Boxcar

I approve of your trolling. You're really grinding his gears, quite lulzy.

Who gives a f*** about basketball? Ugh.

Not only did they add more WAR for less money at the big league level, they didn't compromise their depth in the minors. Actually, they added to it. They have a great rotation right now and I just saw a poll they had on the TB broadcast where they asked which Durham starter would be in the rotation next year: Jake Odorizzi, Chris Archer, Alex Colome and Alex Torres. Surprisingly, there was no option for a 41 year old never-has-been. God I love the Rays.

I was thinking of doing something like this, more to compare the Jays' offseason additions with the Rays and then the payroll impact but I'm way too lazy. Anyway, can't discount Reyes or JJ because those guys were both injury risks from the start, so it's fair to criticize our pea brained GM for not taking that into account.

Sent you emailz.

I'm looking to move pick #12 for something. I can package Gose or Gardner, but I'm looking for a decent young player. I'll package Hill for something REALLY good.

Gotcha, thanks.

Lind Edwin

Does it work like beat the streak's doubledown? Is it first two players to hit a homer, or you have to order them, or any two players to hit a homer?

Psh, NJH is pretty new compared to most of the regulars. He started posting in like...2010 or 2011 I think.

Suck my balls

Yeah, don't get that. He platoons Lind since he can't hit lefties but JP bats 4th even though he can't hit anything. Head scratcher.

Still looking to deal DeShields, high draft picks and/or Dempster/Gardner/Gose. Want youngish guys, willing to deal #10 and #11 picks for a star young player.

Wow, he's had only 5 PAs against a lefty this year. Impressive by Gibbons.

Edwin

"It's actually rather simple= JA is not a very good defensive major league catcher. He's better than he was, but he has missed a lot of catchable balls so far this season, and has a lot of short comings in setting up and calling the game. Buck sees it too. But hey, he hits homers... amiright?" Wow, someone who covers the team actually saying it.

He could be Shawn Green or Pedro Martinez, really. Maybe both at the same time. Reminds me of notorious overrated bust Casey Kelly.

I understand it even less when I watch him take batting practice.

http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/9277478/houston-astros-do-not-take-mark-appel-first-mock-draft-2013-mlb-draft Can someone post please? Something happened to my insider account. Uhm...ok I can see stuff now. Weird. 1 Jonathan Gray POS: RHP HT: 6-4 WT: 239 School: Oklahoma Analysis: The industry thinking is that the Astros will try to cut a deal with Gray for less than it would cost to sign Mark Appel, then applying the savings to later picks where they might sign players to bonuses that exceed MLB's recommendations. There is one hot rumor this week that has the Astros on UNC third baseman Colin Moran, one of the top statistical performers in this draft and someone likely to rate at or near the top of Houston's internal analytics. Besides Gray and Moran, Mark Appel and perhaps Kris Bryant all seem to be in consideration, and maybe (but probably not) Clint Frazier. If last year is any guide, the Astros won't make a final decision until a few hours or even minutes before the pick. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 2 Mark Appel POS: RHP HT: 6-5 WT: 215 School: Stanford Analysis: This is Appel or Gray, assuming one of them goes first, with Appel the preference. The Cubs are in the catbird seat in this draft -- they don't have to pay the premium that comes with picking first overall but are guaranteed to get one of the two huge arms in the class. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 3 Kris Bryant POS: 3B/OF B/T: R/R HT: 6-5 WT: 215 School: San Diego Analysis: I've only heard them on bats so far, including Bryant, Dominic Smith and Austin Meadows. However, if Gray ends up here, I think the Rockies would take him. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 4 Kohl Stewart POS: RHP HT: 6-3 WT: 190 School: St. Pius X (Houston) Analysis: They've been very heavy on Stewart over his last few outings, and he's an ideal fit for a system that needs high-upside pitchers, with Stewart offering the athleticism the Twins have always favored in position players. There is a persistent rumor that the Twins will cut a deal with prep catcher Reese McGuire for less than MLB's recommended bonus, which would allow them to apply those savings later in the draft. But Stewart is clearly the better choice and appears to be higher on their internal board, below only the three players who I project to go in the top three. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 5 Colin Moran POS: 3B HT: 6-3 WT: 215 School: North Carolina Analysis: I've heard that Moran will fall no farther than here at No. 5, and Cleveland will take Bryant if Moran is gone. Clint Frazier could be a backup plan at this spot, the highest I've heard him going other than Houston. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 6 Braden Shipley POS: RHP HT: 6-3 WT: 190 School: Nevada Analysis: Shipley and New Mexico's DJ Peterson are the two most frequent names I'm hearing about with this pick. Peterson would be the first college position player that the Marlins drafted with their first selection since Mark Kotsay in 1996. Ownership seems to be mandating a college player for the first pick. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 7 Ryne Stanek POS: RHP HT: 6-4 WT: 190 School: Arkansas Analysis: Stanek came into the year as a top-five pick, struggled with command, but has been showing major velocity of late and holding it deep into games. There's a thought that the Sox are lurking on him and Sean Manaea, since Moran and Bryant will likely be gone and Clint Frazier might be too risky for them at No. 7. If they drafted a little lower, they might consider Alex Gonzalez as well. SCOUTING REPORT 8 Sean Manaea POS: LHP HT: 6-5 WT: 235 School: Indiana State Analysis: I'm hearing that the Royals are focused on college arms, including Manaea and Shipley, but oddly enough not Stanek, whom they've barely scouted. Their main non-pitching target seems to be Austin Meadows. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 9 DJ Peterson POS: 3B/1B B/T: R/R HT: 6-1 WT: 205 School: New Mexico Analysis: They are also linked to Reese McGuire (whom GM Neal Huntington has seen more than once), Austin Meadows and Trey Ball. Note: A compensation pick for failing to sign Mark Appel with No. 8 overall pick in 2012. SCOUTING REPORT 10 Reese McGuire POS: C B/T: L/R HT: 6-1 WT: 190 School: Kentwood HS (Kent, Wash.) Analysis: I've heard the Blue Jays could take Ball or Meadows with this pick. I would expect them to be opportunistic on any player who was supposed to go higher than this and falls, which could mean Frazier. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 11 Dominic Smith POS: 1B B/T: L/L HT: 6-0 WT: 195 School: Serra HS (Gardena, Calif.) Analysis: This pick could also be Peterson, Aaron Judge or longshots Hunter Renfroe or Austin Wilson. Also, the Mets were among the teams scouting Frazier on Monday. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 12 Austin Meadows POS: OF B/T: L/L HT: 6-3 WT: 200 School: Grayson (Ga.) HS Analysis: The Mariners originally thought they'd have a shot at Moran, but that seems impossible. Peterson and Stanek are both considerations if they're available here, with Reese McGuire getting play as the local kid. I think Seattle would be over the moon getting Meadows here with the No. 12 pick. No matter how I map the scenarios, either Meadows or Peterson ends up here. SCOUTING REPORT | VIDEO Video 13 Clint Frazier POS: OF B/T: R/R HT: 6-1 WT: 190 School: Loganville (Ga.) HS Analysis: Frazier and Meadows falling this far seems odd to me, but there's a flight to safety in the top 10, with teams expressing stronger preferences for college players over prep kids. That could certainly change in the next three weeks after scouting departments get into their draft rooms. The Padres would also consider Hunter Renfroe with this pick or they might cut a deal with a prep arm, an approach that worked very well for them last year when they nabbed prep lefty Max Fried at No. 7 overall.

Yeah, watching the draft while listening to a borderline retard like Harold Reynolds is pretty painful.

Holy crap, for a college guy Moran looks so scrawny and awkward while hitting. Not a fan based on the short video I watched. Dom Smith looks a lot more polished.

I'd be really happy with Smith @ 10.

I inquired about him a few times, I was willing to offer prospects and picks (a lot better than the 50 whatever) but Kat never responded to me so I figured he wasn't interested in anything I had to offer.

I see your point.

Oh please.