The Official 2008 MLB Draft Thread
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boondockdrunk
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Good lefty reliever, can move quickly and be up with the big league club pitching in the bullpen by the end of this year. I do not see him having the stuff to be a starter, but he can be more than a lefty specialist. A decent pick.
Check out this website for a good scouting report.
I am more concerned with our second pick of the day. I do not mind Wade Miley, and we need left-handed starters in the minors. However, when the undisputed pre-season #1 best HS pitcher in Tim Melville is still on the board... you gotta take him.
I was waiting from someone to pick up Melville before us in the Supplemental round but when he was still there with us up I had both my fingers crossed... then they take the #75 college player... and I broke out the rum and drank straight from the bottle to take the edge off... All the scouting reports on this kid are not glowing. He is said to have poor command (41 BBs and 16 WP in 101 innings
) with a fastball between 88-91 mph. Not too good for the 43rd pick overall.EDIT: ugh... just saw a scouting video of Miley... he was throwing 85-88 mph in it... not to mention it had a bad soundtrack
EDIT #2: Predicted to be drafted in the 4th or 5th round, Miley is another reach by local Louisiana scout Mike Valarezo, who has had the D'backs make reaches before (i.e. Matt Green {2nd round, 2005}, Ed Easley (1st round supp, 2007), and Sean Morgan {4th round, 2007}). However, he did well with scouting Micah Owings (3rd round, 2005) and Greg Smith (6th round, 2005).
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I'm a big UA baseball fan and Daniel has been our best pitcher all year. I agree he's going to stay as a relief pitcher but he's a great lefty prospect. I think he'll make a better pro than Ryan Perry, another Cat reliever who went to the Tigers a few picks earlier.
His family has been at all his games this year and they've done weekly videos for ESPN.com that you can here:
http://http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/feature/index?page=MeettheSchlereths
His family has been at all his games this year and they've done weekly videos for ESPN.com that you can here:
http://http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/feature/index?page=MeettheSchlereths
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boondockdrunk
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RHP Bryan Shaw (2nd Round, 73rd overall)
Could not find scouting reports on this guy... which is concerning, but he was rated as the #63 preseason overall college player by BA.
Another relief pitcher? Has our recent bullpen struggles prompted this draft? It looks as if we have drafted 3 guys to be placed into our future bullpen.
Youtube video
EDIT: Melville still on the board. I have not found anything online about him being injured, so maybe he is dropping due to sign-ability or a strong college commitment.
Edit #2: Melville picked by KC in the 4th round
Could not find scouting reports on this guy... which is concerning, but he was rated as the #63 preseason overall college player by BA.
Another relief pitcher? Has our recent bullpen struggles prompted this draft? It looks as if we have drafted 3 guys to be placed into our future bullpen.
Youtube video
EDIT: Melville still on the board. I have not found anything online about him being injured, so maybe he is dropping due to sign-ability or a strong college commitment.
Edit #2: Melville picked by KC in the 4th round
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147 BRYAN SHAW, RHP, Long Beach State
Long Beach State righted itself after a rough midseason patch, and Shaw had been key to the turnaround as the team's power closer. He's from Livermore, Calif., which seems to churn out hard throwers. It's the hometown of Randy Johnson and Giants reliever Erick Threets. While both of those hard-throwing lefties have touched 100 mph in their careers, Shaw touches 95-96 mph and sits in the 92-94 range. His slider can be a real power breaking ball when he's going well, sitting in the low to mid-80s. While he's just 6-foot-1, he does a good job of missing down and keeping the ball in the ballpark. Shaw also has excellent control for a power pitcher. His stuff might be short to be a big league closer, but he should move quickly into a setup role.
60 DANIEL SCHLERETH, LHP, Arizona
The son of former NFL offensive lineman and current ESPN commentator Mark Schlereth, Daniel Schlereth was an eighth-round pick last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, having missed a year due to Tommy John surgery. Schlereth didn't sign and has come back improved as part of a devastating Arizona bullpen with three of the nation's best power arms. While teammate Ryan Perry figures to be drafted higher this year (and sophomore closer Jason Stoffel should go higher next year), Schlereth was making a case to go in the first two rounds by showing improved command and stuff from 2007. Schlereth finds the strike zone more consistently with his 90-94 mph fastball and at times has more velocity, sometimes sitting 94-96. His power breaking ball is a swing-and-miss pitch, and he's done a better job of throwing it for strikes. After a failed bid as a starter earlier in his career, Schlereth has shown the guts to challenge hitters with his stuff in a relief role and could be the rare lefthanded closer as a pro. The biggest question will be whether or not he can maintain his stuff while improving his control. He'll never have command with the effort he puts into his delivery, but he still doesn't throw as many quality strikes as he'll need to at higher levels. He's expected to be drafted in the first three rounds.
The son of former NFL offensive lineman and current ESPN commentator Mark Schlereth, Daniel Schlereth was an eighth-round pick last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, having missed a year due to Tommy John surgery. Schlereth didn't sign and has come back improved as part of a devastating Arizona bullpen with three of the nation's best power arms. While teammate Ryan Perry figures to be drafted higher this year (and sophomore closer Jason Stoffel should go higher next year), Schlereth was making a case to go in the first two rounds by showing improved command and stuff from 2007. Schlereth finds the strike zone more consistently with his 90-94 mph fastball and at times has more velocity, sometimes sitting 94-96. His power breaking ball is a swing-and-miss pitch, and he's done a better job of throwing it for strikes. After a failed bid as a starter earlier in his career, Schlereth has shown the guts to challenge hitters with his stuff in a relief role and could be the rare lefthanded closer as a pro. The biggest question will be whether or not he can maintain his stuff while improving his control. He'll never have command with the effort he puts into his delivery, but he still doesn't throw as many quality strikes as he'll need to at higher levels. He's expected to be drafted in the first three rounds.
39 WADE MILEY, LHP, Southeastern Louisiana
Miley was part of a banner 2005 class of Louisiana prep lefties that also included Beau Jones and Sean West, who went in the sandwich round of that draft, and Jeremy Bleich, who headed to Stanford. Miley may turn out to be the best of the group, as he owns three pitches that grade as plus when at their best. His top offering is an 80-84 mph slider that he can bury down and in against righthanders. He sits at 89-92 mph with his fastball and can reach 94-95 mph, though his heater flattens out at high-end velocity. His changeup is his third pitch, and his 75-77 mph curveball shows some potential. Miley has a sound delivery and a strong 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. His command is no better than average, which is why he hasn't dominated mid-major Southland Conference competition and why some clubs project him as a reliever. But talented and proven college lefthanders are in short supply in this draft, so Miley could sneak into the first round with a club that has seen him at his best.
Miley was part of a banner 2005 class of Louisiana prep lefties that also included Beau Jones and Sean West, who went in the sandwich round of that draft, and Jeremy Bleich, who headed to Stanford. Miley may turn out to be the best of the group, as he owns three pitches that grade as plus when at their best. His top offering is an 80-84 mph slider that he can bury down and in against righthanders. He sits at 89-92 mph with his fastball and can reach 94-95 mph, though his heater flattens out at high-end velocity. His changeup is his third pitch, and his 75-77 mph curveball shows some potential. Miley has a sound delivery and a strong 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. His command is no better than average, which is why he hasn't dominated mid-major Southland Conference competition and why some clubs project him as a reliever. But talented and proven college lefthanders are in short supply in this draft, so Miley could sneak into the first round with a club that has seen him at his best.
Third round pick
112 KEVIN EICHHORN, RHP, Aptos (Calif.) HS
Eichhorn's father Mark spent parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues as a reliever, using a submarine delivery to pitch nearly 300 innings in 1986-87 for the Blue Jays. His son probably won't be a second-round pick, as Mark was back in 1979, but it might take second-round money to keep Kevin from his Santa Clara commitment. Mark helped coach Kevin's team to the 2002 Little League World Series. While the elder Eichhorn was 6-foot-3, 210 pounds during his playing days, the son now checks in at 6-feet, 170 pounds and would benefit from a late growth spurt, which some scouts expect. However, he's athletic and switch-hits, and would probably play shortstop and pitch at Santa Clara. If he's drafted high, it's expected to be for his work on the mound, as he
has touched 94 mph with his fastball and shows excellent fastball command. Eichhorn spins a breaking ball as well, a curveball that lacks the power to be a true plus pitch now. His body has some scouts doubting he's ready for pro ball, with a fastball that sits 88-90 mph more often than it touches 94. But his arm works well, and with his athleticism and bloodlines, he's the best prep prospect in Northern California.
112 KEVIN EICHHORN, RHP, Aptos (Calif.) HS
Eichhorn's father Mark spent parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues as a reliever, using a submarine delivery to pitch nearly 300 innings in 1986-87 for the Blue Jays. His son probably won't be a second-round pick, as Mark was back in 1979, but it might take second-round money to keep Kevin from his Santa Clara commitment. Mark helped coach Kevin's team to the 2002 Little League World Series. While the elder Eichhorn was 6-foot-3, 210 pounds during his playing days, the son now checks in at 6-feet, 170 pounds and would benefit from a late growth spurt, which some scouts expect. However, he's athletic and switch-hits, and would probably play shortstop and pitch at Santa Clara. If he's drafted high, it's expected to be for his work on the mound, as he
has touched 94 mph with his fastball and shows excellent fastball command. Eichhorn spins a breaking ball as well, a curveball that lacks the power to be a true plus pitch now. His body has some scouts doubting he's ready for pro ball, with a fastball that sits 88-90 mph more often than it touches 94. But his arm works well, and with his athleticism and bloodlines, he's the best prep prospect in Northern California.
WildBB
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Not if your allmost sure he's going to go into college. I'm sure that's why so many passed him up. Where'd he finally get picked?
Brandon_Webb
Registered
Jaff Decker and Kyle Lobstien go in the supplemental and 2nd round. Amazing stuff I've played against both of those guys.
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boondockdrunk
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RHP Kevin Eichhorn, 3rd round (104 overall)
http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/111607aah.html
OF Ryne White, 4th round (138 overall)
http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/white_ryne00.html
http://www.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/stories/111607aah.html
OF Ryne White, 4th round (138 overall)
http://purduesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/white_ryne00.html
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boondockdrunk
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He eventually went to KC in the 4th round. The Royals might have to break to bank to sign him, so, like you said, he might be heading to college.
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Prediction: Tom Allison (Diamondbacks Director of Scouting) will be out of a job within 2 years. Another horrible job of drafting. That's now 2 years in a row. What other pick besides Jarrod Parker has you guys excited? Everyone will soon realize how extraordinary Rizzo was as our scouting director. Allison is going to set this team back for many years with drafts like the last two. I am very disappointed!
overseascardfan
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I was wondering why Arizona didn't take more ASU and UA guys in the draft. Both are in their own back yard and are 2 of the top baseball programs in the country.
Guys like Preston Gulimet and Eric Berger could have been had, CJ Zeigler was available, Jason Kipnis. Gulimet was drafted in Round 22 by OAK, who drafted a few other Arizona kids as well. Lopez was surprised that Gulimet and Berger lasted as long as they did, anyone else have an idea of why they dropped so far, Gulimet was projected to go between the 5-7 rounds but wasn't he considered to be a 1-2 round guy at the beginning of the year?
Another gripe I have is the D'Backs supplemental pick. I understand the Schlereth pick but why not draft either the Stanford LHP who went with the very next pick or take Lobstein who went to the Rays in the second already adding to to their impressive farm system. I feel he will sign rather than attend UA, I think that the D'Backs are going for guys that will be easy signings rather than spend money on more talented players. This Allison guy may be at fault but I think management is behind it all, Rizzo took talent that cost them money (Boras clients) and since his departure have took guys that were a little more affordable with the exception of Scherzer or was he a Rizzo pick as well, not sure when Rizzo stepped down.
Guys like Preston Gulimet and Eric Berger could have been had, CJ Zeigler was available, Jason Kipnis. Gulimet was drafted in Round 22 by OAK, who drafted a few other Arizona kids as well. Lopez was surprised that Gulimet and Berger lasted as long as they did, anyone else have an idea of why they dropped so far, Gulimet was projected to go between the 5-7 rounds but wasn't he considered to be a 1-2 round guy at the beginning of the year?
Another gripe I have is the D'Backs supplemental pick. I understand the Schlereth pick but why not draft either the Stanford LHP who went with the very next pick or take Lobstein who went to the Rays in the second already adding to to their impressive farm system. I feel he will sign rather than attend UA, I think that the D'Backs are going for guys that will be easy signings rather than spend money on more talented players. This Allison guy may be at fault but I think management is behind it all, Rizzo took talent that cost them money (Boras clients) and since his departure have took guys that were a little more affordable with the exception of Scherzer or was he a Rizzo pick as well, not sure when Rizzo stepped down.
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boondockdrunk
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I fully expect Preston Gulimet to go back to college. He had a very poor year after a great sophomore showing.
Great late round picks by the D'backs included RHP Justin LaTempa (678 overall) and SS Ricco Torrez (978 overall, out of Brophy College Prep [AZ]). However, unless the Front Office offers Torrez a ton of money for his slot he will fulfill his commitment to ASU. On a side notes, entering his senior year he was rated as the 56th best HS prospect in the nation. LaTempa has two good pitches, a 89-93 mph fastball and a nasty slider. However, his curveball is... well... just awful and he is said to throw it too much. The D'backs will probably have him scrap it and convert Justin into a reliever. Only a sophomore, if he does not get good money, he will probably head back for his junior year (note: you will see this pattern across the D'backs draft... taking people they cannot sign or who profile as only relievers).
Other than that, I have to agree with everyone else on the board and even the announcers on MLB.tv... this was a very poor draft by the Diamondbacks. Schlereth can be a good major leaguer but that is as a reliever. If all the team gets out of this group of guys is a decent left reliever... then the job on Thursday and Friday was a failure.
Of course it is always premature to judge a draft right after it occurs as many things can change. However, the talent level, as well as overall positions, of these players are very limited.
EDIT: After looking at the scouting videos I have of a number of the draft picks we made that kind of excited me. LHP Daniel Hultzen (10th round, 318 overall) is a 6'2'' high schooler who was pitching consistently in the 90-93 range with some nice downward movement. However, after reading about him I found that he is fully committed to go to college and does not wish to sign. Same goes for Robert Webb (12th round, 378 overall) who is going to attend Kentucky if he does not receive first round money. Webb throws in the mid-90's but struggles with his off-speed pitches, so he, like most of the pitchers drafted, only profiles as a reliever.
That leaves RHP Trevor Harden (14th round, 438 overall) from New Mexico JC and RHP Ryan Cook from USC (27th round, 828 overall) who stood out among the scouting videos. Harden was throwing in between 91-93 mph but his first three pitches were to the backstop. Cook, on the other hand, pitched from 90-92 mph and had a pretty decent slider in the 77 mph range.
Someone I almost forgot was RHP Miles Reagan (7th round, 228 overall) from El Capitan HS, California. A 6'2'' starter with good mechanics, Reagan was able to repeat his delivery and stay in the 91-93 mph range. Again, being a high schooler, his secondary pitches need to improve but he does look like a nice pick-up. He was rated as the 36th best HS prospect entering this season and might be the best pitching prospect out of our draft.
Great late round picks by the D'backs included RHP Justin LaTempa (678 overall) and SS Ricco Torrez (978 overall, out of Brophy College Prep [AZ]). However, unless the Front Office offers Torrez a ton of money for his slot he will fulfill his commitment to ASU. On a side notes, entering his senior year he was rated as the 56th best HS prospect in the nation. LaTempa has two good pitches, a 89-93 mph fastball and a nasty slider. However, his curveball is... well... just awful and he is said to throw it too much. The D'backs will probably have him scrap it and convert Justin into a reliever. Only a sophomore, if he does not get good money, he will probably head back for his junior year (note: you will see this pattern across the D'backs draft... taking people they cannot sign or who profile as only relievers).
Other than that, I have to agree with everyone else on the board and even the announcers on MLB.tv... this was a very poor draft by the Diamondbacks. Schlereth can be a good major leaguer but that is as a reliever. If all the team gets out of this group of guys is a decent left reliever... then the job on Thursday and Friday was a failure.
Of course it is always premature to judge a draft right after it occurs as many things can change. However, the talent level, as well as overall positions, of these players are very limited.
EDIT: After looking at the scouting videos I have of a number of the draft picks we made that kind of excited me. LHP Daniel Hultzen (10th round, 318 overall) is a 6'2'' high schooler who was pitching consistently in the 90-93 range with some nice downward movement. However, after reading about him I found that he is fully committed to go to college and does not wish to sign. Same goes for Robert Webb (12th round, 378 overall) who is going to attend Kentucky if he does not receive first round money. Webb throws in the mid-90's but struggles with his off-speed pitches, so he, like most of the pitchers drafted, only profiles as a reliever.
That leaves RHP Trevor Harden (14th round, 438 overall) from New Mexico JC and RHP Ryan Cook from USC (27th round, 828 overall) who stood out among the scouting videos. Harden was throwing in between 91-93 mph but his first three pitches were to the backstop. Cook, on the other hand, pitched from 90-92 mph and had a pretty decent slider in the 77 mph range.
Someone I almost forgot was RHP Miles Reagan (7th round, 228 overall) from El Capitan HS, California. A 6'2'' starter with good mechanics, Reagan was able to repeat his delivery and stay in the 91-93 mph range. Again, being a high schooler, his secondary pitches need to improve but he does look like a nice pick-up. He was rated as the 36th best HS prospect entering this season and might be the best pitching prospect out of our draft.
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Reagan has signed
By Keith Glab
Senior Editor
Posted Jun 8, 2008
7th-round draft choice Miles Reagan became one of the first of the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2008 draft picks to sign with the club when he inked a deal Sunday morning.
The 2008 June Amateur Draft is over, and so begins the process of negotiation and signing these young players. 7th-round selection Miles Reagan out of Lakeside, Califonia's El Capitan high school made a quick decision to begin his professional career, although he was a bit surprised at the team with which he would eventually sign.
"It was actually totally unexpected," an excited Reagan confided. "I was kind of looking more towards the Mariners, because that's what I'd been hearing. They passed, and then Washington passed (they were the second team that was interested in me). Then when Arizona got me, I was stoked, because they were the other team I had in mind."
In Reagan, the Diamondbacks obtained a big right-hander who can throw in the 90-93 MPH range at the very tender age of 17. The youngest of the D-backs' 51 selections this year, Reagan compliments his fastball with a curveball and changeup, with the latter being his second-best pitch.
"I'm definitely a power pitcher," he said. "I have a fast arm, and I can get guys out."
17-year old pitchers who throw this hard are often considered injury risks. Reagan's size elicits confidence in his durability, however. He has worked very hard to condition himself and had been kept on a fairly strict pitch count of 90 at El Capitan. Diamondbacks scouting director Tom Allison told us that a draft prospect's workload is something that heavily factors into his decision on whether to draft a player, as well as the organization's plan for developing him.
"I think all of them are different in terms of their career development, and that is what we try and stay in tune with," Allison told us. "You certainly want to look at the abuse, and our scouts are in tune with that. When we do bring in a pitcher, we know exactly how many innings he has logged in a calendar year, and we develop a plan from there."
Last year, the Diamondbacks selected only four high-schoolers in the first 30 rounds, which spanned 32 picks. Three of those four would eventually sign, with the eight high schoolers drafted in the lower rounds each electing to attend college instead. This year, Reagan was one of four high school pitchers selected by the Diamondbacks in the first 12 rounds in a class that was considered thin on college starters. Allison compared his draft philosophy to the compilation of a home financial portfolio.
"There might be some that have extreme upside where you say, 'yeah, this has got a chance to be a Yahoo!' but there's a cost to that, and there's a time of development compared to maybe one of the Blue Chippers, that you just say, 'yeah, this is what you're gong to get. There's not a lot that has to go into development of this player.'"
"What we try and do is scan the pool throughout the country and have a lot of different types of players on our board and at our discretion to take - and our scouts do a very good job of understanding that."
In Reagan, the Diamondbacks have one of those players with high upside. The risk of him deciding to attend college has subsided. Up next is the task of turning this somewhat raw talent into a major league-ready pitcher.
By Keith Glab
Senior Editor
Posted Jun 8, 2008
7th-round draft choice Miles Reagan became one of the first of the Arizona Diamondbacks' 2008 draft picks to sign with the club when he inked a deal Sunday morning.
The 2008 June Amateur Draft is over, and so begins the process of negotiation and signing these young players. 7th-round selection Miles Reagan out of Lakeside, Califonia's El Capitan high school made a quick decision to begin his professional career, although he was a bit surprised at the team with which he would eventually sign.
"It was actually totally unexpected," an excited Reagan confided. "I was kind of looking more towards the Mariners, because that's what I'd been hearing. They passed, and then Washington passed (they were the second team that was interested in me). Then when Arizona got me, I was stoked, because they were the other team I had in mind."
In Reagan, the Diamondbacks obtained a big right-hander who can throw in the 90-93 MPH range at the very tender age of 17. The youngest of the D-backs' 51 selections this year, Reagan compliments his fastball with a curveball and changeup, with the latter being his second-best pitch.
"I'm definitely a power pitcher," he said. "I have a fast arm, and I can get guys out."
17-year old pitchers who throw this hard are often considered injury risks. Reagan's size elicits confidence in his durability, however. He has worked very hard to condition himself and had been kept on a fairly strict pitch count of 90 at El Capitan. Diamondbacks scouting director Tom Allison told us that a draft prospect's workload is something that heavily factors into his decision on whether to draft a player, as well as the organization's plan for developing him.
"I think all of them are different in terms of their career development, and that is what we try and stay in tune with," Allison told us. "You certainly want to look at the abuse, and our scouts are in tune with that. When we do bring in a pitcher, we know exactly how many innings he has logged in a calendar year, and we develop a plan from there."
Last year, the Diamondbacks selected only four high-schoolers in the first 30 rounds, which spanned 32 picks. Three of those four would eventually sign, with the eight high schoolers drafted in the lower rounds each electing to attend college instead. This year, Reagan was one of four high school pitchers selected by the Diamondbacks in the first 12 rounds in a class that was considered thin on college starters. Allison compared his draft philosophy to the compilation of a home financial portfolio.
"There might be some that have extreme upside where you say, 'yeah, this has got a chance to be a Yahoo!' but there's a cost to that, and there's a time of development compared to maybe one of the Blue Chippers, that you just say, 'yeah, this is what you're gong to get. There's not a lot that has to go into development of this player.'"
"What we try and do is scan the pool throughout the country and have a lot of different types of players on our board and at our discretion to take - and our scouts do a very good job of understanding that."
In Reagan, the Diamondbacks have one of those players with high upside. The risk of him deciding to attend college has subsided. Up next is the task of turning this somewhat raw talent into a major league-ready pitcher.
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boondockdrunk
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overseascardfan
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What's the status on Lobstein and Decker? I heard that Decker will sign, but Lobstein is still in the air about his commitment to U of A. As for our 2 HS P's, is there any chance the D-Backs pony up the dough to sign them? I figure Schlereth won't be an expensive signing so will we have the money in the pool to do it?
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#1 overall Tim Beckham has signed, hopefully that will get the ball rolling on more draft pick signings.
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