2021 MLB Mock Draft

[MurphDogg]

24 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

I call bs on that.  

Surely you would know better than Keith Law and Kiley McDaniel.

[Sports Guy]

4 minutes ago, MurphDogg said:

Surely you would know better than Keith Law and Kiley McDaniel.

If he gets offered 5+M, he isn’t going to college.  This is agent fed bs to drive up a price, that’s all.

I’ll stand by that for every single draft pick and way more often than not, they are taking the money, no matter what is reported.

Ill go back to the Matt Allan example…people said he wouldn’t sign, had to get 4+M.  He signed quickly for 2.5M after being a late third round pick.

When you have the chance to set yourself up, potentially for life, with one signing and get your pro career started early (this getting you closer to the pros and your first big contract) vs studying and going to college, they are going to take the money way more often than not.  If Lawlar doesn’t, so be it..I will always stand on the side that they take the money and not go for the media bait that is being pushed by agents.

[MurphDogg]

25 minutes ago, Sports Guy said:

If he gets offered 5+M, he isn’t going to college.  This is agent fed bs to drive up a price, that’s all.

I’ll stand by that for every single draft pick and way more often than not, they are taking the money, no matter what is reported.

Ill go back to the Matt Allan example…people said he wouldn’t sign, had to get 4+M.  He signed quickly for 2.5M after being a late third round pick.

When you have the chance to set yourself up, potentially for life, with one signing and get your pro career started early (this getting you closer to the pros and your first big contract) vs studying and going to college, they are going to take the money way more often than not.  If Lawlar doesn’t, so be it..I will always stand on the side that they take the money and not go for the media bait that is being pushed by agents.

We'll see. It does happen, guys turn down first round money and it sometimes works out, although you more often remember the times it doesn't.

I must say, if I was 18 and my family situation was secure and I didn't need the money right now, I could see the appeal of planning to spend two years at Vanderbilt, living the college lifestyle and playing in front of big crowds in SEC games and at the College World Series as opposed to the drudgery of A-ball and having to be an adult at 19 while all my friends were living it up in college.

Life is short and there is more to it than maximizing potential earnings, and if a kid is successful at college baseball as he should be, the difference in long-term earnings vs going pro out of high school would be a rounding error and not affect their life one iota long term, while the memories of two years spent on a college campus could last forever.

[Sports Guy]

Just now, MurphDogg said:

We'll see. It does happen, guys turn down first round money and it sometimes works out, although you more often remember the times it doesn't.

I must say, if I was 18 and my family situation was secure and I didn't need the money right now, I could see the appeal of planning to spend two years at Vanderbilt, living the college lifestyle and playing in front of big crowds in SEC games and at the College World Series as opposed to the drudgery of A-ball and having to be an adult at 19 while all my friends were living it up in college.

I know someone that made it to AA.  Life was pretty college like for him.  
 

I think if you have 5+M in your pocket (well maybe 2-2.5 after taxes and agent fees) you have a different MiL experience.  

[calsmanystances]

Sporting News mock has us passing on Davis, Lawlar House and Rocker for Ford.

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-mock-draft-2021-pick-projections/en7lxdwplnga12306pyqr4ohf

5. Orioles — Harry Ford, C, North Cobb High (Kennesaw, Ga.)

College outfielders Sal Frelick and Colton Cowser get brought up here often as discount picks for the Orioles, but Baltimore could take the approach of going the high school route to look for a high upside bat to take with this pick. Ford is not the prototypical catcher, offering enough speed to potentially play at second or even in the outfield, though he has the fielding chops to stick behind the plate as an athletic backstop. He brings upside with the bat to make teams excited about him wherever his defensive home ends up. 

6. Diamondbacks — Henry Davis, C, Louisville

This seems to be the floor for Davis, who’s been talked up as the top catcher in the draft — even if he’s not the first to go off the board in this mock. Davis’ bat will play anywhere as he has a promising hit tool and power, and it might have to as there are some who question if he can stay at catcher. He has a cannon for an arm though and with some refining, could be a threat to would-be base-stealers behind the plate. 

7. Royals — Jordan Lawlar, SS, Jesuit Prep (Dallas)

The Royals haven’t been linked to Lawlar as much at No. 7 just since it has seemed improbable that he could fall that low, but here, he lands in their lap and they take the chance to draft him. He’s a five-tool shortstop with power and speed and the fielding ability to stay up the middle. A candidate to go first overall, he’s certainly unlikely to fall lower than this in the draft. 

8. Rockies — Brady House, SS, Winder-Barrow (Ga.) High

Imagine the high school player with the most raw power swinging in Coors Field? That’s what the Rockies would be hoping for with this pick. Colorado wants a hitter at No. 8, and here they land House, who MLB Pipeline described as a “more athletic version of Joey Gallo.” The right-handed shortstop might have to move to third, but his defense would play well there. 

9. Angels — Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt

It wasn’t long ago that Rocker was talked about as a possible No. 1 overall guy, but some concerns with his performance late in the 2021 season have moved him down the list. The upside is there, however, for the Angels to steal one of the most electric college arms to come through Vanderbilt in some time and give them a true ace that could be in the majors quicker than most in this draft to help Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. 

 

[Brooks The Great]

I think Sporting News had us taking Frelick in their last mock. I think they're just throwing stuff up against a wall. Don't think they have a clue what they're talking about.

[Just Regular]

9 hours ago, Sports Guy said:

Btw, he predicts we take Cody Morrisette, a second baseman from BC, with the 41st pick.

It isn't a Teixeira-level situation, but I also noticed two picks after Orioles/Cody, he guessed Jackson Merrill, the Severna Park local kid going somewhere around that Gunnar-ish 2nd round range.

[7Mo]

5 hours ago, MurphDogg said:

I must say, if I was 18 and my family situation was secure and I didn't need the money right now, I could see the appeal of planning to spend two years at Vanderbilt, living the college lifestyle and playing in front of big crowds in SEC games and at the College World Series as opposed to the drudgery of A-ball and having to be an adult at 19 while all my friends were living it up in college.

100% agree.

[Moose Milligan]

6 hours ago, MurphDogg said:

We'll see. It does happen, guys turn down first round money and it sometimes works out, although you more often remember the times it doesn't.

I must say, if I was 18 and my family situation was secure and I didn't need the money right now, I could see the appeal of planning to spend two years at Vanderbilt, living the college lifestyle and playing in front of big crowds in SEC games and at the College World Series as opposed to the drudgery of A-ball and having to be an adult at 19 while all my friends were living it up in college.

Life is short and there is more to it than maximizing potential earnings, and if a kid is successful at college baseball as he should be, the difference in long-term earnings vs going pro out of high school would be a rounding error and not affect their life one iota long term, while the memories of two years spent on a college campus could last forever.

I'd much rather be 19 with a few million in my pocket and not having to worry about showing up to class.  Invest it right, you'll never have to work a day in your life, even if you never make it to the bigs.  If you're a pitcher, it's much better to have that Tommy John surgery on a major league team's dime instead of having it done in college and missing time that could be spent increasing your draft status.

If you're getting offered good money coming out of HS, there's not a good reason to go to college.  

[Can_of_corn]

16 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

I'd much rather be 19 with a few million in my pocket and not having to worry about showing up to class.  Invest it right, you'll never have to work a day in your life, even if you never make it to the bigs.  If you're a pitcher, it's much better to have that Tommy John surgery on a major league team's dime instead of having it done in college and missing time that could be spent increasing your draft status.

If you're getting offered good money coming out of HS, there's not a good reason to go to college.  

You got kids that go Pre-med and I can see where that is a valid option.

But if you are going for a recreation and sports management degree that's a different story.

 

[George Zuverink]

10 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

You got kids that go Pre-med and I can see where that is a valid option.

But if you are going for a recreation and sports management degree that's a different story.

 

It's really tough to major in pre-med or any science and play a D-1 sport because there are almost always one, sometimes two, required lab courses that run two to three hours in the afternoon once a week. Coaches whose employment and livelihood depend on winning aren't typically sympathetic. Unlike lecture courses, lab courses can't be re-scheduled, skipped, or tutored around. I guess it can be done, but it's damn hard.

[Can_of_corn]

59 minutes ago, George Zuverink said:

It's really tough to major in pre-med or any science and play a D-1 sport because there are almost always one, sometimes two, required lab courses that run two to three hours in the afternoon once a week. Coaches whose employment and livelihood depend on winning aren't typically sympathetic. Unlike lecture courses, lab courses can't be re-scheduled, skipped, or tutored around. I guess it can be done, but it's damn hard.

Handley was pre-med at Stanford.  He's planning on finishing his degree.

https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/orioles-minor-leaguers-finishing-their-degrees

Edited July 9, 2021 by Can_of_corn

[MurphDogg]

2 hours ago, Moose Milligan said:

I'd much rather be 19 with a few million in my pocket and not having to worry about showing up to class.  Invest it right, you'll never have to work a day in your life, even if you never make it to the bigs.  If you're a pitcher, it's much better to have that Tommy John surgery on a major league team's dime instead of having it done in college and missing time that could be spent increasing your draft status.

If you're getting offered good money coming out of HS, there's not a good reason to go to college.  

Different calculus if you are a pitcher absolutely. They should pretty much always take the money. Lawler is a shortstop though.

[Sports Guy]

6 hours ago, OrioleDog said:

It isn't a Teixeira-level situation, but I also noticed two picks after Orioles/Cody, he guessed Jackson Merrill, the Severna Park local kid going somewhere around that Gunnar-ish 2nd round range.

I noticed that too.  Gotta figure Elias knows him well.

[CHIP]

On 7/9/2021 at 4:50 PM, Can_of_corn said:

Handley was pre-med at Stanford.  He's planning on finishing his degree.

https://www.mlb.com/news/featured/orioles-minor-leaguers-finishing-their-degrees

Pretty sure based on Instagram he actually did Graduate 4 weeks ago.  I wondered why he missed the weekend games, but looks like Orioles let him do Graduation.   https://www.instagram.com/p/CQFVxN4MYHD/