Special to Ducksnorts by Peter Friberg
[Note: As I went to publish Peter's article, he e-mailed me to let me know that Kansas City could be taking right-hander Brad Lincoln with the first pick overall, which would throw the draft back into flux.]
A week before the draft, the Padres draft group huddled together in San Diego to decide what to do with #17 pick. While they were sifting through several names, four stood out: Texas right-hander Kyle McCulloch, UCLA left-hander David Huff, California high school catcher Hank Conger, and Washington high school outfielder Travis Snider. Snider moved up on too many boards, Conger moved down the Padres’ wish list, and McCulloch and Huff both underwhelmed the brass.
Now, less than 10 hours before the draft, two new names (not new, but new to the discussion) enter the picture. The Padres are poised to take right-hander Brett Sinkbeil of Missouri St. at number 17. If Sinkbeil is unavailable at 17 (in what looks to be a volatile draft) the Padres would take Wake Forest’s third baseman, Matt Antonelli, and convert him to a second baseman or center fielder.
In another developing tidbit, the Padres have watched local prospect Justin Masterson closely all season. Masterson had been rumored to be popped in the teens. Now, in his MLB.com projection, Jonathan Mayo doesn’t even mention Masterson as a consideration from any teams in the top 30. If Masterson can slide past just four more teams, the Padres will likely call the Aztec right-hander with the 35th pick. Bryan Smith of BaseballAnalysts.com ranks Masterson as the 11th best collegian in the draft and notes that no draft-eligible pitcher this season had an ERA more affected by context than Masterson.
Getting either Sinkbeil or Antonelli plus Masterson would be a huge beginning of the day for the Padres.
Stats:
| Name | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | BAA | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinkbeil | 69.2 | 45 | 4 | 23 | 75 | .184 | 2.45 |
| Masterson | 116.0 | 124 | 8 | 26 | 108 | .268 | 4.81 |
| Name | BA | OBP | SLG | BB | SO | SB | CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonelli | .333 | .439 | .584 | 39 | 24 | 15 | 3 |
Barfield has committed only to San Jacinto CC, which makes him a good candidate for a draft-and-follow.
hey this draft didn’t have a lot of depth so I don’t think there needs to be any complaining right now.. this draft was said to have really little depth afte rthe top so we’ll see how it pans out.. Antonelli looks okay. anything developing at 3B is better than what we’ve had.. Headley’s performed well and now another one behind him even though Antonelli could change positions
David,
Khalil was drafted in 2002. He was a senior, so he had almost no leverage, but he was also a top college player. I wouldn’t call him signability.
Stauffer only got cheap after the draft when he revealed a shoulder injury. I don’t think we drafted him to save money.
Bush, yes.
I’m not overly excited about Antonelli, but in this particular draft there were no Stephen Drews or Verlanders at 17 to pass.
I keep seeing Pueto Rico BB Academy HS. What is that? Anybody knows? Thanks for the info.
Drabek a headcase may be way too strong. I don’t remember anybody in my high school, nerds to jocks, who didn’t drink too much more than once.
I would have liked to see us take him, but I like Antonelli too.
What I don’t like about the draft so far is the pitching.
Tom King, SS, Troy U.:
http://tinyurl.com/pza9x
Didi,
Pretty much what it says. Puerto Rico is subject to the draft. That high school specializes in baseball.
http://www.prbahs.org/
“Khalil was drafted in 2002. He was a senior, so he had almost no leverage, but he was also a top college player. I wouldn’t call him signability.
Stauffer only got cheap after the draft when he revealed a shoulder injury. I don’t think we drafted him to save money.
Bush, yes.
I’m not overly excited about Antonelli, but in this particular draft there were no Stephen Drews or Verlanders at 17 to pass. ”
Thanks for the clarification. For some reason I thought Stauffer’s injury was known before the draft. I also kept thinking that Nicholson guy was in the last 4 years, but he must have been earlier than that. And while I think antonelli may be decent (ESPN’s Keith Law calls him a “fringe” regular) I think the potential with Drabek is just too great to pass up. It’s like choosing between, say, Reggie Sanders and Kerry Wood. One of them is a known quantity, and the other could be brilliant. There’s a downside to each approach. I hope Antonelli proves me wrong. I do like that he is an accomplished athlete and has good strike-zone judgment. Those two don’t often come together.