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And now some pitchers.


One thing I found when I put this together is that I don't think there's as much college pitching depth this year. Most of the college pitchers in the 50-150 ranked range seemed to be closers. I'm not sure if that's accurate, or will change the Jays drafting in the first round, but it might get them to look a little longer at a guy like Shooter Hunt with their first pick.


Chris Carpenter, RHP, Kent St
BA Rank: 61
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2005 49.1 7.66 4.8 3.7 0.9 15.4
2007 42 4.50 6.6 6.4 0.2 6.6
2008 75.2 3.81 10.5 3.9 0.1 6.6

As you can see 2006 is missing as Carpenter had TJ surgery (if I remember correctly). He was in the draft last year but didn't go as high as he wanted and went back to school (I had selected him in the Sickels mock draft). This year you can see that his recovery has picked up considerably just looking at the Ks and BBs.


Tim Murphy, LHP, UCLA
BA Rank: 63
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2007 76 5.68 11.4 3.9 1.3 9.9
2008 94.2 3.52 10.2 4.2 0.8 7.2

He doesn't project at the top of the rotation, but a lefty with that Ks that many is intriguing if he's available in round 2.


Aaron Shafer, RHP, Wichita St
BA Rank: 84
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2006 99.1 2.63 7.0 2.0 0.5 7.9
2007 84.2 2.23 9.6 2.5 0.6 7.4
2008 98.2 2.74 8.8 2.3 0.2 8.2

Pretty consistent every year - looks like a control pitcher.


Scott Bittle, RHP, Mississippi
BA Rank: 97
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2008 66.1 1.63 16.1 3.7 0.4 4.4

I generally avoided college closers in this thread, but, one, the K/9 ratio is sick, and two, he started to get some starts late in the year, including going 7 innings against Vanderbilt.


Brad Holt, RHP, UNC-Wilmington
BA Rank: 99
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2006 54.1 3.48 7.0 4.7 0.8 9.0
2007 76.1 5.90 6.3 3.8 1.7 9.8
2008 84.2 3.30 9.8 3.2 0.9 7.7

As you can see he's improved a lot in his junior year, including recent performances that have upped his draft stock to where he may be a second rounder.


Mitch Harris, RHP, Navy
BA Rank: 107
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2006 82.2 1.74 12.4 2.2 0.3 6.2
2007 88.1 2.14 12.2 3.7 0.2 5.9
2008 36 3.50 9.3 2.5 0.3 9.3

An interesting player in that he's from Navy and his Naval commitment is unknown right now.


Evan Fredrickson, LHP, San Francisco
BA Rank: 116
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2006 22.2 7.94 8.5 13.4 1.2 8.5
2007 34 6.35 12.4 11.9 1.3 5.3
2008 75.1 4.54 13.1 7.3 0.7 7.0

Think you can straighten him out? If so you may be on to something.


Scott Barnes, LHP, St Johns
BA Rank: 128
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2006 64 3.66 10.4 4.9 0.3 7.2
2007 95.1 2.93 9.4 3.2 0.5 8.7

Like Murphy, a lefty posting good numbers.


And a blast from the past:
Year Innings ERA K/9 BB/9 HR/9 H/9
2001 53.1 5.91 5.9 2.7 1.5 12.7
2002 32 2.81 7.6 0.8 0.3 9.3
2003 44 2.45 11.3 2.7 0.6 7.2

Anyone want to guess who put up this line in college before being drafted by the Jays?

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If the Jays go with a hitter in round 1 I would think they would draft a college pitcher in the second round as there doesn't appear to be a lot of depth this year. In the recent past college pitchers with strong stats seem to go a little higher than their rankings (although that's just on observation without any support). So the first few players listed here could be gone by the time the Jays select in the second round at pick #63. Picks after that are #95, #129 and every 30 picks thereafter. Here's a complete draft order.

A team blogger mock draft will be posted next week. I'll post the draft early next week to see who goes where, why, and why I think the Jays will take the player I select given the players drafted ahead of them.
Beyond the First Round - College Pitchers | 8 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Paul D - Friday, May 30 2008 @ 09:35 AM EDT (#186167) #

 

Pistol, I never have anything to say in these threads, but I wanted to say that I really like the work you do here, and I love the box's draft prep/coverage.

Mike Green - Friday, May 30 2008 @ 09:59 AM EDT (#186169) #
The blast from the past was, as they say, hauntingly familiar. 

Scott Bittle is interesting.  BA had this to say about his stuff.  He apparently throws a mid-80s cut fastball, a low 90s four-seamer and a "split change-up", which is his strikeout pitch.  He tends to just use his fastball for show.  All three pitches are described as "plus".  It sounds as though he may not make it out of the sandwich round, but if he does...

Mike Green - Friday, May 30 2008 @ 10:01 AM EDT (#186170) #
Incidentally, Bittle's 2007 stats are good and are available from the Baseball Cube.
ayjackson - Friday, May 30 2008 @ 10:03 AM EDT (#186171) #
Former high school phenom, college phenom and Pistol 2007 draft previewee, Cole St. Clair (Rice) may also be available in the fourth or fifth rounds.  He's battling a shoulder problem that may be a labrum issue.  But if he regains his health, he could be a steal if taken later on in the draft.
Pistol - Friday, May 30 2008 @ 11:22 AM EDT (#186172) #
Here's a ESPN Mag profile on Mitch Harris.
Mike Green - Friday, May 30 2008 @ 11:33 AM EDT (#186174) #
The profile on Harris contains this bit:

"Midshipmen with "extraordinary talent" in sports or other fields can appeal to shorten their commitment from five to two years, as hoops star David Robinson did after graduating in 1987, if they agree to serve additional time in the reserves. But because of the war in Iraq, those requests have been put on hold, and five years seems likely for Harris."

Scouting takes on a whole new dimension, when you've got to predict the results of an election in order to get a reasonable take on a prospect.  The Jays drafted a pitcher from Navy in the 13th round or so a few years ago, although  Harris seems to have more talent and will go higher. 

Mike Green - Friday, May 30 2008 @ 03:40 PM EDT (#186194) #
Keith Law weighs in, on the 2008 draft in general.
Pistol - Saturday, May 31 2008 @ 03:39 PM EDT (#186259) #
For what it's worth, the unnamed player is Shaun Marcum.
Beyond the First Round - College Pitchers | 8 comments | Create New Account
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