Facts

Wow that last one was a rambling incohrent post. My point was because of the GM mishandling the Royals went into this with three opinions about who they should draft Allan Baird who it's believed wanted Andrew Miller, a young power lefty from North Carolina, new GM Dayton Moore (still working for the Braves) who wanted Drew Stubbs, a Texas outfielder with huge power but with a hole in swing that's allowed him to strikeout 205 times in 204 college games, and teamowner David Glass who wanted Luke Hochever, a holdout from last season and a Scott Borris client. So what does the samll market team do? It makes the short term more expensive deal to get a high profile pitcher that people have heard of so people in their town don't hate them. The only good part of this is that it can't be blamed on Baird who has been taking the lumps for Glass's meddling for years. (Not Baird was a great GM). This is the type of thing that could hurt a team for years. Luckily for the Royals I think it's impossible that they could get any worse.

The Red Sox had the steal of the draft when they picked Daniel Bard with the 28th pick of the first round. Out of North Carolina wasn't rated as high as his teammate Andrew Miller was. The reason for that didn't have to do with just pitching talent but also concerns about his makeup and focus do to his inconsistency this season. But facts are facts. This kid has as much talent as anybody taken in the first five picks. He was great in the Cape Cod League last season and has two plus pitches. The Red Sox got this pick from the Yankees for Johnny Damon and the Yankees may one day regret it. Oddly enough it was the Yankees who had drafted Bard in the 20th round in 2003. He throws in the upper nineties and has all the tools for success. the draft is such a crap shout that if a kid like this with so much talent is available why not take a role of the dice and see if it pans out.

I don't know if I understand what exactly the Devil Rays are thinking because by drafting Evan Longoria they are essentially cutting a position out of the possible places fror B.J. Upton. Upton is a huge talent and has to play somewhere and it's become pretty evident to everyone not in the Devil Rays front office that that's not shortstop. With a young crowded outfield that limits Upton to second. I don't know if that's the way to go but that's where they're headed. Longoria at least is a patient hitter who hit .353/.468/.602 with 11 HRs and 40 RBI with Long Beach State. No relation to Eva Longoria, Evan was the best college position player in the draft (more a reflection on the lack of position player talent). He's not a basher and how good he turns out to be will be determined by where he plays. He's played 2B, SS, and 3B. He's better suited for third but his offense probably won't stand out playing there.