AL WEST S15 Draft Review

Kansas City McCoys

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Bonus	Potential	SUMMARY
1	17	Claude Branson	RF	18	HS	---	ML Starter	Slap hitting speedster. Owners either like him as a lead off type guy or avoid his type at all costs. He has great speed and contact with no power, Solid run skills and some bunt ability to get on base.
1	53	Cristian Hernandez	P	18	HS	---	ALL STAR RP	3 pitch relievers are gold and Hernandez will show us why when he makes the league, solid control and stamina along with good durability. He is also a strikeout type pitcher.
2	81	Bernard Webb	P	18	HS	$550K	4A RP	Average splits will keep him in the minors for most of his career, a desperate team will give him an audition and he may cling on for a few seasons riding the bus back and forth 3 times a season.
3	114	Neifi Lugo	P	21	COL	$425K	ML SP	3rd round gem . Lugo has good splits and control to match his stamina, above average pitches will limit his impact, but he has ML potential
4	146	Miguel Duran	P	20	JC	$350K	4A	Duran is a great 4th rounder, but an average ML'er. A mixed bag with his average splits, but does have the control and pitches to make a team take a longer look at him.
5	178	Dick Velandia	2B	21	COL	$250K	AAA	Average hitters with limited defense and no speed don't make it too far out of AAA.

SUMMARY: Good All around draft. Branson would be a good pick up if he signs, or would be a great Compensation pick for next season. Either way the McCoy's sits pretty. I think KC might secretly hope he doesn't sign to turn in a second pick next season. Even without him the draft brings in a number of good prospects to build upon.

Grade: A

Las Vegas Gamble

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Bonus	Potential	SUMMARY
1	19	Wallace Lunsford	P	19	JC	$2,320K	ML Ace	Fireball pitcher with great splits and 3 plus pitches, he has the control and stamina that a team would lean on to anchor their staff for years to come.
2	83	C.C. O'Rourke	P	20	JC	---	4A SP	Signing issues, but who cares you doesn't want him to sign for 6M with poor splits. Don't expect him to go too far out of AAA if he did sign
3	116	Lonnie James	P	22	COL	$425K	AAA	Average splits and low control should sink his long term career aspirations in the league. He might slip in a cup of coffee, but should spend his career in AAA
4	148	Terry Baxter	P	20	JC	$350K	AAA	Inning eating minor leaguer. HE does not have the splits to be a Major League Pitcher.
5	180	Mitchell Terry	RF	18	HS	---	AA	Average hitter with speed but poor base running, don't hold on to his rookie card for long it's going to be worthless

SUMMARY: Outside of their top pick, the gamble took a number of big risks, O'Rourke should net a pick in the 2^nd round next season, which might not be all bad. Look to the positive and you will see the minor league pitching ranks should be fatigue free with these good stamina and durability minor leagues joining the team.

Grade: B-

Salt Lake City Assault

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Bonus	Potential	SUMMARY
1	4	Jack Coke	P	18	HS	$3,720K	Ml CL	Everything about Coke points to him being a superstar pitcher, except his low stamina. With his great control ,splits and pitches he should make an impact as a reliever if not an Ace closer in the league.
2	68	Clyde Martin	3B	20	JC	$550K	AAA	Powerful OF prospect who will bat .240 at his height with a ton of strikeouts, expect 25+ home runs but most likely in AAA
3	100	Alex Burch	P	19	JC	$425K	4A	Middle of the road splits does not help an otherwise decent pitcher. Don't expect him to get in the league and stay for too long.
4	133	Nelson Lankford	2B	18	HS	$350K	AAA	Speed base running and bunting are Nelson's featured game, poor batting might keep him from ever using it in a major league game
5	165	Willis Pierce	SS	20	JC	$250K	AAA	Defensive specialist, Pierce can field with the best in the league. Too bad he hits with the bottom 1% as well.

SUMMARY: Coke might have been a reach, but he is a very good player, just finding that role for him will be a challenge for a new owner. Outside of him though the rookie owner gets a whole lot of nothing in the draft to build with in the Majors. They do get a number of quality Minor League guys that will help with the minors and fatigue.

Grade: B-

Wichita Sizzlers

Round	Pick	Player	Pos	Age	Back- ground	Bonus	Potential	SUMMARY
1	33	Jim Griffin	2B	18	HS	$1,000K	ML	Similar to KC's Claude Branson in that he is a slap hitting no power speedster, his batting eye isn't as good but he also comes at less of a premium and 10 picks later
1	60	Dorian Simmons	RF	18	HS	$600K	ML Bench	It's Griffin without the fielding, worse batting eye and really should platoon against right handers. But he is fast!
2	96	Quentin Morgan	P	18	HS	$550K	AAA	Poor splits on an otherwise good pitcher, he will eat a ton of Minor League innings and most likely never see a ML field in his career.
3	129	Goose Lidle	P	18	HS	---	ML Spot Starter	Well developed 18 year old who has solid splits some control and great stamina to wield his 3 pitches. He does have ML dream and should fulfill them
4	161	Rickey Pall	SS	18	HS	---	AA	Average everywhere but the boy can run, Might hope he goes the way of the college route and you get compensation in s16
5	193	Steve Erdos	LF	18	HS	---		NOT SCOUTED

SUMMARY: Wichita went to way of Speed and collected a number of fast top of the lineup guys. Griffin and Simmons though don't offer a lot else besides their smack the ball and run technique, They project either to lead the league in steals or ground into a million force outs with men on in their careers. Only time will tell

Grade: B