Comments on: Baseball America mock draft has Astros taking Stanford pitcher Mark Appel with No. 1 pick

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:09:55 +0000

Not at all what I meant, paperlions.

By: stex52

stex52 — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:08:00 +0000

Useful thoughts, all. I am a little unpersuaded by Appel as the first choice myself. I just wish it was an infielder. They have Singleton coming up, but the prospects are largely missing beyond that.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:50:15 +0000

Yeah, but there is a 4 yr difference in their ages, Springer may be ready to move to a corner by the time Buxton is ready.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:46:57 +0000

I think the Astros will go with Buxton instead of Appel, the two are close, Buxton is a HS kid…and how close the player is to being major-league ready shouldn’t matter to the Astros, and position players seem easier to project and have far less injury concern that pitchers. Buxton seems like the highest ceiling option….and that is really what the Astros need.

By: stex52

stex52 — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:45:08 +0000

The thing that surprised me about Buxton, though, is they took George Springer last year, and he is doing rather well at high A. I’m not the expert, but it seems to me that they have enought problems that they could spread the draft by position some.

By: stex52

stex52 — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:35:49 +0000

I’m with you, Paper. I wish the second coming of Ted Williams was the first draft pick, personally.

But for Houston for the next three years or so, it is much more about depth. If they get a #2 pitcher or a young and extremely athletic center fielder for the price of a #1 choice, it’s a cheap investment compared to the free agent market. What they do with all those other picks to build a decent prospect system is more important.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:57:16 +0000

We could turn a toolsy outfielder into a low-K-pitch-to-contact SP!
He’d have to be scrappy though. And play the game right. Whatever that means.

By: jkaflagg

jkaflagg — Fri, 11 May 2012 04:53:49 +0000

Once the Astros secured the top pick, you just knew you would hear things like ” no clear cut top pick” and “lack of top-level talent”……as the Nationals have proven, you not only need to suck but also suck in the optimal draft years……

By: jgraening

jgraening — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:10:08 +0000

Exactly. Isn’t there some mid-level college pitcher that can throw 85-88 and pitch to contact? That’s right up their alley.

By: jwbiii

jwbiii — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:45:06 +0000

Unlike Mike Mussina, Jack McDowell and Jim Lonborg won Cy Young Awards.

By: mjay424

mjay424 — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:18:53 +0000

sorry, meant Appel’s numbers (plural) indicate he is not a top-of-the-rotation or no. 2 starter.

By: mjay424

mjay424 — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:17:49 +0000

If I’m the Twins or any team in the top 5, I’d be happy if the Astros took Appel, for two reasons. First, outside of Mike Mussina, what Cardinal pitchers have excelled?

Two, Appel’s number indicate he’s a no. 3 or 4 starter. Nice, but hardly overwhelming to me.

A lot of better prospects are on the board and I’d guess most Houston fans would be disappointed if their team took Appel.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:58:10 +0000

Yeah….the Nats are so disappointed that they had to draft Harper and Strasburg.

By: zackd2

zackd2 — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:45:26 +0000

Would you prefer another low-K-pitch-to-contact SP?

By: El Jefe

El Jefe — Thu, 10 May 2012 23:37:01 +0000

I swear…. if the Twins draft another toolsy outfielder I may just have to find a new favorite team.

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:11:05 +0000

Upside? The Twins don’t want none of that.

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Thu, 10 May 2012 21:57:53 +0000

It’ll be nice to have a #1 pick that won’t be hyped to death, at least.