Friday, June 08, 2007

Phillies 2007 Draft

not sure what is going on with phuturephillies.com (seems to be down), but here is what baseballamerica.com has to say about the phils picks:
19. Joe Savery, lhp
School: Rice Class: Jr.
B-T: L-L Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 215 Birthdate: 11/4/85
Scouting Report: Area scouts have projected Savery as a 2007 first-rounder since he came out of Lamar High in Houston three years ago. He was the top two-way player in the state, but it would have taken a $1 million bonus to dissuade him from following Jeff Niemann's path from Lamar to Rice. As with Niemann in 2004, Savery hasn't been 100 percent in his draft year following offseason surgery. He didn't pitch for the Owls last June, then had minor surgery to shave down a bone growth in the back of his shoulder that was causing some fraying in his labrum. Savery has taken a regular turn in the Rice rotation this spring, but he has been less than dominant, as his 44-30 K-BB ratio through 68 innings would attest. Savery's velocity was improving in early May, as he was showing a 90-94 mph fastball for a couple of innings and still touched 90 after 100 pitches. In his initial starts this season, he worked more often at 85-89 mph. His changeup is a plus pitch, and his hard, slurvy curveball can get strikeouts when it's on, though he hasn't used it as much as in the past. Savery has continued to pull double duty for the Owls, playing first base and leading the club with a .353 average and 43 RBIs through 52 games. Once he regains full health, he could take off after he focuses his energy and efforts on pitching. The recent litany of Rice pitching prospects who have needed surgery after turning pro concerns scouts, but Savery could be a steal if he slides into the second half of the first round.
club could be trying to hit the lottery again and see him as another cole hamels (top flight talent dropping in the draft due to injury concerns)? difference here is that hamels was a consensus "can't miss" prospect if healthy. reviews on this guy seem mixed. apparently, the player the phils really wanted was kevin ahrens, who went at 16.

37. Travis d'Arnaud, c
School: Lakewood (Calif.) HS Class: Sr.
B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180 Birthdate: 2/10/89
Scouting Report: In several ways, d'Arnaud resembles his older brother Chase, a two-year starter at third base for Pepperdine, and Travis has also committed to play for the Waves. Chances are he won't get to school, though, because he's a more athletic version of his brother with premium catch-and-throw skills behind the plate and a more advanced bat. While he's still a streak hitter, d'Arnaud has showed an improved ability to stay inside the ball and drive it to all fields. It's a quick, line-drive swing for the most part, but he has shown some loft power, with seven home runs, and he ranked among state leaders in RBIs. Defensively, he grades as above-average as both a receiver and thrower, with a plus arm, soft hands and quick feet. While he's athletic enough to play an infield spot, he's too good behind the plate--consistently getting his throws to second base in 1.9 seconds--to move.
the good news? seems like the phils have their first real catching prospect in years. the bad news? the last real prospect was mike lieberthal. this guy's scouting report looks very similar to how lieby was described as a prospect. hopefully this guy doesn't come with lieby's "whatever" attitude.

83. Travis Mattair, ss/3b
School: Southridge (Wash.) HS Class: Sr.
B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-5 Wt.: 215 Birthdate: 12/21/88
Scouting Report: While Washington prep righthanders Greg Peavey and Julien Sampson (breaking ball went backward) vexed scouts this spring, Mattair came off the basketball court and onto the baseball diamond and emerged as the state's top high school prospect. He's athletic to a fault, in that he's never focused on baseball, and he was good enough as a basketball point guard to attract Division II scholarship interest. His power potential makes him a much better prospect in baseball. He has leverage and obvious strength in his swing and has shown power to all fields. His lack of experience was exposed at showcase events by pitchers with consistently better stuff than any he had seen in southeast Washington, but scouts are confident his athleticism will allow him to adjust once he focuses on baseball. He's a shortstop now who profiles as a third baseman as a pro. He's committed to Oregon State.
107. Brandon Workman, rhp
School: Bowie (Texas) HS Class: Sr.
B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 195 Birthdate: 8/13/88
Scouting Report: On the right day, Workman can look like a first-rounder. He'll show a low-90s fastball that tops out at 95 mph to go with a plus 12-to-6 curveball, and that stuff comes from a projectable 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. He's still growing too, having added two inches and 20 pounds since last summer. But the problem is poor arm action that scares scouts and robs Workman of any consistency. His mechanics will need an overhaul, and though he has enticing raw arm strength, it's going to be difficult to draft him high enough to lure him away from Texas. He's a top student and scouts don't think he'll sign for less than third-round money.
113. Matt Spencer, of/lhp
School: Arizona State. Class: Jr.
B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 225. Birthdate: 1/27/86.
Scouting Report: In terms of tools, Spencer is the same player who was part of a banner 2004 draft class in his home state of Tennessee. He went to North Carolina for his first two college seasons and helped the Tar Heels reach the College World Series last season, often playing center field despite his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and finishing second on the team with 15 stolen bases. Spencer returned to UNC for his junior year after a poor performance in the Cape Cod League (.197, one extra-base hit) and lost his job, so he transferred between semesters to Arizona State. He burst back on the prospect scene with a pair of homers at an early-season tournament in Houston with most of the industry's scouting directors in attendance, but his season was plagued by as much inconsistency as his Tar Heels career. Spencer has above-average raw power and profiles as a right fielder if he can make consistent contact. After pitching just five innings for North Carolina, Spencer had worked into a set-up role with Arizona State. Though he lacked command (16 walks in 10 innings), he has hit 94 mph, and some scouts who doubt his hitting savvy like him better on the mound. Either way, he's still far from a finished product, just as was the case out of high school.

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Friday Links

- some notes of interest from the inquirer eagles blog:

Today, wide receivers Jason Avant and Kevin Curtis both appeared ready to step into starting roles. Avant made two spectacular catches in tight coverage, while Curtis showed speed and talent throughout the drills.

New linebacker Takeo Spikes continued to spend time learning the Eagles' defense. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson was complimentary after the practice, calling the 10-year veteran "a pro's pro."

McNabb shows no signs of a limp or any other impairmant as he jogs around the field and jokes around with teammates. He looks physically fit and his spirits seem high. McNabb, who missed the second half of last season after knee surgery, has said that his recovery is ahead of schedule.

Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg agreed with that assessment yesterday, saying that if he hadn't known McNabb had knee surgery, he wouldn't have been able to tell by seeing him around the practice facility.

- garry cobb stirring things up a little. he wonders if JJ knows how to play run defense. he predicts that mike mccoy, jerome mcdougle, and darren howard will all be cut from the team. he rightfully questions why the media isn't toasting trotter for his lack of "leadership" skills. he also posts his take on mini-camp.

- if thomas and runyan can maintain their level of play, this eagles o-line will probably be the best group i've seen. it's easy to forget that they have two high draft picks sitting on the bench behind the starters.

- b-dawk gets a nomination as the "best leader" in the nfl. interesting to note that the guy who pick dawk is a cowboys beat writer.

- courier post eagles blog notes that saverio rocca is outpunting dirk johnson so far

- prompted by trotter's claim of having made 160+ tackles last season, derek at igglesblog analyzed the difference between the tackle stats published by the nfl and the tackle stats published by the birds

- phils continue their up and down play, but fortunately were in a up cycle during their 3 game series with the mets. watched the final innings of all three games, good stuff. pat burrell came out of his drunken stupor long enough to have a couple of good at-bats

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Friday, June 01, 2007

LeBron James

i hope people saw that game lebron james had last night. it was the single greatest playoff performance i've ever seen. not even close. if you didn't see it, here are some links:

- truehoop
- espn
- inquirer
- cnnsi
- sportsline

people are going to bring up jordan's 63 point game and magic's game against the sixers in 80. those were damn terrific, but it's interesting to note that a) the bulls lost jordan's 63 point game and b) magic's team was still pretty good even though kareem was injured (michael cooper, jamaal wilkes, and norm nixon were on that team).

lebron is playing on a team with the same types of players that AI has been playing with (i.e. guys who can't play) and with a team that literally runs no offensive sets and has no coaching. every possession in the 4th quarter and overtime was clear out and give lebron the ball at the top of the key. it was ridiculous, and yet against a very good defensive team in the pistons, lebron was driving the lane and getting in for layups and dunks or getting fouled. i've never seen anything like it.

it's hard to believe he's only 22.

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