Gausman or Appel?

[Runs2the1Show]

I haven't seen this question posed anywhere yet...but did anyone believe we should have taken Appel over Gausman? Both were available at #4.

I personally am happy we took Gausman. Thoughts?

[jtschrei]

Really happy with Gausman. If you had told me before the draft, we would get him, I would have been super pumped. And I still am.

[paulcoates]

The only two guys I wold have taken over him were Correa and Buxton. That's it.

[allstar1579]

I haven't seen this question posed anywhere yet...but did anyone believe we should have taken Appel over Gausman? Both were available at #4.

I personally am happy we took Gausman. Thoughts?

I would have taken Appel by a small margin. No real problem with Gausman there, but like Appel's control and build a little better.

[eb45]

I'd take Gausman, but I might be overly scared away by straight fastballs. Appel certainly has lots going for him.

[Runs2the1Show]

I'd take Gausman, but I might be overly scared away by straight fastballs. Appel certainly has lots going for him.

I think the plane on which Gausman delivers the ball makes him deceptive to hit. I realize the hitters are collegiate, but in his videos he had a lot of hitters swinging at fastballs in the dirt. Looks like he throws a pretty heavy ball.

[allstar1579]

I think the plane on which Gausman delivers the ball makes him deceptive to hit. I realize the hitters are collegiate, but in his videos he had a lot of hitters swinging at fastballs in the dirt. Looks like he throws a pretty heavy ball.

Yeah that plane with the sinker is nice, it's his best quality for sure. His weak curve/slider worries me that if it doesn't develop he's a two pitch pony though. Appel is far from perfect, wish there was some movement on that FB, and can't say I really like the makeup after he refused to do a conf call because PIT took him, but he's got good stuff.

Still think Stroman and Giolito will turn out to be steals (if Gio signs).

[Runs2the1Show]

Yeah that plane with the sinker is nice, it's his best quality for sure. His weak curve/slider worries me that if it doesn't develop he's a two pitch pony though. Appel is far from perfect, wish there was some movement on that FB, and can't say I really like the makeup after he refused to do a conf call because PIT took him, but he's got good stuff.

Still think Stroman and Giolito will turn out to be steals (if Gio signs).

Agreed about the breaking stuff. I hope he either develops a power 12-6 curve similar to Verlander/Beckett or turns his slurve into a true slider. But it sounds like he already has a solid change-up, which will bode well for him as a starter.

[allstar1579]

Agreed about the breaking stuff. I hope he either develops a power 12-6 curve similar to Verlander/Beckett or turns his slurve into a true slider. But it sounds like he already has a solid change-up, which will bode well for him as a starter.

Yeah his change is good stuff, his slider was coming around and if it improves a bit I think he'll be fine. Three pitches is minimum though, 4 pitches would be ideal. Like I said, he's a fine pick truthfully, that whole top 7 was REAL close together.

[allstar1579]

I never warmed to Appel. Something stiff in his delivery. I started out liking Zimmer, Gausman, and Appel in that order but Gausman's loose arm and downward plane won me over a week or two before the draft. The only player I clearly wanted more was Correa. I'm good with this pick.

Nothing wrong with this assessment.

[TradeAngelos]

Appel is already dropping hints he isn't signing, so I am perfectly fine with Gausman.

And from reports that is exactly who the O's wanted, even better.

[aggie]

I think Appel is unsignable for anything less then $7 million. At least that was part of the Astros thinking. Teams just might have called Scott Boros bluff.

[section18]

We've seen enough pitchers over the years who throw a straight fastball get knocked around and struggle. Appel could turn out this way or he may be a .500 pitcher and never be more than an average #4 or #5 pitcher. I don't think that's good enough and your 1st round pick coming in at #8 should become a star and not be average.

[allstar1579]

We've seen enough pitchers over the years who throw a straight fastball get knocked around and struggle. Appel could turn out this way or he may be a .500 pitcher and never be more than an average #4 or #5 pitcher. I don't think that's good enough and your 1st round pick coming in at #8 should become a star .and not be average

Well don't get it wrong, Gausman has a straight FB too, it's just straight down at a good angle and harder to square up on. Neither of them has Stroman's FB which moves like CRAZY at the end at the same velo.

[Lucky Jim]

We've seen enough pitchers over the years who throw a straight fastball get knocked around and struggle. Appel could turn out this way or he may be a .500 pitcher and never be more than an average #4 or #5 pitcher. I don't think that's good enough and your 1st round pick coming in at #8 should become a star and not be average.

Yes. Those teams that draft at #8(?) who are targeting "average" sure are making a mistake.