I don't believe Gausman really hit 102, but if he did, than I expect him to end up being the pick. You throw 102 in a game you dominate and go 8 innings, you are not getting passed up. I don't think Appel is losing as much ground as people think. He's been the #1 guy for a while now, and people are just looking for someone to step and show they are better (or rather hoping). Not uncommon when the front runner hasn't put himself way out in front. While other players have come and gone, Appel has remained consistently at the top. Really not that different from last year.
More Keith Law, who has Byron Buxton as #1 on his board: Also, an excerpt from his ESPN Insider blog.
I was sold on Giolito until that injury. I am starting to lean back towards Appel. Maybe just go with the surest thing if there is one.
Gotta go with Byron Buxton. We need a difference maker in the everyday lineup as opposed to a front line pitcher.
I like Buxton and if he's the BPA we should pick him. But if there is not a clear BPA we should avoid Buxton because we already have Springer, Santana, Ovando, DeShields, two Martinez's, and Schafer. Outfield depth is our strongest point organizationally.
I'm with you on Appel. Something like this happens every year. There is an incumbent at the top of draft boards, but he spends so much time at the top that people start to pick him apart because they have had so much time to size him up. At the same time, some other guys jump up the board because they came out of nowhere. They are the equivalent of a child's shiny new toy. It doesn't mean that the new player is any better (or worse), it's just that talk about the incumbent player has been beaten to death. Appel is the incumbent, obviously, and Zimmer and Buxton are the shiny new toys. I've only seen Appel live, so I can't really speak on how the three compare, but I don't think Appel has fallen off. He is putting up really good numbers against really good competition. Appel certainly feels like the safest selection. He is a proven, mature college arm that pitched at a power school against good competition.
Kevin Gausman and LSU opened up SEC play against Mississippi State. He went 8 2/3, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, walking 4, and striking out 11. The guy opposing him, Chris Stratton, also went 8 2/3, and also allowed 4 hits and 1 run. Stratton walked 2 and struck out 17. The Tigers won 3-2 in 10.
Kyle Zimmer in action right now. San Francisco is in Hawaii as they begin a 4-game series. Audio link: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/usf.portal# USF Dons Athletics @DonsAthletics at 11:46
Feed is dead. But Kyle Zimmer is cruising. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kyle Zimmer mowing down Hawaii hitters, now with seven strikeouts in four innings. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523USFDons">#USFDons</a> lead 2-0 heading into the fifth.</p>— USF Dons Athletics (@DonsAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonsAthletics/status/180889404116697089" data-datetime="2012-03-17T05:32:49+00:00">March 17, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Kyle Zimmer tosses a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts to lead the <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523USFDons">#USFDons</a> past Hawaii, 3-0. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Dominance">#Dominance</a></p>— USF Dons Athletics (@DonsAthletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonsAthletics/status/180907337329020928" data-datetime="2012-03-17T06:44:04+00:00">March 17, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Potential #1 draft pick Mike Zunino went 2-3 tonight vs Vanderbilt. He's has a .423AVG, 7HR, 24RBis, .844SLG,.487OB% in 64 ABs. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2523Astros">#Astros</a></p>— Sean (@native_astro) <a href="https://twitter.com/native_astro/status/181212526766329856" data-datetime="2012-03-18T02:56:47+00:00">March 18, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Just impossible to call right now between Gausman/Zimmer/Appel. Thankfully, it's impossible to call because they're all exceeding expectations and absolutely killing it this spring. All three with upper 90s heat and sterling stats.
I'd be fine with either Gausman or Appel at this point. We really need some power front of the rotation arms in our system. We don't need Buxton because of all the young outfielders already in the system. I wouldn't mind taking Zunino either but I see them moving him to either third or DH in the future because you'd rather have the better defensive catcher in Castro playing everyday and we need a third baseman in the worst way.
Kevin Gausman vs. Auburn: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 5 BB, 8 K, 1 wild pitch, no decision in a 4-3 loss in 10 innings on Friday Mark Appel was rained out. Stanford and USC will play a doubleheader on Sunday. Kyle Zimmer vs. UC-Santa Barbara- CG, 5 H, BB, 9 K. 2-0 victory for the Dons of San Francisco in Game 1 of a doubleheader played today.
Kevin Gausman and LSU welcomed Arkansas to Baton Rouge for the weekend. He had somewhat of a tough time, though the K numbers are still stellar. He went 6.2 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 12 K, and received a no-decision as the Tigers won 10-6. Mark Appel also got roughed up. He went 8 innings against Arizona, but allowed 6 runs on 12 hits, walking 2 and striking out 5. He also hit a batter. Appel did not factor in the decision as his closer, David Schmidt, failed epically in the bottom of the 9th, allowing UA to score 4 for an 8-7 loss. Kyle Zimmer fared better than the other two, but that's not really saying much, as San Francisco lost to San Diego 6-1. Zimmer took the loss, going 7.1, allowing 4 runs on 10 hits, walking 1 and striking out 6. He also uncorked a wild pitch in the game. Mike Zunino and Florida got shut out 3-0 by Ole Miss. He went 1-3 with a walk. Deven Marrero and Arizona State were rained out in Eugene, where they were set to take on Oregon.
