The Official 2011 MLB Draft Thread

[Lintyfresh85]

Nats basically drafted two #1 picks in terms of talent.

If both sign, and get healthy.

HOLY crap.

[HalfSmokes]

Nats basically drafted two #1 picks in terms of talent.

If both sign, and get healthy.

HOLY crap.

the only scary part is you have to believe our medical staff is more competent than those teams that passed on them

[sportsfan882]

Very tough sign. He's turned down a lot of money before.

Going to have to shell out the big bucks.

[houston-nat]

Here's the d/l on Matt Purke: absolutely dominant lefty with knee-buckling breaking ball, but pitched only 50ish innings this year because of shoulder bursitis. Shoulder bursitis doesn't sound like a big deal, but Purke is still demanding the money he would have commanded if he had had a full, awesome year. Obviously returning to school would be a big gamble, though, especially if the Nats offer a cool $3-5 million. He could turn down the dough, be mediocre, and lose any shot at millions next year.

He'll need to bulk up - scouts think his figure is a bit on the wispy side - but if the shoulder isn't a big issue (and he did pitch fairly well in late May) and he can develop well, you're looking at a dominant lefty who throws 94 and whose breaking ball is simply evil. It's a big if, though. A ballsy gamble.

[RD]

You have got to be kidding me.

I just creamed myself.

He's not going to pitch this year, so he's got plenty of time for rest and rehab to get things right.

This is awesome!

[cletusvandamme]

Uncle Ted chews up and spits out tough signs like it's his job.  McGeary, Cole, Ray, etc.  This is child's play.

[MarquisDeSade]

He could turn down the dough, be mediocre, and lose any shot at millions next year.

Anyone know if he has an insurance policy on "diminished skills" like Matt Harrington?  Just curious.

[houston-nat]

Matt Purke 2011:

11 starts, 52.2 IP, 5-1, 1.71 ERA, 20/61 BB/K, .187 opponents' average

May 19 start: 3.0 IP, 1 h, 1 bb, 1 wp, 1hbp, 0 er, 4 K
May 25 start: 4.0 IP, 4 h, 2 bb, 1 er, 4 K
June 4 start: 5.0 IP, 2 h, 2 bb, 2 wp, 3 hbp (!), 2 er, 6 k

So in 12 recent innings, 14 Ks but 4 hit batsmen, 5 walks, and 3 wild pitches. Sounds like he's trying to regain his command after a long time away from the diamond. Might not be much to worry about - or might indeed be. Hopefully, if he spends the offseason rehabbing, building up a lot of muscle strength on the Strasburg regimen, and long-tossing with Trevor Bauer , he will be back to his old form in the spring.

[cmdterpslover]

He has drawn comparisons to Eva Longoria and Ryan Zimmerman, though he bears a closer physical resemblance to David Wright.

I love that chick!

[HalfSmokes]

Anyone know if he has an insurance policy on "diminished skills" like Matt Harrington?  Just curious.

I don't see why he couldn't go to llyods and ask for a policy on draft position- it's basically just a prop bet

[The Chief]

Amazing when healthy.

Seems like this is becoming something of a theme.

[panthers30]

hearing amazing things about the Purke pick.  I don't know if we'll be able to sign him, but if we do... wow.

[Sharp]

Seems like this is becoming something of a theme.

Big bust potential, but huge upside.  This might be a draft we remember as franchise-changing, or it might be one where we rail at Rizzo for not recognizing the obvious red flags.  Hindsight is 20-20.  But for the moment, I'm extremely happy with our picks.

[houston-nat]

To rain on the parade a bit, Twitter people point to "an alarming drop of velocity" this spring and Kevin Goldstein is a lot more cautious about shoulder injuries than elbow injuries.

[HalfSmokes]

Big bust potential, but huge upside.  This might be a draft we remember as franchise-changing, or it might be one where we rail at Rizzo for not recognizing the obvious red flags.  Hindsight is 20-20.  But for the moment, I'm extremely happy with our picks.

here's a question- do you believe the Nationals medical staff is more competent than the staffs of all the teams that passed on Purke (and to a lesser extent Rendon)?

[Kevrock]

If he doesn't sign, does the pick roll to next year or no?

[cletusvandamme]

To rain on the parade a bit, Twitter people point to "an alarming drop of velocity" this spring and Kevin Goldstein is a lot more cautious about shoulder injuries than elbow injuries.

As he should be.  This is a huge spec play.  I think we all realize that.

[houston-nat]

here's a question- do you believe the Nationals medical staff is more competent than the staffs of all the teams that passed on Purke (and to a lesser extent Rendon)?

Dude. It doesn't really matter until he's on the 25-man roster if our trainer is unable to recognize that Ryan Zimmerman needs surgery, or whatever.

[houston-nat]

If he doesn't sign, does the pick roll to next year or no?

The Mariners do have a compensation pick after this round for not signing some guy.

[Sharp]

here's a question- do you believe the Nationals medical staff is more competent than the staffs of all the teams that passed on Purke (and to a lesser extent Rendon)?

No.  But I believe that Rizzo is being given a much bigger draft budget than most of those teams.  We've already selected some excellent picks (and Rendon was the consensus best pick we could have taken at the time), so if we can afford to take a risk here there's no reason not to do so.

[NFA Brian]

here's a question- do you believe the Nationals medical staff is more competent than the staffs of all the teams that passed on Purke (and to a lesser extent Rendon)?

No.

But I like both selections. They had to take Rendon at #6 and Purke in the 3rd is a worthwhile gamble. If they get him signed and he can recover/rehab, it's a great upside pick.

If he doesn't they get a pick back in 2012.

[houston-nat]

As he should be.  This is a huge spec play.  I think we all realize that.

A Rendon Meyer Goodwin Purke draft is a gigantic spec play. If it all works out, we are an unstoppable juggernaut. If it all blows up, we get nothing out of this draft class except a new H-Rod and a 4th OF.

[cletusvandamme]

here's a question- do you believe the Nationals medical staff is more competent than the staffs of all the teams that passed on Purke (and to a lesser extent Rendon)?

Don't think this is a referendum on the Nats medical staff, as many questions as there may be about it.  Some team was going to take Purke today. 

[NFA Brian]

Has Josh Osich gone yet?

[HalfSmokes]

No.  But I believe that Rizzo is being given a much bigger draft budget than most of those teams.  We've already selected some excellent picks (and Rendon was the consensus best pick we could have taken at the time), so if we can afford to take a risk here there's no reason not to do so.

that's fine, but I think Rendon's worst case is playing 1b, so he's not a real risk, but with Purke, some very large budget teams (with medical staffs that don't seem as bumbling as the nats) passed even though he was a possible number 1 overall before the injury