"Teammate Adrian Nieto didn't get a chance to show off his arm in the game, but his BP session was impressive. A switch-hitter, Nieto looks more comfortable from his natural (left) side, and doesn't let the ball travel enough when hitting from the right side. As a left-handed hitter, he has a funky stance, starting with a wide base and his back knee already slightly collapsed, but he gets the bat to the ball quickly and projects to have plus raw power down the road. Some teams still are concerned about an elbow problem that bothered him during his junior year. That will probably keep him out of the first round, but he's a candidate to go in the sandwich round, with the Brewers showing a lot of interest."

Josh Fields; isnt he a closer from UGA? Dating my daughters best friend at UGA. That would be great, I could use some connections. "Born-again" Christian like Laporta too. My kinda guy

gershom:

Josh Fields; isnt he a closer from UGA? Dating my daughters best friend at UGA. That would be great, I could use some connections. "Born-again" Christian like Laporta too. My kinda guy.

I do have some doubts that Jack Z. would pop a college closer that early, because it runs counter to his preference for high cieling high school arms. We'll have to wait an see.

Einsteinhood:

I do have some doubts that Jack Z. would pop a college closer that early, because it runs counter to his preference for high cieling high school arms. We'll have to wait an see.

I agree.  I think he would be more likely to grab a college arm in the sandwich round than he would with the first pick.  I would rather see a top prep arm personally...but it would be nice to have another potential closer with Pena.

 More From Keith this week.....

Einsteinhood:

gershom:

Josh Fields; isnt he a closer from UGA? Dating my daughters best friend at UGA. That would be great, I could use some connections. "Born-again" Christian like Laporta too. My kinda guy.

Don't care about the man's religion, but it would be nice to get another reinforcement ready for later in the year and next, as long as it isn't a reach to grab the guy.

I do have some doubts that Jack Z. would pop a college closer that early, because it runs counter to his preference for high cieling high school arms. We'll have to wait an see.

"High ceiling high school arms?" How has that worked out for us so far? We got Mark Rodgers who gets hurt every year and we got the pothead Jefferess and that's just the last few years. (don't forget Mike Jones and I'm not sure if he drafted Nick Neugebauer but he was also a bust.) Awesome stuff. Jack Z. should definitely go with more college arms even if their careers do end up being shorter, they're closer to a sure thing than high school pitchers.

Wasn't Ben Sheets drafted out of college? Seems to me that we could use a few more Sheets on this team.

SeattlePilot:

Wasn't Ben Sheets drafted out of college? Seems to me that we could use a few more Sheets on this team.

Yep. 1 college arm taken in the 1st round in recent history, turned out well. All the high schoolers listed above (not to mention JM Gold), not 1 was even an average major leaguer. Einy and I have gone around and around on this, so I won't throw out my whole argument again, but I will say the Brewers track record in developing HS arms is horrid. Of course there track record for college pitchers isn't much better (Sheets and ?). Gallardo gives me hope they've fixed some of their development flaws, of course since he wasn't a 1st rounder he doesn't fit in with the big bonus dollars that I have a problem with for HS pitchers (since the fail rate league wide on HS pitchers is so high, although the Brewers are worse than league average). 

matt stairs:

SeattlePilot:

Wasn't Ben Sheets drafted out of college? Seems to me that we could use a few more Sheets on this team.

 

Yep. 1 college arm taken in the 1st round in recent history, turned out well. All the high schoolers listed above (not to mention JM Gold), not 1 was even an average major leaguer. Einy and I have gone around and around on this, so I won't throw out my whole argument again, but I will say the Brewers track record in developing HS arms is horrid. Of course there track record for college pitchers isn't much better (Sheets and ?). Gallardo gives me hope they've fixed some of their development flaws, of course since he wasn't a 1st rounder he doesn't fit in with the big bonus dollars that I have a problem with for HS pitchers (since the fail rate league wide on HS pitchers is so high, although the Brewers are worse than league average). 

I'm not for taking HS pitching over college pitching. If anything, I tend to think you go college before HS.

That being said, I'm not dogmatic about it and I think a SD has to look at the whole package (Ceiling, polish and injury likelihood) to make an assessment on a guy.

I'm definitely against taking a guy like Sowers high in the draft because the upside just isn't there. But there are college pitchers I would happily take in the first round.