Comments on: Links: Mock Draft, Slotting, No Fun, Mediocrity

By: the clap

the clap — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:13:37 +0000

Not by the Mets or Omar.

By: nomoredelgado

nomoredelgado — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:22:39 +0000

Before people work themselves up too much over the draft, try to remember that piazza was a 62nd round pick.

By: adropofvenom

adropofvenom — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:16:37 +0000

I would be more upset, but there’s little reason to overslot because there aren’t going to be Top 5 players falling down to where we are picking based on signability like previous years (Or at least NOBODY is projecting it to happen). We’re not going to be missing out on a Rick Porcello if we choose not to overslot. Fact is, more teams aren’t adhering to the guidelines so these players won’t be falling 20 spots anymore. I think it’s very likely that we’ll be faced with rather comparible talents when we pick, but one will require an overslot and I’d agree the call is to go with the cheaper one there.

By: stickguy

stickguy — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:16:29 +0000

it probably depends on who is there. How liekly anyway is it that a true stud/can’t miss/difference maker is going to fall to 18? And if he does, I’m sure Omar will do what he has to for the team.

Draft is a crap shoot anyway, with a ton a high pick “can’t iss” guys never amounting to anything, and later round picks becoming starts.

just please, get some position player talent that isn’t a weak D OF/1B type! 2B and C maybe?

By: nrmax88

nrmax88 — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:09:46 +0000

I think he did. Its funny, because the other day I was reading a Jim Callis article that said the Mets would take a certain player (I forget who, I think Jason Castro) with the 18th pick, because of the slotting system. Then for the 22 pick, again, I forget the player he projected them to take, but his reasoning was that the Mets will obviously take the best player available because after the Johan/Church trades they need to rebuild the system. So basically, he thinks they will go by the slotting system with pick 18, and take the best available talent regardless of price with the 22 pick. That is outstanding logic. There are lots of good players in this draft. I wonder if T. Scheppers might drop down a little bit because he was recently injured, which would be sweet. I also like Gerrit Cole who I have heard might fall down to the end of the first round because of signability concerns and Boras as his agent. I think Omar is an outstanding talent evaluator, his biggest attribute as a GM, and people unfairly criticize him for the Mets questionable farm system when he has had to pick by the slotting system the last few years if he even had a 1st round pick. Guys like Kunz and Vineyard were picked because they didnt want to go above the slot. I hope Wilpon realized that this having success in this draft is paramount for success in the next 3-4 years, and opens up his wallet and lets Omar do his thing.

By: gipper82475

gipper82475 — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:08:42 +0000

See the web address I posted above for the Baseball Prospectus article all about the slotting system, how it is avoided, how MLB tries to “enforce” it, etc.

And, you’re welcome Giuseppe.

Let’s just say, the slotting system, which you obviously knew nothing about, is not something you’d put your name on the line for.

By: Metlomaniac

Metlomaniac — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:05:56 +0000

I’m almost positive that I’ve heard Omar say that he will not necessarily adhere to the slotting system. I’m sure that comes with caveats, and I have no doubt that the Wilpons are loathe to cross the mighty Boob Selig, but I’ll be very surprised if the Mets adhere to it if a top player falls to them.

By: gipper82475

gipper82475 — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:05:03 +0000

Baseball prospectus has a good synopsis of this.

baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=6545

By: ravi3

ravi3 — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:03:57 +0000

Pelfrey was actually over the slot. He was a 15th pick I think, but the best pitcher in the draft. I really think the Mets screwed him up a bit. Jacket had him dump his curveball, and add the sinker, and it hasn’t seemed to work.

They also did the same thing to Heilman, by having him abandom the 3/4 delivery to more over the top. The result was that he lost the movement on his pitches. That problem was corrected in 2005, when he had his first successful season.

By: giuseppe franco_procede

giuseppe franco_procede — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:03:46 +0000

Gotcha…Thanks man! This system is completely different from the NFL and to a lessor extent the NBA. Interesting. Thanks Gipper.