Matt Hobgood - is there hope? (No, there is not. Indy League bound.)

[waroriole]

I think it's pretty clear. He obviously had the money to sign a Shelby Miller, Zach Wheeler, or even a Jacob Turner. He spent 900K on Coffey and another 900K on Ohlman as overslot picks later on. So he could have played it straight, signed one of the guys demanding more money, and just drafted slot guys and no overslot guys later on. Jordan (I'm assuming) felt there wasn't a huge difference between Hobgood and the others. He practically comes right out and says that is was as tossup between Wheeler and Hobgood but his gut told him Hobgood. Jordan felt he could save money on Hobgood, who was close enough to the other pitchers (quote possible that Jordan liked him best). and then use that money to get players like Coffey and Ohlman and possibly hit a homerun in the 2009 draft. We all know by now that he didn't hit a homerun. Right now, it looks like a whiff. However, I still think people are unfair when it comes to Hobgood. On talent he was a consensus mid 1st round pick. By Hobgood's own account he pretty much wasn't right, right from the beginning. It's not like he's making stuff up. He's had two major surgeries. So we can mock Jordan on picking the wrong talent at #5 but we've never really gotten a chance to see what talent Hobgood had. It sounds like Hobgood is doing everything possible to get himself in the absolute best shape of his life to give it a final go this season.

If I can fault Jordan on anything it has been misjudging the character/intangibles on two occasions. The first was Rowell who was decribed as a guy who lived and ate baseball and just sounded like a really driven player. Turns out, he was a bit of a flake. As for Hobgood, I think it was very disappointing how much weight he put on going into the 2010 season. Sounds like a good kid, but that didn't help things.

When I said not enough money, I meant going after the overslots, plus taking BPA. The philosophy of taking a lot of overslots, while taking signability with the 1st rounder isn't a bad idea, especially if there is nobody you really like at #5. The problem seems to be the scouting was awful.

[LookinUp]

The problem seems to be the scouting was awful.

Maybe the scouts should have been able to tell that Hobgood and Coffey were injury risks. I don't know that for sure though. As RZ said, we really have no idea what Hobgood could have been. We've NEVER seen even high school level production out of Hobgood since he entered our system.

I speculate Jordan propped up Hobgood's value based partially on his lower cost, and for that reason he ended up taking a lesser player. It just happened to be that the cheaper player also ended up injured, so my speculation about how good Hobgood could have been probably isn't worth much at all.

[OFFNY]

.

When the kid gets healthy, I have no problem pitching him regularly in the lower levels of the minors (Delmarva or Aberdeen), or even with Advanced-A Frederick. Keep pitching him every 5 days, and see how he pans out. The bonus money is already spent, so we may as well play it out as long (and as much) as we can.

[MurphDogg]

We've NEVER seen even high school level production out of Hobgood since he entered our system.

Hyperbole this ridiculous damages the rest of your argument.

[Ampontan]

Maybe the scouts should have been able to tell that Hobgood and Coffey were injury risks.

Coffey was rehabbing from TJ when they drafted him. Same deal as Adenhart. He just didn't recover like they hoped.

Don't forget Tim Berry was also drafted at #50 as a TJ rehab that same year, probably got some extra money, and some scouts elsewhere thought he made progress this year, though the numbers don't always show it.

Perhaps they'll hit on that one.

[xian4]

There is hope, shoulder op a success and he is cleared to proceed, good luck Matt.

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2012/12/hobgood-continues-to-receive-good-news-about-his-shoulder.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Frobby]

If Hobgood ever makes it to the majors, I will then believe our luck truly has changed. I admire him for trying to fight his way back into the mix, but it's still quite an uphill battle.

[Enjoy Terror]

If Hobgood ever makes it to the majors, I will then believe our luck truly has changed. I admire him for trying to fight his way back into the mix, but it's still quite an uphill battle.

He could be Stu Pomeranz one day. Who knows.

[weams]

He could be Stu Pomeranz one day. Who knows.

Denver Bundy says he worked hard. Did some kind of 500 lb lift the other day.

[Frobby]

Denver Bundy says he worked hard. Did some kind of 500 lb lift the other day.

I don't doubt he's working hard. But how well he throws a baseball after surgery like that is anyone's guess.

[mcgraw238]

I believe Dr. Morgan out of Delaware is a pretty popular shoulder guy so today's piece is good news. The shoulder is an area that can be tough to come back from so we shall see what happens. Though Hobgood was a stretch at #5, it's easy to forget that he was a legit mid first rounder so he certainly has talent. I'll be curious to hear reports around mid season on what his stuff looks like.

[byrdz]

If he's working out with Bundy then that shows he cares so that in itself gives me hope.

[NickM21]

It's good to see he's at least doing everything he can (as far as we know) to improve and develop as a professional baseball player. He could be Billy Rowell, enough said.

[xian4]

Threw his first bullpen session today

Matt Hobgood ‏@MattHobgood

First bullpen of spring training felt great! It's nice to not have pain while throwing anymore

Eduardo A. Encina ‏@EddieInTheYard

Former #Orioles 1st rounder Matt Hobgood threw bullpen session today @ Twin Lakes, just his 2nd since April 2012. He threw at about 80-85 %

[Flosman]

I wish someone would say how the heck he looked. 80-85% of what? I know they are talking about how much effort he was using but more info would be nice. Are we talking about the mid to upper 90s guy with a real hammer or the guy we saw since he signed?

Our system sure would get a shot in the arm if he showed himself to be a 1st round talent this year.