail, I concentrate on throwing the next pitch." This year ends an interesting odyssey for Stankiewicz. He started at Keller (Texas), his local public high school, his freshman and sophomore years. In his junior year, he transferred to Southwest Christian (Fort Worth, Tex.), which meant almost a two-hour roundtrip commute each day. It also meant baseball practices running from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., an hour-drive back home in rush hour traffic, and not getting home until about 8 p.m. Eat dinner. Do homework. Then, continue the same grind again. It was hectic. Taxing. "I kind of got used to it, after the first semester," Stankiewicz said. "It seemed to be shorter making that drive every day. It was part my routine. But I was going through some things, because I had no social life. I'd get done with baseball and the team would go out and I wasn't able to go with them because of the long ride home. One thing that did help me is I had a friend go with me to Southwest and we would carpool together. "The driving grind would ease up. But it just became too much. That experience pretty much taught me that whenever you have to make a commute like that, you have to fulfill your obligations. It challenged me last year, challenging me waking up early every morning. It was pretty much set in stone what I did every day. There was no room for error." Something had to give. In late July, Fort Worth Christian coach Tracy Howard received a call, while he was preparing for football season. It was about Stankiewicz, and the possibility of attending Fort Worth Christian, which is much closer. "I knew Teddy, and just talking to the coach at Southwest Christian, who is a good friend of mine, we go to the same church together," Howard said. "I knew Teddy was a good player, but as a kid. The coach told me, he's great player, but a better kid. We had 15 seniors coming back, which is unusual for a school our size, and with the work ethic of Teddy, and how seriously he takes baseball. Once he arrived, he's been the first guy out there, and last guy to leave. That's Teddy's mentality." What may also speak volumes about Stankiewicz's attitude is picking up tennis in grade school. His elementary school didn't have a baseball team, so Stankiewicz was looking for something to quench his competitive thirst. He chose tennis. The problem was, despite being tall and athletic, well � "I was no good at it," Stankiewicz recalled, laughing. "I grew to like tennis. I started working at it and it became a lot more fun winning. Playing tennis helped my agility and it helped build my legs and my endurance, a lot of endurance. I played tennis four hours a day. "The sport is also very mentally demanding. The first few years were really tough for me. You realize you have to play the next point and learn to erase things and flush it. I'm very competitive. I don't accept losing very easily, not at all. Playing tennis taught me that something you're not good at, to keep trying. I wasn't going to quit. I learned if you work hard, that you can succeed." He went from losing every match his first year to becoming a first-team, all-district player by his freshman and sophomore years. But the shuttling between tennis practices and baseball became a conflict, and there was no choice, it was baseball. That drive to succeed has forged Stankiewicz's name into a high position on more than a few big league draft boards. "The great thing about Teddy is that he's a pitcher, he's not a thrower," Howard said. "He has the ability to throw in the 90s, but he has a great changeup and a great slider. He has a great curveball that he throws for strikes." Howard also couldn't help but notice Stankiewicz's composure on the mound the rare times he struggles. It doesn't affect his emotions. When there are runners on base, Stankiewicz has another gear. "When Teddy senses he has someone on the ropes, he'll make a great pitch, and in crucial situations, he'll make a great pitch," Howard said. "When the ball leaves his hand, it's an effortless release and I know that's what the scouts really like about him. But he's a very good athlete; he is a lock-down third baseman, the best I ever had. He's a big kid who moves well. His athleticism is what struck me first about him." Teddy's life could possibly change � maybe drastically � in June. But it's going to have be an acceptable offer for him to pass up pitching in the SEC for Arkansas. "Ever since I was 6, I always dreamed about being a big league pitcher and being on that mound and pitching in the World Series," Stankiewicz said. "It would be a dream come true. The feedback I'm getting is I might be a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds. But my philosophy is that I'm going to Arkansas unless someone blows us away with an offer to change our minds. My family has an adviser. It's an exciting time for me. I can't wait. It's going to be awesome." And a new challenge Stankiewicz will probably approach like he does everything else � attacking it.

[TransMonk]

Reynolds is a bit of a head scratcher to me...but I don't know anything compared to the Mets' scouts about this stuff. I truly do like Depodesta to make these decisions.

Stankiewicz looks like he could develop into somthing.

[metirish]

I trust these guys.....still, from his Dodger days any of his drafts come good?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

107. Matthew Koch, RHP, U of Louisville
College reliever, "might have enough stuff to start."

[seawolf17]

Matt Koch, RHP, Louisville in the 3rd.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

https://twitter.com/#!/mattykoch20

[bmfc1]

Videos, here:
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2012/draftcaster.jsp
(Go to "Teams" and the pull down "New York Mets", like you needed me to tell you that.)

[Ceetar]

matt koch wrote: I'm a monkey

Primates, the new market inefficiency.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I just gotta say that with the exception of Darryl Strawberry and maybe, maybe, one other Mets draft pick, I couldn't give a flying fuck about these amateur baseball drafts. Practically no interest at all. Don't know these guys. Don't pretend to know any of 'em. Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot. Wake me when the Mets have the #1 overall and there's a can't miss prospect to be drafted.

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: I just gotta say that with the exception of Darryl Strawberry and maybe, maybe, one other Mets draft pick, I couldn't give a flying fuck about these amateur baseball drafts. Practically no interest at all. Don't know these guys. Don't pretend to know any of 'em. Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot. Wake me when the Mets have the #1 overall and there's a can't miss prospect to be drafted.

Like Billy Beane?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I think there's a goofy kind of excitement in knowing that of all the crazy new names you hear for the very first time today there will be a couple whose names you could know for the rest of your life.

And how cool would it be to have an ace named Teddy Stankiewicz?

Between him and Plawecki, Poles are the new market inefficiency.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: batmagadanleadoff wrote: I just gotta say that with the exception of Darryl Strawberry and maybe, maybe, one other Mets draft pick, I couldn't give a flying fuck about these amateur baseball drafts. Practically no interest at all. Don't know these guys. Don't pretend to know any of 'em. Crapshoot crapshoot crapshoot. Wake me when the Mets have the #1 overall and there's a can't miss prospect to be drafted. Like Billy Beane?

Nope. Billy didn't move my needle. And he wasn't a #1 overall either.

[batmagadanleadoff]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I think there's a goofy kind of excitement in knowing that of all the crazy new names you hear for the very first time today there will be a couple whose names you could know for the rest of your life. And how cool would it be to have an ace named Teddy Stankiewicz? Between him and Plawecki, Poles are the new market inefficiency.

Almost makes you wish the Mets would re-sign Mientkiewicz. How 'bout an all-Mets Polish team?